Holkham Hall

History

The hall was designed by William Kent, with input from Richard Boyle, 3rd Earl of Burlington, the Norfolk architect Matthew Brettingham, and Thomas Coke himself, who had returned from his Grand Tour determined to build in the true Palladian spirit. Construction took place across decades, and the house has remained with the Coke family, the Earls of Leicester, ever since. The wider estate has developed into a working agricultural and conservation operation covering thousands of acres of parkland and farmland.

Architecture

Holkham Hall is considered one of England's purest expressions of Neo-Palladian design. The house features a two-storey brick central block flanked by four corner pavilions housing the chapel, kitchens, guest wing and family rooms. Inside, the Marble Hall of pink Derbyshire alabaster leads to the piano nobile, where the Saloon is lined floor to ceiling in red velvet.

Worth knowing

The state rooms hold an unusually rich collection for a private house, including paintings by Rubens, Van Dyck and Gainsborough alongside ancient Roman and Greek statuary gathered on Thomas Coke's Grand Tour.

Gardens & grounds

The historic walled garden and surrounding parkland, laid out with wildlife and woodland walks in mind, form a major part of a visit alongside the house itself.