Featured blog posts
I’ll see you at the bookshop!
London Tilbury Cruise Port - A Complete Guide
If you’ve booked a cruise that sails from the UK, then you may find yourself embarking at London Tilbury.
Despite its deceptive name, this cruise port is actually located in Essex, in a town slightly to the east of Greater London. This means that your journey will require a bit of forward planning in order to make it as smooth as possible.
What To Do In Edinburgh
As one of the world’s most popular city break destinations, Edinburgh is a fantastic place to visit with a rich history and many things to see and do.
My guide highlights some of the city’s best landmarks and activities, with the aim of helping you to make the most of your trip.
Accommodation in Arundel - A Complete Guide
Here’s my guide to accommodation in the West Sussex cathedral city of Arundel.
Home to an almost 1000 year old castle, Arundel has many fantastic accommodation options to choose from. Whether you’re after a cosy pub based room or a charming holiday rental, you’re bound to find something here that suits your taste.
Afternoon Tea in Chichester - Where to Go
Here is my guide to the best places for afternoon tea in Chichester.
Chichester is a beautiful cathedral city with no shortage of places to eat and drink. From high end restaurants to budget cafes, and everything in between, there are eateries in Chichester to suit all tastes.
Here is my list of the best places to stop for afternoon tea. Each recommendation includes the current opening times, which are accurate at the time of publishing, so make sure you double check before you travel.
Accommodation in Amberley - A Complete Guide
Here’s my guide to the hotels, bed and breakfasts and holiday rentals in and near Amberley, West Sussex.
Located in the Horsham area of West Sussex, Amberley is a beautiful village known for its thatched roof cottages and medieval castle.
It’s a popular location for walkers, and the local history is documented in the Amberley Museum. There’s also a 12th century church, St Michael’s, which is the oldest remaining building in the village.
Bed and Breakfasts in Selsey - A Complete Guide
Here is my guide to accommodation in Selsey, West Sussex.
A beautiful West Sussex seaside town, Selsey has a long history dating back more than 1000 years. It receives its name from the grey seals that occupy the surrounding water, and sometimes come to rest on the shore.
Best Hotels in Bosham, West Sussex
Here is my complete guide to accommodation in Bosham.
A historic West Sussex village located right by the coast, Bosham is a popular seaside holiday destination. Not only is its waterside location perfect for sailing, but it also makes the ideal base for long rambles in the beautiful Sussex countryside.
Bed and Breakfasts in Emsworth - A Complete Guide
Here’s my complete guide to the bed and breakfast options in the beautiful coastal town of Emsworth.
Located on the south coast of Hampshire, Emsworth is a quaint English seaside town that’s popular with tourists - and for good reason!
There’s plenty to see and do, with a wide range of cafes, restaurants and independent shops to peruse. Ramblers will enjoy taking long walks in the local countryside, and the harbour is suitable for a variety of watersports.
Accommodation in Chichester - A Complete Guide
Here is my complete guide to accommodation in Chichester.
Located just a short train journey away from London, Chichester is the ideal place for a weekend getaway.
Whether you’ve planned a visit to Goodwood, fancy a walk by the coast or want to explore the South Downs, Chichester is the perfect base for your trip. There’s plenty to see in the city itself too - with a 950 year old Cathedral, Pallant House Gallery and award winning Chichester Festival Theatre.
Hotel Indigo Stratford-Upon-Avon Review
Here’s my full review of the beautiful Hotel Indigo in Stratford-Upon-Avon, which is part of IHG.
There are so many reasons to visit historic Stratford-Upon-Avon. Located in the county of Warwickshire, the town is known for being the birthplace of William Shakespeare.
A great deal of effort has gone into preserving Stratford’s history, and as you explore you’ll encounter the house where Shakespeare was born, his school and his final place of residence - now called Shakespeare’s New Place.
Bookshops in Oxford - A Complete Guide
Here’s everything you need to know about book shopping in the UK’s historic university city, Oxford.
One of the UK’s historic university cities, Oxford is a cultural hub with a plethora of museums, libraries and bookshops.
While many of the libraries are only open to University of Oxford students (with a few exceptions), there are many fantastic bookshops that the general public can visit.
Where to Stay in Edinburgh, Scotland - A Complete Guide
Here’s everything you need to know about finding a place to stay in Edinburgh, the beautiful capital city of Scotland.
Edinburgh is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful cities in Europe. As one of my personal favourite places, I’ve visited Edinburgh many times and always find new things to see and do.
The Scottish capital is known for its historical vibe, with numerous museums and bookshops making it a hotspot for cultural travellers.
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.
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.
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.
Llandudno’s Alice in Wonderland Statues
Although Lewis Carroll famously resided in Oxford, he was also connected to the Victorian seaside town of Llandudno.
It is here that Alice Pleasance Liddell - the real life inspiration for Alice in Wonderland, spent her summers in the family’s holiday home. It’s rumoured that Carroll spent some time here too, allegedly basing his story on their adventures.
How to Visit Dylan Thomas’ Boat House in Wales
Here’s everything you need to know about Dylan Thomas’ Boathouse in Laugharne, Wales.
Dylan Thomas was a Welsh author and poet, who was born in Swansea in 1914. Despite living a relatively short life and passing away in 1953, Dylan was a prolific writer who published 90 poems in his lifetime.
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.