Thetford is a town in the Breckland area of Norfolk, England. In the Anglo-Saxon period, it was the home of the monarchs of East Anglia and was seat of a bishopric.

Much later, the town was the birthplace of Thomas Paine. Today, the surrounding heathland has been largely replaced by the Thetford Forest , through which one had to travel to journey to London and which was renowned for highwaymen.

Thetford is on the A11 road between Norwich and London and has a train station, served by one (railway) running services between Norwich and Cambridge, and by Central Trains, running services from Norwich to Liverpool via either Sheffield and Manchester or Birmingham and Manchester. From Cambridge, regular services run to London King's Cross.