The grisly site of the murder of Thomas Becket. The destination for Chaucer’s famous tales of the Middle Ages. Canterbury is the site of the oldest cathedral in England and its foundation marks the Christian conversion of a large part of the country. It’s the Mother Church, not only of all England but of the worldwide Anglican Communion, and the seat of the most powerful archbishop in the country. Canterbury Cathedral has seen it all in 1,400 years of history … Read More
Cathedrals of Britain: East and Central
Ely Known as the ‘Ship of the Fens’, Ely Cathedral rises majestically from the surrounding landscape. Once it stood on an island, surrounded on all sides by water, but the draining of the Fens marshland several centuries ago reunited the land around the cathedral with the rest of the countryside. It still retains some of that other-worldly allure however and today rises magically from the early morning mists. The first church on this site was founded by a woman, Ethelreda, … Read More
10 ancient places to rest your head
Ever fancied waking up in a 12th century castle, a former dean’s residence or the spot where King Henry VIII wooed Jane Seymour? You can. Read on to discover some of the ‘oldest beds’ in Britain. The Old Deanery, Ripon Located across the road from Ripon Cathedral, with fine views of its soaring façade, this beautiful stone building is the former home of the cathedral deans. Dating back to 1625 and blessed with character and period detail, it still has … Read More
My (short-lived) career as a London dancer
In 2016 I left my full-time staff job as a digital magazine editor to go freelance. And, finally freed from a 9-to-5 routine, trapped behind a desk, I thought gleefully – what else can I do with my days? Maybe I’ll become a dancer… I wasn’t the most obvious candidate to join a dance troupe – at the age of, er, well let’s just say I’ll never see 40 again. I have arthritis and scoliosis and spent half of the … Read More
Eating my way around Italy’s Emilia Romagna
The countryside of Emilia Romagna in northern Italy is not as famous as its sexier neighbour Tuscany, but it is the producer of much of the country’s best-loved food. It’s the home of Parma ham, Balsamic vinegar, Parmesan cheese and tortellini to name but a few. And was, for a long weekend last summer, home to me for four merry food-filled days. Bologna is the capital of the region and the main airport if you’re flying from the UK. And … Read More
