Norfolk and Suffolk: Top 10 Places to Go

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The high spots of this fascinating and picturesque region cater for all tastes, whether you’re a beach fan, bird-spotter, boat enthusiast or culture vulture

1 Boating on the Norfolk Broads

Hire a boat for the day, take a cruise trip or ideally paddle your own canoe on the delightful waterways of the Norfolk Broads.

2 Sutton Hoo

You don’t have to be an archaeological buff to enjoy this fascinating site of an Anglo-Saxon burial ship, discovered in 1939.

3 Ely Cathedral

Make a detour to this magnificent Norman cathedral that towers above the flat landscape of the Fens.

4 Blakeney seals

Take a boat trip from Morston to Blakeney Point to see a colony of several hundred common and grey seals. Cambridge. Hop across the county border to see the fine colleges of this celebrated seat of learning.

5 Cambridge

Hop across the county border to see the fine colleges of this celebrated seat of learning.

6 BeWILDerwood

Take the kids to this magical eco-friendly playground with tree houses and zipwires and meet the forest folk who live deep in the woods.

7 Holkham Hall

All part of the Holkham estate are the grand Holkham Hall, extensive parklands, nature reserve and the glorious Holkham bay, with miles of unspoilt golden sands.

8 Southwold Pier

This quirky pier is one of the best in the country, and one of the few along the coast to have survived the storms.

9 Minsmere RSPB Nature Reserve

Seek out birds and other wildlife at this expertly-run nature reserve, known for marsh harriers and avocets.

10 Norwich Cathedral

Norwich has many medieval buildings but the magnificent Cathedral, with its soaring spire, is the jewel in the crown.

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I can’t begin to say what a wonderful experience it was to work with Rough Guides and especially Jane Davey. The Wales vacation that was planned for us was everything that we hoped for and more importantly, everything that we asked for. We had requested... Read more

Paul, US

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I can’t begin to say what a wonderful experience it was to work with Rough Guides and especially Jane Davey. The Wales vacation that was planned for us was everything that we hoped for and more importantly, everything that we asked for. We had requested a specific type of accommodation and the two properties we were booked into were perfect. The easiest description was that the hotels had “character”. They had an “old world charm” but with up-to-date amenities. They were each centrally located and easy to reach by rail. Each location had courteous staff and the rooms were clean and comfortable. Additionally, each property had a restaurant with delicious food. The tours that were booked for us were all wonderful. We asked for the chance to see local landmarks and interesting places and each tour delivered on that request. Our guides were all friendly, knowledgeable and always on time. Finally, Jane arranged all our rail transfers, using her local knowledge. We always had the exact departure and arrival times and even the expected connection window. Her details made us feel like veteran travelers of a very busy rail system. Most importantly, when we did miss a connection, due to an airline issue, Jane’s attention to detail made us confident that we could make the necessary adjustments to get us back on schedule. It was also comforting to know that if needed, help from Rough Guides was only a phone call away. We sincerely thank Jane for her assistance, and we highly recommend Rough Guides for your next trip.

Paul, US Aug 2024