The Bell in Thetford began its eventful life as a seminary but under Henry VIIIs 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 Dads Army.

Thetford features throughout the Dads 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.