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I’ll see you at the bookshop!
Viking Ocean Cruises - Food and Dining Guide
Here’s my full guide to food and dining onboard the Viking Ocean fleet.
Dining onboard a Viking ship is always a luxurious experience.
With several delicious restaurants to choose from each and every day, it can be difficult to choose favourite. I particularly love the variety available in the World Cafe, the Norwegian style waffles in Mamsen’s and the pasta in Manfredi’s!
The Best Day Trips from London to Paris
For me, one of the best things about living in the UK is having Europe right on our doorstep.
Paris is particularly close thanks to the Channel Tunnel, and takes just over two hours to reach by train from central London. There’s no need to catch a flight or board a ferry, making the journey from England to France feel seamless.
Day Tours and Excursions from Paphos
There’s so much to see in Cyprus, and Paphos makes an excellent base for exploring the island.
Located on the south coast, here you’ll find a wide variety of activities and excursions to suit all tastes.
Whether you prefer sampling the local wine, sailing through the sparkling Mediterranean Sea or learning about the island’s fascinating history, Paphos is the ideal destination for you.
The Best Hotels in Paphos, Cyprus - a Complete Guide
Located right on the edge of the Mediterranean Sea, Cyprus is a beautiful island that left me feeling completely enchanted.
Surprisingly, the country hadn’t been on my radar until I was invited to attend a friend’s wedding in Paphos - a fantastic coastal city on the south of the island.
As the fourth largest city in Cyprus and a major tourist hub, I found that Paphos is studded with archeological sites, lined with beautiful beaches and chock full of luxurious hotel resorts.
The Library Hotel Wellness Retreat in Cyprus - Review
Here’s my full review of the Library Hotel Wellness Retreat in Kalavasos, Cyprus.
When I was invited to attend a wedding in Cyprus, I knew that I wanted to spend some time exploring the island and venture outside of the usual tourist hotspots.
After a bit of research I stumbled upon the The Library Hotel Wellness Retreat, which is located in the village of Kalavasos, just a short distance from Limassol.
Queen’s Bay Hotel Paphos - Review
Here’s my full review of the gorgeous Queen’s Bay Hotel near Paphos in Cyprus.
The minute I returned from my stay at the Queen’s Bay Hotel in Paphos, Cyprus, I couldn’t wait to sit down at my desk and write this review.
My partner and I booked our trip to Cyprus after being invited to attend the wedding of a close friend. We’d never visited the country before, and excitedly started planning a trip.
All About BookBar in Chelsea, London
I visited the brand new branch of BookBar, located in the Chelsea borough of London.
First launched in north London in 2021, BookBar is a fabulous bookshop, wine bar, coffee shop and social space that recently opened its second branch in Chelsea.
As I live outside of London, this was great news for me as their new branch is much easier for me to get to during a trip into the city!
Inside Heywood Hill Bookshop in Mayfair, London
Located in the heart of London’s Mayfair, Heywood Hill is a prestigious literary establishment that first opened in 1936. Named after the founder, Heywood Hill, the shop is spread across two floors of a Georgian townhouse, with the ground floor open to the public for browsing.
I first came across the bookshop while writing an article for Sail Away Magazine about cruise ship libraries.
Tylney Hall Jane Austen Afternoon Tea & Hotel Review
Here’s my full review of the lovely Tylney Hall Hotel in Hook.
Set amongst 66 acres of land, Tylney Hall is a grade two listed building with more than 100 bedrooms. There’s so much to explore here - with sprawling gardens, multiple lakes and enchanting woodland walks, as well as stunning interiors and a dreamy outdoor pool.
Owned by Elite Hotels, I was excited to stay after being impressed another of their properties, the Ashdown Park Hotel earlier in the year.
Review: My Writing Retreat at Write Within, Machynlleth
For many writers, an essential part of the creative process involves filling up their own creative cup. This is certainly the case for me, so I was delighted when Julia from Write Within reached out to invite me for a retreat at her Writers’ Cabin.
Located in the small welsh town of Machynlleth, just a short drive away from the coast in mid-Wales, the cabin was custom built close to Julia’s own home.
Jurassic Properties Cobb House Full Tour & Review
Here’s my full review and tour of Cobb House in Lyme Regis, hosted by Jurassic Properties.
As a leading holiday accommodation company, Jurassic Properties host a number of beautifully renovated homes in the Dorset seaside town Lyme Regis. I was super excited when they reached out and invited me to stay in their gorgeous new cottage, Cobb House, which is located right by the seafront.
My very first visit to Lyme Regis, I was excited to be staying right in the heart of the town and just a few minutes walk away from the beach.
Viator - Best Paris Tours & Day Trips
Here’s my guide to the best Paris tours and day trips available on Viator.
You’ve booked a trip to Paris! Congratulations, you’re going to have the most amazing time.
There’s so much to see and do in the city - from climbing the Eiffel Tower and touring the Palace of Versailles to taking part in food tours and sailing down the Seine river.
Where to Stay in Zurich, Switzerland - A Complete Guide
Planning a trip to Zurich? Here’s my complete guide to hotels and accommodation in Switzerland’s largest city.
Located in the north of Switzerland, Zurich is a beautiful city that’s rich with Swiss culture. There’s so much to see; from the delicious Lindt Chocolate Museum and charming Old Town to the trendy nightlife and fondue eateries, there really is something here for everyone.
Ashdown Park Hotel & Country Club Review
Here’s my full and honest review of the Ashdown Park Hotel and Country Club - located in the home of Pooh Bear.
I knew that the Ashdown Park Hotel was going to be grand, but pulling into their long driveway and catching a glipmse of the beautiful manor house still caught me off guard.
One of a collection of period properties owned by Elite Hotels, my sister and I were excited to stay for the night after exploring the local area’s links to Winnie the Pooh.
Pooh Corner, Hartfield - Full Review
Here’s everything you need to know about the adorable Winnie the Pooh themed cafe in Hartfield, England.
As a big fan of Winnie the Pooh, I’ve long wanted to visit the birthplace of the stories. Residing in Cotchford Farm in East Sussex, A. A. Milne (also known as Alan Alexander Milne) penned the first book here in 1926 for his son Christopher Robin Milne.
The Pooh Corner cafe is located on the edge of Ashdown Forest, just a short journey down the road from A. A. Milne’s home.
Shangri-La Bangkok Hotel Review
Here’s my full room tour and review of the Shangri-La hotel in Bangkok, Thailand.
I couldn’t quite believe my luck when Viking Cruises emailed to ask if I’d like to join them for a two-and-a-half week trip around Southeast Asia. I replied almost immediately - yes please!
We embarked the cruise in Bangkok, after a brief pre-extension at the stunning Shangri-La Bangkok hotel. After spending an additional few days docked in Laem Chabang, we departed for Cambodia, Vietnam, and finally, glittering Hong Kong.
My first ocean cruise with Viking, I found that I loved the Viking Venus and am manifesting another trip onboard one of their ships soon. Interested in seeing what it’s like? Here’s my full Viking Venus ship tour and review.
The Royal Garden Hotel Review, Hong Kong
Here’s my full review of the Royal Garden Hotel in Hong Kong.
Our ship docked in the Ocean Terminal, surrounded by glistening sky scrapers and the promise of a new city to explore.
After spending a night docked in the harbour, we disembarked and checked into the Royal Garden Hotel in the Tsim Sha Tsui area, which we used as a base before travelling to the airport that evening.
Viking Venus Ship Tour and Review
I couldn’t quite believe my luck when Viking Cruises emailed to ask if I’d like to join them for a two-and-a-half week trip around Southeast Asia. I replied almost immediately - yes please!
We embarked the cruise in Bangkok, after a brief pre-extension at the stunning Shangri-La Bangkok hotel. After spending an additional few days docked in Laem Chabang, we departed for Cambodia, Vietnam, and finally, glittering Hong Kong.
Viking Venus Cabin Tour and Review
Here’s a full tour of my Deluxe Veranda Stateroom onboard the Viking Venus.
When embarking on a long trip it’s important to have a clean and comfortable base to rise in each morning and return to each night.
That’s exactly what I had on my recent cruise around Southeast Asia, sailing on the lovely Viking Venus, and residing in stateroom 4035. I have fond memories of my time spent in this cabin - although I have to admit, this is the tidiest I kept it during the whole trip.
Where to Stay in Hamburg, Germany - A Complete Guide
Here’s my guide to the best accommodation in Hamburg, featuring options for all budgets.
Located in the north of Germany, Hamburg is a large port city with more bridges than Venice, Amsterdam and London combined.
Here you’ll find the world’s largest miniature railway (which is much more impressive than it sounds), the oldest opera house in Germany, and plenty of restaurants, cafes and bars.
Take a cruise along the harbour, visit the historic warehouse district and learn about Hamburg’s history in one of the many museums - there’s even one all about chocolate.
Welcome to the Viking Skaga - one of Viking Cruises’ noble river ships. She takes her name from an ancient Norse myth, where the Valkyrie Skaga rode into battle and escorted the dead to Valhalla, before preparing them to fight in the epic battle of Ragnarok.
A relatively new ship, the Viking Skaga only entered the fleet in 2020. At just 410 feet and carrying 168 guests and 48 crew, she was built specifically to sail down the Seine in France, although the specific itinerary will vary depending on the time of year. I was fortunate enough to join the ship for her week long Christmas on the Seine cruise, which starts and ends in Paris, calling at Vernon, Caudebec-en-Caux, Rouen, Honflour (via an excursion) and Les Andelys along the way.