Europe

Europe Travel Blogs

These are all of my Europe travel blogs!

From luxurious road trips in Italy, to the freshest food in Spain and exciting travel adventures in Scandinavia and The Baltics,  find out the best places to travel to in Europe here, in my Europe travel blogs.

Happy exploring!

REVIEW: Hotel Du Vin Wimbledon, London

Exploring the park in front of Hotel Du Vin Wimbledon

Forget the tennis, there’s another BIG reason to take a trip to SW19 – for a relaxing getaway at Hotel Du Vin Wimbledon!

When it comes to mini-breaks, London might not be your first choice, but that’s where a hotel like this is just perfect! It has the feeling of being in the countryside, set in beautiful parkland and close to upmarket Wimbledon Village, yet you’re just a short tube ride to the bright lights of the city. It really does offer the best of both worlds.

I visited in October, enjoying the Eat.Love.Stay package, which included a three course dinner, a glass of wine per person, an overnight stay and a full breakfast the next morning. So, time to find out more… what’s the hotel like? Where is it? Who’s it suitable for? And most importantly – is the food any good?!

Hotel Du Vin Wimbledon: Hotel Overview

Hotel Du Vin has a collection of smart hotels around the UK, many in unique and historic buildings. I was familiar with the brand after eyeing up their gorgeous hotel in Brighton many times! Cannizaro House, their Wimbledon outpost, is a large 19th Century house overlooking Cannizaro Park – a sprawling collection of parkland and gardens that was looking particularly pretty as Autumn rolled in. There was a sense of grandeur as we entered, peeking through to the bar, lounge and the floor to ceiling glass of The Orangerie. After reading about the history, it felt appropriate to hear the house had hosted the likes of Lord Tennyson and Oscar Wilde! It was quintessentially British in character.

The beautiful lounge of Hotel Du Vin Wimbledon
The beautiful lounge of Hotel Du Vin Wimbledon

Hotel Du Vin Wimbledon: Style and Décor

I loved the bar and lounge area of the hotel, which is both sophisticated and cosy! In the centre of the lounge there’s a striking circular banquette with seating around it. To the side, a fireplace with an ornate marble mantelpiece, topped with bottles of champagne. There are tall columns topped with gold, mirrors with thick gold frames and chandeliers. It definitely feels like somewhere you’d visit for a special occasion. Just beyond is The Orangerie, Hotel Du Vin’s restaurant where we enjoyed both dinner that evening, and breakfast the next morning. What a room! While it’s a lovely open space (with retractable roof and huge doors opening straight out into the park) it’s the view of Cannizaro Park which makes it extra special. The greenery is uninterrupted, with the autumnal colours of red, orange and brown making it especially pretty.

Extravagant details in the lounge area at Hotel Du Vin Wimbledon
Extravagant details in the lounge area at Hotel Du Vin Wimbledon
Bar at Hotel Du Vin Wimbledon
Bar at Hotel Du Vin Wimbledon

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Autumn In London

Dominique Ansel Bakery, London

Spending Autumn in London? Here are a few spots I’d recommend… 

I’m home! Yes I’ve finally found a London base, for the time being at least. While travelling is a huge part of my life, I was feeling quite unsettled with no fixed address. But now, here I am typing in my new flat in London. I’ve joined a gym and found some cool locals spots – the local Asian supermarket being one of them!

It’s been lovely to explore the city again, go to events, see friends and generally live the London life! I felt very lucky to be invited to be part of Visit London’s first #LoveLondonWeekend. They invited top Bloggers and Instagrammers from around the world to explore London, with opportunities to visit some of the city’s most famous attractions, and uncover a few hidden gems too! You can check out some of the stunning photos over on Instagram here #LoveLondonWeekend.

Enjoying Autumn in Cannizaro Park, Wimbledon
Enjoying Autumn in Cannizaro Park, Wimbledon

So time to share a few of the places I’ve been enjoying in London as the leaves have turned red and crunchy!

The View From The Shard

I’ve only been up the Shard once before, and that time it was at night. This time I caught a bit of the magic just after sunset, as the twinkly lights started to sparkle. I’ll never get tired of views of London like these…

Incredible views of London from The View From The Shard
Incredible views of London from The View From The Shard
Incredible views of London from The View From The Shard
Incredible views of London from The View From The Shard

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Street Art And More: Touring The Alternative Side Of Berlin With Withlocals

Exploring Berlin's East Side Gallery

Berlin is independent, gritty and has plenty of stories to tell. I headed off on a Withlocals street art tour of Berlin for a fascinating delve into Berlin’s multi-layered history, learning about the city’s creativity, secret food and drink spots and plenty more!

Awesome courtyard in Berlin
Awesome courtyard in Berlin

Let me start by saying, there aren’t many tour guides out there like Betty. She has one of those exciting temperaments that draws you in and makes you want to know EVERYTHING. You want to ask her questions about her life, her passions, her Berlin. I hung on every word and in no time, I started to see the city through her eyes. That, for me, is the beauty of a Withlocals tour – you get someone who lives and breathes the place you’re visiting.

Awesome Withlocals host Betty
Awesome Withlocals host Betty

I booked the three-hour ‘Urban Jungle’ tour, which promised to show me the alternative side of Berlin. And believe me, there was a lot to see!

We kicked off the day in Hackesche Höfe in Mitte neighbourhood, with an opportunity to see the city’s most beautiful art nouveau architecture. With several interlinking courtyards, it was once cramped accommodation for people from all walks of life. These days, it’s super desirable, and while the upper floors offer accommodation, downstairs you’ll find upmarket restaurants, independent boutiques and more.

Hackesche Höfe, Berlin
Hackesche Höfe, Berlin

The most photographed spot is the Haus Schwarzenberg, an area filled with colourful street art and murals, with the artwork of Anne Frank by Jimmy C one of the most famous. I heard how Jimmy had studied aboriginal art and used some of the techniques in his street art. This one stands just in front of the Anne Frank museum, and no doubt draws crowds to see the artwork as much as to the museum.

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