Last updated on 03 February 12

Holkham Hall

3.0/5 (3 ratings)

© Xavier de Jauréguiberry
Holkham Hall

Gardenvisit Editorial

A great eighteenth century house and deer park with herd of Fallow deer. The park was designed by William Kent (his drawings are here). The triumphal arch and the obelisk were built in the 1730s. Kent's walled garden, linked to the lake by a serpentine river, has gone. Originally, the lake was an inlet from the sea. Lancelot Brown was employed in 1762 but made few changes. The park wall and shelterbelt were nineteenth century additions, as were the formal Victorian parterres beside the house, designed by W A Nesfield in 1854. The old kitchen garden at Holkham is in the process of refurbishment.

Head Gardener's Comment

The sweeping Park that surrounds the Hall is home to a large herd of Fallow Deer and a small herd of Red Deer. The evergreen oaks (Quercus ilex) that are such a feature of the Park, are Mediterranean in origin and were brought to Holkham from Italy.

An exciting project is underway at Holkham to restore the 6½ acres of walled gardens which were originally laid out by Samuel Wyatt during the late 1700s. The project is estimated to take four to five years to complete and is now in its third year.

Plants of Note

Ilex Oak (Quercus ilex) predominent in park.

Address - Wells-next-the-Sea, Norfolk, England, NR23 1AB
Opening times - 1st April - 31st October 2012 Park: every day, 9am-5pm Holkham Hall: Sunday, Monday, Thursday 12pm-4pm Walled Gardens, Bygones Museum, Stables Cafe and Gift Shop: every day 10am-5pm
Admission - Hall, Museum and Walled Gardens: Adult £12.00, Child £6.00, Family (2 adults & 3 children) £33. Museum and Walled Gardens: Adult £7.00, Child £3.50, Family (2 adults & 3 children £19. Entrance to park free. Car parking: £2.50 per day
Website - Visit the Holkham Hall website

Designers and Influences

This garden has been designed and influenced by Lancelot 'Capability' Brown, William Kent, William Andrews Nesfield

Nearby Gardens

Gardens within 30km as the crow flies from this garden.

Pensthorpe (14km away)
(4.7/5)
Houghton Hall Garden (15km away)
(3.5/5)
Norfolk Lavender Garden (17km away)
Sandringham House Garden (20km away)
Sheringham Park (21km away)
(5.0/5)
Mannington Hall Gardens (24km away)
(3.5/5)
Congham Hall Hotel Garden (24km away)

Nearby Garden Nurseries

Garden Nurseries within 30km as the crow flies from this garden.

Creake Plant Centre (7km away)
Norfolk Lavender (17km away)
High Kelling Nursery (18km away)
Norfolk Bamboo Company (19km away)
West Acre Gardens (26km away)
(5.0/5)

Luxury Garden Hotels

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Reviews and Comments

Have you visited this garden?

6 months ago Anonymous said
A great, relaxing day out for all the family.

(5.0/5)
almost 2 years ago pete said
Firstly let me say the house is magnificent (a 5 star property), there are some stunning pictures (a few claudes for instance), roman statues, old kitchen. The park is wonderful I've had many a happy hour here.

but the garden is frankly non existant. the old walled garden is the home of a nursery which last time I visited was going down hill.

(1.0/5)
almost 4 years ago Anonymous said
Not much in terms of 'gardens' to look at but a very interesting park historically and lovely to be able to wander around for free

(3.0/5)

See all the reviews of Holkham Hall

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