Kingston-Upon-Thames on the banks of England’s famous river is a short train ride from downtown London. But it has plenty to offer besides its proximity to London. Like the name “Kingston” suggests, there’s even a significant royal connection that has earned the city its place on the map. If you decide to spend some time in this pretty city, here are the best things to do in Kingston-Upon-Thames.
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.
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…
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.
