Getting there
By road
There are good links with London and the Midlands, though neither Norfolk nor Suffolk has a motorway. From London, the South East of England, ferry ports and the Channel Tunnel the major roads to East Anglia are the M11, A11, A12, A140 and A14. The fastest route to Suffolk from London is the A12 for Ipswich, then the A12 or A14 for the rest of the county. For Norwich and Norfolk take the M11 and the A11. From the Midlands and the North the region is served by the A14, A11, A47, A17 and A1.
Suffolk farmland.
Sylvaine Poitau/Apa Publications
By rail
For national rail enquiries visit www.nationalrail.co.uk (tel: 03457-484 950, lines open 24 hours). Abellio Greater Anglia (tel: 0345-600 7245; www.abelliogreateranglia.co.uk) runs services from London King’s Cross to Cambridge, Ely and King’s Lynn, and from London Liverpool Street to Colchester, Ipswich and Norwich. Connecting services are available from the Midlands, north of England and Scotland via Peterborough. Book early for the best fares.
By bus
For national coach information contact National Express (tel: 08717-818 181, lines open 24 hours; www.nationalexpress.com). Coaches travel daily to East Anglia from London (Victoria Coach Station), the Midlands and the Southeast.
By air
The main airports for the region are Stansted (tel: 0844-335 1803; www.stanstedairport.com) and Norwich (tel: 01603-411 923; www.norwichairport.co.uk), which is just 4 miles (7km) northwest of the city centre. Both are linked by road and rail to Heathrow, Gatwick, Luton and the East Midlands airports.
By sea
Car and passenger ferries operate between the Hook of Holland and Harwich with Stena Line (tel: 08447-707 070; www.stenaline.co.uk).
There is no shortage of places to visit in Norfolk and Suffolk.
Sylvaine Poitau/Apa Publications
By bicycle
East Anglia is on the Sustrans National Cycle Network (tel: 0117-926 8893; www.sustrans.org.uk) Hull to Harwich (Route 1), the North Sea Cycle Route and National Route 11, which connects King’s Lynn with Cambridge.
Getting around
Bus and coach
Norfolk and Suffolk are served by several operators including Anglian Bus (tel: 01502-711 109; www.anglianbus.co.uk) and First Group (tel: 0871-200 2233; www.firstgroup.com). Local services around the Ipswich, Stowmarket and Bury St Edmunds area are run by Galloway (tel: 01449-766 323; www.travel-galloway.com). The Norfolk Coast hopper bus service (for more information, click here) operates a regular timetable between King’s Lynn and Cromer.
Cycling
Cycling is an ideal way to discover the countryside. There are numerous designated cycle routes and detailed information at tourist information offices and visitor centres. Ordnance Survey maps are invaluable for cycling (and public footpaths), marking on-road and traffic-free cycle routes, both national and regional.
Rail
For timetables, ticket prices and other information visit National Rail Enquiries (tel: 03457-484 950; www.nationalrail.co.uk) or Abellio Greater Anglia (tel: 0345-600 7245; www.abelliogreateranglia.co.uk). From Norwich the Bittern and Wherry Lines (www.bitternline.com and www.wherrylines.org.uk) operate services to the coast via the Broads.
Driving
Driving can be slow, especially along the coast or getting to the coast on summer weekends and holidays. The ‘A’ roads link the main centres. There are some very narrow lanes connecting inland villages but driving is rarely a problem.
Car hire
Most car hire companies will only rent to 21–75 year olds, with at least a year’s experience of driving. In some cases the minimum age is 23. Shop around for special weekend and holiday rates.
Avis tel: 0808-284 0014; www.avis.co.uk.
Enterprise tel: 0800-800 227; www.enterprise.co.uk.
Europcar tel: 0871-384 9900; www.europcar.co.uk.
Parking
Parking in most town centres is discouraged, but car parks are normally located within easy walking distances of the centre.
Facts for the visitor
Disabled travellers
An increasing number of hotels and restaurants have access. At nature reserves the boardwalks are normally wheelchair friendly. There are accessible public toilets and Blue Badge parking bays across the region. Open Britain (tel: 0845-124 9971; www.openbritain.net), a website managed by the Tourism For All UK charity, provides information on accessible holiday and travel.
Going green
In Norfolk you can board the Bittern Line railway which runs from Norwich to Cromer or Sheringham or jump on to the Coasthopper bus (tel: 01553-776 980; www.coasthopper.co.uk) to travel between King’s Lynn and Cromer. This is one of the UK’s most popular rural bus services, normally operating May–Sept daily up to half-hourly, but less frequently in spring and autumn and especially winter. The combination of the Norfolk Coast Path and the Coasthopper means leaving the car behind is an easy option.
Suffolk County Council has an excellent website (www.discoversuffolk.org.uk) which promotes cycling, walking and outdoor activities, with interactive maps and downloadable walking guides and cycle maps, plus information on country parks, picnic spots, wildlife sites and bird reserves.
Emergencies
In an absolute emergency call 999 for fire, ambulance or police. Call the National Health Service number 111 when you need medical help but it is less urgent than 999. Otherwise take a taxi to the nearest casualty department of a hospital.
A trail through Ranworth Broad Nature Reserve.
Sylvaine Poitau/Apa Publications
Entertainment
Most of the entertainment is concentrated in main towns and resorts, which offer theatre and concerts. Summer festivals take place across both counties. Norwich has a good choice of drama, music or dance at the Theatre Royal or Norwich Arts Centre, and comedy at the Norwich Playhouse. Cromer on the north Norfolk coast has great variety-style shows at the end of its pier. Bury St Edmunds is home to the intimate little Theatre Royal and The Apex music and entertainment venue. Check out what’s on from the tourist information websites: www.visitnorfolk.com and www.visitsuffolk.com.
End-of-the-pier entertainment, Great Yarmouth.
Sylvaine Poitau/Apa Publications
LGBTQ travellers
The gay scene is mainly in the cities and towns. In Norwich, The Castle (Spitalfields; tel: 01603-768 886; www.thecastle-pub.com) is billed as Norwich’s Premier Gay Bar & Club. The Loft Nr1 (www.loftnr1.co.uk) is a gay nightclub with a late-night bar, terrace and dance floor, Thu–Sat only.
Opening hours
Shops generally open Mon–Sat 9am–5.30pm, although smaller towns and villages may have a half-day closing one day a week. Large shopping centres are likely to have one evening of late-night shopping and an increasing number of shops are open on Sundays. Most banks open Mon–Fri 9.30am–4.30/5pm with Saturday banking common in shopping areas. Most pubs will take last drink orders at 11pm Mon–Sat and at 10.30pm on Sundays.
Tourist information
Main tourist information centres provide (not necessarily free) pamphlets on walks and cycle trails, maps of the area and information on local attractions and events.
Bury St Edmunds, The Apex, Charter Square; tel: 01284-764 667; www.visit-burystedmunds.co.uk.
Cambridge, Peas Hill; tel: 01223-791 500; www.visitcambridge.org.
Cromer, Louden Road; tel: 01263-512 497; www.visitnorfolk.co.uk.
Great Yarmouth, 25 Marine Parade; tel: 01493-846 346; www.great-yarmouth.co.uk.
King’s Lynn, The Custom House; tel: 01553-763 044; www.visitnorfolk.com.
Norwich, The Forum; tel: 01603-213 999; www.visitnorwich.co.uk.
Wroxham, 10 Norwich Road; tel: 0845-496 177; e-mail: info@NorfolkBroadsTIC.com.