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The southeast is famous for its aviation history and prominent part in World War II. As you journey through the region's leafy lanes you will also see water and wind mills, pretty market towns, maltings and oast houses and vineyards which are open to the public. Norfolk is an area categorised by beautiful beaches, the ancient city of Norwich and the famous Norfolk Broads. To the north the sandy beaches at Cromer, Sheringham, Blakeney and Wells-Next-The-Sea are popular. Norwich is an ancient medieval cathedral city with a 12th century castle, city walls, medieval churches, winding streets and half-timber houses. Cathedral Close is a picturesque haven of tranquility right next to the cathedral and the nearby Adam and Eve pub has been serving customers since 1248. Around Norwich are many picturesque 17th and 18th century market towns with half-timbered buildings, thatched cottages and pretty village greens including Wymondham, Aylsham, Diss, Loddon and Coltishall. The Norfolk Broads encompass 120 miles of the finest inland waterways in the world. The series of shallow lakes, rivers and marshland were formed by the removal of peat during the Middle Ages. Today they are a magnet to birdwatchers, botanists and water sports enthusiasts. Visitors can take guided boat trips or hire cruisers, canoes, or sailboats. A trip on a Norfolk wherry - a sailing boat designed especially for shallow waters - is a must. For windsurfing, kayaking, canoeing and sailing visit Whitlingham Little Broad on the outskirts of Norwich. Great Yarmouth is a lively seaside resort town with a rich maritime and fishing history. The rivers of Tare, Bure and Waveney all meet in the 900-year-old town and flow into the North Sea. Nearby Breydon Water is particularly good for wildlife spotting and there's a breeding colony of terns at North Beach.
To the south the broads meet the sea in the historic fishing port of Lowestoft. With its delightful sandy beaches, the town is Britain's most easterly point. The harbour, opened in 1831, is a busy port for deep-sea trawlers today. There's a fresh fish market and a variety of museums covering maritime history. The Suffolk broadlands and coast are great for birdwatching. The 1560-acre reserve at Minsmere is one of best reserves in the UK. There are public hides and you can even spot the rare Avocet. Along the coast are the smuggling villages of Benacre and Kessingland. Southwold has long stretches of sand bordering on salt marshes and woodland. There's a lighthouse, pretty Dutch and Flemish houses and the Church of St Edmund with its 100ft tower. Sailing is popular and you can charter a boat on the River Blyth. Inland at Sudbury you can visit the Georgian home of Gainsborough, which houses a variety of the British artist's work and Newmarket is the home of British horseracing.
Kent is the garden of England and is great for walking and cycling over downland and woodland, through orchards and hop gardens. Everywhere you will see oast houses, tythe barns, water and windmills and pretty thatched cottages. There are numerous set walks including the Saxon Shore Way, the Elham Valley Way, the North Downs Way and the St Augustine Way. Fishing is also a popular pastime - the area has some of the finest sea fishing in Britain. Whitstable is famous for its oysters and boat building. In the 1860s there were about 100 oyster boats operating from the town, today there's a huge commercial hatchery. There are lots of great places to try oysters and seafood around town. Herne Bay to the east is the home of dinghy angling and roach, bream and pike can all be caught in the River Stour. Along from Herne Bay you can see the twin towers of the seven-acre Reculver Roman Fort. The towers are important navigational aids for shipping. Nearby Herne is a pretty village with a row of smugglers' cottages. Canterbury is the home of the famous cathedral where Thomas A Becket was murdered in 1170. The town has been a place of pilgrimage since that date and today crowds still flock to the ancient cathedral city. Despite being bombed during World War II, Canterbury offers a host of historic buildings, shops and cafes. Elham is a medieval town outside Canterbury - the Abbots Fireside Hotel is testimony to the village's ancient history. The Blean Woods National Nature Reserve is great for walking. There are set routes through the ancient woodland. At Chartham a paper mill has been operating since the 14th century. North-east of Canterbury, Fordwich is home to England's smallest town hall. There's also an old ducking stool and crane. At Harbledown, west of Canterbury, there's a Leper church and hospital from the 11th century. Dover is best known for its famous white cliffs which mark the gateway to Britain. Medieval Dover Castle, above the cliffs, overlooks one of the world's busiest shipping lanes. Edwardian Folkestone is full of seaside charm with its cobbled High Street leading to the harbour. On a clear day you can see across to France, which is only an hour away via Eurotunnel! Romney Marsh is an area of flat marsh land which is ideal for cyclists. In days gone by it was also great for smugglers who would peddle their goods in the local pubs and store their illegal hoards in local churches! Dungeness is an area of special scientific interest with a unique shinglebank and a bird reserve.
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