Northamptonshire has busy, well-established towns, lush, green countryside, excellent, easy rail links into the Capital, yet property prices are amazingly reasonable. Want to find a bargain?
Grimsby, on Lincolnshire's coastline, has some of the U.K.'s cheapest houses. Other towns in the county are considerably more expensive. Learn more about Lincolnshire's property market . . .
A county of quaint coastal villages and dignified, historic towns, Suffolk is popular with holiday-makers and commuters into London. Property prices vary enormously county-wide.
Cambridgeshire has earned the nickname Silicon Fen because of the many high-tech companies that have sprung up in this area. Cambridge is expensive property-wise, but nearby towns are cheaper.
Norfolk is a county of wide open vistas, intriguing waterways, a stunning coastline, and amazing wildlife habitats. But is property cheap here?
Surely one of the UK's cheapest counties, South Yorkshire, is a property buyer's dream location: beautiful countryside, cosmopolitan towns and affordable property.
Not every home in Berkshire is an actual, real castle. With Windsor and Eton within its boundaries, Berkshire can be perceived as very up-market, but some locations are definitely cheaper than others.
The towns and villages of Derbyshire are amongst the UK's cheapest property locations, yet even here, there are huge variations from town to town.
Oxfordshire sleepy lanes and chocolate box villages are famous for their beauty, but are there any property bargains to be had?
Hampshire isn't the cheapest county in England, but some locations are definitely cheaper than others. Even within the New Forest area, there are huge variations.
House prices in Devon range from very expensive to comparatively cheap. But which towns are the most affordable? Check out your favourite Devon locations here.
Cornwall is a treasure trove of hidden coves, sandy beaches, defunct tin mines, winding country lanes and quaint old villages nestled in rolling hillsides. If you're considering purchasing property in this idyllic English county, read on to learn how prices compare by town and village.
Essex is a county of contrasts, part city, part rural idyll, part seaside, part dockland. House prices reflect this diversity, with massive differences from town to town. Curious to see what's cheap?
Realistically, there is no such thing as a 'cheap' town in leafy Surrey. There are, however, a few 'cheaper' towns. Beautiful countryside and excellent rail links into London keep prices high here.
House prices in London and the South-East are generally some of the highest in the UK. But there are still bargains to be had. Read on to discover the cheapest towns in Kent.
With house prices rising rapidly, you may be wondering whether to relocate to another Sussex town to find your dream home. Here's some useful info to help you decide.
So you have this old picture, and you're not sure who it's by. The right name could make all the difference at auction, but just how do you find out who painted your item—and were they famous?
There are places in the UK where the pound in your pocket will go a little further. Here are 15 UK locations where house prices are still very affordable.
The Pre-Raphaelite artists of Victorian England painted many Shakespearian characters, but Ophelia was a particular favourite. The sad death by drowning of Hamlet's sweetheart...
Are you fed up with the banks? Do you long for an alternative? then maybe you need to think about joining a credit union....
The shrill, demented choirs of wailing shells; And bugles calling for them from sad shires....Nothing captures the horror and carnage of the First World war half so well as the poetry and paintings of those who experienced it....
Eruption at Fimmvruhls at dusk. Photographed by Boaworm. Image provided courtesy Wiki Commons The start of the new Millenia has been an eventful one. There have been natural disasters, financial collapses, and all manner of challenges to be faced...
Sooner or later, there will be a buyer for just about any item you care to name—but what makes an antique or collectable desirable? What do rarity, condition, and provenance actually mean?
Do you want to know more about that old picture? Is it a valuable watercolour or oil painting? What is it actually worth? How can you research it for free?
This article discusses the inspiration behind the many pre-Raphaelite paintings of Arthurian lore.
Dogs have been man's faithful companions since the earliest of times, and their images have been recorded throughout the centuries. They have herded .our sheep, hunted hares and foxes for us, accompanied us on shooting expeditions, guarded us whilst we sleep, and provided affectionate friendship in...
The first public offering by Dante Gabriel Rossetti appeared in 1849 bearing the initials PRB. This young artist would help change the face of British art in the 19th century.
It's almost impossible not to be moved by Ford Madox Brown's 1855 painting, 'The Last of England'. Painted in an era when emigration from Europe was at it's...
Bridges are about unity and harmony. They exist as a geographical convenience, but also as a link between dreams and reality. The artists of the past knew this, and that is why paintings of bridges are so iconic, and it is also why I've found photos to provide the comparison....
"And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, / Glory to God in the highest, and on earth..
As Emily's cancer progressed, she drew increasing comfort from the presence of her black and white cat, Peter. Louis, desparate to divert his wife's attention from her illness, began to draw the pet in amusing poses, such as wearing glasses, or pretending to read. After Emily died, it seemed only...
Love him or hate him, you can't knock Paul McKenna for his expertise in coming up with attention grabbing titles. This book has sold in vast quantities since it was first published in 2007, and I predict that the royalties will keep rolling in...
Years ago it used to be enough for the bride or groom-to-be to stroll down to their local pub with a few friends and relatives of the same sex, then stagger home again several hours later, with or without...
From Edgar Degas' sculptures and paintings to the painted works of Renoir and other Impressionist artists, ballet and ballerinas inspired some of the most beautiful art of the 19th century.
This hub is written in response to a recent experience I had, eating out in Hove (that's on the south coast of England, for those of you who live further afield!) I'm for the most part, a lacto-vegetarian although I do, very occassionally, still eat...
Recently, on another hub, I came across a comment from someone who had been unemployed for a while. They were managing to get interviews, but somehow failing to land a job..
In 1906 the steamship Sirio set sail from Genova, Italy with a large number of migrants aboard, all seeking a new life in Montevideo and Buenos Aires. A day or two into the voyage the ship foundered on rocks. This is the story of that shipwreck and the painting it inspired.
How did our forebears record precious moments before photography? They painted or commissioned someone who was up to the job. Here is some wedding art from years gone by.
In Victorian times, lavender was popular for it's distinctive scent, but it fell out of favour for many years. Now, however, it's becoming increasingly popular in scented products, in cookery and as a natural remedy for everything from anxiety to insect bites.
Brighton must surely be one of the most famous sea-side towns or cities in the UK, and quite rightly so. Ever since it was 'discovered' by George IV in the 19th Century it's been wowing visitors with it's great mix of history, culture and traditional seaside fun. Learn more..
The Doge's Palace by Pierre Auguste Renoir, 1887 I first fell in love with Venice on a hot, humid August day. I stumbled off the train with my rucksack and followed the noisy, crowds as they chattered and bantered in at least a dozen languages. A...
Ever since I was a little girl, I've had a fascination with fairies. There are so many stories about them in so many cultures and traditions that I can't help but wonder whether there is some basis in truth for their existence.
He died at 25, of TB. It was a brief life, yet, despite being dogged by ill-health, he had worked with some of the most famous literary figures of his day. Although his name may not be familiar to you, you will almost certainly have heard of some of...
Two short poems about love and love-making. Love can be like a tiger, all roaring passion and energy. Or it can be like a lamb, soft and new, cute and frolicsome. Enjoy!
As it’s coming up to Mother’s Day, I thought I’d celebrate by compiling an article about Mothers in Art. Initially, I thought of blue gowned Renaissance madonnas, or chubby Renoir babies balancing on the knees of fresh cheeked country girls...
Artists have been making images of horses since the very first cave paintings. The Romans put them in their mosaics, and artists ancient and modern, have captured these wonderful animals on canvas...
At the track the money’s changing hands ‘Black Knight, a tenner on the nose,’ ‘Even Stevens, a ton each way’ ‘Five pounds on the favourite’ Crumpled notes are flattened, folded, pocketed Honest Mac chalks the odds on a board
If I were an ostrich I wouldn’t have to see All the bad news on the BBC I wouldn’t have to hear About hunger, war and fear I...
"As a rule, each room was home to three families; penury, filth and vice thrived there.” These are the words of Artist and Illustrator Carl Larsson, describing his childhood in the slums of Stockholm in the 1850s and 1860s.
The Christmas holiday is a special, magical time of year. I've searched out some wonderful images that perfectly conjure up that warm, cozy feeling of anticipation and celebration.
La Grande Odalisque by Ingres Years ago I went to life classes with my friend Ella. We were both keen young artists and we loved to work directly from a live, nude model. Often these models were male, and Ella who had a suspicious minded, jealous...
One of the highlights of the Sussex calender, Lewes bonfire Night commemorates the burning of seventeen Protestant Martys each year, with torch-lit processions, marching bands, fancy dress, fireworks, merriment and mayhem. Then finally, the good folks of Lewes burn an effigy of the pope.......
Have you ever heard the story of St Patrick casting out the snakes from Ireland? Well in 441AD, St Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland, spent the forty days of Lent on Croagh Patrick, a rocky mountain which rises up behind Westport and Clew Bay. He...
Are you a person who thinks outside the box, a true original thinker? Or are you easily influenced by peer pressure, TV advertising etc? Constantly bombarded by external influences, how easy is it to walk your own path these days?
Hypnosis is an ancient art, and one that I was eager to learn about. Could this 'uncommon knowledge' really be acquired in just one weekend?
Once upon a time in Merrie England, under the greenwood tree, when women span, and tended the hearth, and men did manly things with swords and castles and suits of armour, there lived a brotherhood of fine upstanding gentlemen, who were known as...
I first thought about putting this article together as a reaction to the latest spate of way out names chosen by well known personalities and celebraties for their children. It was only when I started to compile my list that I realised just how...