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
The BULLETIN • Sparkling treasures, summer opera and a new view of an old masterpiece
READING CORNER • Take inspiration for your British adventures from these great reads
Down by the River • Between Richmond and Hampton Court is a storied stretch of the River Thames, whose banks are lined with grand houses, royal parks and Henry VIII’s favourite palace
The Time Machine • The world’s most famous clock has been under wraps for four years, its iconic bell silenced. This year, restored to its former glory, Big Ben once again shows its face
Becoming ANNE BOLEYN • Five centuries after her first appearance at the court of her future husband, Henry VIII, we chart Anne Boleyn’s glittering rise and dramatic fall
Coast along • The England Coast Path will be completed this year, giving access to some of Britain’s loveliest spots, from soaring cliffs to quaint fishing villages
Coastal havens • Six wonderful places to stay beside the seaside
Digging through History • From medieval herb gardens and the refined English country estate to the futuristic Eden Project, how has the form and function of Britain’s gardens evolved through the ages?
LAND OF Legends • Scotland’s magical landscapes are home to countless myths, passed down through generations of storytelling Scots
Your Ultimate Platinum Jubilee Souvenir
A TWO-NIGHT STAY IN THE SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS
ILFRACOMBE • This pretty Devon harbour town has been a magnet for summer visitors since Victorian times
Searching for CAMELOT • The timeless legends of King Arthur and his brave knights live on in the magical landscapes of North Cornwall
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TOP 10 ST ALBANS • Just 20 minutes from central London, this charming city in Hertfordshire is bursting with history
THIS BEAUTIFUL EARTH - CREATED FOR A PURPOSE
A day with… DAVID BARBER • The Queen’s Swan Marker talks us through a typical day of Swan Upping, an ancient summer tradition used to monitor the welfare of the swans in the River Thames
THE GREAT BRITISH QUIZ • Do you know your Blenheim from your Beaulieu? Put your knowledge of Britain’s stately homes to the test in our new quiz
The Cotswold Sculpture Park • Offering unique sculptures for your garden and interior spaces