Weekend Getaways Archives -

Belfast, or how to build a city out of smoke, ships and stubbornness

by kenroe61@gmail.comUpdated on April 1, 2026March 24, 2026

Night view of Belfast waterfront with a curved bridge lit in purple, city buildings glowing across the water, and reflections shimmering on the river under a dark sky

Belfast is one of those cities that seems to have lived several completely different lives and kept souvenirs from all of them. It was a …

Early spring with crocuses and other wilkd flowers in a wood on a sunny day

Top 20 last minute Easter break spots for couples

by kenroe61@gmail.comUpdated on April 1, 2026March 12, 2026

Looking for a romantic Easter escape without months of planning? These 20 last minute UK break spots for couples in 2026 offer charm, scenery and …

Golden-hour view of Godshill on the Isle of Wight, with stone cottages topped by thatched roofs beside a narrow lane, and a church tower rising behind them under a clear blue sky.

Coastal Weekends Weekend Getaways

The Isle of Wight, England in soft focus

by kenroe61@gmail.comUpdated on April 2, 2026March 4, 2026

Just a short ferry ride from the mainland, the Isle of Wight feels like England with the edges softened slightly. The pace slows down, the …

Modern waterfront scene in Leeds with colourful apartment blocks and glass-fronted offices lining a calm canal, narrowboats moored along the edges, and bright reflections mirrored in the still water under a clear blue sky

City Breaks Weekend Getaways

Leeds, where Victorian confidence meets modern caffeine dependence

by kenroe61@gmail.comUpdated on April 2, 2026February 19, 2026

Leeds is one of those places that people think they understand until they actually turn up. They imagine a sensible northern city that does its …

Sunlit cobbled courtyard in Old Amersham, Buckinghamshire, lined with whitewashed cottages and timber-framed buildings with red tiled roofs, clipped green shrubs and garden borders, and a set of outdoor wooden tables beneath a bright blue sky with puffy clouds.

Countryside Escapes Weekend Getaways

Buckinghamshire is where England quietly perfects the countryside weekend

by kenroe61@gmail.comUpdated on April 2, 2026February 13, 2026

Just west of London, Buckinghamshire has long been the place where England goes to admire its own good taste. Rolling hills, picture-perfect villages, stately homes, …

Wide, symmetrical view of Woburn Abbey’s honey-coloured façade, with a long gravel driveway between bright green lawns under a clear blue sky.

Historic Houses and Halls Weekend Getaways

Bedfordshire, a gentle county with deer, dukes and the odd lion

by kenroe61@gmail.comUpdated on April 2, 2026February 12, 2026

Bedfordshire is one of those counties that often sneaks under the radar. Wedged between the busier worlds of London, Cambridge and the Midlands, it sits …