Discover Britain

As we head into 2023 proper, there have been a few changes at Discover Britain, not least the introduction of our new ‘Discover’ travel special (p13), which this issue transports you to the ‘castle country’ of Northumberland. In this 38-page bumper guide to England’s historic northeast region, we follow the food and drink trail from countryside to coast (p14), we take an exclusive tour of Alnwick Castle with the Duke of Northumberland (p26 – check out Jeremy Flint’s stunning photos), and we visit the Holy Island of Lindisfarne (p46). Other changes, aside from our new deep-dive into a travel region each issue, include a new columnist, Caroline Mills, who will provide a regular window into rural life in the English idyll with her Cotswolds Diary (p50), plus we take a look at…

EXHIBITIONS The Georgian red carpet revisited Bringing to life the glitz and glamour of the Georgian court, while showing parallels between the excess of yesteryear and the modern-day red carpet, a new fashion exhibition at Kensington Palace, Crown to Couture, is sure to turn heads. From April until October 2023, the exhibition, supported by both the Blavatnik Family Foundation and Garrard, looks set to be the largest ever staged at the palace. Historic items on show will include the world-famous Silver Tissue Gown, on loan from the Fashion Museum Bath, and a court suit (pictured), on loan from the National Museum of Wales. Historic items will be shown alongside contemporary red carpet looks worn by some of the biggest celebrities of today. Claudia Acott Williams, curator at Historic Royal Palaces, said: ‘By bringing these familiar…

Stonehenge stirs memories Your article about Stonehenge in Issue 231, February 2022, was lovely and a reminder to bring out my grandmother’s photograph (see right) which was taken there in the late 1940s or early 1950s. It is my treasured photo. I’m originally from Shipley, but my parents moved us to Canada in my early childhood. I’ve gone back several times to visit my family, but I’ve yet to get to Stonehenge. Gail Kelly, via Facebook The maps are back I am so glad to see you are printing maps again. I have travelled in Great Britain several times, and it is so helpful to locate places we have visited on this map. When your map was not published for some time, I wrote to your magazine but never received an answer or saw the…

A landscape of crumbling coastal castles, winding Roman ruins, dark forests and windswept fells, Northumberland is an enchanting but often overlooked pocket of England, tucked away in the country’s northeast corner. The region’s history and natural beauty are matched by the produce of its coast and countryside, and a food and drink tour is a great way to get a taste for Northumberland as you travel. This itinerary starts in the Northumberland interior beside the ruins of Hadrian’s Wall before heading east, via cheesemakers and a nice cup of tea, to the magnificent coast, where each morning fishermen haul in some of Britain’s finest seafood. Just south of the majestic ruins of Hadrian’s Wall lies a village with a perplexing name. Travel from east to west along the Military Road and a…

Berwick-upon-Tweed is a pub quiz favourite – the English town whose football team plays in the Scottish leagues – and that is just one reflection of the riotous history that has played out in the top right-hand corner of Northumberland. Once part of the Anglo-Saxon Kingdom of Northumbria, the border town of Berwick enjoys the dubious title of being the most disputed, coveted town in Britain, having exchanged hands between Scotland and England no less than 13 times. In the late Middle Ages, it was Scotland’s richest town, exporting wool from monastic centres. English since 1482, one legacy of the town’s turbulence is the magnificent Elizabethan walls that encircle it, making Berwick the only completely walled town in Britain and drawing deserved comparisons with the historic cities of Chester and York. The town…

Alnwick Castle is a beautiful country house in the heart of Northumberland and one of the UK’s favourite stately homes. The vast stone fort stands proud high above the River Aln in the market town of Alnwick and has withstood the test of time, surviving both the elements and invasions from marauding armies during the Scottish and English civil wars. Built in the late 11th century as a border fortress, the castle has transformed over the years from a derelict battlement into one of the country’s finest pieces of magnificent medieval architecture. This architectural icon is an incredible example of British heritage that has been preserved and protected by the Percy family for centuries. Today, Alnwick Castle is the second largest inhabited castle in the UK (after Windsor Castle) and is home to…