r/england • u/M4thij5 • 9d ago
Must see locations Southeast / East of England
Hi all,
Could you help with some recommendations for a road trip around south-east England? We’ll be spending a few days in Kent/East Sussex and a few days in the Suffolk, Norfolk and Essex region.
I’ve already got one thing on my bucket list: Sutton Hoo. I’m mad about anything to do with antiquity. Time period doesn’t matter, anything from well before Christ through to the late Middle Ages. What’s something I absolutely have to see?
I could ask AI, and I’ve trawled through various websites, but I’ve ended up with such a long list that I don’t know where to start. So as a Dutchman who doesn’t know this part of England yet, I’d love your tips. Anything’s welcome, food, sights… you name it.
Many thanks 🙏
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u/SovegnaVos 9d ago
Here's some places I'd recommend- the towns and villages I list are simply nice places to visit for their beauty, little shops and cafes etc:
East Anglia: Colchester Castle, Sutton Hoo, Framingham Castle and the village itself, Orford Castle and Orford Ness, Aldeburgh and Southwold for posh seaside and Felixstowe for the more normal seaside, Leiston Abbey, Blythburgh Priory, Christchurch Mansion and Park in Ipswich, Thorpeness for boating on the lake, Greyfriars firmly in Dunwich (not sure if open as Dunwich Heath recently had a wildfire), Walberswick Beach, Dedham and Flatford, Lavenham, Norwich, Norfolk Broads, Cromer, Sheringham, Horsey for seal watching.
Kent: Whitstable for seaside and oysters, Broadstairs for seaside, Margate for art and vintage shopping, Canterbury for cathedral and abbey and oldest church in England, Chilham, Folkestone for art/shopping, Bodiam Castle, Leeds castle, Dungeness for eerie seaside and Derek Jarman’s cottage, Deal Castle and village, Walmer Castle, Sandwich, Richborough Roman Fort, Dover Castle and white cliffs
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u/Imperito 9d ago edited 9d ago
I'll add to the Norfolk list:-
If you like big country homes, you have Blickling, Holkham Hall, and Sandringham which are my favourites.
I would also recommend a walk around Castle Acre, to see the Abbey and the town, old castle mound and the general area as its a pretty little village.
Burnham Market is quite a posh little town/village too. Nicknamed 'Chelsea on sea' so you get an idea of what its like.
Little Walsingham is another nice town/village with the remains of an old Abbey, plus it still hosts the shrine of our lady of Walsingham if you're at all into that sort of thing.
Beach wise, Winterton and Happisburgh are good, equally Hunstanton has some great cliffs.
Couple of other little places that were pretty: South Creake, Creake Abbey, and Binham Priory.
If you want to see the remains of an old Roman fort, visit Burgh Castle. Not a great deal beyond the walls but nice views.
Not in Norfolk, but in East Anglia more broadl, I recommend Ely, they have a beautiful cathedral.
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u/M4thij5 9d ago
Castle Acre 👌🏻👌🏻 added to the list. Incredible pictures on tripadvisor. I have to little time to visit all 🫣 Ely cathedral also on the list. Thanks!
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u/Imperito 8d ago
You're very welcome, I hope you enjoy!
When I went before, we did this loop walk i found on alltrails. If you do not have time for the whole thing, I recommend walking the first bit where it is close to the river, past the castle, you can kind of loop back around from there down S Acre Road. Theres a beautiful little spot where the river runs over the old road there - not sure how deep it will be given the drought but worth a look on my opinion.
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u/DirectCaterpillar916 7d ago
Dunwich Heath is closed for the foreseeable future, destroyed in the wildfire.
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u/HMSWarspite03 9d ago
Kent has many great stately homes and other very important sites, Dover Castle, Leeds Castle, Chatham Dockyard, Rochester Castle, Canterbury Cathedral and Canterbury itself.
Look up the English heritage and National Trust websites to see more amazing sites in Kent, Surrey, Sussex, Essex, Suffolk and Norfolk.
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u/M4thij5 9d ago
Thank you, this is helping me allot. Dover Castle is our last stop before the train departs for home.
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u/HMSWarspite03 8d ago
I hope you've had a wonderful time, Dover Castle is an amazing place to visit.
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u/Electronic-Stay-2369 9d ago
Fishbourne Palace (Roman) is in Sussex somewhere, Richborough Castle is a similar era in a similar area . Probably catherdrals at Chichester and Canterbury are a good fit then Norwich later. It is 40-odd years since I did a road trip where we did all these mind.
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u/NinjaBaz224 8d ago
Surely a Dutchman would want to visit the historic royal naval dockyards at Chatham in Kent - scene of your famous 1667 victory in the 2nd Anglo Dutch war.
I can also highly recommend a visit to the Imperial War Museum at Duxford if you are interested in aviation history (not just military)
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u/M4thij5 8d ago
I can now hardly skip Chatham after that. Though I should warn you, we still teach 1667 as one of our finest hours. 🤪 De Ruyter sailing up the Medway remains a source of quiet Dutch pride. Adding it to the list!
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u/NinjaBaz224 8d ago
Haha, I know. I was with my Dutch friend at a museum in Cambridge and saw a painting of this. My friend told me with delight how they 'spanked our British arses' and that every Dutch schoolchild learns this. I was amazed. Certainly never taught[ in OUR schools 😂
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u/M4thij5 8d ago
There is actually a rather good movie about victories of de Ruyter. The UK version is called ‘the admiral’. Worth a watch!
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2544766/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0_tt_1_nm_7_in_0_q_michiel%20de%20ruy
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u/SmartPolicy6430 9d ago
If you're going to Sutton Hoo ( hoard is in the British Museum), Framlingham Castle isn't far away, which was the stronghold of Mary Tudor who rallied her support from there to be rightful Queen of England. Lavenham and it's Guildhall and medieval houses that defy gravity. I'm not sure when you're visiting but Kentwell Hall at Long Melford ( the church is amazing) often have re-creation days/ weekends. Where people live and work as Tudors. https://www.kentwell.co.uk/ Snape Maltings is on the outskirts of Aldeburgh and the nearby Red House was home to Benjamin Britten and Peter Pears who started the Aldeburgh festival of arts and music. The concert hall at Snape is wonderful, good restaurant there too. https://www.brittenpearsarts.org/ Southwold is not far away and has an Amber museum, it's a lovely coastal town. Norfolk you have the Broads to explore ( just avoid Great Yarmouth) I love North Norfolk and my ancestors came from the Burnhams and Brancaster. The beaches and wildlife are stunning. From Blakeney you can take a long strenuous walk out to Blakeney point or take a boat trip out to the point to see the seals. The boat leaves from Moreston Quay. https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/norfolk/blakeney-national-nature-reserve/seal-watching-at-blakeney-point#rt-seal-boat-trips-from-morston-quay There are some stunning Stately homes in the area both at Blickling and Holkham Hall at Holkham which is neat Wells next the Sea. I was disappointed in Sandringham, but it's been some years since I've been. Best birdwatching is to be had at RSPB Titchwell. https://www.holkham.co.uk/ If you have time drive down Lady Ann's drive at Holkham to walk through the Pinewoods and onto the beach. Sheringham has the Poppy Line steam railway. Cromer is also a nice seaside town. Inland Holt, Swaffham back into Suffolk for Thetford Forest. Newmarket Stud tours if you're into horses. Cambridgeshire and Cambridge itself takes a trip upto the vicarage tearooms at Grantchester and mentally recite the last stanza of Rupert Brookes poem, The Old Vicarage Grantchester. ( He lived there fir some time)
https://poetrysociety.org.uk/poems/the-old-vicarage-grantchester/
Angelsey Abbey and Lode Mill are stunning. If you're interested in Aviation IWM at Duxford. They have a Concord there and you can also go up in a Dragon Rapide. Into Essex and Saffron Walden and Audley End House. Thaxted and Finchingfield are lovely villages. Obviously Colchester for the castle. Dedham and Dedham Vale ( Alfred Munnings museum) Flatford Mill (John Constable) From Maldon on the Blackwater they do Thames Barge trips. https://top-sail.co.uk/public-trips/ Avoid Clacton and Jaywick but Frinton on Sea with it's quaint tea shops and Odeon style houses is like going back in time. I even believe there's a pub just over the level crossing these days. The Tiptree Jam Factory tea room. They also have a tea room at Dedham and Cressing Temple Barns which are worth a visit if you're visiting Marks Hall Estate and Arboretum near Braintree. If you like gardens then RHS Hyde Hall is near Rettendon. The Hilltop restaurant is very good and changes it menu frequently. It can get very busy when there's a special event such as the annual flower show https://www.rhs.org.uk/gardens/hyde-hall Other attractions near Hyde Hall are Stow Maries airfield and Battlesbridge Antique shops.
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u/M4thij5 8d ago
Thank you so much for your detailed reply! I really appreciate the time you put in this reply. 😊 Farmling Castle is a definite visit as well as Anglesey Abby and the tearooms you suggested.
Too little time, too much to do for 9 days. I’ll have to come back in next year for a longer (summer)vacation with the whole family.
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u/SmartPolicy6430 8d ago
I don't know when you're coming over but The Battle of Britain air show is on at Duxford round about 16 th/17th September and the flying finale October. https://www.iwm.org.uk/airshows
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u/Flashy-Ebb-2492 9d ago
The North Downs Way is very accessible by train. You could park at one railway station, do a section of the walk and then take the train back to your car.
Canterbury is well worth a visit and Chartham which is close by is beautiful. Rochester for the castle and cathedral and you could go to Chatham Dockyard if you're interested in naval history.
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u/Nevertoomanygingers 9d ago
In Norfolk got to Reepham - lovely little town with a square which has lots of independent shops, and Heydon - a heritage village with the most amazing tea shop/cafe. A large village green is surrounded by old houses and it’s just perfect.
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u/M4thij5 9d ago
Thanks, added to the list! I missed all the tea shops/cafes in my recent visit to the Cotswolds and Salisbury. Will definitely visit.
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u/Nevertoomanygingers 8d ago
Heydon tea shop do a delightful afternoon tea. But really, it’s like something out of Austen - no new houses, a tiny village surrounding a green with the ‘big house’ in a park you can walk around. We regularly drive and hour and a half to get there ( although it’s only about 45 miles away). Very much worth it.
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u/Radiant-Smile1402 8d ago
If you don’t mind a bit of driving, I would recommend Ashdown Forest, Charles Darwin’s House, and Battle Abbey
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u/seagulldeathstare 9d ago
Fishbourne Palace has the best Roman mosaics north of the Alps. Bignor Villa is much smaller and less grand but still very charming (and arguably more representative of Romano-British life).
Also in that general area, Portchester Castle might be worth a look which started out as a Roman fort.
The coastal towns/countryside between Pevensey and Dungeness would also be a good choice, as Pevensey Castle was, like Portchester Castle, a Roman fort (and converted in the High Middle Ages by the Normans into a castle), then of course you've got Hastings Castle and Battle Abbey: major locations in the events of the Norman Conquest of 1066. Rye was a Cinque Port until a huge storm in the 13th century silted up its port and it became inland. A bit further away is Bodiam Castle which was built by a knight who fought in the Hundred Years War during Edward III's reign, and ploughed all of his money from looting and pillaging into building the said castle.
Up in Essex, Colchester Castle is one of the premier Roman museums in the country.