One of my favourite European capital cities, Madrid is a must for art aficionados, foodies and museum lovers. This is my mini guide to the Spanish capital.
Madrid travel guide
Norfolk: Holkham Estate
Boasting a grand stately home, acres of parkland, deer, woodland, a walled garden and even a sandy beach – Holkham Hall has it all.
Kuala Lumpur: Exploring the iconic Petronas Twin Towers and KLCC Park
A visit to one of Malaysia's most recognisable landmarks and a fun evening watching the light show at KLCC Park.
Madrid: Parque del Retiro, Real Jardín Botánico and the Prado museum
Madrid's central Jerónimos district is home to a trio of top sights – the elegant Parque del Retiro, the tranquil Real Jardín Botánico and the world-class Prado museum.
London: Tokyo Diner, Hunterian Museum and Lincoln’s Inn Fields
An impromptu trip to the English capital, taking in an authentic Japanese restaurant, an anatomy museum, some street art and one of the four Inns of court.
Tredegar House at Christmas
A Christmas visit to this 17th-century red-brick mansion on the outskirts of Newport and its surrounding 90 acres of park and gardens.
London: Westminster, St James’s Park and Hieroglyphs at the British Museum
A stroll past some of London's most iconic landmarks and a visit to the British Museum's fascinating exhibition about the hieroglyphs of Ancient Egypt.
Nantes
Chic, laid-back and welcoming, this historic French city and former Breton capital has been dubbed the 'city of the dukes of Brittany'.
Porto: Casa de Serralves and the Forte de São Francisco Xavier
Thanks to a contemporary art gallery and a 17th century fort on the Atlantic coast, it's worth venturing beyond the centre of Porto to explore the city's other sights.
Tyntesfield
If I was ever to write an Agatha Christie-style 1920s murder mystery, I'd set it at Tyntesfield. A gloriously Gothic manor surrounded by acres of land in the Somerset countryside.
London walks: Hampstead Heath and Kenwood House
One of my favourite London walks, this circular stroll takes you across the wilds of Hampstead Heath from the overground station to pretty Kenwood House and back.
London: Winnie the Pooh at the V&A
This exhibition, which ran until April 2018, looked at the origins of AA Milne's Winnie the Pooh, and the inspiration behind its characters, places and stories.
Little Old World 