National Trust
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The Doubletree by Hilton Stoke-on-Trent Hotel Review
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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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 William de Percy Inn, Northumberland Review
Location: The William de Percy is a luxury boutique hotel located in the pretty village of Otterburn, on the edge of the scenic Northumberland National Park. The hotel lies 30 miles north west of Newcastle-upon-Tyne and about 16 miles from the Scottish border. Arrival and check-in: The smart grey and white former 17th century coaching…
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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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Wotton House Hotel, Dorking, Surrey Review
Hotel Review Nestled in the heart of the picturesque Surrey Hills countryside, Wotton House Hotel is a historic 17th century country house hotel set within 13 acres of beautifully landscaped gardens. The hotel was originally the centre of the Wotton Estate and the birthplace of the diarist and landscape gardener John Evelyn, who constructed the first Italian garden in England…
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The Fleece Inn, Bretforton Review
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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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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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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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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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 Day Trip to Fowey and Lanhydrock Estate in Cornwal
The final day of our Cornish holiday had come around all too quickly and as we’d enjoyed ourselves so much the time had just sped by. After checking out of our hotel in Bodmin we drove into the town centre for breakfast and to have a short walk through the town. Earlier in the week…
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Cornwall Travel Guide: Falmouth and Glendurgan Gardens Highlights
It had rained overnight but fortunately we woke to another bright, sunny morning. After breakfast in Camborne, we set off for Falmouth located on the south coast, which is one of Cornwall’s largest towns. The journey took us 40 minutes and our 10.15 a.m. arrival afforded us ample street parking opportunities along the seafront cliff…
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Day Trip to Porthleven, Lizard Point & Helston: Exploring Cornwall’s South Coast
After enjoying a cooked breakfast in our hotel in Camborne we were ready to go by 9.30 a.m. and the first place on our list was the village of Porthleven, located 11 miles away. We easily found some unrestricted street parking very close to the centre and were soon on our way to its picturesque…
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Visiting St. Michael’s Mount & Penzance: A Perfect Cornwall Day Trip
After enjoying a hearty breakfast in our hotel, we hopped in the car for the 25 minute journey to Marazion on Cornwall’s south west coast to visit St. Michael’s Mount. We parked in the main Folleyfield car park which charges a flat rate £4 all day fee. The car park is only a few minutes…
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How to Visit the Giant’s Causeway on a Day Tour from Belfast
We were up bright and early as we’d booked tickets (£25 each) for a full day excursion on a combined Giant’s Causeway and Games of Thrones tour with McComb’s Coach Travel. The meeting point was outside the Europa Hotel for our departure at 8.30 a.m. The company seemed very organised as we set off on…
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Weekend in Belfast: Staying at The Harrison Hotel
When considering where to go on holiday in these uncertain times, Belfast ticked all the boxes for us. We’d still be travelling by air, feeling as if we were actually going abroad but with the security of knowing that we couldn’t be quarantined on our return as Northern Ireland is part of the United Kingdom. …
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How to Spend a Day in Dorchester: Top Things to See and Do
Dorchester is the county town of Dorset in south west England and on one sunny Sunday morning recently we decided to go along and explore this historic market town. We left our car in the Fairfield long stay car-park which we were pleased to discover offered free parking all day Sunday making this a welcome…
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A Day at Corfe Castle, Dorset: What to See and Do
Corfe Castle is a small village on the Isle of Purbeck located midway between Wareham to the north and Swanage to the south in the picturesque county of Dorset. Wandering around the village with its charming buildings constructed from the local Purbeck stone we soon arrived in the village square. Here we found a cluster…
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Edinburgh’s Christmas: A Festive Guide to Markets, Lights & More
It had been exactly three years since my last visit to Edinburgh and as it’s one of my favourite cities, that was far too long. So, to remedy the situation, we managed to squeeze in a short break to the Scottish capital just before Christmas. We travelled on a Cross-Country train that was over-crowded all…
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The Pheasant Inn, Highclere, Hampshire Review
Hotel Review Location This picturesque 17th century inn is located in the village of Highclere, Hampshire close to the Berkshire border. Highclere Castle, where most of the filming for Downton Abbey took place, is just up the road and the attractive market town of Newbury a fifteen minute drive away. The Pheasant has ample parking…
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The Ultimate Guide to Upton House and Gardens, Warwickshire
The weather forecast was good so we planned a visit to Upton House and Gardens near Banbury in Warwickshire. Arriving around 2.00 p.m. on a glorious summer’s day the main car parks were already full but we were directed to an overflow parking area in a field which was only a short walk from the…
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A Day in Leafy Cheshire – Exploring Northwich, Middlewich & Little Moreton Hall
Our final morning in lovely Cheshire but still no signs of any sunshine. We started the day with another visit to Northwich as on the previous day we had focussed on its key attractions rather than the town itself. The town welcomes motorists as the first car park we came across right in the centre…
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Exploring Littlehampton and Petworth House – A Perfect Day Trip in West Sussex
The sun was streaming through the windows as we pulled back the curtains of our hotel room. The Premier Inn Worthing had been a good choice with its seafront location and our three night stay had been very comfortable. The Coastliner 700 bus service which we had used to get to and from Brighton continues…
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