Holkham Hall

Holkham Hall

Holkham Hall

Holkham Hall

Holkham Hall

Holkham Hall

Holkham Hall

Holkham Hall

Holkham Hall

Holkham Hall

Holkham Hall

Holkham Hall

Holkham Hall

Holkham Hall is a coastal treasure and offers a wonderful day out for the family. Steeped in history, the grand 18th century Palladian hall has the perfect location, surrounded by acres of rolling parkland and the nearby north Norfolk coast. Home to the Earls of Leicester and the Coke family, inside this magnificent family home there are treasures to be discovered in every room, with superb collections of ancient statuary, tapestries and paintings by Rubens, Van Dyck, Gaspar Poussin and Gainsborough.

Visit the Field to Fork Experience and discover the fun and interactive story of food and farming at Holkham without having to put your wellies on! Let our ā€˜talking toolsā€™ tell you their use; test your foody knowledge with our table-top game; enjoy our ā€˜Holkham Yearā€™ film and don a Holkham tweed jacket and bowler hat for a selfie.

Enjoy nature at its best and follow marked walks or, during high days and holidays, hire cycles to venture further. Explore Holkham’s watery world with rowing boat, canoe and kayak hire on Holkham Lake.Ā A short walk to the other side of the lake is the impressive 18th century Walled Garden. See for yourself the work in progress, as we undergo a major project to restore the garden back to all its glory.

Families will love our childrenā€™s woodland adventure play area with its tree house in the sky, high level walkways and zip wire; great for all young adventurers.Ā  Picnic in the park, or enjoy delicious produce from the cafĆ©. If you are looking for a perfect memento of your visit to Norfolk, then browse the many delights our Gift Shop has to offer.

At the north entrance to Holkham Park lies Holkham village, with the estateā€™s own inn, The Victoria, a selection of shops and the entrance to the Holkham beach and National Nature Reserve, renowned for its endless golden sands and panoramic vista.

  • Mar26Oct31

    Treasures and Trophies - The Making of a Gentleman and a Great House at Holkham Hall

    Sundays, Mondays and Thursdays from 25th March to 31st October 2018

    Thomas Coke, creator of Holkham Hall, was, in 1712, an impressionable teenager tempted by gambling and cock fighting. Under the instruction of his guardians he was sent on one of the longest and most influential Grand Tours of the 18th century. The Grand Tour was the precursor to todayā€™s package travel and allowed young English gentlemen the chance to experience the arts, culture, society and history of parts of Europe.Over the course of six years he travelled through France, Italy, Switzerland, Austria, Germany and the Low Countries.

    Leaving to gunfire and fanfare from Holkham, Thomas undertook a journey which inspired him to create the house you see today. Delve into the archives and witness the arduous route he travelled, meet the entourage who accompanied him, discover how the people he met, such as William Kent, became a lifelong friends and helped shape his vision, learn about the epic collection of paintings, statues, drawings, rare books and manuscripts he amassed which now attract a worldwide audience and form his ā€˜temple of the artsā€™. Undertaking lessons in horse riding, fencing and music, Thomas Coke had language tutors who encouraged him to fully immerse himself in the culture of his surroundings, he pursued his interest in architecture and witnessed grand operas, theatre and balls of the period, turning an impressionable adolescent into a true virtuoso and architect in the making. In 1734 work began on his temple of the arts, and in 1744 became 1st Earl of Leicester of the first creation.

    To bring the story and history to life there will be plenty of opportunity for visitor interaction. Adults and children can walk in the shoes of Thomas Coke, dressing up in costume, create a mini Palladian building from blocks, witness the food he ate and discover a replica studio of the Italian painter, Francesco Trevisani, where Thomas Coke, aged 20, sat for his portrait, which now hangs in the Manuscript Library of the hall.

    Tickets: ā€˜Treasures and Trophiesā€™ is included in a visit to the hall.

    Thomas Coke

  • Mar29Dec27

    Holkham National Nature Reserve Ramble at Holkham Hall

    29th MarchĀ – Lady Anneā€™s Drive
    26th AprilĀ – Lady Anneā€™s Drive
    31st MayĀ – Burnham Overy Staithe
    28th JuneĀ – Lady Anneā€™s Drive
    26th JulyĀ – Wells, Beach Road
    30th AugustĀ – Lady Anneā€™s Drive
    27th SeptemberĀ – Lady Anneā€™s Drive
    25th OctoberĀ – Burnham Overy Staithe
    29th NovemberĀ – Lady Anneā€™s Drive
    27th DecemberĀ – Lady Anneā€™s Drive
    10am-12noon

    Join one of our Wardens on a guided walk around the Holkham National Nature Reserve, the rich variety of wildlife at Holkham NNR means that there is always something of interest to see throughout the year. Well behaved, sociable dogs on leads welcome. Each walk will last approximately 2 hours.

    Tickets:Ā Ā£5 per person*. To book visit our website,Ā or telephone Holkham ticket office on 01328 713111.

    For the Lady Anneā€™s Drive walks please meet by the car parking hut. For the Wells walks we meet at theĀ Beach CafĆ©Ā and for Burnham Overy walks meet at Burnham Overy Staithe harbour car park. *Car park fees are included as part of the Ā£5 ticket for the duration of the walk. Any time spent in the car park afterwards will need to be paid for.

  • Apr25Oct31

    Hidden Passages and Servants' Stairs: Behind the Scenes Tours of Holkham Hall at Holkham Hall

    Wednesdays 25th April, 30th May, 27th June, 11th July, 29th August, 26th September and 31st October, 11am-12.30pm

    Behind the grand state rooms that the public normally see, hidden from view, lie a labyrinth of corridors and stairways. Servants could come and go throughout the hall without being seen or heard. They would appear in the state rooms as if by magic!

    These guided tours take you behind the scenes to explore some of these never-before-seen passages and stairs. But, be aware, you will need stamina and good shoes as there are 70 winding stairs to climb up and 70 more to climb down. The tour starts at the porterā€™s door in the servantsā€™ wing. After a brief insight into how space in the hall was divided between the senior servants, we will climb the back stairs to the corridor which serviced the state, or royal, bedchambers.

    We will climb further to the bedrooms in which the royal entourage were housed, now known as Nelson Wing today and peep into some of the bedrooms, which are still in use for visitors.

    We then climb even further to explore the attics and tower rooms of Holkham Hall. Here we will see the hallā€™s rooftops from the windows and the courtyards far below, the newly repaired bell-tower and the attic libraries. We will see the fabric room with its many chairs waiting their turn to be restored, as well as much more which is now in storage.

    The attics offer glimpses of fabulous views over the park. We shall hear the story of Lady Mary Coke, daughter-in-law of Thomas Coke, who locked herself away in one of the tower rooms and hear the tall tales of strange goings-on within the book shelves.

    Finally, we shall descend via a spiral staircase which comes out by the main bank of servantsā€™ bells near the butlerā€™s pantry, before returning to the porterā€™s door.

    Tickets:Ā Ā£25 adult, Ā£12.50 child (recommended age 10+).Ā To book visit our websiteĀ or telephone Holkham ticket office on 01328 713111.

    Parking is included in the price. Please wear suitable footwear and clothing for climbing stairs. Photography is not permitted. Please be aware that the tour will incorporate staircases (there will be 70 stairs to climb), confined spaces and heights therefore if you are unsure whether this tour is suitable please contact us. Due to the nature of this event, we are unable to accommodate wheelchairs or buggies and we recommend that the tour is suitable for children aged 10 and over.

  • Apr26Dec20

    Teatime Teaser at Holkham Hall

    Thursday 29th March, 3pm
    Thursday 26th April, 3pm
    Thursday 31st May, 3pm
    Thursday 28th June, 3pm
    Thursday 26th July, 3pm
    Thursday 30th August, 3pm
    Thursday 27th September, 3pm
    Thursday 25th October, 3pm
    Thursday 29th November, 3pm
    Thursday 20th December, 3pm

    Come along to the Courtyard CafĆ© for our monthly ā€˜Teatime Teaserā€™ to raise funds for our local day care centreĀ Heritage House, in Wells-next-the-Sea. Not only will you have an entertaining afternoon, but youā€™ll also be in with a chance of winning a cream tea for each member of your team.

    Entry:Ā Ā£1 per person. No need to book, just come along. Note that parking charges apply in Holkham Park.

  • May18Sep7

    Treasured Manuscripts at Holkham Hall

    Meet the curators and discover more about the ā€˜Treasures and Trophiesā€™ exhibition with this special event in Holkham Hall including a rare opportunity to see, first-hand, a selection of important examples from Holkhamā€™s incredible collection of manuscripts.Ā The exhibition curator, and HolkhamĀ archivist, Lucy Purvis will take you on a guided tour of the exhibition and reveal insights into the ideas that Thomas Coke explored on his Grand Tour and how they have shaped Holkham.Ā Delve into our unparalleled manuscriptĀ and early book collection with our manuscript curator, Dr Laura Nuvoloni. In these specially-devised illustrated talks, Laura will be focusing on the medieval and early modern collections in the Holkham library.

    Friday 18th May, 11am-1.30pm
    Buying and Selling Manuscripts andĀ     Early Printed Books

    ThomasĀ Coke made some very important purchases on his six-year grand tour. Hear how books and manuscripts came to be available to collectors, including the very different stories behind major purchases Thomas made in Lyon, Padua and Venice.

    Friday 13th July, 11am-1.30pm
    The Story of Book Production

    Using volumes collected by Thomas Coke, you will explore theĀ history of book production from early manuscripts to the first printed books (incunabula) and beyond.

    Friday 7th September, 11am-1.30pm
    Inspiration from the Classical World

    Explore the depth of Thomas Cokeā€™s interest in the classics and ancient history, particularly his passion for Greek and Roman antiquity. You will hear how Coke gave financial support for the publication of theĀ EtruriaĀ Regali, a major seventeenth century work on the history of the Etruscan civilization.

    Tickets:Ā Adult Ā£25, Child (ages 10 years and over) Ā£12.50. Tickets include car parking and coffee and biscuits. To book telephone Holkham ticket office on 01328 713111.

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