The Platinum Line

Category: England

  • Walking tour of Georgian Bath

    Walking tour of Georgian Bath

    I belong to a walk in the past, history walking group and last Sunday we explored Georgian Bath.  Bath which is a UNESCO world heritage site still markets itself as a Georgian city.  In the 18th century the aristocracy flocked here to take the waters, to gamble or to find a suitable spouse.   Jane…

  • Discovering Marlborough doors

    Discovering Marlborough doors

    A while ago I came across a blog link party featuring posts about doors from all over the world. At first I thought it was a rather nerdish subject but then I became intrigued and decided to see if I could write a suitable post. The trouble was the more I looked the more difficult…

  • A day out in Wells

    A day out in Wells

    Wells is England’s smallest city yet there is a great deal to see from the huge gothic cathedral to the bishop’s palace

  • P.S. Waverley Thames Cruise to Tower Pier

    P.S. Waverley Thames Cruise to Tower Pier

    A few weeks ago, I received an exciting e.mail from Silver travel advisor, a website for the mature traveller.  I learned that I had won a twinkling Thames cruise aboard the paddle steamer Waverley and a night bed and breakfast at the Croydon Hilton in the monthly draw. The prize was provided by Just Go…

  • Westonbirt Arboretum: Going for gold, my favourite autumn walk

    Westonbirt Arboretum: Going for gold, my favourite autumn walk

    One of my favourite local places to visit at this time of year is Westonbirt Arboretum, which is in Gloucestershire about four miles from Tetbury.  An Arboretum is a word for a collection of trees and Westonbirt has 15,000 of them including 2,500 different types.   The collection was started in 1850 by Robert Holford,…

  • The Bristol Blitz A walk in the past

      I was a child of the baby boom generation born just after the war.  Growing up I remember large bomb sites in the centre of Bristol in particular the area around Castle Park which was covered with grass and purple buddleia.  My husband who is older than me can even remember going into air…

  • Two National Trust properties to visit near Bath.

      My husband and I are members of the National trust.  For anyone who is unfamiliar with the National Trust it is the organisation which looks after many stately homes and gardens as well as large swathes of countryside in England.  It is a charity and membership fees help pay for the conservation and upkeep…