34 travel profile www.greateranglia.co.uk Eastern Daily Press, Friday, July 20, 2012 Eastern Daily Press, Friday, July 20, 2012 www.greateranglia.co.uk travel profile 35 Pictures: VISIT EAST ANGLIA top destinations See East Anglia... Parks & gardens Norfolk Blickling Hall – a treasure trove of romantic 2 for 1 vouchers There’s just no excuse for being bored or in association with buildings, beautiful gardens, and for empty weekends on the calendar from landscaped park. (nearest station: Visit www.greateranglia.co.uk/vea and find more Visit East Anglia and Hoveton & Wroxham, then take the Bure than seventy 2 for 1 vouchers to attractions, historic Valley Railway and a bus to Blickling) now on. Each week until the end of the Bradenham Hall – an exceptional plant- houses, gardens, museums, hotels, restaurants, year we, in association with Greater Anglia, lover’s garden for all seasons. (nearest theatres and tours throughout the region. In addition station: Thetford) to the website, brochures containing all the offers will bring you the very best of what’s on (2 for 1) Bressingham Steam and can also be found at your nearest train station or Gardens – here is where world Tourist Information Centre. and where to visit in East Anglia. renowned gardener and horticulturist Alan Bloom combined his passion for plants and gardens with his love of steam to create a truly unique experience for all the family. (nearest station: Diss) footsteps at this beautiful family home. pastoral parklands designed by Felbrigg Hall - the decorative and (nearest station: ) Capability Brown, explore the productive walled garden provides fruit and Somerleyton Hall and Gardens – 2010 Best formal garden and organic kitchen vegetables for the restaurant and flowers Tourist Attraction in Suffolk winner, with garden or meet the resident Take the train for for the hall. (nearest station: Sheringham) more than 12 cares of grounds surrounding horses in the newly-restored stable block. (2 for 1) Holkham Hall – steeped the hall. (nearest station: Somerleyton) (nearest station: Audley End) in history, Holkham Hall is the Wyken Hall Gardens – a series of “rooms” (2 for 1) Green Island Gardens – perfect location, surrounded by wrapped around a cosy pink house, leading 20 acres of professionally acres of rolling parkland rich in into a more natural garden. designed gardens and woodland. wildlife and the nearby north Norfolk coast. (nearest station: Bury St Edmunds) Includes terrace, Japanese, water, Visit the magnificent Palladian mansion and seaside, gravel and extensive woodland step back in time in the Bygones Museum. gardens. (nearest station: Colchester then Discover more with cycle and boat hire. Anglesey Abbey – Jacobean-style house catch the Network Colchester bus No 105) seasons of fun ((nearest station: Sheringham, then catch with gardens and a working watermill. The (2 for 1) Hedingham Castle – a the Coasthopper bus service to Holkham 114 acres offer vibrant colour, delicious great family day out featuring village) scents and simple pleasures of nature. beautiful gardens and lakes to (2 for 1) Hoveton Hall Gardens – (nearest station: ) explore. (nearest station: enjoy a family day out at Hoveton Cambridge University Botanic Garden – a Braintree, then catch the First in Essex bus Hall Gardens, with something for showcase for more than 8,000 plant No 13) everyone to enjoy, including children’s activity trails, the recently across East Anglia restored 19th century glasshouse, guided tours of the gardens and an extensive Wherever you live, you can jump on a programme of events for 2012. (nearest Train info Greater Anglia train and in a short station: Hoveton & Wroxham) time be at a festival, show, walking Sheringham Park – the large woodland through a dynamic city, fantastic zoo or garden is particularly famous for its display Greater Anglia provides train services even dipping your toes in the sea on a of rhododendrons and azaleas. (nearest to Essex, Norfolk, Suffolk and parts of deserted beach. So, sit back and let us station: Sheringham) Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire. help you banish TV, DIY stores and Holt Country Park – on the edge of the Leave the car behind and take supermarkets at the weekend. Norfolk Coast Area of Outstanding Natural advantage of some of our fabulous This week, we’re showcasing the Beauty, it’s a brilliant place to visit during days out. Relax and let our wonderful gardens and parks in the the Holt Festival (July 22-28). (nearest comfortable, convenient and frequent region. With Love Parks Week running station: Sheringham, then catch the services whisk you away to enjoy some from July 21-29 and National Parks Poppyline steam train to Holt) great times. Week from July 30-August 5, what better time to explore these wonderful Suffolk species from around the world, summer (2 for 1) Myddelton House Groupsave – two pay, four travel green spaces? Bury St Edmunds Abbey Gardens – carpets including nine national collections. colour: (from Gardens – delve into the beautiful For a really great day out with friends You can enjoy the spectacular colours of floral displays, spacious lawns, rose (nearest station: Cambridge) left) Peckover eight acres of Myddelton House and family, think Greater Anglia – and and delicate fragrances of some of garden, hidden seating areas and craggy Chippenham Park – a diverse range of House, Gardens and discover the story of GroupSave. Britain’s finest gardens – from pretty Abbey ruins. (nearest station: Bury St gardens ranging from wooded lakeside Cambridgeshire; Edward Augustus Bowles, one of Britain’s It’s a magical combination that will cottage plots to vibrant seaside displays Edmunds) walks to a 400 metre-long border and Myddleton most famous self-taught gardeners, artists get everyone out and about with ease and grand country estates. Helmingham Hall Gardens – surrounded by modern formal gardens. House Gardens, and expert botanists. (nearest station: – and amazing savings. East Anglia has an array of luscious an impressive Tudor moated hall set in a (nearest station: Ely) Essex; and the Turkey Street) gardens and parks to discover – large 400-year-old ancient deer park. (nearest (2 for 1) Peckover House – Abbey Gardens Wickham Place Farm – huge climbers, Twice the fun – half the price and small, quaint and magnificent. station: Stowmarket) classic Georgian merchant’s at Bury St roses and wisterias cascade into wide Take a day to get lost among the Ickworth House – one of ’s finest, townhouse, with gardens of two Edmunds, borders bursting with shrubs, perennials greenery of the region. and possibly earliest, Italianate gardens. acres, including orangery, Suffolk. and bulbs. (nearest station: Witham) The region has been blessed with a And that’s not forgetting our parks, out and about: (nearest station: Bury St Edmunds) summerhouses, croquet lawn and rose rich diversity of impressive stately from the beautiful Chippenham Park (right) family fun on Kentwell Hall – ancient features, elements garden. (nearest station: March, then ■ For more details on these and homes with equally magnificent in Ely to award-winning Lee Valley the Norfolk Broads, of alterations in the 1930s, and recent catch the Norfolk Green bus No 56) other gardens and parks, visit gardens. Park in Essex, a space that simply lets one of Britain’s landscaping and plantings. (nearest www.visiteastofengland.com. To print There’s a wealth of National Trust, you wander and relax in wide open National Parks, and station: Newmarket) Essex off the featured 2 for 1 vouchers, visit English Heritage and private gardens spaces, quiet woodlands and waterside (above) peace and Melford Hall – follow in Beatrix Potter’s (2 for 1) Audley End – stroll through www.greateranglia.co.uk/vea And it doesn’t stop there, as an steeped in history – including environments. Within the park you can quiet at Green Island extra bonus, up to four more children Holkham Hall, Felbrigg Hall, stroll in the beautiful Myddelton Gardens in Essex. can travel for just £1 each when Hoveton Hall, Blickling, Audley House Gardens, Waltham Abbey accompanying a GroupSave party. End, Peckover House and Bury St Gardens or the neighbouring competition There’s no need to book in advance, Edmunds Abbey Gardens (see our Dragonfly Sanctuary where history, just turn up and go. GroupSave is top destinations section on the far right flora and fauna mingle in fascinating available to all Greater Anglia for more ideas). ways. destinations All garden lovers, naturalists and Finally, don’t forget East Anglia’s own Win a luxury Maritime weekend photographers will enjoy the views, National Park, the Norfolk Broads – Advance tickets colours and plants at Bressingham “Britain’s Magical Waterland). Visit Maritime Ipswich is celebrating all things nautical this You can buy an Advance ticket from Steam and Gardens in Norfolk. www.enjoythebroads.com for August with a festival where you can explore visiting as little as £8 one way to many Or visit the extensive gardens at information on all the events vessels, period and modern re-enactments, dance destinations in Norfolk and Suffolk. Kentwell Hall and Gardens in celebrating National Parks Week – from performances, displays and stalls, live traditional music, Tickets are available for purchase Suffolk – a combination of ancient Picnic in The Park to opportunities to a food and drink festival, fireworks and much more. from 12 weeks before you travel so features, elements of the substantial try your hand at flint-knapping, hay- Greater Anglia is offering the chance to win a weekend book early to get the best value fare alterations of Lady Guthrie, tenant making or even a little bat hunting. during the festival. Your prize will also include first class online. during the 1930s, and the recent So, whether you prefer a neatly train travel and an overnight stay on Saturday, August landscaping and planting. manicured stately garden, the large 18. ■ You can book tickets, plan your Other smaller yet incredibly green expanse of a city park or the ■ To enter, visit www.greateranglia.co.uk/win, journey, find loads of places to delightful gems can also be found at waterways of the Norfolk Broads, we answer the question by Friday, August 3, 2012, and visit as well as great offers at such places as Green Island Gardens hope we have encouraged you to hop on you could be enjoying an all-expenses-paid break at www.greateranglia.co.uk in Essex and Helmingham Hall a train and visit all that the wondrous Maritime Ipswich. Gardens near Stowmarket. region of East Anglia has to offer.

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