Diss Area Guide

Diss is a small market town on the Norfolk/Suffolk border nestled within the Waveney Valley.

Probably the most famous landmark is Diss Mere, covering six acres in the town centre and is over 20m deep, one of the deepest inland lakes in the country. The Mere is set within parkland and surrounded by a wide variety of architecture, including the Church of St Mary which overlooks the town.

The Heritage Triangle hosts over 50 independent shops and businesses and is a must when you visit Diss. This is also where you’ll find Diss Corn Hall, built in 1854 and one of the last functioning corn halls in England. Following an extensive renovation in 2017, the Corn Hall is now a vibrant arts venue that hosts a range of entertainment, exhibitions and activities.

Diss benefits from three main supermarkets as well as a range of smaller independent stores including three family run butchers. There are also a number of independent restaurants and cafés in Diss, including Weavers Wine Bar, Amandines, The Angel Café and Hug on Market Hill. There are also a number of traditional pubs in the town as well as a range of takeaways and chain outlets.

Sitting right on the River Waveney, Diss is a perfect place to explore the Waveney Valley and the best place to start is its source at Redgrave and Lopham Fen.

Diss is easily accessed, sitting at the crossroads of the A143 from Bury St Edmunds to Great Yarmouth and A140 from Ipswich to Norwich. It also has a mainline train station on the Norwich to London line with trains every half-hour to the capital.

There are nine primary level schools within three miles of Diss with the Norfolk-based primary schools feeding into Diss High School. The closest independent school is Riddlesworth Hall School ten miles away towards Thetford.