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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.
Viewing Day
Sunday 23 April 2023
Our Shannon-class all-weather lifeboat 13-46 Duke of Edinburgh will be on display outside in front of the boathouse from 10am-4pm on Sunday 23 April (unless, of course, she is required to launch for an emergency). There will be public access to walk around the boat and look at the 'Launch A Memory' names on the bow.
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.
We should be open every day over half term from Thursday 25th May to Thursday 1st June, closed Friday 2nd and Saturday 3rd June
Recent Services
19:37
Weather Party cloudy Visibility Good Wind SW2 Sea Smooth
18:12
Safety advice This same area of sand is causing an issue time and time again at present for people who have walked along the edge of the water from Holkham beach, or out from Wells beach along the side of the channel, at low water. The incoming tide comes in behind anyone standing or walking on the sandbar here... people should return to the main beach when the water begins to flow into the harbour, when the klaxon sounds or around four hours before the time of high water shown on-line or in printed tide tables or on the sign on the Coastwatch hut. See our sea safety advice page for more information.
Weather Fine Visibility Good Wind SW2 Sea Smooth
Latest News
Naming ceremony and dedication of the new boathouse
Fri 28 Apr 2023
On Saturday 3rd June 2023 Wells' new Shannon-class lifeboat RNLB 13-46 Duke of Edinburgh will be officially named and, together with the SLARS launch and recovery rig and the new lifeboat station building, will be dedicated to the service of saving lives at sea. The ceremony will start at 2.30pm at the new boathouse and, due to limited space, will be for invited guests only. Following this, the lifeboat will launch and run up to the quay for a public dedication.
Events at the quayside will start at 4pm with help from the Blakeney Old Wild Rovers. The lifeboat will arrive at approximately 5pm and crew and guests will disembark and proceed to the stage where an address will be given by the RNLI's Chief Executive, Mark Dowie.
This may be a busy and crowded event and we are grateful to Wells Harbour for the use of the quay which has plenty of room and space, if needed, to extend towards the east end or down along the beach bank for everyone to get a good view.
Anyone wishing to see the boat ashore or to avoid a crowd should note that we will be having further viewing days at the boathouse over the summer, that it is usually possible to visit the viewing gallery and see the boat whenever the lifeboat souvenir shop is open and that, on some days in good weather, the main boathouse doors are opened so the boat can be seen from ground level.
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 tourShop Opening Times
Our new shop, visitor information centre and public viewing gallery are now open most weekends Friday-Monday, 10-4. See the visits page for more information.
We should be open every day over half term from Thursday 25th May to Thursday 1st June, closed Friday 2nd and Saturday 3rd June
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 21 May 2023 08:30
Regular exercise
Sunday 25 Jun 2023 09,00
Regular exercise
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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