June 2012

Bought this at Knole House in Sevenoaks. Everyone should have one!

Spent the day exploring Sevenoaks, one of the nicest leafy commuter towns just 22 minutes outside of London, in the county of Kent. Right in the heart of the town’s high street is Knole, one of England’s largest houses, surrounded by a 1000-acre deer park. The house was closed but the private garden was open, which is a full day’s outing all on its own. The estate is home to some of the most beautiful landscapes you’re likely to see this close to London, with deer roaming wild and free at just about every turn. A very enjoyable encounter in a very likeable part of west Kent.

Home to one of the oldest cathedrals in the world, Canterbury is a city that buzzes with life in the midst of some ancient landmarks, buildings and designs. The city grabs your attention immediately with its typical Kent greenery, cobble stone charm and village-type atmosphere. Walking up the main street towards the Westgate (the largest surviving city gate in England), you’re surrounded by a sense of excitement that bubbles over across the pubs, shops and markets that line the street. Love this place.

About an hour outside of London, in the beautiful Kent countryside, lies the town of Royal Tunbridge Wells. We spent an hour or so strolling around the city centre, including the town’s historic shopping area called The Pantiles.

For the first time since visiting London, it would’ve been nice to have access to a car to be able to explore the town’s outskirts and villages as well.

What we found when we landed in Brighton was far brighter, tastier and more dazzling than we had imagined. A very different place from London central, Brighton is a seaside town that’s filled with a mix of some very different cultures: on the one side you have ice cream vendors, sweet shops, carousels, rides and fish and chip shops; on the other, you have nightclubs, pubs and a high street filled with boutique stores and the latest fashion. In the middle, you have King George IV’s seaside palace: the Royal Pavilion. This is easily one of the most ornate and staggering interiors I’ve ever seen in a royal palace. It’s very influenced by oriental design and was built to communicate drama and beauty to George’s guests. He got that right!

Somehow the mix of all of these different experiences hitting you at once manages to work in a special, bright, exciting way. A way that leaves you wanting to visit again soon, not for any one thing – but for all of them.

I have no words. Mostly because I’m munching on an endless marshmallow tube as you read this.

Spotted at Victoria station.

Yes, more tea, more scones, more clotted cream. It’s hard to say no to stopping for tea and scones while on the run. And where better to have proper tea and scones than The Tea Room in Harrods? And to make the whole thing even more Harrodsian (I think I just coined that word), you have a choice of fancies to add to the whole eating extravaganza. Fancies are tiny sweet pastries like profiteroles or mini cake slices. The three I chose were Brittania Bun (guess which one that was in the pic below!), Peach Melba and Lemon Meringue Slice. All in all, a deliciously relaxing way to take a break.