United Kingdom Guide
I was raised in Birmingham and went to university in Sheffield before leaving the UK at 21. I’ve pretty much been living overseas ever since.
I used to feel apathetic towards the UK, especially in light of Brexit, but travel has made me appreciate my native country and see it with new eyes. I usually hop back to Britain every year or two and although it doesn’t truly feel like home any more, it will always be home.
Bookish & British
Some recommended reads and literary travel through the UK:
Books by Black British Authors to Read for Black History Month (& All Year Round)
Black History Month is a time for learning, reflection, and celebration, but it’s important to continue this engagement all year long. One powerful way to do this is by reading
17 Best Shakespeare Quotes About Travel to Inspire Adventure
It’s Shakespeare’s birthday weekend and I’m celebrating in his birthplace of Stratford-upon-Avon (Will, you don’t look a day over 400). So, in the spirit of all things literary and wanderlustful,
British Bookstores
The best and most beautiful bookstores that the UK has to offer:
A Visit to London’s Poetry Pharmacy for Poems on Prescription
Tucked away inside Lush Spa on Oxford Street, London, this walk-in Poetry Pharmacy offers a quiet retreat that invites visitors to explore the soothing and transformative power of poetry. Here,
The Best Bookshops in London: A Literary Lover’s Guide
London is a city where literature and history blend seamlessly, and for book lovers, it’s a dream come true. From quaint independent stores to grand historic institutions, the city offers
The Best Birmingham Bookshops for New and Secondhand Books
Updated May 2024 My passport may be bursting at the seams, but I’m definitely guilty of ignoring what’s in my own back yard. So, since I’ve been back in Birmingham
British Food
I may not always be patriotic, unless it comes to food! British cuisine is highly underrated and although some things may be an acquired taste (hello, Marmite), I promise there is more to British food than fish and chips:
Spring Foraging Guide for the UK by Sarah Tamsin [guest post]
I feel as if spring has really snuck up on us this year. It’s officially time for people living in Britain (or anywhere temperate in the Northern Hemisphere) to come
The Great British Cake-Scoff: A Guide to British Food
So, I’ve put on a lot of weight since I’ve moved back to the UK and with very good reason. So, here I’m sharing my guide to British food: a
More British Destinations
A Day in Oxford Told Through Oxford Dictionary Definitions
Dictionary: A book or electronic resource that lists the words of a language (typically in alphabetical order) and gives their meaning. Inspired by a long (and sunny!) weekend in the home
The 7 Best Free Museums in London
Updated May 2024 London has a reputation for being expensive and often with good reason. A standard cup of coffee will cost you a cheeky £3-4, one stop on the
Personal Thoughts
On Moving to Bangkok and Gripping the Second Trapeze
I moved to Bangkok. Forgive me for the blunt delivery, but when I came to write this post I wasn’t sure what I want to say about it. I didn’t
The Kraken & the Warrior, a Personal Story on Mental Health
I think… I think I’m ready to talk about my mental health. I think it feels like time. I think it’s important that you know what’s been going on and
Chasing Home | A Few Thoughts On Being Between Places
Hey guys. So, I recently participated in the World Nomads Travel Writer Scholarship programme, where I wrote a piece on the theme ‘a place that is unfamiliar to me’. Devastatingly, I
Pico Iyer: Movement is Nothing Until You Stand Still
I’ve been back in the UK now for four months. I’m still reluctant to say ‘back home’, but I’ll admit that it’s slipped off my tongue more than once. Like
Why Moving Back to the UK is Harder Than Moving Away
Yep, I’ve turned into that girl who starts all her sentences with, ‘When I lived in Hong Kong…’ My room is filled with knick-knacks from places I can’t pronounce. I
16 Things I Would Tell My 16-Year-Old Self
We now interrupt this scheduled programme of backpacking-related blog posts to bring you something completely different. Time travel. I thought that moving back to the UK this Christmas would just feel
Travel Essentials
Here are the websites and services I personally use and recommend.
Disclaimer: this box contains affiliate links. This means I earn a small commission if you choose to make a purchase using this link, but at no cost to you.
FLIGHTS: The best deals can be found on Skyscanner, Google Flights and Kiwi (learn more about Kiwi travel hacking here).
TRAVEL INSURANCE: I recommend World Nomads for travel insurance because you can purchase once you’re already overseas and you can easily extend your policy. For digital nomads, I recommend and personally use Genki (learn more about Genki digital nomad health insurance here).
E-SIM: For travel in Europe, I use an e-sim with GoMobile, which is a provider based in Malta, but you need to be there to set it up.
ACCOMMODATION: I use Booking.com for hotels and Airbnb for apartments. For Colivings, I usually book privately, but Coliving.com is a good place to start.
THINGS TO DO: I use Viator or Get Your Guide for booking day trips, city tours and other activities, though I often check reviews on TripAdvisor too.
