Get to know Fakenham through its crafts, market and printing history, historic buildings and the River Wensum. These themes offer different ways to spend time in the town: you can watch glassblowers at work at Langham Glass, discover the history of technology at the museum or follow the traces of the town’s past. When choosing a base for your stay in Fakenham, consider which of these discoveries you’d like to make the focus of your visit.
Glassblowing: watch or try it yourself
At the Langham Glass glasshouse in Fakenham, you can watch glassblowers use centuries-old techniques to make hand-crafted crystal glass. This lets you experience the craft as it happens, rather than just seeing the finished piece. Langham Glass also offers hands-on glassmaking experiences, including making a tealight holder and casting a child’s hand in glass. These are two different options: creating a piece of your own and making a cast as a personal keepsake.
Traces of industry and local history
The Fakenham Lancaster Heritage Trail uses blue plaques to explore Fakenham’s varied industrial past, as well as the people and communities that shaped the town. Each plaque has its own QR code with information about the building it is attached to. This is another way to explore the history, one building at a time.
The Church of St Peter and St Paul brings together different architectural periods: it preserves an Early English north doorway and a large late-medieval west tower in the Perpendicular style. The tower dates from approximately 1400 to 1450. The Fakenham Museum of Gas and Local History offers a technological perspective on the town’s history. It preserves the only surviving town gasworks in England and Wales with its complete equipment for producing gas from coal. This includes retorts, a condenser, a washer, purifiers, a gas meter and a gas holder. The gasworks is designated a Scheduled Monument.
Fakenham Cinema is also housed in a historic building: the cinema occupies a listed Victorian building that retains some of its original features. Together with the church and industrial heritage, it shows how varied the town’s historic landmarks are.
Market square and printing history
The Fakenham Thursday Market has been held since 1250. The Fakenham Weekly Market takes place in the town centre, on the market square. Stalls offer, among other things, crafts, baked goods, cheese, fish and refreshments. Printing blocks set into the surface of the market square recall Fakenham’s printing history. The market and printing heritage give the square two distinct historical connections: a long market tradition and a reminder of the town’s printing history.
Along the River Wensum
The River Wensum flows through Fakenham and is designated both a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and a Special Area of Conservation (SAC). On a walk along the river, you can spot wild birds and historic railway bridges. Nature watching and reminders of railway history come together as different parts of an exploration by the river.
Plan your visits and journey
Fakenham Racecourse is Norfolk’s only National Hunt racecourse. Designated accessible parking spaces and viewing areas are available for visitors; check the current arrangements before your visit. Fakenham Golf Club welcomes visitors seven days a week, all year round. Check for any restrictions before travelling.
Bus services connect Fakenham with Norwich, King’s Lynn and Sheringham. As route availability can change, check connections before travelling. You can combine this travel information with the town’s different themes: whether you’re interested in glassblowing, market history, historic buildings or the river, you can plan your visits accordingly without treating the individual places as a set walking route.
Discover more destinations: East Runton, Little Walsingham, Runcton Holme, Dereham, Burnham Market, Shipdham, East Harling, St Ouen's.
For the wider travel overview: Norfolk.
