Sunday: Arrival
Check in to the Knights Hill Hotel & Spa in the afternoon. Later, we enjoy a welcome drink reception hosted by our tour manager.
Monday: Holkham Hall & Walsingham Abbey
We make our way to Holkham Hall, an elegant 18th-century country mansion constructed in the Palladian style for Thomas Coke, 1st Earl of Leicester. Set in a vast landscaped park, the hall is currently home to the 8th Earl of Leicester and his family. The spectacular Marble Hall, with its splendid colonnade and breathtaking 50ft domed ceiling, was inspired by the Temple of Fortuna Virilis and the Pantheon in Rome, while the magnificent state rooms boast superb collections of ancient statuary, original furniture and tapestries plus works of art from the likes of Rubens, Van Dyck and Gainsborough. We discover more on our private guided tour, followed by refreshments.
Afterwards we head to charming Walsingham for lunch (not included), before discovering Walsingham Abbey, famous for the spectacular remains of a medieval priory. A place of pilgrimage since the 11th century, the priory was destroyed during Henry VIII’s Dissolution of the Monasteries. We enjoy a guided tour, learning more about the abbey’s rich history and also take in the beautiful stained glass windows by Michael Cole plus David Begbie’s unique CRUCIFIX sculpture in the nearby Anglican Shrine. There’s also time to explore the unspoilt woodland and landscape parkland, accessed over an ancient packhorse bridge.
After dinner this evening, we enjoy an interesting themed talk from a guest speaker.
Tuesday: Hoveton Hall Gardens & Hindringham Hall and Gardens
Today we visit Hoveton Hall Gardens, part of the beautiful Hoveton Hall Estate, for a guided tour followed by refreshments. The delightful 15 acres of gardens are made up of several areas, all with their own unique characteristics including the walled Spider Garden, the Old Kitchen Garden with lawns and herbaceous borders, a 19th-century glass house and 18th-century ice well, a Woodland Walk, Magnolia Garden plus two lakes and an arboretum.
Next stop is Hindringham Hall and Gardens, one of Norfolk’s hidden gems. The picturesque Tudor manor house was built by Martin Hastings, a courtier to Henry VII’s illegitimate son, Henry Fitzroy, using stone taken from the local monasteries which were then being dissolved. We enjoy a guided tour with the owner where we learn more about the house, from its inhabitants over the last 500 years to the four acres of impressive gardens that lay either side of the 13th-century moat that surrounds the house. We discover many of the highlights including the working walled vegetable and fruit garden, Victorian greenhouse, water garden, wild garden and medieval fishponds.
Wednesday: Houghton Hall and Gardens & Sandringham
Our first visit is to Houghton Hall, one of England’s finest Palladian houses, where we enjoy a guided tour. Built in the 1720s by Great Britain’s first Prime Minister, Sir Robert Walpole, the Hall boasts sumptuous state rooms lavishly endowed with pictures, statuary and fine furniture while outside there is an award-winning, five-acre garden and contemporary sculpture park.
Next, we head to the house, gardens and museum of Sandringham, the country retreat of the Royal Family. There’s free time for lunch here (not included) before we explore the estate. Built in 1870, Sandringham has been the private home of four generations of British monarchs. The interiors feature astonishing exhibits such as a historic collection of arms and armour brought back from the Far East and India in 1876, 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.
Thursday: Departure
After breakfast, check out of the hotel for the journey home.
Please note: the itinerary order is subject to change and owner-led tours are subject to availability.
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