Inside the surprising English region voted one of the best in the world by Lonely Planet – and discover exactly why it deserves the accolade

Cornwall? Forget it. ‘God’s Own Country’ – Yorkshire? Try again. The Highlands? Don’t cut the mustard.

No, the best region currently in the UK is according to Lonely Planet’s Best in Travel 2025 book – East Anglia. What’s more, it is the eighth best region worldwide.

Why? Because it is ‘enigmatic’ and offers a ‘true taste of England’.

But what does that actually mean? Somewhere mysterious with bland bar food?

I’m on a mission to find out with my partner and seven-year-old daughter and a little help from Mini, who have lent me a rather electrifying car for the weekend to go hunting for hidden gems in one of Oos -Anglia’s most famous alluring counties – Norfolk.

As someone who grew up reading Arthur Ransome’s The Big Six, about a group of sailboat kids roaming the rivers of the Norfolk Broads, I always imagined that wind power would be the ultimate way to discover the area.

But I can assure you that the all-new Mini Cooper C is also an engrossing means of transport for uncovering the delights of Britain’s premier district.

For starters, the pickup has a brilliantly bright circular OLED screen, which sits in the center of the cabin, and a handy head-up display that folds out from the top of the dashboard at the touch of a button.

They have clearly laid out navigation information that makes it easy to find Norfolk’s nooks and crannies.

The first place I punch into the navigation system as we laze outside our South London abode, ahead of our Mini Adventure, is one that I hope will demonstrate exactly why East Anglia is so highly prized – a seaside windmill hotel on the Norfolk Coast National Landscape area of ​​outstanding natural beauty.

We endure tiring queues on the northbound M11 – but it seems not only good things, but magical things come to those who wait.

A true taste of England? A stay at Cley Windmill in the chocolate box town of Cley-next-the-Sea is like being in a living Constable painting.

The former flour mill, built in the early 19th century, stands five stories high on the edge of the village, next to the river Glaven and positions itself like sentinels over a mini-wilderness, a fascinating marshy interface between the land and the North Sea which is tied up. with ponds and home to dozens of bird species, including harriers, barn owls, curlews, wagtails and pink-footed geese.

The windmill has 10 rooms, including one in the middle of the tower, the ‘Stone Room’, which singer James Blunt lived in when his family owned the property. Above is the Wheel Room, which guests must sign a waiver to stay in, as access is via a very steep ladder.

We stay in the River Room on the ground floor, which has direct access to a lawn and a walkway that cuts into a forest of reeds.

Apart from a temperamental ensuite shower that dribbles water, this is a lovely stay. And the windmill as a whole, with its charming staff, rustic beamed interiors and excellent breakfasts, makes a great base for exploring the area.

On foot from our headquarters we go to the North Sea, where we see a seal patrolling the coastline, and local bar the Three Swallowswhere we enjoy fish and chips and eavesdrop on locals discussing astronomy, a subject close to the heart of the local parish council, who have banned street lighting for the benefit of the local wildlife and stargazers.

Norfolk, it turns out, is the eighth darkest county in England and there is an area nearby with official ‘dark sky’ status – the Wiveton Downs Dark Sky Discovery Site.

The lack of light certainly helps to create an enigmatic atmosphere that Lonely Planet alludes to.

Sights further afield are best achieved, I discover, by driving the Mini in ‘go-kart’ mode, one of seven ‘experiences’ available at the flick of a switch.

Each has its own distinctive lighting and soundscape (see excerpt for more), but ‘go-kart’ mode is the funnest, with a ‘woo-hoe!’ chimes on activation and an analog sports car tachometer and speedometer simulated on the OLED screen.

In addition, gear changes on the automatic gearbox (there is currently no manual option for the Mini Cooper C) come at higher revs and the steering stiffens.

One stop in the car is the quaint Wells-next-the-Sea, about 15 minutes away.

From the harbor car park there, we walk out for a kilometer to stunning Holkham Beach, lined with executive-looking beach huts and boasting an expansive stretch of sand, before enjoying a superb seafood platter at Wells Crab House.

Also on the grid are the Wells and Walsingham Light Railwayon the edge of town.

It runs four miles along the course of the old Great Eastern line from Wells-next-the-Sea to Walsingham, and is reputed to be the longest 10.25-inch narrow-gauge steam railway in the world.

What a treat that is.

We have the option of returning straight away, but instead catch a later train and explore Walsingham for a few hours – a picturesque place and definitely mysterious.

The village is famous for beautifully preserved half-timbered buildings and for being one of the most important places of pilgrimage in medieval England, as it was here in 1061 that the lady of the manor, Richeldis de Faverches, a series of visions of the Virgin Mary, who showed her the Nazareth house where the angel Gabriel foretold the birth of Jesus. Mary asked Richeldis to build a replica of the holy house in Walsingham.

Important pilgrims to Walsingham in subsequent years included Henry III and Henry VIII, who came twice.

There is a beautiful abbey with landscaped gardens to visit, with the excellent farm shop and Black Lion Hotel also pilgrimage-worthy, the latter a much better fuel option than the Bull Inn, where my fears of the ‘taste of England’ as bland pub food come true.

Our faint ploughman, jacket spud and cheese sandwich here is just a small blemish on an otherwise brilliant weekend which leads me to agree with Lonely Planet’s summary of East Anglia as a very special region.

Wow!