EAST ANGLIA

Last year the sought-after coasts of Norfolk and Suffolk saw waiting lists for self-catering cottages, sold out hotel rooms and packed campsites in the peak summer weeks. Fast forward to 2022 and Norfolk cottage holiday company Sowerbys says demand is returning to calmer, pre-pandemic levels.

The seaside hotspots of Brancaster, Thornham, Burnham Overy Staithe and Blakeney continue to command a premium, but venture just a little way inland to the pretty villages of Stanhoe, Binham and North and South Creake and you will find affordable cottages a short drive to the best beaches. Among them is Hare Cottage (sowerbysholidaycottages.co.uk), a 17th-century, dogfriendly hideaway sleeping four in Docking – 10 minutes from the sea and near a pub, village store and fish and chip shop – which has summer availability for £785 per week.

Lurking quietly below the radar, Raynham Wild Meadow Glamping (raynham.co.uk) has luxurious, familyIt iHeart felt: stay in a luxurious, family-sized yurt on the Raynham estate in Norfolk sized yurts in the grounds of Raynham estate from £833 per week. And there is still time to snap up a three-night stay at the popular Hoste Arms (thehostearms.com) in the Georgian town of Burnham Market, from £687 B&B in August.

The overlooked but well-located Suffolk village of Reydon, just inland from the busy resorts of Southwold and Walberswick, is home to Scotts Cottage (bestofsuffolk.co.uk/properties/scotts-cottage), a terraced house sleeping four, from £984 for five nights. Further south, the seaside Wentworth Hotel (wentworth-aldeburgh.com) in Aldeburgh offers a twonight summer break package from £570 for two people, including full English breakfast, three-course dinner and a cream tea. Away from the sea, the Bildeston Crown (thebildestoncrown.com), an excellent base for exploring the wool town of Lavenham and Constable Country, has cosy rooms from £110 B&B per night.