Discover Britain

This issue our travel special takes us to Cumbria in the far northwest of England, and the magical Lake District. This land of water and mountains has long drawn admirers, enchanted by its natural beauty and rural way of life, from William Wordsworth

Our late Queen, Elizabeth II, will be honoured with a national memorial in 2026 in what would have been her centenary year. A special Queen Elizabeth Memorial Committee has been set up, that will consider proposals for both a permanent memorial to He

With its mountains, lakes, and undulating emerald-green hills, the Lake District, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and England’s biggest national park, in the northwest county of Cumbria, has been enchanting visitors for centuries. Here are some of the q

Dating back to 1812, this elegant country house hotel on Lake Windermere is brimming with historic charm, and retains many of its original features, including the panelled hall and reception. With 20 bedrooms, guests can choose from four tiers of sum

Located just a few miles south of Kendal, the fine family seat of Levens Hall stands on the edge of the Lake District and is one of the most underrated stately homes in England. Though today it is a picture of respectability and a mansion worthy of a

The dialect used in the old counties of Cumberland and Westmorland, and the Furness district of Lancashire, which today form much of Cumbria, is the product of many influences over the centuries. The oldest surviving words are Cumbric – similar to Ce

Loved the world over for her children’s tales and illustrations about naughty animals like Peter Rabbit and Jemima Puddle-Duck, it’s well known that British author Beatrix Potter took inspiration for her works from the beauty and nature of the Lake D

In May 2023, hundreds of millions of people worldwide tuned in to see the coronation of King Charles III at Westminster Abbey. But how many royal watchers know that far from Westminster, in distant Cumbria, there’s a British island with its very own

Its red-brick facade is known to fans of Regency-era romance series Bridgerton as the Grosvenor Square home of the Netflix TV hit’s titular family. Off-screen, however, Ranger’s House lies across the River Thames in southeast London, nestled between

If you’re an Agatha Christie fan, you’ll know all about her love affair with property. The crime-fiction author was a compulsive homebuyer, snapping up flats and mews houses in London, cottages in the countryside and maintaining the upkeep of Ashfiel

The wheelwright’s craft is among the oldest known to man, with the wheel being one of humanity’s most comprehensive creations. A wheelwright is a craftsman who builds or repairs wooden wheels for carts and wagons, while ‘wright’ means ‘a worker or sh

Looking to buy high-end gifts and souvenirs on your next visit to London? Forget Oxford Street, here are some of London’s best shopping districts, plus some recommendations of where to refuel and review your purchases after a busy day buying. Named f

Solutions in next issue 1Tyneside industrialist raised to the peerage in 1887 who had his rural retreat at Cragside near Rothbury (9)9 Historic market town in Surrey, at the foot of the North Downs (7)10 One of Shakespeare’s tragedies (7)11 Resort a