Reasons to visit East Anglia

There's a lot to do in East Anglia, from seal-watching to ballet, from boating to steam railways.

The vast sandbanks on the edge of the Wash are home to thousands of seals, and visitors to Wells-next-the-Sea have the oportunity to take a boat trip out to see them. Further along the Norfolk coast the sand becomes more family friendly, with beaches like those at Cromer, Happisburgh, Gorleston and Great Yarmouth. And then the theme continues into Suffolk and Essex with many more deserted beaches and seaside towns. Norfolk is also known for it's inland waterways, the Norfolk Broads. Here you can go boating or sailing, or simply enjoy the beautiful scenery from the shore.

The East of England is also home to fantastic museums, amazing stately homes and Britain's largest collection of cathedrals. The most notable stately home must be the Queen's own Norfolk retreat, Sandringham, with gardens, a museum and the house itself open to visitors throughout the summer. Other great houses include Holkham Hall and the great Palladian mansion at Houghton Hall. Right at the forefront of ecclesiastical buildings are Norwich and Ely cathedrals. The soaring roofs and spires date back to the 12th century when they were built with stone brought all the way from France.

East Anglia may be somewhat lacking in mountains, but that just makes the walking and cycling even better. There are 500 miles of coastline to explore, gently rolling countryside (it's not all flat!) and woodlands and forests that are perfect for both a long hike or a short stroll. There are lots of great places for bird-watching, especially near the water, both on the coast and on the fresh waters of the Broads.

One special feature of Norfolk especially is the unique pronunciation of place names: Wymondham is Windum, Happisburgh is Haysburgh, Tacolneston is Tackelston, and so it goes on!