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Times
3 days ago
- Times
The secret to an affordable family break in Kent
Leeds Castle, just outside Maidstone in Kent, was first mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086. Its 900-year history included time as the home of six different medieval queens and various wealthy families before being purchased in 1925 by the Anglo-American heiress Lady Olive Baillie. The 500-acre estate became her weekend retreat from London during the 1930s, and the parties she held there were a hot ticket. On our tour of the castle, I spotted pictures of past guests, including Charlie Chaplin and Daphne du Maurier. Now it's host to a new generation of fun-seekers. My husband, Douglas, and I were there with our three children to check out the Knights' Retreat, a collection of eight wooden lodges loosely inspired by the castle's medieval past and launched last month. In the corner of the estate, each wooden dome-shaped lodge was named after a mythical beast (Dragon, Basilisk, Unicorn) and slept two adults in a double bedroom at one end and either two or three children in single beds in a separate room at the other. Between the two bedrooms was a small kitchen, plus a lounge area with a sofa and dining table. There was also a teeny bathroom with a decent shower and a picnic table next to a small patch of private lawn. The lodges were packed in tightly (but soundproofed enough so you couldn't hear your neighbours) and were accessed via a bark path from a dedicated car park. You did have your own space outdoors and could have squirrelled yourselves away there very cosily, but we did not mistake this for glamping — we were there to throw ourselves into the castle's attractions, all included in our stay. There was plenty to entertain the kids. We started at the castle, drawn towards the moat by teasing views of its turrets and a gathering of geese the children were keen to follow across the lawn. I had foolishly mentioned the possibility of a drawbridge during the car journey and so the stone bridge came as a bit of a disappointment; not to mention the lack of knights and mythical creatures our lodge had suggested. I should have done my research: this was not a medieval castle, but a 19th-century family home styled to look like one. We were warned by staff that the audio tour that revealed its secrets was not for very young ears. Without it though, we struggled to make sense of a succession of rooms that ranged from library and games room to boudoir and lounge. Instead, the toddler clambered on the furniture (actively encouraged, thank goodness), while the five-year-old ran at every antique mirror she could find to view the new gap in her smile (her tooth had fallen out over breakfast). • Discover our full guide to Kent Luckily, there were staff on hand to point out treasures such as a dressing table covered in shark's skin and enough stuffed birds on display in one room to keep the kids enthralled. There was even an impromptu piano recital in the Yellow Drawing Room. Classical pieces I was sure I should have recognised kept the children dancing for what must have been at least 20 minutes, and I found myself beaming at the sight of our eldest taking her little brother's hands, the pent-up tension of all those end-of-term events, results and meetings melting away. Back outside, we found plenty to do beyond the castle itself. The estate that surrounded it was large enough for a proper family walk, and following those geese once again led us into dense woodland and along a small stream where people had gathered to wonder at how a sizeable pike had wriggled its way up there. The kids decided it was a shark and scampered in three different directions. What had been jovial here became slightly more heart-in-mouth in the maze, where the girls ran off ahead, determined to get to the centre first, and we yelled repeatedly for them to wait for their little brother (and out-of-puff parents). This 1987 addition to the castle grounds appeared to be a square but somehow internally became a circle, leading us this way and that before we finally emerged at the mound in the centre, having surely passed every single one of the 2,400 yew trees that made it up. Our reward for solving the riddle was to exit via the equally mind-bending Grotto, a subterranean wonderland covered in shells and featuring numerous rock carvings, including a red-eyed, green-lit face that filled an entire wall and had water pouring from its mouth. The kids squealed with delight and begged to do the entire thing again. • Find more places to stay in Kent 'Later,' we said, and ushered them into the Knights' Stronghold playground instead — a chance for the toddler to crash out on Doug's shoulder and for us to sit down and regroup. This was the main benefit of sleeping on site; our two-night stay gave us three days of castle entry, no rushing needed. There was plenty of time for a round or two of Adventure Golf (a 12-hole castle-themed mini-golf course), for multiple clambers on the nets and wooden climbing frames of the obstacle course, and to catch the 2pm falconry display. For us, lunch was self-catered sandwiches back in our lodge, but we booked ahead for dinner at the Castle View restaurant and settled in at a window table that stared straight out at the castle. We ordered a bottle of the local Chapel Down Bacchus white wine, tucked into pasta and steak, and finally exhaled at the end of another busy school year. Helen Ochyra was a guest of Leeds Castle, which has room-only Knights' Retreat lodges from £69pp, including complimentary entry to the castle and grounds, including all playgrounds, the maze, grotto, and falconry centre (
The Irish Sun
21-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
I visited the UK seaside town that looks like it belongs in Italy – with multicoloured houses and open air pool
TUCKED away in rural Wales is a place that's been hailed as 'picture postcard perfect' for almost 100 years. In fact, 6 I took a trip to the small Italian-inspired village Portmeirion Credit: Alamy 6 My boys loved Portmeirion despite the lack of playgrounds and go-karts Credit: Catherine Lofthouse I took my boys to see why the North Wales holiday resort has been on the must-visit list for decades. With visitors likening it to 'a slice of Italy on the British coast', I had high hopes, but I wasn't sure what my boys would make of it considering it's quite far removed from our I needn't have worried though, as the Made up of colourful houses and vibrant gardens set around a bay, the charming hotel-cum-holiday-park features two four-star hotels, one of which is set inside a castle, plus a motor-home park and several self-catering cottages. There are accommodation options to suit everyone and it really has got the wow factor that makes you think you're a million miles away from Wales. There's no playground or family-friendly features, just an old-world charm that suits quiet, meandering rather than rambunctious roaming and boisterous boys. On arrival, we spent a happy few hours on the giant chess set in the garden while my littlest paddled in the shallow pool nearby. One of the big travel trends over the past few years is set-jetting - fans of film and TV using their holidays to take them to the sights they've seen on screen. Most read in Family Think Death in Paradise viewers heading to the Caribbean island of Guadaloupe or Harry Potter fans taking a train trip on the tracks of the Hogwarts Express. But that's been happening here at Portmeirion for 50 years now, after the site shot to fame when it was used to film TV show The Prisoner. Its unique look was the perfect backdrop for this cult classic, in which a government agent is abducted and held captive in an idyllic seaside village which turns out to be a prison. I've never seen the show as it was a bit before my time, but heading down a shady path through rhondendron bushes and trees towards the shoreline put me in mind of Rebecca, the famous Daphne du Maurier novel set on a Cornish coastal estate. And maybe that's the secret to this special spot - you feel like you're stepping onto a film set or into the pages of your favourite novel, but it's entirely your choice which fantasy world that might be. Saundersfoot - The little-known UK seaside resort town with one of the cleanest beaches in the country 6 Giant chess was a big hit with the boys Credit: Catherine Lofthouse 6 The village sits on the edge of coast looking out to sea Credit: Alamy To be honest, I wouldn't fancy spending thousands of pounds set-jetting, only to find the scenery from your favourite film or series is something of a letdown once you're there. But there's no chance of that happening here as there's something new to marvel at around every corner and so many little nooks and crannies to explore as you wind your way around the site and come across buildings, grottos and pools around every corner, framing the bay beyond. There's even an open air swimming pool for the use of holidaymakers staying in the cottages dotted around the village, the main hotel at its entrance or the motorhome park nearby. It's a century since architect Clough Williams-Ellis first started designing and building Portmeirion and it took 50 years to complete. His vision feels just as vibrant today as it ever did. A mile away is Minffordd station, where passengers can catch a train on the famous 6 The Portmeirion hotel has an open air swimming pool Credit: Alamy So you could make a bit of a day of it and tick off two unique Welsh experiences that should be on every Brit's bucket list. You don't have to be spending the night to enjoy the wealth of facilities, either. Day passes to Portmeirion cost £37 for one adult and two children, with lots of different family tickets up to two adults and five children for £79. If you're touring Wales in a motorhome, there are pitches here which start at £55 per night and include complimentary access to the site out of hours and use of the outdoor pool. That's an option to consider if you want to see for yourself why this Welsh wonder and OG set-jetting site is still going strong after a century in situ. Read more on the Irish Sun Plus, the And where you can find the 6 Portmeirion is an Italian-inspired village in North Wales Credit: Alamy
Scottish Sun
21-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
I visited the UK seaside town that looks like it belongs in Italy – with multicoloured houses and open air pool
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) TUCKED away in rural Wales is a place that's been hailed as 'picture postcard perfect' for almost 100 years. In fact, Portmeirion Village could even lay claim to pioneering the set-jetting trend. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 6 I took a trip to the small Italian-inspired village Portmeirion Credit: Alamy 6 My boys loved Portmeirion despite the lack of playgrounds and go-karts Credit: Catherine Lofthouse I took my boys to see why the North Wales holiday resort has been on the must-visit list for decades. With visitors likening it to 'a slice of Italy on the British coast', I had high hopes, but I wasn't sure what my boys would make of it considering it's quite far removed from our usual holiday haunt. I needn't have worried though, as the Portmeirion magic seems to cast a spell over young and old. Made up of colourful houses and vibrant gardens set around a bay, the charming hotel-cum-holiday-park features two four-star hotels, one of which is set inside a castle, plus a motor-home park and several self-catering cottages. There are accommodation options to suit everyone and it really has got the wow factor that makes you think you're a million miles away from Wales. There's no playground or family-friendly features, just an old-world charm that suits quiet, meandering rather than rambunctious roaming and boisterous boys. On arrival, we spent a happy few hours on the giant chess set in the garden while my littlest paddled in the shallow pool nearby. One of the big travel trends over the past few years is set-jetting - fans of film and TV using their holidays to take them to the sights they've seen on screen. Think Death in Paradise viewers heading to the Caribbean island of Guadaloupe or Harry Potter fans taking a train trip on the tracks of the Hogwarts Express. But that's been happening here at Portmeirion for 50 years now, after the site shot to fame when it was used to film TV show The Prisoner. Its unique look was the perfect backdrop for this cult classic, in which a government agent is abducted and held captive in an idyllic seaside village which turns out to be a prison. I've never seen the show as it was a bit before my time, but heading down a shady path through rhondendron bushes and trees towards the shoreline put me in mind of Rebecca, the famous Daphne du Maurier novel set on a Cornish coastal estate. And maybe that's the secret to this special spot - you feel like you're stepping onto a film set or into the pages of your favourite novel, but it's entirely your choice which fantasy world that might be. Saundersfoot - The little-known UK seaside resort town with one of the cleanest beaches in the country 6 Giant chess was a big hit with the boys Credit: Catherine Lofthouse 6 The village sits on the edge of coast looking out to sea Credit: Alamy To be honest, I wouldn't fancy spending thousands of pounds set-jetting, only to find the scenery from your favourite film or series is something of a letdown once you're there. But there's no chance of that happening here as there's something new to marvel at around every corner and so many little nooks and crannies to explore as you wind your way around the site and come across buildings, grottos and pools around every corner, framing the bay beyond. There's even an open air swimming pool for the use of holidaymakers staying in the cottages dotted around the village, the main hotel at its entrance or the motorhome park nearby. It's a century since architect Clough Williams-Ellis first started designing and building Portmeirion and it took 50 years to complete. His vision feels just as vibrant today as it ever did. A mile away is Minffordd station, where passengers can catch a train on the famous Ffestiniog and Welsh Highlands line, the world's oldest narrow gauge railway. 6 The Portmeirion hotel has an open air swimming pool Credit: Alamy So you could make a bit of a day of it and tick off two unique Welsh experiences that should be on every Brit's bucket list. You don't have to be spending the night to enjoy the wealth of facilities, either. Day passes to Portmeirion cost £37 for one adult and two children, with lots of different family tickets up to two adults and five children for £79. If you're touring Wales in a motorhome, there are pitches here which start at £55 per night and include complimentary access to the site out of hours and use of the outdoor pool. That's an option to consider if you want to see for yourself why this Welsh wonder and OG set-jetting site is still going strong after a century in situ. Plus, the Sun Travel team reveals our favourite seaside towns that are less than 90 minutes from London. And where you can find the best value summer holiday resort in Europe 2025.
Yahoo
12-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Cornwall's 'inspirational women' in art exhibition
Dame Barbara Hepworth, Dame Daphne du Maurier, Dawn French and Olympic rowing champion Helen Glover are among the names added to a list celebrating inspirational women from Cornwall. Art Centre Penryn said the trio would be among 50 who will feature on a collection of ceramic plates highlighting their achievements. It follows a call for suggestions in 2024 that led to more than 200 nominations, said bosses. Organisers said the list included well-known names as well as unsung heroes representing a cross-section of the community. More news stories for Cornwall Listen to the latest news for Cornwall Also on the list is world para surfing champion Charlotte Banfield, the UK's first professor of human sexuality, Tamsin Wilton, and headmistress turned suffragette Annie Williams. Dina Holder, from The Women's Centre Cornwall, and Joyte Brown, co-founder of Black Voices Cornwall, were also included. An advisory panel made up of charity representatives helped decide the list, said the art centre. Katie Bunnell, the ceramic artist who led the Women of Cornwall project, said: "Selecting 50 women from the 234 has been an incredibly challenging task. "The different perspectives of the advisory group were immensely helpful, enabling us to create what we hope is a broad and inspirational group." Follow BBC Cornwall on X, Facebook and Instagram. Send your story ideas to spotlight@ 'Amazing' Cornish women in frame at new exhibition Call to nominate women to be featured in art display Art Centre Penryn
BBC News
12-07-2025
- General
- BBC News
Inspirational Cornish women picked for art exhibition
Dame Barbara Hepworth, Dame Daphne du Maurier, Dawn French and Olympic rowing champion Helen Glover are among the names added to a list celebrating inspirational women from Centre Penryn said the trio would be among 50 who will feature on a collection of ceramic plates highlighting their follows a call for suggestions in 2024 that led to more than 200 nominations, said said the list included well-known names as well as unsung heroes representing a cross-section of the community. Also on the list is world para surfing champion Charlotte Banfield, the UK's first professor of human sexuality, Tamsin Wilton, and headmistress turned suffragette Annie Holder, from The Women's Centre Cornwall, and Joyte Brown, co-founder of Black Voices Cornwall, were also advisory panel made up of charity representatives helped decide the list, said the art Bunnell, the ceramic artist who led the Women of Cornwall project, said: "Selecting 50 women from the 234 has been an incredibly challenging task. "The different perspectives of the advisory group were immensely helpful, enabling us to create what we hope is a broad and inspirational group."
