Swaffham

Swaffham is a picturesque market town in the west of Norfolk. It has become famous in recent years as one of the principle filming locations for the ITV television series Kingdom.

Understand
Swaffham's wind turbines

The town grew to prominence during mediaeval times based on local agriculture. Historically a town whose prosperity came from sheep and wool and thus the town has an unusually large market place (for the population). Whilst many of the buildings have Georgian and Victorian facades on older mediaeval buildings.

Get in

By road

Swaffham is located just south where the west-east (Kings Lynn (15 miles) to Norwich (30 miles)) A47 and the south-north A1065 (London, Cambridge and Newmarket to Fakenham and North Norfolk) roads cross. These two busy routes provide Swaffham with a large volume of passing trade and travellers, especially at weekends and during the summer months.

By bus

Swaffham's most frequent and important bus connection is the Excell X1 regional bus. Services call every half hour (Monday to Saturday) or hourly (Sundays) in both directions:

Passengers travelling by train to or from Peterborough can buy a through rail ticket to/from Swaffham on the X1 bus, thereby saving on the combined cost of train and bus tickets.

Swaffham has daily National Express service on two routes:

and

Details of additional rural bus routes between Swaffham and neighbouring towns and villages can be found on the website of Traveline East Anglia or by calling the National Traveline service on 0870-608-2-608.

By train

There are stations on different lines, approximately equidistant to Swaffham.

  • Downham Market is 25 km (15 miles) west, for services north to Kings Lynn and south Ely, Cambridge and London King's Cross.
  • Brandon 25 km (15 miles) south, for services east to Thetford, Attleborough, Wymondham and Norwich and west to Ely and Cambridge. Cross country trains from the northwest and midlands do not stop at Brandon, but they do stop at Thetford, which is just a few miles further away from Swaffham than Brandon.

By bicycle & On foot
  • 🌍 Peddars Way. Long distance footpath (46 miles) passes close by the town. Much of the path can be used by cyclists. The path runs from Hunstanton on the North Norfolk Coast to close to Thetford (updated Jun 2017)

Get around

Swaffham is small enough to be easily explored on foot. There are a number of public transport options within the town itself (excluding train services).

See
Oxburgh Hall

Do

Buy

Markets
  • 🌍 Saturday Market, Market Place, Swaffham, PE37 7AB, ☎ +44 1760 722922, e-mail: . S 09:00-16:00. The market square is occupied with stalls, and the town is usually bustling with people from surrounding towns and villages. Fresh meat, fish, fruit and vegetables are widely available, as well as more specialised local produce. (updated May 2017)
  • 🌍 Indoor Friday Market, Assembly Rooms, Market Place, Swaffham, PE37 7AB, ☎ +44 7957 862239 (mobile). F 09:00-14:00. Around 20 stalls. (updated May 2017)

Supermarkets
  • 🌍 Waitrose, Castle Acre Rd, Swaffham, PE37 7HT, ☎ +44 1760 336307. M-Th 07:30-20:00. F 07:30-21:00. Sa 07:30-20:00. Su 10:00-16:00. Petrol station (different hours). ATMs. Cafe. Payphone. (updated May 2017)
  • 🌍 Adsa, Lynn St, Swaffham, PE37 7AU, ☎ +44 1760 774500. M-Sa 07:00-23:00. Su 10:00-16:00. ATMs (updated May 2017)

Eat

Drink

The Grey Hound in Swaffham is a family friendly pub with seating out front and a pub garden. Very welcoming.

Red Lion
The Greyhound Inn

Sleep

Connect
  • 🌍 Post Office, 49-51 Market Place, Swaffham, PE37 7LE. (updated May 2017)

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