The house was originally a Georgian structure. By 1870 it was rebuilt and, despite a serious fire in 1891, subsequently expanded to accommodate The Prince of Wales' growing family. The Queen and other members of the Royal family regularly spend Christmas at Sandringham and make it their official base until February each year. The house was first opened to the public in 1977, and there is a museum with displays of Royal life and Estate history.

The Estate is run commercially by the Land Agent, on The Queen's behalf. Over half of the Estate is let to farm tenants, the remainder being farmed in hand or used for forestry (the Estate has its own sawmill). There are also two studs, a fruit farm and a country park; these, together with the house's gardens, employ 140 full-time staff.

Sandringham Country Park, open free all year since 1968, is an area of 250 hectares (over 600 acres) of carefully managed woodland and heath. It has two nature trails and camping and caravan club sites. A visitors centre with gift shop and restaurants is open daily in summer and at weekends in winter.

Sandringham Estate hosts craft fairs and country shows throughout the year. The house, museum and grounds are open to visitors.