BUDAPEST

I have visited Budapest twice within one year because I enjoyed it so much. The city is so beautiful with so much history and culture to learn about and even though it is a city break, the place has such a calming, relaxing and fresh aura about it, it makes you want to visit and visit again. 

The first time I went was in October 2017, I went for a week with a friend. The second time I went was in July 2018, I went with my boyfriend. Both experiences I loved and gained new information about things I didn't know. 

I find that if you are a newbie and want to have a real feel of the place while making sure you enjoy it and find new bits and bobs to do, a week is the right amount of time. My friend and I were able to see all we wanted to and MORE! We stayed in an apartment/hotel on the third floor, the cost including flights was about £350 each. When I went with my boyfriend we went for 5 days. Even though it was my boyfriends first time, having been there before I knew what were the best things to visit and what not to include and 5 days is a perfect amount of time to be able to see the city at a slow pace. We stayed in the same complex and cost around £400 altogether. 

In this section, I will explain a little about all the sights we saw, and the pros and cons of each place. My top 10 places to visit and my top 10 places to eat or drinks at will also be put down!

The Travelling Queen <3

THE TOP 5 THINGS TO DO IN LONDON - RESTAURANTS

There is so much to see in London, that when you plan to come and visit you are unsure what to go and do. I am going to write a post on the top 5 things to do, from museums, to places to eat.  I have lived in London my whole life and I have visited a lot of the main attractions- there are some still on my list to see but I want to do it this year- some more than once because they were so good. I will write about why you should go see it and put some tips as well so you're informed about the good and bad things.

 Lets get right into it!  This post will  be my 5 top restaurants in London. The food culture in London is so diverse you can go from Chinese to Indian to Greek to name but a few cuisines. There is so much to eat, you will never run out of places. 

My top 5 restaurants:
1. Maxwell's Bar and Grill - This  is a well known restaurant that has changed location recently but  hasn't  moved far and is still within the Covent garden  territory. The place is set out like an American Diner with a British finish. The food is delicious - burgers, hot dogs, ribs and chicken to name a few of the dishes that they do on the menu. They are also recently known for doing amazing freakshakes a yummy after dinner delight if you want something different. 
2. The Golden Phoenix - This restaurant is based in the well known area China Town. China Town is near Piccadilly Circus, this is eatery after eatery of yummy Asian food. If you don't choose this restaurant, you need to go to another one in the area as they are all exquisite. I have been to 2 or 3 so far but this one is my favourite.  This restaurant in particular has an overall 10/10 from me. The food is of good standard, the waiting staff attentive and not even that expensive!
3. Byron -  This is a good fast food chain to go to if you don't have time! It is known for burgers and shakes... I know this sounds simple but they are really yummy and after travelling over London and feeling hungry, a burger, fries and shake is definitely what you need. Plus it is cheap and cheerful, so won't hit your purse (or wallet) too hard. A meal for two will cost around £20, if you have starters or desserts it will cost more but if you are trying to save, then this is a good idea.
4. Al Fresco - This is an Italian restaurant hidden in the suburbs of Whetsone, where it can be a trek to come out to visit but it should be one on the list. The quality of food is so high yet the prices for being in London is so reasonable. The starters, main and desserts are all worth it and if you are to go and visit one area that is not really known - this would be it.
5. Margot - I am not one for expensive dining and I have not been to many in London, where as on Instagram, there are so many pictures popping up on my timeline of places in London to go and eat where the food looks beautiful but the price is very high. I think I can count on one hand how many of these high class meals I have been too. I went to one over Christmas where the meal was gorgeous. It was Italian (I know another Italian in my top 5), and the food was cooked well, up to a high standard. The waiters and waitresses were so on point, making sure our every need was attended too and nothing was too much. From keeping our water filled up to our bread roll basket full, they were perfect. So if you did want to splurge out and treat yourself keep this place in mind, you probably will have to book to avoid disappoint but you won't regret it.

MARGOT -  MAIN MEAL

I hope that has informed you of some good restaurants to go visit! 
Let me know your favourite down below! ↓↓


Keep your eye posted for my next "Top 5!"

The Travelling Queen <3

TOP 5 THINGS TO DO IN LONDON - MUSEUMS

There is so much to see in London, that when you plan to come and visit you are unsure what to do and where to go. I am going to write a post on the top 5 things to do, from museums, to places to eat.  I have lived in London my whole life and I have visited a lot of the main attractions- some more than once because they were so good. There are some still on my list to see that I want to do it this year. I will write about why you should go see it and put some tips as well so you're informed about the good and bad things.

Lets get right into it! My 5 top Museums to start with. The one great thing about London is that museums are all free -  you only pay for the exhibits if you want too.

TOP 5 MUSEUMS:

1. The science museum - I have been here about 3-4 times in the last couple of years. It is a great place to go and explore. You can learn all about space, biology and physics in one place. There are interactive zones so you can go and try it yourself and the information that's there is interesting and is not overloaded, so you won't get bored.  The first room upon entering the museum is the space museum and it is fantastic, all looks so real. The only TIP I have is to try avoid the busy times- go in the week if you can, if you can't go then, try early morning or late afternoon (beware of closing times). The museum will take you 2-3 hours if you explore slowly or 1-2 hours if you are a brisk walker and don't want to see everything.

2. The Tate Modern - I have been here a few times during the day as well as in the evening. There are different exhibits (some are free, some aren't) that you can look around based on different subjects. It is known to have modern contemporary art. I went to a late night event once with my friend and it was based on feminism and there were people giving talks and workshops where you could draw, write, cut and stick what feminism was too you. The only TIP I have is, it not as children friendly as the Science Museum.
3. The National Gallery - This building is absolutely beautiful and it is placed right in the heart of Trafalgar Square. This place is home  to some beautiful paintings and portraits. I haven't been as many times as I like but I will be going to visit again soon as it is so peaceful and quiet. Everyone is taking in the art and we all appreciate the time and effort that went into it. There are quite a lot of stairs you need to climb up so take your time if you find it harder to walk... I definitely do and have breaks in between so I can sit down.
4. The V&A museum - The V&A also known as The Victoria and Albert museum is named after Queen Victoria and Prince Albert.  I have been to this museum multiple times and have never finished the whole place in one trip. There are about 3 - 4 levels overall and I manage 2 if I am lucky.  There is so much to see and so many interesting facts about other countries I did not know. That is one thing I love about London, it is so multi-cultural and the V&A celebrates that with exhibits from India, China and Japan to name but a few. Definitely check it out! TIP - do a bit of research and see which floors or exhibits you want to see most so you don't miss out- you can always come back for a second day as it is free!
5. Welcome Collection - This one is one you wouldn't really see in travel guides and trip advisor straight away as it is a hidden treasure in Euston. The welcome collection is a small museum of artefacts, art and modern displays of subjects going on in today's world. I have only been twice but want to go more, it is practical, interesting and a fun place to go. After that if you are over 18 you can go and enjoy a nice drink at the Euston Tap, a five minute walk away.

I hope you enjoyed reading my top 5 museums and keep an eye out for my next "Top 5"!

LONDON

My hometown is London. It is where I was born and bred.. North London to be specific, but I love to travel into Central London and be a tourist in my own city.

 I find I can visit places multiple times and it never gets old. London has a vibe that I can't really explain but it just feels like home. I can walk along the pavements and feel content, I glance around at the tourists, commuters and travellers and know they are thinking what I am thinking- how great London is.

London has so much history which you can see in the architecture from the roads, to the bridges, pavements and especially in their buildings. London is home to the likes of Buckingham Palace, Natural History Museum, Tower  of London, and Hyde Park.

There is so much to offer, from museums, to restaurant, to clubs, to pop ups and much more. I thought I would do a few posts of my top fave things to go see and do. Reviews of the museums I have visited. Lastly I will write about which areas to visit if you are on a time limit.

ROMAN FORUM AND PALATINE HILL

Right opposite the Colosseum stood the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill. These were included in the ticket, so we strolled across the road to take a look. I hadn't actually heard too much about this attraction so was intrigued too see what it was about. 

The remains of a church.

One of my favourite pictures from the trip.










The Roman Forum held ruins of different buildings that were in Rome. Some were more formed and others were just a mere brick wall or less. It was interesting to go round and view them all, how degraded they were, what they were used for and how people lived in those days.  It was over a large space so we could  take our time  to look at each one. They all had the  desciption of what it used to be  but there wasn't much information into how they became  ruins. 

Just  a 5 minute walk upwards you come to Palatine Hill. We just got here as it was closing so we didn't have much time to take in the view. The sun was setting as well which made it more scenic. The view  was amazing, such a different  view  of Rome that you usually would see. I definitely want to go back to Palatine Hill next time  I am in Rome. 

Lovely viewing point.

The beautiful sun shining through.

Beautiful views of the Roman Forums and more!







Pros of the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill:

• Lovely views  over Rome. 
• Nice atmosphere and not too busy.
• The ruins hold so much history.

Cons of the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill:

• The closing time being early.
• The walk up the hill can be too much for  some people. 
• Not making  it clear that these sights were included in the Colosseum ticket.

THE COLOSSEUM

On the same day as the Vatican (my review of the Vatican is on my blog already), we went to visit the Colosseum.  It wasn't too far away- we took the metro which took us right outside.  I don't think we brought tickets in advance, but the queue was not long and we were inside within 10 minutes of getting there. 

Even before entering, the Colosseum looked powerful.  It was partly covered by scaffolding as there was work being done to it, but that didn't stop it looking breathtaking. As we went inside we opted out of an audio guide as we had just been on a tour of the Vatican so felt it would be too much - but we didn't need one. We brought a book of the historical facts which helped us on our way round plus the information that was on the walls as we walked around was enough. 

The view of the Colosseum from the ticket line.

The writing that was on the walls, around the building.

View of the arches of the Colosseum from the outside.





The information provided explained the hierarchy of the people in the stands, who fought, why they fought, how they fought and what procedures took place before and after the fight. It was like travelling back in time to see it all. We headed downstairs to start there and we worked our way up until we were outside to where bystanders rich and poor would have been - of course they were on different levels.

The outside was magnificent, I don't know if this was because the sun was shining down on us and everything felt 10x better, but the view was lovely. I could imagine what it would have been like to be sat there to watch a fight between a prisoner and animal. We were at the top of the Colosseum on the fourth floor to begin with where we could walk around the the circle to experience different views. We then made our way down 2 levels below where we were close to the middle section where the fights would have taken place. We could see how much it had decayed over the years and how much history had taken place. 

View of the middle section plus where people would have sat.

You can see where the scaffolding parts were.

Me posing in front of an arch

Me near the middle of the Colosseum where the fights would have taken place.






We are all fortunate enough to go explore the Coloseeum and that is possible because it has been preserved all these years for everyone to go see, learn and gain more insight of what it would have been like for the prisoners, slaves and fighters to be there solely to fight and have thousands of people watch it happen.

PROS OF THE COLOSSEUM:

• Learning historical facts - very in depth and explained well.
• Being able to walk around the outside of the Colosseum.
• Wasn't too busy or crowded when walking around.

CONS OF THE COLOSSEUM:

• If you cannot walk a lot, you may find the stairs a struggle.
• The reasons for why the fighting happened are sad.

TIP: I don't think you really need a tour guide as the information you have is clear and detailed. You follow the information round and it is like a story building up.

A magnificent cross

ROME

I spent 3 days and 3 nights  in Rome with my friend.  We managed  to fit in all the sights we wanted to see and more....
We had beautiful, warm weather, the sun shining down on us while we explored. Getting round to each sight we wanted to see was easy- we used the metro, the tram/bus  or we walked where we needed too.  Our apartment which included bed and breakfast was just right for what we needed. It was £90 each for the 3 nights and it was a lovely room with all the essential necessities, especially  when we only used it to change clothes, relax and sleep otherwise we were outside exploring.  We were based right by the Vatican - only a 5 minute walk to it.


Views of the roads.

 

Views from the Vatican.

Fresh fruit markets scattered around Rome.

TIP:  I would recommend getting a hotel that is near the main part of any city as that makes your life easier in terms of how much travelling you do!

There is so much to see, eat and hear in Rome.  The food was fantastic:pizza, pasta and ice cream - what more could I want!? We made sure  we tried different  restaurant's and dessert parlours to make sure  we experienced everything. 
Where ever  we went there  is always music playing, a busker  singing or a band doing their thing. It was lovely to walk around and hear all the different  sounds - I really felt the  culture immersing us fully.
The sights we  saw were amazing. They showed  Rome's history pout through and I loved reading and hearing about what happened in different era's.

 Our breakfast in our hotel.

 One of our dinners that we had while in Rome. 

















I will be doing individual  reviews on the sights that I saw.  Pros and cons of where  we went. The top 10 places to go and to eat.
Stay tuned for more.

The Travelling Queen  <3