Bixley Manor
Sleeps 10-20
Norwich, Norfolk
Pool, hot tub, gardens and grounds
Gardens here are an ever-giving festival of flora with a giant cedar centrepiece. A love of trees manifested itself at Framingham Arboretum and the same magic carpet has been rolled out at Bixley. Walk the woodlands, picnic by the wildlife pond, discover a rose arbour here; a secret archway there.
Swim in the ten-metre outdoor heated pool, open from April to October. Slip into the six-seat hot tub with a view of the stars and the startling scent of the flower beds. Play tennis or croquet before dinner. Point the kids towards the playset and swings. Dine al-fresco on the terrace with the gas barbecue sizzling succulent steaks beneath big skies.
Living spaces
Welcome to a high-ceilinged haven of original features, like deep skirts, swashed curtains, sash windows and feature fireplaces. Throw another log on the fire and snuggle up for Netflix nights on TVs in the music room, library and games room. Games room? Oh yes. Watch your kids wile away wonderful hours over toys, books and games.
Fill a few hours yourself with the full bookcase and the Bluetooth. Keep your fans and followers updated on Instagram over the superfast broadband. Settle back and lap up the luxury in a multi-generational marvel perfect for get-togethers, reunions and celebrations with space for group entertaining and spaces for being apart.
Cooking and dining
If you enjoy knocking up your own nosh, you’ve got a fully fitted kitchen complete with gas range oven on your side. If you’d rather ditch the whites, call up the North Norfolk Catering Company for fine-dining chefs who cut their teeth at Michelin-starred eateries. Pick from intimate dinner parties, birthday banquets or a barbie under big blue skies.
Eat in the high-ceilinged dining room with garden views, or out among the flora on the terrace with a dip in the hot tub for dessert. Shop at Sainsbury’s and Tesco and tuck into takeaways from Mumbai Kitchen, Lucky Wok for Chinese, or Crusts and Crumbs for blue-beef pizza, chicken strips and cheese and bacon fries.
Eat out at Crownpoint Tavern for Sunday roast or red-Thai curry in front of a roaring fire or out in the courtyard under the vines. Choose from curry of the day, Bangkok Bad Boy Burger or lighter bites at The White Horse Inn. Or pop in for a full English on the banks of the Yare river at The Rushcutter’s Arms.
Explore Thailand’s richness of natural ingredients at Giggling Squid in Norwich: will it be salt-and-pepper squid or crowd-pleasing sticky chicken? Enjoy unfussy Italian dishes with cocktails or beer at Yard. Or head to The Ivy Norwich for truffle chicken Milanese or Malaysian monkfish in a grand setting.
Bedrooms
Bixley Manor sleeps 20 multi-generational guests in ten delightful bedrooms, eight of which offer en-suites or private bathrooms.
Bedroom one is a monster on the first floor with a superking bed, garden views and en-suite with modern bath. Bedroom two is also a superking with en-suite and views over the huge front grounds. Bedrooms three and four offer a superking or twins with a shower en-suite and a private bathroom respectively, while bedroom five provides two single beds with private bathroom opposite.
Bedroom six comes with an internal door that links to bedroom five to create a family room and offers a superking or twins with en-suite complete with freestanding bath and separate shower. Bedroom seven is also a superking or twins and shares a bathroom with eight, which has similar facilities.
Up in the attic, for those more able to climb the steep staircase, bedroom nine provides a superking or twin beds with double-aspect views to front and back, while bedroom ten also offers a superking with zip-and-link plus views over the front grounds, both having their own en-suite shower.
Children welcome
Kids will still be asking ‘Are we there yet?’ when you roll up the long drive between the avenue of trees. The view of the house when it finally appears in all its pink period prettiness is a breathtaking one. Full marks for wow. Unload the suitcases and it’s time to explore.
Kick things off in the garden, where a world of adventure awaits around the huge central cedar tree. Discover huge hide-and seek grounds with kids and dogs (note: the garden isn’t fully fenced), picnic by the wildlife pond, and find a secret archway and kids’ play equipment complete with slide, swings and treehouse.
But what’s that among the trees? Come from April to October and dive into a ten-metre outdoor pool heated to 28 degrees. Older kids will also want to waste a few hours in the six-seat hot tub. Towel off for tennis or croquet on the lawns. Stay out for barbecue burgers and hot dogs on the terrace.
Head indoors to cosy up with family in front of the logburner with Netflix on TVs in the music room, library or games room, with its toys, book and board games. Bookworm? There’s a full bookcase here. Plus Bluetooth for those essential holiday tunes. Make memories with people who matter in a multi-generational masterpiece.
What people say
Broads, breweries and bushcraft
Pick from 50 breweries, take bushcraft lessons at Whitlingham Adventure, find the fairways at Dunston Hall and stick around for the spa. Tour the Broads with Loddon Pacific Cruisers, ride the Bure Valley Railway, find great beaches at Caister and Holkham, and shoot the slopes on rubber rings with Norfolk Snowsports Club.
