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town in Norfolk, England
Europe > Britain and Ireland > United Kingdom > England > East of England > Norfolk (England) > 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

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Thomas Paine Statue

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

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Map
Map of Thetford

By road

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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

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  • 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. Thetford railway station (Q2691707) on Wikidata Thetford railway station on Wikipedia (updated Apr 2017)

By bicycle

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On foot

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  • 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. Peddars Way (Q2066153) on Wikidata Peddars Way on Wikipedia (updated Jun 2017)
  • 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. Icknield Way Path (Q12060665) on Wikidata Icknield Way Path on Wikipedia (updated Jun 2017)
  • 3 Angles Way. A 93-mile-long distance footpath that runs to the town from Great Yarmouth Angles Way (Q4763379) on Wikidata Angles Way on Wikipedia (updated Jun 2017)

Get around

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Nuns' Bridges

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.

Thetford Priory
Captain Mainwaring Statue from Dad's Army TV series
Ancient House
  • 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). Grime's Graves (Q638485) on Wikidata Grime's Graves on Wikipedia (updated Mar 2024)
  • 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.. Ancient House Museum (Q17535143) on Wikidata (updated Apr 2017)
  • 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). (updated Apr 2017)
  • 4 Dad's Army Museum, The Old Fire Station, Cage Lane, Thetford, IP24 2DS, ☏ +44 7562 688641 (mobile), . Sa (Spring to Nov) and Tu (Norfolk school holidays) 10AM-3PM. Free. Dad's Army Museum (Q20744023) on Wikidata Dad's Army Museum on Wikipedia (updated Apr 2017)
  • 5 Thetford Priory, Water Lane, Thetford, IP24 1BB. Apr-Sep: daily 8AM-6PM; Oct-Mar 8AM-4PM. Thetford Priory (Q7783570) on Wikidata Thetford Priory on Wikipedia (updated Apr 2017)
  • 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. Thetford Castle (Q7783566) on Wikidata Thetford Castle on Wikipedia (updated Mar 2024)
  • 7 Thetford Warren Lodge, Brandon Rd, Thetford. Daylight hours. Thetford Warren Lodge (Q17662801) on Wikidata (updated Apr 2017)
  • 1 Tesco Express (Convenience Store), 8 Norwich Rd, Thetford, IP24 2HT, ☏ +44 345 026 9373. Daily 6AM-11PM. ATMs. (updated Apr 2017)
  • 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. (updated Apr 2017)
  • 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). (updated Apr 2017)
  • 1 The Mulberry, 11 Raymond St, Thetford, IP24 2EA, ☏ +44 1842 824 122. Tu-Sa 6PM-. Mediterranean & English style food. Locally sourced ingredients. (updated Apr 2017)
  • 2 Chase (Pub & restaurant), Newtown, Thetford, IP24 3BN, ☏ +44 1842 763609, . 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. (updated Apr 2017)
  • 3 Zaks (American Diner), Castle St, Thetford, IP24 2DP, ☏ +44 1842 750834. Daily 9AM-late (managers discretion). (updated Apr 2017)
  • 4 Croxton Fish Bar (Take-away), 10 Anna Gurney Close, Thetford, IP24 1TA, ☏ +44 1842 766427. Tu-Sa 11:30AM-2PM & 4-9:30. (updated Apr 2017)
  • 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. (updated Apr 2017)

Drink

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  • 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. (updated Apr 2017)
  • 2 Costa Coffee, 14 King St, Thetford, IP24 2AP. M-Sa 8AM-6PM, Su 9AM-5PM. (updated Apr 2017)
  • 3 Green Dragon (Pub), 5 Market Place, Thetford, IP24 2AJ, ☏ +44 1842 753111. (updated Apr 2017)
  • 4 The Black Horse (Pub), 64 Magdalen St, Thetford, IP24 2BP, ☏ +44 1842 762717. Grade II listed building. (updated Apr 2017)

Sleep

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Stay healthy

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Connect

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Thetford and its approach roads have 4G from all UK carriers. As of Sep 2022, 5G has not reached this area.

Go next

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  • Attleborough
  • Brandon (Suffolk)
  • Bury St Edmunds
  • Diss
  • Norwich - once England's second city, Norwich is know for its medieval heritage, shopping, and the arts.
  • Ely - a mini cathedral city/market town, Ely is about 25 minutes from Thetford by train.
  • Wymondham
Routes through Thetford
Newmarket ← Mildenhall ←  SW  NE  → Attleborough → Norwich


This city travel guide to Thetford is a usable article. It has information on how to get there and on restaurants and hotels. An adventurous person could use this article, but please feel free to improve it by editing the page.
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