Thetford
Thetford is a town of 24,000 people (2011) in Norfolk, England. Thetford contains the ruins of Thetford Castle and Thetford Priory, which was closed during the Reformation.
Understand
Thetford is noted for being the birthplace of Thomas Paine, where a statue of him stands on King Street. The external scenes for the British comedy TV series Dad's Army were filmed in and around the town's flint buildings.
Get in
Map of Thetford
By road
The town lies on the Norwich to Newmarket A11 road. The A134 main road connects the town to King's Lynn to the N and to Bury St Edmunds to the S. The A1066 connects the town to Diss in the E.
By rail
- 1 Thetford Station, Station Road, Thetford, IP24 1AH. On the Breckland line connecting the town to Norwich to the E (usually 2 trains per hour) and Cambridge to the W (usually 1 train per hour) and to London Liverpool St to the S (usually 1 train per hour). It one of the best surviving pieces of 19th-century railway architecture in East Anglia.
By bicycle
- National Cycle Route 13. Runs from Bury St Edmunds to the S to Dereham to the N then connecting to National Cycle Route 1)
- The town also lies Regional Cycle Route 30 (connecting to Diss and beyond to the E and Brandon (Suffolk) and beyond to the W).
On foot
- 1 Peddars Way. (46 miles) long distance footpath ends 4 miles from the town in 1 Knettishall Heath. Running northwards from the town the path meets the Norfolk Coast Path in Hunstanton.
- 2 Icknield Way. A long-distance footpath (110 miles) from Ivinghoe Beacon in Chiltern Hills) also ends in Knettishall Heath though includes a Thetford link taking walkers into the town. The Icknield Way is probably the oldest road in Britain, dating back to prehistoric times.
- 3 Angles Way. A 93-mile-long distance footpath that runs to the town from Great Yarmouth
Get around
The town has a number of car parks, many free for a limited time. See Thetford Car Parks.
There are a number of local bus services.
The central town is small enough to see on foot.
See
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- 1 Grimes Graves, Prehistoric Flint Mine, Lynford, IP26 5DE, ☏ +44 1842 810656. Late Apr to early Nov. adults £7.50, children £4, concessions £6.50 (£2 more during peak periods).
- 2 Ancient House Museum, White Hart St, Thetford, Norfolk, IP24 1AA, ☏ +44 1842 752599. Apr–Sep: Tu–Sa 10AM-5PM; Oct–Mar: Tu–Sa 10AM-4PM. his museum situated on White Hart Street, is an oak-framed Tudor merchant's house. The museum holds replicas of the Thetford Treasure and has displays about flint knapping, rabbit warreners and wildlife in the brecks. You can also find out more about Thomas Paine and the Maharajah Duleep Singh. The Ancient House was gifted to the town by Prince Frederick Duleep Singh. £4.35 adult, £3.50 child. Other rates available..
- 3 Statue of Captain Mainwaring (From the TV Series Dad's Army), Anchor Court, Thetford, IP24 2AZ (beside bridge where Bridge St crosses Little Ouse river opposite Bell Hotel).
- 4 Dad's Army Museum, The Old Fire Station, Cage Lane, Thetford, IP24 2DS, ☏ +44 7562 688641 (mobile), dadsarmythetford@googlemail.com. Sa (Spring to Nov) and Tu (Norfolk school holidays) 10AM-3PM. Free.
- 5 Thetford Priory, Water Lane, Thetford, IP24 1BB. Apr-Sep: daily 8AM-6PM; Oct-Mar 8AM-4PM.
- 6 Thetford Castle (Castle Hill, Castle Mound and Military Parade). The ruins of a medieval motte and bailey castle. The first castle in Thetford, a probable 11th-century Norman ringwork called Red Castle, was replaced in the 12th century by a much larger motte and bailey castle on the other side of the town. This new castle was largely destroyed in 1173 by Henry II, although the huge motte, the second largest man-made mound in England, remained intact. The motte, recognised as a scheduled monument, now forms part of a local park.
- 7 Thetford Warren Lodge, Brandon Rd, Thetford. Daylight hours.
Do
- 2 Thetford Snooker Centre, Oddfellows Hall, Earls St, Thetford, IP24 2AD, ☏ +44 1842 765811. Daily 10AM-midnight.
- 3 Thetford Golf Club, Brandon Rd, Thetford, IP24 3NE, ☏ +44 1842 752169, secretary@thetfordgolfclub.co.uk.
Buy
- 1 Tesco Express (Convenience Store), 8 Norwich Rd, Thetford, IP24 2HT, ☏ +44 345 026 9373. Daily 6AM-11PM. ATMs.
- 2 Tesco (Superstore), Kilverstone, Thetford, IP24 2RL, ☏ +44 345 677 9681. M 6AM-midnight, Tu-Sa 24 hr, Su 10AM-4PM. Petrol. Pharmacy. ATMs. Wi-Fi. Cafe.
- 3 Sainsbury's (Supermarket), Forest Retail Park, London Rd Thetford, IP24 3QL, ☏ +44 1842 754580. M-Sa 8AM-10PM, Su 10AM-4PM. Petrol station & pharmacy (different opening hours).
Eat
- 1 The Mulberry, 11 Raymond St, Thetford, IP24 2EA, ☏ +44 1842 824 122. Tu-Sa 6PM-. Mediterranean & English style food. Locally sourced ingredients.
- 2 Chase (Pub & restaurant), Newtown, Thetford, IP24 3BN, ☏ +44 1842 763609, 1408@greeneking.co.uk. Bar: M-Th 11AM-11PM, F 11AM-midnight, Sa 10AM-midnight, Su 10AM-11PM; food: M-F 11AM-10PM, Sa Su 10AM-10PM. Free Wi-Fi.
- 3 Zaks (American Diner), Castle St, Thetford, IP24 2DP, ☏ +44 1842 750834. Daily 9AM-late (managers discretion).
- 4 Croxton Fish Bar (Take-away), 10 Anna Gurney Close, Thetford, IP24 1TA, ☏ +44 1842 766427. Tu-Sa 11:30AM-2PM & 4-9:30.
- 5 The Warrener (Pub & restaurant), Lynn-Wood, Brandon Rd, Thetford, IP24 3PG, ☏ +44 1842 826 120. M-F 6:30AM-11PM, Sa 7AM-11PM, Su 7AM-10:30PM.
Drink
- 1 The Red Lion (Pub), Market Pl, Thetford, IP24 2AL, ☏ +44 1842 757210. M-Th 8AM-11PM, F Sa 8AM-midnight, Su 8AM-11PM. Wi-Fi. Grade II listed building.
- 2 Costa Coffee, 14 King St, Thetford, IP24 2AP. M-Sa 8AM-6PM, Su 9AM-5PM.
- 3 Green Dragon (Pub), 5 Market Place, Thetford, IP24 2AJ, ☏ +44 1842 753111.
- 4 The Black Horse (Pub), 64 Magdalen St, Thetford, IP24 2BP, ☏ +44 1842 762717. Grade II listed building.
Sleep
- 1 Thomas Paine Hotel, 33 Whitehart St, Thetford, IP24 1AA, ☏ +44 1842 750372, enquiries@thethomaspainehotel.co.uk. Free Wi-Fi. 20 free parking spaces available. Has restaurant.
- 2 Travellodge, Bridge St, Thetford, IP24 3AF, ☏ +44 8715 591889 (premium rate). WiFi (free for 30 min per 24-hr period; £3 for 24-hr access). Free on-site parking.
- 3 Grange Farm House (B&B), Euston, Nr. Thetford, IP24 2QG, ☏ +44 1842 765446. Dogs allowed with advanced notice. No smoking. Wi-Fi.
- 4 [dead link] Bell Hotel, King Street, Thetford IP24 2AZ, ☏ +44 1842 754455, thebell.thetford@oldenglishinns.co.uk. Wi-Fi.
- 5 Wereham House, 24 White Hart St, Thetford IP24 1AD, ☏ +44 1842 761956.
- 6 Elveden Inn, Brandon Rd, Elveden IP24 3TP, ☏ +44 1842 890876. Pleasant pub with meals and rooms just of A11. B&B double £90.
Stay healthy
- 2 Nearest Accident & Emergency: West Suffolk Hospital (Casualty or the Emergency Room), Hardwick Lane, Bury St. Edmunds, IP33 2QZ (15 miles S of town). 24/7.
- 3 School Lane Surgery (GP/Primary Healthcare), School Lane, Thetford, IP24 2AG, ☏ +44 1842 753115. M-F 8:30AM-5PM.
- 4 mydentist (Dentist), 6 Townsend House, Guildhall St, Thetford, IP24 2DT, ☏ +44 1842 755373. M Tu 8:30AM-6PM, W 8:15AM-6PM, Th 8:30AM-6PM, F 8:15AM-5:15PM.
- 5 Tanner Street Pharmacy, 1 Tanner Court, Tanner Street, Thetford, IP24 2BQ, ☏ +44 1842 754590, tannerstreetpharmacy@yahoo.com. M-F 7AM-11PM, Sa 8AM-8PM, Su 10AM-6PM.
Connect
Thetford and its approach roads have 4G from all UK carriers. As of Sep 2022, 5G has not reached this area.
Go next
- Attleborough
- Brandon (Suffolk)
- Bury St Edmunds
- Diss
- Norwich
- Wymondham
| Routes through Thetford |
| Newmarket ← Mildenhall ← | SW  NE |
→ Attleborough → Norwich |