Exploring the world, one place at a time
The Basilica of Saint-Denis to the north of Paris has been top of my Parisian bucket list for a good 20 years and I was determined to finally visit it last summer. The magnificent basilica is the resting place of almost all the French kings and queens, with 43 kings, 32 queens and more than... Continue Reading →
Settled around two extinct volcanoes and steeped in history, Edinburgh is a cultural, culinary powerhouse boasting dramatic scenery, excellent food and fabulous shopping. With lots to see and do, it's a great destination for a weekend city break. If you're planning a trip to Auld Reekie, here's my mini travel guide to the Scottish capital...... Continue Reading →
Gloucester Cathedral might not have the same instant name recognition as some of England's other great ecclesiastical buildings, such as Westminster Abbey, York Minster and Canterbury Cathedral, but it should – as it's one of the country's most magnificent cathedrals. Dating back almost 1,000 years, it's a huge structure with lots of elements to explore, including spectacular... Continue Reading →
Famous for its sports cars and chocolate, the elegant Italian city of Turin is only an hour from Milan by train, so I decided to spend a day there during my recent Italian jaunt. With its large charming squares, tree-lined avenues, covered walkways, palazzo-style buildings and Alpine backdrop, Turin is a picturesque city to explore.... Continue Reading →
High on the hills overlooking Sintra is the kitsch, brightly painted Pena Palace. It's a magnificent, romantic building surrounded by 85 hectares of gardens and like so many buildings in Sintra, unique. It's one of the quirkiest, most unusual palaces I've visited. The palace was originally a monastery built by King Manuel I in the... Continue Reading →
Two magnificent palaces, an incredible hilltop castle and a quirky stately home are just some of the many things to do in the pretty, picturesque town of Sintra. This UNESCO World Heritage Site to the west of Lisbon is surrounded by lush, tree-covered hills in the Parque Natural de Sintra-Cascais and was the favourite summer... Continue Reading →
Built by King Manuel I of Portugal in the 16th century, the magnificent Mosteiro dos Jerónimos is one of Lisbon's most popular landmarks. The huge monastery, which is affiliated with the Order of St Jerome (hence its name), is situated in the western suburb of Belém and is the resting place of Portuguese monarchs and... Continue Reading →
I'd been dying to go to Winchester for ages. Partly, because it was the ancient capital of England, and partly, because I've been reading lots of Norman history books and the city crops up a lot as the setting for quite a bit of drama. So after years of 'I must go...' and not doing... Continue Reading →
One of the Queen's two residences in Scotland (the other being Balmoral), Holyrood is situated in the centre of Edinburgh at the bottom of the Royal Mile opposite the Scottish Parliament and boasts magnificent views of Arthur's Seat. Inside the palace, you can tour the state apartments, which are open to the public whenever the royal... Continue Reading →
Waltham Abbey's claim to fame is that it's reputedly the burial place of King Harold II, the last of the Anglo-Saxon kings who was beaten by William the Conqueror at the Battle of Hastings in 1066. It was also the last abbey in England to be dissolved by King Henry VIII during the reformation. At the heart of... Continue Reading →
Little Old World 