Castle Acre Priory
The Castle Acre Priory is one of the largest and best preserved monastic sites in England and dates back to 1090. It was the home of the first Cluniac order of monks to England and the Cluniac love of decoration is reflected everywhere in the extensive ruins. Highlights here include the beautiful west end church gable, prior's lodging, substantial remains of many of the buildings round the cloister, and the recreated herb garden which grows herbs that the monks would have used for medicinal, culinary and decorative purposes.
Oxburgh Hall
Built by the Bedingfeld family in the 15th century Oxburgh Hall is a romantic, moated manor house which the family still inhabits today. Inside the house the family's Catholic history is revealed complete with a secret priest's hole which you can crawl inside. Highlights here include the astonishing needlework by Mary, Queen of Scots and the private chapel which was built with reclaimed materials. Outside of the house, the grounds are also not to be missed where you can follow the woodcarving trails in the gardens and woodlands as well as enjoying an panoramic view from the gatehouse roof.
Sandringham House
Sandringham is the much loved country retreat of Her Majesty the Queen and has been the private home of the Royals since 1862. The house is set in 24 hectares of stunning gardens and is perhaps the most famous stately home in Norfolk. The decor and contents of the house remain very much as they were in Edwardian times, and the walls are hung with family portraits by the leading contemporary court painters: Heinrich von Angeli, Sir Luke Fildes, Franz Winterhalter and Edward Hughes. The original gardens of Sandringham House have been extensively altered since 1862, and every generation of the Royal Family which has lived in the house has added something of thier own times and tastes from the peace of the woodland walks to the drama of the carrstone rockeries.
Holkham Hall
Holkham Hall, home of the Coke family and the Earl of Leicester, was built between 1734 and 1764 by Thomas Coke, the first Earl of Leicester. The magnificent hall reflects Thomas Coke's appreciation of classical art developed during his Grand Tour of Europe. The Coke family have lived at Holkham since 1609 when the founder of the family fortune, Sir Edward Coke, purchased the manor of Neals. Thomas Coke died in 1759 and never saw his great dream fulfilled and the house today with its great halls, librarys, statues, paintings and furniture is little altered from the Earl's original plans.