JMW Turner didn’t just paint landscapes, he lit them on fire. Not literally, of course, though he was fond of a dramatic blaze or two. …
JMW Turner, the man who painted with light
Historic Buildings
Warwick Castle, A Thousand Years of Power and Pageantry
Warwick Castle is one of the finest and most complete medieval castles in England. Set on a bend in the River Avon, this towering fortress …
William Wilberforce, The Relentless Reformer
William Wilberforce was the unlikely powerhouse behind one of Britain’s greatest moral victories – the abolition of the transatlantic slave trade. A politician, philanthropist and …
Nottingham – rebels, royals and Robin Hood
Nottingham is one of those places that arrives with its own myth. Say the name and up pops Robin Hood in his little green hat, …
Manchester has always liked to do things its own way
The first time you arrive in Manchester, it can feel a bit like standing at a party where everyone else is already halfway through a …
Mind the gap and other useful advice for surviving London
If cities were people, London would be the eccentric uncle with too many stories and no particular desire to tell them in order. It is …
Berwick-upon-Tweed, England’s Northernmost Curiosity
Just before England runs out of road, before the River Tweed curls out into the North Sea, there is Berwick. A town that has changed …
Edinburgh between a rock and a rather nice Georgian place
Edinburgh is not a city that eases you in. It grabs you by the collar the moment you step off the train, marches you out …
Stratford-upon-Avon beyond the Shakespeare connection
Stratford-upon-Avon is, of course, famously the birthplace of one William Shakespeare. And while that fact is inescapable , from the souvenir mugs to the guided …
Warwick, a medieval town with much more than just turrets and trebuchets
It’s almost impossible to talk about Warwick without mentioning the castle. It’s big. It’s bold. It’s got armour, archery, and birds of prey that give …