Historic Homes and Trains of Norfolk for Twixmas

Make your own way to our hotel in Norwich where you will meet your Tour Manager. Enjoy dinner in the hotel this evening.

Today we transfer by coach to Norwich station where we join the Bittern Line, named after the wading bird, for a train journey to Sheringham. The traditional seaside town of Sheringham grew up around its old fishing village with cliffs, fine sands and bracing air – just some of the reasons why Sheringham is so popular. The promenade runs in and out of the low cliffs, and Sheringham town has plenty to offer, including many interesting shops, pubs, restaurants and tea rooms. On arrival, there is time to explore at your leisure before we travel by coach to Holkham Hall.

Nestled within 25,000 acres of rolling parkland, Holkham Hall is an 18th-century Palladian-style house, based on designs by William Kent and built by Thomas Coke, 1st Earl of Leicester. The current Earl and his family take great pride in opening their doors and sharing the treasures within. You will find the Marble Hall a truly breathtaking introduction to your visit, with its impressive 50ft dome ceiling and elegant walls of English alabaster – not marble as the name suggests! A grand staircase leads to a myriad of state rooms: from the Saloon with its rich, red velvet-lined walls, gilded coffering, and lofty ceiling, many sumptuous bedchambers where royalty once lay, state dining rooms adorned with exquisite porcelain, galleries of statuary and art by the Old Masters, libraries bursting with books and manuscripts and, of course, the Old Kitchen with its rows of polished copper pots, pans and moulds.

Holkham has remained largely unchanged since the late-18th century, and much of what you will see is as Thomas Coke intended. Each generation has left a little something of themselves in the house, right up to the present day. December is a truly magical time to visit Holkham and enjoy the magnificent state rooms in all their festive finery, with a glass of fizz and a mince pie on arrival and plenty of time to tour the staterooms at your own pace. This will make for a wonderful afternoon! We return back to the hotel by coach and enjoy dinner tonight.

This morning we travel by coach to Oxburgh Hall. Built in 1482 by the Catholic Bedingfeld family, there are 500 years of history to explore at Oxburgh. Victorian Gothic interiors reflect a romantic view of Oxburgh’s medieval past. During its 500-year history, the hall has seen many changes, which is partly due to the hardship the family faced. In the early 19th century, the 6th Baronet began work to decorate and furnish the Hall in the antiquarian style you see today. This beautiful, moated manor house is surrounded by nearly 175 acres, containing gardens with seasonal interest, streams and woodland walks. You will explore the delightful Oxburgh Hall which will be festively decorated for this wonderful season.

We then board our coach and travel to the market town of Aylsham to join the Bure Valley Railway. On arrival, we enjoy tea/coffee/mulled punch and cakes in the station café. We then board the train for a journey to Wroxham. This wonderful journey takes in some of the most unspoilt countryside, crossing 17 bridges to reach Wroxham, known as the ‘capital of the Norfolk Broads'. On arrival, we re-join our coach and head back to the hotel for dinner this evening.

After a leisurely breakfast, it is time to check out of the hotel and make your way home.