52 Fun and Unique Things To Do in London

You’ve been to the British Museum, explored the Tower of London and Westminster Abbey and queued for crumble at Borough Market... What's next? Luckily, London has many more memorable experiences up its sleeve — here are 52 of my favourites.

Eight Specialty Coffee Shops To Visit in Brussels

In June, my job took me to Brussels where I spent five days in the Belgian capital for World of Coffee. I didn't have a lot of free time but I still visited eight great specialty coffee shops and tasted coffee from even more Belgian roasters at the show.

How To Spend a Perfect Weekend in East London

With its world-class markets, beautiful parks and ever-evolving food scene, East London is one of my favourite areas in the city for spending a lazy Saturday or Sunday. In this guide, I'm sharing my itinerary for the perfect East London weekend. Read on for food, art, history, markets and more!

The Paris Caffeine Chronicles: June 2026 Update

Last month, I spent three wonderful days in Paris with my family. Unlike on my solo trips, I didn't have a lot of time for coffee-shop-hopping all over the city (it was also really hot!) but I still visited seven great specialty coffee spots, mostly in the 6th arrondissement where we were staying.

48 Hours in Paris — A Summer Weekend in the Latin Quarter

I've been to Paris many times over the past four decades, but somehow it had been almost nine years since my last trip. Milestone birthday celebrations brought me back with my family last week and it was as though I'd never been away. We spent just over 48 hours exploring old haunts and pastures new — while trying to stay cool in the heatwave!

10 Things I Love About Margate — My Favourite Seaside Escape

On the first warm weekend of every year, I find it impossible to resist the urge to hop on a train to the Kent Coast. I love London but when the mercury rises, I crave the sea — and Margate has much more to offer than just a beach. I visit several times a year and keep coming back for the cliffside walks, quirky attractions and excellent dining and shopping.

How To Spend a Day in Bermondsey, London — A Local's Guide

Bermondsey is a stone's throw from top London attractions, like the Tower of London, Tower Bridge and Borough Market. The South London neighbourhood is also a worthy destination in its own right, with top-notch food, art, culture and even a beach (sort of!). I've lived here since 2012 and these are my favourite things to do in Bermondsey.

The Caffeine Chronicles: Devotion Coffee, Islington

Devotion Coffee's trio of specialty coffee shops have been on my Google Maps 'want to go' list for a long time. While walking along the Regent's Canal a few weeks ago, I took a detour to visit the tiny but mighty Islington location...and immediately wondered what had taken me so long!

Castles, Coffee and Cake in Bergisches Land, Germany

While visiting my friend in Solingen, Germany, we ventured out to explore the Bergisches Land. After climbing Germany's highest rail bridge the day before, we took things at a slower pace, visiting Burg Castle — Anne of Cleves' childhood home — and enjoying Bergische Kaffeetafel, a regional coffee and cake tradition.

The Caffeine Chronicles: Day Trip Coffee

I've written about a lot of London day trips on this blog, but not all escapes need a train ticket. That's where Day Trip in Islington comes in — a neighbourhood coffee shop that delivers a delightful change of scene alongside impeccably brewed specialty coffee.

London Wanders: Little Venice to Limehouse along Regent's Canal

I think the Regent's Canal towpath from Little Venice to Limehouse is one of London's best walks. The 9.5-mile route weaves past Regency-style villas, through beautiful parks and cool neighbourhoods, and alongside striking contemporary and heritage architecture. This is my guide to the route, including all my favourite places to stops.

Four Specialty Coffee Shops To Visit in Bratislava

Like Vienna, just over the border in Austria, Bratislava has a cafe culture that dates back to the 17th century. And for a city of its size, Bratislava has an impressive specialty coffee scene. As I was only there for a day, I barely scratched the surface. But I’m excited to report back on the four coffee shops I visited on my very well-caffeinated day trip!

A Perfect Day Trip to Bratislava, Slovakia's Charming Capital

With its Renaissance-style castle, picturesque Old Town and sweeping views of the Danube, Bratislava has a lot to offer, even if you're only visiting for the day. The Slovak capital is the only world capital bordering two other sovereign states (Austria and Hungary) and it makes for an easy day trip from Vienna, which is what I did.

10 Specialty Coffee Shops To Visit in Vienna

Coffee house culture in Vienna dates back to the 17th century and was even formally recognised by UNESCO in 2011 for its intangible cultural heritage. Vienna is one of the world's best cities for coffee and cake, and today, it's also a great destination for lovers of third-wave specialty coffee shops.

Best Bermondsey Specialty Coffee Shops — A Local's Guide

Bermondsey's connection to coffee dates back to the 19th century, when its warehouse complexes stored coffee and other goods. More recently, the southeast London neighbourhood has become a top specialty coffee destination, with a mix of local coffee shops and top-notch roasters. I've lived in the area since 2012 and today I'm sharing my favourite Bermondsey specialty coffee spots.

The Caffeine Chronicles: Workshop Cafe & Academy, Belgravia

As signs of spring emerged last weekend, I headed out into the sunshine. My destination? Belgravia, where one of my favourite London roasters, Workshop Coffee, has returned after a year-long absence with a gorgeous new specialty coffee shop.

Eight Specialty Coffee Shops To Visit in Barcelona

Barcelona is one of Europe's best cities for specialty coffee and has a huge variety of excellent coffee shops, cafes and roasters. In this guide, I'm sharing my favourite coffee spots from my recent long-weekend trip — plus one from a previous visit and even a bonus coffee cocktail experience!

How To Spend a Day in Cannes on a €50 Budget (Updated 2026)

Planning a French vacation on a budget? Cannes may not be the first destination that springs to mind. The euros soon add up in the Riviera city known for its Film Festival premieres, designer stores and luxury hotels. But you can have a White Lotus Cannes experience — with beautiful beaches, history, culture and delicious food — without breaking the bank. Here's how.

Six Specialty Coffee Shops To Visit in Cannes

I've been visiting Cannes for over two decades and until recently, there was little in the way of specialty coffee in the French Riviera city — unless you count the pourovers I brewed at my parents' place! Over the past few years, that's started to change and in this guide, I'm rounding up some of my favourite specialty coffee shops in Cannes.

A Perfect Day in Antibes: History, Hikes and Harbour Views

Antibes is a city of contrasts, where luxury yachts moor alongside the centuries-old ramparts of the historic Old Town. Smaller than Nice and less showy than Cannes, Antibes makes a great day trip from both. Here's my guide to making the most of that day, with lots of ideas for things to do and places to eat, drink and shop.