I was raised in Birmingham and went to university in Sheffield before leaving the UK at 21. I’ve pretty much been living overseas ever since.
I used to feel apathetic towards the UK, especially in light of Brexit, but travel has made me appreciate my native country and see it with new eyes. I usually hop back to Britain every year or two and although it doesn’t truly feel like home any more, it will always be home.
Some recommended reads and literary travel through the UK:
In short, I haven’t read nearly enough Black authors, and especially not enough Black British authors, whose stories are woven into the same place I grew up in. That’s on
It’s Shakespeare’s birthday weekend and I’m celebrating in his birthplace of Stratford-upon-Avon (Will, you don’t look a day over 400). So, in the spirit of all things literary and wanderlustful,
The best and most beautiful bookstores that the UK has to offer:
Tucked away inside Lush Spa on Oxford Street, London, this walk-in Poetry Pharmacy offers a quiet retreat that invites visitors to explore the soothing and transformative power of poetry. Here,
London is a city where literature and history blend seamlessly, and for book lovers, it’s a dream come true. From quaint independent stores to grand historic institutions, the city offers
Updated May 2024 My passport may be bursting at the seams, but I’m definitely guilty of ignoring what’s in my own back yard. So, since I’ve been back in Birmingham
I may not always be patriotic, unless it comes to food! British cuisine is highly underrated and although some things may be an acquired taste (hello, Marmite), I promise there is more to British food than fish and chips:
I feel as if spring has really snuck up on us this year. It’s officially time for people living in Britain (or anywhere temperate in the Northern Hemisphere) to come
So, I’ve put on a lot of weight since I’ve moved back to the UK and with very good reason. So, here I’m sharing my guide to British food: a
Dictionary: A book or electronic resource that lists the words of a language (typically in alphabetical order) and gives their meaning. Inspired by a long (and sunny!) weekend in the home
Updated May 2024 London has a reputation for being expensive and often with good reason. A standard cup of coffee will cost you a cheeky £3-4, one stop on the
I moved to Bangkok. Forgive me for the blunt delivery, but when I came to write this post I wasn’t sure what I want to say about it. I didn’t
I think… I think I’m ready to talk about my mental health. I think it feels like time. I think it’s important that you know what’s been going on and
Hey guys. So, I recently participated in the World Nomads Travel Writer Scholarship programme, where I wrote a piece on the theme ‘a place that is unfamiliar to me’. Devastatingly, I
I’ve been back in the UK now for four months. I’m still reluctant to say ‘back home’, but I’ll admit that it’s slipped off my tongue more than once. Like
Yep, I’ve turned into that girl who starts all her sentences with, ‘When I lived in Hong Kong…’ My room is filled with knick-knacks from places I can’t pronounce. I
We now interrupt this scheduled programme of backpacking-related blog posts to bring you something completely different. Time travel. I thought that moving back to the UK this Christmas would just feel
Here are the websites and services I personally use and recommend.
Disclaimer: this box contains affiliate links. This means I earn a small commission if you choose to make a purchase using this link, but at no cost to you.
FLIGHTS: The best deals can be found on Skyscanner, Google Flights and Kiwi (learn more about Kiwi travel hacking here).
TRAVEL INSURANCE: I recommend World Nomads for travel insurance because you can purchase once you’re already overseas and you can easily extend your policy. For digital nomads, I recommend and personally use Genki (learn more about Genki digital nomad health insurance here).
E-SIM: For travel in Europe, I use an e-sim with GoMobile, which is a provider based in Malta, but you need to be there to set it up.
ACCOMMODATION: I use Booking.com for hotels and Airbnb for apartments. For Colivings, I usually book privately, but Coliving.com is a good place to start.
THINGS TO DO: I use Viator or Get Your Guide for booking day trips, city tours and other activities, though I often check reviews on TripAdvisor too.