Major city · United Kingdom
DerehamEast Dereham
Give Dereham half a day plus one night if you want the Mid-Norfolk Railway or Gressenhall; otherwise pass through on the A47 between Norwich and King's Lynn.
Dereham is a working market town of about 19,000 people in mid-Norfolk, 18 miles west of Norwich on the A47. It has no mainline station, so most visitors arrive by car or bus. The draw is the Mid-Norfolk Railway heritage line, the Gressenhall workhouse museum 3 miles north, and a Tuesday and Friday market. One night is enough; two if you are walking the Nar Valley Way or using it as a cheap base for Norwich.
More ways in
Local time, weather, currency, airports
- Weather
- see forecast
- Currency
- GBP
- Best months
- May–Sep
- avoid Jan–Feb (cold, wet, some attractions closed)
- Airports
- NWI · STN
- Nights
- 1
Rules in force · 8Non-EU visitors get 90 days in any rolling 180-day window…
- Europe ↗Non-EU visitors get 90 days in any rolling 180-day window, counted across all 29 Schengen states together — not per country; the Entry/Exit System now logs each crossing, so an overstay is detected automatically.
- Europe ↗On the first Schengen entry since EES began, non-EU travellers give four fingerprints and a face photo at the border instead of a passport stamp; there is nothing to apply for or pay in advance.
- Britain and Ireland ↗Neither the UK nor Ireland is part of Schengen: days spent here do not count towards the 90/180-day Schengen limit, and a Schengen visa does not admit you to either country.
- Britain and Ireland ↗The island of Ireland runs on two currencies: euro in the Republic, pound sterling in Northern Ireland and Great Britain. Carry a card that pays in both without fees.
- Britain and Ireland ↗Both islands drive on the left. Speed limits are in miles per hour in the UK (including Northern Ireland) and in kilometres per hour in the Republic of Ireland.
- United Kingdom ↗Most visitors who do not need a UK visa now need an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) before travelling; this includes EU nationals. Irish citizens are exempt. Check the UK government site for your passport.
- United Kingdom ↗The UK is outside the EU and the Schengen area; a Schengen visa is not valid for the UK.
- United Kingdom ↗Driving is on the left; London has congestion and emissions charges for most vehicles, so do not drive in the city.
What is in this basic guide9 covered · 4 not yet ▾
In this guide
Not in this guide yet
- Walking areas with bag rules
- Day plans checked against opening hours
- Airport-to-bed timings and the last safe connection
- Field-checked times and prices
Official sites
Emergency numbers for Dereham999 ▾
Tap a number to call from your phone. These are the numbers listed in this guide; a row marked check has not been verified.
EssentialsQuick answers and what things cost
Essentials
Quick answers and what things cost
Quick answers
The questions people ask first about Dereham, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.
- Cash or card?Currency is the pound sterling (GBP, £).United Kingdom-wide
- SIM or eSIMEE, Vodafone (merged with Three in 2025) and O2 run the networks; prepaid SIMs sell in supermarkets, phone shops and airport vending machines…United Kingdom-wide
- Tap waterTap water is safe everywhere.United Kingdom-wide
- TippingcheckRestaurant with table service: 10–12.5% if no service charge is on the bill; check before adding more.United Kingdom-wide
- Plugs & powerSockets G. US/Canada (A/B): adapter · UK/Ireland (G): fits · Australia/NZ (I): adapter. 230 V: US 120 V-only devices (hair dryers) need a converter; most chargers are dual-voltage.United Kingdom-wide
- SafetyDereham is a small market town and safe to walk by day and early evening.
Show all 12 answers
- RestroomsPublic toilets are scarce and some charge 50p–£1 (≈ US$2) or are card-only.United Kingdom-wide
- Emergency numbers999 or 112 police, fire, ambulance · 111 NHS non-urgent · 101 police non-urgent (not 911, 999 or 000)
- Sundays & holidaysShops in England and Wales open six hours on Sundays (usually 10:00 or 11:00–16:00 or 17:00).Shops in England and Wales open six hours on Sundays (usually 10:00 AM or 11:00 AM–4:00 PM or 5:00 PM).United Kingdom-wide
- Your embassyFind your embassy's 24-hour line before you fly.
- AirportNWI Norwich Airport (About 30–40 min by car via the A47; no direct bus).
- Getting aroundThe centre is flat and walkable in 15 minutes end to end.
Cost cheat-sheet
Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.
- CoffeeCoffee or tea in a café£2.50–4 (≈ US$4–6)
- Sit-down mealPub main course£12–18 (≈ US$16–25)
- BeerPint of draught beer£4.50–6 (≈ US$6–8)
- Taxi, about 5 km (3 mi)Taxi, about 3 mi (5 km)Taxi across town£5–8 (≈ US$7–11)
- Museum or sight ticketBishop Bonner's Cottage Museum entry£2 (≈ US$3)
- Budget bedFamily room (up to 4), a night, per room£100 (≈ US$140)
- Mid-range bedGuesthouse or pub double room, a night, per room£95 (≈ US$130)
- High-end bedGuesthouse or pub double room, a night, per room£150 (≈ US$200)
A day, not counting the bed: Budget £45 (≈ US$60) · Mid £80 (≈ US$110) · High £140 (≈ US$190)
Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →
DecideWhat it is known for, and when the weather works
Decide
What it is known for, and when the weather works
At a glance
What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.
- Airports
- NWI Norwich Airport (About 30–40 min by car via the A47; no direct bus) · STN London Stansted (About 1 h 45 min–2 h by car; rail via Norwich or Cambridge)
Best months at a glance
From the guide's best and avoid lists
Jan
Avoid
7°C (45°F)45°F (7°C)
Feb
Avoid
8°C (46°F)46°F (8°C)
Mar
not flagged
11°C (52°F)52°F (11°C)
Apr
not flagged
14°C (57°F)57°F (14°C)
May
Best
17°C (63°F)63°F (17°C)
Jun
Best
20°C (68°F)68°F (20°C)
Jul
Best
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
Aug
Best
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
Sep
Best
20°C (68°F)68°F (20°C)
Oct
not flagged
15°C (59°F)59°F (15°C)
Nov
not flagged
10°C (50°F)50°F (10°C)
Dec
not flagged
7°C (45°F)45°F (7°C)
Best: May–Sep. Avoid: Jan–Feb. Month by month →
Warmest Jul (23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)), coolest Jan (1°C (34°F)34°F (1°C) low), wettest Jan (11 rain days), driest May (8). Averages, not a forecast.
Weather and climate
Dereham: next 7 days
Loading forecast…
Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.
Air quality
Loading…
Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.
Jan
7°C (45°F)45°F (7°C)
1°C (34°F)34°F (1°C)
11 rd
Feb
8°C (46°F)46°F (8°C)
1°C (34°F)34°F (1°C)
9 rd
Mar
11°C (52°F)52°F (11°C)
3°C (37°F)37°F (3°C)
10 rd
Apr
14°C (57°F)57°F (14°C)
4°C (39°F)39°F (4°C)
9 rd
May
17°C (63°F)63°F (17°C)
7°C (45°F)45°F (7°C)
8 rd
Jun
20°C (68°F)68°F (20°C)
10°C (50°F)50°F (10°C)
9 rd
Jul
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
12°C (54°F)54°F (12°C)
9 rd
Aug
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
12°C (54°F)54°F (12°C)
9 rd
Sep
20°C (68°F)68°F (20°C)
10°C (50°F)50°F (10°C)
8 rd
Oct
15°C (59°F)59°F (15°C)
7°C (45°F)45°F (7°C)
10 rd
Nov
10°C (50°F)50°F (10°C)
4°C (39°F)39°F (4°C)
11 rd
Dec
7°C (45°F)45°F (7°C)
2°C (36°F)36°F (2°C)
11 rd
High / low, both scales · rd = rain days
Arrive & moveAirports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Arrive & move
Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Getting around
The centre is flat and walkable in 15 minutes end to end. Buses run to Norwich, King's Lynn and neighbouring towns, but services are thin in the evening and on Sundays (check). A car makes Gressenhall, the villages and the coast practical; taxis are limited, so book ahead for late returns.
Nearest full guides
Straight-line distance, not travel time
See & doDay-trips, door to door
See & do
Day-trips, door to door
Day-trips
Door to door: About 45 min by car, 1 h by bus (check)
Bus or car on the A47
Cathedral, castle museum and market; the obvious full day out.
Wymondham
goDoor to door: About 1 h by heritage train (check)
Mid-Norfolk Railway from Dereham station, 11.5 miles
Runs March–December, 3–6 trains a day; check the timetable before you build a day around it.
Door to door: About 50 min by car (check)
Car or bus on the A47
Historic port with markets and the Minster; pairs well with a Sandringham stop.
Door to door: About 40 min by car (check)
Car via the A1075, or National Cycle Route 13
Better by car; the cycle route is a long ride.
Door to door: About 45 min (check)
Car via Fakenham
North Norfolk coast; a full day, not a quick hop.
Door to door: About 50 min (check)
Car via Aylsham
Pier and clifftop walks; summer traffic on the coast road is slow.
Door to door: About 1 h (check)
Car on the A47 east
Long for a half-day; go only if you want the seaside amusements.
Door to door: About 1 h 15 min (check)
Car via King's Lynn
West-facing beach; a long day from Dereham.
Eat & sleepWhich area to sleep in
Eat & sleep
Which area to sleep in
Where to sleep
Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.
Town centre (Market Place and Church Street)
Walk to the market, cinema and pubs; the Romany Rye and small guesthouses sit here.
Station Road / Yaxham Road
Closest to the Mid-Norfolk Railway station and the supermarkets; 10–15 min walk to the market.
Villages around town (Swanton Morley, Brisley, Longham)
Pub rooms with food; you need a car or a taxi back after dinner.
PracticalWhat a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Practical
What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Cost per day
- Budget
- £45–70 (≈ US$60–95) excl. bed (2026 estimate)
- Mid
- £70–120 (≈ US$95–160) excl. bed (2026 estimate)
- High
- £120 (≈ US$160)+ excl. bed (2026 estimate)
Trip budget
| Guesthouse or pub double room1 × 1 night × £95 | £95 |
| Food, local transport, entries2 × 1 day × £80 | £160 |
| Mid-Norfolk Railway adult day ticket2 × £19 | £38 |
| Gressenhall adult entry2 × £12 | £24 |
| eSIM, about a week of data2 × £8 | £16 |
| Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge | £33 |
| Trip total≈ £183 per person per day, bed included | £366≈ US$500 |
check
2026 estimate in pounds; travel to Dereham excluded. Bed prices are estimates to check. Your choices stay in this browser.
Prices of common things
| Coffee or tea in a café | £2.50–4 (≈ US$4–6) |
| Pub main course | £12–18 (≈ US$16–25) |
| Pint of draught beer | £4.50–6 (≈ US$6–8) |
| Cinema ticket (Hollywood Cinema, Market Place) | £7.30 (≈ US$10) adult, £5.99 (≈ US$8) under 15 and over 65 |
| Bishop Bonner's Cottage Museum entry | £2 (≈ US$3) |
| Dereham Windmill entry | £2.50 (≈ US$4) adult, £2 (≈ US$3) concessions, £1 (≈ US$2) under 16 |
| One game of ten-pin bowling at Strikes | £6.95 (≈ US$10) adult, £5.95 (≈ US$8) child |
| Taxi across town | £5–8 (≈ US$7–11) |
2026 estimate; check locally.
Watch out
Safety
- No mainline railway station: the Mid-Norfolk Railway is a heritage line to Wymondham, 3–6 trains a day in season, not a commuter service.
- Rural buses are infrequent and often stop by early evening; check the last bus before you plan a day out.
- Mobile signal is patchy north and south of the A47; 5G has not reached the area.
- Some attraction opening days are seasonal and limited: check before travelling.
Emergency numbers
- Police, fire, ambulance
- 999 or 112
- NHS non-urgent
- 111
- Police non-urgent
- 101
Pocket card
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DerehamEast Dereham
Pocket card · Voykit
My bed tonight
—
—
—
To this address, pleaseTo this address, please
Emergency
- Police, fire, ambulance999 or 112
- NHS non-urgent111
- Police non-urgent101
Embassy
No embassies in Dereham; the US Embassy is in London. Consular help for most countries is in London, with some consulates in Norwich and Cambridge (check).
My embassy: —
Fare anchors (2026 estimate)
- Bus Dereham → Norwich: about £5–7 (≈ US$7–10) single, about 1 h
- Mid-Norfolk Railway day ticket: about £19 (≈ US$30) adult, £7 (≈ US$10) child 5–15
- Taxi across town: £5–8 (≈ US$7–11)
Say or show
- Thank you — Thank you
- Please — Please
- Excuse me — Excuse me
- How much is it? — How much is it?
- Can I pay by card? — Can I pay by card?
- Where is the toilet? — Where is the toilet?
Tipping: 10–12.5% in restaurants if no service charge is added; not expected in pubs.
Deep diveWhat this guide covers so far, and its sources
Deep dive
What this guide covers so far, and its sources
Not a trip line yet
This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Dereham. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.
What we know, and what is coming
On this page
- Best months: May–Sep · avoid Jan–Feb (cold, wet, some attractions closed) · month by month →
- 2 airports and 3 areas to sleep in
- Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
- Cost per day in 3 bands
- 8 day-trips, door to door
- 4 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers
Coming as the guide grows
- Airport-to-bed contract for NWI and STN: last bus and rail times field-checked, taxi fallback, overnight rung.
- Walking clusters with rescue anchors: Market Place and Church Street, Station Road and the railway, Gressenhall and the villages.
- Place pages with verified opening days (Mid-Norfolk Railway, Gressenhall, Bishop Bonner's Cottage, the windmill) and eat pages with last orders.
- Market-day fixtures for Tuesday and Friday so the town-centre plan can go green.
Sources
- officialDereham Town Council
- officialMid-Norfolk Railway
- officialGressenhall Farm and Workhouse (Norfolk Museums)
- officialDereham Windmill
- officialBishop Bonner's Cottage Museum
- secondaryWikivoyage: Dereham, revision 5262252 (CC BY-SA 4.0)