Holkham Hall

DETAILED OVERVIEW

Holkham Hall

 
A visit to Holkham will exceed all expectations. It is a place of rich and diverse landscapes, think parkland alive with deer and mighty oaks, a walled garden bursting with blooms and heritage, a nature reserve thrumming with wildlife, farmland abundant in wildflowers and hedgerows, and an expansive beach backed by sand dunes and pine forests. It is a place of people – from farmers to historians, gardeners to housekeepers, conservationists to the friendly faces that greet you throughout your visit. And Holkham is a place with a rich history and an iconic stately home, yet a place with a pioneering heart and progressive vision.
 
The Hall
Nestled within 25 acres of rolling parkland, Holkham Hall is an 18th-century Palladian style house, based on designs by William Kent and built by Thomas Coke, 1st Earl of Leicester. The current Earl and his family take great pride in opening their doors and sharing the treasures within. You’ll find the Marble Hall a truly breath-taking introduction to your visit, with its impressive 50ft dome ceiling and elegant walls of English alabaster – not marble as the name suggests! A grand staircase leads to a myriad of state rooms, from the Saloon with its rich, red walls, gilded coffering, and lofty ceiling; to many sumptuous bedchambers where royalty once laid, state dining rooms adorned with exquisite porcelain, galleries of statuary and art by the Old Masters, libraries bursting with books and manuscripts and of course, the Old Kitchen with its rows of polished copper pots, pans, and moulds. Though this house has a warm, lived-in feel, much of the original furniture remains in place from the 1700s.
 
The Walled Garden
An exciting project is underway at Holkham to rejuvenate the six acres of walled garden which was originally laid out by Samuel Wyatt during the late 1700s. You are invited to step inside and see how the work is progressing. The garden is divided into ‘squares’ and ‘slips’, each with their own theme and associated planting plan. Discover a spectacular stand of Victorian greenhouses and vineries, a formal ornamental garden, an established vineyard, a working kitchen garden that yields a plentiful crop feeding both the Coke family inside the Hall and visitors to The Victoria, the exotic garden with its large lawn, and lastly, the cutting garden with its beautiful array of blooms.
 
Holkham Stories Exhibition
A visit to the interactive Holkham Stories Experience, where they celebrate the many stories of Holkham’s rich, 400-year heritage and innovative future, is a must.
Learn how some of the foremost landscape designers of their day helped shape Holkham’s setting over the years. Discover how the bricks used to build the Hall were made on the estate, and how influential the Coke family has been over the generations, from prosecuting the Gunpowder Plotters to playing a major part in the agricultural revolution.
The present-day ‘Great Farm Project’ will tell you about their vision for sustainable food production, and you’ll find out how the estate is powered by its own renewable energy. Many ambitious plans are afoot to secure a better tomorrow for the estate.
 
Sunday 16 June 2024
Pick ups: Routes A2 & B2
 
£49 per person
 
Price Includes:
Admission To Holkham Stories Exhibition
Admission To Holkham Hall
Admission To Holkham Walled Garden
Return Coach Fare
 
 

PICK-UP POINTS

Below is a list of pick-up points available on this tour. Please note some pick up points may not be served on all departure dates.

USEFUL LINKS

• Holkham Hall