Food
Who loves good food? I DO! Yes, I absolutely adore finding delicious, interesting things to eat along my travels.
From tasty BBQs in the Caribbean and shave ice in Hawaii to nasi goreng in Indonesia and tasty tapas in Spain – these are the posts to fuel your foodie side.
Happy Eating!
A Christmas City Break In Birmingham
Plan a Christmas city break in Birmingham, with trips to the Christmas market, great restaurants and the perfect place to stay.
15+ Amazing Things To Do In Rochester, Kent
The top things to do in Rochester, Kent include visiting adorable tea rooms, hipster coffee shops, cute gift stores, boutiques, smart restaurants, an ancient castle and enjoying stunning river views.
One of the things I’m enjoying most right now is exploring my home country. A few years ago I was jetting off here, there and everywhere! While I haven’t slowed down much, I’ve really appreciated opportunities to explore more of England. There’s so much in this country, but it’s SO often overlooked! I love the convenience of it. You don’t have to travel far to see some truly gorgeous places!
REVIEW: Hotel Du Vin Wimbledon, London
Forget the tennis, there’s another BIG reason to take a trip to SW19 – for a relaxing getaway at Hotel Du Vin Wimbledon!
When it comes to mini-breaks, London might not be your first choice, but that’s where a hotel like this is just perfect! It has the feeling of being in the countryside, set in beautiful parkland and close to upmarket Wimbledon Village, yet you’re just a short tube ride to the bright lights of the city. It really does offer the best of both worlds.
I visited in October, enjoying the Eat.Love.Stay package, which included a three course dinner, a glass of wine per person, an overnight stay and a full breakfast the next morning. So, time to find out more… what’s the hotel like? Where is it? Who’s it suitable for? And most importantly – is the food any good?!
Hotel Du Vin Wimbledon: Hotel Overview
Hotel Du Vin has a collection of smart hotels around the UK, many in unique and historic buildings. I was familiar with the brand after eyeing up their gorgeous hotel in Brighton many times! Cannizaro House, their Wimbledon outpost, is a large 19th Century house overlooking Cannizaro Park – a sprawling collection of parkland and gardens that was looking particularly pretty as Autumn rolled in. There was a sense of grandeur as we entered, peeking through to the bar, lounge and the floor to ceiling glass of The Orangerie. After reading about the history, it felt appropriate to hear the house had hosted the likes of Lord Tennyson and Oscar Wilde! It was quintessentially British in character.
Hotel Du Vin Wimbledon: Style and Décor
I loved the bar and lounge area of the hotel, which is both sophisticated and cosy! In the centre of the lounge there’s a striking circular banquette with seating around it. To the side, a fireplace with an ornate marble mantelpiece, topped with bottles of champagne. There are tall columns topped with gold, mirrors with thick gold frames and chandeliers. It definitely feels like somewhere you’d visit for a special occasion. Just beyond is The Orangerie, Hotel Du Vin’s restaurant where we enjoyed both dinner that evening, and breakfast the next morning. What a room! While it’s a lovely open space (with retractable roof and huge doors opening straight out into the park) it’s the view of Cannizaro Park which makes it extra special. The greenery is uninterrupted, with the autumnal colours of red, orange and brown making it especially pretty.
Autumn In London
Spending Autumn in London? Here are a few spots I’d recommend…
I’m home! Yes I’ve finally found a London base, for the time being at least. While travelling is a huge part of my life, I was feeling quite unsettled with no fixed address. But now, here I am typing in my new flat in London. I’ve joined a gym and found some cool locals spots – the local Asian supermarket being one of them!
It’s been lovely to explore the city again, go to events, see friends and generally live the London life! I felt very lucky to be invited to be part of Visit London’s first #LoveLondonWeekend. They invited top Bloggers and Instagrammers from around the world to explore London, with opportunities to visit some of the city’s most famous attractions, and uncover a few hidden gems too! You can check out some of the stunning photos over on Instagram here #LoveLondonWeekend.
So time to share a few of the places I’ve been enjoying in London as the leaves have turned red and crunchy!
The View From The Shard
I’ve only been up the Shard once before, and that time it was at night. This time I caught a bit of the magic just after sunset, as the twinkly lights started to sparkle. I’ll never get tired of views of London like these…
