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 […]
Visit Normandy’s D-Day sites
Visit the D-Day Beaches on Normandy’s coast
A weekend in Bayeux
The town of Bayeux, near the north French coast, is best known for its tapestry but what else is there to enjoy on a weekend there? This article is a longer version of one written for The Times on what to see and do on Bayeux Normandy. A weekend in Bayeux We all know how […]
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, […]
Total Guide: Seaside France
For Sunday Times Travel Magazine’s August 2017 issue, I wrote more than 4000 words about Seaside France in a variety of different formats. This included: Two longer pieces on the Roussillon coast and Roscoff (including the Ile de Batz), Top tens on best seaside hotels, secret coastal towns, sun-drenched beaches, lazy seaside meals, ways to […]
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 […]
A weekend in Le Havre
Le Havre celebrated its 500th anniversary in 2017 with a host of different events. Most people just zip through from the ferry en route elsewhere in France, but it’s worth stopping for its incredible Unesco-listed, mid-century architecture designed by concrete pioneer Auguste Perret. Read the story online here A weekend in Le Havre It’s hard […]
French food and booze cruise
The Calais hypermarchés are great for stocking up on cheap booze, but for a ferry trip with gourmet credentials, zip over to Brittany and Normandy for some top quality local produce. Using knowledge from several trips over the Channel, I put together a mouth-watering guide for Guardian readers on what to buy and where. [Read the […]
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 […]
Best places to stay in Normandy
This story is pretty old now, and I’ve stayed in some fantastic places in Normandy since. This will always be my favourite though, I think: Château de Saint Paterne, Saint Paterne This fairytale hotel on the outskirts of Alençon was once a bolthole for King Henry IV of France, who conducted his dangerous liaisons here. […]