Zahra Pettican

As Rylan Clark’s new documentary, Witches of Essex, shines a light on the county’s witch trials, Manningtree, Mistley and beyond are reclaiming the stories of those once condemned and forgotten.

London is a magical city, but it also has more spooky places than you can shake a sage stick at. Horror, tragedy, and mystery: London’s seen it all over the last 2,000 years. All of this activity has left an utterly eerie atmosphere in some corners of the city where strange goings-on are a part of everyday life.

If you want to feel the fear in Transylvania, give Dracula’s Castle a miss and head to any of the region’s other atmospheric haunts.

Branded article for Wanderlab at Tripadvisor (sponsored by The Glenlivet).
Travelling during the holiday season can sometimes be as frenzied as it is festive. And yet, there are ways to create your own genuine moments of joy that can last throughout your travels. Try these tips from The Glenlivet to lean into the joy of the season and make the feeling last.

In the past, Britons would secure their houses against supernatural forces by burying lucky talismans deep within their walls. Here are some of archaeologists' creepier discoveries…

The Queen loves it, James Bond loves it, and even commoners like me are quite partial to it. It’s strawberry jam. But not just any anonymous peanut butter and jelly filling. A jam made with special miniature strawberries grown in a small corner of the UK.

As Brits spend more time and money on staycations, 2021 is shaping up to be the year of the beach hut.

From the garden that found fame in Notting Hill to grand estates, these UK gardens are open for a limited time each year.

“Is Transylvania a real place?” Start typing this question into Google’s search bar and it will quickly autocomplete the query for you. No region in Europe exudes such an air of mystery and captures the imagination quite as vividly as Transylvania. Do wolves and vampires really roam the jagged mountains? Maybe you should come and find out.

If you like mysterious places, put these spooky woods on your itinerary. Be careful though - your next trip might be plagued by eerie legends and bodies everywhere.

Case study on Thrive's blog. How a high-protein, grain-free diet supported two cats with different dietary requirements and preferences.

Every year on November 5th, Guy Fawkes Night sets Britain’s skies ablaze with fireworks. Also known as Bonfire Night, it’s a tradition dating back more than 400 years.

Surprising as it may seem, London wasn’t always the British capital. The Essex town of Colchester held that honour for 17 short but prosperous years. The town's full history spans Roman rule, the Norman Conquest, Saxon settlements, the Reformation, the Black Death and the English Civil War and all have left their mark on the landscape.

Like any good spectator sport, royal weddings require a stash of snacks for enthusiastic viewers. But popcorn and hotdogs—no. Royal weddings call for something more occasion-appropriate. Which is why I, actual British person, was called in for snack expertise. Anyone for yeast extract on a crumpet? Bergamot-infused tea with a side order of marshmallow tea cakes?

The most easterly inhabited island in the UK is a low-key beach destination for ‘seafoodies’ and nature lovers. Mersea’s patchwork of meadows, creeks, and oyster and fossil-strewn mudflats gives it a once visited, never forgotten appeal.