Haddon Hall is a large, grand, and very interesting manor house near Bakewell, England. Part of it…read moreis kept private but a large portion of the hall and ground are open to the public, with a restaurant on the premises in the old carriage house. The buildings include sections from many different periods, from the late 12th century to the mid 17th century and the portions open to the public include the kitchen area, banquet hall, and other sections, plus portions of the grounds and walled garden. This is also a must-see site for those interesting in filming locations since many films and television shows have had scenes filmed here. This is particularly true for fans of The Princess Bride, with many scenes being filmed in the hall and on the grounds, all very recognisable. More scenes wre filmed in the general area as well. At Christmastime, it is heavily decorated and there is choir singing in the hall.

This place was absolutely awesome! Such history and inspiration for the imagination here! And if…read moreyou're any sort of period-piece movie fan, you MUST come here! You'll recognize parts of this castle (or mansion? Lol) IMMEDIATELY! They filmed parts of movies here like Princess Bride, Mary Queen of Scots, The King and the more recent adaptation of Jane Eyre with Michael Fassbender! It was so lovely all decorated for Christmas as well...they even had a bell-ringer concert going when we arrived! I can't say enough about how much I enjoyed my visit here! Parking is directly across the street and they have an easy crossing and walk up to the site. The parking lot can be muddy and they do charge you about 3gbp to park.

Towering 160m above both what was once the old-money village of Alderly Edge (now a mecca for…read morePremiership footballers and Wags) and the Cheshire Plain in general, the edge has some of the best views of anywhere in the area thanks to the dramatic edge - a steep cliff-like drop. The edge has historic associations with, somewhat incongruously, mining and wizardry, but these days it's a great place to go for a walk with either the kids, the dog, visitors or even a solitary stroll. There are car parks at both the foot of the edge and the top (the latter is the main one) giving the option of a quick trip to the edge itself and back or a longer, more demanding up-and-down walk.

Absolutely stunning estate--well worth the trip from London!…read more My friend and I took the train to Chesterfield to see Pride and Prejudice at Chatsworth House and tour the grounds. The mansion is massive, with intricately decorated rooms, and the grounds are beautifully maintained. Don't miss the sheep--they're a delight to frolic with! Set aside 3-4 hours to explore fully. If you're attending a movie night, arrive early to grab a good spot. They only served drinks once the film started, so bring your own snacks. Ubers can take 15 minutes during the day and up to 45 minutes post-movie--plan ahead!

Stunningly beautiful. Filming location for Darcy's Pemberley estate (Derbyshire) in the 2005…read moreversion of Pride & Prejudice (Keira Knightly, Matthew Macfayden, Dame Judi Dench, etc.) and other BBC programming. Various tours are held here, including a stunning holiday market and an Illuminated Walk which both started on Guy Fawkes Day 2022!

Loved this place! If you can get going on a good day then I would highly recommend if you're…read moreinterested in Elizabethan time history. First you're greeted with beautiful English countryside which is covered in Sheep and little lambs which are great for a quick picture before moving on to see the huge house which you will soon be exploring. This place is part of the national trust, so you can expect it to be well taken care of and and a lot of people about who are more than willing to share their knowledge. We first checked out the old building which is now in ruins, but it still reveals some of the small features which are still preserved such as fireplaces and balcony which gives you a great ire of the entire house and the countryside. After this is the gardens which are fantastic to walk around on a warm day which displays all the beautiful flowers. The house itself has a nice short tour where the guide tells all about the history of the owner, her very interesting history with her granddaughter and more on Mary Queen of Scots who stayed/Imprisoned here. The houses features all appear to be in their original positions and looks, bar a few repairs throughout the years for preservation. Plenty of information to read and people sitting about to answer any questions you need. If you're interested interested in your ElizabethIan style houses, or just want a peak into English history, I would highly recommend!

A National Trust property, situated near Junction 29 of the M1. Huge Elizabethan house and…read morebeautifully landscaped gardens (including a walled garden, orchards and herb garden), featuring statues etc. The surrounding country park is beautiful - and contains cattle, sheep etc. There's also the remains of Hardwick Old Hall in the grounds (although I think that's owned by English Heritage so you would have to pay separately to look around). A gift shop and tea room are also on site - or take a picnic! National Trust members get in free (you can join when you get there and they refund any admission charges) or it's £9 for adults to enter the house and gardens.

Review 500! Wowzers…read more I'm chuffed that it's this local landmark, as we walked up to Peel Monument on what was probably the loveliest, sunniest first day of Spring that I can remember. Occupying a prominent position on Holcome Hill, you can see the monument from miles around and it serves as a beacon for walkers or those of us that just enjoying getting up to it "because it's there". It's a memorial to Sir Robert Peel, born in Bury, who twice served as Prime Minister and is regarded as the father of the modern British police. On a clear day, which we were lucky coincided with our visit, you can look out across the Greater Manchester landscape to the towns, villages and moorlands beyond. Sit down on the grass and take it all in. There are public footpaths leading up to it from Ramsbottom; we didn't need a map as you could see it above you most of the time. Alternatively, there are lanes you can park on further up the hill as it's a bit of a climb, but definitely worth visiting.

It's best to make the most of decent weather in Manchester if and when we get it. With that…read morephilosophy in mind amidst the heatwave last week I decided to explore the peak district once more with a few friends. Accessible far more easily if you live near stockport (Which I do) it takes between 20-50 minutes to reach various parts of the district. There's so much to discover even if you don't intend to. I randomly selected a spot on the map to visit and off we went. Half an hour later, upon reaching said spot we discovered there was nowhere to park. So we drove further down the road and took a slip road to do a U-turn so we could return and find a spot. We didn't do a U-turn! The slip road led to Tissington Hall. We stayed there the whole time and we had a blast. Upon first entering the slip road it appears to be a very long drive to a palace/mansion of some sort. It's narrow and gives you the feeling you're tresspassing on private property. Don't worry it's not and you're not.You drive down this meandering road for a few minutes and then like a car entrance panoramic scene in a film the narrow road takes a sharp left to reveal an incredible view. The road expands, with huge and immaculately cut lawns on each side, an old church, a procession of trees, a cute cafe, majestic Tissington Hall sitting on a hill and a village full of cottages visible in the distance. After parking up and enjoying a peaceful leisurely stroll around the hall a visit to the cafe revealed a brilliant menu full of home cooked foodie options. (I was fasting so missed out on the food but I have it on good authority that the Chicken baguettes and jacket potatoe were sensational) In such a remote part of English countryside it was refreshing to see American, French and German tourists. That might sound like the place was packed but that was it! Four groups of people sitting outisde surrounded by peace and quiet (And perhaps the occasional farmer driving past in a Range Rover) It was such a lovely way to spend a Summer afternoon. Once fed and watered we ventured into the village. It felt like Lord of the rings, the cottages were adorable and the gardens in prestine condition. We discovered two of the best examples of old school private vendors. One was antiques/souvenir shop and the other an old school sweet shop. Both with arguably the best proprietors I've ever come across. It felt like traveling to a different simpler time. I can't recommend this place highly enough. I'll definitely be introducing this hidden treasure to friends visiting Manchester. A stark contrast from the concrete jungle in the city centre. Proving once more that Manchester really does have EVERYTHING but a beach. But hey who cares about that... St Anne's is less than an hour away ;)

Again I guess I review a village. I just love to explore and I am weird in that I lecture on public…read morehealth, plague, cemetaries etc..I try to make it funny and it often is with me doing it argh. The of course is probably the most famous village of the Black Death. Very good TV drama's have been done about it. Potted history. August 1665 bubonic plague arrived at the house of the village tailor George Vicars, via a parcel of cloth from London. The cloth was damp and was hung out in front of the fire to dry, thus releasing the plague infested fleas. George was the first victim. Rector William Mompesson and others sealed off the village and there is a stone where food and water was left for the villagers. Disinfected coin (vinegar) was left in payment. Whole families were wiped out. The Riley graves, for instance holds the bodies of the husband and six children of farmer Elizabeth Hancock. All died within a week of each other. The Plague in Eyam raged for 14 months and claimed the lives of at least 260 villagers. They sacrificed themselves to stop the spread of the plague. I find visiting this place quite sad. Wander the village and see the remains and markers that inform. Then there is an exhibition centre and a tea room. Visit the church too for info and booklets after all it was the vicar who played a major part in it. Only one victim is buried in the churchyard - the rector's wife. One pub too with a decent pint. An interesting, if a little depressing, couple of hours can be spent in Eyam.

Eyam, famous for being the 'Plague Village' that decided to isolate itself after the plague arrived…read morewhen a flea infested parcel of cloth was delivered to a local tailor. The plague killed almost three quarters of the population that lived there. A great place to visit to learn about this bit of history. Many of the houses have plaques that describe who lived in the property in 1665 during the Great Plague, and how they were affected. Eyam Hall is in the centre of the village , as is the church and both are worth a visit if you are planning to spend some time here. The Miners Arms inn and restaurant also offers good place to stop off at if you should visit Eyam at lunch time. Eyam is probably best as a place to visit alongside other nearby villages, and you could expect it to be visited within a couple of hours. Especially nice in the summer months when the well dressing season is in full flow.

On my to do list of must sees in liverpool was the Three Graces - The fundamental international…read moresymbol for Liverpool, is the Royal Liver Building, as well as The Cunard and the Port of Liverpool buildings. They are all side by side located on The Pier head in Liverpool. Stunning architecture, all majestic in their own right.

This is the first building you see when your ship arrives at the cruise port. One of the famous…read moreThree Graces it stands out more than the other two. On top of the two towers of the building are statues of Liver Birds which are said to be good luck to sailors and the city. probably one of the most iconic buildings in Liverpool. It is a must see when you visit.

I have a soft spot for Anthony Gormley's work, so much so I was even one of the lucky ones that…read morestood on the 4th Plinth in London. The statue represents the traditional skills of Birmingham and the Black Country practised during the Industrial Revolution. The controversy of public opinion when it was installed makes me further believe that it really does represent the Brummie and Yam-Yams naysaying nature. I can't really recall why it was so hated back in 1993 when it was given as gift from the Trustee Savings Bank, but when they moved down south there was an outcry that the Iron: Man should be moved with them. I love that it started out as an untitled work until the Iron Man nickname stuck, only for the artist to insist on making his own stamp by insisting on a stupid colon in the middle. Brilliant! Maybe my soft spot for Gormely is because he utilises many local resources to make his large scale iron works with the Iron:Man being cast at Bradley and Fosters Castings (now Firth Rixson Castings) in Willenhall. Whether you love or hate it this 6m tall, leaning man whose feet are sunk in the ground is worth a look.

The most overlooked art in victoria square. I love this art by one of my favourite artist/sculptor.read more

Off the beaten track this place is huge and the gatehouse is the largest remaining in the country…read more Very impressive and loved by artists. You can go inside for, a fee up, the new staircase. Within the grounds stand the ruins of the monastic buildings, notably the elegantly decorated octagonal chapter house of 1282-1308. An early example of brick building in England, it proclaimed the wool trade-based prosperity of one of the wealthiest English Augustinian monasteries. Its founder Sir William le Gros, Earl of Yorkshire, was buried here. (Will the Fat) It is free to wander around it and I find it very atmosphering at dusk and eerie. I swear I have heard whispering voices. By day it is a lovely place to visit. They say if you take stone from the abbey you will die and there is a legend that a manor house build of it suddenly collapsed. Now you will think me mad but once on a sunny day I was walking back to the gatehouse from the chapter house and found myself rooted to the spot. My friends asked what was wrong and I said I couldn't move my legs and I couldn't! They pulled me and suddenly I was free. NO idea what it was but it scared me!