The Stables is a beautifully restored former stable block in the peaceful village of Crimplesham, perfectly positioned for exploring the very best of Norfolk. Originally commissioned in 1881 to serve Crimplesham Hall, the property was designed by the world-renowned architect Alfred Waterhouse — the same visionary behind London's Natural History Museum, completed in the very same year.
Blending historic character with stylish contemporary comforts, The Stables is an exceptional retreat for families and groups. Sleeping up to 7 adults and 4 children across five thoughtfully designed bedrooms, the property offers generous social spaces, a ground-floor wet room, a large enclosed garden and a fantastic hidden games room tucked behind a secret bookshelf door.
Stepping through the front door, guests are welcomed by an impressive double-height entrance hall with a sweeping staircase and plenty of storage for coats, boots and outdoor gear. To one side lies the well-equipped kitchen, perfect for preparing everything from leisurely breakfasts to celebratory family meals, while the spacious dining room provides a wonderful setting to gather together around the large dining table.
Hidden within the dining room is one of the home's most memorable features — a secret door disguised as a bookshelf leading to the games room. Here, guests of all ages can enjoy a convertible pool and table tennis table, games console, TV and DVD player, creating the perfect space for evenings of entertainment.
Towards the rear of the property, the inviting living room offers a cosy retreat, complete with a characterful fireplace for relaxing autumn and winter evenings. Throughout the home, guests will appreciate the tasteful décor and high-quality refurbishment that perfectly complements the building's original charm.
Upstairs, all five bedrooms have been individually styled for comfort and character. The elegant master bedroom features a double bed and built-in wardrobes, while a second double bedroom benefits from an en-suite shower room. Another beautifully finished double room showcases exposed floorboards and wood-panelled walls for a luxurious, boutique feel. Children will love the imaginative fourth bedroom, accessed via a Diagon Alley-inspired passageway and offering four single beds. The fifth bedroom contains a charming cast-iron single bed. Completing the first floor is a stunning family bathroom featuring a traditional roll-top bath, pedestal sink and spacious walk-in shower.
Outside, the south-facing enclosed garden provides a safe and secure space for younger children to play, while outdoor furniture and a BBQ area make al fresco dining and long summer evenings a delight.
The Stables is ideally located for discovering Norfolk's many attractions. Nearby Downham Market — one of Norfolk's oldest market towns — offers a great selection of independent shops, cafés, pubs and restaurants, alongside historic buildings and bustling traditional markets. The magnificent cathedral city of Ely is also within easy reach, offering riverside walks, boat trips, antique shops, restaurants and family-friendly leisure facilities.
For days by the sea, the famous sandy beaches of North Norfolk, including Hunstanton, Holt and Cromer, are easily accessible during the summer months. Outdoor enthusiasts will also find plenty to enjoy nearby, from scenic countryside walks along the Fen Rivers Way to golf courses, angling spots and riverside pubs perfect for watching the boats drift by.
The Stables provides a superb base for memorable family gatherings and countryside escapes. Please note that the property is not suitable for worker bookings, and strictly no stag parties, hen parties or events are permitted.
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Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Host has indicated that there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property
Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher
About the area
King's Lynn
Located in King's Lynn, this cottage is in a rural area. Military Museum and Lynn Museum are cultural highlights, and some of the area's activities can be experienced at Ryston Park Golf Club and Middleton Hall Golf Club. Travelling with kids? Consider Downham Market Alive Leisure and Church Farm.
As of 29 May 2026, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at The Stables on 9 September 2026 start from NZ$795, including taxes and fees. This price is based on the lowest nightly price found in the last 24 hours for stays in the next 30 days. Prices are subject to change. Choose your dates for more accurate prices.
How much is parking at The Stables?
On-site parking is available at the property.
What time is check-in at The Stables?
Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.
What time is check-out at The Stables?
Checkout is at 10:00 AM.
Where is The Stables located?
This family-friendly King's Lynn cottage is located in a rural location, within 3 mi (5 km) of Downham Market Alive Leisure and Church Farm. Ryston Park Golf Club and St. Martin's Church are also within 6 miles (10 km).
Reviews
8.4
Very good
Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
Great house, much bigger in the flesh than the pictures make it look, and we would definitely return,
only couple of minor points we had to hover when we arrived as spiders in every room, and maybe an adult cue for the pool table but only minor things overall a great stay
Alexander
Response from VrboOwner on 30 July 2024
Hi Alexander,
So pleased to know you had an amazing stay. It is always a nice surprise when you get more than what you bargained for. I am glad the property was a fantastic surprise in regards to it's size and offered you lots of space to make some amazing memories. Thank you for your comments, I will pass these on to the rest of the team. We would love to see you again in the future!
From a partner site
10/10 Excellent
Peter
15 August 2022
Lovely peaceful location. Spacious and clean house. Would stay here again!
Property was very spacious and clean. Great games room to keep the kids entertained. Kids loved the Harry Potter bedroom! Lovely complimentary pack of locally produced food and drink.
Peter
Response from VrboOwner on 19 August 2022
Thank you for your review Peter
From a partner site
10/10 Excellent
Sue
31 August 2024
The Stables is a lovely quirky house.
We got the impression that the refurbishment was not quite finished when we visited however this in no way marred our stay. Lots of facilities for the children. Location was good for a local farm but quite a drive from the best beaches.
Sue
From a partner site
10/10 Excellent
Sarah
24 August 2024
We had a lovely time, 11 of us for a family getaway.
Nice space with lots of rooms and the kids LOVED the Harry Potter room. The beds were clean and comfy and the hosts have clearly fixed a few things that were brought up in previous reviews.
The only criticism I have is that there was still some rubbish left in the bins and there were spiders in pretty much all the rooms. The rooms were all perfectly clean and I appreciate we're in the countryside but I think the cleaners could do with dusting the ceilings! Overall we had a great stay! Thanks
Sarah
From a partner site
6/10 Okay
Averil
30 October 2023
Interesting house
Fun and very qwerky house with plenty of space
Not particularly clean, the kitchen floor in particular was filthy. Play room was a lot of fun but we could work out where to set up the table tennis table (no legs). Information on house was poor, especially regarding rubbish and recycling disposal
Averil
From a partner site
8/10 Good
Daren
22 November 2022
okay
lovely big house but could do so much more with it !! -
floors dirty - light bulbs out all over and could be so much better
Daren
Response from VrboOwner on 22 November 2022
Hi Daren,
Thanks for this. If you have a spare moment, we would love for you to email us some improvements you think would benefit the house & future guests?
From a partner site
8/10 Good
Sandra
6 December 2022
Early family Christmas
Lovely big house. Well equipped kitchen Team helpful when we found we had no front door key Harry Potter themed room great. Fantastic sized dining room. Great showers.
Towels/ teatowels not provided - never experienced this before. Sofas and armchairs not very comfortable. Some areas seem a little tired ( games room). freezer tiny. No blinds in bathrooms - freaked my daughter out!!
Sandra
Response from VrboOwner on 6 December 2022
Hi Sandra,
We are pleased you liked the well equipped kitchen & Harry Potter room. We are also pleased our team were so helpful!
We will speak with housekeeping regarding towels & tea towels, we're so sorry about this! We will also pass on about getting a blind in the bathrooms.
From a partner site
8/10 Good
Joanne
30 October 2023
We had a wonderful family weekend celebrating a 50th Wedding Anniversary
Accommodation was lovely and spacious, suited our family. The house was clean. The children loved the Harry Potter bedroom and the games room. Well equipped kitchen.
Locks on bathroom doors is a suggestion or a sign to say engaged/vacant. The manual needs updating regarding rubbish bins. Dishwasher wasn't the best. We had to wash plates when first arrived as lots of them had dried food on. And had to put it on 2 washes every time.
Joanne
From a partner site
10/10 Excellent
Irene
6 September 2024
Beautiful, spacious house
Spacious house with ample space for our family of eleven. Large shower downstairs and beautiful family bathroom on the first floor. Fantastic characterful dining room and lounge. The games room was a big hit with the grandchildren. Crimplesham is a lovely village and only a short drive to lots of amenities.
These are only for information only not critiscms. There weren’t enough mats for the dining table and the freezer compartment of the fridge/freezer is a little small. The main point is in the wording of the house details which states the en-suite bedroom has a walk in shower when in fact it is a slightly sunken bath with a shower over and a large step down into the bathroom and was unsuitable for my disability.
Irene
Verified
6/10 Okay
Lynn D.
4 January 2023
Liked: Check-in, location
Mixed Feelings
The Stables is a charming and spacious property. We were thrilled to find it beautifully decorated for Christmas and an amazing basket of goodies/treats that we enjoyed throughout our stay. We were disappointed to find many of the light bulbs burned out or nonfunctional, leaving no lighting in the main hallway. Heating such an old home is always challenging, so not surprising to find the first floor very cold and the upstairs quite warm. The pillows and mattresses throughout the house left much to be desired. Lastly, the kitchen was not equipped for us to "cook up a feast" for the number of people able to stay in the house. We made do borrowing much from my son and his wife who lived close by.
Lynn D.
Stayed 11 nights in Dec 2022
Verified
8/10 Good
Kerry R.
4 December 2022
Liked: Check-in, listing accuracy
Lovely house, a little tired and in need of some TLC but fabulous property
We rented the accommodation for my brother in laws 40th birthday, there were four sections of the family that met up to spend the weekend together with a cast age range. We found the property was exactly what we needed for our stay and we thoroughly enjoyed it-thank you
Kerry R.
Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2022
Verified
6/10 Okay
Rosa S.
28 August 2022
Liked: Check-in, communication
Disliked: Listing accuracy
Home from home? Hmmmm
Very spacious with good games room for young and old alike. It could have been cleaner upon arrival. The oven took ages to heat up as did the stove. The beds were uncomfortable especially the one with the en suite (I actually bruised from catching my legs on the overhanging wooden slats which were also noisy on the frame beneath), decor (including floors) left a bit to be desired. The stairs were very noisy. There was a lot of road noise and being close to an air base the jets overhead were noisy too although this bit is not a worry for us. The garden is not fully enclosed as the side has no gate or barrier. When I got the vacuum cleaner out to clean it was all clogged up (filter and brush bar) so had to clean that first. The lawn, although adequate isn't as big as it looks in photos and the gravel got everywhere. Super markets close by were good and easy to get to.
Rosa S.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2022
Verified
8/10 Good
Graham F.
2 August 2022
Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, listing accuracy
It was ok
Good size property
Graham F.
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2022
Verified
8/10 Good
Lesley W.
30 July 2022
Liked: Cleanliness, location, listing accuracy
Lovely but not luxury.
It was a great size for a large family in a lovely setting however the kitchen could be better equipped, it lacked a barbecue, ironing board, outdoor parasols and one bed was quite uncomfortable.
These things rectified would indeed result in a luxury title.
A very spacious house. A great outdoor area for children with a good games room too. A very warm house. The house is ideally located for a group/family looking for children’s activities. The house is comfortably furnished and although not pristine this suited us with four children under the age of 6.
Jane G.
Stayed 7 nights in Oct 2021
From a partner site
8/10 Good
Robert
23 August 2021
Very good but beds need improving
Spacious accommodation with lovely rooms and great games room .
Ample parking at front of house .
Good location. The trade waste bin made getting rid of rubbish really easy.
The children’s Harry Potter room was really loverly .
The beds were creaky and very soft.
New modern beds would have really added to the experience.
Kids love this place - Harry Potter themed bedroom, games room, loads of TV options / movies / video games..
House has got a nice character to it and is sufficiently sized for the 10-11 including kids.
Note that the nearest grocery is around 3-4 miles away and not walkable..
Huge dining room where the entire gang can dine was great.
For the price - its a great find and I will happily go there again.
Rathna M.
Stayed 4 nights in Apr 2021
From a partner site
8/10 Good
Andrea
2 May 2021
Last minute getaway
We liked the location, I space inside and it was nice to have outside space
The property was reasonably clean, but it felt like it needed a deep clean.
We would stay again and next time we would know that some extra things would be good to take with us.
More tea towels, oven gloves, place mats would be really helpful.
Andrea
About the host
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