Welcome to Stately Homes

Built in 1870 by the Prince and Princess of Wales, later King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra, Sandringham was once described as 'The most comfortable house in England'. It has been passed down as a private home through four generations of British monarchs and is now the country retreat of Her Majesty The Queen and His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh.

The main ground floor rooms, regularly used by the Royal Family, are open to the public and the decor and contents remain very much as they were in Edwardian times. Both Queen Alexandra and later Queen Mary were great collectors of objets d'art hence the profusion of porcelain, jade and crystal oriental figures.

Members of the Russian and European Royal Families were frequent guests at Sandringham and brought gifts of enamel, silver and silver-gilt: Kaiser Wilhelm I of Germany gave a fine Dresden porcelain chandelier and mirror frame.

Furniture was commissioned from the London firm of Holland & Sons by the Prince and Princess of Wales. The walls are hung with family portraits by the leading contemporary court painters: Heinrich von Angeli, Sir Luke Fildes, Franz Winterhalter and Edward Hughes. An important collection of oriental arms and armour is housed at Sandringham, brought back from the Far East and India in 1876.

Sandringham is a friendly and informal place to visit with knowledgeable guides in every room ready to talk to visitors. For wheelchair-users, it is totally accessible and for blind or partially-sighted visitors, the guides will bring objects to touch. For further details why not visit their highly informative Website?

The Museum:

As early as 1928, King George V had created his own private museum of big game trophies in rooms attached to the stable block. Around the time of HM The Queen's Silver Jubilee in 1977, the remaining stables, coach houses and old powerhouse were converted to house a varied and ever-growing collection of objects.

Pride of place goes to the vintage Royal motor vehicles ranging from the first motor car owned by a member of the British monarchy, a 1900 Daimler phaeton to the splendid 1939 Merryweather Fire Engine which was used by the Estate's own Fire Brigade.

Several children's cars are on display as well as carriages and the old Estate game cart. Photographs depicting Royal life at Sandringham from 1863 to the 1960s give a fascinating insight into the history of the Estate.

Country Park:

In 1968 an area of 142 hectares (350 acres) of The Queen's private Estate at Sandringham was designated as a Country Park, it has subsequently been enlarged so that today nearly 243 hectares (600 acres) are available for visitors to enjoy. There are two waymarked Nature Trails; one being 1½ and the other 2½ miles long, also there are numerous paths in the woodlands to explore. There is no charge to enjoy the Country Park, which is open every day to the public and car parking is free.

Opening Times - 2010:

House, Museum & Gardens:

3rd April - 23rd July re-opening 1st August - 31st october:

House & Museum:
11 am - 4 pm (last ticket sold 3.30 pm)

Gardens:
10.30 am - 4 pm (last ticket sold 4 pm)

Admission Prices - 2010:

House, Museum & Gardens:

Adult - £10
Senior/Student - £8
Child (5-15) - £5
Family (2+3) - £25

Museum & Gardens:

Adult - £7
Senior/Student - £6
Child (5-15) - £3.50
Family (2+3) - £17.50

Groups (20+)

Adult - £9
Senior/Student - £7
Child (5-15) - £4.50

Season Ticket from £25
Guided Garden Tour supplement £2.50
Group discount available for parties of 20 or more.

More information on the garden can be found on The Gardens Guide.