Paris and London Flower Shows, A Battle Re-enactment And Some Glühwein | Travel Research Online

The Journées des Plantes is the go-to event in the world of French gardening. It takes place between 15^th-17^th May at the Domaine de Chantilly just north of Paris, the week prior to the Chelsea Flower Show in London. If you apply some creative thinking to this Paris and London combination, you can bring them both together in a way that many of your green-fingered clients won’t have seen before.

After selling out all their performances last year, the amazing light show Northern Lights’ will return to York Minster’s glorious Nave from 24^th-31^st October. Created by the world-renowned The Projection Studio, the spectacular shows are taking place to help raise funds to preserve the Minster’s precious medieval stained glass; the largest collection in the world dating back over 600 years.

This brand-new attraction in the Viking city of York enables you to step inside the paintings of Van Gogh, one of the world’s greatest artistic geniuses. Take an awe-inspiring journey into his imagination, his life and secrets, through cutting-edge 360-degree digital animation, optical illusion, and a uniquely atmospheric light and sound show. A UK premiere – nobody leaves unmoved.

This major celebration returns to its spiritual home from 7^th September to 13^th October 2019. Easily accessible with non-stop flights from Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, New York and Orlando to the northern gateway of Manchester – the international festival will bring together more than 300 contemporary artists in a vibrant programme of exhibitions, installations and events in different venues across the city. Check the flight schedules. There may be more Manchester non-stop flights than you think.

Fans of living history re-enactments will love this annual event. On 12^th-13^th October, hundreds of soldiers and knights on horseback clash in a remake of the Battle of Hasting, the most famous battle in English history. Re-enactors will bring the atmosphere and tension of the 1066 conquest to life as King Harold and his Saxon army take on Duke William and his Norman soldiers in a fight for the English throne.

With the dollar/sterling exchange rate moving very much in your favour, starting in Brighton and finishing in London, this shopping trip focuses on the 1700 indoor/outdoor stalls at the International Antiques and Collectors Fair at Ardingly (next on 3^rd –  4^th September and 5^th – 6^th November) and the London markets at Bermondsey, Portobello Road and Petticoat Lane. I’ve added the exotic Royal Pavilion in Brighton and a visit to a privately owned castle. Ask me for details.

This stylish seaside city is renowned for its excellent shopping centered on the famous ‘Lanes’ and its antiques and jewelry shops, high fashion boutiques, fine restaurants and lively bars. It’s also home to the Royal Pavilion, one of the UK’s most dazzlingly beautiful buildings in the British Isles. From Heathrow, it takes around 90 minutes and less than an hour from Gatwick. From Dover, it’s around 2.5 hours and to/from Southampton, around 2 hours.

Our Pirates travelled the known world, so the annual Clovelly Pirate’s Jamboree has always been unique. The grog comes from a time-honoured recipe, the locals tell me their cloths are costumes, but they fit too well! The food is an international gastronomic delight. Jack Sparrow (Pirates of the Caribbean) judges the costumes, the fireworks are amazing along with music to dance the night away. In case you’ve not heard of it, Clovelly is a picturesque, cliff side fishing village on the North Devon coast.

This festive 3 nighter showcases the Manchester Christmas Market, the biggest and arguably the best in Britain, the more intimate celebration in the ancient walled city of Chester and the treasure filled Chatsworth House, fully and stunningly decorated for Ch6ristmas. With careful timing, you can also add 2-3 days fully engaged with the Dublin Christmas Market. In one way, out the other, this is an idea that’s well worth closer scrutiny.