'I took a 24h trip to France for wine tastings and tours – and was back home in time for dinner'
If you're looking for a quick Bank Holiday trip, I enjoyed a 24-hour trip to France from London, managing to fit in a wine tasting, walking tour and Michelin-star meal into my short holiday.
While a 24-hour trip to France might seem extreme, I was pleasantly surprised when I managed to make my way from London to Calais in just a few hours. And after spending an afternoon and a morning in the French sunshine, I was even back home in London in time for dinner.
From wine tasting and a walking tour of the city to a morning at the beach and some tax-free shopping, it's fair to say that you can fit plenty into a flying trip to France.
Departing from South London, I drove to the Kent coastal town of Folkestone to board LeShuttle, which takes your car across the channel to Calais in France in just 35 minutes. We had the Flexiplus option, meaning we stopped off at LeShuttle's Flexiplus lounge for some snacks before our journey.
After filling my car with a sandwich and a few too many baked goods, it was time to head over to France. It's fair to say that the half-hour journey flew by, and I was quickly coming out at the other side – and luckily remembering to switch to the other side of the road!
Less than an hour after leaving the Folkestone terminal, we had arrived at our home for the evening: boutique hotel La Matelote in Boulogne-Sur-Mer, a city on the northern coast of France.
With only 24 hours abroad, there was no time to waste, so we took a walking tour of the city. We were surprised to learn that the port town was filled with Roman influences as we toured the cobbled streets and historic buildings, including an impressive 13th century castle.
Not just known for its history, the town has a number of its own breweries and craft beer spots. I'm not a beer drinker, but I was assured that the local hops were gold standard.
More my style was a wine tasting at the nearby Le Chais wine shop, where we got to try rosé, red and white wines inside the cave-style store, plus some homemade gin. Perhaps it was a little too good, the the car was quickly stocked up with a few bottles of each.
From wine tasting to wine drinking, we headed back to our hotel for the evening, where a Michelin star dinner was served. With six courses on the menu, I slightly regretted stocking up on snacks in the LeShuttle Flexiplus lounge! The menu included a taste of the local port's seafood, meats and a selection of extras. And while I may not have understood exactly everything the menu said, it certainly tasted good. After a jam-packed day that had begun in Bromley and ended in Bolougne-Sur-Mer, it was time for some shut-eye.
The following morning we enjoyed a continental breakfast buffet at the hotel before taking in some views from the scenic beach just across the road.
Before heading home, we couldn't help but stop at Cité Europe, the famous shopping centre just minutes away the from border where you can stock up on tax-free goods before going back to the UK.
From Zara and Sephora to Carrefour, there were enough shops and restaurants in the plaza to keep me entertained for days. But, settling for a couple of hours, I happily left with some French snacks, cheeses and a few more bottles of €5 wine for good measure.
Heading back to Folkestone on LeShuttle, we were home by 2:30pm and, just hours later, I was enjoying an al fresco drink in the central London sunshine. While the crisp city air didn't quite mimic my morning views of the French coast, I had learnt that it really was only a stone's throw away.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Scottish Sun
16 minutes ago
- Scottish Sun
UK's POSHEST nursery with gourmet chef's tasting menu & kids potty trained on marble loos… but is it worth £150 a DAY?
Inside the ultra-luxe nursery where toddlers jam on drums and dine like royalty HOW MUCH? UK's POSHEST nursery with gourmet chef's tasting menu & kids potty trained on marble loos… but is it worth £150 a DAY? Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) IT COSTS £150 a day — and comes with marble loos, Mandarin lessons and a gourmet tasting menu. Welcome to Odyssey, the UK's poshest nursery, where toddlers are potty trained in luxury and dine like mini royals. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 6 One parent reportedly mistook the menu for a high-end restaurant's tasting course Credit: The Odyssey 6 Children are introduced to French, Spanish and Mandarin between their story circles and sensory play Credit: The Odyssey 6 The setting reflects a growing appetite in the capital for globally minded early years education Credit: The Odyssey Based in Marylebone, central London, this lavish early-years setting has just opened in a Grade II-listed former prep school, offering a blend of elite childcare, plush interiors and a 'global' outlook — including marble loos for potty training. The nursery, which hails from Singapore and is built on the Reggio Emilia philosophy of child-led learning, is the first of its kind in the UK. Spread across three pristine, light-filled floors, Odyssey caters to children from infancy up to five years old, offering everything from multilingual education to music lessons in a dedicated 'jam room.' Angela Ang, head of school, explained: 'Our philosophy is 'learning without boundaries', so we believe learning doesn't only take place in the rooms, it takes place anywhere.' For £150 a day — or £690 for a full five-day week — little ones are served three gourmet meals prepared by an in-house chef, all NHS-accredited. But this is no ordinary nursery food. Think free-range pork loin with leek and cauliflower gratin, or spanakopita with tzatziki. One parent reportedly mistook the menu for a high-end restaurant's tasting course. Still, Odyssey isn't just about luxury lunches. Children are introduced to French, Spanish and Mandarin between their story circles and sensory play. Each room is designed with natural materials and educational themes, encouraging hands-on exploration and creativity. There's a bespoke library, a spacious art studio, and even a climbing wall outside. Upstairs, children preparing for primary school learn about science, sustainability, maths and literacy through structured play. Ang said: 'We observe the needs of the children, their interests, and we provide materials based on what they enjoy.' Technology plays a subtle role too. 'We give the children iPads,' she said. What help is available to parents for childcare costs? CHILDCARE can be a costly business. Here is how you can get help. 30 hours of free childcare - Parents of three and four-year-olds can apply for 30 hours of free childcare a week. To qualify you must work at least 16 hours a week at the national living or minimum wage and earn less than £100,000 a year. free childcare - Parents of three and four-year-olds can apply for 30 hours of free childcare a week. To qualify you must work at least 16 hours a week at the national living or minimum wage and earn less than £100,000 a year. Tax credits - For children under 20, some families can get help with childcare costs. For children under 20, some families can get help with childcare costs. Tax-free childcare - Available to working families and the self-employed, for every £8 you put in the government will add an extra £2. 'If we're learning about shapes, for example, they might find a circle in their environment, snap a photo, and we project it onto the screen so everyone can see each other's work.' The focus, she insists, is not just on ticking off academic milestones. 'We want them to leave with lifelong learning skills — soft skills, open-mindedness, resilience and a willingness to take risks,' said Ang. The setting reflects a growing appetite in the capital for globally minded early years education. With Singapore's education system topping international rankings, Odyssey hopes to translate its success to a London audience who expect high quality — and are prepared to pay for it. In an age when many nurseries in the capital charge more than £100 per day, often with additional fees for meals or longer hours, Odyssey's all-in model, while eye-watering, is not entirely out of step. Parents across England are entitled to 15 hours of free childcare for children aged three and four, with up to 30 hours for working families, but many London nurseries charge well above the funded hours. Odyssey also prides itself on being inclusive, catering to both mainstream children and those with special educational needs and disabilities. The nursery is yet to be rated by Ofsted but says it's committed to top-tier educational outcomes and pastoral care. 6 Upstairs, children preparing for primary school learn about science, sustainability, maths and literacy through structured play Credit: The Odyssey 6 With Singapore's education system topping international rankings, Odyssey hopes to translate its success to a London audience Credit: The Odyssey
The Herald Scotland
6 hours ago
- The Herald Scotland
Why The Leinster Hotel was the highlight of 36 hours in Dublin
Orders of omelettes plump with Irish cheddar cheese, mushroom and ham fillings, full breakfasts with locally sourced white pudding or French toast with Wexford strawberry compote are gratefully received: the perfect pick me up and offering ample fuel for the adventures to come. Pictured: The Leinster Hotel is located in the heart of Georgian Dublin (Image: Paul O'Connell Photography) Our room keys had been handed out on arrival by general manager Melanie Nocher, whose East Kilbride accent had come as a surprise, with the connection to home putting the group instantly at ease. However, unlocking the doors to our lodgings would soon reveal that even without a fellow Scot to offer a warm welcome, relaxing into The Leinster's charm is effortless. Read more: The rooms here are bright, bold and full of small flourishes that indicate the team has gone the extra mile to curate a memorable stay. Like a mini bar stocked with anything you might be craving from full-sized bottles of Gunpowder Irish Gin to rejuvenating face masks and packs of Tayto crisps, or a fancy Dyson hairdryer tucked away by the mirror. Pictured: The Collins Club cocktail bar at The Leinster (Image: Paul O'Connell Photography) When we reconvene for cocktails at the Collins Club bar a few hours later, however, there's one feature in particular that's made a lasting impression. 'Did everyone else get a fright from the robot toilets?' one member of the party asks, met by enthusiastic nods in agreement all round. Yup, each of The Leinster's 55 rooms and suites set across four floors is kitted out with a high-tech Japanese 'TOTO' lavvy with multiple different settings and modes quite unlike anything I've encountered before. It would be crass to dwell on the matter, but Nocher assures us that almost all of their guests find themselves as fascinated as we are with this quirky addition to the luxury bathroom setup, which also includes an overhead rain shower and Brooks & Co. toiletries. Moving on then. Let's talk about the Collins Club. Pictured: The Collins Club is named after the late Dublin-born designer, David Collins (Image: Paul O'Connell Photography) Drenched in a luscious shade of crimson, this striking space has been designed with nods to 'Georgian Glam', including a backlit gantry full of experimental spirits created by a team of mixologists who aim to challenge what you might expect from a hotel bar. Take The Juniper, for example, a silky-smooth riff on the classic martini finished with a pickled grape that's wonderfully tart against the botanical gin base. With regular DJ sets and jazz lunches, it's easy to see why this spot is proving popular with hotel guests and non-residents alike. The first of two activities planned is the Guinness Storehouse, a brilliant building that twists upwards like a corkscrew, with each floor peeling back a layer of the world-famous stout's story and legacy until you've reached the bar at the top having, earned an extra pint after learning to expertly pull your own along the way. Pictured: A pint pulled by yours truly at the Guinness Storehouse (Image: Paul O'Connell Photography) This tourist trap is buzzing with crowds for a reason, and taking it all in side by side with holiday makers and stag do parties makes for an incredibly enjoyable experience. Later, there's a chance to explore the area surrounding the hotel, where just a short walk away in Merrion Square Park, the International Literature Festival is in full swing with live performances and street food vendors. Elsewhere, crowds spill onto the streets to sip at their drinks in the afternoon sun as traditional bands strike up a lively tune indoors. As a first-time visitor, there's a lot to take in, but the vibrant energy of the city, poised for the weekend ahead, is utterly infectious. Pictured: The bedrooms at The Leinster are bold, bright and welcoming (Image: Paul O'Connell Photography) Back at the Jean-Georges rooftop restaurant, we have perhaps the best view in Dublin as the sun sets behind our round table on the outdoor terrace space. There, evening melts into night as we feast on dishes that intertwine Irish classics with fresh French and Southeast Asian flavours, including a show-stealing egg toast with caviar and herbs, Lambay Island crab spring rolls with tamarind and seared fillet of Irish beef with asparagus, jalapeno and wholegrain mustard butter. Pictured: The Irish beef fillet served at The Jean Georges restaurant (Image: Paul O'Connell Photography) The next morning, we craftily wriggle out of an 8 am PT session planned at the state-of-the-art gym downstairs at The Leinster, instead making use of their outdoor jacuzzi and sauna to start off our final few hours in Dublin on the right note. Later, there's a stop by the Silver Works on South Great George's Street for a masterclass in jewellery making, each of us leaving thoroughly chuffed to have created our own silver rings as a reminder of the trip. And even more elated to have avoided any accidents while getting to grips with the specialist hammers, saws, and heavy metal files in the process. Though there's more free time scheduled, the draw of the Collins Club is irresistible. Pictured: Step into the lobby at The Leinster (Image: Paul O'Connell Photography) Once more we find ourselves gathered for a late lunch of lemon chicken picatta Caesar salad, Johnstone steak sandwiches with crispy onion and pepper sauce and rigatoni with semi-dried tomato, chilli, mint and pecorino pesto before the call for a taxi to the airport is made. With all there is to see and do in Dublin, finding it so hard to leave the rooms, bars and restaurant spaces at the hotel is a true testament to how special this place is. Of the short 36 hours we had to enjoy in the city, not a second felt wasted in making the most of all that The Leinster has to offer. The Leinster is located at 7 Mount Street Lower, Dublin. For more information, visit
Powys County Times
7 hours ago
- Powys County Times
Spanish overtakes French as most popular foreign language GCSE, figures suggest
Spanish has overtaken French as the most popular foreign language at GCSE, figures suggest. Provisional data for England shows exam entries for French GCSE this summer are down by 1.9%, from 130,650 last summer to 128,155 this year. GCSE entries for German have also fallen by 7.6% over the past year, from 35,110 to 32,430. But GCSE entries for Spanish have increased by 1.6%, from 129,935 in summer 2024 to 131,985 this summer, according to the latest Ofqual figures. The rising popularity of Spanish could be because pupils are more familiar with the language because of the popularity of Spain, the Balearics, and Canary Islands as holiday destinations, a school leaders' union has suggested. At A-level, entries for French and German are also down (by 8.3% and 6.8%), but entries for Spanish A-level are up by 1.4%. The overall number of entries for this summer's exams for both GCSEs and A-levels has decreased, according to the data published on Thursday. GCSE provisional entries have fallen by 0.6% from 5,811,595 in summer 2024 to 5,777,020 this summer. Meanwhile, A-level entries have decreased by 0.4% from 825,355 last summer to 821,875 this summer. The decrease for GCSE entries this summer is because of a drop in entries for subjects in the English Baccalaureate (EBacc) measure as well as non-EBacc subjects, England's exams regulator Ofqual said. The EBacc is a performance measure which aims to ensure pupils take English, maths, science, a humanities subject and a language at GCSE. GCSE entries for computing – an EBacc subject – have decreased by 4.7% on last year, while entries for history are down by 5.9% on last summer. In March, the interim report of the independent curriculum and assessment review said it will consider whether the EBacc remains 'effective'. The review suggested that the EBacc may 'constrain the choice of students' in school, and it could limit their access to vocational and arts subjects. The provisional figures also show GCSE entries for art and design subjects are down by 1.7% on last year, and GCSE entries for drama are down 1.5%. Pepe Di'Iasio, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL), said: 'The rising popularity of Spanish as a choice for GCSE probably reflects the fact that many young people may be more familiar with the Spanish language, because of the popularity of Spain, the Balearics and Canary Islands as holiday destinations, than they are with French and German. 'That then tends to be reinforced by what friends and siblings are studying. 'The growing popularity of Spanish is really good news as there has been a long-term decline in modern foreign languages, but we do need to do more at a national level to boost language learning more generally.' The top 10 most popular GCSEs based on entries is unchanged from last year, with combined science in first place follow by maths, English language, English literature, history, geography, religious studies, art & design, biology and chemistry. Outside the top 10, business studies has moved up from 14th place in 2024 to 13th this year, while PE has risen from 17th to 16th. French has dropped two places from 12th to 14th, with Spanish moving up from 13th to 12th. Vicky Gough, schools adviser at the British Council, said: 'Spanish has grown in importance for the UK, both as a key global business language and through its popularity in tourism. 'It is now the second most widely spoken first language in the world. 'At the same time, we've seen a steady, if uneven, decline in the uptake of French and German, with German falling significantly year on year. 'Many pupils perceive Spanish as easier to learn and recognise its global reach and usefulness. 'While the rise of Spanish is encouraging, the decline in French and German is a real concern. 'These languages are spoken in the UK's two largest non-English-speaking trading partners and continue to be highly valued by employers.' Sarah Hannafin, head of policy at school leaders' union NAHT, said: 'It is hard to know for sure why entries have dropped in certain subjects – there is always some variability year on year. 'But one possibility is that with recruitment challenges really biting in schools, some simply don't have the teachers they need to offer courses in certain subjects. 'Teacher recruitment targets were missed in computing, chemistry, physics and modern foreign languages in the last couple of years, and these are among the subjects which experienced a fall in entries. 'This underlines the need for the Government to address head on the fundamental causes of the recruitment and retention crisis gripping schools, which ultimately affects students as well as increasingly stretched leaders and teachers.'
