“Lumiere was born in Durham in 2009 and became a blueprint for later festivals elsewhere,” said Helen Marriage MBE, the director of Artichoke, the creative agency that initiated Durham Lumiere in 2009. The event spawned Lumiere London plus a festival of lights in Northern Ireland’s second city.
Continue reading
Aiming to cycle around the lake inside of four hours while pausing along the way to view the landscape, birdlife and artworks proved a challenge. We underestimated. With the benefit of hindsight — now that I’ve climbed those hills on the northern shore — I’d pack a picnic and make a day of it. Kielder Castle, the various hides and artworks mean there’s plenty to spent time at along the way.
Continue reading
Bowes, in Upper Teesdale, has a surprisingly rich history for a quiet English village. One of Bowes' claims to fame is that it provided author Charles Dickens with inspiration for aspects of his novel Nicholas Nickleby.
Continue reading
The former pit village of Philadelphia in North East England was also named after an American city. The name was chosen after British forces captured the city in Pennsylvania during the American War of Independence.
Continue reading
Alnwick Castle is the modern-day family home of the Dukes of Northumberland. Sculpted stone figures depicting medieval soldiers top the crenallated tower above the castle’s bailey. Many visitors recognise the castle from the films Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone and Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. It has been used by filmmakers as sets in numerous movies, as well as Brancaster Castle in special editions of the popular Downton Abbey television series.
Continue reading
As the location for surprise meal and overnight stay, Langley Castle proved memorable. I enjoyed the experience and would happily visit again.
When it comes to choosing date night locations the gauntlet is down — to use saying derived from issuing the challenge to a duel medieval times. I’m now going to have to raise my game.
Continue reading
Climbing Grey's Monument is a Newcastle highlight activity.
Continue reading
During my autumn walk it was not the colours of flowers but the golds, russets and reds of fallen leaves that caught my eye. Despite tree branches swaying in the wind, clumps of richly coloured foliage clung defiantly to the trees from which they budded back in the springtime.
Continue reading
The McColls received the keys to their own brewery, based in Bishop Auckland, in November 2016. McColl’s is a 20-barrel brewery and produces 3,500 litres of beer (the equivalent of 6,159 pints) a brew.
Continue reading
Like the idea of a stay in an English castle? It’s possible at the Lumley Castle Hotel, a four-star property with a state-of-the-art escape room and a restaurant serving modern British cuisine.
Continue reading