We might have burned a stack of miles to get here, but there’s an absolute treat in northeast England – the royal family’s private winter retreat, Sandringham.
We might have burned a stack of miles to get here, but there’s an absolute treat in northeast England – the royal family’s private winter retreat, Sandringham.
Norwich, a cathedral town that began as the Anglo Saxon settlement ‘Northwic’ in the 5th – 7th centuries, growing to England’s second largest and wealthiest city driven by a booming wool and textile trade. Today Norwich has the distinction of being the most complete medieval city in the UK.
We’re in Bury St Edmunds and there’s a garden! And for once it’s not burnt to a sad brown! I could weep in gratitude.
We’ve gone from the grandeur of titled estates to the more modest pace of successful merchant life. We’re visiting Paycockes House, home to Thomas Paycockes, a 16th century Tudor merchant in Coggeshall, Essex.
Built in 1611 by Robert Cecil, Chief Minister to King James I, Hatfield has a dual history. There’s the 400 year old grand Jacobean masterpiece of course, capturing a brief but fabulously opulent moment in architectural history, and then there’s remains of the ‘Old Palace’where Elizabeth I lived most of her young life prior to her ascension to the throne.
That appointment that called us away from Cambridge? It’s with a company that buys motorhomes.
Cambridge! We were meant to visit last year but 2025 travels were somewhat hijacked. 2026 however brings success – having whetted our appetite with a couple of Oxford visits, we’re keen to see what Cambridge has to offer.
Set at the junction of two major Roman roads, the Wimpole estate spans over 2,000 years of history and features the largest country house in Cambridgeshire.
Well I’ve no idea where the last two days went.
Finally. It only took three attempts over thirteen years, but we’re successfully in Windsor. Yes!!!!