The Monday Piece - Harry Potter Holidays

This week's Monday Piece is on Harry Potter holidays! With Harry Potter’s birthday (31 July) celebrated by millions of fans worldwide, there’s no better time than now to be thrown headfirst into the wonderous world. It’s been 20 years since we first saw the winding streets of Diagon Alley, Harry’s steam train ride through the Scottish Highlands and the breath-taking towers of Hogwarts School. Small group tour operator Rabbie’s (www.rabbies.com) is here to help Potter fans re-live the magic with tours to iconic Harry Potter filming locations for the perfect escape into the wizarding world.

Take a small coach, not flying car, to the historic and beautiful Scottish borders

On the spectacular Northumberland coastline, an area of outstanding natural beauty, sits Alnwick Castle. This fortress doubled as Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, and is a wonderful site to visit for muggles and wizards alike. A tour of the castle allows guests to walk in the footsteps of Harry, Ron and Hermione, and discover the real-life history of this 11th century castle. All this and more is available on Rabbie’s Alnwick castle, Northumberland coast & the Borders tour, a one-day trip departing from Edinburgh. Guests will also get to visit the quaint village of Kelso, with its cobbled town square and beautiful boutique shops. A visit to one of the world’s largest and most impressive second-hand book shops in Britain also awaits guests, who may feel transported into the cosy surroundings of Hogwarts Library! Prices for this one-day tour start from £47 per person.

Witness the magic of Edinburgh and the 'Harry Potter' Viaduct

If Harry Potter has a spiritual home, it is Edinburgh. JK Rowling wrote the majority of the series here and visitors will see how the beautiful city offered inspiration around every corner. Take a wander up Victoria Street, a colourful old lane with many brightly painted shops, said to be the inspiration for Diagon Alley. For those willing to travel further afield, the Isle of Skye & West Highlands tour will take guests deep into the picturesque Scottish mountains. The crystal lochs will remind fans of The Great Lake – mermaids and Giant Squids not guaranteed. Also, witness the Glenfinnan Viaduct – the most iconic part of the railway journey to Hogwarts. This is a four-day trip departing from Edinburgh starting from £219 per person.

It may be for muggles, but Oxford University has much to offer the Harry Potter superfan

The University of Oxford acted not only as inspiration for some Harry Potter settings, but also as a commonly used filming location. A visit to Oxford at the right time will mean you share the ancient streets with students draped in their graduation robes, a look not a million miles away from Hogwarts uniform. On the Oxford & Traditional Cotswold Villages tour, eagle-eyed guests will enjoy seeing the beautiful New College Courtyard where Daniel Radcliffe and Robert Pattinson discuss the dragons that they will soon be facing in the Triwizard tournament. A visit to the charming Cotswold villages is truly magical in its own right. You’ll be in need of a chocolate frog after all this excitement! This one-day tour departs from London with prices from £65 per person.

With social distancing measures in place, reduced group sizes and increased cleaning measures, Rabbie’s offers worry-free journeys for a sustainable staycation :).

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The Monday Piece - Cities for Coffee Lovers

This week's Monday Piece is on cities for coffee lovers! Coffee, the universally beloved beverage we cannot get enough of... With several varieties and just as many outlets worldwide, which capital city is the most coffee-obsessed?

To find the answer, Brewsmartly.com established an index looking into the following variables: average rating, coffee shops per capita and import value per capita.

• Amsterdam is the most Coffee-Obsessed Capital City in the World, according to this study!
• Following closely behind in second place is Dublin
• Those living in Pago Pago have the most coffee shops to choose from with 246 per 100,000 people!
• Europe is the continent most obsessed with coffee

Im coffee obsessed, the taste, the smell, the coffee hit, the chilling in a European city with friends or family - I love it. Looks like I need a trip to Amsterdam :).

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The Monday Piece - UK Summer Staycations

This week's Monday Piece is on UK Summer staycations! With accommodation and attraction partners in less-frequented towns and popular tourist hotspots across the country, group tours may be the best kept secret to securing the summer staycation of your dreams this year. Small group tour operator Rabbie’s (www.rabbies.com) operates a guaranteed departure policy – meaning if you book, you go. Yes, even to Devon and Cornwall in the peak of summer, and the best news – there’s still plenty of availability!

Rabbie’s takes pride in their sustainable approach to travelling and promises that its guests ‘take only photos and leave only footprints’. Rabbie’s use small mini coaches that can visit locations off the beaten track that larger operators are not able to reach. Offering explorations beyond the guidebook while supporting and giving back to the smaller, less touristed communities around the country.

This summer’s tour highlights include:

Devon & Cornwall

Immerse yourself in the folklore of England on this five-day tour departing from London. First stop is England’s ancient capital, Winchester. Here guests can visit The Great Hall and see the round table that inspired Arthurian legends. Dartmoor’s rolling hills, steep valleys, and peat bogs make for a dramatic landscape, and animal lovers will enjoy the rare sight of grazing wild ponies. The North Devon Coast leaves guests spoiled for choice with castles, cliff top walks and Boscastle, the charming Elizabethan fishing village, all waiting to be explored. You will struggle to find a more photogenic coastal view than St. Michael's Mount, take a moment to learn more about this remote island community. Finally take time to explore Glastonbury and discover the secrets of the town behind the music on the journey back to London. Prices for this five-day trip to a magical corner of England start from £369 per person.

Iona, Mull & the Isle of Skye

Experience the peace, tranquillity and sheer rugged beauty of the Scottish Islands on this five-day tour. After departing from Edinburgh guests are treated to the impressive mountain views of the West Highlands before arriving in the bustling town of Oban. From here set sail to the tiny Isle of Iona, the birthplace of Celtic Christianity and ancient burial ground of Scottish Kings. Guests have the opportunity to visit the other worldly Fingal’s Cave and beautiful Iona Abbey. Travel back to the mainland for a visit to the beautiful fishing village of Plockton. On to the Isle of Skye your guide will choose the perfect activity for you depending on the weather. Be sure to enjoy the views as you head back along the shore of Loch Ness en route back to Edinburgh. This five-day tour costs from just £389 per person.

Snowdonia, North Wales & Chester

Castles, cathedrals and coastline, all this and more are waiting to be explored on this three-day tour of Snowdonia, North Wales and Chester. After leaving Manchester, travel to the walled market town of Conwy before heading deep into Snowdonia. The mountains and glacial landforms create the perfect backdrop for your travels and provide spectacular views. Guests are given the opportunity to experience the rugged beauty of the Isle of Anglesey before visiting one of the most charming and unique villages in Wales. Portmeirion was built as a tribute to the Mediterranean and this coastal village boasts technicolour streets, palm trees and sculptures. End your Welsh whistle-stop tour with visits to Harlech castle and the Roman town of Chester. Experience this impressive corner of Britain with prices starting from just £189 per person.

With staycation options running slim, Rabbie’s offer a stress-free travel experience with availability this summer. Guests are able to sit back and relax in the air conditioned mini-coach while their driver-guide takes the wheel. The expert drivers know the stories, sights, and secrets of the areas they travel and give their personal insight to destinations and are sure to make it a journey to remember :).

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The Monday Piece - A Bicester Situation

This week's Monday Piece is on a Bicester situation! It had been SO long since I'd made a pilgrimage to Bicester Village due to Covid, so when my sister asked us to take her there this weekend it was a no brainer... Our brother stayed at mine looking after the fluffy puppy which meant we could enjoy a day shopping and an evening out with my sister's pals. We found lots of gems, I recommend getting down there if you fancy a splurge :).

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