King's Lynn (known locally as Lynn) is an historic town and port on the River Great Ouse with quiet streets, cobbled alleyways and attractive buildings. The 13th century Greyfriars Tower survived because it was a useful landmark for sailors. Markets are held on Tuesday and Saturday in different market places. Custom House on Purfleet Quay contains the Tourist Information Centre. King's Lynn is an important transport hub for west Norfolk with many attractions to visit by bus. The Bus Station is ¼ mile from the Rail Station.
TI Tel. 01553 763044.
The history of King's Lynn and west Norfolk. Displays include part of the 4000 year-old Holme timber circle,
popularly known as 'Seahenge'. The museum is housed in a recently restored historic chapel.
Open TWThFS 1000-1700, also Apr-Sep Sun 1200-1600.
www.museums.norfolk.gov.uk
The Walks is an historic 18th century town park, now restored with modern amenities added.
See the website for a leaflet with map. Red Mount Chapel is a 15th century wayside chapel for pilgrims,
open occasionally but the exterior can be seen at all times. Children's play area and Café. Admission free.
Open Park open at all times. Red Mount Chapel open Jun-Aug, WSSu 1300-1600.
www.thewalks.uk
An exhibition of Lynn's history in the undercroft of the 15th century Trinity Guildhall.
Tour the old gaol cells. Tours of the first floor of the Town Hall are available at times - see website.
Open Daily 1000-1630.
www.kingslynntownhall.com
The history of Lynn's fishing community in two restored fishermen's cottages. Tearoom.
Open TWThFS 1000-1600.
www.truesyard.co.uk
The most impressive remaining part of Lynn's fortifications, displays inside explain
its use for defence and to collect tolls. Admission free.
Open Jun-Aug, WSSu 1300-1600.
www.thewalks.uk
Sandringham is a country retreat of the Royal Family. The principal ground floor apartments are open
with their collections of porcelain, jade, furniture and family portraits. Museum of Royal vehicles and mementoes.
60 acres of gardens. Church. Country Park witn Nature Trails. Visitor Centre, restaurant and tearoom.
Open Easter-Oct (but closed late July), Daily 1100-1700 (1600 Oct). Gardens from 1030.
www.sandringhamestate.co.uk
Bus 35 from Bus Station to Sandringham Visitor Centre, 22 minutes journey,
return buses depart from the same stop. Daily, hourly. Operated by Lynx.
One of the most complete and lavishly decorated Norman keeps in England, surrounded by huge defensive earthworks.
The 12th-century keep walls stand to their original height.
Open Apr-Oct, Daily 1000-1800 (1700 Oct). Nov-Mar, WThFSSu 1000-1600.
www.castlerising.co.uk |
www.english-heritage.org.uk
Bus 34/35/36 from Bus Station to A149 Mill House Turn, about 12 minutes journey,
then ½ mile walk. Daily every 15-30 minutes.
Some journeys operate via Castle Rising village.
Operated by Lynx.
The Reserve is on the edge of The Wash, an important estuary for birds. On high tides thousands of
wading birds are driven off their mudflat feeding grounds onto the banks and islands overlooked by the RSPB hides.
Nature trail. See the website for tidal information and the best time to visit. Admission free.
Open at all times.
www.rspb.org.uk/snettisham
Bus as for Snettisham Park but alight just before Station Road, about 25 minutes journey.
A 329 acre working farm and visitor centre. Friendly animals to feed, stroke and groom.
Walking trails. Deer safari. Tearoom.
Open Daily 1000-1500 (later in summer)
www.snettishampark.co.uk
Bus 34/35/36 from Bus Station to Snettisham, Grapes, about 35 minutes journey,
then ½ mile walk. Daily every 15-30 minutes. Operated by Lynx.
An elegant and popular seaside resort which retains much of its Victorian charm.
The beach is sandy and there are unusual striped cliffs. Old Hunstanton (a mile north) is a quiet village.
Hunstanton is pronounced 'Hunston' (the 'tan' is silent).
Bus 34/35/36 from Bus Station to Hunstanton Bus Station, about 55 minutes journey.
Daily every 15-30 minutes. Operated by Lynx.
TI tel. 01485 532610.
Hunstanton's history from ancient fossils to its development as a purpose built Victorian resort
and the railway from King's Lynn closed in 1969. Admission free.
Open Mar-Oct, WFSSu & BH 1400-1600.
www.hunstantoncivicsociety.org.uk
Bus see Hunstanton above.
Seal rescue centre, otters, penguins, fish, ocean tunnel and rockpool life. Play area. Café.
Open Daily 1100-1600 (last admission 1500).
www.visitsealife.com/hunstanton
Bus see Hunstanton above.
A traditional amusement park with a range of rides for children and adults. Games machines. Refreshments.
Open Mar-Oct, please see website for times.
www.rainbow-park.co.uk
Bus see Hunstanton above.
Perfectly located to attract large numbers of migrating birds, the reserve also supports other wildlife
including natterjack toads, butterflies and dragonflies. Café in Visitor Centre (closed M-F Nov-Mar).
An extra hide in Holme village overlooks the marshes.
Open Daily 1000-1700 (dusk if earlier) but Visitor Centre closed M-F Nov-Mar.
www.norfolkwildlifetrust.org.uk
Bus Coastliner 36 from Bus Station to Beach Road, shortly after Old Hunstanton
and immediately before Holme village, about 65 minutes journey, then 2 miles walk. Daily, hourly.
Operated by Lynx.
The dunes and their wildlife are very susceptible to erosion and disturbance so
please follow signs on site. Visitor numbers may be limited on busy summer days.
A wetland nature reserve with reedbeds and shallow lagoons which are managed specially for birds.
The reserve extends from the Visitor Centre to a sandy beach. Birdwatching hides. Refreshments and picnic area.
Open Visitor Centre Daily 0930-1700 (1600 Nov-Feb). Reserve open at all times.
www.rspb.org.uk
Bus Coastliner 36 from Bus Station to reserve entrance drive, shortly after Thornham, watch for sign.
75 minutes journey. Daily, hourly. Operated by Lynx.
The NT looks after an extensive area of saltmarsh, intertidal mud and sandflats which are particularly
good for watching birdlife. The area includes the site of the Roman fort of Branodunum.
Open At all times. The Millenium Activity Centre at Brancaster Staithe offers residential
and day courses but is not open for casual visitors.
www.nationaltrust.org.uk
Bus Coastliner 36 from Bus Station to Brancaster,
78 minutes journey. Daily, hourly. Operated by Lynx.
An 18th century Palladian style mansion set in a 3000 acre park with fallow deer and a large lake.
A magnificent Entrance Hall of English alabaster leads to State Rooms contain paintings, original furniture
and Roman statues. Walled Garden. Woodland play area. Café.
Open Apr-Oct, Daily 1000-1700, Hall MThSu only 1100-1700.
www.holkham.co.uk
Bus Coastliner 36 from Bus Station to Holkham village, 1½ hours journey, then 1 mile walk.
Daily, hourly. Operated by Lynx.
A farm park with rare breeds and tame animals. Nature walks (see website to book). Stow Hall Gardens nearby. Tearoom.
Open Farm ThFSSu (Daily Mar-Oct) 1000-1700. Gardens Apr-Oct, Wed 1000-1600.
www.churchfarmstowbardolph.co.uk
Bus 37 from Bus Station and Rail Station to Stow Bridge Road
(no marked stop, watch for sign shortly after Tottenhill). M-S about hourly but journeys via Watlington are NOT suitable, about 20 minutes journey.
Operated by Lynx.
Buses also operate from Downham Market.
An important fenland market town on the River Nene, Wisbech is known as the Capital of the Fens.
The North and South Brinks on each side of the river have fine Georgian buildings.
Markets are held on Thursday and Saturday.
There is some variation in how Wisbech is pronounced locally but 'Wizbeach' will be understood.
Bus Excel A/B/C from Bus and Rail Stations to Wisbech Bus Station, about 35 minutes journey,
M-S ½-hourly, Sun & BH hourly. Operated by First.
Also 46 from Bus Station to Wisbech Bus Station, 50 minutes journey. M-S only, 2-hourly.
Operated by Lynx.
Buses also operate from March and Peterborough.
TI 2-3 Bridge Street. Tel. 01945 583263.
The National Trust has a selection of holiday cottages in East Anglia, including Wisbech.
A Georgian town house with very fine rococo plaster and wood decoration. Displays on the Quaker family who
owned it and the Peckover Bank. The Victorian garden includes an orangery, roses, herbaceous borders, fernery
and a 17th century thatched barn. Restaurant.
Open Apr-Oct, MThFSSu & BH 1030-1400, see website for House tour times.
www.nationaltrust.org.uk/peckover
Bus see Wisbech above.
The birthplace of Octavia Hill, social reformer and one of the three founders of the National Trust.
Displays in the Georgian house cover living conditions before sanitary reform, social housing, Octavia's
civic amenity work and the founding of the National Trust. The courtyard garden contains a recreation of
one of Octavia's 'outdoor sitting rooms'. Tearoom. Events programme.
Open please see website.
www.octaviahill.org
Bus see Wisbech above.
Opened in 1847, this is one of the oldest museums in the UK. It covers the local and natural history of Wisbech
and the Fens. Admission free.
Open Thur & Sat 1000-1600.
www.wisbechmuseum.org.uk
Bus see Wisbech above.
A traditional 18th century family brewery with a 4 acre garden containing mature specimen trees, herb gardens,
a maze, lawns and water features. Tearoom and licensed bar.
Open please see website.
www.elgoods-brewery.co.uk
Bus see Wisbech above.
