Royal Hotel, Great Yarmouth

It is on the seafront and Victoria Road is behind it and so is Wellington Road.

This hotel was built in 1840[2] and was then called the Victoria Hotel. It was then renamed the Royal Hotel and at this time was the last and most southern hotel on the seafront.[1] In 1847 the English writer and social critic Charles Dickens[2] stayed in the hotel, along with his friend and colleague Mark Lemon[1] who was the founding editor of both Punch and The Field. at the time Dickens was occupied writing his Novel David Copperfield which was first published as a serial. During his stay at the hotel, Dickens had described Great Yarmouth to his wife in a letter thus Yarmouth was the most wondrous sight his eyes had ever beheld. He also, during this visit met James Sharman[2] who was the keeper of the Britannia Monument, on whom he supposedly based the character of Ham Peggotty.[2] In the hotel’s Palm court, a menu which has been signed by Dickens during his stay there is on display.[1]