At Kew Gardens, the home of the Royal Botanical Society, the annual Orchid Festival takes place in the Princess of Wales Conservatory, one of the more modern glasshouses. The orchids are spread around the 10 different climate zones within the conservatory, and sit...
Gardens are perhaps not the first thing that a visitor to London thinks of during the winter months, but if you manage to catch some mild or sunny weather while here, then there are some wonderful winter gardens to see, gardens that have been designed specifically to...
After New Year’s Eve fireworks and celebrations, being awake and ready to catch the New Year’s Day Parade at midday can be a struggle. But it’s the biggest thing happening in London on the first day of the year, and people now come from all over the world to watch or...
One aspect of my job as a tour guide is to know everything. Literally. I don’t always succeed at that, but one question I can at least begin to answer is where a visitor might find interesting fabrics, threads, wools and trimmings as I am a keen dressmaker. I am also...
Shopping in London really shouldn’t begin and end with Harrods. If you want to see something of the grandeur and tradition of London, then Mayfair & St James’s are the areas to explore. It’s a little bit ‘hidden away’, tucked to...
The Royal Mint has announced that several new coins will be issued in 2016 to commemorate a host of anniversaries; as a consequence of this, we now have Peter Rabbit on one of our coins!! New £2 coins will mark the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare’s death, the...
A London Christmas begins in Trafalgar Square London is a magical place to visit at Christmas. The early arrival of darkness makes the Christmas decorations and lights part of most people’s working (or sightseeing) day, and there are lots of things happening to give...
There are currently tickets (rather expensive, but there’s a glass of champagne included in the price) available for ‘exclusive guided tours’ at Buckingham Palace from 11th December 2015 until 31st January 2016. This would be an excellent oppotunity...
Once again, peregrine falcons are nesting in the spire of Salisbury Cathedral. Initial reports said that two eggs had been laid, but an update gives the number as four. They are occupying a nesting box that has been on the south side of the spire with the help of the...