Travel Tips - England

Run by an elderly couple in the arches of Kings Road, directly on the seafront, Jack and Linda’s is remarkably quaint and in the summer months its not uncommon to see queues of people out the door, all waiting to get their hands on a hot mackerel sandwich or some fresh homemade fish soup.

Combine a visit to Jack and Linda’s with a stroll around the Brighton Fishing Museum, which is free and offers a chance to learn about the history of Brighton’s fishing community, or perhaps just stock up before having lunch on the beach.

Located a short drive or bus ride east from the city centre, Brighton’s Marina is a superb haven away from the crowds, perfect for a short day trip.

You can enjoy people watching at one of the many waterside cafes and restaurants - which include a number of chains including Strada, Café Rouge and Pizza Express - , shopping at the city’s outlet shopping centre or perhaps go bowling at the large Bowlplex centre.

One of my personal highlights however is walking through the quayside and admiring the huge range of yachts and powerboats. There is nothing quite like seeing how the other half live. Water tours and deep sea fishing trips are also available from the marina. You can even walk up each ‘arm’ of the Marina, which offers wonderful views back to the Marina village, or, if you’re feeling energetic, following the undercliff walk all the way to Saltdean, a distance of 4.5km.

For an authentic laid-back atmosphere with a real kick-start coffee aroma, there are few places like Ray’s Jazz Cafe in Foyle’s Bookshop. As much as the famous Charing Cross Road branch of Foyle’s has become a safe-haven for the literary minded, their recently rejuvenated first-floor lunchroom offers a relaxing mixture of cool music, great food and freshly-brewed blends – setting it in complete contrast to the sterile coffee-house chains that have taken over the city.

The wide range of organic freshly-made food – from out-of-the-oven quiches to scrumptious salmon bagels and pastries – is also what separates this cafe from its lowly generic counterparts. Another feather in their cap is the reliable free wi-fi service that they provide, although you will find most patrons prefer to sit back with a light refreshment and an engrossing novel. If you are on a whistle-stop tour of the London sights, this chilled-out refuge – halfway between the British Museum and Trafalgar Square – is an ideal place for a quick time out. Also, try to pay a visit on a mid-week evening, when they host performances with some of the most accomplished jazz musicians the city can offer.

The stunning Keats’ House would be definitely considered a lesser-known attraction, but is still one with plenty of merit. Situated in the plush neighbourhood of Hampstead in North London, it is an obvious destination for fans of the seminal English poet – as it is where he wrote some of his most famous lines – but the interior of his former abode is truly a must-see for any admirers of immaculate decor and architecture. Decorated in the style of the early 19th Century, this Grade I listed Victorian dwelling has been immaculately maintained to recreate life as it once was for the great wordsmith.

Outside in the charming grounds of the house, a fairly innocuous looking Mulberry tree also possesses some significance. As it dates back to the 17th Century, it is believed to have offered the shade from which Keats composed some of his famous works and has also been mentioned in a selection of his poems and letters. Of course, combining a trip to Keats’ House with nearby Hampstead Heath will make for a memorable London day out.