Month: October 2017

Old Town High Street © Stevenage Borough Council
Old Town High Street © Stevenage Borough Council

Stevenage in Hertfordshire is a study in urban planning and design, and has several notable features and public art installations

Stevenage in Hertfordshire was once a quiet country town, but in 1946 it became Britain’s first New Town. These provided quality housing and community facilities in response to the post-war housing shortage. The new town of Stevenage was six self-contained residential areas arranged around the original town. Now called Stevenage Old Town, this original part […]

Signpost between Milford and Lymington © New Forest Destination Partnership.jpg
Signpost between Milford and Lymington © New Forest Destination Partnership.jpg

The village of Milford-on-Sea in Hampshire has the air of being pleasantly caught in a time warp.

Milford-on-Sea in Hampshire sits on the New Forest Coast and offers something for all ages whatever the weather. It’s one of the few remaining coastal villages in Hampshire, and being on top of the cliff offers wonderful views. Download a map of the village here. All Saints Church Milford-on-Sea All Saints is an C11th church; […]

© Welcome to Yorkshire - Whitby Harbour
© Welcome to Yorkshire – Whitby Harbour

Whitby on the Yorkshire coast, a stunning sight with atmospheric Abbey ruins looking out to sea

Whitby is an ancient sea port on the Yorkshire Coast. It is rich in history, which includes fishing, and the jet industry. Today it’s still the best place in the world to find the gleaming black stone. In addition, Captain Cook was born nearby, and his famous ship the Endeavour was Whitby-built. The town was […]

Copford Church fresco © visitessex.com
Fresco at Copford Church in Essex © visitessex.com

The county of Essex has some historic churches which are well worth a visit

Thaxted church, described as the cathedral of Essex, is very grand. It is a ‘cathedral style’ church with a narrow crossing between the nave and the chancel. The medieval stone spire, unique and tallest in the county, is now 181 feet high, and so dominates the countryside. For more information visit The church has 3 […]

Scarborough Spa © Welcome to Yorkshire
Scarborough Spa © Welcome to Yorkshire

Scarborough in Yorkshire, was once a town of sailors and fishermen, then a fashionable spa town, and recently a popular, genteel seaside resort.

The history of Scarborough in Yorkshire goes back at least as far as the iron age, with the remains of a hill fort to show it. In Roman times the vantage point up on the cliffs was a signal post. A tower in a courtyard, it was the look-out post against raiding Angles, Saxons and […]

Harlech Castle taken from a Drone © Gwynedd Council
Harlech Castle taken from a Drone © Gwynedd Council

Castle Harlech, in Gwynedd, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, a magnificent, cliff-top stronghold.

Edward I built Harlech Castle over 6 years from 1282 to 1289; like a giant clenched fist it symbolised power and domination. It was a response to an uprising led by Llewellyn in 1282 in which the English had big losses. But Edward I drove Llewellyn back to Snowdon and he died in a skirmish. […]

Seafront © Seaford Town Council
Seafront © Seaford Town Counci

Visit Seaford in East Sussex and enjoy the stunning, world-famous view of the Seven Sisters and the Coastguard Cottages

Just three of the reasons that this East Sussex coastal town is unique and attractive to visitors are: The world-famous view of the Seven Sisters and the Coastguard Cottages can only be seen from Seaford Head Nature Reserve. The seafront is unspoilt with free parking. A wide promenade runs the length of the sweeping bay […]

A pretty row of old cottages in Castle Street Saffron Walden © Visit Essex
Castle Street Saffron Walden © Visit Essex

Pay a visit to Saffron Walden, in rural Essex, is a quaint medieval market town about 50 miles from London

The town has an ancient heritage, and since medieval times has been prosperous. The name Saffron comes from the valuable Crocus sativus crop, which was cultivated here between the 15th and 18th centuries and was used as a dye, flavouring and medicine. The Woolcombers Hall survives from this period. The area is a good place […]

Witney buttercross and town hall © The Cotswolds
Witney buttercross and town hall © The Cotswold

Witney a beautiful ancient market town in the Oxfordshire Cotswolds.

Witney is situated 12 miles west of Oxford and was once an important river crossing on the River Windrush.  The place-name Witney is first attested in a Saxon charter of 969 as Wyttannige; it appears as Witenie in the Domesday Book of 1086. The name means Witta’s island. A charming and bustling market town, there’s […]

Church Street © Darren Pepe
Godalming Church Street © Darren Pepe

Godalming in Surrey, an ancient and pretty town, and a popular place to live.

Godalming a market town in South West Surrey has a long history. The presence of Mesolithic and Neolithic flints points to human activity here in prehistoric times. Also, remains of Roman pottery suggest Roman occupation nearby. The pretty town was already a large busy village in Anglo Saxon times. Then, King Alfred left the village […]