King's Lynn

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.

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.

• 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.
• Lynn Museum. Tue - Sat 10:00 - 17:00. Local history museum, including Seahenge, a wooden structure from 2049BC. Summer £3.70, Winter free.
• The old town
• St Margaret's Church.
• St Nicholas Chapel, +44 1553 774471. T-Sa 10:3016:00.
• Red Mount Chapel. Built in the 15th century.
• The two guildhalls
• The Town Hall, Saturday Market Place, King’s Lynn, PE30 5DQ, +44 1553 777775.
• Custom House, Purfleet Quay, off King Street, +44 1553 763044.
• Castle Rising Castle, PE31 6AH, +44 1553 631330. adults £4.00, children £2.50, concessions £3.30.
• Sandringham House, PE35 6EH (6 miles north-east of King's Lynn. House Mid Apr - Mid Jul and Aug - Oct 11:00 -16:45, gardens all year. 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. £13.

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.

Lynn Museum. Tue - Sat 10:00 - 17:00. Local history museum, including Seahenge, a wooden structure from 2049BC. Summer £3.70, Winter free.

The old town

St Margaret's Church.

St Nicholas Chapel, +44 1553 774471. T-Sa 10:3016:00.

Red Mount Chapel. Built in the 15th century.

The two guildhalls

The Town Hall, Saturday Market Place, King’s Lynn, PE30 5DQ, +44 1553 777775.

Custom House, Purfleet Quay, off King Street, +44 1553 763044.

Castle Rising Castle, PE31 6AH, +44 1553 631330. adults £4.00, children £2.50, concessions £3.30.

Sandringham House, PE35 6EH (6 miles north-east of King's Lynn. House Mid Apr - Mid Jul and Aug - Oct 11:00 -16:45, gardens all year. 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. £13.

• King's Lynn Festival, +44 1553 764864.
• Corn Exchange, Tuesday Market Place, King’s Lynn, PE30 1JW, +44 1553 764864.
• Majestic Cinema, Tower St, King's Lynn, PE30 1EJ, +44 1553 771918.

King's Lynn Festival, +44 1553 764864.

Corn Exchange, Tuesday Market Place, King’s Lynn, PE30 1JW, +44 1553 764864.

Majestic Cinema, Tower St, King's Lynn, PE30 1EJ, +44 1553 771918.

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, Scania Way, Hardwick Industrial Estate, King's Lynn, PE30 4LR, +44 1553 731720. MF 07:00-23:00. Sa 07:00-22:00. Su 10:00-16:00. Petrol station (different hours), cafe (different hours), pharmacy (different hours). ATMs
• Asda, Langley Road, South Wootton, Kings Lynn, PE30 3UG (2 miles NE of town centre, +44 1553 731310. M-Sa 07:00-23:00. Su 10:00-16:00.
• Morrisons, Coburg St, Kings Lynn, PE30 1RX, +44 1553 768596. M-Sa 07:00-22:00. Su 10:00-16:00. Petrol station (different hours), cafe (different hours). ATMs

Sainsbury's, Scania Way, Hardwick Industrial Estate, King's Lynn, PE30 4LR, +44 1553 731720. MF 07:00-23:00. Sa 07:00-22:00. Su 10:00-16:00. Petrol station (different hours), cafe (different hours), pharmacy (different hours). ATMs

Asda, Langley Road, South Wootton, Kings Lynn, PE30 3UG (2 miles NE of town centre, +44 1553 731310. M-Sa 07:00-23:00. Su 10:00-16:00.

Morrisons, Coburg St, Kings Lynn, PE30 1RX, +44 1553 768596. M-Sa 07:00-22:00. Su 10:00-16:00. 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, 22 Tuesday Market Place, Kings Lynn, PE30 1JJ. Su-Th 11:30-22:30. F-Sa 11:30-23:00. Restaurant, take-away or delivery. Wi-Fi.
• Pearl River, John Kennedy Rd, King's Lynn, PE30 2AA, +44 1553 773288. M-Th 12:00-14:00 & 17:30-23:00. F-Sa 12:00-14:00 & 17:30- 23:30. Su 12:00-14:00 & 17:30-23:00. Restaurant or take-away. A-La-Carte or "All you can eat".
• Market Bistro, 11 Saturday Market Place, King's Lynn, PE30 5DQ, +44 1553 771483. Tu18:00-20:30. W-Th 12:00-14:00 & 18:00-20:30. F Sa 12:00-14:00 & 18:00-21:00. 1st Su of every month 12:00-15:00. Seasonal British food.
• Marriott's Warehouse, South Quay, King's Lynn, PE30 5DT, +44 1553 818500. Daily from 10:00.
• The Gatehouse, Kellard Place, Kings Lynn, PE30 5DD, +44 1553 766671. Daily 10:00-23:00. Free Wi-Fi.

Prezzo, 22 Tuesday Market Place, Kings Lynn, PE30 1JJ. Su-Th 11:30-22:30. F-Sa 11:30-23:00. Restaurant, take-away or delivery. Wi-Fi.

Pearl River, John Kennedy Rd, King's Lynn, PE30 2AA, +44 1553 773288. M-Th 12:00-14:00 & 17:30-23:00. F-Sa 12:00-14:00 & 17:30- 23:30. Su 12:00-14:00 & 17:30-23:00. Restaurant or take-away. A-La-Carte or "All you can eat".

Market Bistro, 11 Saturday Market Place, King's Lynn, PE30 5DQ, +44 1553 771483. Tu18:00-20:30. W-Th 12:00-14:00 & 18:00-20:30. F Sa 12:00-14:00 & 18:00-21:00. 1st Su of every month 12:00-15:00. Seasonal British food.

Marriott's Warehouse, South Quay, King's Lynn, PE30 5DT, +44 1553 818500. Daily from 10:00.

The Gatehouse, Kellard Place, Kings Lynn, PE30 5DD, +44 1553 766671. Daily 10:00-23:00. 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, 55 Valingers Road King's Lynn, PE30 5HD, +44 7825 338716 (mobile).
• Bar Red, 110 Norfolk St, King's Lynn, PE30 1AQ, +44 1553 772579. W 11:00-18:00. Th 11:00-23:00. F 11:00-01:00. Sa 11:00-02:00. Su 12:00-18:00. Live music F & Sa night.
• Florence Café, 21 St James St, Kings Lynn, PE30 5DA, +44 1553 770500. Tu-Sa 9:30-16:00.
• Crofters Coffee House, 27 King St, King's Lynn PE30 1ET, +44 1553 773134. M-Sa 09:30-15:00.
• The Wildfowler, Gayton Road, King's Lynn, PE30 4EL, +44 1553 770279. Tu 16:00-22:00. W-Sa 12:00-23:00. Su 12:00-21:00.

The Crossways, 55 Valingers Road King's Lynn, PE30 5HD, +44 7825 338716 (mobile).

Bar Red, 110 Norfolk St, King's Lynn, PE30 1AQ, +44 1553 772579. W 11:00-18:00. Th 11:00-23:00. F 11:00-01:00. Sa 11:00-02:00. Su 12:00-18:00. Live music F & Sa night.

Florence Café, 21 St James St, Kings Lynn, PE30 5DA, +44 1553 770500. Tu-Sa 9:30-16:00.

Crofters Coffee House, 27 King St, King's Lynn PE30 1ET, +44 1553 773134. M-Sa 09:30-15:00.

The Wildfowler, Gayton Road, King's Lynn, PE30 4EL, +44 1553 770279. Tu 16:00-22:00. W-Sa 12:00-23:00. Su 12:00-21:00.

• Nearest Accident & Emergency: The Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Gayton Road, King's Lynn, PE30 4ET (W edge of town on A149 and A1076 (Gayton Rd) junction. 24/7.
• Southgates Medical Centre, 41 Goodwins Rd, King's Lynn, PE30 5QX, +44 1553 819477. M-F 08:00-18:30.
• myDentist, 11 Purfleet Street, Kings Lynn, PE30 1ER, +44 1553 777330. M-F 08:30-18:00.
• The Clock Pharmacy, 1 Gayton Road, Gaywood, Kings Lynn, PE30 4EA, +44 1553 774716. M-F 09:00-18:00. Sa 09:00-17:30.

Nearest Accident & Emergency: The Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Gayton Road, King's Lynn, PE30 4ET (W edge of town on A149 and A1076 (Gayton Rd) junction. 24/7.

Southgates Medical Centre, 41 Goodwins Rd, King's Lynn, PE30 5QX, +44 1553 819477. M-F 08:00-18:30.

myDentist, 11 Purfleet Street, Kings Lynn, PE30 1ER, +44 1553 777330. M-F 08:30-18:00.

The Clock Pharmacy, 1 Gayton Road, Gaywood, Kings Lynn, PE30 4EA, +44 1553 774716. M-F 09:00-18:00. Sa 09:00-17:30.

• Post Office, 7 Norfolk St, Kings Lynn, PE30 1AR. M-Sa 09:00-17:30. Su 10:00-14:00.

Post Office, 7 Norfolk St, Kings Lynn, PE30 1AR. M-Sa 09:00-17:30. Su 10:00-14:00.

• 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.

[[North Norfolk]], with its popular seaside resorts including [[Hunstanton|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.