There’s something about the English seaside and in addition to its many seaside resorts England has some lovely villages along its lengthy coastline. Here are our choices of the 20 prettiest: 1. Clovelly, Devon Clovelly is a truly unique…
Lancelot “Capability” Brown (1716–1783) was one of Britain’s most influential landscape gardeners, renowned for transforming formal gardens into rolling, naturalistic parklands. He worked on over 170 estates, but here are ten of the most…
Cambridgeshire in eastern England is dominated by the university town of Cambridge, but has also a number of lovely villages. Here are our pick of the prettiest: 1. Grantchester Just a short stroll or punt ride from Cambridge along the…
Britain boasts some of the most breathtaking castles in the world. And while these remarkable buildings have played their own part in centuries of real-life drama, today they make the perfect setting for all manner of modern productions,…
Further to our posts on the Potteries and Staffordshire, here are some gorgeous images from this often overlooked region: The Bottle Kiln At Middleport Pottery Wedgwood Jasperware Teapot Made At Burslem Minton Decorative Tiles The Canal…
No single name is more closely associated with fine pottery than that of Josiah Wedgwood. Born in 1730 in Burslem, Staffordshire into a modest family of potters, Wedgwood would go on to revolutionise both the art and commerce of ceramics.…
Staffordshire, often overlooked between the big-hitters of the Peak District and the Cotswolds, is home to a wealth of landscapes, heritage sites and cultural experiences. From river valleys where limestone ravines carve dramatic scenery,…
How much do you know about Staffordshire and the Potteries? 1. Which river runs through the heart of the Staffordshire Potteries? 2. Name the six towns that comprised The Potteries before they federated into Stoke‑on‑Trent. 3. In what year…
The River Trent winds its way through north Staffordshire, where six towns once known simply as The Potteries evolved into the heart of Britain’s ceramics industry. From the late 1600s, a fortunate mix of local clays, plentiful coal and…
No poet has more affectionately – or more precisely – captured the essence of the Home Counties than Sir John Betjeman. Eccentric and endearing, Betjeman wrote of lawn-mowers and lunchtimes, of red-brick houses and commuter railway…
A few places in England are granted the title ‘Royal’, owing to their connection to the monarchy, and it’s the epic working residence of Windsor Castle that led to the creation of the county of ‘Royal’ Berkshire. With Ascot Racecourse, and…
As one of Britain’s most influential artists, known for his satirical and moralistic paintings and engravings, William Hogarth held a mirror up to society, providing a unique window into 18th-century life. His sequential works, including A…
Like all of the world’s great metropolises, London is made up of dozens of districts and ‘villages’ that merged over the centuries to become the huge city we know today. But each area has retained its own identity and, as you head just a…
West London is home to some of the best pubs in the capital, offering a mix of historic charm, riverside views, and cosy atmospheres. Whether you’re looking for a traditional pub with a roaring fire, a lively spot for live music, or a…
St. Augustine of Canterbury, often called the ”Apostle to the English”, and not to be confused with St.Augustine the theologian, is a pivotal figure in the Christian history of England. As the first Archbishop of Canterbury and a…
Here’s the recipe for perfect pancakes, mixing the traditional ingredients – milk, flour and sugar – with a couple of modern flourishes (backing powder and vanilla extract). We’ve also included some variations if you want to further…
Shrove Tuesday, or Pancake Day is it is more commonly known now, has a long history. The 40 days before Easter Sunday, the period of Lent, was marked by abstaining from many common foods such as fats, eggs, flour and milk (this mirrored…
James Herriot was the pen name of James Alfred Wight, a British veterinary surgeon and author whose tales of life as a country vet in the Yorkshire Dales have entertained readers worldwide for decades. Born on 3 October 1916 in Sunderland,…
In the market town of Helmsley in North Yorkshire, a partially destroyed tower peeps out above neat rows of terracotta roofs. To a passer by, the ruins could be just another victim of age-related decay. But, actually, the destruction is…
The North York Moors National Park is a landscape of huge beauty and variety, covering over 550 square miles of sprawling heather moorlands, ancient woodlands, rugged coastline, and picturesque villages. Whether you’re a walker, a history…