For years, Ben has talked about taking me to St. Ives in Cornwall, England. He used to live there back in the day for a couple of years. St Ives is (so far) the prettiest place I’ve seen in England and the water on the coast is so clear and blue, you wouldn’t really guess it’s in England at all.

Ben took this photo!

Ben was really excited when this year his family decided to do their holiday in St. Ives! His mom, sister (Emma), her husband (Craig), his brother (Josh), and his girlfriend (Tamsin), as well as his little bro (Max), were all there. It was a fun and boozy time as always with them!

Getting to St Ives

You can take the train to St Ives from London, no problem. I suggest downloading an app like rome2rio to find the best routes with public transportation.

You can also drive which is what Ben and I did. We rented an adorable mini cooper from Sixt (I’ve used them for my past few car rentals and like them). We drove from Ben’s hometown, Tonbridge. If you drive, you might pass Stonehenge! I had no clue we would and was really surprised to see it. Check that off the list, haha.

When to visit St Ives and How to find a hotel in St Ives

St Ives is SO popular and beautiful that it can get crowded. We went on a bank holiday weekend, like everyone else there. The crowds themselves weren’t that big of a deal. The problem we faced was trying to find a hotel online before going. There aren’t many actual “hotels” in St Ives and actually because it’s such a small town with little lanes and everything, it’s more B&Bs. The B&B’s are really cute and charming, so I recommend booking one instead of the hotels.

Ben’s family had booked a house before we knew we were going, so they stayed in a really cute place that had three bedrooms, booked through this site which has a lot of homes in St Ives listed. Ben and I got a small B&B nearby.

When you search major booking sites, these little B&B’s won’t pop up though, so what we did was search for them on Google Maps. Funnily enough, the one I found, Downlong Cottage, Ben had stayed at in the past and knew exactly where it was. We called them and made the booking on the phone and Ben did a money transfer through the bank to hold the booking. We paid 46 GBP per person, per night. This is way less expensive than a hotel room or any of the larger B&B’s we found on booking sites. A lot of the smaller B&B’s you’ll find, won’t have online booking so just call them from Skype.

Another thing to keep in mind during peak travel times to St Ives is that with it being such a small town, it can be hard to get a table at restaurants. Some take bookings, so if you have a big party, definitely call ahead. But a lot don’t and you might have to check a few places before you find a table. Thankfully, there are so many tasty restaurants here it’s unlikely you’ll end up having a bad meal.

What to do in St Ives

The best thing to do in St Ives is, of course, the beach! You might be thinking “but it’s freezing”, yes, it is – and English people don’t care. They swim in wetsuits and sit on the windy beach in jeans and sweaters. Not gonna lie, it’s totally crazy lol but we got lucky and had some sun so I actually got a tan and even burnt a little. Even in the sun, the water was way too cold for me to get in.

Some of the crew did go surfing (with wet suits) but I chickened out. For one, it was cold, and two, it was smaller white water waves which I suck at and I knew it would be annoying to probably only catch one wave while freezing my butt off. Instead, I played photographer for them. There are a few beaches in St Ives, and the best beach for surfing is Porthmeor, which is pictured here.

We also rented out little motor boats, which was Ben’s sister’s idea. You can rent them for 75 GBP for 90 minutes (I *think*). They don’t go fast and you have to stay within a zoned area; it’s great for kids. We took fishing equipment which was an absolute failure. You rent these at the Harbor.

If you like photography, there is a really great viewpoint up at the top by where the buses stop. It’s not much of a walk at all. Here are some photos from it, overlooking the harbor below.

St Ives is actually known for art, and people come here to go to the Tate Art Gallery which we didn’t make time for. You can also check out the Minack Theatre, which is an open-air theatre. A lot of people recommended I check out the Eden Project which is a big biosphere housing rainforest flowers and such. We didn’t have time for it and Ben had already visited this, so didn’t go. There are some other activities like a little theme park called Flambard’s Experience, an arcade, and a Maritime Museum.

Ben lost his phone the first night, so we had to go to nearby Penzance to get him a new one. We passed St Michael’s Mount, which is an island but it was a little gloomy so my photo didn’t turn out great:

With the rest of your time, you can DRINK cuz why not!? and you can wander around the cute little roads. There are shops, but I didn’t think anything was cute enough to go in. It was mostly knickknacks and housewares.

Food in St Ives

In St Ives, there are a few things you have to try: a Cornish Pasty, fish n chips, fudge, scones with clotted cream and jam (or cream tea). You’ll see shops for this stuff all over the place!

For drinks, you can go the Sloop but it’s sometimes too crowded because it’s the most popular, so if so, you can go to Upper Deck, just behind which has some views of the sea, too.

You definitely have to have an English breakfast while here! Our B&B (and I think most) will offer this included in your price.

The best meal we had was at Porthgwidden Beach Cafe. I got the crab linguini and it was delish – sadly, I’d already had about a bottle of wine so wasn’t focused enough on eating haha!

We also tried the Rum and Crab Shack because it had great reviews, but I thought the BBQ ribs were weird (it was an odd cut of meat, not typical ribs) and had a strange sauce. Can’t say I recommend it much!

Ben and I went to Seafood Cafe one night which was really good. You order your drinks, then go up to the counter and pick out the meat or fish you want and order your food at the counter. We had mussels, steak, and fish n chips. We wanted to go to Blas Burgerworks because Ben used to eat there when he lived here but never found the time.

St Ives has a lot to offer and it’s definitely somewhere I’d go back to. I think some days there are really nice waves as well, so it would be cool to man up a bit and try surfing here next time! Have you been to St. Ives? Tell me your favorite places there in the comments!

The post Chilling Out in St Ives With Ben’s Family (and some travel tips) appeared first on Hippie In Heels.

If you read my last post on what’s new in my world, then you know I just headed back to Europe for a bit and my bestie, Arielle, is finally met Ben! This also means I was in England for late summer/early fall, which is very different from late summer/early fall in Goa. Here’s my full London packing list for the fall so you know what to pack for this time of year too!

London Packing List for the Fall

Quick Things to Note:

• Late summer/early fall in England is literally a toss-up. One day, in St. Ives I laid at the beach and got a sunburn BUT at the same time, you couldn’t get in the sea without a wet suit and the wind was fierce. Other days, I had on jeans, boots, a long sleeve shirt, and leather jacket and was still a bit cold walking outside. The key is *LAYERS*
• If you haven’t booked your tickets yet, I swear Kiwi always finds the best and cheapest options for getting there!
• England can be expensive, so make sure you have travel insurance just in case anything goes wrong.

Below is my luggage fully packed for England:

The Suitcase – Delsey

I’ve been using Delsey luggage for years and although I have other favorite luggages, this has always been and probably always will be my go-to. I bought it years before I started blogging and it’s still in perfect condition. It’s been through a lot.

See all my picks for stylish luggage here

I also totally swear by packing cubes for keeping myself organized! I have way too many, and they’re all from ebags. Looks how organized it made my bag! It’s so easy to get to everything when I’m traveling.

The Bags

1 bigger tote bag

My exact one is here. I live for this bag from Bali Since it was a two-week trip where I’d be lugging my luggage around a lot, it was unnecessary to take a rolling carry on. And Instead of my new favorite backpack, I took this cute tote as it could double up as a purse when I have huge days out and need to take my camera or do shopping.

1 smaller cross body bag

This one is similar to mine. This bag is the same brand as the tote, Etnika, it’s from Bali but sold on Etsy. I actually packed this purse in my luggage and only carried my tote on the plane. Since this wasn’t a “blogging” trip, I had a lot less tech equipment to take with me.

Check out all the different styles and sizes here.

The Shoes

2 pairs of mule-style sandals

Mine are Sola Sana and James Smith the Label (the tan platforms).

1 pair of UGG high top sneakers

My sneakers are actually from UGG! You wouldn’t think they have great sneakers, but I got these nearly two years ago and they are so comfortable; I’ve worn them around Morocco, Israel, and the cities – they make a boring outfit look so much cooler. I actually have them in tan, too!

1 pair of black booties

My booties are from Steve Madden. I’ve had these boots forEVER and wear them on every trip I go on that’s somewhat cold plus wear them out partying here in Goa even when it’s warm, with a little dress. They are really versatile and I actually have just bought them in dark brown because they were FINALLY on sale but I left them in Ohio because I’m weird like that.

The Tops

2 sweaters.

I packed just two cute throw over sweaters, one that is heavier and one that is lighter. Both can fit comfortably under my leather jacket, which is important.

10 tops.

This was a two-week trip where I had access to laundry, so the number of tops depends on your trip length. My favorite two tops I packed are the flowy Free People top above with lemons (even though Ben’s bro said it looked like I was wearing a picnic table cover) and the striped yellow tee shirt (which I wore in all my Howth photos) from Madewell.

Everything Else

Leather Jacket

2 Pairs of Jamie Jeans

I live in these type of jeans and think they are the BEST fitting jeans on me.

Sports Bra

Yoga/Lounge Leggings

For More Packing Posts

• 17 Travel Packing Hacks
• Packing for Finland in the Winter
• Packing for Various Regions of Long-Term Travel

Pin “London Packing List for the Fall” for later!

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This summer, I was back in Ohio chatting with my best friend since I was five, Arielle, when she said she wanted to meet me somewhere this year on a trip. She applied for her passport and we decided we would meet in England since it was the only trip I was 100% sure of. Then she chose Ireland as another place to visit while she was over the pond (post on that coming next).

Ben and I went to St Ives for his family vacation, then Arielle came for the last week in England. We based ourselves in Tonbridge (Ben’s hometown in Kent) and took day trips to London. Basically, I figured that if we based ourselves in Kent we’d save money and she’d get to see “rural” England. We did a day trip to London with the intent to see the iconic sites in one day (achieved!) and then went back a second day to Watford for the WB Studios Harry Potter tour.

I considered writing a guide to how to see the best of London if you have only one day, but people have written about this to death and it’s much easier to just tell you to read this.

While in Tonbridge we chilled out with Ben’s friends, had a rowdy night in Tunbridge Wells, and I forced her to eat Pizza Express and English Chinese food. Of course, we went to an old school pub for a traditional English roast on Sunday.

Penshurst Place and Gardens

Arielle’s England checklist had seeing castles, so we went to nearby Penshurst Place. It was 33 GBP for the three of us to go into the castle and the gardens. We skipped the maze because it was raining (and it takes an hour to complete which seemed kind of intense).

We went to two of our favorite pubs there: The Chaser Inn which is closer to Tonbridge and the Little Brown Jug which is right near Penshurst Place.

We stayed in an Airbnb in Tonbridge which was an annex and really cute. It was like a little attic with old wooden beams and a loft. It came out to around $100/night.

Transportation Between Kent and London/Watford

Although we had a rental car, the easiest way to get to London and back is by train. To get around London for a day, you should get a day pass. You can get these at the machines in the train station and just choose one that offers tube stops all day within zones 1-6.

To buy train tickets in London, you can just show up to the station to book them but for the day we went to Watford, I used Omio so that I could book ahead online (it compares prices between bus, train, and plane and I’ve been using it since I went to Latvia last year). I wasn’t sure what time they started running trains from Tonbridge and didn’t want to mess it up since we only had two days to see London (one day) and Harry Potter (in Wartford, the second day).

In London, the trains go on strike or don’t always run from outside stations from early morning, so booking ahead and knowing the time frame gave me peace of mind. I planned everything well in advance since it was Arielle’s first time abroad.

WB Studios is actually really far outside London and not in the zones, which is why we had to do this a separate day. There isn’t enough time to see all of London in a day and do Harry Potter; impossible! It’s in Watford which is all the way North, so we had a 1 hour and 40-minute journey there from Tonbridge.

When arriving in Watford, there will be a shuttle to the WB Studio. It is 5 GBP for a return ticket.

Other than that, we used the rental car to get around in Kent. It was expensive around 600 GBP for 10 days but we needed it for St Ives, too so it was our best option. Plus, it was a damn cool car!

London in a Day

If you only have a day in London, then you’ll want to wake up early! We got to London around 11 AM, which wasn’t bad for slow morning people like us.

Here’s the map of what we saw in London and I’ll outline it below:

We started at Charing Cross, Trafalgar Square, Nelson’s Column, walked down the Mall, then Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey, House of Parliament, Big Ben, then crossed the River Thames at Westminster Bridge. We saw the London Eye, and walked along the river.

We passed along the London dungeons, OXO Tower, the Tate (went inside), the Globe, checked out shops in Gabriel’s Warf, saw Millenium Bridge and saw Tower Bridge from afar (my favorite bridge). We went into Borough Market as well and ate lunch, too. We saw St Pauls from afar but didn’t go over to it.

Then we caught the tube to Picadilly Circus and then walked up Reagant street and then Oxford Street for shopping. We then went via the tube to Hackney to Ben’s bro’s neighborhood and went to dinner at Bella Vite. It was a busy afternoon but we were to Hackney by around 5 PM so it’s definitely doable. We walked 8.5 km!

Read more:

• Best places to get photos in London
• Offbeat London you don’t want to miss

Touring the WB Studio, Behind the Scenes at Harry Potter

Arielle and I are CRAZY Harry Potter fans. We’ve both wanted to visit the WB Studio’s tour for years. When the last Harry Potter book came out, you better bet we were at Barnes and Noble with our homemade T-shirts on (17 years old) waiting in line for the book and playing the games the bookstore had set up for the kids.

The studio tour does not disappoint. At first, I thought it was going to because the lines were long, then they let in small groups at a time and you watch a video first. But once inside, it’s just beyond amaizing.

Snape’s classroom was my favorite part. The pots were stirring themselves, and you can see the detail so much on each vial of potions being hand written. It’s insane how much detail went into these movies. You can’t imagine!

They have three of these set up so you don’t have to wait in line to take a photo at platform 9 3/4. I do think it’s better at Kings Cross Station since that feels more authentic I guess and not set up – but that’s the point of the behind the scenes. The magic is there in a sense of feeling like you are in the Wizarding World – it’s really behind the scenes; how they made it seem like magic in the movies.

So, if you’re wondering which is better: Universal’s Wizarding World of Harry Potter or WB Studios, they really aren’t comparable because they are totally different things. If you’re a Harry Potter movie fan, then you’ll love the studios at WB but if you just like the books then you might not like it (but is there any one in this universe who doesn’t like the movies!?!?)

Onward to Dublin & Back to India

From England, we flew onward to Dublin. I use Kiwi.com to book which makes it easy to choose different airports for a return trip: basically, we flew out of Gatwick because it was easier for Ben to drop us off there, but back into Heathrow as Arielle and I both had international flights out of Heathrow to catch (her to the USA and me back to India).

We stayed at an airport hotel at Heathrow, the Novotel. The hotel room was spacious, clean, and affordable. Breakfast is not included in the room rate, but you can add it on. Lunch is a nice menu of burgers, wraps, and salads. The hotel restaurant was really busy and even in the evening when we arrived people were down in the bar for drinks. There is a pool, too! I got a late check out so chilled out there until about 5 pm then went back to Heathrow.

You can take a shuttle here but I had a seriously bad experience with them. They are unrelated to the hotel, called the “Hotel Hoppa bus”. An Uber is SO much easier, faster, and barely any more money. If there are two people splitting it, an Uber is cheaper anyway.

The post Castles in Kent, Iconic London, and Harry Potter Magic with my BFF appeared first on Hippie In Heels.

Think that London just consists of the Houses of Parliament, Big Ben, and Buckingham Palace? Think again! The city is absolutely full of hidden gems and offbeat London destinations you won’t want to miss on any trip to the Big Smoke. You just need to know where to look.

After all, once you’ve wandered along the Thames and snapped a few photos of the Houses of Parliament, you’ll want to see where the locals really hang out. Here are five offbeat London destinations you won’t want to miss on a visit to the city

Read More: Best Instagram locations in London

Wander around the Mews of London

Okay, this first one isn’t really a single destination per se but more of a collection of places to see and visit. Feel like you’re in a real-life vintage movie and wander through the mews of London. Located for the most part in areas of London such as South Kensington, Mayfair and Notting Hill the ‘mews’ of London are the perfect escape from the hustle and bustle of daily London life.

These small streets were originally home to stables when the city of London ran on horse and cart. Today, these stables have been converted to some of the chicest properties the city has to offer. Some of my favorite mews to wander along include Dunworth Mews and Redcliffe Mews.

Visit the Monument to the Great Fire of London

One of the best ways to see a city is from above, and London is no exception. While a visit to the Sky Garden usually needs to be booked a couple of weeks in advance, a visit to the nearby Great Fire of London Monument usually consists of little more than a half hour queue.

Sure, it’s not quite as high as the Walkie Talkie building, but at 61 meters high, the monument is hardly short! Entry is priced at under a fiver (£5) and from the top, you can see the city of London’s skyline in all its glory. From the Shard to St Paul’s to Tower Bridge, the view across the Thames is truly phenomenal; particularly on a sunny day!

Go Vintage Shopping at Portobello Road Market

From offbeat finds to quirky designers, there’s a whole treasure trove (or should that be shopping basket?) worth of vintage stuff waiting to be worn, discovered and loved at Portobello Road Market.

Situated near Notting Hill every weekend hundreds of stalls pop up along Portobello Road. There’s everything from yummy food stands to antique dealers to pretty jewelry. Even if you’re not looking to buy anything, it’s still worth a look around.

Read more: Luxury guide to London & Luxury guide to Chelsea

Purchase a new read at an independent bookstore

London is not only a great place to go vintage shopping, but it’s full of independent bookstores (both vintage and modern) dotted around the city. On a rainy day, there is nothing I enjoy more than wandering into one of these stores and spending hours perusing the shelves, looking for a new read.

Bookstores I highly recommend wandering around include Hurlingham Books (91 Fulham High St, Fulham, London SW6 3JS), and Skoob Books (66 Brunswick Square, Bloomsbury, London WC1N).

Grab a drink with friends in Camden!

In the past few years alone, cocktail culture in the Big Smoke has just grown and grown. And the place to be? Camden. Vintage stores line the canal, as well as quirky eateries and a whole host of bars and pubs to suit almost any budget.

My favourite bar in the area is probably Fifty-Five Bar (31 Jamestown Rd, Camden Town, London NW1 7DB). They serve a huge variety of delicious cocktails. Ranging from your typical Mojito to more unusual dessert concoctions, you’re sure to find something you like!

Check out a smaller museum: there are over 200 to choose from!

Sure, everyone’s heard of the British Museum and the Natural History Museum, but did you know that there are over 200 museums? Many of these are smaller, house style museums, focusing on a particular interest or topic.

From the Alexander Fleming Laboratory Museum where Fleming first discovered the lifesaving antibiotic that is penicillin, to the cartoon museum, there’s something for everyone to enjoy. Even if you’re ‘not a museum person’, I’m sure you’ll find something you enjoy!

The museum pictured below is the Sir John Soane’s Museum (13 Lincoln’s Inn Fields, London WC2A 3BP).  A former architect who designed notable sites of interest around the city including the Bank of England, Sir John Soane left his house to the nation when he died.

Today, the museum is free to visit and you aren’t allowed to take pictures inside, or even keep your phone switched on! It’s the perfect place to escape busy city life, if only for a few hours…

Pop into Neal’s Yard

Located in the very heart of London’s zone one, you’ll find a small alleyway by the name of ‘Neal’s Yard’. In fact, this is not one lane, but three tiny alleyways converging in a completely adorable little enclave. And when I say ‘little’, I really mean tiny.

Make sure to arrive early in the morning, or on a weekday because even a few people here make the place seem crowded. Colorful shopfronts and independent eateries make up this small space. It’s a lovely place to enjoy a bite to eat and forget you’re in London altogether.

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Ben is basically Indian now, but actually, he’s English and since I’ve been living in India with him we’ve gone back to the UK to see his family a few times. I’ve written about Tunbridge Wells before (where he grew up), Brighton, and Hastings & Rye, a trip we took with his mom, brother and mom’s boyfriend.

Although Ben is usually unimpressed with Tunbridge Wells, as most people are with their hometowns, I think it’s a really nice town. His family doesn’t live there anymore but it’s just 20 minutes away so we went a couple of times.

Our first meal was fish n’ chips from a Chinese place down the road which coincidentally was my first meal in England EVER when I was 20. Turns out the Chinese shops are known for making pretty good fish and it was pretty tasty.

On a previous trip we went to Hever Castle, and this time Ben took me to another one called Bodium Castle. It’s from the 14th century and has a moat. It was 20 pounds for the two of us to enter (plus parking). Not bad!

As always, we spend a lot of time eating (and deciding for hours where we want to eat because Ben and his friends are literally the least decisive people on the planet). This little pub called the Little Brown Jug was really tasty! We had more fish n’ chips, ham and cheese sammie, and some mac n’ cheese.

In case you’re wondering the green goo is mushy peas and it’s really good!

We chose this time of the year to go back because it coincided with Ben’s little sister getting married. She had the most Pinterest-perfect wedding ever and designed/decorated it all herself.

It went off perfectly and was so much fun. It was in Brixton inside a chapel of an old asylum. The reception was a building that used to hold raves back in the day. Ben and his bro’s Josh and Max read a poem at the ceremony and when she walked down the aisle a friend sang and played guitar.

These two are Ben’s bro Josh and his girlfriend Tamsin on the transport arranged to get between venues- old school red English buses

We did spend some time in London. Ben’s sis generously offered her apartment to us while she was off on her honeymoon. She lives in Brixton which is the “coolest place to be” these days. We checked out the famous Brixton Market, Pop Brixton, and some other “hip” spots.

People rave about Federation coffee, so we stopped in for a cappuccino. I’m not gonna lie, I didn’t drink mine. It tasted awful. But this is coming from someone who typically drinks vanilla flavored beans, adds chocolate creamer, and caramel Hershey’s syrup, plus a scoop of sugar to her morning mocha. I’m sure real coffee drinkers will think this stuff is gold.

We went into Shoreditch too, to BoxPark another little market of sorts. These places are all so cute but when you see what they’re importing from abroad and compare prices it’s crazy expensive. Like I could actually buy these things in Asia at about 1/10th of the price.

Our reason for going to Shoreditch wasn’t because we are super trendy and love graffiti it was to eat greasy American food. I’ve corrupted Ben who claimed this meal was his favorite meal while was back in the UK.

We ate at Red Dog Saloon and strangely there are 4 big American BBQ restaurants in this area. I had wings and a root beer float (okay, okay, I had onion rings and jalepeno poppers too…) and Ben had the brisket.

Speaking of food, I did try some different restaurants this time around. Wahaca is a rip off of Chipotle but it’s pretty good if you miss Tex-mex. It’s a chain restaurant so you’ll see it all over. Tortilla is a super rip-off of it and it was pretty terrible, also a chain.

Everyone was raving about this place Franco Manca’s who has whole sourdough pizzas starting at 5 pounds. It was really tasty. They have this hipster vibe where they don’t cut the pizza to be cool or something, but I’m like seriously just cut my pizza for me. It would take them two seconds, but with my dull butter knife I destroyed the pizza over the next 5 minutes. Moving on… I always love the pizza from Pizza Express, and still, unfortunately, don’t get the appeal of sausage rolls.

We stayed at the Grazing Goat during the weekend of the wedding which is in Marylebone, near Oxford Street, and I gather a pretty fancy part of town (hint being the many Bentley’s on our road).

I have seen the touristy stuff in London before, so we didn’t do too much of that. We did go to the Tate Modern. It’s free entry to most attractions there and was nice to wander around although we got tired of it after about two hours. We probably only saw 25% of it.

We went to Borough Market but didn’t buy anything, because again London markets are cute but the novelty comes at higher pricetags.

PS the tube is about 3 pounds per journey but if you buy an Oyster card for 5 pounds and use it to tap in and out, not only is it easier, but it’s only 1.50 pounds. Same for overground train rides for which you’ll basically get 50% off. I didn’t know until part way through my trip (or for the last 4 years I’ve visited London). Ben, of course, didn’t tell me because he hates the tube and likes to use any reason to Uber instead (ha!).

We had a great two weeks in England. When we weren’t in London we were in the town his mom lives hanging out with his family and his friends. I always love going to England to see Ben’s people.

I had come from London straight from Israel. After this trip, Ben went back to India but I went on to Latvia. I came back to London for a couple of days and worked with a company called Pictrip who do photo tours of the city. I have a couple of pictures below. From there I went to Morocco, then back to London again for two days. Immigration had a few more questions on my third entry to the country within a month. Dealing with immigration, though… what else is new!?

The post Two weeks in England with Ben’s Friends and Family appeared first on Hippie In Heels.

While in London, Ben and I usually stay with his brother or other family members. There were a couple nights we did need a hotel during the weekend of his sister’s wedding. I chose the Grazing Goat in Marylebone and area I didn’t know much about before going. The hotel seemed cute though. Here’s a review of the Grazing Goat Hotel in London.

Grazing Goat Hotel Review London

The restaurant is inside and outside and the hotel is on the floors above it. While they are famous for their Sunday roasts, we only had time for breakfast each morning as our days were fully packed. At night, the bar stayed open until around 1130 pm and it was noisy until it closed. It was extra noisy for us as we had the windows open for cool air (it was hot the nights we stayed and the hotel doesn’t have A/C as most places in England don’t).

The toiletries were from Aesop which is fun since apparently it’s the coolest new stuff! I hadn’t heard of it. Then I go to Emma’s wedding and she’s got the stuff at the reception as a special touch. My friend Tamsin was telling me it’s all the rage. Whaddyaknow!

The place definitely has a charm to it. For me, being from the states, I loved the vibe and the wooden floors, deer antler decor, and pub like feel downstairs. For Ben who is used to these things, he wanted a quiet room with A/C and as men do, complained a bit. If you’re here in the hot months it’s something to keep in mind. Luckily, the second night we came back late, so the pub was closed.

The front door locks and you get a key for that and your room. This means that the day you check in you need to check in before about 1030 pm to make sure you can get in. Most people do, but I know late check-ins are a thing. Make sure you let them know if you are checking in late so something can be sorted out.

If you have luggage, keep in mind this is a walk-up.

The first morning I had an omelette and toast as I had to fit into my dress for the wedding but the day after the wedding, nice and hungover, I had a huge English breakfast (then when to Ben’s friends Mitch’s house to have another one a couple hours later). Baked beans were the bomb. The blueberry smoothie was also perfect.

Overall, it’s a great place to stay. The area is definitely upscale. At one point there were 3 bentleys on the road outside the hotel. It’s just near Oxford Street so you can do some shopping. Click here for rates and availability.

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Welcome to Backpacker’s Boutique. Every Sunday, this spot will feature the luxury side of an awesome city. Guest bloggers will share about either their hometown or a town they are expat in and know very deeply so that you get a guide straight from a local.  E-mail me if you’d like to be featured.

A Luxury Guide to Liverpool

Tell us a little about yourself and tell us why you’re an expert on luxury travel in Liverpool.

My name is Laura and I moved to the Wirral 15 years ago after strongly protesting to my mum that it was the worst thing she could do. I was leaving my friends, school and what I thought was my whole life behind. At 15 years old it’s easy to be dramatic!

After a few years I fell in love with Merseyside and Liverpool in particular. Everything from the charm and humor of the people, to the extensive maritime history and UNESCO World Heritage Waterfront.

 

A photo posted by Jess Buck|JourneyswithJessica (@jessica16_x) on Aug 23, 2016 at 12:38pm PDT

Liverpool is also responsible for breeding some legendary creative talents, there’s The Beatles, Cilla Black icons of British music as well as more current acts such as The Wombats and The Hummingbirds. It’s easy to see how the city earned its UNESCO City of Music Status.

What makes Liverpool a perfect destination for travelers seeking a glamorous trip?

Before living in Liverpool my understanding of the city was tracksuits, perms and mustaches thanks to the Fast Show. That particular stereotype is long gone from the cosmopolitan streets that make up todays vibrant city centre.

There are trendy independent districts like Bold Street and the Rope Walks. Albert Dock boasts an art gallery, museums and chic water side cocktail bars. There are endless rows of designer and high street stores. Liverpool One even has its own park bordered by an outdoor terrace and top brand chain restaurants.

What 5 star hotel is the best in Liverpool?

To be honest the 5 star hotels that are genuinely rated at 5 stars are nothing to brag about in Liverpool. There’s the usual Hilton and the Radisson but nowhere I would choose to say is the best. This may be due to my taste for the quirkiness but I believe if you want to enjoy your evening and like a taste of luxury the 4-star hotel Hard Days Night is perfect to get a taste of what Liverpool is all about. Click here for rates and availability. 

The superb suites here, in particular the Lennon suite is completely white and a gleaming white grand piano in the centre of the suite. Even though not a 5 star rating this place gets a thumbs up in my book, and gives guests a taste of Beatle’s history to be experienced nowhere else in Liverpool.

What about boutique hotels in Liverpool, of them all, which would you send your friends or family to stay at?

Having stayed in plenty of quirky hotels in my time I would say that the quirkier the better when it comes to boutique hotels. None in my mind beat 30 James Street -Home of the Titanic. The individual décor of each floor, themed around either the RMS Titanic, its passengers or its intended destination New York is astounding. In particular the first two floors of the hotel are clad completely in cushioned black leather. The rooms match this and behind each leather clad door guests will chic styling from the opulent furniture and lighting to the decadent marbled bathrooms. Click here for rates and availability. 

I have stayed on numerous occasions and will always venture back there when avoiding a taxi fare home. I’ve even spoiled members of my family with all-inclusive dinner and accommodation offers, as the hotel also boasts a rooftop restaurant and cocktail bar The Carpathia. It honestly doesn’t get more glamorous than enjoying a cocktail a rooftop terrace whilst watching the starlight twinkling off the waters in the Albert Dock.

Are there any fun luxury activities for the adventurous traveler in Liverpool?

Perhaps not considered luxurious but defiantly an adventure to be had at Industry.1, Liverpool’s Wake Park.

Here you can learn to wakeboard before being towed down the Mersey at high speeds on a rubber ring. You’ll definitely get you hair wet but it’ll be worth it.

Where are the best hang outs during the day in Liverpool?

Making sure you get the most of Liverpool is easy as the city that is very compact and user friendly. You can see all the major tourist attractions in a day.

That being said, on top of the museums and art galleries Liverpool is also home to one of the most stunning Victorian parks in England, Sefton Park. Here you could spend a day lounging in the sun or strolling around the Palm House which was once home to the rare and tropical plants imported from far off lands.

If that doesn’t keep you busy all day then Lark Lane is a popular street worth a visit for some quirky boutique shops and top quality cuisines. A favorite of mine on Lark Lane is the Chili Banana, a superb spot to enjoy some amazing Thai cuisine and with a service to match. The best bit you have to try is the restaurants namesake a Chili Banana which is literally a banana fritter in sweet but hot chili sauce. Delicious.

If you have a big date night, what are the most delicious restaurants in Liverpool and what are their best dishes?

My date nights usually consist of trying the newest place in Liverpool. As I’ve been everywhere else, literally. If I were to choose my all-time favorite, I’d struggle between three.

Luche Libre offers great Mexican dishes with amazing cocktails and a wonderful service with a smile. The décor is rustic with plastic baskets and paper wrapped burritos on the menu. Great for spicing up any date night. My favorite dish is the fish tacos, something a little different that is quite light so you can load up on nachos spicy rice and wedges.

For a real romantic setting I love the Italian Fish club at the top of Bold Street. Here the specialty is Italian style seafood, the best risotto I’ve ever eaten. My partner enjoyed their sea bass served with a samphire side smothered in a delicious garlic oil. There isn’t a thing on the menu I wouldn’t eat again. I’ve yet to try the sister restaurant simply named The Italian Club, but I imagine the service and food is similar.

Finally, quite possibly the greatest Indian meal of my life was served in the Spice Lounge on Albert Dock. This amazing venue provides diners with the perfect ambiance from which to enjoy a thoroughly modern Indian meal. I enjoyed a delicious marinated lamb dish that was succulent and mouthwatering. What really makes this venue is the location, set against the historical Albert Dock dimly lit with a blue hue from the aquarium lights. A charmingly romantic and utterly stylish night out.

Let’s talk desserts- what place makes the best?

Liverpool’s sweet tooth craving are answered by a whole host of bakeries, deli’s and more recently luxury indulgent milkshake venues. My particular favorite guaranteeing sweet tooth satisfaction is Barley and Beans peanut butter freak shake topped with curly whirly, chocolate eclairs, a tiny cupcake a flap jack and lashings of whipped cream.

 

A photo posted by Barley and Beans Liverpool (@barleyandbeans) on Jun 9, 2016 at 1:32am PDT

Tell us all the hot shopping spots in Liverpool who’s carrying the trendy local designers? 

Every shopper loves a trip to Liverpool, whether you’re after that one of a kind designer find or something quirky and classically vintage there is a shop for you in Liverpool.

The Met Quarter on Whitechapel boasts big brands like Armani, Hugo Boss and All Saints. As well as being home to MAC makeup and Jo Malone, here is defiantly where a girl can indulge in her expensive side.

There’s a huge area known as Liverpool one that is home to all the major high street brands as well as the odd high end name such as Michael Kors, Reiss and Radley.

If you fancy a little something different, try and get your hands on that one of kind designer vintage find on Bold Street where there are a number of boutiques selling high quality and great value vintage designer pieces.

Heading to Liverpool for a shop be sure to bring an empty suitcase and an extra set of carrying arms.

What are a couple of the best salons and spas in Liverpool?

There is nothing more important to a Liverpool lady than their hair and make-up. Luckily there is an amazing business that perfectly caters for groups of ladies looking to get glammed up for an evening on the town.

Peaches and Cream are an independent make up studio in the city centre who provide ladies with a VIP style service. No matter what your age or occasion the team at Peaches and Cream will leave you feeling like a star.

Definitely worth a visit is Morgan’s Spa. This Liverpool hotel spa offers its visitors a chance to enjoy a host of amazing treatments from massages and facials to body contouring and champagne wraps. The spa itself is located in the depths of what was once the offices of the White Star Line the firm responsible for registering the RMS Titanic to sail. Hence the theme of the hotel and spa being based on the ill-fated

Not only is Morgan’s Spa a fabulous retreat from the city it is also a chance to see inside a building with such and iconic reputation. Combine all this with a 40sqft hydrotherapy pool and you have the best spa experience in Liverpool.

Time for a great sunset view… where would you go?

Depending on what I was aiming to do during the time the sun is setting, there are only two places I would recommend.

If you were hoping to enjoy a sunset meal, then Matou on the river front is the ideal choice. The delightful Pan Asian Restaurant and Bar offer diners a floor to ceiling view across the Mersey. My meal of choice here that perfectly complements the scenery is the Three Delicacies in White Wine Sauce washed down with a Chili and passionfruit martini. Superb!

If you’ve already eaten, then a trip not to miss in the summer is an evening cruise across the Mersey on the world famous Mersey Ferry. Sailors are treated to spectacular views across the river as well as a unique perspective of the Three Graces bathe din the golden glow of the setting sun.

Now that the sun’s gone down, fill us on the best places to go for some evening drinks or a great pre-gaming spot.

My number one choice for pre-gaming drinks is Alma De Cuba. The exterior of the building is enough to get your glamour radar beeping. The venue is a former church which has been converted into a most chic and elegant cocktail bar and restaurant.

On the upper terrace visitors can enjoy a fabulous meal in stylish surroundings then descend into the lower floor to begin their evening with a great choice of premium drinks.

There is a certain decadence that comes hand in hand with the fiery Latino theme. Think ladies in feather headdresses and refreshing minty mojitos all coming together to provide a taste of southern American culture with a tropical Caribbean twist.

If you end the night at a fancy club in Liverpool, which one do you head towards?

The newest most exclusive VIP bar to open in Liverpool is Noctua. Located on Stanley Street next door to designer shopping mall the Met Quarter, Noctua has already welcomed some local and out of town celebrities and is the number one place to be seen in Liverpool.

A member only access club that can be arranged prior to your visit guarantees a great mix of likeminded individuals all looking for a high-class night out. Drinks are off the highest quality as is the music and staff service.

I’m a lovely young lady who takes inspiration from all the wonderful things in life, fashion, art, photography, nature, then shares them with the world. Hardworking and passionate in everything she does hoping one day to make a memorable mark on the world. With a new blog at fromthebowery.wordpress.com and career in digital marketing I’m always looking for the next beautiful thing. Follow on Instagram and Twitter.

The post Luxury Guide to Liverpool appeared first on Hippie In Heels.

London has some of the most picturesque spots in the world and in this day and age of social media, it’s not just bloggers who want to get the best Instagram shots in London, but lots of travelers and even locals. A photograph from you travels is sometimes the best souvenir.

How to get the best Instagram shots in London

I teamed up with Pictrip to try out their services in London while I was there last month. They partner you up with a local photographer and you go off to explore. Before your photoshoot day, you are given the options of where you can shoot. There were a lot in London but I narrowed it down to Shoreditch (graffiti and urban vibes), Westminster (this whole area, the typical London vibe), and Notting Hill (antiques, colorful houses).

Here’s some samples of the photos that I got sent to me in a gallery just days after the shoot. There were 75 sent all together for a 3 hour shoot in 3 locations. I did the “City Trekker” package which is 420 GBP. If that’s not in your budget or you don’t need 75 photos, you can do the smallest package of 15 images for 150 pounds. You do take the tube from spot to spot so bring an Oyster card or buy a day pass. You can get some cool shots inside the stations.

People who use Pictrip are often travelers looking for that great souvenir, couples on a special trip like an anniversary or honeymoon, and even families who want a unique look on their vacation instead of the normal studio shots.

Pictrip isn’t just in London though. Elsewhere in Europe, you can find them in Paris, Venice, Dublin, Milan, Nice, Barcelona, Lake Como, Monaca, and Rome. In North America, you can do shoots in NYC, Disney (LA), LA, San Fransisco, Toronto, Boston, and Vancouver. They also are in Dubai, Sydney, and Melbourne.

Outfit Ideas

Pin how to get the best Instagram shots in London:

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Welcome to Backpacker’s Boutique. Every Sunday, this spot will feature a new travel blogger. Some weeks it will be a really fun interview about packing, fashion, and fitness so you can snoop inside their bags & lives a little bit and other weeks it’ll be a detailed luxury guide to a city the featured blogger/expat knows very well. E-mail me if you’d like to be featured.

A Luxury Guide to Chelsea (London)

Tell us a little about yourself and tell us why you’re an expert on luxury travel in Chelsea.

My name is Angie and my blog SilverSpoon London is a luxury lifestyle and travel blog covering all my favorite things in London and recommendations from my world travels. I was born on the outskirts of London but I’ve lived in London for ten years, I’m always out and about and the borough of Chelsea contains some of London’s most glamorous places.

What makes Chelsea a perfect destination for travelers seeking a glamorous trip?

Chelsea is one of the most exclusive and up-scale areas of London; the residence of choice for many affluent people and a hang out for the rich and famous, even royalty. With that being the case there are plenty of fabulous restaurants and bars and the shopping is some of the best in London.

What 5 star hotel is the best in Chelsea?

The super deluxe London hotels are generally to found in Mayfair but Chelsea is home to some gorgeous boutique hotels. The Belgraves, A Thompson Hotel (review here) is one of my favorites. It’s chic and modern with a gorgeous upscale restaurant serving fresh and seasonal cuisine. The hotel is also perfectly situated for shopping in Knightsbridge or Sloane street. Click here for rates and availability. 

What about boutique hotels in Chelsea, of them all, which would you send your friends or family to stay at?

For a hotel with history, check out 11 Cadogan Gardens, (review here) a gorgeous boutique hotel originally built as four Victorian Townhouses. The interior design of the hotel is traditional, with dark wood and Gothic features such as a dramatic sweeping stair case and large gilt mirrors and hanging lights. Located in one of the mews streets leading off Sloane Square, it’s a little hidden gem away from the hustle and bustle of Central London. The afternoon tea is very reasonably priced and it’s a great way to refresh after a day of shopping. Click here for rates and availability. 

Are there any fun activities that allow you to see another side of Chelsea?

A walking tour is a great way to get to know London. Chelsea is known for being the home of many great authors and if you explore the side streets you can see where Bram Stoker lived, where Mark Twain stayed and the home of Oscar Wilde. For something a little less high brow you can explore the favorite haunts of the cast of Made in Chelsea, a popular reality TV series.

Where are the best hang outs during the day in Chelsea?

There are some great places to go for brunch, check out the Bluebird Café with its beautiful outdoor space or Tom’s Kitchen for Modern British comfort food. There are also some great stylish pubs that are always bustling with people, two of my favorites are the Botantist and the Phene. Or you’re craving some green space, check out the Chelsea Physic Garden, London’s oldest botanical garden with a collection of over 5,000 edible, medicinal and historical plants. If you’re interested in art, there’s a wealth of choice including the Serpentine Gallery, Tate Britain and the Saatchi Gallery.

If you have a big date night, what are the most delicious restaurants in Chelsea and what are their best dishes?

Restaurant Gordon Ramsay, a three Michelin starred restaurant and one of London’s most highly rated, is located in Royal Hospital Road in Chelsea. If you’re a sushi lover like me, check out trendy Japanese restaurant, Kurobuta on the King’s Road. For somewhere, laid back super-stylish and a bit of celebrity spotting, The Ivy Chelsea Garden is also one of my favorites – and you simply have to try their chocolate bomb!

Let’s talk desserts- what place makes the best?

If you’re coming to London, you have to try afternoon tea at least once, I’d highly recommend the Italian themed afternoon tea at The Baglioni in nearby Kensington. For waffles and both sweet and savoury pancakes, check out My Old Dutch, London’s first ever pancake house founded in 1958.

Tell us all the hot shopping spots; who’s carrying the trendy local designers in Chelsea?

If you like shopping you’ve definitely come to the right place in London. For luxury designers, take a walk along Sloane Street. The famous King’s Road is perfect for finding more affordable fashion and French Connection, Reiss and Karen Millen are some British favorites. For upscale department stores, Harvey Nichols is great for fashion and Harrods has everything from clothing to homeware and toys to pets! If you’re a foodie take a look at artisan food shop, Partridges, and stop by on Saturday for a farmer’s market featuring local and international producers.

What are a couple of the best salons and spas in Chelsea?

For a quick blow dry in a cool environment, check out Duck & Dry, and for everything from waxing to manicures, to massages there’s the world renowned Bliss Spa.

Now that the sun’s gone down, fill us on the best places to go for some evening drinks or a great pre-gaming spot.

I love Bart’s, a difficult to find speakeasy-style bar with quirky décor and a cool cocktail list. I’d also recommend super glamourous, Beaufort House for a glass of champagne before you hit the town.

If you end the night at a fancy club in Chelsea, which one do you head towards?

Raffles night club is a Chelsea institution with a history of celebrity visitors, including royalty. A more recently opened hotspot is Tonteria, a Mexican themed bar and club where you can enjoy tapas and Tequila cocktails in fun and slightly outrageous environment.

Angie Silver is the blogger behind SilverSpoon London, a leading UK lifestyle, food and luxury travel blog, following Angie’s adventures in her hometown of London and around the world. Angie aims to give the low-down on London’s hottest new restaurants as well as cool and inspiring destinations globally. You can follow her luxury travels on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and Google Plus.

The post Luxury Guide to Chelsea (London) appeared first on Hippie In Heels.

Welcome to Backpacker’s Boutique. Every Sunday, this spot will feature a new travel blogger. Some weeks it will be a really fun interview about packing, fashion, and fitness so you can snoop inside their bags & lives a little bit and other weeks it’ll be a detailed luxury guide to a city the featured blogger/expat knows very well. E-mail me if you’d like to be featured.

A Luxury Guide to York

Tell us a little about yourself and tell us why you’re an expert on luxury travel in York.

I have lived in York for three years in total, and York is my home town when I am not travelling with my blog. 

What makes York a perfect destination for travelers seeking a glamorous trip?

York is a stunning medieval UK city that attracts travelers and tourists from all over the world. The city of York boasts one of the highest numbers of independent shops within a city centre in the UK. York was the Roman capital of England, and one of the great things about the city is that it is very compact and walkable.

It is popular for weekend breaks and particularly Christmas shopping breaks in December. York is also known for the glamour and fashion of York Races.

What 5 star hotel is the best in York?

The Royal York Hotel is my Top 5* hotel in York, although the gym and spa are currently going under some renovation. The Royal York Hotel has luxury rooms and is situated right by York railway station. The Grand Hotel in York (formerly Cedar Court) is another top luxury hotel choice. Click here for rates and availability. 

What about boutique hotels in York, of them all, which would you send your friends or family to stay at?

Located on The Mount, just outside of the city walls near Micklegate, the Hotel Du Vin is a stunning 4 star boutique hotel. It has amazing pent-house suites on the top floor and a bistro restaurant. I would definitely recommend the Hotel Du Vin to friends and family. Click here for rates and availability. 

Are there any fun activities for the adventurous traveler in York?

Falconry is a popular activity in Yorkshire. You can visit The Bird of Prey Centre which is just 12 miles North of York up the A19. You will probably need a taxi or a car for this trip. You simply must take a river cruise with ‘York Boat’. There are also evening cruises and lunch timecruises that provide afternoon tea. Head down to the river at Lendall Bridge, or book online with www.yorkboat.co.uk.

Where are the best hang outs during the day in York?

Museum Gardens is a beautiful place to relax. They also do free Owl Flying shows on summer afternoons! My favourite cafe in York is The Hungry Artist, an art studio and cafe rolled into one. The Hungry Artist does a beautiful peach tea and offers a menu with many gluten free options.

If you have a big date night, what are the most delicious restaurants in York and what are their best dishes?

I highly recommend the Blue Bicycle on Fossgate and the Walgate Ale House (you must go there for a Sunday Roast). If you enjoy Tapas, visit La Ambiente on Goodramgate. All of these restaurants are walkable from the city centre, because York is a very small and compact medieval city.

Let’s talk desserts in York- what place makes the best?

It’s got to be Betty’s – York is famous for this English tea shop with a selection of beautiful desserts including macaroons. There are some amazing cakes on offer in the Earl Grey Tea Rooms on the Shambles – I always go for the Carrot Cake. Also, if you are a chocoholic like me, be sure to head to the York Chocolate Story cafe!

Tell us all the hot shopping spots in York; who’s carrying the trendy local designers? 

Explore the independent retailers in the city centre, particularly on the famous street – The Shambles. Fossgate also has some quirky shops including ‘Give the Dog a Bone’ – home to many pop culture gifts and images. For crafty markets, these occur on and around Parliament Street at different times of the year. 

If you are looking for designer gear, head to the York Designer Outlet (a 15 minute drive from York City Centre, near the interchange of the A64 and A19).

What are a couple of the best salons and spas in York?

Middlethorpe Spa on Bishopthorpe Road is the best in the city centre. They do a wonderful champagne afternoon tea and spa. If you have a car and are willing to travel outside of York, Aldwark Manor Golf and Spa Hotel is highly recommended.

credit cathedral: r..m

Now that the sun’s gone down, fill us in on the best places to go for some evening drinks or a great pre-gaming spot.

Fossgate Social on Fossgate itself is a great place to meet for drinks. There are also plenty of upmarket pubs and bars in York including Harkers, 1331 and Bora Bora.

Evil Eye Lounge does amazing cocktails and has a brilliant atmosphere – their screaming orgasm is amazing! If you want a Medieval experience, visit the House of Trembling Madness also on Stonegate.

credit pub & view: Evgenii

If you end the night at a fancy club in York, which one do you head towards?

You can go to Fibbers or the Duchess for dancing until the early hours (they do some good Indie and Rock nights). However, York is not a big clubbing city – if you really like good nightlife, head to Leeds. It’s only 20-30 minutes away by train. Trains run run after midnight, just check in advance for your return time.

Hi, I’m Amy, a social media marketer, teacher and traveller with a lust for life. After travelling from Moscow to Beijing on the trans-siberian and volunteering with genocide survivors in Rwanda, I decided it was time to quit my job and set up my own business to work my way around the world. Follow me as I explore temples and search for paradise, while teaching others to work remotely and do the same! Her blog is Globetrotting Guru and you can connect on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.

The post Luxury Guide to York appeared first on Hippie In Heels.

Welcome to Backpacker’s Boutique. Every Sunday, this spot will feature a new travel blogger. Some weeks it will be a really fun interview about packing, fashion, and fitness so you can snoop inside their bags & lives a little bit and other weeks it’ll be a detailed luxury guide to a city the featured blogger/expat knows very well. E-mail me if you’d like to be featured.

A Luxury Guide to New Forest

Tell us a little about yourself and tell us why you’re an expert on luxury travel in the New Forest.

I have been based in the area since my university days and couldn’t bring myself to leave!  My husband previously worked in the travel industry, based nearby and so my tastes developed rapidly, they became quite expensive he might say… The New Forest dates back to the days of William the Conqueror over 1000 years ago who wanted to protect the area.  Thank goodness he did – it is a massive area of unenclosed grazing and heathland in between Southampton and Bournemouth. 

Even today it is a protected area and become a National Park in 2005. We’ve been lucky enough to enjoy many of the luxury hotels in the area, we also love the outdoors too and have spent many weekends exploring and evenings or long lunches in restaurants and bars.

What makes the New Forest a perfect destination for travelers seeking a glamorous trip?

There is no shortage of places to stay, dine and visit – being so close to London (approx. 90 minutes) the area caters for the discerning city slicker as well as visitors from overseas or those looking for a relaxing break in the country with some outdoor exploring.  Whether you are looking for luxurious privacy, a boutique retreat or some water or land-based adventure – it’s easy to find here.  With such a good choice of luxury hotels there is of course a plethora of fantastic restaurants to enjoy too.  I may be biased but the area gives the best of both worlds – close enough to London, but in easy distance of the sea and the great outdoors.

What 5 star hotel is the best in New Forest?

The Chewton Glen wins hands down (review here) – the UKs grand dame.  The hotel is elegant, timeless and quintessentially British, but it is also moving with the times.  Sweeping up the long drive you will appreciate how large the grounds are.  If you look carefully through the trees you may even spot some of the exquisite and private tree houses which are a relatively new and luxurious addition to the hotel – hot tub on the deck, wood burning stoves, breakfast delivered through a hatch door for complete privacy.  The suites and rooms in the main house are no less luxurious and are sumptuously decorated. Click here for rates and availability. 

Many have terraces or open up onto the lawns.  The grounds here are gorgeous with plenty of places to relax and it is just a short walk down the valley to the beach.  There are indoor and outdoor pools as well as a fantastic spa and hydrotherapy pool.  Dining here, as you might expect, is fantastic – it is a relatively formal set-up but this suits the character of the grand house.  There is also an oak paneled set of rooms that house the bar which are so welcoming and warm in the winter for pre-dinner or after-dinner drinks.

What about boutique hotels in New Forest, of them all, which would you send your friends or family to stay at?

Hotel TerraVina is where I would send a friend to stay.  It is a short drive from Ashurst Station which is on the mainline train route from London, just on the edge of the New Forest.  With only 11 rooms the hotel has a real feel of staying at a country house – albeit a modern one with everything a guest could wish for including an outdoor pool, terraces attached to many rooms and stylish décor unique to the property. Click here for rates and availability. 

The owners, Gerard and Nina Bassett, used to own Hotel du Vin but took this on as a new and personal challenge.  As you might expect from the former ‘world’s best sommelier’ the wine list is extraordinary and varied and having dined here on many occasions the menu is always interesting, varied, local and the chef team seem to revel in being challenged by food allergies (nowhere else have I been offered a choice of 3 different dairy-free desserts that could be made to order).

Are there any fun activities for the adventurous traveler in New Forest?

The area spoils us with so many miles of coastline and forest to enjoy.  Cycling or horse-riding in the New Forest is a perfect day out in the summer, with plenty of choice of country pubs for a hearty lunch to boost energy.  It is easy to hire bikes or arrange a hack – with so much choice, each hotel will have their own recommendations. 

Through the summer there are regular Polo events at the New Park grounds near Brockenhurst.  Our personal favourite pastime though is to head out onto the water. We always pick Lymington Yacht Charters for a boat as they have some elegant and comfortable boats for charter and you can enjoy the Solent and perhaps visit Yarmouth or Cowes.  Alternatively you could take a trip on a speedboat and see the Solent at pace!

Where are the best hang outs during the day in New Forest?

For beaches then there are a couple of choices if you know where to find them – we normally head to these in the winter for a walk but they will be equally lovely in the summer.  Lepe Beach and Country Park has a fascinating naval history as this is where the troops practiced for D-Day walking west from the car parks takes you to a quieter area at the entrance to the Beaulieu River and the beach is stunning and peaceful. 

Hurst Castle Spit is another spot with plenty of history to it as well – it’s a good walk out to the castle along the shingle spit, or  a stroll along the sea wall around to Lymington.  After a bracing walk there is nothing better than a good lunch and the area is blessed with gastro pubs – The East End Arms, The Master Builders and Monty’s Inn will all look after you superbly (we particularly enjoy the riverside walk between 2^nd and 3^rd of these pubs).

On a summers day it is always possible to find a quiet corner in the forest for a picnic and games.  There are hundreds of free car parks dotted across the park and plenty of well made footpaths to follow.

If you have a big date night, what are the most delicious restaurants in New Forest and what are their best dishes?

I really enjoy going to eat at Hartnett Holder & Co which is part of the Limewood Hotel and offers relaxed dining based in one of the most stylish hotels in the area – there is nothing stuffy or pretentious whatsoever about eating here.  A fantastic menu – full of sharing options and homely dishes.  The seating is some of the most comfortable I have found in a restaurant.   There is also a lovely bar, and also a spa – it is marvelous to spend an afternoon being pampered before supper!

Another option would be to eat at The Thatched Cottage in Brockenhurst.  This is a quaint little rickety place with quirky furniture and all set out in a little cottage.  There is however nothing rickety about the food and wine list, we have always been very impressed when we have visited. It is perfect for a winter supper – roaring fire, romantic lighting – it’s a very special place.

Somewhere always getting rave reviews is The Pig in Lyndhurst.  Personally I haven’t had a good experience there, but I will give it another try someday soon – in the summer there is courtyard relaxed dining and all year round a more formal restaurant too which is very proud of knowing the provenance of all its food and sourcing as much from the local area as possible.

Tell us all the hot shopping spots in New Forest and who’s carrying the trendy local designers? 

I wouldn’t say we have designer hotspots but there is plenty of choice for a spot of shopping.  For an enjoyable day out with a selection of shops beyond the normal high street then head to Winchester or Lymington – these are definitely the most pleasant places for some retail therapy and you will be spoilt for choice with coffee shops and lunch venues too.  Beaulieu has some lovely little gift shops and it’s one of the places we always pop to in the run up to Christmas.

Time for a great sunset view in New Forest… where would you go?

Hurst Castle and Lepe Beach are superb locations as they both have a great aspect for enjoying the sunset, perhaps with a sundowner-picnic.  I just love the reflected sunlight across the water.  Sunsets out at sea can be spectacular if you get the chance to take a charter from somewhere like Lymington.  There are some high points in the forest that give you a real ‘big sky’ view of sunset, if ever we are driving across the forest at the right time we’ll pull in to the nearest car park and enjoy sunset in the wilderness!  For sunset with a sundowner – then my two recommendations would be either The Marine in Milford on Sea or The Haven in Lymington Yacht Haven.  Both of these have roof terraces and are a perfect place to make the most of the final hours of sunshine.

Always in search of luxury and unique retreats with vitamin sea, Anna loves to travel in style with her husband and started her blog, Penelope and Parker’s travels, to keep note of where she’s been, the memories, the stories and plenty of recommendations. If Anna can build into a holiday some cycling, sailing or walking and perhaps a spot of wine-tasting, all off the beaten track, then that’s a perfect trip.  Especially if it is set somewhere gorgeous where she  can enjoy a glass of champagne with a view! Connect on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.

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Welcome to Backpacker’s Boutique. Every Sunday, this spot will feature a new travel blogger. Some weeks it will be a really fun interview about packing, fashion, and fitness so you can snoop inside their bags & lives a little bit and other weeks it’ll be a detailed luxury guide to a city the featured blogger/expat knows very well. E-mail me if you’d like to be featured.

A Luxury Guide to Sheffield

Tell us a little about  yourself and tell us why you’re an expert on luxury travel in Sheffield.

My name is Laura. I’m originally from New York, but for the last six years I’ve been living in Australia, New Zealand, Korea and now the UK. My boyfriend is British and we’ve been visiting his family in Sheffield on and off for the last seven years. I love coming into the city and exploring a different restaurant, cafe or shopping spot – it’s full of truly unique places.

What makes Sheffield a perfect destination for travelers seeking a glamorous trip?

It’s the sort of place you would never think of when you plan a getaway and that’s what I love about this city. It’s only 2 hours by train from London yet it feels a world away. It’s full of historical boutique hotels and budding new restaurants without the major price tag of the capital.

What 5 star hotel is the best in Sheffield?

Halifax Hall is by far my favorite plush hotel in town. An old steel baron’s estate, the home has been renovated, but maintains the period charm of the late 19th century. It’s full of rich gem tones and plush beds which you’ll need after their decadent Sunday lunch. Click here for rates and availability. 

What about boutique hotels in Sheffield, of them all, which would you send your friends or family to stay at?

Definitely Brocco in the Park. The rooms are full of luxuries – brass baths, huge luscious beds, views of Endcliffe Park and Nespresso machines for a perfect morning cup. They also do a lavish afternoon tea with cream scones and prosecco. Click here for rates and availability. 

Where are the best hang outs during the day in Sheffield

There are so many lovely cafe’s in Sheffield. My favorite has to be Tamper Coffee. Owned and operated by New Zealand expats, they’ve brought the best of kiwi coffee culture to South Yorkshire. They also do a killer brunch. Steam Yard is another great cafe that does coffee right and when the weather’s nice you can sit out in their courtyard.

If you have a big date night, what are the most delicious restaurants in Sheffield and what are their best dishes?

Silversmiths is the best around. One of my favorite things about this restaurant is that everything is as local as possible. Cheeses are from Yorkshire, meats are locally sourced, and there’s an ever changing menu to suit the vegetables of the season. They have a seriously extensive cocktail menu, and a pie and steak night that I thought would be your standard pub grub, but was so, so much more.

Location: 111 Arundel Street, Sheffield, S1 2NT

Let’s talk desserts in Sheffield– what place makes the best?

That’s so tough. It has to be a toss up between Steam Yard’s doughnuts and the cakes at Cat Lane Bakery (they also do some SERIOUSLY good homemade bread).

Tell us all the hot shopping spots; who’s carrying the trendy local designersin Sheffield?

My favorite shops are down Division Street in the Devonshire Quarter. The Forum has an incredible vintage shop called Vulgar. Then there’s Cow, another vintage shop where I always walk out with something because the selection is simply perfection. Head to Fargate for big brands like H&M and Topshop or walk down to The Moor for the department stores and sheffield’s amazing covered market.

Location: COW Sheffield, 156-160 West Street, S1 4ES

What are a couple of the best salons and spas in Sheffield?

Spa 1877 is the sort of place you accidentally spend the whole day (or week). It’s an authentic Turkish bath, they do massages, waxing, facials, threading and have a huge selection of complete packages which usually include a nice light lunch.

Location: 67 Victoria St, Sheffield S3 7QD

Time for a great sunset view in Sheffield… where would you go?

If you’re looking for a really jaw dropping place to watch the sunset, hop in the car and drive west for a few miles into the Peak District. The sun setting over these craggy, green hills is by far the best place to nature spot in Sheffield.

Now that the sun’s gone down, fill us on the best places to go for some evening drinks or a great pre-gaming spot.

Sheffield is certainly not lacking in pubs and bars. I prefer a few craft beers or ales so usually head to Sheffield Tap next to the train station. They have 11 hand pull taps and I always get a new tasty beer when I’m there.

Laura Bronner is a writer originally from New York. After graduating from college she set off on what was meant to be a year of travel. That was over five years ago and she’s still on the move. Since then she’s lived in New Zealand, Australia, South Korea and now balances her time between the US and Europe in search of the next place to call home. Catch up with her adventures on her blog Collecting Labels or head over to her social media pages on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

The post Luxury Guide to Sheffield appeared first on Hippie In Heels.

Welcome to Backpacker’s Boutique. Every Sunday, this spot will feature a new travel blogger. Some weeks it will be a really fun interview about packing, fashion, and fitness so you can snoop inside their bags & lives a little bit and other weeks it’ll be a detailed luxury guide to a city the featured blogger/expat knows very well. E-mail me if you’d like to be featured.

A Luxury Guide to South Kensington

Tell us a little about yourself and tell us why you’re an expert on luxury travel in South Kensington, London.

My name is Nicole Trilivas and I’m an author of travel-themed fiction. My debut novel, Girls Who Travel, is about a free-spirited backpacker who gets a gig as an au pair in the affluent and old-moneyed neighborhood of South Kensington.

I’ve always loved the leafy squares and historic white mansion blocks of this elegant pocket of London, so I had no qualms whatsoever about “researching” it for my book.

What makes South Kensington a perfect destination for travelers seeking a glamorous trip?

South Ken (as it’s know to the locals) is all about old-world English charm and culture. With its world-class museums, quaint bookshops, and sweet cafes, it has an understated, real-world sophistication, while still maintaining a warm, neighborhood-y vibe. It’s a must for any anglophile. 

Who lives in South Kensington? Any celebs to watch out for?

Unlike some areas of London that are made up of tourists or commercial spaces, real Londoners actually live in South Kensington. There’s a notable French population present, as well as students and affluent families. South Kensington was home to many notable historical figures including Winston Churchill (28 Hyde Park Gate, SW7) and Alfred Hitchcock (153 Cromwell Road, SW5). Keep your eye out for rumored local residents, Stella McCartney, J.K. Rowling, and Hugh Grant. And we can’t forget about the most famous locals: The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge (a.k.a. Will and Kate and their children), who live nearby in Kensington Palace. 

What 5 star hotel is the best in South Kensington?

South Kensington has a bunch of wonderful hotels that mix 5-star style with boutique culture. Two of my favorites are the famous Blakes Hotel and the more undercover, Number Sixteen:

The glamorous and lavish Blakes Hotel is a London institution and the ultimate boutique experience. Each room is individually styled to represent a different locale like Corfu or Paris. It’s a great place for a decadent splurge!

Tucked away on a side street and discreetly labeled, Number Sixteen is more home than hotel. Yet with its courtyard garden, help-yourself honesty bar, and sunny library built for daydreaming—it’s anything but homely. This is a spot for quiet escapism.

Where are the best hang outs during in South Kensington?

South Ken is known for all the amazing, free museums. There’s the art, design, and fashion of the Victoria and Albert Museum; the kid-friendly Science Museum; and the always-fun Natural History Museum (which has enchanting ice rink out front in the winter!).

There’s also Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens, which are perfect for picnics or strolls any time of year.

Speaking of strolling, locals love to have a wander through the small but sweet South Kensington Farmers’ Market, which takes place on Bute Street every Saturday.

A lesser known hangout spot is Kensington Roof Gardens: Set atop the sixth floor of a Kensington High Street building, Sir Richard Branson’s Kensington Roof Gardens gives you 1.5 acres of themed gardens with real flamingos! Stop by at night for a drink on the terrace or dinner at its restaurant, Babylon.

If you have a big date night, what are the most delicious restaurants in South Kensington and what are their best dishes?

Check out Franco-Japanese fusion restaurant, L’Etranger. Go for the tasting menu and ask for a corner table.

Let’s talk desserts in South Kensington- what place makes the best?

Oddono’s makes artisan Italian gelato and is a must—especially in the summer.

Also, we can’t talk desserts without mentioning South Ken’s French expats. Thanks to the presence of the French Consulate, Lycée Français, and the French Institute with it’s art house cinema, the area boasts some ooh la la-worthy pastries at many Parisian style cafes like the Kensington Crêperie. 

Tell us all the hot shopping spots in South Kensington; who’s carrying the trendy local designers? 

Most high-rolling shopping is done in nearby Knightsbridge (think: Harrods and Harvy Nichols), but booklovers will love to poke around the twee Slightly Foxed; the arty South Kensington Books; or browse the French books at Librairie la Page.

What are a couple of the best salons and spas in South Kensington?

British Vogue calls Sarah Chapman’s Skinesis Clinic “the home of arguably one of the best facials you’ll ever have.” For a little something different, try the marble Turkish hammam at Le Kalon Spa, at The Bentley Hotel. 

Time for a great sunset view… where would you go?

The ornate and formidable Albert Memorial in Kensington Gardens is a great spot to watch the sky turn dark as the moment lights up. It doesn’t hurt that it has a romantic backstory: It was commission by Queen Victory to honor her beloved husband, as their royal marriage was actually a well-suited, tender match.

Now that the sun’s gone down, fill us on the best places to go for some evening drinks in South Kensington or a great pre-gaming spot.

Barts is a speakeasy-style cocktail den that serves eclectic and eccentric cocktails out of things like top hats. Bar 190 (in the Gore Hotel) has an intimate and historic feel (it hosted a Rolling Stones album launch in 1968). If you’re into wine, you’ll be spoiled for choice: Try the Spanish spot Fernandez & Wells for wine and a charcuterie plate.

If you end the night at a fancy club, which one do you head towards?

The young royals are known to hang out at members-only, always buzzy Boujis.If clubbing is not your bag, the historic Royal Albert Hall hosts everything from classical concerts to top pop acts.

Nicole Trilivas is the author of the novel Girls Who Travel (Berkley Penguin, Dec 2015). She has a deep appetite for travel and adventure and has visited nearly 40 countries and every continent except Antarctica (but it’s on her list). A graduate of Boston University, she has worked in advertising, and her writing has appeared in the New York Times online, Huffington Post, xoJane, Wanderlust, Paste, Thought Catalog, and elsewhere. She lives in New York and London. Connect with her on Facebook, Instagram, Amazon, and Twitter.

Did you enjoy this post? Let me know in the comments or by sharing it with the social media links! I’d love to keep giving you travel tricks & tips so feel free to subscribe by e-mail in the big purple box below. Don’t forget you can follow me on facebook, twitter, instagram & bloglovin‘.

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On the bank holiday while in Tonbridge (Kent), Ben’s mom and Mick offered to take me, Ben, and Ben’s little bro Max to Hastings and Rye on the coast. It’s in East Sussex on the South coast.  We drove from Kent but you can take a train from Charing Cross in London and that’ll take about 2.5 hours.

If you have time you should definitely take a day in Hastings and Rye.

Hastings used to be a huge fishing port in England but is now more of a seaside vacation spot with delicious fish n chips. There is a fisherman and shipwreck museum (free to enter, donations accepted) and also an arcade area with rides and bumper cars. 

I hadn’t had a “real” fish n chips until I had this. It was served in newspaper with vinegar to splash on it and tartar sauce… delicious! I picked all the skin off and didn’t realize until after that everyone else ate theirs.

In the photo below you can see these fisherman huts (net shops?) where they sell their catch. They were built to provide a weatherproof storage for fishing gear so things wouldn’t rot.

Other than walking through the lanes to see shops and eat, there are fisherman selling fresh catches near the sea. You can choose to go to the Hastings Castle and up the hillside trains which looked a bit scary and went up at such a steep gradient!

I think I’m the only person in England that wants filter coffee with creamer lol, it’s definitely not the norm but I guess the truth is I don’t like coffee that much I like to add so many flavored creamers that it’s basically hot chocolate… so coffee with milk and sugar in England seems pretty strong to me!

Jellied Eels. What is it!?!? I don’t even know lol but I did NOT try it because it looked so gross haha! I got the prawns which were good but I didn’t love the mayo(ish) sauce I put on it. I like cocktail sauce on them. Ben had crawfish and Max had cockles.. which again I didn’t want to try. He soaked them in vinegar. 

Hastings was very cute! We took Max to the arcade where lots of money was spent, hundreds of tickets were won, and Max took home 2 very small stuffed minions lol… arcades are such a rip off but he loved it! Him and Ben did bumper cars… and it was not their best show of driving skills to be honest. They’re much better at playing computer games ;)

After Hastings, we stopped in Rye which was about 20 minutes away if I remember right so that I could see the little stone walkways/roads. It’s got more charm then Hastings but is really small. I can’t imagine living there!

I didn’t take as many pictures because it was raining, but Rye was great. I didn’t get a chance to shop in Hastings, but I don’t shop in England really because the GBP is so expensive for Americans. The shops did look cute though, mostly things for the home more than boutique clothing shops.

I think both Hastings and Rye are worth a day trip from London. Actually, you can go on a day trip to see Hastings and Tunbridge Wells all in one day which could be really cool.

Did you enjoy this post? Let me know in the comments or by sharing it with the social media links! I’d love to keep giving you travel tricks & tips so feel free to subscribe by e-mail in the big box below. Don’t forget you can follow me on facebook, twitter, instagram & bloglovin‘.

The post English Seaside |A Day in Hastings and Rye appeared first on Hippie In Heels.

If I had to choose between living in London or Tunbridge Wells, I would choose Tunbridge Wells (and Ben would tell me I was effing crazy). I am not really into the hustle bustle of cities and the metro in London was seriously as crowded as Indian transport during rush hour. Tunbridge Wells had charm, was easy to get around, and had unique boutique shops, art galleries and adorable pubs that served really good English food!

Ben grew up in “Royal” Tunbridge Wells and his mom now lives in Tonbridge (why the spelling in different, I don’t know). It’s royal because Queen Victoria & Prince Albert used to vacation there as a kid.

It was famous before then because of a hot chalybeate spring that people used to come for a “spa”. The water was believed to have healing properties so people would come to have a sip. Word spread to the Royals, which is why they ventured to Tunbridge Wells.

The well is still there, although empty while we visited and the surrounding area is called the Pantiles. It’s a great place to walk around, shop, and have dinner.

They do a jazz night every Thursday as well. During World War 2, Tunbridge Wells was actually a place of refuge for all the people escaping London’s bombings. It’s also been called the “Garden of England”.

With all the royalty in and out of Tunbridge Wells, it’s not surprising that a royal mansion near Calverley Park was turned into a hotel. Hotel Du Vin & Bistro invited Ben and I to stay, so we popped in for a night. The rooms were perfect and classy and I highly recommend staying there!

They offer movie nights in the summer with themes like Italian, English, French, etc where the movie matches the food. We didn’t have the right time frame to fit it in, so ate at the Bistro.

Being the classy gal I am, I got a cheesburger. Ben had a steak and I was really jealous that I wasn’t smart enough to order that too! Not that I don’t love a cheeseburger, but I ordered one everywhere I went.

Ben loved this Old Mout Cider so much that he bought 3 and packed them for India. Luckily they didn’t break and he actually had one tonight here in Goa! The hotel is known for amazing wine, but other than our drink at dinner we were detoxing from all the drinking we were doing and just wanted to lie in and watch a movie (the Minions.. it was cute).

I love eggs Benedict and am determined to learn to make it myself! Breakfast in England is always so much food… which is not a complaint. Ben had a bath, which was his favorite part about the hotel. English people and their baths… so weird.

The bar and bistro were packed full of people and I’ve been told this hotel is a popular place for fancy dining or date nights. You definitely need to reserve a table. Lots of people go for Sunday Brunch, which Ben’s family recently did for his grandma’s 80th birthday just the week before we went.

Ben’s friends live there and took us to all their favorite pubs and restaurants. I mean, we had Dominoes and fast food too of course! Ha ha, Ben and I always have to get our fix when we are out of India.

Some of the best meals, his mom and Mick cooked! I love an English style Sunday Roast… and I love English cauliflower and cheese.

According to Ben’s friends the best pubs are the Chaser (pictured above) and Checkers Inn where we had such a good dinner – cauliflower cheese, bangers and mash, salad, goats cheese starters, pork belly, and lots more.

We stayed a few nights at Ben’s bestie Mitch’s house (and his wife Laura and their cute twins Lucy and Amber… who stayed shy even a week later!). After a night of boozing, the next day we woke up craving ribs so what to do..? Go out and buy them! Mitch made them with a sticky cola BBQ sauce and we ate ourselves into a coma.

Ben’s mom’s roasts were delicious! I took a photo of the pork roast we had the week after, but it didn’t really turn out or at least show off how yummy it tastes. All the veggies used came from their own garden! It was all so good and I finally had a Yorkshire pudding I liked.. then I had 3 more.

The trip wouldn’t be complete without a trip to Bluewater so I could shop. Being boys, they had 5 guys burgers with me, left me there so they could gokart, then came back just in time for Krispy Kreme. 

We drove out to see Ben’s grandma and her husband Peter at their house (THE CUTEST HOUSE EVER!!) and their huge 50 pound dogs. The towers on her house were used back in the day to dry out hops for beer… how cool is that?

All in all we had a great time and we can’t wait to go back – which will most likely be next year for Ben’s sisters wedding in London. Look forward to more posts from our day in Hastings and Rye & our time in Austria right after England.

Did you enjoy this post? Let me know in the comments or by sharing it with the social media links! I’d love to keep giving you travel tricks & tips so feel free to subscribe by e-mail in the big box below. Don’t forget you can follow me on facebook, twitter, instagram & bloglovin‘.

The post A Little Tunbridge Wells Guide appeared first on Hippie In Heels.

Welcome back to the series “International Boho-Chic Designers”. I meet so many fashion designers and artists on my travels and as a shopaholic,  I love having unique items from abroad. I want to share them with you!  The designers featured here are those I really shop from and adore.

Shoop Doop hasn’t been around long, but it’s what all the guys in Goa are wearing, and the shirts are unique but at the same time you can tell where they bought it from. They all have a touch of his funky style. It’s quickly becoming the go-to shop for guys here in Goa, and taking off in London as well. As you can imagine, lots of the shopping is done by girls buying for their family or boyfriend.

Sean offered to give away THREE shirts! Girls, enter the giveaway so you can gift this to someone. I’m really resisting entering the giveaway myself so I can get one for Ben ha, but that would be breaking the rules.. I’ll let you guys win ;)

The guy behind Shoop Doop

He has such an interesting background, which is probably why his shirts are so inspired and full of color. Sean Barr moved to London from Scotland in the 80’s with a desire to sing and after lots of work, he landed a job through Mute records singing backing with Erasure and a session with Boy George’s band, Culture Club.

During his travel, he was buying nice shirts in (a then undiscovered by tourists) Turkey and selling them in Greece. His love of fashion and travel was born! He started traveling in Australia, USA, North Africa, India, more of Asia.. and doesn’t seem to be stopping even now. He played music along the way in a variety of huge name brands in the UK and Ibiza, becoming quite famous from what I gather, or “infamous possibly!” as he says.

Parties with Brit Winner, Paloma Faith in Thailand

He realized that on stage, everyone was in boring H&M shirts and wanted to make a change. He started making funky pants and shirts and people were noticing. He ended up taking his samples to London, and bam now he’s got a whole new career!

Shoop Doop, the brand.

“I decided I didn’t want to make a safe collection of shirts which sat together nicely neatly and blandly. That’s not me, and it wouldn’t work if I went down that road.”

He appreciates everyone having different tastes and styles but didn’t want to stop from using color just because Brit’s typically shy away from it. Indian of course love color. They’ve been on Goa’s Fashion week and Fashion TV here.

“I love color, I always have done in all it’s forms, which was definitely a hugely inspirational aspect of being in India and an obvious choice for me to work in creating.”

He started bold with shirts covered in flamingos, burgers, fries, and lobsters! But not everyone is into that, so he did some funky retro shirts, some vintage, and some sophisticated and meant to look more sexy. Most are for men, but he does have a range for women and even kids.

“Each shirt belongs to someone is what I have found. Sometimes, I look at what I created and wonder if I got it wrong, only for someone to come in first thing of opening and buy that particular shirt!”

This brand is very unique for dudes & girls traveling. These have been worn by LA rockers like
Cat Power & Icarus Line to the Bollywood star Kim Sharma. Something for everyone. Plus, most of his shirts are cotton, so they wear well and will look better than a t-shirt. You can go from the beach to the club and be dressed appropriately. Plus, they are affordable at 30 pounds each (2,200 Rs. or 47 USD)

Malik, the Shoop Doop tailor

Where can you buy Shoop Doop?

Online at ASOS is available for you all over the world.

If you’re in England, check out The White Horse in Brixton South London, POP Brixton at Make Do & Mend, Fashion Klicks in Norwood, and Woo Woo Boutique in the trendy Brixton Village Market.

Their main shop is located in Goa, on Ashwem, Morjim beach next to La Plage & Jade Jagger. They are stocked in other shops in Goa like Anjuna Flea Market, behind Sea Breeze, at the Arpora Saturday Night Market, near gate 1, at Cheshire Cat & Villa Blanche in Assagao, Mermaids in Anjuna, and Lamuela in both Arambol and Mandrem, and Fara Boutique in Arambol.

Night Market, Arpora

You can also find them in Delhi on the second floor Studio 417  Shapur Jat (Near Dada Jungi house). If you’re none of those places, shop online on the Shoop Doop Website (they ship internationally).

To connect, follow along their journey on Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram, or Twitter, email at shoopdooplondon@gmail.com or ring them at +44-208-671-6397 or in Goa +91-8888-564-234.

*Shoop Doop 3 Winner giveaway!!!*

For this giveaway there will be THREE winners! As usual, I am running this giveaway through rafflecopter so the machine can choose the winner. These are the shirts up for grabs, which are his most sold shirts:

you get the shirt, not the guy ;)

All you have to do is follow the instructions below which include liking both Shoop Doop London and I on social media as linked below. You have 7 days to enter. This giveaway is open to people from all countries. You will win the 1 of 3 shirts (first pick gets first choice). which is a £30 value (about 47  bucks). These are my favorite of the whole collection. Good luck!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Did you enjoy this post? Let me know in the comments or by sharing it with the social media links! I’d love to keep giving you travel tricks & tips so feel free to subscribe by e-mail in the big purple box below. Don’t forget you can follow me on facebook, twitter, instagram & bloglovin‘.

The post International Boho-Chic Designers: Shoop Doop // London & a giveaway! appeared first on Hippie In Heels.

Welcome to Backpacker’s Boutique. Every Sunday, this spot will feature a new travel blogger. Some weeks it will be a really fun interview about packing, fashion, and fitness so you can snoop inside their bags & lives a little bit and other weeks it’ll be a detailed luxury guide to a city the featured blogger/expat knows very well. E-mail me if you’d like to be featured.

A Luxury Guide to London

Tell us a little about yourself and tell us why you’re an expert on luxury travel in London.

I’m Kirsten, and I’ve been born and bred in London – although at times it can be a love/hate relationship, it’s an unconditional love! I went to university in Norwich, a much smaller city in the UK (very dainty and cute). I spent some of that time at university living and studying in Melbourne, Australia, and completely fell in love with the country. After graduating, I came back to London and spend my time navigating more of my home city. Even after all this time, it never fails to surprise me with new bars, events or views.

What makes London a perfect destination for travelers seeking a glamorous trip?

London’s full of the old, historic grandeur of the past as well as innovative ideas to spice up any luxury experience. The more I see of other cities, the more I appreciate how flexible London can be: it’s the posh, traditional mother or father and it’s the gritty cool kid – but always (well, most of the time) done with a touch of sophistication.

What 5 star hotel is the best in your town?

There are a few! The complete classic is The Savoy. If you come here, you’ve hit the big time. The St Pancras Renaissance Hotel is probably the most beautiful looking hotel from the outside (and inside!) I’ve ever seen in London.

What about boutique hotels, of them all, which would you send your friends or family to stay at?

There are probably three options: two of them are Firmdale hotels, the Covent Garden Hotel and Soho Hotel. They’re boutique on the most luxury end of the scale.

For more quirk, I’d go with The Hoxton Hotel in Shoreditch. It’s not as much typical boutique as part of the new breed of hip hotels with that streetwise but homely feel, with an open fireplace, exposed brick wall and books.

Are there any fun activities for the adventurous traveler?

You can climb up the Millenium Dome (now called the o2) which is near where I live, in Greenwich! Do it at sunset – you’ll get a wonderful view over London. There’s also a speedboat that’ll swing you around on the Thames with some funny music, like the James Bond theme tune. Experiencing London’s landmarks from the river gives you a bit of a different perspective. In summer, there’s a really fun trend to learn to trapeze outside in some of London’s parks. For a built up city, it’s got a lot of options.

Where are the best hang outs during the day? 

London’s parks are lovely – I’ve had many lazy, sunny afternoons in Hyde Park, Regent’s Park and St James’ Park (which looks magical in the spring with flowers everywhere and a view of the London Eye). There are even lidos you can spend the day at – I went to Brockwell Lido last summer, and even though it can’t properly take the place of a good beach, I’ll accept it as a substitute! 

London has so many markets dotted around to explore with friends or by yourself. One of my favourites is Columbia Road Flower Market – for flowers, believe it or not. It also has cafés and cute independent shops so you have somewhere to go after the hustle and bustle of all kinds of beautiful flowers being excitedly sold. I always try to pick up a bunch of sunflowers here as they’re a favourite flower of mine.

I recently went to Maltby Street Market with my sister, which left us so pleasantly surprised. Located under railway arches, it has such an authentic feel and every food stall you look at has you intrigued.

In the winter, it’s all about cafés and pubs. London loves pubs. Wilton Music Hall is perfect for some history and a pint. The worn away and exposed walls with its relaxed vibe make you feel so comfortable to settle down and cosily while away the day.

If you have a big date night, what are the most delicious restaurants in London and what are their best dishes?

I have an American boyfriend who lives in Boston, so whenever he visits London, I always try to impress him with the city’s restaurants. To be honest, it’s a challenge to pick somewhere as London has so many restaurants.

We’ve gone to Sushisamba, which has some other locations over the world, but in London it’s got a great view and their sashimi is awesome. Head outside for a cocktail by the fire, too – the mojito is a treat.

Location: Heron Tower, 110 Bishopsgate, London EC2N 4AY

In London, we get a ton of concept restaurants – the most recent I’ve been to is called Bubbledogs: all sorts of hotdogs (you can choose toppings from mac’n’cheese to caramelised lettuce), and an extensive list of champagne. It’s a genius idea to me that still manages to leave you feeling glamorous, despite eating hot dogs.

Location: 70 Charlotte St, London W1T 4QG

Village East is also great: modern European food presented so well and some killer cocktails.

Location: 171-173 Bermondsey St, London SE1 3UW

Let’s talk desserts- what place makes the best?

I’m weirdly going to have to mention a brunch spot here. It’s the Cookbook Café, inside the Intercontinental Hotel. You get unlimited bellinis and an all you can eat buffet – but in a classy way – including waffles topped with popping candy, eggs benedict, sashimi, and finally, masses of dessert cakes, including little macaroons. It’s incredible and is honestly one of my favourite places to go in London. 

Tell us all the hot shopping spots; who’s carrying the trendy local designers? Are there designers we should make sure to meet?

Avoid Oxford Street like the plague! Ok, maybe an exaggeration – it does have everything you need, but only go there very early. It’s so busy and it can get pretty stressful at times (Christmas shopping here this year will definitely be a pain I must suffer!). I prefer Long Acre in Covent Garden area as it still has some of my favourite shops (like Zara, but sadly not Topshop) and is much less busy.

It’s definitely worth checking out the markets, too. Spitalfields market is great for upcoming designers and it’s a great day out.

What are a couple of the best salons and spas in London? 

Sadly my favourite spa right in the middle of London recently closed down, so I’m trying to find another! I’ve heard good things about the Mandarin Oriental Hotel’s spa in Hyde Park. The Berkeley Spa has a rooftop pool with views over Hyde Park and is a hit with celebrities, or Four Seasons Spa, which is located on the tenth floor… also over Hyde Park. Basically, head to Hyde Park for all your glamorous, luxury needs. 

Time for a great sunset view… where would you go?

I think the key with a memorable London sunset is to go high. My favourite has been while having afternoon tea in Tower 42. I treated my mum for her birthday and we sipped champagne while watching the sun set right behind the view of London, with St Paul’s Cathedral in one direction and Tower Bridge another.

Otherwise, I’m always a big fan of a sunset from a park. Primrose Hill gives you a good view, and Hyde Park is gorgeous.

Now that the sun’s gone down, fill us on the best places to go for some evening drinks or a great pre-gaming spot.

This is where things get tricky – I’m not sure I can adequately express my love for cocktails, so I’m always hunting around for a new watering hole. There’s Calooh Callay, which is a bar in East London with a collection of weird and wonderful decorations. For chocolate lovers, Dirty Martini in Covent Garden has a delicious chocolate martini (chocolate swirl included). And for a really intimate setting, Bourne & Hollingsworth is like a trendy grandma’s living room, with drinks served in teacups and mason jars.

Secret bars are a big thing here too. Head to Evans & Peel Detective Agency (it really is a bar, I promise) where you need to come with a ‘case’ that proves you worthy of seeing the Detective i.e. entering the bar. If that’s not earning your drink, I’m not sure what is…

I have to mention Circus, too. It’s a bar and restaurant in Covent Garden where circus acts perform their tricks and talents (such as flamethrowing and much more) on the central table throughout the evening. On the weekends it stays open as a club where you can then dance on the tables.

You can also get drinks at the Shard which can be pricey, but a very ‘London’ experience. It also gives you pretty much the same view as at the top but without having to buy the ticket! Definitely put on your best dress/suit here, it’s the perfect excuse to dress up.

The post Luxury Guide to London appeared first on Hippie In Heels.

When I read my journal about my first time abroad in Europe I literally laugh out loud at how dumb I was. I am glad I have grown and learned from traveling. Reading my journal reminds me of just how much I was living in a bubble. Before I left the country, the biggest cities I had been to were Salt Lake City when I was 12 and D.C. with a school group. 

The journal I’m referring to is from five years ago, when I was 19.

 11 foreign ideas I couldn’t get over

1. I still remember listening to the English air stewardess in awe while flying from JFK to London. I wrote two pages about her accent and new words that I hadn’t heard before. Thank god my boyfriend has an English accent, because I love them. Although I don’t like that they always sound smarter, like, a 5 year old with an English accent sounds smarter than me. Damnnit.

2. Every guy seemed charming just because he had ANY accent at all. “You’re from another country? Just knowing that makes me like you so much. You are so cultured and smart!”

3. My first metro ride. Getting around the London Tube was as hard as I’d imagine diffusing a bomb with a 10 second countdown is. Maybe I shouldn’t use London tube and bomb in the same sentence. Twice.

4. When I found out that Europeans put tobacco in their joints! What is this nonsense? Why can’t I stop coughing? I still to this day am shocked by how almost every European I’m friends with smokes tobacco and I don’t have a single friend I can think of right now in the states that does. I guess I can thank to the “Just Say No” campaign and DARE programs telling us we were going to get cancer and die.

5. Train reservations. I had already bought the Eurail pass, why were they charging me more? Why were there never any seats left on the cities I wanted to go to? It was pretty sad to find out this pass didn’t mean a free seat on any train I wanted.

First photo I took in Europe… I was a super tourist, but not the 2nd time around

6. A man dressed as a Roman soldier outside the coliseum wanted a photo with me. Cool! “3 Euros”. What? He wants me to pay him? Why didn’t he tell me before we took the photo? I didn’t pay him because I thought he was lying, and as punishment I was called a “mean lesbian” but I learned my lesson: no more photos with people dressed up, or people handing me animals unless I’m prepared to give them money.

after we learned the rules we happily gave this guy some cash!

7. Sitting at the base of the Eiffel tower at sunset, feeling pretty damn well travelled, having been out of the country 5 days. Why yes, I’m an American in Paris. No American has ever done this before me.

8. My first mysterious travel rash. Pretty sure that one was bed bugs but I put a ridiculous amount of time into writing about the other deadly possibilities. Young me would have never made it through India due to the numerous mysterious rashes this place has given me.

9. Being constantly kicked off private beaches in Italy. How can someone possibly own sand? What do you mean pay to use the ocean? Don’t be silly.

10. Hanging my laundry out on the train to dry. Might as well have told the passengers, “I am American, I am entitled, and you are going to have to stare at my thongs for the next 4 hours.” Seriously… I can’t believe I did that.

11. WHY ARE THE PORTIONS SO SMALL!? Oh, you mean in America ours are too big? Parisian portions were sad but it was made up for in Italy (unless you were supposed to share the pizza in which case, whoops.) As for ice cream in Zurich: pathetic.

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I was lucky enough to go back to England, and I am so excited to tell you about it. I wasn’t going to mess up this re-do, it was a second chance in London. I had already seen “what you’re supposed to see” years ago. London was the first city I went to in Europe. I think I have 300 photos from my 4 days there. 10 of just the train station. 5 of me in a phone booth. I was a super tourist (I still kind of am). I don’t want to bore you so I won’t tell you all of London’s castles, gardens, and monuments that will make you believe in fairy tales. When you get there, grab a tourist map and wander for a couple days, you will see it all! No problems except sore feet.

When I first went to London that’s what I did. The first day I carried my backpack all day because I didn’t have a hostel yet. Double Super Tourist. I can still remember how blown away I was by Westminster Abbey, the “sand drip castle” I call it. I love castles and forts! I got a street artist to draw it for me and hung it in my room all through University. The rest of the sites: London Eye, Big Ben, Buckingham Palace, etc were awe-inspiring at the time, but they aren’t something that stuck in my memory. For me, monuments in big cities never really do. I don’t have much of an artistic eye and I don’t appreciate architecture as much as I probably should. A lot of these big tourist attractions, you can also do with the London Pass, so if it is you’re first time, see if that’s something worth buying.

On thing that did stand out: Platform 9 ¾. I mean, it’s so cool. I didn’t realize Kings Cross Station wasn’t the main one in London, but luckily that’s where you take the Eurotunnel to Paris from so I saw it on my wait out (and of course missed my train).

 Trying out London a second time around

What did I do different?

So, this time I went back to meet my boyfriend’s family and go to his best friends’ wedding. We spent half our time in London, and half in Kent.

First thing to know: you don’t have to worry about not being proper enough for an English wedding. Ben was enough of a mess that people didn’t even know I was there. Second, English families are more laid-back than American families. Perfect! There were so many things I wanted to do in England, but we balanced it out with Ben getting time with his friends and family, which was loads of fun. It’s great to go to a city that you don’t need or want to sightsee in. You are able to just wander and try new places to eat and drink.

We rented a car to see what’s just outside of London.

 8 activities in and around London

1. Hever Castle: Ann Boleyn grew up here, one of King Henry the 8^th six women. I always like shows and movies like The Tudors and The Boleyn Sisters so this was beyond exciting. While touring, I explained to Ben everything Hollywood had taught me about this crazy Queen. Not only had her sister, Mary already slept with the King, but then Ann made him divorce his wife, therefore separating the Catholic Church from the Church of England (big deal). She got what was coming to her though when her family helped vote to have her beheaded in the Tower of London for treason. In the paintings she wasn’t even very pretty and she’s kind of a sneaky skank so I’m thinking it didn’t take much to become queen back then… Anyways, just 30 miles from London, in Kent, it’s easy to get to. It’s super legit with a moat, insane gardens and so much interesting history. If you want to get tacky, you can dress up and pose for photos, you can be fancy and get married there, or if you’re rich you can stay in the guesthouses for a night. Tickets cost 14 pounds per adult to see castle and gardens. There are snacks inside, but it’s best to eat at a little pub beforehand.

2. Have a traditional Pub lunch: one of many we ate at was King Henry 8^th Inn and Restaurant. Although themed, because it is just down the road from Hever Castle, it wasn’t too over the top. The building was from the 1600’s and the authentic look got me pumped up to see the castle. We had Root Beer and sausage baguette sandwiches. You can choose to eat in the courtyard, but it is too cold in England for that nonsense.

3. Brighton: we drove here, but you can take a combination of trains and buses as well. Brighton is the colorful city that the gays love along the coast of England. This coastal town has the narrow roads that I LOVE seeing. Something about small alleyways and old buildings, and I’m hooked on a place. The Bohemian feel reminded me of Cesky Krumlov, my favorite Bohemian town. Shopping in Brighton lanes was a highlight for me. I bought American candy at Cyber Candy– score! Landmarks include the Brighton Wheel and Grand Hotel. We spent time on the pier, where there is an arcade and loads of food. If you walk along the beach, there are shacks selling delicious seafood, and some selling cockles and jellied eels (no thanks). It kind of reminded me of clips from jersey shore. There were some interesting characters tanning on the pier. It was 65 degrees and windy. Also, the birds are brave here and will steal noodles right off your plate!

4. Shop Brighton Lanes: Ok, I’m budgeting, but it doesn’t mean I didn’t look.  Just northwest of the pier, in the old fishing village are actually 5 different areas, and 2 lanes: The Lanes and North Laine. It seemed that one was higher class and lots of jewelry, and the other was alternative, bohemian, and unique clothing. FYI it isn’t just shopping; they have art galleries (check out the Alexander Gallery) and pubs as well. But I didn’t have time to appreciate art with so many cute clothes, jewels, and antiques around the corner. Some shops that I loved looking in: All That Glitters, MAC cosmetics, Papillon (for housewares, books, and gifts), Russell and Bromley, Hope and harlequin (super cute), Velvet, Wolf and Gypsy, and Beyond Retro.  It’s also a great place to buy gifts like chocolates and baked goods; check out Angel Food Bakery for scrumptious cupcakes and English tea.

5. Notting Hill: With Ben’s brother, we made it to Notting Hill. I don’t know what exactly I was expecting, but it’s a cute little town that really rich people live in. If you want to shop here, you can buy the fanciest baby clothes you’ve ever seen… and then buy more baby clothes. Easy to get to by metro, but make sure you have a plan for something you want to do there or you’ll end up at an English pub selling Thai food.

6. Seeing a West End show: We saw Wicked. I’m so torn on whether this was good or not. I LOVED being at the theatre (I’d never seen Broadway before which is why I chose Wicked), but I found the storyline boring. The other options were Book of Mormon, Viva Forever (Spice Girls), Let it Be (Beatles), Billy Elliot (Green Day), and so many more. I wanted one that was very “theatre-like” Is that even a thing? I should have seen the Spice Girls! Next time.

7. Finding a Shopping Mall like the US: Boutique and Antique stores are great, but sometimes I need a simple tank at a decent price, or to get some killer sales at a shoe store. Keep in mind, I’d come from India and hadn’t done any real shopping for a while, plus I needed a dress for the wedding. I was looking for places like Aldo, Zara, Forever 21, All Saints (where I found my awesome dress), Sephora, and Victoria’s Secret. We went to BlueWater near Dartford, which was huge and had all the good stores. We also went to a mall near Ben’s mom’s house in Tunbridge Wells, called Royal Victoria Place, which had a lot of stores and… Soft pretzels!!! I got my American fix and was a happy camper. Something I just have to mention: I had only seen River Island on ASOS online, and knew Rihanna was working with them, so was really excited to shop there… only to be disappointed. It just seemed like a Charlotte Russe. Everything looked cheap, what’s up with that?

8. Re-doing London: We went into London where Ben’s brother and sister live a few times. Did some more shopping at Westfield mall as Ben’s eyes glazed over and ate at Jamie Oliver’s restaurant. For some reason, English people are so much better dressed than Americans. During lunch they all go outside and eat at the stalls that are set up. Like food trucks, it was gourmet and fusion street food.

England was 10x better the second time around.

It’s rare that I get to go back to countries that I backpacked in, and it was great to so England with someone who is actually English. Having a car was most helpful. What would have been more helpful is if I’d had my winter wardrobe- I only had what I’d packed for Goa (so 100 degree weather). It’s seriously disappointing to be walking around England in the same outfits over and over when I had some many cute clothes back in Ohio.

After how awesome revisiting England was, I want to give all of my favorite cities a re-do so I’m determined to get another Eurail pass and do it all again! Thank God Ben is English and I will have chances to go back because we never made it to Harry Potter World.

Were you a super tourist in London? Did you get outside the city for any day trips?

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