Looking south over the park designed by Charles Bridgeman in the 18th century, Wolterton Hall comes with 500 acres of fields and woodland. Play table tennis, boules and badminton on the lawns, kick a ball into the nets, knock a six over the boundary. Soak up the bird-rich lakeside tranquility.
Wild-swim in the lake, canoe, paddleboard. Walk the grounds with a pre-prandial G and T. Eat out on the coal barbecue beneath the stars around the table for 22. Stay out for roasting marshmallows around the firepit. Ask us about hiring a hot tub.
Wolterton boasts one of the largest walled gardens in Europe. Guests can enjoy home grown produce, eggs from our hens and all of our flowers come from our own cutting garden. There is an abundance of natural fauna and flora – it’s a bird watchers paradise, spot wild deer and a rare array of dragonflies and frogs all taking advantage of what is considered to be one of purest lakes in the country.
For those arriving in style, guests have a large expanse of land at the front of the property to land their helicopters.
Spaces here are gracious and grand, harking back to an era of Lords, Ladies and landed gentry. A place that’s played host to kings and queens. A few centuries later, you can join them. Wolterton Hall is a festival of fine fabrics, period Georgian furniture, elaborate cornicing and original artworks.
Relax in double-height rooms in front of enormous marble fireplaces. Stare at the lake through huge windows. Circulate, socialise or escape in a number of elegant reception rooms arranged around a full-height Palladian stone staircase, such as the double-aspect Picture Room overlooking the lake and west park.
Catch Amazon Prime or Netflix in the basement media room, escape to the Walpole Library to bag a book or to the East Hall with its full-size 17th-century Aubusson tapestry. Head to the first-floor state rooms to tinkle the piano and live grandly among magnificent fireplaces, chandeliers and large sash windows.
Wolterton Hall might be an 18th-century masterpiece but the Smallbones brasserie oak kitchen with Gaggenau appliances is thoroughly modern. Make yourself at home among the fridge/freezer/wine cooler, oven/steam-oven/warming cabinet and five-burner hob with teppanyaki/charcoal grill. The Walpoles would be jealous.
If that’s tempting but not tempting enough, you’ve got options. Call up executive chef Alex Firman for buffets, barbecues, street food, tapas or canapés. Or Rebecca Heath from Hestia for fine dining and patisserie. Ask us for sample menus so you can start salivating. Your chosen chef will have a fully equipped caterers kitchen at their disposal. Dine around the Georgian dining table in front of the family portrait.
You might prefer al-fresco dining out on the terrace in the clean Norfolk air. Fire up the coal barbie and shop your steaks and sausages from Coxford and Whyte’s. Call in at Majestic Wines for a fruity red or crisp white. Or give in to the tease of great takeaways at Bann Thai, No.1 Cromer (fish and chips) or Husk woodfired pizzas.
Snaffle a Sunday roast at the Saracen’s Head or Brancaster moules marinière at the Wiveton Bell. Watch your meat cooking on the Elk Room fire at the Gunton Arms. Tackle the daily-changing seven-course tasting menu at Morston Hall or head to Meadowsweet for Skrei cod or Hindolveston lamb with wild garlic and artichoke.
Sleep like a king or queen in the grandest of grand bedrooms bedecked with Colefax and Fowler fabrics, pocket Vi-Spring beds, fine Egyptian-cotton sheets and goose-down pillows. Fine Georgian fireplaces, original artwork, grand cornices, sash windows and working shutters complete the sense of Georgian splendour.
Eleven en-suite bedrooms sleep up to 24. Bedroom one on the first floor – the State Bedroom Suite – is a superking, while bedroom two (The Countess) is a kingsize. Bedrooms three (Earl’s), four (Lady Anne) and five (Phillida) are all superkings and bedroom six (Horace) provides twin beds.
Bedrooms seven (Bachelors) and nine (Ripley) offer kingsize beds, while bedroom eight (Nelson), ten (Bridgeman) and eleven (Gilpin) are all superkings. You can top up your guest list with two z-beds, which can be accommodated in most rooms. All bedrooms will take a cot.
All bedrooms feature en-suite marble bathrooms with freestanding enamel baths and Hans Grohe showers. The State Bedroom Suite includes a separate WC, vast bathroom with hidden champagne fridge and a marble wet room with double height waterfall shower.
