Archive For The “UK” Category
This was my first visit to Woodbridge in Suffolk. It’s an English county on the right-hand edge of the map of England and comprises the bottom half of that roundy bit that sticks out into the North Sea. The coastline is a draw, but there are so many reasons to visit this beautiful county, as…
Lavenham is the kind of village that even we who live in Britain don’t expect to find anymore. It’s a chocolate-box beautiful spot – it’s an historic drama-set-worthy location and it’s hard to imagine how it has remained in such original condition. This is the real thing! This is the genuine article. This is almost-lost…
I am well-travelled but I still believe that there are few places better than Britain on balmy summer days, and particularly when one is fanned by soft sea breezes. Aldeburgh is an historic town and tourist destination for visitors who appreciate its expansive Blue Flag shingle beach. Aldeburgh is a traditional coastal town in Suffolk….
The Swan is a striking hotel in an equally striking location. Lavenham is a town the likes of which is often thought extinct. It’s the stuff of historic dramas, with unspoilt houses and shops; a slice of Harry Potter was filmed here. It surrounds the visitor with quaint buildings and photo opportunities by the shed-load….
I have written a book about Indian restaurants but they were all in London. I review Indian restaurants almost every month but I have never reviewed one outside the UK hub of Indian food – our capital city. But here I was in a traditional English seaside town and a long way from home, and…
This is a classic English coastal town. It has a long and wide Blue Flag shingle beach which is dotted with fishing boats and fresh-fish shacks. It’s a draw for those who want to catch some rays and go for a paddle, and also those who would love an early morning summer walk to watch…
OK, I confess, I had never visited Suffolk. I discovered a strikingly beautiful county with coast, pasture, chocolate-box villages and historic towns. I discovered Woodbridge! The Crown Hotel (read my review here) houses its eponymous 2 AA Rosette restaurant, which is recommended in the Michelin Guide. It’s found at the top of The Thoroughfare which…
St Davids will tick so many boxes for those looking for a quiet retreat for a few days. A corner of the UK with natural charm, history, fresh air, good food and quiet – at least outside peak summer popularity. St Davids has its beautiful Cathedral, making this small town technically a city and the…
This striking and high-end hotel seems contemporary but it has a long history which is camouflaged by its light, modern and immaculate presentation. But part of this building has been around for more than a couple of hundred years. Originally known as Felin Wynt, Welsh for windmill, the still-remaining and iconic tower was built in…
Roch Castle (in Welsh: Castell y Garn) is a 12th-century castle, located at the village of Roch near Haverfordwest, in Pembrokeshire, Wales. Yes, we have all visited castles. Britain is peppered with them, indicating our somewhat turbulent history. They tend to offer two main facets – half museum and half ruin. But we were going…
The Beaverbrook Estate is vast. The main house (to be completed as a hotel of distinction later in 2017) is baronial. But there is another hotel which is part of this well-appointed complex and it’s unique. The Garden House is on a more human scale than the main house which was once the home of…
This truly is a ‘garden’ house with the intimate character of a cosy cottage. (Read more about the Garden House here.) It’s part of the Beaverbrook Estate and the smaller of two hotels, the other being the lavish and imposing main house which was once the home of Lord Beaverbrook, one of the most influential…
Marco Pierre White has long been considered the wild child of the culinary scene, although he actually seems like a rather charming character in interview these days. For those who don’t hail from these shores, Marco is a celebrated British chef, restaurateur, and television personality, and was perhaps the first British celebrity chef; he was,…
Windsor is just 23 miles (37 km) from Central London with convenient transport links. It’s not far from Heathrow Airport and many visitors are lucky enough to get an aerial view of Windsor Castle from the plane. It’s a shame that a relatively small number make it out of the capital to come and get…
Luton Hoo is an English country house and estate with easy access to London. But what is a ‘hoo’? The unusual name “Hoo” is a Saxon word meaning the spur of a hill. Luton Hoo is not mentioned in the Domesday Book, but a family called de Hoo lived on the site for four hundred…
Champagne is the quintessential celebration drink. We enjoy it with friends and loved ones, accompanied by fine foods, perhaps in a drawing room with high ceilings, Grinling Gibbons wood carvings and sumptuous drapes. Well, OK, most of us can’t manage that stunning setting …but Luton Hoo can! Luton Hoo is an English Country House Hotel…
Visitors to London are tempted to stay just in the city. There is plenty to see and do, so why roam? It’s the same for us Londoners – we tend to stay in town, but there is more to England than that and it’s on our doorstep. You must visit The Talbot. Ripley is a…
The Talbot has history. It’s typical of coaching inns all over the country and this one, in particular, has a story – well, probably many. It is said to have provided the venue for assignations between Lord Nelson and Lady Hamilton in 1798. There is a brass plate bearing Nelson’s name on one of the…
We are blessed with many fine hotels in the UK. All the 5* chains are well represented in all major cities. But we also have a wealth of boutique and Country House hotels and each is unique and characterful. The New Forest is beautiful and mostly unspoilt and it also has hotels which reflect the…
Following the Norman Conquest, William the Conqueror designated this wooded corner of southern England as a royal forest for the pleasure of the king and his court. The area was cleared for regal entertainment at the expense of more than 20 small hamlets and farms; hence it was considered a ‘new’ forest, although it was…