Our handpicked city guides feature curated collections of the best things to do in cities around the world. We look for street art, independent bookshops, farmers markets, hipster coffee shops and parks. And we’re always up for spending time in nature.
We prefer independents over chains, and while both Steve and I are vegetarian, we tend to eat in restaurants that are known to be good for all food rather than just veggie stuff.
We do feature the “must sees”, but our things-to-do guides are about getting beneath the skin of a city and experiencing local, creative life.
I grew up just outside of London and spent much of my early adulthood living there. I remember visiting as a child and being awed by the pure size and grandeur of it all. And that’s a feeling I wanted to share with my kids. We’ve visited many times with the boys, but normally we’re … Read more
Innsbruck has fast become my favourite place for a winter city break in Europe. It has the best of both worlds – a gorgeous city with plenty to do, surrounded by epic mountains filled with world-class ski resorts. It makes for the perfect ski and sightseeing break, and is ideal if you want a little … Read more
It’s been a while since I fell head over heels for a city, but Bordeaux had me at first sight. Elegant, creative and bursting with charm, it reminded me of a French versionof Barcelona – with grand boulevards, ornate architecture, and a seemingly endlesssupply of indie boutiques, cafés and restaurants. But what surprised me most … Read more
I think Valencia often gets overshadowed by Barcelona, its neighbour up the coast. And while Barcelona forever has my heart, being a place I once called home, I’m also a big fan of Valencia. I’ve been a few times and most recently as a family, discovering the city from a different perspective and finding it … Read more
Austin has to be one of the coolest cities in the USA if not the world. There’screativity on every corner, from innovative food trucks to indy shops and cool murals.And that’s not to mention the live music scene that it’s best known for. Our most recent trip to Austin was as a family, and it … Read more
With the incredible title of “Cowboy Capital of the World”, you know Bandera Texas is going to be something special. But what to expect? And what to do in Bandera? I had no idea before I arrived. I didn’t even know cowboys still existed! In my mind, they were a thing of the past. But … Read more
Truth be told, before visiting San Antonio, Texas, it wasn’t even on my radar as a vacation destination, let along on my bucket list. But this charming, culture-filled city ended up becoming one of my favourite places in the USA. It’s unlike anywhere else I’ve ever been before – a distinctly American city but with … Read more
Sitting on La Concha beach while the kids play happily in the waves with the Old Town as their backdrop, I wondered if this might be Europe’s most family-friendly city break. San Sebastian/Donostia has long been a bucket list destination for foodies, but its compact size, beachside location and Spanish welcome for kids, means it … Read more
Annecy, often called the Venice of the Alps, is one of those magical destinations where you wonder why it isn’t more famous. Backed by the Alps and on the edge of the spectacular Lake Annecy, the colourful Savoie town is almost unbelievably picture perfect. It’s the epitome of a fairytale destination. We spent time there … Read more
Portsmouth, New Hampshire, was a name that came up again and again when we talked to locals about their favourite place in New England. The small city feels frozen in time, like the scene of a Norman Rockwell painting. Cobbled streets lined with a timeline of American architecture, from the red-brick buildings of downtown to … Read more