Reading is one of those under-the-radar places. It’s the county town of Berkshire and our nearest big conurbation, but we don’t seem to go there very often. It’s perfectly pleasant, just unexciting and ordinary. Unfortunately, on 20 June this year it hit the headlines for all the wrong reasons. On a Friday evening in theContinue reading “Travels in my neighbourhood: Reading”
Tag Archives: history
The house that Wolsey built (and Henry took)
Today I’m visiting Hampton Court Palace. I’m in the middle of the final book of Hilary Mantel’s Wolf Hall trilogy, set at the Court of King Henry VIII, so it seems an appropriate time to soak up some period atmosphere at the royal residence that’s best known as his favourite home. There has been aContinue reading “The house that Wolsey built (and Henry took)”
Come walk with me in Dorney
For this post I’ve driven just a few miles down the road to the historic village of Dorney. The main thing you notice when you arrive is the lovely common at the heart of the village, used for grazing and with views to Windsor Castle. It’s a great place to start a walk. Off weContinue reading “Come walk with me in Dorney”
Travels in my neighbourhood: Windsor & Eton
Today I’m just down the road from home in the twin towns of Windsor and Eton, joined by a bridge over the Thames. Both are pretty famous – one has the most renowned castle and the other the most well-known school in the UK, if not the world. I’ve been here many times before, butContinue reading “Travels in my neighbourhood: Windsor & Eton”
Vienna then and now
Oh Vienna! If you’re of a certain age you will immediately hear the soulful voice of Midge Ure. You’ll probably hum it all day – I have been since I started writing this, luckily I’m an Ultravox fan. Many moons ago, I spent a year working in this city as part of my languages degree.Continue reading “Vienna then and now”
Travels in my neighbourhood: Runnymede
Poor old King John! He’s always the bad guy, that phony King of England. Meanwhile, his elder brother, Richard the Lionheart, is remembered as a hero by us Brits, despite the fact that he spent most of his time in France or on crusade in the Holy Land. He probably didn’t even speak English, whichContinue reading “Travels in my neighbourhood: Runnymede”
An exclusive promenade in Richmond
It’s another warm weekend (yes another one, I’ve almost forgotten that I live in the UK recently), so we decide to get in the car and drive to outer London again. Why have we never done this before? Apparently it’s because of my holiday ‘obsession’. We decide on Richmond this time around – the WestContinue reading “An exclusive promenade in Richmond”
Travels in my neighbourhood: Cliveden
When we moved back to the UK after 11 years away, I vowed that I wouldn’t take my own country for granted like I did when I was younger. I even bought a Lonely Planet guide to England as a statement of intent. When I was a kid, we were always out and about visitingContinue reading “Travels in my neighbourhood: Cliveden”
Heading towards a fishy treat in Barnes
Where to walk this weekend…? Well, sometimes the choice is made for you. If you’ve read my blog before you will know how food orientated I am. Last week, chef Rick Stein announced that he was opening his restaurants for takeaway. While I’m not prepared to drive to Cornwall for Rick’s fish and chips, hisContinue reading “Heading towards a fishy treat in Barnes”
Hampstead, the ultimate urban village
Only 4 miles from Trafalgar Square, but bordering 790 acres of green space, Hampstead has a totally different vibe to much of inner London. Yes, it has a bustling high street, but venture into the neighbouring laneways or along the many footpaths onto Hampstead Heath and you could be miles from the city. The husbandContinue reading “Hampstead, the ultimate urban village”
Steph's Travels 