4 Best Sights in East Anglia, England

Facing the cathedral across Exchequer Gate, this castle was built by William the Conqueror in 1068, incorporating the remains of Roman walls. The castle was used as a debtor's prison from 1787 to 1878. In the chapel you can see cagelike stalls where convicts heard sermons; they were designed this way so inmates couldn't tell who their fellow prisoners were, thus supposedly preserving a modicum of dignity. The castle's star exhibit is an original copy of Magna Carta, signed by King John in 1215. This is one of only four surviving copies of the original document, and one of few ever to have left the country—it was secretly moved to Fort Knox for safekeeping during World War II. A major renovation in 2015 opened up the wall walk for the first time, allowing visitors to make a complete circuit of the battlements (totaling more than ¼ mile). In addition, a 3-D cinema shows a high-tech film about the history of Magna Carta.

From the outside, this moated castle looks much as it would have in the 12th century. Upon entering, however, you'll notice that the keep is missing, although it still has 13 towers along the curtain wall. Most of the chimneys along the same wall are fake; they were Tudor additions meant to give the impression to passersby that this was a great mansion. Framlingham gradually fell into disrepair in the mid-1500s but not before it played its part in a pivotal moment in English history. After the death of Edward VI (Henry VIII's 15 year-old son), a succession crisis ensued, as, for the first time in English history, the only heirs to the throne were women. This sparked a battle between Mary (Edward's Catholic older sister) and Jane Grey, her teenage cousin, who was declared Queen by Protestant lords hoping to stage a coup. Mary, who was hopelessly outnumbered, fortified herself at Framlingham. Within just nine days she had rallied the great lords and ordinary folk alike to her cause, won the war, and taken back the crown. Today Framlingham is a peaceful place, except in summer, when it's an occasional venue for open-air concerts.

The decorated stone facade of this castle, now a museum on the hill in the center of the city, makes it look like a children's-book illustration. Dating from 1130, the castle is Norman, but a stone keep replaced the original wooden bailey (wall). The thick walls and other defenses attest to its military function. Galleries contain a somewhat eclectic mix of artifacts and interactive displays, covering everything from ancient Egypt to Norman Norfolk and even the history of teapots. One gallery is devoted to the Norwich School of painters who, like John Constable, focused on the everyday landscape and seascape. While the castle is currently closed as part of a restoration and redevelopment project likely to last until 2024, the galleries remain open to the public and display significant exhibits. Admission is £2.50 the last hour before closing.

Small and squat, this castle surveys the flatlands from atop a green mound favored by picnickers in summer. Its splendid triple-tower keep was built from 1165 to 1173 as a coastal defense. Climb it for a view over what was once a medieval port; the 6-mile shingle (small pebbles) bank of Orford Ness eventually cut off direct access to the sea. Below ground are medieval tunnels and an original well, while the upper hall holds Orford's museum and its collection of Roman brooches.