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When
families arrive they start to think of how best to capitalize upon
their time here in the U.K., with visits to British attractions
and sights. Many immediately think of travels to London, Wales or
Scotland, but there are many fun activities for families right here
on our East Anglian doorstep and with the benefit of British children
being back at school, there should be less traffic and fewer crowds
wherever you decide to go! Whatever your interest, there should
be something for you and all within a drive of an hour or so from
home Here
are some ideas to help you make the most of your time in East Anglia Airplanes
and railways
The
Imperial War Museum in Duxford near Cambridge is Europe’s Premier
Aviation Museum. This famous heritage site began as an airfield
in the First World War and also played a vital role in the Second
World War, firstly as an RAF fighter station and later as an American
fighter base. Duxford houses a large collection of both military
and commercial aircraft, as well as having one of the finest collections
of tanks, military vehicles and naval exhibits in the country. The American Air Museum at the site stands as a memorial to the 30,000 Americans who died flying from the UK in the Second World War. Here you will find Duxford's unique collection of historic American combat aircraft including the B-17 Flying Fortress. If
trains are what excite members of your family, there are a number
of sites to visit in the region. Apart from taking a trip on a modern
train, perhaps to London, there are also a number of vintage train
options for you. The Nene Valley Railway runs for seven and
a half miles between Yarwell Junction and Peterborough. Its headquarters
are based at Wansford. Passengers can get on and off at a number
of stations en route where there are also have attractions to visit.
Steam trains or vintage diesel trains run on certain days. During
Spring break steam trains will run on the 9th and 10th
April. For younger visitors, on certain dates throughout the year,
the railway plays host to the famous Thomas the Tank engine, which
families can visit and ride. Another
vintage train option is the North Norfolk Railway, which
offers a 10.5 mile round trip by steam train (vintage diesel trains
on some journeys) through a delightful area of North Norfolk known
for outstanding natural beauty. To the south are wooded hills and
the Norfolk beauty spots of Kelling Heath and Sheringham
Park, and to the north is the sea. All of these are within easy
walking distance from the various stations. The train runs from
Sheringham to Holt and stops at various stations in between. Animals
and Wildlife
There are many places to enjoy animals in our region. Colchester and Banham zoos are both popular choices. A little further away, but still worth the visit is Woburn Safari Park near Bedford. Here, visitors can drive through the open animal enclosures for a more authentic safari experience. For
less wild animals and particularly suitable for younger children,
you could visit Snettisham Park Farm near Kings Lynn.
This 320-acre farm has a herd of Red deer. Children can help to
bottle feed lambs and piglets, take a pony ride, and see lots of
other animals as part of the visit. For
a true wildlife-viewing day out, take a boat trip from the North
Norfolk Coast to see the common and grey seals basking at Blakeney
Point. The views are stunning and what better chance to breathe
in the fresh sea air. There are a number of operators working in
the area, mostly out of the village of Moreston. Booking is essential,
as trip times vary daily according to the tides. Tourist information
centers will give you booking numbers. East
Anglia is one of Britain’s top areas for bird watching with many
sites of an internationally recognized reputation. The Royal Society
for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) has a number of important reserves
in the region, which you are able to visit. They include hides and
walk areas and can be investigated at www.rspb.org.uk/reserves The
Welney Wildfowl Trust near Ely is also a significant bird
watching location and while it is most popular during the November
to February ‘swan season’ it has much to offer year round. Historic
Buildings and archaeological sights
East
Anglia has a rich historical heritage and this is reflected in the
large number of historic buildings and sights displaying over 4000
years of our local history. The Cathedrals at Ely, Norwich, Bury
St, Edmunds and Peterborough date back almost 1000 years and
are all worth a visit and can be combined with other attractions
or shopping to make a pleasant day out. Cambridge is a city
certainly worth a trip. You can mix visits to the beautiful historic
college buildings with walks in their attractive gardens, shopping
and of course punting on the River Cam. Spring break is a great
time to visit, as the University students are all at home for the
holidays and more colleges will be open to the public. Also, the
spring bulbs are all in bloom, making the gardens particularly lovely
at this time of year. Other
historic buildings in the area include castles, which while not
as numerous as those in some other parts of the country, date back
to the 12th Century. Framlingham Castle, hidden
behind curtain walls linking 13 towers and Norfolk’s Castle Rising
are both interesting choices. Some
of the buildings you can visit reflect the development in domestic
architecture and taste through the centuries. Oxburgh Hall
near Swaffham, is a quintessential Tudor moated manor house built
in 1482. It has a magnificent gatehouse with gardens and woodland
which are great for family walks. The wonderful displays in the
main house include an outstanding display of embroidery worked by
Mary, Queen of Scots. If Tudor architecture is your area of interest,
visits to Melford Hall and Kentwell Hall in the picturesque
Suffolk village of Long Melford may also be on your itinerary. For
other impressions of how the British used to live, you may also
consider Ickworth House near Bury St Edmunds, an unusual
Georgian house and landscaped park, which was created in 1795. Blickling
Hall near Aylsham in Norfolk was built in the early 1600’s and
is one of England’s great Jacobean houses, while Felbrigg Hall
near Cromer is one of the regions finest 17th Century
houses. Wimpole Hall and Wimpole Home Farm near Cambridge
are worth considering, as they have something to offer all ages
of the family. The Hall is a magnificent 18th-century house with
fine interiors, fascinating servants’ quarters and an extensive
wooded park. Next door is Wimpole Home farm and both can easily
be visited in a day. This is an 18th-century model farm built in
1794 and is now home to a fascinating range of rare animal breeds,
including sheep, goats, cattle, pigs and horses. At this time of
year, the farm holds special lambing weekends and events popular
with younger children. The Hall gardens also have thousands of daffodils
making this a great Spring Break choice. If
earlier history is of interest, you could consider Grimes Graves,
near Thetford. This is a Neolithic flint mine where you can discover
the conditions of Stone Age man some 4,000 years ago. Sutton
Hoo in Melton, Suffolk is an Anglo-Saxon royal burial site.
It is the site of one of the most important archaeological finds
in this Britain’s history. One of several large burial mounds was
excavated, revealing the now famous treasures, including a warrior’s
helmet, shield and gold ornaments in the remains of a burial chamber
of a 90ft ship. The exhibition hall houses a full-size reconstruction
of the chamber and tells the story of the site – described as ‘page
one of English history’. In addition a new exhibition area houses
original artifacts from the Sutton Hoo collection, on loan from
the British Museum in London. Flag
Fen Centre at Peterborough is an open, outdoor museum area,
where you can view ongoing archaeological excavations of a Bronze
Age site. The centre also houses an excellent museum displaying
outstanding Bronze Age finds. www.englishheritage.org.uk/eastofengland The
Royal family
You
don’t have to go to Buckingham Palace in London or to Windsor Castle
to get a taste of Royal life in Britain. Built in 1870, Sandringham
House near Kings Lynn has been passed down as a private home
through four generations of British monarchs and is now the country
retreat of Her Majesty The Queen. All the main ground floor rooms
used by The Royal Family, full of their treasured ornaments, portraits
and furniture, are open to the public throughout the spring and
summer. The surrounding gardens are also quite beautiful and are
open to the public for viewing. Sports
and adventure
If
your family prefers a more active day out, there are many sporting
activities in the area for them to enjoy. The Norfolk Broads,
South east of Norwich, are designated as a National Park as a result
of the beauty of its waterways. Boating and sailing are very popular in this area
and so motor launches, cruisers, sailing yachts, sailing dinghies,
rowing boats, canoes and windsurfers can be hired throughout the
area. These are available to rent by the hour, day, short break or week from
boat yards. Angling is also popular in East Anglia and apart from fishing in
the many rivers and waterways, sea fishing trips are available from
coastal areas in North Norfolk and in Suffolk. (Contact tourist
information centers for more details.) For
horseracing you should visit Newmarket, which is both the
historical home and the current powerhouse of British horseracing.
You can visit the National Horseracing Museum here and also
attend the races. During Spring break there will be races between
12th and 14th April but book ahead if possible
as tickets do sell out. If you prefer riding horses yourself, there
are many horse riding centers in the area. Just look them up in
your local yellow pages. For
something a little different, why not visit Thetford Forest,
Britain's largest lowland pine forest. High Lodge Forest Centre,
is in the heart of the forest, with walks, an adventure playground,
a maze, giant sculpture trail & the new ‘Go-Ape’ ropes course,
which takes you on a two and a half hour trip high above the forest
floor! There are also many cycle trails and you can hire cycles
if needed. Paintballing
can be a popular family day out. There are a number of paintballing
companies in the area. For example this can be arranged at Pidley
Paintball in Pidley and at Mepal Outdoor Centre near
Ely. If you enjoy speed, go kart racing is a fun activity to consider.
Kartsport near Caxton offers kart racing on both indoor and
outdoor tracks. Many
people like walking in the countryside and are spoiled for choice
in our part of England. Thetford forest, and the regions beaches
are all excellent destinations. In addition, Ordnance Survey maps
can be purchased from local newsagents and gas stations and these
will show all the public footpaths that traverse our countryside.
There are also numerous country parks and nature areas in the area
for you to enjoy, such as Wicken Fen near Ely. Check out
some of the tourist websites listed for more ideas. For
a true British experience why not go to a football (soccer!!) match.
There are top teams in Norwich and Ipswich. Ticket prices will be
quite high for these teams and booking will need to be made well
in advance, but the noise and excitement will be unforgettable.
For a less expensive option and one where such advance booking is
not necessary, you could try Cambridge United. The team is not of
the very top standard but the supporter’s passion is no less for
that. During Spring break the team have a home game on 9th
April. Theme
Park thrills and Spills
If
rollercoasters are your family’s choice, there are a couple of options
locally. Pleasurewood
Hills is East Anglia´s theme park located between Great Yarmouth
and Lowestoft. It has over 50 acres of rides, attractions and shows
including roller coasters, the Mega Drop Tower, (100ft of freefall),
water rides, and more. The park takes care to also cater for the
younger members of the family and grandparents and has plenty of
places to eat and shop. Pleasure
Beach is a Funfair/Theme Park located on the seafront at Great
Yarmouth. There are over 70 rides and attractions including some
for thrill seekers such as the awe-inspiring Ejector Seat The main
park has over 20 large rides and there are gardens, mini golf courses,
water attractions and rides for small children. You can choose to
pay for rides individually or you can purchase an unlimited free
ride wristband to use for the day. Other
resources
Hopefully
this will have given you some inspiration as to how to entertain
your family this holiday. If you need more ideas, take a look at
these websites: www.visitcambridge.org
www.visitnorfolk.co.uk www.visitnorwich.co.uk
www.visit-suffolk.org.uk www.broadland.gov.uk
www.southernbroads.com Alternatively
contact your local Tourist Information Center. These can give you
information about visit ideas in our area and also throughout the
U.K. Newmarket:
Palace House, Palace St, Newmarket, Suffolk CB8 8EP
Tel: 01638 667200 Ely:Oliver
Cromwell's House, 29, St. Marys St, Ely, Cambridgeshire CB7 4HF
Tel: 01353 662062 Brandon
:Elbourne House, 31, High St, Brandon, Suffolk IP27 0AQ Tel: 01842 814955
Bury
St. Edmunds: 6, Angel Hill, Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk IP33 1UZ
Tel: 01284 764667
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