Charming

Surrounded by the picturesque countryside and boasting a lively market centre, this charming mill town offers no shortage of activities for those keen to explore its many attractions.

A charming market town in Lancashire boasts what’s been dubbed the ‘finest house and garden’ in the entire county – and the best part is, entry won’t cost you a penny.

Accrington, Lancashire’s well-kept secret, is packed with culture, stunning natural landscapes, and rich heritage, guaranteeing something special for every visitor who makes the journey. Nestled amongst rolling countryside and featuring a thriving market at its centre, this historic mill town offers no shortage of activities for those keen to explore its many attractions.

Among the standout destinations in Accrington is an art gallery housing the spectacular Tiffany Glass Collection, which art enthusiasts simply cannot miss.

The Haworth Art Gallery and Museum is an essential stop for lovers of art and history alike, and according to Visit Lancashire, it’s also where you’ll find ‘Lancashire’s finest house and garden’, reports Lancs Live.

Originally known as Hollins Hill, the Haworth Art Gallery and Museum was first constructed for siblings William and Anne Haworth, and has been carefully ‘designed in the Arts and Crafts style’.

Bequeathed by the brother and sister to serve as a museum, art gallery and public park for Accrington’s residents, this historically important building welcomes visitors throughout the year, with absolutely no admission fee.

Bursting with elaborate details and stunning features, every corner of this remarkable building has been ‘inspired by nature and made with a love of materials and craftsmanship’.

In its current incarnation, the property’s historic stables and coach house have been transformed into Artists’ Studios, providing workspace for numerous skilled artisans who create and sell their pieces on the gallery-museum’s prestigious premises.

Spanning nine acres of parkland, this historic site provides refuge in its rose garden, room to relax on sweeping lawns, or chances to wander through the woodland encircling this house-turned-gallery.

Guests can also enjoy a genuine dining experience at the venue’s licensed Gallery Kitchen, located in Haworth’s original Arts and Crafts dining room.

However, the standout attraction of the Haworth Art Gallery and Museum is arguably its stunning Tiffany Collection.

This assemblage of beautiful American glassware was presented to the town by Accrington-born Joseph Briggs, who, following an apprenticeship as an engraver, relocated to New York at just 17 years old.

Joseph worked at Tiffany for roughly 40 years, starting out as an errand boy before eventually ascending to managing director of the world-famous company.

This glassware collection, produced by the legendary designer Louis Comfort Tiffany, was dispatched by Joseph to Accrington in 1933. The iconic works remain on permanent public display throughout four themed galleries within the art venue.

One review of the art gallery and museum on Tripadvisor reads: “Beautiful art gallery with a wonderful collection of tiffany glass. The surrounding gardens are very pretty. Had a fantastic lunch in the cafe.”

Another satisfied visitor shared their experience: “Most interesting place which still has the feel of a large family home in the Arts and Crafts style with superb Tiffany exhibits and other items of interest. Excellent tea room and gift shop with pleasant gardens . We will definitely come again.”

Key information for visitors

Entry to the Haworth Art Gallery and Museum in Accrington, including parking at the gallery, is absolutely free. For 2026, the attraction welcomes visitors from January 1 to December 20, Wednesday through Sunday from 12pm to 4.30pm.

The Gallery Kitchen operates on the same days and dates, but timings differ slightly, with service starting from 11.30pm to 4.30pm. Last admission to the house is at 4pm and the building is closed over Christmas and New Year.

Must-see attractions in Accrington

For those keen to delve deeper into Accrington, Oswaldtwistle Mills is another must-see attraction in the town. This historic cotton mill played a crucial role during the Industrial Revolution and is the birthplace of the spinning Jenny.

Accrington also offers an array of splendid green spaces, including Oak Hill Park and Memorial Park situated in Great Harwood.

Those passionate about history and architecture shouldn’t miss the Victorian Market Hall during their stay – a landmark that opened for business in 1869 and continues to serve as the community’s beating heart – along with the Town Hall, a favourite venue for weddings and celebrations.

This delightful market town is also renowned for its yearly celebrations including the Soapbox Challenge and The Accrington Food Festival, offering visitors a delicious insight into the area’s culture and culinary scene.

Whether you’re a history enthusiast, art aficionado, or someone simply wanting to enjoy the natural surroundings and local character, Accrington provides plenty to suit every preference, allowing guests to discover the town’s enchantment for themselves.

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This village is a hidden gem of a holiday spot, perfect for nature lovers and those who want to escape the hustle and bustle of city life with walks through the North York Moors

When it comes to villages, this Yorkshire treasure, nestled 20 miles from York, offers picture-postcard perfection with its honey-hued stone cottages and undulating countryside.

Coxwold attracts many visitors who embark on walks and cycling routes across the North York Moors, amongst England’s most breathtaking expanses of open landscape.

Stunning woodland, waterways and lush heather moorland encircle the village, providing ample opportunity for exploration as you pass through and pause here.

Upon arriving in the village, the striking 15th century church of St Michael’s immediately catches the eye, perched atop a hillside – making for a delightful stroll.

Once you reach the summit, panoramic vistas of the village sprawl before you in all its cobbled magnificence.

The Fauconberg serves as the village’s focal point, a pub catering to both residents and visitors in a classic Yorkshire establishment atmosphere, offering wholesome, satisfying meals.

It doubles as a well-established inn featuring the cosiest log fires, timber beams and stone-flagged floors, providing the perfect retreat following a day of exploring.

One diner posted their review on TripAdvisor, saying: “Sunday lunch was very tasty with generous portion sizes. The service was quick, efficient and very friendly. I would thoroughly recommend a meal here in this lovely pub/restaurant. We will definitely be returning.”

A delightful way to spend time here is by strolling from the village through the Beacon Banks to Husthwaite – a straightforward route with minimal effort required.

It’s recommended that you leave your car on the main street, walk past the church for half a mile until you spot a footpath on your left, where your journey commences.

Each village boasts a pub, making them ideal refreshment stops, whilst the true highlight of the trek is the mile and a half stretch along Beacon Banks, providing breathtaking panoramas.

Your return to Coxwold winds through serene countryside, completing what should amount to a three and a half hour ramble covering five miles.

Nearby sits the magnificent Byland Abbey, formerly celebrated as one of the most significant Cistercian monasteries in the north and still stands at great height.

The ruins identify it as amongst the earliest examples of Gothic architecture in the area, featuring remarkable medieval floor tiles that earn it international recognition.

At the location, visitors can explore the museum, which contains countless artefacts discovered on the grounds. Alongside these are exquisite illustrations offering deeper understanding of monastic life before its dissolution.

One recent visitor shared: “Absolutely blown away! English heritage site which was free admittance. We spent over an hour exploring this stunning 12th-century church, nothing was out of bounds and a real feel for this wonderful construction. Car parking was free and opposite the church.”

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PATSY KENSIT has told how she had an affair at 23 with Sixties acting icon Terence Stamp – 30 years her senior.

The unlikely relationship was sparked while they were filming 1991 crime thriller Prince Of Shadows in Madrid.

Actress and former rock chick Patsy, 57, who has more recently appeared in EastEnders and Death In Paradise, recalled: “I had a lost few months with Terence when I was very young, but it was all a dream and he was the perfect gentleman.”

Oscar-nominated Terence, star of the original Superman movies and an accomplished author, died in LA last year aged 87.

Patsy said in an exclusive interview with The Sun on Sunday: “I first met him at a dinner party in Chelsea through a girlfriend. I was sitting next to him on the table plan and had read all of his books, The Stamp Collection Cookbook.  He was such a great writer, so I was a bit of a superfan.”

She added: “He was probably the most beautiful man I’d ever seen.”

Weeks later, Patsy signed up to play beautiful prostitute Rebeca in the Spanish movie and she suggested Terence to appear opposite her as hero Darman.

He had been making his first attempt at directing a film, but after three weeks it was abandoned with a loss of $5million, so the Spanish project marked his return to acting.

Patsy recalled: “I was offered this film in Spain and the director had wanted Anthony Hopkins to play opposite me, but he was busy, so I mentioned Terence and they jumped at the chance.

‘Little monkey’

“So as soon as we knew we were going to do the movie together, he took me to a fish restaurant called Greens and he had the most beautiful eyes, stunning blue.

“On location, our friendship grew stronger and more intense.

“We had several love scenes in the film — shooting them is never sexy, but having said that, it can feel intimate.

“The food was fantastic in Madrid and, after filming, he’d take me to little restaurants he found. We had a very strong connection immediately, and spent a lot of time together.

“He told stories about Julie Christie [his co-star in 1967’s Far From The Madding Crowd] and was nominated for an Oscar for his role in Billy Budd, which was his breakthrough.

“He knew Michael Caine. I was born the year of the monkey and he always used to say to me, ‘You’re such a little monkey, Patsy’. He was so old-school and a forgotten era.

“We were star-crossed lovers and he was a total gentleman. Even though there was an age gap, we had a strong bond. He was an amazing and generous lover.”

Terence loved to write, and sent Patsy dozens of love notes, as well as regularly writing to her mum Margaret, who joined her on set during filming.

Patsy said: “He used to write me these wonderful love letters about lucid dreams he had.

We were star-crossed lovers and he was a total gentleman. Even though there was an age gap, we had a strong bond. He was an amazing and generous lover

Patsy Kensit

“His handwriting was like art. I’ve still got them in storage, I couldn’t bear to part with them.

“He was really ahead of the game with modern medicine and homeopathy and my mum was dying of cancer at the time. When she died, I discovered all these letters he had been writing to her. They were in regular correspondence and he was encouraging her to take all these supplements and eat certain foods.”

Back in London, Patsy and Terence carried on dating. She said: “He was living in Piccadilly, in an incredible apartment with a roaring fireplace and a big, beautiful kitchen.

“The doorman would let me in — he had a twinkle in his eye and would say, ‘Are you here to see Mr Stamp?’. I imagine he had many visitors. Terence took me to restaurants and museums.

“It was a lost few months in my life and a beautiful time.”

Then Patsy had to leave London for Los Angeles to film 1991 sci-fi film Timebomb, and she ended their brief fling.

She said: “And suddenly, it was over. I was young and stupid.”

Ironically, Patsy — who has been married four times — first met her second husband, Simple Minds singer Jim Kerr, in Madrid while she was filming with Terence. They married in 1992 and had a son, James.

She recalled: “We were filming at the Palace Hotel and we were shooting in a corridor.

“We heard this strong Scottish accent saying, ‘I need to get out of my room, I can’t wait’, and it was Jim Kerr.

“And he looked at me and went, ‘Oh hello’, at which point Terence walked back into the bedroom.

“At the end of the day, an assistant appeared with a note from Jim saying, ‘If you’re ever in Scotland, I’ll happily show you the mountains’. Eventually I did, and it led to a marriage and a baby.”

The doorman would let me in — he had a twinkle in his eye and would say, ‘Are you here to see Mr Stamp?’. I imagine he had many visitors. Terence took me to restaurants and museums

Patsy Kensit

Patsy, who also has son Lennon with ex-husband Liam Gallagher, is writing an autobiography — and has plenty of material.

Her dad Jimmy, a sharp dresser who drove an Aston Martin, was an associate of the Kray brothers, and her glamorous mum Margaret acted as a chaperone to Patsy, who began her career as a child actress.

She appeared with Robert Redford and Mia Farrow in The Great Gatsby in 1974, and she and her mum often hung out with Elizabeth Taylor when Patsy played her daughter in 1976’s The Blue Bird.

Elizabeth would cook spaghetti for Patsy and her mum, and let the six-year-old play catch with her Krupp diamond, given to her by husband Richard Burton.

Recalling working with Robert Redford, who died last year, Patsy said: “I was only four and a half, but I remember it all so clearly.

“He was a handsome, tall, blond man and whenever he walked on to the set, all the women would get giggly, including my mum.

“I remember being driven to Pinewood in a Rolls-Royce to get fitted in Ralph Lauren costumes for the movie. It was another world.”

The safest city in Europe is a gorgeous Alpine destination.

Whilst travel can never be entirely without risk, certain holiday spots prove considerably safer than their counterparts. Research conducted by Reassured has crowned Salzburg in Austria as Europe’s most secure city.

The Austrian gem boasts minimal crime levels, with Numbeo data revealing that precious few residents fret about potential attacks or vandalism. An impressive 90 per cent of locals reported feeling secure whilst strolling solo after dark.

Little wonder that Reassured has also hailed it amongst the finest destinations for expat families to settle. Famed as Mozart’s birthplace, Salzburg draws countless visitors year-round.

The historic Old Town, or Altstadt, proves perfectly walkable, with the city’s premier attractions clustered within easy reach of one another, reports the Express.

One holidaymaker, ‘Robert P’, shared on Tripadvisor: “Lovely area to walk around, small enough not to tire the feet. Salzburg is almost the perfect tourist town, history and scenery combined.”

Swiss city Zug and the Netherlands’ Leiden claimed the subsequent spots on the safety rankings, both featuring similarly low criminal activity rates.

Switzerland commanded the listings, with numerous other Swiss cities securing places in the safety table.

Every featured destination scored significantly higher for safety than major British cities such as London and Leeds.

Europe’s safest cities

• Vienna, Austria
• Prague, Czechia
• Rome, Italy
• Helsinki, Finland
• Salzburg, Austria
• Nuremberg, Germany
• Innsbruck, Austria
• Bergen, Norway
• Galway, Ireland
• Trieste, Italy

The perfect winter escape awaits just 4.5 hours from London, with temperatures reaching 22 °C and 300 days of sunshine annually. As well as charming mountain villages, visitors to Cyprus can also explore the world’s only divided capital, Nicosia.

Brits looking for a sun-drenched getaway might want to consider this English-speaking island, just a short flight from the UK, with pleasant winter temperatures of 22 °C. Only a four-and-a-half-hour journey from London, this Mediterranean gem offers a welcome break from the UK’s current cold, wet weather.

With year-round sunshine and flowers beginning to bloom in March, Cyprus is a fantastic choice for families, offering numerous family-friendly hotels. The island also features a range of activities, from walking trails to discovering a variety of cultural and historical sites.

Winter sees fewer visitors, making it the perfect time to explore popular attractions without the lengthy queues. Whilst partygoers will be drawn to Ayia Napa, one of Europe’s top party destinations, those seeking blissful tranquillity can bask in the island’s 300 days of sunshine each year.

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A trip into the Troodos Mountains unveils stunning scenery and a delightful village nestled in the valley below. In a surprising twist, there’s even a ski resort located within the breathtaking Troodos Mountain Range. Operating from January to March, it’s positioned on Mount Olympus, the highest peak in Cyprus, and an iconic destination bound to intrigue lovers of ancient mythology.

Visitors can drive up to the slopes, which feature several scenic viewpoints en route. Hidden in the valley is the picturesque village of Omodos, filled with restaurants serving traditional food such as fresh halloumi and lamb Kleftiko – the ideal conclusion to a day of mountain exploration. The village also boasts the Monastery of Timios Stavros, one of the most historically significant monasteries on the island, which offers tours.

A local fortified sweet wine, commandaria, is popular in the area and can be purchased from locals’ doorsteps for €2-€5 (£1.61-£4.23). Another must-visit is Nicosia, the divided capital of Cyprus. Following the 1974 civil war, the island was bifurcated into two states: the Greek Republic of Southern Cyprus and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, and this fascinating city remains a stark reminder of these troubled times.

The border, known as the ‘green line’, cuts through lively Nicosia, making it the only divided capital city in the world, with a rich history stretching back more than 5,000 years. Tourists may cross the border in a fairly straightforward process, at The Ledra Street Border Crossing and The Ledra Palace Border Crossing, the second of which allows for both vehicles and pedestrians.

Other attractions include underwater waterfall hikes, a turtle conservation station, Aphrodite’s Rock, the Tombs of the Kings, snorkelling adventures, Akamas Peninsula National Park, castles and even a wellness retreat.

Do you have a story to share? Email me at julia.banim@reachplc.com

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