This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through a link, I may receive a small commission, at no cost to you. These commissions help keep this website up and running, and I thank you for your support. Read my full disclosure here.
Disclaimer: This is not a sponsored post, I paid for this trip myself. All recommendations and opinions are my own.
Sandringham Estate is the Queen of England’s country home. It’s located in the beautiful Norfolk Coast Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and sprawls over 240 hectares which includes farmland, woodland and heath. The Queen spends Easter at Windsor Castle, but spends winter here at Sandringham where she hosts her famous royal family Christmas and New Years celebrations. Because of this, the house and gardens is only open to visitors from April to October each year (check exact dates on their website). However, if you visit outside of these times, you can still enjoy the parkland which is free to visit and open all year round.
On the day of our visit was a lovely sunny spring day. To avoid having to line up for tickets, we had pre-purchased our tickets on line, so we made a beeline for the entry gate to the house and gardens. The tickets are rather expensive, but the parking is at least free. We purchased the combined ticket that got us in to visit the garden, museum and house. However, I was disappointed to discover that they don’t let you in to visit the old walled garden. Apparently that is only open to pre-booked tours for a limited time each year.
Tip
- If you pre-purchase your ticket online, then make sure you download it or print it as there is no internet or guest WIFI available onsite.
As it was well into spring, the gardens looked absolutely beautiful. There are lots of paths that take you through the very large gardens, so we started with the woodland walk. Here we came across the family pet cemetery with many of the Queen’s beloved gundogs including spaniels and labradors. The rhododendrons were in full bloom and looked beautiful in a range of colours including pink, red, purple and yellow.
After enjoying the woodland area we moved on to the more formal gardens beside the house entrance. The flower beds were in full bloom and looked and smelled wonderful. The formal garden is bordered with a long row of trees and features a smiling golden Buddha statue and an Old Father of Time statue.
At the entrance to the house was a life sized statue of the Queen’s horse Estimate. The mare apparently won a number of important events including the Gold Cup at Ladies’ Day, at Ascot, so was one of the Queen’s favourites. I’m a horse person, so I liked it, I thought it was very life like.
We headed in to visit the house which is a mix of styles due to the numerous extensions and renovations over the years. The site was originally occupied by a large Elizabethan manor, but this was replaced in 1771 by a Georgian mansion. After changing hands several times over the years, the property was eventually purchased by the Prince and Princess of Wales, who later became King Edward VII and Queen Alexandria. Since then, it has been passed down through four generations of the royal family.
Unfortunately, similar to Windsor Castle, you can’t take photos inside of the house, which is a shame, as I would love to have been able to share the photos with you. As we headed into the house the staff offered us an audio guide (included in the cost of the ticket). I recommend taking one as each of the rooms were jam packed with valuable items from all over the world that were collected or gifted over the generations. Without the audio guide we would have missed out on learning about their interesting history. There are also guides in each of the rooms who are clearly passionate and knowledgeable about the home, and can provide you with information.
Only a small area of the house is open to guests, but there is a lot to see in each room so we were in the house for a while. The tour also allows you to visit the dining room where the royal family enjoy their Christmas lunch. The final room is a ballroom with the most beautiful chandeliers. Apparently the royal family set up a projector in the room to watch movies during their Christmas stay.
After visiting the house, we were rather hungry so set out to find the onsite cafe. The cafe is in the old stables which has been converted to house a table in each of the horse stalls which is rather charming. However, the sun was shining, so we sat out in the courtyard to make the most of it. The prices are not the cheapest, but the food was good. We had some sandwiches which tasted very fresh as well as a piece of cake each. The cakes are really yummy. Housed in one of the buildings there is an exhibition featuring some of the old carriages they used over the generations.
The Sandringham Exhibition & Transport Museum is right beside the cafe. It is housed in the former coach house and stable block that was built to accommodate all of the taxidermy animals that King George VI had shot and killed. Now it displays the impressive royal car collection. The collection is impressive and features everything from miniature fully working model cars (a tiny James Bond Aston Martin!) that were presented to the royal children, through to vintage fire trucks and cars made of wood.
We then ventured out to explore the rest of the splendid grounds including the lakes. It was relatively quiet by the furthest lake on the south side of the garden, which is where we found York Cottage, once home to George V. As it was spring, there were some super cute ducklings and goslings out and about on the lakes. The star of the garden was the beautiful water garden bordered by rockeries.
We took the path from the house to the parish church of St Mary Magdalene which sits just outside the house grounds. This path is very well photographed by the paparazzi every Christmas as the royals make their way from Sandringham house to the church for service. The church was much smaller than I expected and is really very charming. You can visit the church without paying for entry to the house and gardens.
Before heading off, we spent our afternoon exploring the parkland which is open to the public all year around for free. There are a number of walking paths which are outlined on the back of the visitor leaflet. There is a particularly good viewing platform looking out to the coastline. I was delighted to discover the adorable, miniature Muntjac deer strolling through the park. They are the smallest deer in Britain. Unfortunately I didn’t get a photo of them as they flitted through the shrub.
Practical Tips for Visiting Sandringham Estate
- When is Sandringham Estate open? The estate is generally open April to October, but check the website, as exact dates can change year to year. Sometimes they are also closed for events. The parkland is open everyday all year round.
- Do I need to purchase an entry ticket? The car park, parkland, church and visitor centre are free to visit, however, you will need to purchase a ticket to visit the house, gardens, and museum. If you don’t want to visit the house, then you can purchase a cheaper ticket that will just get you into the gardens and museum.
- How do I purchase a ticket? There is a ticket office beside the visitor centre. However, I recommend pre-purchasing your tickets online so you can avoid the line. With your online ticket, you can walk straight up to the entrance gate. There, they will scan your ticket and provide you with a brochure.
- Warning! Make sure you download or print your tickets as there is no internet access out there and no public WIFI.
- Accessibility: The garden and house are accessible for wheelchair users. There is also a shuttle that can take you around.
- Are dogs allowed? Dogs are not allowed in Sandringham house, museum or gardens except for registered assistance dogs. However, they are allowed on the walking paths around the parkland.
- Can I take photos in the house? Unfortunately, you can’t take photos in the house.
- How long should I visit Sandringham Estate for? We spent about 4 hours here. There is lots to see and do, but if you have limited time, then you could limit your walk around the garden and parkland.
- How to Get Around the Sandringham Estate:
- Tours: You can visit York on a tour. Alongside a city tour, you can also join a tour that includes other interesting sites in the surrounding area.
- This York & Yorkshire tour takes in York, Rievaulx Abbey, and Helmsley as well as other Yorkshire sites.
- This tour leaving from York takes in Castle Howard
- Private tour of the estate
- Guided garden tour for a little extra
- Currency: British pound.
- Language: English
- Tipping: Not required, but people usually round up.
- Electricity: The electrical current is 230 volts AC. Wall outlets take a three pronged plug only used in the United Kingdom and Ireland. However, you are better off purchasing a worldwide adaptor that can be used in the United Kingdom as well other countries. At least then you can potentially get some further use out of it on future vacations. If you’re taking a number of electronics with you, then I would recommend purchasing a couple of these adaptors.
- Driving: In the UK they drive on the left hand side of the road with speed signs in miles per hour (mph).
- Navigating: We used Google’s free Offline Maps. Google Offline Maps allows you to access free maps for navigating that can be used offline i.e. you don’t need WIFI, data, or roaming to be able to use them. Follow my detailed guide on how to use Googles Offline Maps.
- Using your phone as a GPS will drain your battery quickly, so use a portable battery charger which you can use to charge your phone and any other USB chargeable devices.
- If you prefer a paper map, then purchase a road map before you go. At least it’s reliable and won’t run out of battery or malfunction like the electronic options!
Other English Royal Residences to Visit
If you enjoyed this post on visiting the royal residence of Osbourne house, then check out my other posts:
Leave a Reply