Discover Britain December/January 2025 Sample

SHOPPING

Timely souvenirs

Want to bring something home from your next British holiday that will remind you of your visit each time you look at it? Then you might want to consider the new capsule collection from AV1-8, which sees the aviation watchmaker partner with London’s Imperial War Museum.

The AVI-8 Imperial War Museum Edition collection features timepieces inspired by some of Britain’s most legendary aircraft, such as the Hawker Hurricane and Spitfire, paying homage to the heroes of our past in their design and ensuring their stories will still be told for generations to come.

Priced from £210-£285 avi-8.co.uk

THEATRE Poppin up everywhere

To mark the 20th anniversary of the multi-award-winning stage musical, Mary Poppins is returning to where it all began for the first leg of its 2024/2025 UK and Ireland tour: Bristol Hippodrome.

For this tour, the eponymous role will be played by Stefanie Jones with Jack Chambers taking on the role of Bert, with both actors receiving acclaim for their turn in the musical adaptation of Pamela Travers’ books – which features songs from the much-loved Walt Disney film – when it toured Australia in 2022.

When the run in Bristol ends in late November, the show will go on tour to Dublin, Edinburgh, Plymouth, Manchester, and more.

Producer, Cameron Mackintosh, says: “Mary Poppins remains a timeless classic for all ages, full of wonderful characters, brilliant songs, show-stopping dances and spectacular magic. So, you are assured of an unforgettable performance and the jolliest of holidays with Mary. But step in time to get tickets, as Mary has a lot of places to visit, and her bag is packed!” marypoppins.co.uk

Brit Edit

Your curated guide to Britain this season

Peak District PLEASURES

Vicky Smith, who grew up nearby, chooses her favourite towns and villages in Britain’s oldest national park

Haddon Hall is the private residence of Lord and Lady Manners, so many of the medieval rooms with their original features are finished with contemporary touches

The house of TUDOR

Jeremy Flint meets staff at one of Britain’s best preserved medieval homes, Haddon Hall

Stanage Edge, near Hathersage

No Pride and Prejudice tour of Derbyshire would be complete without a visit to Stanage Edge, affectionately known as ‘Lizzie’s Rock’ after Keira Knightley’s film-defining moment in the 2005 adaptation of the Austen novel.

Just north of the village of Hathersage, this spectacular rock formation offers fabulous views of the Dark Peak Moorlands and the Hope Valley and is popular with casual walkers, and serious rock climbers alike; it runs for almost four miles from north to south, and its highest point, High Neb, stands at 458 metres tall.

Oozing history, the area has evidence of human occupation since the Mesolithic era. A Bronze Age burial cairn can be seen near Dennis Knoll and millstones from the 18th and 19th centuries litter the landscape. The rocks are home to lizards and adders, and you may spot a bird of prey, too.

Stanage Edge is accessible for walkers of all abilities, with a nearby car park at Hook’s Carr leading straight up on to the edge via a well-laid path. If you’re looking for a longer walk, there is a fairly easy, six-mile route from Hathersage to Stanage Edge that will take about two and a half hours. letsgopeakdistrict.co.uk

Delightful DAYS OUT

From stately homes to dramatic rock formations, these are the must-see sights on any Derbyshire visit

In the Fab Four’s footsteps

Sally Coffey goes on a Magical Mystery Tour in The Beatles’ home city of Liverpool