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EASTERN ENGLAND
England's most picturesque area?
3 days / 2 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). We really can't understand why given the 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!
Tour Dates: Your choice! Begin on any day of the week. (Note that some attractions may not be opened daily.)
Available at any date for private groups of 2 – 15 people, subject to availability. Rates are based upon vehicle and guide hire per day; groups of 7 - 15 would have a per person rate same/similar to one of our scheduled tours of the same length.
Price: dependent upon how many are in your party; please contact us for a quote. Contact us for availability and rate quote: specialgrouptours@yahoo.com
Please note, this is a suggested itinerary. It may be revised to suit your individual group needs.
What your tour package includes: The private services of your driver/guide for 3 touring days, your accommodation for 2 nights while on the tour including breakfast and dinner daily, all entrance fees to gardens and attractions, transportation, all taxes and tips other than those you may wish to give your guide.
Airport transfers, accommodation pre and post tour, London city tours, London attraction passes and London transport passes are not included but can be added to your package as you wish. Ask us for details.
Why not Link it? This tour ’links up’ with any of the 3-day tours in our “Name the Date” Series such as Literary Kent and Sussex, Heart of England or Hampshire Gardens to name a few. Heaps of choices! Mix, match and create a holiday break to suit your schedule!
TENTATIVE ITINERARY
DAY ONE
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.
Overnight: Woodbridge
DAY TWO
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 16th century prison (not least for poor Mary, Queen of Scots), a poor house and a school.
Then we'll follow the coast road visiting charming coastal villages like Adleburgh (home of classical composer Benjamin Brittain) and Southwold. An alternative route would take us to the stunningly beautiful mediaeval Otley Hall, home of Captain Bartholomew Gosnold, a captain of one of the original ships to Jamestown in 1606 and whose daughter gave her name to ‘Martha’s Vineyard’, an island he discovered on an earlier voyage. 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.
As on all Back-Roads Touring Co. Ltd tours, tour participants will have their say in what our priority visits will be for the day.
Overnight: Woodbridge
DAY THREE
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.
London accommodation is not included in your tour rate but is available for a supplemental fee.
Please note: All attraction opening dates/times are correct at time of printing this website.
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