I atended a wedding here in October and what a stunning place. Along with a spacious hall, with…read morebeams and original dragon features, it also contains lots of interesting information and history of the place. As a venue for events, it has a lovely outside courtyard, perfect for warm evenings and photos opportunities. The staff were extremely helpful and friendly, and the layout of the facilities were excellent. One major memory that has to be mentioned are the super strength hand driers in the toilets!!

I really enjoyed a Birthday Party here in 2007, amongst the ancient beams and history. A really…read moremellow place to eat drink and be merry and to soak up 1,000 years of Norwich life.

Oxburgh Hall is a place that shouldn't be missed when visiting the area. It sits within a moat and…read moreis a great example of English brick gatehouses of the 15th century. It was originally built circa 1482 by Sir Edmund Bedingfeld and has been continuously occupied by the family ever since. There have been several upgrades as well over the years...centuries. There are Victorian additions that were added later in the 1800's like the terracotta chimneys and windows along with amazing gardens to name a few. It has always been used as a home, and not a fortress. The home has seen the War of the Roses, survived a fire and near demolition prospects and still stands. It is truly an amazing place to visit and I'm happy it's under the care of the National Trust. The hall is known for its "Priest hole". In the event of a raid a priest could hide in the wall and couldn't be found. This is open to the public, whereas most like it are closed. That makes this is a fantastic historical opportunity alone. I must say, it is a little unsettling to go into the hole and you definitely get the idea of how the priest must have felt. The home is also known for the needlework on display by Mary, Queen of Scots while imprisoned in England and Bess of Hardwick. You can also tour the Kings Room where King Henri VIII stayed when visiting. Photos are not allowed inside...darn it, but you are welcome to take pictures of the grounds and such. You can obtain books and postcards in the gift shop. This review was overdue and I simply can't believe that I didn't finish it. But I'm even more surprised that no one else has reviewed this place when it is so extraordinary. It shouldn't be missed if you are in the area. If you are a history buff like us, then you'll truly enjoy it. Gee Whiz info...the name is pronounced: "OX bru" Note: I also recommend becoming a member of the National Trust. They do great things and keep history alive. Whether you are from or live in the UK or just visiting from outside the country...it's well worth it and goes to a great cause...it's a win/win for all!

This is a fantastic place for a good norfolk country walk, could walk for miles in the countryside,…read morethe castle itself is a great find and a great part of english Heritage. Unfortunatly we went many years ago, so I can't be more informative, but this place sticks in my mind wandering about the castle because it was so pretty to view and full of history

Trinity Bridge, Crowland, England was built 1360. This is an unusual 3-way bridge that now sits…read morehigh & dry in the center of Crowland. Sure enough, the River Welland now flows on a dead straight course to the west of the town along what is termed the Deeping High Bank. The Trinity or Triangular Bridge is said to be unique. Certainly, it is unusual and rather special. It stands in the middle of the town, at the junction of North, South, East and West Streets. Before the town was bypassed by the A1073 leading south to Peterborough, it was a familiar landmark for through traffic. It holds at least one mystery the identity of its mysterious carved stone figure, which people still argue about. The story of the bridge goes back to the 7th century when this part of the country was very different a time when England was divided into many kingdoms and when lonely saints found their way to remote islands. Some say it is King Ethelbald, complete with royal orb. Far more likely is that the statue is a representation of God or Jesus holding the world in His hands. If so, it bears a striking resemblance to statues on the surviving west front of the abbey and it is more than likely taken from there and placed in a more lowly position on the bridge. The current bridge dates to the 14th century (built between 1360 and 1390) and replaced previous wooden bridges but the earliest known mention of the bridge is by Ethelbald of Mercia in 716. The early bridge was probably made of timber, and not a trace survives. What we see today has an odd triangular design it has three arches but is one structure hence its name 'Trinity' or three in one. This came about because in those days it stood at the point where the River Welland divided into two streams. One led past the abbey at the water gate on the south side of the abbey site and the townspeople used it for sanitary and sewerage purposes. It drained into the River Nene. The main branch of the Welland meanwhile carried on northwards towards Spalding. These waterways were eventually covered over by the current street pattern. Arched over, they now serve as sewers. The bridge at one time had a large cross at its apex. It may have been used as a platform by preaching monks and as a centre of devotion for pilgrims approaching the abbey. During the Middle Ages it had gentle slopes leading upwards in more recent times steep steps have been substituted. If you are close by it is well worth taking time out to see the bridge and the abbey.

Burghley House is one of the grandest Elizabethan stately homes in the UK, and is surrounded by…read moregardens and extensive parkland. It has been used in over a dozen films and TV productions, including "Pride & Prejudice", "The Da Vinci Code", "Elizabeth: The Golden Age"; and "The Crown". To understand the significance of the house, a little history is helpful; it was built by Sir WIlliam Cecil (1520-1598), later Lord Burghley. He was one of the pre-eminent advisors of the Tudor period, and the closest advisor to Elizabeth I for most of her reign, acting variously as Secretary of State, Lord High Treasurer and Lord Privy Seal. His impressive tomb is in St Martin's church, in nearby Stamford. The house was built to reflect his status, paid for by the wool wealth from the Burghley estates, and his substantial income from the state appointments. As such, it is sometimes referred to as a "Prodigy House", one built on a palatial scale by noble families and courtiers, and capable of housing visiting Tudor and Stuart monarchs and their extensive retinues. The house itself was built between 1555 and 1587, and the exterior is largely faithful to this period. The design reflects the transition from a mediaeval courtyard house, with the Elizabethan desire for symmetry, to the emerging classical tastes of the Renaissance. The profusion of obelisks, turrets, chimneys and pennants is, however, thoroughly Tudor in style, and gives the house its unmistakeable profile. The interiors were not completed at Burghley's death, and reflect the emerging Baroque tastes of the 17th and early 18th centuries. There are 35 major rooms, many incredibly opulent, including those painted trompe d'oeil walls and ceilings by Antonio Verrio in 1697-99. A number of the rooms include stained glass windows, dating from the 16th and 17th centuries. The house also contains an impressive collection of over 300 paintings acquired by the 5th and 8th Earls of Exeter, mostly from Italy, as well as an important collection of Japanese export porcelain from the 17th century, and 18th century English furniture. Tours include the impressive Tudor kitchens, although the route doesn't enter through the main courtyard entrance, so it can be a bit puzzling. Much of the house remains in private occupation, though there is a lot to see in what is open to the public. The audio tours are very helpful at putting the interiors and collections into context, in what otherwise can a feel a slightly overwhelming experience. The gardens include a formal "Garden of Surprises" with a number of water features, a sculpture park, and more extensive parkland, modelled in the 18th century by Capability Brown. You can buy tickets just for the gardens, or a combined ticket for both gardens and the house. I'd leave at least an hour for the house, though we took two hours to go around (it all depends on your appetite for art and architecture). There's a cafe-restaurant in the Orangerie, and a smaller "Garden Cafe". We ate in the latter: it is a little pricey, but I found the food to be a cut above your average sandwich, and they had locally made ice cream as an extra treat.

It's okay. Very expensive for not great touring…read more Your ticket gets you into the gardens and house but only a very small portion of the home is available for viewing. In this section there are an astounding number of paintings but most are copies or unattributed. The furniture is beautiful. The gardens are pleasant but garden is a loose term. The best part was the mirror maze and the lake overlook but there were sparse plantings and almost no flowers. The orangery is one food option but the food is incredibly esoteric for a small, over priced cafe. The chicken tenders are a mediocre but safe option. Not impressed, wouldn't go back

Hard to say where this is in Qype. It is just outside Sutton-on-Sea on the way to Mablethorpe…read more This is a tiny thatched church. Very rare. Markby was once a priory and the church is all that is left apart from stones making up the nearby farmhouse. The priory of St. Peter at Markby was founded during the reign of Henry II. Ok I lecture in history too so for anyone interested here is the ref: (From: 'Houses of Austin canons: The priory of Markby', A History of the County of Lincoln: Volume 2 (1906), pp. 174-176. URL: http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=38025 . ) Markby church is cute! and I love it. Many accounts of monks having to be wheeled home from the inn in a wheelbarrow and of gossiping etc. I think you can still be christened or buried there but not sure if it has services. It is usually open, however, to visit and look around.

As a little girl I spent many a Saturday or Sunday afternoon at Pulls Ferry with my Mum and Dad…read morecatching tiddlers in a jam jar and having a picnic tea. Pulls Ferry is one of the most beautiful places to visit in Norwich, and is featured in almost every guide book you will read, so has to be worth a look! Forming part of the riverside walk which incorporates the Cathedral close, Pulls Ferry is at its best when the sun is shining. Personally I like it on a crisp winters day with the low sun - there is something hauntingly beautiful about it. If you are any good at photography or painting (of which I am good at neither!) then it is well worth having your kit with you when you visit - you will find it hard to resist.

Pulls Ferry is one of the oldest places in Norwich and you will find it on many postcards and in…read morelots of guide books so it really is worth visiting. It is part of the riverside walk along the River Wensum near to the Cathedral and the Great Hospital, both of which are worth visiting along the way. Pulls Ferry is beautiful and peaceful. The swans on the river add to the lovely feel of this place. In the summer it is really nice to take a picnic and a blanket and just laze about by the river, watching the boats go up and down.

Absolutely lovey visit to this stunningly architecturally exquisite cathedral, made extra special…read moreby Shirley, our tour guide, who shared her love of this special place by sharing her secrets with us and bringing an old empty stone building alive with history and characters. Stained glass was stunning. The defaced saints etc shows how the cathedral managed to survive religious upheavals through the years and still stay a focus for the local population's faith. Nice gift shop to peruse and take a gift or memory home with you. Definitely put this majestic historical building on your Ely itinerary.

Today, 21 November 2025 was Ely Cathedral's annual Christmas Market…read more First, the exterior architecture was stunningly amazing. To think that a building of this size and historic nature is being preserved is commendable. Inside, the numerous stained glass is breathtakingly beautiful. But the reason for today's visit was the annual Christmas Market, a ticketed event featuring high quality artists. The aroma of dried orange wreaths fill the church. I can't begin to name all the artwork being sold, and included the church gift shop. A truly memorable experience!