Sophie Grigson-Home Counties

1  London - A River Runs Through It

Sophie sets her sights on a lesser known part of London - the East End. She visits some quaint locations such as the fourth generation, fish smoking factory, Forman's opposite the new Olympic Stadium, where she cooks a delicious kedgeree. After a stop at the Dennis Severs' House in Spitalsfield, a labour of love preserved as built in the 17th century, she swings by two completely opposite river wharfs, Canary Wharf with its gleaming towers and shops and Trinity Buoy Wharf, built around the old buoy centre with its unique container city, housing various artists. Sophie's East End tour couldn't be complete without a visit to Brick Lane with its curry touts competing for one's taste buds.
Duration: 30'

 

2  Kent - What the Dickens

Sophie heads east of London to Chatham and Rochester on the trail of Charles Dickens, visiting the famous Historic Dock Yards where Dickens' father used to work, the innovative Dickens World attraction and wandering the streets of Rochester. After a little detour to Brogdale Farm, home of the National Fruit Collection, she tries several apple recipes with chef Scott Anderson. A spell at the Whitstable fish market whets her interest and she goes in search of the famous Whitstable Oyster Company before settling down for a sunset drink in the Old Neptune pub at the end of her tour.
Duration: 30'

 

3  Sussex - Out on the High Weald

The beautiful High Weald in Sussex is a mere fifty miles from London but a world away from city life. Sophie explores the rolling landscape that has informed English history starting with Battle Abbey where the Battle of Hastings took place in 1066. She heads off for a break from history to visit Sedlescombe Winery, a quaint but well-known vineyard tucked into the hills of the Weald, before taking a look at castle life in the romantic ruins of the moated Bodiam Castle. Richard Gray, fifth generation owner of Gray-Nicolls, explains how their incomparable cricket bats are hand-crafted from willow that the family has been growing for just as long. In a true English fashion Sophie also finds the time for making a scrumptious Victorian sponge cake and some cucumber sandwiches as a fitting tea for a cricket team.
Duration: 30'

 

4  Sussex - A Coastal Consideration

Heading south Sophie tours the coast and starts very early out at sea fishing with Paul Joy and his crew from Hastings, returning to shore for a wonderfully fresh fish-fry on the beach. Next stop is Pevensey Castle, linked to William the Conqueror, before Sophie moves on to Victorian times to marvel at the pier at Eastbourne and the Art Deco De La Warr pavilion at Bexhill. Finally she drops in the eponymous local microbrewery in Beachy Head, rounding up the tour with a chat and a taste of Stuart Crook's food at the famous Tiger Inn.
Duration: 30'

 

5  Thames Valley - Thames Valley Meandering

Heading in a completely different direction Sophie goes west out of London and into the Thames Valley. In the lovely and slightly eccentric Model Village at Beaconsfield she finds a large and intricate series of miniature towns, villages, castles and industry including the world's smallest Marks and Spencer's sitting in suburban surroundings. She then joins the Queen's men on the Thames in an annual event called 'swan-upping', and after a stop at the lovely Chiltern Winery and Brewery, Sophie heads to Marlowe to visit Tom Kerridge at his Michelin-star pub restaurant, The Hand and Flowers, and the last working watermill grinding flour. The tour ends as she ventures deep into the Chilterns in the Hell-Fire Caves, no doubt in the hope of coming face-to-face with a ghost.
Duration: 30'

 

6  Oxford - Town and Gown

Sophie is on home turf as she makes her way around Oxford, the famed university town. After a stroll on the Port Meadows with her dog Ben, she is off onto the Isis to have a punt up and down; as students have done for many years. She also visits the refurbished Oxford Castle museum which was a working prison up until the 1990's and sees how some of it has also been converted into the luxury hotel, Malmaison. Then it's time to explore the classic side of Oxford, in and out of courtyards and surroundings of the colleges, with a local student before treating to the famed 'Eagle and Child' pub where C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien used to meet and discuss their books.
Duration: 30'

 

7  Herfordshire/Bedfordshire - Slumbering Commuters

Sophie finds herself in the commuter belt immediately north of London and the ruined castle of Berkhamsted. Following a stroll through the pretty town, she visits the Rex Cinema which is a riot of red velvet, comfortable chairs and a wonderfully restored big screen. After a tour around St. Albans cathedral and the Olde Fighting Cocks, known as the oldest pub in England, she discovers the St. Albans Organ Theatre, housing one of the most comprehensive collections of Belgian dancehall organs. Then Sophie hops on to her canal narrow boat for a spot of boating and mastering locks before she making a lovely beef and horse radish dish in preparation for some real ale sampling at the St. Albans Beer Festival.
Duration: 30'

 

8  Suffolk/Cambridge - Market Towns and Stately Homes

Sophie heads to the historic market towns of Bury St. Edmunds and Lavenham. She visits Aspall's Cyder Brewery where she meets the eighth generation owner and comes face-to-face with what can only be described as a sea of apples. Her next stop is the stately home of Ickworth House and its fabulous gardens, before hitting the beautiful little market town of Lavenham that boasts one of the biggest collections of preserved medieval buildings. After a tour of the Wyken Farm farmers market and the ancient market and gardens in Bury St. Edmunds Sophie drops in at The Nutshell, the smallest pub in England, to stock up on cider to complement the storm she is about to cook up.
Duration: 30'