UK
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Derry Northern Ireland – 10 things to do
Derry is Northern Ireland’s second largest city and offers a surprising amount of things to do for visitors. Often overlooked by visitors in favour of Belfast or cities in the Republic, Londonderry / Derry’s troubled history may have hampered the city’s tourist industry in past decades. But, Derry has come leaps and bounds in recent years. The city is now attracting visitors with its varied history and Irish charm. Today you’ll find a thriving cultural city with good food, beer, and friendly locals. If it wasn’t for the fact that I have family in the city, which brings me here at least once a year over the past 10 years, it…
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Exploring Brecon Beacons in South Wales
Brecon Beacons was our last outing before quarantine back in February. We planned to go to Milan but obviously we cancelled it due to Covid-19. I was disappointed even though it was definitely the right thing to do, and to make matters worse, we live very near the rail line and had an entire weekend of non-stop rail replacement works to look forward to. So I was thrilled when Matt suggested making the trip to South Wales. I lived in South Wales for about two years, in Swansea. While I’ve written previously about local beauty spots such as the Gower, I had not been to Brecon Beacons. What I found…
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Getting to Central London from the Airports
An insider's guide the cheapest and fastest routes to Heathrow, Gatwick, London City Airport, Luton Airport, and Stansted, and where to get tickets and find step-free stations.
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Visiting English Lavender Fields Near London
Mayfield Lavender Farm, located in Banstead near South London, looks a world away from the busy city. Yet, still sits within the London travel zones. The lavender fields are the perfect spot for a summer day trip and one of my favourite days out recently. Despite its huge crowds and growing number of developments, London remains a city that is still full of green spaces, making up approximately 47% of Greater London. But did you know there’s a massive purple space bordering it’s southern edges? The working farm becomes a popular spot to visit in summer when several varieties of lavender are in full bloom as far as the eye…
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Exploring the Gower Peninsula, Wales
I usually get one of two responses when I say I love Swansea: an incredulous “Why?” from those who have never been there, or a “Aw Swansea! The Gower Peninsula is lovely!” from those who have. Swansea was the first place I lived in the UK, first for a university study abroad semester, and then back for my Masters, but my fondness for it is much deeper than cheap night clubs with sticky floors and a now-demolished student village (RIP). For those not familiar, the Gower Peninsula is located on the coast in South Wales, not far from the second largest Welsh city, Swansea. It was named the UK’s first…
