Set in a 3,000 acre deer park this elegant 18th century Palladian style mansion, based on designs by William Kent, was built by Thomas Coke 1st Earl of Leicester and is home to his descendants. It reflects Coke’s natural appreciation of classical art developed during his Grand Tour. Built from local yellow brick, with its pedimented portico, square corner towers and side wings, it has been little altered over the years, and has been described by Sir Nikolaus Pevsner as "The most classically correct house in Britain". ‘The Marble Hall’ is a spectacular introduction to this vast and imposing house, with its 50ft pressed plaster dome ceiling and walls of English alabaster, not marble as its name implies. Stairs from the hall lead to magnificent state rooms with superb collections of ancient statuary, original furniture, tapestries and paintings by Rubens, Van Dyck, Claude, Gaspar Poussin and Gainsborough. In an adjacent courtyard is a range of impressive buildings which were the original stables, brew and malt houses, former laundry for the hall and a building that once housed the huge machines generating electricity. Nowadays they are home to a spacious gift shop and our cafe serving delicious, local produce. The Bygones Museum occupies the historical stable block, displaying over 4,000 items ranging from kitchenware and toys to steam engines and vintage cars. Opposite, the History of Farming Exhibition highlights how a great estate such as Holkham works and has evolved, explaining ‘Coke of Norfolk’s’ role in the great Agricultural Revolution of the 18th century. There is parkland to explore and wildlife to discover. Cycles can be hired and boat trips on the lake are available. An exciting 5 year project is underway to sensitively restore the 6 1/2 acre walled gardens, originally laid out by Samuel Wyatt in the late 1700s. The impressive glasshouses have been restored with the help of English Heritage and visitors can see the work, as it develops, to restore the fabric of the gardens and bring them back to all their glory. At the north entrance of the park lies Holkham village, with the estate’s own hotel ‘The Victoria’, a selection of shops and a tearoom. Directly opposite lies the entrance to the award-winning Holkham beach and national nature reserve, renowned for its endless golden sands and panoramic vista.