London's Dukes Hotel & Ye Olde Jerusalem on VisitEngland bucket list

22-Apr-2013 - Last updated on 26-Apr-2021 at 17:03 GMT

Skye Gyngell, one of the experts who helped compile VisitEngland's bucket list of things to do, which recommends visiting Duke's Hotel in London and Ye Olde Jerusalem pub in Nottingham

Indulging in a cocktail at Duke's Bar at London's Duke's Hotel, having a pint at Nottinghamshire pub Ye Olde Trip to Jerusalem and dining at one of Bray's Michelin-starred restaurants are among the experiences that have made VisitEngland's bucket list of '101 things to do before you go abroad'.

Launched to coincide with St George's Day, the list, chosen by the national tourist board and a panel of experts from 800 public nominations, outlines the best and most quintessentially English things to see and do across five areas - food and drink; history and heritage; wildlife and nature; arts and culture and health and fitness.

The food and drink section alone generated 100 suggestions, VisitEngland said with Dukes Bar, Ian Fleming's former watering hole and Ye Olde Trip to Jerusalem, situated beneath Nottingham Castle and England's oldest pub, both securing hotly-contested places on the list.

The Berkshire village of Bray, home to The Waterside Inn and Heston Blumenthal's The Fat Duck, The Hind's Head and The Royal Oak, was described as 'a hotspot for gastropubs and riverside dining with blissful views from the parish’s three miles of riverside frontage', while judges also recommend trying out the Pudding Club at Three Ways House hotel in the Cotswolds, taking afternoon tea at Harrogate institution Betty's and eating oysters in Whitstable.

Culinary treats

Skye Gyngell, culinary director at the soon-to-open country house hotel, Heckfield Place, was one of the experts selected to choose 20 experiences in their respective categories.

She said: “Eating oysters in Whitstable has to be a favourite of mine. I love oysters, they really are one of my favourite treats, and growing up I remember reading books that Whitstable featured in. So I think the combination of the two, a food I really love to eat and a town I read about thousands of miles away, makes this a special choice for me.”

Other inclusions on the list outside the category of food and drink include The Eden Project, Tintagel Castle, Portsmouth Historic Dockyard and Stonehenge with experts including Rough Guides' publishing director Clare Currie, Bill Oddie and a Yeoman Warder from the Tower of London joining Gyngell in helping to pull the list together.

VisitEngland’s chairman, Lady Cobham, said: “The selection process wasn’t easy - we have such an embarrassment of riches in this country, that we couldn’t include every single landmark – but the end result is a mix of the most incredible and unique experiences, with something for everyone.”

The 101st experience on the list was chosen by Wallace & Gromit. The pair had a list of experiences put forward in the 'because it's awesome' category to choose from which included the View from the Shard, Bristol Balloon Fiesta and the World Gravy Wrestling Championships, but they chose cheese rolling at Cooper's Hill in Gloucestershire.

The full list can be viewed at www.101thingstodoinengland.co.uk.