[3] East Anglia's worst rail crash happened at Thorpe St Andrew in 1874, killing 25 people and injuring 75.

[citation needed] There are numerous leisure facilities, groups and organisations including the County Arts indoor and outdoor bowling club on Plumstead Road, Thorpe Kite Flyers and the Starlight Express Majorettes.

Thorpe Green is on the main Yarmouth Road and gives access to the river with the opposite bank being an island after the creation of the new cut which allowed vessels to make their way to and from the city of Norwich without traversing the town via two low bridges that carry the railway to Yarmouth, Lowestoft, Cromer and Sheringham.

Once the location of thriving boat yards, Thorpe Island now offers mooring for mainly liveaboard vessels.

It was unveiled on 4 August 2014 by two local schoolchildren, Harry and Aimee Fuller who attended Hillside Avenue Primary School.