A weekend in Marseille
What to see and do in Marseille, France. Explore its different neighbourhoods, museums, shops and restaurants
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, […]
What to do in Paris in the rain
Have you seen the Woody Allen movie Midnight in Paris? In it, Owen Wilson describes how he loves Paris in the rain, and the film does depict a romantic version of the City of Lights in La Pluie. That said, it can’t half put a dampener on a weekend in Paris – the answer? Head […]
Why Biarritz’s street market is a bargain-hunter’s heaven
Metro, March 12, 2018. The twice-yearly Braderie market in Biarritz sees the streets come alive with bargain market stalls, jazz bands and cut-price clobber. Even without the Braderie, it’s a great place to shop. My feature for Metro: read here Metro, 12 March 2018, p. 39
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 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 […]