We believe that the best souvenirs are stories. Read them here.
How to Book an Illuminated Manuscript Private Viewing at the V&A Museum
Most people may only ever view a beautifully illuminated 15th century manuscript from behind glass in a museum cabinet, never mind have the chance to actually turn its pages. So when I learned that it was possible to personally handle a 500-year old book whose every page is decorated with miniature illustrations and brilliant gold leaf, I was all over it. Here’s how I literally got my hands on two of the rarest and most valuable books in the Victoria and Albert’s National Art Library collection in my own illuminated manuscript private viewing. And you can do it, too.
Iford Manor Garden: A Hidden Gem in Southwest England
When a British garden is classified ‘Grade I’, meaning of exceptional interest (something only 8.5% of registered British gardens can boast), you know it’s worth a visit. Iford Manor Garden is just such a garden, a true hidden gem in a stunning rural landscape about 20 minutes from Bath in the southwest of England. See what makes this garden so special…
Queen Mary’s Dollhouse: Living Large in Miniature
It may only take up about 25 square feet, but Queen Mary’s Dollhouse at Windsor Castle is more than just a priceless example of miniature real estate. It’s also a showcase for British craftsmanship from the early 1920s and its contents and the details that went into each tiny item are mind-boggling.
King Henry VIII Palaces: What to See at Hampton Court Palace
Over the course of his lifetime and 38-year reign as King of England, Henry VIII owned a staggering 55 palaces scattered around his kingdom. And some of these, like Hampton Court Palace about an hour from London, became a favourite for entertaining and hosting visitors, as well as for collecting and displaying art. Here’s what to see at Hampton Court Palace, perhaps the most magnificent of Henry VII’s palaces.
