Walsingham

Walsingham is steeped in history with a long history of religious pilgrimage and is home to the ruins of two medieval monastic houses. Close to the coast, Walsingham has a wealth of history waiting to be discovered while you enjoy the north Norfolk coast and countryside. 

Just four miles from Wells-next-the-Sea, on the banks of the River Stiffkey, is Walsingham. The long history of religious pilgrimage dates back to the 11th century with the visions of the Virgin Mary by the lady Walsingham, Richeldis de Faverches. She requested that a replica of the Holy House at Nazareth be built at Walsingham. This became 'England's Nazareth', a place of prayer and reconciliation and one of Europe's four great pilgrim places in the Middle Ages. The pilgrimage season at Walsingham runs from Easter to October. See our facts about Walsingham.

In Walsingham village, you can see many fine 14th and 15th century buildings. There are shops to explore in the pretty streets, including tea rooms, a farm shop, art galleries, artisans and cafes.

One of these buildings is The Shirehall Museum, Walsingham's Georgian Courtroom where you can discover more of Walsingham’s amazing history since 1061.

Through the museum is the entrance to the Priory Gardens where you'll find the impressive twin turreted 13th century arch, the remains of the medieval priory surrounded by stunning gardens with seasonal flowers. Visit the Walsingham Abbey Grounds, in February and be treated to its shower of snowdrops.

Just a short walk from the museum is Walsingham Bridewell, or House of Correction set up in 1598 (it was rebuilt in the 18th century), standing on the site of the former leper hospital. It housed beggars and vagrants and trained them in trades; it is almost completely unaltered since the last prisoners were freed! 

Walsingham is also home to the Wells & Walsingham Light Railway, said to be the longest 10-and-a-quarter inch narrow-gauge steam railway in the world. The railway runs between Wells-next-the-Sea and Walsingham on a half-hour trip through beautiful countryside. It's a real journey back in time as you take in the evocative sights, sounds and smells of old-time train travel, chugging under bridges, past a hill-fort and through a real ghost platform.