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Broad House - Wroxham

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A sumptuous home from home

Broad House is, quite simply, Weekender perfection. A beautiful Queen Anne country house in 24 acres of grounds and with its own jetty into tranquil Wroxham Broad – as a cosy and luxurious bolthole it’s hard to beat.

Opened in 2007, by couple Philip and Caroline Search, Broad House is fast becoming the place to stay in Norfolk. Sumptuous design and grand 18th century architecture mixes with a relaxed informality that will make you feel at home (although if Broad House is anything like your home, why would you ever think of leaving?!) The public areas downstairs are stylish, yet squishy, with huge sofas, roaring fires and giant windows offering breathtaking views. And there’s enough space to spend all day here without feeling in anyone’s way…bliss.

An intimate bar and restaurant offer a fresh and vibrant menu, with dishes created to exploit the best ingredients Norfolk has to offer.

But it’s the fifteen bedrooms that will really take your breath away. The only way to describe them is heavenly – beautifully designed, sumptuously luxurious and all in keeping with the history of the house, these are rooms to while away a whole weekend. All are different, but each has its charms – one has an ENORMOUS 7ft by 7ft bed, while the two attic rooms have been ingeniously designed around the house’s beams and all have stunning views over the estate. The bathrooms are also fantastic, with state-of-the-art showers, big, freestanding baths – one bathroom has two alongside each other! – and one with its own steam room.

Step outside and I’m afraid the superlatives are still coming thick and fast. The house’s 24 acres of grounds includes pasture, woodland, gardens and a romantic trail to the edge of Wroxham Broad, where a private jetty makes for a great spot for basking in the summer. It’s stunning, and enough to tempt you to avoid going anywhere else for the rest of the weekend.

Where is it?

Broad House sits, fittingly, in the heart of the Norfolk Broads, with the beautiful Wroxham Broad literally on the hotel’s doorstep. The town of Wroxham itself, a five minute drive from Broad House, is an odd fish – popular year round as the pick-up point for many Broads cruisers, it’s essentially a seaside resort miles from the coast. A Mississippi-style steam paddler trawls the water around Wroxham, and it can be a jolly place during the summer, but it’s certainly not one of East Anglia’s most attractive destinations.

The Broads as a whole are a great place to explore. The 125 miles of navigable waterways that it offers might be a bit much to cover in a weekend, but there’s plenty of opportunity to potter about on the water and visit some of the pretty villages and historic market towns Broad-side. Barnes Brinkcraft in Wroxham (www.barnesbrinkcraft.co.uk Tel: 01603 782625) are just one of many boat hire outfits in the area. They have everything from comfy motor boats, with a galley and saloon, to smaller open motor launches, to canoes and all are available on a day-hire basis. For landlubbers, cycling around the miles of Broad-side paths and trails can be just as exhilarating. Broadland Cycle Hire (www.norfolkbroadscycling.co.uk Tel: 07887 480 331) in Hoveton, near Wroxham, offers a good range of bikes and maps.

If you’re looking for an even bigger taste of Norfolk, an 8-mile drive south brings you to the vibrant city of Norwich, or a 40 minute drive north will drop you on the lovely North Norfolk coastline. For all the best places to visit, see and eat in the area, check out The Weekender's Guide to North Norfolk.

Where can I eat?

Broad House has its own excellent restaurant, but if you want a wider choice of places to eat, a trip into Norwich will satisfy almost every palate.

One of the best is Fizzbuzz (www.fizzbuzz.co.uk Tel: 01603 767321) on St Andrew’s Hill in the heart of the city. Try and ignore the ‘quirky’ name as this stylish brasserie is a great place for lunch or dinner, and their wine list is extraordinary. Local dishes, such as Norfolk woodpigeon and fish pie are top notch, and the puddings are to die for. For some fantastic places to eat further north, read The Weekender's Guide to North Norfolk.

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Broad House is, quite simply, Weekender perfection. A beautiful Queen Anne country house in 24 acres of grounds and with its own jetty into tranquil Wroxham Broad – as a cosy and luxurious bolthole it’s hard to beat.