Showing posts with label travel
02 October in

Mallory Meadows Holiday Cabins & Roundhouses, Leicestershire


AD | gifted stay at Mallory Meadows in return for an honest review. 

If you're looking for an opportunity to escape to the Leicestershire countryside, I must introduce you to this sweet little spot. Mallory Meadows.


Mallory Meadows is nestled in a beautiful 2.5-acre site which borders open countryside. Four rustic wooden cabins and two luxurious roundhouses allow you to escape from your busy day-to-day routine in style. It's easy to forget you are in fact in Leicestershire still. Located in just a 28-minute car drive East of the Leicester City Centre. 

The location is surrounded by wildlife including owls and badgers. The site is rural and quiet but within a 10-minute drive of quaint villages and towns to explore. Near the Mallory Meadows is also the Battle of Bosworth site, Twycross Zoo, Bradgate Park and of course the city centre of Leicester. 

All of the accommodation comes with fantastic facilities; en-suite shower rooms, cosy heating, wi-fi, kitchenettes, bed linen and towels and a TV. What's even better is that the site is dog-friendly and each comes with its own hot tub. So you'll have everything you need for the perfect weekend getaway. 

Mallory Meadows has something for everyone. The Hare sleeps a family of four with 1 pet whilst the Robins Retreat sleeps two. For our visit, we stayed in the Robins Retreat. These are more modern additions to the area, only being added 12 months after Mallory Meadows opened their doors in 2018. The spacious studio-style place had everything we needed to enjoy a weekend away. Surrounded by mature trees and overlooking a small church, All Saints. The small parish church dates back to the 13th century.





Our roundhouse came with a secluded private deck area. On it was quality garden furniture and an outdoor hot tub which meant we were able to just get on and enjoy our experience. A beautiful spot to enjoy a glass of wine in the hot tub. There is also a bbq nearby which would be great during the warmer months. Whilst being at Mallory Meadows, it was hard to remember you were in Leicestershire still.  

The team here also have a well thought out set-up when welcoming you on your visit. We were sent a guide a few days beforehand which was full of information on what to do in the area, and how to use the facilities, it made planning our weekend incredibly easy! An added bonus was if this is a special occasion you can organise all sorts to be at your accommodation for when you arrive. Such a lovely touch to what could be a unforgettable weekend. 






For those wanting to explore during their stay, Mallory Meadows is in a great location. It's located close to the famous Mallory Park Race Circuit and the area around that definitely has a good variety of things to see and do. We headed on a short drive to the medieval market town of Market Bosworth to enjoy the country park, a coffee with cake and of course a pint in the pub too. Further afield we also headed 15 minutes down the road to Hinckley for a spot of shopping and some food. Having some gorgeous Leicestershire countryside right on the doorstep of your accommodation means you can just grab your walking boots and enjoy some fresh air. Of course, there's also the option just to enjoy the accommodation and kick back there for your entire stay if you want to. 

Mallory Meadows have some great Guides on their Instagram page for some inspiration so you do not need to plan so far ahead if that isn't your style. 
 
Prices to stay in the cabins can range from £369.00 onwards for a weekend stay in the Robins Retreat. However, always keep up to date on their Instagram page as last-minute availability at lower prices is always announced there.  

I would highly recommend a stay at this gorgeous spot in the Leicestershire countryside and will definitely be heading over again in the future! 

Another place to explore in Leicestershire is Ragdale Hall & Spa for an Evening Spa Experience. 



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26 June in

10 Things You Must Do in Cambridge.


Known for its gorgeous architecture, punting, and world-class university which played host to some of history's most influential minds; Cambridge is a fantastic city to explore. The city has a beautiful variety of beautiful sites to discover. Located on the River Cam and a short 50 minutes journey by train from Kings Cross station, Cambridge is a UK city break destination that ticks all of the boxes. If you want to enjoy some history, find some great places to eat, and truly relax this is the place.

Here are 10 things you must do when you visit Cambridge.


1. PUNTING DOWN THE RIVER

This activity is a bit of a Cambridge cliché but there is really no better way of seeing the sights of this wonderful city. Travel down the river and learn some interesting stuff about Cambridge with Scudamore's who first introduced pleasure punting to the city in the early 20th century. They know their stuff and you can take food and a drink on board to truly relax!





2. A CLASS AT CAMBRIDGE GIN LABORATORY

This is one for my fellow gin lovers out there, put this on your agenda. Award-winning gin Cambridge Gin has been operating since 2012. Their gin laboratory is situated in the heart of the city and they operate several different classes. The classes include a tasting session, mix your own cocktail gin class and you can even have a go at making your very own signature gin. 


3. ENJOY THE HISTORIC CHELSEA BUN AT FITZBILLIES

You cannot head to Cambridge and miss out on the opportunity to enjoy the ultra-sticky Chelsea buns which have been the most famous and most popular product at Fitzbillies since 1920. This place is great for a spot of brunch on your visit. I sampled the Chelsea bun with their French toast dish, it was delicious and accompanied a coffee perfectly. 



4. CAMBRIDGE BOTANIC GARDENS

If the British weather is on your side then you definitely need to head on over to the Cambridge Botanic Gardens to enjoy some nature. Explore over 40 acres of garden and 8,000 plant species from all over the world. The gardens are owned by Cambridge University and help facilitate teaching and research. 


WATCH: 'SNIPPETS OF CAMBRIDGE' INSTAGRAM REEL


5. THE POLAR MUSEUM, SCOTT POLAR RESEARCH INSTITUTE MUSEUM

If on your visit the British weather isn't too good or you enjoy exploring museums, add Cambridge's polar museum to your list. In this museum, you can discover polar adventure and exploration. Some of the highlights here include snow goggles used by Ernest Shackleton on the 1914-16 Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition and fossil ferns from approximately 140 million years ago. It is a really interesting place to explore! 

6. EXPLORE THE CITY AND THE UNIVERSITY TOUR

Cambridge is known for its university so a trip to Cambridge isn't without seeing it for yourself. You can take a tour across iconic landmarks of Cambridge University and enter the famous King's College Chapel on paid guided tours. It is a great opportunity to explore the heart of this city and the Get Your Guide Cambridge Tour is very affordable to do this! 




7. VISIT CAMBRIDGE'S POPULAR MARKET

Cambridge's market scene is outstanding in this city! There is a General Market in the main market square, opposite the Guildhall 10am-4pm from Monday to Saturday. There are around 100 stalls available that offer a range of fruit and vegetables, vinyl, clothes, gifts, books, and great food too! If you are visiting on a Sunday, Cambridge offers a Sunday Arts, Craft, and Local Produce Market in the main Market Square. 

8. CLIMB UP TO THE TOP OF ST MARY'S CHURCH 

Located next to the marketplace is St Mary's Church. You can head up the 123 steps to enjoy a panoramic view of the city. This church is older than the university and was built in 1205. 


9. DISCOVER VINTAGE TREASURES ON MILL ROAD 

Located a 30-minute walk from King's College Chapel is one of the city's trendiest and most electric shopping streets. On Mill Road is a variety of independent family run shops and it even has its own microbrewery, Calverley's, nearby for you to enjoy a good pint after! If you enjoy looking for vintage stuff then there are loads of shops along Mill Road for you to browse in! 


10. ENJOY THEATRE AT CAMBRIDGE ARTS CENTRE

Of course, on a city break I seek out the best arts venues on offer and Cambridge has some great ones, including Cambridge Arts Centre! The space is run by a proudly independent charity so if you have the chance to see some theatre on your trip find out what's on here! 


I can't wait to visit Cambridge again in the future! 

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29 May in

[AD] GoBoat, Birmingham Review.

  AD | Gifted trip with GoBoat Birmingham in return for a review.
Birmingham is going to be the place to be in the UK this summer as it invites the world into this vibrant city for the 2022 Commonwealth Games. If you're looking for a fun activity to do when you are next in the largest city in the West Midlands, try out GoBoat. 

GoBoat is a brand new self-drive boating experience, allowing people the opportunity to explore Birmingham's vibrant canal network. Hop on board one of the self-drive boats from their base at Brindleyplace; already equipped with a table, umbrellas, blankets (in case it is a bit chilly), and life jackets/buoyancy aids for younger passengers. The team allow you to bring drink and food onboard with you, so bring along some snacks! They do say that the captain must not drink alcohol though so please bear this in mind. Your boat can hold up to 8 people including children (and dogs are welcome to come on the boat too!). 



The GoBoats are powered by low emission rechargeable electric motors, they are almost silent and are good for the environment. The boats travel at a comfortable cruising speed of 3.5 knots, about 4mph. So it is great for those passengers who are doing something like this for the first time.  

People using GoBoat Birmingham do not require boating experience because the friendly, experienced staff will teach your designated captain everything they need to know before departure. The GoBoat team also provides you with a route map to help you navigate through your journey. 

In Birmingham there are two routes to choose from, so whether you want to enjoy a more calm vibe outside the city centre or want something fast-paced in the centre - there is something for everyone. We went for a combination of the pair; we enjoyed the more relaxed atmosphere towards Birmingham University - The Vale in comparison to the city centre as it meant we could kick back and enjoy the journey without considering too many other canal users along the way. 





The boats are available for a 1,2 or 3 hour adventure depending on what you would prefer. We had our boat for 2 hours and it was just enough time for us. I really think this activity is perfect to share with your friends and family, you can just kick back and enjoy many of the tranquil views and calming nature that being in the water provides. I would highly recommend this activity to anyone looking for something different to do in Birmingham this year. 

Prices for GoBoat Birmingham begin at £95 for the first hour but all other information about the company can be found on their website. 

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09 January in

The Gresham Aparthotel, Leicester

AD | Gifted visit in exchange for an honest review. 

I think I may have found one of the best places to stay when visiting Leicester, The Gresham Aparthotel. I've given it a trial and can guarantee you'll love your stay here just as much (if not more) as I did. The new aparthotel cost £17 million pounds to build and has been created inside the foundations of the former Fenwick department store - a city landmark that has been given a whole new lease of life with this stylish and exciting aparthotel. 


Gresham Aparthotel is situated in a Grade II listed building on the corner of Market Street and Belvoir Street. It is in the perfect place to enjoy some of Leicester's must-see activities and is a stone's throw from the Curve. This makes it one of the best places to stay in Leicester. 

The aparthotel has 121 short-stay, serviced apartments within it. Each of these apartments comes with a kitchen, and en-suite facilities as well as access to a fitness suite and laundry room. You don't even have to go too far for somewhere to eat because there's a restaurant and bar on the ground floor. The 'Black Iron Social' is open to both guests and the general public. This is run by the same team behind Leicester's Winstanley House Hotel and the City Rooms. 





The attention to detail on this place is stunning, it is incredibly stylish and has some really lovely finishes to it. There are a variety of apartments in The Gresham to choose from, I stayed in the Delux Studio which sleeps two people. These apartments have all of the benefits of a Studio, with a little extra space. I couldn't quite believe how spacious our apartment was. We could enjoy sitting on the sofa enjoying a film, or enjoying our food at the table without feeling like we were packed into a space. In our studio, we also had the added extra of a small hallway/entrance area to hang our coats and shoes in. I felt incredibly safe and comfortable whilst staying at The Gresham and our windows gave a fantastic morning view over Leicester's Cathedral.

I would definitely stay at The Gresham Aparthotel again, especially for those weekends when my friends are coming to the theatre with me. The prices to stay here begin from £80 for the Inner Studio and £200 for the Two Bed Apartment. 

Visit their website if you'd like further information about staying at The Gresham Aparthotel in Leicester.

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12 July in

AD | 48 Hours in Bristol with National Express.

AD | Collaboration visiting Bristol with National Express.



Known for being the world’s biggest manufacturer of hot air balloons, home of Wallace and Gromit as well as a population of over 615,000, making it the largest city in the South West of England. Bristol attracts thousands of people to their city full of culture and is a place that definitely keeps on giving, here are some ideas on how you could spend a day (or weekend) in this beautiful city, thanks to a trip with National Express recently.

National Express are a fantastic fleet of coaches who travel to 100’s of towns, cities and airports across the country on a daily basis. This isn’t the first time I have used their services in order to experience what the UK has to offer and on an affordable budget, you are never disappointed with the rates that National Express has to offer. Bristol is one of the top destinations on offer and with tickets starting from £20, it’s worth the lengthy journey from Leicester to enjoy a staycation in the city.

STAY

There are plenty of places to stay in the Bristol city centre, however Holidays by National Express have re-launched and now customers can book their UK holidays and staycations packages all in one place. With their Lowest Price Guarantee, customers will never pay more than they have for their UK holidays by coach.




As part of this stay in Bristol we decided to stay at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Bristol City Centre, a 20-minute walk from where the Bristol Coach Station is located. The shops at Cabot Circus, the Bristol Aquarium, and Bristol Hippodrome are all within a mile from the hotel. Housed in a 17th-century glass kiln, Kiln restaurant serves modern British meals for breakfast and dinner. The hotel also has a free fitness centre that is open all day. The rooms are spacious and comfortable with en-suite facilities, tea and coffee-making facilities, a desk and a flat-screen TV with Freeview. In the morning you can enjoy a varied hot or continental buffet breakfast (included in your stay!) meaning you can fill your belly nicely before heading out to explore everything Bristol has to offer. The views of St Mary Redcliffe Church, a 15th-century church full of gothic detail from our bedroom window were breathtaking. The team at Doubletree by Hilton Hotel were incredibly friendly and accommodating, so I’d attend again for their service alone.

THINGS TO DO

There is so much on offer to see and do whilst you are in Bristol, whilst you can pack it all in, Bristol will definitely leave you wanting more! If you have a head for heights you most certainly need to explore the scenic views of the Clifton Suspension Bridge. If you want to get an insight into Bristol, I’d recommend jumping on a Tootbus (priced at £14.00 per adult).

The 14-stop bus route allows you to explore the home of Banksy, visit one of the most important historical ships in the world – Brunel’s SS Great Britain or sample one of the great restaurants at Bristol’s harbourside. On the other side of the harbour, which you can access by a quick boat ride is more on offer. In Spike Island and Southville there are some eye-catching street art for you to marvel at, although the search for Banksy art was rather time consuming (but worth it if you are a fan of his work and ok to put in the legwork!) On board tour bus, where your ticket is valid for 24 hours, it takes you past Bristol Zoo Gardens, Bristol Aquarium, Clifton Suspension Bridge, Bristol Cathedral, St Marys Redcliffe, Brunel’s Old Station, Bristol Temple Meads, Bristol Hippodrome, Clifton Downs, Clifton Observatory.






If you enjoy grabbing a slice of culture in Bristol, it has a whole host of Free Museums and Historic Houses for you to discover, including M Shed. M Shed tells the story of the city and its unique place in the world. Although these places are free to visit, you need to secure your place by booking due to covid regulations.

Clifton Village is a beautiful suburb of Bristol, tucked away from the hubbub of city life and located just a five-minute drive away from the centre. I didn’t get chance to see this place for itself during my visit but it definitely encourages a re-visit for that place alone to be discovered and enjoyed!

If you are on the scope for bookshops and shopping, Bristol city centre is full of them!


PLACES TO EAT

Bristol has a lot of great places to eat, dependent on your culinary needs. I would recommend that if you are visiting during the weekend you book your table prior to your trip. Some of the places recommend by my followers include Snobby’s for pizza, La Guinguette a French bistrot and The Clifton Sausage. Visit Bristol also have a great directory of places to eat and drink whilst visiting Bristol. 



We dined at the Riverstation, located on Bristol’s iconic harbourside (I genuinely think the harbourside was my favourite thing about the city). It has a stunning terrace and balcony with unrivalled views of the river, perfect for alfresco dining when the British weather is on our side! The change their menu seasonally and all of the dishes are fresh and delicious! I easily got food envy from sitting at my table.

Bristol was such a fantastic place to visit and I cannot wait to book my return trip in the near future. The city is always hosting some great events in and around the city so keep your eye on the Visit Bristol Whats On page to find out more!

If you are looking for a more affordable way to travel around the UK right now, don’t forget to book your coach travel tickets with National Express.

Need some more inspiration for a UK city break? Head on over and see what you can do for 24 hours in Liverpool.

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09 December in ,

Christmas at Wollaton Hall, Nottingham.


Christmas isn’t going to be the same this year but I have been desperate to bring a little sprinkle of festive joy to this time of year, somehow. That’s where Christmas at Wollaton Hall came in. The gorgeous park has been transformed into a light spectacle like no other for the first time ever this season. The people of Nottingham have a real treat in store with this one. It was a great alternative to plenty of other activities we would have otherwise been doing during the festive season.

Light Up Christmas is an original new spectacle for Wollaton Hall created by renowned lighting specialists DBN Audile in collaboration with award-winning outdoor arts company Walk the Plank.  

The experience takes you on a discovery through four magical lands which have been specially designed to fit into the natural landscape of the Hall and Gardens. The trail is definitely suitable for visitors of all ages. Young people will be captivated by the visually stunning multi sensory experience of light, fire and sound that Christmas at Wollaton has to offer. It has the seasonal classic atmosphere, injected with a contemporary twist.

We arrived at the location for our 7:30 booking where we spotted quite a considerable amount of people heading towards the start of the trail. Throughout our visit we definitely felt it was far busier than we had anticipated and with very little people considering the “social distancing” rule but it didn’t distract us from our experience. I just felt like there could have been more consideration from members of the public.





It took us around an hour to complete the trail, navigating through the clear directions through the various worlds. There’s an opportunity to grab a hot drink at various intervals through the trial, great if you want to enjoy a festive beverage on your visit. Of course I went for a hot chocolate.

Christmas at Wollaton has a breathtaking finale that will definitely wow you! We stood for a long time marvelling over what Wollaton Hall had to offer for their finale.






I thought this event was a great alternative and would be eager to visit again. It definitely helped me to get into the “festive mood”. There is also a handful of food vans available at the end of the trial and a small gift shop if you want to grab a little something to remind you of your visit.

Our tickets were around £16.50 per adult which we thought were an ok price for the trial. I expected more on offer and felt we spent a lot of time walking between the worlds with nothing to experience. I think there’s room for improvement if it makes a return next Christmas, but still considerably good for their first year.

Tickets are available to visit Christmas at Wollaton until 6 January 2021. You can book them and find out more about the event, including their Covid-19 Safety Policy through their website.

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21 July in ,

The Beachcroft Hotel, West Sussex.

𝗔𝗗 | gifted stay at The Beachcroft Hotel in return for an honest review.


Travelling in 2020 is back on folks and staycations in the UK are growing increasingly popular after the easing of lockdown. Some Britain's are still jetting off on a plane this summer, however personally I think this is a fantastic opportunity to grab your stuff, get into the car and explore what our country has to offer instead. I have shared the 10 Best Places for a UK Staycation if you're after some inspiration.

The first place on our travels post-lockdown was a gorgeous spot in the heart of West Sussex, I've been further towards Brighton a few years ago but never here. I was intrigued to see what West Sussex would have to offer and our hotel's location is right on the beachfront, The Beachcroft Hotel.

The Beachcroft Hotel is a independently owned hotel on the Felpham's seafront. On offer here are 37 comfortable, spacious and recently refurbished bedrooms including a penthouse suite and 4 beach suites. Nearly all of the accommodation available at The Beachcroft boasts incredible ocean views from their windows, providing the classic British seaside holiday we all enjoy.





The staff here are attentive to your needs and very friendly, we felt at ease and safe throughout our stay here. The Beachcroft Hotel accommodates families, couples, single travellers and those needing to find somewhere to stay on business in West Sussex. This hotel can accommodate dogs, with two of their Luxury Beach Hut suites and 2 of their ground floor bedrooms with a private terrace being made available to you. So if you're looking for a dog-friendly place to stay in West Sussex, I would definitely check out The Beachcroft Hotel for your preference.

The hotel have some fantastic facilities on site including their car park, in-house restaurant and bar, and a sea facing garden terrace with games and a lovely indoor heated swimming pool. The swimming pool was out of use due to the COVID-19 guidelines but we made good use of the garden terrace, enjoying every ray from the sun whilst sipping on a few drinks. Here there's even bikes you can hire out for the day, we took huge advantage of this on our second day and headed towards Littlehampton for the day. It's quite a ride (and my legs ached for days after) but with the good weather and a playlist on my phone it was a pleasant experience to do without using the car.


For our stay we stayed in a Classic Seaview King Room. The room we had was big enough for us to feel comfortable and relaxed during our stay, even when we already knew before attending we didn't want to spend a lot of time surrounded by crowds. The hotel room has en-suite facilities, complimentary Wi-Fi, Freeview television and radio, tea and coffee making facilities and hairdryer. Of course the best part of the room was the view of the ocean, we felt so lucky to be able to wake up and enjoy a cuppa whilst admiring what we could see and falling asleep to the sound of the ocean. It felt so calm and peaceful here which is what people are looking for when it comes to a staycation.

We dined in the hotel's in-house Tamarisk Restaurant for dinner and breakfast. The restaurant is a spacious, light and airy setting that offers a selection of traditional English dishes prepared with a modern twist and technical perfection. There wasn't a lot of choice on our menu for dinner due to the post-lockdown opening so I opted for a dish I know I would enjoy which was the Sirloin steak. It was well presented and cooked how I wanted but I didn't see an option for peppercorn sauce which meant my meal was not as full of flavour as I would have wanted. My starter of whitebait was better, it was tastier than the main dish. For the dessert I went for the Lemon Posset which I thought was simplistic but packed lots of zing and flavour to complete our meal.

The hotel sits on the Felpham Beach which is a superb 7-mile stretch of British coastline with breathtaking views across the English Channel. You could definitely spend your days here on a deckchair, reading a good book and enjoying the sights and sounds of the British seaside. We enjoyed having some fish and chips delivered from the Sussex Fisheries for dinner on the beach on our first night here. There's the fantastic Lobster Pot, a small cafe/restaurant which has an extensive menu for you to choose from minutes from the hotel.


However if you want to inject some adventure into your trip, there's loads on offer in the Sussex area. There are great towns to visit like Arundel, Brighton (a place I adore!), Chichester but more locally there's Bognor Regis and Littlehampton. We explored Littlehampton well during our visit and it has so much to offer.

Littlehampton has two award-winning beaches, the beautiful River Arun and a large seafront green. You can also check out some captivating award-winning architecture including the Stage by the Sea, East Beach Cafe and Britain's Longest Bench. Littlehampton has a fantastic programme of cultural events running throughout the year, I would check out their website to see what is available during the summer.

If you would like your fix of culture during a stay in the West Sussex area the area boasts fantastic arts venues including the Chichester Festival Theatre and Regis Centre and Alexandra Theatre. They both have an extensive programme of theatre that would be great to enjoy for a night away from the hotel during your stay at The Beachcroft Hotel.

There's also plenty of outdoor spaces to enjoy in and around the area if you want to do something different from the beach.

There is so much on offer within West Sussex and at The Beachcroft Hotel. It was exactly the staycation we were after since lockdown and it's grown my confidence in exploring another spot in the UK soon.

If you'd like to find out more about a stay at The Beachcroft Hotel in West Sussex, you can visit their website for further information.

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