Blogs > A snapshot of UK Cities
A Snapshot into.. Kings Lynn
- October 05, 2020
Whilst not a City, Kings Lynn is a vibrant and historic town, enjoying a superb mix of history, beautiful landscapes, miles of superb coastline and a variety of entertainment opportunities, making it a popular and ideal UK destination for many! The town and its numerous small villages on the outskirts make up a total population of around 140,000.
Queen Elizabeth Hospital – Kings Lynn
The Queen Elizabeth Hospital is a district general hospital with around 500 beds, 28 wards and serves a population of around 278,800 people who are living in three counties of Norfolk, Cambridgeshire and Lincolnshire. The hospital provides Acute Services for multiple specialties and boasts some of the best surgical theatres in the country, a specialist Breast Care Unit and a Midwife Led Birth Unit.
Hospital Facts:
- Kings Lynn is within the top 6 hospitals in the country for stroke outcomes
- They are one of the most research-active organisations, for their size, in the country, recruiting more patients to trials than most others (1,062 in 18/19)
- The QEH holds a special place in the hearts of people living in the local communities. In the last financial year, the League of Friends paid for a staggering £179,233 worth of equipment for the Trust, including a Dexa Scanner and associated ground work. The League has also dedicated a sum of £500,000 towards the installation of a new Radiology Information System which is currently being installed and due to go-live in Q3 this year.
- The Trust have a national-awarding winning Cancer Research Team, who won the 2019 award for Cancer Research Excellence in Surgical Techniques (CREST)
- Kings Lynn is one of the country’s top performers for cancer care, notably providing cancer patients with early access to a Cancer Nurse Specialist
Support Networks for NHS Staff at QEH
Kings Lynn has a strong ethos of being part of a “team” with everyone being valued and playing their part to achieve the future success of the hospital. The Trust is committed to offering a welcoming culture at the Hospital, where staff feel valued and comfortable speaking up knowing they will be listened to and where kindness is the norm.
In this way, the Trust have a variety of ways in which they will listen to and support staff, including their ‘Freedom to Speak Up’ scheme. The Freedom to Speak up Scheme outlines a group of individuals within the Trust who will actively receive any feedback you may have and implement positive changes as a response. These ‘Champions’ will act as role models for creating an open, honest and transparent culture.
It is also important to recognize, Kings Lynn’s excellent staff networks, whether it be through the LGBT, the BAME, the Indian Nurses or the Armed Forces Staff Network, every single staff member is looked after and supported in their own way.
King’s Lynn are no strangers to international recruitment! They have lots of international Doctors working within the Trust and provide the necessary support to those who may not have previous UK Experience.
Facts About Kings Lynn
- King's Lynn has been named one of the happiest place to live in Britain!
- King’s Lynn is a town of many festivals!
- 14 percent of King's Lynn people travel to work by bike, compared to the national average of just 2 percent.
- The town often lights up at night! Stunning light shows are projected on four buildings across Kings Lynn.
- The first known autobiography in English was written by a Lynn woman, Margery Kemp.
- The town had a name change in 1537 from Bishops Lynn to Kings Lynn, when Henry VIII wrested control of the town!
Cost of Living in Kings Lynn
The following prices are based on averages from available online estimates for costs in surrounding areas to Kings Lynn, including Peterborough and Norwhich
Cost of Renting Accommodation per month
|
One-Bedroom Apartment in the City Centre |
£672.81 |
|
One-Bedroom Apartment outside of the City Centre |
£539.50 |
|
Three-Bedroom Apartment in the City Centre |
£901.75 |
|
Three-Bedroom Apartment outside of the City Centre |
£702.50 |
Transportation
|
1ltr Petrol |
£1.29 |
|
One-Way Public Transport Ticket |
£2.75 |
|
Monthly Public Transport Ticket |
£75.01 |
|
1km Taxi Journey |
£1.42 |
Entertainment
|
Meal out for two in a local pub |
£24.00 |
|
Meal out for two in a mid-range restaurant, 3 courses |
£48.08 |
|
Cinema tickets for two people |
£19.60 |
|
One-month gym membership |
£38.66 |
|
Tennis court rental for 1 hour on the weekend |
£10.79 |
|
Beer 0.5ltr bottle |
£3.00 |
|
Coke/Pepsi 0.33ltr bottle |
£1.05 |
|
Cappuccino |
£2.75 |
Time it Takes to Travel by Train from Kings Lynn to Cities in the UK:
There are excellent road networks that allow access to the Midlands and bustling Cities like Norwich and Cambridge. Kings Lynn is also on a direct line to London, with the station being easily located in the town center, just a short bus journey away from the Hospital.
It has recently also been announced that Greater Anglia Trains have invested 4 million into plans to create new luxury commuter trains from the Cambridge Line through to Kings Lynn and London stations.
|
City |
Time it Takes to Travel |
|
London |
57 Minutes |
|
Bristol |
3 Hours 33 Minutes |
|
Cardiff |
3 Hours 50 Minutes |
|
Manchester |
4 Hours 1 Minutes |
|
Newcastle |
4 Hours 32 Minutes |
|
Birmingham |
3 Hour 12 Minutes |
|
Liverpool |
4 Hours 50 Minutes |
|
Edinburgh |
12 Hours 11 Minutes |
Education in Kings Lynn:
If you are a Doctor relocating to Kings Lynn with family and children, we know that schooling and educational opportunities will be a subject of importance. According to the information available on the government website, the central Kings Lynn area is home to 22 Schools, including a range of Nurseries, Primary and Secondary. Almost all of the schools in Kings Lynn are rated as ‘Good’ by Ofsted alongside East Gate Academy which is rated as Outstanding. For more information on the schooling opportunities, term dates, applications, standards, curriculum and general education, visit the Norfolk County Council website here.
Things to do in Kings Lynn:
The Waterfront
Take a stroll along King’s Lynn’s historic waterfront beside the River Great Ouse, where there are multiple restaurants to visit where you’ll be able to watch out for boats arriving at the visitor pontoons. If visiting after dusk, you’ll also be able to watch King's Lynn's stunning Lynn Lumière light projections - a dramatic light show encouraging people to take another look at the magnificent architecture of St Nicholas' Chapel.
Vancouver Quatre Shopping Centre
Situated in the heart of historical King’s Lynn is The Vancouver Quarter Shopping Centre, perfect for Visitors and families wanting to explore the shops and restaurants! The modern shopping centre features a strong line-up of retailers and is complemented by the markets which often take place in the town center.
Water side Trail - Fen Rivers Way
The Fen Rivers Way is a terrific riverside walking route running from King's Lynn to Cambridge, which runs for nearly 50 miles between the historic settlements. This is a fairly flat easy walk with beautiful Fenland scenery for all to enjoy.
The Walks Park
The Walks is King’s Lynn’s largest park and the only surviving 18th century town walk in Norfolk, created as a place citizens could enjoy some fresh air away from the bustle of the town centre. Here you can enjoy a game of ball sports or a picnic, or even explore the inside of the fascinating Red Mount Chapel.
Lynn Museum
Lynn Museum is home to the famous discovery of Seahenge back in 1998 as well as a vast amount of medieval artefacts relating to the town of Kings Lynn and its maritime history! There are also a range of activities for younger visitors alongside a free audio guide.
The Corn Exchange Theatre and Cinema
The Corn Exchange is a highly popular entertainment venue in Kings Lynn featuring everything from opera to the pantomime! The venue hosts a wide variety of performances for everyone of all ages to enjoy such as: top comedians, live music, concerts, dances, opera, children’s shows, musicals, theatre, talks, magic shows and an annual Christmas pantomime!
King’s Lynn Festival of Music and the Arts
King's Lynn Festival started in 1951 and runs for 2 weeks each July, with 30+ events & dozens of fringe events around King's Lynn and West Norfolk. There is also a year-round event schedule. The festival itself offers a wide variety of orchestral concerts, jazz, folk, choral and classical recitals as well as a range of talks, films and exhibitions!
Beaches – Be at the coast in 20 Minutes!
Enjoy west Norfolk’s magnificent sandy beaches combined with the classic seaside resort of Hunstanton. Famed for its striped cliffs and excellent beach, Hunstanton is ideal for playing on the sand, exploring rock pools and enjoying the sea! You can be at the Coast in just a 20 minute journey from Kings Lynn and it is a very popular area for water sports, with excellent conditions for sailing, windsurfing, kitesurfing, water skiing and canoeing.
Relocation to Kings Lynn:
If you’re an international doctor looking to relocate to Kings Lynn, or another location in the UK, please email your CV to [email protected] and we can support you in securing an NHS post and on your journey to relocate to the UK.
Are you a member of our Facebook group? When you join IMG Advisor, you join a community of doctors all looking to relocate to the UK and join the NHS. We post a series of vlogs and blogs to the group every day. We will also be on hand to answer all of your relocation queries.
Subscribe to our YouTube channel! We have over 60 videos on everything you need to know about relocating to the UK and joining the NHS!
Listen to BDI Resourcing on the go to IMG Advisor the Podcast. You can find us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher and Buzzsprout. We have a number of episodes with tips and advice on relocating to the UK and the routes you can take to achieve this.
References:
https://www.visitwestnorfolk.com/places/kings-lynn/
https://vancouverquarter.com/home/about/
http://www.kingslynnfestival.org.uk/
https://kingslynncornexchange.co.uk/about-us/
