Latest news with #ThomasBecket
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.
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
