Great Itineraries

Great Itineraries

You need more than a few days to soak up the medieval atmosphere of Norfolk, Suffolk, and the unspoiled coastal villages. On a three-day trip, it's best to concentrate on one area, probably Cambridge and its surroundings, rather than try to cover the distances separating major sights and towns.

If You Have 3 Days

Cambridge is easy to visit even as a day trip from London—too easy, some say, to judge by the huge number of visitors year-round. It's also the best East Anglian base. Explore some of the ancient university buildings, stroll along the Backs, or punt down the River Cam. The next day, head for Ely and spend an hour or two exploring its majestic cathedral before moving on to Bury St. Edmunds,a town with graceful Georgian streets. Spend the third day exploring the medieval Suffolk wool towns of Sudbury,Long Melford,and Lavenham before returning to Cambridge.

If You Have 7 Days

Start from Cambridge and take in the medieval sights on your first day. Spend the night and then head out to Saffron Walden and northeast, overnighting in Bury St. Edmunds. Explore the town the next day, making time to visit the Abbey Ruins and Botanical Gardens, and then head south through Long Melford,Lavenham,and Sudbury (with a quick stopover to see Gainsborough's House) to Colchester,the traditional base for exploring Constable Country. The next day, head for Constable's Dedham,then take the B1084 to Orford,a tiny village with a Norman church and castle and traditional smokehouses for preparing fish. Spend the next day exploring Sutton Hoo near Woodbridge or Aldeburgh; you may also want to visit Southwold,a seaside town where time seems to have stood still. Travel to Norwich-and visit its cathedral and medieval alleys. The extensive journey northwest to Lincoln,where you can spend your sixth night, takes you through flat fenland. Lincoln is worthy of a day's exploration: on the way back to Cambridge the next day, opt to stop either at Ely,to see its great cathedral, or at Stamford to visit Burghley House, an Elizabethan extravaganza.