It’s that time again - the cards have infiltrated the shelves in WH Smiths and women everywhere are practising their ‘disinterested’ face. Yes, Valentine’s day is only a month away and, much as I would like to discourage the idea that romance is a...

The redevelopment of Hastings Old Town is continuing with the imminent opening of the Jerwood Gallery on Hasting’s waterfront. The gallery is due to open in March and will display the Jerwood Foundation’s impressive collection of...

In May last year we were busy getting lost on Dartmoor when we came across a film crew (and Mark Gatiss) lingering around Hound Tor. It turns out that not only were they shooting last night’s...

We’ve just spotted a definite addition to The Weekenders diary for 2012 - the World Pasty Championships. Screw the new year diet, our mouths are watering at the thought of it!

The first event of its kind, the Championships will be held, appropriately,...

A new survey has hit our inbox, revealing the nation’s favourite winter views. As is often the case, the poll specifics are a bit random (the survey, conducted by OscarUK.co.uk, asked 461 people over the age of 50 where they would “imagine”...

Everyone loves a story of triumph over adversity, so it’s great to read about the determination of Torbay’s tourism bosses to reverse the ailing fortunes of the English Riviera. Visitor numbers to the stretch of South Devon coastline have been steadily declining, but...

If you’ve already bought this year’s traditional Christmas issue of the Radio Times (highlighters at the ready!), you’ll have seen the results of their ‘Best Christmas Film Ever’ reader poll. It was no surprise to see ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’ at...

Christmas shopping on Oxford Street last night wasn’t one of my best ideas. I never meant to end up there - it just sucked me in and wouldn’t let me out. In the end I joined the rest of them, shuffling slowly past the...

I was trawling the internet this morning looking for a walking boots Christmas present (oh secret recipient - you lucky thing!) and came across this lovely little ‘Inspiring UK walks’ picture gallery on the Hi-...

I’d love to say that finding myself watching the Antiques Roadshow on a Sunday evening is an extremely rare occurrence, but for one reason or another it seems to be happening worryingly frequently. This is mainly down to the fact that once the Strictly...

Until now, the pretty Yorkshire Wolds have been happy sitting quietly, minding their own business while the tourists flock to their neighbours the Dales and the Moors. Even the Wolds’ most famous adopted son, David Hockney (aka the godfather of British modern art) has been...

After a few false starts, winter has well and truly arrived. Annoyingly it’s arrived just as my boiler has decided to pack up, so I’m sitting at my desk wrapped in a blanket and lusting after an open fire, a glass of red...

If the city gets too much this summer, there’s no better place to head for than the seaside. But forget St Tropez, Montego Bay or Bondi, there are plenty of beautiful beaches less than two hours from London. Who needs sweaty temperatures and posers...

Who says you need to rough it to enjoy the UK’s best music festivals? There is no shame in ditching the tent, binning the babywipes and retreating to a warm, clean bed every night. In fact, we’re not sure why we didn’t...

Try and let your heart not your wallet do the talking this Valentines. Check out The Weekenders tips for the perfect, low-cost, romantic minibreak...


1. Use your imagination

You might think the love of your life will...

Whisking your other half away on a romantic weekend away might be the last thing on your mind in these wallet-busting times. But with doom and gloom all over the place and Valentine’s weekend fast approaching, there’s no better time to disappear...

Oxford means so many things to so many people in the UK - for some it might be the beauty of the dreaming spires, for others it might be the Inspector Morse theme tune. For me, it’s the memory of my careers advisor sniggering as...

Vibrant singer-songwriter Maria Ilett has performed all over the UK, from the renowned 100 Club and Betsy Trotwoods in London, to the Radio 1 stage at Glastonbury. But she’s an Oxford girl at heart, and was all too happy to give us the...

Far be it for us to say that a weekend away should be anything other than an excuse to get away from it all. But if there’s one thing that can make a break even more special, it’s fantastic food. From Michelin-starred...