To the Manor (not quite) born – at Tylney Hall in Hampshire. Shoulder season short breaks in spring and autumn are quite the best kind of country house hotel staycations in my view. While you may not be guaranteed sunshine, these stunning stately homes offer beautiful grounds, charming country walks and space to relax, dine […]
Review: Dimora Palanca – smart new boutique hotel in Florence
Five-star relaxation in Dimora Palanca’s elegant surroundings will refresh and revive Florence hosts some of the world’s most important and most beautiful works of art – the Botticellis are brilliant, the Michaelangelos magnificent, the Giottos gorgeous. The Uffizi, the Accademia, the Bargello – these are must-visit galleries for must-see art. And the must-stay hotel […]
Visiting Belfast – Essentials
Beginner’s Belfast – Exploring the City Introduction to Belfast. The first thing any visitor to Belfast needs to know is that it’s a city of quarters. Depending on which guide you read there are anything from five to seven quarters. Each one has a distinct culture and heritage, and each has its own stories. There […]
Coppa Supper Club – The Swan Streatley
An Escape to the Country – The Swan at Streatley You may have heard of the Coppa Club. They first opened their doors in 2015 and now have eight restaurants spread across London and surrounding counties; Sonning-on-Thames, Tower Bridge, Henley-on-Thames, Streatley-on-Thames, Maidenhead, Brighton and Cobham Village. In several of their venues, they have igloo dining, […]
Ashdown Park Hotel and Country Club – Review
Getting it together in the East Sussex country at Ashdown Park There’s very little more exciting than planning a trip to a country house hotel other than actually going. How long will the driveway be? How big will your bedroom be? How many acres is the garden and is there a spa? In the case […]
Holiday Inn London – Camden Lock
Exploring Camden and the Holiday Inn Camden Town brings back fond memories of my teenage years; lazy days wandering around the labyrinth of eclectic market stalls and late boozy nights in music venues including Dingwalls, the Electric Ballroom, the Roundhouse, the Jazz Café and what once called the Music Machine. So I was thrilled to […]
Hyatt Regency London – The Churchill – Staycation
Snuggling down with Jock – a Five Star Hotel with a Heart. What makes a hotel special? I start with a tickbox list of things I am looking for. Room size, location, friendly staff, cleanliness, a decent bar and a good restaurant. Somewhere quiet enough that I’ll get a good night’s sleep. Somewhere with good […]
Crowne Plaza London Docklands Review
Overnight stay at the Crowne Plaza London Docklands There has never been a better time to take a city break and enjoy all that London has to offer. Hotels in the city are quiet at the moment, with rooms readily available while overseas tourism is limited. I’ve wanted to explore London Docklands for a while […]
St Ermin’s Hotel – Review
St Ermin’s – An elegant hotel in the heart of London It’s always a good sign when you want to go back somewhere and jump at any invitation. This was my third visit to St Ermin’s Hotel, first for a quintessentially English afternoon tea, next for Provence Rosé on their beautiful terrace and now for […]
Fellows House Hotel brings Curio Collection by Hilton to Cambridge
A newly opened hotel gives food for thought. The Fellow House Hotel impressed me before I even set foot in the elegant lobby. I lost my way into the parking garage and was rescued by an attentive staff member who cheerfully escorted me into the hotel, retrieved my husband in the underground parking and deposited […]