Norwich

This is the main city is Norfolk and features an excellent combination of the old and new. While architecture lovers will be able to marvel at the finest collection of medieval architecture in the whole of the United Kingdom, visitors will also find an excellent range of modern amenities to make use of such as hotels, restaurants and shopping centres. The highlights of Norwich are many and varied and include the 12th century cathedral, the impressive castle and the interesting and informative Norwich Castle Museum and Art Gallery. Walking along the cobbled streets to browse for bargains in the city’s open-air markets is a popular pastime here, while visitors can get a real feel for the city by taking an atmospheric floodlit river cruise.

Norwich Castle, Norfolk, England, UK by Bluemoose

King’s Lynn

This picturesque town can be found on the banks of the gently flowing River Ouse and is famous for its historic attractions. Some of the highlights here include the renovated merchants’ houses at the waterside Boat Quay, the ornate Customs House and the Town House Museum of Lynn Life. King’s Lynn also boasts a richly varied entertainment and nightlife scene, and a wide range of musical events are regularly held at the Corn Exchange. Lovers of classical music will want to make sure that they catch a performance from the Norfolk Symphony Orchestra, while the town also features a collection of more than 40 pubs to choose from as well as eateries ranging from trendy bistros to cheap and cheerful cafes and just about everything in between.

Town Hall, King’s Lynn, Norfolk, England, UK by Elliott Brown

Great Yarmouth

The coastal town of Great Yarmouth is the perfect place to relax and unwind on a sunny day, as it features a number of wide sandy beaches. This destination is particularly popular with families, who tend to divide their time between sprawling on the sand and exploring the amusement arcades located along the promenade. Other highlights here include the Tolhouse Museum and Old Prison, Yarmouth racecourse, Caister Castle and the enchanting Thrigby Hall Wildlife Gardens.

Regent Road, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, England, UK by mira66

The Norfolk Broads

This unnamed natural zone is a popular place to go hiking and trekking at any time of the year. A large number of trails run through the Norfolk Broads and offer visitors the chance to see a wide range of flora and fauna. Family run pubs and restaurants provide refreshment and occasionally accommodation to visitors and the area’s many preserved areas mean that this is a real haven for creatures such as the swallowtail butterfly and marsh harrier.

Hunsett Mill, Norfolk Broads, England, UK by Acme, Cristobal Palma Photography

Thetford Forest

Nature lovers will also want to take the time to explore this large and lovely forest while they are visiting Norfolk. The forest can be found just to the south of Thetford and offers visitors to take park in all the usual outdoor activities such as nature watching, wandering through the forest and mountain biking, while a whole host of amenities as well as comfortable accommodation options are available at the Centre Parcs holiday centre situated in the heart of the forest.

Thetford Forest, Norfolk, England, UK by Darren Bradnick

Written on behalf Holidays in Norfolk

The post Five Things You Simply Have To See In Norfolk | England, UK appeared first on Best of European Union.

Norfolk Broads, UK by Russell Smith

But of course, this isn’t everyone’s cup of tea. Millions of travellers prefer to find locations which offer a more tranquil way of life, surrounded by beautiful scenery and with plenty of peace and quiet thrown in. For them, one of the most welcoming destinations of all is located in Eastern England, and it remains one of those places in which time appears to have, if not stood still, been meandering along in a sedate manner for many decades.

The Norfolk Broads isn’t a hidden gem or a closely-guarded secret, it’s a vibrant and extremely popular tourist destination that attracts visitors from all over the world. It’s a location that is something of a rarity in the modern world; somewhere which offers tourists all the up to date facilities that contribute to a wonderful holiday, but in a quiet and understated way that underlines something that East Anglian people have known for centuries – that life is not a race.

Smell the flowers, taste the coffee, enjoy the scenery

Dotted throughout the area are picturesque villages and hamlets that would not look out of place on a chocolate box, and which have changed little over the passing years. The Broads themselves are waterways that provide boat-users with a golden opportunity to soak up some truly spectacular scenery at a pleasantly slow place. Locations such as Horning and Ranworth are stunning, and have become popular bases for tourists from across the globe.

The local pubs and restaurants offer visitors an old-fashioned warm welcome from the moment they arrive. There are plenty to choose from, providing a wonderful selection of Norfolk beers and of course a superb choice of freshly-cooked food. Cromer, a town that’s on the coast to the north of the region, is famous all over the world for the quality of its crab, so be sure to give it a try.

As you might expect from an area that’s well-known for its slow pace, driving around the Norfolk Broads isn’t suitable for boy racers. The roads are fine and allow for easy passage between locations, but you should expect to take it at a leisurely rate. After all, there is some wonderful scenery to take in along the way and, of course, it really isn’t a race!

David Showell is a regular visitor to the Norfolk Broads. He works for www.carhiredirect.co.uk

The post The Unspoilt Beauty of the Norfolk Broads | United Kingdom appeared first on Best of European Union.