The beaches fringing the curved Norfolk and Suffolk coastline are the chief draw for visitors to the region. Even on the busiest summer’s day, there is always space for games, kite-flying or a quiet family picnic in the dunes. And children can be entertained easily and cheaply by boating, crabbing, digging for cockles or wading in muddy creeks.  It’s also a wild landscape of dense pine forest, open heathland and great expanses of salt marsh, which flush purple with sea-lavender in August. Bird life is astonishingly rich and coastal wild flowers include yellow-horned poppies and purple-flowering sea pea, while the unique wetlands of the Broads, one of England’s 10 designated National Parks, is home to more than 400 rare species, including butterflies, dragonflies, moths and snails.  Further inland, undulating countryside and sleepy, flint-built villages are perfect for gentle cycling, walking or touring by car. Stately homes, ruined castles, medieval churches and half-timbered wool-towns with fascinating museums make enjoyable days out.  There’s also a good variety of shopping in lively Georgian towns such as Burnham Market and Holt in North Norfolk and Southwold in Suffolk and, wherever you are, you’re never far from a cosy, pamment-floored pub serving local ales or an excellent delicatessen selling the region’s specialities – pungent cheeses, smoked fish or honey.  Although East Anglia gets less rain than many other holiday destinations in the UK, northerly and easterly winds over the North Sea can keep temperatures low. But even on cold, bright days in winter, the beach car parks can be busy with dog-walkers and hikers.  As soon as schools break up in mid-July, coastal resorts fill quickly. The best time to visit is in spring, when the cow parsley and elderflowers fill the hedgerows, June and early July to avoid the summer rush and September for a good chance of sunny weather combined with summer-warmed sea water.  Norwich International Airport (norwichairport.co.uk), to the north of the city, is four miles from the city centre and the Broads, and 40 minutes from the north coast. There are regular scheduled services with Eastern Airways (0870 366 9100; easternairways.com) and Flybe (0871 700 2000; flybe.com).By train  Trains run every 30 minutes between London’s Liverpool Street Station and Norwich, taking just under two hours, stopping in Ipswich and Stowmarket, and operated by Greater Anglia (greateranglia.co.uk). There’s also mainline rail access from Peterborough and Cambridge. West Norfolk is served by trains from Kings Cross to Kings Lynn, operated by First Capital Connect (firstcapitalconnect.co.uk).  Major roads to Norfolk from south-east England and London are the M11 and A11 then the A47 (to Norwich) or the A148 (for the north coast). The A12 runs from th south-east to Suffolk, and the A47 from the Midlands.  The north Norfolk coast is served by the excellent Coasthopper bus (coasthopper.co.uk), which runs every 30 minutes between King’s Lynn and Cromer in peak season. Timetables provide connections with the Norfolk Green service (norfolkgreen.co.uk), which links the coast with inland villages and Norwich.  The Suffolk coast and inland areas are served by several operators, including Anglian Bus (anglianbus.co.uk) and First Group (firstgroup.com). Greater Anglia trains link Norwich with Cromer, Sheringham, Great Yarmouth, Lowestoft and inland to Thetford. For travel planning using buses, trains and coaches see travelineeastanglia.org.uk.
A comprehensive guide to Norfolk and Suffolk with advice on hotels, restaurants and local pubs, written by our expert Sophie Butler.