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Dereham is a town in Norfolk, England. Dereham is a busy market town serving local residents and a wide rural area. The town has a market on Tuesdays and Fridays selling a range of food and household items. The town hosts the headquarters of the Mid-Norfolk Railway, which runs trains over an 11.5-mile heritage railway south to Wymondham.

Understand[edit]

St Withburga's Holy Well

Dereham, sometimes knows as East Dereham and not to be confused with West Dereham (around 15 miles away), has a population of around 18,000. The town is situated 25 miles to the W of Norwich and 40 miles NNE of Ely.

The Town badge is from the arms of the Bishop of Ely with a deer. The three golden crowns are from the princesses and saints, Withburga, Æthelthryth and Saxburga. The town is on the site of a monastery founded by St Withburga (whose body was stolen by the monks of Ely legend being that the Holy Well in St Nicholas' Church started to flow when her body was stolen). Æthelthryth was a princess, a Fenland queen and Abbess of Ely. Saxburga was a queen then regent in Kent until her son came of age after which she moved to live at the Abbey of Ely. Dereham's name derives from a deer park that (is thought to have) existed in the area.

The town is twinned with the town of Rüthen in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It is also twinned with Caudebec-lès-Elbeuf, France.

Get in[edit]

By road[edit]

The town lies on the A47 King's Lynn, Dereham, Norwich, Great Yarmouth main road, about 27 miles E of King's Lynn and 18 miles W of Norwich.

By rail[edit]

The town does have a railway station but is serves only a preserved heritage Mid-Norfolk Railway linking the town to Wymondham and running between 3 and 6 trains per day (depending on the day and time of year) - so not a useful route into the town for most people.

By bicycle[edit]

On foot[edit]

Get around[edit]

The town is small enough to get around on foot.

See[edit]

Bishop Bonner's Cottage
St Nicholas Church

Do[edit]

  • 1 Strikes (Ten Pin Bowling Alley), Station Rd, East Dereham, NR19 1DF, +44 1362 696910. Daily 10AM-late. Also indoor children's adventure play area (Planet Zoom open daily 10AM-18:00). For 1 game: £6.95 adult, £5.95 child.
  • 2 Puzzelscape (Live escape game.), 11 Church St, Dereham, NR19 1DP, +44 7564 499494, . Live escape room game. 2-6 players are shut in a themed room & must solve hidden puzzles (duration 1 hr for escape).
  • 3 Holywood Cinema (3 Screens Cinema), Market Place, Dereham, NR19 2AW, +44 1362 691133. £7.30 adult, £5.99 under 15 & OAP, other rates available.

Buy[edit]

  • 1 Roys (Department Store), Yaxham Rd, East Dereham, NR19 1HD, +44 1362 690555. M-F 8:30AM-8PM, Sa 8:30AM-7PM, Su 11AM-5PM.
  • 2 Lidl (Supermarket), Kingston Rd, Dereham, NR19 1WB. M-Sa 8AM-10PM, Su 10AM-4PM.
  • 3 Morrisons (Supermarket), Station Rd, East Dereham, NR19 1DF, +44 1362 691004. M-Sa 8AM-10PM, Su 10AM-4PM. Cafe (different hours). Petrol station (different hours). ATMs.

Eat[edit]

Drink[edit]

Sleep[edit]

Stay healthy[edit]

Connect[edit]

As of July 2022, there is 4G from all UK carriers in Dereham and on the main east-west highway A47, but a patchy signal north or south. 5G has not reached this area.

Go next[edit]

Routes through Dereham
King's LynnSwaffham  W  E  NorwichGreat Yarmouth


This city travel guide to Dereham is a usable article. It has information on how to get there and on restaurants and hotels. An adventurous person could use this article, but please feel free to improve it by editing the page.