Travel Lightbulb

 I appreciate we're all staying at home just now, but if you're looking for a day out when this is all over, I've got a suggestion for a little gem of a National Trust property that may have escaped your attention. Gawthorpe Hall is in the Borough of Burnley, in Lancashire, but its estate extends into Padiham. It has been named Downton of the North, as it looks a little bit like a mini version of the real building used in Downton Abbey, Highclere Castle.  Before lockdown, I had to book a slot to visit and I will point out that the hall is only open for a few months of the year, so please check before making plans! It's worth arriving a little while before your slot time to explore the grounds. They're not huge, but it's lovely to have a little wander round the woods, which include a little lake.  When I visited, Covid restrictions meant that visitors were limited, and it was almost like getting ap private tour of the house. The guides were very informative, and ...

In 1986 ice cream was made in a Cheshire farmhouse kitchen, and today over 200,000 now visit Snugbury's ice cream shop in Nantwich each year. One of the reasons people visit is because of the amazing sculptures in the nearby field. For over 10 years, the ice cream company has teamed up with a friend to build these incredible sculptures which can be a real distraction when you drive along the A51!  2016 marked 150 years since the birth of Beatrix Potter, one of the world's best loved children's authors. To mark the occasion, who better to dedicate this years straw sculpture to than Peter Rabbit. He's 38 feet tall, and the carrot and his ears are both 10 feet! Peter is a great excuse to visit, and before you wander over to see him - pick up an ice cream at the shop! I can highly recommend honeycomb and mint choc chip!

I know, I know, it's only November, but I wanted to give those living in the North West of England a little heads up about an event taking place soon that will get you in the mood for food....and Christmas! For the very first time, Foodies Festival kicks off the festive season at Tatton Park on the 17-19th of November.  If you're a food fan, you'll love picking up top tips from MasterChef winners and top local chefs who'll be cooking up their festive favourites in the Chef's Theatre. If you've got a sweet tooth, then what better than to watch Great British Bake Off winners and top patisserie chefs baking up treats in the Cakes and Desserts Theatre. The festive season wouldn't be the same without a drinkypoo (or two!), and you can get merry with Craft Beer, Wine and Champagne masterclasses in the Drinks theatre, or enjoy a tipple at Gin Alley! There will also be an artisan market at the festival, so you can get your Christmas shopping done too....

I am a big romantic, but sometimes find the idea of going out on Valentine's day a bit cheesy! So I've come up with a few ideas for things to do in London on the big day, which are more about getting out and enjoying the company of your loved one, rather than spending a fortune on a meal where you might feel forced to have a good time! Why not head to Kew Gardens? From the 4th of February - 5th March, their Orchids Festival returns. It's inspired by the vibrant colours of India, and this year's festival will feature giant floral displays created using exotic orchids, rickshaws and Indian sounds. If you're an old romantic, then there's always Keat's House, said to be the most romantic house in London. This is where John Keats fell in love with Fanny Brawne, the lady who inspired his most passionate poetry. They're holding an evening viewing, where you can listen to Keats's romantic poems and love-letters, and enjoy live jazz at a pop-...

I don't know about you, but I just love a traditional English country pub! It's even better when you find one not only with great food, but also a great history, and that's just what this post is all about. The Bells of Peover, near Knutsford, is an iconic Cheshire pub which is believed to date all the way back to 1839. It sits opposite the half-timbered mediaeval church of St Oswald, whose own records date back to 1269. At the end of a quaint cobbled lane, you'll find a real warm welcome - the staff are fantastic. The chef's idea is to use the best of British seasonal ingredients, and I have to say the food is just perfect. I had a fabulous goats cheese dish, but it's an ever changing menu so don't get your hopes up for that one! As well as superb food, the wine list is fantastic. We had a great chat with the manager about the wines on offer. Not only was he very knowledgeable, he also seemed to value our opinions on the prices and ...

If you've seen the television series 'Boardwalk Empire', you'll know all about the prohibition era. It was a nationwide ban on the sale (as well as the production and importation) of alcohol that was in place in the United States in the early 1930's. This ban saw the beginnings of the speakeasy, an establishment that illegally sold alcohol - so-called because people spoke quietly about such places when in public or inside it, so they didn't alert the police or the neighbours! They largely disappeared after Prohibition was ended in 1933, and now the term is used to describe retro style bars.  One such bar in Manchester is The Fitzgerald - which calls itself Manchester's best speakeasy bar, and I have to agree! The vibe here is laid back; cool, and quirky - and the cocktails are fabulous.   It's in the bustling Northern Quarter area of the city, and is a great place to spend your evening - at around £7 per fabulously mixed cocktail, ...

I stayed in the Red Pump Inn a few months ago, and was blown away by the setting; service, and steaks! This country inn can be found in the tiny Lancashire village of Bashall Eaves, and is described on the website as a luxury B&B and steak restaurant, but it's so much more than that. There are eight beautiful boutique rooms at the inn with antique beds; incredibly comfortable mattresses, and wonderfully powerful wet room showers. They all have tea and coffee making facilities as well - something that seems to be a rarity in B&B's these days. We soaked up the atmosphere in the bar, which is also popular with locals, before having a fabulous meal in the restaurant. They serve simple and uncomplicated, but very tasty food. The Red Pump specialise in steak, and is one of just three eateries outside London to serve beef supplied by the revered Ginger Pig of London - beef that has a wonderful flavour, and is served at some of the best restaurants in London and...

The humble cupcake has come a long way in recent years. When Carrie and co. starting making them famous in "Sex and the City", everyone else decided we couldn't get enough of them. Today, the trend is still going strong - people even have hundreds of the little guys piled on top of one another for their wedding cakes! When the trend first began, I featured a great little spot in London where I think the cupcakes are the best in the UK! Click  here  to read my original post. If you know a spot where the cupcakes are just as delicious, please let me know!

As the weather start to turn a bit colder and more wintery, I thought this atmospheric shot summed up some of the cold days we'll have over the coming months. It was taken on a day when I went on a brisk beach walk, and just as I took the photo, the sun came out. I have to say I think it looks a little bit like somebody has turned on the switch on a standard lamp, and the sun is providing the bulb! I love capturing moments like this, and would love you to share any photos that you have taken on your travels.

You know those lazy Sundays when the sun is shining and you're looking for somewhere to visit? I recently came across a great place to enjoy your surroundings on a sunny day in the heart of Cheshire. The sign below is what greets you on arrival at this place - what a great invitation! Hare Hill is a very tranquil place thst can be found between Alderley Edge and Macclesfield. It's a ten acre garden surrounded by parkland, and the perfect place to have a leisurely stroll. There is a stunning walled garden which is full of vibrant colours, even at this time of year. There are plently of benches where you can grab a seat and enjoy the sunshine.  I didn't spot any hares when I visited, but I did see a few carved from wood like the one in the photo above - great for the little ones to find as you wander around the gardens. The countryside around Hare Hill is stunning and on a clear day, you can enjoy great views over the Cheshire Plain. I'd hig...

I visited the baboon enclosure on a recent trip to Knowsley Safari Park, and have never laughed so much in my life! I now know where the phrase 'you cheeky monkey' comes from - they are so naughty! They stole the window wipers from some cars, and left food on the roofs of others!  A lunchtime break made for a perfect photo Friday - especially the smallest of the baboons just posing to get his photo taken before running off to be naughty again! A great day out. 

Australasia - the islands of Australia; New Zealand; New Guinea and its neighbouring islands in the Pacific Ocean. So many different cultures and foods all wrapped up into one continent.  With a population of around 39 million, it has everything from Australia's Sydney Harbour Bridge, to the coral reefs of Fiji.  One of the early blog posts on Travel Lightbulb was a review of a restaurant which combines all the food cultures of Australasia. So why not Flashback this Friday, and take a look back at Australasia, down under in Manchester!

The Wild Rabbit is a beautifully renovated 18th century pub set in the heart of the English Cotswolds. Think open fires; stripped back walls, and hand crafted furniture and you probably have a pretty good picture in your mind of what this stunning place looks like.  The Wild Rabbit has a constantly changing menu, serving locally sourced, seasonal food. Now lots of places try to do this these days, but here they also include organic ingredients from their own garden! The bar not only serves different artisan beers, but also offers wine from small independent vineyards. This is not just a place to eat and drink - there are twelve beautiful bedrooms as well. Four of these have access to the garden and if you have a dog, they also have beds available for your pampered pooch!  The pub was named Pub of the Year in the 2015 edition of the 'Michelin Eating Out in Pubs' guide, which describes it as "a chocolate box delight" with "knock-out bedroom...

The photo below says almost everything you need to know about the place I'm featuring today. Beautiful; quaint; small, but perfectly formed! Hope Cottage's Blackdown Shepherd Hut is tucked away in the calm of Brightwell-cum-Sotwell in Oxfordshire.  It's the perfect place to get away from the stresses of life, with peace and quiet along with panoramic views over the Oxfordshire fields. These huts were once a common sight in the fields of Victorian England, offering shepherds simple, warm living conditions while they tended their flocks far from home. Things have moved on since then though, and the hut comes with a double bed; ensuite facilities, and a burning stove. Hope Cottage itself dates back to the early nineteenth century and sits of the site of a Roman road, and that is where delicious cooked breakfasts; afternoon tea, or dinner is served. The luxury, self-contained hut offers year-around accommodation, and is also close to the Cotswolds;...

The Lake District is one of the most beautiful places in England, and one of my favourite places in the area is Coniston Water. At five miles long, with a maximum depth of 184 feet, it is the third largest of the lakes. It is also where Donald Campbell attempted to break the World Water Speed Record in 1966/67. It provided an important fish source for the monks of Furness Abbey, who owned the lake in the 13th and 14th centuries, and since then it has been used to transport slate and ore from the mines in the valley above Coniston Village. There are breathtaking views to be had around here - especially when you're on the water itself. There are various ways to do just that - an elegant Victorian Steam Yacht Gondola sails between March and November. You can also hire your own boat, whether it be a motor boat, canoe, or sailing boat. My own personal favourite way to experience the Lake is in a rowing boat.  My top tip - if you're a lady, make sure you have a...

Today's featured accommodation was labelled 'the most chic new place to stay in the Cotswolds' by The Times. It was also listed as one of the 101 Best Hotels in the World by Tatler in 2012, so I thought it was worth taking a look at!  The Wheatsheaf Inn is a coaching inn set in a typical Cotswold village, around 12 miles from Cheltenham. In years gone by, horses and coaches would be kept in the stables, while coachmen, and travellers would party the night away. Much of that might have changed, but it is still a superb example of a tradition inn. It has 14 beautiful bedrooms, which are all individual in style. Some have a power showers, while others also have roll-top baths. There are luxury toiletries in the bathroom, and the rooms also have complimentary Sky TV, and wi-fi. The meals here are also superb, featuring food sourced from the best suppliers in the area, and has a top notch wine list to boot. Some would say it's all you could hope for ...

When you go to a big city, one of the first things many visitors want to do is to see the city from above. Think of the Empire State Building, or the Eiffel Tower. Well now those travelling to London can get that birds-eye view from the city's tallest tourist attraction - the View from The Shard. © The View from The Shard. The Shard skyscraper in London Bridge, is the highest vantage point provided by any building in Western Europe, and the visitor experience is a great introduction to the city as a whole. If you have vertigo, like me, you may even feel giddy at the photo below, but it gives you a real idea of how tiny everything looks from 800ft up! © The View from The Shard. It provides spectacular views over the city of London, with views just as exciting at night as they are during the day - I love how small Big Ben looks in the shot below! The lifts that take you to the viewing galleries are FAST - you go from level 0 - 68 in about 60 seconds - hold onto your ...

Finding the right hotel in London is a tricky thing to do, and today I like to think I've found something a bit different for you. The Ampersand is a hotel that not only gives you a rare homely feeling, but it's also in a great location - two minutes from South Kensington underground station. The rooms are modern and beautifully appointed. The shower rooms have all sorts of complimentary goodies, and there is a mini bar which is stocked with complimentary soft drinks and water - a rarity in other London hotels that seem to want to get every last penny out of you. It's not just the rooms that are tastefully decorated, but the whole hotel interior is very well designed. There is a lovely relaxed feeling about the hotel, mainly down to the superb staff, and it definitely beats many larger impersonal hotels. The Ampersand is a short walk from the V&A and the Natural History museum, and South Kensington itself has a lovely feel about it, with countless resta...