We were staying in the area so visited the house mainly for the Anthony Gormley exhibition as we... read more
We were staying in the area so visited the house mainly for the Anthony Gormley exhibition as we... read more
A stunning concept of old and new The Anthony Gormley sculptures were just amazing To walk... read more
Wanted to go to Houghton Hall to see the white deer and I wasn’t disappointed. They were beautiful and we were able to get quite close to them. The house itself was interesting but as the family still live there not much to see as a lot of the place was private . The staff in the rooms were informative and didn’t mind being asked questions. The grounds were vast but not impressed by the sculptures 100 exactly the same of a man,some out the ground,some half in the ground,some just a head . No explanation and all covered in bird poo . Not my idea of interesting sculptures and all the same !! Due to the deer lots of the land was covered in poo ,so you needed to tread very carefully. I’m sure with such large amounts of land they could have done something more productive with ie animal sanctuary etc . The restaurant was a disgrace not one vegan option in a sandwich and not one gluten free option either . Very little choice for vegetarians but plenty of meat options . In 2024 this is very poor !! The walled garden was okay but lots of plants/ flowers not at their best so not lots to see . There is a toy soldier exhibition if you are interested in looking at that . Free car parking .Overall not worth £22 entrance fee and if it wasn’t for the deer I would be very disappointed .
Whilst we are pleased you enjoyed seeing the deer, it is disappointing to learn that you took less pleasure in other aspects of your visit. Our attendants are always very happy to answer questions, and with regards Sir Antony Gormley’s Time Horizon, they go to particular trouble in the lower hall (Arcade) to explain the significance of the datum piece which is installed here, and give an overview of the rest of the exhibition. However, as other reviewers have mentioned, they tend to wait to be asked so as not to intrude: and everyone’s experience of the art is very personal. There is also an accompanying book and we now offer a complimentary Artist’s Statement.
The restaurant offers mainly vegetarian choices – besides the sandwiches (the choice of which includes a vegetarian and a fish option), the only meat product is the sausage rolls. All the salads are vegan, as is the soup. There is also always a vegan cake. We do our best to please, and would have been happy to prepare a vegan and/or gluten-free sandwich on request.
Spent an excellent day here. The gardens are amazing and beautiful towards the end of the summer. You can spend a good hour or more just in the gardens. The estate itself is vast, so there is much choice if you want to come here and walk around. The Gromely exhibition adds a further element to the visit - I hope this is permanent. The hall itself is worth visiting. There is also a really good cafe with the best sausage rolls I have eaten.
It's great to hear you enjoyed such a wonderful day at Houghton (including the sausage rolls!). Antony Gormley's Time Horizon is indeed very special, and we're enjoying watching this wonderful installation changing with the seasons. It does however close on 31 October, so we're entering the last two months.
We had a fantastic day out at Houghton Hall on Sunday. The Anthony Gormley sculptures were fascinating. We take an annual day trip to Houghton and I admit I don’t always understand the art and sculptures. However the guides are always available to give you an insight into the artist and help you to appreciate these truly unique exhibitions in a stunning setting. The Wedgewood jasperware piece in the main house should not be missed. We witnessed many people just walking past. My tip would be ask the guides to get the most out of your day out.
Hi Emma - that is a very good tip to ask our guides as they are a very knowledgeable and, above all, friendly bunch who go out of their way to ensure our visitors get the best of their time here. We're glad you enjoyed your day!
As a regular visitor to these so called 'Stately Homes' i am rapidly getting the feeling we visitors are being taken for a ride. Let's start with the £24/person entry fee. What do you get? A walk into 10 rooms - yup, that's it, ALL on the same floor. No basement, no kitchen, no servants quarters, nothing. If you are unlucky you'll get accosted by a 'guide' that knows nothing about history or stately homes but just recites the £5 handbook. Eg., they throw the term 'Piano Nobile' around when describing the main entrance floor. Sorry to burst their bubble but ALL stately homes can claim that architectural bit of Italian terminology. A guide that did not know what a 'Drawing room' was or to give it its full name, a Withdrawing Room was and what it was used for.
We couldn't find any comfort in the so called 'Artwork' on display, just a load of glass phallus'. As for Gormley's statues all we can say is we're being conned, absolute waste of metal. But....We want to give a big shout out to the staff in the café particularly Elaine. The coffee with walnut and coffee cake was sublime and the goats cheese quiche and salad for lunch was perfect. It's a shame i won't be returning. Note to Cholmondeley family, if you want an example of how to do it properly go to Holkham Hall or even Castle Howard in Yorkshire. £24 each for 10 rooms, NO! You're not the worst, Sandringham was £23 for 4 rooms, i wonder why???
It’s disappointing to read your comments and to learn that you didn’t feel your visit represented good value. So many times people tell us they enjoy a full day here, taking in the history, the art, the wonderful gardens and more, and chatting to our friendly attendants about all things Houghton. We are very pleased to hear you enjoyed your lunch, however, and thank you for the shout out to our staff, which is appreciated.
£22 each for gardens and hall, few rooms available to view comparing to some NT properties. Cafe is chaotic but food was reasonably priced and of good quality
We’re sorry to read that you didn’t feel your ticket represented good value. We often hear that visitors spend a full day at Houghton because there is so much to take in, including the historic house and walled gardens, sculpture park and of course the two major exhibitions this year from Sir Antony Gormley and Dame Magdalene Odundo. We thank you for your feedback and are pleased to hear you enjoyed the food - we will pass this onto the café team.
A lovely stately home, the walled garden was beautiful and very well kept. The sculpture trail was okay but not really our sort of thing. Staff are knowledgable and helpful.
The cafe was extremely busy and there was no chance of getting served and there is limited seating.
We’re very pleased to hear you enjoyed the house and gardens and it’s always such a pleasure when the team is recognised as they do go out of their way to assist our visitors. Thank you.