Includes Visits to:
Holkham Hall, The Thursford Collection, Norwich, Sherringham, Ickworth House, Blickling Hall
From £320 per person
Monday : Birmingham à Wisbech à Holkham Hall àNorwich
Leaving Birmingham at approx 7:30a.m. we head east to the market town of Wisbech where we will stop for approx 1 hour around lunch time.
In the afternoon we move to Holkham Hall a stunning neo- Palladian house, which took 28 years to complete. Very little has changed since its completion in 1762. The house has one of the finest 18th century collections of art and antiquities in England.
Then it is on to the Ramada Hotel in Norwich where we will be based for the next 4 nights.
Tuesday : Norwich à Sherringham à The Thursford Collection à Norwich
After breakfast we head to Sherringham a traditional seaside town that grew up around an old fishing village. The promenade follows the line of the low cliffs whilst steps and slopes connect it with the town above.
After lunch we visit the Thursford Collection; an assembly of steam traction engines, fairground equipment and mechanical organs. Amongst the fairground attractions to see is a Carousel Roundabout which dates from 1896 and a Venetian Gondola Switchback Ride dating from the same period. Organs also featured in fairgrounds of the past and there are a number of showground organs to be seen including a Marenghi Showman’s Organ of the late 19th century. The collection also contains the 4th largest Wurlitzer organ in Europe of the type that would have graced many cinemas in the days of silent movies.
Wednesday: Day at Leisure in Norwich
A day to do as you please in the Historic City of Norwich.
The hotel is 2 miles from the centre of Norwich and is served by a bus service running approximately 4 times an hour into Norwich. The bus stop is approx 8 minutes walk from the hotel.
The historic City of Norwich is dominated by its magnificent Norman cathedral, boasting the largest cloisters in England, the second tallest spire in the country and an amazing 1,200 carved stone roof bosses.. Norwich is proud of its past and present status. Its ancient buildings and city wall remains make it the most complete medieval city in Britain. In medieval times Norwich was one of the greatest cities in England, and today, as East Anglia’s capital city, it still is – offering a rare blend of historic interest and modern sophistication.
Thursday : Norwich à Boat trip on the Broads à Blickling Hall à Norwich
No visit to Norfolk would be complete without a boat trip on the Broads and this morning we do just that. From Wroxham we will travel along the river, hopefully getting glimpses of the wild life and learning something about the history of the broads. The return trip will take approximately 90minutes.
In the afternoon we visit Blickling Hall (NT) built by Sir Henry Hobart on the ruins of the old Boleyn property. Designed by Robert Lyminge, the house has similarities to Hatfield House where the architect had worked as a carpenter and surveyor 10 years previous. Changes to the interior occurred in the 18th century; which were said to be “sympathetic to the original Georgian period”. The hall contains one of the finest private collections of rare books in the country.
Friday : Norwich à Thetford à Ickworth House à Birmingham
Leaving the hotel we head to Thetford, which is where the long running television series “Dad’s Army” was filmed. Thetford is an ancient market town filled to the brim with history and heritage sites, from the medieval earth works on castle hill, the ruins of a 12th century priory, the museum of Thetford Life set in a Tudor house to the riverside properties of today.
Leaving
Thetford we travel into Suffolk and onto
Ickworth House (NT). Ickworth's huge
central Rotunda, flanked by two massive wings, dominates this eccentric house
built by the equally eccentric 4th Earl of Bristol, who dreamed of creating an
Italianate palace within an English landscape. It houses important collections
of paintings (including work by Velázquez and Titian) and fine family portraits
(several by Gainsborough), as well as Huguenot and ambassadorial silver and
Regency furniture.
Our return time in Birmingham will be around 6- 7p.m.
The Ramada Hotel has a 3* rating and is situated a couple of miles from the city centre. The rooms have en-suite facilities including bath, shower and a range of toiletries, Television, direct dial telephone, hairdryer, trouser press and a complimentary tray and facilities for making tea or coffee. The hotel has a swimming pool and Gym which is open 7 days a week. Accommodation will be provided on a half board basis.
Hotel Access: Lift access to all floors
Access to properties being visited:
· Holkham Hall: Stairs to the 1st floor. Stair lift is available for wheelchairs.
· Thursford Collection: There is no published access information available. The site is a collection of old farm buildings with access to all public areas. Some uneven surfaces.
· Broads boat trip: Manual wheelchairs can be accommodated
· Blickling Hall (NT): Ramp to main entrance, Ground floor accessible, Stairs with handrail to first floor, basement rooms and document room. Park accessible.
· Ickworth House (NT): 2 steps to entrance, ramp available. Ground floor accessible. Stairs with handrail to first floor. Stairs with chairlift to basement. Lift to first floor, takes small wheelchairs only. West Wing: 2 steps to entrance, also permanent ramp. Lift to all floors. Shop and restaurant Level entrance
Holiday Prices (per person):
| Member of the National Trust | Non Member of The National Trust | |
| Sharing a Twin or Double Room | £320.00 | £336.00 |
| Single Room | £392.00 | £408.00 |
Availability:
Single Rooms: Sorry all our single and Twin bed rooms have been allocated. Please ask to be put on our waiting list if you would like to be informed of any cancellations.
Double Rooms: Rooms are available
| Holiday Price includes: | Holiday Price does not include: |
** Entrance fees for Members of The National Trust are not included, members must show their membership cards to gain free entrance
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