South West
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Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra Proms in the Park
We were thrilled to have been invited to the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra Proms in the Park event titled: Pop Orchestra Symphonic Smash Hits: The 90s concert at Meyrick Park, Bournemouth. This was the concluding part of the BSO’s ever popular two day Proms in the Park Bournemouth event. The previous evening welcomed audiences to a selection of classical greats…
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Star Castle Hotel, St Mary’s, Isles of Scilly Review
Location The Star Castle Hotel is one of the most distinctive places to stay in the Isles of Scilly, sitting high on the Garrison overlooking Hugh Town harbour on St Mary’s. From its elevated position, the hotel enjoys sweeping views across the water, with boats coming and going throughout the day and the neighbouring islands visible on the…
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Kilbirnie Hotel, Newquay Review
Location The Kilbirnie Hotel sits in a prime elevated position overlooking the coastline of Newquay, giving guests sweeping Atlantic views and easy access to beaches and the town centre. The hotel offers a lovely British seaside experience with fresh sea air, coastal walks and acts as an ideal base for exploring further afield. Getting there Reaching…
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Weekend Escape to the Isles of Scilly: Ultimate Travel Guide
Where are the Isles of Scilly? The Isles of Scilly are a breathtaking archipelago lying around 28 miles off the coast of Cornwall, just beyond Land’s End. Despite their close proximity to the mainland, the islands feel like a completely different world. With crystal-clear turquoise waters, white sandy beaches and a wonderfully relaxed pace of…
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Hoburne Cotswold Reach Luxury Lodge Review
Hoburne Cotswold Holiday Park is located within the scenic Cotswold Water Park at South Cerney, Gloucestershire comprising Hoburne Cotswold and the recently opened Cotswold Reach where we had been invited to stay. Getting there: We found it very easy to reach the Hoburne Cotswold Holiday Park from the north as we just needed to leave the…
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STEAM Museum Swindon Review: Our Visit to the Great Western Railway Museum
STEAM – Museum of the Great Western Railway in Swindon offers an engaging and immersive look into Britain’s railway heritage. Housed in the historic former railway works, the museum combines original locomotives, recreated workspaces and personal stories to explore how the Great Western Railway shaped Swindon and transformed everyday life. Getting there STEAM is located…
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Exploring the Watercress Line – A Classic Steam Railway Experience
Located close to the historic city of Winchester, the Watercress Line runs through ten miles of scenic countryside between the towns of Alresford and Alton in Hampshire. As fares include all day travel, passengers are able to start their nostalgic journey at either end of the line and stop off to visit the other charming…
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voco Winchester Hotel and Spa Review
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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Roseate Villa, Bath Review
Hotel Review Location: The Roseate Villa Bath is a luxurious boutique hotel located on an elegant residential street overlooking the Henrietta Gardens in the centre of Bath. It’s conveniently situated just around the corner from the iconic Pulteney Bridge and within a short walk of the famous Pump Room and the city’s other main attractions.…
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Narrowboating along the Kennet and Avon canal
After enjoying a narrowboat holiday along the River Thames last year, we couldn’t wait to do it all over again, this time opting for a cruise along the Kennet & Avon canal between Devizes and Bath. Our waterways adventure started one sunny September morning when we drove to the Foxhangers Wharf base at Rowde, close to Devizes…
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Holiday Inn, Winchester Review
Hotel Review I was recently invited to stay at the Holiday Inn, Winchester which underwent a major £2.5m refurbishment programme in 2019 to expand its lobby and dining areas and add a luxury spa. Location: The hotel is located on the outskirts of Winchester in southern Hampshire, south west England. The city lies 60 miles…
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A Walk Around Winchester: Exploring the City and Its Stunning Cathedral
After enjoying a hearty breakfast at the Holiday Inn Winchester we decided to leave our car behind and take the bus into the city centre. With a stop at the end of the drive it couldn’t have been easier as the journey only took 7 minutes. (Bus 64, day tickets £4). The bus terminated close to…
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Winchester Weekend Getaway: A Short Break Guide
We planned an autumn break in the historic city of Winchester, located in Hampshire, south west England. The previous night we’d stayed with family close by allowing us two full days to explore the city. On arrival in the city, we left our car in the Chesil Street multi-storey car park just a couple of…
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Bartons Mill, Old Basing, Basingstoke Review
Location: Bartons Mill is located in the picturesque village of Old Basing in Hampshire, just two miles east of Basingstoke. Easily accessible by road Bartons Mill lies 43 miles south west of London and is less than 10 minutes drive from junction 6 of the M3 motorway. For guests arriving by train, Basingstoke is on…
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Exploring Basingstoke’s Past: Old Basing and Milestones Museum
After a good night’s sleep we started the day with a delicious cooked breakfast at the lovely Barton’s Mill on the outskirts of Basingstoke. It was a bright, sunny morning as we set out on foot to explore the picturesque village of Old Basing. From Barton’s Mill we followed a short section of the Basing…
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How to Enjoy a Weekend Getaway in Basingstoke
We planned a short break in Basingstoke, the largest town in Hampshire, located close to the West Berkshire border. The town lies 30 miles (48 km) north east of Southampton and 48 miles (77 km) south west of London. It is easily accessible by road being just a few minutes drive from Junction 6 of…
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Hotel Indigo Bath Review
Hotel Review Following a multi-million pound restoration project taking four years, the 166 room Hotel Indigo Bath finally opened its doors in September 2020. It’s set in a beautiful honey coloured Bath stone Georgian terrace laid out in the 1740’s by renowned local architect John Wood the Elder. Location: The hotel is perfectly situated on…
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Discover Bath’s Roman Baths and Nearby Attractions
Our final day in Bath had come around all too quickly and after enjoying a delicious breakfast at the Hotel Indigo Bath we checked out of the hotel and set off to visit Bath’s number one attraction, namely its Roman Baths. The baths are located in the centre of Bath next to the abbey and are open daily…
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A Guide to Exploring Bath and the Jane Austen Centre
After a leisurely breakfast our day began with a visit to the Bath World Heritage Centre on York Street. The centre is free to visit and features interactive exhibits and displays. UNESCO added Bath as a cultural site to its World Heritage list in 1987 and from reading an information board we learnt that it had…
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A Guide to Bath’s Hidden Gems and Lesser-Known Attractions
After sleeping soundly in our lovely room at the Hotel Indigo Bath we popped downstairs to start the day by tucking into a delicious buffet breakfast in the attractive Elder restaurant. Ready to go after a couple of cappuccinos we ventured south east of the town to visit the American Museum and Gardens (standard adult admission £14.50,…
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Exploring Cheddar Gorge and Wells, Somerset: A Perfect Day Trip
We began our four day break centred around Bath by visiting Wells in Somerset which lies 22 miles to the south west of the city. I’d long wanted to visit Wells, as it’s England’s smallest city, nestled on the edge of the Mendip Hills with its roots dating back to Roman times. The name of…
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The Fleece Hotel, Cirencester Review
Hotel Review Overview: The Fleece is a 5 star, grade II listed coaching inn set in the heart of the Cotswolds. The property’s history stretches as far back as 1651. Following defeat at the Battle of Worcester in the same year, King Charles II is believed to have used the building as a hiding place…
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Cotswold House Hotel, Chipping Campden Review
Hotel Review Overview Cotswold House Hotel is a luxury hotel and spa in a charming Grade II listed regency townhouse in Chipping Campden, Gloucestershire featuring 28 individually styled bedrooms and suites. Location: The hotel is situated in the centre of the charming market town just 16 miles from Cheltenham and within two miles of the…
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A Leisurely Walk from Bournemouth to Westbourne: What to See Along the Way
Continuing my series of walks in and around Bournemouth, we recently took a 3.5 mile looped walk along the promenade, through Alum Chine to Westbourne and then returning through the Central and Lower Gardens. The scenery is varied and there are some lovely cafes along the way to stop off for a bite to eat…
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