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We hope you find this guide to the 1940’s weekend activities helpful.
The Sheringham 1940s Weekend is an event originated by North Norfolk Railway several years ago and more recently embraced by station towns of Sheringham and Holt.
It is a celebration of the 1940s, remembering our past, the music, the dancing, the fashions, the classic vehicles, the historic displays, the sights, and the community spirit shown in times of adversity.
Over three 3 days of the event, it is anticipated to attract in the region of 40,000 visitors from across the country and further afield.
The shops and businesses in the towns of Sheringham will finalise their window displays with a 1940s style theme. Over the weekend, shop staff wear 1940s outfits, and some businesses will have 1940s shemed produce and food menus. The North Norfolk Railway is organising a best-dressed window competition. 1940s-themed music will be playing across the town.
During the day and into the evenings across the weekend many of the local venues, pubs and clubs will have live bands playing 1940s themed music and other related activities.
1940 Ration Book Competition (15th, 16th, 17th Sept). Free to enter.
Great for all the family to enjoy with a prize fund worth over £180.
Pick up your FREE Ration Book from any of the 55 participating venues listed in the Ration Book.
How does the competition work?
Visit participating venues, get the Ration Book stamped by at least 5 venues (the more times the better) then drop the Ration Book back into The Red Lobster Gallery or Miss Madeleine’s Giftware Emporium in Sheringham to be entered into the Prize Draw.
The North Norfolk Railway will be running a busy schedule of train services between Sheringham and Holt over the weekend. Tickets for the 1940s weekend trains include the Holt Exhibition Event and can be purchased in advance (cheaper than on the day) from the North Norfolk Railway (NNR) website.
North Norfolk Railway Station – ticketed trips only, sorry no platform tickets. It is advisable to buy train tickets in advance, tickets will be available on the day — subject to availability.
During the day a vintage bus service will operate between Sheringham and Holt.
We encourage you to bring your 1940’s vintage vehicles on Saturday and Sunday, These vehicles will be allowed to park on the High Street in Sheringham, but they will need to be roadworthy and insured. Any vehicle with a firearm attached will need to show that this has been decommissioned.
Access to the High Street for vintage vehicles will be via Beeston Road, which is off Cromer Road. From the main roundabout in Sheringham, proceed towards Cromer along Cromer Road. After the playing field, turn left down Beeston Road, follow the road (past the road closed sign) as it bends left (blind corner) and turn towards the town. Once parked, vehicles must remain stationary unless instructed to move by a marshall.
To be part of the moving parade at 7 p.m. in the evening, vehicles will need to be registered for the parade (free of charge). You will be offered a short registration form to complete. If you are not offered one and wish to be in the parade, please pickup one up from the Lobster Inn.
This will be a slow vehicle parade of 1940s vehicles around the town (free to enter and view), starting from the main car park (near the North Norfolk Railway Station) and taking a route eastwards along Cromer Road, turning left down Beeston Road, under the railway bridge, back onto Sheringham High Street via Wyndham Street, up the High Street, returning to the main car park near the North Norfolk Railway by going the ‘wrong way’ up Station Road.
What’s happening at the railway stations
Sheringham, Weybourne and Holt Stations will have historical displays and live music.
Please note there is no car parking at Weybourne Station.
Holt Station will host a historical Exhibition Display and trade stalls on Saturday and Sunday. For those without an event train ticket, the Holt Exhibition is £10 per adult and £5 per child (aged 3-15). Under 3s go free, dogs £3. These standalone exhibition-only tickets can only be purchased on the day and are priced per day.
A Lancaster will fly over Sheringham around 12:15 pm on Sunday
Continuation of the train services, exhibition events and the Sheringham 1940’s Ration Book Prize Draw.
The Renactors Parade is open to anyone in 1940’s regalia. Anyone wishing to participate in the foot procession should convene at the Lobster pub and line up along Wyndham Street before 4 p.m.
The procession will proceed up the High Street to the Town Clock and up Station Road to the main car park (near the North Norfolk Railway Station). From there will be a closing ceremony led by the Town Mayor, the Commercial Manager of the North Norfolk Railway, and the Sheringham Town Crier.
Saturday 1940s Sheringham Park and Ride Service
(9 am to 9 pm)
Click for Interactive 1940s Parking Directions on Saturday
A park-and-ride service will operate from Cook’s Field to the east of Sheringham on the coastal Cromer Road A149, NR26 8SQ. There will be a regular park-and-ride service on Saturday, alternatively, if you wish to walk to/from the carpark, it will take 10 minutes.
The bus stop is on the opposite side of the road to the car park. For return trips, please use the Bus Stop just past Tesco on Cromer Road, on the same side of the road as Tesco.
Sunday 1940s Sheringham Park and Ride Service
(Sunday, 9 am to 5:50 pm, from Beeston Common)
Click For Interactive 1940s Parking Directions for Sunday.
The park-and-ride service will operate from the northern part of Beeston Common, located on Cromer Road and slightly closer to Sheringham than the location used on Saturday. (5-7 min walk from Sheringham)
Please use the bus stop on the opposite side of the road to the car park for trips to Sheringham. The bus service is based on the Sunday timetable for the X44 (clickable) and CH1 (clickable) bus services. The last bus on Sunday back to the park and ride car park leaves Sheringham at 5:50 pm.
For return trips, please use the Bus Stop just past Tesco on Cromer Road, on the same side of the road as Tesco.
How much is parking for the 1940s weekend in Sheringham?
Using the park and ride service Car Parking is £5* per day (cash only). The return bus fare to Sheringham from the park-and-ride car park (drop off point will be near Tesco) is £5* for a family ticket, or £2* per adult and £1* per child (the bus can accept card payments). Or it is a 7 to 10-minute walk to Sheringham.
Most town centre car parks are open but likely to fill quickly; the main council car park is £1.80 per hour. If the council-run car parks are full, please follow the signs to the Park and Ride sites a few minutes away. Wherever you park, please park responsibly, as emergency service vehicles always need access, and parking wardens will be patrolling.
There are six coach parking spaces in the main Station Road car park, near the North Norfolk Railway. A four-hour coach stay is £6, and a 24-hour coach ticket is £12.
Lost child, First Aid and Fire Extinguishers will be at the Sheringham Clock Tower and outside the Lobster Inn Pub. Please approach a marshall if you need assistance.
There will be no car parking at Weybourne station. The best way to access the station is by train or bus from Sheringham or Holt.
Holt Rugby Club have a big game against Norwich Rugby Club on Saturday, 16 September, and they also need use of the field that North Norfolk Railway usually arrange for the Park and Ride.
North Norfolk Railway has now arranged with Kelling Estate to use a field on the other side of the road (still accessed via Bridge Road), but this turning is on the right-hand side (if coming from Cromer Road). There will be signs out to direct people, but it is not the usual site as it has been for the last couple of years.
Due to the rugby match, Bridge Road on Saturday is likely to be quite busy at points. Holt Rugby Club and North Norfolk Railway have asked that we notify people of this and potential delays when arriving and exiting.
1940’s Ration Book Prize Draw Terms and Conditions
The North Norfolk Railway Website
Getting to the 1940s Weekend by Public Transport
A Brief History of the North Norfolk Railway
Other Upcoming Events In Sheringham
Sheringham 1940s Weekend 2024 is on Sat 21st and Sunday 22nd of September 2024.
Footnote of thanks
The town of Sheringham is indebted to the North Norfolk Railway, the Sheringham Carnival Committee and all the volunteers associated with these organisations for putting on this event; thank you.
North Norfolk Railway are responsible for the events on their platforms and trains. Sheringham Carnival organises the two parades in the town of Sheringham.
Experience Sheringham is part of the Sheringham Chamber of Trade and Commerce.