Win! A luxury dog-friendly getaway at The Railway Retreat

Zoe Gater

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Competition

Escape to the beautiful Berkshire countryside with an overnight stay for two, breakfast treats and space for up to three four-legged friends.

Fancy a peaceful countryside escape with a little added luxury? We’ve teamed up with The Railway Retreat, a beautifully restored oak-framed hideaway on the edge of Compton in the North Wessex Downs, to offer one lucky reader a special overnight stay for two, with up to three dogs welcome.

Created by owners Chantal Cornelius and William Buist, the Retreat has been five years in the making, transforming a former storage and workshop building into a cosy, characterful escape designed for couples seeking time together.

Original oak timbers give the interior warmth and charm, while thoughtful modern comforts, including underfloor heating, make it a relaxing place to unwind.

Outside, the detached Retreat has its own private, enclosed garden, perfect for guests travelling with dogs. Beyond the garden, an orchard follows the route of the former Newbury and District railway line, where guests can wander among fruit trees, relax in a hammock and enjoy the peaceful surroundings.

For those who love exploring on foot, the famous Ridgeway National Trail is just two miles away, with beautiful walks across the chalk downland. Nearby villages and market towns offer welcoming pubs and places to eat, while the Retreat’s fully equipped kitchen means you can enjoy a quiet night in, too.

The prize includes breakfast with fresh eggs from the owners’ own hens, William’s homemade sourdough bread and delicious preserves.

For more information, visit therailwayretreat.com.

To enter, follow the competition instructions below for your chance to win this special dog-friendly getaway. Good luck!

How to enter

To enter our prize draw, fill in the form below before 12pm on Friday 27 November 2026.

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    Win! A copy of Michael Morpurgo’s Down Burrow Lane

    Zoe Gater

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    Competition

    Inspired by Michael and Clare Morpurgo’s remarkable story, Down Burrow Lane is a tale to capture the imagination. And we’ve got five copies up for grabs!

    Celebrating 50 years of Farms for City Children, the charity he founded with his wife Clare in 1976, the much-loved author is back with Down Burrow Lane – a new book inspired by his lifelong connection with the countryside, animals and the power of storytelling.

    Over the past five decades, Farms for City Children has given more than 105,000 children the chance to swap city life for the great outdoors, getting their hands dirty, caring for animals and discovering the wonders of the natural world.

    For Michael, these experiences are about so much more than farm work. They help children build confidence, develop empathy and discover the importance of caring for the world around them. It’s a belief that runs through his writing, too, from the unforgettable War Horse to his latest story.

    A passionate advocate for honest storytelling, Michael believes books can help young readers explore big feelings, understand the world and find hope, even when life presents difficult questions. And with animals often at the heart of his tales, he celebrates the special bonds that can help children see the world differently.

    Now, we’re giving five lucky readers the chance to discover Down Burrow Lane for themselves, with five copies up for grabs!

    How to enter

    To enter our prize draw, fill in the form below before 12pm on Friday 27 November 2026.

    Your Name

    Your Address

    Your Email*

    Telephone

    How did you find us?

    Would you like to opt in and receive marketing communications from our competition supplier? If yes, how?

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    Where to find more prizes?

    Head to our competitions page to find all of our current prizes.

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      Win! A five-star Kensington afternoon tea and hotel stay

      Zoe Gater

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      Competition

      Step into a world of five-star glamour with a dreamy afternoon tea at The Kensington, plus the chance to win an overnight stay for two.

      Is this now?! Or am I dreaming?! One minute I’m pounding the pavements; the next I’m sitting in a gorgeous Kensington drawing room, sipping Pimm’s Royale.

      The Kensington is one of those places that makes you feel as though you’ve accidentally wandered into a Wes Anderson film.

      Set among the grand Victorian townhouses of Queen’s Gate, this five-star hotel is gloriously maximalist, with beautiful fabrics, flowers, rich colours and layers upon layers of gorgeous detail. Think elegant drawing rooms, sparkling bar glamour and cosy fireside spaces that make you want to settle in and stay a while.

      For someone born in grimy south London, mere miles away but a different world, I’ll admit to a little imposter syndrome. I kept half expecting someone to ask whether I was looking for the Premier Inn.

      Instead, we were tucking into The Kensington’s Great British Afternoon Tea, which begins with a choice of Pimm’s Royale or a flute of Nyetimber English sparkling wine. The savoury selection celebrates British produce, from Chapel & Swan smoked salmon with chive cream cheese to roast Wiltshire ham with English mustard mayonnaise, cucumber with mint crème fraîche and St Ewe egg mayonnaise with watercress.

      Next warm, freshly baked raisin and plain scones with Cornish clotted cream and homemade strawberry jam, followed by a gorgeous selection of handmade sweet treats: raspberry and elderflower tart, chocolate éclair with caramel cream, rose and pistachio Battenberg and Eton Mess pavlova.

      The experience celebrates British provenance and seasonal ingredients without feeling stuffy or old-fashioned. Service (shout-out to the impeccable Collin!) was warm, attentive and wonderfully friendly, and there’s even a dainty pastel-blue box for any leftovers. Greedy gannet as I am, ours was not required.

      The location makes a visit even more tempting. We spent hours exploring the V&A and strolling through Kensington Gardens, along the Serpentine and past the Diana Memorial Fountain.

      With the Natural History Museum and Science Museum also moments away, it’s the perfect recipe for a special London day. My partner, who is not a Londoner, said he felt like we were on Made In Chelsea.

      He had a point, although our post-tea jaunt was briefly less whimsical when we nearly got run over by a convertible Bentley. We simply admired the gorgeous car.

      At £85 per person, afternoon tea at The Kensington is certainly an indulgence, but it’s one that can turn an ordinary Sunday into something rather magical.

      Win a five-star London escape

      Fancy a little sparkle of your own? One lucky Round & About reader can win an overnight stay for two at The Kensington, including breakfast and a festive or Champagne Afternoon Tea for two.

      The hotel’s festive tea is a tempting way to celebrate the season. If a December visit can’t be arranged to suit both the winner and the hotel, the afternoon tea can instead be enjoyed in January, subject to availability.

      The overnight stay and prize dates must be arranged with the hotel and are subject to availability and occupancy.

      To find out more or book an afternoon tea or stay, visit The Kensington.

      How to enter

      To enter our prize draw, fill in the form below before 12pm on Friday 27 November 2026.

      Your Name

      Your Address

      Your Email*

      Telephone

      How did you find us?

      Would you like to opt in and receive marketing communications from our competition supplier? If yes, how?

      Sign up to our newsletter

      Where to find more prizes?

      Head to our competitions page to find all of our current prizes.

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        Win! A one-of-a-kind copper pendant worth £165

        Zoe Gater

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        Competition

        Copper, fire and a family secret: win a unique piece of wearable art from The Copperologist.

        Forget ordinary jewellery. Oxfordshire’s newly launched The Copperologist transforms genuine copper into extraordinary miniature works of art, using flame and verdigris to create beautiful, individual pendants preserved beneath a glass dome.

        Now, one lucky Round & About reader can win a bespoke pendant worth £165, complete with an 18-inch stainless steel chain and complimentary tracked, signed and insured UK delivery.

        Every pendant has its own character, with colours and patterns shaped by the creative process. Encased beneath glass and mounted on a hypoallergenic stainless steel base, each piece is designed to protect the copper from tarnishing, keeping its fascinating surface on show without the need for polishing.

        The prize arrives in a dark wooden slide-drawer presentation box, complete with a handmade provenance card, making it a special gift or a treat to treasure yourself.

        But there’s a remarkable story behind the brand, too. The artist behind The Copperologist discovered just before her first exhibition that she is a fourth-generation copper maker, with family roots in a Welsh town once nicknamed Copperopolis. She had known nothing about this unexpected heritage, despite her own growing fascination with the metal.

        Now she’s bringing her distinctive copper creations to the world, and we’re delighted to offer one reader the chance to own a piece.

        Ready to add a little copper curiosity to your jewellery box? Enter our competition for your chance to win!

        Discover more of the collection at thecopperologist.com and read the fascinating family story on the Copper Heritage page.

        How to enter

        To enter our prize draw, fill in the form below before 12pm on Friday 27 November 2026.

        Your Name

        Your Address

        Your Email*

        Telephone

        How did you find us?

        Would you like to opt in and receive marketing communications from our competition supplier? If yes, how?

        Sign up to our newsletter

        Where to find more prizes?

        Head to our competitions page to find all of our current prizes.

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          Win! Two tickets to a glamorous Marilyn Monroe afternoon at Hartwell House – worth £138

          Zoe Gater

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          Competition

          Fancy champagne, afternoon tea and a little old-Hollywood glamour? Win two tickets to an exclusive Marilyn Monroe event at Hartwell House.

          Diamonds might be a girl’s best friend, but we reckon champagne, afternoon tea and Marilyn Monroe make a pretty sparkling trio too.

          On Friday, 27th November, magnificent Hartwell House will host an exclusive afternoon with acclaimed biographer and journalist Andrew Wilson, celebrating his latest book, I Wanna Be Loved By You – Marilyn Monroe: A Life in 100 Takes. And we have two tickets to give away.

          The afternoon begins at 2pm with a welcome glass of champagne, followed by traditional afternoon tea in Hartwell House’s elegant public rooms. Guests will then hear Andrew in conversation with arts journalist Liz Hoggard, before having the chance to put their own questions to him during a live Q&A.

          Andrew’s book looks beyond the platinum curls and dazzling smile to explore the woman behind the legend. Through 100 carefully chosen snapshots, he traces the life of Norma Jeane Mortenson, from a turbulent childhood and extraordinary rise to fame to her marriages, friendships, artistic ambitions and the unanswered questions surrounding her tragic death.

          Drawing on previously unpublished material, Wilson explores the ambitious, intelligent and vulnerable woman behind one of the world’s most enduring images.

          The author has previously written acclaimed biographies of Patricia Highsmith, Sylvia Plath and Alexander McQueen. His debut, Beautiful Shadow: A Life of Patricia Highsmith, was shortlisted for the Whitbread Biography Prize and won both the Edgar Allan Poe Award and Lambda Literary Award.

          After the conversation and Q&A, guests can browse copies of the book and have them signed by Andrew.

          With Hartwell House’s grand interiors and 94 acres of historic National Trust gardens providing the backdrop, it promises to be a rather fabulous November afternoon.

          To book tickets, visit hartwell-house.com or call 01296 747444.

          How to enter

          To enter our prize draw, fill in the form below before 12pm on Friday 20 November 2026.

          Your Name

          Your Address

          Your Email*

          Telephone

          How did you find us?

          Would you like to opt in and receive marketing communications from our competition supplier? If yes, how?

          Sign up to our newsletter

          Where to find more prizes?

          Head to our competitions page to find all of our current prizes.

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            Bright Star books

            Zoe Gater

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            Competition

            Spark young imaginations with a brilliant three-book collection that brings history to life through the objects that witnessed it.

            Looking for a Christmas gift that does more than flash, beep or demand a fresh set of batteries? We’ve teamed up with The Bright Star Bazaar to give one lucky reader the chance to win its fabulous three-book gift collection, worth £34.99.

            Created for children aged five to 10 years, The Bright Star Bazaar offers a wonderfully different way into history. Instead of biographies and timelines, extraordinary stories are told through the objects that were there, turning the past into an adventure.

            And what charming storytellers they are. The books give these remarkable historical objects their own personalities and voices, making them feel like characters children can get to know and root for. There’s something particularly magical about seeing history through the eyes of an object that was actually there, whether it’s Houdini’s trusty handcuffs, Agatha Christie’s faithful typewriter or Newton’s famous apple.

            The collection includes The Magical Manacles, which explores the astonishing life of Harry Houdini through the handcuffs that traveled the world with him; The Tiny Typewriter, narrated by Agatha Christie’s faithful typewriter; and The Golden Apple, told by the little apple forever associated with Sir Isaac Newton’s discovery of gravity.

            Written by technology entrepreneur and father Aldo de Pape, the series blends history, biography and adventure with captivating illustrations by award-winning illustrator Bianca Tulea. Short, character-led stories are designed to encourage children to read, imagine and discover, without making it feel like a history lesson.

            The books offer a particularly timely alternative to screen time, too. The series launches during 2026’s National Year of Reading, as families and educators look for new ways to encourage children to read for pleasure and develop a lifelong curiosity about the world around them.

            And the idea behind it is simple: give children a story they genuinely want to pick up, fill it with characters they’ll remember, and imagination can do the rest.

            For more information, visit brightstarbazaar.com or follow @BrightStarBazaarCo on Instagram.

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              Win! A two-night coastal escape to the Isle of Wight

              Zoe Gater

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              Competition

              Escape to the beautiful Isle of Wight with two nights at cliff-top Luccombe Hall Hotel, a sea-facing room with balcony, breakfast each morning and return car ferry travel included.

              Fancy swapping everyday life for sea views, coastal walks and a relaxing island escape? One lucky Round & About reader and a guest could win a two-night stay at Luccombe Hall Hotel in Shanklin, one of the Isle of Wight’s most picturesque coastal retreats.

              Perched high on the cliffs overlooking the English Channel, Luccombe Hall Hotel is perfectly placed for exploring the island’s spectacular coastline while enjoying a peaceful seaside break.

              The winner and their guest will stay in a Sea-Facing Room with Balcony, where you can wake up to sweeping views across the water. The prize also includes breakfast each morning, so you can start your days with a leisurely meal before heading out to discover the Island.

              And there’s no need to worry about getting there. Luccombe Hall Hotel will arrange and include your return car ferry crossing, making your island escape even easier.

              Whether you spend your time exploring Shanklin, strolling along the coast or simply soaking up the sea views from the hotel, this is a chance to enjoy a memorable Isle of Wight break for two.

              Please note, the prize is valid for stays during mid and low season, from 27 September 2026 to 28 May 2027.

              The prize excludes 23–27 December 2026, the Easter holidays (26 March–9 April 2027) and 1–2 May 2027.

              How to enter

              To enter our prize draw, fill in the form below before 12pm on Friday 9 October 2026.

              Your Name

              Your Address

              Your Email*

              Telephone

              How did you find us?

              Would you like to opt in and receive marketing communications from our competition supplier? If yes, how?

              Sign up to our newsletter

              Where to find more prizes?

              Head to our competitions page to find all of our current prizes.

              Get the latest news straight to your inbox


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                Win! Tracklements feast goodies

                Zoe Gater

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                Competition

                You can win a fabulous Tracklements prize, packed with award-winning flavours and eco-friendly treats including the award-winning chutney.

                Ready to take your cheeseboard to the next level? We have a fabulous Tracklements prize bundle to give away!

                Our winner will receive a slate cheeseboard, Fresh Chilli Jam, Robust Wholegrain Mustard, Caramelised Onion Marmalade, Strong Horseradish Cream, Particularly British Piccalilli, Apple & Cider Brandy Chutney, two beeswax wraps and a Tracklements tea-towel.

                Made in Wiltshire since 1970, Tracklements creates more than 40 award-winning chutneys, mustards, relishes and sauces using traditional recipes and plenty of proper flavour.

                Its iconic Fresh Chilli Jam has won 10 Great Taste Awards and is naturally vegan and gluten-free – delicious with everything from soft cheese to sandwiches.

                How to enter

                To enter our prize draw, fill in the form below before 12pm on Friday 9 October 2026.

                Your Name

                Your Address

                Your Email*

                Telephone

                How did you find us?

                Would you like to opt in and receive marketing communications from our competition supplier? If yes, how?

                Sign up to our newsletter

                Where to find more prizes?

                Head to our competitions page to find all of our current prizes.

                Get the latest news straight to your inbox


                  Choose which newsletter: