The Old Rectory

Fakenham's Old Rectory sits quietly on the edge of town, a proper Georgian townhouse that's seen more than two centuries of Norfolk life unfold within its brick walls. The building itself tells you plenty - tall sash windows, that distinctive flint and brick patchwork you see all over Norfolk, and the kind of proportions that suggest whoever lived here was someone of standing in the community.

It's the sort of place that appeals most to architecture buffs and local history enthusiasts rather than casual visitors. You're not getting grand rooms open to the public here - more a chance to appreciate the exterior and understand how the professional classes actually lived in provincial market towns. The setting matters too, tucked into the fabric of Fakenham itself rather than isolated in the countryside.

Before you make a special trip, do check on access and opening arrangements locally - details are thin on the ground. If you're staying at one of the nearby caravan parks like Norfolk Coast Caravans just down the road, or the glamping spots at Wild Meadow or North Norfolk Glamping a couple of miles out, it's certainly worth a wander into Fakenham itself. Combine it with a look around the town's market square and you've got a reasonable half-hour diversion. But it's not the sort of destination that stands alone - it works best as part of exploring Fakenham's broader Georgian heritage and the local character of North Norfolk.