Castle Acre is a village and civil parish in the English county of Norfolk. The village is situated on the River Nar some 4 miles north of the town of Swaffham. It is 15 miles east of the town of King's Lynn, 33 miles west of the city of Norwich, and 103 miles from London.
The villages name means 'Cultivated land'. 'Castle' was added, after the great motte-and-bailey was built here, to distinguish from South and West Acre.
The village is best known today for the twin ruins of Castle Acre Castle and Castle Acre Priory, which lie immediately to the east and west of the village respectively. Both were founded soon after the Norman Conquest by William de Warenne, the first Earl of Surrey. At its heyday, Castle Acre played an important role in the affairs of the State, with many visits from royalty. Castle Acre itself was once a fortified town and still possesses one of its gates, the Bailey Gate. When first established, Castle Acre was one of the finest examples of Norman town planning in the country, and much of this can still be seen.