Things to See and Do in Thetford, Norfolk, England

Thetford is a beautiful ancient market town in Norfolk, England, that has plenty to offer visitors, such as heritage sites, outdoor recreation, cultural diversity and Thetford Forest.

Dad’s Army

In recent years Thetford has been working hard to attract more visitors to the town. One of the local initiatives that have been put into place has been to add town trails to Thetford. Locals will remember the popular TV series ‘Dad’s Army’ that first aired in the UK in 1967 and ran until 1977. Permission was granted to the BBC to start filming this World War II comedy show in the town. The actors would stay in the Bell and Anchor hotels, which are both right beside the River Ouse (pronounced “ooze”). A ‘Dad’s Army’ revival has taken place and the new ‘Dad’s Army’ trail is available for visitors to follow through Thetford. Four other town trails exist as well. The Heritage Trail, Duleep Singh Trail is worth a visit, if these are of interest to you.

Thomas Paine

Thomas Paine was born in Thetford. He is well known both in America and in Europe, where he took part in the French and American revolutionary wars. He was in favour of American independence. He was forced to leave England, as his thoughts about people’s basic “rights” were considered too controversial. As a republican and a democrat he had no place left in 18th century England. There is a statue of him in Thetford, which is a lasting reminder of his involvement in political affairs of the 18th century. During a visit to Thetford, you can find out more about the life and times of Thomas Paine by taking part in the Thomas Paine Trail.

Shopping

Shopping in Thetford is fun. It is easy to find what you want, as the shops are within a few minutes walk of one another. The High Street has a variety of fashion shops, such as New Look, card shops, a £1 shop, and places to eat such as the Baker’s Oven. If you want to eat at the Baker’s Oven you will need to get there early, as the queue is usually out the door. A lot of cheap, novelty shops are available for visitors and souvenirs of Thetford are also available to purchase from the High Street. If you will be in the town on a Tuesday or Saturday, you may want to visit the market that is held in the market place, near Thetford Guildhall and across the road from the Post Office. It is not a large market, but you can buy produce, cheap grocery items, confectionary, fresh seafood, household goods as well as other items.

Cultural Diversity

One of the best things about Thetford is its cultural diversity. After World War II the most exotic newcomers to Thetford were from London. Now, as you walk the streets, you will hear Portuguese, Czech, Polish, German, Russian, Slovakian, Estonian, Latvian and Lithuanian spoken. Since the late 1990’s and after the EU’s expansion in 2004, many migrant workers from these countries moved to Thetford. If you want to sample some ethnic cuisine, you should visit ‘Varns’, a convenience shop in Thetford, which is beside a travel agent’s and across the road from the library. Lithuanian and Portuguese shops and cafés are also well established in the town. Each year, Thetford hosts a Portuguese market, which has a lot on offer.

Thetford Forest

If you are more interested in outdoor recreation, then a trip to Thetford Forest will have just what you are looking for. It is located just outside Thetford, on the Norfolk/Suffolk border, just off the A11 if you will be travelling from Newmarket. High Lodge is a great location to take children. There are trails to follow, play areas for children, horse riding opportunities, cycling and many other forms of recreation. Concerts and plays also take part in Thetford Forest, especially during the summer months.

Source:

http://www.ushistory.org/Paine/index.htm