Grande Horloge Ronde Sunset in The Broads England Travel

The Broads, designated as a national park-equivalent in 1989 (technically called "The Broads Authority"), is a unique landscape of navigable rivers and shallow lakes spread across Norfolk and Suffolk. Unlike other national parks, the Broads is defined by water — over 200 km of waterways meander through reed beds, marshes, and meadows, creating one of Britain’s most important wetlands and a haven for wildlife, including rare birds like the bittern and marsh harrier. The Broads’ tranquil waterways are perfect for boating holidays, with countless narrowboats and cruisers navigating its picturesque villages, historic windmills, and waterside pubs. The region is flat and low-lying, making it easy terrain for walking and cycling. Rich in biodiversity and history — much of the landscape was formed by medieval peat diggings that flooded — The Broads offers a distinctive contrast to the upland national parks, combining nature, recreation, and a sense of timeless rural life.