Discover Britain April - May 2022

Hello, and welcome to the latest issue of Discover Britain, which is my first as editor (I know, the photos rather gave me away). It’s been a busy few months for me, establishing our small but excellent team and pulling together a band of brilliant photographers and writers to bring you some (hopefully) page-turning articles. Of course, I’m biased, but I think this issue is jam-packed with fantastic stories. First up, we couldn’t let the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee pass by without fanfare, and I hope our article on page 10 suitably captures the mood of the nation. Harry Potter fans can now start plotting their next trip, thanks to our magical mystery tour, which reveals the places that inspired the book and which featured on film, on page 22. Meanwhile, on page 32 photographer…

CASTLE CARY, SOMERSET First-class train travel, private garden tours and local tastings – what’s not to like? We may just have found the perfect countryside escape from the capital, whether you’re a resident or a visitor. Setting off by train on a Friday or Saturday morning from London’s Paddington station, on the Great Garden Escape you’ll be whisked to The Newt in Somerset, a beautiful country estate set around the Georgian Palladian property, Hadspen House. Today Hadspen is an elegant country house hotel and you’ll enjoy a day of touring, tasting and exploring. On arrival, you’ll be greeted with refreshments, before being taken on an exclusive garden tour, followed by lunch and further exploration – look out for the Beezantium, a lakeside apiary for honey-bees. In the afternoon, you’ll visit the ‘Cyder’ house…

Bunting hung between lampposts, fluttering its intermittent silent applause, Union Jacks were waved with fervour, sandwiches packed with coronation chicken (or the closest substituted ingredients that could be found) and thick slices of cake were served on tiered dishes, and tea was drunk by the pot-load. When Britain celebrated the crowning of its new queen in 1953, as well as the crowds who watched events unfold in London, where the newly crowned monarch emerged onto the famous Buckingham Palace balcony, with her husband, the Duke of Edinburgh, her son Prince Charles, and her daughter Princess Anne, up and down the country jubilant street parties took place. Street parties are a traditional part of British culture. It’s thought the tradition first began in 1919 when a number of streets held ‘Peace Teas’– communal…

• Residents are advised to plan their party at least six weeks in advance – this is mainly to allow time to contact the local council should they wish to get a temporary road closure. You can always host the party on a private driveway instead, if the owner agrees • No risk assessment or license is needed (as long as you’re not planning to sell alcohol or use amplified music as one of the main purposes of the event) • You can serve food – though our advice is to club together with neighbours and arrange to bring one dish per household • Tea and other tipples are absolutely fine – it’s time to make use of your best china and crockery • Decorate and celebrate – bunting, balloons, confetti and streamers are…

Harry Potter’s wizarding world has inspired children, and adults, around the globe for 25 years. The books are among the biggest selling in children’s literature history, and the resulting films catapulted Harry, Hermione, Ron, all their friends, and enemies, into the public eye. Around the world, Harry Potter is synonymous with Britain, and tourists arrive in their thousands to revel in the locations that inspired JK Rowling to write the original books, and those that were made famous on the silver screen, when Harry launched from the page to the cinema. Rowling endured difficult marriages and economic uncertainty living in London and Edinburgh in the 1990s. She has said that the idea for Harry Potter came to her on the train from Manchester to London, and that the book first began life…

• Edinburgh Greyfriar’s Kirkyard, The Elephant House, George Heriot School, the Balmoral Hotel and Victoria Street are all walkable in Edinburgh city centre. There are many guided tours and buses, but exploring yourself is much more fun. edinburgh.org/blog/ the-ultimate-harrypotter-guide-to-edinburgh/ • The Jacobite steam train The famous Harry Potter steam train that runs over the Glenfinnan Viaduct departs every morning from April to October, and every afternoon from May to September, from Fort William to Mallaig and back. westcoastrailways.co.uk/jacobite/ steam-train-trip • Glenfinnan Viaduct A car park on the A830, 17 miles from Fort William, is the start point for a walk to the Glenfinnan Viaduct if you want to watch the train as it passes over. nts.org.uk/visit/places/ glenfinnanmonument/highlights/viaduct • Alnwick Castle The castle is open from March to December and tickets can be booked online. Alnwick is near…