Hi The Other Boleyn Boy,

The reason that Blickling Hall is “overlooked” in favour of Hever is that there is nothing left of the original Blickling Hall, the house where Anne Boleyn may have been born, whereas Hever Castle is still standing. The present Blickling Hall was built on the site of the ruins of the old one during the reign of James I. So, it is not the house that the Boleyns would have known but it is nevertheless supposedly haunted by Anne Boleyn and is the site of the original Boleyn family seat.

Anne may have been born at Blickling (depends what birthdate you believe in!) but her childhood was spent at Hever and it was where she retired to when things got tricky at court and where she suffered from sweating sickness. Yes, Anne of Cleves lived in it too, having been given it as part of her divorce settlement. Hever has also got lots going for it – the amazing portraits (Starkey said it's the best portrait collection after the NPG), the Henry VIII lock which is an original lock which Henry would carry with him to ensure his safety, and the feeling that you really are walking in Anne's footsteps. Also, you can see Thomas Boleyn's tomb at St Peter's Church which is just outside the grounds of Hever Castle.

I still think that Blickling is worth visiting as it's a beautiful house and you will be on the same patch of land that the Boleyns once owned. They do ghost nights on the 19th May every year too.

Hope that helps!