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 miles
- King's Lynn 13.8 miles
- Wisbech 21.9 miles
- Thetford 16 miles
- Ely 24.5 miles
- Mildenhall 21.6 miles
- Downham Market 13.3 miles
- Attleborough 16.6 miles
Neighbouring places
- Nar Valley Ward 1.5 miles
- Sporle with Palgrave Parish 2.1 miles
- Sporle Built-up area 2.5 miles
- Cockley Cley Parish 2.8 miles
- North Pickenham Parish 3 miles
- South Pickenham Parish 3.4 miles
- South Acre Parish 3.7 miles
- Beachamwell Parish 3.7 miles
- Necton Built-up area 3.8 miles
- Little Dunham Built-up area 3.9 miles
- Castle Acre Built-up area 4.2 miles
- Newton by Castle Acre Parish 4.5 miles
Example postcodes in Swaffham
PE37 7PR, PE37 8FH, PE37 7HJ, PE37 7EY, PE37 9AZ, PE37 8JT, PE37 8BZ, PE37 7SR, PE37 8PA … See all
Transport links
- Norwich International Airport 25 miles
- Stansted Airport 55.9 miles
- Dereham Railway Station 11.1 miles
- Yaxham Railway Station 11.4 miles
Hotels near Swaffham Ad
- The Pig Shed Motel 4 4.8 miles
- Greenbanks Hotel 4 6.9 miles
- Best Western the George Hotel, Swaffham 3 0.3 miles
- The Crown Hotel 9.2 miles
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 miles
- Lynford Hall Estate 8.8 miles
- Wayland Wood Forest 8.9 miles
- Stow Hall Gardens Gardens 11.9 miles
- Fakenham Racecourse Recreation 14.1 miles
- Sandringham House Estate 14.8 miles
- Brettenham Heath National Nature Preserve Nature reserve 15.3 miles
- Snetterton Heath Estate 17 miles
- Elveden Hall Estate 17.9 miles
- Snettisham Beach Beach 18.6 miles
- Wild Ken Hill Nature reserve 19 miles