Five Travel Stories from 2023

In 2023, just like in 2022, I travelled outside the UK less often than in the beforetimes. Travel, and especially flights, have become even more expensive since COVID and Brexit, so it's been more important than ever to make each trip count. It has also meant I've continued to explore more of the UK, especially Birmingham and the West Midlands, Brighton and Sussex, Margate and Oxford, but also a first (and certainly not last!) visit to Glasgow.

Bex's Coffee and Food Awards: 2023 Edition

As the end of 2023 hurtles towards me, I am frantically typing up the 13th edition of my annual specialty coffee and food awards, in which I share my favourite coffee shops, eateries, bars and individual dishes from among those I visited for the first time in 2023 — in London and on my travels around the world.

How To Spend a Long Weekend in Glasgow

Once a year, my mum and I take a trip together, spending a long weekend in a new city. This year, it was the turn of Glasgow — a city we'd both been keen to visit. With a population of around 635,000, 'dear green place' (as Glasgow is affectionately known), is Scotland's largest city. Its city centre is easy to explore on foot or by public transport and there is plenty to keep you occupied for a long weekend — and beyond — from murals and Mackintosh architecture to whisky, walks and waterside fun.

Eight Specialty Coffee Spots To Visit in Glasgow (Updated 2026)

Glasgow has been on my to-visit list for some time — both for a city break and a specialty coffee tour. I recently spent a long weekend there with my mum and spent time exploring the vibrant and diverse specialty coffee scene of Scotland's largest city.