Walsingham
Little Walsingham
England's most important medieval Marian pilgrimage site, with well-preserved priory ruins, a Shrine of Our Lady and a Tudor timber-framed town.
Little Walsingham has been England's most important shrine to the Virgin Mary since 1061. After Henry VIII dissolved the monasteries, the town declined, but it revived in the 20th century, and today it has two shrines to Our Lady, one Anglican and one Catholic. In the town centre, the ruins of Walsingham Priory retain only the great east window, set among gardens and snowdrop woodland that look their best in February. Entry to the priory ruins costs about £5. Visitors can reach the town on the Wells narrow-gauge railway.
Opening hours
Sanctuary open daily; monastery ruins approx. 10:00–16:00
Nearby sights
- Wells and Walsingham Light Railway
- Wells-next-the-Sea Quay & Town
- Thursford Collection & Christmas Spectacular
- Pensthorpe Natural Park
- Binham Priory
- Wells Beach & Beach Huts
- Holkham Hall
- Holkham Beach