Wells Lifeboat RNLI Lifeboats Wells Norfolk UK
Wells Lifeboat
Home
About RNLI Wells
News
Events
Services
The Boats
The Crew
The Guild
Visits
History
Photos
Sea Safety
Links
The Small Print
Contact us

Wells Beach
Safety Warning!

Wells Beach Safety leaflet

The sands to the west of Wells harbour entrance now quickly get cut off by the incoming tide.

Make sure you are back on dry land or the main beach FOUR HOURS BEFORE high water!

People walking out on the sands by the water's edge to the west of Wells harbour entrance at low water can easily be cut off when the tide starts to come in. This particularly catches out people walking along the foreshore from Holkham beach or those walking right out across the sand down the side of the harbour channel from Wells beach.

Make sure you come back to the main beach four hours before the time of the next high water, when the siren sounds or if you see the water start to flow into the harbour or start covering the beach. See our Sea Saftey Advice page for more information and tide times. Tide times are also displayed on the NCI Coastwatch Hut as you come onto Wells beach and on the toilet block in the car park.

3D Tour

3D virtual tour of the new Wells Lifeboat Station

Explore the new boathouse and Shannon lifeboat

Launch A Memory Wells
 

Facebook
Find us
on Facebook

Instagram
Wells Lifeboat is now
on Instagram too!

Welcome to RNLI Wells

The RNLI Lifeboat Station in Wells-next-the-Sea houses an all-weather lifeboat and an inshore lifeboat to save lives and assist with emergencies around Wells and off the North Norfolk coast. Manned by volunteer crews, the boats are ready to launch within minutes, 24 hours a day, every day of the year. This website will tell you more about the station and give you a taste of what we do and the traditions of the lifeboat service.

Cut off on Stiffkey marshes

The inshore lifeboat goes to rescue people cut off by a large spring tide on Stiffkey marshes, 30 March 2025

Shop Opening Times


The shop is open!

Open 10am-4pm daily most days!

Our shop and viewing platform are normally open Fridays-Mondays from 10-4 plus additional days in the holidays and whenever we can (see above for latest info). In good weather, the main boathouse door may be open so you can view the all-weather lifeboat from the front.

Wells Beach Safety Warning!

People on the sands near the water's edge to the west of Wells harbour entrance at low water can easily be cut off when the tide starts to come in. This particularly affects people walking along the foreshore from Holkham beach and those walking right out across the sand down the side of the harbour channel from Wells beach. Make sure you come back to the main beach four hours before the time of the next high water, when the siren sounds or if you see water flowing into the harbour or starting to cover the beach. See our Sea Saftey Advice page for more information and tide times.

3D Tour

3D virtual tour of the new Wells Lifeboat Station

Explore the new boathouse and Shannon lifeboat

Recent Services

31 May 2026
17:09

Humber Coastguard paged for an immediate launch of Wells ILB following a report of two persons cut off by the incoming tide on a sandbank to the west of the harbour entrance channel. The ILB launched with a crew of three from the boathouse at 17.20 and picked up the two young people at 17.25. They were landed safe and well at the boathouse ramp at 17:30. The ILB was intending to check the area for further persons but in any case at 17:32 two further people were reported cut off on the foreshore west of the harbour entrance. The ILB picked them up at 17:35 and returned them safely to the main beach. With no further persons in difficulty, the ILB returned to the boathouse and was washed down and rehoused by 18:00.

Weather Fine Visibility Good Wind NW2 Sea Slight

30 May 2026
15:37

The inshore lifeboat launched at 15:50 to assist five persons cut off by the incoming tide at Brancaster opposite the NCI Coastwatch lookout. While en-route to Brancaster, at 16:00, the coastguard reported that the five persons had managed to get themselves safely back onto the beach and that no further persons appeared to be cut off. However, due to some confusion about the total number of persons involved, the coastguard asked the ILB to continue to the scene to check the area. The ILB arrived at Brancaster at 16:16 and checked the area. Finding no-one further at risk, the ILB was stood down and returned to Wells, coming ashore at 17:01.

Weather Fine Visibility Good Wind ENE2 Sea Slight

29 May 2026
08:47

Humber Coastguard requested the inshore lifeboat to render assistance to an 18' fishing skiff out of Cley with two persons on-board that was disabled following a mechanical failure approximately one mile north of Cley beach. The inshore lifeboat launched from the north ramp on the ebbing tide at 08:58 and proceeded towards the casualty vessel. The ILB was arrived alongside the casualty at 09:26 and commenced to rig up a tow with the intention to recover the skiff back to Cley beach. The tow commenced at 09:29 and the skiff was safely ashore and back on its trailer on the beach at 09:40. With no further assistance required the lifeboat was stood down and headed back to Holkham beach for a low water recovery. The ILB came ashore at 10:20 and was rehoused and refuelled and ready again for service at 11:10.

Weather Cloudy Visibility Good Wind W3 Sea Slight

28 May 2026
15:41


Humber Coastguard paged Wells inshore lifeboat to assist a solo paddleboarder in difficulties offshore near Brancaster harbour entrance. The ILB launched with a crew of three from the north ramp at 15:52 to make best speed towards Brancaster. With an already choppy sea and the wind increasing from the south east, it was quickly decided, in consultation with Humber Coastguard, to also launch the all-weather lifeboat in case a search became necessary and to provide support and shelter for the ILB if needed. The all-weather lifeboat was paged at 15:57 and launched at 16:08, following the ILB towards Brancaster.

At 16:21, the ILB rounded the western end of Scolt Head and soon after sighted the paddleboard in the distance about 1 mile seaward of the beach. The paddleboarder was lying flat on the board and getting rapidly blown offshore by the strong south-easterly wind now gusting up to force 5. The ILB was alongside at 16:23 and immediately transferred the casualty, who was in a very distressed condition and hugely relieved to have been rescued. It was ascertained the paddleboarder did not require any medical attention but was frightened and very fatigued having tried for a considerable time to no avail to row against against the strong offshore wind. The paddleboard and oar were also taken on-board and the boat headed to the beach at Brancaster. At 16:38, the lifeboat transferred the paddleboarder and board to the waiting coastguard team on the beach. The inshore lifeboat was stood down at 16:45 and rendezvoused with the all-weather lifeboat which by now had arrived and was standing by in the harbour entrance channel. At 16:47, both boats set off back towards Wells. The lifeboats were recovered and rehoused and made ready again for service by 19:00.

Weather Part Cloudy Visibility Good Wind SE4-5 Sea Slight

28 May 2026
13:59

The inshore lifeboat was paged to assist a group of 5 young persons on the foreshore near No 1 & 2 buoys who were in danger of being cut off by the flood tide. The ILB with a crew of three left the boathouse at 14:10 and was in the process of launching when the NCI Coastwatch team reported that the persons had made it safely back to the main beach. The ILB was stood down and rehoused.

Weather Part Cloudy Visibility Good Wind SE3 Sea Slight

28 May 2026
11:08

Humber Coastguard contacted the lifeboat station seeking urgent assistance with a medical emergency on Wells beach. Casualty care trained crew left the boathouse at 11:24 on the Softrak launching vehicle and at 11:35 located the person and their family in the pinewoods near the old harbour leading marks. The crew provided medical support to the person who had heart related problems. At 11:45, a paramedic and local coastguards also arrived on-scene. Rescue helicopter 912 had also been tasked but was stood down on arrival as the casualty's condition was by now stablised. At 12:00, the casualty was taken by the Softrak back to the boathouse where an ambulance was waiting. After further care and assessment in the boathouse, the person was taken by ambulance for further checks at Kings Lynn hospital.
26 May 2026
12:59

The inshore lifeboat was initially paged to assist four persons in danger of being cut off by the incoming tide on the sands to the west of Wells harbour channel. Launching at 13:07, the ILB headed to the scene where a larger group of people could be seen on a sandbank. Arriving at 13:11, a crew member was put ashore who advised approximately 12 people to return immediately to the main beach. The ILB stood by while the persons either waded or swam across the flooding low way back to the beach. With everyone safely ashore, the ILB was stood down at 13:30 and was rehoused, refuelled and ready again for service by 14:00.

Weather Fine Visibility Good Wind NW2 Sea Smooth

24 May 2026
11:27

Humber Coastguard paged the inshore lifeboat to assist three adults and four children stranded on a sandbank west of the harbour entrance by the incoming tide. The lifeboat launched at 11.40, arriving on-scene at 11:44. The persons were picked up and ferried back to the main beach. The lifeboat returned to station was rehoused, refuelled and ready again for service by 12.15.

Weather Fine Visibility Good Wind NE2 Sea Smooth

14 May 2026
14:36

The inshore lifeboat was paged to assist two persons and a dog cut off by the tide on the foreshore on the west side of the harbour channel. The lifeboat launched at 14:44 and arrived on-scene four minutes later where the people and a nervous large dog were taken on-board and returned to the safety of the main beach. The lifeboat was back at station at 15:01 and was rehoused, refuelled and ready again for service at 15:19.

Weather Cloudy Visibility Good Wind NW4 Sea Slight-Moderate

Latest News

Dangerous sands to the west of Wells harbour entrance

Mon 12 May 2025

In the last few years it has become dangerous to walk right out onto the sands by Wells harbour entrance channel at low tide, either from the main beach and beach huts down the side of the harbour channel or along the foreshore and edge of the sea from Holkham beach. While it looks tempting, there is a series of undulating sandbars and when the tide returns, it will fill the low lying areas and drains from both ends before covering the sandbars, If you're standing out just to the west of the harbour entrance, the sea will come in behind you and you'll find yourself trapped on an island of sand that will soon be covered entirely.

In this new video, our sea safety officer walks out by the harbour channel as the tide comes in and is rapidly surrounded by water.

Our inshore lifeboat has been called to people trapped here 6 times already this year.

To avoid the risk, stay away from this area or make sure you come back to the main beach four hours before high water, if you hear the siren sound or see the tide flowing into the harbour. Check the time of the next high tide in Wells on a tide table, on the sign on the Coastwatch lookout or on an app before venturing out... and take four hours off this time as the time you need to be safely back on the main beach.

  See our local sea safety pages for more advice and information

See all news...

The shop is open!

Open 10am-4pm daily most days!

Shop Opening Times

Our shop and viewing gallery are normally open weekends from Friday to Monday 10-4 along with extra days in the holidays and whenever we can. In good weather, the main boathouse doors may also be open to view the all-weather lifeboat from the front. See our visits page for more information.

Cut off on Stiffkey marshes

The inshore lifeboat goes to rescue people cut off by a large spring tide on Stiffkey marshes, 30 March 2025

RNLI 200

The RNLI celebrated its 200th anniversary in 2024, a milestone marked nationally and by lifeboat crews and stations around the UK.
Wells RNLI 200th Lifeboat Horse scuplture
Lifeboat Horse marking 200 years in the quay

Shannon lifeboat
and boathouse build

New boathouse build

Wells RNLI is now operating from the new building. See the boathouse build pages for the story of how the new station was built.

Our new Shannon lifeboat was funded in part with a station appeal for £250,000 in 2014-15 and also by the Civil Service charity The Lifeboat Fund with its 150th Anniversary Appeal. We are hugely grateful to everyone who has donated, fund-raised, helped and supported us both locally and across the UK and further afield.

Exercise Launches

You are welcome to watch the lifeboats launch on exercise from a safe distance on the beach bank or beach; please keep clear of the boats and launching vehicles and keep children and dogs under supervision. Exercises are roughly every two weeks and we try to post dates and times in advance when we can. All dates are subject to change or cancellation at short notice for operational reasons.

Thursday 28 May 2026 18:30
Regular exercise

Sunday 7 Jun 2026 09:30
Regular exercise
Cancelled

Saturday 20 Jun 2026 09:00
ILB attending Norfolk Super Hero

Sunday 21 Jun 2026 09:30
Regular exercise

Sunday 28 Jun 2026 09:30
Launch & Recovery Trials

Sunday 12 Jul 2026 16:30
Annual Lifeboat Service

Thursday 30 Jul 2026 18:30
Regular exercise

Sunday 16 Aug 2026 08:30
Regular exercise

Thursday 27 Aug 2026 18:30
Regular exercise

Sunday 13 Sep 2026 08:30
Regular exercise

Sunday 27 Sep 2026 08:30
Regular exercise

Launch A Memory Wells
 

Facebook
Find us on Facebook

Instagram
Wells Lifeboat is now
on Instagram too!

This website is run and managed by local volunteers at Wells-next-the-Sea lifeboat station and is not owned or operated by the RNLI
The Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) is a charity, registered in England and Wales (209603) and Scotland (SC037736).
All text and images copyright (C)2000-2026 RNLI Wells Lifeboat Station or as otherwise indicated, and may not be downloaded, copied or reproduced elsewhere
without prior permission of the station or the relevant copyright holder. Site Manager