Castles, Abbeys and 
Impressions of Light

Yachting enthusiasts gather annually on the Isle of Wight for Cowes Week, a global gathering of racing yachts and traditional sailboats that have churned the waters of the Solent since 1826. It was here in 1851 that the US yacht America claimed victory in the first America's Cup, the oldest sporting trophy in the world; now sponsored by Louis Vuitton. Delve deeper into the island’s royal pedigree at Osbourne, favored palace of Queen Victoria, or cruise around the Needles, a jagged ridge of chalk-white cliffs that jut into the English Channel, or hike trails through the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve which covers the entire island.

Once a genteel seaside retreat for the nobles of Victorian England, Torquay is the queen of the English Riviera, a bustling harbor where old-world grandeur meets coastal charm. Follow the palm-lined promenade past blooming gardens and pause at waterfront cafes serving Devonshire cream teas and English sparkling wines, or lace-up and explore hidden coves along the South-West Coast Path, looking out for guillemots and dolphins from Berry Head. Venture inland to discover quintessentially English thatched-roof villages and the 12th-century remains of Torre Abbey. For a true taste of South Devon, follow the Literary Trail to Agatha Christie's favorite locales that inspired her mystery novels, including her holiday home, Greenway, which she declared as 'the loveliest place on earth'. 

Home of French explorer Jacques Cartier and once a hub for corsairs and adventurers, history hums around Saint-Malo's granite walls. Soak it all in while strolling the ramparts around the Intra-Muros historic center or pause for Breton crêpes and traditional cider among the grand ship-owners' mansions of Place Chateaubriand. Named after a Welsh monk and nestled in a sheltered harbor near the fairytale abbey of Mont-Saint-Michel, Saint-Malo and its surrounds are revered for their gastronomy, which finds its apogee at three-star Le Coquillage where chef Hugo Roellinger is a master of Breton culinary art. For a more down-to-earth experience, few pleasures beat a chilled glass of Muscadet and a dozen Cancale oysters served harborside as the sun sets over Saint-Malo.

Ports don’t come prettier than petite Honfleur, where soft light dances off the still waters of its Vieux Bassin, reflecting a mirror image of the half-timbered 18th-century townhouses huddled at its edge. It’s a scene that has captivated artists for centuries, immortalized by Impressionists like Eugène Boudin and his protégé Claude Monet, whose legacies live on at the Eugène Boudin Museum. Artistic inspiration is found all around this quiet corner of Normandy, framed by the wildflower-covered hillsides of the Côte Fleurie to the majestic white cliffs of Étretat and the infamous WWII D-Day Beaches. Further afield await family farms preserving traditions of crafting Livarot and Pont l’Évêque cheeses or dash into Deauville, the Parisian Riviera, for an afternoon of stylish exploration.

Built on the indomitable spirit of its inhabitants over 2,000 years, London is one of the most dynamic and cosmopolitan cities in Europe. Feel the weight of history as you walk the Thames past the Houses of Parliament as Big Ben chimes the hour, and on to St. Paul’s and the Tower of London’s hulking walls. Feast on royal pageantry during the Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace, visit Westminster Cathedral, or solve the maze at Hampton Court Palace, before taking a seat at a top table in Mayfair or Soho, where members’ clubs and Michelin stars fuse heritage and culinary art. Architectural mastery frames historical context in South Kensington’s Museum Quarter, and noble institutions like the Tate Modern, British Museum, and National Gallery are home to some of the world’s finest artwork.