City Breaks

By City BreaksSociety & Culture Places & Travel

City Breaks episodes

June 03 Exploring Theatre in Stratford-Upon-Avon
This final episode in our Stratford-Upon-Avon mini-series revolves around all things theatrical. First, there's a little history on where in the town Shakespeare found his inspiration, then there are 'visits' to all three Royal Shakespeare venues as well as information on the company's museum of props and costumes. Whether you want to discover Stratford's theatres, see a play or learn more about life behind the scenes, all you need to know is here.

Reading Suggestions
Know-it-All Shakespeare Edited by Ros Barber and Mark Rylance
The Man who Pays the Rent by Judi Dench
Fools and Mortals by Bernard Cornwell
Links for this post
The Royal Shakespeare Company
The 3 Stratford theatres
RSC information on Shakespeare
RSC Public costume hire
The Play’s the Thing (exhibition)

City Breaks: all the history and culture you'd research for yourself if you had the time!
Check our website to find more episodes from our Stratford-Upon-Avon mini-series or to browse our back catalogue of other cities which are well worth visiting:
https://www.citybreakspodcast.co.uk

We love to receive your comments and suggestions!
You can e mail us at [email protected]
And if you like what you hear, please do post comments or a review wherever you downloaded this episode. That would be a big help!
33 min
May 06 Stratford-Upon-Avon Episode 02 Finding Shakespeare in his Home Town
Stratford-Upon-Avon has many charms – its Tudor ambiance, its riverside setting – but really there’s only one reason why it attracts up to 6 million visitors in a year. Shakespeare. And this episode is dedicated to places where you can 'find' him there today. There's a little biographical background, focussing mainly on his Stratford years and a run-through of five of the most significant places in his life which you can still visit today. As usual, there is much more detail on the podcast.

Reading Suggestions
Shakespeare The Biography by Peter Ackroyd
Hidden Shakespeare by Nicholas Fogg
Shakespeare by Bill Bryson
Fools and Mortals by Bernard Cornwell
Hamnet by Maggie O’Farrell
Links for this post
Shakespeare’s Birthplace
Shakespeare’s Schoolroom and Guild Hall
Anne Hathaway’s Cottage
New Place
Holy Trinity Church

City Breaks: all the history and culture you'd research for yourself if you had the time!
Check our website to find more episodes from our Stratford-Upon-Avon series or to browse our back catalogue of other cities which are well worth visiting: https://www.citybreakspodcast.co.uk
We love to receive your comments and suggestions!
You can e mail us at [email protected]
And if you like what you hear, please do post comments or a review wherever you downloaded this episode. That would be a big help!
27 min
April 01 Introduction to Stratford-Upon-Avon

Ok, so Stratford-upon-Avon is not actually a city, but as a town which punches well above its weight historically and culturally, we’re giving it an honorary place in the City Breaks collection. This is the introductory episode, with a little geographical and historical context and an idea for a first get-your-bearings walk around Stratford. It will introduce you to Stratford's Tudor gabled houses, riverside setting, swans and boats and, of course, give a flavour of Stratford as Shakespeare's home town, where he was both born and buried and where he bought the town's second biggest house as a retirement pad. So, with no more ado and as the great man himself might have said, shall we wend?
Reading Suggestions
Stratford-upon-Avon Quick Trips by Cynthia Atkins
A-Z of Stratford-upon-Avon by Will Atkins
Secret Stratford by Nicholas Fogg
Shakespeare The Biography by Peter Ackroyd
Links for this Episode
Visit Stratford-upon-Avon
Guided walks around Stratford

City Breaks: all the history and culture you'd research for yourself if you had the time!
Check our website to find more episodes from our Stratford-Upon-Avon series or to browse our back catalogue of other cities which are well worth visiting: https://www.citybreakspodcast.co.uk
We love to receive your comments and suggestions!
You can e mail us at [email protected]
And if you like what you hear, please do post comments or a review wherever you downloaded this episode. That would be very much appreciated!
30 min
March 04 Paris Episode 24 Vincennes and St-Germain-en-Laye
Both Vincennes and St Germain-en-Laye make excellent days out from Paris, or even half days as both can be reached by public transport in less than half an hour. Each has a magnificent castle to visit, plus a range of other cultural, relaxation and shopping possibilities. So this episode tells you how to get to each place, following up with what there is to see and do there, plus – bien sûr! – a few of the interesting historical snippets which will inform your visit.

Links for this post
Château de Vincennes
Vincennes Tourist Office
Château de St Germain-en-Laye
St Germain-en-Laye Tourist Office
Espace Vera
Debussy’s Birthplace

City Breaks: all the history and culture you'd research for yourself if you had the time!
Check our website to find more episodes from our Paris series or to browse our back catalogue of other cities which are well worth visiting: https://www.citybreakspodcast.co.uk
We love to receive your comments and suggestions!
You can e mail us at [email protected]
And if you like what you hear, please do post comments or a review wherever you downloaded this episode. That would be a big help!

28 min
February 03 Paris Episode 23 Fontainebleau and Vaux-le-Vicomte
This Paris episode covers two of the most beautiful châteaux in the Paris region. Both are easy to reach on public transport and both have fascinating stories to tell. We cover how to get there, what you can expect to see and make sure we cover the most interesting tales – François I’s show-off gallery, Napoleon’s refurbishment to impress the Pope and the party-to-end-all-parties which went ended in disaster and ruination.

Reading Suggestion
Francis I, The Maker of Modern France by Leonie Frieda

Useful Links
Château de Fontainebleau
Château de Vaux-le-Vicomte

City Breaks: all the history and culture you'd research for yourself if you had the time!
Check our website to find more episodes from our Paris series or to browse our back catalogue of other cities which are well worth visiting: https://www.citybreakspodcast.co.uk
We love to receive your comments and suggestions!
You can e mail us at [email protected]
And if you like what you hear, please do post comments or a review wherever you downloaded this episode. That would be a big help!

28 min
January 07 Amsterdam Episode 12 An Amsterdam Anthology
Our Amsterdam Anthology rounds off the series by offering some different perspectives on the city. Here, you’ll find Amsterdam seen through the eyes of writers, some from the past, many contemporary: travel writers, journalists, novelists and an author of short stories. Between them they provide lots of different ways to get to know – or reminisce about! – the city and, we hope, plenty of inspiration for further reading.

Reading Suggestions
My Dam Life by Sean Conlan
Amsterdam Stories by Nescio
Amsterdam by Ian McEwen
The Coffee Trader by David Liss
The Miniaturist by Jessie Burton
The House of Fortune by Jessie Burton
Tulip Fever by Deborah Moggach

City Breaks: all the history and culture you'd research for yourself if you had the time!
Check our website to find more episodes from our Amsterdam series or to browse our back catalogue of other cities which are well worth visiting: https://www.citybreakspodcast.co.uk
We love to receive your comments and suggestions!
You can e mail us at [email protected]
And if you like what you hear, please do post comments or a review wherever you downloaded this episode. That would be a big help!
32 min
December 10, 2025 Amsterdam Episode 11 Food and Shopping
This episode in two halves starts with food in Amsterdam; the street snacks you’ll want to try, the Dutch specialities to look out for in restaurants and a brief introduction to the city’s favourite ethnic cuisine, namely Indonesian. If you don’t know your drop from your rijsttafel, help is at hand. After a brief word on bier and jenever (Dutch gin) and a look at the Heineken Experience and the city’s Brown Cafes, it’s time for shopping: a tour of the best markets and a visit to the two best areas for wandering, browsing and maybe making a purchase or two.

LINKS FOR THIS POST

Kaaskamer
Amsterdam Foodie guide to Indonesian restaurants
I love Amsterdam post on pancakes
Van Wonderen Stroopwafel
Het Oud-Hollandsch Snoepwinkeltje
Café Chris
Café Hoppe
The Heineken Experience
I am Amsterdam post on the best breweries to visit in Amsterdam
Bloemenmarkt
Waterlooplein Flea Market
Previous Episode Tulips and diamonds
Next Episode coming very soon.

City Breaks: all the history and culture you'd research for yourself if you had the time!
Check our website to find more episodes from our Amsterdam series or to browse our back catalogue of other cities which are well worth visiting: https://www.citybreakspodcast.co.uk
We love to receive your comments and suggestions!
You can e mail us at [email protected]
And if you like what you hear, please do post comments or a review wherever you downloaded this episode. That would be a big help!
31 min
November 05, 2025 Amsterdam Episode 10 Tulips and Diamonds
Tulips and diamonds: both figure centrally in the story of Amsterdam. The Netherlands is known as the ‘flower shop of the world’ and a visit to Amsterdam’s flower market a must for any visit. Equally, you will surely want to explore Amsterdam’s heritage as the ‘City of Diamonds’. This episode brings a little background history on both topics, plus ideas for three places to visit to find out more.
Reading Suggestions
The Tulip by Anna Pavord
Tulip Fever by Deborah Moggach

Links for this post
The Tulip Museum
The Diamond Museum
Royal Coster Diamonds
City Breaks: all the history and culture you'd research for yourself if you had the time!
Check our website to find more episodes from our Amsterdam series or to browse our back catalogue of other cities which are well worth visiting: https://www.citybreakspodcast.co.uk
We love to receive your comments and suggestions!
You can e mail us at [email protected]
And if you like what you hear, please do post comments or a review wherever you downloaded this episode. That would be a big help!
23 min
August 01, 2025 Amsterdam Episode 09 Van Gogh, the Man and the Museum
This episode covers everything it's good to know before you visit the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam: a brief biography of Vincent himself, followed by tips on what to look out for in the museum dedicated to his work. To finish, there are ideas for 3 more arty venues to visit in Amsterdam if you want to investigate the city's modern art and street art offerings.

Reading Suggestions
Van Gogh The Life by Steven Naifeh and Gregory White Smith
The Letters of Vincent Van Gogh
Van Gogh The Complete Paintings by Ingo F. Walther and Rainer Metzger

Links for this post
Van Gogh Museum
Stedelijk Museum
NDSM Loods
Straat Museum

City Breaks: all the history and culture you'd research for yourself if you had the time!
Check our website to find more episodes from our Amsterdam series or to browse our back catalogue of other cities which are well worth visiting: https://www.citybreakspodcast.co.uk
We love to receive your comments and suggestions!
You can e mail us at [email protected]
And if you like what you hear, please do post comments or a review wherever you downloaded this episode. That would be a big help!
29 min
June 25, 2025 Amsterdam Episode 08 Rembrandt, Vermeer and the Rijksmuseum
This episode revolves around Amsterdam's top art gallery, the Rijksmuseum. It starts with a little history, explaining how art came to be of such importance in Amsterdam's Golden Age in the 17th century, then continues with some biographical details on the two top artists from the era, Rembrandt and Vermeer. It finishes with pointers to some of their best-known works, plus ideas for other highlights to look out for when visiting the gallery.

Reading Suggestions
Tulip Fever by Deborah Moggach
Vermeer by Christopher Wright
Rijksmuseum guidebook

Links for this post
The Rijksmuseum
Rembrandt House Museum
Old World Voyages blog
Essential Vermeer
Simon Schama, Great Gallery Tours, the Rijksmuseum

City Breaks: all the history and culture you'd research for yourself if you had the time!
Check our website to find more episodes from our Amsterdam series or to browse our back catalogue of other cities which are well worth visiting: https://www.citybreakspodcast.co.uk
We love to receive your comments and suggestions!
You can e mail us at [email protected]
And if you like what you hear, please do post comments or a review wherever you downloaded this episode. That would be a big help!

25 min