Sometimes you just need to escape, and I think I've found the best place in the UK to do that. My boyfriend and I wanted a break but fancied staying somewhere a little closer to home. So we did some research and found this place on Airbnb, I couldn't believe our luck. The reviews were amazing, the photos looked beautiful and the location was perfect. In reality it was even better, located at the very tip of the Cotswold this place was set to be out little retreat for the next couple of days. We relaxed by the outdoor pool (yes it has a pool!), played with the dogs, ate some amazing organic food, slept well, walked around the stunning gardens and went on little adventures to Daylesford and a few of the other local villages. I couldn't recommend staying here more! Plus if you use this Airbnb voucher link I think you get £30 off your first stay, so there's really been no reason not too book! Just don't tell too many people about this place, it can be our secret...
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Last week I finally got to visit Dreamland in Margate. After seeing all over Instagram last summer when it opened it again after TWELVE years, it's fair to say it's been on my 'to visit' list for a little while. So I was thrilled to find out that my work away day was going to be there, to make the day even better we were going on the hottest day of the year so far. It was the perfect opportunity to escape the humid city and hop on a train to Margate. We visited Dreamland on the first day of the year so sadly a few of the attractions weren't open yet, including the big wheel. However it was everything you would hope it to be and more, filled with retro rides, a cute little ice-cream van, pastel colours everywhere and vintage arcade games (there was even a Rolling Stones one!) You can find Dreamland located just a 10 minute walk from the station and practically a hop skip and a jump away from the beach! The amusement park is described on their website as 'More than just brilliant retro rides and amusements. Dreamland is a world where vintage cool holds hands with modern design, and goes for a lovely beach side stroll.' This summer they're introducing music again to the park including a night with Blur's Dave Rowntree! A true 90's dream!
Not too long ago I spotted on Twitter that Cutter & Squidge were collaborating with one of my favourite characters ever, Hello Kitty! So as soon as I knew it was available to book, I asked a friend if she wanted to come along and then all that was left to do was to wait. The day finally arrived, and we wondered in to the shop excitedly to see what our afternoon had in store for us.
On arrival we were given wristbands a bit like we were going to attend a Hello Kitty festival (I've still got my band pinned to my cork board). We were lead down the stairs and shown an enchanted 'garden' filled with flowers, tables and all things Hello Kitty. The cakes were served in dim sum style boxes to make sure the afternoon tea felt right at home, I loved that it was presented in a different way rather than the traditional tea stand. In terms of the food, it was a little bit hit and miss for me which was such a shame as I had been really looking forward to it. I really enjoyed Mimmy's Pink Lemonade marshmallow as I don't get to eat marshmallows very often as I'm a vegetarian, so that was a lovely treat! The savoury cheese scones and Strawberry milkshake biskie were also really delicious. However every thing else on the menu I sadly didn't love that much, I think it was just too many strong flavours to be eaten at once. If you have a really sweet tooth then I do think you'll love it, as everything is super sugary. I loved the whole concept, the shop looked absolutely amazing and I was able to take the cakes I didn't eat home with me and share with my family. I really hate having to write something negative as I love Hello Kitty, plus Cutter & Squidge are such a lovely little company. I just wanted to be completely honest about my experience and share what I loved and what didn't quite take my fancy, but this doesn't mean that you won't like it too!
The Hello Kitty afternoon tea finishes on the 31st August and is £40 per head.
Welcome to the most photo heavy blog post of all time! This may even beat my New York photo diary, but I couldn't help myself during my stay in Amsterdam as there's a photo opportunity round every corner. So I thought I would share a few of my favourite photos, as well as give you a little round up of what I got up to. I love writing these sorts of posts as I find them so helpful, when I discover them myself, but it's also a nice way to look back on your holiday.
Where I ate:
Sotto Pizza, for a really delicious sour dough pizza and this is where I had a star shaped pizza! Interested? Then keep scrolling.... The Meets Eatery, this was the first place we visited after dropping our bags off at our hotel, CitizenM and I'm so pleased I found it. It's a wonderful little cafe serving lots of raw and vegetarian food, perfect for me! For dinner one evening we tried Bazar, an African & Middle Eastern restaurant, with a fun and lively vibe and huge menu! My favourite thing about this place, was the bright interior, the place was covered in lights and walls of colour! For breakfast and lunch try Bakers & Roasters, for a great veggie breakfast or Coffee & Coconuts (I loved it so much I did a whole blog post).
Where I shopped:
Unlike New York, I didn't come on this holiday with the intention of shopping, however one shop which I really feel is worth mentioning is Love Stories. Love Stories is a lingerie brand, which use the most amazing fabrics and basically aim to make you feel super sassy. I fell in love with numerous pieces in there, including a set of pink pyjama's, a 'Love Stories Hotel' dressing gown, and quite frankly every pair of knickers in there! I've included a couple of photos of inside the shop (images 10 & 11), however I do feel quite tempted to do a whole blog post dedicated to Love Stories. You can find the shop at Herengracht 296, 1016 BX, Amsterdam and online!
Where I went:
As soon as my boyfriend and I had agreed that we were going to Amsterdam, I knew that I had to visit the Anne Frank House. I was absolutely obsessed with the book when I was younger, and I'm sure like many other people it inspired me to write a diary. The house is incredible and very moving, at times you have to remind yourself that she actually lived there. We were able to book tickets before, and I would highly recommend that you do, the queues looked quite bonkers when we walked past it one day. They usually put tickets online 2 months in advance. We tried to pack as many things into our little trip as we could so as well as exploring the streets of Amsterdam we also went on the Canal boat tour, ate in De Pijp, shopped in 9 streets and saw a Banksy and Warhol exhibition at Moco Amsterdam.
This weekend was spent with friends, family and visiting new places in London. Sometimes living in London you can get wrapped up in your own little bubble and tend to stay quite local during the weekends. So, when my university friends and I decided to have a reunion I thought there was no better time to try some new places. First on the list was Searcy's Champagne bar and although it was absolutely freezing in the outside bar area, it was a fun place to try and I must admit I did get some good instagram photos. They even had a press for champagne button... After a quick drink we dashed to make our reservation at The Booking Office, which is part of the St Pancras hotel. For any other 90s baby's/Spice Girls fans you'll know why I wanted to go, it's where they filmed the video for Wannabe! My friends and I stayed there for the rest of the night and caught up over plenty of drinks and food. I'd definitely recommend going to both of these places if you want somewhere to go for drinks although both are a little pricey. Expect to pay at least £11 for a cocktail.
To finish the weekend my boyfriend and decided to treat ourselves to the afternoon at the cinema as see the Oscar nominated film Room at Picturehouse Central. As you can see from the photos below, the place is pretty special, I was in awe of the whole place. Not only is it decorated beautifully (#interiorgoals), the seats are comfortable and there's have plenty of leg space, which is definitely a plus when your boyfriend is over 6ft. After seeing the film, (which was amazing) we had lunch in the cafe downstairs which was filled was amazing cakes and pastries as well as some delicious savoury choices too! If you're feeling hungry in central London and want somewhere to grab some lunch, I would recommend taking a trip here, the nearest tube stop is Piccadilly Circus. I've put together a photo of my diary weekend and if you want to see what else throughout the week you can follow my instagram here.
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