The Llawnroc, Cornwall
“Cornwall was baking, the hedgerows alive with the chirping of birds and the buzzing of arthropods…I could almost hear my skin peeling under the commanding rays of an unexpected summer sunbath.”
Browsing: Hotels
Flemings Townhouse, Mayfair
Boutique. It’s a word that is bandied about often, and with gay abandon. Occasionally its…
The St. Regis, Mauritius
The last time I strolled into the Lanesborough hotel, I was early; this time I…
The Grand Hotel, Eastbourne
The English coast might not be the ideal destination for a weekend in November but it does have the odd draw, particularly if you’re inclined to step back into another age. Alex Larman goes Edwardian in Eastbourne…
Ockenden Manor, West Sussex
“Located in Cuckfield, considered one of the prettiest Tudor villages in England, Ockenden is an Elizabethan manor dating from 1520, the beamed interior of which resonates with creaking floorboards and character…”
Down at Fraggle Rock
“It’s 295 miles to Truro. We’ve got a full tank of gas, half a pack of Twiglets; it’s dark and we’re wearing sunglasses…” Gabrielle discovers the child-like delights of Cornwall’s Roseland Peninsula…
Dolder Grand, Zurich
Larry returns to Zurich and experiences a weekend of opulence, elegance, unparalleled finery…and a delicious…
Bailiffscourt Hotel, West Sussex
“Stay away from the mushrooms with gills or skirts on their stems.” Such words to the wise sound like they belong in the ominous section of a fairytale, just before the wolf or Mad Hatter makes his appearance…
Southernhay House, Exeter
“The old bookworm has begun to twitch. It is, perhaps, the gaggle of youths playing songs rich in reference to knife crime that have him so on edge; on the other hand, it might equally be the whinging child…”
Lower Slaughter Manor, Cotswolds
“Some places are cursed with bad names, so it was with an open mind and visions of the Texas Chainsaw Massacre that I approached the rather dubiously titled Lower Slaughter Manor…”
Hotel Monte Mulini, Croatia
“Croatia’s five-star boutique Hotel Monte Mulini was quite an understated first sight for this shamefully quick to judge traveller. A momentary opinion, thankfully, swiftly dispelled by the view that filled my eyes…”
The Francis Hotel, Bath
“Two men carry a bathtub into Bath. Not a joke, but my first sight on entering the city famous for its sulphurous waters…” Douglas Blyde revisits a haunting childhood haunt…