King's Lynn is an ancient market town and port built on the eastern bank of the Great Ouse, and has many buildings from the medieval to Georgian periods. The Tuesday Market was founded in the 12th century and is held in a large square which is a car park on other days. The even older Saturday Market is held at the southern end of the High Street.
The town has a 15th-century guildhall and a 19th-century town hall. The Custom House was built in 1683. The names of the Hanseatic Warehouse and Greenland Fishery House are reminders the town's trading history.