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All of the following attractions are free apart from the Ancient House, Museum of Thetford Life which has a seasonal charge during the summer. For opening times telephone the contact numbers given at the back of this publication.

Ancient House, Museum of Thetford Life

Given to the town by Prince Frederick Duleep Singh, this 15th century timber framed building has benefited from a £1.6 million refurbishment and tells the story of Thetford, the Brecks and their inhabitants through the ages. Open Mon- Sat.

Charles Burrell Museum

Housed in the former Paint Shop of Charles Burrell’s St Nicholas Works, the museum includes exhibits of the world renowned Burrell traction engines once produced here and the story of the site and people who worked there. Limited opening.

Dad’s Army Museum

Set at the rear of the Guildhall, in the former Thetford Fire Station, the museum tells the story of the legendary sitcom Dad’s Army being filmed in Thetford and of the town’s own home guard and other military connections. Limited opening. Guided walks of the Dad’s Army Trail can be organised through the Tourist Information Centre.

Thetford Art Gallery

Situated upstairs in the Guildhall, the Art Gallery has continually changing exhibitions of arts and crafts. There is also a popular coffee shop. Open Mon - Sat.

Thetford Priory

The extensive 900 year old ruins of the town’s Cluniac priory are situated at the end of Minstergate. It was once of the largest monasteries in East Anglia and was a place of pilgrimage. Its importance is underlined as being the traditional burial place of the Dukes of Norfolk. Henry VIII’s illegitimate son, Henry Fitzroy was also interred there. The impressive Gatehouse can be accessed via the priory.

Castle Hill

The massive Norman mound or ‘motte’ is the largest medieval earthwork in the country and sits amongst the earlier Iron Age fortifications. The original Iron Age fort was probably built by the local tribe, the Iceni, to control the important crossing of the ancient Icknield Way and the town’s two rivers where the nearby Nuns Bridges stand today. A wooden castle may have been built on top of the motte, a symbol of Norman power against unrest after the Conquest.

Nunnery Lakes Nature Reserve & BTO

The reserve has an interesting mix of habitats, including woodland, Breck heath, fen and open water. Public access is by permissive paths. Interpretation boards inform visitors and there is also an observation hide. The adjoining remains of the 12th century St George’s Nunnery and the 18th century manor house are incorporated in to the headquarters of the British Trust for Ornithology which includes the Chris Mead Memorial Library, one of England’s largest ornithological collections and a major resource for both BTO members and staff.

Duleep Singh Statue & Spring Walk

Starting at the town bridge, follow the riverside to the three legged bridge across the river onto Butten Island. The Duleep Singh statue depicts the last Sikh Maharajah of the Punjab who lived at nearby Elveden Hall. The statue was unveiled in 1999 by the Prince of Wales. Walking past the statue, note the old watermill on the left. This marked the head of the Thetford Navigation when the town was an inland river port. Turn right into Bridges Walk and follow the path to the two small iron bridges. Between the two bridges, turn left and follow the unmade footpath. The remains of another watermill can be seen on your right. One of the few horizontal water wheels is still in situ there. The mill provided the power to The Thetford Patent Pulpware Company who manufactured a wide range of pulp objects on the site. Continue across the sluice gates into Spring Walk. The Spring Walk was constructed along the riverside to give an attractive promenade for the 19th century Thetford Spa, the pump room of which remains and is known as Spring House. Beyond Spring House one reaches the picturesque Nuns Bridges which take their name from the nearby Nunnery and mark one of the likely crossing points of the ancient Icknield Way over the rivers Thet and Little Ouse. Here the visitor has the choice to take either of the riverside walks, along the Little Ouse linking to the Nunnery Lakes Reserve, or along the Thet to the Melford Bridge at the bottom of Castle Street. Alternatively one can turn left and head toward the imposing Castle Hill.

Barnham Cross Common

This mixture of chalky and acidic grass heath straddles the A134 Bury Road. The common supports a wide range of plant and animal life, some of which are of national rarity. Interpretation boards help the visitor understand this unique Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).

Thetford’s Forgotten Garden

Hidden in the grounds of Ford Place, this quiet walled garden has recently been lovingly brought back into use as an organic wildlife garden. Nearby once stood an Augustinian Friary.

King’s House and Gardens

The King’s House occupies the site of the medieval manor house and its royal visitors may have included Henry I and Henry II amongst others. After rebuilding, Elizabeth I and her successor James I used it as a hunting lodge. The house and gardens were given to the town in 1947 and the house is now the offices of Thetford Town Council and the Register Office. The attractive gardens to the rear are open to the public and include public tennis courts and a bowling green.

Thomas Paine Statue

The statue of Thomas Paine was given to the town in 1964 by the Thomas Paine Foundation of America. It depicts Paine holding his most famous work, The Rights of Man, upside down, an idea of the sculptor, Sir Charles Wheeler, to create a talking point.

Priory of the Canons of the Holy Sepulchre

Standing beside the Brandon Road, the priory dates from the 12th century and is the only surviving remains of a priory belonging to the Canons of the Holy Sepulchre. The ruined nave of the priory church remains.

Thetford Warren Lodge

Probably built c.1400 by the Cluniac Prior of Thetford, this defensible lodge protected gamekeepers and hunting parties against armed poachers. Situated about 1.5 miles along the Brandon Road it was built on high ground in open heathland and would have been visible for miles around. Later it was used by local ‘warreners’ who farmed and harvested wild rabbits on the surrounding warrens and heathland.

Thetford Library

The library in the town centre is a valuable source of information to anyone visiting the town. Besides a large collection of local books and maps, two special collections of interest are held there. The Thomas Paine collection includes unique books, artefacts and ephemera relating to Paine and The Duleep Singh collection, consists of books, maps and a large collection of illustrations of East Anglia from 100 years ago.