Travel Topics
Nestled in the heart of Shropshire, Shrewsbury is a medieval English market town that oozes history and charm. With almost 800 listed buildings, medieval streets full of timber buildings and…
Mark Bibby Jackson takes a short break in Norfolk where he makes friends with some seals in total isolation on Winterton Beach. When people ask me what’s the favourite place…
Welcome to the beautiful island of Malta, where history, culture and adventure await. If you’re planning a trip to this stunning Mediterranean destination, you’re in for a treat. From the…
Roger Hermiston and Eileen Wise visit Buckingham Palace on their London stay at the Cadogan Hotel If its walls could talk London’s Belmond Cadogan Hotel would have some mighty colourful…
Mark Bibby Jackson travels to Finland’s Lake District to visit Lake Saimaa and the Savonlinna Opera Festival It is on our return journey that Captain Mikael allows me to take…
Mark Bibby Jackson visits Graz Austria, a green city with a visionary view for our future. It was on a visit to Iași in Romania a few years ago that…
Albanian strongman Enver Hoxha didn’t pussyfoot around billeting “illegal immigrants” on some off-shore barge or trying to fly them to Rwanda during his country’s Communist era. He just had them…
Mark Bibby Jackson takes a road trip through Ayrshire, Dumfries and Galloway on the trail of Rabbie Burns and meets a couple of US Presidents along the way. “Auld Ayr…
The previous few days had challenged my pre-formed opinion of the Rust Belt. Buffalo and Cleveland were both interesting and lively cities with plenty of architectural gems and lots of…
Roger Hermiston and Eileen Wise review Monkey Island hotel and Estate on the banks of the Thames near the village of Bray. It is just a small, seven-acre island in…
Mark Bibby Jackson goes on an architectural journey through Buffalo visiting Silo City, Martin House, the City Hall and Theodore Roosevelt Inauguration Site. It is a line I am going…
“This is the room where Tracey Emin says she had her best sex,” Jane Bishop informs me as she as she hands me the key to room 302 at the…
Mark Bibby Jackson travels to Brean in Somerset to experience a traditional British holiday. One of the consequences of Covid was the growth of domestic UK staycations. In recent months…
Mark Bibby Jackson leaves Lake Ullswater to visit three castles of Cumbria – Brougham Castle, Lowther Castle and Hutton-in-the-Forest, as well as Rheged. “The river used to mark the border…
Given that the great river flows through ten countries in central Europe, there are several fine cities along it that might lay claim to the title ‘The Jewel on The…
Since its launch in 2016 in Bishop Auckland, County Durham, Kynren – An Epic Tale of England has taken audiences on an immersive journey through 2,000 years of history, myth…
Set in the Irish Sea sandwiched between Ireland and Britain, the Isle of Man has a long history with many traditions and unusual folklore. Discover about the history and customs…
Frank Lloyd Wright is regarded as the greatest American architect ever. He was a pioneer of organic architecture, drawing inspiration from the landscape of Pennsylvania’s Laurel Highlands. In this region…
It was 1979, and the future was looking somewhat chilly for English country houses. The Labour Government’s ‘Winter of Discontent’ with the unions had left its mark, another energy crisis…
When you think of Italy perhaps it’s the centuries of culture or the wonderful cuisine that first springs to mind. Or perhaps the breath-taking scenery. But what of the many…
On his first visit to Tynemouth and Newcastle upon Tyne, Mark Bibby Jackson receives a hospitable welcome at the Tynemouth Castle Inn. The recently refurbished, Tynemouth Castle Inn is a…
Mark Bibby Jackson visits Barnard Castle, The Auckland Project and High Force while staying at Headlam Hall Country Hotel & Spa, Durham. One of the most rewarding aspects of being…
Mark Bibby Jackson visits the seaside resort of Le Touquet on the Opal Coast in the Pas de Calais, France and feels back home. In retrospect it is a tiny…
South Africa is a country full of diverse landscapes, fascinating wildlife, and rich cultural heritage. From the bustling cities to the scenic countryside, there is always something new and exciting…
The older a civilisation, the richer its heritage. Whether you are in the UK, Europe the Far East or the Americas, an appreciation of the local culture will make your holiday the more rewarding.
Local festivals are a wonderful way of appreciating the rich culture that has been crafted over centuries and even millennia upon occasions. At Travel Begins at 40, we have a whole festival and events section so you can easily access information on festivals local to where you are visiting.
The UK is blessed with a long history that is demonstrated in the wonderful castles, cathedrals and ancestral homes dotted around the country. Many of these are maintained by organisations such as English Heritage and the National Trust and open to the public.
Europe has a similar rich tradition, and holidays in the continent can focus on the Grand Tour involving highlights of Roman, Greek and even Morish civilisations.
If all this sounds like a Eurocentric, culturally elitist approach, then fear not, we also have articles focusing on native culture from early civilisations that might have been missed out in some history books. Make your next journey a culturally rewarding one.
