Farm Stay East Anglia

A DAY OUT IN KING'S LYNN

When staying in West Norfolk be sure not to miss the Medieval town of KING'S LYNN, where it is well worth spending a day. Although the centre of the town was spoilt in the 1960s much of the old part still remains intact. Start off at the Saturday Market Place and look around the magnificent ST. MARGARET'S CHURCH. There you will find one of King's Lynn's two Guildhalls. The GUILDHALL of the Holy Trinity, built in the 1420s which is now the town hall, housing tales of the OLD GOAL HOUSE and civic treasures including a magnificent set of charters dating back to the days of King John.

From the market place medieval streets run down to the quays with the OLD MERCHANTS HOUSES, here you will find the Hanseatic Warehouse built in the 1480's for German merchants on land bought by the King. The Hanseatic League was a union of German towns with the power of a nation state and the Hansa was granted liberties in Lynn in 1271, it was like an early Common Market.

From the Saturday market take a wander down Queen Street and King's Street and enjoy the wonderful architecture of the merchant's houses. At 46 Queen Street you will find the TOWN HOUSE MUSEUM of Lynn life where you can discover the merchants, tradesmen and families who for 900 years have made Lynn such a prosperous town.

You will also pass King's Lynn's other Guildhall, the GUILDHALL OF ST. GEORGE (National Trust), which is now a regional arts centre with a regular programme of daytime and evening events which people of all ages can enjoy. There are films, concerts and galleries. If you visit in July many of the Lynn Festival events are held here as well as Festival Too events (free events) in the TUESDAY MARKET PLACE just around the corner.

Today the Tuesday Market Place is used mainly as a car park, although markets are still held here every Tuesday. As you look at the wonderful architecture of the market place, which includes the recently refurbished 19 Century CORN EXCHANGE, providing the town with a magnificent concert hall. Try and imagine these buildings, which now house solicitor's offices and banks, as they were years before when they were merchant's houses. You could stop at THE DUKE'S HEAD hotel and enjoy a light lunch.

Go out of the market place via St. Nicholas Street where you will pass St. Nicholas's Chapel, although it looks more like a church. It is now only used for burials for people who were born in the North End, the old fishing community of King's Lynn. Just around the corner is TRUE'S YARD HERITAGE CENTRE with two fully restored fisherman's cottages plus a museum telling about the life of this fishing community and it is from here that you will be able to get the key if you want to look around ST. NICHOLAS' CHAPEL. To round off your day in King's Lynn you can enjoy afternoon tea in True's Yard.

When going out of King's Lynn take the A149 to Hunstanton and the coast where you will pass Sandringham House; ah, but that's another day!

If you enjoy cycling you may like to explore the North Sea Cycle Route which takes you through some lovely areas of the Norfolk Coast & Countryside

We have B&B accommodation and holiday cottages near Kings Lynn in Runcton Holme,  Pentney, Narborough, Castle Acre, Wisbech St Mary and Wisbech. 

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