Justin’s guidebook
Pilgrimage
Must see for all visitors and pilgrims. The site of the original Holy House of Our Lady, as built by angels in 1061 after Richeldis de Faverches' vision. Visitors may have their own view of this miracle, but Walsingham became the 3rd or 4th biggest Pilgrimage site in Medieval Europe for hundreds of years because of it, alongside Rome, Jerusalem and Santiago de Compostella. 250,000 visitors a year still make a Pilgrimage here to the Catholic Shrine alone to honour Our Lady of Walsingham. She is a particular favourite of those struggling to conceive. The Holy House site is marked with a plaque on the lawn in front of the Lonely Arch.
16 locals recommend
Walsingham Abbey
High StreetMust see for all visitors and pilgrims. The site of the original Holy House of Our Lady, as built by angels in 1061 after Richeldis de Faverches' vision. Visitors may have their own view of this miracle, but Walsingham became the 3rd or 4th biggest Pilgrimage site in Medieval Europe for hundreds of years because of it, alongside Rome, Jerusalem and Santiago de Compostella. 250,000 visitors a year still make a Pilgrimage here to the Catholic Shrine alone to honour Our Lady of Walsingham. She is a particular favourite of those struggling to conceive. The Holy House site is marked with a plaque on the lawn in front of the Lonely Arch.
The Anglican Shrine, in the middle of Little Walsingham. The model of the Holy House of Our Lady here is based on the Holy House of Loreto. The Anglican Shrine has many beautiful icons and artworks and features a Holy Well. The beautiful grounds and Stations of the Cross are an ideal place to make a retreat. The newly built cafe Nortons offers a range of refreshments, from teas and cakes to pizzas throughout the day.
Shrine of Our Lady of Walsingham
2 Common PlThe Anglican Shrine, in the middle of Little Walsingham. The model of the Holy House of Our Lady here is based on the Holy House of Loreto. The Anglican Shrine has many beautiful icons and artworks and features a Holy Well. The beautiful grounds and Stations of the Cross are an ideal place to make a retreat. The newly built cafe Nortons offers a range of refreshments, from teas and cakes to pizzas throughout the day.
The Slipper Chapel, the final wayside chapel on the medieval pilgrimage route to Walsingham, and now the site of the Roman Catholic Shrine to Our Lady of Walsingham. The chapel is so named it is believed because pilgrims would leave their slippers here to walk the final mile to the original Shrine in the village barefoot. Mass is celebrated daily at 12 noon in the Basilica which is next to the Slipper chapel. Stations of the Cross are situated around the main lawn and there is daily Adoration and Benediction.
Basilica of Our Lady of Walsingham
The Slipper Chapel, the final wayside chapel on the medieval pilgrimage route to Walsingham, and now the site of the Roman Catholic Shrine to Our Lady of Walsingham. The chapel is so named it is believed because pilgrims would leave their slippers here to walk the final mile to the original Shrine in the village barefoot. Mass is celebrated daily at 12 noon in the Basilica which is next to the Slipper chapel. Stations of the Cross are situated around the main lawn and there is daily Adoration and Benediction.
Food scene
Excellent food, very good service, country fine-dining ambience and just around the corner to The Old Bakehouse. The Black Lion is on Friday Market and a stone's throw from the High Street - we recommend it highly and many of our guests have enjoyed a wonderful evening there. It's worth splashing out on if you're in Walsingham for a couple of evenings, but book to avoid disappointment, particularly on Saturday nights.
11 locals recommend
Black Lion Hotel
Friday MarketExcellent food, very good service, country fine-dining ambience and just around the corner to The Old Bakehouse. The Black Lion is on Friday Market and a stone's throw from the High Street - we recommend it highly and many of our guests have enjoyed a wonderful evening there. It's worth splashing out on if you're in Walsingham for a couple of evenings, but book to avoid disappointment, particularly on Saturday nights.
Sam runs this place and is a friendly presence on the High Street, offering delicious cakes and sausage rolls and pots of teas etc. The building is definitely worth a look too and dates back to the 1300's. Always busy; lots of outdoor seating though.
Read & Digest Tearoom By The Old Pump
54 High StreetSam runs this place and is a friendly presence on the High Street, offering delicious cakes and sausage rolls and pots of teas etc. The building is definitely worth a look too and dates back to the 1300's. Always busy; lots of outdoor seating though.
Sightseeing
Another must see for railway enthusiasts, the North Norfolk railway features Christmas themed journeys to see Santa, and 1940's dressed weekends plus their usual regular service. Catch it at Holt or Sheringham.
22 locals recommend
North Norfolk Railway PL (Holt Station)
Off Cherry Tree ClAnother must see for railway enthusiasts, the North Norfolk railway features Christmas themed journeys to see Santa, and 1940's dressed weekends plus their usual regular service. Catch it at Holt or Sheringham.
Vast marshes and beaches. Very few people. Lots of wildlife. Very little that is manmade can be seen when you're on a walk here. Free parking. Fresh air. Bring your binos. Great swimming in the creeks in the summer. Check the tides as they vary greatly and can flood the immediate area. It is an absolutely beautiful part of the world.
13 locals recommend
Stiffkey
Vast marshes and beaches. Very few people. Lots of wildlife. Very little that is manmade can be seen when you're on a walk here. Free parking. Fresh air. Bring your binos. Great swimming in the creeks in the summer. Check the tides as they vary greatly and can flood the immediate area. It is an absolutely beautiful part of the world.
The Thursford Christmas Spectacular is exactly that: it takes place twice daily in the two months up to Christmas, it's based in Thursford, 4 miles from Walsingham, and it's a truly spectacular West-End standard show with a cast of hundreds of professional musicians and actors. Book early to avoid disappointment.
12 locals recommend
Thursford
The Thursford Christmas Spectacular is exactly that: it takes place twice daily in the two months up to Christmas, it's based in Thursford, 4 miles from Walsingham, and it's a truly spectacular West-End standard show with a cast of hundreds of professional musicians and actors. Book early to avoid disappointment.
Confession: I've yet to go. My wife tells me it's amazing - she went on a boat trip with our dog and then 2 year-old. Guests have done the walk from Morston (respect): time it so you're not walking on the gravel all the way back. Low tide is much better when the sand bar is visible. This is - by all accounts - one of the most special places in Southern England. A true wilderness.
65 locals recommend
Blakeney Point
Confession: I've yet to go. My wife tells me it's amazing - she went on a boat trip with our dog and then 2 year-old. Guests have done the walk from Morston (respect): time it so you're not walking on the gravel all the way back. Low tide is much better when the sand bar is visible. This is - by all accounts - one of the most special places in Southern England. A true wilderness.
City/town information
Historic, Georgian market town. About 20 mins drive from Walsingham. Lots of lovely and quite high-end shops. Great for Christmas presents. Bakers and Larners is the local version of Harrods. Their food hall is excellent. Fortnums eat your heart out...
197 locals recommend
Holt
Historic, Georgian market town. About 20 mins drive from Walsingham. Lots of lovely and quite high-end shops. Great for Christmas presents. Bakers and Larners is the local version of Harrods. Their food hall is excellent. Fortnums eat your heart out...
Lots to see and do here - about 50 mins drive from Walsingham. Cathedrals and Castles, nooks and crannies, crusties and grannies. Some good coffee shops and restaurants - not sure about the art and clubbing scene. Lots of interesting outlets at the covered market.
250 locals recommend
Norwich
Lots to see and do here - about 50 mins drive from Walsingham. Cathedrals and Castles, nooks and crannies, crusties and grannies. Some good coffee shops and restaurants - not sure about the art and clubbing scene. Lots of interesting outlets at the covered market.
Wells-next-the-sea, many peoples first stop in North Norfolk for a seaside holiday. Vast golden sands and good pinewoods for dog walking at the end of the mile long estuary, and narrow fishing village streets at the harbour side. Staithe street is thronged with visitors in the summer months and offers an arts centre, good cafes, an excellent butcher, gift shops and places selling buckets and spades and fishing gear. We went crabbing with our 3 year old this summer on the harbour which he absolutely loved. There’s a couple of amusement arcades if that’s your thing, and lots of places selling wonderful ice cream too. Some good fish restaurants also by all accounts. Not to be confused with Wells in Somerset which is a landlocked Cathedral City in the West Country. Careful what you put in the sat nav or you might have a long drive.
219 locals recommend
Wells-next-the-Sea
Wells-next-the-sea, many peoples first stop in North Norfolk for a seaside holiday. Vast golden sands and good pinewoods for dog walking at the end of the mile long estuary, and narrow fishing village streets at the harbour side. Staithe street is thronged with visitors in the summer months and offers an arts centre, good cafes, an excellent butcher, gift shops and places selling buckets and spades and fishing gear. We went crabbing with our 3 year old this summer on the harbour which he absolutely loved. There’s a couple of amusement arcades if that’s your thing, and lots of places selling wonderful ice cream too. Some good fish restaurants also by all accounts. Not to be confused with Wells in Somerset which is a landlocked Cathedral City in the West Country. Careful what you put in the sat nav or you might have a long drive.