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THE 5-MINUTE TRIP PLANNER: Day trip to Liverpool

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Liverpool is a great place for a day trip from London.

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The city is easily accessible and small enough that you can cover a lot of ground in one day.

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It’s a great place for art – as well as for bars!

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HOW TO DO IT:

  • Go: Trains from London take as little as 2h20, and prices start from £29 each way.
  • Do: Wander around the city centre, then spend some hours around Tate Liverpool – they always have great exhibitions on!
  • Drink: It’s impossible to go to Liverpool and not to think about the Beatles. Stop for a drink at the venue where it all started: The Cavern Club.

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The 5-minute trip planner: Planning a short trip in no time.

TRAVELLING ON FILM: 3 of the best movies about London

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Oh winter! You always overstay your welcome.

I haven’t travelled since mid-October and I don’t have another break planned until the end of January. I know, it’s not much at all, but for me it feels like AGES!

A good way to distract me while I’m not going anywhere is watching films about specific places. Here’s a short selection of some of good films set in London:

1. V for Vendetta

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It’s thanks to V for Vendetta that many non-British people know about Guy Fawkes (myself included). This is a great film to learn more about British history.

Plus it’s very entertaining, and Hugo Weaving is simply amazing: which is a great feat given that he’s wearing a mask pretty much the whole time.

2. Notting Hill

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Yes, Notting Hill is cheesy. But as romcoms go, it’s actually pretty good.

This film is one of the reasons why Notting Hill became so popular with tourists, and it really is very nicely portrayed in the film.

And because the neighbourhood is a key part of the film, you can do a self-guided tour around some of the main locations!

3. Skyfall

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There are not many things as British as James Bond. But James Bond at the National Gallery in front of a painting by Turner takes it to another level!

I confess I’m not a massive fan of the 007 films, but Skyfall is a great option for light entertainment, perfect for a lazy wintry afternoon.

THE 5-MINUTE TRIP PLANNER: A weekend in Berlin

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Berlin is a great city. At some point I should really stay there for a couple of weeks, but so far I’ve only been for short breaks.

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Aside from the main highlights, it’s a great place to wander around and explore all the different neighbourhoods.

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I really want to go back!

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HOW TO DO IT:

  • Go: The flight from London only takes two hours, so go after work to make the most of the weekend.
  • Stay: Schoenhouse Aparments is great – large flats in a great location, highly recommended!
  • Eat: Brunch is massive in Berlin. You’ll be completely spoilt for choice around Prenzlauer Berg, a lovely neighbourhood to explore on a lazy Sunday morning.
  • Do: Don’t miss highlights like the Brandenburg Gate and Checkpoint Charlie, as seeing these up close gives you great insight on recent German history. But also make sure to spend some time just wandering around – Berlin is full of hidden gems and you don’t want to miss that!

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The 5-minute trip planner: Planning a short trip in no time

THE CLOUDSPOTTER’S GUIDE: Take this book with you next time you’re on a plane

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Once I was on a plane, at a window seat in one of those planes with two rows of three seats. The middle seat was empty, but there was a men in the aisle.

He turned to me and asked if it was okay if he moved to the middle seat, showing me his camera. I understood it was his first time on a plane and he wanted to take pictures out of the window.

So I said he could take my place instead, and he happily obliged.

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Seeing the world from up high always gives you a different perspective. It also sometimes adds one of those ‘wow’ moments to a trip: being face-to-face with the Julian Alps before landing in Ljubljana, or the amazing sunrise on the plane back from Iceland… you don’t often get to see things like that.

So after noticing it in bookshops a few times, I finally bought a copy of The Cloudspotter’s Guide, by Gavin Prettor-Pinney.

This is a lovely book about, well, clouds. Despite the name though, it is less of a guide and more about looking at and appreciating clouds (the author is the founder of the Cloud Appreciation Society).

And it is the perfect companion for a plane journey, as you can look outside and understand a bit more about all the different cloud shapes and textures.

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Just don’t forget to book a window seat!

WISHLIST: 3 amazing and unusual stays

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I usually book my holidays thinking about all the things I’m going to see and do. But sometimes hotels can be destinations in their own right. Here are three amazing stays that I would love to visit!

1. THE BALANCING BARN, SUFFOLK, ENGLAND

Photo by Living Architecture

This place is part of Alain de Botton’s project Living Architecture. It looks absolutely amazing – who wouldn’t love to spend a few days in a floating silver barn with a swing right underneath it?

2. CAPPADOCIA CAVE SUITES, TURKEY

Photo by Cappadocia Cave Suites

Turkey has been on my wishlist before – there’s just so much to see and do there. Staying in a luxury cave hotel where you can watch hot air balloons go by? Count me in!

3. A TREE HOUSE IN FRANCE

Photo by Cabane dans les Arbres

Well, this is a bit more than a tree house: it’s a tree house modelled after a French château. Perfect for a romantic getaway, as you can relax sipping French wine in the hot tub.

Amazing!

THE 5-MINUTE TRIP PLANNER: Lisbon

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Portugal is mostly popular with the British because of its beaches, but Lisbon is a great place for a city break.

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There is a lot to see and do, from cultural attractions to a vibrant nightlife.

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And because of the mild weather, it’s a good place to visit for most of the year.

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HOW TO DO IT:

  • Go: Easyjet normally offers the best prices, and you can go after work on a Friday to make the most of the weekend.
  • Stay: Lisbon has good options for accommodation at better prices than most European capitals. My recommendation is Artbeat rooms, an artsy hostel where each room is dedicated to an artist. They have the best recommendations of places to go, and it’s centrally located.
  • Do: Visit the Monument to the Discoveries and follow it by Jeronimos Monastery – it’s a great overview of the age of exploration and Portuguese history. Then recharge with a cup of coffee and a couple of custard tarts at the place where they were first made.
  • Drink: Stop at one (or a few) of the many bars and restaurants around Chiado and Bairro Alto. There are always new places to go for a glass of local green wine!

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The 5-minute trip planner: Planning a short trip in no time.

TRAVELLING LIGHT: 4 tips on hassle-free packing

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I rarely check any luggage these days as it takes so much longer to get everything sorted at the airport. Even if I’m travelling for one week, I might still only take my backpack.

Here are some of my tips on how to pack effectively:

1. Make a list

My packing list evolved over time, and nowadays it includes the main things I might forget, like phone chargers and adaptors.

But if you don’t want to come up with your own, there are lots of packing lists around – this one from Knock Knock is my favourite. Not only does it have everything you may want to take on a trip, but they also made it into a notebook:

Image from pinterest

2. If you’re not sure you will need it, you definitely won’t

There are very few things that you really need to remember to take with you (passport and credit cards are probably the only two essential items on my list). Most things are available to buy wherever you are going.

If you’re unsure whether you need an extra pair of trousers, don’t take it with you. If you really need something, you can always buy it at your destination. Remember, anything you pack you will have to carry around.

3. Have a ‘travel uniform’

It helps if you all the clothes you are taking on a trip go together – jeans and a t-shirt are my travel uniform, so I don’t need to worry about making everything match.

If you’re taking a fancy outfit or something like that, make sure it’s small. Rolling up a dress and a pair of flat shoes doesn’t take much space and sorts you out if you need it.

4. Keep your travel essentials ready

I once read that Marissa Mayer (Yahoo! CEO) has a ‘just add clothes’ suitcase with all the things she needs for business trips. Of course I don’t go to such lengths, but I do have a few basics that I always keep together.

I’ve developed a very good toiletries kit over time, so when it’s time to pack that is all sorted!

Get packing!

THE 5-MINUTE TRIP PLANNER: A weekend in Paris

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I love Paris! I’ve been many times and will go back again in February.

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There are lots of things to see and do, and you can easily spend a month getting lost in the many different areas of the city.

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But Paris is also perfect for a long weekend, as it’s so close to London.

HOW TO DO IT:

  • Go: Hop on the Eurostar after work and arrive right at the centre of Paris. The journey takes only a little over 2 hours, and if you book in advance it’s also the cheapest way to go.
  • Sleep: Staying in Paris can be really expensive, but if you do your research there are good budget options around. I’m staying at Le Rocroy, but there are lots of good options around Montmartre as well.
  • Do: Spend a whole day in the Louvre or catch the latest exhibition at the Grand Palais; get lost in Montmartre; go for a meal and drinks around le Marais; discover a little cafe around the corner… there’s really no way to get it wrong in Paris!

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The 5-minute trip planner: Planning a short trip in no time.

PLACES I’VE BEEN: My world map

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I’ve created a map showing all the countries I’ve visited (I used this simple tool). It looks like this:

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Not bad! But there’s still PLENTY more to see and also many places I’d like to visit again…

These are the countries I’ve visited so far: Argentina, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Chile, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Jordan, Montenegro, Morocco, Netherlands, Paraguay, Peru, Portugal, Russia, Serbia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine, UK, Uruguay, USA and Vatican City!

5 THINGS TO DO IN LONDON: Top tips from an insider

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Although I’m always keen to hop on a plane and go somewhere new, I love showing London to my friends when they come to visit. Here are some of my recommendations:

1. Learn something in a museum:

In London most museums are free AND many also offer free tours and talks. How good is that? Spend an hour drawing something at the National Gallery or browse one of the V&A galleries with a guided tour.

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2. Take the bus:

The tube is usually the most practical way of getting places in London, but buses are less crowded and you get a nice view of the city. Plus everyone loves a double-decker!

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3. See some live music:

London has an amazing music scene and pretty much anything goes – listen to a free lunchtime concert, catch an open mic night at your local pub, or find your favourite band somewhere around town.

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4. Taste great Indian food:

British food may not be on the top of everyone’s list, but London has amazing restaurants (from every cuisine) and is a great place to eat Indian food. There are lots of options in Balham, and I like the Clapham Tandoori and the vegetarian Sagar.

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5. Have a drink:

Pubs are a massive part of British culture, and London has LOADS to choose from. Visit a Samuel Smith’s pub for a great selection of organic beers (the Cittie of Yorke in Chancery Lane is one of my favourites), or sip the best cocktails ever at no-frills Freud – my current obsession!