North Walsham

North Walsham is in Norfolk. North Walsham is home to the Norfolk Motorcycle Museum.

Understand

Through the 13th and 14th centuries Flemish weavers settled in the town making it a centre for wool and weaving industries. The town flourished as evidenced by the massive parish Church of St. Nicholas. In the 18th century the church was given an appropriately massive tower (the only higher church tower in the area being Norwich Cathedral). Unfortunately enthusiasm was greater than structural engineering skills and in 1724 the day following a long bell ringing sessions with a particularly heavy set of bells, two sides of the tower collapsed! There have been plans to re-build the tower but all have been abandoned so the tower ruins can still be seen today.

The Market Cross in the centre of town was built as a base for rent collectors for the town market stalls.

Norfolk still takes great pride in the fact that Vice Admiral Horatio Lord Nelson (1771-1805) was born and brought-up in the county. He attended Paston Sixth Form College in the town until age 12 (when he went on to Norwich). He later went on to achieve many naval victories, maybe the most famous being at the Battle of Trafalgar (1805).

Today the town is mainly residential, catering for the local population.

Get in

The town lies on the A149 between Cromer (9 miles) and Great Yarmouth (25 miles). The B1145 to the west connects the town to the A140 main road to Norwich and Cromer.

Trains run hourly from Norwich, taking 25 min to North Walsham and continuing to Cromer and Sheringham.

The 🌍 railway station is south side of town next to the Motorcycle Museum. It's just an unstaffed platform halt, with ticket machines but no kiosk, and no toilets. There's step-free access to both platforms, though the ramp is steep for Platform 2 from Norwich towards Sheringham.

Sanders Coaches operate a number of services between the town and Norwich, Holt, Cromer, Great Yarmouth and other destinations.

Get around

The town is small enough to see and get around on foot.

See
  • 🌍 Church of St Nicholas. In the era when the size of your church (and in particular the height of your church tower) reflected the prosperity and status of your town, in 1924 North Walsham truly experienced "pride comes before a fall" as their 2nd highest church tower in the area collapsed; the ruins of the tower still remain today as plans to re-built have never come to fruition. However only the tower collapsed and the church is still in use and can be visited today. (updated May 2017)
  • 🌍 Gunton Park Sawmill, Hanworth NR11 7HH, ☏ +44 1263 768170. Open once a month Apr-Sept. Remarkable thatched building and mechanism installed in 1820. One waterwheel powers a huge reciprocating saw which still functions, the second powered a circular saw. Adult £3, child free. (updated Jun 2021)
  • Norfolk Motorcycle Museum, Norwich Road, ☏ +44 1692 406 266. M 10AM-4PM, Tu-F 10AM-4:40PM, Sa 10AM-2:30PM. A privately owned collection of 150 motorcycles from 1900s to the 1980s. Toys are also on display, particularly die-cast toys. (updated Mar 2024)
  • North Walsham Heritage Centre, Vicarage Street, ☏ +44 1692 218220. Oct-Apr: M-F 10AM-2PM, Sa 11AM-1PM. The Heritage Centre displays information and artefacts on the whole range of the town's history. (updated Mar 2024)

Do
  • 🌍 Victory Swim & Fitness Centre (Gym, Swimming Pool & Studio), Station Rd, North Walsham, NR28 0DZ, ☏ +44 1692 409370. M-Th 6:30AM-9:30PM, F 7AM-9:30PM, Sa 7AM-6PM, Su 09AM-6PM. (updated May 2017)
  • 🌍 Strikers (Tenpin Bowling), Aylsham Rd, North Walsham, NR28 0JQ, ☏ +44 1692 407793. 9:30AM-late. Adult 1 game £5.20, 2 games £8.80; child 1 game £4.30, 2 games £7.40. (updated May 2017)
  • 🌍 Bacton Woods, 3½ miles E of town. 280 acres of woodland with marked woodland walks & cycle routes. Parking. (updated May 2017)
  • 🌍 Stompers (Children's Adventure Playground), Aylsham Rd, North Walsham, NR28 0JQ, ☏ +44 1692 407793. Su-Th 9:30AM-6PM, F Sa 9:30AM-7PM. (updated May 2017)

Buy
  • 🌍 Sainsbury's (Supermarket), Bacton Rd, North Walsham, NR28 9DS, ☏ +44 1692 500498. M-Th 8AM-9PM, F Sa 7:30AM-9PM, Su 10AM-4PM. Petrol station (longer hours). ATMs. (updated May 2017)
  • 🌍 Lidl (Supermarket), 7 Yarmouth Rd, North Walsham, NR28 9AS. M-Sa 8AM-10PM, Su 10AM-4PM. (updated May 2017)
  • 🌍 Roys (Department Store), Yarmouth Rd, North Walsham, NR28 9BW, ☏ +44 1692 501058. M Tu 9AM-5:30PM, W-F 9AM-8PM, Sa 9AM-6PM, Su 10AM-4PM. (updated May 2017)

Eat
  • 🌍 Three Cottages Fish Restaurant (Restaurant & Take-away), 16 Bacton Rd, North Walsham, NR28 9DR, ☏ +44 1692 403819. Tu W 11:45AM-last orders 1:45PM & 4:30PM-last orders 8PM, Th-Sa 11:45AM-last orders 1:45PM & 4:30PM-last orders 8:30PM. (updated May 2017)
  • 🌍 Lambone (Indian Restaurant), 13a Mundesley Rd, North Walsham, NR28 0DA, ☏ +44 1692 500062. Daily 5-10:30PM. (updated May 2017)
  • 🌍 Chubby Panda (Chinese Restaurant & Take-away), 22 Market St, North Walsham, NR28 9BZ, ☏ +44 1692 500920, . Tu-Th 11:30AM-2:30PM & 5-10:30PM, F Sa 11:30AM-2:30PM & 5-11PM, Su 11:30AM-2:30PM & 5-10:30PM. (updated May 2017)
  • 🌍 Bocadillo (Baguettes/Sandwiches Take-away), 44 Market Place, North Walsham, NR28 9BT, ☏ +44 7947 759034 (mobile). M-Sa 7:30AM-2:15PM. (updated May 2017)

There are also many take-aways in the town centre.

Drink

Sleep

Connect

As of May 2022, North Walsham has 4G from EE, O2 and Vodafone, but only a patchy mobile signal from Three. 5G has not reached this area.

Go next
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