A review of The Coniston Hotel & Spa, Skipton

When most people think of Coniston, the location that springs to mind is often Coniston in the Lake District. However, on the outskirts of Skipton, deep in the rural North Yorkshire Moors there's another Coniston, Coniston Cold.  Situated against the idyllic backdrop of the 1,400 acre Coniston Cold estate and the lake is the award-winning Coniston Hotel Country Estate and Spa. What was once a small country tea house, has now transformed into one of the UK's most loved country retreats, offering everything that is needed for an escape in the British countryside. Whether you're looking to sip cocktails in an infinity pool or test your adrenaline and driving skills on their off-roading track, have a go at one of the UK's top voted clay pigeon shooting ranges or feast on the estates culinary treats, there's something for everyone. To see what all the fuss is about, I was invited down to the hotel to experience just a few of the things they have to offer.

The Estate

The Coniston Cold estate is over 1,400 acres of beautiful woodland and a 24-acre lake. Open to all day visitors and hotel residents, the estate is wonderful to walk around, especially in the autumn as the leaves are turning gold and amber. It features an array of wildlife from swans to wild rabbits, pheasants and ducklings, as well as the estates' livestock such as cows and sheep.  It's a great place to unwind, step away from technology and be at peace with nature - perfect for families and couples alike.

The rooms

The hotel features 71 bedrooms, ranging from classic to superior and luxury bedrooms. Prices start from an affordable £99 and all of which are pet-friendly. During our visit, we stayed in the luxury bedroom which included a balcony overlooking the grounds, a large bathroom and a separate walk-in shower. The room had all the essentials such as hairdryers, tea and coffee making facilities as well as Aromatherapy Associates skin and bath care. The bed was incredibly comfy, the rooms were quiet and we loved being able to sit out on the balcony first thing in the morning and absorb the view. 

The spa

The spa is one of the newer additions to the Coniston Cold estate, which was added just over two years ago. It features a wide range of facilities such a 15m indoor swimming pool, a thermal suite which includes a Himalayan salt sauna, indoor bubble pool, sauna and steam room, treatment rooms, a fitness studio, gym, a brasserie and the star attraction, a stunning outdoor infinity pool overlooking the lake. The spa was clean and modern and the treatment rooms were relaxing and inviting, we really enjoyed our few hours relaxing by the pool and our couples massage. The massage took 60 minutes and the staff were really attentive and took the time to ask me what areas I would like them to focus on. In my day job, I spend a lot of time hunched over a computer so my shoulders and neck often get strained, the massage really helped to relieve some of the pressure points and get rid of knots that had built up over the last few months.  Our only criticism of the spa and spa area is that the Nourish Brasserie is far too small for such a large spa - it would have been great to have had lunch there before we checked out of our hotel, but they had limited seating and everything was all booked up. The menu caters for vegans, vegetarians and those who are gluten-free, so if you're looking to have a spa break at the Coniston Hotel, it looks like it is definitely worth booking a table.

The food

Despite not being able to get a table at the Nourish brasserie, we were well catered for throughout other areas of the hotel. The Coniston Hotel and Spa has two additional restaurants - The Huntsman Lodge which is catered towards casual dining and the a-la-carte Macleods which is a formal evening restaurant. Although both restaurants primarily serve food which is reared on the estate, they both went above and beyond to cater for our special vegan diets, providing us with our own special menu for both lunch and dinner - this is available on request as long as you notify them in advance. The menu included a variety of risottos, stuffed mushrooms, bruschetta as well as some creative desserts such as poached pears and cashew cream. One of my favourite dishes was the salt baked carrots and walnuts - this was essentially just carrots on a plate, but the flavour derived from salt baking them was incredible. It was great to see skilled chefs being able to be creative with vegan dishes, rather than putting together a simple salad and this was very much appreciated.

The activities

There's a whole range of activities available to book at The Coniston Hotel and Spa from clay pigeon shooting to falconry, archery, fishing and off-roading. I was kindly booked on to the off-roading experience on my first day of the visit and falconry on the second, both of which I thoroughly enjoyed. I was really nervous about off-roading as I'm quite an anxious driver, but after a briefing session with the team, my nerves diminished and throughout the course, the instructor helped me relax and enjoy myself. It started out as the activity I was dreading the most but ended up being one of the best things I have done in a long time, I'm even looking to go back in 2018. The falconry experience was also something I was a little bit apprehensive about. Firstly, I was nervous about having a few big birds fly into me and from an animal welfare perspective, I had heard a lot of negative things about falconry in the past. However, after seeing the birds and their keeper it was clear how well they are looked after and cared for. The birds were absolutely beautiful and it was a wonderful experience to be so close to some big birds of prey.

If you're looking for an escape to the country that is a little bit different to your standard spa break, I would definitely consider looking at The Coniston Hotel and Spa, it is somewhere I'm already planning on going back.

Have you been to the Coniston Hotel and Spa?

*This stay was complimentary, however, all views are my own

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A night at The Vicarage, Cheshire

There's nothing that I love more than visiting old country pubs which feature exposed wooden ceiling beams, roaring rustic fireplaces, cosy fireside chairs and hearty, wholesome home cooked grub, so when I realised that The Vicarage in Cheshire ticked all of those boxes, I knew it was somewhere I wanted to visit.

The Vicarage Freehouse & rooms is a refurbished 17th Century grade II listed pub and hotel, situated in the rural village of Holmes Chapel in Cheshire. The hotel features 26 en-suite bedrooms, a snug area, games room, restaurant, bar and library as well as six new stylish signature rooms where you can relax and unwind following an afternoon of walking in the idyllic neighbouring countryside. Rooms start from £145 which includes bed and breakfast.

Holmes Chapel, where the Vicarage hotel resides, is conveniently situated just under an hour away from three major UK cities - Chester, Liverpool and Manchester, making this the perfect pit stop for someone looking to explore the North. An hour away towards the East of Holmes Chapel is also the Peak District National Park, perfect for long walks or simply a romantic getaway where you can escape the hustle and bustle of city life and get lost in the wilderness of the countryside.

Last week I stayed in one of the six newly furbished bedrooms at The Vicarage and I was really impressed. The bedroom had lots of character from the wooden beams on the ceiling, to the old fashioned chest at the bottom of the bed. It had plenty of tea making facilities, a smart coffee machine and large television, as well as a jar of homemade biscuits at the bedside.

What really caught my attention after checking into my room for the night was the huge, decadent bathroom with freestanding Victorian style bath, cosy exposed brickwork and the most beautiful mint green dressers. The bathroom alone makes you not want to leave this hotel - it was luxurious and quite unexpected for a cosy pub in the middle of nowhere.

Once we had showered and dressed up, we headed down the bar area for some pre-dinner beverages and to soak up the atmosphere downstairs. The bar again had ample character from the fabric deer heads above the doorways, dog motifs on the fireplace, gold ornate mirrors dotted around the walls and intricate Celtic style engravings in the ceiling work. It was quite dimly lit, but it all added to the appeal, making it feel cosy and welcoming.  It was ever so slightly hipster, but in a way that it was hipster before hipster became cool. Another unexpected surprise was the rock music that played all night - it could be slightly off-putting to some, but for someone who loves her hair metal, I was enjoying the Bon Jovi and Poison ballads playing gently in the background all evening.

After we had mulled around the bar for half an hour, we decided to take our seats for our evening dinner. The menu was quite extensive and had lots of choices for vegetarians, as well as a vast gluten free section. I opted for the Celeriac soup for starter, vegetable Wellington for main and a mouth-wateringly good rhubarb and elderflower cheesecake for dessert, all of which were faultless and full of flavour. My only criticism throughout the evening was the price of wine - I have no issues paying a fair amount for a decent bottle of wine, but I felt that just over £17 for a bottle of Blossom Hill that I could get from my local supermarket for a third of the price was a little bit steep. Needless to say, I still bought and drank it and overall enjoyed being merry, eating good food and listening to a bit of Motley Crue,  so much so that as soon as my head hit the pillow that night I was asleep.

I had a really comfortable nights sleep at The Vicarage, despite my initial concerns of being close to the main road (I barely heard it) and I woke up with a spring in my step eagerly awaiting breakfast. Breakfast was served in a beautiful white conservatory attached to the side of the building and it was lovely being able to look outside at all countryside as we dined. Breakfast consisted of a continental breakfast and a hot cooked breakfast - I went for a pot of fresh fruit from the continental side and ordered poached eggs with hollandaise from the cooked menu, which was cooked to perfection. 

Overall I had the most wonderful stay at The Vicarage and the staff were lovely and attentive throughout our time at the hotel. Would I stay again? Yes.

Have you stayed at The Vicarage before?

*This was a complimentary stay in exchange for this blog post, but views are my own

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Five Reasons to Visit Galway, Ireland

Galway is Irelands fourth biggest city and without a doubt is one of the most picturesque cities Ireland has to offer. It is full to the brim with history and culture and has everything a tourist could wish for - from live street music on every corner, traditional pubs, a plethora of high street and independent stores, five star and michelin star restaurants, as well as a charming harbour and shoreline, lined with colourful buildings. The city has captured the hearts of so many that Galway has been announced as the European Capital of Culture 2020.  Three weeks ago I was finally able to tick Galway off my European bucket list and here's five reasons why you should consider visiting too.

The History

Galway has a history dating back approximately 800 years and evidence of Galways complex history can be found all over the city. There's so much to see from the Spanish Arch dating back to 1584 to the St Nicholas' Collegiate Church which is Irelands largest Medieval Parish Church and much more exhibited in the free to enter Galway City museum.

The Latin Quarter

The Latin Quarter is the heart of Galway, featuring an array of local eateries, bars and independent stores. It is Galway's equivalent of Dublin's Temple bar area - a place that seems very much set up for tourists to experience the Irish way of living, but unlike Temple Bar, the Latin Quarter to me still seems to maintain its authenticity. You can tell it is a place where tourists and locals alike love to visit and there's so much to discover in such a small area.

The Atlantic Coast and Galway Harbour

Walk only five minutes outside Galway city centre and you will be greeted by a picturesque harbour that eventually leads to the gateway to the Atlantic coast.  Galway's harbour dates back to the 10th Century and has a strong maritime history. The little beaches that pave the way to the Atlantic, making it's way outside the harbour provide a tranquil way to escape the hustle and bustle of the city centre and on a hot day, the water is perfect for a little paddle as the majority of it is sheltered by the land.

Claddagh rings

The traditional Irish Claddagh ring originates from Galway and is known as being the symbol of love. The name derives from a small fishing village in Galway named Claddagh and it was the birthplace of the Claddagh ring over 400 years ago. These days you will see Claddagh rings sold all over Ireland, but Galway is the best place to purchase one that is authentic and of high quality. Claddagh rings are so highly celebrated in Galway that they have their own Claddagh ring museum, showing the history of the rings over the decades.

Shopping and buildings

One of my favourite parts of visiting Galway was simply walking around the streets and admiring all the architecture and store fronts. Galway has a lot of olde world stores with beautiful signage like this store which sells a variety of antiques and vintage clothing. All the buildings in Galway have so much character that you cannot help, but stop and stare at them all and take lots of photographs. I can't wait to go back again and explore the city even more.

Have you been to Galway before?

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Why You Should Visit Borough Market, London

Borough Market made the headlines in June 2017 as one of the places in London hit by deadly, unpredicted terrorist attack. The attack targeted people on a Saturday evening enjoying themselves in nearby bars and restaurants at Borough Market, killing eight people. Since the events only eight weeks ago, the market has been steadily rebuilding itself and restoring normality. Borough Market has always been one place I wanted to visit in London and now, more than ever it seemed more poignant for me to go pay my respects and visit the traders whose livelihoods have been temporarily destroyed.

When I visited Borough Market last week, it was a hive of busy tourists and locals soaking in the market atmosphere , feasting on all of what Borough Market has to offer and enjoying their Saturday. It was a place bursting with energy, from the enthusiastic market traders selling their products to the hoards of tourists making the most of every photo opportunity. From the moment I entered the building, I fell in love. It was full to the parameters of foodie favourites from all around the world, as well as catering for so many different dietary requests. The fruit looked colourful and fresh and the scents that filled the air gave me hunger pangs. It was a market place determined to move on from recent events and live life to the full.

I decided to write this post on why you should visit Borough market because there's so much to see and do. Whether you're stocking up for a picnic on a day trip to London or fancy a meal with friends, Borough Market needs to be on your London bucket list.

As Borough market is a quintessential English market place, there's plenty of hog roasts, burgers and meat stands on offer, but one thing that really captured my attention was the plethora of vegan food available. From these juicy mock burgers to hummus stands and vegan curries, there's just so much to choose from which is great for those with dietary requirements and it makes Borough Market the perfect place to visit with friends all of whom have different foodie needs.

Another item that Borough Market has in abundance is freshly squeezed fruit juices. You can get almost any fruit juices from Borough Market from watermelon to your typical orange, pineapple and apple juices. They are great for anyone looking for a morning pickup, lunch time refresher or an evening pre-drinking quencher.

As previously mentioned, the fruit in Borough market is as fresh as it gets and there's vast quantities of it over in the fruit and vegetable market. I was really impressed with the prices of this fruit - my friends and I managed to get two punnets of strawberries for a £1 whereas supermarkets sell just one of them for around the £2 mark. If you live locally London, it is worth visiting the market to stock up on fresh fruit and veggies.

If you're gluten free, dairy free or wheat free, I also stumbled across a lovely bakery in Borough market selling vegan creamed buns in a variety of flavours, as well as gluten free ginger men, to name but a few products. Unfortunately I didn't get the time to sample these, but they are definitely on my radar for my next visit, which I'm planning before the end of this year.

Once we had browsed the market, my friends and I set off to Jubilee Gardens for a picnic, where we sat down and ate some of our foodie findings - pepper Focaccia bread,  strawberries, freshly made samosas and a few sneaky buys from M&S.

My visit to Borough market was brief, but very exciting and I was glad that I got the opportunity to visit the hustle and bustle of the Saturday market. It reminded me that life is short and that Saturday's are the best days to go spend quality time with the ones you love and what brings people together? Food, of course.

Have you been to Borough Market before?

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A Night in the Lake District and Yewfield Guest House

The Lake District has always been one of my favourite places to visit - it is quintessentially British with beautiful old Tudor and slate buildings, has the most wonderful views of rolling hills and lakesides and every little village or town that you visit just oozes character, no wonder it was recently given a UNESCO World Heritage status. Windemere, one of the most popular areas to visit in the Lake District is England's biggest lake and Scafell Pike, which attracts thousands of tourists each year is England's highest mountain. The Lake District was also once home to (in my opinion) one of the best children's authors that ever lived, Beatrix Potter. There's so much to do and see in the Lake District, making it the perfect place to visit.

Last week, my husband and I had a week off work and decided to head up to the Lake District for a few peaceful days in the countryside. We visited Ambleside, Windermere and Hawkshead and stayed in the beautiful Yewfield Guest House which was kindly organised by the team at Go Lakes, the Cumbrian Tourist board. We were truly blessed with the weather - it was sunny and warm and the perfect weather for rambling, taking boat rides and eating copious amounts of ice-cream.  We arrived at Bowness on Windermere at lunchtime and after browsing a few of the shops, we headed to the lake to catch a boat ride to Ambleside with Windermere Lake Cruises. The boat we caught was one of the older steam yachts, the M.V Tern which was built in 1891. The Tern still exhibits some of the original Victorian features, but now has a modern engine to deal with the vast amount of tourists that catch this boat every half an hour, 364 days a year.  Our trip to Ambleside took around 35 minutes and through the duration of the journey, we had a guided tour who told us all about the history of lakes and nearby points of interest.

We disembarked at Waterhead and made our way up to the village. It was a twenty minute scenic walk which passes by a lot of the local farm life and villages, as well as a beautiful Borrans Park, which is perfect for a picnic. Once we got to Ambleside, we had a coffee at one of the many coffee shops and had a quick look around the village, before heading back to the boat and getting back into the car to visit Yewfield.

Yewfield Guest House is a five star vegetarian bed and breakfast on Hawkshead Hill, which is fifteen minute either side of Coniston and Windermere. It is situated on 80 acres of private land which is available for guests to walk around and it is well and truly in the countryside, which is perfect for those looking for some R&R in the peace and quiet. The drive up to the hotel can be a little difficult at times - it is up a very steep, narrow hill, with lots of bends, but once you arrive there's ample parking space and the view from the B&B makes it all worthwhile. Yewfield is priced at £90 per night, which is really affordable compared to other places in the Lake District, so I was excited to see what it had to offer.

I've never stayed in a B&B before - I've always thought of bed and breakfast hotels as quite run down, with very cheap furniture and I always preferred the amenities that much larger hotels have to offer. However, Yewfield captured my heart from the get-go with it's charming building, the living area downstairs that makes you feel at home and the countryside decor of the bedrooms, which were stylish and spacious. I also loved the fact that it is a vegetarian guest house - there is no meat served at all on the premises, which disappointed my husband, but was a blessing for me who has been a vegetarian for thirteen years.

The bathroom was also very modern and had a really deep bath with great water temperature and these luxury, eco friendly Organic Damana bath products. They had the most refreshing citrus scent and after a long day of walking, they really helped freshen me up in time for dinner.

One of the downfalls about Yewfield guest house is the fact they don't have a restaurant or bar area, so if you're looking for food in the evening, you will have to travel for it. This didn't bother me too much - we read up on the area and discovered that Hawkshead was only a twenty minute walk away and we came prepared with a bottle of wine for when we got back. I could have easily driven back to Ambleside or down to Hawkshead which is only a short journey away, but we felt like exploring and as I was technically on holiday, I wanted a nice G&T in a country pub.  The walk to Hawkshead was a little adventure, walking by nearby farms and in the heart of the countryside with the only living creatures that we saw for miles being farm life. However, once we  found our bearings it was easy enough to find and because it was a nice, bright evening, it was quite a romantic walk down. 

When we arrived in Hawkshead, we stumbled across an old 17th Century guest house  called the Queen's Head and decided that this was place we would stay and have dinner. The menu was quite extensive with lots of options for vegetarians and was reasonably priced at around £12-16 for a main course. Each of the menu options had been designed to utilise local ingredients and there was everything from pizza to pasta to more a la carte options like rosemary and thyme polenta cake with butternut puree. I opted for the wild mushroom pappardelle made with incredibly fresh pasta and my husband ordered a pizza, which was huge. 

The next morning we woke up at around 8am for breakfast, after what had been one of the best nights sleep I have had in a hotel. Breakfast was served downstairs and consisted of a continental buffet, as well as a vegetarian cooked breakfast of your choice. To start I had the vegan smoothie was wonderfully refreshing and a bowl of soya yoghurt and fruit. I then ordered a cooked breakfast of vegetarian sausage and scrambled tofu. It was the perfect, healthy ending to our trip at the Lake District.

It was a short, but sweet visit to Yewfield and Windermere and I loved every moment of it. I've been to the Lake District several times now and each time I go, I discover even more wonderful places and come back with even better memories. Yewfield Guest House has really transformed my opinion of B&Bs and I would definitely stay there again. 

Have you been to Yewfield or the Lake District?

*My stay at Yewfield Guest House was complimentary, but views are my own.

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A Trip to Robin Hood's Bay, North Yorkshire

Growing up, I was very fortunate to spend most weekends of my childhood sailing around the coast of the UK. I love hearing the gushing sound of the waves, the smell of seaweed and sea salt and hearing all the sea birds gleefully chirping and because of all my favourite childhood memories, I'm always happiest when I'm by the coast. Last weekend when the sun was bright and the weather for once was on our side, my husband and I decided to take a road trip to North Yorkshire and called at one of my favourite coastal haunts, Robin Hood's Bay.

Robin Hood's Bay is a small fishing village nestled between two Whitby and Scarborough on North Yorkshire coastline. It is a quaint little village steeped in history from pirate smuggling to where dinosaurs roamed and it has the most beautiful little buildings and cobbled streets, full of independent boutiques. 

To access Robin Hood's Bay you need to park at the top of the hill and it is quite a steep descent down the road, accessed via stairs or the roadside, but the views are breathtaking and from the top of the hill you can see the bay in all of its glory. On the way down the hill there's a plethora of boutiques from chocolates to interior shops and all little shops selling all the usual tourist fare as well as a dinosaur and fossil museum. There's also several little restaurants, many of which serve seafood caught fresh from the bay.

Once you get to the bottom of the hill, there's a slip way leading straight on to the beach and into the sea and neighbouring pubs so that you can sit back, have a drink and admire the scenery. The view on a day where this is good visibility is beautiful and with it not being as busy as places like Scarborough or Whitby, it is a place you can genuinely feel relaxed.  Robin Hood's Bay is a hidden gem along the North East coast and if you ever have the opportunity to visit, I would definitely pop by.

Have you been to Robin Hood's Bay?

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A Day Visit to Thorpe Park Spa, Leeds

If your idea of the perfect weekend is to lounge by a pool, to take a dip in a steamy hot tub, to be massaged until thoroughly relaxed and then have the opportunity to feast on scrumptious afternoon tea, Thorpe Park Hotel & Spa should be on your weekend bucket-list. Thorpe Park Hotel and Spa is situated on the outskirts of Leeds, in an ideal location for those looking to stay in the vicinity of the city centre, but would like to escape the city hustle and bustle and  it is also perfect for those looking to venture to other nearby tourist locations such as Harrogate, York and the Dales. The hotel recently won Hotel of the Year in the White Rose Tourism Awards, with the spa facilities being one of the key areas for winning this award.

When it comes to spa days I usually travel quite far out to country retreats, so I was really excited when Thorpe Park Spa asked me to check out their facilities which are almost on my doorstep. I had heard so many great things about the spa and was really keen to see what they had to offer.

The spa features a pool, whirlpool, steam room and sauna as well as an onsite gym, cafe and restaurant area. Spa day visitors depending on which package they choose can pick from a two course meal or an afternoon tea. Visitors to the spa are asked to sign the obligatory spa documents and then make their way into the relaxation area for complimentary refreshments. These refreshments included nuts and fruit and an extensive range of Taylors of Harrogate herbal teas, which is one of my favourite tea brands. The relaxation area itself is superbly decorated in luxe blue, purple and grey colours, with comfy lounging chairs all accessorised with plush velvet pillows. 

Once we had felt settled in the relaxation area, we grabbed our robes and made our way down to the poolside. The pool was nice and spacious and despite being used by hotel guests, it wasn't too overcrowded either. There was ample of chair and lounger space so that each guest was able to have somewhere to sit and for those who wanted to relax out of the way of the pool, there was also a separate relaxation area which on a nice day would open up on to a patio. As well as the pool, there was a whirlpool, Turkish steam room and sauna. While the facilities were all lovely, very clean and in immaculate condition, I feel that if I didn't have treatments I wouldn't have had enough to do to have spent a full day at the spa as there was only a limited amount of activities.

After spending a few hours by the pool, we then made our way to the restaurant for afternoon tea. I opted for the vegetarian version of the afternoon tea which consisted of hummus, grilled vegetable and cheese and onion sandwiches, a fruit scone, raspberry yogurt, chocolate and coffee cake and macarons. The afternoon tea itself was plentiful and a delight to eat, however I did feel slightly disgruntled that I wasn't given a choice of tea which most afternoon teas do offer and although I personally didn't mind that much, I do feel that the vegetarian and meat afternoon teas should have both been on separate stands. 

Overall it was a lovely relaxing day and a great opportunity visit somewhere local for a change. I really enjoyed the facilities and the afternoon tea and I wouldn't mind going back, but next time to check out the hotel alongside the spa.

Have you been to Thorpe Park Spa before?

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Visiting the Cotswolds - Tewkesbury and Cheltenham

There's nothing I love more than strolling around in the sunshine (especially when we have so little of it here in the UK) and admiring the British scenery. We are lucky to have such wonderful places dotted around our little isle, many of which are often not featured on tourist maps in favour of bigger cities and discovering a hidden gem can make a journey even more worthwhile. This weekends sunshine has reminded me of the trip I took to the Cotswolds only a few weeks ago and the fact that I still hadn't really blogged about my experience. I took hundreds of photos as everywhere I turned the views were breathtaking and narrowing them down into two or three for a short roundup was a difficult task.

The Cotswolds has always been somewhere I have wanted to explore and with the Cotswolds covering an almighty five counties in the south of England, I can only really say I've dipped my feet into travelling around that area having been only been to three places. Last year I visited Stratford Upon Avon - the tourist hotspot for everything Cotswold and Shakespeare related and this time, I went a little bit off the beaten tourist track to Tewkesbury. 

Tewkesbury is a medieval English town in Gloucester, which is one of the many counties which makes up the Cotswolds. It is known for its array of independent stores, quaint coffee shops and antique stores.  It rests alongside the River Avon and has boat trips which take you to nearby towns and villages. The town has 350 buildings listed as places of historic interest - perfect for those who like to learn all about English history. Many of the buildings in the town display signs telling you what it used to be hundreds of years ago.

One of the most popular tourist attractions in Tewkesbury is Tewkesbury abbey. The abbey dates back to 715 and is the second largest parish church in England and a former Benedictine monastery. The abbey has the most wonderful grounds, all kept in pristine condition and the inside of the abbey has the most beautiful architecture, it is definitely worth a visit.

After spending the night in Tewkesbury at the Tewkesbury Park hotel, we then headed to Cheltenham which is only a fifteen minute drive. The best thing about Tewkesbury is that is it only fifteen minutes either side of two major towns - Gloucester and Cheltenham, making it a perfect base point for your travels. Cheltenham is somewhere I've longed to visit due to it's connection with the races. Unfortunately we didn't visit on race day, but it was still wonderful to stroll around the town and soak up the first bit of UK sunshine this year.

Cheltenham is a regency spa town and known as a cultural hub for the Cotswolds. Every year has many music and art festivals as well as literature and science exhibitions. If you love white washed regal buildings, extravagant parks and fine dining,  Cheltenham definitely has to be on your bucket list. The town features a plethora of independent, high street and upmarket stores as well as a large shopping centre and wonderful bars and restaurants. The town has a lot of character from it's beautiful flower stalls to all the unique statues dotted around the centre. It is a place that ticks many boxes for me when it comes to weekend breaks - plenty of places to shop, great night life, wonderful views and also an array of places where you to go escape the hustle and bustle if needed.

My brief, but jam packed weekend away to the Cotswolds has left me with a thirst to discover more and I thoroughly enjoyed what little time I had there. Driving through the countryside and stopping in places like Cheltenham and Tewkesbury, it wasn't hard to realise why these places have been given the prestigious title of 'Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty' by UK environmental agencies and I can't wait to go again.

Have you visited Cheltenham or Tewkesbury?

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