King's Lynn

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Drawing showing medieval Lynn

King's Lynn is still a working fishing port

Throughout its long history, the town has also been an important centre for trade. It has two main marketplaces, which have been running for centuries. The oldest is the Saturday Marketplace, which is still held every week. On its northern side is the Town Hall, with its distinctive chequered exterior. The building used to include the town's gaol house, which was used by police until as recently as 1955. Now, it's home to the "Tales of the Old Gaol House" museum, where you can learn about the criminals of the past. In this scary place, you'll see just what it'd be like to be locked up like a murderer.

St Margaret's Church, adjacent to the Saturday Marketplace

The chequered exterior of the Town Hall

The Valiant Sailor, a building in the historic quarter of King's Lynn

You can head back in time at the Lynn Museum. Its exhibits cover all of human history, back to the Iron Age and beyond. The clear highlight is Seahenge, a 4000-year-old timber monument that was discovered on a nearby Norfolk beach. It featured an upside-down oak tree, surrounded by a circle of smaller stumps. This bizarre structure is recreated inside its own gallery, so you can make your own guesses as to what it was actually for.

The beach near Old Hunstanton where Seahenge was found

The second of King's Lynn's historic trading centres is the Tuesday Marketplace. This large square used to be the centre of medieval life in the town. It was the site for many public executions, including hangings, and witch burnings. Some unlucky criminals were even boiled to death! The Tuesday Marketplace is also lined with many historic buildings. The most notable is the Corn Exchange, with its recognisable columns. While it was unsurprisingly built for the exchange of corn, today the building is an entertainment venue, which hosts everything from classical music, to contemporary comedy.

Buildings around the Tuesday Marketplace

King's Lynn Corn Exchange

St Nicholas Chapel, near the Tuesday Marketplace.

Every February, the Tuesday Marketplace is home to "King's Lynn Mart", a traditional funfair. Since it's usually the first fair of the year, the mart often features several brand new rides. Of course, the fair also brings along all the old favourites, as well as more side stalls and candy floss stands than you can count.

Just to the west of both marketplaces is the River Great Ouse, which was used to transport goods. You can still see some of the old warehouses on its banks. One in particular, called the Green Quay, is filled with exhibits about the local waterways, and their wildlife.

Green Quay

Another local landmark is a 17th century building called Customs House. It carries that name because it was used by Customs and Excise, all the way up until 1989. More recently, it has been converted into the town's tourist information centre. Inside, you'll find plenty of information on the town, and some famous residents from its past. King's Lynn's most famous son is George Vancouver, a Captain in the Navy. He was an explorer in the 18th century, and played an important part in the mapping of the Northwest coast of the Americas. The city of Vancouver was named after him, which has since become the largest settlement in western Canada.

The statue of George Vancouver in front of the Customs House

King's Lynn Tourist Information Centre, The Custom House, Purfleet Quay, King's Lynn, PE30 1HP. Tel: 01553 763044

Car-parking can be found at the St James multi-storey (follow signs). The tourist information centre can be found inside the Customs House.

Lynn Museum is open Tuesday to Saturday from 10am to 5pm. Entry costs around £3.50 for adults, £2 for children. Market St, Kings Lynn, PE30 1NL. Tel: 01553 775 001

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