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Home>Rail Holidays>Sandringham and the Little Trains of Norfolk with Gardeners' World

Sandringham and the Little Trains of Norfolk with Gardeners' World

14 September 2022

5 days from £499pp

Entrance and a guided tour of the spectacular Sandringham Estate gardens with cream tea
Steam train journeys on the Bure Valley Railway, Mid Norfolk Railway & Poppy Line
Journey aboard the Bittern Line
Cruise on the broads aboard the Southern Comfort Mississippi Paddle Boat
Visit the seaside gem of Cromer
Enjoy free time in Wroxham, Horning & Holt
Free time to explore Norwich

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Opened to the public by King Edward VII in 1908, Sandrigham Estate and it's sixty acres of gardens offer spectacular sights of natural beauty, as you take in the sweeping floral displays of Edwardian influence. Add to this the nostalgic feeling of travelling along heritage railways with a little steam train chugging away up front and you have all the ingredients for an unforgettable experience. We include no less than four different railway journeys on this short break, along with plenty of time to explore each destination, If the charms of Norfolk are good enough for the Queen, that’s a good enough reason for us to go!

Day 1: Norfolk
Make your own way to our hotel, where you meet our Tour Manager and enjoy a relaxing evening
Day 2: Day 2: Bure Valley Railway, the Southern Comfort Mississippi Paddle Boat & Norwich
This morning we board our coach and travel to the market town of Aylsham to join the Bure Valley Railway. This delightful route takes in some of the most unspoilt countryside as it crosses 17 bridges and passes through idyllic villages to reach Wroxham, known as the ‘capital of the Norfolk Broads’. You have some free time here before we travel to the pretty village of Horning and board the Southern Comfort Mississippi Paddle Boat for a cruise on the Broads. The route takes us along the Bure River, passing thatched cottages, windmills and Norfolk reed beds, with an excellent commentary which also points out the water birds. From here, we travel to the medieval city of Norwich where there’s free time to explore the narrow lanes and speciality shops as well as the impressive castle and Cathedral, a fine example of Romanesque architecture.
Day 3: The Bittern Line, the Poppy Line & Cromer
Today we are taken to Norwich station where we join the Bittern Line, named after the wading bird, for a journey to Sheringham. We then join the North Norfolk Railway, which is affectionately known as the Poppy Line, and enjoy a scenic trip along the coast and through heathland to the town of Holt. After some free time here we head to the nearby seaside resort of Cromer and enjoy the rest of the day at leisure.
Day 4: Mid Norfolk Railway & Sandringham Gardens
Wymondham is our destination today where we join the Mid Norfolk Railway for a steam train journey. We alight in Dereham and are taken by coach to Sandringham Estate, where we enjoy an exclusive guided tour of the house and gardens, followed by a delicious cream tea. Sandringham is country residence of the Queen, and is set in 24 acres of stunning scenery. Said to be the finest of all the Royal Gardens, the unique grounds have influences from each generation of the Royal Family which has lived there, from the North Garden to the woodland walks.
Day 5: Home
After breakfast you are free to check out of our hotel and depart at leisure; you could even take the opportunity to explore some more of Norfolk.

Please note: We cannot guarantee that all rail journeys will be steam hauled.

Overview

North of Norwich, this Holiday Inn is just 6.5 km away from the city centre, with Norwich Cathedral, the Theatre Royal and Norwich City F.C even closer. The hotel has a fully equipped gym, a pool with hot tub, steam room and sauna. The Concorde Restaurant, with its impressive daily buffet breakfast, also serves a carvery lunch on Sundays and is open every evening for dinner. The lounge bar is open every day until late and is an ideal venue for a quicker, lighter snack.