Tucked away on Farm Street, surrounded by residential mews and mansion blocks, the Jesuit Church of…read morethe Immaculate Conception could almost define the phrase 'hidden gem'. It is worth making a special effort to visit. The church itself was built in 1844-49 as a base for the Jesuit order in London, following the Catholic emancipation of 1829. The architect behind this jewel was Joseph John Scoles (1798-1863). He designed a number of Roman Catholic churches and, on the basis of the Immaculate Conception alone, deserves to be better known. For its early date, it is a remarkably confident, and accomplished, example of Gothic Revival. The facade is a fair introduction to the church, the (liturgical) west door surmounted by a striking Decorated Gothic west window, filled with delicate tracery in a bold rose design. But the interior steps up a gear: eight bays of clustered marble-clad columns, tall clerestory windows flooding the interior with light, all drawing the eye to the chancel and the high altar. The nave and chancel ceilings are stencilled and painted, the aisles vaulted. Every surface is covered with marble or decoration, the aisle chapels filled with sculpture and intricate blind arcading. Most notable is the chancel reredos, designed by Pugin, the stone brilliantly gilded, but there are some interesting side chapels too, one of which has a sculpture of "The Homeless Christ", showing Him wrapped up on a life-sized park bench. It became a parish church in 1966 and also has a significant ministry of outreach to refugees, young adults, LGTB+ Catholics, Japanese and Filipino congregations, and those considering returning to the faith. It also has a notable reputation for music. The church is open every day, with daily masses and confession.

Looking for something beautiful and quiet, off-the-beaten track in London? This is one of them. The…read moreChurch is absolutely breath taking - both the exterior and interior. The surrounding park (Mount Street Gardens) are also well kept and very beautiful. Try and stop by to explore both the Church and the gardens if you're in the Mayfair area.

It is a very underperforming and toxic school. Children have problems and the teachers don't listen…read moreto the children.

Hampton Hill Junior School is a large (360 pupils) junior school nestled on St James' Avenue not…read morefar from Hampton Hill High Street. It is housed in a rather picturesque building dating from the 1920s, though it has been expanded and improved since. Hampton Hill Junior School educates pupils from years 3 - 6 (ages 7 - 11), and is linked with Carlisle Infant School (meaning that in most cases, pupils will finish Carlisle in year 2 and progress fairly seamlessly with their classmates into HHJS). The headteacher, Bill Jerman, is excellent. He is a strong leader, taking no guff from the children! He impressed me particularly when my daughter attended. I was writing a paper (I was a mature student doing a part time degree) on religious education and collective worship, and asked, after a parent teacher evening, if I could attend a 'normal' (as opposed to harvest) assembly. He told me I could, and we arranged a date. It occurred to me afterwards that I hadn't told him who I was. I arrived on the appointed day, worried that no-one would be expecting me, but sure enough, he greeted me, got me settled before the children arrived, and then discussed the yearly assembly programme and RE scheme of work after the assembly. My daughter had good teachers with a couple of truly excellent ones. The school runs extension programmes for gifted children which benefited my daughter, and also taught French (in a fun, non pressurised way) to its year 6 pupils. All in all, this is a very good state junior school, which prepares its pupils admirably for secondary school and beyond.

Chichester has a long pedigree. Once a Roman town of some significance, it survived the Dark Ages…read moreto become an important market town in Anglo-Saxon times, and was chosen by the Normans in 1075 as the site of a new Cathedral. Over the years, Chichester has kept its market town atmosphere, and makes a delightful place to visit: it still retains its Roman and later mediaeval street plan and part of its walls, but the centre also has some delightful parks and gardens. The Cathedral itself reflects its Normans origins: begun in 1076, and largely completed by 1108, it is a substantial romanesque building. Until the 19th century, this was a poor area, so the Bishops could not afford the grand rebuildings that took place elsewhere. Its scale, and decoration, are still modest, and largely Norman work. It even retains its external bell tower. Some additions were made in the late twelfth century, adding transitional and Early English gothic elements, and there are some furnishings and fittings of interest: two fine (and rare) 12th-century carvings of Christ arriving at Bethany and the raising of Lazarus; a large segment of Roman Mosaic flooring from a 4th-century public building; and some fine tombs, including that of Richard Fitzalan, (d. 1376) and his wife. There are also notable additions in more recent times: a stained glass window by Marc Chagall, a tapestry by John Piper, and a painting by Hans Freibusch. The Cathedral has a notable music festival and an even more famous flower festival, when its interior becomes a riot of floral design.

Fantastic. It is worth the trip out from London to visit this Cathedral. It is not very far from…read morethe train station. There are a number of pubs and places to eat walking from the train station. Definitely worth a day trip trip out here.

My daughter went through the junior and senior school and loved it. Small classes, fab teacher's…read moreand a great family atmosphere. Great school.

I would certainly recommend Sion. With smaller classes, students learn more in 40 minutes than in…read moreone hour with 30 students in a class. Children are happy and there are lots of opportunities to discover their talents and participate in educational activities like trips and plays. I can see the advantage of paying a fee for such an important thing as education.

Visiting Salisbury Cathedral was such a lovely experience. With 800+ years of history, it's home to…read moreBritain's tallest spire, the world's oldest mechanical working clock, and best preserved original 1215 Magna Carta. When I came it was a bit dreary, so I started the day with tea and a slice of vegan fruit cake from the cafe, which I enjoyed outside sitting on the stone wall of the Cloisters overlooking the courtyard. I got a map for a self-guided tour, and it was lovely to wander and explore at my own pace. The map is really thoughtfully put together with 21 key locations to visit around the church; those locations themselves had signs with more information for a deeper dive on the topic (I appreciate the use of QR codes for even more information!). You'll learn about how to check the water level under the cathedral, take a peak inside their smallest chapel, stand at the font and wonder at the reflections, learn about the Amnesty International candle burning for oppressed people around the world, and more. The docents here are all so lovely and excited to share their knowledge with you, please talk to them and ask questions. I was lucky enough to be here for both a prayer from the priest on the hour, followed by a lengthy demonstration about how the clock works. Visiting the room that houses the Magna Carta, I got a 1:1 with a docent after asking a (silly, but unanswerable) question about the lighting in the recently renovated/updated display box that prevents the document from fading and increases its overall security. Lovely morning here; absolutely worth visiting!

Salisbury Cathedral is a magnificent building and it is sometimes hard to imagine it was built when…read moreit was. Both inside and outside are impressive. What makes the cathedral stand out from others is that the Magna Carta is on display. To be able to see such a historic artefact is special.

I am not sure what to make of "School of Life". On one hand it is novel concept, on another hand it…read morescreams tweedy intellectualism with a dash of Kumbya Atheism. I liked the Robert Emerson book of essays for 2.50 on sale, and a book about teaching your grandma how to text. This place offers free tea and course for adults about love and life.There are little presents here (like poster books of quotes, that are like SO DEEP). I find this place a bit pretentious in an unassuming way. Unsure what to make of it even now.

I totally agree with the individual who reviewed the School of Life - he goes under name, Rory…read more And yes, I totally admit, that I myself do not know what to make of the School of Life. Apparently, the School of Life declares itself to free from dogma, not affiliated to any religious, educational, charitable or other organisations. I cannot see how that's possible to be honest. I know, as well as everyone else that the School of Life, was or still is owned and founded by Alain de Botton, author and philosopher, along side with Sophie Howarth, a former curator from the Tate Modern. I know that the shop has changed substantially since 2008, when the School of Life first opened it's door for the first time. As of late, my retail experience while browsing inside the School of Life philosophy bookshop, has been somewhat completely disappointing. I find all the staff very cold, dismissive, ignorant and more importantly, totally disinterested in what you are looking. I wouldn't even waste your brain cells on the School of Life - at all. To call themselves, "School of Life" seems nice and beautiful on the outside. But on the inside, as soon as you walk into their premises, I find the staff incredibly cold, rude, condescending, patronizing, true ignorance and very distant. To be very clear to anyone who reads this: the staff at the School of Life, never say hello to you, when you enter their premises and they never say goodbye to when you exit their premises. That to me, is totally unjust, considering that they stock some pricey black crew-neck Philosophy jumper, designed by Bella Freud; I'd rather go to Dover Street Market, to buy a Comme des Garçons jumper from those guys, at least I am being served by polite and decent Japanese retail staff unlike the rotten and cold rude staff members at the School of Life. Considering the retail prices are slightly more expensive then in Mayfair shops - I seriously hate the staff who run the School of Life, with absolute passion. Mentioning ignorant, I find the retail manager (male) - I find him totally ignorant, impolite and very dismissive. I will not mention any names of staff members, however I will confirm that the staff who run the School of Life, a total waste of human DNA.

Despite being surrounded by modern housing estates, the old village centre of Portslade still…read moreretains a villagey feel: indeed, the approach from the busy A270 Old Shoreham Road is quite a shock: a sea of modern car showrooms gives way to a village green with winding lanes, cottages, a post office and two pubs. At its centre is the parish church of St Nicholas, one of the oldest buildings in Brighton & Hove. Built in the Norman period around 1150, it was substantially enlarged with a new chancel and tower around 1250. Apart from the addition of a remarkably sensitive north aisle by the Victorians, it remains substantially a church in the Early English Gothic style. From the outside, it is entirely conventional: a short west tower, a single roof covering both nave and aisles, covered in Horsham Slate, a smaller tiled chancel, and a south porch. It really could be in any Sussex village. Inside, the oldest part of the church is the south aisle wall and the south nave arcade: of three bays, the two piers are typically Norman: heavy, round, and with square scalloped capitals, with the shallowest of pointed arches. The aisle windows were altered to lancets around 1250, when the chancel and tower were added. Until 1847 there were early mediaeval wall paintings on the south arcade of the Nave, depicting a 'Doom', with the souls of the good and the damned moving to heaven and hell, either side of Christ seated in Judgement. Unfortunately, these were whitewashed shortly afterwards. The chancel is particularly attractive: the two lancets with a sexfoil window above on the east wall are nicely balanced, and it has a fine sedilia (seats in niches for the priest and his assistants) and piscina on the south wall. The tower with rough stone walls also has an attractive high lancet window. The north aisle was added in the latter part of the 19th century but, apart from being wider, it is an almost mirror image of the south aisle, down to the scalloping on the capitals. The east wall repeats the motif from the chancel of two lancet windows, this time below a trefoil window, but the west end is given over to the Brackenbury Chapel, erected in 1874 for Miss Hannah Brackenbury (also spelt Brakenbury) and her brothers and niece. This contains heavily stained glass windows, and is separated by a large mullioned glass screen from the body of the church. The interior is well lit, as few of the windows are coloured. Furnishings are limited, but there are some handsome 18th century memorials on the aisle floor, and a pair of formidable skulls from another memorial (presumably 17th century?) in the south aisle floor. Overall, this is a lovely spot and a heaven of peace and quiet away from the anonymous sprawl of suburban Brighton and Hove. The church is part of a very active parish: detailed of services and other activities can be found on the website. To the north of the church are the scant remains of Portslade Manor House, one of the few examples of a Norman Manor surviving. Unfortunately, much of the fabric was pillaged to build a Victorian folly 'ruin' further north. The remains are nevertheless of national importance and it is a grade II* listed monument. Practicalities The old village sits north of the Old Shoreham Road, well over a mile from the railway station and shopping centre of modern Portslade, and two miles from the sea. It is on the 1/1A bus route, which provides a very frequent service. Alight at the stop for 'St Nicolas'.

This church is suffering largely from falling church goer numbers but still continues to put on…read morecertain events over the year so that locals can benefit. The local primary schools use these facilties once a week for hyms and to pray. It is also a graveyard which does give this church an eerie feeling but I think that is part of it's charm. When I go to a church I like to be thought provoked by what is going on around me, if I don't then for me the church is no good.

Brandlehow is an absolutely fantastic school - it is vibrant and full of happy, energetic children…read more The teachers are totally dedicated to their pupils, teaching them all sorts of advanced and unusual topics - the general knowledge is far beyond what I learned at the same age (and probably older) - for example, my daughter (4-5yrs) not only knows the names of the different types of cloud in the sky, what all the different organs in the body do (as well as where they are), but also all about carnivorous plants and the different religious festivals going on throughout the year. This is on top of reading and writing incredibly well for her age (they use the Jolly Phonics system, which is a lot of fun for the kids) and doing loads of exercise and different sports. I am extremely impressed with the school and its staff. If you're lucky enough to get a place here, I'm sure your child will thrive. It's a great place!

Harvington School is a leading independent private school and caters for girls aged 3-16 (and more…read morerecently for boys 3-4.) They set high expectations of their students and staff and their GCSE results are exemplary. "Harvington School is a school with a social conscience and a heart; the caring, warm and all-embracing nature of the school is one of its most unique characteristics and one which underpins the core values of the school's philosophy." Entry Requirements: Test, Assessment Subjects taught: Art, Biology, Chemistry, Computing/ICT, Coordinated/Combined Science, Dance, Design and Technology (DT), Drama/Theatre Studies, English Language, English Literature, French, Geography, History, Mathematics, Music, Physical Education, Physics, Religious Studies, Spanish Activities: Ballet/Dance, Board games, Choir, Computing/IT, Dancing, Debating/Public Speaking, Drama/Theatre Studies, Duke of Edinburgh, Life Saving/First Aid Sports: Athletics, Cross Country, Fitness Training, Gymnastics, Hockey, Netball, Rounders, Swimming, Tennis Really good school, provides good education, professional staff and teachers.

My daughter is in her final year at Harvington, she stayed from Nursery to Year 6. The school is…read morevery loving and nurturing, the teachers bring out the best in each child.It gave her a wonderful self-confidence. She especially loves Drama and Science with dedicated and enthusiastic teachers and the many clubs on offer. The fact that it's a small school allow for as close as you can get to one-to-one teaching.I know she will miss it when she leaves.