How to spend a weekend in Winchester, where the chalk stream, River Itchen, snakes its way through the heart of the city that King Alfred the Great once chose as England’s capital. Winchester by day… Spend eclectic days spotting medieval and Tudor architecture, the last remaining section of Winchester’s stone Roman wall, visiting a working watermill or a thought-provoking museum.  Winchester Castle, founded by William the Conqueror displays King Arthur’s round table. This symbol of medieval mythology has been exhibited in the Great Hall for almost 700 years.  Walk in the footsteps of ..read more

Sevenoaks History Sevenoaks, so called due to its clusters of seven oak trees, is an affluent Kent commuter town dating back to 800 AD. It gained market town status in the 13th Century following its weekly cattle market. The High Street and London Road are lined with ‘old meets newʼ architecture from impressive Grade II Listed houses to contemporary apartments and Englandʼs oldest secular school. The two main roads ‘Vʼ shape formation, tightly hug a tangle of cobbled streets with shops, bustling cafes, a diverse food scene and atmospheric 16th and 17th Century pubs.  The historic town of ..read more

You could be forgiven for doing nothing in Scotland but drive. The scenery is amongst the most dramatic I have ever seen and changes with each hairpin bend. Snow capped mountains stand proud above reflective lochs and glens of contrasting shades of green. Heather clad hills turn golden as the sun peeks out from behind a cloud. However for those who want a little more than scenery, here are 13 other top things to do for free in the Scottish Highlands. 13 Things to do for free in the Scottish Highlands 1. Dores Beach Dores Beach, Dores, Inverness IV2 6TR The attention seeking monster attracts mo ..read more

About Bank The area of Bank is serviced by the Central, Northern and Waterloo & City Lines as well as the Docklands Light Railway. It is named from the Bank of England and is located in the Eastern Central district of London. There are a number of interesting things to do and places to eat with a 15 minute walk. 7 things to do within a 15 minute walk 1. Leadenhall Market Leadenhall Market is in London’s financial district and dates back to the 14th Century. Once a meat market, it is now filled with shops, bars and restaurants. The attractive market has featured in some blockbuster movies s ..read more

In 565 AD the legendary monster made her first appearance when it was claimed she devoured a servant. Since then, a number of reported sightings, hoaxes and investigations keep the world’s interest in ‘Nessie’ to this day. The recent storm Ciara once again led the monster to make headline news, after a giant skeleton washed up on a Scottish beach. Could this be the remains of the Loch Ness monster? Loch Ness, set within the Great Glen, is Scotland’s 2nd largest lake. It measures close to 23 miles in length and is capable of fitting the world’s population inside three times over. The high peat ..read more

It goes without saying that quintessentially Scottish dishes should be sampled such as haggis or ‘neeps’ and ‘tatties’. A wee dram of whisky should be enjoyed too! Here are four of my favourite places to eat in the Scottish Highlands… 1. Dores Inn Dores Inn, Dores, Inverness IV2 6TR Dores Inn is an incredibly friendly, family-run village pub dating back to the 1820s. Its idyllic location offers unrivalled views of Loch Ness. Staying less than a 10 minute walk away at the highly recommended Pottery House, I had the pleasure of dining here twice. If you are looking for somewhere quite special to ..read more

Europe is a fascinating, diverse continent made up of 46 countries with 24 official languages. It is steeped in history, filled with natural waterfalls, rainforests and live volcanos. From my travels, here are my personal, top 5 reasons to love Europe. 1. European Architecture Signs of pre-historic architecture still exist in Europe, the monuments of Stonehenge being a prime example. Through the ages, building styles have changed dramatically… The Classical Period – style of ancient Rome and Greece The Parthenon on the Acropolis Hill in Athens is a wonderful example of architecture from the cl ..read more

Solo dining is understandably something which some people find quite difficult. However, with a few tips under my belt from lessons learned, I now find it a very enjoyable experience. In fact, it now feels like a real treat, especially if I go somewhere quite fancy… In recent months I have discovered a few places where I have really enjoyed dining close to Piccadilly Circus. Here are my 3 top Mayfair restaurants for solo dining…. Click on the links for my full solo dining review of the following recommended restaurants… Sakagura This stylish Japanese restaurant in London’s Heddon Street offers ..read more

There is so much to do in this compact Belgian city and thanks to the City card, it is incredibly cheap too! In my opinion these are 8 of the best things to do in Ghent in 48 hours… 1. Gravensteen Castle Gravensteen Castle is an imposing, moated castle in the heart of the city, dating back to 1180. Once, the former residence of the Counts of Flanders and later, home to courts, a prison, place of execution and a textile factory. On entering, headphones are provided for use as part of an individual audio tour,. There is no need to follow a group so roam at your own pace while being guided to pla ..read more

Early morning sounds of kookaburras laughing, cockatoos screeching and lorikeets chirping as the sun rises in NSW. Sadly, blue skies don’t emerge. Instead they remain heavy with smoke as over 100 fires rage throughout Australia… Having lived in Australia for 18 months it has become a destination close to my heart. Returning annually gives me the opportunity to add more recommended places to visit in NSW. These include flights, accommodation, activities and restaurants for those travelling solo. All reviews to date can be found on my AUSTRALIA page, however, here are some others from my recent ..read more