Eurostar Travel Tips I usually talk about travel inside the UK, but I've recently been helping family plan a trip to visit the UK and Paris, France. They're spending half of their time with me in and around London, with a few days in the middle off exploring Paris. They'll be traveling under the sea on the Eurostar train to get there and back. I've taken the Eurostar train service a few times myself, but wanted to share a few tips in case this type of trip is on your bucket list too. If...
18 days ago • 1 min read
Smart money moves that helped me move abroad When my family decided to move to the UK, I knew we had to get our finances in order. This would be my second time moving from the US to the UK, and I knew firsthand how quickly the costs could add up. That meant making sure we could afford this new adventure without making money mistakes along the way. We had some money set aside, but also needed to resolve some debts and figure out how to help our savings grow after we moved. I needed a plan that...
25 days ago • 2 min read
Shakespeare Outside of the Globe I recently went into central London with my daughter to see a production of Richard II starring Jonathan Bailey. It was very fun to see Fiyero do Shakespeare, but the whole cast was incredible. The location was also an interesting twist. Bridge Theatre is one of the newest theatre venues in London, located just a mile down the river from Shakespeare's Globe. The Bridge doesn't only run Shakespeare plays, but the flexible space was set up for a similar "show in...
about 1 month ago • 2 min read
Spring Hits! Daffodils are everywhere right now We are only a few days from the official First Day of Spring! Time to shake off the winter blahs and embrace the signs of new life. My favorite sign of the season is now popping up everywhere. From home gardens to roadsides, there are happy yellow daffodils all over the place. Spring Events Around the UK Here are some upcoming events to embrace the season! March 12-30. Glasgow brings the laughs hosting the Glasgow International Comedy Festival....
about 1 month ago • 1 min read
Shhh! Are There Quiet Spots in London? The first time I visited London, I didn't enjoy it that much. We came in the middle of summer holidays and wanted to see all the big tourist stuff. Unfortunately, lots of other people were doing the same thing. If you're also not a huge fan of crowds, but don't want to miss out on London's excellent sights, I have some suggestions for you. Duck into one of these relaxing places near the top sights. Near Big Ben and Westminster Abbey The area between...
about 2 months ago • 2 min read
Happy February Friend! Where are you wandering these days? I'm heading into my daughter's half-term school break, and looking forward to some extra adventures with her during her time off. We aren't traveling for the whole week, which is different for us, but do have some day trips planned in and around London. What's going on this month? We may still be in winter times, but February brings out some nighttime magic in the UK. Several national parks here are dark sky reserves. This makes them...
about 1 year ago • 2 min read
Did you know that today is Blue Monday? According to a very unscientific marketing campaign by a UK travel company, Blue Monday is the most depressing day of the year. It does make sense in the UK because we still have plenty of winter days ahead and are well past holiday fun. It's not all gloom and doom, though. Today was actually a perfectly blue sky day in England, crisp and cold. I've got a bunch of early daffodils on my desk thanks to the local grocery store. From now until March,...
over 1 year ago • 1 min read
Happy New Year! I hope you had an enjoyable and restful holiday season, and aren't pushing yourself too hard with new year pressure. My daughter has been involved in a million activities in recent months, and it was a relief to stay home over the holidays. We did venture into London a few times to see the Christmas lights and head to the theatre. Otherwise, it was all pajamas all the time at our house. Now that we've headed into 2024, I'm feeling the travel bug pretty strongly. We are...
over 1 year ago • 1 min read
Top 10 Reasons To Visit Edinburgh in December Published on August 22, 2022 Edinburgh is a beautiful place unlike any other city in the world. Its charm really comes into focus in the Winter months when the gothic architecture and dramatic landscape slip into something both cozy and foreboding. Edinburgh in December means short days, but nights that are lit up with Christmas lights and cheered with mulled […] The post Top 10 Reasons To Visit Edinburgh in December appeared first on A Life Away....
over 2 years ago • 1 min read