Innehållsförteckning för Summer 2025 från British Travel Journal

British Travel Journal has teamed up with The Witchery, Edinburgh’s most spectacular atmospheric dining and hotel destination, to offer the chance to win a luxurious one-night stay with breakfast, a three-course dinner for two with a bottle of house wine, plus a £40 voucher for its newly opened The Witchery Shop. For nearly half a century, The Witchery has captivated visitors with its stunning décor, remarkable antiques, legendary cuisine, and award-winning wine list, firmly establishing itself as a beloved Edinburgh institution. Step inside to discover rich baroque splendour in the original oak-panelled dining room or the elegant, candle-lit Secret Garden, each adorned with captivating antiquities. Savour a delectable meal beneath the hand-painted ceiling or enjoy the exclusivity of the secluded terrace. Beyond exceptional dining, The Witchery boasts nine theatrical suites,…

You won’t go thirsty in Alfriston. The East Sussex village of just 830 souls counts no fewer than four pubs on its medieval high street. Add Rathfinny, the local sparkling wine estate, and you wonder how anyone ever manages a dry January. Amid the pubs, there’s not a chain store in sight on a street fringed with half-timbered and flint buildings, roofs charmingly askew and chimneys leaning like they’ve been at the booze. It’s just galleries, tea rooms and independent shops. By the village green, St Andrew’s Church, aka the Cathedral of the South Downs because of its size, stands sentinel by the thatched clergy house that was the National Trust’s first acquisition back in 1896. The Cuckmere River curls its way along the valley just steps away. If there’s…

Idyllically positioned between the wild North Sea and the heather-clad North Yorkshire Moors, an exciting new hotel has recently opened its doors. What was once the somewhat tired Raithwaite Sandsend hotel has been transformed into a new luxury escape, influenced and inspired by nature at every turn. After a picture-perfect drive though the breathtaking scenery of the North York Moors National Park, I began to make my descent and eventfully dipped down on to a stretch of unspoilt coast road. Somewhere in between Whitby and Sandsend, I saw a chic swing sign for Saltmoore and turned up a driveway lined with windswept trees. Saltmoore describes itself as a ‘wellness-led sanctuary’, with food, interiors, activities and even spa treatments all inspired by the local landscape. Nestled within an expanse of 85…

ACROSS 1 Everybody (3,3,3)10 Firth of Forth isle named after feathers (5)11 Decorative knotting (7)12 Former home of the Clan MacIntyre, near Loch Etive (4,3)13 A good South Coast restaurant to go Gallivanting in? (6)14 Beef or lamb, for example (3,4)17 More hands-on version of football in the Midlands (5)18 Only one of this animal at Welsh cabin spot (3)19 Sound of 18 Across (5)20 Old form of illumination (3,4)22 Berkshire town disliked by Sir John Betjeman (6)24 Duty-bound (7)27 Blow up (7)28 Skye inn sounds German (5)29 One who’s in until others who aren’t in get him out (9) DOWN 1 Dorset farm retreat (5)2 Profound transformations (3,7)3 With prejudice (8)4 Essential hikers’ accessories (10)5 Green marker? (4)6 Was this part of Crawley the home of an old yodeller? (6)7 Heavenly Cornish project (4)8 Modern version of…

HOTELS EVENTS & EXPERIENCES GLAMPING SELF-CATERING HOTELS NORTH COTSWOLDS Hyll It’s all about art and the countryside at this hilltop hotel, set to open this summer in a 17th century manor house and its outbuildings near Charingworth, Chipping Campden. Contemporary sculptures are dotted around the 60-acre estate, which commands panoramic views across the Cotswolds. The surrounding landscape inspired the design in the 26 rooms. → Rates yet to be set; hyllhotel.com LONDON The July If you’re after a London base that’s less formal than a hotel but offers more than an apartment, take a look at The July. Whether you want a studio or an apartment for six, the 114 Art Deco-inspired units all come with kitchens, housekeeping services, and the use of a gym, sauna, all-day restaurant, deli and…

The multi-award-winning Matilda the Musical adapted from the much-loved Roald Dahl book has won over 100 international awards, including 24 for Best Musical. With the musical’s book by Dennis Kelly and original songs by Tim Minchin, Matilda The Musical is the story of an extraordinary little girl, armed with a vivid imagination and a sharp mind, who dares to take a stand and change her own destiny. A tonic for audiences of all ages, this anarchic production continues Roald Dahl’s theme of bravery and standing up for what you believe in, inspiring young audiences all over the world. Now the 15th longest running show in the West End, playing to audiences in the Cambridge Theatre on the corner of Earlham Street facing Seven Dials. Your visit to London this summer…

1 BEST FOR HISTORIC STYLE The Swan Inn, West Sussex Nestled in the sleepy village of Fittleworth sits The Swan Inn, a quintessential village pub that has been recently transformed into one of Sussex’s most stylish boltholes. Locally born restaurateur Angus Davies is the latest custodian of this 14th century coaching inn, which has undergone an extensive two-and-a-half-year renovation. Beneath wonky beams and slanting ceilings, interiors are an Insta-worthy mix of bold colours, pleasing patterns, fine art and antique furniture. There are 12 beautifully designed bedrooms in total, with luxuries such as roll-top baths and Verden toiletries. The pub’s sophisticated, seasonal food is worth visiting for alone – think elevated classics and show-stopping sharers, all of which can be easily walked off on a nearby country ramble. → Rooms start…

“We’re going to be doing these things anyway, so we might as well get guests to join in,” explains Caitlin Ownes, co-owner of the newly opened Fowlescombe Farm in South Devon. I’m staying here for the weekend, and she’s explaining the ethos of the farm’s laid-back optional activity schedule. It’s the antithesis of organised fun here. No one has to officially sign up as the activity is part of the farm’s day to day, and will go on regardless. Caitlin’s gently luring me into joining wild swimming first thing tomorrow morning at neary Bigbury beach, and it doesn’t take long for me to agree – though actually getting in the sea in just a cossie on May 1 is another matter altogether. Thankfully, I manage the quickest of dips and…

The acclaimed Broadway musical and winner of eight Tony Awards including Best Musical and the Grammy Award for Best Musical Theatre Album, written by singer-songwriter Anaïs Mitchell, blends American songwriting traditions from indie folk, to pop, blues, and New Orleans-inspired jazz. Hadestown takes you on an unforgettable journey to the underworld and back, intertwining two mythic love stories – that of young dreamers Orpheus and Eurydice, and that of King Hades and his wife Persephone. A deeply resonant and defiantly hopeful theatrical experience, Hadestown invites you to imagine how the world could be. The West End production is currently playing to audiences in the Lyric Theatre, on Shaftesbury Avenue. HOW TO BOOK TICKETS Hadestown is currently booking through to February 2026, with the best availability on mid-week performances. → Tickets…

When Louis and Emma Steyn bought Spence Farm in 2019, the plan was to create a family home, but soon they realised that their newly acquired acres of unspoilt farmland, endless vines and sweeping countryside and sea views were just too special not to share, and so Louma was born. Nestled within the Marshwood Vale between Bridport and Lyme Regis, Louma describes itself as a ‘farm retreat’. If this conjures up thoughts of mud and a distinctive smell of sileage, then think again. Louma cleverly combines all the joys of the great outdoors with a level of luxury that is guaranteed to delight even the hardiest of boutique hotel lovers. As the word ‘retreat’ suggests, once you’ve crossed Louma’s unassuming threshold, passed the chickens, teeming veg beds, and the watchful…

Britain’s untamed fringes are dotted with wild saunas, more than 200 strong, each battling the elements to offer a blend of outdoor adventure and invigorating hot-cold therapy. Drawing inspiration from Nordic bathing cultures, where sauna is a way of life and steam, or löyly, is essential in these often repurposed spaces – think horseboxes or trailers provide unique sanctuaries. Bathers relax, witnessing nature while embracing this tradition. More than just heat, these experiences foster community, aid in mental and physical wellbeing, and leave visitors with a renewed sense of energy and a visible glow. Wales ● WILDWATER, PEMBROKESHIRE Wildwater Sauna moves around every four weeks, drawing a cult following among swimmers, surfers and Pembrokeshire locals in the process. Popular spots are Newgale, Nolton Haven, Little Haven, Whitesands and Porthclais. Wildwater…