Holkham Hall

Austere on the outside, but truly sumptuous on the inside, Holkham Hall is considered one of the truest Palladian-style buildings in England. The ambitious brainchild of Thomas Coke, 1st Earl of Leicester, the building was inspired by the ancient temples and Palladian villas he saw in Italy on his Grand Tour and was conceived to be a ‘treasure house’ to display the incredible collections of manuscripts, paintings and sculpture he amassed on his travels. While in Rome, Thomas Coke met and befriended William Kent, and the grand idea for a Palladian villa on the windswept north Norfolk coast was born.

Work started in 1734 and the hall was finally completed in 1764, by Lady Margaret, Thomas Coke’s widow. The hall as you see it today is not much different, with the vast majority of the collection still intact, no major alterations and the Coke family still very much in residence.

As custodians of this magnificent building, the family enjoy sharing it with visitors. Much work takes place behind the scenes with our wonderful team ensuring that the fabric of the building and its contents are looked after for future generations of visitors to enjoy.