Houghton Hall

Houghton Hall is one of the finest examples of Palladian architecture in England, it was built in the 1720s for Sir Robert Walpole, Britain's first prime minister. The original designs were by James Gibbs and Colen Campbell, with interior decoration by William Kent. The house has been restored to its former grandeur, with magnificent staterooms containing many of their original furnishings.

The Hall is set in 350 acres of parkland, home to herds of exotic deer, including the spectacular White Fallow breed. The Award Winning 5-acre Walled Garden has been divided into themed 'rooms' by clipped yew hedges interspersed with statues. The mixed vegetable and fruit garden is dominated by an octagonal fruit cage designed by Julian Bannerman. The rose parterre, based on the design of the White Drawing Room in the Hall, has over 150 varieties of English roses, Italian statues and sunken fountain. The centrepiece of the garden is the stunning double herbaceous border stretching 120 meters from the glasshouses in the north to the rustic temple in the South. The newly installed water feature by the Danish artist Jeppe Hein entitled 'Waterflame' is well worth watching. Other contemporary sculptures by James Turrell, Stephen Cox, Richard Long and Anya Gallaccio are displayed around the Park and Gardens.

The unique Model Soldier Collection, one of the largest and most comprehensive in the world, which consists of 20,000 models arranged in various battle formations from the Battle of Waterloo to the Western Desert.

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