Holkham Hall
Holkham Hall is a historic Treasure House, right next to the coast, in Norfolk.
Our Review
Admiring Holkham Hall as we stop on our bikes
Holkham Hall is another impressive Treasure House we visited while doing the #5CChallenge.
Watch out! Tom is driving the tractor!!
It sits just off the Norfolk Coast. We visited while staying at the Camping and Caravanning Club Site that is within the grounds of another impressive stately home, this time belonging to the Queen: Sandringham.
Holkham Hall
The Coke family still lives in the Holkham 'House', and so despite the usual impressive stately home features, such as grand entrances, staterooms with large paintings, and statues everywhere, there was a touch of homeliness to some of the rooms with typical family photos and a touch of a more modern feel.
Mind you, Thomas Coke is the Earl of Leceister, and so it's not your usual family home!
The living room was more homely than stately
Anyone for tea?
A grand bed
Holkham Gardens
The Holkham grounds were quite extensive
Holkham House is set in an impressively landscaped grounds, with deer roaming freely.
When we visited it was the end of October, and so the stags were rutting.
Lots of old trees
Lots to explore in Holkham Hall’s grounds
Deer roam around the grounds
The lake
The old ice house
A view back at Holkham Hall
The walled garden
A little way from the house is the Walled Garden. As we were visiting in Autumn, the walled garden was impressive but not at its best, as you would expect for that time of the year.
Buggy Ride
The grounds offer good walks to stretch the legs, especially if you walking from the house to the walled garden.
If this is a bit far for you, or you are running short on time to see everything (as we were), then you can hop onto one of the buggies that carry people around the grounds.
Sitting on the back of the buggy was great fun.
Refreshments and Field to Fork
When we visited they had a farming exhibition called Field to Fork, which shows the journey of food from the fields to our plates, both then and now.
There's also a great cafe there providing refreshments.
Refreshments at Holkham Hall
Bike Hire
Another way to get around the Holkham estate is to hire bikes.
They have adult bikes, child bikes, bikes with tagalongs, and bikes with child seats. Helmets are provided too, and the staff very helpful with route suggestions.
Take advantage of the bike hire at Holkham Hall
We all hired bikes and pedalled off to Holkham Beach.
Holkham Beach
The wide and long Holkham beach
Just down from Holkham House is Holkham Beach. An impressive vast expanse of sand dotted with sand dunes. At least it is when the tide is out.
Soft sand was hard to pedal on
Cycling down to the shoreline was great fun
Holkham beach goes on for miles
Sun is getting lower in the sky
Cycling late into the afternoon
Lots of sand dunes on Holkham Beach
Although the sand was a bit too soft for bikes in a few places, it was mainly firm. It was great fun paddling along the shoreline and not something we were expecting to do at a Treasure House.
Facilities
On The Map
Directions
Use the postcode NR23 1RH for your satnav.
Address
Holkham HallHolkham Hall, Wells-next-the-Sea
Norfolk
Norfolk
NR23 1AB
England
Longitude: 0.803677
Latitude: 52.949851