Harleston is a small market town in Norfolk close to the River Waveney and the Suffolk border. A charming town with lots of Georgian houses, alleyways, character, etc. to explore, but from a visitor's perspective the town is a working town and mainly caters for locals. Visitors are more likely to visit the town for the surrounding countryside which has much to offer.
Understand
[edit]
Harleston was first called Herolf'ston (from the Danish leader Herolf in the around 1010 who settled in the area). Although there is no record of a royal charter, the town is thought to have held a weekly market since the mid-1300s and still holds a Wednesday market.
The parish is called Redenhall with Harleston which includes the adjoining village of Redenhall.
Get in
[edit]By road
[edit]The town lies on the A143 main road running to Great Yarmouth to the NE and Diss to the SW, continuing on to Bury St Edmunds. At Diss the A143 connects to the A140 connecting to Norwich northbound and Stowmarket and the A14 southbound. Free parking can be found at Bullock Fair, next to the Co op supermarket. There is a fuel station on the main road at the southern end of the town centre.
By rail
[edit]The town used to have a railway station but it closed in 1953 and now has no rail connections. The nearest station now is Diss, on the London-Norwich mainline.
By bus
[edit]The town is served by Bus Service with connections to Bungay (route 80A), to Norwich via Long Stratton (route 83) and Norwich via Hempnall (route 84).
By bicycle
[edit]The town is on Regional Cycle Route (RCR) 30 that runs from Lowestoft to Thetford and beyond. RCR 30 meets and crosses National Cycle Route (NCR) 1} around 12 miles NE of the town, NCR 1 running the length of the UK (1,700 miles) from Shetland Islands to Dover. To the west of Diss RCR 30 connects to National cycle Route 13 which runs from the North Norfolk Coast south to Colchester.
On foot
[edit]- 1 Angles Way. Long distance footpath (93 mi (150 km)) from Great Yarmouth to Thetford) through the town
Get around
[edit]
The town is small enough to be seen on foot.
See
[edit]- 1 Norfolk & Suffolk Aviation Museum, The Street, Flixton, Bungay, NR35 1NZ (5 miles NE of town), ☏ +44 1986 896644, nsam.flixton@tesco.net. Apr-Oct: Su-Th 10AM-5PM; Nov-Mar: Tu W Su 10AM-4PM. Free (donations appreciated).
- 2 Oasis Camel Park, Orchard Farm, Linstead, Halesworth, IP19 0DT (7 miles SE of town), ☏ +44 7836 734748 (mobile), info@oasiscamelpark.co.uk. Daily 10:30AM-5PM. Well-behaved dogs on leads welcome. £8.50 adult, £8 concessions, £7.50 child.
Do
[edit]Canoeing
[edit]- 1 Rowan Craft Ltd, Wherry Dyke, Geldeston, Beccles, NR34 0LY (12½ miles E of Long Stratton), ☏ +44 1508 518208. 8:30AM-1PM, 2-5PM. Day boat hire 3 hr £50, all day (6 hr) £80. Canoe hire 3 hr £23, all day £35 per canoe; two- and three-man canoes available.
Fishing
[edit]- 2 Weybread Pits (Harleston angling club), nigelangling14@hotmail.com. Day and week tickets available. Day 1 rod £6. Week 1 rod £20. Day 2 rods £9. Week 2 rods £40..
Buy
[edit]
- 1 Co-op Supermarket, Bullock Fair Close, Harleston, IP20 9AT, ☏ +44 1379 854310. M-Sa 8AM-10PM, Su 10AM-4PM.
- 2 Adnams Store, 23 The Thoroughfare, Harleston, IP20 9AS (Behind The Cardinal's Hat Pub), ☏ +44 1379 854 788, harleston@adnams.co.uk. M-Sa 10AM-6PM. Beer shop (off-licence).
- 3 Wednesday Market, Market Place. W 6AM-4PM. Small (approx 10 stalls) weekly market with fishmonger, greengrocer, card shop, DIY tools, flowers & plants, etc.
Eat
[edit]- 1 Momiji (Japanese Restaurant and Bar), The Cherry Tree, 74 London Rd, Harleston, IP20 9BZ, ☏ +44 1379 852288. M Tu Th-Sa from 6PM. Booking advisable.
- 2 The Old Kings Head (Cafe, Restaurant & Bar), 50 The St, Brockdish, IP21 4JY, ☏ +44 1379 668843. Tu-Th 10AM-8PM, F Sa 10AM-11PM, Su 10AM-9PM. Well behaved dogs on a lead until 6PM.
- 3 Taste of Raj (Indian Restaurant & take-away), 20-24 Broad St, Harleston, IP20 9AZ, ☏ +44 1379 853587. Daily 5:30-11PM.
- 4 The Buck Inn, The Street, Flixton, Bungay NR35 1NZ, ☏ +44 1986 896883. M–Sa 10AM–11PM; Su 10AM–10:30PM. A very good option for an afternoon cream tea (£20 per person). £10 lunch; from £15 dinner.
Drink
[edit]- 1 The Cardinals Hat (Pub), 23 The Thoroughfare, Harleston, IP20 9AS, ☏ +44 1379 853748.
- 2 The Apiary Cake and Coffee House, 3 Thoroughfare, Harleston, IP20 9AH, ☏ +44 1379 852211, bees@apiaryharleston.com. M-Sa 8:30AM-4:30PM. Café, hampers, delicatessen,
- 3 Tudor Bakehouse, 15 The Thoroughfare, Harleston, IP20 9AH, ☏ +44 1379 854855. M-Sa 7AM-4:30PM. Coffee shop and bakers.
- 4 The Red Lion Pub, 117 High Rd, Needham, IP20 9LG, ☏ +44 1379 853930, redlion@theredlionneedham.co.uk. Tu-F noon-3PM (last orders for food 2PM) & 6PM-late (last orders for food 9PM), Sa noon-3PM (last orders for food 2PM) & 6PM-late (last orders for food 9PM), Su noon-6PM (last orders for food 4PM).
Sleep
[edit]- 1 The Swan Hotel, 19 The Thoroughfare, Harleston, IP20 9AS, ☏ +44 1379 852221, harlestonswan@btinternet.com. Check-in: 2PM, check-out: 11AM. Accommodation, restaurant, pub. 3* Single B&B from £60. Double B&B from £85.
- 2 Chameleon House (B&B), 3 Redenhall Rd, Harleston, IP20 9EN, ☏ +44 1379 852030, enquiries@chameleonhouse.co.uk. £90-110 (per night, two adults sharing). Discounts for longer stays.
- 3 J. D. Young (Hotel & Restaurant), 2-4 Market Place, Harleston, IP20 9AD, ☏ +44 1379 852822, enquiries@jdyoung.co.uk.
Stay healthy
[edit]- 1 Nearest Accident & Emergency: Norfolk & Norwich University Hospital (Casualty or the Emergency Room), Colney Lane, Norwich, NR4 7UY (22 miles N of town). 24/7.
- 2 Harleston Medical Practice (GP or Primary Healthcare), Bullock Fair Surgery, Bullock Fair Close, Harleston, IP20 9AT, ☏ +44 1379 853217. M Tu 8:30AM-6:30PM, W 8:30AM-6PM, Th F 8:30AM-6:30PM.
- 3 Oasis Dental Care, 24-26 Redenhall Rd, Harleston, IP20 9ER, ☏ +44 1379 854466. M 8AM-7PM, Tu 8AM-5:30PM, W 8AM-7PM, Th 8AM-6PM, F 8AM-5:30PM, Sa 8AM-1PM.
- 4 Boots Pharmacy, 17 The Thoroughfare , Harleston, IP20 9AH, ☏ +44 1379 852338. M-F 9AM-6PM, Sa 9AM-5PM.
Connect
[edit]As of Sep 2022, Harleston and its approach roads have 4G from EE, O2, Three and Vodafone. 5G has not reached this area.