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 […]
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 […]
New luxury Paris hotels
Paris often has new luxury hotels opening, but those that came on the scene in autumn 2018 were unique – Hotel Fauchon – the first hotel from the French food brand, Hotel Lutetia – a reincarnation of the legendary hotel, and Brach Paris – a jaw-dropping new hotel from the genius (imho) designer Philippe Starck. […]
Luxury Saint Tropez
Saint-Tropez is one of France’s most chic destinations and a host of new hotels and beach clubs means it’s more sophisticated than ever
Visit Normandy’s D-Day sites
Visit the D-Day Beaches on Normandy’s coast
Best places to stay in Brittany
If you clicked onto this post from the map, you might have noticed there are a lot of stories about Brittany… I’m rather in love with it at the moment. And if you’re going, you’ll need somewhere lovely to stay. There are 20 in the article – click here to read it – to […]
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 […]
Heartache and beauty on the battlefields of northern France
In summer 2018, I explored some of the key sites involved in World War I and the newer memorials and museums, including the newly renovated Musée de l’Armistice. It was a heart-wrenching trip, but it gave me a much deeper understanding of the losses and sacrifices, as well as the history of how the war […]
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 […]
Family cycling on the Île de Ré
This article was originally published in The Times. Fifteen minutes into our walk around the chic town of Saint Martin-de-Ré, I realise that our decision to ‘spend day one exploring the town on foot’ is a mistake. We’re standing on a cobbled bridge that crosses the town’s mighty Vauban ramparts with two hungry children, in […]