There are places with history, and then there is Oxford, where the buildings look as if they have been standing in judgement since the Middle …
Oxford, the city where even the pubs have academic credentials
Food and Drink
Newcastle, the curious case of Britain’s friendliest show-off
Newcastle upon Tyne is a city that never quite does what you expect. One moment you’re standing by Roman ruins, the next you’re peering up …
Liverpool, The Beatles and beyond
Some cities welcome you the way a polite aunt does. A tidy high street, a respectable museum, a park with ducks that look faintly disappointed …
Kent, England’s garden, with lots of surprises
If England had a back garden, it would probably look like Kent. Rolling orchards, neat hedgerows, oast houses with their jaunty cowls, and villages that …
Northamptonshire, grand houses, quiet towns and one very loud racetrack
Right in the centre of England, Northamptonshire often slips under the radar, happily letting its neighbours attract most of the attention. This suits Northamptonshire perfectly …
Worcestershire: more than just a sauce
Tucked between the Cotswolds and the Malvern Hills, Worcestershire is one of those counties that does not demand attention but rewards anyone who stops to …
Leicestershire is where England’s past pops up in surprising places
Right in the centre of England, Leicestershire offers a fine mixture of countryside, industry, ancient battles and the occasional surprise king turning up in a …
Shropshire is where England hides some of its best bits
Tucked along the border with Wales, Shropshire is one of those counties that people often forget about, which suits the locals just fine. It is …
Birmingham, the city that built everything and brags about nothing
Birmingham doesn’t always shout about itself. That’s one big reason why I like it so much. While London blares and Manchester struts, Brum gets on …
Cardiff for the curious, a capital with character
There are capital cities that feel like they are performing for you and there are others that simply invite you in for a chat and …