England: Stately Homes and Seaside Castles of Norfolk1st Jun 2025
From:£1,495
Summary
Our historical tour of Norfolk begins as we travel through verdant rolling countryside to our first stately home, the 500-year-old Oxburgh Hall, a survivor from the War of the Roses, followed by a visit to one of Britain’s largest and best-preserved keeps, Castle Rising. We also visit the Blickling Estate, a stunning Jacobean mansion set in magnificent parklands and glorious gardens. After a brief trip on the North Norfolk Heritage Railway, we head to what is one of Norfolk’s most famous stately homes, Sandringham, the much-loved retreat of the British monarchy, where we have the chance to enjoy a memorable afternoon tea followed by a private guided tour. The Palladian-style Holkham Hall, home to the Earls of Leicester, and the charming, moated manor of Hindringham Hall are next on our visit list, with private access to the beautifully tended gardens included at the latter. Another Palladian-style house features as we visit Wolterton Park, as well as the Regency house Hoveton Hall, where we will meet the current owner. Finally, we join Lady Walpole at her ancestral family home, Mannington Hall, for a guided tour and light lunch before we return to our original joining points.
What to Expect
- Afternoon Tea with Sparkling wine and guided evening tour of Sandringham
- House and Gardens tour at Wolterton with refreshments in the Saloon
- Journey on the North Norfolk Railway
- Private afternoon access to the gardens & grounds at Hindringham Hall
- Tour with Lady Walpole at Mannington Hall with Lunch
- House tour with the owner at Hoveton Hall with refreshments
- Visits to Oxburgh Hall, Holkham Hall, Castles Rising and Blickling Estate
Departure Routes
| Location | Pickup Time | Dropoff Time |
|---|---|---|
| To be advised | 00:00 | 00:00 |
| London - Coach bays on Tothill Street, Westminster | 07:30 | 17:30 |
| Colchester - Coach layby, Stanwell Street, next to Buzz Bingo hall | 10:00 | 15:30 |
| Joining at first visit - Oxburgh Hall, PE33 9PS | 12:00 | |
| 13:00 |
** Please note that all timings are approximate and subject to change. Final timings and pick-up points will be confirmed with your joining instructions approximately 10 days prior to departure. **
Day by Day Itinerary
We depart from our pickup points and head through the picturesque East Anglian countryside to the first of our stately homes of Norfolk, Oxburgh Hall, a stunning moated country house built in 1482 at the peak of the War of the Roses by the Bedingfeld family, which today remains the ancestral family home. Having endured much over the last 500 years, Oxburgh has managed to survive religious persecution, the ravages of Civil War and threats of demolition. We delve inside this historic house and discover the long-standing legacy of the 6th Baronet who created much of what can be seen today, including the gothic Victorian interiors and the ornate architectural additions that are reflective of the more romantic view of Oxburgh’s medieval past. As we head outside, the gardens are a mixture of formal and wilderness, with the walled garden and French parterre adding splashes of colour and seasonal activity.
This afternoon we head to Castle Rising, nestled in the village of the same name and one of the largest, best preserved and most extravagantly decorated keeps to be found in England. It is encircled by some 20 acres of earthworks and its construction is thought to have been started in 1138 by the Norman lord William d’Albini for his wife. Later in the 14thcentury it became the home to Queen Isabella, the widow and alleged murderess of the King Edward II. Today the castle is owned and managed by Lord Howard of Rising.
We then continue to our hotel in King’s Lynn where dinner will be served in the evening.
Meals includedDinner
