There are plenty of ways to celebrate Black History Month here in Los Angeles, whether you’re looking to honor jazz innovators like Miles Davis or recognize those who are making history now, including a Black woman-founded grocery store that provides organic vegan produce to South L.A. neighborhoods.
This year marks the centennial celebration of Black history across the United States — though that time frame spans only a fragment of how long African Americans have been contributing to this country.
In 1926, historian Carter G. Woodson and the Assn. for the Study of Negro Life and History spearheaded the first celebration of Negro History Week during the second week of February, overlapping with Frederick Douglass’ birthday on Feb. 14 — to encourage the study of African American history. President Gerald Ford officially designated February as Black History Month in 1976, during the U.S. Bicentennial.
THE Cotswolds is known for their beauty with quaint cottages and winding streets and there’s one very similar town over 100 miles away.
Saffron Walden is nestled in the Essex countryside.
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The Essex town is filled with brightly coloured, wonky cottagesCredit: AlamyIt’s well-known for it outdoor market held twice a week – and celebs even visitCredit: Alamy
The town is filled with wonky Tudor houses, winding streets and a plethora of independent shops.
There’s The Toy Box which sells old-school toys and has been in the town for 40-years, The Corner Cupboard where you can find antique jewellery, and Hart’s Books.
Saffron Walden is well-known for its big outdoor market which it’s held since 1141 – and you can see it for yourself on Tuesdays and Saturdays.
Stalls sell food from fresh fruit and vegetables, to olives, bread, fish, flowers, antiques and jewellery.
If you’re lucky you may even spot a celeb like Jamie Oliver, who lives nearby and is often seen picking up fresh ingredients at the stalls.
There are lots of cafes around the town too from The Goat and Grass to Waffle and Coffee to Chater’s.
When it comes to pubs, you’re spoiled for choice – and lots of them have scooped up awards in recent years too.
Most read in Best of British
In 2022, the Railway Arms was awarded CAMRA County Pub of the Year and North West Essex Pub of the Year in May.
The pub serves all sorts and drinks and snacks, although you won’t find pub grub here – but there are food trucks every Thursday.
The Railway Arms closed in 2017 but reopened in 2020 as Saffron Walden’s first community-run free house pub – and it holds a quiz every Sunday.
You can get a two course meal at the Eight Bells for £19.50Credit: Alamy
The Eight Bells on Bridge Street is also a popular spot and has a beautiful interior with beams and antler light fixings.
With a set menu you can get two courses for £19.50 or three for £24.50.
You can dine on the likes of prawn cocktail, chicken kiev, smoked haddock kedgeree and to finish, sticky toffee pudding or vanilla cheesecake.
While it’s not actually in Saffron Walden, The Cricketers Arms is a short drive away in Rickling Green and won Best Destination Pub2025 Muddy Awards.
It was also awarded 1 AA Rosette for culinary excellence.
The pub is known for its hearty Sunday meals like the ‘Tear & Share’ lamb shoulder and three meats ‘Pig n Mix’ roast.
On the outskirts of Saffron Walden is Audley End an English Heritage House – but there’s lots to do on the grounds.
Here, you’ll even find a miniature railway which will reopen for Mother’s Day weekend.
There are events held throughout the year too like Woodland Adventure Days where kids can explore the playground, discover the fairy walk – and ride one of the trains.
There’s a miniature railway ride for kids at Audley End House
Saffron Walden even has its own vineyard called Saffron Grange.
The family-run vineyard makes English sparkling wine including white and rosé.
If you fancy a tour, and a tasting – you can book one from £25 per person.
It’s easy to explore Saffron Walden in a day too as it’s a 30-minute drive from the city of Cambridge.
If you’re going by train, from London it can take as little as 55-minute which gets you into the nearest station at Audley End.
From there, it’s just a 7-minute drive into the Essex town.
Hear what one reporter got up to on a trip to the pretty Essex town…
Senior Consumer Reporter Adele Cooke headed to Saffron Walden for a weekend getaway, and here’s what she thought…
“Before I boarded the train for my weekend break, Essex conjured up images of Gemma Collins rather than a refined getaway.
So it was a pleasant surprise to arrive at our cottage set in the splendour of Audley End House and Gardens, just outside Saffron Walden. If you are looking for a place to get away from it all, it’s perfect.
“The 17th-century manor has been visited by everyone from Elizabeth I to screen royalty Olivia Colman, who filmed scenes for Netflix series The Crown.
“In nearby Saffron Walden there were more surprises. Coffee in hand, we took a stroll to St Mary’s Church, which dates to Norman times and is still the tallest building in Essex with its spire topping out at 193ft.
“Then it was on to Bridge End Gardens and its maze – before a pint at the Cross Keys Hotel, also known for its great food. The fun continued with a visit to one of Essex’s Tiptree tea rooms. I knew Tiptree as the makers of tasty jams, often served in little jars at posh hotels.
“But I was surprised to learn the Essex-born company also has eight tea rooms and even a museum.
“We got the day off to the best of starts at Tiptree’s Courtyard tea room in Saffron Walden with their traditional breakfast, a Full English complete with tasty local sausages, bacon, egg and even some traditional Tiptree brown sauce.”
This Cotswolds-alternative town is actually in EssexCredit: Alamy
An integral part of whale watching, Capt. Rick Podolak explained as we zipped out of North San Diego Bay past Point Loma, is establishing trust.
That and a fast vessel, good timing and luck. All of which we hoped would align during a whale-watching excursion in late December, the month typically inaugurating an annual gray whale migration from the Arctic south to Baja California.
Grays endure an epic roundtrip journey of 10,000 miles or more, and California holds a prime seat through May. Along with being a migratory route for grays and humpbacks, this stretch of Pacific Coast from San Diego to beyond the Bay Area offers seasonal feeding grounds that attract a variety of whale species throughout the year.
“I would go so far as to boast that California has some of the best whale watching in the world,” said Ted Cheeseman, a Santa Cruz whale researcher and co-founder of Happywhale, a photo-based whale identification platform.
Tempering the enthusiasm Cheeseman and other researchers hold around current thriving whale populations are significant concerns about gray whales dying. Grays’ numbers along the Pacific Coast have plunged by half in the last decade, to about 13,000, due to climate change affecting their Arctic food supply.
“Last year was by far the lowest count we’ve ever had, and this year is even lower,” said Alisa Schulman-Janiger, a marine biologist and whale researcher who coordinates an annual gray whale census out of Rancho Palos Verdes.
In December 2025, volunteers spotted 14 whales headed south to calving lagoons in Mexico. In December 2024, they counted 33. In December 2014, by comparison, there were 393.
With numbers like those rattling in my head and the clock ticking as Podolak piloted us north along the coastline, I grew increasingly doubtful about us witnessing the grays’ movement south. We were looking for backs or flukes (tails) breaking the water. Most telling is the spout — the condensed mass of water vapor and mucus that whales force from their blowholes as they surface.
After 90 minutes, we’d spied cormorants and pelicans galore, but little else. It was nearly time to head back.
Then, there it was. A spout, rising clearly against the coastline. Then another, just before the whale dove from sight. The captain identified it as a gray whale, with their distinct white patches of clinging barnacles.
This month, California tour operators have reported several gray sightings. As we watch for them and other cetaceans, this is one instance in which tourists can create positive change. Advocacy organizations outline how to select ethical tour operators and federal agencies are charged with maintaining safe distances (100 yards for most whale species) between vessels and marine mammals. Whale researcher Cheeseman says well-managed whale tourism raises public awareness and financially supports whale science and conservation.
“For some people, seeing a blue whale in the Santa Barbara Channel checks a box — it’s an Instagram post,” he said. “For others, it entirely transforms their view of the natural world.”
Starting in San Diego and moving north, here are some of California’s leading whale-watching spots.
