Outwell Travel Guide

Tourist 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
The price is ₹9,460 per night from 12 Mar to 13 Mar
₹9,460
₹11,352 total
12 Mar - 13 Mar
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this hotel in Wisbech. Enjoy free parking, breakfast (surcharge) and a fitness centre. Popular attractions Our Lady & Saint Charles Borromeo and Wisbech ...
9.4/10 Exceptional! (125 reviews)
Yes

Reviewed on 13 Feb 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 Wi-Fi, 2 restaurants and breakfast (surcharge). Our guests praise the helpful staff and the clean rooms in their ...
8.4/10 Very Good! (1,010 reviews)
Staff excellent always happy and helpful Hotel parking fine although not secure. We have stayed at hotel before and will book again.

Reviewed on 8 Mar 2026

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The Dukes Head Hotel
Oliver Cromwell Hotel

Oliver Cromwell Hotel

3 out of 5
High Street March England
Stay at this hotel in March. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, free parking and breakfast (surcharge). Our guests praise the helpful staff in their reviews. Popular attraction ...
8/10 Very Good! (462 reviews)
As a wheel chair user needed disability access. The room and access was perfect and the staff were very helpful in selecting the right room and being so tentative.

Reviewed on 9 Mar 2026

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Oliver Cromwell 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 holiday home in King's Lynn. Enjoy housekeeping. Popular attractions Lynn Museum and Greyfriars Tower are located nearby.
Bricksage Rooms, King's Lynn The Walks
Mrs Dale's Cottage

Mrs Dale's Cottage

3 out of 5
King's Lynn England
Stay at this golf cottage in King's Lynn. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, 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 20 Aug 2025

Mrs Dale's Cottage
Golson Stable

Golson Stable

3.5 out of 5
Spalding England
Stay at this golf cottage in Spalding. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, free parking and a garden. Popular attractions Parish of Long Sutton St Mary and Long Sutton Market ...
Golson Stable
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Popular places to visit

WWT Welney Wetland Centre

4.5/5(4 reviews)

Explore the great outdoors at WWT Welney Wetland Centre, a lovely green space in Welney. Visit the stunning cathedral and top-notch restaurants in this relaxing area.

WWT Welney Wetland Centre

Elgood's Brewery

5/5(1 review)

You can take time to visit Elgood's Brewery during your travels to Wisbech. Visit the top-notch restaurants or lively bars in this relaxing area.

Elgood's Brewery

The Cresent

5/5(1 review)

Explore the great outdoors at The Cresent, a lovely green space in Wisbech. Visit the top-notch restaurants or lively bars in this relaxing area.

The Cresent

Wisbech Castle

You can learn about the history of Wisbech when you stop by Wisbech Castle. While you're here, you can savour the top-notch restaurants.

Wisbech Castle

Angles Theatre

You can make plans for a show at Angles Theatre during your trip to Wisbech. Visit the lively bars or top-notch restaurants in this relaxing area.

Angles Theatre

Wisbech Town Football Club

Catch an event at Wisbech Town Football Club during your trip to Walsoken. Visit the lively bars or top-notch restaurants in this relaxing area.

Wisbech Town Football Club

Cities near Outwell

Wisbech

Wisbech

Ryston Hall, near Downham Market, Norfolk, England. Designed by Sir Roger Pratt as his own home, and later altered by Sir John Soane.
Photo by Ben Harris (Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0)

Downham Market

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