Swaffham is a small market town in the district of Breckland, in the county of Norfolk, England, sitting on the edge of the sandy, gorse‑studded landscape known as The Brecks. Historically a coaching and market centre between Norwich and King's Lynn, it retains a compact market square crowned by the famous statue of the Pedlar of Swaffham, a local legend about a traveller who found treasure after a prophetic dream.
Today the town combines traditional high‑street shops, antiques and independent cafés with services for the surrounding agricultural area, and acts as a gateway to nearby pines and trails such as Thetford Forest, popular with walkers and birdwatchers. Architecturally there are medieval and Georgian buildings and a notable parish church, and the community still hosts regular markets and local events that reflect its long social and commercial history.
Postcode districts covering Swaffham
Most populated places nearby
- Norwich 24.7 miles39.8 km
- King's Lynn 13.8 miles22.3 km
- Wisbech 21.9 miles35.3 km
- Thetford 16 miles25.7 km
- Ely 24.5 miles39.4 km
- Mildenhall 21.6 miles34.7 km
- Downham Market 13.3 miles21.4 km
- Attleborough 16.6 miles26.7 km
Neighbouring places
- Nar Valley Ward 1.5 miles2.3 km
- Sporle with Palgrave Parish 2.1 miles3.4 km
- Sporle Built-up area 2.5 miles4 km
- Cockley Cley Parish 2.8 miles4.5 km
- North Pickenham Parish 3 miles4.9 km
- South Pickenham Parish 3.4 miles5.5 km
- South Acre Parish 3.7 miles5.9 km
- Beachamwell Parish 3.7 miles5.9 km
- Necton Built-up area 3.8 miles6.1 km
- Little Dunham Built-up area 3.9 miles6.2 km
- Castle Acre Built-up area 4.2 miles6.7 km
- Newton by Castle Acre Parish 4.5 miles7.2 km
Example postcodes in Swaffham
PE37 8GP, PE37 7TA, PE37 7RJ, PE37 7PS, PE37 7NS, PE37 7AU, PE37 8FY, PE37 8FJ, PE37 7DU … See all
Transport links
- Norwich International Airport 25 miles40.2 km
- Stansted Airport 55.9 miles89.9 km
- Dereham Railway Station 11.1 miles17.9 km
- Yaxham Railway Station 11.4 miles18.3 km
Hotels in Swaffham Ad
Schools in Swaffham
- Heartwood C of E VC Primary & Nursery School Primary
- OneSchool Global UK - Swaffham Campus Independent - all ages
- Swaffham C of E Primary Academy Primary
- The Nicholas Hamond Academy Secondary
Local points of interest
- Saham Wood Forest 6.8 miles10.9 km
- Lynford Hall Estate 8.8 miles14.2 km
- Wayland Wood Forest 8.9 miles14.3 km
- Stow Hall Gardens Gardens 11.9 miles19.2 km
- Fakenham Racecourse Recreation 14.1 miles22.8 km
- Sandringham House Estate 14.8 miles23.8 km
- Brettenham Heath National Nature Preserve Nature reserve 15.3 miles24.6 km
- Snetterton Heath Estate 17 miles27.4 km
- Elveden Hall Estate 17.9 miles28.8 km
- Snettisham Beach Beach 18.6 miles29.9 km
- Wild Ken Hill Nature reserve 19 miles30.6 km