 The Bell in Thetford began its eventful life as a seminary but under Henry VIII's dissolution of the monasteries it was sold as an inn in 1540 and renamed the Bell. The sense of history is enhanced at The Bell by the fact that the hotel retains much of its original character. In 1938 when layers of wallpaper were stripped away Tudor wall paintings were discovered from an old open gallery. These paintings can now been seen preserved behind glass in one of the bedrooms. The Bell Hotel is also famous as the home of the cast and crew of the television series Dad's Army. Thetford features throughout the Dad's Army series providing backdrops to many of the programmed scenes. Due to the nature of the layout and age of the building, The Bell Hotel is unable to offer any ground floor rooms or lifts.
Thetford is at the junction of the A11 and A134. The Bell is on the corner of Bridge Street and King Street, just off the main road to Bury St Edmunds. Approaching Thetford on the A11 from London, take the 2nd exit at the first roundabout. Follow the road to the traffic lights and turn right on to the A134, then immediate left on to Bridge Street. The hotel is just over the bridge on the right. Approaching Thetford on the A11 from Norwich, take the 1st exit at the roundabout, 2nd exit at the second roundabout. Keep on this road past the Police Station and the Fire Station, through the pedestrian traffic lights and the next set of traffic lights. At the next set of traffic lights, turn left then first left on to Bridge Street. The hotel is just over the bridge on the right. Approaching Thetford on the A134 from Kings Lynn, take the 2nd exit at the roundabout. At the next roundabout, take the 3rd exit. Keep on this road past the Police Station and the Fire Station, through the pedestrian traffic lights and the next set of traffic lights. At the next set of traffic lights, turn left then first left on to Bridge Street. The hotel is just over the bridge on the right. Approaching Thetford on the A134 from Bury St Edmunds, take the 3rd right on to Bridge Street and the hotel is just over the bridge on the right. Approaching Thetford on the A1088 from Ipswich, take the 2nd exit at the 1st roundabout. At the 2nd roundabout take the 1st exit. Keep on this road past the Police Station and the Fire Station, through the pedestrian traffic lights and the next set of traffic lights. At the next set of traffic lights, turn left then first left on to Bridge Street. The hotel is just over the bridge on the right.
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