Norfolk
One of England's premier birdwatching sites, Cley Marshes has more than 300 resident bird species, plentiful migrants and a network of walking trails and bird hides amid its golden reeds.
Even if you're not into birdwatching, don't miss the (free) visitor centre and cafe where seats and telescopes line up beside vast picture windows with panoramic reserve views. This is birdwatching for softies; sip a latte while enjoying zoomed-in images of marsh harriers.
24.27 MILES
Both monarchists and those bemused by the English system will have plenty to mull over here, at the Queen's country estate. It's set in 25 hectares of…
24.53 MILES
Norwich's most impressive landmark is a magnificent Anglican cathedral. Its barbed spire soars higher than any in England except Salisbury's, while the…
24.67 MILES
Crowning a hilltop overlooking central Norwich, this massive 12th-century castle is one of England’s best-preserved examples of Anglo-Norman military…
24.55 MILES
Stay on your best behaviour: 14th-century Bridewell is a former house of correction, a 'prison for women, beggars and tramps'. Displays here explore…
Holkham National Nature Reserve
10.21 MILES
Beach, dunes, salt marsh, grazing marsh, pinewoods and scrub – a high number of habitats pack into 37-sq-km Holkham Reserve. It's easily accessed from the…
12.29 MILES
Largely remodelled in the 17th century for Sir Henry Hobart, James I's chief justice, Blickling Hall began life in the 11th century as a manor house and…
18.83 MILES
Built for Britain's first de-facto prime minister, Sir Robert Walpole, in 1730, Palladian-style Houghton Hall is worth seeing for the ornate staterooms…
Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts
24.25 MILES
The region's most important centre for the arts is housed in the first major public building by renowned architect Norman Foster. Its eclectic collections…
7.98 MILES
The longest 10.25in narrow-gauge railway in the world puffs for 5 picturesque miles from Wells to the village of Little Walsingham, the site of religious…
8.7 MILES
Fringed by dense pine forests and undulating dunes, Wells' sandy shore stretches for miles to the west, with brightly coloured beach huts clustering…
9.11 MILES
An elegant Jacobean mansion boasting a fine Georgian interior, a splendid facade, an orangery and gorgeous walled gardens. It’s 2 miles southwest of…
4. Holkham National Nature Reserve
10.21 MILES
Beach, dunes, salt marsh, grazing marsh, pinewoods and scrub – a high number of habitats pack into 37-sq-km Holkham Reserve. It's easily accessed from the…
10.48 MILES
Tap out a message in Morse and spell your name in semaphore flags – hands-on gizmos add to the appeal of this excellent museum, as do the well-told tales…
10.57 MILES
Holkham Hall is the ancestral seat of the original Earl of Leicester and still belongs to his descendants. A severe Palladian mansion, it's largely…
12.29 MILES
Largely remodelled in the 17th century for Sir Henry Hobart, James I's chief justice, Blickling Hall began life in the 11th century as a manor house and…
14.02 MILES
This narrow-gauge steam train runs between Aylsham and Wroxham and is an ideal way to see some hidden parts of the Broads. Trains operate different…