Holkham Hall, Holkham (Norfolk)
Grand Palladian mansion designed by William Kent for Thomas Coke, 1st Earl of Leicester
Summary
- 18th century buildings
- Gift shop
- Gardens
- Public car parking for a charge (nearby)
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Food and Drinks
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Introduction
Holkham Hall, on the stunning North Norfolk coast, is the perfect place for a visit. Surrounded by 3,000 acres of rolling parkland, this magnificent 18th century Palladian house is a joy to discover with treasures in every room, incredible architecture, stunning art, original furniture and classical statuary. Additional attractions include the Bygones Museum displaying over 4,000 items of domestic and agricultural memorabilia and the 6 ½ acre 18th century Walled Gardens, which are being sensitively restored to their former glory. High days and holidays offer cycle and boat hire and a fun-packed events programme. A new exhibition in the hall, ‘The Ostrich and The Crown’ celebrating the Queen’s diamond jubilee and Holkham’s connections with the monarchy is brought to life with displays from the archives and personal records, including a dress worn at the 1953 coronation.
History to the present day
Holkham Hall, still very much a lived in family home of the Coke family, was built between 1734 and 1764 by Thomas Coke, 1st Earl of Leicester. A cultivated man, Thomas Coke travelled extensively and in his youth made the 'Grand Tour' of Europe. Away from England for six years between 1712 and 1718, the Palladian style mansion most certainly reflects Coke's appreciation of classical art and when he returned to England he did so with a newly acquired library and an impressive art and sculpture collection with which he planned to furnish his mansion.
During his time in Italy he met architect William Kent, who shared his passion for the buildings of the Italian Andrea Palladio and it was there that Thomas planned his great Norfolk mansion. Work did not begin until 1734, as Coke lost a great deal of money in the South Sea Bubble fiasco. He was intimately involved in its construction for the remaining 30 years of his life and at his death in 1759, the house was stilll five years away from completion.
Food and Drinks
The Stables Cafe in the courtyard is fully licensed and serves a selection of locally sourced hot and cold light meals and delicious home-made cakes.
Grounds and gardens
The Park surrounding Holkham Hall is home to a herd of about 800 fallow deer and a small herd of Red Deer. The beach, which is part of the nature reserve, becomes home to thousands of geese, many from Iceland and Russia, which migrate here for the winter. The estate, while an award-winning tourist site, also has some 25 tenanted farms as well as its own land, concentrating on arable and livestock.
The 6½ acres of walled gardens which were originally laid out by Samuel Wyatt during the late 1700s and which have been closed to the public since 2005 are currently in the third year of a five year restoration project.
Why not take time to explore the park with one of our three sign-posted walks, our nature trail around the lake or cycle and boat hire in high season.
Other facilities
The Bygones Museum, with its exhibition of domestic and agricultural memorabilia, complements the grandeur of the Hall and allows visitors to relive memories, or learn about life in times gone by.
The traffic-calmed routes through Holkham park are perfect for cycling and an opportunity for visitors to explore more of the estate. Or if you are feeling adventurous, it's an opportunity to saddle up and explore more of the local area. Holkham byCycle Hire Centre is located in the courtyard adjacent to Holkham Hall.
New for 2012 - Take the opportunity to hire a boat and explore the lake.
Arrival information and how to find us
Address: , Norfolk, , United Kingdom
Opening times1 April - 31 October 2012
Hall: Sundays, Mondays and Thursdays 12.00pm - 4.00pm
Bygones Museum, Walled Gardens, Stables Cafe and Gift Shop: every day 10.00am - 5.00pm
Admission prices:
Hall, Bygones Museum and Walled Gardens: Adult £12.00, Child (5-16 years inc) £6, Family (2 adults & 3 children 5-16 years inc) £33.00
Bygones Museum and Walled Gardens: Adult £7, Child (5-16 years) £3.50, Family (2 adults & 3 children 5 - 16 years inc) £19.00
Parking Charge: £2.50 all day
The £2.50 parking charge is redeemable against purchases of £10 or more in our Gift Shop.
Directions: Holkham Hall is situated on the main A149, two miles west of Wells-next-the-Sea. The main entrance for the public is via the north gates of the estate.
By train: The nearest train station is King's Lynn (approximately 23 miles away), which has hourly trains running from King's Cross, London via Cambridge and Ely.
By bus: The Norfolk Coasthopper runs from King's Lynn and Hunstanton to Sheringham and has two stops at Holkham. The main bus stop is on the main road in Holkham village. In the summer the service is surprisingly frequent. The Hall is reached via Park Road, approximately a 3/4 mile walk away.
