What’s New
Hever Castle: Anne Boleyn’s childhood home is a great day out
Hever Castle may be as much fanciful recreation as it is historic treasure, but William Waldorf Astor’s preservation of Anne Boleyn’s childhood home provides a relaxing and entertaining day out, close to London and the Channel ports.
Abbotsbury Swannery – Intimate encounters with very special birds
Walk the paths of the Abbotsbury Swannery and the air is alive with the whistles and snorts of hundreds of mute swans, the muffled flurry of feathers, the leathery patter of webbed feet and an occasional childish squeal of delight.
London’s 10 best cake and coffee shops – tasted and rated
Where to find London’s best spots to linger over nice – and sometimes great- cake and coffee. Some choices on this list of personal favorites may surprise you but they won’t disappoint.
Are these ancient Roman wines a Fountain of Youth in a bottle?
At a Beaucaire winery on the Provence/Languedoc border, a French winemaking family uses ancient Roman recipes to create distinctive and surprisingly tasty wines – with seawater!
Destinations
Athens Street Art: The Murals of Psyrri
This edgy area is one of the best for enjoying Athens 21st century explosion of street art.
Seven great reasons to choose Pas de Calais for le Weekend
Just across the English Channel yet so often overlooked. Discover the pleasures Northern France in Pas de Calais
Dog-friendly short break in Tewkesbury
Lulu the Westie and I, along with some canine and human pals, head for Tewkesbury, where we find everything we need for the perfect dog-friendly break.
Cauterets: a kingdom of water
The sound of rushing water is everywhere, spring and summer in this historic ski resort in the French Pyrénées.
Travel Tips & Itineraries
25 Perfect Hotel Room Essentials
Tried and tested tips from experienced travellers.
Oh Poo! Where’s the Loo?!
Don’t be caught short. Here’s where to find public restrooms around the world where you’re free to go.
London Blue Plaque Chelsea Walk
Take a self-guided tour of Chelsea to see where the creatives of the past found inspiration.
How to fight travel boredom and sightseeing fatigue
Can’t look at one more pile of rocks that someone calls a castle? One more ancestor portrait? One more stick of old furniture? Help is at hand.
Food & Drink
Miss Virginia’s Shrimp ‘n’ Grits
A classic Southern recipe from a Charleston,S.C, cook that you can make at home.
Pudding, pie or tart – So what’s a Bakewell?
The one thing you can’t get in Bakewell, Derbyshire, is a Bakewell Tart. On the other hand, Bakewell Puddings may be the real deal.
Visit an ancient Roman winery in the South of France
On the Provence/Languedoc border, a family winery produces 2000-year-old vintages for today’s wine drinkers
Delicious dishes from Santorini you can make at home
Santorini’s indigenous dishes are different and delicious. And so easy to make yourself.
Features & Special Places
Strawberry Hill: London’s Little Suburban Castle
An 18th century dandy’s house is a masterpiece of eccentricity – a mini-castle amid the suburban semis.
Bachelors and Spendthrifts – The History of Attingham Park
An entertaining visit to the beautiful house of a family so dysfunctional that generations of them could have populated a 19th century saga.
Tower Bridge’s glass walkways – Part of (not so) hidden London
An almost secret attraction that has been hiding in plain sight
The indescribable Snape Maltings
From its strange sounding name to its creative miscellany of art, music, retail and the great outdoors, Snape Maltings defies categorization. I guess you just have to go see it for yourself.
101 Things
101 Best things to do in Europe in 2019
It’s always a great time to start planning – or at least thinking about – your next vacation or getaway. No pressure, just a little idle day dreaming to get you through the workaday world until your next escape.
Two Auld Wifies, Dundee – A painting with a secret
At the McManus, Dundee’s Art Gallery and Museum, there are many stories but perhaps none as remarkable as this one.
