The town is at the junction of several local roads, including the A148 from King's Lynn to Cromer, the A1067 to Norwich and the A1065 to Swaffham.

[2] Fakenham has been a market town since 1250, known particularly for its corn, barley and wheat trading; in the 19th century, it became noted for its printing.

[4] In 2015, a lead plaque was found near Fakenham dating to the Early Medieval period, and has been interpreted as having been used to overcome[clarification needed] an illness-causing dwarf based on its runic inscription.

[4] In November 1297, Guy Ferre was recorded as the owner of Fakenham Manor, which King Edward I had given to him for life.

[10] John Chambers wrote in his A General History of the County of Norfolk (1829): "Fakenham is a small town, with a good corn market, attended by buyers from Wells, and other contiguous ports.

Grove House, The Red Lion, The Wooden Horse and Barclays Bank retain some 17th-century features.

[10] Fakenham Cricket Club is one of the oldest in Norfolk; it started in 1815 with a combined team, including Hempton and Walsingham, and formed in its own right in 1883.

The 1st team of the club won the Norfolk Alliance Premier Division league title in 2001, 2011, 2015 and 2018; also the Carter Cup in 2010.

[19] Fakenham is no longer served by the National Rail network; the nearest stations are at Norwich, King's Lynn and Sheringham.

A special passenger service named the Fakenham Flyer ran on 21 April 1979, but this proved to be the only such instance, as the line closed permanently the following year.

[21] Fakenham is served by several bus routes operated by different companies:[24] The town is at the junction of several local roads, including the A148 from King's Lynn to Cromer, the A1067 to Norwich and the A1065 to Swaffham.