The Regent’s Canal walk is one of the most beautiful ways to explore London. Hidden within the bustling streets just north of central London, there’s a blissful heaven of calm waters, rows of trees and colourful boats. Surprisingly the Regent’s Canal walk remains one of London’s best kept secrets, unknown to many tourists.
Looking for the best things to do in York? Then look no further. This northern city had been high up on my places to visit in the UK for a very long time and it was only a matter of time before Sam and I ticked it off. With a quick train ride from London to York, we soon found ourselves strolling around the narrow cobbled streets, marvelling at the medieval buildings and getting lost in the quirky shops and museums. Don’t worry, I’ve put together a little itinerary so you know all the best things to do in York. You’ll be happy to hear many of York’s attractions are relatively close to each other, which makes it really easy to walk around and soak up as much of the charm of the city as possible!
The historic city of York has barely changed throughout the years. During this time, the York City Walls have remained in a remarkable condition, almost intact centuries after they were first built and can now be walked, free of charge! Taking a stroll along the York Bar Walls (you’ll get to know more about this peculiar name later) is a must for both locals and tourists and certainly a great way to get to know more about the rich history of York.
The York Walls stand as the longest medieval town walls in England (they’re 3.4km or 2 miles long!), and also the best preserved. They can be accessed through four main and two secondary gates. But before we dwell on these, let me tell you all about the amazing history of the York City Walls.
I’ve said it before but when it comes to brunch (or food in general for that matter), it’s absolutely no secret that this gal is a pretty big fan. After doing a bit of digging for the best brunch in Glasgow (where we recently stayed for a long weekend), we came across Singl-end and what was a serious calling of delicious vegetarian and vegan meals and freshly baked loaves – all under one roof! We wasted approximately zero minutes in heading to the Singl-end Garnethill and before we knew it, we had a table for two ready to give us the energy we needed for our little explore around the city.
The arrival of spring in the Netherlands is made official by the bloom of hyacinths, daffodils and of course, the world-famous Dutch tulips. There’s something very charming and quaint about these vibrant flowers, and the pride the Dutch feel about them is hard to miss, especially in this time of the year. From wooden versions in souvenir shops and cellophane wrapped bouquets in supermarkets to postcards and their depiction on a multitude of renaissance paintings, it’s safe to say the once known as “tulip mania” is now a deeply rooted Dutch tradition.
My second visit to the Netherlands just over a week ago had a quick day trip to the tulip field filled countryside in store for us. Venturing a little further out of the city of Amsterdam, we finally made our way to Lisse to explore the most beautiful tulip garden in the world – Keukenhof! And honestly? I can’t believe it took us this long to get us out there.
When it comes to travel, one of my favourite things is familiarising myself with the trendiest spots, cultural musts and most exciting places to eat in whatever our next destination is. As someone who is constantly on the lookout for new places to add to my little travel book, I cannot bear lazying around and absolutely have to visit as many different spots as humanly possible. A control freak, I know.
There aren’t many cities that I fall head over heels for at first sight, but I have to admit Edinburgh won me over from the very beginning. Having never been to Scotland before, I was really excited to see bagpipers in person – something that had been on my travel bucket list for quite a while! Thankfully, they were far better than Ross’ bagpipe performance in Friends! That being said, how could I possibly not include a bunch of recommendations to make your time in the Scottish capital far more enjoyable? Shall we go ahead with my best things to do in Edinburgh?
The unexpected (but very much welcome) sunny weather in London last weekend had me truly wanting to soak up every beam of sunshine. I couldn’t have been happier to have clear blue skies and the regrettable coat choice weather well above the usual crisp degrees this time of the year. So obviously, we did what every Londoner does when the sun emerges from behind the clouds – pack up a picnic and invade the nearest park, or in our case, Kew Gardens (aka Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew).
Coincidentally, the annual Kew orchid festival was on, this time showcasing the world’s most biodiverse country and bursting with surprises in every corner. From February 9th to March 10th, wonderful colours fill the Princess of Wales Conservatory in celebration of Colombia’s remarkable biodiversity and vibrant culture, where orchids represent a key part of the ecosystems of this South American nation. Naturally, walking into the conservatory was arguably the easiest decision I had to make (especially when the entry is included in your pass!).
