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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.
New boathouse build
Updated 28/11/2022
Our new boathouse is complete! See the boathouse build pages for the latest information and the story of how we got there!
Shop Opening Times
Our new shop, visitor information centre and public viewing gallery are now open most weekends from 10-4.
Shop and boat viewing gallery normally open Friday-Monday from 10am-4pm
Recent Services
Inshore Lifeboat launching to two people and a dog cut off west of the harboour entrance, 19/3/23
13:32
Safety advice: It continues to be easy to get cut off by the incoming tide in this location, right down on the foreshore of Wells beach to the west of the harbour entrance and channel buoys. The sand here is higher than the beach behind it and the incoming tide quickly surrounds it, coming in behind people walking by the edge of the sea often before they realise what is happening. Walkers should return to the main beach when the tide begins to flow into the channel or roughly four hours before high water. You can check the time of high water in local tide tables, on-line or on the NCI Coastwatch hut by the entrance to the beach. See our safety advice page for more information.
Weather Fine Visibility Good Wind W1 Sea Slight
00:52
Weather Clody Visibility Good Wind SW3 Sea Slight
Latest News
New 3D walkthrough tour of Wells lifeboat station
Mon 20 Mar 2023
Local photographer (and Sheringham lifeboat volunteer crew member) Chris Taylor has created an on-line 3D walkthrough tour of our new boathouse and our Shannon class all-weather lifeboat 'Duke of Edinburgh'. You can look round the building and even go on-board the Shannon from the comfort of your own screen and mouse. To start the tour, click on the link below. To move around, tap on the overlaid white circles... it is also possible to zoom in and out and turn round from any location.
Our thanks to Chris for his expertise and effort in making the tour and for making it available to all.
Wells Lifeboat Station - 3D walkthrough tourMersey leaves Wells
Tue 21 Feb 2023
After her farewell do at the quay on 11 February, Wells' outoging Mersey-class lifeboat RNLB Doris M Mann of Ampthill left Wells at 07:18 on Monday 20 February, sailing for Lowestoft with six of the station's longest serving crew members. A small crowd of crew and family waved the boat off, with the boathouse and boat's flags being dipped in salute, a final nod to the town and four white flares fired from the boat just off the harbour. The boat performed flawlessly, making excellent time in slight seas and bright sunshine, and was safely tied up by Lowestoft lifeboat station at 11:00.
More pictures...A thank you to Blakeney Old Wild Rovers
Tue 21 Feb 2023
Over the years, the Blakeney Old Wild Rovers have raised over £24,000 for Wells lifeboat station. On Friday 17 February, they were invited to a tour of the new station and to see our new Shannon class lifeboat. Gary Mears of The Old Wild Rovers said, "We are all based by the sea and have connections to the local lifeboat stations, Wells, Sheringham and Cromer, with some of the crew being great mates of ours, so the RNLI is a charity close to our hearts."
Since 1999 the Blakeney Old Wild Rovers have been singing their way round Norfolk raising money for the RNLI and other charities close to their hearts. To date they have raised over £250,000, holding various events within the local community, and regularly supporting at lifeboat station events. On behalf of Wells RNLI, Coxswain Nicky King said. "We are extremely grateful to the Blakeney Old Wild Rovers for all their hard work and continued support. The RNLI as a charity relies on the kindness and generosity of people such as The Old Wild Rovers, and what better way to help our volunteer crew continue to be able to save lives at sea than with a sea shanty."
Shop Opening Times
Our new shop, visitor information centre and public viewing gallery are now open most weekends 10-4.
Shop and boat viewing gallery normally open Friday-Monday from 10am-4pm
Family Easter Bingo
Tuesday 4 April 2023, 6pm
Wells RNLI Guild invites you to our Easter Family Bingo at Binham Village Hall... fun for all the family
with great prizes. Light refreshments available.
New Shannon lifeboat
and boathouse build
Latest update 28/11/2022
We've moved in... Wells RNLI is now operating from the new building. See the boathouse build pages for the latest information and the story of how the new station was built.
The 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.
COVID-19
We're keen to protect our crew to ensure the lifeboats can be manned when needed. Please don't visit the station or shop if you or someone you have recently been in close contact with has Covid symptoms or a postive test.
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.
Sunday 12 Mar 2023 08:30
Inshore lifeboat only
Thursday 23 Mar 2023 18:00
Regular exercise, both boats
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The Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) is a charity, registered in England and Wales (209603) and Scotland (SC037736). This website is managed and maintained by local volunteers at Wells-next-the-Sea Lifeboat Station and is not the main RNLI site. All text and images copyright (C)2005-2021 RNLI Wells Lifeboat Station, or as indicated, and may not be downloaded, copied or reproduced elsewhere without prior permission of the station or the relevant copyright holder. Site Manager