Sandringham Estate

Sandringham House has been the private home of five generations of British Monarchs.

The House has remained a place where members of The Royal Family relax and enjoy country pursuits, and is traditionally where they spend Christmas.

The Estate’s 20,000 acres encompass parkland, woodland, farmland, and gardens.

Visitors of all ages can soak up history in the House and Gardens, or explore way-marked trails and adventure in the woodland play area of the Royal Parkland.

Sandringham House – with its Jacobean-style exterior – sits at the heart of the Sandringham Estate. As a beautiful country retreat for the British Royal Family, it has been open to the public since 1977.

Built for the Prince and Princess of Wales, later King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra, the main part of the House was completed in 1870, then a Ballroom was added by 1883 and new guest and staff accommodation in the 1890s.

Once described as ‘the most comfortable house in England’, Sandringham was the setting for Queen Elizabeth II’s first televised Christmas broadcast and one of the first houses in the country to have showers.

Each Monarch in turn has helped it evolve and develop over the decades.

Eight ground-floor rooms, largely unchanged from Edwardian times, allow visitors to admire stunning objects d’art collected by and gifted to members of The Royal Family over the years.

Enjoyed by The Royal Family and their guests when they are in residence, the 60 acres of formal Gardens are open for visitors to enjoy from March to October. The layout remains very much as it was back in 1863 when King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra purchased the Estate.

Created by Geoffrey Jellicoe for King George VI in 1947, the North End Garden is informally planted in a cottage-garden style and provides a haven for bees and butterflies.

In 2023, the geometric Topiary Garden was added to provide a place of peace and contemplation for visitors.

Other notable features added by previous Monarchs include a densely planted shrubbery with a shady woodland walk, instigated by Queen Elizabeth II in the late 1960s, and an oak tree planted by Queen Victoria in 1889.

Two ornamental lakes, fed by natural springs and bordered by areas of rockwork, were landscaped in the 1880s for King Edward VII, then Prince of Wales.

Explore Sandringham Royal Parkland by foot, by bike or with your four-legged friend. The 600 acre Royal Parkland has two way-marked trails winding through woodlands and parkland with further unmarked paths for you to explore.

For those who fancy something a bit more adventurous, there is a 20-point orienteering trail to follow.

You do not need to pre-book to visit the Royal Parkland however car parking charges apply.

Younger visitors can burn off some energy at the large Children’s Play Area, open and free to access all year round.

Using wood from the Sandringham Sawmill, the play area features a 26ft tall tower inspired by the local water tower at Appleton.

There’s also a toddler specific play area, as well as high-level walkways and seating areas.

The parish church of Sandringham is used regularly as a place of worship by The Royal Family when in residence, most notably at Christmas time.

The beautiful medieval church is free to visit when the House and Gardens are open, and has held many celebrations, such as Princess Charlotte’s christening, as well as memorials to members and relations of The Royal Family from Queen Victoria onwards.

St Mary Magdalene is considered to be one of the finest carrstone buildings in existence and its present form dates back to the 16th century.

Notable features include its ornate chancel, the silver altar and striking stained-glass windows.

The Courtyard is home to the Sandringham Shop which stocks an extensive collection of artisan products, home and garden wares and country attire.

From preserves and chutneys to boxes of confectionery, ports and liqueurs, many of the products are made using ingredients from the wider Estate. The shop also showcases products from local businesses.

The Sandringham Shop now features an extended plant sales area, and the full range of Sandringham’s famous apple juices, gin and beer are also available.

The relaxed Sandringham Restaurant caters for all the family and serves a range of tasty dishes and drinks, many featuring produce from the Estate.

Children’s menus are available, and there is also a designated dog-friendly area.

Afternoon Tea in the Restaurant is the perfect treat to round off your visit or celebrate a special occasion.

The Terrace Takeaway Café offers snacks on the go for when you’re exploring the Royal Parkland. During the main season the Stables Café also opens.

The Terrace and the Stables both offer takeaway drinks, light lunches and tempting cakes.

With 600 acres of Royal Parkland to explore, Sandringham is the perfect place to enjoy a walk with your four-legged friends all year round.

Dogs are welcome: in the Royal Parkland, Courtyard area including the Sandringham Shop and the Terrace Takeaway Café and in dedicated areas of the Sandringham Restaurant.

Dogs are not permitted: in the House or Gardens. The exception is assistance dogs, which are always welcome in both.

Use postcode PE35 6AB when visiting Sandringham.

The two main areas for parking are the North and West car parks.

There are pay machines which use automated number-plate recognition (ANPR) technology to work out the fee due when you leave, in both car parks. Payment can be made by card, cash or via the app.

The North car park is the nearest parking area to the Courtyard, where you’ll find food & drink options, shopping and toilets.