Premier Inn Norwich East Broadlands A47 Hotel

So there I was, standing in a hotel car park at 11 p.m., watching a family of geese waddle past my rental car as if they owned the place. I’d just spent an hour on the A47, convinced my sat nav was playing a cruel joke, and now I was being judged by waterfowl. Welcome to the Premier Inn Norwich East Broadlands A47 Hotel—a place that feels both like a practical pit stop and a hidden little world.

Let’s be real: you don’t come here for a spa weekend. You come here because you’re driving to Great Yarmouth, or you’ve got an early flight from Norwich Airport, or—like me—you underestimated how long it takes to get from King’s Lynn to the coast. But that’s exactly the point. This hotel is a masterclass in sensible convenience, and once you get past the roundabout-heavy location, it actually charms you.

First impressions: The car park is a character

Pulling in, you’ll notice the car park is huge, well-lit, and free—a rare treat in 2024. (Side comment: if you’re from London, you’ll probably weep with joy.) The building itself is that classic Premier Inn beige-and-blue box, but somehow it sits comfortably next to a petrol station and a KFC. Don’t judge it by its neighbours; that KFC is surprisingly handy when you arrive starving at 10 p.m.

The entrance lobby is clean, bright, and smells faintly of coffee and carpet cleaner. Check-in took me all of 90 seconds. The receptionist, a cheerful woman named Denise, didn’t even blink when I asked if the geese were part of the welcome package. “Oh, they’re just the locals,” she laughed. “They’ll leave you alone if you don’t have chips.” Solid advice.

The room: Predictable? Yes. Comfortable? Absolutely.

Let’s be honest—you know what a Premier Inn room looks like. Beige walls, a desk that’s too small for modern laptops, and that famous Hypnos bed that makes you forget all your joints. The one at Broadlands was no exception, but it had two magic qualities: silence and blackout curtains. Despite being right off the A47, I heard zero traffic noise. Zero. That’s either brilliant soundproofing or the geese have a union that enforces quiet hours.

I’ll admit, I was skeptical about the whole “Good Night Guarantee” thing, but after a solid eight hours of sleep, I woke up feeling like a new person. The pillows were that perfect medium between fluffy and supportive—not too hard, not too flat. And the shower? Hot water within three seconds and pressure that could peel paint. Small wins, but they matter.

Breakfast: The great debate

You’ve got two options here. Either pay for the Ultimate Breakfast buffet, or sneak a cereal bar from your bag and avoid the £11.99 charge. I tried the buffet, because I’m a grown-up with poor self-control. And honestly? It’s the same spread you’ll find at any Premier Inn: scrambled eggs that look like a science experiment, crispy bacon that saves the day, and those little sausages that taste oddly like holiday nostalgia. Pro tip: Go for the cooked breakfast, but skip the mushrooms—they were watery, and the geese outside were more appetising.

What makes this breakfast special, though, is the view. The dining room overlooks a small pond where—you guessed it—more geese patrol. It’s like eating breakfast at a nature reserve, if that nature reserve also had a toaster and a coffee machine that refills itself. I spent a good 20 minutes watching a heron stalk the edge of the water. Not bad for a hotel attached to a KFC.

The local area: Unexpected finds

If you’re staying here, you’re probably heading somewhere else. But do yourself a favour and take a 10-minute walk to the nearby Broadlands Business Park. I know that sounds as exciting as watching paint dry, but there’s a lovely canal path behind it. I stumbled upon it while trying to find a shortcut back from the pub. (The Fat Cat & Canary pub, by the way, is a 15-minute walk and serves a mean fish and chips.)

For nature lovers, the Broads National Park is literally a five-minute drive away. If I’d had time, I would’ve rented a boat. Next time, maybe. The hotel staff were actually helpful with directions—Denise even printed me a map of local walking routes, which I promptly lost, but the gesture counts.

Who is this hotel for, really?

It’s for the tired driver. The budget-conscious family who doesn’t need fancy frills. The business traveller who just wants a clean room and a decent Wi-Fi signal. It’s not romantic, it’s not luxurious, but it’s reliable. And sometimes, that’s the sexiest thing a hotel can be.

I left with a strange affection for the place. Maybe it was the geese, maybe it was the free parking, but I found myself Googling “Premier Inn Broadlands” on my drive home, just to see if they had availability for next month. I’m not ashamed. Sometimes you need a night of predictable comfort, with a side of birdwatching and KFC.