Irstead
The north Norfolk village of Irstead is roughly 11 miles north east of Norwich, in the Broads National Park. Irstead Shoals is on the river Ant, south of Barton Broad, the second largest of the Norfolk Broads. Irstead church, St Michael, stands close to the waters edge and has a pretty thatched roof.
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Get startedLocal information
Around Irstead
Irstead at a glance
- District
- North Norfolk
- Distance to Norwich
- about 11 miles
- Nearest town
- Wroxham (4.2 miles)
- Height above sea level
- 1 m
Historic and listed buildings in Irstead
6 listed buildings within about ¾ mile of the village centre, from the National Heritage List for England.
- Grade II*
- Grade II
- Grade II
- Grade II
- Grade II
- Grade II
Source: Historic England. Most listed buildings are private homes – please view from public land.
Places to eat, drink and stay near Irstead
The closest pubs, cafés, restaurants, takeaways and B&Bs, with their official food hygiene rating.
- 4/5
- 5/5
- 4/5
- 5/5
Ratings: Food Standards Agency (Open Government Licence). Ratings change after each inspection – tap a name for the latest.
Wildlife recorded around Irstead
The most frequently recorded species within 3 km of Irstead since 2022 (24,736 records submitted to the National Biodiversity Network).
Birds
- Woodpigeon
- Carrion Crow
- Wren
- Robin
- Blue Tit
- Black-headed Gull
- Mute Swan
- Blackbird
- Great Tit
- Mallard
- Chaffinch
- Cormorant
Other wildlife and plants
- Feral Cat
- Azure Damselfly
- Peacock
- Green-veined White
- Common Darter
- Muntjac
- Four-spotted Chaser
- Red Admiral
- Grey Squirrel
- Black-tailed Skimmer
- Norfolk Aeshna
- Small White
Source: NBN Atlas – records from Norfolk recorders and conservation groups. Please follow the Countryside Code and keep to paths.
Villages near Irstead
- Neatishead 1.5 miles
- Catfield 1.6 miles
- Ludham 2.0 miles
- Horning 2.3 miles
- Stalham 2.9 miles
- Ashmanhaugh 3.1 miles
- Potter Heigham 3.2 miles
- Smallburgh 3.4 miles
- Hickling 3.4 miles
- Dilham 3.4 miles
Live weather
Weather in Irstead
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Updated every time the page loads · Data: Open-Meteo.com (CC BY 4.0)
Nearest town guide
Finding the nearest town to Irstead…
Getting to Norfolk
- Train: Greater Anglia runs direct trains from London Liverpool Street to Norwich, plus lines to Cromer, Sheringham, Great Yarmouth, Lowestoft and Cambridge. National Rail journey planner
- Road: the A11 (from Cambridge and London) and the A47 (east–west) are the main routes.
- Air: Norwich Airport is 4 miles north of the city.
- Bus: plan local journeys on Traveline.
Useful links
- Visit Norfolk – official tourism site
- Visit the Broads – Broads Authority
- Met Office weather warnings
- RNLI beach safety and tide advice
- National Trust in Norfolk
In an emergency
- 999 – police, fire, ambulance and coastguard
- 111 – NHS urgent medical advice
- 101 – Norfolk Police, non-emergency