United Kingdom
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The Milner Hotel, York
Hotel Review The Milner Hotel started life in 1853 during the early days of the the British railway era under the ownership of the North Eastern Railway Company. This grand old station hotel was sold off from the railways in 1982 and after varied ownership its latest rebrand as The Milner took place in October…
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Hewn Yorkshire, Luxury Glamping
Accommodation Review Hewn Yorkshire is an adults only escape from hectic daily life. Sheltered from the wind in a historic quarry are 12 luxurious cabins offering wood fired wellness and authentic Finnish sauna bathing. It sounded just my sort of place so off I went to experience it for myself. Location: Hewn Yorkshire sits at…
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Weetwood Hall Estate, Leeds
Hotel Review Location: Weetwood Hall Estate is a luxurious four star country house hotel set within nine acres of parkland on the outskirts of Leeds, West Yorkshire. The estate has been built around a 17th century Jacobean Manor House and is steeped in history, with parts of the property dating back as far as 1540.…
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Review: voco Winchester Hotel and Spa
Hotel Review The former Holiday Inn Winchester was rebranded to voco Winchester Hotel & Spa in October 2024 following a complete refurbishment programme which took 8 months and a cost of £2 million. Voco Hotels is IHG’s fastest-growing premium brand and as we hadn’t stayed in one previously we looked forward to the opportunity of being invited to review a stay.…
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Review: Moxy Manchester City Centre
Hotel Review Moxy Manchester City is part of the Marriott family of hotels offering a fun vibe combined with affordable luxury. The previous year I’d had the pleasure of staying at Moxy The Hague so I was interested to find out how Moxy Manchester compared. Location: Moxy Manchester opened in early 2022 and is located…
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Four Counties Ring – Part 4 Completing the Circle
On entering the Staffordshire and Worcestershire canal at Autherley Junction the character of the waterway changes once again. First, Pendeford Rockin, a narrow cutting with passing places through a rocky outcrop, then meandering with evenly spaced locks. We found this section of the canal to be very attractive with its many arched bridges. Slightly further on we came across…
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The Four Counties Ring – Part 3: Cheshire, Shropshire and the West Midlands
Continuing our canal boat holiday around the Four Counties Ring from Nantwich, the Shropshire Union mainline canal journeys south leaving Cheshire after Audlem and then follows the Shropshire/Staffordshire border to the outskirts of Wolverhampton in the West Midlands. The Shropshire Union Canal (affectionately referred to as the Shroppie) was completed in 1835 and played a…
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Narrowboating on The Four Counties Ring – Part 2 Cheshire
Shortly after our passage through the Harecastle Tunnel we left Staffordshire behind and continued into Cheshire. It was to be a busy day as we approached the summit of Heartbreak Hill which is aptly named as the canal descends from the summit via 31 locks over 12 miles, meaning lots of work for us boaters!…
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Narrowboating on The Four Counties Ring – Part 1 Staffordshire
Day One: After enjoying short break boating holidays over the previous two years we were definitely hooked and ready for a bigger challenge. The idea of following a ‘ring’ appealed to us instead of a ‘there and back’ boat trip where you need to turn the boat round and retrace your steps mid-way. A ring…
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Review: The Old Police Station at Montgomery House, Leeds
Hotel Review The Old Police Station at Montgomery House has just opened its doors in the vibrant suburb of Headingley, a ten minute drive from Leeds city centre. The former police station had been abandoned for almost twenty years and was in a poor state of repair until Alex Ball, his partner and a couple…
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A Day at World of Wedgwood
World of Wedgwood is an award winning tourist attraction set in 240 acres of countryside in the village of Barlaston, Staffordshire. The area is known as ‘The Potteries’ and is home to the world famous Wedgwood brand, a company is steeped in rich heritage. Spanning over 260 wonderful years, Wedgwood continues today to be renowned…
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Autumn at RHS Harlow Carr Garden
The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Harlow Carr Garden is one of five public gardens run by the RHS and is located one and a half miles from the centre of Harrogate, North Yorkshire. Getting there: We arrived by car, with ample free parking available. For visitors using public transport there are regular trains to Harrogate from both…
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Review: Dinner at Hotel du Vin, Harrogate
We were recently invited to experience the Hotel du Vin’s taster menu with wine pairings at its stylish hotel in Harrogate, North Yorkshire. The hotel is located on an elegant Regency terrace in the centre of the spa town and overlooks the Stray which is one of Harrogate’s best known landmarks. The Stray covers 200…
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Sunny Bank Mills Museum, Leeds
Sunny Bank Mills is a former woollen mill that has found new life as a cultural and commercial destination near Leeds, West Yorkshire. Established in 1829, the mills have been regenerated by the sixth generation of the family owners to create a wonderful blend of work, leisure and culture. Last year marked 10 years of…
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Review: School Lane Hotel, Liverpool
Hotel Review: Location: School Lane Hotel is a stylish boutique hotel housed in an 1850’s building located along a quiet lane just steps away from the heart of the Liverpool One shopping district with its many high end shops, bars and restaurants. Getting there: Liverpool is well connected by road via the M6, M62, M58…
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Review: Twr y Felin Hotel, St. Davids, Wales
Hotel Review Twr y Felin Hotel (translated from Welsh to mean Mill Tower) started life as a windmill built in 1806 and is perfectly positioned on the Pembrokeshire peninsula to harvest the ever-blowing winds. It operated for 100 years before the sails fell off and then became a temperance hotel. Today it is Wales’ first…
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Review: The Falcondale Hotel, Lampeter, Wales
Hotel Review The Falcondale Hotel is a 150 year old Italianate style villa situated just outside the university town of Lampeter in mid-Wales. Being only 30 minutes drive from the coastal villages of Cardigan Bay and the Cambrian Mountains the hotel is an ideal base for exploring the area. Location Take the M4 and follow…
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Bodysgallen Hall & Spa, Llandudno
Hotel Review Location: Bodysgallen Hall is a Grade 1 17th century manor house that has been sympathetically restored by Historic House Hotels Limited since 1980 and was given to the National Trust in 2008. It is one of the three Historic House Hotels of the National Trust and is located in over 200 acres of parkland two miles…
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Roch Castle, St. Davids, Wales
Roch Castle is a luxury hotel located nine miles from St. Davids in Pembrokeshire. The castle dates back to the late 12th century having been built by Adam de Rupe, a Norman knight and is just one of a few inhabited castles of its age in the United Kingdom. It was later re-built as a…
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Great Yorkshire Show 2024
One of the highlight’s of my summer calendar is to spend time at the Great Yorkshire Show in Harrogate, North Yorkshire. The four day event celebrates agricultural excellence and attracts a sell out audience who snap up all the tickets during the weeks prior to the show’s opening. The showground covers a whopping 250 acre…
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Travel Guide: Margate, Kent
Margate: Margate is the largest of the three towns in East Kent comprising the Isle of Thanet. It’s a popular seaside resort that became fashionable during the 19th century and this is still evidenced today by its splendid Georgian seafront terraces. The resort’s hey day continued with the arrival of the railway bringing hordes of…
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Travel Guide: Broadstairs, Kent
Broadstairs is the jewel in Thanet’s crown and a delightful resort along the east coast of Kent with a backdrop of chalk cliffs and seven golden bays to be explored. Surrounded on either side by its neighbours Margate and Ramsgate these three towns are collectively referred to as the Isle of Thanet. Whilst in the…
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Travel Guide: Ramsgate, Kent
Ramsgate is an attractive seaside town situated in northern Kent. Along with its near neighbours Broadstairs and Margate, these three towns are collectively referred to as the Isle of Thanet. Whilst in the past Thanet was separated from the mainland it is no longer an island. Ramsgate boasts a gorgeous harbour, Regency architecture, quaint streets…
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Review: Luxury Glamping at Braidhaugh Holiday Park, Crieff, Scotland
Accommodation review: Location: Braidhaugh Holiday Park is located in a tranquil setting on the banks of the River Earn in Perthshire, mid-way between Perth and Crianlarich and 10 miles from the A9 between Perth and Stirling. For rail travellers the nearest stations to Crieff are either Gleneagles, Perth or Dunblane. Arrival and check-in: Check-in is from 4.00…
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