Art & Culture

Why Take A With Locals Prague Food Tour? In this post I review a food tour in Prague, which I took while visiting the city for three days. But maybe you’re thinking you can discover plenty of places to eat and drink in a major European capital like Prague on your own, without any tours? […]

One of the reasons London is such an endlessly exciting city is because it is forever evolving. And along with other parts of the English capital, the London Bridge area of the city is changing at a pretty fast pace. As a native Londoner I still remember the area around London Bridge before The Shard […]

We travel to Paris, like so many couples before us, to soak up romance, art, culture and style  – presented in a way that only the Parisians can pull off. I book a city break in Paris in the Spring with my partner because it is the most romantic city on the planet, but I […]

As a complete shoe obsessive I made sure that the first thing I prioritised on my first ever visit to Rome was buying some beautiful Italian leather shoes. The only problem on that particular short trip was that I had just 4 hours to spare in the Eternal City before I had to catch a […]

Like a lot of travellers I know, I’m obsessed with shopping for cool souvenirs to bring home from my trips overseas, and even if I’m just popping over to one of my favourite European countries for the weekend (as you do) I have a good idea what I want to bring back. But as well […]

If you’re looking for staycation ideas here in the UK you’re probably picturing yourself enjoying a leisurely weekend away in a quintessentially English market town, perhaps one blessed with some gorgeous scenery and top notch local sightseeing. You know the kind of weekend I mean: strolling through cobbled streets eating pub lunches, spying half-timbered buildings […]

He’s shaken the hands of every celebrity you can think of from Quentin Tarantino, Robert De Niro and Angelica Houston to Kirk Douglas and Samuel L. Jackson – the list goes on. But unlike the average fan, Dante Mortet has gone on to make bronze sculptures of those very hands, becoming one of the Hollywood […]

The last time I wrote about going on a retreat, I started by talking about crying in a yoga class on a beach in Mexico. At the risk of making it seem like all retreats – be they yoga or artist retreats – involve crying, I’m going to start this review of a UK artist […]

London is incredibly multicultural, meaning it’s packed with cool and curious cross-cultural ideas on every corner. But Egyptian influences in the city are not always immediately obvious – unless you know where to look – so you may wonder if it’s possible to enjoy an entire Egyptian itinerary while out and about in the British […]

Amsterdam Schiphol Airport is one of the busiest travel hubs in the world. Dutch national airline KLM flew more than 32 million passengers in 2017 and plenty of those people took advantage of the opportunity to sneak in a little layover in Amsterdam. If you’re one of the 60 million passengers who are set to […]

I go to Glasgow for 48 hours. It’s no exaggeration to say that all I do during that time is eat – as well as learn just why Glasgow is an urban paradise for foodies. But judging by the reactions of people who hear about my Glasgow foodie weekend, it seems that generally speaking, expectations […]

Think you’ve heard of every travel trend going? Well think again. Because there’s a niche new travel trend for keen walkers and hikers who love exploring north of the border: and it’s called Munro bagging. For the uninitiated, Scotland’s Munros are mini-mountains and high hills (3,000 ft or taller) with amazing views of the lochs […]

They’re a girl’s best friend, they’re forever, and they’re timeless. You find diamonds appearing everywhere in our language as well as our jewellery boxes; they’re ‘in the rough’ as well as on the soles of your shoes. They’re the only precious stones which have had world famous slogans invented about them and to which countless well-known terms […]

On a day trip to the Brunei capital I was wowed by a selection of Bandar Seri Begawan’s highlights, from mosques and floating villages to food markets and museums. But the country’s largest mosque, which was built by the current Sultan was undoubtedly the most impressive thing I saw during my short visit to the tiny […]

Weekend Shortcuts are complete guides to weekends away, written to help you enjoy a perfect short break without needing to do any additional research.  If a weekend in Wales isn’t for you, gorge yourself on my weekend guide to Devon for foodies or slope off to read Cortina, Italy for non-skiers – or simply scroll down for a in-depth weekend guide […]

This guide to Tel Aviv comes from fellow freelance travel writer Rachel Rigby, who explored the vegan cafes, diamond exchanges and biblical connections of the Tel Aviv area of Israel…

Weekend Shortcuts are posts written to help you put together a perfect weekend away without tearing your hair out during the research phase. This weekend shortcut covers everything you need to know for a food-filled 2- day break in Devon, a truly delightful part of South West England that’s simultaneously easily accessible yet somehow feels unhurried and […]

Christmas crackers, the Queen’s speech, mince pies, Boxing Day, Christmas pudding – England has plenty of festive traditions which are regarded with complete puzzlement by the rest of the world. England also has an even bigger Christmas claim to fame – one that is somewhat of a secret. The first Christmas card was invented right here, conceived and designed in the English county of Devon. […]

Let’s face it the idea of visiting maritime museums on your travels could make you feel a little bit sea sick. I love all kinds of museums and galleries, and have been to plenty with nautical themes, but while some are leagues ahead of the competition giving a fantastic insight into travel by boat, others make you want […]

The very first thing I spy after landing in Menorca, and exiting those double-doors that spit you out of security and into your holiday destination, is a tall pink leaflet dispenser advertising Pretty Ballerinas shoes. Of course like any self-respecting girl, the idea of shoe shopping while on holiday – possibly at a discount – […]

The island of Menorca is sleepier and more tranquil than its big hitting Balearic neighbours, with a reputation for impeccable unspoiled coastlines and eco tourism that’s a world away from the hedonistic holidays associated with Ibiza and Majorca. Best known for beautiful white sandy beaches and Caribbean-worthy coves Menorca is the chosen destination for many nature-loving […]

This isn’t exactly a news flash, but we girls like getting dressed up. And from the moment I arrived in Valencia I was determined to do one thing (besides eat paella): dress up in the famous Fallas festival costume, and become a Spanish Queen for the day. And here’s another thing about girls; we already think […]

Despite the well-documented love affair we Brits have with the Spanish coast, I never went on a family holiday to Spain as a child. Yet one of my most treasured possessions as a little girl was a delicate handheld Spanish lace fan.  So when I was given the opportunity to meet a traditional Valencia fan […]

It’s like a dream come true for a girl to visit not just one but 12 Italian jewellery stores and learn about gem stones, design and precious metals from classically trained Roman jewellers. It’s even more perfect when these happen to be Rome’s best hand-crafted jewellery boutiques, all on the official list of the 28 best shops in Rome. […]

Of all the clothes I own (in case you’re wondering, it’s a lot) those I buy on impulse, in a supermarket-sweep stylee, are the things I end up loving. Maybe it’s the fact that when you’re in a hurry pure instinct takes over, but I’ve shopped for an outfit in 30 minutes in Manila and made better boutique […]

‘Winnipegans just get on with it!’ I’m told this undeniable fact as I travel with a group of fellow writers in temperatures of -20 to Winnipeg’s famous February alfresco shindig, Festival du Voyageur. And it’s practically a heat wave for the Manitoban winter. Looking out of the window of the minivan at the bright blue […]

One thing that pulls me back to Italy time and time again is its underdog cities – yes I love Rome and Florence, but give me unsung urban heroes like Genoa and Turin and I’m truly happy….

It’s every little girl’s dream to play among the piles of colourful tutus and pink satin dance shoes hidden inside a ballet company’s closet – and this big girl’s dream finally came true when I went on a behind the scenes tour of  the Royal Winnipeg Ballet. There were two books I owned as a […]

In which I use my favourite arty little Instagrams as a guide to the lesser-known unsung Dutch ‘Dam – I’m talking of course about the port city of Rotterdam. Here are 5 Things to do in Rotterdam…

I’d call Belfast Ireland’s underdog city. But let’s not forget that it’s not about the size of the dog in the fight, rather the size of the fight in the dog. And while Belfast’s history is all about that fight, it’s the city’s present on which I’d rather shine a light – with this list of […]

Can you think of a single city as synonymous with über-cool street life as Berlin? On my recent trip to the erstwhile divided capital this coolness extended its grip to the elements, with a sub-zero snow-covering lending an extra dimension to the urban landscape. Shooting in the snow with frozen toes kicking fresh drifts and tingly […]

The huge unspoiled Cambodian temple complex at Preah Vihear has long been the scene of animosity and fighting between Thai and Cambodian forces, but happily for those seeking an unspoiled temple experience it’s currently safe to visit. And due to the contentious history of this site there’s just a tiny sprinkling of tourists here even today, […]

I love Cambodia, I love Siem Reap and I love Angkor Wat. But as well as playing the same game as everyone else and trying to get pictures of the famous temples sans tourists, I decided to embrace the scenes created by my armies of fellow snappers. Here are my top 5 photos of random […]

But Christopher Robin is nowhere to be seen. And instead of bearskins you can witness the guards or Sumungun (meaning gatekeepers) dressed in their own traditional brightly coloured costumes and armour as they perform a ceremonial re-enactment of the changing of the royal guard.

* Disclaimer* This post tackles a sensitive subject so I want to be clear about the fact that I’m not on the side of anything here, except peace.* I went to Belfast to enjoy the city, to shop at the Christmas Market, drink in the bars, see the Titanic exhibition and explore the Antrim Coast – […]

Turin might be best-known for Winter Olympics, Fiat and Lancia factories and that eponymous Shroud but it turns out that the once-industrial hub is hiding an artistic secret, for nestled in the Alps of Northern Italy is a contemporary art epicentre bursting with challenging and inspiring contemporary art. Here are the top 5 modern art galleries in […]

Paris may be known as the City of Light, but Turin is making a bid to be the City of Lights, as its avenues and squares, its Roman walls, and even its public bicycles are adorned with light installations for the Winter. But these are no mere gaudy Christmas baubles, they’re an all-encompassing city-wide endeavour to make […]

These days there’s far more to the King’s Cross than Eurostar and Champagne Bars of the station complex, so dip your toe into the coolest canalside area in London with this list of 10 things to do in King’s Cross – try them out one by one or join them all up to make a […]

I’d never heard of either the comic-book anti-hero Corto Maltese nor his creator, graphic novelist Hugo Pratt when I walked into the latest exhibition of drawings of this traveller-extraordinaire in Portugal, and I’m guessing perhaps neither have you? But once you realise this is a character on a quest for excitement and diversity, choosing worldwide adventures, freedom and imagination […]

Buckingham Palace’s Queen’s gallery unveils more artistic treasures this week with the opening of The Northern Renaissance: Dürer to Holbein exhibition, a collection of Northern European art which includes the painting that defines the world’s image of Henry VIII, plus a painting freshly unveiled after a two-year-long conservation project and a collection of prints by the art world’s original […]

Think of Cairo and you’ll imagine Tahrir Square, mob rule and flag-carrying protesters. But Cairo and Tahrir Square has changed in the last 20 months – at the end of September the Egyptian authorities pushed forward with a major clean-up of the city’s revolutionary hub. Having turfed the square they made the controversial decision to whitewash the political graffiti which adorns […]

You probably already know that Leonardo da Vinci was one of the greatest artists to have ever lived, but the Italian inventor also made some startling discoveries about the human body which were light years ahead of their time – and subsequently lost to the world for nearly 400 years.  The Queen’s Gallery at Buckingham […]

A shiny new and exciting modern art gallery surrounded on all sides by signs and graffiti deploring its very existence? Who knew a gallery could cause such a furore? See what all the fuss is about and take in the East Sussex sea air with a visit to Hastings’ Jerwood Gallery. I’m going to do something I […]