The village of Blickling, Norfolk grew up around the Jacobean-era Blickling Hall and Gardens, now owned and operated by the National Trust. While Blickling is too small to have its own hotels, several villages within three miles have options, all of them quite individual. From your pub or boutique hotel, you can explore the Norfolk countryside by bicycle or on foot, take a steam train to explore the Norfolk Broads, and reach Norwich in under half an hour.
The Old Pumphouse Hotel is located in downtown Aylsham, one mile from Blickling. The nonsmoking boutique hotel was built in the mid-18th century and offers five rooms with bathrooms. You'll find standard amenities in your room, plus bathrobes. Your breakfast is a full, cooked to order, affair that's served in a shared dining room with views of the garden and pond. You may also arrange to have a three-course, evening meal at this hotel. You must pay a surcharge for children that share their parents' room, plus an additional charge for cribs. No pets are allowed and, while you can't purchase alcohol here, you may bring your own wine.
Birchdale is a private guesthouse in Aylsham. The all-nonsmoking establishment offers you a private garden and hiking trails that start at the house. Within walking distance is Aylsham downtown and the Bure Valley Steam Railway. The guesthouse has four garden-view rooms with various bed configurations; only two of these have their own bathroom. The others share a guests-only bathroom. Rooms have standard amenities and you can help yourself to milk and filtered water in the shared fridge. A three-course cooked or continental breakfast uses local fare and is cooked to order. Knowing that hikers often come home muddy, the guesthouse also offers a place to dry boots and clothing and a garage for bicycles. For other meals, the historic Black Boys Inn is adjacent.
The Saracen's Head boutique hotel dates back to Georgian times. This hotel is a little further afield in Wolterton, less than five miles or 10 minutes' drive north of Blickling. Its location down a series of country lanes offers seclusion and quiet. The on-site bar provides drinks and pub food cooked by the hotel's chef. The Saracen's Head has only five bedrooms, including one family room, and you can have them made up as twin or doubles by request. All have bathrooms. Your room comes with standard amenities plus hot chocolate, and free dialup. The restaurant attempts to use ingredients sourced from within 10 miles.
The Black Boys Hotel in central Aylsham became an inn in the 17th century, but the property itself dates back to the 1400s. The bar and restaurant are open to the public and you can pick from five guest bedrooms, one of which is a family room. Each is individually furnished and comes with standard amenities. The pub sometimes offers special deals for holidays and other occasions. Breakfast is included but you can also come down to the bar for alcoholic drinks, coffee and pub food. Food is locally sourced where possible and the desserts are made on-site. Dogs are welcome in some rooms for an additional charge. The pub offers bicycle storage and a selection of newspapers in a shared lounge area.
