When we think of theatre, we think first-and-foremost of the "West End". Much further west than the traditional West End, is the most westerly theatre in England: the Minack Theatre. Indeed, you really can't get any further west without getting your feet wet! Created in the 1930s, the Minack Theatre is an open-air venue set in a spectacular cliffside location just along the coast from Land's End.
Big cities can feature some pretty impressive landmarks, but for the most spellbinding beauty we must turn to the small towns and villages that abound throughout the world. Here is our pick of some of the most delightful locations that should be on everyone's bucket list. The great English designer William Morris once declared Bibury to be the most beautiful village in England.
I'm not good with heights, and that's something which rather annoys me. So whenever I'm presented with something high, steep or precipitous I'm determined to face down my fears. As soon as I read about it, I was fascinated by the Caminito del Rey in Andalucia.
The wonderful news coming from Lanzarote in the last few days is that the island is properly open-for-business. Hotels, villas and apartments can now welcome visitors back to this sun-blessed holiday island without any arduous restrictions. The Spanish government has recognised that the Canary Islands are almost covid-free and has put the islands almost back to normal.
In 2021, it may not be quite so clearcut when a motorcyclist says he will be racing on "the island". There is a plan being developed for motorcycle races on the Isle of Wight, that will be called the Diamond Races. If all goes well, the races will be held on a 12 mile course using a part of the fast, flowing Military Road on the south coast with a return leg through narrow country roads just inland.
As you wander through Setenil de las Bodegas, large chunks of rock hang precariously amongst the winding streets, often creating natural roofs for the houses and restaurants. Most amazingly, one large overhang covers an entire street, providing shade and natural cooling during the warm summers of southern Spain. Even more remarkable still, there are houses built on top of the overhang,
I feel like I've set myself an impossible task here as there are hundreds, possibly thousands, of British landmarks that shouldn't be missed. Here are a selected few: Hadrian's Wall, Land's End, St Michael's Mount, Mount Snowdon, the white cliffs of Dover, the Jurassic coast, Stonehenge and Avebury.
I have a confession to make: until I visited Venice I had no idea it was so special! That probably makes me incredibly naive, a philistine even. But once I saw it, I was completely bowled over. From the tiny "Don't Look Now" alleyways to the magnificence of the Rialto Bridge, Venice is utterly amazing.
'Riviera' seems to convey so much more sophistication and glamour than just 'the seaside'. But where does the word come from? Surprisingly perhaps, it's not French. The origin of the word is in fact Italian, so it would seem that the original riviera was the Italian Riviera.
Many years ago we took a family holiday to Florida. Our hire car was all pre-booked and paid for. Yet when I reached the pickup desk I was told that I should take out their extra (super-expensive) insurance because the CDW wasn’t enough. I was tired after an 8 hour flight, the family were restless and wanted to get going, so I reluctantly paid up.
