Showing posts with label UK. Show all posts
Showing posts with label UK. Show all posts
23 November 2017
Where To Stay In London | 10 of London's Best Located Hostels In The City
29 July 2017
Top 10 Money Saving Tips For Visiting London
London is said to be one of the most expensive cities in the world. Yes, London can be expensive for local residents too but it needn't be so for visitors, providing you come well versed with money saving tips for visiting London. This will allow you to find out where to stay in London, places to see in the city, cheap and free things to see and do in London and their for allowing you to make the most of your visit to London a pleasurable one without breaking the bank. Also, booking where to stay in London, England should be an expensive task, you just have to know what options are available and what you get for your budget range. The same goes for things to do in London. There are plenty of free things to do in London, from free museums, free viewing points, beautiful parks in London to cheap way of getting around tips for these in addition to tips for visiting London can be found on the blog but clicking on London Tips in the menu above. For this post, I thought I would give you some tips for visiting London from a Londoner's perspective on how to save money when visiting London. and still have a great time! Below are my money saving tips for visiting London but also look out for my post on the best located hostels in London soon.
21 March 2017
Nope Not India! - London's Insanely Beautiful Temple You Have To See
Religion has always been at the heart of living as human beings. I am always fascinated by the lengths religions go to in the detailed designs of religious architecture. From Chinese temples of Beijing, Malaysian Batu Caves, Cambodian ancient Ankorian temples to exploring India and Israel's Bahai temples. I also always advocate exploring your own backyard as well as seeing faraway places. Neasden temple or Baps Shri-Swaninarayan Mandir as its originally known is a beautiful Hindu temple that has been on my list for far too long. I have visited a couple of times but last year was the very first time I actually got to see the inside. The details and stories of the architecture around Neasden Temple is every bit as interesting as the outside. Said to be the largest marble structure outside of India and we all know about India's famous marble structures such as the Taj Mahal in Agra.
6 November 2016
London Exploring | Tower Bridge At Night [What to See and Do In London] Pt3
Part Three of my exploring London series is by way of a little night photography on London's Tower Bridge. I usually say to myself that I will go shooting on this bridge but each weekend I come up with an excuse not to go. I guess because over the summer period the sun sets slightly later and I just haven't been bothered to wait until 8 or 9pm for it to set (says the person that went shooting sunsets at midnight in Iceland). I take a lot of things for granted living so central in London. As they are a stone's through away I always put them off in favour of something far away.
So this evening I dragged my boyfriend out with me and plugged it as a little walk because hey "we haven't been doing our usual walks lately". Never mind, that it was a walk that was going to include packing photography equipment as well, which he was also going to help me carry. He is an unpaid photography assistant, he just doesn't know it yet. Like I have said in the previous post in the series, these will act as a way to showcase a little bit of London as an when I go out on photo walks, whether solo, with other Instagrammers and when I drag my boyfriend out to assist. Below are a few shots from a night photography session on Tower Bridge.
11 October 2016
Exploring Beautiful Dorset | A Sunrise On Man Of War Cove
Sometimes we get so busy trying to get away from it all, that we never consider to venture off to what is near by as a refuge from all the woes adult life brings. Living in the UK, train journeys always seem so expensive when compared to enticing travel deals to neighbouring European destinations that are dangled in front of you like candy, by the likes of RyanAir. Hello Copenhagen! Or even Warsaw. These are just some of the destinations you can visit for about £10 one-way. Compare that to a one-way train ticket at £30 in the UK. Yeah, my guest would be that you would be going for the European destination but don't let these deals stop you from visiting amazing and scene destinations hidden in the realms of the English country side. One such destination is Dorset. Steeped in historical charm that will have you lost in day-dreams one minute and the next captivated by tales of how the coves, caves and sandy beaches provided opportunities for Hawkhursto gangs of the 18th century to smuggle goods ashore.
29 September 2016
London Exploring | Views From The Shard [What to See and Do In London] Pt2
Living fairly central in London means that I am right in the heart of London's hustle and bustle as well as being better placed to offer London travel tips for those coming to visit and explore London. For those that are visting London, checking out the best views in London is usually somewhere up there on the list of things to see and do in London. So as part of my visual diaries of London I thought part two could showcase London city views. This installment is by way of a visit to The Shard View in the heart of London's city. The perfect spot for catching the sunset and see London from high up.
13 September 2016
An English Summer In Lulworth Cove
Two days ago I shared a the first post on our visit to the Jurassic Coast with a stop at Durdle Door in Dorset. Having planned on spending a weekend in Dorset the next day we moved from Durdle to Lulworth Cove. Lulworth Cove is a shingle beach with amazing views out on the Purbeck Isles. Perfect for a swim. As the English Summer was in full swing over the weekend, it was time to get out there and be active. From Lulworth Cove you can hire Kayaks, they also have tours on kayaks, we opted for Rib Ride on the bay. Even better start to the day was having a chilled out breakfast in the Boat Shed Cafe that comes with views of the cove.
8 September 2016
Why You Need To Visit Dorset's Durdle Door | 5 Things To Do In England's Jurassic Coast
England and the UK, in general, has some pretty amazing places, so if you are one of those that visits the UK and only go as far as London then you are missing out. A visit to Dorset's Durdle on the Jurassic Coast one you have to add to your list when you visit the UK. It's in Dorset which is just a stunningly beautiful region in England. A visit to Dorest or Durdle, in this case, perfect any time of the year. I have posted on weekend and day trips to East Sussex, Thorpeness, Snowdonia, Gloucester, Newcastle, Portsmouth, Bath, Bristol and Llandudno, just a short list of places to inspire your explorations of Great Britain. About 2 weeks ago, we ventured off to the Jurassic Coast, mainly because I wanted to visit Durdle Door. Durdle Door is a natural limestone arch on the Jurassic Coast. It sits on privately owned land but accessible to the public. The Jurassic Coast is a now a World Heritage Site on the English Channel coast of Southern England. It stretches out for nearly a 100 miles. So plenty of trails for hiking! It's about 3 hrs drive from London but easily accessible by train as well.
Jurassic Coast is one of UK's popular destinations in Britain for many Britons, but not many tourists venture out to this part of England. Whether you are after fossils, hiking, cycling or just to take in the views on the coast there is plenty to and take in the area. Below are a few activities to start you off.
14 August 2016
Why Every London Visit Should Include A Stop At Notting Hill & Portobello Market
Ahh Notting Hill, an Instagrammers little gem! Notting Hill is famous for many things, from the yearly carnival the brings multi-cultural societies into one big colourful weekend-long street part, to the beautiful Portobello Market and lest we forget Notting Hill romantic comedy starring Julia Roberts and Hugh Grant! Notting Hill is one place in London that every tourist weigh their coins has to pay a visit to when they come to London.
How can resist that pastel and candy coloured houses all lined up waiting to be snapchatted? It's the perfect place to wonder around on a Sunday as the streets are perfect to get lost in, in between instagramming and latte sipping sessions. Portobello Market is not only famous for its antiques but you will find it all here, from beautiful jewellery to old photography memorabilia, closes, food stalls and many a souvenir. You next visit to London should definitely include a stop to Notting Hill. If the word haven't convinced you yet, hopefully the pictures below should do the trick!
Getting To Portobello Road
Your Nearest underground station is Notting Hill. From there you have clear signage on which exits to use. Its perfectly easy to find as you will always have people heading in that direction.
3 July 2016
A Local's Guide On What To See And Do In London
It has been a while since I have done a guide on London, the very city I live in, for goodness sake! I suppose I take it for granted that I live here, so I tend to write a lot about other cities I go to as an escape from London. So, my long overdue of a local's guide to London. Even better that no transportation is required with this guide. A lot of it only requires money for a cup of coffee when you get thirsty or need to take cover from the rain. There are lots of stops along the way to taste amazing food. All calories that you will burn off on this walk anyway. Below is a map that you can also click on with previews of what you will see and do along this guide. Also, look out for a guide to shopping in London as well as all the best markets you need to check out when you visit London as well as where to stay when you visit London. I will be covering all budgets for that so make sure you are following on Bloglovin so your don't miss them when they publish. Without further ado, lets get to it!
Start The Day With A Hearty Breakfast In Covent Garden.
30 November 2015
Living The High Life in Wales | Hiking Through Snowdonia National Park
If you spend enough time with Londoner or those in the UK for that matter, you will notice how much we go on and on and on and on again about the weather.
This summer like every summer
everyone is was dusting off their bikinis and flop flops in search for sunny horizons
(we all know those don’t really come around the UK that often or long enough).
Booking holidays to Spain, Greek Islands, Caribbean islands. Having just taken on the heat wave in New
Delhi and Agra this May, dosed up on sunshine sailing around Santorini and
while exploring Athens in July, I was in the mood for something different. Say,
a little adventure close to home.
One of my boyfriend's friends had
been trying to get a group of us to go away on a hiking trip for a long time now
and after voting on dates when everyone was available and it was then time to decide on
whether to head to Lake District and Snowdonia National Park (think soaring
mountains with peaks playing hide and seek with the clouds). Lakes spread across
national parks, hiking routes with breath-taking views, small towns filled with
cozy little cafes with a local and traditional touch. Yep, I was up for all of
that and then some. It was as if the stars seemed to have aligned as
everyone’s diaries cleared up for the long August Bank Holiday, which also
happened to be my boyfriend's birthday week.
24 October 2015
Sussex Charm | Exploring The South Downs With YHA
| Visiting the UK is not all about seeing London. There is more to the UK than just London, like the beautiful coastal towns around the UK. Of course living in a city that never sleeps, like the bustling capital of London, one is always in short supply of peace and quiet. In addition to both my partner and I working in the IT industry with a constant jiggle for work-life balance, I always try to make our weekends as relaxed as imaginably possible. This means being creative in seeking out relaxation weekend getaways both in the country and outside. My current favourite lately are getaways in and around the English countryside. The fact that we don’t have to go through security gates, hold miniaturised bottles of beauty products or be patted downed because an underwire bra triggered the alarm is always a plus, if we can avoid this. When I mentioned to my partner that I was challenged to spend £100 for a weekend for both of us, he wasn’t really surprised as he as seen some of the travel deals I rustle up at crazy prices, even at short notice(check out my trip to Copenhagen where we travelled to for under £100). |
We were going to be driving to one of the UK's most beautiful coastal regions; South Downs. Remote, ravishingly beautiful landscapes of farm lands with rolling hills in the background, a national park that stretches over 100 miles and stunning beaches to boot. It was a no brainer. Of course he said yes!
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2 October 2015
What's Hot This October
On The Blog This Month: Word On The Street Travel Series
We have some serious global wandering this month by way of a travel series called Word On The Street. We are going to travel around the world this month, I tell ya. Another new month getting us closer to the end of 2015! With this new month I thought I would introduce a few cities that I am sure some of you(including myself) have been wanderlusting about. What better way to do that than to interview other bloggers who live there, been there, done that and bought the t-shirt. The image above gives you an idea of where we will be travelling to this month. Four of those places will be introduced by other bloggers and the other four places I will be showing you around. The four cities introduced by blogger will be part of the 4 week series this month called Word On The Street. This will be published very Wednesday at 4pm to get your Wednesday Wanderlust juices flowing. So make sure you sign up on Bloglovin, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter as well as the newletter(enter email to the right) to make sure you read them first when they publish. Check out the list below for more details of whats to come:
1. Perth, Australia - We are visiting two beautiful cities in Australia this month one of which will be Perth. This will be introduced by Lyn and Steve Baker from A Hole In My Shoe. They will show you around Kings Park, Cottesloe Beach and the City Lights. (Publishes - 7/10/15)
2. Cusco, Peru - Heather Cole, a traveller and writer with a serious case of wanderlust will take us to Cusco in Peru. Visiting UNESCO World Heritage Sites, tips on the best places to see, where to eat, drink and how to get around this part in South America. I am dying to publish this Conversanttraveller's tales, as I have been dreaming about Peru for too long now, but haven't bought a ticket yet. (Publishes - 14/10/15)
3. Scottsdale, USA - With most wanderlusters dreaming about faraway places like Vietnam, Chile, Indonesia, we often forget about the USA. Yes, the big United States are filled with some crazy-beautiful sights so you would be nuts to not want to visit the cool places on offer, one of which is Scottsdale in Arizona. This is also the state that has the amazing canyons! Antelope Canyon and Grand Canyon, of course. Allison Mathis from LiveLifeWell with introduce these desert landcapes this month. (Publishes - 21/10/15)
4.Russia and The World For Black History Month - October is Black History month in the UK so what better way to celebrate than to take you around the world for black history month. We will be looking at some historically significant black people from from around the world. Russia's Alexander Pushkin who was and still is a well known poet. Then we will head to Mexico and check out Vicente Ramó Guerrero; Mexico's first black president who also happen to have led Mexico to Independence in 1829. We will also be celebrating modern heroes too, like Mae Carol Jemison; the first black woman in Space. So look out for that! I will be covering North America, South America, Europe, Asia and Africa! Around the world in black history.
5. South Downs - England - I am sure some of you may have seen pictures of the white chalk cliffs in England. Well I will be taking you around East Sussex and the beautiful coastal towns of this part of the UK. Even better was the fact that I was challenged to do this trip for under £100 by YHA hostels. I love a good challenge too, so look out for this post to find out whether I succeeded or failed miserably.
6. Sydney, Australia - Another trip back to Australia in the Word On The Street series will be provided by Jen Seligmann, The Trusted Traveller. Who hasn't dreamed about seeing the Opera House from across the habour? Exactly what I though, no one. We will get the details from a local on where to hang out, eat, get the best views so look out for that. (Publishes - 28/10/15)
7. Snowdonia, Wales - I love adventure as much as the next person but I love it even more when experienced with friends. Over the August bank holiday a bunch of friends and I drove to Wales to explore Snowdonia National Park. Most were driving from London with one coming from as far away as Cornwall. I cant wait to share more pictures from our hikes, picnicking next to an elevated lake and just experiencing the most amazing views after scaling the peaks in Snowdonia.
8. New Delhi, India - Another trip I am dying to share with you is India. I will be giving you the low down on the sights to see in India's New Delhi. What to see and do, where to stay, shop and eat. So be show to follow on social media to make sure you read that when it drops.
If you want to find the travel series for this month. You will be able to find it via the hashtag #WordOnTheStreetWithBee. The These will drop every Wednesday at 4pm.
8 July 2015
Thorpeness | Rediscovering England's Best Beach Side Towns
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| thorpeness | thorpeness country club hotel | thorpeness boating lake | thorpeness cottages | thorpeness golf club | thorpeness beach | thorpeness house in the clouds |thorpeness meare |thorpeness country club |
Who says you need to go very far for a getaway. Thorpeness is one little English town oozing with countryside charm. If you are a lover of all that is quintessentially English, then you need to add it to your list. Never mind that it was a wealthy Scott who made his fortune designing railways around the world who decided to buy land in Suffolk in 1910 and develop it into a private holiday village, where he invited his friends and families during summer months. The development included a country club with tennis courts and a swimming pool. This was of course we were booked into for a weekend of rest and relaxation. With great sea views to boot! Yep, I was in need of some vitamin sea, though much like most seaside towns in the UK, weather is no guaranteed.
One of my recent posts I shared a couple of tips on how to switch off and enjoy your holiday. I certainly hope that was helpful or provided an insight into what I tend to do on most of my weekend getaways as well some of my longer holidays. I try to practice what I preach here as some of you may have noticed that my trip to India(a few instagram posts here) was not announced nor did I tweet it, Instagram or Facebook anything while I was out there, which left me to just enjoy it all and take it all in with my eyes and that of my Nikon. The only time people knew about it was when I was back in London and posted one or two photos. Sometimes that is needed to really get in tune with the place. With this post I was hoping to show you some of England's beautiful escapes without having to jet off. Especially for those that want to explore a bit more on the UK than just staring at the London Eye and Big Ben when they land here.
29 March 2015
Top 10 Things To Do In London For The Bank Holiday Weekend
Almost every shop that you go to whether you are in for your double A batteries you will most likely have noticed that they will have piled high Easter eggs at the till in a bid to put you into some sort of Chocolate coma. Well there is more to the long Easter Bank Holiday than scoffing down chocolate. That of the loooong and welcomed few days from work! Some with that much time on your hands what do you do? Whether its just you, your friends or if you have mini-mes at home then I have some idea that will cover you from all angles. Below is my top 10 list of things to do in London during the long weekend holidays. For those hoping to get out of London, not to worry I have some inspiration for you too below. If you are not in London then I am pretty sure these will still help in searching out similar events in your cities.
1. Something For the Kids(and the young at heart)
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London usually puts on a show during the Bank Holidays, most of which are FREE! From live music shows on the Southbank and National Gallery on the Embankment to places like Spanish Garden at the Roof Gardens in Kensington. If that's out of reach then, if you are a lover of all things covered in chocolate goodness then you and the kiddies are in for a treat, as there are various venues hosting Easter Egg hunt. From Clapham Common, Bank of England Musuem to Butlers Wharf on the Thames. Check out Timeout's list for more Easter egg hunting traditions around London. See, its not just for the kids. There is fun to be had for chocolate loving adults too.
10 March 2015
Sky Garden | Breakfast With A View in London's Sky Bar
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This post is rather late or published way behind schedule, but where the hey... Having made plans to head out to Portsmouth for last year's Valentines and seeing those plans fumbled due to weather situations this year's Valentine's Day was a much low key affair due to a pending house move. You can read about last years belated Valentines Day celebrations while discovering the secrets of the Solent at the beautiful Spitbank Fort here. Instead of that we took a trip to the Sky Garden aka Sky Bar London
With a pending house, weekends were busy with sorting out what to pack, when to pack and what to get rid of so when Valentines Day approached it was really just an opportunity to chill out and get out of the flat and enjoy a moment of peace not thinking about the house move. A great start to the Saturday too was a trip to none other than the newly opened exotic garden up high in one of London's stunning skyscraper decorating the city's square mile. The infamous building that made headlines last summer for burning anything in sight due to the heat that was generated or reflected off the Walkie Talkie building.
Breakfast was booked in the Sky Bar, London view on tap from the 35th floor. There are 2 more restaurants on offer on the 35th Floor of the building. All give you access to the Sky Garden with 360 degrees of views across London. You can circle round the entire floor to view Canary Wharf, Westend with the London Eye, south side of the Thames with the Shard and London beyond.
There are two options to access the Sky Garden, via the free tickets on offer or by booking a table in one of the 3 restaurants. All of which are available for a week in advance to a month's waiting time. The free tickets currently have a 2-month waiting list so its best to book a table. The Sky Bar/Pod is reasonably priced and so are the other two for what is offered. In addition to the absolutely priceless views of the capital.
This is an absolute must if passing through London or if you are a Londoner yourself. Beautiful place to watch the sunset too as they turn into a little cocktail bar as the day wears on. Hence the names interchange especially when searching for it either under Sky Bar London or Sky Pod.
So have you been to London's Sky Garden yet?
This is an absolute must if passing through London or if you are a Londoner yourself. Beautiful place to watch the sunset too as they turn into a little cocktail bar as the day wears on. Hence the names interchange especially when searching for it either under Sky Bar London or Sky Pod.
So have you been to London's Sky Garden yet?
7 November 2014
Travellers Who Work Full-Time
I have been featured! Head on over to Different Doors and check a host of travellers who work full-time and get inspired with tips on getting the most of your holiday allowance. Not all travel bloggers quit their jobs to travel....
16 October 2014
Top 10 Things To Do In Edinburgh
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5 September 2014
Countryside Escapes and Hideaways
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There is something about the countryside air and days spent enjoying the company of friends with rolling countryside views to boot. I would never have thought to have a birthday celebration camping in the wilderness but when my boyfriend's friends suggested a weekend around the fire I raised an eyebrow. Considering my usual posts, camping is not something I do all the time but I am no stranger to a campsite at all. It's just that Birthdays are synonomous with booze filled celebrations and hangovers(that's not a confession by the way), but I was certainly up for a weekend getaway. Having just dodged an Ikea DIY disaster we set off on the two and a half hour drive leaving London's concrete jungle in favour of some RnR with Mother Nature. The weather was set to be on its best behaviour for the weekend which was a deciding factor for me.
28 August 2014
The Witchery By The Castle | Combine Culture With Fine Dining
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My weekend escape to Edinburgh was filled with long walks around a town that oozes atmosphere and sophistication in its mystery from the history its inherited. Edinburgh like any popular city will have a ton of eating options from your usual globalised eatery brands to the uniquely local. I love a unique dinning experience and have sometimes travelled miles just for the indulgence. Check out my dinning experience on Spitbank Fort - a man-made island on the Solent. Living in London, one of the world's most popular cities, when it comes to food, you can get pretty much anything. This applies to Edinburgh too. On this occasion I didn't want the usual eatery I could find any and everywhere. I had my eyes firmly locked on one place. I guess you can say I was bewitched from the moment I found out about it.
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