The VisitEngland blog

Alastair Sawday’s best places for luxury camping

Alastair Sawday is the go-to guide for characterful places to stay and Canopy & Stars is his carefully chosen collection of luxury camping spaces. They’ve just launched The 2012 Great British Adventure competition, which will send two lucky winners on a 1,270 mile trip through three countries in 10 days this summer. Naturally, there'll be a fair few eclectic beds to sleep in along the way.

To celebrate, Sawday has compiled this list of unusual and imaginative places to stay, so we can all wave ta-ta to our desks and set off, Hunters in hand, to off-the-wall accommodations in England’s less-trumpeted corners. 

Mystery photo friday - 11.05.12

Do you know where this is?

14.05.12

We can reveal that last week’s mystery photo was of Southport Pier, the second longest and second oldest pier in Britain. If you’ve taken any show-stopping images of England, enter Take a View’s Landscape Photographer of the Year Award by 15 July!

This week's mystery photo is    in association with Take a view, the Landscape Photographer of the Year Award 2012. 

If you think you've captured a winning image, whether it be a glittering skyline at midnight or sleepy sheep grazing at the dead of dawn, enter your images for the chance to win £10,000 and to have your winning image showcased at National Theatre in London.

Deadline for entries is 15 July 2012.

Five dramatic walks in the South West

Authors of the Dozen Dramatic Walks series – which focuses on scenery-laden walks in the South West of England – share their ultimate top five walks in Cornwall, Devon and Somerset...

Mystery photo friday - 04.05.12

We love...Center Parcs' spa suites

As soon as I found out that Center Parcs had a range of spa suites, I was all over it like a rash. I took the boyfriend to indulge in some full-on R&R in the heart of Elveden Forest in Suffolk. I love the finer things in life, but don’t like to pay too much for them so at £159 each, this was right up my street.

Mystery photo friday - 27.04.12

Mystery Photo Friday - 20.04.12

Insider tips from the director of the World Shakespeare Festival

Deborah Shaw is Director of the World Shakespeare Festival. She’s also a complete firecracker. In her own words, “I’m quite a good Hermia – small, loud and feisty!” Her passion for Shakespeare and the unrivalled festival is infectious and I leave the interview bowled over by her energy. The World Shakespeare Festival is in very good hands indeed. 

Here are her tips on making the most of the festival.

We love...The Gallivant Hotel in Camber

Hidden away on the East Sussex coast in 1066 Country, The Gallivant Hotel is just the place for a chic weekend getaway. I felt a million miles away from the bustling streets of London, when in reality I’d just caught the train from Kings Cross and had arrived in Camber an hour and a bit later. 

70 years of Bruce Forsyth

  

Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee is a pretty impressive feat but Brucey – never one to be left in the shadows – has taken Her Majesty's 60 years on the throne and raised it by 10. 

Our stay at the new LEGOLAND Hotel

Over a thousand LEGO models, mini-figures, pirates, knights, Vikings, LEGO-shaped potatoes, a whoopie cushion carpet and of course, millions of pieces of LEGO. That’s LEGOLAND Windsor Resort, the most amazing place ever, according to my sister, brother, niece…and me!