Essentials

Walsingham Essentials

Where to find things you might need

Though unusual in the numbers of visitors it attracts, Walsingham remains a small rural village in the depths of the North Norfolk countryside, surrounded by farmland (four miles from the coast).

Here we have provided some information about the nearest facilities and services you might need during a visit to Walsingham. You will find details on individual village shops and businesses in our village services directory.

However you’re travelling, by car, rail, bus, coach, bus, taxi, bicycle or on foot, visit our Walsingham travel information page to find out how to get here, and if driving, where to park.

Walsingham Farm ShopEating & Drinking in Walsingham

We are well provided with superb local food, with an award-winning farm shop selling produce from the Walsingham Estate farms and other local Norfolk suppliers.

Walsingham Village Stores on the High Street stocks everyday essentials plus newspapers, off-licence, dry cleaning, photocopying, national lottery and mobile phone top-up.

For more information, visit our village services directory.

Walsingham Service Directory website

Chemist

The nearest chemist and pharmacies are in Wells-next-the-Sea (four miles north) or Fakenham (five miles south).

Petrol / Diesel

Nearest petrol stations are in Fakenham, off the roundabout with the A148/A1065 or at Morrisons superstore, or Wells next the Sea, Polka Road adjacent to the Co-op supermarket.

Tourist Information Centre, WalsinghamTourist Information

You’ll find local Tourist Information at the Shirehall Museum in Common Place.

Post Office

There is currently no Post Office in Walsingham.

A Mobile Post Office visits Walsingham (stops in the Farm Shop car park on Guild Street) on Wednesday mornings 8 am to 9 am.

A wide range of post office services is available. Access: there is a step into the vehicle, but an electronic tailgate is available to facilitate easy access for wheelchair users and those with disabilities.

There are post boxes in Friday Market (full size pillar box) and in Knight Street (wall mounted).

Nearest Post Office is:

Wells-next-the-Sea

Station Road
Wells Next The Sea
NR23 1AA

Opening hours: Monday to Saturday 9am-5.30pm

Fakenham

1 Millers Walk
Fakenham
NR21 9AP

Opening hours: click on the link to view opening times www.royalmail.com/services-near-you/post-office/millers-walk-nr21-9ap .

Cash

Walsingham Village Stores offers cashback.

Nearest ATM/Cashpoints are at the Shell petrol station at Fakenham, NR21 9HT, or Fakenham branches of Tesco and Morrisons.

Public Toilets

In the High Street adjacent to the medieval Abbey Gatehouse. The only Grade I listed public conveniences in the country! Open 24 hours.

Doctors

Satellite surgery of Fakenham Medical Practice, Cleaves Drive, NR22 6EQ.  Open on weekday mornings except Thursdays.

The doctors surgery in Cleaves Drive, Walsingham

Telephone 01328 820334 (Walsingham) or 01328 851321 (Fakenham) or visit https://fakenham-medical-practice.nhs.uk/

Out of hours: need medical help fast but not a 999 emergency? Dial 111

Dentists

Fakenham:

  • Bridge Street Dental Surgery — 01328 853555
  • Brooklyn House Dental Surgery — 01328 862620
  • Wensum Dental Practice — 01328 862363

Wells-next-the-Sea:

  • PM Clark dental surgery — 01328 710183

Police

Walsingham comes under the Wells Neighbourhood Policing Team. To contact the police, for non-emergency matters dial 101.

Our local officer is PC Jonathan Kentfield.

Places of worship

Anglican

The Benefice of Walsingham, Houghton and The Barshams is made up of six worshipping communities seeking to share the Good News of Jesus Christ with parishioners, pilgrims and visitors to this beautiful part of North Norfolk.

  • St Mary and All the Saints, the parish church of Little Walsingham: mass at 11 am on Sundays and 12 noon on Tuesdays; 7.00pm on Thursdays. Evening Prayer at 5.30pm on Saturdays
  • 053 (640x480)St Peter, parish church of Great Walsingham, Parish Eucharist at 9am on Sundays
  • Houghton St Giles; mass at 10 am on 2nd, 4th & 5th Sundays
  • The Barshams: Mass at 10 am: 1st Sunday West Barsham (BCP); 3rd Sunday East Barsham; 4th Sunday North Barsham
  • The Anglican Shrine of our Lady of Walsingham – link below. The Shrine Church is open from dawn till dusk.
  • The Priory of Our Lady. The Sisters at The Priory of Our Lady are part of the Society of St Margaret. All are welcome to join the sisters for Mass (Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday), followed by coffee in the conservatory, and for any of their Offices. They also have a guest cottage.
www.walsinghamparishes.org.uk www.walsinghamanglican.org.uk

Roman Catholic

  • RC Parish Church of the Annunciation, mass on Sundays at 10.30am, Holy Days at 7.30am and weekdays at 9.30am
  • The RC National Shrine of our Lady, at the Slipper Chapel, Houghton St Giles
www.walsingham.org.uk

Methodist

  • Sunday Service at 2.30pm
Chapel of St Seraphim, Walsingham

Orthodox

  • Chapel of St Seraphim, at The Old Railway Station, Little Walsingham. Open daily for prayer
  • Church of the Holy Transfiguration, Great Walsingham. Vespers Saturdays 5pm (6pm summer) and liturgy Sundays at 10.30am

Community halls

Parish Hall on the High Street, bookings on 01328 820259

Schools

disruptions.norfolk.gov.uk/nccclosures_schools.html

Children’s Play Area

The Recreation Ground on Wells Road (The Rec) has long been a feature of the village. Today you’ll find play equipment for younger kids, a fenced astroturf games court, a skateboard ramp, and a large grassy field for sports. Dogs are not allowed anywhere on the Recreation Ground.

Parish Council

Use the ‘Parish Council’ menu to view the Parish Council website pages.

Contact the Parish Clerk, Joanna Otte via walsinghampc@googlemail.com

Local Authorities

Libraries

The mobile library visits Walsingham on four-weekly rotas.

Visits Wells Road (opposite the school) NR22 6BL and 33 Cleaves Drive NR22 6EQ on Fridays spending 10-15 minutes in each location. Please use the following link to view dates and times: https://www.norfolk.gov.uk/mobilelibraries

Recycling Centres

  • Call 0344 8008004 or www.norfolk.gov.uk/recyclingcentres
  • Wells-next-the-Sea on Warham Road
  • Hempton just past Fakenham heading south on the A1065
  • Glass can be recycled in collection banks in the Mill Car Park, Walsingham (between the Common Place and Coker’s Hill)

Vets

Dog on the dunes Wells-next-the-Sea:

  • Glaven Valley Veterinary Practice — 01328 711022

Fakenham:

  • Grove Veterinary Group — 01328 862137
  • Summerhill Veterinary Centre — 01328 806063
  • Wensum Valley Veterinery Surgeons — 01328 864444

Beach Hut Hire

  • Contact Pinewoods Holiday Park in Wells-next-the-Sea on 01328 710439