COMPETITION // BUDGET BUCKET LIST

I was recently tagged by the lovely Bex to enter the Budget Bucket List competition by Money Supermarket. As soon as I read her post and all the details, I knew I had to enter, because my entry would cover something I'm planning to blog about soon anyway!

I actually only work part time at the moment and I don't know if that's because I don't have a huge passion to kick start a 'career' right now, or if it's just because it's really bloody hard to find a full time job. Don't get me wrong, I'd love a full time job doing something like writing for a magazine or anything to do with the media, but it's really hard to find the drive to start a long term career in a job you don't really want. It's tough writing this without wanting to sound ungrateful - I don't mean to say that if I did have a full time job right now I wouldn't give it my all. It's just at the end of the day I'm 23 years old and have been working since I finished university. I really, really want to travel a bit before I commit myself to a career that will stop me travelling in future. But the sad part is, to travel, I need money. And I need a proper full time job to save enough money to travel. Do you see my problem here?

Therefore, the theme of travel definitely prominent in my Budget Bucket List competition. The idea is that we're supposed to mention two things from your bucket list; one budget and one extravagant. So let's get on with it, shall we?

My extravagant bucket list item would be, of course, to travel across America, as mentioned many times before. It has been my dream for many years now, and I'm not even entirely sure why. I'm just obsessed with the place. When I close my eyes and imagine my all American road trip, I think about driving through a desert, windows down, music loud and laughing my head off with my best friends. I imagine crowding into a run down dive bar with nothing but good company, classic drinks and an old jukebox. I think about taking loads of pictures and movies of me and my friends just messing around. I imagine stopping at all the really quirky and weird road stops that places are known for. I want to talk to the locals, hearing stories about their home and where they think we should go that would accurately represent where they live.

Finally, where would I actually go? Well that's a tough one, because I want to visit so many different places, but I'm also open to suggestions. Generally I want to do a coast to coast trip, so the places that I'd definitely visit include..

Arizona, San Francisco, Vegas, New Orleans & New York - images taken from Google!

So what's stopping me? I'd hoped to already be on this trip by now, really putting a lot of thought into it last year and making plans. But lack of money (and a full time job!) has unfortunately put this idea on the back burner for now. Still, I suppose there's still hope for 2014...and it would mean a lot for me to go on this trip because I feel like my life isn't really going anywhere right now, probably because I'm not very fussed about doing much with my life. I don't have the drive to find a proper job or move out or anything like that and I think that's because I've never really had a break! Lots of people travelled before they went to university and I didn't. I'm not sure what I want to do with my life right now but as cliche as it sounds, I think the opportunity to take a good few months off from 'my life' to just travel, make new memories, 'find myself' (corny I know!) and just not worry about my future would actually make a lot of difference. I think I'd come home determined to finally get on with things.

And for the budget item, I'd love to do a mini road trip around the UK! As much as I'm obsessed with America, I'm quite appreciative of the UK too. I think we have so many quirky and cute things to offer; we have a great nightlife; we have castles and countryside and generally, even though it rains all the time, England can be pretty damn cool. So lately me and my friends have been talking about doing a week long little trip around the UK to coincide with two of our favourite bands choosing to tour together. Since the bands aren't actually coming to London which would be our local place to see them, and they're our favourite bands of all time, we knew we still had to see them and had to pick a date to travel to. But we couldn't decide. What's nearer - Leeds or Liverpool? What about Edinburgh - it's far, but it's a really beautiful place. And then we had an idea and decided to just go to all of them! We've worked out that the trip will cost about £250 each and I personally think it's the perfect alternative budget idea to my big American road trip. The idea of travelling around a country we know so well anyway, being able to see our favourite bands, create good memories and visit all the quirky places we know England has to offer means this is very much a road trip we'd like to do this November. With £250 covering visits to Newcastle, Edinburgh, Liverpool, Leeds and Wolverhampton we think it's a complete budget bargain!

And what's stopping me booking this all up right now? Again, it's money. If I saved, I would probably be able to afford this at a push, but with hotel prices creeping up every day and the fear of the gigs becoming sold out before I have the chance to book them (most dates sold out last time the band was here!), means that I'd really love to have the money to book it all ASAP. So if I won this competition, the money would definitely cover this trip by far, and I'd maybe even have some money left over to cover my American road trip too. And if not? We'll be putting the extra cash into booking a party apartment for our night in Liverpool, with rooms offering jacuzzi's photo booths and even in room bars. So even though the whole trip will be budgeted, there's nothing wrong with having one big 'out there' night to treat ourselves, adding a little extravagance into an otherwise budget trip ;)

And yes, if that's the case, I promise you all we'll try our hardest to get both of the bands to come back and party with us!

This trip would also mean a lot to me because it would include roadtripping with two of my closest friends who have actually become close friends because of music. I met both of them at gigs earlier this year and our biggest passion as a group is music. It would mean the absolute world to me to have the opportunity to travel around the UK celebrating just that; going to gigs, creating the ultimate road trip play list and just generally having a good time. The two friends I go with work CONSTANTLY and haven't been on holiday yet this year, so I know they'd like the break, and again, like the American road trip, I know a break would do me good.

I also think the trip would help me and another friend who blogs a LOT. We've already talked about the idea of encorporating the whole thing into lots of blog content, including writing about how we arranged it all, the best places to visit in each city, reviewing the gigs, what we wore, our soundtrack to the trip and more. Finally, we've been in touch to see if we can even interview one of the bands. So if this trip went ahead, it would benefit me in terms of blogging/a career in social media greately because it would give me lots of original content for my blog. And hopefully it would help me kickstart the idea of interviewing bands as a side project which is something else I've began thinking of doing lately!

What do you think? What would be on your bucket list - both extravagant and budget?

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Professor Quantum's Magnificent Time Tour

Remember back in December when my sister surprised me with a trip on The London Ghost Bus Tour for my birthday? I had such an amazing time and when the company behind the tours offered me tickets for their sister tour, Professor Quantum's Magnificent Time Tour, I was ecstatic. I loved the ghost bus tour so much and thought the whole idea was very different and original, so I knew the time tour was going to be just as amazing.

Image taken from Timetour.co.uk

The tour follows the same theme as the ghost bus one - it's conducted on the same bus and you learn about London's history from a bonkers conductor whilst traveling around the city. However, that's where the similarities end and despite being a very similar idea, the tour manages to really hold it's own and distance itself from it's sister tour. Professor Quantum's Magnificent Time Tour was a lot more lighthearted and concentrated on being educational and humorous rather then scary, and the tour conductor threw in little tidbits of all different types of history about the city - fun facts, history about it's buildings and the countries royals and much more.

I wasn't quite sure how it would work out being on the same bus which was decked out quite old and somewhat spooky, but perhaps because the tour was held in the day, the atmosphere and decor felt much more suitable for 'old times' - as opposed to a haunted bus which it felt like during the ghost tour held at night. I really enjoyed myself on this tour and it was perfect for a rainy day in London. It was also kind of relaxing in that you could sit back and experience the tour without having to think too much about it. It was lighthearted and you could have a listen to the history and follow the story, or just enjoy the views.

The tour was conducted by the bonkers but hilarious Professor Quantum who made us laugh so much! We also had the chance to have a chat with William Shakespeare during the tour and some other crazy characters. I thought this tour was a lot more family friendly - although both tours are suitable for most ages, this tour was something that younger children would really enjoy as well, proving that it had a bit of something for everyone. The tour had a few twists as well, and tried to involve us too which drew us in a lot and made it really fun.

I really loved how they mixed it up a bit by using old historic clips and contacting characters throughout history too - this was a really interesting touch. Overall the tour was really funny and taught me loads about London's history - and it was interesting facts that I didn't previously know, not just general boring history that no one wants to know! As before, the conductor stayed in character really well too and kept the tour going even when the bus had stopped at the many, many red traffic lights in the city. Of course it's so easy to not know what to say when traffic is particularly bad and there might not be anything to look at, but she kept the story going, chatting away and making us laugh. 

I absolutely loved this tour and would love to see what tour the company thinks of doing next. I still insist that the whole idea behind it is very quirky and original - bus tours around London are so common but Professor Quantum's Magnificent Time Tour and The London Ghost Bus Tour really go above that and make the whole experience stand out with great story lines, awesome actors and much more.

Me and my sister had a lovely time - it was nice to be able to treat her for once as she's always surprising me with quirky things to do around London - and it was also a welcome treat away from the pouring rain. We went on Sunday which coincided with Chinese New Year which was nice, especially as it was the year of the snake which is my Chinese zodiac! London was filled with celebrations and after the tour we braved the cold and had a walk through the beautiful Chinatown, before grabbing some Chinese food. It was a great day!

Professor Quantum's Magnificent Time Tour runs at 2:45 on weekends all year round, with additional tours running during the holidays. The tour is roughly one hour and fifteen minutes long and leaves from Northumberland Avenue, just by Trafalgar Square. A standard adult ticket is £20.

www.timetour.co.uk // www.facebook.com/pages/Time-Tour // www.twitter.com/TimeTourBus

A Grand Adventure - Road Trip, Baby!

I've absolutely fallen in love with traveling, and since last summer, I decided it was perhaps time to stop saying 'one day' and actually get planning in terms of where I want to go. As cliche as it sounds, one thing I've always wanted to do is go on a road trip across America. I've travelled before, but in my eyes I've never actually travelled. I think mostly I've just been on holiday to places - I've never really had the opportunity to travel somewhere for the sole intention of just getting stuck into a place and really soaking up the culture and the history. So recently I decided maybe it's time to get off my arse and actually do something about this dream, especially since I never really had a gap year before I went to university. My friend Amy has decided that it's something she'd really like to do as well, so we've started planning to go this year if funds allow (but it MAY have to be pushed back until next year if we can't afford it). We're hoping to either go in the summer (Warped Tour!) or in October. We're leaning more towards October because we know how hot it can be in the summer and that we wouldn't be used to such hot climates and if we go in October it will mean our trip will coincide with Halloween. Halloween is my favourite holiday and it saddens me that it's not celebrated as big in the UK. Whereas in America, they go all out. 

Why America? America has always fascinated me, from the people to the culture and the food - I've just always loved the idea of going there and soaking up absolutely anything and everything to do with the place. Over the years I've discovered quirky oddball places I'd love to visit - all those real American off road places that are just known for being weird, and I've fallen in love with different states that I can't wait to step foot in. I want to spend the evening in a run down typical Texas bar, chatting animatedly with all the different people there, hearing their life stories. 

I've set up a travel blog too here! (It's still being worked on by the way!) I've trawled the internet for hours for planning tips and have found lots of useful websites, but I haven't yet seen a blog/website documenting both the planning process and the trip from someone who doesn't already live in America. Obviously there's a lot more to take into account being English, such as flights, visa's and how the hell we're going to remember to drive on the right side of the road...

But in the meantime, I thought it would be nice to just blog an introductory post about my idea and some locations we'd like to visit. I also spotted that moneysupermarket.com are currently doing a competition for bloggers to enter to win £1000 towards their dream holiday. It's perfect timing really, isn't it?!

Doing a road trip across America is going to be so much more expensive than your average holiday because we'll have to pay for flights, a rental car, gas and places to stay. We're hoping to mix it up a bit on the trip, hopefully staying with some American friends on some nights, camping on others. Really, the where we'll be sleeping part is the least fun, but even I know that it's something that needs to be planned in detail because if we're going to be driving a lot, we'll need a good nights rest. If I won this competition, the £1000 would make it so much easier to make my dream into reality. Even though I've already began saving little bits here and there, to have that money ready specifically for the trip, it would definitely push me to save a lot more, knowing that the trip would definitely be going ahead.

To try and cut down the cost of our trip, we're planning to use couch surfing websites to find suitable roomies to crash with! Although this sounds dangerous, we'll be using only trusted websites and I think the idea that we'll be able to do this will really make the whole trip more fun. We'll be making friends, who can then go on to give us tips on places to go, and I think the people you meet on your travels is half the fun. Like I mentioned above, I can't wait to meet such people and get to know them better.

We'll be planning things quite far in advance such as hostels/hotels we'll be staying at and researching cheap places to eat, as well as doing a few little things just to save cash. Some tips I've found from other websites suggest getting a cooler box and stocking up on food and drink when you can, so that we'll have things to eat on the journey without wasting money to eat out every day/night. Other websites suggest always checking out visitor centers in every state - not only will we find ideas for things to do and see, a lot of them might offer money off coupons for food or passes into different attractions.

Finally, where will we actually be going? Well that's a tough one, because we both want to visit so many different places, but we're also open to suggestions. Generally we're hoping to do a coast to coast trip, so the places that we'll definitely be going include..

Arizona, San Francisco, Vegas, New Orleans & New York - images taken from Google!

We'd also love to visit Miami, Texas, Ohio, Los Angeles and more to be added...

But there's so much more to blog about! I've found some amazing and helpful planning websites, and I'd love to go into detail about why I want to visit each place (Amy doesn't really blog so I'll be taking care of that side of things!). And off course, the most fun part of all, I can't wait to put together the soundtrack for the trip! Once I get the blog up and running I'll do another post and link to it and, fingers crossed, we can hopefully get some sponsoring/freebies for the trip for things like food and places to stay, in return for mentioning them when we blog about the trip.

I'm really, really hoping we manage to go this year, but if not, next year will just be as fun. The great thing is that with a blog we can keep all the planning in one place! And fingers crossed I'll win this competition and get some funding towards it as well ;)

Would you ever go on an American road trip? What would your dream holiday be?

P.S Keep your eyes peeled for a few more upcoming posts based around 'Our Big American Road Trip' and please check out the blog I've set up for it here!. In the meantime, check out the inspiration board I've created on Pinterest...!

The London Ghost Bus Tour Review

I recently popped into London for a special birthday surprise arranged by my sister and part of the surprise involved a spooky ride on the The London Ghost Bus Tour! The other half of the surprise involved a visit to the delicious champagne and hot dog bar Bubbledogs, which I reviewed in this post here. My sister knows me better than I know myself so by choosing to book us a trip on The London Ghost Bus Tour she knew I'd love it - and I did!

Image from www.londoniscool.com

I'd first heard about it in the summer when helping relaunch a website based around things to do in London and fell in love with the idea immediately. Much like The London Dungeons and other spooky attractions based within London, it's very much based around teaching you the gory/spooky side of London's history in a fun quirky way with live actors and spooky stories to set the atmosphere. The bus takes you all around London, passing and sometimes stopping at various sites that may have a ghostly history or perhaps someone was murdered there, etc. I've heard of loads of bus tours in London and loads of scary attractions, but never one that mixed the two. Needless to say when we waited at the stop and the bus pulled up, I was beyond excited.

The bus is completely decked out to suit the scary atmosphere - for starters, it's a typical London double decker bus, but it's painted completely black. Inside it's made to look like a real classic old time funeral hurst (in fact they told us it actually used to be one in the old days, but I'm not sure if that was true or not haha) with red seats and even little lamps on the interior walls all to give it that unsettling effect. It was really interesting to see how much effort they put into every little detail with even the tour conductor taking on a slight oddball character in costume and makeup and all.

Image from www.sometravelnotes.com

The tour itself was not only interesting but really scary too. I learned loads of new things about London's past, which is saying a lot because I'm actually quite interested in the disturbing side of London's history and have already read up about it lots so to still learn new things on the tour was great.  It is a typical scary attraction so on one hand you learn about all the history of the city, and on the other hand you also get scared a lot with the tour guide making you jump and other things to keep you on the edge of your seat. But it's all done in a very humorous way, so it's nothing too scary. I mean, there were loads of young kids on the tour, but I was very thankful that the conductor made them sit upstairs so they wouldn't annoy us haha! It was all really awesome - the whole idea was so quirky and different and there's so much I'd like to say but can't without ruining it! There are a lot of twists on the tour as well and I loved that it was a bit more individual in that there was also a side story about the bus which meant you felt more involved in the tour and not just sat there hearing about things that happened hundreds of years ago.

Finally the actors were great too and really lived up to keeping in character even down to the language they used (i.e addressing people as Sir or Madame as you would in 'those days', having a slight 'off' feature to them). We went just before Christmas and I'm not sure exactly what was going on but there were hundreds of drunken Santa's around London - as in yes, loads of adults dressed as Santa getting drunk. One of them rang alongside the bus and jumped on much to our amusement, but rather then breaking character or acting rude, the tour conductor just kind of played along with it and made a joke out of it. If that were me, I'd feel so under pressure and would feel compelled to break character to tell the 'Santa' to get off, but I was really impressed with the way it was handled. Plus it was hilarious.

The London Ghost Bus Tour was something I'd wanted to go on for ages but even so it still exceeded my expectations and was so much more fun/scary/funny than I thought it would be. I left the bus with my cheeks hurting from laughter, and me and my sister both got a few jumps/scares over the course of the tour as well. Plus, over all, I did learn loads of interesting facts about gory and spooky things to happen in London's past, as well as seeing all the sights where they took place.

If you're into London's history, anything to do with ghosts or the paranormal or even just like things that are a bit different (especially if you like The London Dungeons and attractions like that) then I would definitely recommend this to you!

The bus is also available for private hire which has already got me thinking about next years birthday plans!

The London Ghost Bus Tour runs every evening at 6:00, 7:30, 9:00 and 10:30 (though check the website as some of these times are seasonal!) and the tour is roughly one hour and fifteen minutes long. The tour leaves from Northumberland Avenue, just by Trafalgar Square. A standard adult ticket is £20.

www.theghostbustours.com // www.facebook.com/TheGhostBusTours // www.twitter.com/GhostBusTours

Bubbledogs Review

As explained in this post, every December my sister takes me into London for a birthday surprise and each time she always thinks of something quirky or different to do. I always end up having an amazing day as somehow my sister seems to know me better than I even know myself and these little trips are somewhat the reason I adore London so much. So on the 15th me and my sister headed into London for the first part of my birthday surprise - getting some yummy food.

We're both pretty obsessed with hot dogs so she arranged for us to grab a bite to eat at top London restaurant Bubbledogs. It's this really cute quirky place - it's all American themed and is centered around a hot dogs and champagne menu! I love the idea behind of it and couldn't wait to get there as already I'd heard many people raving about it.

She warned me in advance that there would be a small chance we wouldn't get in, being that Bubbledogs is very much an 'IT' restaurant at the moment and they don't take bookings for people in small groups. Nonetheless we got there a bit early and saw that no one was yet lining up before it was open, so headed around the corner to get a quick drink until it opened its doors. Clearly we were mistaken though because when we walked back at 5:30pm, there was a long line to get in! So we knew the food must good! We were very lucky because we got the last two seats in the house thankfully.

We were ushered in and took our seats and were presented with our menu's. The restaurant had a really American feel to it - it had just brick walls with various drawings on the walls, each in random different sized photo frames. It very much made me think of an arty Brooklyn apartment! It was small but very cosy with a lovely friendly atmosphere. The menu had a wide range of gourmet hot dogs, including a special Christmas one, each with Americanized names. I ordered the classic Sloppy Joe hot dog and despite the fact that I don't even like chilli, it was delicious! Between us, myself and my sister also ordered all three sides - coleslaw, tots (hash browns) and sweet potato fries. Let me tell you, the hash browns are absolutely to die for! I don't even like hash browns either but hand on heart they were one of the most delicious things I've ever tasted in my life and my tummy rumbles just thinking about them. The hot dog was delicious too obviously and I found that even though you're only really eating a hot dog - perhaps with sides if you order them - it's just the right amount. Surprisingly enough for what looks like not much it was really, really filling. 

The food arrived in little classic red plastic baskets and I really loved how the food was very much finger food. Apart from a fork with our coleslaw, we were given no cutlery. Being that it was such a stark contrast drinking it with classy champagne, I really loved this. It was just so quirky and different - the idea of messy hot dogs that you can buy on a street corner, eaten with celebratory champagne - it was really cool. It was also perfect for London which is a city that constantly has contemporary and edgy restaurants popping up everywhere.

I looked on foursquare not long after leaving and found loads of other people raving about the Sloppy Joe's hot dog (clearly I chose well!) and the 'Tots'. I also read that apparently a lot of the staff are trained mixologists so paired with the fact that I thought the staff were very friendly, I could definitely see this being the type of place where you set up shop at the bar after eating and just spend an evening in a friendly/relaxing atmosphere drinking. It actually wasn't too expensive either, obviously it cost more than your average pub grub meal but I think considering the fact that you're paying for champagne and having such a different experience, the price is more than worth it. The restaurant also provides take out if it's too busy to sit in.

It's a very popular restaurant at the moment and although I think all the fuss will die down eventually once the idea is not so 'new', I believe the delicious food and quirky theme to it will definitely keep it a success. It was without a doubt a great experience and I'll definitely be dropping in again next time I'm in London!

Bubbledogs 

Hot Dog Joint

70 Charlotte Street

London 

W1T 4QG

Christmas in London & The London Dungeons

There is nothing more beautiful than Christmas in London. The cold weather paired with the festive lights and decorations is just the nicest way to spend a winter evening this Christmas and I must say, I'm forever thankful at living so close to the city, especially at this time of year. Ever since I was little, my sister has always taken me out in London to celebrate my birthday with some form of surprise, and I think that's probably what has caused me to love the city so much during winter.

London is also great during winter because there is so many things to do - most of which are seasonal. There's ice skating at Somerset House or you could visit a real Winter Wonderland at Hyde Park. There are even bus tours that take you around the city at night specifically to see all the various lights and decorations all around the city. There's always something to do for the whole family and there's always something for everyone - be it traditional, quirky or contemporary.

One of the first times my sister took me for a special birthday surprise in London, she took me to the London Dungeons, which has since become a firm favourite attraction of mine, so much so that I must have been for a total of at least six times over the years since. Although I actually celebrated my birthday surprise in London with my sister this weekend just gone - which I will blog about - I was also offered the opportunity to pop down to London and visit the Dungeons to blog about them recently, which I accepted without hesitation. Despite having gone so many times before, the Dungeons NEVER get old or boring for me and it's always a little bit different at London so this blog post is why I'd suggest paying them a visit this Christmas.

Please note, any photos on this post are not mine but were found via Google or the official Dungeons website. Photography within the Dungeons is prohibited and although I would have loved to take some photos whilst lining up inside, where you are allowed to take photos, my camera had already died and unfortunately my iPhone doesn't take good quality photos on the dark. Apologies! 

I LOVE visiting the Dungeons and would thoroughly recommend them to anyone - especially at Christmas. They offer that perfect mix of learning about London's gory past but with lots of jumps, scares and fun in the process. It really is something quite different with various actors taking on historical characters and scary sets that have astounding attention to detail. It's like a live show that you are part of but it's so much fun. As well as learning about things such as The Great Fire, Jack The Ripper and Sweeny Todd, there are also 'rides' within the Dungeons walls such as a boat ride and a drop ride. All in all, it's a real laugh exploring around the Dungeons and despite having been so many times myself, I never get bored as there is always something new to learn. They're continually taking on new parts of London's history or adding on to the whole interactive experience that it never gets boring.

What I really love though is how it's so interactive with the audience - the characters joke around with you all, pulling people up for a mock trail to reflect how things were settled in courtrooms during the 18th century. There is up to 14 shows on the 90 minute tour, including 'Fog Freeze' which is new for this winter. At Christmas they also have a slightly odd 'Santa' who gives you gory gifts! What's also great is how the actors will take note of their audience too - if there are little children on the particular tour, they'll take note and lessen the jumps, instead making the show a bit more humorous. Likewise if you're all adults, they try to scare you more! But I'd still say the Dungeons has something for everyone - it's not scared out of your wits scary, instead it's very humorous and is definitely the type of thing to go to in a group. It really is so much fun and better yet - it's cheap!

You can save up to 20% when booking in advance online, and the Dungeons are literally right next to London Bridge Station, so it's all easily accessible. Despite always being busy, you never have to wait long either.

I've also heard that the Dungeons are genuinely haunted too which is interesting! Over all I really love the Dungeons, the attention to detail is just spectacular and the way everything comes together to create a spooky and on edge atmosphere is amazing. I'd definitely recommend the Dungeons this Christmas if you're ever in London.

Click here for the official Dungeons website and for more information!

Bruges - Our Recommendations

As explained in my previous post, I recently spent a mini weekend away in Bruges with my sister and my mum. Over all the weekend was fairly cheap - we went from Friday morning to Sunday afternoon and because we travelled by Eurostar, generally the traveling part of the weekend was cheap.

We realized however that Bruges as a city isn't actually as cheap as we hoped! The food is quite expensive and other than sightseeing, the main thing to do in this beautiful city is to shop - so off course it wasn't as cheap as we thought it would be. However we managed to stay in a really cheap B&B and managed to find really cheap places to eat at and cheap things to do so in this post I'll tell you all about these places if any of you ever choose to go!

Accommodation 

We stayed in the beautiful B&B Maison de la Rose which was more than ideal for us. This cosy Bed & Breakfast is only a five to ten minute walk away from the city center (Bruges is a very small town) and we found that the brief walk was actually enjoyable because it involved walking down lovely cobbled streets and seeing loads of picturesque sights in the process. The B&B is family run and has three large rooms - one of which is family room - as well as a loft/apartment. We stayed in the family 'Grey' room and had more than enough space for just the three of us - we had two large double beds (one of which was made up of two single beds which we could pull apart if we wanted to), a desk, fridge, TV etc and our own en-suite bathroom. Off course the room was warm and clean and was from €63 per night, an extra 10 euros for breakfast which we had on our first morning. The breakfast was delicious and filled us up for the day and we found the owner to be lovely - he gave us a guidebook with all his personal recommendations in it, and we loved that he suggested not only cheaper places but also places that were less for tourists and more for locals which I thought was nice.

B&B Maison de la Rose

Ezelstraat 11, B-8000 Brugge, België

Eating Out

We found that generally, as beautiful as they all were with their crackling fires and festive decorations, most of the restaurants within the main square were quite expensive. So I googled and had a look on trip advisor to find somewhere to eat and we found the recommendation for this real local bar/restaurant called Bierbrasserie Cambrinus. It was literally on one of the streets just behind the main square and we walked in to find it extremely busy and filled with locals, wishing we'd thought to book a table ahead of time. Luckily they had one table spare for an hour before it was reserved again so we took that table and we immediately understood why it was so busy. It had such a warm and friendly atmosphere and we weren't the only English people in there so despite being a favourite for locals, we felt very welcomed. It had an impressive menu of local beer and the waitress recommended some delicious beers for us and was very helpful. We ordered quite a lot for just the three of us - we decided to share everything between us so ordered a selection of hot and cold snacks, some garlic bread and a salad with Goatscheese & Bacon served with Raspberryvinaigrette (whatever that is!). Everything was delicious and overall the food came to just €38 between the three of us. So cheap, especially compared to everywhere else!

Cambrinus,

Mgr Roelensstraat, Ardooie, Flemish Region

It tasted SO good!

On our second day we were quite full up from breakfast so just caught something on the go - we had some beyond yummy hotdogs from one of the stands at the Christmas market (they also did the most delicious Bailey's hot chocolate) and we found there were a few english places to eat too such as a chip shop, Starbucks and Subway. We also stumbled across a craft fayre one of the local schools put on for charity which was situated in one of the beautiful old buildings and they had a Bistro set up there too. That was really cheap and the food was so nice that we went back twice - the coffee was only €1!

Places To Drink

Obviously because we went as a family, going out drinking or clubbing wasn't really on our to-do list but we definitely wanted to try some of the local beer and found one nice bar which we spent a few hours in. Belgian Beer Pub Don Quichotte (what a mouthful!) was this tiny bar we found just off the main square but I loved it, it was so tiny and quirky! There was a nice atmosphere and it was really decked out in some funky deco, as well as having a large selection of beer and loads of different flavours (including chocolate!). Oddly enough, as we first arrived and propped ourselves up at the bar (it was so, so tiny but cute!), I felt like I was in America! We ambled in with our coats, scarves and gloves and it was so warm and inviting that we pulled them all of immediately and got ourselves ourselves comfy at the bar. You could tell it was a real genuine local place, some people had brought board games to play with them! However saying that, again it felt very welcoming and even had the English football on. It really reminded me of the type of pub you'd stumble across out in the cold then come into and just get warm and spend your whole evening in good company, chatting and having a laugh. Naturally I loved it.

Image NOT taken by me, image taken from 365pubs.com, please click image for link.

Belgian Beer Pub Don Quichotte, 

Eiermarkt 14, Brugge, West-Vlaanderen 

Although we didn't actually go clubbing/drinking, whilst in this pub we were obviously in the more lively area of Bruges where people do go for a night out as we spotted loads of pubs and clubs in this area.

Things To Do

Attraction wise, there isn't actually much to do in Bruge. We found some leaflets for an Aquarium and themepark - though we didn't know how far away these were - as well as a show/museum in the center but this had quite bad reviews. We were quite content strolling around and just enjoying exploring though and getting involved with the culture. We found a lot of guided tours being offered - walking tours, bike tours and even Segway tours! There were also horse drawn carriage rides which I thought were beyond romantic as these ran into the evening when it was dark and all the lights were on. We would have loved to have gone on a bike tour but the weather wasn't nice enough - though really everything was in walking distance anyway.

We did go on a boat tour though which I would absolutely recommend. Bruges is filled with canals and waterways and there's so much you don't see just by walking around - we saw a completely different side of Bruges by boat and it was so lovely.

I can't remember how much the boat trip cost and there were a few different companies offering them but they were all really affordable. Each trip lasted maybe 20-30 minutes and included a commentary about the history of Bruges. It was really nice and something I'd definitely recommend.

Because the city didn't offer many attractions apart from museums and art galleries, I'd definitely suggest visiting during Christmas when there is a lot more on. The Christmas fayre was beyond pretty - each stall had decorations, food, hot drinks etc and then off course there was the actual ice skating rink as well. It was really lovely grabbing a hot chocolate or a hot dog and just wandering around the fayre slowly in the evening, everything lit up, or stopping to watch the ice skaters with Christmas music in the background. It really put me in the Christmas spirit.

And that's another thing about Bruges - they play music EVERYWHERE! Most streets have speakers along them so you'll hear the radio or different music playing as you stroll around - it's all really cheery!

The Chocolate!

Bruges is best known for it's chocolate (and beer, and er lace) and you'll discover that as there are chocolate shops everywhere. You literally cannot get away from them and each and every one was so cosy and inviting, luring me in with many delicious smells and displays of chocolately goodness...yum! Our favourite one however was Chocolatier Dumon - a place we actually found by accident but was so thankful for! We took a different route home one night and stumbled across it, peering through its windows with all it's beautiful displays. It was beyond tiny too, it was literally just one room and a second one kind of on a lower floor. An elderly couple stopped and looked too and told us they knew the owners and had had it recommended it to them - therefore we HAD to find it again the next day when it was open. We did so and were very glad because the chocolate was absolutely delicious and actually quite affordable to! I think we loved it so much because it was recommended to us - a lot of other chocolate shops we found were clearly there for tourists, but this was very genuine and obviously another favourite of the locals.

Chocolatier Dumon, 

Eiermarkt 6, Brugge, Belgium 8000, Belgium

So overall, we had a really nice weekend which was actually quite affordable once we looked around a bit and took into consideration other people's recommendations. I hope that if anyone reading this chooses to go, this post helps a bit! Bruges can be expensive, especially for tourists, but it doesn't have to be if you really want to fit in with the locals. I would also without a doubt recommend visiting around Christmas time too - we went from the 23rd November which was actually just as the Christmas markets started which was very lucky. It's worth noting as well that despite being in the middle of winter, it wasn't actually that cold. Even though it rained a lot one day, because it was such a picturesque city, I don't think it was really a problem as it was a city break as opposed to a summer weekend away to sunbathe!

We had the most amazing time and would definitely go again and visit some of the places listed in this post.

P.S Feel free to check out the travel tag for some more travel related posts!

Weekend Away in Bruges

Over the weekend myself, my sister and my mum went to Bruges, Belgium for a lovely girly weekend away over Christmas. It was a really nice city break - we went Friday to Sunday afternoon and came back feeling very much in the Christmas spirit! Overall it was really cheap too as we travelled by eurostar, something I continually recommend to people. It's such a cheap, quick and easy way to travel - it's so stress free and easier then flying! The whole journey took about half a day which was perfect because we left early and arrived in Bruge for the afternoon, meaning we still had time to look around, rather then spending the whole day wasted by traveling.

Bruge is the most beautiful city ever - it's so oldy wordly and filled with narrow cobbled streets and small local bars - it's really ideal for weekend breaks, especially over Christmas when everyone has their decorations up. For a start, the buildings were just amazing. They were all different with odd roofs and most with a victorian feel - it was like walking around in a different time era!

We went at just the right time - the Christmas markets were just starting and it was really like walking through a magical world with so many beautiful fairy lights and decorations everywhere.

In the center they had a beautiful Christmas market which was filled with stalls selling decorations, local beer and Bailey's hot chocolate - yummy! There was also a lovely ice skating rink and it all looked so pretty and seasonal lit up at night with Christmas music blasting out too.

Attraction wise there wasn't actually much to do there other than looking around museums and shopping - but it's such a nice town just for sight seeing. In Bruges there are two main town squares and everything is in walking distance with sleepy boutiques and shops in side streets leading off each center.

This post was just to show you some pretty photos of the picturesque town - all throughout the weekend I couldn't stop commenting about how beautiful it was! Later during the week I'll put another post up explaining more about what we got up to and our recommendations for where you should visit should you ever choose to come here. We found Bruges to be a very expensive town but luckily found some cheap and affordable places to eat!

P.S Feel free to check out the travel tag for some more travel related posts!

London.com

This post is a little bit off subject but it's something that's quite important to me and, as many of you live local or close to London (or visit the city regularly anyway!) I thought it would still be of interest.

I'm very happy to be able to say that the website I've been helping relaunch for the past few months is finally up and running! London.com is essentially the go to guide for anything going on in the city - whether you're looking for a quirky restaurant to eat in, a free guided tour or you just want to know about any events going on whilst you're in London.

My main role as the editor has been providing all the written content for the website - so if you go on and click on anything listed under 'Editor's Choice' - that's all provided by me! Additionally, pretty much any feature on the homepage links to my content.

As someone who adores London, both for its tourist attractions and also for its hidden away quirky hidden gems - being the editor of this website is pretty much my dream. And what makes it different from other websites is that my content isn't just about what's popular - I've found out about things through word of mouth, I've done research and I've actually visited these places. You'll honestly find things on this website that you wont on any other (one of my favourite hidden gems I've suggested is a bar that to get access to, you need to provide a password to someone and then enter through a fridge door!).

There are also loads of discounted tickets and attraction entries on the website, as well as loads of exciting upcoming competitions.

So if you're ever in London, or you're just eager to see some of my writing in a more professional point of view then please do check it out. I'm so happy to be part of this huge project!

www.London.com

Alnwick Castle & Gardens - The Gardens

Yesterday I blogged about my exciting tour of Alnwick Castle & Gardens - which I went on last year - and promised to blog about the second half of my visit where I explored the gardens and grounds of the castle. The first post is here.

If you thought the castle was beautiful then you're in for a surprise as the gardens were absolutely stunning!  The Alnwick Gardens are actually described as a 'complex of formal gardens'. There are all different gardens included in your visit, which includes the rose garden, the poison garden, the ornamental garden, the serpent garden, the roots and shoots garden and finally the cherry orchard. Flowers might not be your thing but it's well worth visiting the breathtaking grounds.

I particularly enjoyed the serpent garden - it is a garden filled with hidden walkways and art. There is a maze in it (fun!) and dotted around the garden you can find different art based around the theme of water.

The Grand Casade which featured a fountain show each half hour

Part of the maze

One of the water features, yes, we managed to walk through it without getting wet!

It was truly lovely exploring all the beautiful gardens and just gazing at the stunning arrangement of flowers and such, and the poison garden was really interesting!

However, my most favourite part of the whole day and the best part of the grounds in my opinion was the treehouse!

Image taken from Wikipedia.org 

Yes, they had a treehouse. How flipping cool is that?! The treehouse is one of the biggest in the world and it was so amazing. Unfortunately my camera was dying by this point so I only managed a couple of pictures which is a shame, but I have genuinely made it my aim to return to Alnwick Castle & Gardens and visit this treehouse again. It was a real hidden gem - and it was quite romantic too! As we were looking around we were unfortunately rushed for time as we didn't have long until our coach was arriving but I was still glad for the opportunity. It was getting dark as we were looking around too and the whole treehouse is decorated in beautiful, small twinkling lights which makes it seem really romantic and magical. 

The treetop restaurant - Image taken from www.alnwickgarden.com

Parts of the treehouse are connected by suspended bridges and there is even a cafe/restaurant inside with a beautiful roaring fire! It was amazing and I was in awe the whole time. I'd love to visit one day at Christmas and have a meal inside the treehouse when it's decorated for Christmas, I can't comprehend how cosy it will be inside next to the fire and a Christmas tree. The treehouse was the highlight of my day and I'd recommend that if you are ever in the North East, make the effort to visit this treehouse and the whole Alnwick Castle & Gardens.

As a further note - after seeing the photo of the restaurant again - I'm not quite sure if there was a fire or not - perhaps I imagined it as it was two years ago now! Nonetheless, it was amazing.

It was a really awesome day and Alnwick Castle & Gardens are definitely a top highlight of the North East.

www.alnwickcastle.com

www.alnwickgarden.com

Please note all photographs are copyright to myself and this blog, excluding the two images used which I have clearly stated where they are from.