Discover, Explore, Relax and Enjoy! The charming town of Warwick owes its foundation in 914 AD to Ethelfleda, Queen of Mercia, daughter of Alfred the Great. This formidable woman is emerging from her father’s shadow to be appreciated as one of England’s most courageous and astute monarchs. Similarly, as a destination Warwick, often viewed on […]
Eat, Drink, Sleep in Wonderful Warwick!
Take time out to enjoy Warwick, a quintessential English county town. A 1970 travel guide described Warwick as being “one of the least spoilt county towns in England”. I’m happy to report that 50 years later this is still the case. By train, taking the frequent service from London’s Marylebone Station, you’ll arrive within 90 […]
Great Fosters Historic Hotel & Gardens
Take a break from the “new-normal” and discover a right royal retreat near Windsor. You know you’re in for a treat when you turn into the gravel drive and approach the distinctive façade of Great Fosters, once a hunting lodge used by Henry VIII and his daughter Elizabeth I and now a four-star pile of […]
Seeking a staycation? Why not enjoy a warm, Windsor welcome?
Less than an hour from London, Windsor offers all you need (plus a castle) for the perfect staycation. You’ll be surprised by Windsor. You think you know it: familiar due to its royal linkage and recent weddings; a castle you’ve seen so often on TV you could draw it in your sleep. But when […]
Durham: Shining a light on a cultural county
Winter is coming and it’s a great time to take a break in the UK. Head north from London on the train from Kings Cross and within three hours you’ll arrive in Durham. Here you’ll find an awe-inspiring Cathedral and an impressive castle; quaint cobbled streets; cosy independent bars and restaurants offering excellent local food […]
Gliffaes – idyllic country house hotel in the Usk Valley
Trees, trout and a tandem make for the perfect short stay: Once called the ‘’glittering jewel of the Vale‘’, Crickhowell is indeed a lovely little place. But the real gem of the Usk Valley is Gliffaes Country House Hotel, a few miles north of the town, set just above the river in acres of beautiful […]
Mayflower Heritage in Dartmouth
The Mayflower and Speedwell in Dartmouth Although the annual Thanksgiving Dinner marks the survival of the early European settlers in New England, the less remarked upon, but nonetheless remarkable story, is of the initial obstacles they encountered even before setting sail across the perilous Atlantic Ocean. This is set to change with a series of […]
Discovering Dartmouth
Dartmouth – Heaven on Earth in Devon “Ruby’s going to Heaven for her holiday” announced my young daughter, not registering my look of shocked concern. Further probing clarified that rather than departing to a celestial paradise, Ruby (our trusty motor) was hitting the highway and heading to Devon, a destination which, as I recently discovered […]
Why You Should Take a Short Break at The Shangri-La Doha Qatar
Ultra Luxury Short Break at the Shangri-La Doha Doha, the capital of Qatar, is known as a stopping point for many long-haul flights, especially those to Australia, but not many think of Doha as a short break destination in itself. So when I got the chance to stop over in Doha for a weekend I […]
A weekend in Stratford-upon-Avon
Shakespeare’s England – Stratford-upon-Avon: The Warwickshire town of Stratford-upon-Avon must be one of the best places in the UK for a weekend break. I was there to find out more about Shakespeare’s England – explore Shakespeare’s birthplace, visit the renowned Royal Shakespeare Company and take in a play at The Swan Theatre. All this whilst […]