Magnificent houses and gardens, sandy beaches and an abundance of wildlife - Norfolk really does have it all!

The National Trust are world famous for looking after our wonderful stately homes and in Norfolk you might be aware of the magnificent halls at Blickling, Oxburgh and Felbrigg.

But did you know they also manage many places to explore and to run free on the Norfolk coast, allowing visitors to enjoy its rare beauty and also protecting it for future generations? These include the Brancaster Estate, Morston Quay and Titchwell Nature Reserves.

So without further ado, why not check out these eight great National Trust days out in Norfolk…

1. Oxburgh Hall

Bottom left image by Martin Pettitt

Don’t miss: The panoramic views from the gatehouse roof, the 16th century secret priest hole and the King's Room, where Henry VII stayed.
Details: This moated gatehouse with its magical setting and impressive Tudor brickwork is one of the National Trust’s most photographed houses. The hall dates back to 1482 when it was built by Sir Edmund Bedingfeld and has been in the family ever since. Inside, the family’s Catholic history is revealed - don’t miss the excitement of the Priest’s Hole! Wander round the interior and admire the beautiful 16th-century needlework panels crafted by Mary Queen of Scots and Bess of Hardwick which deservedly draw crowds. From the roof there’s a glorious view over the surrounding countryside, the Victorian French parterre, walled orchard, kitchen garden and the Bedingfield family chapel. If you’ve children in tow, there are quizzes and dressing-up clothes to try on as well trails to explore in the 70 acres of gardens and woodlands, making Oxburgh Hall a real winner for a family day out.
Find out more: www.nationaltrust.org.uk/oxburghhall
Stay at: Vicarage House / Vicarage House & Pool House, 30 minutes’ drive away.

2. Elizabethan House Museum

Images © The National Trust

Don’t miss: The Conspiracy Room giving an intriguing glimpse into one of the darkest hours of English history.
Details: This 16th-century house on Great Yarmouth's quayside is now an interactive museum that reflects the life of the families who lived there, from Tudor to Victorian times. The museum is geared towards giving children a real hands-on feel with each room faithfully recreating a different era. Join in by dressing up in costumes, or explore the Victorian kitchen and find out what it was like to work as a scullery maid! There's also a toy room for children and a walled garden stands outside the house. Within the Elizabethan House Museum is the 'Conspiracy Room', used by Parliamentary supporters planning the execution of King Charles I. Did the meeting take place as described?
Find out more: www.nationaltrust.org.uk/elizabethanhousemuseum
Stay at: Thatch Barn, 12.5 miles away.

3. Brancaster Estate

Bottom L to R: Images by Jay Smith & Jon Bunting

Don’t miss: Miles of golden sand at Brancaster Beach, perfect for long walks and sand castle building.
Details: The Brancaster Estate is a stretch of beautiful Norfolk coastline encompassing Brancaster village and Brancaster Staithe, a working fishing village, famous for its mussels and a popular area for pleasure boating. Here, the National Trust's outdoor activity centre organise '50' Things’ events in the school holidays. Just east of Brancaster village is the 3rd century Roman fort of Branodunum, and the National Nature Reserve on Scolt Head Island, to which there is a private ferry service. The best way to enjoy the Brancaster Estate is to walk along the coastal path - the scenery is breathtaking with tidal mud, sandflats and salt marshes providing a haven for a wealth of sea birds. Just west of Brancaster is RSPB Titchwell Marsh, a nature reserve with a wonderful variety of native and migrating birds. Nearby Brancaster Beach has mile upon mile of golden sand – perfect for dog walks, sand castles and power kiting.
Find out more: www.nationaltrust.org/brancasterestate
Stay at: Our Norfolk Holiday Cottages.

4. Blakeney National Nature Reserve

Top image Dun.can; Bottom R image Clinton & Charles Robertson

Don’t miss: Boat trips to see the seals during the summer (June to August) or winter (between November and January).
Details: One of the largest expanses of unspoilt coastline in the country, follow the Norfolk Coast Path for uninterrupted views or hop on a boat trip from Morston Quay to Blakeney Point to see the adorable, inquisitive seals. Managed by the National Trust, Blakeney Point is a four-mile-long sand and shingle spit stretching out into the sea from the heart of Blakeney National Nature Reserve. Not only do you get the chance to spend time with these wonderful swimmers, but you can also disembark at the iconic blue Old Lifeboat House, home to National Trust rangers and a visitor centre. A great way to get a new perspective on the coast and its wildlife, you can explore the windswept beauty of Blakeney Point itself, which hosts colonies of migrant birds.
Find out more: www.nationaltrust.org/blakeney
Stay at: Our Norfolk Holiday Cottages.

5. Sheringham Park

Top to bottom L: Images by Keith Salvesen, milo bostock & Chris Wood

Don’t miss: The view from the gazebo viewing platform, which reveals the Norfolk coastline in all its glory.
Details: Wander through Sheringham Park and you’ll soon realise why this place became the personal favourite of its designer, Humphrey Repton. Conceived in 1812, the parkland covers 1000 acres and is famous for its vast collection of rhododendrons and azaleas which bloom from mid-May to early-June. Walkers will love Sheringham Park, with several colour-coded circular trails through a mix of open fields and shady woodland from short to long distances. Climb the well-positioned viewing tower for breathtaking views across the low-lying parkland to the coast beyond.
Find out more: www.nationaltrust.org.uk/sheringham
Stay at: Weavers Loft or Banningham Coach House, less than 13 miles away.

6. Blickling Estate

Bottom images by Spencer Wright

Don’t miss: The estate’s woodlands, perfect for walks, and the pyramidal mausoleum.
Details: Flagship of the National Trust properties, the Blicking Estate covers a staggering 4,600 acres. Blickling Hall is every inch the grand Jacobean mansion, sitting at the heart of a magnificent garden and historic parkland. The lovely red-brick hall is famed for its long gallery, fine tapestries, paintings and rare books and has connections with Henry VIII’s second wife, Anne Boleyn, who was born in a former manor house on the site. Keep a look out for her ghost, said to haunt the corridors carrying her head under her arm! The beautiful gardens and park are the big draw – hire a bike or grab a map of waymarked walks and explore the vast grounds. Housing a glorious lake and 500 acres of woodland, there are picnic spots aplenty. After tucking in, discover the secret garden, investigate the ancient temple, explore the tranquil woods or fish in the lake. Kids will love the activity pack provided by the National Trust.
Find out more: www.nationaltrust.org.uk/blickling
Stay at: Weavers Loft or Banningham Coach House, less than 4 miles away.

7. Felbrigg Hall, Gardens and Estate

Top image by milo bostock; bottom images by Martin Pettitt

Don’t miss: The dovecote in the walled garden, one of the UK’s very best surviving examples of a large-scale dovecote, with holes for nearly 1000 birds to nest in.
Details: Felbrigg Hall is one of the region’s most elegant and ornate buildings, offering a wonderful mix of Jacobean, Georgian, and opulent Victorian, with heraldic stained glass windows, intricate 17th-century plasterwork, a superb Gothic library and great hall. A charming place full of surprises and delights, every room has something to feed the imagination. Look out for the miniature fire engine, the collection of globes and the shoe-shaped 1850s bath. Venture into the productive walled garden with a brick dovecote, pay a visit to the Georgian orangery or the kitchen garden laid out around a pond. Alternatively, enjoy a walk under Norfolk’s big skies in Felbrigg’s 520 acre estate with superb woodland trails, lake and icehouse.
Find out more: www.nationaltrust.org.uk/felbrigg
Stay at: Weavers Loft or Banningham Coach House, less than 10 miles away.

8. Horsey Windpump

Bottom L to R: Images by fernando butcher & Tim Parkinson

Don’t miss: The chance to entertain your kids with a game of ‘spot the wildlife’, including Swallowtail butterflies and an array of wild birds.
Details: The iconic five-storey Horsey Windpump was built in 1912 to drain water of the surrounding land so that it could be used for farming. Now beautifully restored by the National Trust, visitors can view the inner workings of the pump, see the huge gears up close and also climb to the top of the windpump for stunning views over the coast and broadland landscape. Set on the edge of the Norfolk Broads, the Horsey Estate is an internationally important site for wildlife and is a popular location for bird-watchers, with a population of breeding birds and winter migrants. A longer footpath leads across fields to Horsey beach where it's likely you'll find a few seals basking in the water or relaxing on the sand.
Find out more: www.nationaltrust.org.uk/horseywindpump
Stay at: Thatch Barn, Weavers Loft or Banningham Coach House, between 10 and 20 miles away.

What else?

Vicarage House & Pool House, Banningham Coach House & Thatch Barn

If you’re looking for somewhere to stay during your visit, explore our selection of holiday cottages near these National Trust days out in Norfolk.