Townapedia
-2019-02-19 Black Swan public house, Black Swan Loke, North Walsham
-2019-02-19 Black Swan public house, Black Swan Loke, North Walsham · Kolforn ( Kolforn ) I'd appreciate if you could mail me..., CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-08-08 North Walsham parish church bell tower
2018-08-08 North Walsham parish church bell tower · Kolforn ( Kolforn ) I'd appreciate if you could mail me..., CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-08-08 Arnolds Keys Estate agent, Market Place, North Walsham
2018-08-08 Arnolds Keys Estate agent, Market Place, North Walsham · Kolforn ( Kolforn ) I'd appreciate if you could mail me..., CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-08-08 Watson's Estate agent, Market Place, North Walsham
2018-08-08 Watson's Estate agent, Market Place, North Walsham · Kolforn ( Kolforn ) I'd appreciate if you could mail me..., CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-08-08 Bocadillos, Market Place, North Walsham
2018-08-08 Bocadillos, Market Place, North Walsham · Kolforn ( Kolforn ) I'd appreciate if you could mail me..., CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-06-18 Bank of Santander, Market Place, North Walsham
2018-06-18 Bank of Santander, Market Place, North Walsham · Kolforn ( Kolforn ) I'd appreciate if you could mail me..., CC BY-SA 4.0

North Walsham, United Kingdom

North Walsham is a town of 13,007 people in England, United Kingdom.

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Population13,007 GeoNames
RegionEngland
Elevation128 ft 39 m
Time zoneEurope/London
Land area6.7 sq mi 1,951 people per sq mi
Nearest airportNorwich Airport (NWI) 11 mi
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Why visit North Walsham

Townapedia lists 2 museums and landmarks, 7 parks and trails, 33 places to eat, 11 places to stay and 1 attraction in and around town.

Highlights include Black Swan Theater, Norfolk Motorcycle Museum, The Shrubs and Pigneys Wood.

About North Walsham

North Walsham is a market town and civil parish in the North Norfolk district of the county of Norfolk, England. The town is located 8 mi (13 km) south of Cromer and Norwich is 15 mi (24 km) south.

From the Wikipedia article North Walsham (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Travel tips from other travellers: North Walsham on Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0).

Photos of North Walsham

Things to do1

Black Swan Theater

Cinema and theater

Black Swan Loke, North Walsham

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Museums and landmarks2

Norfolk Motorcycle Museum

Museum

1-2 Norwich Road, North Walsham

Mo-Su 10:00-16:00

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The Shrubs

Monument and historic site

The writer Agatha Christie wrote many of her works here in the summerhouse and used to stay in room #9. There is Agatha Christie...

20 Cromer Road, North Walsham

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Parks, trails and playgrounds7

Pigneys Wood

Park · 1.3 mi

Woodland area

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Knapton Cutting

Park · 1.9 mi

Park

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Felmingham Cutting

Park · 2.4 mi

Park in United Kingdom

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Acorn Road Play Park and Recreational Area

Park · 0.6 mi

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North Walsham Memorial Park

Park

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North Walsham Memorial Park Play Area

Playground

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Trackside Park

Park

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Restaurants and cafes33

The White Swan

Bar and pub

12 Church Street, North Walsham

Mo-Sa 12:00-23:00; Su 12:00-22:30

Open in Google Maps · +44 1692 402354

Kings Arms Hotel

Bar and pub

Pub and Hotel

Kings Arms Street, North Walsham

Open in Google Maps · +44 1692 403054

The Olive Tree

Restaurant · Regional · 0.8 mi

1 Bacton Road, North Walsham

Mo-Th 08:00-10:30,12:00-15:00,18:00-21:00; Fr...

Open in Google Maps · +44 1692 404900

Costa Coffee

Cafe · Coffee Shop

35-36 Market Place, North Walsham

Mo-Fr 06:30-18:00; Sa 07:00-17:30; Su 07:30-16:00

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The Bluebell Freehouse

Bar and pub · 0.7 mi

Bacton Road, North Walsham

Mo-Sa 11:00-23:00; Su 12:00-23:00

Open in Google Maps · +44 1692 404800

JR's

Restaurant · Regional · 0.8 mi

Stomp, Dine, Strike

Open in Google Maps · +44 1692 407793

The Peasants' Tavern

Bar and pub

Cosy and welcoming pub/bar specialising in authentic pie & mash

18 Market Street, North Walsham

Open in Google Maps · +44 1692 407662

Coffeesmiths

Cafe · Coffee Shop

31 Market Place, North Walsham

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Christopher's

Cafe

4 Church Street, North Walsham

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Hop In

Bar and pub

2 Market Street, North Walsham

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Shambles

Cafe

6 Market Street, North Walsham

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Cafe Kitale

Restaurant

4 St Nicholas Court, North Walsham

Open in Google Maps · +44 1692 405754

21 more on the map.

History

The name Walsham derives from the Old English walhshām meaning 'Walh's village'.

North Walsham, an Anglo-Saxon settlement, and the neighbouring village of Worstead became very prosperous from the twelfth century through the arrival of weavers from Flanders. The two settlements gave their names to the textiles they produced: 'Walsham' became the name of a lightweight cloth for summer wear, and 'Worsted' a heavier cloth. The fourteenth century 'wool churches' are a testament to the prosperity of the local mill owners. North Walsham's church of St. Nicholas was originally dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary and is one of the UK's largest parish churches. It was also the site of a wayside shrine to St. Thomas of Canterbury. This church had the second-tallest steeple in Norfolk until its collapse in 1724. Plans for its rebuilding were abandoned at the outbreak of the Second World War. The ruined tower dominates the town centre and is a famous landmark of the area, visible from many miles away. In the parish church of St. Nicholas can be found the ornate tomb of Sir William Paston; the remains of medieval painted screens; a telescopic Gothic font canopy; a unique royal arms board; an ancient iron-bound chest; and many other ancient artefacts.

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North Walsham was involved in the Peasants' Revolt of 1381. The peasants' leaders were defeated at the Battle of North Walsham and the site is marked by a wayside stone near the town's water towers.

The Great Fire of North Walsham took place on 25 June 1600. It began at six o'clock in the morning from a house occupied by a person with the surname of Dowle. Dowle subsequently fled and was captured and placed in gaol. The fire was devastating and destroyed 118 homes, 70 shops, the market cross, and market stalls. Although the church caught fire in five places, the building was mostly undamaged. It provided shelter for people whilst the town was being rebuilt.

The English naval hero, Horatio Nelson, and his brother, William, were educated at Paston Grammar School in North Walsham, founded by Sir William Paston (of Paston Letters fame) in 1606. Nelson left the school to start his naval career at the age of eleven. The school became Paston College in 1984.

William Suffolk, who murdered one Mary Beck, was gibbeted on the outskirts of North Walsham after his execution on Castle Hill in Norwich in 1797, remaining there until the enclosure of the parish.

During World War II, a North Walsham man lost his life when his Royal Air Force training aeroplane crashed in the United States. Local residents living near the site, in the State of Oklahoma, erected a monument in 2000 honouring the lives of all four RAF fliers who perished. The residents, who include Choctaw Native American People, and the Choctaw Nation government, continue honouring the lives of all four on each anniversary of the crashes, which took place in February 1943.

As part of the millennium celebrations, ten mosaics were commissioned, showing scenes from local history, including the Peasants' Revolt and the Great Fire of North Walsham, and a picture of a Norfolk wherry – an allusion to the canal.

North Walsham Picturedrome opened in King Arms Street around 1912 and survived until around September 1931. In 1931 the Regal Cinema opened in New Road and was open until 1979. When the Regal closed, the building was turned into a Vauxhall car dealership and later a Plant hire business, but in 2018 was knocked down to make room for housing..

From the History section of North Walsham on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.

More about North Walsham

Arts and culture

The town's park features an oak tree sculpture commemorating the battle of the Peasants' Revolt at North Walsham in 1381, and the Agricultural Workers Union being founded in the town in 1906. It is constructed from a 120-year-old tree that was diseased and was due to be felled. The sculpture was unveiled in September 1999.

The Black Swan Theatre, part of the Black Swan Public House and Theatre, is operated by New Stages, a not-for-profit Community Interest Company. They won 'Best (Pub) for Entertainment' at the Great British Pub Awards 2026. Previously, North Walsham had a Fisher Theatre (part of the Fisher family theatre circuit) 1828–1845, and the Atrium, a £5.3 million arts and education development attached to North Walsham High School, which was opened to the wider community 2012–2016.

North Walsham is home to the North Walsham Heritage Centre. The Heritage Centre displays information and artefacts on the whole range of the town's history. It is also home to the Norfolk Motorcycle Museum, a privately owned collection of around 80 motorcycles dating up to 1960. Toys are also on display, particularly die-cast toys.

North Walsham Ghost Walks (and themed historical tours) have been running in the town since 2013. They run throughout the year with themed walks around Halloween.

Education

North Walsham High School is an academy school for pupils aged 11 to 16 located in the town. The school is administered by Enrich Learning Trust. The school converted from community school status in October 2019.

From the Wikipedia article North Walsham, under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Notable people from North Walsham

Born in North Walsham, according to Wikidata (CC0). Each name links to its Wikipedia article.

Where to stay11

Churches and places of worship12

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Shopping9

Gas and EV charging1

Schools, colleges and libraries7

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Healthcare4

Map of North Walsham

87 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.

Getting there and nearby towns

Norwich Airport (NWI) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 11 miles away.

  • Trunch 3 mi north, about 5 min by car
  • Gimingham 4 mi north, about 6 min by car
  • Mundesley 4 mi northeast, about 7 min by car
  • Norwich 14 mi south, about 22 min by car
  • Thetford 39 mi southwest, about 1 h by car
  • Stowmarket 47 mi south, about 1 h 15 min by car
  • Skegness 49 mi northwest, about 1 h 15 min by car
  • Woodbridge 50 mi south, about 1 h 15 min by car
  • Wisbech 52 mi west, about 1 h 30 min by car
  • Ipswich 54 mi south, about 1 h 30 min by car

Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.

Towns near North Walsham

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Page built November 10, 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us or suggest a place.