text:
Leeds Castle: The palace Henry VIII revamped for his wife now among UK's 'most romantic' destinations
Romance novel extraordinaires Mills & Boon have compiled a list of the UK's top 20 most romantic hotspots, and one spot near Maidstone made the cut
Yasmin SyedMultimedia Journalist
Top romance novel publishers Mills & Boon have named Leeds Castle one of the most romantic destinations in the country (Image: Leeds Castle)
With coronavirus restrictions easing and hotels finally set to reopen, it's the perfect time for a romantic getaway.
Couples will be clamouring to make up for Valentine's Day and any missed birthdays that were spent in lockdown, and take a trip to an idyllic location.
Whether you've spent the last few months of your relationship together in the house or you live apart and have been scheduling in Zoom calls and FaceTime dates, a minibreak offers the perfect opportunity to spend some quality time together.
And if you're looking for the perfect location for an intimate break, you don't need to worry about places like Paris or Italy that have been cast on the amber travel list.
Here in Kent we've got a romantic destination right on our doorstep.
Romance novel publishers Mills & Boon have compiled a list of the UK's top 20 most romantic hot spots, and Leeds Castle came in at 14th.
A survey from the publishers found that there were five key factors for the ideal romantic break - beautiful views, luxury accommodation, warm climate, fabulous restaurants and amazing walks.
It's perfect timing, with the 902-year-old castle in the village of Leeds in Maidstone finally reopening its doors tomorrow (May 17).
It comes as no surprise that Leeds Castle would have ticked all the boxes and landed a spot on the list by the publishers, who sell one book every ten seconds according to The Guardian.
Folkestone Creative Quarter: Our hipster capital that's full of bistros, vintage shops and art galleries
5 of Kent's most romantic restaurants for your next date night
Those at Leeds Castle themselves have been in the know, branding it 'the loveliest castle in the world'.
And it's easy to see why it makes the perfect intimate location for couples looking to get away - or even those travelling alone looking for some self-care.
Set on an island in the middle of a lake formed by the River Len, you can immediately see why it's such a special location.
Even Henry VIII thought it was romantic
A stunning sunset over Leeds Castle in Kent. The castle was established in 1119 and has hosted many famous faces including Winston Churchill, JFK and Charlie Chaplin. (Image: 2020 Chris Gorman/Getty Images)
Steeped in history, the castle was built more than 900 years ago and offers visitors the chance to step back in time.
First used as a military post during the Norman intrusions, it has been in the hands of Kind Edward I, Henry VIII and his wife Catherine of Aragon, six of England's Queens, and the last private owner, Lady Olive Baillie.
Whilst King Henry VII never took an interest in Leeds Castle, his son King Henry VIII transformed it from a fortified stronghold to a magnificent royal palace.
Between 1517-1523 on his orders, major alterations were made so that he and his first wife Catherine of Aragon, could visit the castle in comfort.
Even aside from the castle itself, there's so much to do and see with the sprawling gardens on the land that span 500 acres.
You have everything you could need for a romantic break within the castle and the small island it sits on, with everything from accommodation to restaurants to activities.
You can stay in one of the many holiday cottages dotted around the stunning 500-acre grounds, opt for one of the luxury en-suite Stable Courtyard bedrooms, or even one of the five bedrooms in the 16th century Maiden's Tower.
The gardens are full of an abundance of wildlife, with stunning, unusual plants dotted around.
There's a Maze within the gardens to explore and find your way out of (Image: Leeds Castle / PeteSeaward)
The south facing Lady Baillie Mediterranean Garden terraces are recommended by the castle's CEO Helen Bonser-Wilton, who calls them "a particularly restful place to sit and take in superb views across the Great Water."
Around the gardens you have the chance to take a river cruise on the Black Swan Ferry or give the Maze a go - make sure you don't get lost!
Plus you can head to the Birds of Prey Centre for one of the twice-daily falconry displays to watch owns and hawks swooping above, or try your hand at the Castle-themed adventure golf - a perfect opportunity for the romantic cliche of wrapping your arms around your partner to help them putt.
Of course in a castle you'll want to live like medieval royalty, and the dining opportunities at Leeds Castle will let you do just that.
This is a stunning view of Leeds Castle, with a crystal clear reflection in the lake (Image: Ali Hudson Small)
There's afternoon tea in one of the luxurious state rooms and the Castle View restaurant which has even been recommended by the Restaurant Guru 2020, set in the terrace with incredible views.
And you don't even need to use a romantic getaway as your excuse to visit Leeds Castle - there's a whole week of fun garden-themed activities for National Garden Wildlife Week during half term from May 29 to June 6, so the whole family can get involved.
Whether or not you're using a trip to Leeds Castle as your couples getaway to make up for losing Valentine's Day to lockdown, it's definitely worth a visit with the stunning setting and variety of activities available while you're there.
Things to do in Kent


On Friday July 24, The Centre for Speed Motorsports Park in Shediac is hosting the first show in what will hopefully become an annual ritual at the speedway. The venue is hosting a classic rock show with this year's show featuring legendary Canadian band The Headpins playing alongside Moncton bands Loaded Dice and Glamour Puss.
Originally formed as a side project to their band Chilliwack, Bryan Macleod and Ab Bryant founded The Headpins and recruited vocalist Darby Mills and drummer Bernie Aubin to complete the lineup. Mills gained instant recognition for her powerful vocal delivery and the band quickly shot to stardom, sharing stages with Loverboy, Heart and Kiss while their records would go on to attain gold and platinum status in Canada.
As far as Loaded Dice vocalist Don Coleman is concerned, Mills is one of Canada's greatest female rock vocalists of all time.
Loaded Dice is a Moncton band made up of vocalist Coleman, Paul Leblanc, Craig O'Neill, Dave LeBlanc and Freddy Prosser. The group plays a variety of cover songs including tracks by AC/DC, ZZ Top, Deep Purple and Bryan Adams.
And although Moncton group Glamour Puss has been laying low in recent times, the band never actually split up, contrary to rumors.
"We never broke up," Glamour Puss leader Travis Furlong confirms. "We still love playing together; I think that the friendship that we have is rare.
Coleman has been working with the show's promoters to help ensure the success of the event. According to him, tickets for the show are selling briskly and that one successful show will lead to another that will lead to another that will lead to another.
"I think the goal of this type of show is to help create an affordable alternative to the big festival shows that are so popular in the region. The show will bring spectators a more personal concert experience that includes an excellent venue, friendly staff and world-class entertainment," Coleman states.
There are two tiers of tickets available for the show: regular tickets to the show are $25 while you might want to entertain picking up VIP tickets for roughly double the price.
The VIP ticket includes preferred spectator seating, food and beverages as well as onsite parking for a reasonable price of $49.50.
Additional information on the show can be found online at www.centreforspeed.com or by phone at (506) 388-2415.


text:
Formula 2: Russian driver Artem Markelov to race for Arden Motorsport after Anthoine Hubert's death in tragic crash
Sports Agence France-Presse Sep 24, 2019 19:26:18 IST
Russian driver Artem Markelov has joined Formula 2 team Arden for the rest of the season, taking over the seat of Anthoine Hubert who was killed in a horror crash before the Belgian F1 Grand Prix last month, the team announced on Tuesday
Markelov has only raced once this season for MP Motorsport at Monaco but he has been driving in F2 since 2014
The Russian will carry number 22 on his car and not Hubert's 19 which has been retired for the remainder of the season
Brussels: Russian driver Artem Markelov has joined Formula 2 team Arden for the rest of the season, taking over the seat of Anthoine Hubert who was killed in a horror crash before the Belgian F1 Grand Prix last month, the team announced on Tuesday.
File image of Artem Markelov. Twitter@ArdenMotorsport
"The 25-year old will partner Tatiana Calderon for the final two rounds at Sochi, Russia and Yas Marina, Abu Dhabi," Arden said in a statement on its website.
Markelov has only raced once this season for MP Motorsport at Monaco but he has been driving in F2 since 2014.
His best season was in 2017 when he finished second in the championship to current F1 Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc.
"Artem is a proven race winner in this category and we very much relish the opportunity to work together and to continue where we left off with Anthoine, who we miss very dearly," said team manager Kenny Kirwan.
The Russian will carry number 22 on his car and not Hubert's 19 which has been retired for the remainder of the season.
"First of all, I want to give my best to the family of Anthoine," Markelov told the Arden website.
"This guy was not only a good driver, he was a great man who was happy all the time and always gave us a smile. He showed everyone his talent.
"Thanks to the team for trusting me in this situation and I'm going do my best for them. We are going to drive together in memory of Anthoine."
Hubert died after hitting a wall at Spa and smashing into the car of American driver Juan Manuel Correa at high speed.
Correa, 20, who broke both his legs and suffered spinal injuries and acute respiratory failure, was brought out of an induced coma at the weekend.
Tags : Anthoine Hubert, Arden, Artem Markelov, Belgian f1 Grand Prix, Formula 2, Juan Manuel Correa, Kenny Kirwan, SportsTracker, Tatiana Calderon
Australian Open 2020: Dalila Jakupovic retires after coughing fit as organisers face criticism for going ahead with tournament
Timing it right: Why Sourav Ganguly-led BCCI needs to relook starting time of multi-day matches in India
Ajinkya Rahane says he has always admired former Australia captain Steve Waugh's mental strength
Former Pakistan cricketer Salman Butt 'surprised' by teammate Danish Kaneria's claims of humiliation for being Hindu
1Formula 2: Russian driver Artem Markelov to race for Arden Motorsport after Anthoine Hubert's death in tragic crash

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Order Up Our Best 15 Cocktails…They'll Warm You Right Up!
The autumn months signal the coming of the cold months. Characterized by the beautiful orange and red hues, this season also brings in inspired creations of different kinds.
Aside from the fashion you see on the runway as well as the delectable fall-inspired desserts, cocktail drinks are also among the many concoctions we love to binge on during the season. So, if you're planning to throw a small party or two, you can create these drinks for those great autumn nights.
Slice both the kaffir lime leaves and lemongrass into very thin pieces. Bring the sugar and water to a boil in a medium saucepan over medium heat, stirring regularly to dissolve sugar. Add kaffir lime and lemongrass and bring the mixture to a simmer. Remove from the heat and let the syrup sit for 30 minutes. Pour syrup through a fine sieve into a quart container and refrigerate up to 3 weeks.
Prepare the shaking tin. Put all ingredients into the shaking tin, and dry shake vigorously until the yogurt is completely dissolved. Add ice to shake. Double strain over coupe glass, then garnish with a sprinkle of kaffir lime.
Mix all ingredients in a mixing glass over ice and strain into a coupe. Garnish with an orange peel.
Mix all ingredients into a mixing glass filled with ice. Strain the concoction into a coupe glass.
Combine ingredients into a mixing glass and stir over ice. Meanwhile, rinse the inside of a chilled rocks glass with Herbsaint. Then, carefully strain the cocktail mixture over ice. Express the lemon twist over the cocktail and discard.
Create the drink in a mixing glass with ice and stir for 30 seconds. Strain the mixture onto a rocks glass with one large ice cube. Garnish with an orange curly twist.
Mix the bitters, simple syrup, and bourbon in a glass. Stir. Take a torch and burn a plank of maplewood for about 3 seconds. Place glass over the smoke for 5 seconds. Place one large ice cube in the glass and pour the mixture over it.
Shake all ingredients together. Strain over ice into a rocks glass. Garnish the cocktail masterpiece with a shiso leaf.
Blend all the ingredients together. Bring the mix to a boil over medium heat. Serve in a toddy mug and garnish with a cinnamon stick.
Muddle and shake. Served in a rocks glass over cubed ice with a sliced peach fan and bouquet of tarragon. Garnish with a peach fan and tarragon.
Fill mixing glass with ice and pour all ingredients. Stir with mixing spoon for approximately 20 seconds. Pour in martini glass and garnish with toasted almond.
Pour all ingredients in the shaker. Shake it and strain the mixture into a coupe glass. Garnish with a thin slice of lemon, cut horizontally to resemble a bicycle wheel, and add a touch of Cardamom dust on the lemon slice.
Combine all ingredients and stir. Strain into a double rocks glass over one rock.
Shake and strain using a fine mesh strainer into a large cocktail glass to keeps the seeds out.
Combine all the ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice. Strain over fresh ice into a rocks glass. Garnish the drink with lemon and cinnamon.
To infuse, halve and bake sugar pumpkins dusted with brown sugar and spices (cinnamon, cloves, allspice) until soft and brown. Add to the spirit in a glass container with split vanilla beans, and let this rest for a week. Strain through cheesecloth and bottle. To assemble, first add hot water to the honey for better mixing, then add the rest. Bourbon, scotch, or rum can also be substituted for the base instead of brandy.
Previous article SOS! I Lost My Flash Drive File! How Do I Recover my Data?
Next article 15 Haunted Places that Will Leave You Shaking in your Boots!


home depot fireplace mantels home depot fireplace mantels mantel surround fireplace mantel shelf home depot fireplace mantel surround.
fissler magic smooth edge can opener magnetic locking can opener magic smooth fissler magic smooth edge can opener youtube.
halogen led replacement halogen led replacement led replacement led light bulb halogen bulbs equivalent mini candelabra base led r7s halogen bulb led replacement.
retro side table image 0 retro side table perth.
kitchen valances target target kitchen curtains large size of curtain sets small kitchen window curtains kitchen valances target ruffled kitchen curtains valances target.
round compass rug carpet rug modern compass rose orange cm round product description bbva compass rugby.
pacific hood range pacific range hood ranges yang under cabinet hoods kitchen faucets ltd price list pacific range hood how to replace pacific range hood light bulb.
house shaped box illustration of a house shaped box house shaped box template.
cool end tables unusual end tables end tables small table with drawers in brilliant drawer cool end table with tablespoon abbreviation cooking.
mid century front door re imagine your mid century modern front door mid century modern front door paint colors.


Box Text: Uncover all the mysteries of Dracula's castle with the full version including achievements, leaderboards, and multiple endings. Have you uncovered the true secret behind Dracula's power?
07-21-2012 scott Box Text Uncover all the mysteries of Dracula's castle with the full version including achievements, leaderboards, and multiple endings. Have you uncovered the true secret behind Dracula's power?
10-20-2011 scott Box Text Uncover all the mysteries of Dracula's castle with the full version including achievements, leaderboards, and multiple endings. Have you uncovered the true secret behind Dracula's power?


A bunch of us met up for french toast at Changes in Latitudes – chatting away and eating for a good cause. Thanks to shuffles and rld for hosting breakfast and raising money for Holy Cross school.
Shanon tacomom and I came home for a pit stop – Paul still out of the loop after last night – will head to Wet Willy's dock for 11:30 to go to Caye Caulker.
On our way to the Ferry dock at Wet Willy's we ran into reaper and crew – dcg and klcman turned up not long after.
Caye Caulker was great – time stood still there. We shopped – lounged at Lazy Lizard and ate.
Time to grab 10 min quiet time before hitting Pedro's.
Pedro's was packed – lots turned up for the swap and there was some really good free shopping going on. Did not manage to get team trivial pursuit going but we got a few donations of games for Pedro's so now people can play them anytime.
I am not sure rump if it didn't it went to the kitchen staff – we always pack up what is left and give it to them.
ha-did that erica jong book get picked up?


Car Finance 4 You offer a variety of car loans to Bayswater North residents, including bad credit car loans and commercial vehicle loans. We recognise how valuable your time is, which is why we offer prompt online applications. Our connections with various lending partners ensure you will receive the best deal possible on your car loan, in a package that is tailored to you.
Our car loans in Bayswater North are designed to be flexible, with up to 100% finance, no money down and loan terms of up to 84 months!
Whether you've got a bad credit history, are a young family struggling to obtain a car loan in Bayswater North or need a commercial vehicle, Car Finance 4 You are the expert brokers to turn to.