East of England

With vibrant displays of flowers and long, warm days, summer is the perfect time to get outside and explore some of the beautiful gardens in the East of England. Smell the fragrant flowers, take in the vibrant colours around you and listen to the bees buzzing by. You might even get some inspiration for your own green space.

Whether you're seeking peace and quiet or want somewhere where the family can get together in the great outdoors, we know of some picture perfect locations in the East you might want to try. So pack up your picnic hamper and enjoy a leisurely day out eating alfresco.

There's nothing quite like taking a stroll surrounded by nature in the summer time, where you can pause under the cool shade of a tree, watch a butterfly on the wind and take in the view before you. Enjoy the warmth of the summer sunshine and one of lifes simple pleasures, with our selection of walks around the region.

Looking for something to do with the family? From building sandcastles at the seaside to family cycle rides through shady woodlands, will you take on the challenge to build a den or head off on a wildlife adventure? Take a look at what's on offer to help plan your day out with the kids.

Fill your days with challenges and adventures and become the explorer you were meant to be. To help you on your way, here’s our top places to tick off some of our 50 things to do before you’re 11¾.

Flower rich meadows and grasslands alive with butterflies and bees are less common than they were, but can still be found if you know where to look. We're working hard to protect, conserve and restore them.

Beautiful butterflies can be seen in abundance across the East of England in the summer months. How many species have you spotted this year?

Whether you're looking for somewhere to build a sandcastle or enjoy a shoreline stroll - from the golden sands at Brancaster Beach to the shingle shores at Dunwich Heath, we care for 117 miles of coast in the East of England.

Not far from Cambridge you'll find Anglesey Abbey, a Jacobean style house with gardens and watermill. A little further afield you'll discover the working estate of Wimpole with its mansion and farm, the distinctive fenland landscape of Wicken Fen and views of one of the last working mills on the River Ouse.

From the Norfolk coastline with its abundance of wildlife to the houses and gardens at Blickling, Felbrigg and Oxburgh Hall, Norfolk's popularity is well deserved. The landscaped parkland at Sheringham Park and the wide expanse of the Norfolk Broads is well worth a visit too.

With a landscape made famous by the artist John Constable to the royal burial ground at Sutton Hoo, Suffolk has a fascinating history. There's lots of variety too, from the coastline in the east to the picturesque wool towns in the west. And you won't want to miss Ickworth with its Italianate garden and parkland.

Tucked away in Essex you'll find hidden gems like Paycoke's House and Garden, Blake's Wood and Danbury Common, as well as some of our more well known places like Hatfield Forest. Over the border in Bedfordshire, enjoy the view from Dunstable Downs and in Hertfordshire, Ashridge Estate is ideal for walks with the family.

We know our scones are rather popular. So we asked our teams to share some of their recipe ideas that you can try at home. From the traditional to the quirky, which will be your favourite scone?

Go behind the scenes with our podcasts. Tread the boards at Shaw's Corner as part of our literary series, explore Humphry Repton's vision for Sheringham Park in our garden series and find out more about the ancient wetlands of East Anglia in our walking series.

We care for one of the world's largest and most significant collections of art and heritage objects, but did you know that you can explore many of them online from the comfort of your home?