Ok, so Stratford-upon-Avon is not actually a city, but as a town which punches well above its weight historically and culturally, we’re giving it an honorary place in the City Breaks collection. This is the introductory episode, with a little geographical and historical context and an idea for a first get-your-bearings walk around Stratford. It will introduce you to Stratford's Tudor gabled houses, riverside setting, swans and boats and, of course, give a flavour of Stratford as Shakespeare's home town, where he was both born and buried and where he bought the town's second biggest house as a retirement pad. So, with no more ado and as the great man himself might have said, shall we wend?

Reading Suggestions Stratford-upon-Avon Quick Trips by Cynthia Atkins A-Z of Stratford-upon-Avon by Will Atkins Secret Stratford by Nicholas Fogg Shakespeare The Biography by Peter Ackroyd

Links for this Episode Visit Stratford-upon-Avon Guided walks around Stratford

City Breaks: all the history and culture you'd research for yourself if you had the time! Check our website to find more episodes from our Stratford-Upon-Avon series or to browse our back catalogue of other cities which are well worth visiting: https://www.citybreakspodcast.co.uk

We love to receive your comments and suggestions! You can e mail us at citybreaks@citybreakspodcast.co.uk And if you like what you hear, please do post comments or a review wherever you downloaded this episode. That would be very much appreciated!

Both Vincennes and St Germain-en-Laye make excellent days out from Paris, or even half days as both can be reached by public transport in less than half an hour. Each has a magnificent castle to visit, plus a range of other cultural, relaxation and shopping possibilities. So this episode tells you how to get to each place, following up with what there is to see and do there, plus – bien sûr! – a few of the interesting historical snippets which will inform your visit.

Links for this post

Château de Vincennes

Vincennes Tourist Office

Château de St Germain-en-Laye

St Germain-en-Laye Tourist Office

Espace Vera

Debussy’s Birthplace

City Breaks: all the history and culture you'd research for yourself if you had the time! Check our website to find more episodes from our Paris series or to browse our back catalogue of other cities which are well worth visiting: https://www.citybreakspodcast.co.uk

We love to receive your comments and suggestions! You can e mail us at citybreaks@citybreakspodcast.co.uk And if you like what you hear, please do post comments or a review wherever you downloaded this episode. That would be a big help!

This Paris episode covers two of the most beautiful châteaux in the Paris region. Both are easy to reach on public transport and both have fascinating stories to tell. We cover how to get there, what you can expect to see and make sure we cover the most interesting tales – François I’s show-off gallery, Napoleon’s refurbishment to impress the Pope and the party-to-end-all-parties which went ended in disaster and ruination.

Reading Suggestion Francis I, The Maker of Modern France by Leonie Frieda

Useful Links Château de Fontainebleau Château de Vaux-le-Vicomte

City Breaks: all the history and culture you'd research for yourself if you had the time! Check our website to find more episodes from our Paris series or to browse our back catalogue of other cities which are well worth visiting: https://www.citybreakspodcast.co.uk

We love to receive your comments and suggestions! You can e mail us at citybreaks@citybreakspodcast.co.uk And if you like what you hear, please do post comments or a review wherever you downloaded this episode. That would be a big help!

Our Amsterdam Anthology rounds off the series by offering some different perspectives on the city. Here, you’ll find Amsterdam seen through the eyes of writers, some from the past, many contemporary: travel writers, journalists, novelists and an author of short stories. Between them they provide lots of different ways to get to know – or reminisce about! – the city and, we hope, plenty of inspiration for further reading.

Reading Suggestions My Dam Life by Sean Conlan Amsterdam Stories by Nescio Amsterdam by Ian McEwen The Coffee Trader by David Liss The Miniaturist by Jessie Burton The House of Fortune by Jessie Burton Tulip Fever by Deborah Moggach

City Breaks: all the history and culture you'd research for yourself if you had the time! Check our website to find more episodes from our Amsterdam series or to browse our back catalogue of other cities which are well worth visiting: https://www.citybreakspodcast.co.uk

We love to receive your comments and suggestions! You can e mail us at citybreaks@citybreakspodcast.co.uk And if you like what you hear, please do post comments or a review wherever you downloaded this episode. That would be a big help!

This episode in two halves starts with food in Amsterdam; the street snacks you’ll want to try, the Dutch specialities to look out for in restaurants and a brief introduction to the city’s favourite ethnic cuisine, namely Indonesian. If you don’t know your drop from your rijsttafel, help is at hand. After a brief word on bier and jenever (Dutch gin) and a look at the Heineken Experience and the city’s Brown Cafes, it’s time for shopping: a tour of the best markets and a visit to the two best areas for wandering, browsing and maybe making a purchase or two.

LINKS FOR THIS POST

Kaaskamer Amsterdam Foodie guide to Indonesian restaurants I love Amsterdam post on pancakes Van Wonderen Stroopwafel Het Oud-Hollandsch Snoepwinkeltje Café Chris Café Hoppe The Heineken Experience I am Amsterdam post on the best breweries to visit in Amsterdam Bloemenmarkt Waterlooplein Flea Market

Previous Episode Tulips and diamonds Next Episode coming very soon.

City Breaks: all the history and culture you'd research for yourself if you had the time! Check our website to find more episodes from our Amsterdam series or to browse our back catalogue of other cities which are well worth visiting: https://www.citybreakspodcast.co.uk

We love to receive your comments and suggestions! You can e mail us at citybreaks@citybreakspodcast.co.uk And if you like what you hear, please do post comments or a review wherever you downloaded this episode. That would be a big help!

Tulips and diamonds: both figure centrally in the story of Amsterdam. The Netherlands is known as the ‘flower shop of the world’ and a visit to Amsterdam’s flower market a must for any visit. Equally, you will surely want to explore Amsterdam’s heritage as the ‘City of Diamonds’. This episode brings a little background history on both topics, plus ideas for three places to visit to find out more.

Reading Suggestions The Tulip by Anna Pavord Tulip Fever by Deborah Moggach

Links for this post The Tulip Museum The Diamond Museum Royal Coster Diamonds

City Breaks: all the history and culture you'd research for yourself if you had the time! Check our website to find more episodes from our Amsterdam series or to browse our back catalogue of other cities which are well worth visiting: https://www.citybreakspodcast.co.uk

We love to receive your comments and suggestions! You can e mail us at citybreaks@citybreakspodcast.co.uk And if you like what you hear, please do post comments or a review wherever you downloaded this episode. That would be a big help!

This episode covers everything it's good to know before you visit the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam: a brief biography of Vincent himself, followed by tips on what to look out for in the museum dedicated to his work. To finish, there are ideas for 3 more arty venues to visit in Amsterdam if you want to investigate the city's modern art and street art offerings.

Reading Suggestions Van Gogh The Life by Steven Naifeh and Gregory White Smith The Letters of Vincent Van Gogh Van Gogh The Complete Paintings by Ingo F. Walther and Rainer Metzger

Links for this post Van Gogh Museum Stedelijk Museum NDSM Loods Straat Museum

City Breaks: all the history and culture you'd research for yourself if you had the time! Check our website to find more episodes from our Amsterdam series or to browse our back catalogue of other cities which are well worth visiting: https://www.citybreakspodcast.co.uk

We love to receive your comments and suggestions! You can e mail us at citybreaks@citybreakspodcast.co.uk And if you like what you hear, please do post comments or a review wherever you downloaded this episode. That would be a big help!

This episode revolves around Amsterdam's top art gallery, the Rijksmuseum. It starts with a little history, explaining how art came to be of such importance in Amsterdam's Golden Age in the 17th century, then continues with some biographical details on the two top artists from the era, Rembrandt and Vermeer. It finishes with pointers to some of their best-known works, plus ideas for other highlights to look out for when visiting the gallery.

Reading Suggestions Tulip Fever by Deborah Moggach Vermeer by Christopher Wright Rijksmuseum guidebook

Links for this post The Rijksmuseum Rembrandt House Museum Old World Voyages blog Essential Vermeer Simon Schama, Great Gallery Tours, the Rijksmuseum

City Breaks: all the history and culture you'd research for yourself if you had the time! Check our website to find more episodes from our Amsterdam series or to browse our back catalogue of other cities which are well worth visiting: https://www.citybreakspodcast.co.uk

We love to receive your comments and suggestions! You can e mail us at citybreaks@citybreakspodcast.co.uk And if you like what you hear, please do post comments or a review wherever you downloaded this episode. That would be a big help!