The Midlands
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Review: Doubletree by Hilton Stoke-on-Trent
Hotel Review Location: The Doubletree by Hilton Stoke-on-Trent is situated close to the M6 motorway enabling easy access from the North West and Midlands. The hotel is located on the edge of Festival Park to the west of Hanley and with Waterworld on its doorstep and the Alton Towers theme park being only a 35…
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Review: The Malvern Hills Hotel, Worcestershire
Location: The Malvern Hills Hotel is situated on the A449 midway between Malvern and Ledbury and commands a spectacular location next to the Malvern Hills British Camp hillside. A hostelry has occupied the same spot for over 500 years and this charming old building holds a special place within the landscape and local heritage. Arrival…
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Review: Stanbrook Abbey Hotel, Malvern
Dating back to the early 16th century, Stanbrook Abbey Hotel was the former home of a closed order of Benedictine Nuns from 1838-2009. With dwindling numbers, the 26 acre estate became too difficult for the nuns to manage so they moved to a new, purpose built convent in North Yorkshire which retains the same name.…
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A foodie weekend in The Malverns Part 2: All Day Fine Dining
Nestled at the foot of the Malvern Hills, the Victorian spa town of Great Malvern has long been a popular tourist destination with visitors travelling from far and wide to take the Malvern spring water for medicinal purposes. In more recent times the town has become a foodie hotspot with numerous high quality bakeries, cafes,…
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Foodie weekend in The Malverns Part 1: Breweries and Bakeries
Nestled at the foot of the Malvern Hills, the Victorian spa town of Great Malvern has long been a popular tourist destination with visitors travelling from far and wide to take the Malvern spring water for medicinal purposes. In more recent times the town has become a foodie hotspot with numerous high quality bakeries, cafes,…
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Why you should visit Stoke-on-Trent as it celebrates its centenary
Stoke-on-Trent might not spring to mind as a top choice for a short break but the city has much to offer as I was soon to discover on my recent weekend stay. Stoke celebrated its 100th anniversary as a city in June so there was no better time to visit with a full calendar of…
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The Perfect Weekend in South Derbyshire: Top Attractions & Tips
We’ve enjoyed numerous lovely weekends away in Derbyshire’s Peak District so for a change we decided to explore South Derbyshire which is noted for its gently rolling countryside and characterful villages. Follow my suggested itinerary for the perfect short break. Day 1: Getting to South Derbyshire We planned to base our trip in the historic…
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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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How to Spend a Day at World of Wedgwood: Tours, Workshops & Afternoon Tea
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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Review: The Pilsley Inn, Derbyshire
Hotel Review Location: The Pilsley Inn located on the scenic Chatsworth Estate owned by the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire, in the picturesque village of Pilsley, Derbyshire. The hotel is easily accessible by car being just 16 miles from the M1 motorway and a 40 minute drive from Sheffield. The nearest rail station is Chesterfield…
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Travel Guide: Coventry
Getting there: Coventry is the perfect destination for a city break as it’s easy to get to and close to the motorway network. If you’re arriving by car I suggest parking at the newly opened station multi-storey car park as its only £8 per 24 hours and just a few minutes walk from the main…
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Review: The Fleece Inn, Bretforton
Hotel Review: The Fleece Inn is a historic pub that was originally built in the early 15th century by a farmer named Byrd and remained in the same family ownership until 1977. The last of the descendants was Miss Lola Taplin who bequeathed the pub to the National Trust after she passed away in 1977.…
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Celebrating 50 years of the Heights of Abraham
The Heights of Abraham is Derbyshire’s oldest tourist attraction first opening to the public in 1787. Since 1974 it has been owned by the Pugh family who commenced a period of much needed restoration across the 60 acre site sympathetic to the historical importance of the estate. 2024 is actually a double celebratory year for…
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Review: Hotel Indigo Coventry
Hotel Review: Hotel Indigo Coventry opened in January 2024 after the completion of a multi million pound project which is part of a wider Friargate regeneration initiative. This stunning new-build property is defined by its striking silver and blue cladding in shades of metallic blue drawing on the city’s history. In Medieval times Coventry was one of the country’s most…
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The British Asparagus Festival 2024
Asparagus is a highly regarded vegetable grown in the Vale of Evesham and celebrated in style with an annual festival. This part of rural Worcestershire benefits from perfect growing conditions with asparagus being widely available from late April to late June. Location: The Vale of Evesham is located in Worcestershire, West Midlands 14 miles south-east…
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Review: CASA Hotel, Chesterfield
Hotel Review Location: The CASA Hotel is one of Derbyshire’s leading four star hotels and is conveniently located on the outskirts of Chesterfield, 6 miles from Junction 29 of the M1 motorway. For guests arriving into Chesterfield by train, East Midlands Railway offer regular services to the town from Norwich, London, Sheffield, Nottingham and Leeds. The…
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Exploring the Heights of Abraham and Crich Tramway Village: A Perfect Day Out
There are no end of lovely things to see and do in Derbyshire and we’d saved two of the Peak District’s top attractions for our final day. Our morning started with a 25 minute journey to Matlock Bath to visit the Heights of Abraham hilltop estate. Parking is available at the nearby railway station and…
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Exploring Barrow Hill Roundhouse and Enjoying a Chesterfield Canal Cruise
After enjoying a delicious breakfast of eggs benedict at the CASA Hotel in Chesterfield it was just a three mile drive to the Barrow Hill Roundhouse Museum at Staveley. This 19th Century Grade II listed building is the last remaining operational railway roundhouse in the United Kingdom. The Roundhouse was constructed in 1870 by the…
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Visiting Hardwick Hall and Chesterfield in Derbyshire: A Complete Guide
I’ve enjoyed numerous weekends in the beautiful Derbyshire Peak District but this was the first time that I’d had an opportunity to visit during the warmer, summer months. We made an early start one Saturday in July and after travelling down the M1 in bright sunshine we arrived at Hardwick Hall just as it was…
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Review: The Wood Norton Hotel, Evesham
Hotel Review History of Wood Norton: The Wood Norton Hall dates back to medieval times with its past owners including Edward Holland (the local Liberal MP), the Duc D’Aumale of the Bourbon-Orleans family and the BBC. Shortly before the outbreak of the Second World War, the BBC bought the site to relocate its broadcasting operations…
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Travel Guide to The Malverns, Worcestershire: Nature, History & Dining
Nestled at the foot of the Malvern Hills, the Victorian spa town of Malvern has long been a popular tourist destination with visitors travelling from far and wide to take the Malvern spring water for medicinal purposes. After hearing so many nice things about the town we decided it was time to take a look…
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