Seals, sea air and circus: British seaside destination makes the perfect winter break
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Why this region should be on your weekend break list. A sinister laugh resounds from the floor to the rafters of Britain’s oldest static circus building, telling us instantly that we’re in for a thriller. The hisses and boos of the audience echo loudly around the majestic Hippodrome in Great Yarmouth when Mr Mullins, the evil fairground owner, lays out his fiendish plans to capture local heroes Jack Jay and Johnny Mac.
![[The Hippodrome Circus in Great Yarmouth is a jewel of the British Seaside (Ella Pickover/PA)]](https://static.independent.co.uk/2025/01/20/10/16183120-a7433a69-2e4a-4ffd-b81d-aac0786ebf1f.jpg)
The Hippodrome is the country’s last remaining venue constructed entirely for circus, an historic building brought to life through it’s joyful performers. My five-year-old daughter cowers in fear watching death-defying stunts by acrobats suspended mid-air. Moments later my nine-year-old falls back into her seat in fits of giggles over jokes meant to entertain the adults in the audience.
![[Rose Cottage is a short walk away from Winterton-on-Sea’s expanse of sandy beaches (Winterton Cottages)]](https://static.independent.co.uk/2025/01/20/10/16183238-9d52dd67-a4dd-44ca-b2a5-d193f9fe6877.jpeg)
We watch in awe as a contortionist squeezes herself into a small box, clap with delight at a seemingly impossible aerial stunt and cheer loudly when doltish Johnny saves the day and stops the villainous Mullins – played bewitchingly by James Franklin.
![[Winterton-on-Sea boasts miles of rugged coastline (Ella Pickover/PA)]](https://static.independent.co.uk/2025/01/20/10/16183512-8dd9038f-75bb-4875-92ec-c75c0f683e83.jpg)
After the superb show we stroll through the belly of the historic building to its museum, which is home to props and posters of bygone years. The artefacts – some more than 120 years old – conjure images of the hundreds of shows enjoyed before ours.
![[Atlantic grey seals on Horsey Beach in Norfolk]](https://static.independent.co.uk/2025/01/20/10/9e6dd0a92930e08197512abed5a3bd5cY29udGVudHNlYXJjaGFwaSwxNzMwMzE1MTky-2.75485166.jpg)
