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Cambridge and East Anglia

Posted by (Philadelphia, PA, USA) on

We're asking for feedback on our basic itinerary, and hoping for suggestions for additional day trips and favorite places to stay and eat.

First, as brief background, we are experienced travelers who have visited England multiple times. On this trip we're revisiting Cambridge which we last saw decades ago, and exploring East Anglia, which we've never experienced. As older seniors, we are not renting a car on this trip, both for our safety and those around us! After using National Express to travel to Cambridge, all other travel will be by rail. We have no specific mobility issues, but we recognize we travel slower and have less endurance than in our younger years. As retirees, we can add days to this itinerary. We anticipate going on this trip in September or early October, 2024.

Days 1-2. Arrive Heathrow from USA and take National Express from Heathrow to Cambridge. We understand that it may be slightly faster to take public transportation into London and then taking a train to Cambridge but we like the convenience of taking a coach that travels directly between the airport and destination.

Days 3-5 Explore Cambridge and day trip to Ely. Possibly add a day for a day trip to Kings Lynn.

Day 6-8 Travel to Norwich. Looking for suggestions on a day trip to an interesting beach/fishing town.

Days 9-12 Travel to Ipswich. Explore Ipswich and day trips to Bury St. Edmunds and Colchester.

Day 13-14 Travel to London Liverpool Station. Probably stay at Premier Inn/London City/Aldgate. On departure day, we plan to walk to Aldgate East station, go to Whitechapel station and from there take the Elizabeth Line to Heathrow.

Thanks in advance for your suggestions.

Posted by
8135 posts

At Cambridge I would certainly add on a day trip to Kings Lynn.

From there the royal estate at Sandringham is easily accessible by bus if that interests you, and beyond there the Victorian seaside town of Hunstanton.

There is actually a 'Coasthopper' bus round the North coast of Norfolk all the way to Cromer (see under Norwich).

The easy day trip to a nice seaside town is the train to both Cromer and Sheringham. At Sheringham (the end of the line) there is a direct connection into the preserved steam North Norfolk Railway.

If you then take the Coasthopper bus onto Wells-next-the-sea (another attractive seaside town) there is another preserved railway (this one is narrow gauge)- the Wells and Walsingham Light Railway.
Walsingham is a very interesting village- and is one of the big pilgrimage destinations in the UK, to this day.
The village is also on the Coasthopper route.

From Norwich I also suggest taking a boat trip out onto the Norfolk Broads-

Posted by
417 posts

I second taking a tour from Norwich out to the Broads, they’re wonderful and like nothing else in the UK.

If you like gardens, then Hyde Hall, one of the Royal Horticultural Society’s gardens is near Colchester, as is Beth Chatto’s garden, both really worth a visit.

Posted by
28247 posts

In addition to Ely, I liked Bury St Edmunds, and I've read that Lavenham is extremely picturesque.

Posted by
1344 posts

Hi Anita -

Ely Cathedral is spectacular, but as I recall it’s at the top of a hill! Worth the effort though! Another vote for the coast - Wells-next-the-sea, Clay-next-the-sea, Brancaster Staith, Horatio, Lord Nelson born at Burnham Thorpe…..nice part of the world!

Ian

P.S. Not being of an especially religious bent I found Walsingham a bit overpowering. Intriguing, odd, but possibly a bit ‘much’. Each to his own though!

Posted by
552 posts

Many thanks for the tips and suggestions. This is exactly the kind of feedback we hoped to receive. Please, keep it coming.

Posted by
8135 posts

You may find the Visit Norwich website useful- https://www.visitnorwich.co.uk/

I must admit that I didn't know that Norwich Airport was still open with KLM flights from Amsterdam (for worldwide connections) and Aberdeen (for a King's Ransom, on Loganair).

With a bus every 20 minutes into the City Centre it even provides an unorthodox alternative route to London via Greater Anglia trains, but certainly gives easy access to Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire.

Two hours to London every 30 minutes, but off peak it is actually the same price as taking the Elizabeth Line from Heathrow to Central London!!

I'm actually struggling to find Boat Trips on line but you walk out of Norwich Station and they are there in front of you (or they certainly were before Covid).

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