East Anglia

East Anglia is a region in eastern England that historically comprises Norfolk and Suffolk and broader areas including Cambridgeshire; it is known for flat agricultural plains, fens and low-lying coastal landscapes. The region has distinctive wetlands, coastline and rural character.

Key landscape features include the Norfolk Broads - a network of rivers, lakes and marshes used for boating and wildlife conservation - and the Fens, an extensive reclaimed marshland area used for intensive agriculture. The region contains important bird habitats and stretches of undeveloped coastline.

East Anglia developed as the Anglo-Saxon Kingdom of East Anglia from the 6th century and has long been an agricultural and maritime region. Over centuries drainage, land reclamation and transport improvements shaped the modern landscape.

Geographically it sits on the eastern seaboard of England, with principal cities and towns such as Norwich and Cambridge, and it stretches to the North Sea coast.

• Landscape & wildlife: The region is notable for its low-lying landscapes, extensive agricultural use, and large wetland systems that are important for birdlife and navigation.
• Flood risk: Much of the area is vulnerable to sea-level change and relies on historical and modern drainage and flood-defence works.

What to See #

• Norfolk Broads: The Norfolk Broads, a network of rivers and lakes in Norfolk and Suffolk known for boating, wildlife and reed-fringed waterways covering several hundred square kilometres of wetland.
• The Fens: The Fens, a low-lying area of drained marshland spanning parts of Cambridgeshire and Norfolk, characterized by flat agricultural land and engineered drainage systems.
• Major urban centres: The regional cities and towns such as Norwich and Cambridge, which serve as cultural and transport hubs within East Anglia.