The ultimate guide to the Cotswolds: Our writer has visited this much-loved region more than 100 times. Here are her top tips for where to stay, what villages to see... and the ones to avoid
In London, we lived ten minutes from each other and I would often collect the little one from nursery or take him to the swings in St James's Park. The country just seemed too far away – no matter how smart it was, how many Soho Houses it might have and whatever the Beckhams might think.
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The Guardian
42 minutes ago
- The Guardian
Young people in the UK: share your experiences of living in a coastal town
The Guardian is launching a year-long reporting series, Against The Tide, that will put young people at the forefront. For the past six months we have been travelling to port towns and seaside resorts around England to discover how younger people feel about the places they live and what changes would enable them to build the futures they want. We will continue our reporting over the next 12 months. Are you aged between 18-25 and live in a coastal town around England? What's it like living there? What are the bonuses and also the challenges? How do seasons affect your experience? If you're a parent or work with young people, please get in touch. And if you live in a coastal area around other parts of the UK, we'd like to hear from you too. You can share your experiences of living in a coastal town using this form. Please include as much detail as possible. Please include as much detail as possible. Please note, the maximum file size is 5.7 MB. Your contact details are helpful so we can contact you for more information. They will only be seen by the Guardian. Your contact details are helpful so we can contact you for more information. They will only be seen by the Guardian. If you include other people's names please ask them first. Contact us on WhatsApp at +447825903400. For more information, please see our guidance on contacting us via WhatsApp. For true anonymity please use our SecureDrop service instead. If you're having trouble using the form click here. Read terms of service here and privacy policy here.
Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE I spent 13 years renovating my grade II listed cottage in Hampshire - here's why I'm selling up
Thirteen years ago Claire O'Donnell purchased Rose Cottage in Tunworth, a hamlet in Hampshire. She fell in love with the grade II-listed cottage's charm and character and the fact it is nestled in a quiet location but still close to amenities. The 68-year-old, who worked as an airline stewardess with British Airways before retraining as an interior designer after having children, has viewed the cottage as a labour of love over the years. The property's previous owners had lived in France and only occasionally visited. When Claire and her family purchased the property, which was built in the late eighteenth century, it was clear it needed to be lived in and looked after. 'As they say, when the cat's away the mice will play, and the mice were certainly at play in Rose Cottage', Claire told This is Money. She added: 'The hand-made curtains in the living room were nibbled away all along the skirting boards. 'After carefully relocating the wildlife outside, I could see the opportunity to revitalise and restore the cottage, maintaining its period heritage while bringing it into the twenty-first century.' Since buying Rose Cottage, Claire has undertaken major renovation works at the property. Among other works, Claire has raised the height of the ceiling in the main bedroom in order to show off the original timber beams. The entire cottage has been redecorated throughout and Claire curated a Jack and Jill style bathroom upstairs to create a better sense of space. The floor has been upgraded in the kitchen and garden room, and the height above the Aga has been raised. Claire converted a pair of outbuildings into a high-spec home office and utility room. She's also shifted the paddock so its alongside the garden and built stabling for two horses. On the renovation process, Claire said: 'It's been an ongoing process since we moved in. I knew what I wanted to do initially, but then living in the cottage over the past 13 years, we've evolved together. 'There have been moments of inspiration that have led to small changes, then grander plans like converting the old office that were a few years in the making. 'Then the nuances of maintaining and preserving a period property play a part too - for example, I'd been longing to have the driveway updated but had to wait until the thatch was due to be re-done first.' What a setting: The thatched roof of Rose Cottage has been redone recently The gardens at Rose Cottage, which is just a 10 minute drive from Basingstoke, are exceptional, but Claire has a little help getting them in shape. She said: 'I have some help in the garden. Steve keeps the lawns and hedges so beautiful and takes great pride in them. Emily is my expert gardener, her knowledge and practical skills keep the beds and formal areas bursting with colour and life.' Thirteen years after moving in, Claire's now ready to make her next move and spruce up another property. Claire told This is Money: 'We'll be very sad to leave Rose Cottage, it's such a special place. 'We're selling as we've reached that point where we're ready for a new adventure and to scale down a bit. 'I'm from North Devon originally and a part of me has always wanted to move back, or settle near the sea.' She added: 'Seeing the first tulips bloom at Rose Cottage and hearing the swallows come back to nest for the summer never fails to lift my spirits. I'll miss all of it tremendously.' The home is on the market via Knight Frank, with an asking price of £1.895million. How to find a new mortgage Borrowers who need a mortgage because their current fixed rate deal is ending, or they are buying a home, should explore their options as soon as possible. Buy-to-let landlords should also act as soon as they can. > Mortgage rates calculator > Find the right mortgage for you What if I need to remortgage? Borrowers should compare rates, speak to a mortgage broker and be prepared to act. Homeowners can lock in to a new deal six to nine months in advance, often with no obligation to take it. Most mortgage deals allow fees to be added to the loan and only be charged when it is taken out. This means borrowers can secure a rate without paying expensive arrangement fees. Keep in mind that by doing this and not clearing the fee on completion, interest will be paid on the fee amount over the entire term of the loan, so this may not be the best option for everyone. What if I am buying a home? Those with home purchases agreed should also aim to secure rates as soon as possible, so they know exactly what their monthly payments will be. Buyers should avoid overstretching and be aware that house prices may fall, as higher mortgage rates limit people's borrowing ability and buying power. What about buy-to-let landlords Buy-to-let landlords with interest-only mortgages will see a greater jump in monthly costs than homeowners on residential mortgages. This makes remortgaging in plenty of time essential and our partner L&C can help with buy-to-let mortgages too. How to compare mortgage costs The best way to compare mortgage costs and find the right deal for you is to speak to a broker. This is Money has a long-standing partnership with fee-free broker L&C, to provide you with fee-free expert mortgage advice. Interested in seeing today's best mortgage rates? Use This is Money and L&Cs best mortgage rates calculator to show deals matching your home value, mortgage size, term and fixed rate needs. If you're ready to find your next mortgage, why not use L&C's online Mortgage Finder. It will search 1,000's of deals from more than 90 different lenders to discover the best deal for you. Be aware that rates can change quickly, however, and so if you need a mortgage or want to compare rates, speak to L&C as soon as possible, so they can help you find the right mortgage for you.
Daily Mail
2 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Man United star goes public on relationship with stunning 27-year-old English influencer after months of rumours
Manchester United midfielder Manuel Ugarte appears to have gone public revealing his relationship with British influencer Georgia May Heath. Ugarte, 24, took to Instagram over the weekend to post a snap of the couple sunning it up on holiday. The Uruguay international tagged Heath in the caption, adding a love heart emoji next to her name. Heath, 27, is a fashion and beauty influencer with over 200,000 followers on Instagram and 50,000 plus on TikTok. Rumours first started swirling that she was involved with Ugarte earlier this year. Some eagle-eyed social media users thought that a number of stories were snapped in Ugarte's apartment. Heath regularly posts to her more than 200,000 followers on Instagram and 50,000 on TikTok The pair have also been spotted together at United's Carrington training base. Heath, who was born in the UK and splits her time between England and Australia, was pictured having dinner with Mbappe in Greece in 2021, and the pair also reportedly went on holiday together to Marrakech, Morocco in January 2024. Now, with Ugarte's public post, it looks confirmed that she is involved with Mbappe's former PSG team-mate. Uruguayan midfielder Ugarte arrived at United for £51m from PSG last summer and has started to settle into life on the pitch at Old Trafford, making 29 appearances in the Premier League last season.
