Due to COVID all tickets must be pre-booked.
The house may have been the inspiration for the 'Palace Beautiful' in the 17th-century Christian writer John Bunyan's religious epic, The Pilgrim's Progress. When it was dismantled in 1797, the ruins survived as a garden feature in the grounds of nearby Ampthill Park.
Ampthill Park remains open, however we ask that where possible you observe social distancing inline with Government regulations. Please note BBQ's are not permitted anywhere in Ampthill Park.
It is a Grade I listed building surrounded by 1,000 acres (4.0 km2) of parkland a few miles from Sandringham House. The house has a rectangular main block which consists of a rustic basement at ground level, with a piano nobile, bedroom floor and attics above.
William Kent
Colen Campbell
Thomas Ripley
James Gibbs
Two years after the death of the Countess of Pembroke, the house reverted to King James I by the Countess' brother, the King then granted the estate to Thomas Bruce, 1st Earl of Elgin (1599–1663) in 1624, which became the main residence of the Bruce family for three generations.
According to the Sunday Times Rich List in 2008, Cholmondeley has an estimated net worth of approximately £60m, attributed primarily to his inherited landholdings. Houghton Hall, ancestral home of the Marquesses of Cholmondeley since the establishment of the title in 1815, opens some of its rooms to the public.
Cholmondeley (pronounced “Chumleyâ€) acquired the 4,000-acre, 106-room Houghton and his marquessate (plus seven other titles) at the relatively young age of 30, upon the death of his father, Hugh, in 1990.
The organic farm extends to about 3200 acres, of which 1200 acres is permanent pasture.
The event, which has capacity for 10,000 people, was launched in 2017 by DJ Craig Richards and welcomes some of the world's biggest DJs and dance acts to Norfolk.
The estate is now run by Viscount Thomas Coke, the son of the seventh Earl of Leicester. Photographs by Chris Steele-Perkins, who documented the 25,000-acre estate in Norfolk over the course of a year, appear to portray a deferential Downton Abbey-style existence, even today.
“Wolterton is one of the four 'Power Houses' of Norfolk. Robert Walpole, Prime Minister was at Houghton Hall, Thomas Coke, Postmaster General at Holkham Hall and Charles Townshend, Secretary of State for the Northern Department at East Raynham Hall while Horatio Walpole, Foreign Secretary lived at Wolterton Hall.â€
Firstly we do need to clarify that we are not a National Trust property - Holkham Hall is privately owned and is a Historic Houses property, members of which do get free entry.
Houghton Hall is a magnificent country house built between 1722-35 for Sir Robert Walpole by Colen Campbell and Thomas Ripley. Walpole, the first official Prime Minister in English history, created a neo-classical house in grand Palladian style.
Open 7 days and offering a delicious selection of home baking, homemade daily specials, afternoon tea and breakfast items.
Opened in 2006, Houghton Hall garden centre is a large garden centre with a comprehensive plant area, the Topiary Coffee Shop, a gift shop, farm shop, clothes shop, models & hobbies, hot springs spas, outdoor eating area, children's play area, and more.
Are dogs allowed at Sandringham? Dogs are welcome in the 243 hectare Royal Park however dogs, except registered assistance dogs are not permitted in the Gardens or House at Sandringham.
Snettisham ParkA 329 acre working farm. Dogs are allowed to visit Snettisham Park but must be on leads and well-behaved (deer and other animals are on-site). Dogs can visit the farm and the trails, but can't go on the deer safari.
