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

  • Special Weekend Public Observing with Loughton Astronomical Society

    Sunday 15th January 2023 from 18:30pm to 22:30pm

    Theydon Bois Scout Hall, Epping, CM16 7EJ

    More info
  • Public stargazing with Sandy Astronomical Society (third week of month)

    Monday 16th January 2023 from 19:00pm to 21:00pm

    Blunham Playing Fields, Blunham, MK44 3ND

    More info
  • Cranfield Astronomical Society meeting and observing

    Tuesday 17th January 2023 from 19:30pm to 21:30pm

    Loxham Observatory, Cranfield, MK43 0TH

    More info
  • Orwell Park Observatory Public Open Evening

    Tuesday 17th January 2023 from 20:15pm to 22:15pm

    Orwell Park Observatory, Nacton, IP10 0ER

    More info
  • Institute of Astronomy Public Open Night

    Wednesday 18th January 2023 from 18:45pm to 21:30pm

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

    More info
  • Athenaeum Astronomy Association meeting

    Wednesday 18th January 2023 from 19:30pm to 21:30pm

    Whepstead Community Centre, Whepstead, IP29 4TA

    More info
  • Piazzi Smyth Observatory Open Evening

    Wednesday 18th January 2023 from 19:30pm to 21:00pm

    Piazzi Smyth Observatory, Bedford, MK40 2LD

    More info
  • Putteridge Bury Observatory Public Open Evening

    Wednesday 18th January 2023 from 19:30pm to 21:30pm

    University of Bedford - Putteridge Bury Campus, Luton, LU2 8LE

    More info
  • North Essex Astronomical Society meeting

    Wednesday 18th January 2023 from 20:00pm to 22:00pm

    Henry Dixon Hall, Witham, CM8 3HR

    More info
  • Loughton Astronomical Society meeting & observing

    Thursday 19th January 2023 from 20:00pm to 22:00pm

    Theydon Bois Scout Hall, Epping, CM16 7EJ

    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

  • 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
  • Head Fen Country Retreat

    Head Fen Drove, Little Downham, Cambridgeshire, CB6 2ER

    Stay & Gaze

    More info