The Tyne Bridge. Newcastle United. Byker Grove. Ant and Dec. Hen and stag dos. Greggs. These are all things you associate with Newcastle, right? Well, did you know my fair city also has a buzzing literary scene just waiting to be explored? I spend a lot of time wandering through Newcastle’s streets buying books, meeting… Read More A reader’s guide to Newcastle
Before I travel anywhere, I always drop Tina at TripFiction a line for book recommendations related to my destination. And, she’s never let me down yet. So, when I booked up for a honeymoon in Morocco (Marrakech to be specific), I promptly asked Tina for the best books to read on my travels. Here’s what… Read More A reading list for Morocco
I’m heading to Paris for new year and I can’t wait. As you know, I like to pair my reading list with the place I’m travelling to in order to explore the city through the eyes of its authors or fictional characters. To build my reading list for Paris, I turned to the experts over… Read More A reading list for Paris
Book and Brew (well, Claire and I) recently had a trip to the capital in which we explored some fantastic London bookshops. We walked almost 15 miles around the city to find the best and brightest bookshops on offer. And, we found some beauties. Here are our five favourites. 1. Oxfam, Marylebone High Street This… Read More 5 London bookshops you must visit
Last weekend, I spent 48 hours in Belfast. It was a whirlwind tour but one that showed me shadows of the city’s complex past and glimpses of its optimistic future. Getting there Belfast is just a short plane ride from Newcastle – 45 minutes in fact. However, that doesn’t mean that you can forgo the long… Read More 48 hours in Belfast
A bookshop is a precious thing: a treasure trove of stories, worlds and adventures waiting to be uncovered. Finding a new one when you’re travelling is a thrilling experience and shouting about it is like bookworm philanthropy. So, here goes… I recently spent a weekend in Prague exploring the ancient cobbled streets of this beautiful… Read More The joy of discovering a bookshop abroad
I’ve just returned from a rather brilliant weekend in Prague. Here are my top tips for spending a few days in the Czech capital. Prague is a beautiful city packed with history, great food and culture. It’s quite a manic place, especially on weekends, so it’s worth planning your must-see sights beforehand so you don’t… Read More A weekend in Prague: books, beers and a library
Can you believe it’s August already? Me either. While you get used to the summer ebbing away, let’s take a look back at July and make sure you didn’t miss anything. Book reviews There were a few book reviews to choose from this month. I reviewed our July book club read The Invisible Man from Salem, the… Read More July round-up
If, like me, your two greatest passions are reading and travel, then I’ve found the resource for you. TripFiction is a fantastic database of books set in over 1,200 countries, regions and cities. Its purpose is to match your travels to your fiction, allowing you to find novels set in the places you are off… Read More Friday follow: TripFiction
This summer, I committed the cardinal sin of travelling: I relaxed. Yup, I sacked off a day trip to another country, sea kayaking and a cycling tour for unadulterated relaxation. I’m still carrying the guilt a month later. Hierarchy of travellers The last decade has seen a huge shift in the status and significance of… Read More Relaxation: the traveller’s guilty pleasure
