Hyatt Regency London Stratford Hotel Review

Stratford, the perfect base for a weekend family break in London. This East London town which has been transformed from a once industrial area is now packed with bars, shops and parks and is one of London's most vibrant and well-connected areas.  I've travelled to London many times with my boys and there are a few things that always ensure a calmer and less stressful break in the big smoke, one main one being the location of the hotel and despite Hyatt Regency London Stratford not being in zone 1 it makes for the perfect location for families.  Arriving in to Paddington it's a quick 18mins direct underground trip along the Elizabeth to Stratford and even less from Stratford to Tottencourt Rd in the heart of central London. Stratford is not only well connected to central London via underground, train and bus but also to Canary Wharf and Greenwich via the DLR and we found Stratford an easier location to reach than more obvious ones in the city. The Hyatt Regency is only a sh......

Read more »

A budget friendly guide to Greenwich, London

Situated on the banks of the River Thames, Greenwich is known for its maritime history and the iconic Cutty Sark. It is well worth exploring and has its own unique atmosphere and village feel compared to that of bustling central London.  While London can be an expensive city a day trip around Greenwich doesn't have to be as there is so much to see and do that is both free and family friendly. I recently visited with my two children and we enjoyed all the sights but with hardly any of the costs and I thought I would share with you my budget-friendly day guide to Greenwich.    Firstly there are a variety of ways to reach Greenwich, as we were staying in Stratford we opted for the DLR, with a quick change at Canary Wharf, it was an easy and quick way to reach Greenwich and able to see out of the front of the DLR while travelling under the Thames is an experience in itself.  We disembarked at Cutty Sark station which brings you to the heart of Greenwich and as soon as yo......

Read more »

A weekend travel guide to Fowey, Cornwall

* This post contains affiliate links  I feel very lucky that I had the chance to spend time living in Falmouth, Cornwall before having children and whenever I get the chance to visit and explore more of the area, I do. I've travelled across most of the Cornish peninsular, from the small harbour villages and coastal towns to the sleepy countryside hideaways and bustling city of Truro, there is always something to discover and so many reasons to put Cornwall on your UK bucket list. So why Fowey ? This quaint harbourside village in Southern Cornwall which is set in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty is not only an architectural delight but is packed with history, cafes and small independent shops, with castles on its doorstep to explore, as well as white sanded beaches, coves and views across the River Fowey, to name a few. It's also popular with the literacy set as it was also home to famed author Daphne du Maurier, with many of her books being set in Cornwall as well as Kenne......

Read more »

Combo Torino, the coolest hostel in Turin, Italy

I've always been a fan of youth hostels and backpackers, the good ones, not the bad ones and there are a few of those out there but with a little research you can find some really fantastic ones that offer all the same amenities, sometimes more, than a hotel, in fantastic locations for a budget-friendly price and many are family-friendly but do make sure to check before booking as some are specifically for 18yrs+. Having stayed at many over the years as well as worked at 3 across Europe, I feel I know what makes a backpacker a place to be and what doesn't. When I took the kids interrailing I knew that the majority of our accommodation would be at youth hostels as there are so many benefits, such as being centrally located, having luggage storage (unlike Airbnb's), many have kitchens that can be used which means being able to do some self-catering and nearly all have lounges and chillout areas with books and games for kids to enjoy. They are often more relaxed than hotels wh......

Read more »

My 5 Country European interrail Itinerary with kids

Our 3-week Interrail adventure across Europe was one of the best things we have done together as a family. I had Interrailed a few times before having kids so I was especially excited to jump back on the trains with my kids. May. people seem to have the impression that Interrailing is for gap-year youths but that simply isn't the case, it's suitable for every age and children under 12 years old receive their interrail pass for free with an adult.  In an earlier Interrail post, I go into detail on how to plan, book and ensure you have the right reservations, which is really important. But in this post, I wanted to focus on the route we took and where we stayed and a short overview of what we saw. I will do individual destination posts soon where I will go into more depth on activities, where to eat, see and do.  1. Newport - London As we booked an early morning Eurostar from London St Pancras which meant we needed to be at St Pancras no later than 8:30am, we felt it would be b......

Read more »

How to plan a multi-stop Interrail train trip across Europe with kids

As some of you may know last year I took my boys on of the best adventures we have had so far, a multi-country interrail train trip around Europe. We managed to visit 5 different countries over the span of 3 weeks and travelled on multiple trains including high-speed, intercities, local trains and even a sleeper train and we had a blast, from start to finish.  This wasn't my first experience of Interrailing, I had done it before having kids so I had some idea of the importance of checking if you needed reservations prior to boarding or checking in advance if there was even space on a sleeper train as these regularly sell out weeks beforehand.  What is an Interrail Pass ? In a nutshell, it's a train ticket that allows you to travel on almost all trains in Europe, with access to 40 railway & ferry companies across 33 countries. If you plan to do a multi-country trip in Europe it's the most convenient and cost-efficient way to go about it. However some trains, especially ......

Read more »

A review of the newly refurbished Ty Mawr Pub, Lisvane

*Ty Mawr kindly invited us along to the press night. I've not been paid for this review & all words are 100% my own On the mountainside, overlooking Cardiff, with the Severen Estuary in the distance sits the beautiful Ty Mawr Pub . Having been closed recently for refurbishment, it reopened just before Christmas, looking and feeling more wonderful than ever.  I had been long overdue a child-free evening out with my mum, so I organised childcare for the kids and she and I set off to see what the new menu was all about. On arrival, the pub had a lovely festive atmosphere and the staff were very welcoming, taking us to our seats near the warm wood fire.  The Ty Mawr has a very impressive drinks selection, not only do they have an array of cask ale and beers but also a variety of wines, gin, whiskey, cocktails and mocktails to try out.  As it must have been at least 5yrs since my mum and I have had an evening out without the kids, we started the night with a small glass of......

Read more »

Exploring Melincourt Falls in Neath Port Talbot

One of our favourite things to do is discover what is on our doorstep and while Resolven in Neath Port Talbot may not be just around the corner, the 45min drive over the Rhigos mountain was very scenic and the Neath Valley, in general, is one I want to explore more.  I often feel that the South Wales Valleys are overlooked in general, which is a shame as they are packed with fantastic hikes, mountains and hidden gems, although the plus side to that is it's usually very quiet, unlike parts of the Brecon Beacons, Cardiff of the welsh coastline.  While many will know of the famous waterfall walk in the Brecon Beacons there are some equally impressive waterfalls just outside of the national park, Melincourt being one of them and is more family-friendly than some which require a bit more endurance. Melincourt is only a few minutes away from the town of Resolven, which you drive through en route to the free public car park off the B4434 road. Do not take the Waterfall road on a ste......

Read more »