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I’ll see you at the bookshop!
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 Carturesti 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.
The Twits Afternoon Tea at London County Hall - Review
I’m always on the lookout for new literary themed activities, so when I heard that Marriott were hosting a Roald Dahl themed afternoon tea, I knew that I had to give it a try.
Based on Roald Dahl’s book The Twits, this afternoon tea takes place in Marriott’s London County Hall hotel, which is right next to the London Eye and London’s South Bank.
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.
Astley Book Farm - Bookshop Review
Here’s everything you need to know about the largest second hand bookshop in the midlands.
I recently found myself on a trip to Birmingham and discovered Astley Book Farm on our route. Located in the county of Warwickshire, Astley has just 200 residents, meaning that it’s a village with more books than people!
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.
Hotels Near Southampton Cruise Terminal
Southampton is a great place to start any cruise holiday, with plenty of amenities and a range of hotels to suit all budgets.
In this blog post I have selected the very best hotels in Southampton, broken down by price. While doing so, I only chose hotels that were within a 15 minute taxi ride from the cruise terminal - with so many to choose from, you really don’t have to stay further away.
One main point of advice is to ensure that you book your hotel room early, as Southampton is a busy city and this will ensure that you get the best price possible.
Things to Do in Haugesund From a Cruise Ship
The Norwegian Fjords is a gorgeous destination for a cruise holiday, served by a variety of cruise lines including P&O, Celebrity and Princess. Haugesund is just one of many possible cruise stops, located in the North Sea, in between Stavanger and Bergen.
The port here is large and able to accommodate a wide range of ships, including P&O’s Iona and Arvia, which are the largest British cruise ships to date.
How Fast Does a Cruise Ship Go? And Other Cruise Ship Facts
I answer some of the internet’s burning questions about cruising and present fourteen fun facts.
How fast do cruise ships travel, and how long do they take to build? Read on to find out the answers to these and more.
What to Do in Ålesund From a Cruise Ship
Known to be one of Norway’s most beautiful fjord cities, Ålesund is a picturesque location that begs to be explored.
The city centre is just a 10 minute stroll from the cruise port, meaning there’s no need for most people to take a taxi or shuttle. For those who would prefer not to walk, the City Sightseeing Train is available at the cruise terminal and offers 70 minute tours around the city. These are easy to book when you arrive and depart every 20 minutes when a cruise ship is in port.
What to Do in Olden From a Cruise Ship
Home to less than 1000 people, Olden is a beautiful village located at the end of Nordfjord. Disembarking the cruise ship here felt like stepping into a perfect picture postcard, which is exactly what I imagined when I planned my trip to Norway!
Bear in mind that you won’t find many shops or other amenities here, and public transport is very limited, so make sure you set out with a good pair of walking shoes and dressed for the weather. Whether you’re looking to book an exciting excursion or explore on a budget, there’s plenty of things to do in stunning Olden.
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.