Europe Travel Blogs

Celebrating Home Sweet Home As A Visit England Ambassador!

Incredible view from Cat Bells in the Lake District

Find out more about my time so far as a Visit England ambassador, including my top destinations, a few new passions and where I’m heading next!

Last summer I received one of those emails that made me leap out of my chair, grab my phone and errr… call my Mum!

“I’ve been offered a really exciting opportunity – Visit England want me to be an ambassador,” I squealed!

It was such a perfect fit. Since I started blogging I’ve been quietly flying the flag for different areas around my home country. I’d explored Nottingham’s underground caves (not as spooky as it sounds), eaten my way around Canterbury in Kent (mmmm), looked for the perfect brunches in London (double mmmm), enjoyed a crisp spring break in the New Forest (chilly but worth it), enjoyed a retro holiday on the Isle of Wight (hilarious and very pretty), got lost in Oxford‘s charm (hello dream hometown), and discovered Hastings’ independent spirit (did somebody say gift shop?)

While I absolutely adore England, I was also aware that a lot of people my age skipped breaks on home turf for more exotic destinations. Yep, I know that weather plays a huge part in that decision, but I also think there’s another element. People don’t realise what’s right here, how accessible it is, and how much pleasure it can actually bring!

I recently wrote a blog about this exact topic – showing how there are plenty of places right here in England that compare to those abroad. Skip visiting the lavender fields of Provence and head to Norfolk instead! Swap the beaches of St Lucia for those in the Scilly Isles!

Next steps, growing up, and buying pot plants.

It’s 11am on Sunday 4^th March and I’m sat here under a blanket watching Sunday Brunch on TV. I can’t remember the last time I did… virtually nothing!

It’s been a month of utter madness, exhaustion and highs and lows. I’m not talking about the #beastfromtheeast, I’m talking about a few changes in my little life. Yes, this is a personal post, no travel tips below, and no inspiration for jet-setting, unless you fancy a trip to Ikea or West London?

Just after Christmas, Macca and I started the big London flat hunt… Again. We’d been in our previous place for almost six months, but it was always a temporary option. We were sharing with two others and gradually decided that we were ready to fly the nest and have our own space.

THE SEARCH

We started the hunt for the dream one-bed flat with all the mod cons. We wanted somewhere that we were excited to base ourselves in and return to after our travels. Somewhere with good transport links (hello airports!) and a bit of café culture, for those freelance cabin fever days.

There are plenty of unique things to do in Hastings, including sampling delicious homemade food, visiting a hipster barber shop, feasting on chic desserts, skating, enjoying live music and staying in boutique accommodation.

Hastings is a classic English seaside town. I visited last June and enjoyed a fun, but perhaps slightly unoriginal day trip. It was Hastings for first-timers! I tucked into fresh seafood by the fishermen’s huts, played miniature golf, rode the funicular up East Hill, shopped for cute souvenirs, checked out the sweet shops, and took photos of the candy coloured beach huts. Oh and I even received the traditional Hastings welcome – a dalliance with a seagull who took one look at my tasty ice cream, and thought ‘I’ll be having that…’

Minus the interference with the seagull, it was everything I wanted from my first visit. When the team in Hastings sent an invite to see the town in a different way, I was intrigued. By different I mean: a) off season (hello winter) and b) not treading the obvious path. I sent a big fat yes, received a few Southeastern train tickets in the post, and headed down in the middle of February. It’s easily accessible by train, and only takes an hour and a half – perfect for those craving a change of pace from city life.

My trip was timed perfectly to coincide with one of the town’s biggest festivals: Fat Tuesday. Running for five days and nights, the town’s bars and pubs celebrate with a varied schedule of live music. The climax is on Fat Tuesday itself, (aka Shrove Tuesday/Mardi Gras) – the day of my trip. This year over 20 acts were playing, and I was excited for a night of bar hopping!

But first, it was time to explore a few sights I didn’t see last time. I spent most of my time in the areas known as Trinity Triangle, White Rock and the America Ground. It’s a small area with a fiercely independent vibe. I thought the main High Street in Hastings had this covered, but this small area close to the pier has a lot going for it. There are places that have been trading over 30 years, and new spots breathing new energy into the area. Stylish barbers? Tick. Record store? Tick. Organic food store. Tick. Funky homeware store? Tick. Hey there’s even The Cake Room. What more could you need?

Scotch eggs at Scotchtails, Borough Market

Flavoursome salami from Sussex and Wales, English sparkling wines that compete with the best champagnes, and traditional pies filled with indulgent fillings – this London food tour is a reminder that British cuisine shouldn’t be overlooked!

First things first, we can’t ignore the elephant in the room. Yes, England may be mocked internationally for its cuisine, with people assuming it’s all about greasy fry ups, meals soaked in gravy and overcooked meat… but right now there’s a food revolution going on.

As we pay more attention to where our food comes from and what’s in it, our relationship towards eating has changed. If we had all the money in the world, no doubt we’d buy free-range, organic everything and be on first name terms with our local butchers and fishmongers. We’d have gardens and grow plenty of our own ingredients too. Yet, this is becoming harder and harder as huge supermarkets are our main providers of our daily food.

However, this is not the case in Borough Market. Under one historic roof you’ll find freshly baked focaccia, ethically sourced meat, the most colourful (and organic) fruit and veg, sustainable seafood, stinky Swiss cheese, Indian dosas, Spanish chorizo and adorable macaroons. It’s a feast for the senses: a place where India mingles with China, Ethiopia, Argentina, France and England. It’s foodie heaven, and without a doubt one of my favourite places in London.

From Saint Tropez to Nice, it’s time for a tour of the Côte d’Azur!

The Côte D’Azur (or French Riviera) is famed for its beautiful blues and air of sophistication. I associated it with film stars schmoozing on yachts in Cannes and glamorous ladies holidaying in Monaco. I couldn’t imagine for a second that it was a place that a) I’d be able to afford to visit or b) feel comfortable in. Yet, after my surprise trip to Nice and Monaco last year, I was pleasantly surprised!

Views of the port from Parc De La Colline Du Chateau

We stayed at a charming hotel, moments from the pebbly beach, enjoyed warm weather and sunshine in October, and feasted on delicious Mediterranean food. I snapped photos of blue and white umbrellas in Nice, Monaco’s famous casino and wondered why I hadn’t visited sooner. And while it was on the pricey side, it was no different to London. The combination of great food, gorgeous sunshine, and a short flight time makes a holiday in the Cote D’Azur pretty appealing!

It’s certainly made me rethink the region as a whole, and along with recommending Nice and Monaco, I’ve got a few other places I’d be keen to visit.

These are all of my Europe travel blogs!

Celebrating Home Sweet Home As A Visit England Ambassador!

Find out more about my time so far as a Visit England ambassador, including my top destinations, a few new passions and where I’m heading next!

The Future (and buying pot plants)

Next steps, growing up, and buying pot plants.

THE SEARCH

The Alternative Guide To Hastings, England

There are plenty of unique things to do in Hastings, including sampling delicious homemade food, visiting a hipster barber shop, feasting on chic desserts, skating, enjoying live music and staying in boutique accommodation.

Tasting The Best Of British Cuisine On A London Food Tour

Flavoursome salami from Sussex and Wales, English sparkling wines that compete with the best champagnes, and traditional pies filled with indulgent fillings – this London food tour is a reminder that British cuisine shouldn’t be overlooked!

READ MORE: London’s Best Food Markets

6 Places To Visit On The Cote D’Azur, France

From Saint Tropez to Nice, it’s time for a tour of the Côte d’Azur!