Kings Lynn Tourist Information

Hanseatic Maritime History of King's Lynn

The maritime history of King's Lynn stretches right back to the 13th century when Lynn was a powerful seaport and market town with strong links to Northern Europe's medieval Hanseatic trading league, particularly German merchants from Hamburg, Lubeck and the Baltic. Ports in The Wash like King's Lynn were prime trading grounds for wool in the 13th century so the German Hanse traders flocked here. As the English wool export trade declined in the late 14th century, trading relationships grew tighter with Hanseatic towns and cities like Danzig, Hamburg and Bremen who formed strong links with particular ports, one of which was The Wash port of Lynn.

Hanseatic ships would bring in fish especially herring plus timber, wax, iron and pitch and take back from King's Lynn to Danzig, Flanders and other German ports wool, cloth, grain, lead and salt. By the 16th century this unique trading partnership had dwindled and Lynn's power as a port shifted to Newcastle and London. King's Lynn's Hanseatic history is detailed in full on the Visit West Norfolk official guide. The importance of this maritime period in King's Lynn's history is marketd by the fact that today King's Lynn is the only English member of the New Hanseatic League.

The King's Lynn Heritage Trail around the town takes in original Hanseatic Warehouses dating from 1475 as well as medieval merchant houses. Pick up King's Lynn maritime heritage trail leaflets and guides to historic buildings in King's Lynn at the tourist information centre housed in the historic Custom House dating from 1683.

Historic Buildings in King's Lynn

The history of King's Lynn, orginally known as 'Lin' stretches much further back than the Hanseatic period of maritime trade links. Indeed the Lynn Museum in King's Lynn is home to unique 4,000 year old timbers which formed part of what is known as 'Seahenge', a Bronze Age circular monument which once stood in the area. There are similarities with this ancient Bronze Age monument to the remains of the ritual Bronze Age monument at Flag Fen near Peterborough.

First port of call on the King's Lynn heritage trail is the historic Custom House on Purfleet Quay designed by local architect Henry Bell and built in 1683. The Custom House is home to King's Lynn Tourist Information Centre where you will find a range of themed history tour leaflets on King's Lynn from the King's Lynn Hanseatic trail and maritime trail to the pilgrimage trail. There are numerous breathtaking historic buildings in King's Lynn so it's well worth calling in here first for the trail guides. The statue near the Custom House is of Captain George Vancouver (1757-1798), a British Royal Navy Officer born in maritime King's Lynn famous for his explorations of Vancouver and the Pacific region.

Historic buildings in King's Lynn feature the magnificent Grade I listed 15th century gateway you pass as you enter the town. King's Lynn town centre is a treasure trove of narrow cobbled lanes, heritage market places, medieval merchants' houses and a spectacular King's Lynn Town Hall, formerly the Trinity Guildhall dating from 1421. Historic churches in King's Lynn include the central imposing St Margaret's Church founded in 1101, partly rebuilt in 1741 when a gale blew the spire onto the nave and aisles.

The Tales of the Old Gaol House attraction in King's Lynn is housed within the town's old goal constructed in 1784 and features original cells. There are fine Tudor buildings in King's Lynn like Thoresby college beautifully restored by the King's Lynn Preservation Trust. Merchant's houses like Hampton Court date from the 14th Century and Hanse House is the precious Hanseatic Warehouses in King's Lynn dating from 1475. The Green Quay Wash Discovery Centre on South Quay is a former 16th century warehouse which today houses a fine cafe and exhibitions on The Wash and local history.

King's Lynn Museums & Attractions

Museums and attractions in King's Lynn are numerous. Popular attraction just on the edge of town is the free entry Caithness Crystal visitor centre where you can see beautiful glassware being crafted and have a go at the art by blowing your own glass tumbler. Free parking is onsite with coach parties welcome. The extensive gift shop with an outstanding array of top glass, crystal, cookware and pottery brands at Caithness Crystal is essential visiting. The attraction also boasts an onsite restaurant.

Museums in King's Lynn include on South Quay The Green Quay Wash Discovery Centre. Exhibitions in here dig deep into the history of King's Lynn quayside. The centre is housed in an old Tudor Warehouse built in the 1580s. The Wash Interpretation exhibit and film shows on King's Lynn local history feature at The Green Quay centre which boasts an outstanding cafe with alfresco seating affording panoramic views of the Great Ouse estuary across to West Lynn. History information boards about King's Lynn sit adjacent to The Green Quay centre.

Situated in historic King's Lynn town centre near St Margaret's church is the Tales of the Old Goal House, a popular museum with children featuring tales of life in the old goal and a tour of original cells. The adjacent Town House Museum explores the history of domestic life in Kings Lynn from the medieval period to the 1950s. Essential visiting situated further into the attractive shopping centre heart of King's Lynn is the Lynn Museum, home to the treasured old Bronze Age timbers which once formed a circular monument in the area, known today as Seahenge. The Lynn Museum also contains historic fairground gallopers - galloping horses merry-go-rounds. Victorian and Edwardian Gallopers have a close connection to King's Lynn which was famous for its fairs, particularly the annual King's Lynn Mart Fair. Frederick Savage of King's Lynn was one of the best known designers and builders of spectacular Gallopers roundabouts.

To explore the rich maritime history of King's Lynn, particularly the town's fishing heritage, head to True's Yard Museum housed in two stunning restored fisherman's cottages.

King's Lynn Festivals & Arts

King's Lynn is a true Norfolk festival town playing host to several festivals annually including the big mid-July King's Lynn Fesival of Music and the Arts which attracts huge crowds and the Festival Too free music festival. King's Lynn also hosts annual Literature and Poetry Festivals which profile some of Britain's finest poets and authors.

Not to be missed is the annual King's Lynn Hanse Festival celebrating King's Lynn's historic Hanseatic trading links. This maritime heritage festival weekend in King's Lynn is based along the historic quayside and features street theatre, maritime crafts, heritage walks and live music. Other popular annual events in King's Lynn include the Grand East Anglia Run (early May), a 10km run following a lap course around the centre of King's Lynn.

Arts centres in King's Lynn include the spectacular mid-Victorian Grade II listed King's Lynn Corn Exchange with its beautiful frontage. The Corn Exchange plays host to various festival events and shows, plus a regular comedy club, opera galas, classical music concerts, children's theatre and more. The King's Lynn Arts Centre also hosts festival events alongside intimate music concerts. King's Lynn also contains the popular Majestic Cinema.

King's Lynn Accommodation Travel & Tourism

Beautiful King's Lynn on the Great Ouse estuary boasts a range of facilities and services which make it a favourite holiday base in West Norfolk. Alongside the astounding selection of historic buildings in the town are top shopping quarters like the new Vancouver Quarter. King's Lynn hosts three weekly markets on two historic Market Places. Tuesdays and Fridays Markets are held on the Tuesday Market Place near the Corn Exchange. Saturday Markets feature at the Saturday Market Place near St Margaret's Church. Markets held in King's Lynn were first recorded as held on the Saturday Market Place in 1104, but evidence suggests that King's Lynn markets stretch even further back than this recorded date.

King's Lynn station offers direct train links to Downham Market, Ely and Cambridge (First Capital Connect). A limited train services also runs from King's Lynn to nearby Sandringham and Hunstanton. Change at Ely for trains to Norwich (National Express East Anglia).

King's Lynn hotels include spectacular Georgian hotels and heritage quayside hotels. A wide choice of elegant King's Lynn hotels and guesthouses are housed within historic buildings and feature premier in-house hotel restaurants. You will also find a great choice of traditional real ale pubs in King's Lynn. Find elegant historic King's Lynn hotels and fine pubs and restaurants listed here on iknow East Anglia.