During my Icelandic adventure in Akureyri there were three big things on my wish list – try husky sledding, go whale watching and see the Northern Lights. Our holiday package included a Northern Lights tour, so my hopes were high, but I also knew there was no guarantee we’d get to see them. Poor weather conditions postponed the tour on the first two nights and I began to resign myself to the fact we were unlikely to see them. Still, third time lucky I hoped, and on a cloudy Wednesday night we jumped on a coach and headed out of…

Just before the pandemic I was planning a trip to Italy – my initial idea was to fly into Rome and spend a couple of days soaking up the sites before moving on to Perugia. Covid-19 almost drew a permanent line under the whole idea when I contracted the virus and spent two months in intensive care. It was touch and go for a while; so much so that I was put into a medically-induced coma for more than a month… it was not something I’d recommend. The excellent ministrations of the NHS doubtless saved my life (I was almost…

For a unique Japanese afternoon tea experience in London, you can beat a visit to Ginza St James’s. My boyfriend and I went to London over Easter for a mini-break and went to Ginza St James’s for afternoon tea as a birthday treat. Tucked down a side street in Mayfair, you can’t miss the restaurant as it’s covered in pink cherry blossoms, but when you head inside to the bar everything is sleek and modern. We were taken downstairs to the main restaurant, which was full of mirrors making it look huge. Not your average tea selection… We were seated…

If you’re looking for a great value afternoon tea in Plymouth, you can’t do better that the Flower Café, found in the city’s picturesque cobblestoned Barbican district. Afternoon tea in Plymouth’s Barbican district Just a hop, skip and a jump from the Plymouth gin distillery and the waterfront, the Flower Café’s unassuming exterior belies its inward charm, from the bright décor and instaworthy flower wall through to its famous range of freaky shakes, pancakes, ice creams and hot chocolates. These are served with an explosion of colourful toppings themed around anything from mermaids and unicorns through to wizards. Friendly staff…