Directions & Travel

Map 3

Directions & Travel

From the North:

A1(M) to Newark; A17 to King's Lynn; A148 to Fakenham; B1105 to Walsingham

From the Midlands:

A47 to King's Lynn; A148 to Fakenham; or A14 to Newmarket then A11 to Thetford, A134 to Mundford; A1065 to Swaffham and Fakenham; B1105 to Walsingham

Closure of the A17 at Sutton Bridge

Lincolnshire County Council is to resurface the swing bridge over the River Nene at Sutton Bridge on the A17. Originally scheduled to begin on 23rd September the work has now been transferred to the 30th. All through traffic on the A17 east and west will be diverted by Wisbech using the A47 (from Kings Lynn) and the A11o1 (from Sleaford at Long Sutton).

Pilgrims travelling from the north are advised to check the state of the bridge works on the day of travel. Click here for more information on Lincs County Council website.

It is worth pointing out that travelling south on the A1(M) as far as Peterborough and then picking up the A47 towards Kings Lynn is only 20 miles longer than the usual A17 route and takes just 15 minutes longer - with hopefully no queues along the way.

From the South:

M11/A11 to Thetford;
A134 to Mundford; A1065 Swaffham and Fakenham; B1105 to Walsingham

(N.B. since the recent completion of the dualling of the A11 between Barton Mills and Thetford it is much quicker to continue on to Thetford, rather than taking the A1065 at Barton Mills to Brandon. Take the A134 (signed King's Lynn) at the second roundabout on the Thetford bypass; at Mundford take the A1065 to Swaffham & Fakenham)

From Norwich:

A1067 to Fakenham; B1105 to Walsingham

From Fakenham:

Coaches should follow bus sign-posted routes (B1105) to Wells-next-the-Sea. Cars may take the restricted route via East Barsham and Houghton St Giles.

Public Transport:

Travelling by public transport can be a challenge, but useful information can be found on the Essential Travel Guide website.

Rail:

There is an hourly rail service from London King's Cross to King's Lynn, calling at Cambridge (connections to/from Stansted Airport and Ipswich) and Ely (connections from Peterborough and Birmingham). This takes 1 hour 35 minutes.

Alternatively there an half-hourly (weekdays - hourly on Sunday) service from London Liverpool Street to Norwich (takes just over two hours) and a regular bus service from Norwich to Fakenham.

Bus:

Lynx in Norfolk  hourly bus services link King's Lynn with Fakenham (49). First bus service - Norwich to Fakenham (X29) and Fakenham to Walsingham/Wells-next-the-Sea (Coastliner 36). An alternative - and more leisurely and picturesque - route from King's Lynn is to use the Coastliner 36 bus service via Hunstanton to Wells and on to Walsingham.

Click here for a timetable of the Lynx service operating from King's Lynn to Walsingham via Hunstanton & Wells-next-the-Sea and on to Walsingham.

Click here for a Monday - Friday timetable of the First Bus service operating from Fakenham to Norwich.

Click Here for a Sautrday timetable of the First Bus service operating from Fakenham to Norwich.

Click Here for a Sunday timetable of the First Bus service operating from Fakenham to Norwich.

National Express Coach:

Regrettably the direct coach service from London Victoria to Fakenham has been withdrawn (2012). The alternative is to travel by coach from London to Norwich and then on to Fakenham by local bus.

Coaches:

Coaches should approach the Shrine along the signposted route (Fakenham B1105 - direction Wells-next-the-Sea; look out for a right turn signposted Walsingham 5 miles from Fakenham), arriving in the village on the Egmere Road, not coming up the High Street. The Coach Park is clearly signposted. Provision should be made for payment at the meter.

4 Hours - £5.00; 24 Hours - £8.00; 48 Hours - £10.00; Week - £25.00.
Debit & Credit Cards accepted. £2, £1, 50p, 20p, 10p & 5p coins accepted. No change given.
Charges apply Monday to Sunday 08:00-18:00. (18:00 - 08:00; Free)

Coaches may unload at the Shrine Church itself, but not by the archway to the Shrine grounds, as the road is very narrow. Coaches should then turn and retrace their route up Knight Street and Guild Street to the coach park. Pilgrims staying at Richeldis House and travelling in cars and/or minibuses can unload by the pump at the top of Common Place. Please contact us for advice and information.

Car Parking:

Car parking in the village is limited, but there is a public car park with an hourly, daily or weekly charge.

High Street Car Park - Charges apply Monday to Sunday 08:00-18:00. (18:00 - 08:00; Free)
Debit and Credit Cards accepted. £2, £1, 50p, 20p, 10p & 5p coins accepted. No change given.
2 Hours - £2.00; 4 Hours - £3.00; 24 Hours - £5.00; 48 Hours - £8.00 Week - £20.00.

Disabled Blue Badge Holders are not exempt from charges.