62 | EXPLORE BATH AND HEREFORD famous maze. A final


detour into Emma’s Kitchen, curated by the very glamourous Viscountess Weymouth, and I was heading home with a delicious bar of her finest dark chocolate. With two days left of


our hols, there was yet more to explore. A wee bit of planning and you can pack an awful lot into an England Carcation. Next for us was a 40-minute drive from Frome to Cheddar Gorge to savour the perfect blend of cheese and caves. The former is matured in the latter, two of which are open to the public for deep exploration. The memorable drive


www.nitravelnews.com


Cotswold village is an abundance of listed buildings including its pretty church and Market Cross. Little wonder Castle Coombe


there wends its way through the gorge’s steep slopes which can also be climbed by both steps or, if you’re feeling really adventurous, ropes. The return leg included a stop in


Wells, England’s smallest city and home to Wells Cathedral whose incredible West front façade and medieval ‘scissor arches’ are among its many architectural highlights. Sitting alongside this ecclesiastical masterpiece is Vicar’s Close, one of the most fairytale-like row of stone houses I have ever seen. Built in the 14th century to house clergy and still inhabited by choristers to this day, restoration plans are afoot to open some properties to the public. As our heritage-fuelled holiday drew


to a close, and the long drive back to Birkenhead beckoned, I poured over the map in search of one final lunch stop to break up the journey. A 40-minute drive from Frome, Castle Combe is just about as chocolate-box cute as they come. The castle after which it is named may no longer exist, but what does in this charming


Embrace Your Own 'Oxford Year' as New Film Inspires Wave of Literary Tourism


RELEASED by Netflix in 2025, ‘My Oxford Year,’ combines Oxford’s bewitching backdrop with an emotional love story, based on Julia Whelan’s bestselling novel. The film stars Sofia Carson and Corey Mylchreest.


Shot entirely on location in Oxford, the film follows Anna, an American Student who relocates to Oxford for a scholarship only to be swept up in an unexpected romance with a local poet, played by Mylchreest. The film weaves together Oxford’s literary heritage, architectural beauty and romantic corners, set to inspire a new wave of literary tourism. Whether you’re a fan of


the film, planning a city break or simply looking for a more poetic side to explore, The Store, reveals seven real- life locations that capture the spirit of My Oxford Year. Situated within walking distance of all filming locations, The Store’s rooftop cocktail terrace provides a perfect bird’s- eye view of Oxford City and its dreaming spires. 7 Places in Oxford to Visit from Netflix’s My Oxford Year 1. Magdalen College Cloisters Where Anna and Jamie first meet in the film.


Open to visitors, Magdalen’s peaceful cloisters and riverside grounds offer one of Oxford’s most picturesque walks. 2. Punting from Magdalen Bridge A classic Oxford moment featured in the film. Hire


a wooden punt from the bridge and float along the Cherwell, passing meadows, willows and hidden college gardens. 3. Oxford Botanic Garden Used for several key scenes, this tranquil riverside


garden is perfect for reading, walking or simply escaping the bustle. It’s also the oldest botanic


garden in the UK. 4. Radcliffe Square & the Bodleian Library A recurring location in the film. Home to the Radcliffe Camera and Bodleian Library, the square is the academic heart of the city – and one of its most photogenic. 5. Duke Humfrey’s Library One of the oldest reading rooms in the Bodleian, this stunning medieval library is likely to feel familiar to fans of both My Oxford Year and Harry Potter. Though access is by guided tour only, its wood-panelled interior and historic manuscripts make it an unforgettable stop for literature lovers. 6. Blackwell’s BookshopAnna browses poetry in this landmark bookshop, a local institution since 1879. Its underground Norrington Room holds the record for the largest single room selling books in the world. 7. New College Lane & the Bridge of


Sighs


Featured in the film’s most romantic scene, this narrow lane with its iconic


bridge is best visited at dusk, when the stone glows gold and the street quietens.


has been used as a location for films such as Spielberg’s War Horse and fantasy-adventure Stardust starring Michelle Pfeiffer. They don’t call it the prettiest village in England for nothing. A ploughman’s lunch at the historic White Hart Pub and it was time to say goodbye to this captivating village and head north for our overnight Stena voyage home. Like a dream, we were back in Belfast, but Jane Austen’s Georgian city,


Longleat’s glorious lions and all those gorgeous English landscapes will live long in the memory.


January 2026


Blenheim Palace Unveils Major ‘Blueprints of Power’ Exhibition


IN 2026, dare to think bigger just like the dramatist turned architect did, as Blenheim Palace announces an all- new immersive visual experience for visitors.


The Blueprints of Power exhibition will run from 14th February until 10th April 2026, marking the tercentenary of the death of Sir John Vanbrugh (1664–1726). The significant new experience will shine a light on Sir John Vanbrugh’s brilliant mind,


his rivalries and


ambitions and take visitors on an interactive journey from his early life and theatrics as playwright all the way to his high-stakes partnership with Sarah Churchill, first Duchess of Marlborough.


Blueprints of Power will combine immersive visual experiences with rare archival material, recognisable outfits and costumes and the dramatic stories behind them. Visitors will be able to step back in time and discover how this flamboyant architect’s ties to high society helped define an age. From a building site in the early 1700s to Britain’s Greatest Palace as we know it today, the tailor-made exhibition will span the Palace encompassing the Great Hall, China Anteroom, Dining Room, Drawing Rooms, State Rooms, Saloon and more, right up to the rooftop. Often described as ‘The Rockstar of English Baroque’, Vanbrugh was one of the most prominent architects of


his time and is celebrated for his design of Blenheim Palace and his many other achievements including his work as a dramatist and political activist. Blueprints of Power forms part of the national celebration coordinated by the Georgian Group that will take place in 2026, his tercentenary year. This national collaboration benefits from a £193,000 grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund, with additional support from the Paul Mellon Centre for Studies in British Art. Vanbrugh 300 will feature a variety of events, exhibitions


and activities at six of the architect’s most significant creations including Blenheim Palace, Castle Howard, Seaton Delaval Hall, Grimsthorpe Castle, Kimbolton Castle and


Stowe House.


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64  |  Page 65  |  Page 66  |  Page 67  |  Page 68  |  Page 69  |  Page 70  |  Page 71  |  Page 72  |  Page 73  |  Page 74  |  Page 75  |  Page 76  |  Page 77  |  Page 78  |  Page 79  |  Page 80