Outwell

Travel Guide

Fenland: lupins in bloom, a crop of nursery stock at Outwell. When the nursery stock is in bloom the fields are startlingly colourful.
Photo by Dr Charles Nelson (Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0)
Fenland: lupins in bloom, a crop of nursery stock at Outwell. When the nursery stock is in bloom the fields are startlingly colourful.
Photo by Dr Charles Nelson (Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0)
Saint Clement Parish church, Outwell, Norfolk
Photo by John Salmon (Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0)
Wisbech & Upwell tramway - Goodman's Crossing Wisbech & Upwell tramway's Upwell depot > 1241222 was 5 miles 72 chains distant from Wisbech. The line had eleven sidings, with two originally allocated for passenger traffic. During the fruit season the sidings could hold more than a hundred vans. The depot had a cattle dock, a depot office, a passenger waiting room, and a coal merchant's office and staithes. There was also an ash pit, and an old GER tender was used for a water tower until 1953 when it was removed. http://www.lner.info/co/GER/wisbech/route.shtml From the Upwell depot, which was the southern terminus of the tramway, the trains headed northwards > https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/1241251 to the village of Outwell, crossing Small Lode > https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/1241268 and passing a farm before emerging on Low Side > https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/1241442 which was the final request stop. A farm driveway now runs where the railway trackbed used to be > https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/1241431. Running parallel with Well Creek (the old course of the River Nene) the tramway then ran along the grassy verge seen in the foreground before reaching the final section of reserved track at Goodman's Crossing request stop before reaching Outwell Village depot. Outwell Village depot > https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/1241458 was located just past the bridge seen in the background - by the old course of the River Nene and adjoined by St Clement's church on the other side. It originally had four sidings and was equipped with coal chutes to transfer coal to barges for distribution through the Fens. The depot had a small office building built from red brick > https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/1241479 and an old van body for storage. The brick office still stands, but most of the depot site has since been built over by modern housing. The name of the cul-de-sac/access road is called "The Tramway". When during the 13th century the estuary silted up, the fens surrounding the market town and port of Wisbech were reclaimed for agricultural use. The new agricultural prosperity soon attracted railways such as the Eastern Counties Railway which opened a branch in 1847. In 1848 the East Anglian Railway built a branch from Watlington. A third line was built by the Peterborough, Wisbech & Sutton Bridge Railway (later the Midland & Great Northern Joint Railway) which opened a station on the other side of the River Nene in 1866. The trains carried fruit and vegetables to markets as far afield as London. In addition, the construction of a tramway line connecting the villages Upwell and Outwell with Wisbech commenced in 1882. Board of Trade's tram restrictions resulted in the unusual-looking locomotives which not only had speed restrictions but controls at both ends and wooden cowcatchers and skirts over the wheels. Six trams a day in each direction provided passenger services, with the full one way journey taking one hour. By October 1884 traffic had grown to 3000 passengers per week, with peaks of 2000 in a day for fetes and other special events. The tram competed with a canal that ran between Wisbech and Upwell and with the canal being in a poor financial condition the tram eventually finished it off. When motor omnibuses started to appear, however, passenger numbers declined drastically and passenger services were withdrawn in 1927, whereas freight traffic continued to flourish. With the introduction of two Drewry Shunters (BR Class 04) in 1952, Wisbech & Upwell became Britain's first all-diesel line. The line closed in March 1966. http://www.lner.info/co/GER/wisbech/history.shtml
Photo by Evelyn Simak (Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0)
Low Side Northeasterly view along Low Side which runs parallel with the old course of the River Nene (seen at left). After leaving Wisbech & Upwell tramway's Upwell depot > https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/1241222 - the line's southern terminus - the trains headed northwards > https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/1241251 to the village of Outwell, crossing Small Lode > https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/1241268 and passing a farm before emerging on Low Side which was the final request stop. A farm driveway now runs where the railway trackbed used to be > > https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/1241431. Low side is the name of the road with runs parallel with the old course of the River Nene - the tram followed this road's eastern verge. http://www.lner.info/co/GER/wisbech/route.shtml When during the 13th century the estuary silted up, the fens surrounding the market town and port of Wisbech were reclaimed for agricultural use. The new agricultural prosperity soon attracted railways such as the Eastern Counties Railway which opened a branch in 1847. In 1848 the East Anglian Railway built a branch from Watlington. A third line was built by the Peterborough, Wisbech & Sutton Bridge Railway (later the Midland & Great Northern Joint Railway) which opened a station on the other side of the River Nene in 1866. The trains carried fruit and vegetables to markets as far afield as London. In addition, the construction of a tramway line connecting the villages Upwell and Outwell with Wisbech commenced in 1882. Board of Trade's tram restrictions resulted in the unusual-looking locomotives which not only had speed restrictions but controls at both ends and wooden cowcatchers and skirts over the wheels. Six trams a day in each direction provided passenger services, with the full one way journey taking one hour. By October 1884 traffic had grown to 3000 passengers per week, with peaks of 2000 in a day for fetes and other special events. The tram competed with a canal that ran between Wisbech and Upwell and with the canal being in a poor financial condition the tram eventually finished it off. When motor omnibuses started to appear, however, passenger numbers declined drastically and passenger services were withdrawn in 1927, whereas freight traffic continued to flourish. With the introduction of two Drewry Shunters (BR Class 04) in 1952, Wisbech & Upwell became Britain's first all-diesel line. The line closed in March 1966. http://www.lner.info/co/GER/wisbech/history.shtml
Photo by Evelyn Simak (Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0)
Crown Lodge Hotel

Crown Lodge Hotel

3 out of 5
Downham Road Wisbech England
Fully refundableReserve now, pay when you stay
The price is P7,186 per night from Feb 26 to Feb 27
P7,186
P8,623 total
Feb 26 - Feb 27
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this hotel in Wisbech. Enjoy free parking, breakfast (surcharge), and a fitness center. Popular attractions Our Lady & Saint Charles Borromeo and Wisbech ...
9.4/10 Exceptional! (125 reviews)
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Reviewed on Feb 13, 2026

Crown Lodge Hotel
The Dukes Head Hotel

The Dukes Head Hotel

4 out of 5
5-6 Tuesday Market Place King's Lynn England
Stay at this hotel in King's Lynn. Enjoy free WiFi, 2 restaurants, and breakfast (surcharge). Our guests praise the helpful staff and the clean rooms in our ...
8.4/10 Very Good! (1,007 reviews)
The staff are lovely, but having stayed quite frequently it seems every room has its issues. Last time had a room that was leaking water onto my laptop, only on the third night had they put a bucket under it. This time you couldn't open the roman blinds as the chain mechanism didn't work. Also I'm ...

Reviewed on Feb 21, 2026

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The Dukes Head Hotel
Best Western George Hotel

Best Western George Hotel

3 out of 5
Station Street Norfolk Swaffham England
Fully refundableReserve now, pay when you stay
The price is P4,246 per night from Feb 26 to Feb 27
P4,246
P5,095 total
Feb 26 - Feb 27
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this hotel in Swaffham. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and breakfast (surcharge). Our guests praise the helpful staff in our reviews. Popular attractions ...
7.8/10 Good! (327 reviews)
Everything was perfect, the staff were very friendly. Sorry I can’t remember his name but the barman was first class, he remembered how I liked my drinks without me saying anything.The food was perfect. Thank you

Reviewed on Feb 15, 2026

Best Western George Hotel
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Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.
Bricksage Rooms, King's Lynn The Walks

Bricksage Rooms, King's Lynn The Walks

3.5 out of 5
10 Blackfriars Road King's Lynn England
Stay at this vacation home in King's Lynn. Enjoy housekeeping. Popular attractions Lynn Museum and Greyfriars Tower are located nearby.
Bricksage Rooms, King's Lynn The Walks
The Barn

The Barn

3.5 out of 5
3 Theatre Street Swaffham England
Stay at this apartment in Swaffham. Enjoy free parking. Popular attractions Swaffham Museum and Market Square are located nearby.
The Barn
Mrs Dale's Cottage

Mrs Dale's Cottage

3 out of 5
King's Lynn England
Book a stay at this golf cottage in King's Lynn. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and a garden. Popular attractions Custom House and Old Gaol House are located ...
10/10 Exceptional! (2 reviews)
Lovely cottage
Lovely cottage, quiet peaceful location and owners are lovely

Reviewed on Aug 20, 2025

Mrs Dale's Cottage
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