Indice dei contenuti per November/December 2017 in Britain

This issue I travelled to the Peak District where I was staggered by the glorious views of Britain’s first national park and the sheer number of pretty stone villages that pepper its lush valleys and peat moors. I also got to see firsthand one of Britain’s most idiosyncratic traditions – that of well dressing. Read all about this special place, plus the people who found inspiration here, in Peak Places (p64). Talking of inspirational places, a small corner of Sussex, plus chats with his young son were all the stimuli AA Milne needed to create his beloved Winnie-the-Pooh stories. Ahead of a major new exhibition, we map out the places that feature in that fictional world in Going on a Bear Hunt (p14) . Also this issue, our history expert explores…

ROYAL FAMILY The Queen and I Theirs is the longest royal marriage in history. On 20 November, Her Majesty The Queen and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, will celebrate their platinum anniversary – a mere 70 years of marriage. The couple met when Elizabeth, then just 13, visited Philip’s naval college in Dartmouth. It was love at first sight. Eight years later, their wedding at Westminster Abbey brightened up the gloom of post-war Britain. During a long and happy union, the couple have combined thousands of public engagements with raising four children: Charles, Anne, Andrew and Edward. As the Queen said on their golden anniversary in 1997, her husband is her “strength and stay”. As for the longest marriage, it is going to be a hard record to beat. HISTORY…

GETTING THERE Ashurst railway station is the closest station to Hartfield. Trains take 50 minutes and run daily from London Bridge with a short taxi ride to Ashdown Forest. The Ashdown Forest Explorer Bus Service takes passengers from local stations into the heart of the forest. www.trainline.com; www.wealdenbus.org.uk WHERE TO STAY For a luxury break, Ashdown Park Hotel, four miles from Hartfield, is a 19th-century mansion with a spa and 2 AA-Rosette dining, in the heart of Ashdown Forest. www.ashdownpark.com WHERE TO EAT Piglet's Tearoom offers themed cream teas. At nearby Pooh Corner in Hartfield, you can also pick up souvenirs and leaflets with local information. For more substantial fare, try The Dorset Arms on the nearby Buckhurst Estate, an 18th-century real-ale pub, which serves Sunday roasts and also has…

Ever wondered what it would be like to spend the night in a bedroom fit for royalty? Well, in Britain there’s no need to just dream. Many historic buildings across the country that once accommodated our kings and queens – from rustic coaching inns to medieval manor houses – have not only been faithfully preserved, but have been opened up to the public for hotel stays. Just like in Tudor times, the style and comfort of the bed itself at these retreats is of utmost importance – a display of riches and a source of pride. So dig out those velvet pyjamas (embroidered with the family crest, naturally) and prepare to be pampered. Inverlochy Castle Hotel, set against the drama of Britain’s tallest mountain, Ben Nevis, is a spectacular place…

EDEN UNCOVERED Earlier this summer I made my 11th trip to England. I love everything about your beautiful country and try to explore a new area each time I travel there. This past visit I spent some time in Yorkshire, basing myself in York and doing several day trips to the surrounding towns and villages. My travels took me to Eden Camp Modern History Theme Museum. It was amazing and I am wondering if you have ever featured it in your magazine? It is a must-see for anyone with an interest in Second World War history. Eden Camp was initially built as a prisoner of war camp and it was fascinating to learn not only about how the prisoners spent their time (many helped out on local farms), but also…

Britain’s Best Small Hills by Phoebe Smith (£14.99, Bradt Travel Guides) Plan a scramble or a day out in the countryside in pursuit of heady views and magnificent sights. Be sure to pack your walking boots Who Built Scotland: A History of the Nation in Twenty-five Buildings by Kathleen Jamie et al (£20, Historic Environment Scotland) Explore the castles, abbeys and glens that shaped Scotland The Country House Library (£45, Yale University Press) Rummage through the crammed bookshelves of the great and the good Entitled: A Critical History of the British Aristocracy by Chris Bryant (£25, Doubleday) Discover the warriors, eccentrics and criminals at the heart of the ruling class Queen Victoria's Matchmaking: The Royal Marriages that Shaped Europe by Deborah Cadbury (£25, Bloomsbury) An intimate and absorbing portrait of…

As the setting sun illuminates the West Door of York Minster, the fine stone carvings covering the pointed arches simply glow. But the best is yet to come: as you step inside you’ll need to catch your breath as the splendour of the nave with its elegant stone columns soaring towards arching vaulting and gold bosses reveals itself. This is Gothic architecture – the aspirational style that flourished in Europe during the Middle Ages, developing from Romanesque architecture. The Gothic style is exemplified by pointed arches reaching to lofty ribbed vaults, and flying buttresses seemingly suspended in thin air. Light and airy with gables, pinnacles, rose windows and shimmering stained glass in brilliant colours, as well as fabulous stone statues, Gothic is a feast for the senses. In the 12th…

St Martin-in-the-Fields, London Concerts in this Georgian Anglican church – the Royal Family’s parish church – are legendary. St Martin, in London’s Trafalgar Square (above), has a strong musical tradition and throughout December it will host a series of concerts, from family carols by candlelight to performances of Handel’s Messiah. All proceeds go to supporting the church’s work helping young and homeless people in the capital.www.stmartin-in-the-fields.org St Paul’s Cathedral, London What could be more memorable than singing carols beneath the famous dome of St Paul’s (left)? The carol services in December (as well as Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve) are open to the public, with seats allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. Be warned though, queues do form early. Check the website for dates.www.stpauls.co.uk Belsay Hall, Castle and Gardens, Northumberland…

I read with interest the article ‘Her Majesty’s Recipe for Drop Scones’ in September’s BRITAIN (Volume 85 Issue 4) and the sidebar that stated that HM The Queen is said to have sent this recipe to President Eisenhower 50 years ago. The book Dear Mr President: Letters to the Oval Office from the Files of the National Archives by Dwight Young (published by National Geographic), features Her Majesty’s note and shows that the original recipe differs slightly from this interpretation. Her Majesty’s 1960 recipe was as follows: 4 teacups flour 4 tablespoons caster sugar (the Queen said she had used golden syrup or treacle instead, which can be very good, too) 2 teacups milk 2 whole eggs 2 teaspoons bicarbonate soda 3 teaspoons cream of tartar 2 tablespoons melted butter…

Before the Restoration of the Monarchy, she may well have worked for Charles II as a spy Most of us are familiar with the plays of Shakespeare, Marlowe and perhaps Ben Jonson. But few people outside of literary circles have heard of Aphra Behn, even though she was equally if not more successful than her male predecessors. While Behn’s lines might not be as well known as those of the Bard, they deserve just as much attention. “That perfect tranquillity of life which is no where to be found but in retreat, a faithful friend, and a good library,” she wrote in her novel, The Lucky Mistake. Behn’s life is cloaked in mystery and intrigue. Though she always hinted that she came from a wealthy and successful family, it is…

Cambridge is the very definition of a university town. The old colleges shape the layout of the historic centre: their fronts line the main streets, their backs trace the River Cam. There are plenty of bookshops. There are even more bicycles. But this isn’t just any university. Founded in 1209, Cambridge is the second oldest in the English-speaking world (after Oxford), while many of the colleges could pass for stately homes or palaces (King’s was even built by King Henry VI). Away from academia, the museums and gardens are world-class, while punting on the River Cam has an unrivalled romance, especially when someone else is holding the pole. Perhaps it is only fair to acknowledge that life existed in Cambridge before the university. The Romans established the settlement of Duroliponte…