East of England facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
East of England
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From top, left to right: Peterborough; Colchester; Norfolk Broads; St Albans; Hatfield House; Norwich; Lavenham in Suffolk; Cambridge
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East of England, highlighted in red on a beige political map of England
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| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Country | England |
| Combined authorities | Cambridgeshire and Peterborough |
| Districts |
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| Counties | |
| Government | |
| • Type | Local authority leaders' board |
| • Body | East of England Local Government Association |
| Area | |
| • Total | 7,563 sq mi (19,587 km2) |
| • Land | 7,381 sq mi (19,116 km2) |
| • Water | 7 sq mi (17 km2) |
| Area rank | 2nd |
| Population
(2021)
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| • Total | 6,348,096 |
| • Rank | 4th |
| • Density | 860/sq mi (332/km2) |
| Ethnicity (2021) | |
| • Ethnic groups |
List
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| Religion (2021) | |
| • Religion |
List
46.6% Christianity
40.2% no religion 3.7% Islam 1.4% Hinduism 0.7% Judaism 0.4% Sikhism 0.4% Buddhism 0.6% other 6.1% not stated |
| GSS code | E12000006 |
| ITL code | TLH |
| GVA | 2021 estimate |
| • Total | £171.4 billion |
| • Rank | 4th |
| • Per capita | £26,995 |
| • Rank | 3rd |
| GDP (nominal) | 2021 estimate |
| • Total | £193.3 billion |
| • Rank | 4th |
| • Per capita | £30,442 |
| • Rank | 3rd |
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The East of England is one of the nine official regions in England, United Kingdom. It was created in 1994 and is used for official statistics. This region includes the counties of Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Essex, Hertfordshire, Norfolk, and Suffolk. Essex is the most populated county in the region.
In 2018, about 6.24 million people lived in the East of England. Some of the biggest towns and cities are Bedford, Luton, Basildon, Peterborough, Southend-on-Sea, Norwich, Ipswich, Colchester, Chelmsford, and Cambridge. The southern part of the region is close to London, so many people who live there travel to London for work.
Peterborough is the largest city and urban area in the East of England. It has about 220,000 people. Peterborough has been one of the fastest-growing cities in the UK for both its population and its economy.
Contents
- Geography of the East of England
- Climate in the East of England
- People and Culture
- History of the East of England
- Healthcare in the East of England
- Economy of the East of England
- Universities in the East of England
- Sports in the East of England
- Literature in the East of England
- Media in the East of England
- Images for kids
- See also
Geography of the East of England
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The East of England is the lowest region in the UK. About 20% of the area is below sea level. This includes parts of North Cambridgeshire, Norfolk, and the Essex Coast. Most of the rest of the region is also quite low.
The Fens are a large area of land that used to be marshland. They are mostly in North Cambridgeshire. The lowest point in the UK is in the Fens, in a village called Holme. It is 2.75 meters (9 feet) below sea level! The highest point in the region is Clipper Down, which is 249 meters (817 feet) above sea level. This is in the Ivinghoe Hills.
After World War II, new towns were built to help with crowded cities. These "New Towns" include Basildon and Harlow in Essex, and Stevenage and Hemel Hempstead in Hertfordshire. Later, a former Royal Air Force base at Stansted was expanded into a major airport.
How the Region Changed Over Time
The East of England region we know today was formed from an older area called East Anglia. The old East Anglia did not include Essex, Hertfordshire, and Bedfordshire. These counties were once considered part of the South East.
Climate in the East of England
The East of England is one of the driest parts of the UK. It gets between 450 and 750 millimeters of rain each year. This is because weather systems from the Atlantic lose most of their rain before they reach this eastern part of England.
- Winter (mid-November to mid-March) is usually cool. Sometimes, cold winds from Europe can bring heavy snow.
- Spring (mid-March to May) starts chilly but gets warmer by late April or May. The weather can change quickly, with occasional showers.
- Summer (June to mid-September) is generally warm. Air from mainland Europe often brings hot, sunny weather for several weeks. The East usually gets less rain than other regions during summer.
- Autumn (mid-September to mid-November) is usually mild. Some days are very wet, while others are warm and pleasant.
People and Culture
The East of England is home to a diverse population. In 2021, about 86.5% of people identified as White. Other large ethnic groups include Asian (6.4%), Black (2.9%), and Mixed (2.8%).
When it comes to religion, in 2021, 46.6% of people in the East of England identified as Christian. A large number, 40.2%, said they had no religion. Other religions practiced include Islam (3.7%), Hinduism (1.4%), and Judaism (0.7%).
History of the East of England
Civil War and the Protectorate
During the English Civil War, the East of England was very important for the Parliament's side. Many resources and soldiers came from this region. Oliver Cromwell, a famous leader of the Parliamentarians, was from Huntingdon in this region.
Second World War
During World War II, Norfolk, Suffolk, and Essex were home to many American air forces. The Imperial War Museum at Duxford has a special exhibit to remember their bravery.
Many de Havilland Mosquito planes, which were important during the war, were put together in Hatfield and Leavesden. RAF Tempsford in Bedfordshire was a secret airfield where SOE agents took off for missions in Europe.
Cold War
After World War II, during the Cold War, several US Air Force bases were in the East of England. For example, RAF Bentwaters and RAF Woodbridge hosted American fighter jets for over 40 years. These bases closed in the early 1990s.
RAF Marham in Norfolk was important for developing the RAF's air-to-air refuelling system. RAF Wyton was a key base for reconnaissance (spy) planes. Today, it is home to the Defence Intelligence Fusion Centre.
Healthcare in the East of England
The East of England Ambulance Service helps people across the region. There are also air ambulances, like the East Anglian Air Ambulance, which fly from Cambridge Airport and Norwich Airport. The Essex & Herts Air Ambulance operates from Boreham.
Economy of the East of England
The East of England has a strong and varied economy. Many different types of businesses operate here.
Hertfordshire's Economy
The Watford area in Hertfordshire is home to many well-known companies. These include TK Maxx (clothing), Mothercare (baby products), and Wetherspoons (pub chains). Leavesden Film Studios, where many famous movies are made, is also in Hertfordshire.
Bedfordshire's Economy
Luton is a major town in Bedfordshire. It is home to EasyJet, a popular airline, based at Luton Airport. Vauxhall also has a plant in Luton that makes vans.
East Anglia's Economy
The economy in Norfolk, Cambridgeshire, and Suffolk has traditionally been based on farming. Norfolk is a big producer of potatoes in the UK.
In Norwich, you'll find companies like the RAC (breakdown service) and Aviva (insurance). Colman's mustard and Robinsons squash are also made in Norwich. Bernard Matthews Farms has a large turkey farm in Norfolk.
Lotus Cars, a famous car company, is based in Hethel, Norfolk. Jeyes Group makes household cleaning products in Thetford.
Around Cambridge, there are many high-tech companies, especially in electronics and biotechnology. This area is sometimes called "Silicon Fen" because it's like Silicon Valley in the US. Companies like ARM Holdings, which designs computer chips, are based here. Marshall Aerospace is at Cambridge Airport. Premier Foods has a large factory in Histon that makes jams and other food products.
Universities in the East of England
The most famous university in the region is the University of Cambridge. It is known worldwide for its excellent teaching and research. In 2010, it was even rated as one of the best universities globally.
There are eight universities in the East of England:
- University of Cambridge
- Anglia Ruskin University (also in Cambridge)
- University of East Anglia (in Norwich)
- Norwich University of the Arts (in Norwich)
- University of Bedfordshire (in Bedford and Luton)
- University of Essex (near Colchester)
- University of Hertfordshire (in Hatfield)
- University of Suffolk (in Ipswich)
The University of Cambridge gets a lot of funding for its research, more than any other university in the region. The University of East Anglia in Norwich also receives significant research grants. After graduating, many students choose to stay in the East of England or move to London for work.
Sports in the East of England
Football
The Cambridge rules for football were created by students at the University of Cambridge in the 1800s. These rules helped shape the modern game of football.
Today, some of the top football teams from the East of England include Ipswich Town, Norwich City, Watford, and Luton Town. These teams have all played in the top football leagues in England. Other notable teams are Peterborough United and Cambridge United.
Literature in the East of England
The famous children's author Dodie Smith lived near Sudbury in Suffolk. Part of her well-known book, The Hundred and One Dalmatians, takes place in Sudbury. This book later inspired the Disney animated film.
Media in the East of England
Television
Most of the East of England receives television services from BBC East and ITV Anglia. Both of these broadcasters are based in Norwich. They broadcast from large transmitters like Sandy Heath, Sudbury, and Tacolneston.
Some areas closer to London, like Luton and south Essex, might receive TV signals from BBC London and ITV London. In some parts of Hertfordshire, a relay transmitter brings London television into the area.
Radio
The region has several local BBC radio stations. These include BBC Radio Cambridgeshire, BBC Essex, BBC Radio Norfolk, BBC Radio Suffolk, and BBC Three Counties Radio. Three Counties Radio covers Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire, and Buckinghamshire.
Images for kids
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Map showing the NUTS 3 regions of the East of England.
See also
In Spanish: Región del Este de Inglaterra para niños
