Enjoy a glorious staycation on the Holkham Estate, home to one of Britain’s best beaches, as it prepares to host a dazzling calendar of events ..
This summer, swap the crowded beaches of the Mediterranean for the sweeping sand dunes of north Norfolk. With rising temperatures on the horizon for July and August and with eco-conscious no-fly holidays becoming increasingly popular, the Holkham Estate is the perfect setting for a family staycation or a sustainable weekend escape.
The privately owned 25,000-acre estate is located on one of the most beautiful stretches of coastline in Britain where visitors can discover the world-famous Holkham National Nature Reserve and explore historic Holkham Hall, whilst staying at the charming Victoria Inn. From May to September, the Holkham Estate will launch an action-packed summer programme of unique experiences, from open-air theatre productions and film screenings to guided nature walks and a brand-new adventure ropes course, to showcase the very best of Norfolk’s natural and cultural assets.
EXPERIENCE EAST ANGLIA’S BEST MUSICAL TALENT LIVE IN THE BEAUTIFUL SETTING OF THE WALLED GARDEN
Holkham is delighted to share with visitors its first ever ‘Walls of Sound’ music event, comprising eight bands in two days. Visitors can experience some of East Anglia’s best musical talent live on stage, whilst relaxing in the beautiful setting of the walled garden to enjoy the open air and summer atmosphere as the eight popular local bands perform a spectacular variety of music, ranging from country Americana and rock to one of the UK’s best live 80s bands covering all the greatest artists and tunes of the decade. There will also be a fabulous array of street food avaliable and a bar to keep visitors hydrated
throughout the day and night. Alternatively, guests are invited to bring their own picnics.
HOW: One-day tickets are £30 each. Two-day tickets are £50 each. For more information please see here.
ENJOY A SING-ALONG UNDER THE STARS AT HOLKHAM’S OPEN-AIR CINEMA 28 JUNE: THE GREATEST SHOWMAN 29 JUNE: BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY
Back for summer 2019, The Luna Cinema returns and will once again transform the beautiful grounds of Holkham’s walled garden into the ultimate setting for two nights of blockbuster cinema under the stars. On Friday 28th June the whole family can get ready for the greatest sing-along with ‘The Greatest Showman’, starring Hugh Jackman and Zac Efron. On Saturday 29th June, guests are invited to witness a foot-stomping celebration of Queen and their iconic music and sensational lead singer, Freddie Mercury, in ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’. Visitors will be able to enjoy delicious food and a bar on site or bring their own picnic along to enjoy.
HOW: Numbers are limited, and all tickets must be booked in advance at www.thelunacinema.com. General admission tickets are £15. Please note that tickets are not available from Holkham Ticket Office.
RECONNECT WITH NATURE AND ENJOY DAWN CHORUS AND GUIDED BIRDSONG WALKS FROM‘THE LOOKOUT’
Experience the magic of the dawn chorus and learn to identify birds through their calls and songs during this early morning guided walk of the Holkham National Nature Reserve. Setting off from The Lookout at 6am on selected mornings, visitors can add a whole new dimension to their wildlife experience as they explore the diverse habitats of the reserve and its wildlife. An expert guide will pass on valuable fieldcraft tips and skills to help identify birds without even needing binoculars. Visitors can then relax and compare notes back at The Lookout over a cup of tea and a fresh bacon roll.
HOW: Tickets: £14. This includes refreshments at The Lookout. For more information please see here.
HOLKHAM ESTATE LAUNCHES NEW ROPES ADVENTURE COURSE – OPENING JULY 2019
Swing into summer at Holkham Hall, the perfect setting for a family staycation. In July, the privately-owned estate will open a brand new ropes adventure course. Set adjacent to Holkham’s existing Woodland Adventure Play Area, this course allows families to embark on a trail of discovery through the tree tops, finishing with a descent down to the ground via two exhilarating zip lines. Budding adventurers will be in safe hands with Holkham’s fully trained team on site who will fit harnesses, give visitors a thorough introduction to the equipment and guide them over the short introduction course, before climbing onto the main course. The whole course will have 25 elements including wobbly crossings, swinging bridges and zip wires and will offer a chance to look down over the woodland and see Holkham park from a completely new perspective. The ropes course is perfect for birthday parties, group events or school trips as it offers an interactive and fun outdoor experience. There is no upper age limit, so this adrenaline-filled adventure course is suitable for all the family.
HOW: Tickets are £16 per person and online booking will be available early summer. Please see here for more information.
ENJOY AN ECLECTIC PROGRAMME OF OUTDOOR THEATRE PERFORMED IN THE WALLED GARDEN 31 JULY – 28 AUGUST
A series of evening outdoor theatre productions will run throughout the summer months at Holkham, set in the beautiful walled garden in the grounds of the estate. The summer series will commence with an adaptation of Shakespeare’s tale of star-crossed lovers, Romeo and Juliet, followed by a unique, colourful and interactive adaption of the popular classic, The Jungle Book. Other performances include The Legend of King Arthur, Gangsta Granny and A Midsummer Night’s Dream which will be staged in the garden’s spectacular surroundings for the whole family to enjoy. Holkham invites guests to bring their rugs and picnics for an evening of enthrallment and captivation with this carefully selected list of performances by some of the UK’s greatest touring theatre companies.
HOW: Tickets start from £14 for an adult ticket and £10 for a child. Please find more information www.holkham.co.uk/events/theatre.
BRING THE PAST TO LIFE ON BEHIND THE SCENES TOURS
Throughout summer visitors to Holkham Hall in Norfolk will have the opportunity to experience the Hidden Passages and Servants’ Stairs Tours or Cellar Tours. The tours offer a chance to see another side of life at Holkham Hall, giving visitors an insight into how this vast house was kept running like clockwork by servants and staff. Behind the state rooms that the public normally see, hidden from view, is a labyrinth of corridors and stairways from which servants would come and go without being seen or heard, appearing in the state rooms as if by magic. Guests will explore some of these never-before-seen passages and stairs as well as some of the highest tower rooms in the attics. After a brief insight into how space in the hall was divided between the senior servants, guests will climb the back stairs to the corridor which serviced the state, or royal, bedchambers.
There is also an opportunity to take a walk back through time and peel away the layers of history in the cellars at Holkham Hall and discover its secret heart. Visitors are treated to a wander through the warren of corridors and chambers serving the hub of the building including the wood store, furnace room and old bakery and find out what working life was like down in the basement.
HOW: Behind the Scenes Attic Tours of Holkham Hall: 1 April to 31 October 2019, on selected dates. Adult tickets cost £25 and children’s tickets cost £12.50 child. Click here for more information.
Behind the Scenes Cellar Tours of Holkham Hall: 1 April to 31 October 2019 on selected dates. Adult tickets cost £25 and children’s tickets cost £12.50. Click here for more information.
EXPERIENCE LIFE ON THE FARM ON HOLKHAM’S POPULAR ‘FIELD TO FORK’ TRACTOR TRAILER TOURS
Holkham’s ‘Field to Fork’ Tractor Trailer Tours are available throughout the summer holidays allowing visitors to experience farming without having to put on those muddy wellies. Families can hop aboard a fascinating tractor trailer tour after a visit to The Field to Fork Experience to learn more about farming at Holkham and to see exactly where their food comes from. Visitors get to travel back in time as they visit the Great Barn and fast forward to the present day by discovering the conservation work undertaken at Holkham and the variety of crops that are grown in Holkham park.
HOW: Field to Fork Tractor Trailer Tour: 25 July to 30 August 11am-3.30pm. Adult tickets cost £5 and children’s tickets cost £2.50. Click here for more information.
CELEBRATE THE GREAT BRITISH COUNTRYSIDE WITH THE WHOLE FAMILY AT HOLKHAM’S BI-ANNUAL COUNTRY FAIR 20 – 21 JULY
Set in the beautiful surroundings of the Holkham Estate, the hugely popular biannual Country Fair will be returning to Holkham park. The Holkham Country Fair celebrates all things countryside with a fun-packed two days. Expect countryside pursuits, rural crafts, attractions, displays and a delicious mix of artisan food producers in the Food Village. There will be an exciting programme of entertainment on offer throughout the weekend, including a huge array of Grand Ring performances and Showground events, suitable for visitors of all ages. These exciting activities include dog agility, ferret races, a family fun dog show, a traditional children’s march, Broke FMX and a visit from the Poppy Parachute Team. Visitors can buy Vice Presidents tickets, where they will be entitled to exclusive use of the Vice President’s enclosure over the two days and gain access to ringside seating on their own private lawn. The ticket price will also include a marquee with a private bar and a covered dining area offering a three-course luncheon each day. Alternatively, visitors can bring a tent or caravan to enjoy a weekend camping in the unique surroundings of Holkham park.
HOW: General admission tickets are £18 and children under 14 go free. One-day Vice President tickets are £30 for adults and £5 for children. Two-day vice president tickets are £50 for adults and £10 for children.
