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.
In East Anglia, Norfolk is a mostly rural county with rich farmland beloved for its big skies, windmills, country towns and waterways. The fabulous heritage city of Norfolk is loaded with period architecture and has a spellbinding cathedral, prized as one of England’s finest pieces of Norman heritage. On the coast you have a choice …
Gloucestershire is everything people love about rural England. The county is rich in history, idyllic landscapes, architecture, the list goes on. Rising in the centre of Gloucestershire are the Cotswolds, limestone hills of incomparable natural beauty, sheltering gorgeous towns and villages, all built with a yellowy stone that resembles nothing else. Gloucester is a fitting …
In England’s West Country, Dorset is a rural place without a single city. But what Dorset does have is the most romantic countryside and heroic coastal landscapes that make up the UNESCO-listed Jurassic Coast. Wherever you go there’s always something memorable to see close by. On the sea are atmospheric ports, perfect sandy beaches, massive …
One of the Home Counties, Berkshire’s bucolic rural scenery coupled with being close to London makes it a place where most people will pay handsomely for property. The county can be extremely fancy, and has been home to royalty since the early 1100s when Windsor Castle was built. The presence of royalty can be felt …
The City of Durham is one of those magical places that outdoes itself at every turn, and merits the trip to this county by itself. After seeing every historic site and seeing the tomb of Venerable Bede and the treasure of St Cuthbert, you’ll be wiser about England’s mysterious years before the Normans came. Two …
The city of Bath and its glorious Roman and Georgian culture is why most people come to Somerset. And Bath is as good a reason as any, but the county has many more feathers in its cap, at captivating old cities and towns like Wells and Frome and the many cute country villages. The Somerset …
The county of Leicestershire hit the news in 2012 when the body of King Richard III was found. The notorious 15th-century ruler had been buried in an unmarked grave after dying at the Battle of Bosworth Field in 1485. If you’re a history geek you there’s loads of places to satisfy your Richard curiosity around …
When Liverpool and Manchester’s high-earners seek country residences they usually look south to the county of Cheshire. So there’s a curious diversity to the county, as earthy industrial towns can be set a few miles from gentrified rural villages with posh restaurants and boutiques. In the west, almost on the border with Wales is Chester, …
A place of contrasts, Derbyshire counts as the East Midlands, even if its northernmost towns are at the same latitude as cities like Manchester and Liverpool. Rousing natural beauty is almost commonplace in this county, and much of it falls within the Peak District National Park. If you’re seduced by the opulence of stately homes, …
If you prefer countryside to be as remote and unspoiled as possible you’ll love Lincolnshire. In the south the landscapes are flat, with wide open skies and polder farms growing flowers and vegetables. The flatness is interrupted in the west by the Vales and in the centre by the Lincolnshire Wolds, rolling chalk and sandstone …