Gardens & maze

The splendour of Somerleyton Hall, nestling alongside Fritton Lake and set in glorious gardens and parkland, is a view not to be missed.

The estate’s celebrated gardens contain walled, sunken and vegetable gardens and are divided into two main parts: the formal and the arboreal gardens. The formal 12-acre gardens feature one of the finest mazes in Britain. Made of yew hedge, it was designed and planted in 1846 by a famous landscape gardener William Nesfield. If no mistakes are made the journey to the centre and back is nearly 800 yards, but is usually found to be a lot longer!

Formal gardens

Nearby is found the Winter Gardens, an ornate iron and glass greenhouse, designed by Joseph Paxton, the architect of the Crystal Palace, which is filled with exotic plants, palm trees, ferns and classical Roman sculptures.

The adjoining single storey stone loggia designed in French Renaissance style has its own entrance from the gardens or it can also be accessed from the Winter Gardens. The Loggia tea room is open throughout the day and serves home-baked cakes, cream teas and light lunches.

The two-acre Victorian Walled Garden dominates the northern end of the formal gardens and contains a selection of small trees, clumps of daffodils in springtime and scented blooms along the walls including roses, clematis, figs and climbing hydrangeas. The formal gardens also have an aviary, a loggia and a 90 metre long pergola.

Arboreal gardens

The arboreal part of the gardens features rhododendrons, azaleas and a fine collection of specimen trees.

Group visits, private tours & picnics

• Group visits are welcome on public open days and we offer special entry discounts (a group must consist of no fewer than 20 guests).
• A wide variety of private tours of the Hall and gardens can be arranged throughout the year but please contact us in advance to arrange a suitable date and time.
• Somerletyon Hall has many designated picnic areas with parking available.

For more information about group visits, private tours and picnic areas, please call us on 01502 734901.

Please also note that most areas of the Hall and gardens are wheelchair accessible. Dogs except for guide dogs are not allowed in any areas of the Hall and gardens.

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