The Armchair Backpacker

Quite regularly I see posts on Facebook of people in exciting, faraway places, doing exciting and unforgettable things, whilst I am stuck in the UK staring at the rain outside my window. I know that I’m not alone in this. It is quite easy to end up feeling miserable, and like everyone’s life is better than your own. Or you could feel resentful of those who can afford/have the time to do what they like, whilst you are stuck doing whatever you are doing. I guess all those emotions are natural, and I’ve been there, done that and got the t-shirt. Instead, why not channel your energy into doing something positive, which also links to your desire to travel? View Post

Review: Thomas’s of York Pub and Kitchen, York

Thomas’s of York Pub and Kitchen claims to be York’s quirkiest pub, which is no small claim given the large number of pubs in York (there’s supposedly one for every day of the year!). However, I think they might be right. I’ve certainly never been anywhere quite like it! View Post

Would you like the window seat?

Since I was first old enough to purchase a young person’s railcard, I have travelled quite regularly by train across the UK. It’s easy, convenient and depending on where you are travelling can be quite cheap as well. I’ve also travelled by train in other countries, notably when I went interrailing with a group of friends. Stations are fantastic places to people-watch, as are trains themselves, and as you begin to stack up the number of journeys you have taken, you begin to spot patterns in people’s behaviours. One of these is the classic window seat discussion. View Post

Hummus Bros, Soho, London

I like to plan. I’m also from a rural area and big cities can sometimes overwhelm me, so when visiting somewhere like London, I always make sure I have a reasonable idea of where I am going to go and what I am going to do in my time there. When I went for a short break a couple of years ago, I trawled through a range of guidebooks in my local library for recommendations of places to go and things to see. Whilst I am happier to be more spontaneous now, I’m so glad I planned for this trip, as it was how I first discovered and visited Hummus Bros. It appeared to be quite a small and quirky place, with great reviews on TripAdvisor, so I decided to try it out for some lunch. I was not disappointed and as a result it was top of my list… View Post

Hello and Welcome!

This is my first ever blog post, welcoming me to the ever expanding world of bloggers. For months now, I’ve been considering starting a blog. I even have a notebook where I have been writing down ideas for posts – but I never got round to it for a few very important reasons such as lack of time and confidence. However, I have now completed my degree and have much more time which I would like to spend writing. View Post