Home in Time for Tea

Free Attraction in London - Garden in the Sky! The best thing about the Sky Garden at Number 20 Fenchurch Street is not just the fact that it is free, it is the views over the river and the city, and the beautifully maintained indoor garden. There is an excellent cafe / restaurant with a fantastic array of healthy and tasty choices (and the biggest cookies)!  The area at the top of this new and futuristic building is spacious and enjoyable to walk around to appreciate the garden as well as the views over London from all angles - indoors and outdoors. The Tower Bridge, The Shard and other South Bank landmarks are clearly seen from the outdoors viewing platform and the views over other parts of London are equally stunning from other indoors areas in the large space which is helpfully made almost entirely of glass.  To visit the Sky Garden and get your free tickets you need to register online in advance at the website . The nearest tube stations to 20 Fe...

Stunning Coastal Scenery Near Marseilles Whether you're in Marseilles and you want a little break from the city hubbub, or you're simply after some stunning locations and little beaches off-the-beaten-track along the French Riviera, Cassis village and the Calanques on the South coast in Provence are a must-see if you're in this beautiful area of the South of France.  Calanques are basically little mini fjords within the rugged areas of rocky coastline. They start at Cassis and continue around the coast for a few miles; there are boat trips from Cassis specifically to see this scenery and beaches, and there are walking trails which may be partly closed at busier times to protect the surrounding nature. However you can access some of the individual Calanques very easily from Cassis. We parked half a mile or so up from Cassis as it was a beautiful day and the walk down the steep roads and paths afforded us some magnificent views of the surrounding hillsides and Pr...

Tranquility off the Cote d'Azur - Unspoiled & Undiscovered Islands 'Îles d'Hyères' Fairly undiscovered, and extremely beautiful, these natural and unspoiled little islands just off the Cote d'Azur are absolute gems for those seeking something a little closer to nature in Provence. They are easy to access and make a fantastic day trip and escape from the mainland - perfect for picnics! Perfect place for picnics! If it is tranquil white sand beaches and crystal clear waters you're after, compared to the hubbub of the Provence coast, these unspoiled islands are perfection. Kayaking and various water sports activities are available in summer on Porquerolles and Port Cros, as well as cycling, and the little villages and harbours buzz with activity (and ice-cream, crepes and other sweet treats) in spring and summer without being overwhelmingly busy. The islands are largely undiscovered by non-French visitors and a trip to any one of them can feel li...

Ok so I haven't posted in ages due to a pre-occupation with being pregnant and feeling very sorry for myself with some of the symptoms, but it hasn't stopped us taking lots of short breaks and as usual making the most of living on Europe's doorstep!  However we did sadly have to cancel our trip to New Zealand which fell at the height of the worst of my morning sickness phase, I honestly felt like I was falling apart, I felt so ill, boo hoo... Our recent little trip to Paris via the Eurostar was a fantastic little break for taking it easy, eating great food , going shopping , and of course taking in some typically famous sights . Some of the highlights are below... Shopping: Galleries La Fayette and Printemps  The flagship of the department store Galleries La Fayette is a stunningly opulent place to wander around even if shopping is not on your main agenda. The stained glass domed ceiling casts a lovely light over the central shopping area and the su...