Blickling Hall

Updated June 11, 2025

## Blickling Hall, Norfolk: History, Gardens & Rain-Proof Things To Do Near Norwich

Just north of Norwich, Blickling Hall pairs heavyweight history with easy walks, dog-friendly parkland and a surprising amount to do even when the weather turns. From a Jacobean mansion linked to Anne Boleyn to a second-hand bookshop and a National Trust stamp shop, it’s a solid day trip that’s much more than “just another stately home.”

Jump ahead to the section you need:
– Gardens and parkland walks
– Accessibility and on-site facilities

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### Where is Blickling Hall and what exactly is it?

Blickling Hall is a 17th-century Jacobean stately home in the Norfolk countryside, near the village of Blickling, around 13 miles north of Norwich and about 1.5 miles from the market town of Aylsham.

The mansion sits within the wider Blickling Estate, cared for by the National Trust since 1940. The estate covers roughly 4,600 acres, including about 950 acres of woodland, parkland around a lake, and around 3,500 acres of farmland. Trust

Key points:

– Type: Jacobean stately home with extensive historic gardens and parkland
– Operator: National Trust (house, gardens and most facilities)
– Setting: Rural Norfolk countryside in a loop of the River Bure, handy for a Norwich or North Norfolk itinerary

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### Layers of history: from the Boleyns to WWII air crews

Blickling isn’t just photogenic brickwork; it has a deep historical backstory.

– The estate is mentioned in the Domesday Book, showing continuous occupation for nearly a thousand years. Trust
– In the late 15th and early 16th centuries, the Boleyn family held the property. Historians are confident that members of the Boleyn family lived here, and Blickling is widely believed to be the birthplace or early home of Anne Boleyn, although the exact birth location is not definitively proven.
– The current house was started in 1616 for Sir Henry Hobart, Lord Chief Justice, and designed by Robert Lyminge, the architect also associated with Hatfield House.
– Over the centuries, the Hobart and Kerr families reshaped the hall, gardens and wider estate, adding features such as the Doric Temple, parterre gardens and a large landscaped park.
– During World War II, the house became the officers’ mess for nearby RAF Oulton while RAF air crew were billeted across the estate grounds. Trust

One of Blickling Hall’s standout features is its library, which holds an estimated 13,000–14,000 volumes and is regarded as one of the more historically significant book collections in an English country house.

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### Inside Blickling Hall: what you actually see

When the house is open, visitors can explore:

– Jacobean interiors with period panelling, carved staircases and historic furnishings.
– The Long Gallery, lined with part of the estate’s important book collection (highlighted specifically by the National Trust as a “nationally important collection of books”). Trust
– Rooms and displays that reflect several centuries of occupation, including material related to the Boleyn connection and the estate’s WWII story. Trust

House routes and room access can change seasonally or for conservation reasons, so it’s worth checking the latest route description on the National Trust website before your visit. Trust

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### Gardens and parkland walks

Blickling’s gardens and wider parkland are substantial and varied, making it one of the stronger outdoor destinations in Norfolk.

Formal gardens

– Around 55 acres of formal gardens surround the house, reflecting about three centuries of planting and design. Trust
– Highlights include:
– The parterre garden on the east lawn, centred on an 18th-century fountain and remodelled in the 1930s with large herbaceous beds and yew topiary.
– An orangery that houses citrus trees and links into woodland planting.
– A formal wilderness garden with radial walks and yew hedging.
– Garden structures such as the Doric Temple and garden mount, created to manipulate views across the estate.

Parkland and estate trails

– The estate offers over 4,600 acres of parkland, woodland and farmland, with waymarked walks and long views over the lake and meadows. Trust
– A multi-use trail (about 4 miles / 6.4 km) is designed for walking, cycling, wheelchairs and pushchairs on an all-weather surface, taking in woodland and historic buildings. Trust
– Additional walks highlight landmarks such as the Mausoleum, a striking stone pyramid in the woods dating to the 18th century. Trust

Dog-friendly access

Blickling has a three-pawprint rating in the National Trust’s dog-friendly system, meaning facilities for visitors with dogs are relatively extensive. Trust

– Dogs are welcome in much of the parkland, woodland and on rights of way across the wider estate, provided they are kept under close control and on leads where livestock or signage requires it. Trust
– Dogs on short leads are allowed in the farmyard, the second-hand bookshop, on the front drive, in the Estate Barn, and in parts of the Muddy Boots café. Trust
– Only assistance dogs are allowed inside the house, main formal garden, East Wing shop and Stables Café. Trust

For the latest dog access zones and any seasonal restrictions (for example, when cattle are grazing or during bird nesting seasons), it’s sensible to check the property’s “Bringing your dog” page shortly before visiting. Trust

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### Food, drink and rainy-day escapes

Blickling is unusually well set up for wet weather. The quote about “bookshop, garden shop and of course gift shop” aligns with what’s currently on site:

Cafés and pub

– The Stables Café: hot and cold meals, soups, one-pots, sandwiches, cakes and seasonal dishes, using local produce when possible. Trust
– Muddy Boots: more casual, with takeaway-friendly light bites, pastries, cream teas and cakes, and dog-friendly indoor space in the back room. Trust
– The Bucks Arms: a 17th-century pub and former coaching inn near the car park, run as a tenant business. It offers food, drink and a small number of rooms. Trust

Shops (excellent for a rainy day)

All of these are currently free to access for all visitors, regardless of whether you have a house/garden ticket: | AccessAble

– National Trust shop (gift and garden shop) – gifts, homeware, books, jams and chutneys, and seasonal peat-free potted plants for gardeners. Trust
– Second-hand bookshop – run by volunteers, with shelves of fiction, non-fiction and local history; donations are accepted, with advance notice requested for large quantities. Trust
– Stamp shop – notable as the only dedicated National Trust stamp shop, selling stamps, first-day covers and philatelic items. It usually has set opening hours (commonly a few days per week) and may also offer appointments at other times. Trust

Because specific opening hours for individual outlets (the stamp shop in particular) can change, especially outside peak season, always check the latest times on the National Trust website or at visitor reception when you arrive. Trust

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### Accessibility and on-site facilities

For many visitors, especially those travelling with pushchairs or mobility aids, practical access makes or breaks a visit. Blickling has been investing in improvements, but details do evolve over time.

Based on the most recent accessibility information and access statements available: Trust

– Parking & arrival
– Main car park near the Estate Barn visitor welcome, toilets and Muddy Boots café.
– Designated Blue Badge parking in the main car park and additional spaces by the farmyard near the East Wing; Blue Badge holders currently receive free parking by displaying a badge.
– Surfaces are generally firm but may include gravel; the route from main car park to the house and gardens is around 385 metres, with some slopes and seating along the way.

– Toilets
– Standard and accessible toilets in the main car park, East Wing and farmyard.
– A Changing Places facility is available in the farmyard; a Radar key is required, with keys available to borrow from the shop if needed.

– Mobility aids
– Powered mobility scooters for parkland and gardens, manual wheelchairs and some all-terrain wheelchairs are available to borrow, usually free of charge, with advance booking recommended.
– The multi-use trail offers a reasonably level, all-weather route designed for wheelchairs, pushchairs and bikes.

– Buildings & shops
– There are ramps for step-free access to both cafés and through the main shop and East Wing facilities, though some ramps are relatively steep.
– The bookshop has step-free access to most of the space, but a few fiction shelves are reached via steps; staff can help retrieve books if needed. | AccessAble

Important caveat on accuracy:

– Some access documents (for example, one detailed access statement) are over five years old, which means elements like the exact number of Blue Badge bays or surface conditions may have changed since publication.
– The National Trust also maintains a more frequently updated online accessibility page for Blickling; it’s wise to cross-check this shortly before visiting if you rely on specific facilities such as scooters or Changing Places toilets. Trust

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### Tickets, membership and opening times

Rather than hard-coding any prices or specific hours (which do change seasonally), here’s what is stable and well-documented:

– Access that is free for everyone
– Cafés
– Main shop
– Second-hand bookshop
– Stamp shop
– Farmyard area | AccessAble

– Areas that are ticketed
– The house and formal gardens are free for National Trust members but ticketed for non-members. | AccessAble

– Parking
– Parking is free for National Trust members (typically via scanning your membership card at the Estate Barn visitor reception).
– For non-members, the car park operates a pay-and-display system (currently coins only at the machine, with card payment inside visitor reception). Trust

Key Highlights

Blickling Hall

Location

Places to Stay Near Blickling Hall"Things to do in case of rain: bookshop, garden shop and of course gift shop."

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