Hi, I'm Alex, a travel writer based in London, I love writing about travel as much as traveling itself. I’m a scrappy researcher, and a hoarder of info, whether it's trivial or mind-blowing. I get a lot of joy doing justice to worthwhile places, and I’m always excited to share the stories behind them.
I have a real affection for Tarragona in Catalonia, from the golden sandy beaches to the mountains. I love Hamburg and its harbour and many waterways, especially in spring. And I'll always be drawn to the rolling countryside in the south of England, especially Wiltshire. I'll go anywhere with a great art museum, and ruins, ancient or medieval.
Amid the ageless beauty of the Peak District, Buxton is the highest market town in England, at 300 metres above sea level. Travellers came to Buxton to drink its spring water for hundreds of years before the 5th Duke of Devonshire, William Cavendish set out bold plans for a spa resort in the 18th century. …
Cumbria’s only city, Carlisle is rooted in the 2nd century as a Roman settlement tied to Hadrian’s Wall, the northernmost boundary of the Roman Empire. That enormous defence is the largest Roman artefact in the world, and there are forts and long portions of the wall in touching distance of Carlisle. This city was on …
There are a few things that spring to mind when you hear the name “Worcester”. It might be the sumptuous Gothic cathedral tower, the tangy sauce that goes into Bloody Marys or the fine brand of soft paste porcelain. You can pull on all these threads in Worcester and dive into with the city’s storied …
A genteel Victorian seaside resort on the South Coast of England, Bournemouth cultivates a polished, stately image. This has much to do with its many gardens, planted with sub-tropical species like palms and ferns that thrive in the town’s warmer microclimate. Bournemouth has some of the warmest sea temperatures in England, on seven miles of …
When people picture domestic seaside holidays in the UK, the Victorian resort of Blackpool is still the first destination that comes to mind. Never mind that the weather can be erratic and the Irish Sea a bit nippy, Blackpool pulls in millions of holidaymakers a year, seeking light entertainment, old-time amusements and the timeless fun …
The county of Hampshire’s largest city, Southampton is a historic port where many of the world’s largest cruise liners continue to dock. One such ship, the Titanic departed from Southampton on its ill-fated maiden voyage. The city also has an aviation background as the place where the Spitfire fighter plane was assembled in the 1930s. …
Until the steam age the university city of Exeter was a thriving port for the wool trade, bolstered by one of the UK’s oldest ship canals. Exeter escaped heavy industry in the 19th century because it was set too far from fuel sources, and this has helped it keep some of its Tudor character. This …
All through Medieval times and the Early Modern Age, Norwich was the second largest city in England after London. All through that time this city on the River Wensum prospered through the wool trade and a lucrative weaving industry, bolstered by immigrants from the Low Countries. Then, because of its isolation in East Anglia, Norwich …
At the head of Plymouth Sound, one of the world’s great natural harbours, Plymouth is a city with a rich maritime past. For hundreds of years this has been a naval base, and the cliffs along the harbour are armed with coastal forts and batteries from the 17th century to the Second World War. You …
Since the Middle Ages Portsmouth has been an assembly point for campaigns by sea. Portsmouth was made to be a naval base for its natural harbour and the protection given by the Isle of Wight, just across the strait known as the Solent. It has the distinction of being the only island city in the …