King's Lynn is the third largest town in Norfolk in England with a population of 42,800. It is a town with great history, having being founded in medieval times, and is situated towards the west of the county on the Great Ouse river and near the Wash estuary. Though it may not be the great trading port today that it was in years gone by, Lynn's marine links are still a defining feature of the town.
Understand
[edit]
The word 'Lynn' means pool and likely originally refers to a tidal pool on the Ouse, which by the end of the 11th century was home to a small trading settlement. By the 14th century it had a population of about 6,000, which by medieval standards made it a large and important town. Lynn had strong links with the Hanseatic League, with merchants from the rest of Europe doing much trade with Lynn and in 1475 a Hanseatic Warehouse was built for them. Previously named Bishop's Lynn, the town came to be known as King's Lynn in the 16th century.
The old industries of Lynn all but died out by the end of the 20th century. However, fishing in the nearby Wash remains important to the town, as well a growing tourism sector, with many museums and cultural attractions developing. Since the 2000s, King's Lynn has hosted a growing Polish & eastern European community.
King's Lynn is the place where explorer George Vancouver was born.
Get in
[edit]By train
[edit]- 1 Railway Station, Blackfriars Rd, King's Lynn, PE30 1NX. A two-platformed station located near the centre of the town, and is within 5 minutes walking distance of the town's shopping centre. Direct trains from London King's Cross via Cambridge and Ely terminate at King's Lynn, with journey times from London being around 1 hr 45 min. The station reception is open 5-8PM on weekdays and is well staffed considering its size.
By road
[edit]King's Lynn is at the end of the A10 from London and Cambridge, the A17 from Newark and is on the A47 between Birmingham and Great Yarmouth. King's Lynn is also on Sustrans (National Cycle Network) Route 1.
By bus
[edit]The majority of bus services around King's Lynn town centre are operated by https://www.lynxbus.co.uk/ with their flagship Coastliner 36 service providing half hourly (summer) / hourly (winter) services around the North Norfolk coast. Other services in and around King's Lynn and the nearby villages are served by https://www.gtt-online.co.uk/, Lynx Bus and First who operate the long distance X1 service from Peterborough to Lowestoft via Wisbech, King's Lynn, Swaffham, Dereham, Norwich and Great Yarmouth.
National Express also run a further 2 long distance services: 1 daily service to and from London Victoria Coach station and 1 daily service running to Birmingham from Great Yarmouth.
By boat
[edit]King's Lynn town centre can be accessed from West Lynn on a small passenger ferry. Although King's Lynn has an active port, there are no regular long-distance passenger ferries.
By bicycle
[edit]- National Cycle Route 1. runs through the town, to Boston, Lincoln and on to the Shetland Islands to the north and along the Norfolk Coast to Wells-next-the-Sea, Norwich and then to Dover to the south.
- National Cycle Route 11. connects the town to Cambridge and on to Harlow to the south.
On foot
[edit]- Fen Rivers Way. (50 miles) connects the town to Cambridge.
- The Nar Valley Way. (33 miles) connects the town to Gressenhall (just outside Dereham).
- The Cross Norfolk Trail. (96 miles) starts in the town and runs to Great Yarmouth passing through Norwich on the route (although the trail is actually several other trails linked to form a longer distance route, starting on the Nar Valley Way).
Get around
[edit]
The town centre is best explored on foot. Local buses serve the suburbs and nearby towns.
See
[edit]
- 1 Greyfriars tower. Daylight hours. 15th century tower that is the only remaining section of a medieval Franciscan Priory. The tower which leans to one side is in a park, the Tower Gardens laid out in 1911. Only the exterior can be seen. free.
- 2 Lynn Museum. Tu-Sa 10AM-5PM. Local history museum, including Seahenge, a wooden structure from 2049 BC. Summer £3.70, winter free.
- The old town
- 3 St Margaret's Church.
- 4 St Nicholas Chapel, ☏ +44 1553 774471, [email protected]. Tu-Sa 10:30AM-4PM.
- 5 Red Mount Chapel (In The Walks park). Built in the 15th century.
- The two guildhalls
- 6 The Town Hall, Saturday Market Place, PE30 5DQ, ☏ +44 1553 777775, [email protected].
- 7 Custom House, Purfleet Quay, off King Street, ☏ +44 1553 763044.
Further out
[edit]- 8 Castle Rising Castle, PE31 6AH, ☏ +44 1553 631330. adults £4.00, children £2.50, concessions £3.30.
- 9 Sandringham House, PE35 6EH (6 miles north-east of King's Lynn). House mid-Apr to mid-Jul and Aug to Oct: 11AM-4:45PM, gardens all year. The King's house in Norfolk, owned by the royal family (not the nation) since 1862. The ground floor of the house, a museum, the church and the grounds are open - allow four hours to see it all. £13.
- 10 Downham Market is a pleasant small town 11 miles south of King's Lynn. It has the medieval Church of St Edmund and an impressive Victorian clock tower. Half a mile south of town is the six-storey Denver windmill, built in 1835.
Do
[edit]- King's Lynn Festival (Concerts, late July to early August), ☏ +44 1553 764864, [email protected].
- 1 Corn Exchange (Music & performance venue), Tuesday Market Place, PE30 1JW, ☏ +44 1553 764864, [email protected].
- 2 Majestic Cinema, Tower St, PE30 1EJ, ☏ +44 1553 771918, [email protected].
- Speedway: King's Lynn Stars race in the SGB Premiership, the top tier of motorcycle speedway in Britain. Their home track is Adrian Flux Arena a mile south of town on Saddlebow Road; the racing season is March-Oct.
- Festival Too is held over three summer weekends, in late June and early July.
Buy
[edit]King's Lynn has three small markets each week. On Tuesday and Friday, the market is held in the Tuesday Market Place, and on Saturday in the Saturday Market Place. Specialities include fish and seafood (local brown shrimp on Tuesday and Saturday), local organic fruit and veg (Friday) and a Country Market stall selling locally-produced cakes, preserves, produce and plants (Friday).
There are many independent shops, including an egg shop.
After extensive redevelopment, the town center now has many more shops to offer including: TK Maxx, New Look, JJB Sport, TJ Hughes, Monsoon, Accessorize, 2 new coffee shops (Cafe Nero and Costa) and many discount shops
- 1 Sainsbury's (Superstore/supermarket), Scania Way, Hardwick Industrial Estate, PE30 4LR, ☏ +44 1553 731720. M-F 7AM-11PM, Sa 7AM-10PM, Su 10AM-4PM. Petrol station (different hours), cafe (different hours), pharmacy (different hours). ATMs.
- 2 Asda (Supermarket), Langley Road, South Wootton, PE30 3UG (2 miles NE of town centre), ☏ +44 1553 731310. M-Sa 7AM-11PM, Su 10AM-4PM.
- 3 Morrisons (Supermarket), Coburg St, PE30 1RX, ☏ +44 1553 768596. M-Sa 7AM-10PM, Su 10AM-4PM. Petrol station (different hours), cafe (different hours). ATMs
Eat
[edit]At the top end of the market are the Riverside Restaurant, Prezzo and Luigi's, all excellent places to eat.
For cafe food and drink, try the Green Quay cafe on South Quay or Crofters.
Avoid the Globe on the corner of the Tuesday market place and walk straight past down to the Crown & Mitre at the bottom of Ferry Street for a wonderful selection of traditional home cooked meals at very affordable prices.
- 1 Prezzo (Italian Restaurant), 22 Tuesday Market Place, PE30 1JJ. Su-Th 11:30AM-10:30PM, F Sa 11:30AM-11PM. Restaurant, take-away or delivery. Wi-Fi.
- 2 Pearl River (Chinese and Cantonese Restaurant), John Kennedy Rd, PE30 2AA, ☏ +44 1553 773288, [email protected]. M-Th noon-2PM & 5:30-11PM, F Sa noon-2PM & 5:30-11:30PM, Su noon-2PM & 5:30-11PM. Restaurant or take-away. A-la-carte or "all you can eat".
- 3 Marriott's Warehouse, South Quay, PE30 5DT, ☏ +44 1553 818500, [email protected]. Daily from 10AM.
- 4 The Gatehouse (Pub & Restaurant), Kellard Place, PE30 5DD, ☏ +44 1553 766671. Daily 10AM-11PM. Free Wi-Fi.
- 5 The Rathskeller, 1 Hanse House, South Quay, PE30 5GN, ☏ +44 1553 773713, [email protected]. 10AM-11:30PM.
Drink
[edit]Most pubs in the town have a very reasonable selection of not only lagers and bitters, but also local ales. As in all towns and cities there are several places that are not up to scratch. The Crown & Mitre is well worth a visit with its fine selection of real ales and all the maritime artifacts you could wish to see.
- 1 The Crossways, 55 Valingers Road, PE30 5HD, ☏ +44 7825 338716 (mobile).
- 2 Bar Red, 110 Norfolk St, PE30 1AQ, ☏ +44 1553 772579. W 11AM-6PM, Th 11AM-11PM, F 11AM-1AM, Sa 11AM-2AM, Su noon-6PM. Live music F & Sa night.
- 3 [formerly dead link] Crofters Coffee House, 27 King St, PE30 1ET, ☏ +44 1553 773134, [email protected]. M-Sa 9:30AM-3PM.
- 4 The Wildfowler (Pub & Restaurant), Gayton Road, PE30 4EL, ☏ +44 1553 770279. Tu 4-10PM, W-Sa noon-11PM, Su noon-9PM.
Sleep
[edit]- 1 Duke's Head, 5-6 Tuesday Market Place, PE30 1JS, ☏ +44 1553 774996. If you would prefer a slightly more upmarket hotel, is well worth a look. Stunning outside architecture, and situated on the Tuesday Marketplace, this is one of the best places to stay. Free Wi-Fi.
- 2 The Globe Hotel, Tuesday Market Place, King St, PE30 1EZ, ☏ +44 1553 668000.
- 3 Congham Hall, Lynn Rd, Grimston PE32 1AH (6 miles southeast of King's Lynn), ☏ +44 1485 600250, [email protected]. Upscale hotel and spa in Georgian manor near the King's temporary residence at Sandringham, in extensive parkland. Great comfort, service and dining. B&B double £200.
- 4 Maranatha Guest House, 115-117 Gaywood Rd, PE30 2PU, ☏ +44 1553 774596, [email protected]. £32 (single). £60 (double).
- 5 Beeches Guest House, 2 Guanock Terrace, PE30 5QT, ☏ +44 1553 766577. Check-in: 2-8PM, check-out: by 10AM. Free Wi-Fi. Secure bike storage. £50 single, £80 double.
- 6 Acorn B&B, 19 S Wootton Ln, PE30 3BS, ☏ +44 1553 671534, [email protected]. Walkers and cyclists welcome. Secure storage for bicycles. Free Wi-Fi. £45 per person per night, £60 single occupancy. Bank holidays extra £7 per night..
- Bank House, King's Staithe Square PE30 1RD, ☏ +44 1553 660492. Georgian bank converted into upscale small hotel. Smart decor, great dining. B&B double £120.
- 7 King's Lynn Caravan & Camping Park, New Road, North Runcton PE33 0QR (off A47), ☏ +44 1553 840004. Clean friendly site with good facilities, open all year. Tent £18-30, hook-up £15-33.
Stay healthy
[edit]- 1 Nearest Accident & Emergency: The Queen Elizabeth Hospital (Casualty or the Emergency Room), Gayton Road, PE30 4ET (W edge of town on A149 and A1076 (Gayton Rd) junction). 24/7.
- 2 Southgates Medical Centre (GP or Primary healthcare), 41 Goodwins Rd, PE30 5QX, ☏ +44 1553 819477. M-F 8AM-6:30PM.
- 3 The Clock Pharmacy, 1 Gayton Road, Gaywood, PE30 4EA, ☏ +44 1553 774716, [email protected]. M-F 9AM-6PM, Sa 9AM-5:30PM.
Connect
[edit]King's Lynn has 4G from all UK carriers. As of May 2022, 5G has not reached this area.
Go next
[edit]- North Norfolk, with its popular seaside resorts including Old and New Hunstanton, Sheringham, Cromer as well as the many quintessentially English villages dotted around the green countryside.
- Norwich, Norfolk's only City, is about an hour's drive down the A47 and offers a great range of shopping opportunities along with historical buildings and a Premier League football team. It is also situated next to the Norfolk Broads.
- Great Yarmouth, a large seaside town that hosts a Sea Life Centre, 15 miles of smooth sandy beach and one of the UK's largest range of amusement arcades. Getting there may be slightly more of a challenge for those without car travel, as it is 1 1/2 hour drive directly down the A47 (trains do not run in this direction from King's Lynn Rail Station).
- Shouldham Thorpe is a small, sleepy but friendly village at just 11 km from King's Lynn. Its small parish church (St. Mary the Virgin) was for a large part rebuilt around 1860.
- Ely is a market town/mini cathedral city, 30-40 minutes from King's Lynn by train. It is also possible to walk between the two via the very flat Fen Rivers Way - there are several train stations between the two towns if you want to segment your walk.
| Routes through King's Lynn |
| END ← | N  S
|
→ Downham Market → Ely → Cambridge |
| Lincoln ← Spalding/Boston ← | W  E
|
→ END |
| Peterborough ← Wisbech ← | W  E
|
→ Swaffham → Norwich |