HOSTELS IN LINCOLNSHIRE EAST MIDLANDS & EAST ANGLIA

• East MidlandsPleasant countryside
• East AngliaPleasant countryside
• Lincoln
• Nottingham
• Cambridge
• Norwich

There's not a lot in the east Midlands of England to tempt you, although there's nothing negative about it either. If you travel from London to Edinburgh you will pass through pleasant rather flat agricultural countryside. If you like large cities, the best are Nottingham and Leicester, while Lincoln has a magnificent cathedral. If you are driving north from London and are not in a rush, the A1 route is pleasanter than the M1 and passes through a varied landscape mostly free of industry, and you can have a breather in interesting towns like Stamford and Grantham. Northamptonshire and Rutland are very pleasant areas for meandering through. If you want a cycling tour, there are several lovely areas with quiet roads, attractive small towns and villages, not many hills, and delightful small hostels. Farther east, you can pass through Ely and the dead flat areas of the Fens and the sub-county of Holland, aptly named. Frequent trains go to all the main cities.

CITIES

is an interesting city deserving a short visit. It is easy to reach by train, so if you have a train pass you should include it in your itinerary. Visit the fine cathedral on a hill overlooking flat country, or stop here on your way back to London.

Unfortunately the YHA hostel has closed, and there is now no hostel in Lincoln!

is notable for a fine shopping centre with low prices, and cheap beer. We are not sure if the following hostel is still operating. It is located in a housing area, 3 miles from the centre (frequent buses) and has limitations (only 5 beds, ages 16-26 only, door locked at 2300), but this is a hostel of unique character (and run by a character) close to a wildlife park.

is an impressive and varied city with a good nightlife. The castle has free entry on weekdays and has a good view.

There are 2 good-value well-located hostels. The Igloo hostel, just outside the centre, is well-established and has the highest ratings. It offers comfortable accommodation with a friendly and casual atmosphere. A newer hostel is Earl Howe, which we have not yet seen but it has good facilities.

More expensive is Midtown Hostel, which again we have not yet seen but it may offer more comfortable and quieter sleeping.

Robin Hood is the reason many people go to Nottingham, but there isn't exactly any 'evidence' other than what has been set up for visitors. The visitor centre in the forest, 20 miles from Nottingham (frequent buses Mon-Sat, 3 on Sun) and 6 miles from Mansfield (frequent buses incl Sun), is pleasant enough, with exhibits and nature trails, and nearby there is a fine hostel in a quiet setting:

MILTON KEYNES

is a new town with little to see unless you are interested in town planning. It has a station with frequent trains. There is no known hostel.

PETERBOROUGH

is a large town with no known hostel.

COUNTRY AREAS

There are several hostels in country areas which make good places to stop on your journey, with local walks. Ivinghoe is close to the Ridgeway walk along the crest of the Chiltern Hills, and also not far from Luton airport. The YHA hostel there has closed.

In a small village in the flat area of south Lincolnshire is

East Lincolnshire is unusual in having a coordinated bus service at reasonable prices, so you can tour this pretty area with confidence. There are about 4 buses a day from Lincoln to a very peaceful spot in the hill country of the Lincolnshire Wolds where you will find a remote hostel:

A new 'National Forest' is being developed in the Midlands. A new YHA hostel is being built in the centre of this forest (it appears to be near Ashby-de-la-Zouch, Leicestershire).

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East Anglia is pleasant agricultural country. It is the driest part of Britain and England's breadbasket, with large areas laid to waving wheatfields. It is in every way pleasant, and in no way exciting. Relaxing after the hectic pace of London, it is ideally suited to cycle or car touring in its gently undulating countryside. If you have a train pass you can reach several interesting towns and cities.

It includes a fine city -- Norwich, forests around Thetford, and in Suffolk and Essex many extremely picturesque villages.

For Hertfordshire and Essex click here.

East Anglia is rather out-of-the-way if your time is limited, but if you have time you should at least visit Norwich for a day. Rail pass holders could spend a day or two getting a feel for the area from the train, a few hours at a coastal resort, and return to London via Cambridge. The following tour can be done by train, staying at hostels:

After leaving London, stop at Colchester for a few hours. Continue direct to Norwich, or deviate nearer the coast to Blaxhall hostel (3 miles from rail station, hourly buses to within 2 miles).

Continue to the seaside resorts of Lowestoft and Great Yarmouth. If you want to stay, the hostel is open only for 6 weeks in summer, but at other times you are likely to get cheap hotel rooms.

But you will not miss much if you skip these resorts and head straight for

NORWICH

a city with much interest including a cathedral, many churches and a big outdoor market. A new hostel is being planned (See www.norwichbackpackers.co.uk ).

Nicer seaside towns, with some cliffs and low hills, are Cromer and Sheringham, the latter having a hostel:

KINGS LYNN

is a former port with much historical interest. This is a good place to visit on a day trip from Cambridge or London. The former YHA hostel is closed.

For an overnight you could instead take a bus (frequent) 16 miles to the small seaside resort of Hunstanton

East Anglia has many picturesque villages. One of these is Castle Acre in NW Norfolk (about 4 buses a day), with a castle, and a hostel in the centre:

The northwest of Norfolk is becoming more popular with a coastal path, beaches and bird reserves. Burnham Deepdale (4 buses a day from Kings Lynn) is convenient and has a hostel (minimum stay 2 nights) :

Wells-next-the-Sea (6 buses a day, not Sun) is an interesting town with a new hostel:

For a brief weekend away from London, either of the following hostels are ideally placed. Saffron Walden is a small attractive town with transport connections to London, Cambridge and Stansted Airport.

Castle Hedingham is a picturesque village with a delightful hostel, ideal for a weekend except that there are no buses on Sundays! On other days, frequent trains to Braintree then hourly bus.

Cambridge, the home of a famous university, is flat, but the meadows around the River Cam, and the college buidings, are beautiful. The city centre has a variety of narrow streets, and there are good bookshops and a smoke-free pub.

You can visit Cambridge easily in a day trip from London (frequent trains from Liverpool Street), or stay at the hostel, or stay at Saffron Walden hostel and take a bus (hourly but NONE late eve).

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