Stargazing in East of England

You’ll find miles of wide flat spaces in these counties: ideal for
stargazing and uninterrupted views of the horizon.

East of England includes the counties of Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Essex, Hertfordshire, Norfolk and Suffolk.

The best places to stargaze in Bedfordshire are to the north and west of Bedford – across the Great Ouse Valley.

You don’t have to travel far in Cambridgeshire to witness expansive dark skies. Wicken Fen is the National Trust’s oldest nature reserve. Also well worth a visit is the Cambridge Institute of Astronomy who hold regular public open evenings of their observatory.

Essex has plenty of places, with miles of dark coastline. Clacton-on-Sea is popular with the local astronomy club, and Abberton Reservoir is a favourite location for Essex Astronomical Society — it makes an ideal spot for Milky Way photography too!.

Kelling Heath Holiday Park hosts regular star parties where hundreds of astronomers meet under the dark skies of North Norfolk.



Stargazing events in East of England

  • Breckland Observatory public open night

    Friday 29th March 2024 from 19:30pm to 22:30pm

    Breckland Astronomical Observatory, Near Attleborough, NR17

    More info
  • Cambridge Young Astronomers (7 to 11 year olds)

    Saturday 30th March 2024 from 10:00am to 12:00pm

    Cambridge Observatory - Institute of Astronomy, Cambridge, CB3 0HA

    More info
  • Cambridge AstroPlus

    Monday 1st April 2024 from 19:15pm to 20:45pm

    Cambridge Observatory - Institute of Astronomy, Cambridge, CB3 0HA

    More info
  • Stour Astronomical Society meeting and observing

    Tuesday 2nd April 2024 from 19:30pm to 21:30pm

    Cavendish Memorial Hall, Cavendish, CO10 8AD

    More info
  • Piazzi Smyth Observatory observing session

    Wednesday 3rd April 2024 from 19:30pm to 21:00pm

    Piazzi Smyth Observatory, Bedford, MK40 2LD

    More info
  • Thurrock Astronomy Society meeting

    Wednesday 3rd April 2024 from 19:30pm to 21:30pm

    Horndon-on-the-Hill Methodist Hall, Horndon-on-the-Hill, SS17 8LQ

    More info
  • Peterborough Astronomical Society meeting and observing

    Thursday 4th April 2024 from 19:00pm to 21:00pm

    Sacrewell Heritage Farm, Peterborough, PE8 6HJ

    More info
  • Clacton and District Astronomical Association meeting

    Thursday 4th April 2024 from 19:30pm to 21:45pm

    Christ Church Clacton - United Reform Church, Clacton-on-Sea, CO15 6PH

    More info
  • Loughton Astronomical Society meeting & observing

    Thursday 4th April 2024 from 20:00pm to 22:00pm

    Theydon Bois Scout Hall, Epping, CM16 7EJ

    More info
  • Haw Wood Farm Astronomers Week – Spring 2024

    Friday 5th April 2024 from 17:00pm to Wednesday 10th April 2024 12:00pm

    Haw Wood Farm Caravan Park, Saxmundham, IP17 3QT

    More info

Stargazing locations in East of England

  • Athenaeum Observatory

    Angel Hill, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, IP33 1LU

    Observatory

    More info
  • Barrow Common – Brancaster

    Common Lane, Brancaster, Norfolk, PE31 8DB

    Dark Sky Discovery Site

    More info
  • Bawsey Country Park

    Bawsey, King's Lynn, Norfolk, PE32 1EP

    Go Stargazing Site

    More info
  • Bayfordbury Observatory

    Lower Hatfield Road, Bayfordbury, Hertfordshire, SG13 8LD

    Observatory

    More info
  • Bedford Purlieus Woods Car Park

    Old Leicester Road, Peterborough, Cambridgeshire, PE8 6NN

    Go Stargazing Site

    More info
  • Breckland Astronomical Observatory

    Great Ellingham, Near Attleborough, Norfolk, NR17

    Dark Sky Discovery Site, Observatory

    More info
  • Cambridge Observatory – Institute of Astronomy

    University of Cambridge, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, CB3 0HA

    Astronomical Society, Observatory

    More info
  • EAARO Space Operations Centre

    Space Operations Centre - Building 1013, Alconbury Airfield, Cambridgeshire, PE28 4XA

    Observatory, Private Venue

    More info
  • Herringfleet Windmill Car Park

    Slugs Lane, Somerleyton, Suffolk, NR32 5QT

    Recommended Stargazing Site

    More info
  • High Top Observatory

    Flaunden, Hemel Hempstead, Buckinghamshire, HP5 1FF

    Observatory

    More info

Stargazing accommodation in East of England

  • Albion Nights

    Norwich Road, Woodton, Norfolk, NR35 2LP

    Stay & Gaze

    More info
  • Blyth Rise Stays

    Station Road, Laxfield, Suffolk, IP13 8HF

    Stay & Gaze

    More info
  • Brancaster Stays

    Common Lane, Brancaster Staithe, Norfolk, PE31 8BL

    Stay & Gaze

    More info
  • Bumblebarn Bell Tents

    Sheringwood, Beeston Regis, Norfolk, NR26 8TS

    Stay & Gaze

    More info
  • Haw Wood Farm Caravan Park

    Hinton, Saxmundham, Suffolk, IP17 3QT

    Stay & Gaze

    More info