Just 1hr 45 minutes from London and 55 minutes from Cambridge lies the Hanseatic town of King’s Lynn. Lynn was one of England’s most important ports from as early as the 12th century and this maritime past is still very much in evidence today. Fine old merchants’ houses stretch down to the river between cobbled lanes and the elegant Custom House overlooks the harbour. The town’s heritage is reflected in an amazing array of historic buildings and at two magnificent market places: Saturday Market Place, where St Margaret’s Church, designated as a Minster Church in 2011 by the Bishop of Norwich, is surrounded by splendid buildings and Tuesday Market Place, quite possibly one of England’s grandest squares.
This itinerary is based on catching the train to King’s Lynn but if you come by car, then you’ll have lots more options for accommodation with tranquil stays at Watatunga, and other out of town venues.
Take the train to King’s Lynn train station. This is the great northern train from King’s Cross to King’s Lynn, it usually departs from platform 9 at King’s Cross and platform 4 at Cambridge. Please check all train times and platform numbers as things do change. Train times can be found on the National Rail website and also from Greater Anglia.
By car take the M11 from London, after passing Cambridge take the A14 towards Ely, from the A14 come off at Ely and follow the A10 north. From Cambridge take the A10 north from Milton.
Lunch:
After your journey to King’s Lynn take a moment to sit down, relax, and enjoy a delicious, lunch at one of our fabulous local eateries. True’s Yard, Norbury’s, and Cobbles to name a few. More can be found on the King’s Lynn food and drink guide.
True’s Yard:
King’s Lynn started off it’s existence as a fishing village on the banks of the Ouse at the edge of the Wash. True’s Yard is a heritage site and town museum celebrating the fishing community of the North End which made a significant contribution to Lynn’s economic and social life for 900 years. It it well worth a visit with regular art exhibitions, the museum, and a delightful tea rooms. Visit True’s Yard
Check-in:
King’s Lynn has a number of hotels along with B&B’s and guest houses. In the town centre and best, location wise, for a weekend trip are the Duke’s Head, Bank House, and The Globe. Slightly further out of town you’ve got The Grange, The Old Rectory, Stuart House Hotel, and The Russet House.
Take a Walk:
After checking in why not stretch your legs and go for a wander. Meander through The Walks where you’ll find Red Mount Chapel (check for opening times as it’s run by volunteers), slow down and enjoy Tower Gardens and Greyfriars Tower. We also have a number of walks ans trails around the town, available for download.
Dinner:
As evening rolls around you’ll be spoilt for choice when it comes to where to eat. The question is, what do you feel like having tonight? Liquor & Loaded do a complete dining experience with American cuisine. Rathskellar and Marriott’s Warehouse both offer excellent dining experiences down by the quay. Mem’s Kitchen is a firm local favourite offering delicious Mediterranean cuisine. The Wenn’s offer delicious food under the shadow of King’s Lynn Minster.
After Dinner Entertainment:
King’s Lynn is the cultural centre for west Norfolk with shows and experiences every night across the town. The Guildhall offers a range of evening events and productions, as does the Corn Exchange. The Majestic is our local movie theatre with stunning architecture (make sure to look up). Whatahoot and The Rusty Krab both offer alcoholic experiences. Take a look at our What’s On for a range of upcoming events.
Start off your second day slow and lazy like the Norfolk people tend to do. Enjoy the sunshine (fingers crossed) or cosy up by the fire, and start the day with a cuppa.
Breakfast:
If you’re lucky enough to stay at somewhere providing breakfast then you’ll be able to have breakfast on site and believe us, you’re in for a treat. If you’d rather go out for breakfast then Poco Lounge or Cafe Roasta both do amazing breakfasts.
Guided Walk:
After a leisurely breakfast why not take a guided tour around King’s Lynn with the highly knowledgeable Town Guides of King’s Lynn. Tours last roughly 2hrs and take you around the town showing you hidden gems and revealing secrets of old. Most of the tour guides are locals themselves and know the town like the back of their hands, not only will you learn about the town but you’ll be learning from a local Lynnette (The nickname for King’s Lynn locals). Walks can be booked online and we recommend doing so in advance so as not to miss out.
Lunch Time:
Before catching the train home why not grab lunch at one of the eateries you haven’t tried yet and soak in those last couple of hours in King’s Lynn.
On the Train Home:
After a fabulous weekend in King’s Lynn don’t forget to tag us in your photos and posts from the weekend using #visitwestnorfolk or @visitwnorfolk
*All information is accurate at the time of this blog post being published (17/07/24).
There's no need to leave your doggy pals at home when you visit - west Norfolk is famously dog-friendly!
