As it happens, I’m traveling to England next month to do location research for not one, but two, of my books.
First stop will be Halifax in Yorkshire. I’ve been to the UK many times, but never to Halifax.
In the Tea by the Sea series from Kensington Books, the point is made (many times) that the grandmother character, Rose, once was a kitchen maid in a stately home near Halifax. She collided with a visiting American by the name of Eric Campbell coming out of a shop in that city, and visited him in hospital. When he was released, the relationship blossomed, they married, and Rose moved to Iowa where they raised their family.
For book six in the series, I have the brilliant idea of Rose returning to Thornecroft Castle, for Lady Frockmorton’s 100th birthday celebrations. Of course, being an elderly lady, Rose can’t travel on her own so her granddaughter, Lily Roberts, the series protagonist, comes with her. What do you know: by total coincidence Lily’s neighbour, Matt, a true crime writer, is doing research in Yorkshire at the same time and Lily’s friend Bernie has gone with him. By even more of a coincidence, Lily’s love interest, the English gardener, Simon, has returned to England at the end of his contract at Victoria-On-Sea, Rose’s Cape Cod B&B, and has a job at a stately home near Halifax.
Thus, off goes Vicki, to Halifax to check it all out. I’m throwing monetary caution to the wind and staying at a hotel I’m hoping to use as the inspiration for Thornecroft Castle (not a castle but an 18th century house built on the remains of a castle). I chose Holdsworth house (Luxury Hotel West Yorkshire - Holdsworth House Hotel & Restaurant). If you’ve seen the TV show Last Tango in Halifax (which is great, with a fabulous cast including Sarah Lancaster, Nicola Walker, Anne Reid, Derick Jacobi), some scenes were filmed at that very hotel.
For you British TV lovers (that includes me) Happy Valley and Gentleman Jack, among many others, were also filmed in near Halifax. I’m hoping to get to Shibden House, Anne Lister’s home, when there. (Shibden Hall | Calderdale Museums). I’m excited about seeing the exact location for Thorncliffe Castle as well as the areas my characters will see and visit.
And, of course, because the Tea by the Sea series is about afternoon tea, they will be having tea. Meaning, I have to find the best places to go.
A future book in the Sherlock Holmes Bookshop series from Crooked Lane Books will also be set in England as the gang travel to London for Pippa and Grant’s wedding.
I have been to London a few times, and went in 2017 for an earlier Sherlock Holmes book, A Murder is Game is Afoot. That time I found the house where Gemma’s parents live and a nice hotel for my characters to stay in.
London research is more about tube time-tables and stations, and the time it takes to from X to Y by foot or taxi than the scenery or castle ruins. I’m going to give Pippa and Grant a flat in Greenwich, for the precise reason that I’ve never been to Greenwich. So I’ll have to check it out.
Gemma will be in London for her sister’s wedding and to solve a mystery, but Jayne Wilson, her ever loyal and always confused best friend, will be hoping to sample the delights of that city. And for Jayne, that includes afternoon tea.
My daughter Alex, who’s coming with me, and I are already searching out the perfect locations for afternoon tea in London.
Book research: It’s a tough job, but someone has to do it.
Reds and Readers, I bet you know all the best places for tea and other English delights. Any suggestions?
Alex and I are heavy into tradition when it comes to afternoon tea, but we’re always open to new and interesting things. Anyone have a must-see destination in or near Halifax? A favourite restaurant in London? Remember, it’s all in the cause of research. 😊
Vicki Delany is one of Canada’s most prolific and varied crime writers and a national bestseller in the U.S. She has written more than forty books: clever cozies to Gothic thrillers to gritty police procedurals, to historical fiction and novellas for adult literacy. She is currently writing four cozy mystery series: the Year Round Christmas books for Crooked Lane, the Tea by the Sea mysteries for Kensington, the Sherlock Holmes Bookshop series for Crooked Lane Books, and the Lighthouse Library series (as Eva Gates) for Crooked Lane.
Vicki is a past president of the Crime Writers of Canada and co-founder and organizer of the Women Killing It Crime Writing Festival. Her work has been nominated for the Derringer, the Bony Blithe, the Ontario Library Association Golden Oak, and the Arthur Ellis Awards.
Vicki is the recipient of the 2019 Derrick Murdoch Award for contributions to Canadian crime writing. She lives in Prince Edward County, Ontario.
You can find out more about her many wonderful series at: www.vickidelany.com
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Since I've never been to London or to Halifax, I have no suggestions for you, Vicky, but this sounds like an amazing trip. Hope you enjoy your book research . . . .
ReplyDeleteThanks Joan. I'm excited about it.
DeleteVICKI: Have fun on your research trip! I have been to Yorkshire a couple of times but have never been to Halifax. Holdsworth House sounds like a wonderful place to stay. Looking forward to seeing what happens to Rose, Lily, Matt and Simon during their trip.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great trip, Vicki! We loved Last Tango in Halifax and wish it had run longer.
ReplyDeleteI agree! I keep hoping for another season.
DeleteVicki, welcome back to JRW
ReplyDeleteI seem to be one book late in the Tea by the Sea series, I’ll have to remedy that.
I wish you the best for your « research » travels. Have fun.
Danielle
Vicki, welcome, so delighted to see you here! I adored LAST TANGO IN HALIFAX, and Happy Valley, and I'm excited for you for this wonderful trip and two books! My question is how in the world you keep everything straight?
ReplyDeleteVicky, the trip you are planning with your daughter sounds divine! Research is such a good reason to travel anywhere, and anywhere in the British isles would be a wonderful destination! You must come back and tell us all about it!
ReplyDeleteOnce again, I mash my teeth and bemoan my choice of setting my mystery series in a decrepit former Milltown in northern New York State. I swear to God, the next one is going to be in some delightful vacation (aka "research") spot.
ReplyDeleteYour trip sounds wonderful, Vicki, and I know the resulting books will enchant your readers. I know I certainly love traveling from the comfort of my reading chair!
Um... That should be GNASH my teeth. I shudder to think what mashing my chompers would entail.
DeleteJulia, now see here, Vicki is juggling *FOUR* series! Surely you could squeeze in another one for your readers, who will follow you anywhere you choose to vacation, er, research!
DeleteAnon Flora for the comment above!
DeleteJulia, perhaps you can write a new series set in Canada or wherever you wish to travel to?
DeleteDiana
Color me a little green with envy, Vicki. Sounds like you have some great fun, er, research, in your future!
ReplyDeleteTraveling with adult daughters is the BEST. You'll have a grand time, I suspect.
ReplyDeletePlease report back, Vicki, on what you found out about tea in London. And I love the idea of a tea shop owned by a former kitchen maid. In Iowa.
I agree that daughters make the best travel companions.
DeleteAww thank you. My Mom and I had Afternoon Tea at the Empress Hotel in Victoria, Canada. We also travelled to England, Scotland and Scandinavia.
DeleteDiana
Vicki, looking forward to your new books especially since they are set in England, my favorite travel spot too. I was last in England in 2015 when Brexit was announced.I was visiting with family who were also traveling in England but we only stayed in and around London that time. I love the Cotswolds so that is a must do on next trip.
ReplyDeleteI've never been to the Cotswolds, but I hear it's lovely. Next time, maybe
DeleteVisited the Cotswolds once. it is lovely. Worthwhile a visit when you get a chance.
DeleteDiana
Vicki, this sounds like so much fun! Here in Boston there are (at least) two places where you can still get a sumptious traditional afternoon tea -- The Park Plaza Hotel and the Mandarin Oriental (used to be the Ritz Carleton). The only British traditional tea I've had was in Bath: scones and clotted cream. Yum. Like so many here I *love* traveling with my adult daughters.
ReplyDeleteAmanda here: Vicky, a friend had tea at Fortnum and Mason. Said it was scrumptious. Enjoy your research. Sounds grand! I loved Last Tango in Halifax though have never been to the UK original— lived in the Canadian one for two happy years.
ReplyDeleteYour trip sounds wonderful Vicki! Green with envy here. I'm the daughter of a transplanted Leeds man, but have never been to Halifax. I have to admit that the first thing that comes to my mind is a line from the folk song The Dalesman's Litany that Irish singer Christy Moore sang years ago: "From Hull and Halifax and Hell, good Lord deliver me," I did a little research and the song was originally a poem that dates to 1622 when the Halifax gibbet was a feared method of execution. I'm not really helping with your request for fun excursions, but I love the song (it's haunting) and I love Yorkshire.
ReplyDeleteThat sort of little tidbit helps to make even a cozy mystery interesting. Thanks for telling us.
ReplyDeleteI wish I could offer some good advice on places to research in England. I’ve only been as far as Heathrow airport for three hour layover. I’m might suggest that the airport can be a place where anything can happen from lost luggage to lost travelers, lost papers/passport needed for travel. Delays due to weather or power outage and the consequences of “being late” for something. All kinds of characters turn up at an airport.
ReplyDeleteVicki, enjoy every minute of your research--no wonder your books are so good! I have a lot of catching up to do--four series!! Do your characters ever argue with you about whose turn it is?
ReplyDelete(Flora)
Fortunately, the characters don't argue, because they know their place in the publication schedules!
DeleteVICKI, you and your daughter are going to have a wonderful time in London.
ReplyDeleteThe last time I was in London was about 16 years ago. I had Afternoon Tea at the Wallace Collection and it was wonderful. When I googled the place, it said it is about 25 pounds (not dollars). My Mom's cousin recommended the Wallace Collection because she and her husband visited London frequently. The cousin and her husband both have passed away.
On Social Media, I saw photos of Candice Bergen and her daughter Chloe Malle having Afternoon Tea at the Claridge Hotel. It was on her IG feed. If I ever get a chance to visit London again, then I'd love to visit that hotel because in my genealogy research, I learned that my Great Aunt and her family lived at Claridge Hotel in 1936. Her British husband was born in London and emigrated to the States. Their American address was the same address as my grandparents' home address.
Often see IG stories about afternoon tea in London, including "Secret London". Debs may know more about this than I do since she has been to London more recently. And I think Rhys has been to London more recently.
Other possibilities:
The Orangery Restaurant (Kensington Palace Gardens)
Afternoon Tea $$$
Kensington Palace Cafe (not sure if the Pavillion is the same place)
Afternoon Tea
Trying to remember if there are still Tearooms in London. When I visited Wales, Scotland and the English countryside at different times (I visited London maybe ten times), there were lovely tearooms.
Please take pictures for us.
And Love your Christmastown mysteries. Started reading your new series - Teashop and the Sherlock Holmes Bookshop series.
Diana
Thanks for the suggestions, Diana. We'll check those places out. Claridge sounds good.
DeleteOh, lucky you! Many years ago I accompanied my m-i-l to London enroute to Scotland. Never got out of London which is a whole different story. She took me to the Ritz for tea, thinking she could just walk in and get a table. Well, no. But the nice man there directed us to Brown's Hotel where we had a fabulous tea with all the goodies. I'd go there again in a heartbeat.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the recommendation. We'll put Brown's on our list
DeleteThere are so many good choices for afternoon tea in London, Vicki. Including at the top of the Shard! Just don’t bother to spend for the Ritz. I find little tea rooms much nicer. And if you’re in Yorkshire make sure you see the best sites-Fountains Abbey, The Dales, Castle Howard….
ReplyDeleteFountains Abbey is high on our list!
DeleteSome of my favorite places for afternoon tea include The Drawing Room at Brown's Hotel; Fortnum & Mason; Claridge's; The Orangery at Kensington Palace; and The Athanaeum Hotel. My all-time favorite place is The Original Maids Of Honor, near Kew Gardens. I've had many wonderful teas there while spending the day at Kew.
ReplyDeleteI haven't heard of Maids of Hono(u)r. I'll look it up.
DeleteOh, I love this post so much. Now I desperately want to be in London having tea. I will reread your series instead!
ReplyDeleteWouldn't a trip together be wonderful. We could invite Kate Carlisle.
DeleteFor most of my life, I have wanted to visit England. Maybe someday…Meanwhile, I visit it through fiction and non-fiction. I look forward to seeing it through your eyes!
ReplyDeleteDebRo
Ooh, Vicki, I am so envious, and I was just there earlier in the summer. Last year in October my daughter and I had tea at the Shard, and while it wasn't the best afternoon tea I've had, it was totally worth it for the experience. The view is never to be forgotten. However, the BEST, and the most reasonable, afternoon tea I've had recently was at the Wolseley on Piccadilly. I would definitely recommend over the Ritz next door, and it's a gorgeous building with an interesting history.
ReplyDeleteONLY on Jungle Red would we get to hear a comment like that. SO fabulous!
DeleteThanks for the suggestions. We are considering the Shard, just for the view and the experience, as you say.
ReplyDeleteSounds like a tough job. Hope you have fun despite all the work. ;)
ReplyDeleteYou are SO fabulous! This all sounds absolutely amazing, and I cannot wait to hear all about it. ANd gotta admit, JRW is the BEST place to ask about afternoon tea suggestions! xx
ReplyDeleteI knew I could count on the Reds and their friends.
DeleteHi Vicki. What a great research project! My favorite English tea was at Grantchester near Cambridge, but you are asking about London. There the tea I remember best was on the South Bank at Bramah's Museum of Tea and Coffee. However, I just looked it up online to give you more details, and it's permanently closed. Boo-hoo. Sorry nothing else special comes to mind. I'm sure you'll find some great spots.
ReplyDeleteDonis here. I haven't been to Britain in untold years, except through reading my friends' books, so I'll be traveling there soon through yours. By the way, I'd like to have a couple of those pastries on the top tier.
ReplyDeleteThey do look good, don't they? Perhaps it's time for one of your characters to head off to Europe, bringing you along. Wasn't there a thriving movie industry in Germany in the 1920s?
DeleteVicki, I like the way you research! Addin my vote: years ago, I went to London a few times for work meetings and always squeezed a serious afternoon tea. The Ritz, because. Once in a lifetime. Brown's. Fortnum's for something a little less overwhelmeing. Maids of Honor for a lovelyr, really old time experience ( Is it sitllthere, near Kew Gardens?) Have fun, calories ignored!
ReplyDelete