It’s hard to miss the grand neo-classical architecture of the Fitzwilliam Museum. Founded in 1816, it houses a magnificent collection of art and artefacts, including William Blake’s illuminated manuscripts and treasures from Egypt, Greece, Ancient Rome and Asia.
Image: Norfolk Broads, England
East of England
The East of England awaits with the magnificent broads and the historic city of Norwich. With a BritRail England Pass you can explore East Anglia, with unlimited train journeys for a single price, offering huge cost savings.
Explore the broad vistas, historic cities and tranquil coastlines of England’s eastern counties, on a 4 day itinerary from Cambridgeshire to Norfolk. Start in Cambridge, a quintessentially English city with the River Cam meandering through the centre. Cambridge has an abundance of museums, colleges and attractions to keep you entertained for the first two days of your trip. Then on to Norwich, a medieval market town rich in history with Norwich Castle and Cathedral the focal points in the town centre. The Norfolk Broads is worth a full days visit and is an area of wetlands with connecting rivers and lakes and a great place to explore by boat.
Start your journey
Catch the train from London Kings Cross to Cambridge. The journey takes around 45 minutes so it’s not far at all, but we advise starting in the morning to make the most of your day. Once you get there, leave your luggage at your hotel so you can explore freely. You’ll save considerable time and money if you purchase a BritRail England Pass to make this trip.
Day 1-2: Cambridge
Home to one of the world’s oldest and most famous universities, Cambridge brings together magnificent architecture, riverside picnics and punting and fascinating tours and museums into what feels a little like a fairytale city.
Things to do in Cambridge
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Step inside one of Cambridge’s most iconic buildings: the grand gothic chapel of Kings College, part of the historic Cambridge University. Here you can soak up the beauty of choral song or classical music with a concert, or one of the daily evensong services.
Punts are traditional flat-bottomed boats that you propel and steer with a long pole, that were historically used for angling. Today they’re an iconic part of Cambridge life: you’ll see lots of them on the river on sunny days, and it’s a great way to get some exercise in a very English way!
Day 3-4: Norwich
Catch a train from Cambridge to the ancient city of Norwich. During the middle ages, Norwich was England’s second largest city after London, and the city today still has all the colour and charm of a bustling medieval market town. Visit its Norman castle and be wowed by its towering cathedral, then take in some of its great cultural attractions, from great museums to galleries, theatres and more. The journey from Cambridge takes 1 hour 20 minutes direct, or 1 hour 40 minutes with a change at Ely.
Things to do in Norwich
Built as a Norman royal palace almost a thousand years ago, Norwich Castle is today a fascinating museum, full of fine art, archaeology and military exhibits. It’s an easy walk from the station, so be sure to pay it a visit.
An iconic centrepiece of the city, Norwich cathedral is a magnificent piece of Romanesque architecture. It has the second tallest spire and the largest monastic cloisters of any cathedral in England. Step inside and take in its sculptures, stained glass windows or even see a concert here.
The Norfolk Broads is one of Britain’s National Parks. It’s a network of rivers and lakes that crisscross the beautiful open landscapes of Norfolk, famous for their iconic traditional windmills. Hop on a boat tour, or hire your own boat, and spend some time exploring this tranquil setting. You’ll need to catch the train from Norwich to Hoveton & Wroxham, just 13 minutes away, then walk 5 minutes to Broads Tours.
BritRail Pass
If you’re exploring Britain by train a BritRail pass is the easiest and most cost-effective way to travel. For a single fixed price, you can make unlimited train journeys around the whole country or a region of your choice. BritRail tickets are exclusive to overseas visitors so you'll need to buy your ticket before you arrive in the UK.
BritRail 2 for 1 Attractions
From the Edinburgh Dungeon to the Tower Bridge exhibition, you can enjoy 2 for 1 entry with your BritRail pass at more than 50 amazing attractions throughout the UK.
