Waddesdon Manor is glorious at Christmas, and just within reach of London as a daytrip destination. Waddesdon Manor: a Perfect Christmas Outing My path to Waddesdon Manor was a rather serendipitous one. I’ve now lived in London so long that I rarely have the energy for the types of daytrips I once embarked on. But […]
Monte Gibralfaro dominates Málaga’s skyline, and forms part of its coat of arms. What better place to get your historic bearings in this important Andalusian city? Making the Most of a Weekend in Málaga A recent trip to Málaga was my second. My first, a few years ago now, was part of a road trip […]
I took a slightly more reasonable approach to exploring Open House London 2025 than I did last year, but nonetheless managed to see historic treasures, contemporary living, and some real oddities as well. Sea cadets in a tin tabernacle, anyone? What Did Open House London 2025 Have in Store? If you’re new here, welcome! If […]
A serendipitous visit to Petersham’s Open Gardens revealed the grand houses and hidden lanes of a village rich in layered history. Visiting Petersham with a Purpose I recently (AKA a couple of months ago) visited Petersham for the first time, drawn by two separate Open Garden events happening on the same Sunday. Not that this […]
On my second visit to Barcelona I finally made it to Park Güell – a long-postponed Gaudí landmark well worth the wait. Park Güell: First Impressions and a Return to Gaudí This visit to Park Güell continues my reflection on Gaudí’s work, following my time at the Sagrada Família museum. But while that church is […]
Back in Barcelona for a conference, I found unexpected calm and beauty at the Reial Monestir de Pedralbes on a quiet Sunday afternoon. A Fortunate Return: First Steps Towards Pedralbes I found myself back in Barcelona by good fortune, almost 18 months after my first visit. This time, like before, I wasn’t here primarily for […]
Le Pavillon de Manse, the Watermill of the Princes, is a unique heritage site and our last stop in Chantilly. A Watermill Fit for a King. Or a Prince. Not very long ago, we explored Chantilly together and I told you about le Potager des Princes (the Vegetable Garden of the Princes). Today we’re exploring […]
As well as being a valuable green space in South East London, Crystal Palace Park contains several reminders of the great industrial wonder that once stood here. The Wonder of the Age The Great Exhibition of the Works of Industry of All Nations, commonly known as the Great Exhibition, took place from 1 May to […]
A first-time visit to Kenwood House turns into an unexpectedly rich day out, combining historic architecture, a world-class art collection, and Hampstead’s landscape history A Day Out at Kenwood House A recent bank holiday brought the perfect excuse for a day out, and Kenwood House did not disappoint. In fact, it turned into such a […]
A rare surviving Restoration-era house in the City of London, Dr Johnson’s House tells the story of a man whose influence on the English language continues to the present day. Samuel Johnson, an Introduction Today’s post is about Dr Johnson’s House, a small museum in the City of London. But who, first of all, is […]
