The beautiful medieval architecture of its gracious cities, splendid cathedrals and plethora of historic houses evoke the region's past wealth. More recently, a number of new towns have been created in the region, while others have been significantly enlarged. They include Harlow, Hemel Hempstead, Letchworth, Peterborough, Stevenage and Welwyn Garden City. The East of England is also a diverse region industrially. Manufacturing activities employ the greatest number of employees, and large employers are located in the region, including Vauxhall in Luton.
Agriculture is twice as important to the region as it is to the country as a whole.
Known mainly for wheat and barley, it actually produces a wide range of crops, vegetables and livestock. Its major limitation is low rainfall, which makes it less suitable for dairy and forage-based beef production. The region's 9,000 farm businesses cover an area of nearly 1.5 million hectares and produce more than half of the UK's sugar beet, a third of all field vegetables, and a quarter of pigs, potatoes and cereals. Farm size across the region is amongst the largest in the country, but despite its size, the average farm in the region is still a family business, firmly rooted in the local community and playing a key role in the local rural economy. However, in many parts of the region the industry is under increasing pressure from urban expansion.