Inside guide: Nîmes
Boasting some of Europe’s best preserved Roman monuments, the lively city of Nîmes hasn’t earned its nickname as the ‘French Rome’ for nothing. And with an enchanting old town, excellent restaurants and shopping, it easily rivals other, better-known destinations in the south of France – or indeed Italy – for a short break. It has […]
Best stopovers en route south
“Where do you stop when you drive south?” is possibly the number one question I get asked… and it’s so good to have dozens of suggestions up my sleeve. Whether you want to just enjoy a bit of luxury and switch off at a beautiful boutique hotel, or have a more adventurous stay in a […]
30 best B&Bs in France
I love a chambres d’hotes – the French answer to a BnB gives you a chance to chat to the owners, get the inside track on what the best places to visit, best restaurants, and the history of an area. This made it a joy to put together my favourite 30 in France for The […]
Great new chateaux hotel
My recent journey through Provence concluded at Chateau de Montcaud, which I reached after crossing the Rhône and driving through vineyards with Mont Ventoux forever in my rear-view mirror. While designer fashion houses are at the helm in Saint-Tropez at Le Cheval Blanc, the four-star Chateau de Montcaud celebrates its connections to the couture of […]
50 best holidays in France
Some of my recent pieces for The Times’ travel section
Best places to stay in Languedoc
With its Roman architecture, varied coastline, Pyrenean foothills and vibrant cities, Languedoc is the ‘other’ south of France, but oh so different to Provence. Here are my pick of the 20 best places to stay in the region. 20 best places to stay in Languedoc One of my favourites among them is Village Castigno (pool […]
Switch off in Village Castigno
Village Castigno PDF Village Castigno, a ‘scattered hotel’ in the Languedoc village of Assignan, has transformed a dying village into a vibrant centre for relaxation, creative workshops and wine-tasting… but forget about Instagramming it (published in Metro, 23 July 2018). The new winery just outside Village Castigno, a welcoming village hotel in the south […]
A weekend in Nîmes
A weekend in Nimes, The Times, 5th May 2018. With the opening of the brand new Roman museum opening in June 2018 (I was the first non-French journalist to visit), it seemed the perfect time to explore Nimes, its Roman heritage, and soak up the Mediterranean sun. Read the article here Or here: A weekend in […]
10 great French holidays by train
Ten of the best places to visit in France by train, The Guardian, 29th March 2018. https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2018/mar/29/france-by-rail-10-great-summer-trips
Road trip from Collioure
For Sunday Times Travel Magazine’s 2017 Total Guide to France, I wrote several pieces, among them this road trip along the Vermilion Coast from Collioure to Banyuls-sur-Mer and back. Collioure road trip A jazz band is blocking the street in Collioure. The four hipster dudes with pork pie hats strum, bang and bop to the […]