GROUP VISITS 2020

GROUPS SAVE 20% A WARM WELCOME

In 1712, a young Thomas Coke, who later became the 1st Earl of , set out on what was to become an incredible six year long Grand Tour.

Spending much of this time in Italy, Thomas met and together they developed a passion for the architecture of , who championed a return to the building styles of Ancient .

Thomas collected paintings, sculptures, drawings, manuscripts and treasures galore on his travels. When he returned to England, he turned his dreams into reality by planning the building of a vast Palladian house on the north coast and created the magnificent Hall.

Visiting Holkham Hall today, you can enjoy the hall full of treasures, the tranquil deer park, the beautiful walled garden and the fascinating ‘Holkham Stories’ experience. We pride ourselves on offering a truly memorable day out for groups, with various itineraries or a tailor-made visit of your choice.

It is our pleasure to welcome you and your group to Holkham.

“We all had such a splendid day, from our welcome at the front door to our leaving to go home.” Gullivers Girls Women’s Institute

AWARD-WINNING

Holkham has been awarded the accreditation of the Visit England Quality Assurance Scheme in 2019. We were shortlisted for the ‘Coach Friendly Attraction’ award in the British Coach Tourism Awards 2019 and the ‘Best Christmas Experience’ award in the Group Leisure and Travel Awards 2019. A PERFECT DAY OUT

HOLKHAM HALL An unforgettable part of any visit with its incredible architecture, stunning art, original furniture and classical statuary. This 18th century masterpiece is an amazing treasure trove and, above all, still very much a lived-in family home. Let our room stewards share with you the secrets and stories of Holkham’s residents past and present.

WALLED GARDEN Step through the ornate Venetian gates and enjoy the walled garden’s tranquil atmosphere, stunning array of flowers, fruit and vegetables and riot of colour. An impressive display of Victorian greenhouses, our own vineyard and even chickens and bees make up the six acres.

HOLKHAM STORIES There are so many stories to tell about Holkham’s past, present and future, we’ve renamed and developed what was the Field to Fork Experience so you can find out so much more! Discover the interactive, fascinating and fun story of food and farming at Holkham. Let our ‘talking tools’ tell you what they were used for; find out who puts the malt in Maltesers; test your foodie knowledge with our table-top game and sit back and watch our ‘Holkham Year’ film.

“Thank you to all the staff who made our visit to Holkham Hall so enjoyable this afternoon. From Jim in the car park to Dave in the ticket office, the gents who drove us to and from the walled garden and the ladies who organised and served our delicious afternoon teas, we received ‘friendly service with a smile’.” The Friendship Group SPECIALIST TOURS

PRIVATE GUIDED TOURS OF HOLKHAM HALL With its splendid , William Kent designs, vast collection of paintings, sculptures, books and manuscripts, our private guided tours of Holkham Hall offer groups a unique experience.

For something a little different, our ‘Hidden Passages and Servants’ Stairs’ tours are a great way to explore behind-the-scenes, or why not take a walk back through time and peel away the layers of history in the cellars at Holkham Hall with our ‘Taking the Plunge Cellar Tours’.

GUIDED TOUR OF THE WALLED GARDEN Join one of our landscape team to explore the full six acres, learning about how the garden was used in the past, how it is diversifying today and what our plans are for the future.

GUIDED TOUR OF HOLKHAM STORIES Discover more about the wider Holkham Estate with a guided tour, incorporating an introductory talk, handling and even smells and tastings.

TRACTOR TRAILER TOUR OF HOLKHAM PARK Hop on board our tractor trailer for a fascinating exploration of Holkham Park, discovering more about our wildlife, architecture, conservation and farming along the way.

GUIDED TOUR OF THE HOLKHAM NATIONAL NATURE RESERVE Walking from the sweet-smelling pine woods to the golden sands of the beach, let our wardens show you the incredible flora and fauna that can be found in this special place.

BESPOKE VISITS If there is something you’re particularly interested in, please get in touch and we’ll see what we can do. Our team have put together bespoke visits on many topics, ranging from a display and talk on rare manuscripts through to trailer tours of our arable farmland.

“We all learned so much and felt very privileged to have a private tour of the hall and to see the magnificent books. Although many of us are frequent visitors, today’s experience has given us a whole new perspective which will certainly enhance our enjoyment in future as well as impressing our visiting friends with our new-found knowledge!” North Norfolk University of the Third Age CHRISTMAS FOR GROUPS

Wednesday 9th, Thursday 10th, Friday 11th, Tuesday 15th, Wednesday 16th and Thursday 17th December 2020, 3pm-8pm

We utterly adore Christmas. The team starts work in January, planning in earnest for when we festoon the hall with greenery from the park, light the candles and open our doors in December.

Our magical candlelight tours are a wonderful way for groups to see Holkham Hall adorned with opulent decorations and flickering candlelight. Your tour starts with a glass of Prosecco and a mince pie before you are guided around the state rooms to view the decorations and discover the inspiration behind each room setting.

Why not complete your festive day out with a delicious Christmas lunch or dinner in the Café?

Candlelight Tours Group Rate: £22.50 Three Course Christmas Lunch or Dinner: £25

“Magical, enchanting, wonderful, impressive were just a few of the words that people were using to describe our day. It truly was a day we will never forget.” Wisbech Centre Women’s Institute

“The lavishly decorated state rooms are an annual treat.” The Sunday Telegraph

“The perfect way to kick off Advent.” Elle Decoration EATING AND SHOPPING

From tea and biscuits on arrival, or a hot two-course lunch in the Courtyard Café, through to an exquisite afternoon tea in our special events space, The Lady Elizabeth Wing, we have something to cater for all tastes.

Here are some examples of our tempting, pre-bookable packages, all made especially for you by our own catering team:

Tea/coffee and biscuits £4 per person Served in the Courtyard Café for standard visits, or in the Marble Hall for private guided tours.

Cream tea £5 per person Tea or coffee and a home-baked fruit scone with jam and cream.

Sandwich lunch £9 per person Variety of sandwiches, crisps, fresh fruit and traybakes.

Cold buffet £15 per person Baked ham, sliced chicken, Holkham baby potato salad, chargrilled vegetable couscous, Waldorf salad, baby leaf salad, selection of dressings, bread baskets, traybakes and fresh fruit.

Hot buffet £20 per person A delicious two-course lunch, an example menu may include beef stroganoff, steak and Holkham ale pie, red pepper chicken, Moroccan vegetable and chickpea tagine or fish pie with seasonal vegetables to name just a few. Ask us for a full list of choices.

Afternoon tea £20 per person Enjoy finely cut sandwiches, delicate filled baby brioche, scrumptious scones, delicious tray bakes and a choice of loose leaf teas.

COURTYARD GIFT SHOP No visit to Holkham would be complete without a spot of retail therapy. Our Courtyard Gift Shop showcases the work of local artists and artisans. You are bound to find that perfect gift for a friend or a treat for yourself.

“Our afternoon tea was something special too. One friend reckoned that it was far better than the afternoon tea she’d had at the Ritz recently!” Colchester University of the Third Age NEW! COMBINED VISIT WITH HOUGHTON HALL

We have teamed up with nearby Houghton Hall to offer groups of 15 or more people an incredible saving of 30% off standard admission when visiting both magnificent venues within seven days of each other.

HOUGHTON HALL & GARDENS One of the grandest survivors of the Palladian era, Houghton was built in the 1720s for Britain’s first Prime Minister, Sir Robert Walpole. A showcase of the work of architects and James Gibbs, complemented by the interiors of William Kent. The Hall is home to the 7th Marquess of Cholmondeley, Walpole’s descendant, and his family. As well as the Hall, visitors can enjoy the award-winning Walled Garden, Model Soldier Museum and an impressive collection of contemporary sculpture.

Open Spring to Autumn selected days – see houghtonhall.com for details. Group tickets will be at the special rate of £12.60 including the 30% discount. To book call 01485 528569 or email [email protected] ENJOY Houghton Hall & Gardens, Nr King’s Lynn, Norfolk PE31 6UE BOTH AND SAVE HOLKHAM HALL Open Sunday, Monday and Thursday from 22nd March to 1st November. Group tickets will 30% be at the special rate of £11.90 including the 30% discount.

TO BOOK To claim this offer please let us know, when booking, you will also be visiting Houghton Hall. Bookings will need to be made separately at each venue. We will contact Houghton Hall to confirm you’ve made a visit with us and check you have booked a visit there. Visits must be made within seven days of each other, and are subject to each venue’s opening times and terms and conditions for group visits.

“Wow! Many thanks for your input and to all at Holkham for making our afternoon with you all so special. They all thoroughly enjoyed themselves and couldn’t stop talking about it yesterday!!” The Shrine of Our Lady of Walsingham THE NITTY GRITTY

GROUP BENEFITS A SUGGESTED ITINERARY For pre-booked groups of 15 or more people we can offer a 20% discount on admission prices, We recommend allowing between three and five hours for your visit, and are always happy to meet and greet on arrival, a free place for the group leader and coach driver, a refreshment voucher advise on the best itinerary to suit your timings and interests. Here is a sample itinerary as a guide: for the coach driver, free coach parking and special group menus. 11am Arrive at Holkham, meet and greet on the coach by our Visitor Experience team 2020 OPENING TIMES 11.10am Morning coffee in the Courtyard Café 11.30am Hop on board one of our buggies to the Walled Garden MAIN SEASON Holkham Hall 12.45pm A leisurely walk (or buggy ride) back to the Courtyard Café 22nd March to 1st November Sundays, Mondays and Thursdays, 12noon-4pm 1pm Buffet lunch in the Courtyard Café and time to browse in the Gift Shop Holkham Stories, Walled Garden, 2pm Visit Holkham Hall Courtyard Café and Gift Shop 3pm Visit Holkham Stories Daily, 10am-5pm 4pm Depart

SPRING AND WINTER SEASON Holkham Stories 15th February to 21st March and 15th to 23rd February only, 10am-4pm 2nd November to 6th January 2021 Courtyard Café and Gift Shop (closed 25th December) Daily, 10am-4pm Holkham Hall See Christmas dates in December

GROUP STANDARD ADMISSION TICKETS Holkham Hall, Holkham Stories and Walled Garden Adult £13.60, Child (5-16yrs) £6.80 Holkham Stories and Walled Garden Adult £6.40, Child (5-16yrs) £3.20

GUIDED TOUR TICKETS Private guided tour of Holkham Hall £24 per person (minimum 12 people) Hidden Passages or Cellar Tours £25 per person (minimum 12 people) Guided tour of the Walled Garden £8.50 (minimum 12 people) Guided tour of Holkham Stories £10 (minimum 12 people) Tractor trailer tour of Holkham Park £5 to £7.50 (minimum 20 people) Guided tour of Holkham National Nature Reserve £10 (minimum 12 people) Christmas Candlelight Tours £22.50 (minimum 15 people)

TO BOOK OR DISCUSS A VISIT Please contact us by telephone on 01328 713935 or email [email protected] HOW TO FIND US We are situated on the beautiful north Norfolk coast, just 2 miles west of Wells-next-the-Sea, within easy reach of Norwich, King’s Lynn, Cambridge and London.

Holkham Hall is proud to be one of The Treasure Houses of England, ten of the most magnificent palaces, houses and castles in England today. Other members are Beaulieu, , Burghley, , Chatsworth, , , and . Find out more at treasurehouses.co.uk

Holkham Hall is a lived in family home and a member of Historic Houses. Visit historichouses.org

Images in this leaflet © Keiron Tovell, Paul Macro, Sophie Coles, Matthew Usher, Fisheye Images and David Valinsky Photography (Houghton Hall image).

holkham.co.uk Holkham Estate, Wells-next-the-Sea, Norfolk NR23 1AB (sat nav for coaches NR23 1RX)