You probably know that Hugh Grant starred in Four Weddings and a Funeral (1994), a hugely successful British romantic comedy film. If you’re a lover of movie trivia, you may know that some filming took place at the Crown in … Continue reading A movie star, a cockatoo and a hotel
Combining the traditions of 1066 and all that with our modern predilection for lists, we can probably guess that King John was a Bad King and near the top of any Top 10 Worst British/English Kings in History, in most … Continue reading What did blooming King John do for us?
There’s a travel syndrome we might call New York State of Mind: the belief that you’ve been somewhere, even when you haven’t. We’ve all seen New York in the movies, so we feel we know it. If it has nothing … Continue reading The New York of English villages
A few weeks ago, we visited Runnymede and the JF Kennedy Memorial on the centenary of his birth. Just outside Beaconsfield in Buckinghamshire, there’s another link with the USA – in a quiet house and garden with over 300 years … Continue reading The silence of Friends
Sitting quietly in the Chilterns, on a hill behind the village of West Wycombe, is one of the most famous examples of clubland in the world. Its founder Sir Francis Dashwood, 2nd Baronet, had form in this area: his other creations … Continue reading Wine, women and Hell-Fire…
While Runnymede remains most famous for its location for the agreement of the original Magna Carta, just over 800 years ago, there is also a significant associated modern anniversary. If he had lived, John F Kennedy would have celebrated his 100th birthday today. … Continue reading Words from another age, words for the ages
In the middle of the Metropolitan Green Belt sits the small village of Chenies. Seriously small: there are well under 200 inhabitants. Chenies Manor goes back, in one form or another, at least 800 years, having been in the possession … Continue reading Tudors and tulips
Not many people would, probably, put the words “Luton” and “culture” together. Luton has such a bad reputation that it’s even been voted the UK’s worst town. A drive round the centre can be depressing and confusing. Yet some of … Continue reading Teacups and trucks
We’ve all had this problem… Working in the big smoke; live a long way away; how to shorten the daily grind of commuting? Get a base in town, perhaps – or just outside town. Which brings us to Richard, earl … Continue reading Commuter Castle
Slow Travel: The Chilterns and Thames Valley 