Like many people, I’m a little addicted to chocolate. But until recently, I’d always resisted the temptation to snort it. That changed when I visited Bruges and had the pleasure of meeting Dominique Persoone, a self-styled ‘shock-olatier’ and the city’s very own Willy Wonka. Last June, he was asked to do a dessert for the…
An historic inn which has been owned or visited by four English monarchs is once more fit for a king. A £1 million facelift has brought The Bear Hotel in Hungerford, Berkshire, into the present while respecting its character and illustrious past. Dating back to the 13th century, the Bear was later owned by the…
Santorini’s explosive history has left it with a rugged beauty that’s unlike anywhere else in the world. When the volcanic island literally blew its top 3,500 years ago the Aegean sea rushed in to flood the crater and create a lagoon measuring 4x8km. The volcano re-awoke in 200BC and threw up an island of lava.…
Lincolnshire is often overlooked as a short break destination. But many of its treasures will be strangely familiar to West Midlanders thanks to two of Hollywood’s biggest stars. The county welcomed Tom Hanks when the breathtaking Lincoln Cathedral doubled as Westminster Abbey for the 2006 blockbuster movie The Da Vinci Code. And Keira Knightley shot…
It was the ultimate Alton Towers white-knuckle ride experience. I was challenged to tame Oblivion, Air, Nemesis, Ripsaw, The Flume and Rita – Queen Of Speed – all in under 45 minutes. But it wasn’t as stomach-churning as it sounds. For this was Alton Towers’ new miniature golf course where the holes are based on…
There’s much more to the capital of Andalusia than flamenco and oranges… here’s how to spend 72 hours in Seville on a budget. / DAY ONE When Star Wars creator George Lucas needed a location to double as the most beautiful planet in the universe he turned to Seville. The spectacular mixture of Spanish and…
It was like a dream come true. I was within touching distance of Kylie Minogue’s famous gold hotpants. This time, however, they were not struggling to contain the pint-sized pop princess’s perfect posterior – I should be so lucky. Instead, the hotpants were forming part of an exhibition – and behind toughened glass to stop…
It was one of the most embarrassing moments of my life. Cars were queuing up either side of the Shirley drawbridge over the Stratford-upon-Avon Canal and the agitated motorists were beeping their horns. The traffic barriers were steadfastly refusing to open to let them pass and I was stood at the controls – helpless and…
Are you dreaming of a romantic wedding on a stunning sun-soaked beach on some Caribbean isle? Are those dreams in danger of being dashed because your nearest and dearest can’t afford to join you in ‘paradise’? Don’t despair – there is a cheaper alternative to the Caribbean and you don’t have to compromise on the…
I had seen pictures of Carcassonne and read how this French medieval walled citadel was the largest in Europe. It all looked and sounded very impressive. But no amount of research could have prepared me for the jaw-dropping moment I first set eyes on its walls and the realisation that this was going to be home…
