Blickling Hall, Norfolk: what to see and do

All you need to know about this Jacobean mansion, Blickling Hall in Norfolk.

Where is Blickling Hall?

Blickling Hall is situated near the village of Blickling, approximately 15 miles (24 kilometers) north of Norwich. Next to the River Bure, it's also on the edge of the Norfolk Broads.

Postcode for SatNav: NR11 6NF

When was Blickling Hall built?

Blickling Hall was built in the early 17th century. Construction of the current Jacobean mansion began in 1616 and was completed in 1627.

The hall has a rich history and has undergone various renovations and changes over the centuries.

Who lived at Blickling Hall?

Was Anne Boleyn born in a Tudor house on the Blickling Estate? Well, although there’s no definitive evidence, the sumptuous mansion that replaced it is home to both a statue and a portrait of Henry VIII’s doomed second wife that bear the words ‘Anna Bolena hic nata 1507’ (‘Anne Boleyn born here 1507’).

And her parents certainly owned Blickling around that time, so it seems likely that she and Mary – ‘The Other Boleyn Girl’ – did indeed draw their first breaths here.

Life at Blickling was probably at its most ‘Downtonesque’ during the tenure of Philip Kerr, the
11th Marquess of Lothian.

A leading light behind the formation of the National Trust, in the 1930s he was also a member of the ‘Cliveden set’. Blickling thus thronged with famous names, such as Nancy Astor and her niece and – scandalously – the German ambassador and leading Nazi, Joachim von Ribbentrop.

What to see and do at Blickling Hall

During the Jacobean era, Sir John Hobart, the 2nd Earl of Buckinghamshire, transformed the Great Hall, which was the main room of the house at that time, into an impressive entrance hall featuring a staircase.

The reliefs depicting Elizabeth I and Anne Boleyn were inspired by the Nine Worthies that were originally present in the Jacobean hall.

One extraordinarily large room – the Long Gallery – was designed so that the family could parade up and down in it when wet weather prevented them from exercising outside. It also houses a collection of paintings and portraits.

Blickling Hall has also become a place for exercising one’s brain, as it's now among the National Trust's most important library holding around 12,500 books.

There are formal gardens, including the Parterre and the Temple, as well as more relaxed areas like the Wilderness and the Sunk Garden.

And make time to enjoy the various walking trails that lead through woodlands, along the lake, and provide opportunities to appreciate the natural surroundings.

Looking for more inspirational days out?

If you're in the area, check out our guide to the best walks in Norfolk, or explore a walk around the Royal Family's private estate Sandringham.

We've also put together comprehensive guides and features about the National Trust, including a round up of the best top 10 National Trust properties, the National Trust best outdoor cinema locations and the best National Trust walks.