It’s an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty with historic towns which inspired writers C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien and spring water that’s a favourite with the Queen. So it’s a surprise that the Malvern Hills aren’t better known.…
hotel
Picture yourself lying on a sunbed, the sun is beating down and you can hear the waves crashing. You’ve got an icy tropical cocktail and a book by your side and there’s nowhere else you have to be. Sounds…
The Forest of Dean was a big part of my childhood. I grew up not far away in Ross-on-Wye and spent so many weekends in the Forest – walking the Sculpture Trail, cycling the old railway line, splashing around…
In a city like Salisbury where a walk through its streets is like a trip back through the centuries, it was only right that my hotel had historic credentials to match. So what could be more appropriate than Europe’s…
It’s an autumnal Sunday morning in France – couples sit on deckchairs in the sunshine drinking coffee while their kids run around, steam rises from an outdoor pool in front of a glass dome, a swan swims across the…
My city break trips are usually a whirlwind of sightseeing, eating and drinking, where a hotel’s more a place to sleep than somewhere to spend much time in. A good city break hotel needs to be central, comfortable, clean…
If you’ve always fancied yourself running a vineyard in the South of France by day and swanning around a stunning château by night, then Château Autignac is the place to live the dream… without having to do any of…
For a proper traditional British seaside break, you really have to stay in a bed and breakfast. B&Bs are a British seaside institution, but after a few years of apartment rentals and hotel stays it’s been a while since…
Normally when I’m on a city break I don’t spend much time in my hotel, and all I really need is somewhere clean, comfortable and central to sleep. I’ve tried the big brands – Premier Inn, Ibis, Tune Hotels,…
When I visit London it’s usually a whirlwind of meetings and catch ups, and wherever I stay is just a bed to pass out into. But on my last trip I took the opportunity to stay over on a…
I’m always raving about how much I love apartment rentals when I travel, but I will admit that although you gain in freedom you can lose a bit in luxury. There’s nothing particularly glamorous about making your own bed…
Although I do a lot of apartment stays, sometimes it’s nice to just check into a hotel and let someone else do everything for you. By the time I got to Copenhagen I was in serious need of relaxation,…
Back in 1996, the Devon city of Exeter became my new home when I went to study geography at Exeter University. It was just far enough away from home, and just big enough to have lots to do without…