Britain

Packed with 196-pages of the best attractions, days out, places to stay and food and drink destinations, the 2015 BRITAIN Guide is your definitive companion to getting the best out of your holiday. From forgotten medieval villages, to country houses within easy access of London and shopping areas for picking up quintessential gifts, you won’t want to leave home without it.

EDITOR'S LETTER

Britain

YOUR LETTERS • Write to us with your thoughts on the magazine and memories of Britain

STAR LETTER MEMORIES OF LONDON

The BULLETIN • Pop-up Shakespeare, a bridge to the past and a queen’s palace on display

Apple and lemon sandwich cake • The ultimate cream sponge cake. The apple makes the cake really moist and the lemon-flavoured cream keeps it fresh-tasting. This delicious recipe is from Mary Berry’s Quick Cooking by Mary Berry (BBC Books, £22).

READING CORNER • Take inspiration for your British adventure from these great reads

Hidden Cornwall • Discover the beautiful, beguiling and rugged land of West Penwith in the far reaches of Cornwall

THE PLANNER

WONDERS OF WOBURN • We explore Woburn Abbey, historic seat of the dukes of Bedford and the birthplace of afternoon tea

BOOK AHEAD

SUMMER READING • We visit the places that inspired iconic summer scenes in the works of some of our favourite authors

Ruling WITHOUT ROYALTY • We look back at the tumultuous events that led to the English Civil War, setting the scene for Oliver Cromwell’s rise to power

DID YOU KNOW?

EROS The STATUE • The Shaftesbury Memorial Fountain – or Eros – in Piccadilly Circus is one of London’s best-loved monuments, yet it hasn’t always been so popular

AN INCREDIBLE JOURNEY ALONG ENGLAND'S GREAT WEST WAY ®

On the trail of a SCOTTISH HEROINE • The Isle of Skye has spawned many legends, but few as retold as those linked to Flora MacDonald, the girl who helped Bonnie Prince Charlie escape

THE PLANNER

BESIDE THE SEASIDE • A stay at a historic hotel on the English coast is an experience not to be missed

BOOK AHEAD

A LUXURY STAY IN BEAUTIFUL DEVON

HOW TO ENTER

TOTNES • Castle views, Tudor houses and Sir Francis Drake’s oranges: we explore the quirky South Devon town of Totnes

THE PLANNER

PEAK PERFORMANCE • From heathery moors to rolling hills and underground caverns, the Peak District is home to some of the most majestic landscapes in the country

THE PLANNER

BIRMINGHAM • Britain’s second largest city may have made its mark as an 18th-century industrial powerhouse, but this “Middle Earth” is booming with history and culture

Birmingham: cut-out-and-go guide

Birmingham: cut-out-and-go guide

Live like a local

Harvington Hall • We unravel the history of this Worcestershire manor, home to the largest number of priest hides in the country