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UK Staycation inspiration

January 3, 2021

UK Staycation wishlist blog post

More of us are looking at destinations for a UK staycation following restrictions on overseas travel due to the Covid 19 pandemic. Here is my UK staycation wishlist.

This is the similar post to one with the same I first published but was lost after a server update.  If you have read this before you will find the content changed slightly.

I may earn money from the companies mentioned in this post as I am an affiliate. This does not incur any cost to you and I only recommend companies and products that I use and trust

Pinterest UK Staycation

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We are fortunate enough to have a couple of overseas trips each year. Our favourite destinations are Corralejo in Fuerteventura and Cavtat in Croatia. We do regularly have short breaks in the UK. The Lake District is our favourite place to visit. . We enjoy walking and love the peace and tranquility it provides. And following the easing of lockdown we visited Harrogate. Since then I have however been drawing up a wishlist of other places we would like to see in the UK. Here is my current UK staycation wishlist.

Whitby

Whitby on the North Yorkshire coast is a destination we visit quite regularly too. It is on my wishlist again as we have a short 3 night break booked for next month. It is a traditional working fishing town with all the sights, sounds and smells! The lobster cages can be seen stacked on the quayside and the fishing boats continually sailing in and out of the harbour. There are fabulous walks in the area. Our favourite is the stretch of The Cleveland Way that runs along a coastal path from Whitby to Robin’s Hood Bay. This is around 7 miles and takes 2-3 hours. Quite an undulating strenuous walk but very enjoyable. There are some tricky parts though so be prepared!

Whitby seen from The Abbey UK staycation

Whitby seen from The Abbey – own photo

Lobster crates Whitby Harbour

Lobster crates Whitby Harbour – own photo

Walking Whitby to Robins Hood Bay

Walking Whitby to Robins Hood Bay own photo

Oxford

I visited Oxford for a morning many years ago on my way to the Hampton Court flower show. I was really captivated by the little I saw and have always promised to return for a stay. I have recently celebrated my 60th birthday and we had a short break in Oxford planned as my treat. This was cancelled due to the current restrictions at our tender age I did not want to travel by train for that length of time and motorway journeys heighten my menopausal anxiety.  Another reason for my love of Oxford is that I am a huge fan of crime drama’s and have watched every episode of Inspector Morse many times and then progressed to Lewis and Endeavour, all set in Oxford and based on the novels of Colin Dexter.  The scenery and architecture looks magnificent. I want to enjoy a drink too in the bar at The Randolph Hotel.

Oxford UK Staycation

Bridge of Sighs Oxford  -Google images

 

Oxford UK Staycation

The colleges of Oxford University – Google images

Jersey

Mr Fitz and I had a weeks holiday in Jersey around 20 years ago and promised to return. This seems the ideal time to visit again. Again as we are mature we do not want to spend any length of time on an aeroplane if we can help it but Jersey is less than an hour away and we still get the thrill of an airport trip. Even though I have a terrible fear of flying I still do it and thinks the holiday starts at the airport. Jersey has many fabulous beaches, sights and restaurants. As we are huge foodies we often plan trips around dining options.  It tends to have a warmer climate than mainland UK.

Jersey

Jersey

Isle of Man

Famous for it’s TT races and cats with no tails the Isle of Man is another place on our UK staycation wishlist. Again it is a place I visited when I was 17 – my first holiday away without family. In fact it was on that trip that I heard on the radio of the death of Elvis! Mr Fitz has never been and is intrigued by it, especially as whenever he watches the weather forecast on TV, which is often!, he always comments that the weather is good. This is somewhere that can be reached as foot passengers by rail and ferry. Although during the Covid 19 Pandemic it was totally closed to visitors.

Isle of Man UK Staycation

Laxey Wheel Isle of Man

Cromer

We love being by the sea and Cromer in Norfolk is believed to have some of the best beaches. The only downside to this is that it is quite a long distance and journey from Manchester. I would probably break the journey up with a night’s stay on the journey. There are also plenty of other lovely towns to vist nearby. It is also famous for its Cromer crab dishes. Crab is Mr Fitz’s favourite food to eat on any menu.

Cromer Beach Norfolk

Cromer Beach Norfolk

London

No UK staycation wishlist is complete without a trip to the capitol. We paid our visit for a stay only about 6 years ago. We instantly fell in love with the buzz of the vibrant City. So much to see and do. We plan to make another visit soon. I have some BuyAGift vouchers that I can use to fund a hotel stay. These vouchers are excellent gifts especially to mature relatives and friends. They are our ideal gift to receive. We have seen may of the landmarks but one thing I wish to do is see the crown jewels in the Tower of London, we have walked through the grounds but never been inside the exhibition. My interest is stimulated after visiting the Queen Victoria exhibition at Kensington Palace where some of her jewels were on display. I love anything that sparkles. My last trip away prior to lockdown was a theatre trip to London. I am a big fan of the theatre and love to see a show during any stay there. Tickets for all shows can be booked via London Theatre Direct website.

Tower Bridge London

Tower Bridge London  -own photo

 

02 London

02 London and Emirates Air Line -own photo

Queen Victoria's Jewels

Queen Victoria’s Jewels Kensington Palace – own photo

I hope I’ve provided you with some inspiration. Have you got a UK Staycation list or some new suggestions for mine. Let me know in the comments below.

Thanks for popping by today

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Filed Under: Lifestyle, Travel, Travel and Things to Do Tagged With: Covid 19 Pandemic, Cromer, Isle of Man, Jersey, London, Staycation, UK Staycation, Whitby

&Juliet The Musical – an overnight break to London

June 24, 2020

&Juliet The Musical

&Juliet is the last show I saw prior to lockdown due to the Covid 19 Pandemic. As Lockdown is easing gradually we are now beginning to plan where we want to go and what we want to do. I thought I’d write up and share my review. I’m hoping this review will get your juices flowing for a show or a night away somewhere. I love visiting the theatre, you may want to read my previous review of Motown the Musical.

One of my main hobbies is entering competitions. This trip was a prize I won from entering an on air competition with Heat Radio. It was not a condition of the prize that I wrote this review.

I’ll briefly outline the prize: Travel to London, a night at The Radisson Blu Edwardian Hotel in London, dinner at Scoff and Banter and 2 tickets to &Juliet at The Shaftesbury Theatre.

I took my friend Ilsa with me and we visited in the middle of January.

We travelled First Class from Manchester Piccadilly to London Euston. If you haven’t had the opportunity to travel First Class let me tell you it’s a lovely treat. If you book in advance you can get some great deals. As well as comfy seats you get food and drinks included served to you in your seat. The journey from Manchester to London is just over 2 hours.

First Class Travel

1st Class Travel

The Radisson Blu Edwardian Hotel.

This is a fabulous hotel officially in Camden and really close to Covent Garden and the British Museum.  Our room was spacious with a huge bathroom and our own Nespresso Coffee machine. Staff were very friendly and helpful. There is a lovely lively bar area in the hotel We were also booked for breakfast, which was a mixture of buffet style and waiter service. There was an excellent choice. Lots of windows making it light and airy.

Radisson Blu Edwardian Bloomsbury Hotel Room

Hotel Room

 

Breakfast Radisson Blu Edwardian Bloomsbury

Breakfast

After check in and dropping our bags we went for a stroll close to the hotel. There is so much to see close by. We wandered up to Covent Garden and of course had to pop into the Charlotte Tilbury Store. Having just returned from a week in Fuerteventura I was trying to have a no spend trip but my friend treated herself to some cosmetics. The store was very well staffed and they were very attentive without being pushy. One thing I love about anywhere I go and particularly London, are the pubs. London have an infinite number of fabulous old pubs with great history’s. We visited 2 to quench our thirst!

Charlotte Tilbury shopping with a beer pub

Time for a refreshment

Cross Keys Covent Garden

Cross Keys Covent Garden

After another mooch around Covent Garden watching the street artists and admiring the sights we made our way back to the hotel to get ready for our evening out.

Covent Garden London

Covent Garden London

Scoff and Banter

The restaurant was approximately a 2 minute walk from our hotel.  It is part of a small chain, this is how it describes itself:

“At Scoff & Banter, we celebrate hearty and contemporary British cuisine. Discover a home from home with lovingly prepared seasonal British cooking, using the finest locally sourced ingredients. Find your classic British favourites at one of our four London locations”

The restaurant has a good vibe and features cool marble floors and comfortable leather chairs. On the walls specially commissioned artwork gives a modern interpretation of the Dutch masters. It is located just 5 minutes from Theatre land. It’s perfect for pre-theatre dinner and post-theatre drinks.

Artwork Scoff and Banter

Artwork Scoff and Banter

We enjoyed a 3 course dinner with drinks, as it was mid January it was fairly quiet, but the food and service was really lovely.  My choices were, Starter: Cornish Crab cakes with chilli lime sauce.

Scoff and Banter Cornish Crab Cakes

Cornish Crab Cakes

Main: Herb-crusted rack of lamb, layered creamed potatoes, minted pea purée and rosemary lamb gravy

Scoff and Banter Herb Crusted Rack of Lamb

Scoff and Banter Crusted Rack of Lamb

Dessert – well it would have been rude not too! : Warm Bramley apple crumble, served with Cornish clotted ice cream or vanilla custard

Bramley Apple Crumble Scoff and Banter

Bramley Apple Crumble

All totally delicious accompanied with a glass of Prosecco.

I feared I may snooze during the show after all that but I soldiered on! It was then time to walk the short distance to the Shaftesbury Theatre to see &Juliet.

The Show &Juliet

Ironically this show had been in Manchester prior to coming to London. It had received great reviews from friends who had been to see it. I had chosen to see a different show.

&Juliet The Musical

&Juliet Opening Stage Set

The Shaftesbury Theatre, like nearly all London Theatres is old, having opened in 1911. I love the feel inside these old buildings, they all maintain their original features and have graced so many great shows and artists over the years.

Inside The Shaftesbury Theatre &Juliet

Inside The Shaftesbury Theatre

The show &Juliet is a remix of the Shakespeare classic Romeo and Juliet – it asks the question What if Juliet’s famous ending was really just her beginning? What if she decided to choose her own fate? In essence the show outlines an alternative ending – she didn’t die and proves when it comes to love, there’s always life after Romeo with a modern day twist and contemporary songs.

&Juliet The Musical

The plot is surprisingly fresh – it’s the 16th century sort of,  and Anne Hathaway comes to London for the premiere of her husband William Shakespeare’s new play, she doesn’t like the ending and changes it! Anne Hathaway is funny , bossy and has William under her thumb.  The story line progresses with songs you all want to sing too cleverly slotted into the plot. Some of the vocals are top class. It was a very enjoyable show and if I’m brutally honest not one I particularly wanted to see. My prize also included interval drinks. Really spoiled.

All in all a fabulous trip away – only one night but we packed a lot in. Thank You Bauer Media and \heat radio.

Myself and Mr Fitz often have one night away, planned right it can feel much longer and you come back refreshed. I highly recommend you try it.

Do you ever go away for just one night or love a good theatre break. What are your favourite shows or have you been to a show you weren’t sure was for you but were pleasantly surprised.

Let me know I love to hear recommendations. I’m already starting my wishlist of places to visit next.

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Filed Under: Food and Eating Out, Lifestyle, Theatre Reviews, Travel Tagged With: Covent Garden, Days Out, London, London Theatre, Nights away, Radisson Blu Bloomsbury, Retirement, Scoff and Banter, Theatre

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I’m Elaine a Neonatal Nurse who retired from the NHS at age 55. I’m loving the 3rd age of my life – Retirement is the best job I ever had. Being married for 35 years I am lucky to have someone to share life with.

I’m a foodie who enjoys travel, football and my home.

I love to share over 50’s lifestyle tips including age appropriate beauty reviews, coping with the trials and tribulations of the Menopause, weight gain around the middle, fashion, travel and food including recipes and restaurant reviews.

I want to challenge the myth that life ends at retirement.

Feel free to get in touch earlyretirementrocks@gmail.com

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