The Old Rectory Catfield

The most wonderful place we have ever stayed in England. Gorgeous house, beautiful grounds, wonderful breakfast. But what really makes it so special is the host, Penny. She made us feel as if we were old friends who had come to stay. She had all kinds of great recommendations for things to do, some of which we would not have done without her guidance and which turned out to be our favourite outings. Can't recommend this place highly enough. We hated to leave.

A delightful stay at The Old Rectory for a week to explore the Broads. Penny is a mine of information and prepared a plan of campaign each morning to help us, whether discovering the marshes or walking on the coast, visiting Norfolk’s beautiful churches or finding the best places to eat. There is a lot of unfinished business for another time.

This was our third or fourth stay at Penny's and once again it was heavenly. The house and grounds are beautifully maintained, the food is delicious, the animals are gorgeous, the pool is a perfect temperature, the facilities are fantastic but Penny is what makes this such a fantastic break. She is incredibly kind and generous and truly makes everyone feel so welcome. She is wonderful with the children, who all adore her and everywhere is so well stocked and organised that the mental load disappears as soon as I arrive! Couldn't recommend highly enough.

The Old Rectory was great, with large bedrooms, beautiful grounds, use of a large kitchen and sitting room. It's located in a quiet area, overlooking an old church and is a short drive to the sea, other villages and the Broads. Penny was a wonderful host, warm and welcoming, and provided a plentiful and delicious breakfast.

We stayed at The Old Rectory with our 10 year old daughter. The place was great, with comfortable beds, lovely grounds, farm animals, playful dogs, a heated swimming pool and even tennis courts. It is located in a quiet area, but in the car it s only a short drive to the Broads, or the surrounding villages or the beach (we loved the seals at Horsey Gap). Penny is a wonderful host, who made us feel very welcome and who provided a delicious breakfast. We loved it so much that this was the second year in a row that we have come to stay.

We stayed with our 10 year old daughter. The Old Rectory has everything you need to enjoy your stay: comfortable beds, lovely grounds, a tennis court, farm animals, friendly dogs, a heated swimming pool and a fully equipped kitchen than you can use. It is located away from busy places, but by car, it is only a short drive to the Broads, to nice villages and towns and to the seaside (we loved the seals in Horsey Gap). To top it all off, Penny is a lovely host who made us feel very welcome and the breakfasts are fabulous. We like staying it so much that this year was our second visit in a row.

Saskia 10 years old: I loved staying at The Old Rectory, playing with the dogs, feeding the pigs and swimming in the pool. Penny is lovely and on my last day when I was a bit upset because we were leaving, Penny invited me to have breakfast with her and the dogs. This was our second visit and I really want to come back next year.

from Saskia [10 years old] I loved it here, playing with the dogs, feeding the pigs, swimming in the pool and Penny is very lovely. The last day I was there, I was very upset because we were leaving and I was allowed to eat with Penny and the dogs. This is my second stay at The Old Rectory. I would love to come back again next year.

The Old Rectory is a beautiful Victorian vicarage next to a gorgeous old Norfolk flint church located near the small village of Catfield. It is a very welcoming family home, set in beautiful grounds with a swimming pool, tennis court, patio with fire pit and a host of animals. Definitely child friendly but also suitable for adults wanting to explore the Norfolk Broads and beautiful beaches in the area. Penny is an excellent and generous host and the breakfast provision was delicious. The set up works well for small groups of friends and family. We hope to visit again next year.

We had a lovely, restful few days staying at the Old Rectory and exploring the area. There's lots to do for active people in this surprisingly quiet corner of Norfolk - great walking, beaches and cycling potential on quiet, flat lanes. Then tennis and the spotless, warm pool back at the house... Penny is a welcoming and generous host, and her breakfasts are the best.

A Magical spot in Norfolk. 5 stars all round for the perfect relaxing getaway without having to deal with an airport. Breakfasts are legendary and the pool perfect. Can't wait to come back. Penny is the hostess with the mostess! Christo and Helena

We new Sawday's from our vsit to the UK in 2018 and we were very content with the description and the pictures of the accomodations, so we decided to book again, this time in Norfork at the Old Rectory, with Penny. The Georgian House looks like the quintessenial English country house. It is tastfully refurbished but the charme and the details of the original house are still present. In the vast garden or park you find a heated swimmingpool. Penny is the natural host serving a fantastic fully cooked breakfast. The room was large with beautiful views to the garden. A really recommandation.

Penny's warmth and hospitality exude from this beautiful house and the wonderful gardens. We stayed with our young daughter who loved everything, from the heated swimming pool and trampoline to the goats, ducks and gorgeous dogs. Penny's generosity meant we enjoyed hearty breakfasts, cakes with an afternoon cup of tea, and wine and beer of an evening. The guest kitchen makes it easy not to leave, however, there is much to do nearby if you want to explore The Broads, head to the beach, of try out the pubs in the villages close to Catfield. We can't wait to stay with Penny again.

We were bowled over by how amazing Penny’s b and b is. With a 3-year-old we expected to be back for sleeps and out all day but we hardly left. It isn’t just the house- it was a perfect mix of animals, hospitality and the other guests! Penny goes well out of her way to make sure you really love your stay (even making a slime kitchen for the kids each day) and you never feel like a guest in her home- you feel at home! I can’t recommend this place enough. We will be back!

Paradise! We have stayed at some lovely Sawday's B&Bs but this tops them all. If I could give it six stars out of five I would. Beautiful grounds, lovely friendly animals and the owner, Penny, is just amazing.

Glorious. There is a real danger of this review turning into a soup of superlatives so I'm holding back and sticking with 'glorious' (can I add maximus?). During the entire stay I expected that surely one, small not so glorious aspect would show itself, but no, nothing. The house and grounds are spectacular, the rooms elegant and comfortable (oops, there I go....) and Penny is definitely Gloriosa maxima. We loved every moment at the old Rectory and cannot wait to go back. Our entire stay was magical. Thank you, Penny, huge thank you.

Staying with Penny for the long Platinum Jubilee weekend was absolutely spectacular! My wife, daughter (18-months old), and dog (22-months old) had a very relaxing and enjoyable stay. Nothing was too big or too small for Penny! It felt like we were staying with a wonderful relative the whole time. She took fantastic care of us, and we would run back to stay with her in a heartbeat. Thanks again Penny!

I can't recommend this place enough. Penny's generous hosting, charming menagerie, delicious homemade food and gorgeous home and grounds restored this weary family's souls in just a short time. The Old Rectory is very special, grand but relaxed and every inch the English country home - cosy fire, rambling roses and wisteria, heirloom furniture and books for young and old ready for the perusing. We took a dip in the heated outdoor pool, fired up the outdoor pizza oven and loved meeting the dogs, goats, horses, chickens, pig and cat. Lots of nice things to do nearby, kids didn't want to leave!

Special places to stay well this is truly one of them. We have just had a very relaxed 4 night stay in a beautiful home and treated like house guests. Accommodation, hearty cooked breakfasts, information on where to go exploring all outstanding. You are asked by Penny’s to treat her home like you are a friend coming to stay which creates a very happy experience, Already recommended to a friend as a place to go and chill and have fun. Her many animals add an element of surprise with the 2 large pigs , chickens , horses , dogs and more all living within the very large and beautiful grounds.

Penny welcomed us as if we were old friends and this was the ongoing feeling during our stay.The Old Rectory is elegant and comfortable. We particularly enjoyed sitting in the drawing room by the woodburning stove in the evening enjoying conversations with Penny over a glass of wine. The breakfasts were first class and kept us going all day. Penny’s advice about places to visit and where to eat really helped us get the most out of our first visit to Norfolk. We are looking forward to visiting again.