3 Best Sights in East Anglia, England

Cambridge University maintains some fine museums in its research halls on Downing Street—the wonder is that they're not better known to visitors. Highlights at the Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology include an array of objects brought back from Captain Cook's pioneering voyages to the Pacific; Roman and medieval-era British artifacts; and the oldest human-made tools ever discovered, from the African expeditions of British archaeologist Louis Leakey (1903–72).

Beautifully designed, this museum at Cambridge University's Scott Polar Research Institute chronicles the history of polar exploration. There's a particular emphasis on the British expeditions of the 20th century, including the ill-fated attempt by Robert Falcon Scott to be the first to reach the South Pole in 1912. Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen reached the pole first; Scott and his men perished on the return journey, but their story became legendary. There are also collections devoted to the science of modern polar exploration; the indigenous people of northern Canada, Greenland, and Alaska; and frequently changing art installations.

Europe's leading aviation museum houses a remarkable collection of 180 aircraft from Europe and the United States. The former airfield is effectively a complex of several museums under one banner. The Land Warfare Hall features tanks and other military vehicles. The striking American Air Museum, which honors the 30,000 Americans killed in action flying from Britain during WW II, contains the largest display of American fighter planes outside the United States. AirSpace holds a vast array of military and civil aircraft in a 3-acre hangar. Directly underneath is the Airborne Assault Museum, which chronicles the history of airborne forces, such as the British Parachute Regiment, which played a pivotal role in the Normandy Landings.

One of the most popular exhibits is a Spitfire plane that was shot down over Calais during World War II and recovered in 1986. A massive restoration project made the plane fully airworthy again in 2014. There are also hangars where you can see restoration work taking place on other WW II planes and exhibitions on maritime warfare and the Battle of Britain. See the planes in action with the historic air shows that are held on a handful of dates every summer; check the website for details.