Winkworth Arboretum is somewhere you can visit all year round but it really is spectacular in autumn. Created back in the early 20th century by Dr Wilfrid Fox, who used plants to paint a picture in the landscape, the best views can be found on the edge of the Magnolia Wood, at the top of the Azalea Steps and the eastern Meadow. Not forgetting my favourite place, the lakeside boathouse.
The light might be fading earlier and it’s getting colder by the day but I do love this time of year. There’s something rather magical about spotting conkers on the ground and admiring those autumnal hues. If you saw our post about the best places to find autumn colour, you’ll know one of our favourite spots to visit at this time of year is Winkworth Arboretum. Somehow the clever planting there seems to make the season last much longer and it’s such a beautiful place to wander around.
If you’re a regular reader of our family travel blog you’ll know our overseas travels are typically based on discovery, adventure and exploration. Before POD was born we’d travelled extensively. From South East Asia, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands to the Caribbean, South America and Australia where I lived for two years. Not to mention sun, ski and city breaks in Europe. When we became parents, we didn’t stop travelling we just went about it in a different way. POD loves being an adventurer and there are huge benefits to showing her the world. Here are just a few of the reasons we believe it’s good for kids to travel in whatever guise that might be.
Just over a week ago we were enjoying thirty-degree temperatures in Sardinia – even hotter in Venice the week prior. Our return to the UK seemed to be marked by the arrival of autumn. Gone are the maxi dresses, sandals and sunnies, replaced with long sleeved tops, trousers and boots. Even the favourite leather has made an appearance. While we acclimatise ourselves to these cooler temperatures, I can’t help get a little excited. You see autumn is one of my favourite seasons and I relish capturing those red, orange and gold hues.
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We lived in London for many years before relocating to Surrey when I was pregnant with POD. Much of our time was spent in South London and we have fond memories of the decade or so we spent there. Those pre-parenting days seem such a long time ago, given we’ve been a three for 7 years, but we had some great times. Borough Market was only a few miles away from where we lived and a fairly regular haunt so it always feels special heading back there. That said, London’s oldest food market IS special and one of the most well-known food markets in the world. It’s also famed for being the location of Bridget’s flat, located above The Globe, in Bridget Jones’s Diary. Continue Reading…
And just like that, the blue skies we’ve become familiar with are replaced with autumnal tones. Having been away for a couple of weeks in August it certainly feels like that. We returned from Venice and Sardinia a few days ago with POD’s return to school imminent and the leaves are already beginning to fall from the trees. Much as I’m clinging onto what’s left of the summer, I cannot wait for autumn. I relish heading to our local National Trust sites to capture those red, orange and yellow hues.
Situated around 15 miles from London in Banstead is Mayfield Lavender. We’ve visited this 25-acre farm on a few occasions since we moved to Surrey in 2010. At the right time, you can expect to see row upon row of purple hues and the smell of lavender is delicious. It can get busy at weekends during the peak period (July and August) so it’s worthwhile going Monday to Friday if you can. We didn’t have that luxury this time around so last Sunday, we set off early with the view to visiting before the masses descended. A lavender farm in full bloom is so worth setting the alarm for, isn’t it?
If you’ve been following PODcast long enough, you’ll know I’m a bit of a street art fan. You’ll find a post on where to find the best street art in London here with a glimpse of the street art scene in Berlin on my travel blog, POD Travels. But I have to tell you about The Graffiti Tunnel, otherwise known as Leake Street Tunnel. Situated beneath Waterloo station in London, which thousands of passengers pass through every month, you might never have heard of it.
How wonderful has the weather been recently? We’re absolutely loving all the glorious sunshine, even more, reason to get out and explore the great outdoors. We managed to escape to Devon this weekend albeit for a fleeting visit. We sat on the beach and had a picnic which was good fun and a nice change from the Surrey Hills. Sounds like everyone has been out discovering new places if the #ukexplore community is anything to go by.
How amazing has the weather been recently? We were thrilled to come back from holiday to find the UK basking in sunshine, potentially more so than Corsica if I’m honest. We had such a brilliant time though. A really good week away which largely involved POD trying just about every activity Mark Warner had on offer! From sailing, windsurfing and kayaking to tennis, badminton and volleyball – she just didn’t stop! It’s been a very busy time what with work and heading off again shortly after our holiday. I wouldn’t change a thing though, we relish exploring new places.
