The estate library contains the 'Blickling Homilies', one of the oldest surviving manuscripts written in Old English.
The house is reputed to be haunted by the ghost of Anne Boleyn, who allegedly arrives in a headless carriage every year on May 19th.
The 18th-century pyramid mausoleum in the Great Wood stands 45 feet high and was designed by Joseph Bonomi.
During World War II, the estate served as a base for RAF bomber crews, and their graffiti can still be found in the attics.
The formal gardens were redesigned by renowned landscape architect Norah Lindsay in the 20th century.
The estate's lake covers 27 acres and was modified to provide a formal landscape setting in the 18th century.
Blickling Estate is a grand Jacobean mansion located in Norfolk, famously associated with the childhood home of Anne Boleyn. The house features a rare 130-foot-long Long Gallery containing a collection of over 12,500 books, one of the most significant historic libraries in the National Trust. The 4,600-acre estate includes formal gardens, a lake, and woodland trails. The current house was largely constructed in the early 17th century by Sir Henry Hobart on the site of a medieval manor. The estate is protected as a Grade I listed building. Visitors can explore the Orangery, the Temple, and a secret garden. The grounds feature a pyramid-shaped mausoleum built for the second Earl of Buckinghamshire. The site is noted for its collection of 18th-century tapestries and original furnishings. The parkland is managed as a working agricultural estate with a focus on biodiversity.
The south-facing parterre garden during late spring when the floral displays are at their peak against the red-brick facade.
Walk the perimeter of the lake for the best views of the mansion reflecting in the water.
Check the second-hand bookshop located in the stables for rare finds from estate clearances.
Bring sturdy footwear if planning to explore the woodland trails beyond the formal gardens.
Missing the upper floors of the house, which contain the extensive library and private family rooms often overlooked by day-trippers.
The mansion interior typically closes on specific midweek days during the off-peak season; the parkland remains accessible year-round.
No photography inside the house library due to light sensitivity of the manuscripts; stick to marked paths in the parkland to protect wildlife.
