Countryside
Both genteel and wild, there’s nothing quite like the English countryside for rural escapes with its patchwork hills, dramatic dales, ancient woodlands and winding country roads. All well and good, but what is there to do in England’s countryside exactly? Quite a lot, actually. Admire the grand interiors of a stately home before catching a play in the surrounding gardens, travel back in time with visits to ancient stone circles and crumbling castles, or step into a chocolate box of quaint villages and market towns and live like a local, trying farmhouse cheeses, cream teas and real ales along the way.
Explore Nene Park in the River Nene Valley
Imagine somewhere beautiful, safe and unspoilt where you can explore endless meadows, lakes and woodland, and the River Nene.
Location: Peterborough, Cambridgeshire
Reconnect with nature at Dunwich Heath
Tucked away on the coast, Dunwich Heath is one of the more remote and dramatically beautiful parts of Suffolk.
Location: Dunwich , Suffolk
Get close to the deer at the Red Deer rut
The majestic red deer is our largest land mammal: a beautiful creature, from hoof to antler, whose iconic silhouette has captivated us for centuries.
Location: Minsmere, Suffolk
Discover the Isle of Eels in Ely
Visit the cathedral city of Ely, and discover why the humble eel is so important in its history, as you walk its unique Eel Trail.
Location: Ely, Cambridgeshire
Stay in an eco-lodge at Somerleyton Estate
Wake up surrounded by nature in an eco-lodge on the banks of tranquil Fritton Lake.
Location: Lowestoft, Suffolk
Run wild at BeWILDerwood Norfolk
Delve into an adventurous world of make-believe, inspired by local children’s author, Tom Blofeld.
Location: Hoveton, Norfolk
See winter flowers in bloom at Anglesey Winter Garden
Pull on your scarf and enjoy strolls around this Jacobean-style country house and see its winter plants in full spring.
Location: Cambridge, Cambridgeshire
Go otter spotting in Norfolk
When it comes to big game spotting in the Broads National Park, there is no prey more sleek, more rare and more exciting than the otter.
Location: The Broads, Norfolk
Let loose at WildRootz
Let the kids get up close and personal with nature, in all its muddy glory, at WildRootz, in Pensthorpe Wildlife and Gardens.
Location: Fakenham, Norfolk
Fall in love with picture perfect Lavenham
With its winding streets lined with thatched cottages and medieval timber-framed buildings, it’s very easy to fall in love with Lavenham.
Location: Lavenham, Suffolk
Discover a glamping oasis in the heart of Suffolk
If the thought of camping conjures images of screaming kids and collapsing tents, then relax, have a cup of tea and check out Suffolk’s Alde Garden.
Location: Saxmundham, Suffolk
Cycle, sail or swim in the Norfolk Broads
Sense the sounds, smells and colours of spring at Waveney River Centre in Norfolk, a serene countryside retreat with plenty of outdoor activities.
Location: Norwich, Norfolk
Revel in a riverside romance at Norfolk Mead Hotel
The Norfolk village of Coltishall, only 6 miles from Norwich and set on the edge of the Broads, offers plenty of romantic things to do by the river.
Location: Norwich, Norfolk
Experience Somerleyton Hall’s romance, history and grandeur
Step back in time with a visit to one of Suffolk’s best-preserved stately homes and gardens, near the town of Lowestoft.
Location: Somerleyton, Suffolk
May events: Get down to The Suffolk Show
Take your family on a weekend break to Suffolk’s biggest and barmiest event near Ipswich and see the Shetland Pony Grand National.
Location: Ipswich, Suffolk
Enjoy tiger walks and water sports in Norfolk
Try out a variety of family-friendly watersports on the broads. Discover rare animals from Asia on a tiger walk, all close to Great Yarmouth.
Location: Great Yarmouth, Norfolk
Take a wildlife safari in The Broads National Park
From the reeds to the trees, get up close to nature and see an incredible 11,000 species, the highest concentration of rare wildlife in England.
Location: Strumpshaw Fen, near Norwich, Norfolk
Wonder at windmills and wander the Weavers Way
Take a hike on the network of pathways under the vast Norfolk skies to the Berney Arms windmill and the remotest railway station in England.
Location: Berney Arms and the Halvergate Marshes, near Great Yarmouth, Norfolk
Enjoy Suffolk’s scenery from the saddle or high up in the treetops
Enjoy one of the UK’s most thrilling outdoor activities at the original Go Ape! in Thetford Forest or experience cycling in Suffolk.
Location: Brandon, Suffolk
Retreat to your very own wood cabin in the forest
Double sunken baths, riverside walks and panoramic views make this luxury forest retreat a truly romantic destination.
Location: Shadwell, Norfolk
Follow in the footsteps of great artists in Constable Country
Explore the Suffolk landscape that has inspired artists for centuries, rambling across dramatic open spaces backed by huge skies.
Location: Flatford Mill, Suffolk