Norfolk sticks out into the North Sea on the way to nowhere, which is precisely why it has stayed quiet and unspoiled. Its county town, Norwich, is one of the most complete medieval cities in England, and just beyond lie the Broads, a gentle, watery landscape of reed-fringed lakes and rivers unlike anywhere else in the country. Together they make a rewarding and uncrowded escape.
The city
Norwich packs a great deal into a walkable centre: a magnificent Norman cathedral with the second-tallest spire in England, a sturdy castle on its mound, a famous covered market, and more medieval churches than any city north of the Alps once boasted. The lanes of the old centre, particularly the cobbled Elm Hill, are a pleasure to wander, and the city has a lively, independent streak in its shops and food.
The Broads
- Hire a boat for a few hours or a few days; pottering the rivers and lakes at walking pace is the classic way to see the Broads.
- Look out for the windmills, the wildlife and the riverside pubs you can moor beside.
- Walk or cycle the quiet lanes and waterside paths if you would rather stay on dry land.
Getting there
Norwich is on the railway, a couple of hours from London, and the city is best explored on foot. For the Broads, a car helps to reach the boatyards and villages, though some are accessible by train and bus, and once afloat you need nothing else.
The Broads are loveliest in late spring and summer, when the reeds are green and the waterside pubs are open, while Norwich is good all year. This is slow, gentle England, a place for messing about on the water, walking flat green country and enjoying a fine old city at a relaxed pace. For anyone seeking somewhere genuinely uncrowded, Norfolk delivers.