Welcome to the ‘The Historic Houses & Heritage of Norfolk & the Sandringham Estate’ tour. You can view full details of this tour, share this tour with others, pay your final balance before departure and, once you have departed on your holiday, share your group photos and write reviews.
Itinerary
Day 1
We board our private executive coach at our designated pick up points. En route to our hotel we visit Ely Cathedral for a guided tour, known locally as ‘The Ship of the Fens’ and internationally famous for its Octagon and Lantern Towers. On arrival in Norwich we check in at the 3* George Hotel for a four night stay on a half board basis.
Day 2
Our Blue Badge guide meets us at our hotel this morning and accompanies us throughout the day. We enjoy a guided coach and walking tour of Norwich, England’s best preserved medieval city, taking in sights such as the Norman castle and the cathedral, one of the finest in England with its magnificent cloisters and Cathedral Close. This afternoon we enjoy an included one way narrow gauge railway excursion from Wroxham to Aylsham on the scenic Bure Valley Railway.
Day 3
This morning we visit Holkham Hall with our Blue Badge guide. Thomas Coke, the first Earl of Leicester, conceived the Palladian hall as his vision of an Italian villa on the windswept north Norfolk coast. We continue to the National Trust’s Blickling Hall, Garden and Park. One of England’s great Jacobean houses, Blickling is famed for its spectacular long gallery, superb plasterwork ceilings and fine collections of furniture, pictures, books and tapestries.
Day 4
The Sandringham Estate is our destination this morning, set in 60 acres of splendid gardens and the much loved country retreat of the late Her Majesty the Queen. Built for Edward VII in 1870 the property was once described as ‘Britain’s most comfortable house’ and the museum houses extraordinary collections of royal vehicles, rare ceramics, photographs and memorabilia. With our Blue Badge guide this afternoon we enjoy a scenic drive along the North Norfolk coast road.
Day 5
After checking out of our hotel and en route home we visit the National Trust’s Anglesey Abbey, Garden and Lode Mill near Cambridge. This Jacobean style house, built on the site of a 12th century Augustinian priory contains a priceless art collection and one of the National Trust’s largest collections of clocks. The celebrated garden, with its sweeping avenues, classical statuary and flower borders, offers captivating views, vibrant colours and delicious scents whatever the season. Taking carefully selected comfort stops en route, we return back to our original pick up points.
NB: Please note we reserve the right to alter the above itinerary if required for operational reasons. Given the historic nature of the places visited, a certain degree of walking will be involved, and there will be uneven and hilly ground to negotiate. As a result this holiday may not be suitable for those with mobility problems.
Featuring
Half board accommodation
All excursion travel & guided tours included
Entrance fees to non-National Trust properties included
Train ticket on Day 2 included
Blue Badge guide on Days 2 to 4
Executive coach throughout
Gratuities included
Ely Cathedral – guided tour
Norwich – guided city tour
Narrow gauge railway excursion from Wroxham to Aylsham
Holkham Hall
Blickling Hall, Garden & Park
Sandringham Estate
Scenic drive along the North Norfolk coast road
Anglesey Abbey, Garden & Lode Mill
Hotel
We stay four nights at the boutique 3* George Hotel in Norwich (https://georgehotel.co.uk/). Located a fifteen minute walk from the centre of Norwich, facilities at the hotel include a restaurant and bar. All rooms are en suite and feature telephone, television, hairdryer, and tea & coffee making facilities. A set 3 course dinner with a vegetarian option, and without drinks is included in our hotel on the first night. A choice 3 course dinner without drinks is included in our hotel on the remaining three nights of our tour.
Extras
Insurance (including Covid cover) £38
Single room supplement £89
Entrance fees to National Trust properties (free to NT members)
Lunches
Optional Excursions
All excursions travel & guided tours included
