When I lived in London, I used to try to get out for a long walk most weekends. One of my favourite walks was from Belsize Park to Marylebone or Regent’s Street in central London, via Primrose Hill and Regent’s Park. If I was feeling particularly energetic and had the time, I’d sometimes start the walk in Crouch End, making my way to Highgate Woods, through Highgate village and across Hampstead Heath to Belsize Park before continuing into central London. Short on time this trip and keen to pack in as much as I could, I decided to keep it…

On my second day in London, I headed into town bright and early to start the day with a little touristing. My destination? Westminster. Situated on the banks of the River Thames in the heart of London, the historic district is home to a slew of the capital and the country’s most iconic landmarks, including the eponymous Westminster Abbey, Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament. Inspired by the previous day’s visit to St Paul’s Cathedral, my first port of call was the magnificent Westminster Abbey. The abbey, which has played host to countless royal weddings, funerals and coronations, dates…

I didn’t have much of a plan when I went to London, I had lots of vague ideas about different places I’d like to visit, but nothing set in stone and I found myself changing my plans on a whim during the trip. One of the places I’d thought about visiting was St Paul’s Cathedral. I’d visited St Paul’s some 10 years earlier and when I lived in London, I was a regular visitor to the café in its crypt. So I was keen to revisit one of the capital’s most iconic landmarks. After spying St Paul’s through a window…

I’ve seen it countless times. Someone comes to Cheltenham for a weekend, hits the main shops, maybe takes a quick photo at the Neptune Fountain, grabs an overpriced sandwich, and leaves thinking they’ve “done” it. Then they wonder why everyone raves about the place. Trust me, you’re missing the soul of this town if that’s your experience. After living here for years, I’ve seen exactly what trips up first-timers and how to avoid those pitfalls. It’s not about ticking off boxes; it’s about understanding the rhythm and knowing where to spend your energy. This isn’t a place you just skim.…

Over the bank holiday weekend, we set off on a little roadtrip to Westbury Court Garden, a small water garden in Westbury-on-Severn in Gloucestershire. I’d seen a few photos of the garden on Instagram a few weeks earlier and intrigued by what I’d seen, decided to check it out. The garden was created in the late 17th century by Westbury Court’s owner Maynard Colchester, who oversaw the addition of the garden’s canals, pond and pavilion. The manor house was knocked down in 1805 when the Colchester family decamped to another house nearby, but the family kept the garden. Today it’s…

Bea’s of Bloomsbury serves roughly 1,200 afternoon teas every week. That’s a lot of scones. But here’s the thing: most people walk out having made the same three mistakes. They order the wrong tier first, they skip the seasonal special, and they miss the best table in the house. This guide fixes that. Bea’s isn’t the Ritz. It’s not the Dorchester. It’s a small, independent bakery-café that somehow packs more character into its two floors than most hotels manage in their marble lobbies. The tea is serious. The cakes are honest. And the queues can be brutal if you don’t…