After returning from a journey, I always look forward to getting back to my routine of wholesome eating, exercising, and meeting my daily protein needs. One particular staple of mine that I always enjoy is a whey protein shake. This simple post-travel treat helps me transition back into my usual diet healthily and deliciously after a few days of feasting.

Getting Back Into My Routine

I used to feel guilty about all the unhealthy food I ate when I was on vacation, so I would punish myself by having to adhere to an extremely strict diet when I got back

I now realize that I don’t have to do this, and that instead of trying to make up for all the bad food I ate, I should just get back to my old healthy ways.

I start to cook again, go back to the gym, drink more water, and ensure that I eat all my meals with enough protein in them. I’ve learned that consistency is better than extremity when it comes to eating well

Meeting My Daily Protein Requirements

Something I’ve noticed is that when I’m on vacation, I tend to be pretty all over the place when it comes to my diet. One day I might be eating the healthiest food I can find at local restaurants, and the next I’m filling up on pastries and snacks between excursions

This is why I really like having a home-cooked protein shake waiting for me when I get back, as it helps bring me back to reality in a delicious way. All I have to do is make sure I have enough sources of protein in my diet, and I’ll be set for the day. One serving of my post-travel shake contains 25 grams of protein for only 160 calories, meaning it can be a great way to supplement your morning or afternoon meal when you’re trying to get back to your regular diet after being away for a few days.

I don’t stress about what I ate while I was gone; I simply focus on what I can do now to make sure that I eat right.

I Like How Simple The Ingredients Are

I have to admit that I’ve gotten pretty picky about ingredient labels in recent years, so I really enjoy things that make it really simple to know what I’m putting in my body. The chocolate whey protein shake I make has simple ingredients like whey protein concentrate, organic coconut sugar, and cocoa powder. It’s good to know what you’re putting in your body, and I think the chocolate flavor is really delicious and doesn’t make me feel like I’m rewarding myself for finishing a healthy meal. I find that having something tasty after finishing a good meal makes it a lot easier to stay consistent with a healthy diet.

Guilt Free Travel

I think one of the best parts of traveling is the food. I love getting to try new things in different places, and I especially enjoy dining at small local cafes and restaurants wherever I go. These are some of the best parts of traveling for me, and nothing feels better than doing this when I’m exploring new places. However, I’ve realized there’s no point in punishing myself when I get back because I ate well while I was away

I look forward to getting back to my daily exercise and meal prep when I’m home, and I find that it’s not hard at all to meet my daily protein requirements. A few good meals, a trip to the gym, and a post-travel chocolate protein shake are usually all I need to feel refreshed in my day-to-day life.

Finding the Balance Between Healthy Eating And Living Life To The Fullest

I always felt like I had to give up these exciting new experiences to be able to maintain a healthy diet. I’ve now learned that this doesn’t have to be the case, and that traveling is a chance to really live life to the fullest. What I love most about coming back from a trip is getting back to my daily diet and exercise. This means spending time working out at the gym and cooking meals at home. I always enjoy the routine of cooking and eating healthy. I then look forward to having a good post-travel chocolate protein shake to help me comfortably meet my daily protein needs.

Of course, no trip would feel complete without stepping inside one of the city’s famous casino resorts, where you’ll find all your favourite casino games alongside world-class entertainment, luxury hotels, and incredible restaurants. Places like the MGM Grand combine elegant Art Deco surroundings with exciting gaming floors and host spectacular productions such as Cirque du Soleil’s KÀ. Even if gambling isn’t your main reason for visiting, these legendary resorts are an essential part of the Vegas experience.

One attraction that never disappoints is the High Roller. Standing 550 feet above the city, it is the tallest observation wheel in the United States and offers panoramic views across the Strip. A full rotation takes around 30 minutes, giving visitors plenty of time to soak in the skyline. Sunset is widely regarded as the perfect time to ride, as the desert sky fills with colour before thousands of lights transform the city into one giant spectacle.

The Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas sign has been greeting visitors since 1959 and remains one of the city’s most recognisable sights. A photo here has become a tradition for many travellers, symbolising their trip. Nearby attractions like the Bellagio Fountains continue to draw crowds with their choreographed water displays set to music. Inside Bellagio, the Conservatory and Botanical Gardens offer another free attraction worth exploring.

Downtown Las Vegas reveals a different side of the city. Fremont Street blends vintage Vegas charm with modern entertainment beneath the huge Viva Vision LED canopy. Free concerts, street performers, and the SlotZilla zipline create an energetic atmosphere throughout the day and into the night. Nearby, visitors can learn about organised crime at the Mob Museum, admire restored casino signs at the Neon Museum, or wander through the Arts District, which is filled with galleries, vintage shops, breweries, and local businesses.

Beyond the city limits, the scenery changes dramatically. Red Rock Canyon offers striking sandstone formations, hiking trails, and scenic drives just a short distance from the Strip. Hoover Dam continues to impress with its enormous scale and engineering, while nearby Lake Mead offers opportunities for water recreation. Those seeking awe-inspiring landscapes can head to Valley of Fire State Park, Death Valley, Antelope Canyon, or even the Grand Canyon Skywalk, where visitors can stand on a glass bridge suspended around 4,000 feet above the canyon floor.

What makes Las Vegas truly special is the variety it offers. One day you can admire cutting-edge attractions like the Sphere or take a gondola ride through The Venetian, and the next you could be exploring ghost towns, desert landscapes, or historic landmarks. Few destinations combine entertainment, history, nature, and iconic attractions quite like Vegas, making it a place that continues to surprise long after the neon lights first come into view.

Each of these constituent states boast vibrant cities, rich history and world-renowned landmarks that tourists from all walks of life would appreciate. Sadly, many tourist hotspots are becoming exorbitant, inaccessible and jam-packed almost all year round. But with strategic planning, you can explore all of the UK’s best attractions on a budget. Read this guide to discover just how you can enjoy time-saving and cost-effective travels. 

Five Tips to Travel Budget-Friendly in the United Kingdom

Getting a good deal on food, accommodation or attractions while traveling in the UK almost feels like finding a good casino with jackpots—there are a lot of options and tips but you can’t tell which is trustworthy. However, punters in the UK know Britsino is one of the most reputable platforms for the best games, player-friendly bonuses and jackpots. Founded in 2025, the casino is also keen on the safety of its customers and promises a splendid experience overall.

In the same vein, there are dozens of ways to get through a UK trip, but only very few of them are worth your time and money. We’ve done extensive research to compile the most dependable tips that can help you enjoy budget-friendly travel in the UK. You can find them below.

Book Transportation Way Ahead of Schedule

One of the surest ways to save money traveling into or within the United Kingdom is to book transportation well in advance. Whether it’s plane or train tickets, they are usually significantly cheaper weeks or even months before your planned departure date. For shorter distance journeys, buses and coaches are the more affordable option, and even then, many transport service providers offer low cost fares when you book ahead.

Regardless of how you wish to travel, you’ll find that transportation within the UK is pretty seamless. After all, it was former Prime Minister David Cameron who said, “Without world-class transport we will not get growth, people won’t invest here and regions in decline will be further left behind.” So, it’s no surprise that the transport system in the UK is as enviable as it seems.

Travel During Off-Peak Seasons

Another underrated tip to maxxing out your tourism to the UK is travelling during off-peak periods, The timing of your trip could have a major impact on your overall spend. Visitors to the UK in the summer months and major holiday periods experience more expensive flights and accmmodation as well as crowded tourist hotspots.

However, travelling during the spring or autumn promises milder weather, lower prices and less congested cities. Not only would be saving some quid, you’d also enjoy reduced waiting times catching the bus or on your tours.

Choose Affordable Accommodation 

There’s the temptation among tourists to stay in only the finest luxury hotels—and, to be fair, the UK has got hundreds of them. However, not too many people they can save considerably by considering alternatives like guesthouses, serviced apartments, vacation rentals or even hostels. 

Most of these alternatives are reasonably priced and connected to major city centers through public transport. That said, affordable accommodation does not always mean the cheapest motel you can find. Instead, you should calculate the total travel costs rather than focusing solely on room rates. 

Take Advantage of Free Attractions

It was Richard Branson who said, “When exploring London, you will come across lots of excitement by chance, so try to take everything in rather than just rushing around to all of the major tourist haunts.” The best attractions are usually the one that you stumble upon and don’t cost an arm and a leg. 

You’ll find dozens of attractions in London, Manchester, Glasgow, Edinburgh or wherever else you visit in the United Kingdom and a good number of these happen to be free. Don’t go chasing expensive tours when you can soak in the rich culture in museums, castles, parks and other historic sites at zero cost. 

Save Money on Food and Dining

What’s a visit to the UK without fine dining? There over a thousand Michelin-starred restaurants and a couple are sure to catch your fancy. But dining out frequently in major UK cities can burn a hole in your pocket quickly. You can reduce this cost by mixing restaurant meals with home-made meals, if possible, or dining at local bakeries and cafés.

Exploring the local markets is another way to save money on meals, as you’d get the chance to sample authentic British cuisine within budget. There also lunch specials or dinner promotions at some locations that guarantee value for your money. 

Best Destination to Visit Across the UK

This guide would be incomplete without a list of places that you could visit on a budget across the capital cities of the United Kingdom. Below are some of the best destinations you should definitely visit if you’re in London, Cardiff, Edinburgh or Belfast, alongside some honourable mentions in other cities. 

London, England

• The British Museum
• Tower of London
• Natural History Museum
• London Eye
• Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament
• Buckingham Palace

Honourable Mention: Stonehenge in Wiltshire.

Cardiff, Wales

• Cardiff Castle
• St Fagans National Museum of History
• Cardiff Baff
• Principality Stadium
• National Museum Cardiff

Honourable Mentions: Eryri National Park and Conwy Castle.

Edinburgh, Scotland

• Edinburgh Castle
• Palace of Holyroodhouse
• National Museum of Scotland
• Royal Mile

Honourable Mentions: Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, Glasgow. 

Belfast, Northern Ireland

• Titanic Belfast
• Belfast City Hall
• Ulster Museum & Botanic Gardens
• St George’s Market

Honourable Mentions: Giant’s Causeway in County Antrim and the Enniskillen Castle along the River Erne.

Final Thoughts on Tourism in the UK

Travelling in the United Kingdom doesn’t have to be so expensive. While some of the major cities are definitely high-cost, with strategic planning and budgeting, you can still get around comfortably without breaking the bank. 

Finally, always remember that the UK has a rich history. So, take a tour of its landmarks, some of which date back to the Middle Ages, and make the most of the cultural diversity on display, especially if you’re travelling across different countries. 

• Shibuya Crossing
  Located in the heart of Tokyo, this intersection is often described as the busiest pedestrian crossing in the world. It represents the fast-paced, highly organized nature of modern Japanese cities. Large digital screens, surrounding commercial establishments, and constant movement create a distinctly urban atmosphere.
• Fushimi Inari Taisha
  One of Japan’s most photographed sites, this shrine is known for its thousands of vermilion torii gates that form a network of trails up Mount Inari. While it is a spiritual site dedicated to the Shinto god of rice and prosperity, it has also become a major tourist destination due to its unique visual appeal.
• Mount Fuji
  As Japan’s tallest mountain, Mount Fuji holds both cultural and natural significance. It has been featured in art, literature, and religious practices for centuries. Today, visitors either admire it from nearby lakes or climb it during the official hiking season.
• Arashiyama Bamboo Grove
  This bamboo forest offers a calm, scenic walkway that contrasts with the busier parts of Kyoto. Its towering bamboo stalks create a distinct visual environment that has made it popular among photographers and travelers alike.
• Tokyo Disneyland
  A well-known entertainment destination, Tokyo Disneyland reflects Japan’s attention to detail and customer experience. While it is not traditionally cultural, it demonstrates how global concepts are adapted within a Japanese context.

These destinations serve as strong introductions to Japan, but they often present a curated version of the country. Crowds, commercial establishments, and structured experiences can sometimes limit deeper cultural engagement.

Looking Beyond the Surface: Cultural Alternatives

To gain a more meaningful understanding of Japan, many travelers explore destinations that are less commercialized but more reflective of everyday life and tradition.

Preserved Towns and Historical Continuity

• Tsumago-juku
  This former post town along the Nakasendo route has been carefully preserved to reflect its Edo-period appearance. Modern elements such as cars and visible wiring are minimized during the day, allowing visitors to experience how travelers once moved between cities.
• Shirakawa-go
  Recognized for its traditional gassho-zukuri farmhouses, Shirakawa-go offers insight into rural living in mountainous regions. Many of these houses are still occupied, highlighting how historical architecture continues to serve practical purposes.

These locations are not simply tourist displays, but living communities where preservation and daily life coexist.

Craftsmanship and Local Industries

• Kanazawa
  Often referred to as a cultural hub, Kanazawa is known for traditional crafts such as gold leaf production, ceramics, and lacquerware. Its preserved districts provide context for how artisans have historically lived and worked.
• Mashiko
  A quieter destination, Mashiko is recognized for its pottery tradition. Visitors can observe local artisans or participate in workshops, offering a direct connection to the creative process.

In these areas, craftsmanship is not staged for visitors but remains part of the local economy and identity.

Regional Food and Community Interaction

• Fukuoka
  Known for its yatai (mobile food stalls), Fukuoka provides a more social dining experience. Locals gather in the evenings to share meals, making it easier for visitors to observe and even participate in everyday interactions.
• Takayama
  With its morning markets and regional dishes, Takayama offers a slower-paced food culture that reflects local ingredients and traditions.

Food in these regions is closely tied to geography and routine, offering a more authentic alternative to large restaurant chains.

Spiritual Practices in Daily Life

• Koyasan
  Located in a mountainous area, Koyasan is a center of Buddhist practice. Visitors can stay in temple lodgings, participate in meditation, and experience vegetarian monk cuisine.
• Neighborhood shrines across Kyoto and Tokyo
  While less famous, these smaller shrines are actively used by locals for daily rituals, from quick prayers to seasonal festivals.

These spaces demonstrate that spirituality in Japan is not limited to major landmarks but is woven into everyday routines.

Rural and Island Perspectives

• Naoshima
  This island combines contemporary art installations with a functioning local community, creating a balance between modern expression and traditional living.
• Ouchi-juku
  A preserved village with thatched-roof houses, offering a glimpse into Japan’s architectural past and rural lifestyle.

Such destinations highlight a slower pace of life, where community and environment play a central role.

Staying Connected While Abroad

Of course, as you’re traveling across different countries and immersing yourself in new environments, staying updated with what’s happening back home with your games still matters.

With GameZone news, you can keep track of ongoing updates, events, and promos, allowing you to stay informed even while on the move.

A Balanced Travel Perspective

Exploring Japan effectively often means combining both well-known landmarks and lesser-known cultural sites. Popular destinations provide context and convenience, especially for first-time visitors.

Meanwhile, quieter locations offer more depth, allowing travelers to observe how traditions continue to shape modern life.

By approaching travel this way, visitors gain a broader understanding of Japan not only as a destination shaped by tourism but as a living culture defined by its people, routines, and regional diversity.

You can experience this profound intersection firsthand by visiting locations where the environment dictates the architecture and the artwork elevates the terrain.

Why Travel That Combines Nature and Art Is on the Rise

You crave authentic connection when you explore new environments. Instead of staring at paintings on blank walls, you want to immerse yourself in spaces that challenge your perception of scale. 

Modern travellers actively seek these immersive locations because they provide sensory grounding. Engaging with open-air sites activates all your senses simultaneously and forces you to appreciate the physical environment alongside the artistic vision.

Lanzarote: A Volcanic Canvas Shaped by Creativity

Architect César Manrique transformed collapsed lava tubes into subterranean auditoriums and integrated viewing platforms right into the basalt cliffs. As you research Lanzarote holidays, you will find that the Jameos del Agua perfectly demonstrates this vision. 

Hire a car to drive the northern coastal roads so you can appreciate how Manrique’s white-washed structures contrast with the harsh black volcanic rock.

Venice: A Floating City of Art, Light, and Reflections

Builders originally constructed this fragile metropolis upon wooden piles driven into marshland. The surrounding lagoon interacts constantly with the built environment, reflecting Gothic facades and bouncing shifting light directly into grand palazzos. 

Ride the Vaporetto Line 1 just as the sun rises. The early illumination highlights the intricate stonework details before heavy boat traffic inevitably churns the water.

Cappadocia: A Surreal Landscape of Rock Formations and Sky Art

Ancient humans carved intricate homes and subterranean churches into volcanic tuff rock. Today, the sky itself becomes a kinetic installation every morning when hundreds of vibrant hot air balloons ascend simultaneously. 

Book a sunrise air flight with a certified operator to view the fairy chimneys from above. This aerial perspective reveals exactly how the hand-carved windows mimic the natural geological erosion patterns.

Sintra: A Fairytale Landscape of Palaces and Forests

Portuguese royals utilised this specific microclimate to construct romanticist estates that grow organically out of dense pine woodlands. 

Vibrant yellow and red walls emerge through the mist, deliberately designed to complement the untamed gardens surrounding them. Walk the steep footpath from the town centre up to the Moorish Castle. This physical ascent helps you observe how the stone walls grip the natural granite boulders.

Machu Picchu: Ancient Architecture Carved into the Andes

Incan engineers shaped their terraces to echo the dramatic peaks looming directly behind the citadel. The precise, mortarless masonry aligns perfectly with astronomical events, proving the builders possessed a deep reverence for their rugged setting. 

Arrive at the Machu Picchu site entrance an hour before the gates open. Being among the first inside lets you watch the morning clouds clear, revealing the intentional harmony between the ruins and the Urubamba valley below.

Getting around all those neighbourhoods is half the fun – and if you’re travelling in a group, minibus hire in London makes exploring them a breeze.

Staying connected while exploring the city is just as important, and many travellers choose an eSIM for easy access to maps, transport apps, and travel information without the hassle of changing physical SIM cards.

If you’re into over-priced shopping sprees, Chelsea is the place to go. If you appreciate good dim sum, Chinatown is your man. For the museum district, head to Kensington. For Buddhist Temples, there’s nowhere better than Wimbledon. With London, there’s always a little something for everyone… and here’s what each neighbourhood offers.

CHINATOWN

Chinatown is probably my favourite London neighbourhood – and with good reason. If you’re looking for traditional dim sum, they have plenty of it, and the word “tea” is met with some of the nicest tea bars around.

The area is filled with stone lions, contemporary art sculptures, and the most divine Qing-era style gates which overlook the whole neighbourhood. I have spent many a day just in Chinatown purchasing beautiful teaware, trying on handmade clothing, and attending the Chinese New Year festivities, which typically happen between January and February and are a hub for spectacular parades and pop-up food and craft stalls.

Located between Soho and Covent Garden, Chinatown is one of the liveliest, most colourful pockets of the city. Whilst the area was originally a head for Cantonese and Southern Chinese cuisine, it is now full of places representing Northern China, Vietnam, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Japan, and Thailand. Honestly, my stomach is rumbling just thinking about the delicious food there.

Talking about food, a first-timer to Chinatown will likely find themselves overwhelmed with offers of wonderful places to eat. There’s Korean BBQ, bottomless green tea, broth-filled dumplings restaurants, pho spots, shop windows filled with roast duck, cake shops, matcha cafes, ‘dirty ice cream’ (that delicious salt-and-ice cream sold on the streets of Manila)… it truly is a foodie haven! Some of my personal favourite places to eat at are Lido (best Cantonese food), Gerrad’s Corner (best dim sum), Jen Cafe (best jiaozi), Good Friend Chicken (best… chicken), Happy Lemon (best bubble tea), and Opium (best loose leaf tea).

When you stroll through Chinatown and taste all kinds of food, don’t forget to Custom Lanyards No Minimum to make you more relaxed on the trip.

You can customize the lanyards of different lengths according to the actual use, to hang mobile phones, cameras or other small items. Customized lanyards also support you to choose your favorite cartoon elements, words with special meanings, different colors, etc., to make your design more special.

Using lanyards can make your hands freer, allowing you to touch the scenery or taste food as you wish. Personalized customization can also make you more eye-catching when you walk into Chinatown and increase your sense of happiness during the journey.

SOHO

Soho feels like a world away from anywhere else in London, known for its LGBTQ+ community, risqué vibes, and music scene (with Carnaby leading the way in the 60s). Bordered by Oxford Street, Regent Street, Charing Cross Road, and Chinatown, Soho is a chaotic mis-match of cultures and atmospheres.

One of the biggest things that visitors do in Soho is spend every last penny they own. There are 14 streets in Carnaby which are known for their unique and independent stores showcasing first-class fashion, vintage vinyls, and funky musical instruments that haven’t been seen since the 1600’s. One of the best-known shops in Soho is Liberty, the mock Tudor department store that has been featured in pretty much every single movie ever made about London. Liberty alone is a maze – good luck with the rest of Soho!

Of course, Soho is also filled with delicious food places. Here, you can find everything that your little heart desires – from Lebanese pastries to Spanish tapas to Indian masala chai to American burgers. Of course, there’s also a helluva lot of bars and pubs to hang out in (namely, super funky jazz clubs and gay bars).

Before you leave Soho, you should stop to watch a theatre show, buy a million books at Foyles, wander down to Leicester Square to watch the buskers, and finally stop for tea at Soho Square, and I swear it’ll quickly become one of your favourite places in the city.

COVENT GARDEN

No, Covent Garden is not an actual garden. But it is absolutely filled to the brim with alleys and courtyards and little secret areas to explore, which is equally as cool.

The Jubilee Market is arguably one of the best-known places in Covent Garden, where you can purchase anything from candle-filled teacups to vintage postcards to homemade tarts. It’s a whirlwind, let me tell you.

If you’re looking for books, then Covent Garden will leave you spoiled for choice! For travel books, head to Stanfords. For second-hand books on the soul, check out Watkins Books. And of course, for magical books featuring everything occult, you should find yourself in the Atlantis Bookshop.

Neal’s Yard is one of the prettiest streets in London, where every single business is dedicated to sustainable and ethical commercial practices. It’s one area in Covent Garden that you CANNOT miss!

KENSINGTON

If you’re looking for museums, then London’s Kensington is a museum haven. Be sure not to miss:

V&A Museum: Having first opened in 1852, the V&A (Victoria and Albert) is the world’s leading museum on art and design. Galleries cover everything from mini-skirts to Maharajah furniture, along with a leading treasure being the Ardabil carpet (the world’s oldest). General admission is free. 

Natural History Museum: My personal favourite, the Natural History Museum is filled with the most wonderful exhibitions. There’s a gallery on dinosaurs, mammals, human evolution, meteorites, gemstones, trees, earthquakes, even fossil marine reptiles. Add in the delicious pastries at the Central Cafe, and you have one of the best museums in the world. General admission is free; however, if you want to grab a guide book you’ll need to pay. Thankfully, The London Pass is the best kept secret with just one ticket that let’s you gain access to the top London attractions, including the guide book.

Design Museum: I have memories (or fever dreams, call it what you will) of visiting this museum as a child, and suddenly finding myself enveloped by massive armchairs shaped like baseball gloves, sculptural installations that look like humanoid robots, and lamps triple my height that look just like the one that squished the I in Pixar. It’s a great place to visit. General admission is free.

Science Museum: Suitable for all ages, this museum is perfect for nerds and geeks alike. There’s exhibitions on space, astronauts, trains, medicine… there’s even an IMAX! Their exhibitions range from education to humbling, and all in all, it’s a great place to explore. General admission is free.

SHOREDITCH

Shoreditch is a super trendy area where vintage and design shops are plentiful, artists live in every cafe, and vegan food is always on the menu.

One of the areas that Shoreditch is most famous for is Brick Lane. This little street is known for its vibrant art and fashion student population, who complete their degrees and move straight into opening their own galleries, vintage clothing shops, pop-up event spaces, and independent record houses. Along with that, Brick Lane is a go-to for those who enjoy specialist coffees and independent cafes – believe me when I say that everyone here is off their tits on caffeine.

Another thing that is so great about Shoreditch is its street art. The two go hand in hand, with Shoreditch always setting the standards for the international street art scene. It’s pretty impressive – street art is everywhere, down every alley and on every wheelie bin, and the whole area is just one big canvas for up-and-coming artists and still-and-came artists (namely, Banksy).

If you’re properly bitten by the wander lust craze (like the one that fuels my favourite travel blog of the same name), Shoreditch will keep you wandering for days. There’s always another mural, a hidden café, or an unusual shop just around the corner.

Along with that, if you’re looking for delicious food markets, you’ll be spoilt for choice in Shoreditch. There’s Boxpark (a little food market based in a shipping container), Urban Food Fest (the weekly orgasmic food market), and Old Spitalfields (handmade Portuguese tarts, anyone?).

But the best thing to do in Shoreditch? Go on a Walk Eat Talk Eat food tour with Eddie Weaver.

Last month, I was lucky enough to attend a food tour with Eddie, and quite frankly, it was one of my favourite experiences in London.

As we walked and talked, Eddie filled us in on the journey of the business. Walk Eat Talk Eat started in 2011, when there was only one other company doing food and drink tours in London. Since then, it has grown into London’s best food tour, introducing visitors across London to a load of wonderful little places just brimming with stories and history.

To begin our tour, Eddie took us to Sagardi, a delicious restaurant which specialises in cuisine from the Basque region. We tried all kinds of pintxos, meats, and pimientos, and chatted with easygoing Eddie as though we were old friends. He told us a bunch of facts that I didn’t know (such as that 10% of Basque country is actually in France), and one of the waiters brought out a hunk of beef and explained how exactly it was processed and aged.

Then, we headed to Crosstown, stopping along the way to inspect the intricate and very missable painted gum splats on the floor. We tried the pandan glaze doughnut just in time for Chinese New Year, along with the pistachio glaze with custard. For Eddie this was somewhat bittersweet – when he had picked them up for us before the tour, his rent-a-bike was stolen. Still, he was jovial about the tour, telling us all about the slums that used to flourish around us, showing us photographs and videos from his iPad whilst doing so – something I had never experienced before on a food tour.

He pointed out the colour-coded pubs and underground stations dotted around the area, and explained that they were so that the illiterate knew where to go. He also told us that the fire service used to be privatised, with different houses paying for different services. As such, to mark their designated service, these houses had little plates on the walls – another historical quirk which would have been missed if not pointed out.

Eddie then walked us through Brick Lane, passing by a Banksy and other funky street art, and stopping outside Beigal Bake, a bakery known for its traditional Jewish-style filled bagels. We had a salted beef beigel with pickle and mustard, and frankly, it was absolutely delicious.

We wandered through to one of my favourite places on the tour: Dark Sugars. This shop is run by a Ghanaian lady called Nyanga who initially started small in Spitalfields and Borough Market, selling chocolate from her family’s farm back home. When we walked in, we were surrounded by cocoa pods and West African decor, and oh man, it smelt so good. We picked out some truffles and snacked on them as Eddie took us through to Banglatown.

This area was super interesting, with the street signs both in English and Bengal. As we headed to our next stop, we passed by the London Tea Exchange, an off-tour place that Eddie was keen to take us to once he knew about our tea business. Absolutely massive, the shop was filled with over 800 kinds of tea, and the owner talked to us about the origin of his blends before offering us endless samples of teas that he thought we’d like. It was an unexpected stop that was a whole load of fun.

We then stopped at the RajMahal, a Bangladeshi sweet and snack shop. Eddie had been incredibly careful with my (somewhat endless) food intolerances for the whole tour, making sure that I never missed out on trying any of the food. As such, prior to the tour he tried the Bengali Veg Shingara to make sure that it didn’t contain any onion (it didn’t). It was absolutely delicious, and lasted me to our final stop: Kill the Kat.

Whilst I’m not a big beer drinker, I did enjoy the craft beer tasting. The woman running it was super lovely, and the community aspect of the shop was similar to the culture which I have experienced with tea. It was super interesting to be surrounded by people that knew craft beer like I know handcrafted tea, and it was great to sit down in such a lovely place, chatting more to Eddie. We did all this in Spitalfields – which I know now was previously called Hospitalfields.

All in all, the tour was a clear highlight of my London trip, and I loved every second. Eddie was very easy to talk to and incredibly engaging whilst detailing the complex – and yet largely unknown – history of backstreet London. It was great being able to see this place that I had lived for so many years in an entirely new light – and the food is something I simply can’t get out of my mind.

This is a food tour that I could easily return to again and again.

NOTTING HILL

Arguably, Notting Hill is one of London’s prettiest neighbourhood, where almost every street is lined with bright rainbow-colour houses. Reminiscent of Old Havana, this super vibrant and trendy area is filled with quaint vintage shops, homely brunch cafes, and vintage vinyl shops, and is a place that quickly grows in the heart.

The first ever mention of Notting Hill actually dates back to the 14th century, when it was a teeny tiny village next to London. It was known for its pig farms and brickyards, and it took a while to be swallowed up into London’s drive for expansion. By the 20th century, Notting Hill was made up of slums, and was a horrendous place to live, filled with severe malnourishment, disease, and racial violence.

Eventually, the neighbourhood was completely re-vitalised, partly due to the 1999 film starring Julia Roberts and Hugh Grant, Notting Hill. Now, it’s an incredibly expensive area to live, and only upper middle-class and not-so-struggling artists can afford to live here.

There’s plenty to do in Notting Hill that isn’t just wandering the colourful rows of houses at Portobello Road or Denbigh Terrace. For example, you can take a stroll through St Luke’s Mews, which used to be the stables for London’s richest residents and is now just a beautiful area filled with greenery and mini mansions. You can also check out the beautiful bookstores, eat delicious food at high-end restaurants, or attend the Notting Hill Carnival: a two-day celebration of Caribbean culture that now hosts over two million visitors a year.

GREENWICH

Greenwich has an entirely different vibe to the rest of London. Sitting on the banks of the River Thames, a lot of the things to do in the area are somewhat related to its maritime history. There’s the Cutty Sark ( the restored 19th-century ship), the massive National Maritime Museum, the Old Royal Naval College (and the INCREDIBLE music shows that go on there), and of course, the O2 Arena where Ed Sheeran played that one time.

Greenwich Market is another great place to check out. Open seven days a week, this funky little area is filled with street food from around the world, endless stalls of crafts and antiques, and even seasonal events.

Greenwich Park is one of my favourite places in Greenwich, as it offers absolutely incredible views over the River Thames and the City of London. The park used to be used for hunting deer, and as such, there is still a small herd of deer resident in the park. For a bagel with a view, head to one of Greenwich’s wonderful cafes, and stare longingly at the rest of the million cities within a city that you have left to explore.

This is also where the UK gets its timezone from – GMT, meaning Greenwich Mean Time.

WIMBLEDON

A neighbourhood guide to London would not be complete without mentioning Wimbledon – and namely, Buddhapadipa Temple. This Thai Buddhist temple was the first to be built in the UK, and is a true hidden gem. Whenever I go back to London, I tend to spend at least half of my trip nestled away at this temple, and I couldn’t imagine any better way to spend the holidays.

Home to nuns and monks, Buddhapadipa is a great place to slow down, meditate, and learn about your true spiritual path. Not only can you attend meditation classes where afterwards you’re welcomed into the monks’ house for tea, cakes, and conversation, but they often hold Buddhist celebrations and festivals here. Surrounded by Thai families and one or two white monks, it feels a million miles away from the rest of Wimbledon.

The name Buddhapadipa translates to ‘light of the Buddha’ in the Buddhist canonical language of Pali – and it’s clear how the temple got its name. Walk through the doors and be welcomed with the most incredible murals, depicting endless vibrant and intricate scenes in the history of Buddhism. Believe me when I say that it’s one of the most beautiful sights in the whole of London.

Apparently Wimbledon also has tennis and stuff, but who cares about that?

WESTMINSTER

Of course, one of the main things to do in Westminster is visit Westminster Abbey. Along with being a place of worship, Westminster Abbey is also a house of artefacts and burials. Once you step inside the abbey, I have no doubt that you will be completely blown away by the sheer scale of the place. Having hosted nearly 20 royal weddings and every single British coronation, it has a mighty name to live up to – and that it does with ease.

You can also visit the Palace of Westminster, AKA the Houses of Parliament. Taking a tour around this marvellous building is such an incredible experience – you never realise how truly historical a city London is until you wander through its deepest chambers. Of course, at the end of the Palace of Westminster is Big Ben, that infamous clock that strikes louder than a busker on the underground.

St James’ Park is a 23-hectare park in the middle of Westminster, where you can spend hours upon hours wandering its grounds or relaxing in the shade of one of its many trees. I’ve had some of the best picnics of my life in this wonderful park.

As everyone knows, Buckingham Palace is the official home of Queen Elizabeth, and you can actually visit the palace staterooms between July and October. The Palace is a must-see on any visitor itinerary, and I’m yet to see a weeb bucket list that doesn’t mention witnessing the Changing of the Guards, where the Queen’s Guard perform a traditional ceremony in their funky little red coats and bearskin hats.

Another must-visit place in Westminster is Trafalgar Square, home to the National Gallery. IT’s a super busy little square where all kinds of events are held, from outdoor theatres to rallies and demonstrations. Psst: apparently security spend their whole lives trying to stop tourists from climbing atop the lion sculptures at the base of Nelson’s Column… but believe me, it’s a mighty fine view from the top!

Slightly off the beaten track in Westminster are the Churchill War Rooms. This is where Churchill and his cabinet managed the war efforts, and as such, the rooms offer an interesting insight into the history of the second world war.

CHELSEA

I’ll be honest, I’m not too big a fan of Chelsea. It’s all Louis Vuitton bags and 5am fitness fanatics and more plastic surgery than I have draft articles. Saying that, if you’re into posh houses, high-end shopping, popular football clubs, RHS flower shows, and affluent London districts, then this might be just up your street.

Some of my personal favourite places in Chelsea are John Sandoe Books (a super pretty bookstore), Sloane Square (delicious – but expensive – restaurants), and the Saatchi Gallery (a fancy art gallery). The only other things to do in the area is shop and walk purebred poodles.

CAMDEN

Camden is little like a more laid-back Shoreditch – Shoreditch without the steroids. It has the same sort of vibe with its vintage shops, vegan cafes, and beautiful street art, but Camden is a little bit more chill.

Perhaps the vibe is a little different due to the fact that for a hundred or so years, Camden was an abandoned North London town filled with wash-outs and down-and-outs. Apparently, it was a pretty depressing place to live. But then in July 1976, for reasons somewhat unknown, Camden absolutely exploded with the era of punk. For the rest of the 70s and 80s, you couldn’t walk five minutes without seeing a bright green mohican.

Now, Camden still has that low-key punk vibe, which you can clearly tell in the street art and the way that the area is run. If there’s ever a place in London to find denim jackets and motorbike gear, Camden is it!

Take a wander through Camden Town and end up at Camden Lock, where hilarious little barges and narrowboats squeeze down the canal. Across from there is Camden Market. Filled to the absolute brim with trinkets, clothes, and pastries, it’s the sort of indoor market where you will never be able to visit every stall. It gets super busy at lunchtime and on weekends, but imo, that only adds to the experience!

Just down the road from Camden is London Zoo in Regent’s Park, which is conveniently located a five-minute walk from Little Venice. Add the two together, and you have the perfect place to go on a little date.

SOUTHWARK

Sure, Southwark has sights such as the Shard, London Bridge, the Tate Modern, the Globe Theatre, and the HMS Belfast, but I know that what you’re all really here for is Borough Market.

BRIXTON

Brixton is a rugged little London district, filled with international food markets, music concerts, and bustling nightlife.

If you’re into craft beer, gyoza, plantain, and curry, the Brixton foodie scene is the place for you! Brixton Market is one of the best-known food markets, where you can pick up any fruits, vegetables and meats that your little heart desires. There’s a lot of Caribbean stalls, so be prepared to be salivating all day long!

Market Row is a covered Brixton arcade where you can pick up absolutely any type of food you’re craving. After an Italian pizza? They’ve got you. Mexican burritos? Easy. Lebanese falafel? Consider it done.

Some other Brixton highlights are the Ritzy Cinema, Brockwell Park, Brixton Village, and a million and one nightclubs. For a crazy night out in London, Brixton is sure to not disappoint.

RICHMOND

First things first, Richmond Park is absolutely massive. It has an insane 2,500 acres of parkland just waiting to be explored, and you can do so via walking, roaming, running, or cycling. Except to run into at least one family of deer as you do so.

There’s also Richmond Green, which is a fair bit smaller than Richmond Park but is still a cute place to visit. It has been a meeting point since the Middle Ages, where it housed a whole bunch of bloody jousting tournaments. Now, it’s more locals and cricketers, but the overall vibe is still the same.

Richmond Riverside is a super cute walk along the river. Dip into funky restaurants and shops, and enjoy the farmer’s market that pops up every Saturday. They have a whole bunch of quaint little cafes and clothing shops, and all in all, it feels like a very friendly, very middle-class English neighbourhood.

If you’re into flowers and fungi, then boy, do I have the place for you! Just outside of Richmond is an area called Richmond upon Thames, you can find the wonderful Kew Gardens. Not only is Kew Gardens a UNESCO World Heritage Site, but its arboretum also happens to be one of my favourite places in London. Filled with pretty much every single plant you can imagine: from avocados to Asian rice to turmeric to cacti twice my height, it’s such a beautiful place to spend a few hours.

SOUTHBANK

If you’ve ever been a tourist in London, then there’s no doubt that you’ve spent time at Southbank. It’s the London that everyone recognises from the movies, with an exciting mix of both historical and Brutalist buildings, picturesque views of the city and river, and endless theatres, art galleries, and buskers.

One of the best things about Southbank is the fact that whilst on a stroll along the riverside, you will undoubtedly stumble past both food and second-hand book markets. In the winter, a massive market is erected, with Germanic wooden huts covered in glitter and fairy lights, where the air smells like mulled wine and sausage. It almost makes me like Christmas.

There’s a million different types of art in Southbank, with different genres for different art connoisseurs. For example, street artists may visit the Leake Street Tunnel for its graffiti showcase, whereas vegan art students might head over to the Hayward Gallery for its funky exhibitions.

This is also where you can do some of the big touristy sights in the city: the London Eye, SEA LIFE Centre, London Dungeons, Shrek’s Adventure.

And so, that summarises my neighbourhood guide to London! I hope you guys have enjoyed reading about the city that never stops giving, and that it has given you some ideas for your next city trip. If it has BLOWN your mind on what London can be, let me know in the comments below!

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I’ll be honest and say that I initially didn’t peg Milan as a city of books, but I was glad to be proven wrong when I found myself surrounded by a strong bibliophilic culture. It seemed as though they’d built the whole city around its love of literature – from book cafes to little libreria-slash-hostels even to tea-ware houses filled with novels on love and art and meditation!

Over the course of my time in Milan, I must have visited dozens upon dozens of bookshops – or at least, little negozi which also happened to be stuffed full with books. As such, I decided to curate the perfect bookshop tour of Milan – and it only takes an hour and a half to walk from one end to the other! Please, save your dedicated praises until later.

ANNAMARIA FUMAGALLI

First of all, I want to quickly mention my favourite person in Milan. I met Annamaria Fumagalli on my first full day in the city, and let me tell you, I sure am glad that I did. She is an official licensed guide for GITEC (the Association of Italian Guides for Tourism and Culture), and was the perfect person to introduce us to the city.

She was so warm, friendly, and welcoming, that it felt simply as though I was meeting up with my grandmother. Effortlessly Milanese with her fashionable mirrored glasses and a vintage red dress, she was the know-all-end-all for the the finest places to visit in the city. When we met up, her words brought Milan to life, offering local insight and gossip whilst pointing out things such as the Sforzesco Castle, the Duomo, the fashion district, the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II.

She pointed out little things that we would blindly have ignored, and told us about how the city has changed over the years (and more recently, due to coronavirus) – little tidbits that really made the city feel more alive and personal. One of my highlights from my time with Annamaria was when she treated us to a typical Milanese coffee inside of the beautiful Camparino, where we shared anecdotes from our lives and gazed at the beautiful architecture  and tile-work around us.

We left knowing a lot more about the city and it’s rich history, tummies full of strong Italian coffee from the best bar in Lombardi, and several handpicked brochures that Annamaria presented us. After the tour, I asked her if she could recommend any bookshops in the local area, and as it turns out, there was a helluva lot. It was from these suggestions that this book tour really came to life – without her local insight, we would absolutely have missed out on some of the gems that really shaped our trip. And so for that, thank you Annamaria – this post wouldn’t exist without you.

KATHAY

I think that Kathay has to be the best place to start a bookshop tour – and not just because it is genuinely my favourite place in the city (which also happens to be in my favourite area). Whilst not technically a ‘bookshop,’ Kathay is a kind of all-purpose store, featuring delicious culinary goods, intricately detailed homeware, and the most concentrated amount of tea-ware I have ever seen in my life. I felt exactly like a kid in a candy store, surrounded by gorgeous matcha bowls, beautiful displays of Chinese gaiwans on vintage green tables, and endless books on Korean cooking, Feng Shui, kombucha, reiki, and the art of tea – along with every other cool subject you could possibly learn about. I’m not being dramatic when I say that I could quite easily have spent the whole day there, wandering through the isles and running my fingers across the fine china. Never have I been so tempted to buy out a whole store before – and it’s definitely the first place to welcome yourself into the city.

TEMPO RITROV LIBRI

Meaning ‘Time Rediscovered Books,’ this adorable little libreria is filled with black and white framed photos of old film stars, magazines on African food and travel photography, and of course, a comprehensive collection of independent books by small publishers. They have the cutest collection of Children’s illustrated travel books, including intricately designed copies of Libro Giungla and Bella e la Bestia.

The owners of the bookshop believe that, ‘especially in Italy, the importance of reading should be affirmed and supported effectively every day. We therefore put ourselves at the service of the city together with the many other independent bookshops born in recent years, and we propose ourselves as a new and further garrison in which everyone can find time for themselves and others by isolating themselves, for a few moments, from a citizen of chaos.’

GIUNTI AL PUNTO

This is one of the many bookstores that I stumbled upon by accident – and boy, am I glad I did. Enticed by the free literary magazine, Il Libraio, drawn in by their many eye-catching discounts (because who doesn’t love a literary classic at 50% off?!), and fully reeled-in by their little knickknack sections full of explorer gear, pretty pens, and stunning notebooks, it was pretty obvious that I wouldn’t be spending less than an hour in the store. Check it out – you’ll soon understand it for yourself.

LIBRERIA DEL MONDO OFFESO

An independent Milanese bookshop, the Libreria del Mondo Offenso also doubles as a cultural centre promoting initiatives and events. The name of the place roughly translates to ‘The Bookshop of the Offended World’, from the book Conversazioni in Sicilia by Elio Vittorini, which is in essence a journey of discovery of an ‘offended world’, forcing one to take responsibility. It is a place to meet, discuss, and dream, in a haven filled with books, storytellers, and passion. They offer contemporary Italian fiction, theatre books, out-of-print novels, poetry, and gorgeous little travel books.

GINORI 1735

Despite the fact that I was stared at incredibly intensely by the shopkeepers the whole time I wandered through the shop (it was just like that infamous shopping scene in Pretty Woman), I still found myself transfixed by the beautiful pieces in front of us. Surrounded by the finest (and presumably most expensive) fine china I have ever seen, beautifully crafted and intricately painted, I felt as though I was in a Julia Gregson book. They are all absolutely beautiful and definitely something to go out of your way to see, even if to merely begin to plan your future living room – even through the intense eye contact from the staff.

The man behind the name, Carlo Ginori, began to manufacture porcelain pieces in 1735 in his workshop in Doccia, Tuscany. It soon spiralled into a prestigious company of luxury home decor objects, where it was run by the same family until 1896, when it was sold to Richard of Milan and the brand was created.

AMERICAN BOOKSTORE

Their website states, ‘Since 1981, the bookstore has been the perfect place for all lovers of American culture, thanks to the American Bookstore’s in-depth literary knowledge and American and English traditions’ – and whilst I’m not the biggest fan of these so-called American and English traditions, I did really like the store.

Their collection of books is pretty impressive, featuring more or less any genre that you could ever need (although as it is an ‘American bookstore’, I would maybe stay away from the cooking section!). Along with English books, they also offer antique prints, ancient maps, and ‘many objects and curiosities of the ancient American tradition – inside our bookshop you will be transported to a world you thought you knew, but which hides a very deep soul.’ They also sell Christmas decorations and American calendars which is pretty hip.

F. PETTINAROLI & FIGLI

Again, this is another one of those not-actually-a-bookshop bookshops – but I loved it so much that I simply had to include it! It’s the cutest little shop filled with matte vintage globes, thick leather-bound notebooks, intricate Victorian-esque ink-writing sets, shiny compasses, endless antique maps of the world, and chunky pieces of cream paper which were covered in sketches by men long gone. It’s a truly beautiful place. Apparently, it also houses the ‘widest’ selection of charts, vintage prints, antique maps of Italy and the world, as well as government charts and globes for enthusiasts and collectors. Pretty cool for a not-bookshop, eh?

MONDADORI BOOKSTORE

Mondadori has a super neat red theme running throughout the store, making it perfect for those much-desired Insta shots. It’s a big and open bookshop, and is filled with glossy modern books, super vibey music, the most passionate staff ever, and a large collection of travel, art, and architecture books. Highly recommend.

LA FELTRINELLI

La Feltrinelli is actually the first bookshop that I spent quality time in in Milan, and I liked it a lot. We stayed here for a couple hours and drank tea, slowly rummaging through their collection of photography books and black-and-white autobiographies, merely letting the world meander on by. Over the next few days, we discovered that there’s actually another Feltrinelli store in the area called La Feltrinelli Express, and a more niche one called La Feltrinelli Libri e Musica. My favourite definitely has to be that first one though, because it was both the first libreria that welcomed us, and also the place where I discovered Cleo Le-Tan (and her father)’s work for the first time. Of course, this one – like many others, was recommended to me by Annamaria. The woman really does know quality bookshops, I tell you.

LIBRERIA BOCCA

The oldest bookshop in Milan, I could have easily have spent a few hours here. The store has the coolest decorations, with postcards and bookmarks hanging down from the ceiling (which has a cool abstract painting on it), and stays true to it’s antique roots with it’s old-fashioned decor and overall feel of the place. The bookshelves start at the floor and wind their way up, brightening up the place with Taschen and Assouline. Located in the middle of the very commercialised Gallerie, this little homely store feels like a secret haven away from the hustle and bustle of the city. It’s filled with art, from the very outside in, and they specialise in books by the most exquisite, famous artists of the past to the more vibrant artists of our current generation, even shedding a light on those teeny little backstreet artists that thrive quietly. It’s a wonderful place to immerse yourself.

HOEPLI INTERNATIONAL BOOKSHOP

Because I couldn’t possibly miss out the largest bookshop in Italy! Housing over 500,000 titles of fiction and non-fiction and everything-in-between-fiction books, they also offer rare antique novels and books in their original languages. There are five floors in this bookish oasis, so there’s plenty of space (and volumes) to lose yourself in – I can promise you that you will come in here with the intention to merely browse and finger a couple copies, but will leave with every book you never knew you needed.

LIBRERIA ANTIGONE

I feel as though we didn’t find the gay bookshop, the gay bookshop found us. It was such a cool place to visit with my girlfriend – the energy was distinctly different to the outside, and it was so warm and welcoming, a real nice atmosphere. The whole aim of the store is to create a safe space free from prejudice for all minorities, sexualities, genders, and everything else; a bookshop built on respect and understanding. It’s a really lovely place to be, and they encourage curiosity and inclusion, with the kindest staff around.

Quoting from their website, ‘the Antigone bookshop wants to be a meeting point, a place for building relationships, intended as the only indispensable tool for the cultural and human growth of one another… aimed at maintaining a safe, pleasant environment [which is] useful, accessible by anyone.’ Now I don’t know about you, but that’s the place that I want to be.

Not only do they have some of the coolest books ever (and magazines, and essays, and educational texts), but I found myself irresistibly drawn to their exquisite magnet selection. And oh, the magnets! Made up of all styles and colours, depicting numerous environments and situations, I frankly wanted them all. Antigone, if you’re reading this, I wouldn’t complain  being sent one!

I never thought that I would find a bookshop dedicated wholly to the dissemination of LGBTQ+ and feminist culture and subcultures, but I am so glad that I did.

MILAN WOMEN’S LIBRARY

Although only recently established (in 1975), the Milan Women’s Library is such a cool place to visit. It’s a non-profit libreria that is both a bookshop and a meeting place, housing film screenings and even political discussions. They have a very comprehensive selection of feminist books, and similar to the Antigone, they are dedicated to the dissemination of multiple media subcultures – and in my personal opinion, there’s nothing quite as sweet as a bookshop that makes you think. The staff are all volunteers, and the place runs on pure love, respect, and passion – which if you think about it, is how every good bookshop should be.

WHERE TO STAY

At night, we stayed at the marvellous Babila Hostel and Bistro. Built in 1895, this former Catholic school is now one of the coolest places to hang out in the heart of the city.

It was such a nice place to spend the evenings, with their big clean kitchen, cosy communal room where we could kick back on the sofas and watch Netflix, and their absolutely beautiful veranda where we could watch the sun set over the city – but, fitting with the theme of the post, the highlight has to be the sheer amount of books they had.

Every corner had a shelf stacked with both antique manuscripts and shiny new novellas, where you could either take one off to the bedroom to read, or swap one of your own loved books for someone else’s loved book. They had travel guides, autobiographies, fictional novels, books on aliens – what else could you possibly need?

Mix this with their incredibly comfortably beds, the complimentary drinks you get on arrival, cool board games and boxes of Jenga, and the pool tables, and you have a place that I probably could have spent a few weeks. They do the most delicious mocktails and breakfasts, too – and all in all, I’m definitely glad I stayed here. I may have had my toothpaste and key stolen, but hey, you win some, you lose some, right?

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West Wales (specifically Gwynedd, Snowdonia, and Ceredigion) is a truly wonderful slice of the UK’s best country, but surprisingly, there aren’t that many travel guides written about the area. Fortunately for you, however, the ultimate guide to West Wales is here, and I’m ready to guide you through it, one town at a time.

Enjoy!

A brief history of Wales

Wales is a truly beautiful country, known for its mountains, deep valleys, extensive woods, and fragmented rivers, and with a natural history spanning back millions of years. 

The country was one of the most prominent political and cultural centres of Celtic Europe, making Welsh culture vastly different from whatever England is supposed to have. Back in the day, the English actually tried to completely eradicate the Welsh language and culture – and even now, some Welsh pubs have a strict but silent ‘no-English’ rule. They also drowned one of our towns so that the Liverpudlians could drink fresh Welsh water, but I guess that’s quite literally all water under the bridge now.

Following the collapse of the Roman Empire, missionaries known as the ‘Celtic saints’ established monastic habitations in Wales, and now the official religion is Christianity and Methodism. Although less and less people are practising these faiths, we still have some killer cathedrals and chapels.

The name of the country, Wales, is said to translate from Anglo Saxon English to mean ‘foreigners’ or ‘outsiders.’ The Welsh version of the name, Cymru, translates to ‘friends’ or ‘companions,’ making it much more preferable to use. The Welsh language itself came from Celtic tribes 4,000 years ago – so next time you see a sign for Cwmrhydyceirw or Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch, remember that it’s partly due to our sadistic Celtic ancestors.

The coal industry was the main career driver for generations of Welshies, but it began to weaken during the Great Depression in the 1930s. In the late 20th century, both coal and steel industries had begun to collapse, and many people are still bitter about it. It was a massive blow to the local communities that thrived upon the industrial revolution, and novels such as How Green Was My Valley really delve into this issue on a much deeper level.

Wales is a thoroughly under-appreciated and yet vitally important part of history, as Welsh engineers, linguists, musicians, writers and soldiers helped to not only make significant contributions to the development of the British Empire, but also, technically, founded America.

In 1170 (hundreds of years before Christopher Columbus even existed, let alone was credited for his biggest voyage), a young Welsh prince, Madog Ab Owain Gwynedd, made his way to what we now considered to be the most influential country in the world: the USA. Not only did the Welsh people discover America, but 13 out of 17 signatures on the American Declaration of Independence were added by Welsh men, and North America was nearly a Welsh-speaking continent. Could you imagine how much better the Land of the Free would be if they all had Valleys accents?!

Some parts of Wales also shelter birds and mammals that are extinct or rare elsewhere in Britain, such as European polecats, pine martens, red kites, choughs, and even bottlenose dolphins. It’s a pretty incredible place. The weather is temperate, and we get some truly divine summers where everyone swarms to the beaches and mountains to soak up some rays. I cannot WAIT for you to fall as in love with it as the rest of us are.

Portmeirion

To start with, Portmeirion is, quite frankly, one of the craziest places I have ever visited. It’s the sort of town where nothing seems to make sense – it’s a little like being in Alice Through the Looking Glass.

Portmeirion was built between 1925 and 1973 by a Welsh architect called Clough Williams-Ellis, whose vision was to create the ‘ideal village’. He wanted to show how a location so rich with natural beauty could be developed without it being ruined, enhancing the surroundings through sympathetic development. Due to the fact that several buildings were salvaged from demolition sites, Clough regarded Portmeirion as ‘a home for fallen buildings’.

Walk along the cobbled streets of Portmeirion and find yourself immersed in a thousand different cultures. There’s the Italian architecture, with beautiful painted facades, tall domes, contrasted arches, columns, and pilasters. Then there’s the Buddhist and Hindu statues, with various Asian design influences. There’s also the coastal path which will send you to a coast that looks almost exactly like a Greek postcard, with bright blue seas that stretch for miles and beautiful private beaches. And then of course, there’s the Chinese Lake which looks almost exactly like a Monet painting, with the lily pads glinting in the sunlight and the bright red Chinese bridge reflected in the water.

When I visited Portmeirion, my girlfriend and I spent about six hours in the village, and honestly, there was a surprising amount of things to see and do. It has six coffee shops on site where we gorged ourselves on green tea and homemade gelato, along with some wonderful food places that offer everything from Italian pizzas to finger sandwiches.

As Clough once said, ‘I think that Beauty, The Strange Necessity…is something that matters profoundly to humanity, and that unless the race of man perishes from the earth, it will increasingly value that Grace, will seek it, and will ultimately attain it.’ Long story short, I cannot recommend the wonderful Portmeirion more.

Aberystwyth

Having lived in Aberystwyth for nearly four years (!!!), I have come to the conclusion that it is quite literally one of the most beautiful towns in West Wales. Filled with quaint cafes, old bookstores, archaic arcades, and sleepy bars, it still feels like it’s 1908. Located right beside the Irish sea and snuggled between bulbous hills and gorgeous beaches, it’s no wonder that Queen Victoria herself once visited and nearly got crushed to death by an elephant on the funicular.

There are so many super cute things to do in Aber, such as having a bonfire on North Beach, stopping for ice-cream at the top of Constitution Hill, or playing pool in one of its 50+ pubs. In the winter, Aberystwyth is covered in a blanket of snow, and is home to the most powerful storms (they’re incredible – I highly recommend!). Along with that, an ice rink opens and the local Arts Centre shows some truly fantastic plays. In the spring, it’s a great place to animal-watch and look out for dolphins. In the summer, an almost overwhelming amount of English tourists come to town – and with good reason, as the seaside is the perfect place to spend a hot summer’s day. And then in the autumn, the leaves die and the town returns to its usual self.

For food, there’s no place that I could recommend more than Arabic Flavour. Run by the incredible 22-year-old Ghofran along with her family, Arabic Flavour is an absolute haven for foodies; with a focus on delicious home-cooked food from Syria, Turkey, Lebanon, and some of the gulf countries. Ghofran herself is super impressive, running the kitchen, the shop, and everything behind-the-scenes, and there’s no better local restaurant I’d rather support.

The food at Arabic Flavour is absolutely divine, with my favourite dish being the the chicken shawarma meal (served with chips, salad, pickles, and sauces). It’s so incredibly flavoursome, it made my cheeks tingle! I was told about how they carefully select fresh vegetables and olive oil for their dishes, and believe me, it shows! Honestly, there’s nothing quite like it.

Also in Aberystwyth (or near enough) are a million beautiful walks, namely:

Bwlch Nant yr Arian: An absolutely stunning place to go for a walk, Bwlch Nant Yr Arian is located at the very top of a moody, dramatic valley, offering endless views of Cardigan Bay and the Cambrian Mountains. It’s a great place to take the dog for a swim in the lakes, or watch the daily feeding of Wales’ national bird of prey, the red kites.

Devil’s Bridge: A super pretty area with a whole bunch of waterfalls and – yep, you guessed it – bridges. Rumour has it that before the original bridge was built, an old woman was wandering the area because her cow had gone missing. When she finally found it, it was grazing on the other side of the river and refused to come back. For whatever reason, the Devil himself popped up and offered to build her a bridge in return for the soul of the first living thing to cross it. The old woman agreed, and when the Devil finished building the bridge, she threw a piece of bread across the river for her dog to chase after – thus becoming the first living thing to cross the bridge. The woman got her cow, the Devil got a dog he didn’t want, and Ceredigion got Devil’s Bridge.

Ystrad Einion: A super cool lead, silver, zinc, and copper mine, which you can explore to your little heart’s content. Personally, I’ve spent hours in this mine, wandering past abandoned mining equipment and weird insects that have no eyes and are bigger than my fist. 10/10 place to visit.

Tan Y Coed: Tan Y Coed is a super cute picnic place which is nestled between beech woods and the Cwm Cadian riverside. You can wander amongst waterfalls, pools, woodlands, and frogs (there’s a lot of frogs). After the First World War, the Forestry Commission began planting the woodlands at Tan Y Coed, as the war effort had pretty much sucked the country dry of its timber. The planting continued through the Second World War by the Land Army Girls, who pretty much did all of the work that you can see today. It’s p cool.

Aberaeron

Aberaeron is a stunning Balamori-esque seaside town with rows upon rows of brightly-coloured houses, white-sand beaches, and cute little shops. The famous poet Dylan Thomas also visited here for a short time, making it a pretty ideal location to sit with one of his novels, take in the gorgeous scenery, and learn a little more about Welsh history.

For food, I highly recommend Monachty (for burgers), Ambassadors Cafe (for cakes), and Zuko’s (for ice-cream), along with the many fish and chip shops you’ll find congregating around the beach. 

Machynlleth

Fun fact: Machynlleth is where I got my first ever tattoo, in a little parlour called El Diablo.

Machynlleth (also known as ‘Mach’ to those who can’t pronounce its full name) is a truly mesmerising little town which feels as though it hasn’t changed since the early 1600s, and is filled with an abundance of churches and old record stores, beautiful monuments, and bookstores with endless novels on Shamanism and magic and Celtic history.

One of my absolute favourite things about this unassuming little town is the fact that the Museum of Modern Art is here. It’s such a funky little museum – and two years ago, I bought my favourite book on exploration from here.

Some extra town highlights include:

• Corris Craft Centre: Made up of nine little craft centres and a super cute cafe.
• Falconry Experience Wales: Where you can hang out with some birds of prey.
• Owain Glyndwr’s Parliament House: The house where Owain Glyndwr briefly held a parliament after being crowned Prince of Wales in 1404.
• Cors Dyfi: A super pretty nature reserve.
• Glandyfi Castle: A mock castle from the early 19th century.
• Centre for Alternative Technology: An eco-centre dedicated to teaching sustainable development.
• Artists’ Valley: Super pretty walk.
• Furnace Falls: Two minutes from Artists’ Valley, has a lovely little waterfall.

Also, one of my favourite day trips from Machynlleth is the Elan Valley. Technically it’s not in West Wales, but it’s still something you should see nonetheless. Imagine chestnut horses gilded in the sunlight, sun-drenched cows moo-ing beside open lakes, a super cute teahouse serving the best vegan cakes in Wales… It’s truly one of the best places ever.

NEW QUAY

New Quay is a teeny tiny seaside town just south of Aberystwyth, which houses a mere 1,082 people. Located on Cardigan Bay, it’s made up of golden beaches, flocks of snow-white seagulls, and (sometimes) bright blue skies. Previously, the area was used as a shipbuilding centre and port, along with providing the ideal hiding place for smuggling spirits and tobacco.

In New Quay, you can grab a classic pysgod a sglodion, relax beside the water, and let your worries drift away as you watch bottlenose dolphins leap out into the sunshine. All in all, it’s a lovely slice of the quaint West Wales coast.

Borth and Ynyslas

Borth has the largest sandy beach in Ceredigion, and is another nice little seaside resort. Initially, the village was almost entirely made up of Welsh speakers, but since then, it has unfortunately become anglicised: over 54 per cent of its residents were born in England. Of course, we all have our flaws, and Borth is still nice nonetheless.

Ynyslas is right next to Borth, and is part of the Dyfi National Nature Reserve. It is known for its spectacular sand dunes, which house a rich population of mosses, liverworts, fungi, orchids, insects and spiders. Many of these are super rare, and some have not been spotted anywhere else in the UK. There’s a whole load of wetland birds, there’s some super cute walking trails, and all in all, it’s a pretty cool place to visit.

Aberdyfi

Also known by its Anglicised name ‘Aberdovey’, this village is one of Britain’s prettiest seaside resorts. Wander along pastel houses and golden sherbet sands, beneath candyfloss clouds and milk chocolate seagulls, taking it all in.

You may already know Aberdyfi from the popular Welsh folk song, Clychau Aberdyfi (meaning, ‘The Bells of Aberdyfi’). The theme of the song revolves around Cantre’r Gwaelod, a kingdom submerged beneath Cardigan Bay. According to the song, you can still hear the bells of the kingdom ringing beneath the water. Try listening and see what happens.

The vibe of Aberdyfi is quite similar to Aberystwyth, in that the main appeal that brings in the tourists is the seaside, with a million cute little cafes, specialist boutiques, and art galleries making up the town centre. Also similar to Aberystwyth, it is enveloped by spectacular mountains and valleys, although with Aberdyfi, you are offered the peaks of Cadair Idris and Aran Fawddwy rather than Constitution Hill and that one tiny mountain which has a brick statue on top of it.

I’ve been told that the Aberdyfi quayside is also a great place to go crabbing – but I am yet to try it out.

Tywyn

If you follow the Wales Coastal Path, it will take you straight to Tywyn, the town where the mountains meet the sea. When the sun is out, you can look up the coast and take in the wonderful views of Bardsey Island, Pwllheli, and Aberystwyth.

Of course, one of the best things to do in Tywyn is visit the beach, along with taking a ride on an old steam train, watching a movie at the Magic Lantern Cinema, or buying a literary masterpiece from one of their cute little bookshops.

One of my favourite things in Tywyn is to visit Dolgoch Falls, a series of three waterfalls which can be explored along the 6km walk. It is a truly beautiful area, with a whole set of caves, trails, and waterfall views, and is something you’re not going to want to miss out on on your journey across West Wales.

Ystrad Fflur

Also known as Strata Florida, this is a former Cistercian abbey which was first founded in 1164. It became relatively important to the area, as in 1238, the Prince Llywelyn ap Iorwerth held a council here, acknowledging that his son Dayffd was his rightful successor. Less than 200 years later, there was a massive rebellion held by the infamous Owain Glyndwr, and then the abbey was stolen by King Henry IV. In 1539, Henry VIII dissolved the abbey, and the buildings and their contents were sold off, with most of the ancillary buildings being demolished.

Now, Ystrad Fflur is the resting place for generations of Welsh princes, and remains a site for pilgrims nearly 1,000 years later. You can visit the ruins, walking beneath the carved west doorway and wandering around the nave to where the high altar once stood. The floors and church used to be covered in these incredible decorated tiles, which you can still see, with the patterns of griffins, birds, and fleurs-de-lis covering the walls.

It’s pretty cool – there’s no wonder that it’s earned the nickname ‘Westminster Abbey of Wales’.

blaenau ffestiniog

Blaenau Ffestiniog is hands down my absolute favourite place in the whole of Wales. Having just become a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the town is composed mostly of massive slate piles, mountains, and abandoned stone houses.

I don’t mean to be dramatic when I say that I want to live here. Forever. I’m from the south of Wales where everything is made up of prefabs and fast cars, and where the Welsh language is added to the bottom of road signs as an afterthought, and so visiting somewhere where Welsh culture, history, and heritage is at the forefront of everything was extremely refreshing.

One of my favourite things to do in Blaenau Ffestiniog is visit the local Llechwedd Deep Mine, where I learnt about the complex history of Welsh slate mining for the first time. Our tour guide Steve showed us around, and it was so immersive, educational, and at some points emotional, that it might just be the best tour I’ve ever been on. Honestly, it’s one thing you absolutely cannot miss when travelling to the area.

We stayed at a lovely hotel called Plas Weunydd, a gorgeous hotel with quartz-speckled grounds, a wonderful tea selection with Siwgr a Sbeis shortbreads on slate coasters, and a close proximity to the best things in the town (and by that, I mean a 30-second walk).

When we arrived, it was all spotlessly clean, with a beautiful grey and blue colour theme running throughout. There were so many cute details all exuding a rustic farmer house vibe, such as the beautiful burnt orange armchairs beneath a massive sculpture photograph. Beside it was a massive window overlooking the slate mountains, and the big pouffe seat beneath the glass was both comfortable and stylish, and I spent many hours sat on it reading. In the morning, we left the blinds open just a little bit so that we could watch the absolutely magnificent sunrise over the slate town.

I appreciated the fact that the television was slightly off to the side, not obscuring the connection with nature. Beneath it was a little booklet that offered tips and advice on the best local places to eat, facilities and tourist attractions, and information on the artists that had contributed such wonderful art to the hotel. Believe me when I say I read every single page, delighted to be on a holiday in my home country.

The bathroom was stylish and modern with quirky decorations and super cute bathware by Cole and Co., along with a powerful shower and incredibly soft towels. It was a great place to take time kicking back and relaxing, taking it all in.

Breakfast was lovely, with my travel partner opting for the platter of ham and cheese – which included Cavern Aged Cheddar from the Llechwedd Deep Mine. They also had a delicious Eggs Benedict which came with local organic poached eggs, ham, and hollandaise on a toasted muffin. The staff were super nice and came up with great alternatives when I told them about my Crohn’s Disease, and honestly, my whole experience was wonderful.

I was so surprised at how different north and south Wales are, and it felt good to be walking the footsteps of my ancestors in my new favourite place in the world. Blaenau Ffestiniog, I’ll be seeing you again soon.

And so, that sums up the Wandering Everywhere guide to West Wales! If you’ve ever visited Wales, then you’re probably wondering why I haven’t bothered to mention Carmarthenshire or Pembrokeshire in this post, right? Well, you lucky thing, I have actually spoken about both in my free guide to Wales!

Have you guys ever visited West Wales, or plan on doing so now that you’ve read this post? Let me know in the comments below!

BUT BEFORE YOU DO – WHY NOT SHARE THE LOVE AND PIN THIS POST?

So when Pollyfab offered to send me a pair of their Aero Pro shoes to try, I was intrigued.

At first glance, they’re unlike anything I’ve worn before. Rather than traditional trainers or sandals, the Aero Pro is made using 3D printing technology, creating a distinctive lattice design that makes the whole shoe incredibly lightweight and surprisingly flexible. They’re designed as an easy slip-on shoe for everyday wear, travel and holidays, and after spending some time wearing them, I can definitely see the appeal.

Impressively Lightweight

The first thing I noticed when I picked them up was just how little they weigh. They almost feel like you’re holding nothing at all.

For anyone who’s ever sat on a suitcase trying to force the zip closed before a flight, you’ll understand why this immediately caught my attention. Every gram counts when you’re travelling, and bulky footwear is often one of the biggest space thieves in your luggage.

These compress down surprisingly well, meaning they don’t dominate your suitcase in the way that trainers often do.

Comfortable From Day One

One thing I always worry about with new shoes is the dreaded breaking-in period.

Thankfully, these didn’t really need one.

The material is soft and flexible, so they felt comfortable straight away. The cushioning provides enough support for everyday walking, whether that’s wandering around a city, heading to the beach or simply popping out for coffee.

I also really liked the slip-on design. I’m forever taking shoes on and off in airports, accommodation and when visiting temples around Asia, so anything that saves me repeatedly tying laces is a small luxury I didn’t know I needed.

Perfect For Summer Travel

The open lattice design isn’t just for looks.

It allows plenty of airflow, which means your feet stay much cooler than they would in a conventional trainer. During hot summer days, that’s a surprisingly big advantage.

Because they’re also waterproof and quick-drying, I found myself thinking these would be ideal for beach holidays, campsites, poolside lounging or simply travelling somewhere with unpredictable weather. If they get wet, they dry remarkably quickly.

They’re also incredibly easy to clean. A quick rinse removes most dirt, which is always appreciated after travelling somewhere dusty or sandy.

A Different Look

I’ll admit that the design took me a little while to get used to.

They’re certainly not your traditional trainer, and they’re different enough that people notice them. But after wearing them for a while, I actually came to appreciate how unique they are. It’s refreshing to see a company trying something genuinely different instead of producing yet another identical white trainer.

Final Thoughts

Finding footwear that balances comfort, practicality and packability isn’t always easy, especially if you travel regularly.

The Pollyfab Aero Pro manages to tick a lot of those    boxes. They’re lightweight, breathable, comfortable straight out of the box and easy to throw into a suitcase without sacrificing valuable luggage space.

Will they replace my hiking boots? Absolutely not.

But for city breaks, beach holidays, flights, campsites and those slower travel days where comfort matters more than anything else, I can definitely see myself reaching for them again.

If you’re looking for something a little different from the usual travel footwear, they’re certainly worth a look.

Are you a road warrior loyal to a single airline? Are you a food lover whose biggest monthly expense is dining out? Do you prefer flying business class on international carriers or maximizing hotel points for family vacations? The answers to these questions are important to unlocking true value.

Knowing that, let’s move beyond the glossy welcome offers and discover how you can start making your credit card miles work harder for your next trip. Here’s how you can make a card like the new Maya Black credit card work for you.

1) Review Your Spending Habits

Your spending style for your trips often reveals more than your day-to-day expenses. You may prefer saving on hotels so you can splurge on food. Alternatively, you may choose comfort-first accommodations but keep your meals simple. Or, you may be someone who pours most of their travel budget into shopping, guided tours, or transportation. These choices say a lot about the kind of miles-earning card that will serve you best.

For example, if you’re the type who hunts for affordable stays but spends generously on restaurants, cafes, and local food experiences, a card that lets you pay for dining using miles would be perfect. Or, if you love to shop, a card that lets you earn miles instantly and everywhere will be very helpful.

2) Consider Where You Fly To

Understanding where you travel most helps you narrow down your choices. That means you’ll want to identify your typical routes. Do you spend most of your time exploring the Philippines? Then you’ll benefit from cards that reward domestic flights, local hotel bookings, and everyday purchases made within the country. These cards tend to offer stronger rebates or points for spending categories that match local travel patterns, such as provincial flights, fuel, or accommodations booked through local platforms.

Meanwhile, if you frequently fly abroad, it helps to choose a card that’s widely accepted in international destinations. MasterCard- and VISA-supported cards, in particular, are accepted almost everywhere. These make it easier to dine, shop, commute, and book experiences with total peace of mind. Choosing a card with strong global acceptance also minimizes the chances of awkward moments at checkout counters where international merchants restrict certain card types.

International travelers also deal with foreign transaction fees more often, so it’s worth checking whether your card offers reasonable rates. A card that recognizes foreign currency spending can help you earn rewards faster, especially if your trips involve multiple countries or long stays.

Additionally, if your usual destinations include places that rely heavily on cashless systems, like major cities in Europe, East Asia, or the Middle East, having a card that performs reliably abroad becomes even more important.

3) Understand Features and Fees

Different cards impose different fee systems. Specifically, many travel cards impose annual fees and other charges that often outweigh the value of their perks. Fortunately, there are also cards without annual fees that provide solid benefits and deliver premium travel perks. Bottom line, read the fine print so you won’t be surprised when you see your credit card statement.

It also helps to know whether the card issuer has specific requirements. Some cards require proof of income or a certain credit profile, while others ask you to meet a minimum spend before unlocking perks.

If your monthly purchases are modest, you may prefer a card that rewards everyday spending with minimal or no conditions. Or, if you’re just starting or starting over with your credit score, you might want to look for a card that lets you enjoy the benefits of a regular card, subject to certain requirements, while you work on your credit profile. On the other hand, if you already frequent the partner merchants of a certain card, then it makes sense to apply for it so you can enjoy effortless point accumulation.

4) Maximize Redemption Options

Earning points feels great, but the redemption process needs to be simple enough that you can enjoy the rewards without stress. Some programs offer automatic conversions, while others allow transfers to several airlines or hotels. A few even let you redeem through a dedicated travel portal.

Your travel schedule also affects what works best. If you fly only occasionally, you might appreciate redemption systems that let you bank points or convert them into other rewards. Meanwhile, if you frequently plan group trips or family vacations, you might benefit from programs with several redemption partners. The right kind of flexibility helps you match schedules, seat availability, and preferred dates more easily.

Redemption flexibility becomes even more helpful when preparing trips months in advance. For example, if you’re planning a holiday getaway or a birthday celebration, having more than one redemption option gives you room to adjust without feeling restricted.

Choose the Card That’s Right for You

Move past the hype of massive sign-up bonuses, and you focus on a crucial truth: the best miles card is the one that rewards your lifestyle. After all, your spending is a powerful asset, so you shouldn’t let it sit idle. Instead, master the simple science of maximizing every transaction so you make your miles-earning card work hard for every trip you take.