The East of England is based around the ancient Kingdom of East Anglia, which was originally made up of Norfolk and Suffolk; these are now joined by Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Essex and Hertfordshire. Fabulous historic cities and towns, great country houses and gardens, bustling seaside resorts, picturesque villages, and miles and miles of beautiful countryside and coastline await your discovery.

Hertfordshire is home to Borehamwood, ‘Britain’s very own Hollywood’, the wonderful open-space of Lee Valley Park and the Grand Union Canal. St Albans is a popular town surrounded by countryside and was Britain’s third largest Roman city, called Verulamium. It’s Cathedral is particularly impressive.

North of St Albans is Welwyn Garden City, taking its name from Welwyn, a separate village situated several miles north of the town. Perfect for modern shopping at the Howard Centre and a visit to the Roman Baths which are preserved in a steel vault underneath junction six of the A1(M)!

To the east of the county, the lakes and open spaces of Lee Valley Country Park will provide more than just a day out whether your interests involve sport, wildlife or family activities. You can also visit the county town of Hereford with its castle and antiques shops, Hatfield House (Queen Elizabeth I’s childhood home) and Bishop’s Stortford, birthplace of Cecil Rhodes.

Bedfordshire has a rich and varied rural landscape, fine towns and villages and is home to the highest point in the East of England, the Dunstable Downs. The county town of Bedford is noted for its fine river setting and connections to author/preacher John Bunyan and his famous book ‘The Pilgrims Progress’.

To the north-west are pretty limestone villages such as Harrold and Stevington and in the east, the gigantic airship hangers at Cardington are a reminder of the area’s rich aviation heritage, more recently used as the set for the blockbuster movie “Batman Begins”. Britain’s first hot air balloon landed there too! As you head south of Bedford you will come across the lakes and wildlife of the Marston Vale and antique lovers will appreciate the fine Georgian town of Ampthill, set on the wooded slopes of The Greensand Ridge. Leighton Buzzard, set on the Grand Union Canal has always been famous for its sand, and Woburn for its wonderful abbey (home to the Dukes of Bedford), and Woburn Safari Park.

Cambridgeshire is the only county in the East of England to border all five other counties in this region so is the ideal base for touring the area that some still refer to as ‘East Anglia’. One of the best ways to explore Cambridgeshire is by boat – you can hire a punt, a traditional flat-bottomed boat, from the famous university city of Cambridge, renowned for its historic churches and ancient colleges – the first was founded in 1284. Explore some of the finest buildings in Europe as you glide past the colleges on route to the willow-shaped waterfront at Grantchester, inspiration for the poets Byron, Tennyson and Rupert Brook.

Cambridgeshire’s history spans back over 3000 years and at Flag Fen, near Peterborough, you can see how Bronze Age people lived. Oliver Cromwell was born and educated in Huntingdon and his former grammar school is now The Cromwell Museum. In Ely, Oliver Cromwell’s House recreates 17th Century life as he would have known it.

Norfolk is a refreshing place to visit with a pretty village around every corner and miles of unspoilt beaches and countryside. One of the most popular holiday areas is the Norfolk Broads with 200 kilometres (125 miles) of waterways to enjoy. Explore the Broads by boat – hire one for a week or for a day and you will soon learn to appreciate the nature that surrounds you.

At the centre of this county is the vibrant city of Norwich, voted one of Britain’s top ten shopping destinations. Norwich is the most complete medieval city in Britain with fascinating museums, a magnificent cathedral, a Norman castle, half-timbered houses, a jumble of medieval lanes and a delightful old watergate down by the riverside.

Norfolk’s coastline is An Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, consisting of pleasant beaches, salt-marshes, cliffs, flint villages and nature reserves. Cliff-top Cromer is world-famous for its crabs, and Yarmouth for its herrings and kippers. At Sheringham you can ride on a steam train to the antiques centre of Holt or visit the port of Wells-next-the-Sea, the pilgrimage centre of Little Walsingham and Lord Nelson´s birthplace at The Burnhams. For seaside fun, head to the sandy beaches at Hunstanton and Great Yarmouth.

Directly south of Norfolk is Suffolk – the 8th largest county in England and one of the most attractive and interesting, much loved by writers and painters. Hills are not in abundance but the soft landscape holds hidden treasures for all visitors to explore. The choice of destinations within Suffolk offers the visitor options for all occasions from peaceful countryside, ideal for walking and cycling to busy coastal resorts and bustling market towns.

Many of Suffolk’s meadows, heathlands and woodlands are nationally important wildlife reserves, making the county extremely popular with nature lovers. With open countryside and 45 miles of stunning coastline, Suffolk offers plenty of opportunities for picnics and other countryside recreation activities. Suffolk’s dry and sunny climate is ideally suited to the development of vineyards and orchards and there are a number of highly respected producers within the county that supply very fine quality wines and fruit juices. Numerous independent breweries such as Adnams and St Peter's still exist and ensure that the historic tradition of brewing within the county continues to thrive. The production of fine ales and good wine takes place alongside a thriving food retailing market and there are many reputable restaurants that serve food and drink prepared using locally sourced ingredients.

The ancient Saxon county of Essex, is situated between Suffolk and Hertfordshire. Essex offers a wealthy mix of historic woodlands, pretty fishing villages, old towns, sweeping skylines and rolling fields. From the outskirts of East London to the borders of Suffolk, Essex has so much to offer and a good place to start exploring is Britain’s oldest town of Colchester. Discover the largest Norman Castle keep in Europe, now an award-winning museum and the nearby narrow streets of the Dutch Quarter, where the cloth industry once flourished.

The Essex coastline is diverse and mainly unspoilt – from the traditional seaside resorts of Clacton-on-Sea, Southend-on-Sea and Walton-on-the-Naze to the yachting centre of Brightlingsea and Burnham-on-Crouch and not forgetting the hidden gems in between such as Mersey Island and Maldon. Whether you are looking for family fun, good nightlife, shopping, a quite retreat, fresh fish or the ideal place to launch your speedboat or jet-ski, there is a piece of Essex’s coastline for everybody.

Almost bordering Cambridgeshire, Saffron Walden is an ancient town with lovely timber-framed buildings, many decorated with pargeting (ornamental plasterwork) and the parish church is one of the largest in Essex.

The Stour Valley is situated on the borders of both Essex and Suffolk and is one of the prettiest parts of the region. It was home to the artist John Constable (1776–1837) and is enriched with picturesque medieval villages.

From historic houses, gardens and miles of coastline to food, culture and entertainment, Essex aims to please with a special air of romance and mystery.

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