With its extraordinarily well-preserved keep that’s surrounded by uncommonly tall earthworks, the castle at Castle Rising is one of the most memorable and unusual in the UK. Situated in the small, charming Norfolk village a few miles north of King’s Lynn (below), the castle has an illustrious history. Built in the 12th century by William D’Aubigny, Earl of Arundel and husband of Queen Adeliza (Henry I’s widow), the castle was sold to Queen Isabella (Edward II’s widow) in 1331, who spent the last 25 years or so of her life in luxurious retirement there. The castle remained in royal hands…

When I was looking for somewhere to stop to help break up the long journey home from Norfolk, Anglesey Abbey in Cambridgeshire seemed to fit the bill. Boasting a monastery-turned-stately home, 114 acres of gardens and a working mill, the National Trust property looked right up my street – and it’s safe to say, I wasn’t disappointed. Nestled in picturesque countryside some six miles to the northeast of Cambridge, Anglesey Abbey is a charming affair. Originally founded as a hospital by Henry I in 1135, it was turned into an Augustinian priory in the 13th century, before being closed by…

Towards the end of March 2022, I set off on a little road trip around northern East Anglia. When I was looking in my guidebook for inspiration for places to visit, one place that jumped out at me was Ely. I was aware Ely was a small cathedral city in Cambridgeshire but knew little else about it. So you can imagine my surprise when I discovered this unassuming city in the heart of the Fens boasts a truly spectacular cathedral that’s up there with the best in the UK, if not in Europe. I spied Ely’s cathedral, nicknamed the ‘Ship…

When I was in London at the end of August, one of my friends suggested we visit Dennis Severs’s House and the Barbican estate, and having never been to either, I readily agreed. We started our day at Liverpool Street station, where we popped into Eataly London, just outside the station for a cup of tea and cake, before making our way along Bishopsgate to Dennis Severs’s House on Fore Street. Dennis Severs’s House London is full of weird, wacky and wonderful places, but Dennis Severs’s House has to be one of the most peculiar. For this unassuming Georgian town…

The 8.6-mile Regent’s Canal runs from Paddington Basin in west London to Limehouse in the east, and the short stretch between Little Venice and Regent’s Park is one of my favourite London walks. So when I was in London in August and had a bit of time to kill, I decided to revisit this old favourite. I started my walk in Little Venice, so-called because it’s where the Grand Union and Regent’s canals meet. No-one’s quite sure who gave the area its name, but the infamous Lord Byron and his fellow poet Robert Browning have both been attributed with coining…

Over the summer, I spent a long weekend in Frome, Somerset for a friend’s wedding and while I was there I decided to take a look around a few of the local sights. My friend who was getting married suggested I visit nearby Nunney Castle, as well as Stourhead, a local National Trust property. So that’s what I did. Nunney Castle is a picturesque ruin situated in the delightful village of Nunney, some three miles outside Frome. The castle, which sits on a small island surrounded by a deep moat, was built by a local knight, Sir John de la…

In August, I paid my annual visit to Dyffryn Gardens, the National Trust-run manor house (below) and gardens just south of Cardiff. I’d been meaning to go all summer, but with one thing and another, I hadn’t got around to it. But I was determined to go before the summer was up to see the last of the flowers. I made my way through the gardens following my usual route, strolling past the manor house, then up to the stone terraces (above) and onto the walled garden. Before going inside the greenhouse that dominates the back wall, I had a…

When my friend and I were looking for things to do in London last month, one of my friend’s colleagues suggested we visit ‘The Cult of Beauty’ exhibition at the Wellcome Collection. The free exhibition at the Euston Road museum explores concepts of beauty through the ages and across cultures in the context of gender, race, age, health and status. We arrived at the Wellcome Collection around 11.30am to find the exhibition was closed until 12pm, so we went off to explore the main collection while we waited. On coming back at 12pm, we found the museum had put a…

A couple of weekends ago, I went to London (again!) to stay with one of my friends and on Saturday, we drove up to Essex to visit another of our friends and her family. Our friend suggested we spend the day exploring nearby Mersea Island, the most easterly inhabited island in England. The island, which is home to some 7,000 people, has a long history, having been inhabited since before the Romans came to Britain. It’s renowned for its fishing industry, most notably its oysters. Situated between the Blackwater and Colne estuaries, the causeway to the island is cut off…

Five hundred years since they ruled over England and Wales, the Tudors still captivate audiences in a way few other royal dynasties can. Aside from the crazy drama that wouldn’t be out of place in the most far-fetched soap opera (six wives, multiple beheadings, religious schisms, to name a few), much of the family’s enduring appeal is down to its clearly defined image. Very few English monarchs are as instantly recognisable to the masses as Henry VIII or Elizabeth I (above). With his wide-legged stance, square bearded face and red hair, Henry VIII (below) still cuts an imposing, majestic figure…