In a prime spot in the Norfolk Coastal Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, Sandringham House has served as the private retreat of five generations of British monarchs since 1862.
Originally built in 1771, the estate was purchased by Queen Victoria for her son, Prince Albert Edward (later King Edward VII), who extensively rebuilt the house between 1870 and 1892 in Jacobean style, with designs by A.J. Humbert and Robert William Edis. King George V was so smitten with the place, he once wrote, “Dear old Sandringham, the place I love better than anywhere else in the world.”
How big is Sandringham?
Sandringham spans 20,000 acres. It is a working estate, incorporating farmland, woodlands and a sawmill. The 60-acre formal gardens, originally designed by Edward VII and then shaped by successive monarchs, feature topiary, seasonal floral displays and ornamental lakes, while the Royal Parkland offers waymarked trails and picnic spots.
Does the Royal Family live at Sandringham?
Sandringham has long been associated with royal Christmas traditions, with Queen Elizabeth II spending her final Christmas here in 2021. King Charles III and Queen Camilla continue to use the estate as a country retreat, maintaining its historic significance.
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Can I visit Sandringham?
The house and gardens are open to visitors from April to October, with guided tours of the ground-floor rooms.
In summer, Sandringham’s 60 acres of gardens explode with colour and are enchanting to explore. Be sure to head through the Woodland Walk to visit Old Father Time in the North Garden – this statue was bought by Queen Elizabeth II in 1951. Both the Woodland Walk and the Bog Gardens were designed at the Queen Elizabeth's request by Sir Eric Savill, famous for the gardens he designed at Windsor.
Did you know...?
Sandringham's clocks were once set half an hour ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) to provide more daylight for shooting during the hunting season.
King Edward VII, a keen sportsman, introduced "Sandringham Time" for his shooting parties, which typically took place from October to February. The custom was maintained until 1936, when King Edward VIII returned the clocks to GMT.
