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The Norfolk Broads -

The Norfolk Broads are Britain's largest protected wetland and home to a wealth of flora and fauna. The region is best explored on foot, or by boat.

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Birdlife -

Birdlife thrives on the Broads, with many rare species calling the region home. Pictured is a Bittern, a familiar but shy member of the heron family.

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Norfolk Hawker -

The Broads comprises a network of mostly navigable rivers and lakes. The watery environment is ideal for the scarce Norfolk Hawker, a beautiful species of dragonfly.

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Swallowtail butterfly -

Look out too for the magnificent swallowtail butterfly, named for the trailing edges of the hindwings that resemble the tails of swallows. All sorts of flying insects can be observed flitting or hovering over the water's surface.

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Church of St Helen -

The Broads' most impressive ecclesiastical attraction is the 14th-century Church of St Helen, located at Ranworth. This is where to admire England's finest church screen paintings (pictured), a medieval rood screen featuring the Twelve Apostles. The church also houses a 15th-century antiphoner—a rare illustrated book of prayers.

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Bure Valley Steam Railway -

What better way to explore the Broads than by steam train? This lovely old locomotive puffs along 14 km (9 mi) of narrow-gauge tracks between Aylsham and Wroxham. And hey, you can make the return trip by boat!

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Wroxham -

The quaint village of Wroxham hugs the banks of the River Bure, a wide, shallow waterway that's long been a favorite with boaters and sailors. Nearby Wroxham Broad is an important habitat for birdlife, species such as the kingfisher and rare Cetti's warbler.

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Potter Heigham -

The village of Potter Heigham is known for its medieval bridge, which has spanned the River Thurne for centuries. It's famous for being the most difficult to navigate in the Broads. The bridge opening is so narrow that only small cruisers can pass through it, and then only at low water.

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Norwich -

Norwich is the county town of Norfolk, and East Anglia's biggest city. This is the obvious base from which to commence exploration of the region, but not before discovering some its own visitor attractions.

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Norwich Cathedral -

The city's splendid cathedral dates back mostly to the 12th century. Its landmark spire is one of the tallest in England. Interior highlights include the mesmerizing ceiling and ornate choir (pictured). The cloisters, meanwhile, are a serene delight.

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Norwich Castle -

Solid and boxlike, Norwich Castle dates back to the late 11th century and is one of the finest examples of Anglo-Norman military architecture in the country. The castle houses an engaging interactive museum that's set over the spooky dungeons.

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Great Yarmouth -

One of the most famous seaside towns in England, Great Yarmouth has been attracting holidaymakers since the mid-18th century. The resort town is recognized for its two piers, which jut out into the North Sea. Numerous listed buildings set around tidy gardens stand as reminders of Great Yarmouth's Victorian heyday.

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Halvergate Marshes -

Set near Great Yarmouth are the protected Halvergate Marshes. The landmark feature is Mutton's Mill (pictured), a windpump that was last worked in 1947. The mill lies close to the route of the Weavers' Way long-distance footpath.

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Cromer -

A favorite with families looking for a more traditional seaside vacation, Cromer exudes old fashioned charm. The pier, the 14th-century Church of St Peter and St Paul, and Cromer Hall rank among the town's most popular visitor attractions. Incidentally, in 1901, author Arthur Conan Doyle was a guest at the hall. After hearing the legend of the Black Shuck, a ghostly black dog said to roam the East Anglian countryside, he is thought to have been inspired to write the classic novel 'The Hound of the Baskervilles.'

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Titchwell Marsh Nature Reserve -

Titchwell Marsh features several different wetland habitats including reed beds, saltmarshes, a freshwater lagoon, and a  sandy beach. Among the breeding raptors seen here is the majestic marsh harrier.

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North Norfolk Railway -

Steam buffs are spoiled for choice in Norfolk. For a nostalgic coast and country locomotive journey, jump aboard a passenger train on the North Norfolk Railway between Sheringham and Holt. 

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Holt -

The market town of Holt in North Norfolk makes for a pleasant diversion. After you've explored the shops and pubs, head over to Baconsthorpe, where a moated and fortified 15th-century manor house lies in glorious ruin.

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Sandringham House -

One of Norfolk's premier visitor attractions is Sandringham House, the private home of Queen Elizabeth II. Set in an area of outstanding natural beauty, this noble property dates back to the late 19th century. The house, gardens, and museum open annually to the public from the end of March until the end of October; the country park and the visitors' center are open throughout the year.

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Thetford Priory -

Thetford Priory was once one of the most important East Anglican monasteries. Founded in 1103, the priory became a destination for pilgrims in the 13th century after the Virgin Mary is said to have appeared in a vision to locals. Abandoned since the 16th century, the ruins are reputedly haunted.

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Norfolk Coast Path -

Hikers will be in their element in the predominantly flat county of Norfolk. Besides the aforementioned Weavers' Way, you can follow the long-distance Peddlers Way and the longer Norfolk Coast Path, pictured here at Burnham Overy Staithe, near Holkham.

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Whitlingham Country Park -

Embroidering the countryside just outside Norwich is Whitlingham Country Park. This verdant oasis features a lake around which are several walking trails and cycle tracks. The park is especially welcome in summer, serving as it does as a retreat from the hustle and bustle of the city.

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Wells-next-the-sea -

Picturesque Wells-next-the-sea is a busy working fishing port. It does, however, have plenty of distractions for inquisitive tourists. A heritage railway connects Wells with nearby Walsingham station, so arrive by steam if convenient. The beach is known for its resident gray seal population, and the historic beach huts that add a splash of candy stripe color to the region.

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Hunstanton -

Embellishing the Norfolk coastline at Hunstanton is a unique geological feature, a line of striped cliffs known as the Hunstanton Formation. A band of lower reddish limestone laid down during the Early Cretaceous period is topped by a white chalk layer from the Late Cretaceous period. We are talking here of an environment 100 million years in the making!

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Blakeney -

The North Norfolk Coastal Path travels along the quayside at Blakeney, making this secluded coastal retreat relatively easy to reach by foot. An important sea port in the Middle Ages, Blakeney today is quaint and sleepy. It wakes up during the summer though, and is a popular fishing, canoeing, and bird-watching destination. 

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Brancaster -

Embedded in Brancaster's enviable band of golden sand is a shipwreck, the remains of the SS Vina, which was used for target practice by the Royal Air Force before accidentally sinking in 1944. The wreck is clearly visible at low tide and is one of the region's more unusual tourist attractions.

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Blickling Hall -

Looking as if straight out of a period drama, handsome Blickling Hall near Aylsham dates back to the 16th century. It was once the childhood home of Anne Boleyn, Queen of England from 1533 to 1536 as the second wife of King Henry VIII. She was eventually executed on the orders of her husband, allegedly for high treason. The estate is open to the public.

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Cley Marshes -

A veritable paradise for ornithologists, the Cley Marshes Nature Reserve is managed by the Norfolk Wildlife Trust and serves as a magnet for birdwatchers across the nation. The avocet (pictured) is a familiar species seen here.

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Castle Rising -

This ruined medieval fortification in the village of Castle Rising near Kings Lynne was once the home of Queen Isabella, who allegedly arranged the gruesome murder of her husband, Edward II. A major landscape feature of the 12th-century stronghold is the massive earthwork, effectively a dry moat, that served as a formidable defense against anyone trying to breach the castle.

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Kings Lynn -

A seaport and market town, King's Lynne was England's most important harbor in the 14th century, set as it is on the River Great Wash, which drains into the North Sea. The historic old town is certainly worth perusing. The Custom House (pictured) dates back to 1683. The statue is of Captain George Vancouver, a British officer in the Royal Navy famed for exploring and charting North America's northwestern Pacific Coast regions: Canada's Vancouver Island and the city of Vancouver are named for him.

Sources: (Literary Norfolk) (British Geological Survey) (Britannica) 

See also: The best sights to explore in the North of England

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