Travel
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The Perfect Winter Break in the Derbyshire Peak District
We planned another winter break to the Peak District National Park, this time basing ourselves just outside Chesterfield. The area is located high on the moors and surrounded by dramatic rocky scenery. Although rugged and rural it’s easily accessible being just 12 miles from J29 of the M1. Before checking into our accommodation we called…
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How to Spend a Day in Wrocław: Hydropolis and the Panorama Rotunda
The final day of our lovely visit to Wrocław had come around all too soon but with our flight home not scheduled until the evening, we had almost a full day to continue enjoying this wonderful city. After setting ourselves up for the day with a hearty buffet breakfast at the Ibis Styles Wrocław Centrum…
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Top Highlights of Wrocław: Must-See Sights & Attractions
Our day started with a walk around the city’s medieval main square (Rynek). We’d already been enchanted by its beauty during our evening visits to the city’s festive Christmas market and now it was time to admire it in daylight. This square was laid out by the city planners in 1241 and it remains one…
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Best Things to See, Do, and Eat in Wrocław: Ultimate Travel Guide
Our morning began with a 20 minute tram ride from outside the main railway station (Wrocław Glówny) to the National Museum, (Trams 5 and 11). The museum is home to one of the largest art collections in the country. It’s better value to purchase a combined ticket with the Radowice Panorama, 25zl (£4.74) which is valid…
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Top Museums to Visit in Wrocław, Poland
After a good night’s sleep in our comfortable bed at the Ibis Styles Wroclaw Centrum, we enjoyed a relaxing breakfast in the hotel’s restaurant. Continuing with the Alice in Wonderland theme, upturned wooden tables hang from the ceiling and furnishings include a checkerboard floor and playing card motifs on the walls. We discovered a plentiful…
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Wrocław, Poland: The Perfect European City Break Destination
Poland has become one of my most visited countries, I enjoy spending time there so much. After selecting Poznan for a festive break last year, this time we decided to head to Poland’s fourth largest city Wrocław. It’s located on the Oder River in the Lower Silesian region of the south west of the country.…
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The Feversham Arms, Helmsley, North Yorkshire Review
Location: The Feversham Arms Hotel is one of the north of England’s most luxurious country house hotels and is a perfect place to come and unwind. The hotel is located on the edge of the attractive town of Helmsley within the North York Moors National Park and being just off the A170, it is a short…
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London’s Postal Museum: History, Mail Rail & Family Fun
Location The Postal Museum is situated near Farringdon, Russell Square and just a short walk from King’s Cross and Chancery Lane underground stations. The museum is located in two buildings across the road from each other. One building houses the Mail Rail train whilst the other contains most of the exhibitions and the cafe. Standard tickets…
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Visiting the London Transport Museum: What to See and Do
I travel on public transport frequently and after visiting numerous other transport museums around the world, I finally made it to the London Transport Museum in Covent Garden. The museum explores the heritage of London and its transport systems and I couldn’t wait to step through its doors. Standard admission to the museum is £21…
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Hotel Simoncini Luxembourg Review
Location: Hotel Simoncini is located in the centre of the historic old town just around the corner from the Golden Lady monument in Constitution Square and the Notre Dame Cathedral. We took Bus 16 from the airport, with a journey time of only 15 minutes to Hamilius, followed by a five minute walk to the…
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Narrowboating to Oxford
It was just coming light as we drew back the bedroom curtains of our narrowboat which we’d moored the previous evening just below Eynsham Lock. I prepared breakfast on board whilst the engine was being started and then we began to gather our belongings together as our narrowboat adventure was nearing its end. We slipped…
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Narrowboating on the Thames to Eynsham
The day started with an autumnal mist over the river, but gladly the sun soon broke through. After enjoying a leisurely breakfast on board our narrowboat we walked back to Sandford lock to take a photo of the pub where we’d tucked into dinner the night before (The King’s Arms). It was 9.50 a.m. by…
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Boating on the Thames to Sandford Lock
Drawing back the curtains from our mooring on the Thames, we were greeted by clear blue skies and after a leisurely breakfast on board we decided to take a stroll around Clifton Hampden as it was too dark to see much the night before. Both the village and the Barley Mow pub (where we had…
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Narrowboating from Oxford to Abingdon
We’d enjoyed a peaceful first night’s sleep tucked up in our comfy beds on board Cunningham, our 65ft narrowboat on hire from Drifters Waterways Holidays, Anglo Welsh base in Eynsham. Up first was David, my husband who performed the daily engine checks which had been demonstrated to us during the previous afternoon’s handover. He then turned…
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Narrowboating on the Thames
I’ve spent many a happy hour strolling along canal towpaths and riverbanks enjoying watching narrowboats pass by. I’ve even seen 3 of the 7 ‘Wonders of the Waterways’ yet had never been on a British narrow-boating holiday, that is until now. Our adventure started one bright and sunny October morning when we drove to the…
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Clarion Hotel Aviapolis, Helsinki Airport Review
Hotel Review Location: The Clarion Hotel is the newest of the airside hotels at Helsinki Airport, Finland. It’s located a 20 minute walk from the terminal in the tranquil Aviapolis district, an area largely home to aviation offices and the Finnish Aviation Museum. The hotel is 30 minutes by train from Helsinki city centre (trains I…
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Review: The Adventures of Peter Pan, Manchester Opera House 10-31st December 2022
Christmas wouldn’t be the same without an evening at the theatre and I can’t think of anything better to get myself into the festive spirit than a night at the panto. After being enthralled with the top notch production of Aladdin last year at the Manchester Opera House I couldn’t wait to return to see…
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How to Spend 48 Hours in Ghent: Top Things to Do, See & Eat
Ghent is Belgium’s fourth largest city and one of the country’s most beautiful. It’s easy to reach from the UK without the need for flying as we took the Eurostar service from London St. Pancras to Brussels. The journey takes only two hours with regular onward connections to Flanders cities on Belgian Railways. Trams 1…
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Top Things to Do in Mechelen, Belgium in Just 2 Days
Mechelen is one of Flanders art cities and a hidden gem located midway between Brussels and Antwerp. We travelled there by train from Leuven, taking just 30 minutes, with Brussels even closer at 15 minutes for easy onward connections to Eurostar or flights from Brussels airport. The perfect two day itinerary Day 1: We’d arranged…
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What to Do in Leuven in 48 Hours: Best Sights, Food & Tips
The Flemish region of Belgium lies to the north of the country nestled between the Netherlands and France. Most visitors head to Bruges or Ghent but Leuven is equally beautiful and less crowded than its more famous neighbours. The city is home to one of Europe’s oldest universities (KU Leuven) with many of its historic…
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Park Plaza Vondelpark, Amsterdam Review
Hotel Review Location: The Park Plaza hotel is located on a tree lined quiet street in the upscale Oud-Zuid district of Amsterdam, just steps away from the beautiful Vondelpark. Tram 2 serves the hotel making it easy to get around as it takes just 20 minutes to Central Station passing many of the city’s attractions…
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A Day in Hamburg: Explore Chocoversum and Miniatur Wunderland
There were more foodie treats in store for us to experience during our Hamburg city break with a morning visit to Chocoversum, the city’s chocolate museum. It’s located in the Kontorhaus district with the nearest U-Bahn station being Meßberg on the U1 Line. We joined one of their 90 minute chocolate tours which are offered…
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Hamburg’s Best Eats: A Culinary Tour Guide for Visitors
After a good night’s sleep in my lovely room at the Scandic Hamburg Emporio I enjoyed breakfast along the corridor in the hotel’s ‘Living Room’ which is for the exclusive use of guests staying on the upper two floors of the hotel. Here I enjoyed a selection of cold cuts of meat, mackerel and smoked salmon…
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Hamburg City Guide: Top Attractions, Food & Things to Do
With three days to explore a world of culinary delights and top sightseeing spots in Hamburg I couldn’t wait to get off the plane! I’d travelled with KLM from Leeds/Bradford connecting via Amsterdam and with direct flights available from both London and Manchester, the city is easy to reach for a short break from all…