King’s Lynn is full of fascinating history and rich heritage, the town used to be one of England’s most important medieval ports, closely connected with the Hanseatic League, and is home to over 300 listed buildings. One of the best ways to discover the town’s unique character and hidden stories is simply by walking the streets. King’s Lynn offers a brilliant range of guided walks, self-guided trails and themed tours.
If you’d like to learn about the intriguing history behind the buildings and streets of the town, the King’s Lynn Town Guides offer a varied programme of guided walks throughout the town. Run by a team of passionate volunteers, the Town Guides show over 1,000 people around the town each year and have been showing people around since 1977.
Whether it’s Medieval, Victorian or Georgian history, each walk with the Town Guides tells a different story about the town’s past.
Popular themed walks include:
Many walks are available throughout the year, and you can view their what’s on calendar here. Private or group walks can also be arranged, making this an ideal activity to do with friends and family, colleagues from work, visitors eager to explore King’s Lynn’s past, or locals who want to uncover the hidden secrets of where they live.
You’ll find a range of digital tours, including most of the tours listed on this blog, on the Discover King’s Lynn app, along with plenty of features designed to make planning your visit easier. Browse local events, discover townwide offers, keep up to date with the latest news, and explore a growing collection of self-guided tours and trails.
Whether you’re interested in history, food and drink, shopping, or discovering somewhere new, there’s a tour for everyone. Uncover King’s Lynn’s remarkable historic buildings, seek out independent cafés, restaurants and bars, find dog-friendly places to visit, follow the town’s Maritime Trail or Hanseatic tour, or even explore a list of beauty and wellbeing businesses with the Pamper Yourself trail.
Simply choose a tour, follow the interactive map, and uncover fascinating stories, hidden gems and local spots at your own pace.
Located in the oldest part of the town, Stories of Lynn brings King’s Lynn’s history to life through engaging exhibitions and interactive displays. Highlights include the King John Cup and the 18th century Old Gaol House and Cells, offering a fascinating glimpse into the town’s past.
To help visitors explore beyond the museum walls, Stories of Lynn also offers its own smartphone app, acting as a guide to allow residents and visitors to explore the history of King’s Lynn. The app features a selection of self-guided walking tours that reveal stories about the key landmarks in King’s Lynn.
Tours on the Stories of Lynn app include:
As you explore, you’ll be able to track your progress on the app – the places you’ve visited, stories uncovered, and even test your knowledge with quiz questions along the way. It’s a fun way to discover the town’s interesting history!
Launched on International Hanse Day in 2013, the King’s Lynn Maritime Trail is a self-guided walking tour focusing on the town’s maritime heritage, bringing centuries of history to life through the people, places and industries that shaped King’s Lynn.
Following a clear, way marked route, the trail begins at True’s Yard Fisherfolk Museum and finishes at Marriott’s Warehouse, taking individuals on a journey through the town’s cobbled streets and historic waterfront. Along the way, you’ll uncover stories of merchants, shipbuilders, sailors, fishermen, press gangs, porters and pubs, which all played an important part in the development of King’s Lynn.
The tour is marked by 27 distinctive bronze pavement plaques. There are four different designs to look out for, which each represent one of the four wards that make up the trail.
What to look out for on the pavement plaques:
Printed Maritime Trail booklets are available for just 50p from King’s Lynn Tourist Information Centre (also known as Stories of Lynn), True’s Yard Fisherfolk Museum, and other participating venues.
King’s Lynn was one of the country’s most important ports by the 13th century. The town attracted traders from the Hanseatic League, a group of German cities whose ships travelled together for safety, travelling to King’s Lynn to trade goods. Did you know King’s Lynn has the only surviving Hanseatic Warehouse in England?
The trail covers 11 tour points, taking you through the heart of historic King’s Lynn, uncovering impressive merchants’ houses, warehouses and buildings. The Hanseatic Trail is ideal for anyone interested in medieval history, architecture or maritime heritage, offering a fascinating insight into the international trading connections that made King’s Lynn into one of England’s leading ports.
Visitors and locals can discover the fascinating history about King’s Lynn and the Hanseatic League with the Hanseatic Trail. Pick up a trail from the King’s Lynn Tourist Information Centre or download the trail leaflet.
Journey through medieval history by following the King’s Lynn Pilgrimage Trail. The self-guided walk explores the town’s important role in acting as a stopping point for pilgrims travelling to the shrine at Walsingham.
Following an easy-to-use guide, the trail takes you to some of King’s Lynn’s most significant landmarks, including Greyfriars Tower, Red Mount Chapel, Hanse House, King’s Lynn Minster and more.
The trail divides into four parts, allowing you to explore at your own pace, and choose which areas you want to explore:
If you enjoy mysterious tales, local legends and haunted history, don’t miss one of King’s Lynn’s famous ghost tours.
These evening tours explore the town’s darker past, uncovering stories of supernatural sightings and centuries-old folklore. It takes you beyond the familiar landmarks to explore King’s Lynn’s hidden corners, alleyways, and lesser-known locations, where centuries of history meet tales of ghosts, folklore and unexplained happenings.
The walk covers approximately 1.8 miles, with 26 fascinating stops along the route. Lasting around 1 hour and 30 minutes, the tour begins at the historic Saturday Market Place before winding through atmospheric streets and finishing at the Tuesday Market Place.
Whether you’re a fist time visitor or have lived in King’s Lynn all your life, there’s always something new to discover. Many local residents have commented on the surprising facts that they have learnt, and never knew before.
The tour costs £10pp and can be booked through the Original King’s Lynn Ghost Tour Facebook Page. Your ghost tour ticket also unlocks some great food and drink discounts at venues across the town centre, making the perfect pre-tour meal.
Enjoy discounts at:
Plus, you can claim a discount at WhataHoot up to a week after your tour!
If you’re planning a group outing, private bookings are also available. Private bookings require a minimum of 10 people and can provide a memorable and entertaining evening exploring King’s Lynn’s haunted history together.
If you’re interested in local history, the supernatural or simply looking for a different way to spend an evening in King’s Lynn, the Original King’s Lynn Ghost Tour offers an unforgettable journey through the town’s darker past.
Whether you prefer joining an expert guide, following a self-guided trail at your own pace, or uncovering ghostly tales after dark, there’s a walking experience to suit every interest here in King’s Lynn. So, put on your walking shoes, pick a trail and discover the hidden corners and stories of our unique town.