Where to stay

Stratford

Kings Cross

Clapham

Victoria

Markets

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London has so many markets that you could probably spend a whole week exploring them, but if you’re only planning a weekend in London, here are some of my favourites.

Camden Market

Arguably London’s most famous market, Camden is known for its music scene, eccentric shops and a lot of good food. The market is open everyday from 10am-6pm and is home to CyberDog, a ‘rave clothing’ shop that is worth the visit even if you don’t plan on buying anything. A trip to Camden market isn’t complete without a bowl of Mac n Cheese from The Mac Factory stall.

Portobello Road Market

Famous for its antiques, Portobello Road Market in Notting Hill is one of the world's largest antique markets. It's also a great place to find vintage clothes and collectibles. Make sure you snap a pic of the colourful houses as you enter the market!

Borough Market

Borough market is a food lover's heaven, so make sure you come hungry! Some My favourite thing from here is the strawberries drenched in milk chocolate. They’re pricey but every strawberry was juicy and the warm chocolate was poured over it as you ordered, so you can enjoy it before it hardens! Don't miss

• Creme Brulé Doughnut from Bread Ahead
• Sausage Roll from The Ginger Pig 
• Pulled Pork Sandwich from The Black Pig 

Old Spitalfields Market

Located in East London, this market offers a mix of fashion, art, and food. It's a great spot to find unique gifts and enjoy delicious street food. Here is where you’ll find the Instagram spot Humble Crumble, just expect to queue for a while!

China Town*

Not exactly a market, but the area is worth visiting for the food! Popular places: 

• Mamasons for their Filipino inspired desserts
• Plum Valley for their dim sum 
• Bunsik for their Korean hot dog 
• Bun House for their custard steamed buns 
• China Town Bakery for their Taiyaki custard fish
• Ji Chickens for their popcorn fried chicken
• Four Seasons for the best roast duck! 

Museums

The Cube 

Squid Game The Experience

That being said, many young adults associate cruises with an older demographic or something you do when you have kids, which is why Virgin Voyages has brought something new to the scene. Virgin Voyages are relatively new to the cruise industry, the first ship Scarlet Lady began sailing just 4 years ago in 2021. Whether you’re a seasoned traveler or new to the world of cruises, here are eight compelling reasons why Virgin Voyages deserves a spot on your travel itinerary.

1. Adults Only

2. All specialty dining is included

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Unlike many other cruise lines that charge extra for specialty dining, Virgin Voyages takes a different approach. Traditionally, most cruises offer buffet-style meals and set dining times, often with additional charges for high-end restaurants. However, Virgin Voyages eliminates the need for buffets entirely, opting instead for an array of all-inclusive specialty dining options. Aside from book-in restaurants, you will find ‘The Galley’ which is laid out like a food court with several different food stalls. Here you’ll find tacos, salads, sushi, ramen, daily specials and more.

In terms of restaurants, you’ll find 6 different options you can dine at in the evening, and a selected few for breakfast. You’ll find a steakhouse, an italian, a korean bbq, mexican, chinese fusion and ‘The Test Kitchen’, which is an experimental restaurant offering tasting menus, and it’s definitely worth experiencing.

3. Free Wi-Fi

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I know a lot of us go on holiday to disconnect, but it’s always good to know you have access to message friends and family (and post your food pics on Instagram). Unlike other cruise lines that charge high fees for Wi-Fi packages, Virgin Voyages includes Wi-Fi in your cruise fare at no extra cost.

Although streaming services are restricted (so no Tik Tok scrolling), you will still be able to use messaging apps and browse social media. This means that whether you want to post on Instagram or stay connected via WhatsApp, you won’t have to worry about paying extra for internet access.

4. Free Champagne!

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If there’s one way to start a holiday in style, it’s with a glass of champagne! During Virgin’s sail away party, crew members will walk around the pool deck with glasses of champagne to toast with for approximately half an hour. There’s music playing, people dancing and it’s really a great way to kick-off your cruise journey. So make sure to grab as many refills as you can during this time!

5. Stylish cabins and entertainment

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The cabins on Virgin Voyages are similar to what you’d find in a boutique hotel. They’re aesthetic, modern and honestly the beds might just be comfier than your bed at home. You control the room with an iPad, which includes the lights (mood settings), temperature and entertainment. You’ll find quite a range of movies and TV shows to choose from, for when you don’t fancy hitting the club after dinner and just want to unwind and eat a pizza in bed.

6. Variety of entertainment

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Whether you’re looking for acrobatic performances, karaoke night, live music or interactive game shows, you’ll find this on board. One particularly popular event is Last Man Standing, a competitive trivia game where guests must stand on the answer they believe is correct. Those who pick the wrong answer are eliminated, and the challenge continues until only one winner remains. Also, expect prizes for winning teams (in the form of free drinks)! 

7. Focus on fitness and wellbeing

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While some people prefer to fully indulge while on holiday, others enjoy maintaining their fitness routine even while traveling. For those who wish to stay active, you’ll find a state-of-the-art weights area, a cardio room with ocean views, as well as lots of fun exercise classes to sign up to. Some unique ones include ‘bungy fitness’ and a ‘90s VHS dance class’ .

Amongst all the delicious indulgent food on board, you’ll also find a plethora of healthy options too. There’s a smoothie bar (including protein shakes), poke bowls, a salad and bagel bar in The Galley (food court area) and fresh fruit daily. There’ll always be somewhere you can find chicken on the ship, so you can still hit those protein goals!

8. Unique ports and excursions

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Every cruise line has a private port, and Virgin’s is The Beach Club at Bimini in the Bahamas. The best part about this port is that your food (and towels) is also included here when you get off the ship. Here you can choose to spend the day relaxing on a sunbed and enjoying the pool and beach, or you can book an excursion.

In terms of excursions, Virgin Voyages aims to promote tours that aid the local economy in the destinations they port at. In Tortola, you can visit a pineapple farm, in Costa Maya you can explore the Mayan ruins and in Roatan you can visit the monkey sanctuary and take a selfie with a sloth (just to name a few).

So, will you be booking a Virgin Voyages cruise for your next trip? Check out all the Virgin Voyages itineraries here. 

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I've done a fair bit of Gibraltar based content in the past, but realised I haven't done an itinerary of what the perfect 2 day trip to Gibraltar would look like. There are a lot of tourists who come to Gibraltar for a day or on a cruise stop, so I wanted to show that Gibraltar is worth spending more than just 1 night in.

For those who have just heard of the place, Gibraltar is an overseas British Territory on the Southern tip of Europe. We border Spain, which means that because of Brexit tourists do need to have their passport stamped when crossing in and out. Whilst exploring Gibraltar, you'll notice the contrast between red telephone boxes and fish & chips, with tapas and hearing people speaking a mix of both English and Spanish. If you're looking to spend a weekend or 2 days in Gibraltar, this is the perfect itinerary.  

Where To Stay

The 4* hotel comes equipped with everything you need for a stay in Gibraltar. There is a rooftop pool, gym and a restaurant and bar downstairs. Their rooms are beautifully decorated and spacious, and a particular highlight for me is that there is a complimentary pillow menu to choose from. The executive room also features a double sink in the bathroom, which is perfect if you and your +1 like your space for getting ready in the morning. 

Day 1

Breakfast

To start your trip, I would head to Hustle n Flow for breakfast if you like instagrammable food that doesn't compromise on flavour. This place has all the cosy vibes and even has a little play area for kids if you're travelling as a family. My personal favourites on the menu are the blue eyed girl and the French toast. 

Explore the Rock of Gibraltar 

Once you're all full up from breakfast, you can either choose to walk around 30 minutes to the rock of Gibraltar (before starting your incline) or crossing the road and catch the number 3 bus towards South Pavilion Steps Terminus. You can ask the bus driver to let you know the closest stop for going up the rock, which will be by the Old Casino. 

Another way to get up the rock, is to walk up town or get the number 1 bus to Flat Bastion Road. Here you'll find a set of steps with the union jack which lead you to the Upper Rock. A lot of the attractions are found on the rock, so you can expect to spend a couple of hours here.

If you want to save money then I recommend buying a GibraltarPass - which will get you access to most of the attractions mentioned in this blog as well as restaurant discounts and a few freebies. Who doesn't love a free glass of wine? Some of the attractions included are the Mediterranean Steps, Skywalk, Cable Car, WW2 Tunnels, Wildlife Centre and you also get free transport on the Citibus. 

You can use my code TWG23 for 5% off your pass!

Mediterranean Steps

If you're the outdoorsy type, then start off with the 1 hour trek through the Mediterranean Steps. You'll definitely be out of breath by the time you get to the top, but it's doable for people of all ages. To get here, find your way to the Pillars of Hercules and you'll see the starting point 20m from there. Entry for tourists is £16. 

The Skywalk

St Michael's Cave

Suspension bridge

Apes Den

Lunch

Next we're heading to Chatham Counterguard, where you'll find a strip of tapas restaurants. You'll find this area is the most vibrant on a Friday night or Saturday lunch time. My most visited restaurants in Chatham are probably: 

• Vault 13 for their asian prawns, octopus and bao buns;
• My Wines for their duck nachos and lemon chicken fingers;
• Tapas by Gauchos for their steak tartare and truffled mash.

Gin Distillery tour

If you've a lover of gin, then you need to make time for Spirit of The Rock's gin distillery tour. The owner Peter will take you through a bit of history of where gin came from and how it made its way to Gibraltar.

You'll get to try 6 different gins (from the original purer forms to the newer gin mixes) and then you will get to enjoy your own gin based cocktail at the end. You can either choose to water down the gins or shot them straight, in which case I suggest you have a big meal beforehand! The tour times vary so I suggest looking on their website beforehand to see their availability. 

Main Street

After the gin tasting tour you will find yourself at the top of Main Street. You'll want to make your way down to Casemates Square to see everything it has to offer. Along Main Street you'll find shops, bakeries and restaurants and a few alleyways to explore. 

If you fancy an afternoon snack, then head to The Muscle Bakery on Cornwall's Lane. I buy treats from here almost every week because not only are they guilt free but I love the unique flavour combinations they come up with! They often have seasonal specials too for Halloween, Christmas and every other holiday in between. Their products are always gluten-free and if you're a gym goer, a lot of these baked treats are also made with a high amount of protein. My personal favourites are the skinny dream bars and the kinder doughnuts. They also have a savoury menu if you don't have much of a sweet tooth. 

If you're visiting from the UK, you'll also recognise some of the high street shops such as Marks & Spencers, Superdry and Debenhams. 

I'm assuming by this point, you'll want to head back to your room to freshen up, upload your instagram pics or just have a good ol' holiday nap. 

Dinner

Last year I did a survey to find out what the best places for a meal out in Gibraltar were, according to locals. Little Bay in Ocean Village came in the top 3 and it's no surprise why! The indian food here is delicious and I've never had a bad meal here. 

This place is always full so expect to wait a while for your food, but it is worth the wait. My usual orders when I go are the chilli cheese naan, the pomegranate aloo tikki chana masala, the anardana jhinga which is a prawn dish, and the chicken murgh makhani. For dessert, the pistachio kulfi is lovely. I also recommend checking out their signature cocktail menu!

Nightlife

One thing which you might find a little different when visiting Gibraltar, is that the nightlife is more buzzing on a Friday. If you're looking for a place to end your night then your best options are Bruno's or Viceroy Nightclub. Both venues are open late on Fridays and Saturdays. Bruno's is free entry and although it's technically a restaurant, they turn the inside space into a dance floor on the weekends. 

Viceroy opened its doors this summer and has an over 25 door policy and charges £10 entry after 11pm on Fridays (Saturday nights are usually free!). If you just fancy some cocktails during the day then it's free to enter and they have a lovely outside area for it. They sometimes have events on with international DJs so it's worth having a look at their website to see what's on! 

Update April 25: Viceroy is currently closed for business 

Photo by @viceroygib on Instagram

Day 2

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Breakfast

When I asked 400 locals what their favourite breakfast spot in Gibraltar was, My Wines was a clear winner. Whether you’re looking for something sweet or savoury, or having breakfast with your family there’s something for everyone. I recommend the pancakes, bacon eggs benedict or a simple mollete bread with tomato and jamon serrano if you want a typical Andalusian breakfast. If you visit around autumn/winter, they also have pumpkin spiced lattes on the menu. An interesting breakfast item they have is the ‘breakfast hunger killer’. This combines their famous lemon chicken fingers in a warm mollete with melted cheese. 

If you're a fan of bottomless brunches, then keep your eyes peeled on their Instagram account, as they regularly do 'Brunch n Boogie' events on their terrace. 

Escape Room

If you happen to be staying in the Holiday Inn, then you'll only have a short 5 minute walk to reach the Rock Escape Rooms. I've done a few of these myself and they're always a lot of fun (with a few jump scares here and there). I recommend doing the Jack the Ripper or the Prison Break rooms!

Lunch

From the escape rooms, you can reach the beaches within 10 minutes. First you'll come across Eastern Beach and at the entrance, you'll find Karma Chiringuito. Here you'll find Mediterranean dishes such as paella, fresh seafood, fish and meat. 

They occasionally run wine pairing events too, so make sure to check their Facebook page to see if they're holding one whilst you're here!

Photo from @karmachiringuito on instagram

Beach day

After lunch, you can choose to stay at Eastern Beach or keep walking another 10 minutes towards Catalan Bay or Sandy Bay. Catalan is definitely the prettiest as you'll find a backdrop of colourful houses that will have you thinking you're in Italy. In terms of the actual beach and water, Sandy bay has the softest sand in my opinion! 

Tip from a local: ask for a 'frozen sun top' at the kiosk, it's been a beach staple at the beach in Gibraltar since I was little! 

Lighthouse & Europa Point

Before heading home, catch the number 2 bus to Europa Point to see Gibraltar's lighthouse and some great views of Africa. Here you'll also find the Gibraltar University and the Bistro Point Restaurant, if you want to sit and have a drink with a view. 

Dinner

After you've freshened up, head to Queensway Quay where you'll find a number of restaurants that in my opinion, are the perfect places for a date night or a celebration. Some of these are pricier than other parts of Gibraltar, but the quality of the food matches it. Some of my favourites are:

• Monique's Bistro for their duck salad and mushroom pilpil;
• The Lounge for their crispy pork belly with potato terrine;
• and Rendezvous for their steaks!

USEFUL INFO

• Our first language is English, but you'll find a lot of us also speak Spanish and there are also a lot of Spanish nationals working in Gibraltar. 
• We use pounds in Gibraltar, but you might find some of the notes and coins look slightly different. That's because we also circulate the Gibraltar Pound (GIP) which won't work in the UK, so make sure you get them changed. Euros also work in any shop. 
• Please don't refer to Gibraltarians as Spanish, we've fought hard to stay British! ;)
• Most hotels are quite central, Sunborn Gibraltar is on the higher price range but in the heart of Ocean Village, but the Holiday Inn is just 10 minutes away from it.There are also a lot of Gibraltar AirBnBs popping up, so make sure to look their too!

I hope you've found this post useful! if you want any further info or even fancy meeting up for a coffee when you're in Gibraltar you can reach me on any of my socials below. 

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Come January, a lot of us try and start the year by adopting healthy habits and usually have heaps of motivation to do so. One of the things a lot of people opt to do is Dry January, where you simply don't drink a drop of alcohol for the month. If you're someone who has quite an active social life or you live somewhere where the main activity to do is go out for food and drinks, then here are some other fun things you can do in January that don't involve drinking alcohol. 

1. Go for coffee dates

2. Play Games

If you don't own any boardgames and are still a bit broke from the Christmas period, then there are plenty of online free games you can play too. Me and my partner have found this site to be quite entertaining, as there's over 50 types of games on there. A couple of fun ones I have played are  'Merge Salad' where you need to match identical ingredients in a row and prepare the veg/fruit for the salad and prepare the salad and 'Brush Master' where you have to duplicate the painting show by clicking the painters in the correct order. The instructions on each game are clear which means they're easy to pick up! 

3. Join a club 

When I'm not eating or drinking out, two social things I enjoy doing are going to the cinema with friends and then having a chat about the movie after, and reading and discussing books with the Book Club that I'm in. If you want to join a community who share the same interests, have a look online in your local area. Or if you're feeling up to it, start your own club! I have a friend who started a 'Sunday Swim Club' which has had quite a good turn out and she's made some great friendships from it. 

4. Explore your city (or country)

5. Invest time in your relationships

If you're someone who usually enjoys a glass of wine at night on the weekend with your partner or an after work drink, try and find a non-alcoholic drink that you really enjoy and look forward to. Lately I've been obsessed with passionfruit Nestea, so I look forward to that more than I do a glass of wine at night! I hope you've found this post useful and has inspired some new ideas for you

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