Where to find the best ‘brocante’
If you love bric-a-brac or antiques, then you can’t go too far in France without finding a ‘brocante’, rammed with all sorts of objets and vintage items. The best place I’ve found, in terms of variety, is Le Perche in Normandy, which is included in this feature for Homes & Antiques magazine, along with Paris, […]
Bordeaux guide (House & Garden Destinations)
For House & Garden’s annual travel supplement Destinations, I picked the best of Bordeaux – a city really on the up. Destinations Bordeaux
Best of Bordeaux
Sometimes you just need a quick guide to a city to make sure you’re seeing all you should be seeing. This story for The Independent gives you the ten best things to see and do. Main picture – Unsplash Juan di Nella
The best French hotels for foodies
Being a bit of a foodie, I already knew some of the best hotels in France for a gourmet experience but during the course of researching and writing Lonely Planet’s France From the Source I stayed in some excellent hotels that offer a superb gastronomic experience for a variety of budgets. It was great, therefore, to pull […]
The best French destinations for interiors shopping
So much of France remains undiscovered by the British and so when Homes & Gardens wanted a feature on the best ‘hidden’ destinations for their annual French special I was delighted to reveal some of my favourite places, each with a different USP. Knowing their audience love interiors, I chose destinations that are great for […]
French city breaks by train
Two new high-speed train lines opening in July 2017 will mean several cities in the west of France will be much easier to get to. This piece for The Times revealed the best ways to enjoy each place: Rennes Saint Malo Poitiers Toulouse Bordeaux Nantes Angouleme Read it here.
The Independent on Sunday
Just before the news that The Independent would go online-only, I was commissioned to write the lead in the Sunday supplement about five short breaks to take in France in the spring. It was great fun to write, bringing in my knowledge of each place. Nantes Bordeaux Menton Honfleur Le Perche Read the online […]