Houses of the Fens & Broads

Excursion One – King’s Lynn & Sandringham Estate
We start the morning with free time in King’s Lynn. Once one of England’s most important ports, the town’s history dates back to the 12^th century and beyond. The legacy of this rich past is a fascinating maritime heritage and an incredible array of historic buildings where fine old merchants’ houses stretch down to the river between cobbled lanes and the iconic Custom House, an elegant 17^th-century merchants’ exchange, overlooks the harbour.

Next, we visit the house, gardens and museum of the Sandringham Estate, the country retreat of Her Majesty the Queen. There’s free time for lunch here before we have time to explore the estate. Built in 1870, Sandringham has been the private home of four generations of British monarchs. The interiors boast many astonishing exhibits such as an important collection of oriental arms and armour while the walls are hung with family portraits by leading contemporary court painters. The mostly informal gardens include woodland walks, rockeries, magnificent sweeping lawns, lakes and the more formal North Garden. The museum, housed in the former coach houses and stable block, holds extraordinary collections of Royal vehicles, rare ceramics, photographs and memorabilia.

Excursion Two – Blickling Hall, Bure Valley Railway, Norfolk Broads Cruise & Wroxham
Our first stop this morning is at Blickling Hall, one of Britain’s finest Jacobean houses, set at the heart of a magnificent garden and historic park. We have time to explore both above and below stairs including the superb 18^th-century Long Gallery, home to the biggest library collection in the National Trust. There’s little doubt that Blickling’s Boleyn connections (not least tales of Anne Boleyn’s headless ghost) add hugely to the atmosphere here.

Afterwards, we travel the short distance to Aylsham where we enjoy a nostalgic trip on the heritage Bure Valley Railway, Norfolk’s longest narrow gauge railway, meandering for nine miles through the pretty Bure Valley countryside to the bustling town of Wroxham.

From here, we embark on a scenic boat cruise along the Norfolk Broads, a unique and beautiful landscape of shallow lakes and rivers, passing lovely thatched cottages, windmills, ancient churches and reed beds while spotting some of the area’s unique wildlife along the way.

We arrive back in Wroxham where there’s free time to explore the ‘Capital of the Norfolk Broads’ with its abundance of eateries, shops and the famous Roys of Wroxham which claims to be ‘The World’s Largest Village Store’.

Excursion Three – Peckover House, Wisbech & Oxburgh Hall
We head to the Fenland town of Wisbech to visit Peckover House, home of the Peckovers, a family of Quaker bankers, collectors and philanthropists, for 150 years. Facets from all aspects of their fascinating life can be seen throughout this elegant Georgian merchant’s town house, with many interesting artefacts and objects. Outside is a wonderful Victorian walled garden, created by the Peckovers.

After our visit, we enjoy lunch together at a pub in Wisbech before making our way to Oxburgh Hall. This romantic moated manor house has been home to the Catholic Bedingfield family since the 15^th century and charts their precarious history from medieval austerity to neo-Gothic Victorian splendour. Look out for the 16^th-century priest’s hole as well as the intricate embroidery crafted by Mary, Queen of Scots. Other fascinating features include the Catholic High Victorian interiors – some of the best remaining examples in the country.

Excursion One – King’s Lynn & Sandringham Estate
We start the morning with free time in King’s Lynn. Once one of England’s most important ports, the town’s history dates back to the 12^th century and beyond. The legacy of this rich past is a fascinating maritime heritage and an incredible array of historic buildings where fine old merchants’ houses stretch down to the river between cobbled lanes and the iconic Custom House, an elegant 17^th-century merchants’ exchange, overlooks the harbour.

Next, we visit the house, gardens and museum of the Sandringham Estate, the country retreat of Her Majesty the Queen. There’s free time for lunch here before we have time to explore the estate. Built in 1870, Sandringham has been the private home of four generations of British monarchs. The interiors boast many astonishing exhibits such as an important collection of oriental arms and armour while the walls are hung with family portraits by leading contemporary court painters. The mostly informal gardens include woodland walks, rockeries, magnificent sweeping lawns, lakes and the more formal North Garden. The museum, housed in the former coach houses and stable block, holds extraordinary collections of Royal vehicles, rare ceramics, photographs and memorabilia.

Excursion Two – Blickling Hall, Bure Valley Railway, Norfolk Broads Cruise & Wroxham
Our first stop this morning is at Blickling Hall, one of Britain’s finest Jacobean houses, set at the heart of a magnificent garden and historic park. We have time to explore both above and below stairs including the superb 18^th-century Long Gallery, home to the biggest library collection in the National Trust. There’s little doubt that Blickling’s Boleyn connections (not least tales of Anne Boleyn’s headless ghost) add hugely to the atmosphere here.

Afterwards, we travel the short distance to Aylsham where we enjoy a nostalgic trip on the heritage Bure Valley Railway, Norfolk’s longest narrow gauge railway, meandering for nine miles through the pretty Bure Valley countryside to the bustling town of Wroxham.

From here, we embark on a scenic boat cruise along the Norfolk Broads, a unique and beautiful landscape of shallow lakes and rivers, passing lovely thatched cottages, windmills, ancient churches and reed beds while spotting some of the area’s unique wildlife along the way.

We arrive back in Wroxham where there’s free time to explore the ‘Capital of the Norfolk Broads’ with its abundance of eateries, shops and the famous Roys of Wroxham which claims to be ‘The World’s Largest Village Store’.

Excursion Three – Peckover House, Wisbech & Oxburgh Hall
We head to the Fenland town of Wisbech to visit Peckover House, home of the Peckovers, a family of Quaker bankers, collectors and philanthropists, for 150 years. Facets from all aspects of their fascinating life can be seen throughout this elegant Georgian merchant’s town house, with many interesting artefacts and objects. Outside is a wonderful Victorian walled garden, created by the Peckovers.

After our visit, we enjoy lunch together at a pub in Wisbech before making our way to Oxburgh Hall. This romantic moated manor house has been home to the Catholic Bedingfield family since the 15^th century and charts their precarious history from medieval austerity to neo-Gothic Victorian splendour. Look out for the 16^th-century priest’s hole as well as the intricate embroidery crafted by Mary, Queen of Scots. Other fascinating features include the Catholic High Victorian interiors – some of the best remaining examples in the country.