Broadland sits to the north-east of Norwich in Norfolk, a predominantly rural district made up of small market towns and villages as well as suburban edges of the city. The local authority was created in 1974 under the Local Government Act 1972 and its name reflects the distinctive watery landscape that defines much of the area.
Geographically the district is best known for its stretch of The Broads, with a network of rivers and drainage channels such as the River Bure and the River Yare, expansive reedbeds and grazing marshes. Centres like Wroxham and Acle act as gateways for boating and wildlife-watching, and the landscape supports nationally important wetland habitats and birdlife.
Economically and socially Broadland mixes agriculture and small-scale industry with a strong tourism sector driven by boating, fishing and nature activities, while many residents commute to Norwich for work. Community life is marked by village fetes, regattas and seasonal markets, and the district balances conservation priorities with pressures from development and an ageing population drawn by the quieter, scenic surroundings near the coast and Great Yarmouth.