|
Back to Back-Roads Touring Home Page
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 & PRICES FOR YEAR
2005
|
Tour
Code |
Depart London |
Return London |
|
EE
|
Wednesday |
Friday |
|
EE01
|
25 May
|
27 May
|
|
EE02
|
08 Jun
|
10 Jun
|
|
EE03
|
22 Jun
|
24 Jun
|
|
EE04
|
06 Jul
|
08 Jul
|
|
EE05
|
20 Jul
|
22 Jul
|
|
EE06
|
03 Aug
|
05 Aug
|
|
EE07
|
17 Aug
|
19 Aug
|
|
EE08
|
31 Aug
|
02 Sep
|
|
EE09
|
14 Sep
|
16 Sep
|
|
EE10
|
28 Sep
|
30 Sep
|
|
Price: GBP £325.00 pp twin
share Single
Supplement: GBP £25.00
|
|
TENTATIVE ITINERARY |
NIGHTSTOP |
| |
|
|
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. |
Woodbridge |
| |
|
|
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 Adleburgh (home of
classical cmposer 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.
Why not combine this mini-tour
with either our
Heart of England or
In Search of Arthur tour,
both departing London on
Saturday? |
|
|
NOTE:
Includes: three
days touring, two night's
accommodation with breakfasts
and dinners, all entrance fees
and services of driver/guide and
companion. |
|
Back to Back-Roads Touring Home
Page |
|
