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If you are thinking about visiting the Cairngorms National Park in winter, we've put together a list of things to do in the Cairngorms during the winter that includes skiing, winter hiking, whisky tasting, exploring historical sites, wildlife watching, and visiting popular family attractions. We'll ... Read More...
J.K. Rowling wrote most of the Harry Potter books in Edinburgh Scotland, and you can still visit many of these places today. Rowling moved to Edinburgh in 1993 and once said in an interview: “…Edinburgh is very much home for me and is the place where Harry evolved over seven books and many, m... Read More...
How to get from London to Edinburgh. This guide covers 10 ways to travel from London to Edinburgh, and the costs, time, and booking methods associated with each so you can find the best way to get from London to Edinburgh for you. London and Edinburgh are two of the UK's most popular cities, and man... Read More...
The Bristol Balloon Fiesta is the largest annual hot air ballooning event in Europe, and it is also one of the top outdoor festivals in the UK. Held each August over several days, the Bristol International Balloon Fiesta events include the mass ascension of over 100 hot air balloons, nightglows, bal... Read More...
Did you know that you can find four UNESCO World Heritage sites in London? Although London is one of the world's great modern capitals, it has a history stretching back to Roman times. London's four UNESCO World Heritage sites are: Palace of Westminster, Westminster Abbey & St. Margaret's Church, th... Read More...
A Guide to Celebrating Hogmanay in Edinburgh Scotland. After attending Edinburgh's Hogmanay several times, we've finally decided to write a guide to celebrating Hogmanay in Edinburgh! Hogmanay is the Scottish word for New Year's Eve and Edinburgh's Hogmanay festival has become one of the largest New... Read More...
A comprehensive guide to Winston Churchill sites in London. Winston Churchill is one of the most well-known British figures of the 20th century, and today it is easy to find traces of Winston Churchill in London. Although Churchill traveled extensively, there is no city more central to his life tha... Read More...
We share our favorite ways to celebrate Christmas in Edinburgh Scotland. There are loads things to do in Edinburgh during December, which include traditional Christmas markets, ice skating, Christmas shopping, light shows, charity events, and concerts. We cover all things associated with Christmas ... Read More...
An Isle of Wight guide to visiting the top Queen Victoria sites on the Isle of Wight in England. Queen Victoria had a significant impact on the Isle of Wight, and there are a number of Queen Victoria related sites on the Isle of Wight. Queen Victoria first visited the Isle of Wight on a holiday with... Read More...
North Coast 500 Planning Guide - We've put together a comprehensive North Coast 500 guide to help you plan the perfect North Coast 500 road trip in Scotland. The North Coast 500 is a 516-mile scenic route along Scotland’s northern coast that begins and ends in the city of Inverness, the capital of... Read More...
Guide to the top Winston Churchill sites in England. We have put together a list of the top Winston Churchill sites in England and tips on visiting each of these places. As admirers of Winston Churchill ourselves, we know that many people want to visit places associated with Churchill during their ... Read More...
Guide to things to do in Loch Lomond & the Trossachs National Park. There are many things to do in Loch Lomond, and it is a popular weekend destination for locals from Glasgow and Edinburgh in search of nature and outdoor activities. Loch Lomond & the Trossachs National Park was Scotland's first nat... Read More...
Our London itinerary: what to see and do with 6 days in London! London is one of the world's most famous capital cities and England's largest city, offering an endless number of attractions, museums, historical buildings, and entertainment options. London can be an overwhelming city for many travele... Read More...
Our Recommended North Coast 500 Hotels Guide - where to stay along the NC500. The North Coast 500 is a 516-mile scenic route along Scotland's northern coast, offering drivers rugged landscapes, sandy benches, wildlife, museums, castles, whisky distilleries, and so much more! If you are planning to r... Read More...
A guide to Glasgow's attractions and a list of the top things to do in Glasgow Scotland. Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and there are so many things to do in Glasgow! The city is home to fantastic art galleries, historical National Trust properties, leafy green spaces, amazing street art, a... Read More...
A guide to the British Pullman train. The Belmond British Pullman is the sister train of the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express and is made up of a collection of historic Pullman carriages. Based at Victoria Station in London, the train makes regular luxury day trips and short journeys in England. A jour... Read More...
The Royal Edinburgh Ticket is a great way to save money when visiting the top royal attractions in Edinburgh Scotland! The ticket covers all three of our favorite royal sites in Edinburgh: the mighty and historic Edinburgh Castle, Holyrood Palace (official Scottish residence of the royal family), an... Read More...
We'll share the top Harry Potter sites in Edinburgh (and all the minor ones) in this comprehensive Harry Potter guide to Edinburgh. Harry Potter fans love Edinburgh as it was the home of J.K. Rowling when she wrote the majority of the Harry Potter books and there are several Harry Potter sites in Ed... Read More...
A guide to visiting Wentworth Woodhouse in Yorkshire, England. Wentworth Woodhouse is the largest private home in the United Kingdom and it has the longest façade of any country home in Europe; however, very few people have ever heard of this spectacular English house! We'll share some of the fasci... Read More...
A guide for those planning a trip to Scotland and looking for Isle of Skye and Scottish Highlands itinerary ideas. Spectacular landscapes, castles, mysterious lochs, waterfalls, tasty seafood dinners, and Highland coos are a few of the many treasured memories associated with our Scottish Highlands i... Read More...
Guide to using the London Oyster card on public transit. Using an Oyster card, a credit card sized transport card, is an easy way to save time and money if you are planning to use public transportation in London. An Oyster card can be used on just about every form of transport within London includin... Read More...
Guide to over 25 hidden gems in Edinburgh. There are so many fantastic Edinburgh attractions and we keep discovering new ones as we delve deeper into this historical city. This guide is for those visitors who have already seen the highlights of Edinburgh. So whether you have a long stay in Edinburgh... Read More...
An Essential Planning Guide to the Edinburgh Festivals in August. Edinburgh festivals are well-known around the world, lending the city one of its nicknames, Festival City. But did you know that five major festivals take place in Edinburgh during the month of August? Edinburgh is home to 11 major fe... Read More...
Here is a list of 21 of the top things to do in Edinburgh to help you plan your Edinburgh itinerary! There are so many things to do in Edinburgh Scotland! We have been living in a village near Edinburgh since February and are still discovering so many new things each time we visit. But I wanted to s... Read More...
Higlights of the Scottish Borders region of Scotland. A visit to the Scottish Borders is an easy day trip from Edinburgh, and allows visitors to get a glimpse into a relatively unknown region of Scotland. The Scottish Borders is region located in the southeast part of Scotland, with the Southern sec... Read More...
Blenheim Palace Day Trip from London along with the Cotswolds. Recently Laurence and I were invited to do a London day trip to Blenheim Palace, the Cotswolds, and Lacock Abbey with ZesTrip. London is one of those cities in which you can keep returning and still find plenty of new things to do, but i... Read More...
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We recently attended the Edinburgh International Science Festival which kicks off the annual festival activities in Edinburgh. Scotland may bring to mind images of rugged castles, grazing Highland cattle, lush green glens, sheep, bagpipes, haggis, and men in kilts. However, Edinburgh, the country's ... Read More...
A guide to taking a train journey on the Venice Simplon Orient Express and the story of our own experiences. The original Orient Express train service ran from 1883 to 2009, and its name became associated with glamour, luxury, intrigue, and even murder! In its heyday, it was the most luxurious train... Read More...
Afternoon tea in London is one of those quintessential travel experiences and I was very excited to try the Prêt-à-Portea tea at The Berkeley. The name for this fashion-inspired tea is a clever play on the phrase prêt-à-porter which refers to ready-to-wear clothing (a.k.a. off-the-rack) within t... Read More...
During my first visit to London, Laurence and I did a full-day London walking tour with City Wonders to get a good orientation of the city and see some of the most iconic sights. This London walking tour takes you through the heart of the capital city and during the day we saw so many recognizable l... Read More...
