Travel
My village was named best place to live in the UK – it’s just 1 hour from London and perfect for Autumn weekend breaks
JUST an hour train ride from London Bridge is a quaint village that was crowned best place to live in the UK in 2023 – and even if you don’t up sticks and move there, it’s a great weekend break.
Wadhurst, named best place to live by The Sunday Times last year, is a place I’ve called home for the last four years after deciding to leave city life during the pandemic.
7
7 7
It was a village I’d never heard of before, but offered a cheaper cost of living than London, while still being on a direct train route into the capital.
But boring essentials aside, it has plenty of other amazing attributes and this time of year is when it really shines.
If you’re looking for some beautiful walks and cosy pubs to warm up in this Autumn, I definitely recommend you visit.
Just a half an hour walk from Wadhurst train station, you’ll find yourself in the middle of the village high street.
There are Indian and pizza restaurants, a small supermarket, a butchers, deli, a florist, charity shops, and two pubs – everything you could need, all in one place.
The village is very picturesque with an historic charm and vibrant community, but there are a host of beautiful places beyond the high street.
Bewl Rookery is a smallholding which is home to 16 alpacas.
As well as being able to meet the alpacas, you can enjoy afternoon tea alongside them – for adults, it’s £48, for children 10 and under, £38.
Mousehall is a family-run, sustainable distillery and winery that makes chardonnay, pinot noir, pinot meunier and various gins.
Guided tasting experiences are £25, and you can also stay in Mousehall Oast – an 18th century traditional oast house that sleeps 6.
Virgin Hot Air Balloon Rides also launch from Wadhurst, offering views across the High Weals Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Prices start from £169 per person.
And if you’re looking for somewhere to stay, there’s Little Tidebrook Farm, a lovely converted granary offering bed and breakfast.
There are also plenty of walks and pubs nearby that are perfect for the Autumn months. Here are a few of my favourites below.
Wadhurst Park
Wadhurst Park is a 796 hectare estate that’s home to a range of wildlife, stunning natural landscapes and pretty walks.
Swedish industrialist and the founder of Tetra Pak, Hans Rausing bought the estate back in 1975, making it his main residence.
Following his death in 2019, the house remains a private residence of the Rausing family.
But walkers are welcome to enjoy the estate by following marked pathways.
There’s plenty of wildlife to see as the park has undergone huge conservation efforts.
It’s a partner in the White Stork Project, which aims to restore a self-sustaining breeding population of storks in southern England – many of which can be seen by the Wadhurst Park lake.
In recent years, a handful of Mangalitsa pigs were added to the park, to mimic the activity of wild boar and help restore the habitat by breaking up dense grass. Although I’m yet to see these on my walks!
The park is a 10-minute walk from Wadhurst High Street and there’s no entrance fee.
Bedgebury National Pinetum and Forest
Probably one of my favourite autumn walks is Bedgebury.
It’s a 17-minute drive away and does cost to park there, but is an absolutely stunning place to visit at this time of year.
Its huge variety of trees create a kaleidoscope of colour, and the reflection of this in the lakes makes for the perfect Autumn picture.
There’s fun for all the family available with children’s play areas, a Gruffalo trail, mountain biking tracks, and a cafe selling hot and cold food.
A gravel trail around the forest also means you don’t have to get muddy.
Parking for an hour is £4, £8 for two hours, £11.50 for three hours, and £14.50 for all day.
If you’re there around lunch or dinnertime, then it’s worth making the trip 5 minutes down the road to the Bull Inn in Ticehurst, a quintessential English pub with a stunning garden and roaring open fires.
Bewl Water
If you fancy a longer walk, Bewl Water, a reservoir that’s the largest stretch of open water in the South East, is nearby.
To walk round the whole thing takes approximately six hours (so not for the faint-hearted), but there are plenty of places to stop and rest, have a picnic, and take in the beautiful views across the water.
If you’re walking from Wadhurst, check a map for the best entry point.
It’s also a great place to head for fishing, and paddle boards and rowing boats are available for hire.
There’s even Aqua Park for adrenaline junkies – but maybe summer‘s best for getting in the water.
If you want somewhere to stay, there’s camping and glamping with Mongolian yurts available too.
Bewl Water is free for people walking in and £7 a day for parking.
The Bell pub in Ticehurst
Wadhurst has some lovely pubs, including The White Hart and The Greyhound Inn.
But my favourite pub in the area has to be The Bell in Ticehurst.
Just an eight minute drive away, The Bell is known for its tasty food, snug atmosphere, and eccentric design.
As well as a big open fireplace you’ll find exuberant art, top hats as lampshades, uneven floors, and four lodges you can stay in out the back, including a unique Love Nest.
One of its most notable features can be found in the men’s toilets – urinals made out of tubas.
The pub’s definitely worth a visit if you’re looking for something a bit different.
Equally great towns near Wadhurst to visit
Tunbridge Wells
A 17 minute drive away from Wadhurst is Tunbridge Wells – the closest big town if you’re looking for more shops and restaurants. The Pantiles walkway is an iconic feature in the town, famous for its Georgian architecture and independent shops and restaurants.
Hastings
Not far away is the seaside town of Hastings. You can hop on the train at Wadhurst and it’s at the end of the line (about 30 minutes away). Hastings’ medieval Old Town is a main attraction, with its narrow streets, antique shops, boutiques and cafes. The beach is pebbly, but the perfect place to sit down and enjoy some fish and chips.
Bodiam
Less than half an hour away is Bodiam, a small village but with a rather large castle. The castle is owned by the National Trust, and it another good place to head for an Autumn walk. If you’re looking for a bite to eat, there’s the Castle Inn across the road or The Hub @ Quarry Farm, which has the Kent & East Sussex Railway nearby.
7
7
7
7
AX Visio, the world’s first smart binoculars, combining digital intelligence with high-performance sport optics delivers razor-sharp images with excellent colour fidelity, thanks to the Swarovision technology
Continue reading Swarovski Binoculars: Enhanced with Swarovision at Business Traveller.
DOWNHAM Market in Norfolk has been dubbed a “Gingerbread Town” – because of the colour of its buildings.
The moniker is because of the colour of the sandstone bricks, created by fusing local white brick and carrstone to make the gingerbread colour.
5
5
Having been a town for over 2,000 years, it officially became a market town in 1046, making it one of the oldest of its kind in Norfolk.
Because of its long history, there are plenty of noteworthy buildings to visit including Downham Market Town Hall, which is one of the main buildings to have the gingerbread ‘slabs’.
Another example of the “Gingerbread brick” can be found on the corner of Priory Road and London Road.
Head to the Discover Downham Heritage Centre to find out about the town’s history as well.
The tiny museum has a number of artefacts and interactive displays to look at as well as workshops including weaving and mosaic making.
Entry into Discover Downham Heritage Centre costs £4 per person.
Downham Market’s black and white clock tower is another key landmark in the town, which opened in 1878.
Meanwhile, The Fen Rivers Way Footpath also runs directly through the Norfolk town, which means day-trippers to Downham Market will be able to get into the countryside without a hitch.
And if you need a drink at the end, the town has a much-loved Wetherspoons which locals have raved about.
The Whalebone is a Grade II Listed building, that dates back to the 18th century.
Its name is a nod to the whaling trade that once flourished in the area, with its walls adorned with other historical memorabilia.
The pub has a 4/5 star rating on Google from more than 1,600 reviews.
One person wrote: “Easily one of, if not, the best beer garden I’ve come across at a Wetherspoon pub and restaurant.”
Another person added: “It’s friendly and I love the way they have incorporated historical elements into the decorating of the Whalebone.”
5
5
There are several other pubs in Downham Market, including The Live and Let Live.
The Norfolk Cheese Co & Delicatessen is a highly-rated restaurant in the area too, with a 5/5 star rating on Google.
For holidaymakers who want to stay overnight, rooms at the Crown Hotel start from £83 per night.
The unassuming hotel was where the “Bread Riots” took place in 1816.
King Charles I was also said to have hidden in an Inn in Downham Market in the 17th century.
The former king disguised as a clergyman in an attempt to evade capture by Parliamentary forces after the battle of Naseby.
Downham Market can be reached on a direct train from London King’s Cross, with services taking 100 minutes.
Best staycation locations for 2024
Bristol
The arty harbour city was the top spot on the list and is bursting with culture and trendy cafes scattered along the River Avon.
A bubbling hub for creatives, Bristol is the birthplace of street artist Banksy, and you can admire some of his best early works on a free walking tour.
2. Hull
The Humberside port city started to get recognition last year, and it has a thriving nightlife scene – if that’s something you’re after.
The old town is crawling with history and classy buildings, whose walls have many stories to tell and The Deep is a fascinating aquarium attraction.
3. Isles of Scilly
Just off the Cornish coast, it’s easy to see why the archipelago made it into the top three.
Here, you can expect golden sandy beaches where you will be able to spot dolphins beyond the shoreline, as well as seafront pubs serving up hearty grub.
Another tiny village in the UK has been compared to a retro 1940s film set.
And an abandoned village in England only opens to tourists once a year.
5
Marriott and Sands China have signed an agreement to debut The Luxury Collection brand in Macau
Continue reading Londoner Grand coming to Macau at Business Traveller.
Travel
Overlooked travel hack that keeps you safe on holiday after woman has ‘everything stolen’ during Spain trip
A WOMAN was left devastated after her bag was stolen while on holiday – and was forced to walk nearly two miles in the heat.
TikToker Jess, from the UK, was on holiday in Salou when she realised she was missing her passport and bank cards.
2
The contents of her bag were stolen while she was at a restaurant, despite being attached to her pram.
She posted a video on her social media which has since been watched thousands of times.
She said: “My passport, my two cards – everything is gone.”
Jess said she didn’t know how she was going to get home after her passport was stolen.
Read more on travel hacks
She said she was forced to walk 1.4miles to the police station, after freezing her bank cards.
She warned her followers: “I’m just putting it out there. Just keep your stuff on you and not around you.
“Anything can happen anywhere. You just never know when it’s going to happen to yourself so always be alert and on it so it doesn’t happen to you.”
She was eventually able to get a replacement passport after making an appointment with the embassy in Barcelona.
However, she issued another warning to her followers to make sure to “make an appointment” and not just turn up at the embassy.
It is advised to avoid taking your passport out with you, and is better to leave in the hotel safe.
And there are two ways to protect yourself when on holiday.
One of those is to always leave an emergency bank card in your hotel room.
If you don’t want to just carry cash, then this means you still have a means of paying for emergency food and transport if your cards are stolen.
You should also always have a printed version of your passport page in case you lose the real thing.
This makes it much easier to get a replacement passport at the embassy.
However, it is still a pricey mistake – replacement passports cost £100, and can take up to two days to get one.
You will also only be able to use this to travel home, travelling through up to five countries to get back.
2
This will then be kept by border staff, and you will then need to apply for a new passport when back in the UK.
We’ve also explained why you should never throw away your expired passport.
What are the passport rules?
The Sun’s Head of Travel Lisa Minot has explained exactly what Brits need to know.
“Travellers used to be able to roll over up to nine unused months from their old passport onto a new one.
“But post-Brexit, anyone wanting to travel to the EU can no longer rely on those extra months.
“In order to travel to the EU, all passports must be no more than 10 years old on the day you arrive in your European destination.
“And you’ll need at least three months on your passport on the day you head back to the UK.
“Figures have shown up to 100,000 holidaymakers a year face being turned away at airports if their passport is more than 10 years old.
“The 10-year rule only applies to countries in the European Union but every country may have different rules on what is accepted – some countries like South Africa, for example, insist you have at least six months left on your passport when you travel and a full clear page.”
Flying Club members will be able to redeem points against any Virgin flight, but pricing will “vary in line with demand, in a similar way to standard tickets”
The move will add 130,000 seats per year to the route, as well as seeing the return of the carrier’s first class cabin and a doubling in the number of premium economy seats available
Continue reading Qantas adds A380 to Johannesburg route for the first time at Business Traveller.
-
Womens Workouts7 days ago3 Day Full Body Women’s Dumbbell Only Workout
-
Technology2 weeks agoWould-be reality TV contestants ‘not looking real’
-
Science & Environment2 weeks ago‘Running of the bulls’ festival crowds move like charged particles
-
News1 week agoOur millionaire neighbour blocks us from using public footpath & screams at us in street.. it’s like living in a WARZONE – WordupNews
-
Science & Environment2 weeks agoHow to wrap your mind around the real multiverse
-
Science & Environment2 weeks agoHyperelastic gel is one of the stretchiest materials known to science
-
Science & Environment2 weeks agoMaxwell’s demon charges quantum batteries inside of a quantum computer
-
Science & Environment2 weeks agoSunlight-trapping device can generate temperatures over 1000°C
-
Science & Environment2 weeks agoHow to unsnarl a tangle of threads, according to physics
-
Science & Environment2 weeks agoLiquid crystals could improve quantum communication devices
-
Science & Environment2 weeks agoPhysicists are grappling with their own reproducibility crisis
-
Science & Environment2 weeks agoITER: Is the world’s biggest fusion experiment dead after new delay to 2035?
-
News2 weeks agoYou’re a Hypocrite, And So Am I
-
Science & Environment2 weeks agoQuantum ‘supersolid’ matter stirred using magnets
-
Science & Environment2 weeks agoWhy this is a golden age for life to thrive across the universe
-
Sport2 weeks agoJoshua vs Dubois: Chris Eubank Jr says ‘AJ’ could beat Tyson Fury and any other heavyweight in the world
-
Science & Environment2 weeks agoQuantum forces used to automatically assemble tiny device
-
Science & Environment2 weeks agoCaroline Ellison aims to duck prison sentence for role in FTX collapse
-
Science & Environment2 weeks agoNuclear fusion experiment overcomes two key operating hurdles
-
Science & Environment2 weeks agoLaser helps turn an electron into a coil of mass and charge
-
Science & Environment2 weeks agoTime travel sci-fi novel is a rip-roaringly good thought experiment
-
Science & Environment2 weeks agoNerve fibres in the brain could generate quantum entanglement
-
CryptoCurrency2 weeks agoCardano founder to meet Argentina president Javier Milei
-
Science & Environment1 week agoMeet the world's first female male model | 7.30
-
News2 weeks ago
Israel strikes Lebanese targets as Hizbollah chief warns of ‘red lines’ crossed
-
Womens Workouts1 week agoBest Exercises if You Want to Build a Great Physique
-
CryptoCurrency2 weeks agoEthereum is a 'contrarian bet' into 2025, says Bitwise exec
-
Science & Environment2 weeks agoWhy we need to invoke philosophy to judge bizarre concepts in science
-
CryptoCurrency2 weeks agoDZ Bank partners with Boerse Stuttgart for crypto trading
-
Womens Workouts1 week agoEverything a Beginner Needs to Know About Squatting
-
News2 weeks agoBrian Tyree Henry on voicing young Megatron, his love for villain roles
-
News2 weeks ago▶️ Media Bias: How They Spin Attack on Hezbollah and Ignore the Reality
-
Science & Environment2 weeks agoA slight curve helps rocks make the biggest splash
-
Science & Environment2 weeks agoQuantum time travel: The experiment to ‘send a particle into the past’
-
CryptoCurrency2 weeks agoBitcoin miners steamrolled after electricity thefts, exchange ‘closure’ scam: Asia Express
-
CryptoCurrency2 weeks agoDorsey’s ‘marketplace of algorithms’ could fix social media… so why hasn’t it?
-
CryptoCurrency2 weeks agoRedStone integrates first oracle price feeds on TON blockchain
-
CryptoCurrency2 weeks agoBitcoin bulls target $64K BTC price hurdle as US stocks eye new record
-
CryptoCurrency2 weeks agoBlockdaemon mulls 2026 IPO: Report
-
CryptoCurrency2 weeks agoCoinbase’s cbBTC surges to third-largest wrapped BTC token in just one week
-
News1 week agoFour dead & 18 injured in horror mass shooting with victims ‘caught in crossfire’ as cops hunt multiple gunmen
-
Womens Workouts7 days ago3 Day Full Body Toning Workout for Women
-
Travel6 days agoDelta signs codeshare agreement with SAS
-
Politics5 days agoHope, finally? Keir Starmer’s first conference in power – podcast | News
-
Sport2 weeks agoUFC Edmonton fight card revealed, including Brandon Moreno vs. Amir Albazi headliner
-
Science & Environment2 weeks agoA new kind of experiment at the Large Hadron Collider could unravel quantum reality
-
Technology2 weeks agoiPhone 15 Pro Max Camera Review: Depth and Reach
-
Science & Environment2 weeks agoHow one theory ties together everything we know about the universe
-
Science & Environment2 weeks agoBeing in two places at once could make a quantum battery charge faster
-
CryptoCurrency2 weeks agoCrypto scammers orchestrate massive hack on X but barely made $8K
-
Science & Environment2 weeks agoTiny magnet could help measure gravity on the quantum scale
-
Science & Environment2 weeks agoFuture of fusion: How the UK’s JET reactor paved the way for ITER
-
Science & Environment2 weeks agoHow do you recycle a nuclear fusion reactor? We’re about to find out
-
CryptoCurrency2 weeks agoLow users, sex predators kill Korean metaverses, 3AC sues Terra: Asia Express
-
CryptoCurrency2 weeks agoSEC asks court for four months to produce documents for Coinbase
-
CryptoCurrency2 weeks ago‘No matter how bad it gets, there’s a lot going on with NFTs’: 24 Hours of Art, NFT Creator
-
Business2 weeks ago
How Labour donor’s largesse tarnished government’s squeaky clean image
-
News2 weeks ago
Brian Tyree Henry on voicing young Megatron, his love for villain roles
-
Womens Workouts1 week agoHow Heat Affects Your Body During Exercise
-
Womens Workouts1 week agoKeep Your Goals on Track This Season
-
News2 weeks agoChurch same-sex split affecting bishop appointments
-
Technology2 weeks agoFivetran targets data security by adding Hybrid Deployment
-
CryptoCurrency2 weeks ago
$12.1M fraud suspect with ‘new face’ arrested, crypto scam boiler rooms busted: Asia Express
-
Science & Environment2 weeks agoUK spurns European invitation to join ITER nuclear fusion project
-
CryptoCurrency2 weeks agoDecentraland X account hacked, phishing scam targets MANA airdrop
-
CryptoCurrency2 weeks agoCertiK Ventures discloses $45M investment plan to boost Web3
-
CryptoCurrency2 weeks agoBeat crypto airdrop bots, Illuvium’s new features coming, PGA Tour Rise: Web3 Gamer
-
CryptoCurrency2 weeks agoTelegram bot Banana Gun’s users drained of over $1.9M
-
CryptoCurrency2 weeks ago‘Silly’ to shade Ethereum, the ‘Microsoft of blockchains’ — Bitwise exec
-
CryptoCurrency2 weeks agoEthereum falls to new 42-month low vs. Bitcoin — Bottom or more pain ahead?
-
Business2 weeks ago
Thames Water seeks extension on debt terms to avoid renationalisation
-
Politics2 weeks ago
‘Appalling’ rows over Sue Gray must stop, senior ministers say | Sue Gray
-
News1 week agoWhy Is Everyone Excited About These Smart Insoles?
-
Politics2 weeks agoTrump says he will meet with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi next week
-
Science & Environment2 weeks agoSingle atoms captured morphing into quantum waves in startling image
-
Technology2 weeks agoCan technology fix the ‘broken’ concert ticketing system?
-
Science & Environment2 weeks agoHow Peter Higgs revealed the forces that hold the universe together
-
Health & fitness2 weeks agoThe secret to a six pack – and how to keep your washboard abs in 2022
-
CryptoCurrency2 weeks ago2 auditors miss $27M Penpie flaw, Pythia’s ‘claim rewards’ bug: Crypto-Sec
-
CryptoCurrency2 weeks agoJourneys: Robby Yung on Animoca’s Web3 investments, TON and the Mocaverse
-
CryptoCurrency2 weeks agoLouisiana takes first crypto payment over Bitcoin Lightning
-
CryptoCurrency2 weeks ago‘Everything feels like it’s going to shit’: Peter McCormack reveals new podcast
-
Science & Environment2 weeks agoA tale of two mysteries: ghostly neutrinos and the proton decay puzzle
-
CryptoCurrency2 weeks agoSEC sues ‘fake’ crypto exchanges in first action on pig butchering scams
-
CryptoCurrency2 weeks agoBitcoin price hits $62.6K as Fed 'crisis' move sparks US stocks warning
-
CryptoCurrency2 weeks agoVonMises bought 60 CryptoPunks in a month before the price spiked: NFT Collector
-
CryptoCurrency2 weeks agoVitalik tells Ethereum L2s ‘Stage 1 or GTFO’ — Who makes the cut?
-
News2 weeks agoBrian Tyree Henry on his love for playing villains ahead of “Transformers One” release
-
News1 week agoBangladesh Holds the World Accountable to Secure Climate Justice
-
Womens Workouts1 week agoWhich Squat Load Position is Right For You?
-
TV1 week agoCNN TÜRK – 🔴 Canlı Yayın ᴴᴰ – Canlı TV izle
-
Science & Environment1 week agoCNN TÜRK – 🔴 Canlı Yayın ᴴᴰ – Canlı TV izle
-
Technology6 days agoRobo-tuna reveals how foldable fins help the speedy fish manoeuvre
-
Technology2 weeks agoIs carbon capture an efficient way to tackle CO2?
-
Science & Environment2 weeks agoThe physicist searching for quantum gravity in gravitational rainbows
-
Fashion Models2 weeks agoMixte
-
Politics2 weeks agoLabour MP urges UK government to nationalise Grangemouth refinery
-
Health & fitness2 weeks agoThe maps that could hold the secret to curing cancer
-
CryptoCurrency2 weeks agoHelp! My parents are addicted to Pi Network crypto tapper
-
CryptoCurrency2 weeks agoCZ and Binance face new lawsuit, RFK Jr suspends campaign, and more: Hodler’s Digest Aug. 18 – 24
You must be logged in to post a comment Login