East Anglia Map & Guide

The ancient Kingdom of East Anglia on England's eastern side is most noted for its wonderful national park which encompasses much of Norfolk, and parts of northern Suffolk; The Norfolk and Suffolk Broads. Mainly referred to as 'The Norfolk Broads' or sometimes simply 'The Broads', this beautiful national park consists of stunning lock free waterways which were created by peat digging in roman and medieval times which then became flooded during the 14th century with the rising sea levels. This left a network of winding rivers and shallow lakes covering some 300km, mainly in Norfolk but also stretching into northern parts of Suffolk. The Broads make an ideal area for a boating holiday, although there are many walks to be enjoyed and villages to explore on foot. Apart from the sheer tranquillity, the Broads are a haven for rare plants, wildlife and birds, with many nature reserves throughout.

East Anglia also contains four 'Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty' which are The Norfolk & Suffolk Coasts, The Chilterns hills in the west, and the Dedham Vale on the Suffolk-Essex border, famous for its associations with the great painter John Constable, who painted Dedham Vale in 1802 which is now hanging in the Victoria and Albert Museum in London.

The main cities of the region are the great university city of Cambridge with its magnificent ancient colleges and famous punting, and also Norwich, the city known as the gateway to the Broads and said to be the most complete medieval city in Britain with its fantastic castle and cathedral.

One cathedral not to be missed can be found in the ancient city of Ely in Eastern Cambridgeshire, just a 20 minute drive from Cambridge itself. Ely used to be on an island until they drained the surrounding fens. It is the third smallest city in England and well worth a visit, not just for its remarkable cathedral with octagonal tower, but also lots of historic buildings to admire throughout this attractive city.

You may wish to explore the counties of the region by clicking a county on the map above or the county links below to discover more towns and attractions within each county.

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Counties to explore in East Anglia
Norfolk Suffolk Cambridgeshire Essex Hertfordshire Bedfordshire

More Regions of England to explore..

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