ST IVES , CORNWALL

 

It’s the light, that always strikes visitors who come to St Ives. Jutting out from the coastline, the town, which is surrounded by beaches, is bathed in a soft, romantic glow that makes everything look like Instagram-perfection: no filter necessary.

This is the reason why many prominent artists were drawn here and have left behind a rich heritage. As the sculptor Barbara Hepworth said of her adopted home: “The horizontal line of the sea and the quality of light and colour… reminds me of the Mediterranean light and colour, which so excites one’s sense of form.”

She wasn’t the only one. As the fishing industry dried up at the end of the 19th century, a new railway line brought in the out-of-towners. Bernard Leach – known as the father of British pottery – and the Japanese potter Shōji Hamada set up the Leach Pottery in 1920. But St Ives, like the rest of Cornwall, attracts outdoorsy-types as well as art tourists. Visitors to the Tate can step out into the garden to admire the surfers and kayakers on the beach below or traipse up onto a particularly admired section of the South West Coast Path, just meters from the gallery’s entrance.

LEEDS CASTLE, KENT

 

Leeds Castle in Kent is a 19th century castle with roots dating back almost 1,000 years, that today draws visitors from far and wide to explore its beautiful structure, positioned picturesquely on an island in the middle of a lake. Leeds Castle was originally constructed as a fortification in 1119 by Robert de Crevecoeur, an Anglo-Norman lord under William II.

In 1278, Leeds Castle was bought by Eleanor of Castile, following which it took on a different role as a royal palace to her husband King Edward I. He expanded it, likely adding further elements such as the lake and an impressive barbican spanning 3 islands.

Leeds Castle passed through numerous royal hands over the coming centuries, hosting a myriad of important guests including Henry VIII, who visited it on several occasions. Henry VIII also extensively renovated the castle as a residence for his first wife, Catherine of Aragon.

Eventually falling into private ownership under King Edward VI, Leeds Castle survived the English Civil War in the hands of the Parliamentarians and later acted as a prison for Dutch and French prisoners of war.

Today, Leeds Castle is a major leisure destination and houses a maze, a golf course, and what may be the world’s only dog collar museum.

BIRMINGHAM, MIDLANDS

Britain’s second largest city, Birmingham is an industrial hub with a vibrant, creative heart. There’s a whole host of quirky adventures waiting to be discovered in the city – from cultural festivals to unique street art tours. Find a funky scene at the Custard Factory, home to up-and-coming designers, artists and independent cafes and bars. Or satisfy your fashion fever at the Bullring, Mailbox Malls and the achingly cool Grand Central complex.

From cruising down the city’s forgotten underground canals with an expert guide to checking out the home of the infamous Peaky Blinders, or celebrating the city’s eclectic cuisine with an unforgettable meal on the Balti Triangle, Birmingham’s blindingly brilliant!

 

FOXTON LOCKS, LEICESTERSHIRE

 

An iconic series of locks and a grand feat of engineering on the Grand Union Canal. Foxton Locks is a Grade II listed site, and home to the longest, steepest staircase flight of locks in Britain. These locks have been an essential part of travel, trade and leisure for over 200 years. Foxton Locks sits in 34 acres of natural green spaces which make is great for nature spotting. Look out for herons, swans, swallows and kingfishers. Also located at the site are two pubs, two cafés, a museum and the chance to hire a day boat.

Each year over 400,000 visitors experience the rich heritage of the site, which also includes the remains of the unique Inclined Boat Lift which is listed as a Scheduled Ancient Monument.