In June 1520, Henry VIII and King Francis I of France met a site in Balinghem near Calais at the ‘Field of Cloth of Gold’. It was an attempt to strengthen the bond between the two countries following the Anglo-French treaty of 1514. The Field of the Cloth of Gold got its name from the spectacular fabric, cloth of gold, which is woven with strands … More 500th Anniversary of The Field of the Cloth of Gold
The secret of code breaking at Bletchley Park During World War Two everything happening at Bletchley Park was a secret. Workers were not even allowed to tell their family what they did there. During a recent guided tour of the complex, our guide told us how two soldiers had thought it was some kind of psychiatric hospital … More Bletchley Park
The Bookshop – The Book The Bookshop by Penelope Fitzgerald is set in a fictional town called Harborough. The town was inspired by Southwold, where the author spent a year working in the Solebay Bookshop in the 1950s. As one reviewer commented: At face value, this does not seem typical material for a page-turner. … More Inspirational Southwold
The Temperate House Following a major five-year renovation process, the Temperate House at Kew Gardens re-opened in 2018 to showcase the splendour of the world’s temperate zones. The Temperate House is the world’s largest Victorian glasshouse. This Grade I listed building is twice the size of the Palm House. It is home to 1,500 species of plants from … More Kew Gardens Visit
Want to visit the top of Snowdon but don’t fancy the 3-4 hour hike? No problem. Let the train take the strain and book a trip on the Snowdon mountain railway. Snowdon mountain railway Since 1896 visitors have been travelling to Llanberis, to experience this unique rail journey to the summit of the highest mountain … More Snowdon mountain railway
The Jurors Duke of Cambridge dedicated a permanent artwork called “The Jurors” at Runnymede in 2015. This art installation celebrates the 800th anniversary of Magna Carta and was created by Hew Locke. It is formed of 12 bronze chairs, each decorated with panels of images and symbols relating to past and ongoing struggles for freedom, rule … More Magna Carta-inspired artwork at Runnymede
The Tank Museum, Bovington, has over 300 vehicles including the world’s first tank and the infamous Tiger 131. The tank was a British invention that changed warfare for ever when it was introduced in the First World War. Rudyard Kipling visited Bovington in 1923 and, after viewing the damaged tanks that had been salvaged at the … More The Tank Museum, Bovington
Wondering what sort of things could you to add to your bucket list? Usually you start by including the big ticket travel destinations you want to visit. But it doesn’t have to be just long haul travel. Try thinking of places closer to home you haven’t visited yet. Then include things you have never done … More Things to add to your bucket list
Located near Dorchester is Athelhampton House and Gardens. The house is one of England’s finest Tudor Manor Houses, with the Great Hall, built in 1485, an excellent example of early Tudor architecture. The house contains a collection of English furniture from the Jacobean to Victorian times. Upstairs, the west wing houses a gallery of artwork by the Russian artist … More Athelhampton House and Gardens
The Yorkshire Sculpture Park features around 80 sculptures and installations to see in the open air. Henry Moore Henry Moore was the first patron of the Yorkshire Sculpture Park. He wanted his work displayed in the Country Park. His Upright Motives were part of a large commission, for the courtyard of the new Olivetti building in Milan. Altogether Moore … More Yorkshire Sculpture Park