King's Lynn

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 appearing in recent decades. 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.

By train

• Railway Station

  address: 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 3/4 hours. The station reception is open from 5:00am - 8:00pm on weekdays and is well staffed considering its size.

By road

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

The majority of bus services around King's Lynn town centre are operated by Stagecoach in Norfolk with their flagship Coasthopper 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 other Stagecoach in Norfolk services, 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

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

• National Cycle Route 1runs through the town, to Boston, Lincoln and on to Shetland to the N and allong the Norfolk Coast to Wells-next-the-Sea, Norwich and then to Dover to the S.

• National Cycle Route 11connects the town to Cambridge and on to Harlow to the S.

On foot

• 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).

The town centre is best explored on foot. Local buses serve the suburbs and nearby towns.

• Greyfriars tower15th 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.

• Lynn MuseumLocal history museum, including Seahenge, a wooden structure from 2049BC.

• The old town

• St Margaret's Church

• St Nicholas Chapel

  phone: +44 1553 774471

• Red Mount ChapelBuilt in the 15th century.

• The two guildhalls

• The Town Hall

  phone: +44 1553 777775
  address: Saturday Market Place, King’s Lynn, PE30 5DQ

• Custom House

  phone: +44 1553 763044
  address: Purfleet Quay, off King Street

• Castle Rising Castle

  phone: +44 1553 631330
  address: PE31 6AH

• Sandringham House

  address: PE35 6EH
  The Queen'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.

• King's Lynn Festival

  phone: +44 1553 764864

• Corn Exchange

  phone: +44 1553 764864
  address: Tuesday Market Place, King’s Lynn, PE30 1JW

• Majestic Cinema

  phone: +44 1553 771918
  address: Tower St, King's Lynn, PE30 1EJ

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

• Sainsbury's

  phone: +44 1553 731720
  address: Scania Way, Hardwick Industrial Estate, King's Lynn, PE30 4LR
  Petrol station (different hours), cafe (different hours), pharmacy (different hours). ATMs

• Asda

  phone: +44 1553 731310
  address: Langley Road, South Wootton, Kings Lynn, PE30 3UG

• Morrisons

  phone: +44 1553 768596
  address: Coburg St, Kings Lynn, PE30 1RX
  Petrol station (different hours), cafe (different hours). ATMs

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.

• Prezzo

  address: 22 Tuesday Market Place, Kings Lynn, PE30 1JJ
  Restaurant, take-away or delivery. Wi-Fi.

• Pearl River

  phone: +44 1553 773288
  address: John Kennedy Rd, King's Lynn, PE30 2AA
  Restaurant or take-away. A-La-Carte or "All you can eat".

• Market Bistro

  phone: +44 1553 771483
  address: 11 Saturday Market Place, King's Lynn, PE30 5DQ
  Seasonal British food.

• Marriott's Warehouse

  phone: +44 1553 818500
  address: South Quay, King's Lynn, PE30 5DT

• The Gatehouse

  phone: +44 1553 766671
  address: Kellard Place, Kings Lynn, PE30 5DD
  Free Wi-Fi.

Most pubs in the town have a very reasonable selection of not only lagers and bitters, but also local ales. Unfortunately, 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.

• The Crossways

  phone: +44 7825 338716 (mobile)
  address: 55 Valingers Road King's Lynn, PE30 5HD

• Bar Red

  phone: +44 1553 772579
  address: 110 Norfolk St, King's Lynn, PE30 1AQ
  Live music F & Sa night.

• Florence Café

  phone: +44 1553 770500
  address: 21 St James St, Kings Lynn, PE30 5DA

• Crofters Coffee House

  phone: +44 1553 773134
  address: 27 King St, King's Lynn PE30 1ET

• The Wildfowler

  phone: +44 1553 770279
  address: Gayton Road, King's Lynn, PE30 4EL

• Duke's Head

  phone: +44 1553 774 996
  address: 5-6 Tuesday Market Place, King’s Lynn, PE30 1JS
  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.

• The Globe Hotel

  phone: +44 1553 668000
  address: Tuesday Market Place, King St, King’s Lynn, PE30 1EZ

• Ramada

  address: A10-A47 Roundabout, Hardwick Narrows, King's Lynn, PE30 4NB

• Congham Hall

  phone: +44 1485 600250
  address: Grimston, Kings Lynn, PE32 1AH
  Those with a large budget, an elegant Georgian manor nearby to the queens temporary residence at Sandringham. Set in elegant parkland with its own Herb Garden, those staying there will expect to be treated to a degree of luxury during their stay.

• Maranatha Guest House

  phone: +44 1553 774596
  address: 115-117 Gaywood Rd, King's Lynn, PE30 2PU

• Beeches Guest House

  phone: +44 1553 766577
  address: 2 Guanock Terrace, King's Lynn, PE30 5QT
  Free Wi-Fi. Secure bike storage.

• Acorn B&B

  phone: +44 1553 671534
  address: 19 S Wootton Ln, King's Lynn PE30 3BS
  Walkers and Cyclists Welcome. Secure storage for bicycles. Free Wi-Fi.

• Nearest Accident & Emergency: The Queen Elizabeth Hospital

  address: Gayton Road, King's Lynn, PE30 4ET

• Southgates Medical Centre

  phone: +44 1553 819477
  address: 41 Goodwins Rd, King's Lynn, PE30 5QX

• myDentist

  phone: +44 1553 777330
  address: 11 Purfleet Street, Kings Lynn, PE30 1ER

• The Clock Pharmacy

  phone: +44 1553 774716
  address: 1 Gayton Road, Gaywood, Kings Lynn, PE30 4EA

• Post Office

  address: 7 Norfolk St, Kings Lynn, PE30 1AR

• 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.