East coast - where to stay for some history and prettyness

[ilovedplaydays]

Hi all

I have 2 nights free to spend around the east coast area. I do not know that area at all, and as my husband is not from the UK and we do not live in England I would love to explore that area and show off some of England to them. We will be in London for a week so thought we might leave there and head towards the coast to experience a real English seaside town - deck chairs, fish and chips and all! Also I see that Canterbury is in that direction (I think!?) and wonder if that would be a good place to head to also.

I am confused! Please advise!! Thanks

Canterbury is really pretty. Lots of history available in that part of kent: historic dockyard at Chatham, castles galore (Leeds, hever especially). Margate is an old fashioned seaside town if that's what you really want....
South of Canterbury on kent/ Sussex border you have Battle abbey (as in hastings), Bodiam castle and steam railway, Rye (which is a really pretty old town). Also check out www.nationaltrust.org.uk and www.english-heritage.org.uk

Thank you Wearymum. You poor thing - re name. It does get better, hopefully. Thanks for the places. Of course Canterbury! Would love to see it.

Norfolk - beautiful - Holkham, Wells, Sherringham, Norwich

I second Norfolk ,some beautiful beaches there

Southend? Not exactly 'coast', more 'estuary' but all the essential ingredients and the longest pier in the world! What more could you want?

Broadstairs - beautiful. And you can do Canterbury at the same time.

Actually, scrub Southend, I've just noticed you want prettyness!

try southwold rathere than southend

Orford is lovely if you want the far east - the Crown and Castle is worth investigation if you have ££ to spend.

Whitby!

Southwold and Aldeburgh are very pretty.
Dunwich is close, very historic.
More inland in Suffolk there are some pretty villages, Lavenham and Kersey.

great! Thanks so much for all that. I love the idea of somewhere around Broadstairs - I wonder if that is close to Aldburgh? I will googlemap it. Anywhere to stay? - ££ do matter - we live in a very poor Ireland now. 6 of us - all adult prices at this stage unfortunately. Husband is Irish and children have not been raised in UK so would love to give them a taster of prettiness and our legendary friendliness (do not care that our reputation is one of reserve: each time we come to visit we are met with only warmth and helpfulness)

I am with Mollymax. love southwold