Welcome to the ‘The Historic Houses & Heritage of Norfolk’ 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 three night stay on a half board basis.
Day 2
With our Blue Badge guide this morning we enjoy a guided coach and walking tour of Norwich, England’s best preserved medieval city. Our guided tour takes 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 a guided tour at the Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts, shortlisted for the Art Fund Prize of Museum of the Year 2014. Modern European paintings and sculpture (including examples by Henry Moore, John Davies, Alberto Giacometti and Francis Bacon) sit alongside pieces from around the globe, sculpture from the ancient world and studio ceramics.
Day 3
Our Blue Badge guide meets us at our hotel this morning and accompanies us throughout the day. 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. We enjoy a guided tour at Houghton Hall this afternoon with our Blue Badge guide. Houghton today is the centre of a thriving estate, reflecting the ups and downs of nearly 300 years of history, while still dominated by the ebullient personality, energy and taste of Sir Robert Walpole.
Day 4
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
Blue Badge guide on Days 2 & 3
Executive coach throughout
Ely Cathedral – guided tour
Norwich – guided walking tour
Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts – guided tour
Sandringham Estate
Houghton Hall – guided tour
Anglesey Abbey, Garden & Lode Mill
Hotel
We stay three nights on a half board basis 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 of our allocated Standard Rooms are en suite and feature telephone, television, hairdryer, and tea & coffee making facilities.
Extras
Single room supplement £69
Insurance (including Covid cover) £38
Entrance fee to Anglesey Abbey, Garden & Lode Mill (free to National Trust members)
Gratuities
Lunches
Optional Excursions
All excursions travel & guided tours included
