Nestled next to the Thames path in the lovely village of Sonning on Thames is Coppa Club – a new open plan restaurant with a nod to art deco in its styling and an all-day, Italian-inspired menu.

The bar, adorned with clusters of kilner jar lights, separates the stylish restaurant with a more comfortable lounge area. After a long walk it’s the perfect spot to cosy up and collapse on the huge velvet and leather Chesterfield sofas and enjoy hot chocolates in front of the open fire.

There’s also a rather lovely three course children’s menu with dishes such as deep fried squid, penne, pizza, steak and chicken. The whole place is really family friendly – huge folding glass doors open onto a huge patio and lawn on the banks of the River Thames, great for kids to run about on.

Our favourite bit about Coppa Club was the awesome breakfast menu which is served from 6.30-11.30am through the week. Weekend brunch is open to non-residents and includes a full English breakfast called ‘the works’ served on an iron skillet, porridge, smoked haddock kedgeree and our favourite – the pancake stack, with pancakes that were deliciously light and fluffy.

The fab thing about Coppa Club is that it has rooms next door in the Great House making it a perfect family escape as the large rooms have sofa beds in. Just take your wellies and empty bellies!

Images courtesy of Coppa Club

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Cliveden is my go-to place for a leisurely stroll. An exquisite stately home (originally built for parties, now a 5-star hotel) set in the heart of Berkshire, Cliveden offers an array of walks, activities and hundreds of things to discover. The vast expanse of gardens and trails peer over the River Thames and feature views which expand for miles and miles. Trails range from woodland walks, to meadow meanders and strolls through the beautifully arranged gardens (my favourite is The Long Garden).

My favourite place for fresh air is the woodland. The long walking routes take you down by the river and through the bluebells. The woods can be explored however you like. If you’re slightly more energetic than I, there is a fitness route hidden away which features paraphernalia to push yourself to your limit. For the children, there’s a wooden hut, aptly named ‘Clive’s Den’ for them to cause trouble in.

On a particularly nice day I like to climb the steps up to the main garden in front of the house and roll down the hill, like we all dared to as kids. It’s here where all the named gardens are found: the Rose Garden, which is currently being spruced up and the Long Garden that plays host to all sorts of statues. The Water Garden holds a maze, where it’s easy to lose hours, and a large pond full of koi fish.

Cliveden isn’t really a day visit – you would need a fortnight to discover all there is to offer. It’s the perfect place to go time and time again, and each time a new corner will open up to you.

Images courtesy of James E. Petts on Flickr

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If you love truly outstanding theatre, spectacular food, the British countryside – and ducks – then The Watermill Theatre will steal your heart, just like it stole mine.

Nestled tightly in the rolling hills and sprawling countryside of Bagnor, this rickety converted corn mill is so old that no one knows exactly when it was built. But there’s nothing corny about this cosy little play house; it stages an enormous variety of truly excellent, thought-provoking and hilarious theatre throughout the year, and also manages to be the friendliest, most welcoming theatre I’ve ever visited. Mingling is positively encouraged. Hang around after the play in the bar and restaurant and you’ll be able to chat and make friends with your favourite cast members.

But if it’s food you’re after, a vast and sprawling lunch time buffet of mixed hors d’oeuvres and chunky home made soup will be sure to please before the matinee performance. During the summer months, the friendly staff  will bring your lunch outside so you can enjoy it in the dappled, dancing shade of a willow tree besides the river. Watch out for the gaggle of geese and ducks that patrol the garden though; they’ll want some of your lunch just as much as you will!

After you’ve laughed – or cried –  yourself silly during the performance, you can grab yourself a cream tea (teapot and oven-fresh scones included) or follow the winding river to the picturesque surrounding villages and countryside. Try to remind yourself you haven’t actually just stepped into a postcard though…

Image courtesy of James Monjack on Flickr

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Tucked away on the outskirts of Windsor you’ll find the Windsor Farm Shop, an essential destination for local foodies. The shop forms part of the Royal Estate with much of the produce coming from local farms. As well as a fantastic meat counter, with very helpful butchers on hand to help, the shop also stocks a wide selection of local fruit & veg, freshly baked goods and specially selected groceries. The deli features a mouth watering selection of pies & quiches, most baked on site, along with cheeses & cooked meats.

As you exit the shop, you’ll discover the cafe where the local, fresh and delicious ethos is continued. There’s a lovely outdoor seating area in the summer, making it the perfect rest stop before heading home. Throughout the year, the farm shop also hosts a number of events. Christmas is a great time to visit as they install a temporary marquee that it stuffed to the gills with produce and gifts to make yours the most delicious Christmas ever!

Image courtesy of Helsinki 275 on Flickr

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It’s always nice to impress our big smoke pals with some lovely country fare, so one weekend, on our way to the city, we stopped in at Cobbs Farm Shop, just outside Hungerford on the A4. What a fantastic find! Before we’d even entered the shop I spied a quaint Farrow & Ball painted shepherds hut surrounded by the most beautiful display of flowers, and fell in love!

Wendy Lewis set up her floristry business here just a couple of years ago, having worked for Sir Terence Conran for many years. It’s experience that clearly shows in her simple, stylish take on traditional country flowers. Clutches of hyacinths are planted up in quirky old vintage cups and saucers, while posies of iris and daffodils and long-stemmed, lilac tinged roses are all wrapped in crisp brown paper and raffia. It took me a good fifteen minutes to choose just one gift for our friends! And since then I’ve become a regular, finding any excuse to visit and admire Wendy’s latest stock. For me, it’s like the grown-up equivalent of the kid in the candy store!

When we did finally make it in past the flowers that morning, we also discovered that Cobbs Farm Shop does a delicious range of produce from salamis to frozen croissants – great to have in the freezer for impromptu lazy weekend breakfasts! I also recommend grabbing a delicious lunch in their café while Wendy puts together a bouquet for you to collect as you leave.

Image courtesy of clogsilk on Flickr

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Conveniently located at 5 Butter Market, independent café Picnic is a real gem offering the perfect spot to take a break in the centre of bustling Reading. Specialising in organic, ethical and local food and drink, the café is always bright and cheerful, even in the drab winter months. The seats are reminiscent of park benches and while it can get crowded inside, on sunny days you can sit outside under their canopy.

I love digging in to their hearty Picnic Box lunch which includes delicious feasts such as smoked mackerel and sweet chilli salad served with couscous and leaf salad – fresh from the fields of Hampshire, of course. People watching from under their canopy is always a lovely way to while away some time, perhaps sipping an Arabica bean coffee and snacking on a slice of delicious cake made by local baker Mrs Long.

All of their food is prepared fresh daily, and if you don’t have time to sit in and enjoy, you can get their food to-go, including a whole cake or even a picnic hamper, if you’re so tempted.

Photo courtesy of Picnic 

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