Category Archives: Travel

Out with the old. Thinking about the new.

02 Monday Jan 2012

Posted by in England, London, Sailing, Travel, Uncategorized

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We lost no time after the start of the New Year taking down the holiday decorations and getting on with things.  I love the holidays, but i think I like it even more when they are over.  It’s refreshing to start anew and think of what you want to do with all that fresh time laying out before you.

The "porch tree" came down. The holidays are over.

This always seems to be the time of year we start planning our travels, and top on the list this year is England.  The phone has already started ringing with calls from My Beloved Brit’s mates (admittedly most often from a pub where a group of them are in deep discussion on the year’s sailing strategy) trying to talk him in to joining this boat or that on a very important race coming up in 2012.  Of course he’d love to do them all, but he also has family and my art sojourns to consider. If all problems were this easy!

MBB in a past season planning the day's race over coffee with his mates on the Burnham River. photo by me

So we start making our lists of all the things we want to see and do.  This is a part of my life that I am so thankful for every day. I love to travel, and England is special.

Always on the list, Ashford in the Water. photo by me.

So we have the joy of spending hours over the next few months pouring over maps and brochures and internet sites, deciding on the itinerary.

Let the planning begin. photo by me

We want to see bits of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Celebration, and old favorite sites as well as new discoveries. He wants to sail.  I want to tromp through the woods on the bank of a tiny lake. He wants fish ‘n’ chips and cornish ice cream.  I want to see the exhibit of the year at the Tate Modern and have lunch at Fortnum & Mason. Oh, the joy of planning a holiday in England!

Ice skating on both sides of the pond

27 Tuesday Dec 2011

Posted by in England, London, Travel, Uncategorized

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As winter arrives, outdoor ice skating rinks appear in London. They open from mid-November to mid-January and many have special events happening throughout the season.

The skating ring at Somerset House. photo by Michael Pead, creative commons

I love the idea that these skating spots pop up throughout the city for the season.  There’s advantages to being in a very cold country. The rink at Somerset House is open until January 22nd this year. They even have a New Year’s Eve party. The one at the Natural History Museum is only open until January 8th.

One of the ice rinks set up over the Christmas period was this one at the Natural History Museum, London. photo by Christine Matthews, creative commons

They materialize like magic, some in small corners, some in a space much more grand. The space at the Royal Naval College looks spectacular from past years.

The Xmas Ice Skating Rink, Old Royal Naval College The Ice Skating Rink at the Old Royal Naval College has become a regular feature in Greenwich during December/January. Canary Wharf and the other office blocks on the Isle of Dogs, just across the River Thames, can be seen in the background. photo by Katherine Tyrrell, Creative Commons

I grew up on Long Island in New York, and loved escaping down to the local pond to go ice skating when I was a child. It was always a fight for space on the slick surface between the boys trying to play hockey and the girls practicing their twirls.

But when I got older, I had the joy of having an apartment for a decade in New York City.  It was a wonderful time of year when my sister and I could head over to Central Park and see the rink being readied for skaters.

Heading over to skate in Central Park years ago in New York City. Photo by my sister and skating companion.

It was a small circle to go round and round in, but fun none the less. And there was hot chocolate to be had at the end of the day.

The Central Park skating rink in New York City getting ready for visitors

We couldn’t wait to get out there.  It was definitely a city rite of winter.

My sister skating in Central Park. Photo by me.

For pure crowd watching nothing was better than the ice skaters at Rockefeller Plaza.  I never skated there, but spent hours standing at the elevated railing watching the show below. There was such a variety of people swirling around on the ice.

There was one particular man that did almost a slow motion dance on the ice.  For years when I returned he would be there, doing his dreamy, Tai Chi like moves on the ice.  I wondered if he ever left.  Often my sister and I would stand above the rink and watch him do his moves.  And then one day we returned and he was not there, and we never saw him again.  We often comment on him when we see the rink, and wonder where our mystery skater has disappeared to.

Ice Rink at Rockefeller Center, photo by Andy C, creative commons

A new favorite rink is the one at Bryant Park behind the NYC Public Library. This one is open well into February this year. One more place to pass the winter season with swirls and twirls, and maybe a few bruises. But the hot chocolate is always available.

Skating at Bryant Park NYC. photo by Beyond my Ken, creative commons

I love that both cities, London and New York, have their own traditions of winter skating that are so similar and yet distinct to the individual city.  I’m not sure which is my favorite spot, but I think it must be Central Park because of the memories.

 

Location, location, location — “The Holiday”

22 Thursday Dec 2011

Posted by in England, movies, Travel, Uncategorized

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The Holiday. I love this movie and especially this time of year.  It highlights my two favorite fantasy locations–England and LA.  England, because, well, you know, it’s just so British, and LA because it is so entirely different and exotic in its own way from the east coast location where I grew up and lived most of my life.

‘The Holiday’ brings together the star talents of Kate Winslet, Cameron Diaz, Jude Law and Jack Black in a charming romantic comedy with an international twist. The plot revolves around two women who swap houses for Christmas with the idea of escaping from their current lives and romantic problems.

Much of the English side of the story was shot in the village of Shere in Surrey, a quintessentially English village with antiques shops, tea rooms and several excellent pubs. The other Surrey town of Godalming also stars and is well worth a visit for its fine architecture, independent shops and peaceful riverside setting.

Wikipedia image

 

Church Street

Church Street, image from Godalming Guide

There is a wonderful blog called “Hooked on Houses” that goes into lots of detail about the two houses featured in The Holiday and even has a poll that talks about which of the two her readers prefer.  Thank you Julie.  It is still a fun read.

Here is Iris’s house in England (which was actually just a shell of the cottage built near an empty field for the movie set)

 

building the cottage 1

building the cottage 4

And here is Amanda’s house set in the movie at a Brentwood section of LA.

(actually the exterior shots of the house showing the gated property were filmed in front of Southern California architect Wallace Neff‘s Mission Revival house in San Marino, a suburb adjacent to Pasadena. Neff had built the house for his family in 1928.) Other Los Angeles locations included Arthur’s house in Brentwood and Miles’ house, designed by Richard Neutra, which is situated on Neutra Place in L.A.’s Silver Lake area, near downtown. The interiors were all shot at Sony Studio. But I digress.

The thing I find so interesting about this movie is how Iris’s house and location reflect such unique characteristics of the English way of life…the narrow roads (which still can scare the wits out of an American driver), the houses that simply don’t have enough heat when it is always cold and damp (not really), the interiors of many of the houses with every square inch covered with some kind of pattern or books or collectables. Then there is the local village and pub that is the center of life. We have yet to visit a village where we did not seek out the best pub to get a read on the true character of the area.

The movie is a fun time, if a bit light on the true cultural differences, but it does make the point beautifully that as different as we are, we are really just the same. I could have told you that, but not nearly with such charm.

 

Cornwall, Carlyon Bay and the quilted hills

14 Wednesday Dec 2011

Posted by in Cornwall, Cornwall, England, paintings, Travel, Uncategorized

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One of the first spots outside of the London area I visited in England with My Beloved Brit after we were first married was Cornwall.  His cousin lives there, who is like the brother he never had, and we drove the few hours west from Heathrow to visit.

I was groggy from jet lag (MBB had come over early to do some racing so he was my chauffeur), but I do remember the drive and the beautiful quilted hills. That was my name for those multicolored fields that were criss-crossed with hedgerows and pressed by endless sky.

It was home to MBB, and even when I woke up enough to register my astonishment that we had just driven past Stonehenge, he was rather unimpressed.  To him, it was just a familiar distance marker on the many trips he had made in his life from London to Cornwall.

We ended up in an area near St. Austell called Carlyon Bay where the hills finally met the sea.  From the tall bluffs you could look across the hydrangeas and see the rolling hills.  The cliffs were dotted with small inns and hotels, and we found a charming one called Porth Avallen Country House Hotel overlooking St. Austell Bay.

Perched on the sea road,  it was friendly and relaxed.  The labyrinth of hallways and staircases only added to the old fashioned charm, and we were perfectly happy.  Even more perfect, as soon as you walked outside, you could see the most amazing views.

The colors were beautiful and no matter which way you walked along the seaside road, the views were a painting waiting to happen.

But finally I saw the one that really held my interest. It was lovely.

That lone house on the edge of all those gorgeous hills.  There was something so isolated about it and yet, it was totally connected with its surroundings. You could just imagine curling up in one of it’s windowseats with a good book and a quilt.

I painted it hoping to capture that feeling, and now I love that painting.  It means domestic bliss in a wild world.

all photos and painting by me.

 

 

 

The Grey Country?

10 Saturday Dec 2011

Posted by in Art, British Virgin Islands, Cornwall, England, Sailing, Travel, Uncategorized

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A small cay near the British Virgin Islands, pastel drawing by me

It is a grey (or the American version– gray) December day, and this is often when our thoughts return to those warm days we spent on the British Virgin Islands. Several of My Beloved Brit’s English mates have been chatting with him this week (on Skype, of course) about heading to warm places for a few weeks to beat the winter chill of England. I know it brings back memories for him of his years on Tortola, and sailing into the sunsets…or getting ready to race across the seas.

MBB getting ready for a race on the British Virgin Islands in past glory

The shores of England have a totally different feel, I know.  But they have always had their own special appeal to me.

"By The Cornish Sea", pastel by me

I often think I would like to spend some real time in England getting to know that country on an intimate basis.  My Beloved Brit, on the other hand, grew up there, and although he misses it terribly (especially his family and his mates) he fondly calls it the “grey country” and hesitates to think of moving back to those cold wet days and early dark nights of a very long winter season.

It amuses me sometimes how much climate dictates our decisions about where we move. Of course being the gypsies that we are, there is always another shore to explore, but MBB prefers it to be a warm one. England? Chances are slim for a more permanent move to those misty shores, but at least we get a chance to visit during the lovely summer months.

 

 

The Anglophile

06 Tuesday Dec 2011

Posted by in London, Travel, Uncategorized

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There is a wonderful blog that I have been meaning to pass on to you, called The Anglophile that is created by Thomas Moore Sr.

I follow it every day, schedule permitting, and am amazed by the coverage he gives to all the gorgeous places and enticing events of London. I don’t know how he manages the time and resources, but, if you love London as I do, this site is one of the absolute best.

The Anglophile is a spin off from his private apartment leasing service in London for the holiday or business traveler called The London Connection.

So, scattered among the rich photos and discoveries of London life on The Anglophile, are images and descriptions of some of the most inviting flats for rent in London that I have ever seen. I personally have not used his service yet since I had not discovered it before our last trip to England. But since the discovery, I have been putting the idea into My Beloved Brit’s brain that an actual flat in London would be a real treat on our next trip…not that we don’t love visiting family.  I’ll keep you posted.

Reinvention

03 Saturday Dec 2011

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It is interesting that just after I finish mentioning Pringles of Scotland as one of the 10 design firms sited in my post “British Fashion…’tis the season“, I came across an article about the company.

December 2011 Vogue article on reinventing the Scottish company Pringle

In the December 2011 issue of Vogue (American) there was an interesting story in the “View” section about the traditional Scottish sweater company reinventing itself to stay abreast of modern fashion, while still being true to its core identity.   It started me thinking of how many times over the years I needed to reboot my life or work or art to keep it fresh and exciting without losing what was “me” about it.

Now, I can definitely be a creature of habit. But, I also get bored if I let things stay static for too long.  It was with that in mind that My Beloved Brit and I sold our house and I sold my business in Washington, DC and we picked up everything and moved to the Caribbean for 8 years not knowing anyone there or having a clue as to how it would work out (it worked out great).

"White Cottage" the house we built with our own bare hands and a small crew on the caribbean island of St. John

And of course for many years I had my design business which I found I had to periodically tweak or twist in order to keep things current. But the core values and style of the company remained the same.

My art is like that.  I know artists who find a style and subject they are very comfortable with and keep it for ages.  Part of me envies that.  But I could never do it.  I tend to work on a series for at least a year or two and then start looking for a new viewpoint or subject or technique or color palette. New horizons.

For example, when we first moved back to the states returning from the islands, I had the luxury of spending a year exploring a new direction of painting.  That is when the wave series began.  I had realized that all over the world (and we were always searching out the sea no matter where we travelled) the waves were in many ways universal.

Waves in the Caribbean near "White Cottage"

Of course there were always endless variations, yet there was so much common ground…

Portuguese waves. photo by me

…but I was wondering how much the appearance and feel would depend on the waves geographical location. It became a game. We spent a few weeks searching the western most coast of Europe looking for the edge of earth closest to the Americas.  Would a wave on the extreme east of the Atlantic be similar to the waves on the extreme west coast? Someone told us the most western coast was in Spain, so off we went to look for waves.

After a stop for a few incredible days in Santiago de Compostela, Spain  (a UNESCO world heritage site and the pilgramage destination featured in the current movie “The Way”), we set off with our Michelin Tourist and Motoring Atlas to find Cabo Fisterra, a small point of land jutting out into the sea.

Cabo Fisterra, Spain, the end of the earth

It was amazing. After driving through tiny villages with mussel farms in the bays (they look like rows of swimming floats) we found what we were looking for. The monument wasn’t totally impressive…

The lighthouse at Cabo Fisterra

…but how were the waves?  Spectacular and strange – different from anything I had ever quite seen before.

The waves in Spain reach towards the west. photo by me

Wave painting by me. Private collection

The sun came out in Spain

Truly magnificent waves stretching their white foam in beautiful patterns, and bits of almost Caribbean blue water near the shore, but the furthest west? We headed to Portugal.

Pat at Capa Rocha in Portugal. The height of the cliffs overlooking the waves was frightening.

Another friend mentioned that they were sure the furthest coast west in Europe was north of Lisbon, and that there were incredible waves.  And sure enough, it was spectacular.

After a night at another great hotel (we lucked out on an internet travel site and found a great rate at the Penha Longa Hotel which turned out to be a Ritz Carlton as well as a bargain) near the town of Sintra, we set out for the coast for a day of exploring.  The cliffs were so high it was frightening, and to get the perfect angle on the waves I had to lean over the edge of the cliffs laying flat on my stomach with my camera.  I am petrified of heights, so MBB agreed to hold on to me.  Now that is trust. But I got the shots.  Enough for many paintings.

The cliffs at Capa Rocha. Photo by me with assistance from MBB

More waves in Portugal. Worth the trip. Photo by me.

We finally headed out after two days of incredible vistas. We were guests for a night at the home of MBB’s British expat friends living south of Lisbon in Batlha.  After a wonderful dinner buffet (despite some mystery things that looked like a tiny octopus) at an atmospheric restaurant in a nearby village, MBB and our host decided the only way to solve the problem of which point was the furthest west, was to run a GPS on the computer. The men gathered around the screen with great intensity. Portugal won, but I painted both country’s waves…and then some.

Wave from the Portuguese cliffs, Gallery 50

I painted waves from Maine, and the Caribbean and Florida.  I was in the studio for over a year painting waves.

The beginning of Wave #15, a caribbean wave

the caribbean wave in progress in the studio

Wave #15 finished

There was always another wave to explore.

Wave from Portugal, artist's collection

Wave #10, Caribbean, artist's collection

A Florida wave triptych, artist's collection

I couldn’t stop painting waves.

Until one day I did.  I was surrounded by the most gorgeous trees at our house in America, and soon we went back to England for another short summer.  As I have said before, there is no better way to appreciate a good garden than to see it dripping in mist and hugged by fog.  I was off.  It was now branches…and woods… and fields.

the start of a new series...branches

Branches II

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Branches 1

I guess what I am trying to explain is that exploring new worlds is good.  I loved the waves, and sometimes return to that subject with great joy.  But I am always curious about the next series…what is around the next corner.  And I think with life, and work and a truly good relationship, it can make all the difference in the world. Just stick to the core values, but look at it with a fresh eye and add a new twist of color.

Branches in Maine at the end of a walk with friends

The start of "How Golden Branches Weave the Light"

Final version of "how Golden Branches Weave the Light", artist's collection

It keeps everything very exciting.  There is always time for one more adventure.

One more wave

 

 

 

The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Flotilla

28 Monday Nov 2011

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There is a major press event this evening (Monday 11/28) – a reception hosted by the Queen at Buckingham Palace for journalists expected to cover the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee next year.

According to the UK Press Association release, “In honour of the guests the palace’s East Gallery will be renamed the Tweet Suite for the night – for those who want to post online messages – and the space will also contain displays about the Queen’s Golden and Silver Jubilees.”  A Tweet Suite. You’ve got to love it! It’s a new age.

The Duke of Edinburgh, Prince of Wales, Duchess of Cornwall and the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are expected to attend and mingle with the press.

June 2012 is the celebration of Queen Elizabeth’s Diamond Jubilee in honor of her 60 year reign. There are many special events planned, but the one that I feel has the potential to be the most memorable will be the Diamond Jubilee River Pageant at high water on the afternoon of June 3rd.

Photo by Azeri

As the London mayor’s press release reveals, the Queen will lead a massive flotilla of up to one thousand boats beautifully dressed in streamers and union jacks. The boats will be assembled from across the UK, the Commonwealth and around the world.  The event organizers are planning for well over one million people lining the banks of the Thames to join in the celebration and witness the grand parade of boats.

Canaletto, "Westminster Bridge from the north on Lord Mayor's Day" oil painting, 1746

The flotilla is expected to measure 7.5 miles from end to end and will be one of the major focal points of the celebration during the special Jubilee Bank Holiday weekend. The plan is that there will be a diverse mix of historic and modern; from rowed boats to sailing ships, steamers to wooden launches and larger motorized craft.The flotilla specially aims to “capture the diversity of Britain and the Commonwealth’s proud maritime history”.

The Diamond Jubilee River Pageant will have music, and fireworks and special effects. The flotilla will be made up of 5 special sections, each separated by a “herald barge” the first of which will be a floating belfry of eight new bells.  Their peals will be answered and echoed by chimes from riverbank churches along the route. There are even plans for special daytime fireworks and a mechanical flame spitting dragon. Yikes! What fun!

It promises to be a spectacular event, and even though the deadline for boat entries passed on October 31st, it makes me want to find a boat and join in the excitement. Maybe we’ll have to settle for a spot on the shore.

If you want information on this extraordinary, historical event, go to the Thames Diamond Jubilee pageant site for full details.

My fantasy island–a romantic tale

16 Wednesday Nov 2011

Posted by in British Virgin Islands, Guana Island, Travel, Uncategorized

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In the middle of the Caribbean lies a tiny 850 acre island resort called Guana which is part of the British Virgin Islands. It is a magical place. That is where I met My Beloved Brit a little over 15 years ago.

The view from the top of Guana Island

I was working in Washington DC, and after two of the worst snow storms in ages, I decided I had had enough. There were piles of snow everywhere. The roads were impassable. And the quote from our mayor in the local newspaper was “The Lord givith, and the Lord taketh away”. So much for expecting the snowplows to rescue us.  It was time to leave town for awhile. I found a book called the 100 Best Resorts of the Caribbean and started hunting for an escape.

About half way through the book,  I found an intriguing review of a small private resort located on a tiny island right off Tortolla in the British Virgin Islands.  Guana. The resort description sounded very British (always a plus) and very tropical (an absolute must at the moment) and I was ready for an experience that seemed like summer camp for adults with gourmet food.

At that time, there was a maximum of about 30 guests on the island at any one time, a scattering of tiny cottages overlooking the blue seas, shrimp colored flamingos in the pond and lots of staff.  Little did I know the staff was the key.

I packed my bags and was picked up at the Tortolla airport by one of the island’s welcoming boatmen, who placed my luggage on a small boat at a nearby dock and took off across the water.

I was traveling alone.  I often did.  I never found going on holiday by myself at all intimidating. I loved the freedom of it. And this was special.

At the dock I was greeted by the manager, was given an hibiscus flower to place in my hair, and my bags were wisked away to the room while I registered. (Of course my first reaction was not to let them out of my site for a minute–my New York background coming through–but one sip of punch and they could have taken them anywhere)

The door to my cottage

I was in heaven.  The resort, which has a fascinating history of Quaker settlers and American ex-pats, consisted of the main stone house where cocktails and dinner were served, and the most spectacular beaches ever.  And scattered over the high hillside were the most beautiful little whitewashed cottages glistening in the sun.  One of them was mine.

I quickly unpacked and ran down the “mountain” path to the beach.  It was time for some serious relaxation.

My beach

I had the entire beach to myself, so I picked a lounge chair, placed my sunhat on my head and took out a book.  After a few minutes I went over to the small hut under the palm trees where there were cold drinks for the guest’s convenience, and sat in the shade to cool off.

Within minutes this handsome man rode up in a golf cart along the sandy road. He had the Guana staff shirt on, but I had not seen him before. I would have remembered.  I had my favorite coral colored bikini on which I am sure had nothing to do with him being so friendly.  It was part of the welcome package.  He got a cold drink and started “chatting me up”, a curious British term that means throwing a few lines at a girl. The accent, as I may have mentioned somewhere before, hooked me immediately, but it was the sense of fun and the stories that really held my interest.

After exchanging the basic information he was off .  He was the chief engineer of the island, which not only meant making the drinking water from sea water, and chasing the donkeys off the tennis courts, but also being very welcoming to guests.  After working for a bank in London for most of his adult life,  this is where he ended up, to my great luck. And of course the fact that he was stuck on a tiny island in the middle of nowhere didn’t dissuade him from thinking that I was a goddess.

Later that evening, i saw him again at the cocktail reception in the main house before dinner, and realized that this was a man who I could talk to for a very long time, accent or not.  He must have felt the same about me.

Guana Island at sunset

I suspected after four fabulous days on the British side of paradise, that I would never see him again once I left. But within a few days of my returning home to the frigid regions up north, I got a phone call from a tiny island in the middle of nowhere. The rest as they say, is history.

We would come back to the Caribbean to live and spend lots more time in the BVI, and we would be back on Guana, but it could never possibly be as magical as that first winter visit.

The Royal Tour

08 Tuesday Nov 2011

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Thank you Visit Britain for putting together a great tour with a list of royal attractions to see in Britain. Just in case you’re planning a royal themed trip, here they are. I’ve realized I’ve only seen 6 of the 12 so far, so I need to get to work.

12 Best Royal Experiences in the UK

1). Westminster Abbey – A royal trip to Britain would not be complete without visiting the historic Westminster Abbey which has served as the venue for coronations since 1066, and the wedding of Prince William and Catherine, Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, in April, 2011, was held here. Visitors to Westminster Abbey can see the graves of 17 monarchs, as well as memorials to many notable figures in British history. In addition, the Coronation Chair is part of the Abbey’s museum, along with pieces of art, stained glass, textiles and more. The Abbey is open to the public six days a week and an adult ticket costs £16.00.

2). Buckingham Palace – not only a London landmark but the official London residence of the British monarch. The palace has 19 state rooms that are open for public viewing each summer, from late July to early October, with complimentary audio tours. The Changing of the Guard takes place every other day, and daily in the summer, in front of the palace.

3). Windsor Castle – Just a quick train ride from London, Windsor Castle is the largest and oldest occupied castle in the world, one of the Queen’s official residences, and where she spends most weekends. Open year-round, an adult ticket costs £16.50 which gives visitors access to the State Apartments, St. George’s Chapel, Queen Mary’s Dolls’ House, and special exhibitions: throughout 2012 there will be an exhibition entitled “The Queen: Sixty Photographs for Sixty Years”.

4). Isle of Anglesey – Now the place that Prince William and Catherine, Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, call home, the Isle of Anglesey is known for its natural beauty. Visitors to the Isle of Anglesey can enjoy a visit to one of its many beaches or stroll along one of the coastal footpaths for a wonderful view of the Welsh coastline. For a tasty lunch, travellers can track down The Flaming Grill, a food truck that Prince William frequented during his training at the Royal Air Force Academy. Prince William was so impressed by that he gave it a royal seal of approval.

5). The Royal Yacht Britannia – a wonderful attraction to visit straight out of a royal fairy tale – this is where the Prince of Wales and Princess Diana honeymooned in 1981. During the 44 years that this ship served its country, The Royal Yacht Britannia carried the Royal Family on 968 official voyages all over the world. Now the ship is permanently docked in Edinburgh, where visitors can tour five of the ship’s decks. An adult ticket costs £11.00 and includes an audio tour.

6). Tower of London – Visitors wishing to see the Crown Jewels can do so at the Tower of London, where the 23,578 gems that make up the Crown Jewels, including the glistening Imperial State Crown, are housed. The Tower is steeped in history, having been used as a royal residence, military fortress and prison. Today, visitors enjoy touring the grounds and seeing The White Tower, Medieval Palace, prisoners’ exhibition and more, as well as keeping an eye out for the ghost of Queen Anne Boleyn, who is buried in the chapel of St Peter ad Vincula.

7). Balmoral Estate – One of the Queen’s favourite summertime retreats is Balmoral Estate in Aberdeenshire set amongst the magnificent scenery of Royal Deeside. Here, visitors might spot the Queen – as travellers can take up residence by renting a lovely cottage on the estate. The grounds, gardens and exhibitions are open to the public from April 1 to July 30.

8.) Enjoy a boat ride on the River Thames. – ahead of the Queen. On the afternoon of Sunday 3 June 2012, up to a thousand boats will muster on the River Thames in preparation for Her Majesty The Queen to lead the Thames Diamond Jubilee Pageant. It will be one of the largest flotillas ever assembled on the river. Rowed boats and working boats and pleasure vessels of all shapes and sizes will be beautifully dressed with streamers and Union Jacks, their crews and passengers turned out in their finest rigs. The armed forces, fire, police, rescue and other services are all afloat and there are an exuberance of historic boats, wooden launches, steam vessels and other boats of note. However you don’t need to wait till next June – there are boat rides all year on the River Thames, from leisurely cruises, to quicker “commuter” trips and the high speed RIB journeys.

9.) The Palace of Holyroodhouse – The Queen’s official residence in Scotland. Situated at the end of the Royal Mile, in Edinburgh, the palace has many connections with Scotland’s turbulent past, including Mary, Queen of Scots, who lived there in the 16th century. An adult ticket costs £10.50 including audio guide, or for £6.00 you can visit the Queen’s Gallery: in 2012 the exhibition “Royal Treasures: A Diamond Jubilee Celebration” will bring together some of the finest treasures from the Royal Collection, with a selection of 100 outstanding works.

10.) Sandringham Estate – near Kings Lynn in Norfolk is one of the Queen’s most beloved retreats. It has been the private home of four generations of British monarchs since 1862, and the Queen visits the estate every year on the anniversary of her father’s death. Today, visitors are welcome to Sandringham House and can walk through the beautiful gardens during the summer.

11.) Beaumaris Castle on the Isle of Anglesey is the last and largest of King Edward I’s Welsh fortifications, is a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site. Although construction was never completed, it is regarded as Wales’ finest castle.

12.) Kensington Palace – A royal residence in central London, Kensington Palace is the official London residence of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. It was also the official residence of the Duke’s mother, Princess Diana. The palace is currently undergoing a major transformation, to help visitors to better understand both the tales of the people that lived in the palace and its architectural and decorative schemes visitors can see the palace’s magnificent state apartments. The first of four planned exhibitions, on Queen Victoria, is due to open in time for the Diamond Jubilee in 2012. Meanwhile, visitors can experience the “Enchanted Palace” a series of installations offering a fascinating interpretation of the palace’s hidden stories.

Guests can also drink tea at The Orangery Restaurant next door to the palace, which has some of the finest selections of tea in London.