East Anglia
East Anglia was an ancient kingdom of the Anglo-Saxon
age, and today encompasses the counties of Suffolk,
Norfolk, and Cambridgeshire. Highlights include
the university town of Cambridge, the wild fenlands
(pictured), the Norfolk Broads and coastline, as well
as 'Constable Country' north of the old Roman town
of Colchester.
Norfolk is a tranquil, sparsely populated corner of
England where it is possible to have a country
lane, river, or stretch of coastline to yourself.
The capital is Norwich, a pleasant market town
with an impressive castle and cathedral. Norwich makes
a good base from which to explore the nearby 'Broads',
a popular network of rivers and canals where boating
is the key pastime.
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The north Norfolk coast is a wild and spectacular
place, dotted with pebble-clad villages (such
as Blakeney and Cley-next-the-Sea), windmills, and
colonies of birds and seals. This seclusion has made
Norfolk a popular royal and aristocratic retreat,
as the Sandringham Estate and grand manors such as
Blickling and Felbrigg Halls testify.
More accessible from London (48 minutes by train)
is the world famous university town of Cambridge.
A feature of the town is the mellow-stoned college
architecture, which includes the landmark St. John's
Chapel (pictured below). The River Cam also winds
through the town, providing a picturesque waterway
for punting.
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Cambridge is justly one of Britain's famous towns,
and can get crowded in summer. It's easy enough to
escape the bustle though - a few miles north of Cambridge
is the old town of Ely. Once situated on an
island in the Fens, Ely is known principally for it's
unique and highly visible cathedral.
Further north of Ely is The Fens, a reed-covered
marshland that is now a popular nature reserve.
Once an inhospitable wilderness, The Fens can now
be explored via a network of paths and are famous
for their wildlife and windmills.
Suffolk is a more varied county than its neighbours,
incorporating seaside resorts such as Southwold, the
town of Ipswich, and the picturesque countryside that
inspired Constable. Nearby Colchester (in fact just
over the border in Essex) is an interesting town,
and is renowned as England's oldest settlement (at
2,500 years) and as the initial target of Queen Boudicca's
revolt against the Romans.
North of Colchester is the Stour Valley - also known
as 'Constable Country' due to its inspirational
effect on the painter John Constable. A popular visitor
attraction in this area is Flatford Mill, the subject
of one of Constable's best-loved paintings. Nearby
villages are equally picturesque, and make an ideal
stopping point for a country pub lunch. (The Angel
Inn at Stoke-by-Nayland is particularly good).
More Information
The National
Trust website is a great introduction to many
of England's best preserved landscapes, estates, and
buildings. A number of these are located in East Anglia.
The East
of England Tourism Board site is also worth
a visit, as is the more general Visit
Britain portal.
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