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 PILGRIMAGE TO DURHAM
The BULLETIN • Legendary landscapes, a fitting legacy and the heritage sector back on its feet
READING CORNER • Take inspiration for your British adventures from these great reads
STEP BACK IN TIME • Take a walk in the footsteps of prehistoric man through the history and landscapes of the Ridgeway, Britain’s oldest road
THE PLANNER
TIME for TEA • Savour a behind-the-scenes taste of afternoon tea at Claridge’s, a landmark London hotel and royal favourite
AFTERNOON TEA ICONS • When travel restrictions are lifted, book a table at one of these highly acclaimed purveyors of the traditional English afternoon tea.
Calm and On • Britain’s stately homes were forced to close their doors during the recent lockdown. These ancient walls are used to surviving against the odds – but how have they coped in the current crisis?
BOOK AHEAD
HERO OF THE HIGHLANDS • How did a half-Polish prince born in Rome win such an enduring place in hearts and history as dashing Bonnie Prince Charlie?
DID YOU KNOW?
A miniature marvel • The Nostell dolls’ house, one of the National Trust’s greatest treasures, is a microcosm of life in a real historic house. The Curator of this newly restored mansion in miniature gives us a tour
The Royal Retailers • Fancy sharing suppliers with the Queen? From flagmakers to florists, the Royal Warrant Holders are an eclectic group. We find out more about this centuries-old tradition
WINDSOR • With its historic castle and scenic rural surrounds, Windsor wears its royal seal of approval well
TRAVEL ESSENTIALS
The EMPEROR’S ISLE • Tresco was once a treeless and windswept island, the haunt of smugglers. Dramatically transformed by one man’s vision, it is now one of Britain’s most beautiful spots
THE PLANNER
TOP 10 LINCOLN • With impressive historic and cultural credentials, this medieval beauty is perfect for a city break
THE PLANNER
Kiplin Hall • This Yorkshire manor with its link to the early American settlers has a remarkable survival story of its own