Step off the beaten track to find France’s secret treasure, the Loir May 23, 2010 SITUATED on what used to be fiercely fought over territory separating Maine from Anjou, the Fléchois region was for centuries at the heart of some of France’s best-known and most bitter conflicts. With those struggles long over and done with, what’s left is a mellow and absorbing destination less than three hours drive from the [...]
Medici palace that became Europe’s most splendid hotel May 23, 2010 FOR a couple of London girls, fresh off a Ryanair flight and a battle with striking trains and lengthy bus queues, entering the Four Seasons Florence struck us dumb. We’d walked into a world of Italian royalty, papal splendour and elegance of a type you just can’t find outside of the country of Dante, Leonardo, [...]
Baroque opulence in the eternal city May 23, 2010 ENTER the lobby of the Rome Cavalieri hotel and you’re greeted by a sweet swirl of art and ostentation. While the Renaissance came out of Florence, the subsequent era of the Baroque was all about Rome, and the aesthetic splendour and flamboyance that was its calling card is alive and well at the Cavalieri. That [...]
TRAVEL NOTES May 23, 2010 Go adventuring in Canada Some people like beaches and relaxation for their summer getaway, while others like a tent, a rucksack and some epic scenery to hike across. If the latter’s your bag, the Canadian wilderness may be your dream destination. Travel company TrekAmerica is offering up to 20 per cent discounts on its Canada [...]
Stylish, affordable new homes for a brave green world May 20, 2010 THE UK is committed to ensuring that all new homes meet an ambitious zero-carbon standard by 2016. And with only a smattering of them in the country to date, there’s a long way to go. Indeed, Barry Morgan, of Morgan Restoration, an ardent eco-developer who has just installed solar panels on The Boatyard development overlooking [...]
Q&A: LETTING May 20, 2010 CEO OF ONLINE LETTINGS AGENT WWW.UPAD.CO.UK Q. I’ve heard I need planning permission to let a house to three people sharing. Can this really be true? A. As of 6 April, if property previously occupied by one household (family) is let to three or more unrelated sharers, forming two or more households, this will need [...]
FOCUS ON: WILLESDEN May 20, 2010 MANOR HOUSE DRIVE, NW6 Price: £2.8m You get peace, charm and space in this five bedroom family house on Manor House Drive in Brondesbury, not far from Queen’s Park. The best feature is the double reception room that has a large family dining area besides the separate dining room. Two of the bedrooms have en [...]
Modern living in reborn Wembley May 20, 2010 WITH three weeks to go until the World Cup, the red and white flags and bunting have started appearing in the shops this week, which must mean it’s okay now to be getting excited. Notwithstanding the unfortunate comments of Lord Triesman last weekend, there’s still the hope that in eight years time we’ll have the [...]
Efficient tale of swords and magic May 20, 2010 Film PRINCE OF PERSIA: SANDS OF TIME Cert: 12A *** BASED on a computer game, Prince of Persia: Sands of Time sees doe-eyed actor Jake Gyllenhaal switch to swashbuckling action star, not entirely successfully. He’s got the beefy physique, and thanks to CGI there’s no end to the acrobatic leaps and somersaults he can perform [...]
ALSO OUT THIS WEEKEND May 20, 2010 FILM BAD LIEUTENANT Nick Cage stars as a corrupt cop in Werner Herzog’s controversial remake. COP OUT Bruce Willis plays an NYPD detective in Kevin Smith’s crime comedy. HEARTLESS Supernatural thriller set in London’s urban ganglands, with Jim Sturgess. DVD SHERLOCK HOLMES Robert Downey Jr and Jude Law are Holmes and Watson in Guy Ritchie’s [...]