East of England Region

Hotels, Guest Houses and Bed and Breakfast Accommodation in the East of England
Featured Hotels, Guest Houses and Bed and Breakfast Accommodation in the East of England

The East of England offers a wealth of experiences with so many things to see and do. Stately homes contrast with gothic cathedrals, quaint thatched cottage villages stand alongside cities of great cultural importance and magnitude, and beautiful open Fens spread across the land into traditional seaside resorts. Covering the counties of Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Essex, Hertfordshire, Norfolk and Suffolk and each county is steeped in its own individual culture and heritage. There are so many towns to visit whilst in the area that you'll not run out of things to do no matter how long you stay in the area. Whether you're staying in touring parks great yarmouth or in a b&b Norfolk uk you'll be able to take great advantage of the scenery of beautiful towns such as st albans and restaurants like those you'll find in Cambridge and the surrounding areas and the beaches of Great Yarmouth.

History

The county town of Bedford dates back to Saxon times as one of the first areas of Saxon dwellings. Why not take a trip to Stevington and see the 14th century medieval cross or visit Bromham to see the fabulously restored water mill. Just South of Bedfordshire lies the Marston Vale Millennium Country Park which is great for walking, cycling and bird watching. Ampthill is a must see for anyone interested in Georgian architecture, along with Toddington and Woburn, said to be one of the best preserved Georgian towns in Britain. These towns are great for antiques lovers and Woburn gives you the opportunity to see the wonderful Woburn Abbey - the home of the Dukes of Bedford. If you can find a b&b norfolk uk based this will give you a good base for touring the area.

Another interesting town steeped in history is the town of Dunstable. The 12th Century priory in Dunstable was the setting for Henry VIIIs divorce proceedings against Katherine of Aragon, his first wife. It is reputed that Katherine of Aragon began the pillow-lace making tradition within the villages of the Ouse Valley whilst she was held at Ampthill Castle and the area, particularly Luton, is famed for its hat making heritage. Cambridgeshire is another beautiful county, crowned by its key city of Cambridge. The famous University dominates the city with many architecturally stunning college buildings. King's College Chapel, the site of all student graduation ceremonies, is magnificent with its fan-vaulted ceiling, as are many of the University's other colleges, including St Johns, Emmanuel, Downing and Corpus Christi. Other aspects of the city not to be missed are the beautifully maintained Botanic Gardens which are well worthy of a few hours' stroll, or why not take a 'punt' down the Cam to the rear of many of the University Colleges. Ely, neighbour to Cambridge, is a quaint little city dominated by a magnificent Cathedral. Once an island before the Fen draining programme began and now a city filled with narrow streets lined with historic buildings, including the former home of Oliver Cromwell. Just North of Ely is March, famed for its St Wendreda's Church - it's roof decorated with 120 carved angels, and Wisbech, said to be the capital of the Fens, with some fine examples of Georgian street architecture.

The Fens are a remarkable site within this region. Noted for their legendary ghosts and witches and now an example of man's abilities to tame nature for his own gain. The wet land has been drained and maintained to now offer some of the most fertile land in the country - producing great flowers, fruit and vegetables. The work to drain the Fens began with the Romans but took full swing under the 4th Earl of Bedford. The land is now criss-crossed with waterways which offer stunning opencast views and memorable sunsets. To the west of the Fens lies Peterborough, a popular city offering a host of sites and attractions. Take a journey through time from the Bronze Age excavations at Flag Fen to the Norman Cathedral in the centre of Peterborough to the steam trains which you can take for a tour through the Nene Valley. The Cambridgeshire area is home to some fantastic events too - a straw bear journeys through the streets in Whittlesey in January and, in May, cheese rounds are rolled down the high street in the famous cheese founding village of Stilton.

Essex has many special features to attract history lovers and site seers. Home to England's oldest recorded town, Colchester, and also the largest Norman castle in Europe which is open for exploration and is now a fabulously informative museum. Other interesting towns within the Essex county are Greensted, with the oldest wooden church in the world, and Epping whose famous forest was once the hideout for highwayman Dick Turpin. Close to the forest is Waltham Abbey - a beautiful site of Norman architecture thought to be the burial site of King Harold. Hotels, bed and breakfasts and guest houses in st albans and restaurants and bars to match mean you'll always have plenty of choice when visiting the area. St Albans, named after Britain's first Christian martyr is built beside Verulamium, the third largest Roman town in Britain and is home to an 11th century Cathedral and Abbey Church. South of St Albans lies The Gardens of the Rose where 30,000 roses have grown to become one of the worlds most important floral collections. Hotels in st albans and restaurants are plentiful and provide a wealth of choice to last your whole stay. Said to be the capital of East Anglia, Norwich has over 1,500 historic buildings including a Norman cathedral and castle. To the North of the city are the famous Norfolk broads, Britain's newest National Park, offering 200 miles of waterways which can be sailed along via canal or walked along for that extra exercise. If you can find a b&b norfolk uk based this will give you a good base for touring the area.

Suffolk is another must-see area when in the East of England region which dates back to the Saxon times. The wet dock area has restaurants and bars a plenty or you can tour the Tolly Cobbold brewery. North of Ipswich, one of England's oldest towns, is the Suffolk Heritage Coast, an area of outstanding natural beauty. This is a great area for bird watching, clycling and walking. Touring parks great yarmouth are a nice way to get close to nature and there are various hotels, bed and breakfasts and guest houses available in rural locations to provide a relaxing retreat in the heart of the eastern countryside.

Walking

There are so many places to visit in the area which provide excellent walking grounds. The Fens in Cambridgeshire and the Broads in Norfolk provide excellent opportunities for both walking and cycling as do the many gardens of the area. If you can find a b&b norfolk uk based this will give you a good base for touring the area. Or try the Lee Valley Park which is a beautiful area of lakes and vast green open spaces. Within the Park is the family friendly Paradise Wildlife Park. Following the River Lee to the North will take you through Ware with its 18th century riverside gazebos and shell grotto through to the royal borough of Hereford.

Family Attractions

There is a wealth of things to do in the East of England for families. The award winning Safari Park at Woburn is a must-see as is the famous Whipsnade Zoo near Dunstable, full of exotic species. There are zoos throughout the area or if animals aren't your cup of tea there are seaside resorts and attractions aplenty. Southend-on-Sea is a traditional family seaside resort with wonderful gardens and award-winning beaches along with the longest pier in the world. Enjoy a day out at Adventure Island or visit the underwater Sea Life Centre. Great Yarmouth is another popular seaside resort offering wide beaches and wonderful family attractions. Touring parks great yarmouth are a nice way to get close to nature and there are various hotels, bed and breakfasts and guest houses available in rural locations to provide a relaxing retreat in the heart of the eastern countryside.

To find accommodation in the East of England follow the link below:
Hotels, Guest Houses and Bed and Breakfast Accommodation in the East of England
Featured Hotels, Guest Houses and Bed and Breakfast Accommodation in the East of England

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