Marston House, Norwich

Norfolk. Sleeps up to 10

You will feel the tingle of history as you walk around the magnificent rooms of Marston House. This wonderful period property has been completely and lovingly restored and refurbished by the current owners to welcome you into an idyllic retreat. It boasts five superb bedrooms sleeping up to eleven guests in supreme comfort. Its living spaces are characterful and drowned in natural light through large period windows. Marston House is the perfect property to bring the generations together in a timeless, quintessentially English retreat.

Marston House enjoys a fascinating history having originally been built as a country retreat for one local gentleman and then being the home of a Miss Hovell who owned a locally famous basket weaving shop within the Norwich lanes for ninety two years. It is built over three floors and the current owners have sympathetically renovated it to offer charm and character in abundance alongside a carefully curated selection of modern furniture and top notch fittings. You will discover sumptuously stylish fabrics, sensational wallpapers, lavish furnishings and eye-catching contemporary artworks alongside sash windows, exposed beams, original oak flooring and period fireplaces. There are four reception rooms including a serene living room, a snug and games room with a sofa bed, a formal dining room and a very well-equipped modern kitchen. The rooms are flooded with Norfolk sunlight. The living room is a wonderful blend of old meets new with its velvet sofas and accent chairs, vibrant art and a gorgeous fire. Head into the snug where there is a supersized television and another contemporary sofa, though you might find your youngsters busy playing the table football game in there. The dining room is smart and stylish with yet another period fireplace and a modern table and chairs. French doors lead through to a verander. The dining room leads directly to the kitchen with its impressive array of cabinetry and appliances. There is a separate utility room with laundry facilities and a conservatory. Throughout, you will find a gorgeous natural and calming colour palette of soft blues and greens together with the occasional colour splash.

There are five impressive bedrooms on the first and second floors. The master sits on the first floor with its ensuite bathroom with a relaxing bath and overhead shower. It is a huge room with elegant floral wallpaper, an intricate, beautifully dressed double bed, a chandelier, a piano and beautiful garden views. The next room is another enormous one with a sumptuous double bed, delicate wallpaper, a chandelier, a period fireplace and an ensuite bathroom. The last on the first floor is another double with a feature bright red wall. On the second floor there is a lovely characterful room in the eaves with a four poster bed and gorgeous beams plus a delightful twin bedroom, also with beams and with a calm pale green colour palette. There is another bathroom with a shower over the bath.

Marston House is enveloped by an immaculate landscaped garden, sitting alongside the River Yare. You can sit on the verandah enjoying a tipple or two as you bask in the golden hour sun, take an indulgent dip in the hot tub, wander down to the river for a picnic and to listen to the harmonious soundtrack, enjoy a barbecue cooked by your barbecue masters or watch the pond for wildlife. The gardens are very well tended and you can relax, gazing at the stars and listening to the wildlife chattering under the night skies.

Staying at Marston House will make you feel as though you are staying in glorious countryside though in reality you are only a few minutes from Norwich. From this wonderful riverside location you can visit the Norfolk Broads, Great Yarmouth, Caister-on-Sea, Acle, Thrigby, Winterton, Horsey and Happisburgh as well as the north Norfolk coast including Cromer and Blakeney stopping at the charming Holt on the way. Otherwise you can head south east and visit the very popular seaside town of Southwold.

There is easy access to the three lakes of the Trinity Broads as well as the main waterways of the Norfolk Broads. The Trinity Broads are three lakes that are found in the north eastern region of the Norfolk Broads. These are land locked and not connected to the main Norfolk Broads waterways. The Trinity Broads are comprised of Ormesby Broad, Rollesby Broad and Filby Broad. Fishing is very popular, there are a number of boardwalks, a wonderful waterside restaurant and pub and a sailing club. Locals often refer to the area of the main Norfolk Broads as ‘Broadland’. The beautiful Rivers Yare, Ant, Waveney, Chet and Bure meander their leisurely way through Norfolk and Suffolk connecting beautiful inland lakes, creating waterways and wetlands that make up The Norfolk Broads. Wildlife is abundant and conservation has been very successful in reintroducing species such as otters and herons that struggled for some time to survive. To the eastern side of the Norfolk Broads, the sandy beaches and stunning coastline caress the Broads at Horsey Mere with the salt water of the North Sea coming within a hare’s breathe of the the fresh water. Grey and common seals thrive on the shoreline. Guests love watching them at Horsey Gap. Boat hire on the Broads is very popular. Any visit to the Norfolk Broads really should include a visit to the bustling town of Wroxham, the hub of boating activity and a tourist mecca. It offers unique shopping, attractions, cafes, restaurants and beautiful local walks. Ludham is a quaint, pretty village, close to Womack Staithe offering white washed cottages with thatched roofs and a lovely pub.

Norwich enjoys exceptional gourmet dining experiences including Benedict’s and Roger Hickmann’s. It boasts many cosy pubs including The Fat Cat and St Andrew Brew House where delicious craft beers are made on the premises. Excellent fish and chips are served to the sounds of jazz at the Grosvenor Fish Bar. Norwich Cathedral stands in all its majesty with the ancient beauty of stained glass windows, a booming organ and hushed cloisters. You can enjoy free guided tours and learn how the cathedral survived riot, war, plague and fire. There are peregrines that nest in the cathedral’s spire. The observation point is manned by expert volunteers from the Hawk and Owl Trust so that you can get a good view of them. The cathedral plays host to many reverent and impressive concerts and recitals throughout the year. Norwich also boasts dozens of churches from its medieval heyday, some of which have been repurposed into cultural and exhibition spaces such as the Norwich Arts Centre. The Forum is a huge glass edifice and the home of BBC Norwich as well as being a thriving library and boasting restaurants and a bustling cafe. Norwich open-air market delights shopper with traditional fruit and veg stalls alongside gourmet tea and coffee vendors, artisanal bakers and others.