Europe Archives - Lucy Williams Global

lucywilliamsglobal July 7, 2018

Backpack Bliss: How To Explore Amsterdam On A Budget

Amsterdam is one of the best cities in the world to explore when you’re young – with great travel links, a vibrant culture, brilliant restaurants and so much to experience. And the good news is that it doesn’t have to be expensive either – with these travel tips there are ways to explore this amazing place on a budget and still have an incredible time.

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Cost Effective Culture Vulture

The city offers hundreds of niche museums that provide some of the best talking points of any trip – but all of those entry fees can quickly add up. But if you plan your visit carefully, you can select a few of the main highlights without breaking the bank. Amsterdam’s airport, Schiphol, plays host to a smaller outpost of NEMO, the interactive science museum, which offers free entry in contrast to the €15 entry fee of the main building in the centre.

If you shop around you may also be able to find discount tickets for the Heineken museum – brewery tours are a big attraction in Amsterdam. Many of the smaller, niche museums offer entry from as little as €5, such as the Houseboat Museum, or sign up to the newsletters of the larger art galleries in order to be notified about free entry events or upcoming discounts.

Backpack Bliss: How To Explore Amsterdam On A Budget

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Sign Up For Free Walking Tours

One of the best ways to explore this compact and bustling city is on foot, and when you throw an expert guide into the mix, it’s even better. Luckily for budget travellers, there are plenty to choose from. The Original Amsterdam Alternative Tour, which runs daily, is one of the best, featuring a taster of many offbeat city sights, including street art gems. You’ll learn about the city’s history, construction and golden age, spanning everything from the Nazi invasion to the legalisation of the red light district – well worth a look.

Sample The Street Food

Good food is plentiful in Amsterdam, but the restaurants can be somewhat on the pricey side – so save money by opting for the just as delicious street foods you’ll find, eaten canal-side taking in the views. Start with the legendary pancakes and waffles you’ll find, topped with savoury or sweet treats – everything from Thai red curry to goats cheese and pine nuts. Fancy pudding? Fresh strawberries and cream in a cup are available from street vendors on every corner when in season, or seek out some of the city’s legendary Indonesian cuisine for a taste of something different.

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Find a Budget Base

The backpacker hostels in Amsterdam are amazing and located in some of the hottest neighbourhoods, including former industrial zone Noord, which now hosts trendy bars and the EYE Film Institute, which often hosts free events. ClinkNOORD offers dorm rooms from just €18 in a historic 20s building with a stylish bar and a library – and you can easily catch a ferry across the Ij to be in the centre in around five minutes. Generator Amsterdam is another design-led hostel located near Oosterpark that is highly Instagrammable and yet won’t break the bank.

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Happy Travels

Love Lucy x

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lucywilliamsglobal July 6, 2018

Norway Travel Tips for First-Timers

If you are going to Norway then there are a couple of things that you need to think about. Take a look below to try and get some useful hints and tips to get you started.

Accommodation

Accommodation in Norway isn’t cheap. You may be looking at a couple of hundreds just to stay in a hostel dorm room.

A few of them will give you your breakfast for free and this is a great way for you to really get a good start to your day, but don’t expect anything fancy.

If you can, you should absolutely look at Air BNB rooms or chains, but this may require some extra planning. Some companies may even give you access to land for free if you have your own tent.

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This is a great way for you to travel anywhere in Norway while on a budget. On top of this, the people in Norway are very outdoorsy, so you will always have the option to meet new people along the way! Of course, summer in Norway is absolutely spectacular.

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Food

Eating out is expensive and this is especially the case when you want to dine out every single night. If you want to lower the cost then consider visiting some of the many street vendors that are around and even look out for quick snacks as well.

Grills are ideal for visiting if you want to keep the cost down and you can even rent a self-catering apartment. This gives you the chance to buy fresh vegetables and even chicken fillets for a very affordable price.

Meat is a staple in Norway so if you are a vegetarian then you may need to be a little creative when it comes to your dining options.

Transport

One great thing about Norway is that the transportation is very affordable. You really do pay for the distance that you travel.

There are a huge range of express trains that connect all over the place and they even go to National Parks as well. A lot of countries require you to go on sightseeing excursions if you want to do this but with Norway that is not the case at all. The buses there even have WiFi and it isn’t hard to take a trip to Sweden while you are at it.

Activities

Nothing can quite compare to the activities that are in Norway. A lot of courses and even tours are very affordable and you can even take a day tour to the fjord if you want for a very affordable price.

On top of this, you can camp anywhere as long as it is public land. The lands are spectacular, to say the least, and if you want to take advantage of other things that there are to do then look into kayaking, skiing, hiking.

Money Saving Tips!

If you want to save money when you go to Norway then the best thing that you can do is cook your own food. If you do want to eat out then consider opting for pizza or shawarma as these are the most affordable meals.

To save money, even more, try and couch surf. Also, remember that camping is completely free and that there are always camping sights near to the sightseeing excursions.

If you want to book a luxurious hotel then nothing will compare to this and Norway really is home to some of the finest hotels around.

The main thing that you have to remember here is that you will have to pay a steep price to stay in them. That brings about the question, is it worth it? Absolutely.

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Book in Advance

Another way that you can save money when you go to Norway is to book in advance. When you do book in advance, you can easily save money on your hotel and you can also save money on your flights as well.

When you do this, you’d be surprised at what options are available and you would also be surprised at how much money you can save.

After all, the more money you can save on your trip means far more spending money when you are there so do keep that in mind when the time does come for you to get started.

So Norway really is a fantastic place and you would be surprised at how much there is for you to see and do there. It’s great if you want to learn more about the sightseeing experiences around the world and it is also great if you have a keen interest in history as well.

If you enjoyed reading this contributed blog post, please share on Facebook, Twitter or Pinterest so your friends and family can read too. Sharing is caring!

Happy Travels

Love Lucy x

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lucywilliamsglobal May 5, 2018

How to See London on the Cheaper Side!

London is an expensive city and most of the tourist attractions have a nice price tag too! But how can you see London on the cheaper side?

Easy – use the lovely London buses, not the hop on hop off tour bus, but the big red buses run by Transport for London (TfL).

They are a great way to see the city, just try not to use them during peak time when Londoners are getting to and from work. This is usually between 6 am – 10 am and 4 pm – 7 pm.

How to See London on the Cheaper Side?

You can travel on the bus for as little as £1.50! So, top up your Oyster Card or use your contactless debit or credit card and you are well away.

You not going to have commentary of the sights in London, but the next stop is always announced when it’s approaching and when you’re there.

Just remember to press the button if you would like to get off and get near to the exit door as London bus drivers don’t hang around!

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West London

Whilst I was in London, I stayed in the Kensal area which is in West London. While in West London you must see Knightsbridge, Kensington, Belgravia, Chelsea and Notting Hill.

I was there in March and it should have been the start of Spring, but of course, it snowed! It was freezing between the wind and the snow.

As it was snowing, travelling by bus was the best way to see the sights. We managed to get a seat on the top deck at the front of the bus, so we had a great view.

Bus Route

We saw Kensington Palace (residence of Prince William and Kate Middleton, as well as Prince Harry and Meghan Markle).

Kensington Gardens, the Royal Albert Hall, Harvey Nichols, Sloane Square, up to Chelsea Bridge and then went back on ourselves on the same route and stopped on the Portobello Road in Notting Hill.

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Portobello Road in Notting Hill

We walked down Portobello Road to see the market, colourful buildings and the quirky shops.

The snow got pretty crazy, so we stopped for a coffee to warm us up! Portobello Market is known for its antiques and vintage finds.

Whilst in Notting Hill, we went to see the famous ‘Blue Door’ from the film Notting Hill.

No Huge Grant though, just a blue door! Although even in the snow, the infamous door was surrounded by tourists.

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Pie & Mash

On the top of the Portobello Road, we went to a traditional Pie and Mash Shop, called Cockney’s. This is one of the oldest types of food in London and the most traditional.

What is a Pie and Mash Shop? It is a café that sells meat pies, mashed potatoes with liquor or gravy.

Historically, pie and mash shops were everywhere in London, being a cheap meal to eat and the eels were caught straight from the River Thames. The liquor was originally made from eels; today it is a green sauce made from parsley.

Sunday Roast

As I was in London on a Sunday we went to the Parlour in Kensal Green. It is a great place to have a traditional Sunday roast dinner but also specialises in quintessential British food using local and seasonal produce.

It is also listed in the top 50 gastropubs in the UK. They are also famous for their soda bread and a dessert list to die for, including the classic artic roll! This place gives British food a good name!

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Essential Info

Bus Route: 452 Kensal Rise to Vauxhall – vice versa back.

Bus route – started in Kensal Green, down Ladbroke Grove, through Notting Hill, Kensington Church Street, Kensington High Street, past Kensington Palace and Kensington Gardens, Royal Albert Hall, through Knightsbridge (Harrods & Harvey Nichols), down Sloane Avenue (all the designer shops), around Sloane Square which is Chelsea, Chelsea bridge and by the river in Battersea and then back the same route and wandered around the Portobello Road in Notting Hill.

Weather: Winter: 0* – 8*C / Spring 8* – 15*C / Summer 16* – 22*

Currency: Pound Sterling

Language: English

You may also enjoy reading about Arundel, Chichester and Portsmouth on the South Coast of England.

I hope you enjoyed reading about London and how to see the city a cheaper way.

Please share on Facebook, Twitter or Pinterest so your friends and family can read too. Sharing is caring!

Happy Travels

Love Lucy x

P.S. Sign up to the mailing list and never miss a blog post and receive my 15 top packing tips. Click here to subscribe

lucywilliamsglobal April 29, 2018 Arundel, UK

What to See in Arundel West Sussex England

Arundel is a beautiful old town just outside Chichester in West Sussex. It is famous for Arundel Castle and Arundel Cathedral.

These are both very statuses buildings and give a lovely view coming into Arundel or driving past.

Arundel is a quaint little town beside the River Arun with beautiful scenery, independent shops and lovely cafes and restaurants.

What is there to see in Arundel?

Arundel Castle

Arundel Castle is the main feature of Arundel. The original castle dates back to 1067 and belonged to Earl of Arundel. It was built to protect the mouth of the River Arun and to protect Sussex from attack.

Between 1870 and 1890 the castle was almost completely rebuilt. Apart from the gatehouse, barbican and the lower part of the Bevis Tower.

This is how it can be seen today, all the features from when it was rebuilt. It has a grand Victorian gothic style. Today the castle belongs to the Duke of Norfolk.

The castle can be viewed from the end of March through to the end of October. It is closed to the public between November to the end of March.

There are car parks in Arundel, but they are not huge, so bear that in mind if driving and arrive early to get a parking place. Especially at weekends and school holidays.

There are different tickets to see different rooms in the castle. If you have not been there before I recommend buying a ticket to see all the rooms that are viewable by the pubic as the castle is very grand inside and is fascinating to see.

The manicured gardens that surround the castle are beautiful to walk around, as there are different themes. There are special events that take place at the castle so always check online before you plan your trip there to see if there is a special event when you go.

Arundel Cathedral

Arundel Cathedral is a Roman Catholic Cathedral and has dramatic gothic architecture. It is on top on the hill and towers over the town along with the castle.

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Arundel Museum

The Arundel Museum is by the carpark and has lots of history about Arundel. Their friendly staff are on hand to give you a wealth of local knowledge about Arundel and the surrounding areas.

Arun River

The Arun River runs through the town and is nice to walk along on or take boat trip down. There are pubs and restaurants on the water to have a relaxing drink or meal.

Arundel Town Centre

The town centre of Arundel is a pretty area to walk around. Look at all the old buildings, have a stroll around the shops and stop for coffee or lunch.

Where to Eat in Arundel

There are lots of great cafes and restaurants. My favourite café/restaurant is Pappardelle. It is an Italian café/restaurant; downstairs is a café perfect for coffee or light lunch and upstairs is the restaurant with amazing Italian food perfect for lunch or dinner.

Where to Shop in Arundel

All the shops are lovely in Arundel as they are all independents. It is a great place to find something different.

My favourite shop in Arundel is Gray’s of Tarrant Street. It is a shoe and accessories shop with a beautiful selection of seasonal shoes and accessories and it is very different from anything you would find on the high street.

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How to Get to Arundel

To get to Arundel from London you can take the train from London Victoria to Arundel. From the train station it is a ten minute walk into the town centre. If you are driving, it is on the A27 between Portsmouth and Brighton.

You may also enjoy reading about Chichester and Singleton.

Essential Info

Weather: Winter: 3 – 11*C Spring: 6 – 10*C Summer: 16* – 21*C
Wear comfortable shoes as it is mainly walking up hill.
Arrive early if driving to get a parking space.
Public toilets cost 20p to use by the carpark
Language: English
Currency: Pound Sterling

I hope you enjoyed reading about Arundel. Please share on Facebook, Twitter or Pinterest so your friends and family can read too. Sharing is caring!

Happy Travels

Love Lucy x

P.S. Sign up to the mailing list and never miss a blog post and receive my 15 top packing tips. Click here to subscribe

lucywilliamsglobal April 22, 2018

Step Back in Time at the Weald & Downland Museum in West Sussex England

Ever wondered what it was like over the last 1000 years in West Sussex in England? Step back in time at the Weald and Downland Living Museum.

The open-air museum is in the beautiful South Downs in Singleton in West Sussex on the South Coast of England.

You can get there by car or bus. If you are coming from London take the train to Chichester and then the bus from Chichester to Singleton.

What to See

On the 40-acre site discover rescued rural buildings from the past and how people lived and worked in them.

There are more than 50 buildings to explore and see demonstrations from cooking in Tudor times to wheat being ground to make flour at the watermill.

This museum is perfect for all ages and you can even bring the dog! I have been visiting this museum since I was a child and have seen the museum grow and get more interesting over the years.

I went on Mothering Sunday in March with my mum and we had a great day walking around each beautiful rescued building from the past. It is fascinating how Sussex was over the years and how buildings have modernised.

The buildings date as far back as 950 AD to the 19^th Century and they are from areas in Sussex and have been rescued from being destroyed.

The buildings are carefully dismantled and then rebuilt on site at the Weald and Downland Museum.

There are live demonstrations of how people dressed and worked, that make you feel like you are really back in that era.

The Buildings

There are so many buildings to visit on site some are clustered together around the ‘town centre’ and others are spread over the grounds.

There are barns, farmhouses, a carpenter’s shop, a joinery shop, a plumber’s workshop, a school, a church, stables, a kitchen, shops, sheds, cattle sheds, houses and a watermill.

All from different eras and you can go inside and see how the furniture was at that time. In some of the older homes, the mattresses of the beds were made of straw and the ceilings were very low.

A some of my favourite buildings are; the Granary this building is from 1731 and inside there is a fire pit inside.

In the town centre are the medieval shops from the 15^th century and the upper hall that would have been where meetings would have taken place.

The watermill is from the early 17^th century and was in use until 1935. It is very interesting to see how wheat was ground and milled to make flour. It is still working today and they sell the flour in the gift shop.

Popular Cottage is a beautiful thatched roof cottage and inside they are normally cooking demonstrations and you can walk around the house and the garden.

The school is a tiny building with small desks, individual chalkboards on each desk. It shows how far schools have come along!

All of the buildings are very interesting to see from the outside and to explore inside. How the architecture has come along over the centuries and how objects have modernised.

Dining

At the museum, there is a café to have refreshments, a snack or lunch. The café opens before the museum opens so you can have your morning coffee beforehand. We had cappuccinos and cake and they were very nice.

The Café sits beside the mill pond that gives a lovely view if you are sitting by the window or outside. Also, there are picnic benches around the site, so you can bring own lunch or snacks.

Year round there are seasonal events going on so always check on the Weald and Downland website before you go to see what’s on.

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I hope you enjoyed reading about the Weald and Downland Museum. Please share on Facebook, Twitter or Pinterest so your friends and family can read too. Sharing is caring!

Happy Travels

Love Lucy x

P.S. Sign up to the mailing list and never miss a blog post and receive my 15 top packing tips. Click here to subscribe