The long weekend is coming up, and London is getting a heatwave—temperatures are said to reach up to 31 degrees! For some of us, this means group picnics, patio drinks, and rooftop gardens. When the heat is on, it always seems to me like people in London multiply! But for those of us who are looking for a bit of peace alone this weekend, it … Continue reading Introverted, Outside: Quiet Things to Do Alone In London
Sometimes, humanity’s greatest achievements are pretty gross. My partner and I were looking for a fun way to spend a rainy afternoon, and landed on the Brunel Museum—a small, out-of-the-way museum that’s south of the river in Rotherhithe. It’s focus is engineering/architecture, which I will admit isn’t my forte; it’s much easier for me to get excited about a piece of art then a piece … Continue reading Ego Death at the Brunel Museum: A reflective visit to London’s Thames Tunnel museum
This weekend something pretty special is happening to me—I’m getting ready to get married this week! I wrote a while back about how I wanted to visit Thornbury Castle—and a few weeks later, I did! My partner and I decided it would be the perfect spot to elope in. We’re having a private ceremony on the castle grounds for our elopement weekend, but because we … Continue reading What I Packed for My Castle Elopement in England
I’ve recently come back from a weekend in Margate, England—I was so excited to see all the things to do by the sea! This sunny, seaside town was the perfect place to relax and reconnect with the group of girls I used to live with. If you’re looking for a 3-day itinerary that includes browsing shops, fish and chips on the beach, art galleries and … Continue reading A Perfect Weekend in Margate: 3-Day Itinerary + Things to Do
I’ve been thinking lately about how slow travel really helps me create a calm space in my mind while I travel, and how I remember cities more clearly when I haven’t rushed through them. It makes sense, to a degree; when you slow down, and remove pressure to always be looking for the next thing, you create a space where observation is possible. The chance … Continue reading Why Slow Travel Makes Cities More Memorable
This bank holiday weekend, I wanted to take a break from the hustle and bustle of London for a day trip. After considering a few places, I decided to head to Richmond for a day trip that was equal parts boutique shops and cheery pubs, and nature-filled walks with views of parks and rivers. I wanted to share my itinerary—although I feel like I did … Continue reading The Perfect Nature-Filled Slow Day in Richmond, London
Next week is the Easter Bank Holiday, and the longest bank weekend of the year. I love this time of year for travel—Spring is already in full swing in most places in Europe, bank holidays lend themselves to special flight deals, and Christian-majority countries sometimes have fun themed events for the Easter holidays. This bank holiday, my partner and I have different ideas for what … Continue reading 3 Day Trips to Take This Bank Holiday Weekend
Lately I’ve been thinking about how cities dictate the direction our lives take. The places we live and work don’t just shelter us—they present options for us to live our optimal (or less-than-optimal) lives. An elevator ensures that I’m not panting by the time I get to my fifth-floor office. Having a gym I can get to in under 10 minutes makes working out infinitely … Continue reading The Architecture That Trains Londoners to Live Differently
This week marks over 13 years of living in London. It was an adjustment, certainly—although I’ve written about how hard it was for me emotionally, some of the hardest culture shock moments actually happened gradually, as I was living in London as a Canadian. Culture shock in London can sneak up on you; there many things I never thought were unusual in my hometown of … Continue reading Culture Shock in London: 23 Things That Surprised Me After 13 Years
This week, I’m celebrating 13 years of living in London—what started as a post-university trip to get an internship became a full-time job, and although I’ve travelled a lot, London is the place I’ve called home for over a decade. I’m not a big history buff; it was never my favourite subject in school, and I can’t say that it’s something I go out-of-my-way to … Continue reading 3 Ways London’s History Shapes How the City Feels Today
No Small Wander 