Fakenham is a market town and also civil parish in Norfolk, England. It is situated on the River Wensum, around 19 miles (31 kilometres) north east of King's Lynn, 19 miles (31 kilometres) south west of Cromer, and 25 miles (40 kilometres) north west of Norwich. The civil parish has an area of 3.49 sq mi (9.0 km2) as well as in the 2001 census had a population of 7,357 in 3,292 homes, the population enhancing to 7,617 at the 2011 census. For the objectives of city government, the parish drops within the area of North Norfolk. The name Fakenham is Saxon, potentially indicating Fair Place/Place on a Fair River, or District (Ham) on the river (Ken) Fa/Fair (Fa).