Brittany: sunshine, pastries and moules et frites

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We’re having such a wonderful time. Long, lazy lie-ins and then a trip to the local boulangerie for baguettes (there is no better smell on earth than a boulangerie first thing in the morning - it draws you in) and, our new ‘thing’ a different type of patisserie every day. Just to try. We’ve been SO lucky with the weather - cloudy mornings, but warm enough to stay on the beach, then in the afternoon the clouds seem to lift and it’s blue, blue, blue… a couple of days we’ve had ‘our’ beach to ourselves and we’ve snoozed and the boys have played football and I’ve read about four books already. I even swam! Well, paddled - the water’s a bit cold! In the evening we’ve tried a different restaurant every night - beautiful pink crevettes, garlicky scallops, moules et frites, and even the odd hamburger have been merrily scoffed. Then it’s back to our little villa for shouty games of cards, the odd movie and a few beers (or in my case, rosé).

Happy, happy days. Don’t make me come home!




Win an iPad with Freedom Holiday Homes

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Freedom

The lovely chaps at Freedom Holiday Homes are currently running a Facebook competition to win an iPad 4. All you have to do is like them on Facebook (link above) and share their post to be entered into the competition. They’re a friendly bunch who have all sorts of holiday homes to rent, right across Kent and Sussex, from coastal retreats to pet-friendly countryside bolt-holes, they’ve got the lot, including some really good last-minute bargains (including this beauty, above, Kent Bridge Croft) if you’re thinking of making the most of the sunshine and heading off for the rest of the summer holidays!

Terms and conditions for the competition are below - what are you waiting for?!

 

1. Employees of Freedom Holiday Homes or their families or households are not eligible to win.

2. No purchase is necessary to enter.

3. Entries are only valid where entrants have ‘liked’ the Freedom Holiday Homes Facebook page and shared the competition entry post.

4. This contest is void where prohibited or restricted by law.

5. The competition is for a 16GB iPad 4 with wifi.

6. The prize carries no cash alternative in whole or in part and may not be substituted by the winner.

7. Freedom Holiday Homes may substitute a prize of equal or greater value for any prize if the prize becomes unavailable for any reason.

8. The winner will be contacted through Facebook and must provide a valid UK postal address.

9. The competition is open to UK residents only.

10. The closing date is 23:59 on Monday 9th September 2013.

11. To claim your prize you must contact Freedom Holiday Homes before 09/12/2024

 

EMFT

My family holiday packing checklist - download it here!

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Vence

Ah, La Belle France

We’re off on our travels!

I’m off to Brittany with my lovely family (and a new Honda CR-V that we’re test driving) for two weeks of sunshine, beaches and seafood (hopefully!). I’ve been a bit poorly, which unfortunately coincided with the Mr being on duty, but my big strapping boys, both now taller than me but still the givers of the best hugs, have stepped up, cooked dinner, made tea, mowed the lawn and generally looked after me. They’re looking forward to beach days, lie ins, moules et frites, no exams, no revision… I’m excited for cheese, French markets (napkins, tablecloths and tablewear on my list, as well as the food!), gentle walks into town for fresh baguettes and pains au chocolat, lazy restaurant dinners, discovering local wine, persuading someone to visit the odd Chateau with me, and yes, maybe a dip in the sea. I’m exhausted and happy and excited all at the same time. Also secretly hoping that this won’t be our last holiday together - just the four of us (when is it that they decide holidaying with the parentals is no longer the done thing?). Got my hair done too!

New hair

Talking of holidays, last week I had a great girly chat with lovely Jenni from NonStopMama who was interviewing me for a podcast. We got talking about all things travel related and I told her about my packing spreadsheet. I know, nerdy right? I have a spreadsheet, which I print out every time I’m about to go away and tick things off as they go into the suitcase. Okay, so it sounds a bit over the top but when you’re rushing to catch an early flight and your mind is all over the place, it’s nice to have a list so you don’t sail off down the M25 towards the airport with your toothbrush still sitting by the sink and your carefully chosen bikinis still lying on your bed. It happens, people.

Jenni was quite interested in my spreadsheet, so I thought you might be too. I’ve made it into a pdf so it’s now easy to download, then print out. I’ve left some room for extra stuff if you want to amend it, but I’d love it to be a work in progress, so if you think I’ve missed anything vitally important, do let me know, and we’ll keep updating it.

PS: Don’t forget your travel insurance. Find out more about family travel insurance from Debenhams here!

Anyway, you know me: I’m sure I’ll nab a bit of free wifi along the way and pop back and say hi. You can follow our travels on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram, otherwise, enjoy the sunshine and I’ll see you very soon!

 

English Mum's family holiday packing checklist

www.etsplc.com

Travel: Cornwall - the UK’s hidden treasure

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Cornwall

Cornwall is one of the sunniest areas in the UK in a remote position on the south west of the British Isles, stemming out into the Atlantic Ocean meaning it is mostly surrounded by beautiful blue sea. Due to its location the area is prone to more rain than other parts of the UK, but this climate is what nourishes the beautiful native and tropical plants and landscape. The area is prone to extreme storms and flooding, but also often boasts the best weather in the UK.

Gardens:

Gardeners will find their paradise in Cornwall. The unique environment encourages rare and exotic plants to flourish. People come from across the globe to explore the areas impressive open gardens, from the historic site at Heligan, Moyclare to the contemporary Eden Project, the gardens in Cornwall are some of the best in the UK.

The Lost Gardens of Heligan are a top attraction. A continuous restoration project of pre-war gardens that fell into disrepair during the two world wars as the gardeners left to do their bit for King and country.

The iconic domes of the Eden Project house fine examples of exotic plants that are rare and foreign to the UK. This popular Cornish attraction is host to live music events throughout the year, as well as continuously promoting green living and learning.

Local Delicacies:

Foodies will love Cornwall. The changeable weather has made it difficult for farmers to produce mainstream crops meaning arable land is often put to pasture. Dairy farming and fishing have been a key industry in the area resulting in numerous Cornish delicacies.

Cornwall has plenty of sweet treats on offer. Visitors won’t taste anything like the clotted cream that goes into the famous Cornish cream teas. A must for those with a sweet tooth is Cornish fudge and ice cream, also made with Cornish clotted cream.

The surrounding coastline allows Cornwall to lay claim to some of the best ports and sea fishing spots in the UK. Many Cornish restaurants offer seafood as well as local produce; a few of the best are in Padstow, Newquay and Perranporth.

Tourists are spoilt for choice with so much Cornish food available. Do try to leave room for a traditional Cornish pastie, and to sample some of the county’s renowned real ales and delicious Scrumpy cider.

Sea and Surf:

Cornwall is THE destination UK surfing. There are many surf schools and recommended beaches to keep beginners and novice surfers happy. Key surfing spots include Newquay, Whitsand, and Porthleven. There’s also plenty of opportunity for windsurfing, wakeboarding, and scuba diving.

Where to stay:

Most visitors plan their trip in self-catering accommodation so they can sample the local attractions and delicacies at their own leisure staying in holiday cottages set in quaint village and town settings. Marsdens Cottage Holidays offer some top quality accommodation in Cornwall.

Nature and history lovers, foodies, and those perusing an active holiday in Britain will be hard pushed to find anywhere with more diversity than Cornwall. Attracting approximately 5 million tourists a year, the area has an atmosphere and identity that’s independent from other parts of the country. Cornwall is hidden treasure in the south west of the UK.

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Why Christmas lights are for life, not just for December

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I’m a HUGE Christmas fan - I love everything about it. Storage space is the only boundary that stops my Christmas hoarding going completely out of control, otherwise I’d have cupboards full of special Christmas plates, cups, serving dishes, tablecloths, napkins, candle holders, you name it. My biggest, love though, my dearest amour, are Christmas lights: twinkly, glowy sparkly little beacons of happiness. They’re always the first thing to go up in our house - reams of them strewn across the windowsills and draped across the kitchen, and they’re always the last thing to come down. And oh, how empty and sad the house looks without all my lovely stars.

Recently, though, on Pinterest and other places, I’ve noticed that people use Christmas lights all year round. Take my newest obsession, a beautiful blog called Posie Gets Cozy. This lady has the most beautiful taste, is incredibly creative and clever and takes the most amazing photographs too. This is a room created for her gorgeous little girl:

Image from Posie Gets Cozy via Pinterest http://pinterest.com/pin/248331366925500161/

See? Christmas lights! And not a snowman or a piece of tinsel in sight. That’s it, then, I’m going here to buy some Christmas lights right away, and if an enormous outdoor fairy light reindeer should accidentally fall into my online basket, well, that’s just too bad.

 

Review: Camino Canary Wharf

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Mixto platter CaminoRecently, we were invited to visit the Canary Wharf branch of Camino London, perched right on the riverside next to Gaucho. First impressions were a little marred by the fact that we got horribly lost (there doesn’t seem to be any directions on the website, and not being Londoners we ended up going completely the wrong way out of the DLR station). No matter, we were soon seated and enjoying a cool glass of rosado (Beronia Rioja Tempranillo 2012) under the shady umbrellas on the terrace, watching the boats whooshing up the glinting river.

The menu is in Spanish (obviously) and unless you’re fluent you need a handy waiter to translate. Luckily we had Javi, who took us under his wing and explained all the dishes to us, giving us advice about roughly how many dishes we’d need for the four of us, and telling us what he recommended.

It’s best to just chill out and eat as the dishes come out, rather than wait until you get a big table-full, so we started with delicious, crispy squid with a garlicky alioli (chipirones), then some succulent tiger prawns, drowning in chilli, garlic, olive oil and white wine, all just begging to be mopped up with loads of bread.

Mixed grill Camino

Next up was a ‘mixto’ platter, with chorizo, Padron peppers, croquetas, olives and cangrejo (crab) in a delicious paprika-spiced oil with crispy bread for scooping. The next platter out was a mixed grill with some more chorizo, tender steak and flavoursome chicken. We also had a meaty monkfish dish with a leek gratin and a romesco sauce.

Cheese platter

Moving on to cheese then (and feeling more than a little stuffed already), we ordered the platter, with blue Valdéon with moscatel grapes, a delicious salty Manchego and little cubes of plum jelly, amongst other things.

Dessert platter CaminoFinally, and rather unwisely, the boys talked us into ordering the dessert platter, with Crema Catalana: soft, creamy and fragrant with orange and cinnamon, and a really zingy crema de limón - a lemon cream topped with lime jellly and a shortbread biscuit. Javi also spoiled the boys by bringing out extra portions of their favourite: crispy on the outside, soft on the inside churros, with lashings of chocolate mousse for dipping. The surprise hit was the Tarta Santiago, a bakewell tart-reminiscent almond tart with a cakey texture and raspberry sauce. Delicious.

By now, Sam was complaining of stomach ache and I did worry one of us might pass out from overeating, but a nice strong coffee and a breezy ride back to Embankment on the river taxi woke us up again.

Our verdict: Fabulous. Mr English summed this place up when he said ‘I don’t have a bad word to say about it’ and we’ll definitely be back very soon.

Best for: lazy lunches and family dinners - don’t go if you’re in a hurry - linger over the dishes, sip wine, dip bread into sauces and savour every moment.

Massive thanks to Camino London for having us, and special thanks to Javi, our lovely waiter.

 

 

Working from home

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Creating the ideal work-life balance is no easy feat, particularly when you are a parent. One option that serves to make life that little bit easier is turning your home into a working office.

As a mother, working from home has its many benefits. Amongst the most popular is the ability to choose your own working hours or at least be at hand to contribute to home life. This means never having to miss out on special moments like bath time and enabling you to take time out for a bedtime story.

Another plus is the financial benefit that comes with not requiring childcare. Costs enforced by nurseries and childminders have risen dramatically in recent years and mothers with more than one child in need of childcare will certainly take a hit with that hard earned pay packet literally paying the price.

In practical terms, working mothers often overlook the inconvenience that arises when the time comes for children to start school; if you need to leave for work at 7am but the nursery doesn’t open until 7:30 you are in a bit of a quandary, and if your child needs collecting at 3 but you aren’t home until 5pm and the nursery will only agree to one journey per day well, you could be left in a tight spot. These are factors that do arise and require consideration and planning.

With the increase in access to the internet and the ability to communicate with business associates through a range of platforms including laptops, tablets and smartphones, working from home has never been easier. If you are a mother and would like to find out more about working from home visit working mums where you will find a range of job opportunities to suit your personal needs and fit around the most important job of all: motherhood.

EMFT

Tagliatelle with crab, fresh tomato and courgette

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I LOVE the sunny weather! I know it’s not fun for everybody, but it’s like being on holiday at home! The boys are hoping and praying that it lasts into the summer holidays too. The one downside about it is that I don’t really feel like slaving over the cooker, so supper has become quick, easy and minimal fuss. Tonight we had a lovely, fresh tasting pasta dish that takes about as long as the pasta takes to cook:

Tagliatelle with crab, fresh tomato and courgette

Good quality dried tagliatelle (generally you need to allow about 75-80 of pasta per person)

1 clove garlic

Pinch salt

Pinch dried chilli

Good quality olive or rapeseed oil

1 courgette, cut into fat slices

About 1/2 punnet of fresh baby plum tomatoes (or any tomato, frankly)

1 tin white crab meat, drained

Fresh herbs if you have them

So first bring a big pan of salted water to the boil and add in the pasta. Stir it around and leave to cook.

Next, add a glug of oil to a frying pan (I use rapeseed) and pop in the courgette slices. Season well - be generous with the pepper.

With a pestle and mortar, bash the garlic with the pinch of salt. Add in the dried chilli and then a generous glug of oil. Stir in the crab and set aside. Don’t forget to check the courgettes and give them a turn so they brown easily.

If you’ve timed it right, your pasta will be al dente just as the courgettes and nice and golden. Drain it off, reserving a little bit of the cooking liquid in case the mixture is a bit dry

Toss through the oily garlicky crab (also delicious spread on toast, by the way), the courgette sliced, the halved tomatoes and a generous handful of something fresh like basil or parsley - rocket’s nice with this too.

Carry to garden and stuff into face. Preferably with a nice glass of rosé. Cheers!

Stay cool in a maxi

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bonprixWith the heat continuing to rise this summer, a maxi dress is the ideal way to keep cool. With their longer length and relaxed fit, these dresses are perfect for covering up any bits of your body you’d rather hide, while still keeping fresh and cool when the weather is hot and sticky. Furthermore, with the amazing array of different maxi dress styles, there is no reason not to purchase a dress, or two, for the remainder of the summer. Bon Prix, as always, delivers a brilliant range that is sure to have you spoilt for choice; whether you want block colours, drop hems, prints or halter necks, their website has it all.

The Cut-Out Detail Maxi Dress is a slightly more daring take on the full length classic, but still gives the wearer their modesty while injecting a bit of fun and modern glamour into their wardrobe. Purchase in a striking blue or classic black, either way you will look fabulous and are guaranteed to get noticed when you wear this. Although many would assume that this dress is more for going out than casual, if you want to liven up your everyday outfits, this dress wouldn’t look out of place; after all, what better way to stay cool than with a maxi dress that has cut out detailing?

Another great dress that is ideal for big nights out or casual days is the Cowl Neck Maxi Dress (shown). With gathered straps, a relaxed neckline and a pulled in waist, this maxi dress from bonprix will definitely give you that desirable hourglass figure, and with the side spilt, there is a daring and elegant but sexy element to this dress; wear it with some heels to elongate your legs further and really add to the impact that this dress deserves.

EMFT

 

Step by step blueberry pancakes and the case of the indestructible cat

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Blueberry pancakes

So the other night, I was driving the boys round to meet their buddies, the lovely Marshes (they’re twins so they’re always referred to this way - makes it easier). As we drove along, a little black speckly cat ran straight at us from the grass verge. We all saw it and gasped and, of course, knew exactly what was going to happen - I slammed on the brakes (without even checking my mirror, I’m horrified to say), there was screeching (both from me and the tyres) and… BANG! Of course I did what any animal lover did, which was to stay rooted to my seat and burst into tears - I couldn’t bear to get out. The boys, smothering me with cuddles and reassuring me it wasn’t my fault, took a deep breath and got out to look…

Nothing.

No cat. And it was a big bang. We looked all around grass verges where we we’d stopped, then a very kind couple stopped and asked if we were okay and the man checked all underneath the car… but really, no cat.

Sooo we heaved a deep breath, got back in the car, thanked our lucky stars there were no cars behind us when we screeched to a stop, and I dropped them off. When I got home, I walked down to where it happened to have another search and there, under some bushes, was the little cat, definitely the same one, looking a bit dazed and wide-eyed, but no visible damage. I went to touch it, but it got up and ran away. Incredible.

Anyway, to soothe myself after this ordeal I headed home for comfort food, and spotting the punnet of blueberries in the fridge, I set to and made myself an enormous stack of blueberry pancakes. What? They were medicinal. For the shock…

Blueberry pancakes:

225g self raising flour

4 level tbsp caster sugar

2 large, free range eggs

1/2 pint milk

Couple of handfuls of blueberries.

Sift the flour into a bowl and stir in the sugar. Make a well in the centre of the dry ingredients and whisk in the eggs and milk to make a thick batter. Now you can either stir in the blueberries, or wait until you’re cooking and pop them on to the pancakes - I prefer this way as it makes it a bit more even - plus it looks prettier.

Next, heat a heavy-based frying pan and lightly brush the surface with oil (I use rapeseed). Dollop a couple of tablespoons of the mixture into the pan, trying not to let them touch. Pop the blueberries on, then wait until you see bubbles on the surface before flipping them over. If you’ve got big blueberries (ooer), you might need to squish them gently just to make sure the pancake batter touches the surface of the pan, but generally I’m not an advocate of squishing pancakes as it forces the air out.

So after a big pile of light, fluffy pancakes studded with beautiful soft little fruity jewels, with a dollop of thick Greek yogurt and a drizzle of honey, I felt a bit better.

Bet that poor cat’s got a headache.

Easy tapas: spicy garlic prawns

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Spicy garlic prawnsSo next up on my easy tapas menu from the Disreputable One’s birthday tapas feast were these beautiful pink spicy garlic prawns:

Spicy garlic prawns

1 kg prawns (we bought shell-on and peeled them beforehand - never again!)

Large glug of olive oil

3 or 4 cloves garlic, finely grated or crushed

2 red chillies, chopped and deseeded

2 tbsp sweet paprika

If you bought shell-on prawns, it’s a really nice touch to leave the tail on - it just makes it slightly easier to pick them up. Make sure you provide a finger bowl or two with some lemon slices and plenty of towels - eating these is a messy job! I also left a couple whole just for decoration.

Heat the oil in a large, heavy based pan and add the garlic, chillies and paprika. Fry gently for a couple of minutes (don’t let the garlic burn), then add in the prawns. Put the heat up a bit and fry just until the prawns turn pink. Serve immediately with loads of bread for dunking as the sauce is AMAZING.

Travel: go green on a Suffolk holiday - top 5 Suffolk gardens

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Suffolk - go green!If you’ve got green fingers or just love gardens, Suffolk is the place to book your holiday this year. The summer season is on its way and the open gardens in Suffolk are ready to welcome visitors from across the UK (and the globe!).

Suffolk Secrets are a reputable local provider of quality accommodation and come highly recommended. They offer an attractive selection of self-catering cottages with gardens for those wanting to have their own little garden to enjoy on their holiday.

Here’s their top 5 Suffolk Gardens:

1. A tropical gem, Henstead Exotic Garden showcases some excellent hardy varieties of palms, bamboos, tree ferns and many other tropical specimens. The impressive display is set on over an acre of land and boasts three large ponds with streams and waterfalls. There is a wooden walkway winding around the gardens, as well as a refreshment pavilion.

2. The Place for Plants at East Bergholt is frequently referred to as “a Cornish garden in Suffolk”. There’s over 20 acres of greenery, unusual flowering trees, beautiful shrubs, and a range of seasonal floral displays including bulbs, roses, and hydrangeas. The garden is open seasonally to visitors and there are guided tours available for those wanting to find out more about the history and plants in this impressive garden.

3. Otley Hall garden has to be one of the “best for character” examples of Suffolk Gardens. A real hit with holiday makers, the gardens are set around a grade 1 listed 16th Century hall. Surrounded by a moat, the hall claims ten acres of award winning gardens including some original designs maintained from Francis Thomas’s landscaping of the grounds, as well as some contemporary gardens recreated from traditional medieval designs.

4. Somerleyton has some fine examples of landscaped, walled and under glass gardens. The glass houses were designed by Crystal Palace architect Joseph Paxton, with aspects of the outdoor garden designed by William Nesfield. Nesfield’s yew maze is a popular feature of this traditional English garden. There is a fine selection of roses, azaleas and rhododendrons for people to enjoy. It’s worth planning ahead and booking a space on a private guided tour to get the most out of this stately garden.

5. Wyken Hall Gardens are open seasonally to visitors. The gardens are set around an Elizabethan manor house and contain beautiful borders and areas of fruit trees. With mature yew hedges the garden is a cosy enclosed haven perfect for children as well as adults, who enjoy finding the free roaming chickens, guinea fowl, and peacocks around the grounds.

There’s so much choice for garden aficionados in Suffolk, with a mix of attractions to keep the whole family happy on vacation. From tropical paradise to traditional stately gardens it’s the perfect UK holiday destination for garden lovers!

Thanks to Suffolk Secrets for the insider info!

On test: meet and greet airport parking

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SuitcaseI think one of the worst things about flying is actually getting yourself to the airport. From where we live there are few options that aren’t a massive pain. You can get a coach, but you have to drive to the bus station, so where do you park your car for two weeks? You can train it, but after struggling up stairs with a massive suitcase at Clapham Junction when the lift was out of order, I vowed never to do it again. So basically this leaves me with driving, which is my preferred option.

When we’ve used airport parking before, we’ve always used the system where you park in a car park a way away from the airport, then hop on a bus to the terminal. Sometimes this works really well, but on the return journey, when you’re freezing cold, haven’t slept after a night flight, and you’re the 57th stop on a packed bus, it can be a bit of a pain.

Let’s hear it for Stress Free Airport Parking, then. The clue’s in the title, but basically they offer a service (at every major UK airport) where you drive to the airport, they meet you right by the terminal, you hand over your car to them, they store it, and then pick you up when you land.

I was keen to try it out, but had a few worries. Firstly, at Luton (my local airport and the biggest pain in the bum to drop anyone off or pick them up) they charge you £2 JUST TO DROP SOMEONE OFF. I’ve never encountered this charge at any other airport, but yep, you have to pay. And if you don’t pay, the camera vans regularly on patrol will spy you dropping passengers off on the approach road and charge you. I know this because I’ve been caught. Not worth the £80 fine. So how would Stress Free Airport Parking get round that? Also, where do they take your car? Do they look after it? Who drives it? What if I’m delayed?

So I tried it out. And I have to say, I was mightily impressed. You ring when you’re 20 minutes away from the airport, drive into the short stay car park and take a ticket, then a very nice driver meets you in a specially allocated bay. You do a walk round of the car with him (so there’s no disputes afterwards about whether a certain mark or scratch was there before) and they mark down the mileage. They guarantee they’ll do less than x amount of miles on your car (I think at Luton it was 20, but can’t remember exactly). The driver (who is fully insured - I double checked this) then takes your car away to secure storage while you tootle off on your holiday. When you return, you give them a ring as you collect your baggage and when you step out of the terminal, your car is magically waiting for you - car park ticket paid, ready for you to drive home.

The drivers were uniformed, polite and efficient, my car was immaculate, and had less than ten miles added to the mileage, and the whole experience was completely stress-free. I asked my driver what happens if you’re delayed, and because they’ve got your flight number, they keep a track of flights so they know if you’re going to be in late and expect you at the right time. No expensive calls and text from foreign airports, then.

Our verdict: brilliant. I’ve used it twice since our test and I’ll be booking again when I fly from Heathrow next month. It really is the only way to travel!

Many thanks to Stress Free Airport Parking for inviting me to try out their service.

Travel guest post: a fine city heritage break in Norwich

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Norwich is a vibrant city with a lot to offer visitors looking for a short break or a long stay. With quaint old buildings, heritage attractions, and beautiful original architecture there is so much history to explore. There really is something for everyone in this “fine” city.

Heritage Days:

Norwich is steeped with history. The popular annual Heritage Open Days bring many tourists to the area to take a look around the hidden history of the city. From old Gentlemen’s clubs to underground crypts, and a warm welcome to visitors from many of the city’s churches; historically Norwich was quoted to have a church for every Sunday and a pub for everyday of the week. History lovers should sign up to the mailing list to avoid missing out on appointment only venues.

Museums:

Norwich has an abundance of museums and heritage attractions:

Norwich Castle was constructed in the late 1000’s. Today it’s a popular museum destination for visitors boasting a range of archaeological finds, travelling exhibitions, displays of natural history, and an impressive number of teapots!

The Bridewell museum is set in the old women’s and beggars prison. It’s a vibrant collection of local history, focusing on the once thriving city trades.

Strangers hall, an old merchants ho

use, is one of the oldest building in the city. Today it operates as a museum of domestic living.

Riverside walk/boat:

Many visitors like to explore the old city buildings on the river Wensum. There’s a choice of boat tours ranging from trips that will take you past the historic city sights such as the cathedral, and past more contemporary sights like the home of the Canaries (Norwich City Football Club) at Carrow Road. Some trips will take you all the way through to the Norfolk broads. There is also the more romantic option of a punting trip for two along the lovely Wensum.

Cathedrals:

Norwich has two Cathedrals, both definitive landmarks on the Norwich landscape. The oldest is the Church of England Cathedral, and the second the Roman Catholic cathedral.

Norwich Cathedral was built with distinctive limestone imported from France. This Norman Cathedral dates back to around 1096 when construction commenced. The Cathedral is still a religious hub today attracting visitors from around the world.

Norwich Catholic Cathedral, also known as Saint John the Baptist Cathedral, is the second largest Roman Catholic cathedral in the UK. The building dates back to 1882 and is open to public seven days a week.

Where to stay:

Many travellers enjoy the freedom that comes from staying in self-catering holiday accommodation. With so many historic buildings there are some beautiful renovations meaning that visitors can chose to stay in their very own piece of history. Norfolk Country Cottages offer some delightful heritage properties within the city.

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