The Churchill War Rooms are a series of bunkers which lie beneath the streets of Westminster. This was the secret London location where the then Prime Minister Winston Churchill and his war cabinet planned and directed Britain’s actions during the Second World War. These rooms are now part of the Imperial War Museum and are […]
A day out at Knole house and deer park, Kent
As I listen to the guide explaining the history of the vast medieval building and its treasures, I wonder about the hundreds – possibly thousands – of servants who must have toiled here over the years. The focus of the tour is on the architecture, the works of art and the story of the nobles […]
How to see Harry Potter and the Cursed Child in London
During my university Easter holidays, Mum and I went to see Harry Potter and the Cursed Child on stage in London’s West End. As a life-long Harry Potter fan (we have two copies of the last book in our house, as mum and I both wanted to read it the second it came out) I […]
How to explore the Pilgrims’ Way by car
The Pilgrims’ Way is an ancient route in the South of England, connecting the shrine of St. Swithun in Winchester Cathedral with the shrine of the martyr St Thomas Becket in Canterbury Cathedral. It’s impossible to know how many pilgrims followed this route in medieval times, but historians believe that as many as tens of […]
Best hotels with pools where you can actually swim
Swimming is my favourite form of exercise. I find it really relaxing and when I’m at home I aim to swim two or three times a week at our local leisure centre. When I’m booking places to stay on my travels, I always try to find a place with a decent fitness pool if I […]
7 great outdoor activities in the New Forest
If you’d like to have an outdoor adventure in the UK, the New Forest makes an excellent destination, as I found out on a trip there in January. The New Forest is a ruggedly peaceful National Park and you can reach it in just 90 minutes from London by train. Protected since William the Conqueror […]
New Park Manor luxury spa hotel review
I really enjoyed visiting the New Forest for a winter break. Although it’s only around 100 miles from where I live in southern England, I’d not really explored this area much at all, and I was intrigued to learn about its history. While I was there I took part in some outdoor adventures – you can […]
The best London Gatwick Airport hotels
The top airport hotels offer a combination of comfort and convenience, and they can best provide that if they’re actually AT the airport. For me, the most important feature of an airport hotel is the ease with which you can walk from it to the departure gate when you’re half asleep. I’m not interested in […]
Winnie-the-Pooh exhibition, V&A, London
My nineteen year-old daughter and I popped in to London’s V&A last week to see Winnie-the-Pooh: Exploring a Classic. We’re both lifelong admirers of the famous bear and his friends, and have spent many happy hours exploring Ashdown Forest (for more on Ashdown Forest, read my post How to visit the places in the Winnie-the-Pooh […]
Ice skating at Hampton Court Palace, London
This is a guest post by Cathy Winston of MummyTravels.com. Cathy’s an award-winning travel writer and editor and her blog focuses on her travels with her young daughter. Hampton Court Palace ice rink When is the best time to take your kids ice skating for the first time? For the past few years, as London’s wonderful winter rinks have popped up around the capital – including […]