England Archives - The Culture Mom

06Sep

Hotel Review: Old Swan & Minster Mill in England’s Cotswolds

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When we first pulled up to the Old Swan & Minster Mill, I was instantly intrigued and inwardly delighted. The hotel is a village within a village, literally 60 rooms and a few cottages that resembles a small village. It has so much charm with its dose of traditional English culture and stunning setting, with a 18th century mill located on the River Windrush across 65 acres. It's right down the road from a cathedral and authentic ruins from Minster Lovell Hall, a 15th century Oxfordshire manor house, and the nearby scenery is dynamic. In addition, the Read More

05Sep

Hotel Review: The Rectory Hotel in England’s Cotswolds

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When I first walked into the Rectory Hotel during our recent visit to the Cotswolds, I was in total awe of its decor which is a modern ode to British culture. The hotel is a bit of Pottery Barn mixed with luxury, and its modern yet rustic features and amenities are extremely welcoming. Located in a grand Georgian country house on three acres of walled beautiful gardens, it was the perfect spot for my family to rest our heads and one of my favorite hotels I've experienced as of late. Why were we there? To experience some of England's most stunning Read More

03Sep

Hotel Review: Gliffaes Country House Hotel in Wales

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If you're looking for an off-the-beaten path hotel in Brecon Beacons, Wales, look no further than Gliffaes Country House Hotel. My family and I were so lucky to have paid a visit last month while vacationing in the United Kingdom. Located on 33 acres on the eastern corner of Brecon Beacons National Park, the hotel offers a complete getaway. The Victorian style hotel is surrounded by beautiful foliage, rivers, woods, hedges and sheep fields and is near quaint villages like Knighton and Crickhowell to explore. While exploring the grounds, we even bumped Read More

05Jan

A Few Days in York, England

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As a traveling mom, it’s always key for me to incorporate a few ingredients into our family trips: adventure, education, history, culture and solid bonding experiences. A recent trip to England took us to the northern city of York, located in the heart of Yorkshire, England and incorporated all of these elements. Known as one of England’s most historic cities, the experience provided two days of looking up and gazing at medieval architecture, walking down winding cobble streets, learning about its diverse and sometimes troublesome history and wandering Read More

31Dec

My Holiday Travel Journey (+ Tips for Better Photos)

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If you haven't noticed, I've been kind of quiet lately. Well, I haven't been idle, I've been away in the United Kingdom, visiting family and friends, and playing tourist. Having come here once a year for the last 15-20 years, I'm certainly not your typical visitor but each time is filled with new experiences and I record everything faithfully on Instagram as I am photograph crazed. It may because I was provided with a Samsung Galaxy Phone 4 zoom to bring along on the trip to take better photos and really learn the tricks of the trade. I was provided Read More

13Apr

Exploring London with the Kids

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We just finished a week in London. We actually come here every year to visit family, but we always look forward to the trip. One year we spent time seeing the major tourist sites, like the Changing of the Guard, the London Eye, another year we visited the Science Museum and took a bike ride in Camden Lock. I've posted a about prior trips to London on Traveling Mom: Where to Eat with Kids in London A Day at London’s Science Museum Exploring the London Museum of Jewish Life with Kids London’s Restaurants for Traveling Moms London on a Read More

11Apr

A “Zen” Family Stay at the Hempel Hotel in London

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Tucked away in the beautiful Notting Hill section of London lies a jewel of a hotel, and what you might find a surprisingly child-friendly place to stay. The Hempel is a breath of fresh air for any family wanting a bit of an escape from the excitement and business of London. Instead of staying in a typical London hotel and getting very little space for your money, The Hempel offers full-size apartments with plenty of space for everyone to spread out and relax after exploring the city. Best of all, it's located right next to Hyde Park and Notting Hill Read More

08Apr

Caving with the Kids at Creswell Crags

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Our trip to the UK has not only taken us back in time but it has introduced our children to various parts of UK history. We discovered a bit about Victorian history at Chatsworth House and Elizabethan chivalry at Bolsover Castle. Our visit to Creswell Crags in Derbyshire also presented us with new information about a time period we've yet to explore with our children: the Ice Age. Located in a limestone gorge full of caves, Creswell Crags is home to the only Ice Age rock art in Britain, which tells the gripping story of life in the last Ice Age – Read More

07Apr

Going Back in Time at the Bolsover Castle

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On our recent visit to Chesterfield in Derbyshire, we visited my children's first real castle called Bolsover. Built in 1612 by Charles Cavendish as a mansion modeled on a medieval castle, it is now a tourist site that proudly displays the castle's remains. It has withheld the test of time, and there is a lot of history to be learned from a walk around. Some of the castle is in the open air, so do bundle your kids up. The castle is now in the care of English Heritage and has been since the death of William Cavendish's (the son of Charles) wife in Read More

05Apr

A Day Trip to Chatsworth House in England’s Peak District with the Kids

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In the heart of England's Peak District lies a nearly 500 year-old estate, Chatsworth House. We spent the day there yesterday and it was a wonderful opportunity to teach my children about English history, which they should know more of having a British father, and take in the House's long-standing love of art and culture. It was an education for all of us, as well as a lesson in decadence and opulence. I am also happy to say that my the house held my 7 and 9 year-old's attention steadfast and we are reached that milestone where we are able to visit Read More