Travel Ideas from Dinah Hatch

Yeah, yeah, we’ve all been to the National Gallery and the Science Museum but who has sampled the delights of the Cumberland Pencil Museum or engaged in the goriness of the Old Operating Theatre? Britain is crammed with completely charming but slightly offbeat museums... more

We lead busy lives, with no escape from the trill of the mobile, the tyranny of the work email arriving on a Sunday and the commuting chaos every Monday. We all deserve a break from this, right? Course we do. So here are my top ten places from which to type “And relax” onto... more

When it comes to fun family outings and attractions, Britons are spoilt for choice with hundreds of fabulous amusement parks, zoos, museums, historical sites and outdoor activities to wear your little tikes out. It’s hard to pick our favourites, but here are ten we love with... more

Dare we utter these words… winter is over! Cyclists everywhere are abandoning their triple-therm gloves and hats, peeling off some of the lycra layers and itching to get out into the countryside for some serious biking. And even if you aren’t one of the mudguard mafia,... more

The world is far too full of cookie cutter hotels so this month we thought we would celebrate the different, the quirky and the sweetly unusual in our ten fave accommodation options round up. Who said sharing the bar with cats was odd…... more

Let’s face it, New Year’s Eve can be a terrible let down if you haven’t arranged something special. Soggy mince pies at the neighbour’s, anyone? Treat yourself to a great start to 2018 with a New Year’s Eve getaway at a luxury hotel, why don’t you? Here are ten spots that’ll... more

Fancy hearing what Ian Rankin has to say about his Rebus novels? Or maybe listening in on journalist Emma Freud chatting with actor Bill Nighy? October (6th - 15th) means Cheltenham Literary Festival time – and we’ve got ten lovely little accommodation suggestions in this... more

It’s festival time! No, not the ones where you watch Coldplay from two miles away in the drizzle wearing your wellies and eating a £9.50 bag of chips. We mean the Edinburgh Festival, where artists, singers, comedians, actors and every other talent you can imagine converge... more

Winter be gone! Spring is now fully fledged and in blossom, so get out there and see nature’s glorious floral offerings in ten of our favourite UK gardens…... more

Just recovered from the Christmas festivities? Having a dry January? Well, you'll have to stop all that nonsense because its Burns Night! Pack some alka seltzer, throw some thermals in a case and make a weekend of it at any of the hundreds of special events around Britain... more

Who doesn’t have fond memories of writing your name in the air with a sparkler, almost losing a tooth chomping toffee apples and getting a too-hot face after standing perilously close to the bonfire? Yay, it’s almost Bonfire Night! Here are our top ten places to ooh and aah,... more

Oh no. It seems like we have only just completed the exhausting keep-the-kids-busy-athon that is the summer holidays and now it’s almost time for October half term! Fortunately, we live in a country brimming with fun stuff to do for children so here are our top ten favourite... more

These days our dogs are not just our pets, they are family members. And you wouldn’t want to go away without a member of the family, now would you? Well, there’s actually no need, anyway. Britain’s Finest is packed with places to stay where your pooch is just as welcome as... more

This year we are celebrating the tercentenary of the world’s most famous landscape gardener (no, not Alan Titchmarsh) and here at Britain’s Finest we can think of no better way to mark the genius of Capability Brown than to spend the summer in sensible walking shoes and a... more

Darlings, forget about those corporate monstrosities known as pop festivals this spring and summer. Those REALLY in the know realise that the literary festival is where all the coolest people go to unwind. Think sunny afternoons sipping spritzers, sporting cream panamas and... more

Here we are again; it’s approaching Valentine’s Day and you haven’t planned a thing yet. Don’t worry! We’ve gone all Cupid and picked out our favourite spots to enjoy a touch of romance with your partner this February.... more

Yes, yes, we know it’s only November but if you want to enjoy England’s capital city at Christmas then it is wise to book ahead! Somehow London excels itself come December, with hundreds of events and activities to enjoy, from chatting with Santa to boozing in a real ski... more

Goodness me! The English summer season is upon us. How do I know? Because the Queen has just been featured in all the newspapers admiring the gardenias at the Chelsea Flower Show. The season traditionally kicks off with this glorious (though often rain-soaked) event and goes... more

In 2015, life is pretty much a non-stop round of answering emails, checking Facebook and Instagram messages and cramming life in between. So this early May Bank Holiday, make like you’ve gone back in time to an era when Twitter was the sound birds made in the trees and take... more

Now that New Year celebrations are becoming a distant memory and you’ve shaken the weariness of post-Christmas excesses, it’s time to start all over again. Yes, Chinese New Year is upon us again so take a look at our round-up of what’s going on where to mark the Year of the... more

It’s a new year, with a fabulous line up of sporting events on the calendar including the much anticipated 2015 Rugby World Cup. But why not go one better than slumping in front of the TV to watch your sporting heroes this year and go ahead and book up a hotel where all the... more

The summer may be a distant memory but we’re willing to bet the sun, sea and sangria has gone to the heads of a fair few of you out there and you’ve gone and popped the question. So now you need to find somewhere to hold the Big Bash. We’ve got hundreds of fabulous wedding... more

Sun tans have faded (along with all those holiday memories) and the season of mists and mellow fruitfulness is upon us. It’s time to pull on the walking boots, dive into your favourite woolly jumper and go on an autumn walk. Here are our top ten favourite places to kick up... more

We are a nation of dog lovers so it makes sense that we would want to take our faithful Fidos on holiday with us. This is something the hotel industry is more than aware of and enlightened managers now positively welcome pooches, offering all sorts of incentives for you to... more

Everyone loves days out with the kids, but sometimes parents can overdose on zoos, amusement parks and aquariums. Here at Britain’s Finest we like to think of the adults as well as the kids so we have put together some suggestions for a cracking day out that should engage... more