East of England Tourist Information

Order Brochures  |  View Tourist Attractions  |  View Local Events

 
Norfolk, Suffolk, Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Essex and Hertfordshire.

With its low lying open countryside, woodlands and man made waterways the East of England has steadfastly preserved its character, traditions and architecture over the centuries. The impressive coastline covers 402 kilometres from The Wash to the River Thames offering wide sandy beaches, salt marshes and stunning cliff formations.

The award winning beaches of the region are classic holiday resorts; Cromer in North Norfolk is a delightfully sedate seaside town famous worldwide for its delicious locally caught crab, whilst Sheringham with its stony beach and rockpools still maintains the tradition of fishing boats returning with their daily catch. Great Yarmouth continues to maintains its stronghold as one of the UK's most popular sea-side resorts, with miles of golden sandy beaches, a rich maritime history and fantastic family entertainment. Originally centered around the herring industry Great Yarmouth is still rich in maritime heritage, head to the harbour and take in the annual Maritime Festival, you may even see a tallship!

Close-by Hemsby, Winterton-on-Sea with its picture perfect thatched cottages, Hopton and Caister are wonderful places to visit. Visitors to Norfolk will fall in love with the elegant old Victorian town of Hunstanton with its nostalgic air of days gone by.

Images of the East of England

Click on images to Enlarge

The Norfolk Broads

The wonderful Norfolk broads have a universal appeal to old and young alike, visitors to this region can be certain of a truly unforgettable break. A relaxing boating holiday on the broads is an experience you will cherish, as you cruise along the waterways, enjoying the stunning views and abundant wildlife, and of course all the wonderful places to stop along the way.

The cathedral city of Norwich is one of the hidden gems of Norfolk, with its winding cobbled streets, fantastic museum and of course its awe inspiring cathedral. No visit to the broads would be complete without stopping at Wroxham, a quant little village which has grown around the waterways, enjoy a little retail therapy at the department store 'Roy's of Wroxham', which is probably one of the largest village stores in the world!

Historic Norfolk

Norfolk is also blessed with many stately homes and enchanting gardens; Felbrigg Hall still contains some wonderful examples of 18th century furniture, along with its tranquil walled garden and dovecote. Beautiful Holkham Hall is an architectural triumph located in Wells-next-the-sea, built in classic 18th century style the hall is situated in a deer park, and is still very much a family home. Probably the best known landmark in the region is Sandringham House the private country retreat of the British Royal Family, the country park of which is available for visitors to the area to enjoy.

 
The Coastline and Beaches

Suffolk boasts 40 miles of Heritage Coast - virtually all of which is set in an 'Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty'. Resorts of note include Aldeburgh with its famous hilltop church, where the composer Benjamin Britten is buried, he was the instigator of the annual music festival, which takes place in June. The Victorian resort of Felixstowe offers many activities likely to appeal to families with small children, with its shingle beach and 4 mile long seafront, promenade and pier. Further along the coast Lowestoft boasts sandy blue flag beaches and many exciting family attractions. Children of all ages will love the Plain Fountains; 74 water jets at street level, a magnet for children in bathing costumes to splash in. If you enjoy traditional seaside resorts then visit the multi-coloured beach-huts of Southwold, and take a trip down memory lane as you watch the Punch and Judy show, or take a pleasant stroll on the pier. Kessingland is a slightly smaller resort, a former fishing village, now mainly popular for its holiday accommodation close to the local beaches, a good base for those wishing to visit the excellent local safari park.

Constable Country

Beautiful Constable Country is located on the Suffolk and Essex border, through which flows the River Stour. This bewitching region was the birthplace of the great artist John Constable, who was born in East Bergholt, and has become very popular with visitors. Bury St Edmunds is home to Ickworth House, Park and Gardens, a spectacular Georgian Italiantate palace, with acres of idyllic parkland and pleasure grounds. A Visit to Melford Hall in Sudbury will enable you to follow in Beatrix Potters footsteps in one of East Anglia 's most celebrated houses. With its stunning interior, parkland walks and delightful garden, it's a 'must see' for all visitors to the area.

Essex

The Essex coast is the perfect venue for a traditional seaside holiday, with a very modern twist. Clacton on Sea is considered by some to be the capital of the Essex coast, offering beautifully planted cliff-top gardens, wide sweeping beaches, a fun-filled pier with many fairground rides and a town centre with ample retail opportunities. The nostalgic resort of Frinton has retained it's ambiance of the 1920's with its elegant esplanade whilst Walton on Naze boasts the second longest pier in England. Those wanting a livelier experience should head towards Southend on Sea, a weekend mecca for visitors enjoying the thrill rides of Adventure Island or wandering along the seafront and taking in the party atmosphere.

Of the areas of interest in the area, Hatfield Forest near Bishop's Stortford deserves a special mention; the forest is of great historical importance, having once been an ancient royal hunting forest. The area is now designated as a Site of Special Scitenific Interest and a National Nature Reserve, its miles of wonderful walks and trails are an absolute joy to spend time in. Another fascinating site is Coalhouse Fort near the river Thames in East Tilbury, Essex; a Victorian Coastal defence completed in 1874 to defend London. Considered to be one of the finest examples of an armoured casemated fort in the UK , it holds regular open days and events throughout the year. If you're visiting the area in October, the fort holds a staggering Halloween celebration, with some of the most terrifying spectacles lurking in the tunnels beneath the fort!