Palm Trees and Sandy Beaches…in England?
When you think of England, what comes to mind? Probably not palm trees, sunbathing, and long golden beaches. Here are three British Isles within hours of London that may just change your preconceived notions.
August 1, 2014
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Tom Parker
Twenty-four nautical miles off England’s southwestern tip shimmer the Isles of Scilly. Tresco, the second-largest of the group, remains an idyllic throwback, a living memory of pre-war England. Cars and development are notably absent, making the two-and-a-half-mile-long island a haven for children on bicycles.
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Howard Sooley
There are a number of ways to get here, but the fastest route from London is to take the train to Exeter and then a short flight to St. Mary’s Island, followed by a boat ride to Tresco—about four hours altogether.
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Tom Parker
Base yourself in a traditional seaside fishermen’s cottage at the New Inn, a 16-room bed-and-breakfast with en-suite bathrooms and sun terraces (44-1720-422849; doubles from $92), or at Flying Boat Cottages, whose 12 beachfront bungalows sleep up to ten people (44-1720-422849; cottages from $2,475 per week).
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Howard Sooley
During the day, wander the miles of empty white beaches, explore the ruins of 16th-century forts, walk the island’s web of footpaths, and, best of all, enjoy the temperate (and very un-British) climate that enables the growth of flora—like palm trees and the South African bird-of-paradise—you’d typically encounter closer to the equator. You can thank the island’s proximity to the Gulf Stream. Even in winter, hundreds of exotic plants flower at the island’s 17-acre Abbey Garden, a must-see destination with a visitors center and a museum.
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Tom Parker
Being islanders, there’s little that the Brits like better than an escape to. another island. Fortunately, they have plenty to choose from: the United Kingdom contains 6,289 within its borders. And although many are rocky Scottish islets, a surprising number are within easy reach of London, and some are even blessed with unexpectedly sandy beaches, lush semitropical foliage, and swimmable waters that would almost look right at home in the Caribbean. Here are three insider favorites, each a few hours from the capital.
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Opened in 1929, the** **Burgh Island Hotel is the visual and social epicenter of the island, a gleaming-white Art Deco gem that calls to mind a transatlantic steamer. In the bar, White Lady cocktails are shaken for the clientele, who keep alive the glamour of past decades (Wallis Simpson and Edward Windsor were guests) with their tuxedos and spangly gowns; evening dress is still de rigueur every night. Definitions of luxury may have changed in the intervening years, but the hotel remains unimpressed: The service is formal, there’s a no-television policy in the rooms (which are outfitted with radios and rotary phones), and pastimes include weekend dances, tennis, and croquet. Close to the hotel is the magical, nearly enclosed Mermaid Cove, well situated for sunning, swimming, and snorkeling—oh, and clothing is optional (44-1548-810514; doubles from $670).
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Tom Parker
Bembridge, Isle of Wight
Just two hours from London (roughly a 90-minute drive plus a ferry ride), on the easternmost tip of the Isle of Wight, sits the tiny village of Bembridge. Here, a peninsula wraps around an enchanting harbor dotted with racing yachts and children’s dinghies and edged with Victorian houses and Gatsby-esque mansions. Despite these flourishes, Bembridge remains an island community engaged in fishing and boatbuilding, where old sea dogs gather for pints of locally brewed Goddards ale at the Pilot Boat Inn (44-1983-872077).
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Tom Parker
Bembridge is all about boating—you can sail, rent a speedboat, or take in a yacht race. Sundays are a bit formal around town: Women wear skirts, and men blue blazers and white ducks, as they lunch or sip cocktails. Everyone lets their hair down the other six days, with families rowing across the harbor for fish-and-chips, teenagers gathering at the Beach Hut for elderflower fizzes _(44-7832-127737), _and couples picking up ready-to-eat lobster at the** Best Dressed Crab Ltd** for an alfresco dinner on the beach (Fisherman’s Wharf, Embankment Rd.; 44-1983-874758; entrées from $10).
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Tom Parker
For a wonderfully quiet and comfortable home base, stay at the Priory Bay Hotel; with 70 acres of private beaches, gardens, and woodlands, it’s just two miles from the main village (44-1983-613146; doubles from $270).
Beach resort by sea vector illustration. Oceanic coastline at high tide. Sandy shore with palm trees
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