From beautiful beaches in North Norfolk to Suffolk's stunning food – three staycations in the eastern counties
From beautiful beaches in North Norfolk to stunning sustenance in Suffolk, we have it covered.
The Nest Farmhouse, King's Lynn
Beauty Writer Mia Lyndon and boyfriend Jamie found vineyards and seafood feasts in Norfolk.
THE PAD
Tucked away in the rolling fields of North Norfolk, guests are greeted with fizz from neighbouring Cobble Hill Winery at this former barn.
Rooms are bang-on theme with farmhouse-chic decor – ours had a vintage tub, dried flowers, distressed furniture and a spacious balcony from which green vistas extend as far as the eye can see.
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Fragrant home-made negronis made from a concoction of aged local spirits and spices, £14, are literally on tap from a miniature barrel in the homely bar.
Then tuck into rich bone marrow and crunchy focaccia, £12, followed by tender local Old Spot pork chop, £28, and barbecued cabbage smothered in a tangy, buttery anchovy dressing, £5.
Fluffy doughnuts dunked in toffee sauce, £10, are the perfect pud, and we splashed out on a bottle of local Cobble Hill Bacchus Reserve, £55.
Birdsong will wake you for an alfresco brekkie of local cheese, cured meats and trout, while you watch ducks bob about in the pond.
EXPLORE
Spy deer in the lush 667 acres of the palatial 18th-century Holkham Estate, before ogling rich tapestries, marble sculptures and the lavish guest rooms where Queen Victoria once slept.
Entry costs from £24 per person (Holkham.co.uk). Later, spot seals frolicking in the surf from the sweeping sand dunes of Holkham Beach.
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The neighbouring town of Wells-next-the-Sea is postcard-pretty – duck into The Old Station for whimsical ceramics that are made on-site, before sipping on local Crisp Eastern Gold, £2.55 for a half pint, on the rooftop deck at The Globe Inn (Theglobeatwells.co.uk).
Pretty Norfolk coastline has sea lions and award-winning beaches-
REFUEL
Norfolk is renowned for crab, so tuck into a platter at family-run Wells Crab House and feast on creamy dressed crab, crayfish, oak-smoked salmon, juicy prawns, tangy cockles and rollmops, plus indulgent potato salad – £44 for two people.
Sip cucumber and apple coolers, £5, as you go (Wellscrabhouse.co.uk).
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Meanwhile, in cobble-stoned King's Lynn, devour giant slabs of buttery ginger cake, £2.50, from indie cafe Norbury's (Instagram.com/norburysfinefoods).
Then plump for dinner by candlelight at Grade-II-listed The Bank House, a stylish eatery on the banks of the River Ouse.
Order Pineapple Fogs, a blend of honey-lime juice, pineapple and tonic, £5, and savour flaky cod and seafood chowder with mussels, squid and prawn, £22.50 (Thebankhouse.co.uk).
DON'T MISS
Knowledgeable David at Burn Valley Vineyard (which has near-identical soil to the Champagne region), is the perfect host for wine-tasting, £25 a person.
You'll get to swig six wines – our fave was sweet, acidic Solaris 2023 – before wandering around the vineyard to see where they're grown (Burnvalleyvineyard.co.uk).
BOOK IT
B&B at Nest Farmhouse costs from £160 per night (Nestfarmhouse.co.uk).
The Crown and Castle, Orford
Writer Sasha Cunningham and husband Grant checked into a foodie haven on Suffolk's coast.
THE PAD
Nestled in the sleepy town of Orford, you'll find 21 newly refurbished rooms and an intimate two-AA-Rosette restaurant.
Our bright and spacious deluxe sea-view room had amazing glimpses of Orford Ness National Nature Reserve, plus a large bath, rainfall shower, Temple Spa toiletries and cosy armchairs.
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Grab an Aperol Spritz, £9, or a pint of Mosaic lager, £5, before digging into dishes such as the spectacular soy-cured monkfish with glass noodles and sesame, £28.
Mains such as beef blade and fillet on a bed of spelt, celeriac and mushrooms, £32, won't disappoint, either.
EXPLORE
You're just over the road from 12th-century Orford Castle, which is well worth a visit for both the views from its tower and its captivating audio guide, £8.10 per adult (English-heritage.org.uk).
Or take a wander down to the River Ore – pick the distance and difficulty of your walk by scanning the hotel's handy QR codes.
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Be sure to book your visit to the nature reserve in advance, from £4.50 per adult (Nationaltrust.org.uk).
Once used during WW2 for atomic bomb testing, it's now home to many species of birds and a colony of 200 grey seals.
REFUEL
Share the griddled fish selection of prawns, squid, sardines and mussels brushed with garlic oil, from £19.50, at Butley Orford Oysterage, a short stroll from your bed (Pinneysoforford.co.uk).
Or hunt out Two Magpies Bakery in the nearby pastel-coloured seaside town of Aldeburgh for rich hot chocolate, £3.45 – it's the perfect drink for a walk by the beach, where you can snap the giant scallop sculpture (Twomagpiesbakery.co.uk).
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Later, join a tour of Fishers Gin Distillery for tastings with a sea view, £35 for a 90-minute tour (Fishersgin.com).
DON'T MISS
Stop by Orford's Pump Street Bakery for bear-claw almond frangipane pastries, £4.50 – just go early before they sell out (Pumpstreetchocolate.com).
BOOK IT
Double rooms cost from £145 B&B (Crownandcastle.co.uk).
The Angel Hotel, Bury St Edmunds
Fashion Assistant Emily Regan, boyfriend Harry and dog Ragnar enjoyed history and booze in Suffolk's charming market town.
THE PAD
This central Georgian hotel – once a favourite of Charles Dickens – blends vintage furnishings with modern touches.
Book a Copper Room for a king-size bed, free-standing copper bath and a picturesque view of Abbey Gate.
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Then dig into mouth-watering Surrey Farm 10oz sirloin with peppercorn sauce, £34, in the hotel's lively Eaterie.
Finish with chocolate crémeux, honeycomb and brownie ice cream, £8.50, and a pornstar martini, £14.
Come breakfast, a full English, plus sausage bites for Ragnar, were winners, and there are plenty of other doggy treats and toys on hand, too.
EXPLORE
A five-minute stroll away you'll find St Edmundsbury Cathedral (Stedscathedral.org) and St Mary's Church, with its hammer-beam angel roof (Stmaryschurchbse.org).
But to really learn more about the town's history, join a walking tour around Abbey Gardens and the ruins of an 11th-century monastery, £10 per person for 90 minutes (Burystedmundstourguides.org).
Gift hunters should head to The Parsley Pot with its cute ceramics (Theparsleypot.com), while dogs will love scampering through the scenic woodlands of Nowton Park (Westsuffolk.gov.uk).
REFUEL
For mid-morning pick-me-ups, No.5 Angel Hill has excellent home-made sausage rolls, £4.95, and iced lattes, £3.90 (Fiveangelhill.co.uk).
Discover the town's hop history on Greene King's brewery tour – or just lunch on beef and ale pie for under a tenner at its Beer Cafe.
Tours cost £20 per person (Greeneking.co.uk).
Named the smallest pub in Britain, The Nutshell has some of the quirkiest artefacts on display (Thenutshellpub.co.uk), while a 25-minute drive away,
The Swan at Lavenham serves up a cracking Sunday roast, £28 for two courses (Theswanatlavenham.co.uk).
Thewinecellarbse.co.uk).
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Double rooms cost from £157 a night (Theangel.co.uk).
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