EAST ANGLIA: EASTERN ENGLAND
Mini-Tour - Three days / Two nights
The roots of the English lie in this region known as East
Anglia and comprising the counties of Norfolk, Cambridgeshire, Suffolk and
Essex. It's an area where time seems to have stood still or at least where
modern life has passed by large sections of the country.
What is always a surprise is how comparatively few overseas
visitors discover the region's charms (although it was home to many US
military from the Second World War onward). And what a range of sites there
are to see! From the ancient prehistoric to the medieval. From unique
flat-lands to the North Sea coast. From perfectly preserved villages to
imposing Stately homes.
Our tour provides a quick introduction to the region but
after this taster, you'll undoubtedly want to return for a longer look next
time.
DEPARTURE DATES 2003:
Wednesday to Friday: 16Apr, 30Apr, 14May, 28May, 11Jun, 25Jun, 09Jul,
23Jul, 06Aug
Price: $499 . Single room supplement: $ 65
Includes three days touring, two night’s accommodation with full
breakfasts and three course dinners, all entrance fees and services of a
driver/guide/companion.
DAY ONE - WEDNESDAY
We depart from London taking a direct route from the city. An hour or so
drive sees us at our first stop, the university city of Cambridge. This
sleepy, easily-walked medieval city provides a superb gateway to East
Anglia. We'll visit one of the colleges, and see students punt on the backs
of the River Cam. There's also the excellent Fitzwilliam museum to visit and
great shopping! We continue into the county of Suffolk and make our next
stop the museum of East Anglia life in Stowmarket. This 70-acre all weather
museum has reconstruction of buildings including a water mill. There are
displays on Victorian domestic life, gypsies, farming and industry, plus
historic films and videos, all of which make it an ideal place to spend a
couple of hours.
DAY TWO - THURSDAY
Our first stop today will be at one of the UK's most important
archeological sites, that of the Anglo Saxon Royal Cemetery at Sutton Hoo (www.suttonhoo.org).
Here you'll see the uncovered remains of our earliest Saxon ancestors, and
learn about their way of life and death. Next on our itinerary will be the
impressive Framlingham Castle. This superb 12th-century castle which, from
the outside, looks almost the same as when it was built. From the continuous
curtain wall, linking 13 towers, there are excellent views over Framlingham
and the charming reed-fringed mere. At different times, the castle has been
a fortress, an Elizabethan prison, a poor house and a school. Then we'll
follow the coast road visiting charming coastal villages like Aledbutgh
(home of classical composer Benjamin Brittain) and Southwold.
Further north there's an area of outstanding scenic beauty, the Norfolk
Broads. The Broads are a network of 200 miles of internal waterways,
initially dug to drain the local fens and reclaim the land. Now there are
used extensively for leisure activities and are home to a wide variety of
wild life and birds.
Woodbridge
DAY THREE - FRIDAY
Lavenham is often referred to as the prettiest village in England. It's
certainly historic with its streets of restored Tudor timber-framed
buildings. One such is the guildhall museum with exhibits on wool industry
of East Anglia. The garden contains examples of plants used in wool
industry, plus a parish 'lock-up' and mortuary! Nearby Sudbury offers us a
completely different attraction, the home and studio of the 18th century
artist Thomas Gainsborough with its large display of artists' work,
18th-century furniture and memorabilia. We've some lovely rural scenery to
tour through and at certain times of the year we'll see the great lavender
field in bloom. On our return to London, we'll tour through Essex, and
definitely take in the villages of Thaxted & Finchingfield where the typical
black and white cottages, gathered around village ponds, make it seem
unbelievable that barely an hour's drive away is the great London
metropolis.
We'll arrive back into London by 6 pm. |
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