A lifestyle blog
We love exploring, either close to home on an afternoon out, slightly further afield on a weekend away, or to a far flung destination picked because it happened to be on page 83 of the travel guide and we were asked to pick a number between 1 and 230.
If you know me you will know that Bruce and I love to venture out at the weekends and explore local cities and towns, or sneak off for a weekend to explore further afield. With that in mind then here is my list of 27 places you have to visit this year. England, with its rich history, stunning landscapes, and charming cities, offers a plethora of destinations and as much
Chester, a historic city in northwest England, is known for its well-preserved medieval architecture, Roman walls, and charming riverside setting. It is also the capital city of Cheshire, the county my husband was born in so it seems daft I have never visited before! We went recently as guests of the Hotel Indigo Chester and so I finally had the opportunity to explore. Various school trips over the years all
Over breakfast (perfect eggs Benedict, thank you for asking) Bruce asked me “Where do you think the best hotel we have ever stayed is?” We discussed it for a while, wondering if it was that one in Paphos, or the one near the beach in Malta, or maybe it was the one in the middle of a country park near Heathrow where we celebrated Bruce’s birthday during a break in
The Bush Hotel in Farnham feels like a secret that those of us who know about it don’t really want to share with the rest of the world. And even if you are local and drive through Farnham regularly you would be forgiven for not knowing this little peaceful haven was there despite the fact it has been welcoming guests since 1618. Step off the pavement in onto it’s cobbled
Nestled along the captivating coastline of Guernsey, a charming gem in the Channel Islands, lie a collection of exquisite bathing pools. These picturesque havens, carved into the rocky shores, offer visitors an idyllic setting for relaxation, tranquility, and rejuvenation. They have recently seen a huge investment and now make for a must visit attraction. A Natural Oasis of Serenity: Guernsey’s bathing pools are a hidden treasure, secluded spots where the
You might not realise it but Guernsey, a picturesque island nestled in the English Channel, holds a significant place in literary history as the sanctuary that inspired one of the greatest writers of all time—Victor Hugo. We had been to the island a few times before we finally visited Victor Hugo’s house and as we prepare to visit the island again we have already booked a revisit to the House
You would be forgiven for not knowing this little church exists. It is tucked away at the end of a small lane behind nearby Billesley Hotel and a neighbouring farm. There was once a bustling village here but it was wiped out by the plague in the 1400s. There has been a church on this site since the 1100s but the present building has “only” been here since the 1800s.
The third of our “visit all the -cester towns in England” (click the link to see the other places we have been) saw us spending the weekend in Towcester. It feels really mean to say that you dont need a whole weekend in Towcester, a morning will do it but there is a reason why people generally say ‘oh are you are off to Silverstone?” when you mention you are
I was thrilled when we were invited to experience an overnight stay at beautiful Billesley Manor recently. Not only because it is very close to one of our favourite areas of the country, the Cotswolds, but because it also meant to we got to visit another of the towns ending in cester, Alcester. You can read about that by clicking on the link, but for now what about the Billesley
When we set out to visit all the towns in England that end in cester I have to admit that I didn’t envisage us spending a day in Alcester as I had never heard of it. Despite the fact it lies just off the M40 and so therefore we have driven past it hundreds, if not thousands of times. Alcester is a market town that has been around since Roman
We were in Worcester for the weekend when we realised it was of only a handful of towns in England that end in cester. I say “we”. It wasn’t we at all, it was Bruce because that is how his brain works. Once we realised they were all “do-able” for a weekend we promised ourselves we would set out to visit them all this year. We found ourselves in Worcester
Did you know that there are only a few towns or cities in England that end in -cester? And if you ever find yourself saying “what are the towns that end in Cester?” I can tell you that in alphabetical order they are Alcester, Bicester, Cirencester, Frocester, Gloucester, Leicester, Towcester, and Worcester. You are welcome. This isn’t why we ended up in Worcester in the middle of January but whilst