Do something amazing this month

Whether it's fun family days out or a relaxing break, the East of England has something for everyone during May.

Take advantage of fantastic special offers, use the new Let's Go guide for great value deals, and do something amazing with your weekends.

With special 'travel by train' offers and 2-for-1 vouchers, the guide offers ideas for spring events, plus information on country escapes, coastal discovery and things to see and do in the region.

A Day at Newmarket Races

Enjoy a day horseracing with meetings at Newmarket between 15-17 & 23-24 this May, with combined 'travel by train' from London and Grandstand & Paddock enclosure entry just £35.

For more information click here.

Adventure Island, Southend

Enjoy the thrills of over 30 rides, including the giddy heights of the Skydrop, the Scorpion, Vortex
and the amazing rollercoaster RAGE for superheroes only! Inclusive train and entry tickets are available.

For more information click here.

City Sightseeing in Cambridge

See Cambridge from an open top bus, with commentary to point out major colleges & museums, or  see the sights from the river, where your punt chauffeur will do all the work - so just sit back and relax.

For more information click here.

This Spring East of England Tourism has teamed up with National Express East Anglia for some exciting ideas on what to do in the East of England and how you can get there by train.

Travelling by train has always been a great way to enjoy a short break or a day out, especially as you can sit back and relax while we do the driving. Special deals for kids on some journeys make it a good value family outing and refreshments are available on longer distance trains.

For more information click here.

Southend was the first seaside resort in the country to stage an Airshow and it's become one of Europe's largest FREE event of its kind, regularly attracting over a half a million people to the seafront over the weekend.

Whilst the skies over the Thames Estuary are filled with roaring and buzzing of fast jets as they zoom and flit at lightning speed, or formation aerobatic teams mesmerise the crowd with their manoeuvres, there's a non-stop action-packed entertainment programme that stretches for two miles on the ground.

For more information click here.

Enter our fantastic prize draw - and you can enjoy the 4 star luxury of the Radisson SAS Hotel at Stansted. With great transport links, the hotel is the perfect base for exploring the region - from the university city of Cambridge, to the historic towns and villages of Essex and Hertfordshire.

For your chance to win click here.

National Trust - grand days 

Enjoy 2-for-1 offers with Let's Go at top National Trust properties, like the magnificent Blickling Hall with its rich interior and lakeside walks, or explore the eccentric rotunda of Ickworth House with its curving corridors. Alternatively take in one of Britain's most important and atmospheric archaeological sites at Sutton Hoo.

For more information and to print your 2-for-1 vouchers click here.

Norfolk & Norwich Festival 08 (2-17 May)

This year's festival sees some of the biggest names in classical music, jazz, dance and large-scale performance fill Norwich with world class sights and sounds. There is a liberal sprinkling of UK and World premieres too and this truly international festival brings artists from across the globe together with some of the most renowned and most innovative UK companies and artists.

For more information click here.

English Heritage - castles and gardens

Enjoy 2-for-1 entry with Let's Go to the lavish stately homes and enchanting gardens, or ancient forts and castles that are typical English Heritage sites in the East of England. Take in one of England's grandest country homes at Audley End House in Essex, or climb the castles at Orford and Framlingham for panoramic views of Suffolk.

For more information and to print your 2-for-1 vouchers click here.

There are loads of fantastic things that locals would recommend you do when you visit.

Here are this month's top five:

My name is Andy Shingler and these are a few of my favourite things to do in the East of England.

1. Taking the kids to Colchester Zoo, great variety and great to see space in which the African animals can roam;

2. Re-visiting my own childhood beside the River Crouch in Essex, roaming the meadows and a walk along the river to a convivial watering hole;

3. The excitement of a flutter at Newmarket Races, win or lose the fun is in taking part;

4. A summer's stroll through the Norfolk Broads to a relaxing waterside pint in Reedham;

5. Football on a sunny day in Ipswich, and a relaxing outdoor meal with friends afterwards.

For more information about what's on in the East of England click here.

The winning entry for April's photography competition, run in conjunction with The Independent newspaper, was this shot of RSPB Minsmere. It was submitted by Mike Porter from London. 

Win the chance to get your picture of East of England printed on canvas.

We think that we know the East of England quite well, but the beauty of our region is that there are so many hidden gems, and everybody has their favourite view of the area.

The region includes so much, from unspoilt countryside to pretty villages, from the picturesque coastline to historic houses and gardens, there is so much you could capture on camera.

We are looking for pictures of your hidden gems and favourite views, and every month we will select a shortlist that we will display on visiteastofengland.com, with the winner receiving a copy of their picture professionally printed on to canvas.

To enter email your favourite picture to photocomp@eet.org.uk. For more information, including competition terms and conditions, please click here.