Karim

Karim

Thank you so much Karim, these pics and written details are absolutely delightful.

Thank you so much for your comment

I am really happy that you enjoyed my pictures & little stories about these places

Karim

After a long, cold, wet and rather dark winter, the idea of getting on my first day trip of the year felt like heaven to me.

The temperatures here in the South of England had been unusually cold for the season not exceeding 5o celcius for a month and a half but things started to change on that very morning with an expected 13o celcius with rain on the forecast.

I always do my research ahead of my trips but did not know what to expect in terms of visiting a garden hosting a collection of Snowdrops.

I am a huge fan of Daffodils and until now the first sign of Spring were Crocuses as I have overlooked the arrival of Snowdrops for most of my life but things were about to change.

We started our journey with a light rain that intensified when approaching Banbury and we stepped out into the town with our umbrellas with the rain pouring down the streets and discovered this pretty market town in a very British way.

I love British period dramas and always associated Banbury with its Banbury Cake that I first discovered in the excellent Lark Rise to Candleford TV Series where Zillah the old lady cooking at Dorcas Lane's Psot Office would always make Banbury Cakes for special occasions.

Banbury is a vibrant market town located on the River Cherwell in Oxfordshire.

The town was granted a Royal Charter in 1554 by Queen Mary Tudor which gave the right to host a weekly market in the town every Thursday since then so 471 years so far.

Banbury's medieval prosperity was based on wool and was located on two ancient roads one being Salt Way primary used for the transport of salt. The opening of the Oxford canal in 1778 gave the town a cheap and reliable supply of Warwickshire coal and the canal's main boatyard can still be visited today in Tooley's boatyard.

During the Civil War, due to its proximity to Oxford, the King's Capital, Banbury's inhabitants were know to be strongly Puritan. The Reindeer Inn was reputedly used as a base by Oliver Cromwell in the preparation of the Battle of Edge Hill in 1642 in the famous Globe Room of this Pub dating back to 1570.

I was lucky enough to step into this wonderful ancient Pub located on Parsons St as it was opening at 11am and take a few pictures including Oliver Cromwell's Globe Room. The Pub serves a nice selection of ales from the Hook Norton Brewery located in the nearby Cotswolds.

My quest to find the famous Banbury Cake ended in the most unusual of places, the Banbury Museum which has a fresh delivery of Banbury Cakes every Wednesday from the Brown's Bakery based in Chipping Norton.

The Banbury Cake's origin dates back to the 13th century when Crusaders from the East came to Banbury bringing fruits and spices and one of the first recorded recipe for these delicious flat oval pastry cakes was published in the "English Hus-wife" in 1615.

Banbury has few lovely lanes or narrow medieval streets including Butchers Lane and I absolutely fell in love with the historic Wysteria located in White Lion Walk which becomes one of the town's main attraction each year when in bloom from the end of April to early May and is known to have been planted in 1816.

So it is under an umbrella that I happily took my pictures of Banbury on a rainy morning on that very first Spring outing of the year.

Wishing you a lovely day
Karim

After a very wet morning discovering Banbury with an umbrella under a steady rain, the weather started to clear a little as we started our 3 miles journey between Banbury & Thenford Gardens.

I was hoping that the weather would stay dry for our afternoon visit of the gardens and it did for most of the time.

Located in the beautiful Oxfordshire countryside, we accessed Thenford Gardens through the pretty village of Middleton Cheney.

Thenford Gardens & Arboretum spread over 70 acres of extensive gardens featuring a collection of 3000 different trees & shrubs, herbaceous borders, water gardens, an alpine through garden, a sculpture garden, a rose garden, a rill and of course the National Collection of Snowdrops with 1000 different species.

Lord Heseltine only opens the gates to his beautiful gardens & arboretum 19 days during the year and only one single day during the Snowdrops blooming season so we were in for a rare treat.

Lord Rupert Heseltine himself greeted us upon arrival and invited us to the visitors hall where he provided us with a map of the gardens and graciously gave us a short introduction to the history of Thenford Gardens.

The origins of Thenford House go back to Medieval times and the current Georgian Country House was built between in 1765.

By the early 1970's, the gardens had seen little attention since the Victorian times and the previous owner was using the 40 acres of woodland for hunting.

Lord Michael Heseltine & his Wife Anne, both keen gardeners had been looking for a property with extensive grounds for a while and visited two estates including Thenford House and feel in love with it and purchased it in 1976.

Since it was a blank canvas in terms of landscaping the grounds, they invited 4 prominent garden experts of the time including Lord Hillier who had lunch at the house and who came back the following week with 100 plants in 10 varieties and the collection started.

The first major landscape work was to restore the lake in front of the house and over the past 40 years Lord & Lady Heseltine have dedicated their time, energy & love to Thenford Gardens & Arboretum.

Over the years many private collectors & individuals gifted plants & trees to Thenford Gardens including a Dr who once gifted in his will 150 different varieties of Snowdrops.

The gardens now feature over 1000 different species of Snowdrops, most of them found at the feet of trees and kept well apart in order to avoid cross pollination.

Their Head Gardener Emma joined the team 10 years ago and is an expert in Snowdrops or galanthophile from "galanthus" the ancient Greek name for the Snowdrops known as the first flower to announce Spring. I had a brief chat with her assistant who is a keen collector of rare daffodils and both of them waved us goodbye as we left the property.

The visit of the gardens felt so special on that unique early Spring opening day and the beautifully landscaped woodland gardens with their water features, majestic 18th century mature yews avenue and the vistas from the lake to the house were simply enchanting.

After two hours of walking the extensive grounds we returned to the visitors hall where Lady Heseltine graciously helped at the serving of freshly brewed coffee & tea with a selection of cakes including a delicious carrott cake.

Despite the muddy paths following the torrential rain of the morning, I found the facilities to be kept immaculate during my visit.

I was really impressed with how approachable, welcoming and hands on Lord Heseltine was assisted by his young son and to see Lady Anne Heseltine helping out with the serving of tea & cake at 90 years old.

I would highly recommend visiting Thenford Gardens & Arboretum and the next visiting day of the Snowdrops Collection will be 14th February 2026 for one day only Karim

Visions of scenic drives amongst endless open fields, picturesque winding roads under the canopy of trees, peaceful grazing sheep and at the corner of the road some of the prettiest villages in England nestled in the countryside, welcome to the Cotswolds

We set off on our journey on the first of 3 glorious sunny days on a frosty morning with a bitterly cold wind in the air that lasted all day but Spring vibes everywhere with clusters of daffodils on the side of the road and the first blossoming trees of the season.

The sign mentioning Banbury reminded me of Thenford Gardens and that we were about to reach the beautiful Costwolds soon.

Moreton in Marsh is a pretty market town located in the North Gloucestershire Cotswolds i the Evenlode Valley with houses built of the distinctive honey coloured stone quarried in the area.

The broad High St dates back to Roman times when the Fosse Way was linking the south coast to Lincoln in the north.

Moreton in Marsh was also well placed for the old coaching route from London to Worcester and the town became a popular stopping place for stage coaches, hence several coaching inn that still exist today such as the Manor House Hotel and the White Hart Royal Hotel & Pub.

This thriving market town was given its Saxon Charter over 1000 years ago and also granted its market charter in 1227 and the weekly street market still takes place each and every Tuesday.

Like many of the towns and villages in the Cotswolds wool & cloth making was the source of income during the medieval years.

The vibrant & popular street market offers a variety of goods from locally sourced fruits, vegetables & cheeses to butcher, fishmonger, wool clothing, fresh plants & flowers, wooden ornaments and so on.

The main High St is lined with elegant Cotswolds stone buildings which houses antique shops, tea rooms and delis.

The Four Shine Stone located two miles out of the town that marked the old meeting point of four counties, Gloucestershire, Warwickshire, Worcestershire & Oxoforshire is said to have inspired J R Tolkien for his Three Farthing Stone and the Bell Inn Pub where he used to be a regular customer, The Prancing Pony at Bree, both mentioned in The Lord of the Rings.

After a tour of the market, I came across the cute little Martha's Kitchen Cafe very obviously popular with the locals which is always a good sign with a cosy sitting room with open fire place and a lovely little courtyard at the back with a few outside tables. I was very lucky to be able to sit inside as a table became available as I walked in and what a treat to enjoy a delicious breakfast of fried eggs & bacon served with buttered artisan farm bread toasts and a cappuccino topped with cinnamon served in a beautiful artisan style glazed tableware.

I later on stopped at the beautiful Manor House Hotel while visiting the market of Moreton in Marsh and what an oasis of calm & charm it is with its beautiful landscaped gardens.This beautiful Tudor building dates back to 1539 when Henry VII granted the Manor to the Dean & Chapter of Westminster. It was also once the home of the Creswycke Family, principal landowners of the area as well as a popular coaching inn. It has a private walled gardens and a 300 years old Mulberry tree. The legend says that the ghost of Lady Creswycke still haunts the place at times, in particular the appropriately named "Dame Creswycke Suite"...

The White Hart Royal Hotel & Pub reminded me of my first visit years ago when I enjoyed a hearty Shepherd's Pie with a pint of Guinness and I found this popular place located on High St as welcoming and warm as I remembered it on this visit. Dating back the 1400's The White Hart has been a central village institution for over 400 years and is a former coaching inn. Its most famous guest was King Charles I who took refuge there during the Civil War in 1644 and the legend says that he left without settling his bill. I could not resist taking a picture of the fanciest coat hanger I have seen to date, certainly fit for a King !

The Pub is located near the Clock Tower or "Curfew Tower", a 17th century clock at the top of a 16th century building that once played a crucial role in the town's life as a lock up for minor offenders and drunks.

Wishing you a lovely day !

Karim

Visions of scenic drives amongst endless open fields, picturesque winding roads under the canopy of trees, peaceful grazing sheep and at the corner of the road some of the prettiest villages in England nestled in the countryside, welcome to the Cotswolds !

After a wonderful morning revisiting the beautiful market town of Moreton in Marsh, we hit the road in the direction of arguably one of England's most picturesque towns, Burford.

I had visited Moreton in Marsh, Bourton on the Water & Broadway years ago but Burford was new to me and let's just say that it most certainly did not disappoint my expectations as from the moment you step onto its picturesque High St lined with beautiful Tudor & Georgian buildings, you know that you in for a special treat in this picture perfect Cotswolds town.

With its High Street sweeping downhill towards the River Windrush, its three arched medieval bridge, impressive church, both sides of the street flanked with an unbroken line of ancient houses, Burford hasn't changed much over the centuries and is popular with visitors both for its beauty and history, its shopping especially antiques, restaurants, pubs and teashops.

Here you can stay where King Charles I stayed, dined where Nelson dined and visit the England's oldest pharmacy, a chemist since 1734.

The name "Burford" is of Old English origin, meaning "ford near the castle".

Burford's wealth was based on sheep, the famed Cotswold "Lion" with their long heavy fleece which gave some of the best wool in Europe.

The town was also an important staging post on the main Oxford to Gloucester route with over 40 coaches a day passing through, hence the numerous coaching inns and alehouses peppering the town. It is not surprising that brewing also became an important local industry !

There is a spectacular view of the Windrush valley from the top of the hill, down the High St toward the medieval bridge that spans the River Windrush at the bottom of the hill.

Burford was the first Cottswold town to be granted a market charter in 1088.

The legend says that the vengeful ghosts of the Tanfields, the terrible Lord & Lady Tanfield who were despised by their tenants and the local population in general haunt Burford by hurtling round the town in a blazing coach and a priest was hired to exorcise the town of these unwelcome visitors. He captured their spirits in a bottle and hurled it into the nearby River Windrush.
As I was planning my trip to the Cotswolds, one my Friends recommended a visit to the pretty little church located at the bottom of the village and the first thing I did when arriving in Burford was to explore St John the Baptist church and was he right about it as I was simply blown by the beauty of the place as soon as I stepped inside.

The church is located at the bottom of the village near the Windrush river and is accessible by a narrow little street adjacent to High St.

Its construction began in 1175 and was completed in the 15th century as a "wool church" a testament to the town's historical importance in the wool trade.

On 17 May 1649, three soldiers were executed on Oliver Cromwell's orders in Burford Churchyard, whilst the other 300 mens were led onto the roof to watch. The three soldiers belonged to movement popularly known as the Levellers, who believed in civil rights and religious tolerance. There is a plaque commemorating them on the wall of the church and the Levellers Day is still celebrated each year in Burford.

Located on High St, I discovered this cute little hidden gem of a cafe "Nutmeg & Thyme" offering a lovely selection of freshly baked plant based, gluten free food for Vegan lovers.Made with locally sourced products, their selection of freshly baked Focaccia Bread, Pizza & Cakes was really appetising and served with a smile in a very friendly & relaxed atmosphere which I am pretty sure is also a hit with the locals. I enjoyed a delicious slice of freshly baked Pear, Almond & Chai upside down cake with a Almond milk cappuccino topped with cinnamon.

After a wonderful afternoon exploring the pretty Cotswolds town of Burford, I stepped back in time in the historic Mermaid Inn Pub with dating back to the 15th century when the building was originally serving as a Butcher's shop & an Inn. Cosy & warm atmosphere with an open fireplace, wooden beams and comfortable leather armchairs.

Wishing you a lovely day

Karim

Karim

I used to read The Woolpack by Cynthia Harnett obsessively as a child. Burford figured prominently. Lovely place.

Thank you so much for your comment and reading suggestion as it is an author I did not know until now

Wishing you a lovely day !

Karim

Good morning dear Friends

We started our journey on the third of a 3 days sunny spell and what a contrast with the frosty morning and cold wind of our Cotswolds outing as we left the South with 13o celcius at 9am at the thermometer and 21o celcius mid afternoon in Swindon.

Total contrast too in terms of destinations since after visiting some of the most picturesque villages of the Cotswolds, we were heading towards one of the most iconic examples of the Victorian Industrialisation Era known as the Swindon Works !

Swindon is a town located in South West England and our destination was its STEAM Museum with a fascinating collection of 400 000 objects which include locomotives, rolling stock, photographs and archives, fine arts & textiles in very interactive experience for kids & adults alike.

The Museum is located in a Grade II building dating back to 1846 and part of Brunel's original woks complex known as the "scraggery" where nuts and bolts were renovated for re-use in a process known as "scragging". Although modified in 1929, the building was a machine shop for most of its life.

Stepping into the STEAM Museum is very much like an interactive time travelling experience to the very beginning of the Victorian Industrial Era and the extraordinary achievement of building the railway network and its maintenance thanks to to work of thousands of men and women.

The Museum features iconic locomotives such as "City of Truro", "Caerphilly Castle", "King George V", "North Star", "Hawksworth Pannier Tank", as well as Queen Victoria's Royal Saloon from 1897 in a restored station.

Historic scenes are recreated depicting life in the offices, the workshops, lunch break, engine drivers busy on their locomotive, passengers waiting on the platform, tea and cakes being served by a smiling young lady and the most poignant of all the shadow on the wall of one of the 250 000 courageous men known as "Navvies" who quite literally risked their lives on a daily basis to build tunnels, bridges, viaducts using picks, shovels and sometimes explosives.

In 1833, a group of Bristol merchants decided to set up a company to build a railway from their city to London in the hopes to improve the trade. They called it the Great Western Railway.

They employed Isambard Kingdom Brunel as their Chief Engineer to design & build all aspects of the railway. The railway initial route London to Bristol was fully opened in 1841. Brunel selected a site to the north of the small town of Swindon to build the company's new repair facility. It quickly grow into a large locomotive, carriage & wagon works, known as the Swindon's works.

The "Works" covered a total of 362 acres, employed up to 14 000 employees, could build up to 250 coaches and 104 locomotives a year and repair up to 1000 locomotives, 5000 coaches and 8000 wagons a year.

It housed the departments associated with designing, manufacturing & maintening the company's rolling stock. To support the Works a new town grew up and large number of people settled into the area. The men & women who worked "inside" were a close-knit community and most people in Swindon were related to a GWR employee. The GWR and its workers developed health & social care provisions as well as clubs, societies & entertainment venues.

The Great Western Railway was nationalised in 19477 and the Swindon Works continued under British Rail as a manufacturing centre then a repair depot until 1986 when the land & buildings were sold off. Hidden behind high walls, the inside of the "Works" that operated for 150 years were mostly unknown to the people of Swindon that did not have a relative working there so the Swindonians finally got a chance to discover the industrial heritage that played such an important part in the development of their town.

Over the past decades, the area has welcomed a residential housing area as well as a popular McArthurGlen Designers Outlet offering various fashion labels and food outlets still located in the original restored buildings of the "Works" and opposite the Museum itself. A Costa Coffee is actually located right next to an original locomotive so I could not resist enjoying a cappuccino and a slice of carrot cake.

So let's pull the "Works" hooter that signaled the start of the day and welcome to Swindon's STEAM museum

Karim

Karim

Karim

Karim