A visit to East Anglia in England inspired one of our traveller friends to write the following blog about their trip, which included time spent in Cambridge, Ely and Bury St Edmunds.

Ely Cathedral ‘the ship of the Fens’

Modest in scale, England doesn’t often 'do' superlatives, but East Anglia (Eastern England) is a glorious exception. The skies here are vast, as the flat landscape is the last reach of the North European Plain. Drier and sunnier than much of England, it has cornflower blue skies crisscrossed by migrating birds.

This land is ancient. Named after the Germanic Angles who made it their home sixteen hundred years ago, it is today a sea of millennial villages, pretty canals, watery 'fens' and meadowy rivers, all of it anchored by culturally rich but pleasingly small cities such as Cambridge, Ely, and Norwich.

Magnificent Ely Cathedral

Everything here is eponymous; Ely is no exception. Named after the eels of the marshes from which the city once rose, island like, it is crowned by its wondrous 11th century cathedral. From a distance it really is 'the ship of the fens'. Up close, the loving craftsmanship of its stonemasons, carpenters, and glaziers is deeply affecting. No visit is complete without ascending the centrepiece staircase of the 'Octagon Tower' to view (the current) King Charles’s country estate at Sandringham. Binoculars ready!

Ely Cathedral Octagon Tower – a wonder of medieval engineering

Ely is also home to the fascinating Oliver Cromwell Museum. England’s 'Lord Protector', and an Ely resident before becoming head of state during the country’s seventeenth century flirtation with republicanism. This ancient, half-timbered building (Cromwell’s home) would, on its own, be a delight, but each room is entertainingly dedicated to a different phase of the bloody, nine-year civil war that divided England as surely as it divided the first King Charles’s head from his shoulders.

Cromwell himself met an inglorious, post-posthumous end, with his head removed from the London pike on which it had stayed atop for thirty years (following the monarchy’s restoration), only to be kidnapped and buried in nearby Cambridge. One of England’s gifts to the world, Cambridge is steeped in erudition, history and cultural bounty, its winding streets, specialist shops, elegant colleges, and graceful, watery meadows are a visual dreamscape. The pubs are a treat too!

Clare College, Cambridge

Cambridge’s Fitzwilliam Museum boasts some fine classical archaeology. The English were entranced by these progenitors of western civilization and the imprint is everywhere. 'The Fitz' also houses delightful European paintings and exquisite silverware, handcrafted by 18th century French Huguenot refugees fleeing religious persecution. Their work inspired the mass produced, domestic ware that in time turned Britain into an industrial powerhouse.

King’s College, Cambridge, with its famous chapel

If human endurance inspires you, then a visit to Cambridge’s Polar Museum is essential. it’s a moving testament to the British and Norwegian explorers whose tenacity mapped both polar extremes.

No visit to Cambridge is complete without a lazy 'punt' on the River Cam. Lie back, sip Pimm’s and 'dream of England' as your 'punter' glides you through a succession of elegant and secretive vistas.

Punting in Cambridge

And so, to Bury St Edmunds in Suffolk: land of the 'South Folk'. Ask most big city English people to describe their perfect small town and it would resemble 'Bury'. Here, the flatlands relax into a gently undulating landscape over which the town is softly draped. Ancient stone cottages painted in a variety of pastel colours such as 'Suffolk Pink' and half-timbered medieval Tudor and Stuart houses line the cobbled streets.

Yes, it has the requisite ruined abbey and lovely cathedral, but the joy of Bury is in simply ambling with no particular purpose, gazing into (craft) shop windows, popping in and out of tea rooms, exploring its famous farmers’ market or, dare we suggest, on that most English of pastimes, the 'Pub Crawl'? (Bury is famed for its premium, hand-crafted local beers and ciders.)

The 12th century Norman Tower dominates the skyline of Bury St Edmunds

For Anglophone visitors, East Anglia should have a special resonance. It was from here that so many young Americans and Canadians flew in World War Two in defence of freedom. That debt has never been forgotten by East Anglians, translating as it does into an enduring bond and the warmest of welcomes.

If you or your group would like to enjoy a tailor-made tour of East Anglia, including visits to the delightful towns and cities of Cambridge, Ely and Bury St Edmunds, please do contact our friendly team today. Or why not experience our Time Travellers Tour, exploring London, Cambridge, Greenwich and Canterbury?