Setting: Rural north Suffolk, close to the Broads National Park, Beccles and Southwold

Beccles 2 miles (heliport and station connecting to London Liverpool Street), Southwold 10, Norwich 19 miles, Aldeburgh 23 Stanstead airport is 68 miles

Worlingham Hall on the Suffolk Norfolk borders close to the Broads National Park dates back to the 16th century but was extravagantly redesigned and extended in the late Georgian period to create a unique and wonderful gentleman’s country house. Following extensive modernisation in 2011 2012, it now provides the perfect setting for entertainment in a stately fashion.

Worlingham Hall is a spectacularly beautiful and elegant Grade I listed Georgian house situated in fine mature parkland surrounded on all sides by mature woodland providing absolute privacy and seclusion and unsurpassed facilities and activities including a heated swimming pool, tennis courts, trout lake, stabling for the horses, heated kennels for the dogs. You can enjoy a day's clay shooting or pheasant shooting by arrangement.

One of the very finest country houses in Suffolk, its classical exteriors and gracious interiors will wow your guests providing the character, luxury and setting for anything from a special family occasion to an intimate family wedding.

Worlingham has a simple external design and details. On either side of the house are colonnades which originally led to a conservatory to the East and through an orangery to a picture gallery to the West. The South façade has classical bays arranged over two storeys punctuated by elegant sash windows with a curved Tuscan porch and impressive East and West façades.

The richness of the interior has to be seen to be believed. The wonderful octagonal central staircase hall, one of the finest in the country, ascends to roof level with the top lit by a glazed lantern. Within the hall stands an imperial staircase dividing after the first flight and ascending with mezzanine landings to the bedrooms. Each of the reception rooms is wonderfully proportioned and includes exquisite period details including generous classic fireplaces, concealed doors and charming window seats.

In quieter moments (or for al fresco events), the gorgeous grounds beckon – have a picnic on the lawns or a dip in the heated outdoor pool, play a game of tennis on the hard court or fish for trout in the private lake. With 100 acres of private parkland to play in, you cannot fail to enjoy your stay. Whatever your desire – be it a private chef for a special dinner or a cocktail and canapé reception, or a day’s shooting – the owners will make it happen.

Need to know

Rates information From £4,500 for a 3-night stay (prices are available on request, for stays of two nights). Week-long stays from £6,900. The property can be booked for Christmas and New Year.

Ideal for holding a big bash, whether it’s a regal banquet, a chic wedding or a corporate away weekend.

Sleeps Up to 26 with 11 bedrooms in the main house and a further 4 in the coach house.

Property style: A stately Georgian manor house with an impressive stucco façade, gravel driveway, and fine classical touches.

Grounds This stylish self-catering property’s 100 acres encompasses parkland, woodland landscaped lawns, a fishing lake, a tennis court and a heated outdoor pool. There are formal gardens close to the house, a kitchen garden and orchard. The wonderful private park provides a romantically rural backdrop for a superb country house stay.

Minimum hire Two-night stays can be arranged.

Children more than welcome

Booking process A third of the cost of the stay will be taken as a deposit, with the remainder due no later than eight weeks before arrival.

Also Well-behaved pets can stay free – prior notice and approval is required.

The Area Worlingworth village is within a few minutes’ walk and includes a shop and garage as well as a very beautiful church. Sporting facilities in the area include golf at Beccles, Bungay, Southwold and Oulton Broad. Hunting is with the Waveney Harriers and there is racing at Great Yarmouth and Newmarket. Sailing at Beccles Sailing Club or the yacht clubs of Oulton Broad and Aldeburgh

• Ground Floor
• The front door opens into a large entrance hall with seating and occasional tables. Door to the drawing room and the magnificent inner hall
• Large drawing with three magnificent south west facing bay windows and south facing windows overlooking the gardens and park. Sofas, side tables, arm chairs and a large open fire this room enjoys the afternoon and early evening sun
• The drawing room opens into the dining room with large table and chairs for the whole party. There is a second smaller dining table seating 10 - ideal if the children wish to sit separately. Doors from the dining room lead to a serving kitchen and to the inner hall.
• The morning room to the right of the main entrance is a wonderfully light room, has east and south facing windows, a large open fire, sofa, armchairs and occasional tables.
• Leading from the morning room is a oval library with embossed curved ceiling and magnificent pillars, packed with an eclectic range of books. There is a flat screened TV with DVD and broadband access. Loads of seating ranging from fireside seating to sofas, arm chairs and easy chairs in which to read
• A door from the library leads into what is now a large breakfast room, again looking eastwards with seating for around 24 people. Two large walk in cupboards hold copious china and glasses. There is a large open fire and arm chairs if you wish to relax with the papers after a full English breakfast. Find the secret door and you can return to the library; don't worry you can always return via the corridor.
• There are three ground floor cloakrooms, two to the east of Worlingham Hall, the other to the west
• The large farmhouse kitchen is very well equipped for entertaining; it includes a large Aga, separate grill, oven, fridge, freezer and all the equipment you might need for entertaining a large number of guests - it even has a ham slicer.
• To the west of the house is a magnificent Orangery with 11 bays and large full length windows and French windows, flagstone floor, recessed lights and access to the recently restored gallery
• The gallery or trophy room was once a squash court and still retains an elegant gallery - there are sofas and armchairs - a room to enjoy at all times of the day

• First Floor
• The master bedroom suite comprises a large bedroom with 4 poster bed, easy chairs and a large writing desk. A door leads to the en suite bathroom with twin basins, bath with hand held shower, w.c. and heated towel rail. Beyond the bathroom is the old dressing room, now a twin bedded room with chest of drawers, easy chairs and hanging space. The twin bedroom can be accessed from the corridor so can be completely separate from the master bedroom as well as suiting children who might not want to be too far from their parents
• There are 4 guest bedroom suites, each with en suite bathroom or shower
• There are 3 further double bedrooms and a family bathroom

• Second Floor
• Double bedroom
• Single bedroom
• Bathroom with bath, overhead shower, wash basin and w.c., heated towel rail
• Sitting room with TV , sofa and easy chairs
• A small self contained kitchen with electric cooker, fridge, sink and storage - great for that morning tea which you might want to take back to bed

• Outside
• There is a large gravelled courtyard to the rear of the main house which leads round to the stables and a delightful period cottage
• Worlingham Hall stands in formal lawned gardens and grounds surrounded by extensive mature parkland and woodland.
• The parkland contains many magnificent mature trees some believed to pre date the house. An avenue of lime trees provides wonderful views from the main rooms to the south to the woodland beyond.
• The gardens and grounds are separated from the surrounding parkland by mature yew hedging to the South and from the North and East by mature shrubberies and woodland
• Close to the house is a kitchen garden with seasonal vegetables and fruit trees

• Stable Cottage
• The front door opens into the hall which leads into the spacious living room with dining table and seating for 8, sitting room with sofas and armchairs, occasional tables and open fire.
• There is a large kitchen with Aga cooker, fridge and fitted units. A door leads from the kitchen into the utility room where there is a washing machine, tumble dryer and chest freezer, butler sink and loads of space for boots and fishing tackle, swimming things and tennis rackets
• French doors from the sitting room open into a further sunny sitting room with marble floor, large L shaped sofa and chairs and French doors to the old stable yard - a great space in which to enjoy a relaxing al fresco meal or simply sit and sun bathe. the ground floor cloakroom
• A straight staircase leads to the first floor where there are
• Two double bedrooms
• A twin bedroom with full sized single beds and a single bedroom
• There are two fully fitted bathrooms, one with bath, wash basin and w.c., the other with bath, separate shower, wash basin and w.c., heated towel rail
• Stable Cottage has it's own fenced private cottage garden with flower beds, lawns, table and chairs

• Services
• Both properties are centrally heated. Logs are provided for the fires at both Worlingham Hall and Stable Cottage.
• Bedlinen and towels are provided, please bring your towels for swimming
• The swimming pool is heater from mid May to the end of September
• There is a hard tennis court for guest use
• A large well stocked trout lake is available for fishing
• Dogs are welcome at both Worlingham Hall and Stable Cottage although they must be restricted to the ground floor and should not climb on furniture etc. There are heated outdoor kennels - please do contact Big House Holidays if your dogs would be interested in using them.