The Best Hotels to Book Near Holkham Hall, Norfolk

To the southeast of Holkham in sleepy Wighton, Meadowview Guest House is the cosy antithesis of historic Holkham Hall. It’s a friendly five-bedroom pad full of sunlit spaces resplendent in modern décor, with a pretty garden for days of summertime lazing.

An outdoor hot tub is the perfect place for draining a glass of bubbly, Next day in the cheery breakfast room, settle in for breakfasts of local Cley Smokehouse kippers or butcher-made sausages.

Fish-and-chip shops, arcades and confectionery emporiums selling rock candy, Norfolk towns don’t get much more wonderfully bucket-and-spade than Wells-next-the-Sea. It’s a brief – even walkable – hop east from Holkham Hall.

And this B&B is right by the water, near sands lined in colourful beach huts. It’s a great choice if you’ve got little ones in tow, with bunk beds in child-friendly rooms, helpful staff and electric bikes for hire.

No visit to Norfolk is complete without a pint in a snug pub. Why not stay at one, too? Dating back to 1725, the Three Horseshoes has a warren of dining rooms and bars, but if it’s a fine day out, check out the sheltered, sun-warmed walled garden, perfect for lazy afternoons of ales in the summer months.

Dine on rib-sticking plates of steak and ale pie or beer-battered fish and chips before exploring the cute local village – then come back and snooze it all off in one of the smart rooms, with muted country hues, beamed ceilings and decorative throw pillows.

If you’re looking to channel the grandeur of Holkham Hall, try this brick-fronted hotel near Hunstanton, a beach resort town on Norfolk’s westerly Royal Coast. The Grade II listed home – built way back in 1680 – has been updated for modern glamour, with an onsite golf course, indulgent spa and stylish furnishings.

After getting your skin restored to newborn softness with a mud wrap, stretch out over an indulgent afternoon tea with Victoria sponge cake and cucumber sandwiches.

You can hardly get closer to the beach: the sands of Old Hunstanton are right on your doorstep when you check into this grand hotel. Everything you’d expect from a resort-style stay is here, including stacks of restaurants and activities.

But the really special thing is that you can self-cater: accommodation includes a separate Boat House and Garden Lodge, tucked inside the grounds. For you, that means the amenities of a hotel with the privacy and flexibility of a rental, including the chance to cook your own meals in a fully decked-out kitchen.

The Queen will be your neighbour when you book into the Ffolkes – the royal Sandringham Estate is just down the road, while Holkham Hall is a scenic drive away. And this 300-year-old coaching inn comes with plenty of sense of occasion – especially when you consider that it’s a pub.

The 24 bedrooms are modern and luxurious, with original beamed ceilings and citrus-sharp splashes of colour. Visit on a Friday or Saturday when street-food vendors descend on the outdoor space, cocktails are rattled up en masse and a DJ spins atmospheric tunes.

Bang in the heart of Wells-next-the-Sea, this renovated inn is a big hit with families who flock to the restaurant for crowd-pleasing bangers and mash or burgers. The real draw? The bedrooms are all individually styled with patterned wallpapers and seaside touches, such as lamps styled from old fishermen’s rope.

Rooms are dog-friendly so the whole family can really come along and staff can help you arrange a coveted beach hut hire on the nearby sands – if a much-needed outing is required.

With its palette of sea blues and sand, subtle natural décor and restaurant serving classic fish and chips, this is a seaside hotel – no question. A 10-minute walk from Old Hunstanton, it’s perfectly placed for a family holiday – you’ll spend your time building sandcastles, playing in the surf or working on your tan.

The larger rooms can sleep up to four, another pull for travellers with little ones – meanwhile, a children’s menu serves winning dinners, including fusilli pasta with tomato sauce.