Founded around 500AD by Aegel, a Saxon who made his “ham” (homestead) there, Aylsham and the surrounding area is crammed with sites of interest. The town was once the property of John of Gaunt, who built the church of St Michael in 1380. A pretty lychgate stands at the entrance to the churchyard where landscape gardener Humphry Repton is buried. Inside the church are impressive Jacobean carved oak panels. Aylsham prospered from medieval days with linen making, replaced by woollen cloth from Tudor times until the industrial revolution. The town also benefited from its position on the turnpike between Norwich and Cromer, The Black Boys public house on the market place was a coaching inn for centuries. Happily the A140 traffic bypasses the town now, unlike the coaches that struggled through narrow Red Lion Street. Henry VIII gave the town a market charter in 1519, and Aylsham still holds a market every Monday. Much of the town’s architecture provides evidence of its importance in earlier days: the cells of the Bridewell, a “house of correction” can still be visited; Hungate Street has timber framed houses; and the characterful mid-sixteenth century manor, now a National Trust property. More impressive still is Blickling Hall, another NT house five minutes’ drive North West from Aylsham, a magnificent Elizabethan and Jacobean building famed for giant yew hedges and a wonderful library and long gallery. A more modern attraction is the narrow gauge Bure Valley Railway, running from Aylsham to Coltishall through gentle countryside along the Bure, a river once navigable by sailing wherries, but silted up in the floods of 1912.
Cottage
Fred's Retreat
Wisteria Cottage
Woodmans Barn
Woodmans Cottage
Dentist
Mr G Enslin
Woodview Dental Health Practice
Doctor
Dr Harrison K & Partners
Dr Kelly & Partners
Farmers Market
Inn
Marsham Arms Inn
Saracen's Head
Market
Aylsham Car Boot
Aylsham Country Market
Aylsham Farmers Market
Pub and Bar
Black Boys Hotel
Feathers
Marsham Arms Inn
Saracen's Head
Unicorn Public House
Self-Catering
Solicitor
Taxi
Vet
Shops
The Shoe Studio
G.F.White Traditional Family Butchers
Hallmark Cards
The Perfect Pie
Places to Stay near Aylsham
Plough Inn (1.80 miles)
A warm welcome awaits you at this attractive inn, offering spacious en-suite rooms with newly refurbished, modern bathrooms. Ideally situated in the beautiful Norfolk countryside, convenient for the North Norfolk ... More
The White Hart (1.97 miles)
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Once a country inn, and now beautifully renovated to retain fine original features and timber beams throughout, this extremely spacious and very comfortable property is perfect for ... More
National Trust Cottages (3.00 miles)
This delightful and comfortable semi-detached cottage stands in a large garden in the middle of this tiny Norfolk hamlet, almost on the edge of the Blickling Park's Bluebell Wood. A small paved seating area overlooking ... More
Saracen's Head (3.50 miles)
Now well into our twentieth year, The Saracen's contiues to delight with scrumptious food and a relaxing, arty country house feel The Blackboard changes daily as Robert and his team cook up many a ... More | visit website
Gullane House (3.79 miles)
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This unique property, part of a converted, timber beamed 16th century flour mill, stands in lovely, willow bordered gardens leading down to the river that meanders beneath ... More
Pond House B&B (4.29 miles)
Marsham Arms Inn (4.43 miles)
Welcome to one of Norfolk's best loved inns noted for its quiet rooms, country setting, wines & ales and freshly prepared food. The Inn has eleven rooms. They are all ... More
Aldborough Hall (5.09 miles)
Approached via a secluded driveway leading to our lovely Georgian Country House close to the lovely village of Aldborough.The first thing to strike you is the intensity of the silence ... More
Elderton Lodge Hotel & Restaurant (5.52 miles)
Elderton Lodge nestles into its own six acres of naturally wooded grounds, beautifully aspected over looking on to 800 acres of Deer park. The 200 year old building, formally the shooting ... More | visit website
Briarwood at Thorpewood Cottages (6.20 miles)
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Within 5 miles of sandy beaches on the beautiful north Norfolk coast, these charming, single storey and south facing cottages offer newly renovated and very comfortable accommodation. ... More
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