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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