Broads National Park

The Broads stretch across Norfolk like a secret that locals have been keeping for decades - 63 square miles of interconnected waterways, reed beds and shallow lakes that feel distinctly different from anywhere else in England. You're looking at the largest protected wetland in Britain, and it's absolutely alive with activity if you know where to look.

Most visitors explore by boat, and honestly, that's the only proper way to do it. You can hire everything from a tiny canoe to a full cabin cruiser, then spend your days drifting between villages like Wroxham and Horning, watching herons fish and spotting the occasional otter. Some spots are so remote you'll swear you've stumbled into the Everglades, not Norfolk. Walking works too - there are decent trails along the water's edge near Great Yarmouth, though you won't get the same intimacy with the landscape.

If you're camping or glamping at Millview Meadow or Clippesby Hall nearby, the Broads are your perfect daytime activity. Families with older kids who can sit still in a boat love it. Bird watchers go absolutely mental for the wildlife here. Nature photographers will spend entire days trying to capture the light on the water. Less so for toddlers or anyone after theme parks and thrills.

Access is free to the Broads itself, though boat hire costs vary wildly. Allow at least a full day - ideally two or three if you're serious about exploring. Spring and early summer are best: the light's perfect and the bird life is spectacular.