Five under-the-radar areas of France
Five great places to visit in France that are off the beaten track
France’s foodiest corner
The foodiest corner in France may start with its gastronomic capital Lyon, but to really indulge the tastebuds, strike out to the south to the department of Drome after a few days in the city. My story for The Times (read the shorter version here – and yes they spell it ‘Lyons’ as it’s their house […]
Lyon’s food: past, present and future
If you love food, you’ll love Lyon: it’s not for nothing it’s known as France’s gastronomic capital. And researching this story for National Geographic Traveller Food was probably the most gut-busting few days I’ve ever had in France (even including researching France From the Source! ) but also an absolute joy – from the Ile […]
Lyon’s Cité Internationale de la Gastronomie
Do you like food? I do. Imagine then, a whole interactive, whizz-bang tourist attraction dedicated to it. In France, its host city could only be the country’s capital of gastronomy: Lyon. After Bordeaux’s Cité du Vin gave travellers a brilliant reason to return to Bordeaux, the foodie equivalent in Lyon – a huge attraction with […]
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 […]
Weekend guide to Lyon
Read it here If you need a quick guide to Lyon, my article from The i Paper has the answers for those planning a weekend
50 best holidays in France
Some of my recent pieces for The Times’ travel section
The curious Palais Ideal and The Vercors
The Palais Ideal in Hauterives, south of Lyon, is one of France’s most curious attractions. Built by postman, Le Facteur Cheval, in the late 19th and early 20th century, it made the start to a fascinating journey around this relatively unknown area of south-east France. For The Times, 3rd March 2018. Read the feature here […]
The secret network hidden from Lyon’s streets
One of France’s most exciting cities offers a glimpse into its past through its secret passages and stairwells, known as traboules. They date from the days when the city’s silk trade was booming. My snapshot of the experience of exploring them for National Geographic Traveller’s blog. Main photo: Unsplash Dimon Blr