Latest news with #HenryII
Daily Mirror
25-05-2025
- Automotive
- Daily Mirror
Silverstone's new F1 retreat is so close to the track you feel race cars rumble
We've all heard the story in history lessons – Archbishop of Canterbury Thomas Becket falls out with old mate King Henry II over churchly matters. At some point a frustrated Harry says: 'Will no one rid me of this turbulent priest?' Four knights overhear and kill Becket in Canterbury cathedral. Three years later he's made a saint by the Pope and a small chapel is built as a monument to him in Northamptonshire where his spat with his one-time pal had boiled over into a trial. And this 12th century historic site would go on to 20th century fame – becoming the heart of British motorsport, Silverstone, in 1948, with bends near the chapel ruins named Becketts Corner and Chapel Curve. Now overlooking that spot is Escapade Silverstone – a sleek modern retreat for racing fans, wellness seekers, and anyone curious about what it's like to fall asleep beside a Grand Prix circuit. Doors to the luxury property opened in March – in the year the British Grand Prix celebrates its 75th anniversary with the race scheduled on July 6. Here, as I discover on a weekend break, you're not just near the track – you're practically on it. Escapade's 60 residences line up alongside some of Silverstone's most exciting sections. The development includes 184 bedrooms, spread across a mix of trackside, countryside, and dual-aspect properties. Each residence comes with a private terrace, EV charging point, and flexible living arrangements that can be adapted depending on party size. From your balcony, you can watch cars scream past – or, if on the quieter side like me, enjoy the stillness of the forest. The dual-aspect residences give you the best of both worlds. Residences range from one to four bedrooms, with contemporary interiors using warm timber, metalwork, and rich fabrics. There's a focus on comfort without compromising on motorsport character. If you're in prime position, you can draw the curtains in the morning and see a GT3 Cup car tearing through the corners. Main restaurant The Gallery doubles as an art space, with pieces curated by Escapade Art Director Renata Fernandes, including works by former F1 driver Stefan Johansson. One piece that stops you in your tracks is a jewel-encrusted helmet donated by the family of tragic Brazilian racing legend Ayrton Senna. No one at Escapade brags about price tags but a staff member, half-embarrassed, let slip it's worth close to six figures. Art is a key part of the Escapade experience. There's a rotating programme of exhibits across the site, including original paintings, sculptures, photography, and digital works inspired by speed and racing. Many of the artists showcased are motorsport connected. Escapade doesn't just lean into the racing theme – it lives it. There's a buzz to the whole place: movement, design, speed, stories. 'That'd make a good morning run,' jokes one of my party, commenting on the track's 3.66 mile distance. At dawn the next day – before the engines fire up – we have the chance to run it. I clock 27 minutes. Not quite Lewis Hamilton's record breaking minute and 24 seconds, but in my defence, he had a car. A post-run yoga session follows on a sunny deck – a welcome stretch after a late night at the bar. The morning wellness programme runs alongside more performance-focused treatments designed by Formula Health. Led by F1 osteopath Gemma Fisher, the sessions are based on techniques used to optimise driver performance – and now extended to guests. The wellness offering is substantial. The gym is open 24/7 and looks directly on to the circuit. The pool and sauna sit just above it, with floor-to-ceiling glass that brings the track into view while you recover. Treatments range from restorative therapies to high-performance conditioning. After lunch, we are ushered into the pit lane. One by one, we climb into three monsters: a Ferrari F430, a McLaren 620R, and an Aston Martin Vantage. The twist? We are driving – with a pro in the passenger seat. I'm paired with Toru Nakano, a calm and quietly confident former Japanese racer who's done everything from FJ1600 to British Formula Vauxhall. He talks me through the whole lap: when to brake, when to push, when to just trust the car. It's hard to explain what it's like to drive a race car on the actual Silverstone circuit. The noise, the speed, the sheer focus it demands – it's like nothing else. When I finally climb out, heart still thumping, I realised I'd barely noticed how fast we were going – until my legs remind me. Escapade is open all year-round, not just on race weekends. Outside of Grand Prix season, the site hosts everything from private events and team training camps to wellness retreats and corporate stays. The setting is designed to adapt - equally suited to high-octane activity or total downtime, with the flexibility to suit solo travellers, families, or large groups. And it isn't just about the adrenaline. It's designed to feel like a home from home – one with front-row seats to motorsport history. The residences are self-contained and can be booked for anything from a private holiday to a race team base or corporate retreat. The idea is to offer a new type of motorsport hospitality – immersive, long-stay, and design-led. It also points to something bigger. Motorsport fans are after more than just a ticket these days – they want to feel part of it. Here, you're within touching distance of the most powerful cars on Earth. You don't just hear the rumble – you feel it as they whizz by. And somehow, ironically, all of this sits on land that once honoured a man who refused to bow to power.
Irish Independent
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Independent
June bank holiday in Longford: Sample the breathtaking delights of Center Parcs and take in a slice of history at 20th Annual Vintage Show & Family Fun Day
From the rolling hills of north Longford to the enchanting Royal Canal Greenway of its mid and southern equivalent, there isn't many boxes this rapidly developing midlands tourism county doesn't tick. Here are a flavour of just some of the many attractions that you can find over the course of what's sure to be a long weekend to remember. Longford Vintage Show & Family Fun Day Longford Vintage Club Vintage Show and Family Fun Day takes place on Sunday, 1 June 2025 in Connolly Barracks, Longford town. The occasion is one its members are particularly relishing as it is their 20th anniversary and an afternoon that promises to tick every conceivable box. There will be free kids entertainment, face painting and train rides, as well as a motorbike stunt show, ride-on lawnmower racing, a dog show, a wood carving exhibition and plenty of live music. Gates open at 12pm with kids going free. Go dancing in Edgeworthstown Miss Mary is an outdoor solo dance, tracing the footsteps of Ireland's traveling dance masters. Created by Kristyn Fontanella, it explores her dance lineage and heritage, inviting the audience to connect with the land, share stories, and ask: Where did you come from? How do you move? Will you dance with me? This is an outdoor solo dance piece you will be standing and possibly moving around the space… so bring your comfy shoes and enjoy. Both the workshop and performance are taking place in Edgeworthstown Library this Friday (May 30) at 11am and 2pm respectively. Take in a visit to Granard's Knights and Conquests Heritage Centre The bustling north Longford town of Granard is steeped in no shortage of history, a repute that is perhaps best exemplified by its Knights and Conquests Heritage Centre. This immersive visitor experience that brings visitors on a journey through the town's Anglo-Norman history. During the self-guided tour, you'll come face to face with Henry II and King Rory O'Connor, visit a recreated Norman home and dig for artefacts in the Norman CSI room. Kids dress up in Norman clothes, receive their Norman name and a list of duties for their visit, including completing an interactive quiz - that should keep them entertained for the hour-long tour. Dedicated to Granard's most-famous resident, your journey ends at Kitty Kiernan's Drawing Room where you'll find out about Kitty's place in the War of Independence and her fiancé Michael Collins. Bask in the delights of Center Parcs Set in the mature woodlands of County Longford near Ballymahon, Center Parcs holiday village is a great place to escape to any time of year. There's a full line-up of outdoor and indoor activities for all ages and the popular dome-covered swimming pool is heated to a balmy 27 degrees. There's also a relaxing spa with a full range of holistic treatments. Stay in one of the 400 lodges that range from one-bedroom apartments to eight-bedroom lodges with saunas, steam baths and hot tubs. Take a stroll in north Longford's picturesque Derrycassin Wood North of Granard and hugging the shoreline of Lough Gowna, picturesque Derrycassin Wood is the perfect place for a leisurely stroll. There are three popular waymarked walks to choose from; the Nature Trail (1.2km), Walled Garden Walk (2.3km) and the Main Avenue Walk (3.2km), each bringing you along spruce-scented river paths and past scenic viewing points on the lake shore. In late April or early May, the Nature Trail is particularly beautiful with a carpet of bluebells dancing in the spring breeze. Keep watch on the long walks for the fascinating foundations of an old mansion and walled gardens demolished in 1939 and the remains of a historic ringfort in the woods, formerly the dwelling place of the earliest inhabitants of the area. You can finish your walk with a picnic under a canopy of trees by the riverside. With so much history, gastronomic delights, and natural beauty to discover, it's hardly surprising why this unspoiled and charming county is being billed as the jewel in Fáilte Ireland's 'Hidden Heartlands' tourism brand.
Irish Independent
19-05-2025
- Automotive
- Irish Independent
Stay at Silverstone? My short break in the fast lane at Formula 1's famous racing circuit
Once a close friend of King Henry II, he ended up on a very different path - standing firmly for the Church and refusing to bow to royal pressure. Their fallout turned deadly when Henry supposedly cried out: "Will no one rid me of this turbulent priest?" Four knights took that literally and Becket was killed. Just three years later, he was made a saint and a small chapel was built for him, tucked into the greenery of Northamptonshire. The site would go on to become the heart of British motorsport, Silverstone Circuit, and one of its most iconic corners was named in his honour: Becketts Corner and Chapel Curve. Overlooking that spot is Escapade Silverstone - a sleek modern retreat for racing fans, wellness seekers, and anyone curious about what it's like to fall asleep beside a Grand Prix circuit. Doors to the luxury property opened in March - in the year the British Grand Prix celebrates its 75th anniversary. Here, as I discover on a weekend break, you're not just near the track - you're on it. Escapade's 60 residences line up alongside some of Silverstone's most exciting sections. The development includes 184 bedrooms, spread across a mix of trackside, countryside, and dual-aspect properties. Each residence comes with a private terrace, EV charging point, and flexible living arrangements that can be adapted depending on party size. From your balcony, you can watch cars scream past - or, if you're on the quieter side like me, enjoy the stillness of the forest. ADVERTISEMENT The dual-aspect residences give you the best of both worlds - track views from one side and expansive countryside vistas from the other. Residences range from one to four bedrooms, with contemporary interiors using warm timber, metalwork, and rich fabrics. There's a focus on comfort without compromising on motorsport character. If you're in prime position, you can draw the curtains in the morning and see a GT3 Cup car tearing through the corners. Main restaurant, The Gallery, doubles as an art space, with pieces curated by Renata Fernandes, including works by former F1 driver Stefan Johansson. One piece that stops you in your tracks is a glittering, jewel-encrusted helmet donated by the family of Brazilian racing legend Ayrton Senna. No one at Escapade brags about price tags - it's not that kind of place - but a staff member, half-embarrassed, let slip it's worth close to six figures. Art is a key part of the Escapade experience. There's a rotating programme of exhibits across the site, including original paintings, sculptures, photography, and digital works inspired by speed and racing. Many of the artists showcased are motorsport-connected. Escapade doesn't just lean into the racing theme - it lives it. There's a buzz to the whole place: movement, design, speed, stories. "That'd make a good morning run," jokes one of my party, commenting on the track's neat 5K distance. At dawn the next day - before the engines fire up - we have the chance to run it. I clock it in 27 minutes. Not quite Lewis Hamilton's record breaking one minute 24 seconds, but in my defence, he had a car. A post-run yoga session follows on a sunny deck - a welcome stretch after a late night at the bar. The morning wellness programme runs alongside more performance-focused treatments designed by Formula Health. Led by F1 osteopath Gemma Fisher, the sessions are based on techniques used to optimise driver performance - and now extended to guests. The wellness offering is substantial. The gym is open 24/7 and looks directly onto the Silverstone circuit. The pool and sauna sit just above it, with floor-to-ceiling glass that brings the track into view while you recover. Treatments range from restorative therapies to high-performance conditioning. After lunch, we are ushered into the pit lane. One by one, we climb into three monsters: a Ferrari F430, a McLaren 620R, and an Aston Martin Vantage. The twist? We are driving - with a pro in the passenger seat. I'm paired with Toru Nakano, a calm and quietly confident former Japanese racer who's done everything from FJ1600 to British Formula Vauxhall. He talks me through the whole lap: when to brake, when to push, when to just trust the car. It's hard to explain what it's like to drive a race car on the actual Silverstone circuit. The noise, the speed, the sheer focus it demands - it's like nothing else. When I finally climb out, heart still thumping, I realised I'd barely noticed how fast we were going - until my legs remind me. Escapade is open all year-round, not just on race weekends. Outside of Grand Prix season, the site hosts everything from private events and team training camps to wellness retreats and corporate stays. The setting is designed to adapt - equally suited to high-octane activity or total downtime, with the flexibility to suit solo travellers, families, or large groups. And it isn't just about the adrenaline. It's designed to feel like a home from home - one with front-row seats to motorsport history. The residences are self-contained and can be booked for anything from a private holiday to a race team base or corporate retreat. The idea is to offer a new type of motorsport hospitality - one that's immersive, long-stay, and design-led. It also points to something bigger. Motorsport fans are after more than just a ticket these days - they want to feel part of it. Here, you're within touching distance of the most powerful machines on Earth. You don't just hear the rumble - you feel it as they whizz by. And somehow, all of this sits - appropriately - on land that once honoured a man who refused to bow to power. Get there Room only stays from £129/€150 per night. Call +44 01327 320 468 or visit for more. This is a PA feature, and Joe Hadden's travel was hosted.
Daily Mail
17-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Marie Antoinette star Freya Mavor says a magician helped her nail new role as a thief
Freya Mavor doesn't think she's been typecast in her career just yet. However, reflecting on playing her fourth thief to date, she can't help but laugh. The Scots star joked: 'I don't know what that says about me, but maybe I just seem really untrustworthy.' And she revealed that her only real experience of thievery comes from tips she was given by a magician for a previous role. She said: 'I did a film where there were a lot of moments of encountering people in the street, stealing something off them, and walking off. 'I had to do a lot of physical choreographies where I would learn classic moves like bumping into someone or touching them somewhere to distract them from the fact that you're actually stealing something.' Deceitfulness is a strong part of the 31-year-old's character, Jeanne de Valois, in the latest series of Marie Antoinette, which began airing this month. Descended from Henry II of France, Jeanne will 'perform, lie and manipulate to get where she wants to be'. Ms Mavor added: 'My character is very street savvy. She's like a hurricane coming into the beautiful world of Versailles. She's a rags to riches character. She had a horrendous and violently brutal upbringing that's made her a survivor.' Filming in Paris and Versailles allowed Ms Mavor to reconnect with her French roots, having lived in La Rochelle as a child after moving from Edinburgh when she was nine. She came back to Scotland's capital at the age of 14 before moving away again when she was 16 – this time to Bristol – to star in her breakout role, Minnie in Channel 4 drama Skins. If there's any aspect of Ms Mavor's personality that might tie in with the element of danger of her latest role, it's climbing. She said: 'My grandmother lives in Orkney and one of my ambitions is to climb the Old Man of Hoy. That would be a dream.' Marie Antoinette is on BBC Two at 9pm each Thursday and is available to stream on iPlayer.
Yahoo
28-03-2025
- Yahoo
10 quirky homes with secrets to reveal
Some properties incorporate unusual historic or design features that aren't immediately apparent but enhance their character or functionality. From concealed rooms and outdoor spaces to new-builds that look like they've been there for centuries, all these homes have secrets and twists that are waiting to be discovered. Waterfall Cottage is a timber former bothy, perched on a hillside overlooking Loch Tay. Accommodation includes four bedrooms, a sitting/dining room with a wood burner and a sunroom with triple aspect glazing and access to a deck. Its garden slopes down to the edge of the water and a very private and secluded pebble beach that can't be seen from the house. Through Galbraith. You'd never know it from the street, but this contemporary four-bedroom townhouse is crowned by a hidden roof terrace. The pristine property is within a low-carbon, community-led development and comprises an open plan kitchen, living and dining room and cloakroom at ground level and four bedrooms and two bathroom spread over the first and second floors. Find out more from Zenko Properties. Read more: 10 first-time buyer homes that are free from stamp duty You're unlikely to find anywhere on terra firma that's closer to water than this charming Grade II listed cottage. For the River Colwyn flows just metres from the door, and the bright living room, two of the three bedrooms and the garden all have fantastic views. Planning consent will be required if you intend to use it as a second home or holiday let. Via Beresford Adams. This four-storey, four-bedroom townhouse is part of Bridgeford House, a Regency building that was once the town's workhouse and is now a collection of elegant homes. There's tons of space for relaxing, entertaining and working, including a large kitchen/breakfast room, a formal dining room, a games room, a study and snug. The ground floor sitting room is hard to find as it's cleverly concealed behind a bookshelf door. Get in touch with Fine & Country. It's easy to walk past this Grade II* listed Georgian house without realising it's there as it's completely hidden from view in a private gated courtyard. A peaceful retreat just moments from the city centre, it incorporates five bedrooms, a generously sized kitchen/breakfast room, a sunroom and an atmospheric sitting room with full-height sash windows framing views of the garden. For sale through Sowerbys. Read more: 8 unusual homes that break the mould Beckets, a beautifully decorated five-bedroom house, dates back to the 12th century. and boasts a wealth of original features such as a medieval roof structure and wall framework, exposed beams, floorboards, sash windows and fireplaces. The big surprise is underground as an external staircase descends to a network of tunnels and caves where, according to legend, Thomas Becket hid while fleeing from Henry II. Contact Fine & Country. If you'd love a period farmhouse but don't relish the thought of all the maintenance involved, take a look at Quince House. This traditionally inspired four-bedroom house is the last remaining in Little Acre, a development of four new houses by Westbourne Homes, and includes a classic Neptune kitchen, limestone flooring, oak doors and a landscaped garden planted with cherry blossom trees, climbing roses and lavender borders. Available through Knight Frank. Read more: 10 terraced houses that will tempt you to move You'll need a big budget to take on Boxley Abbey House as the Grade II* listed, 6,400 square foot Queen Anne property requires full refurbishment. Together with a modernised cottage and restored barn with a rare Grade I listing, it was built in the ruins of 12th century monastery Boxley Abbey, a scheduled ancient monument. The gardens contain a chapel beneath a Tudor terrace walk, a secret passage in a former medieval drain and an undercroft previously used for storage. From Strutt & Parker. Located on the waterfront in Dorset's millionaires' row, this 6,300 square foot house is the ultimate in top-end coastal living and has five bedrooms, six bathrooms, a steam room, rooftop bar, several terraces and a private jetty. A discreet electrically-operated hatch in the vast open plan kitchen opens to reveal a spiral staircase leading down to circular wine cellar that holds up to 1,600 bottles. Via DDRE Global. Despite looking like it's steeped in history, Oversley Castle is the first new castle to be built in the UK in over a century. It's due to be completed later this year and will span nearly over 11,000 square feet, featuring four reception rooms, five principal bedrooms, a two-bedroom apartment, a guest annex, a roof terrace, gym and natural swimming pool. Unlike its older counterparts, it is very sustainable and set to achieve the highest (A) rating for energy efficiency. By United Kingdom Sotheby's International Realty. Read more: 10 home upgrades that don't need planning permission What are green mortgages and are they the future? How rising house prices can impact your financesSign in to access your portfolio
