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I’ll see you at the bookshop!
Is Lucky Claw in Birmingham Worth the Hype?
I visited during a trip to Wolverhampton after seeing the arcade explode in popularity on TikTok.
I’ve loved arcades since I was a small child, when my dad would try to win me soft toys from the crane machines while we were on holiday.
My adult claw machine attempts have so far been less satisfying, and last year I spend £20 on Brighton Pier while attempting to win myself a prize from one of their many machines. Sadly, I left empty handed as the machines would not grip the toys properly, dropping them unceremoniously after every well aimed plunge of the claw.
Inside Mayfield Garden Centre’s Refurbishment (2025)
Run by charity Solent Mind, Mayfield Garden Centre is a not-for-profit plant nursery, cafe and community centre based in Mayfield Park. I was invited to celebrate their reopening after an extensive renovation which saw the main greenhouse’s roof and floor completely replaced.
I visited during their official reopening which was attended by the mayor and a local television crew, who filmed the cutting of the ribbon, followed by a tour of their fantastic new space.
Stepping inside the garden centre, the first thing you’ll see is the main greenhouse, which is home to the centre’s shop and cafe, with a wide variety of plants, gifts, gardening accessories and decorative ornaments available to purchase.
Is the Therme Spa in Bucharest Worth a Visit?
Here’s everything you need to know about the largest spa in Europe, the Therme Spa in Bucharest.
I visited the viral Therme Spa in Bucharest as part of my 30th birthday celebrations, and while I technically knew that it was the largest spa in Europe, I still wasn’t prepared for just how enormous it really is.
The spa itself has three zones which you’ll find after changing in the locker room: The Palm, Galaxy, and Elysium. Each of these has different facilities and tickets are sold accordingly.
Blooms Cafe in Emsworth - Review
Tempted by their delicious looking hot chocolates and Instagram worthy decor, I stopped by Blooms Cafe to give their brunch menu a try.
Located just a short walk out of Emsworth town centre, Blooms Cafe is based on the same site as the Emsworth B&B Hotel.
Their new premises, the tea room, is located inside the hotel, while their previous space remains for visitors with four legged friends (dogs are not allowed inside the hotel).
Inside Heffers Bookshop & Cambridge Bookshop Guide
As one of England’s historic university cities, Cambridge has a wide variety of fantastic bookshops to explore.
Heffers is one of those - a vital and well regarded part of the literary scene in Cambridge, having been present in the city for over 100 years.
Formerly owned by the Heffer family, the shop was founded by William Heffer in 1876, initially selling stationary and later adding books. Heffers was eventually sold to Blackwell’s in 1999, but retains its independent charm.
What to Pack for a River Cruise
Here are the essentials that you need to pack for your next river cruise.
If you’re reading this blog post then you’re probably about to set off on a river cruise.
You’ve made a great choice - river cruises are a fantastic way to travel, and the small size of the ships means that you’re able to dock right in the centre of the action.
The Best English Language Bookshops to Visit in Paris
A city beloved by bibliophiles, Paris is packed with stunning bookshops, libraries and literary cafes.
For those interested in literary history, you really are spoilt for choice. Follow in the footsteps of Hemingway by dining at Brasserie Lipp, and sip coffee with Oscar Wilde at Café de Flore and Les Deux Magots. You can even visit the home of the famous French author Victor Hugo, who penned The Hunchback of Notre Dame and Les Misérables.
Paris has continued to embrace and champion the written word, and you’ll find dozens of bookshops to visit around the city. There are even a number of booksellers that specialise in English language books, making these shops a must visit for English speakers.
Shakespeare and Company, Paris - Bookshop Review
I explored Paris’ famous English language bookshop and literary meeting place, Shakespeare and Company.
I arrived at the bookshop on one of those cold yet sunny winter mornings as part of an excursion with Viking Cruises. The tour guide had allocated us an hour of free time to spend as we liked, and as most of the tour group pottered off to peruse the nearby Christmas market, I rubbed my hands together with glee, knowing that I was about to visit one of my bucket list bookshops.
Although many people report having to wait in line to enter Shakespeare and Company, I was fortunate and ended up walking straight inside.
Viking Skaga Ship Tour and Review - Viking River Cruises
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.
The Abbey Bookshop, Paris - Bookshop Review
Located in Paris’ Latin Quarter, The Abbey Bookshop is an independently owned Canadian bookshop specialising in English language books.
I was excited to finally visit this iconic shop during my recent visit to Paris, where I embarked on an exciting press trip with Viking Cruises, which involved sailing down the Seine on a roundtrip from the capital.
Armchair Books, Edinburgh - Bookshop Review
Located in West Port, above Edinburgh’s colourful Grassmarket, Armchair Books is one of the city’s most beloved secondhand bookshops.
Of course, there’s huge competition in Edinburgh when it comes to bookshops.
The city has more than 20, spanning books used, new and antiquarian, with some shops specialising in specific genres such as science fiction and romance. I like to think that there’s room for all of them, and I never leave the city without a new (to me) book in hand.
Limehouse Library Hotel London - Review
A literary landmark based in London’s east end, the Limehouse Library Hotel has long been on my list of places to stay in the capital. The stars aligned when I was invited to attend the bCreator Awards towards the end of 2024, and as the event was hosted nearby, I finally decided to book my stay.
As the name suggests, the Limehouse Library Hotel is based in an historic library which dates back more than a century. Its initial construction was completed in 1901, and the Limehouse Library then served the local area for more than 100 years before sadly closing in 2003.
Inside Cărturești Carusel - Bookshop Review
I visited Bucharest in October 2024 as part of my 30th birthday celebrations. As well as visiting the fantastic Therme Spa that’s been hugely popular on social media, I was also keen to visit one of my bucket list bookshop locations: Cărturești Carusel.
Attend a Reading Retreat in the UK with Boutique Book Breaks
It’s every book lovers dream - a cosy getaway with bookish friends, spent reading, relaxing and eating good food. That’s exactly what Boutique Book Breaks offer, and their very first retreat is located in Shakespeare’s hometown, Stratford-Upon-Avon.
What to Pack for a Caribbean Cruise
I first cruised the Caribbean onboard P&O’s Arvia at the beginning of 2024, and while I didn’t know quite what to expect, I had an absolutely amazing time!
Our 14 day fly cruise started and ended in Bridge Town, Barbados, with flights to the country from London Gatwick Airport. During the trip we visited lots of fantastic islands, including Tortola, Antigua, Martinique, St Maarten, Saint Kitts, and Saint Lucia, with plenty of relaxing sea days in between.
For those wondering when to cruise the Caribbean, the best time to sail is over the winter months, when the weather is more comfortable. It’s also outside of their hurricane season, which takes place between June and November.
Trying Hotel Chocolat’s Velvetiser Cafe - Review
Nothing says autumn quite like a mug of hot chocolate, and so October felt like the perfect time to try the Hotel Chocolat cafe in Chichester.
Having moved into a new premises earlier in 2024, Hotel Chocolat’s new shop in East Street boasts a larger shop floor with its own cafe.
The space is small without feeling cramped, and furnished with plenty of seating for visitors to enjoy their drinks. Looking at the menu, I wasn’t surprised to see that everything revolved around chocolate in all varieties.
Painting Pottery Cafe, Brighton - Review
The Cauldron Brighton - Review and Photos
Here’s everything that you need to know about Brighton’s wizard themed pub, The Cauldron.
I recently visited Brighton to celebrate my 30th birthday, and discovered The Cauldron when I was looking for fun things to do. Although it may look like an average British pub from the outside, The Cauldron’s exterior is deceiving. Inside the pub is an immersive wizard themed experience with interactive elements and a bespoke cocktail menu.
5 Cruise Lines with Stunning Onboard Libraries
While many of the world’s most recent and largest cruise ships have foregone libraries in favour of revenue generating spaces, there are a number of lines which continue to champion the written word.
Here I will introduce you to five of the world’s most literature friendly cruise lines, all with stunning libraries onboard their ships.
Witness For the Prosecution Review - London County Hall
As a big fan of live theatre, I was very excited to receive an invite to watch my very first Agatha Christie play: Witness for the Prosecution.
Originally published as a short story named Traitor's Hands, Witness for the Prosecution was later adapted into a play by Christie herself. The County Hall based show is now running into its seventh year, having received high praise from critics and theatregoers alike.
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.