The official whistle-stop Bristol travel guide
Back in January, I had the pleasure of visiting Bristol. Having been to Bath (right next door) and having also heard some great things about the city, I'd been keen to get down sooner rather than later.
Luckily, the kind folks at Visit Bristol helped me out by inviting me down to see what all the fuss was about.
This guide will take you through everything you need to know, from the perspective of someone who has done it before.
Have a read on and hopefully you'll be equipped with the knowledge you need to tackle this unique little city.
And hopefully, it'll all be done and dusted within 5 minutes so you don't get bored of my rambling. In fact, time yourself. Go on. I dare ya.
Why Bristol?
Bristol is unlike any other city in the UK - if not the world.
The people there are totally unique and their buildings (*and the art adorning them*) are even more unique - if that was possible. There is history in abundance, but in equal measure, they are packing new, exciting architecture, experiences and places to visit.
We'll get down to the finer details a little further on but rest assured, if you're a culture junkie, you really need to get down here.
How to get there
Planes, trains and automobiles baby.
If you're visiting Bristol from further afield, you can fly directly into their airport. Trains vary wildly in price - a ticket for me (without a railcard) from Liverpool would be £85 - aka a rip off. Obviously the further into the south of England you are, the cheaper it'll be.
We chose to drive because a full tank of petrol for me is about £40 so our journey was £80 in total split between two - not bad. The journey took about 3.5 hours. Again, the further south you are, the shorter and cheaper it'll be. The further north - the further the inverse is true. Obviously.
You can also get the ferry down there if you're a weirdo.
What are the prices like?
Prices are pretty much what you'd expect in the south of England.
Not too different but you will notice the difference if you're used to doing your shopping, eating and drinking in the cheap ol' north.
That being said, it's a lot cheaper than London so that's a bonus.
Where to stay
Brooks Guesthouse were our hosts for the weekend and I couldn't recommend the place highly enough. The rooms were stylish, the breakfast was unreal and the staff were really attentive and made sure we had everything we needed.
They also have a deal with the nearby car park which gets you a heft sum off your ticket which saved us more than £25!
If you want somewhere where you'll be well looked after and has everything you could possibly need, the Brooks Guesthouse is the place for you.
One thing I do have to mention though - the wifi in our room was virtually non-existent. To the point that we had to hotspot our phones instead. It may have just been our room because downstairs it was fine but just one to keep in mind.
What to actually do
I titled this article 'The ultimate 5-minute Bristol travel guide' and I aim to keep it to 5 minutes. Ain't nobody got time fo' long reads when it comes to city guides.
You're probably reading this on your way down to Bristol if you're anything like me so we'll get you up to speed in record time. You bloody last minute-r you...
Where The Wall tour
Probably what Bristol is most renowned for - their street art and graffiti.
The guys at Where The Wall take you through the hometown of Banksy. The main guy, John, who takes the tours 52 weeks of the year, is the most knowledgeable bloke you could hope to have as a guide.
With personal connections to Banksy and so many other street artists, his take on the scene is really refreshing. The 2-hour tour was over in a flash and was by far my favourite part of the trip.
If you do anything - do this.
M shed
This museum is a fantastic foray into Bristol's past and present. You could spend hours in here and you should definitely make a beeline for it when you visit.
We the curious
A lot of it is aimed at a younger audience but that didn't stop us having a laugh in there. There's actually loads of interesting stuff to get stuck into and you may well find a lot of curious facts that you hadn't known before. Bonus.
The Bristol Ferry
The Bristol Ferry is a unique way to experience Bristol's rivers and it's actually very fun. The captain was friendly AF (like everyone in Bristol come to think of it) and offered us loads of info on where to go and what to see.
As long as you don't suffer from sea legs, the Bristol ferry is a must-do.
St. Nicholas market
Very, very bougie.
I loved St. Nicholas market (which is literally across the street from the Brooks Guesthouse) thanks to its amazing bustling atmosphere. There are all sorts of cool little stores dotted around the market as well as a buzzing restaurant scene.
We went for some vegan sausage rolls and samosas and I have to say - that samosa was the best god damn samosa I've ever tasted. Thank you Bristol - home of heavenly samosas.
Where to eat
There are all sorts of places to eat when visiting Bristol. Seriously, there's something for all palettes.
Quay Street Diner
The folks at Quay Street Diner were kind enough to host us on the Saturday night of our stay and what a gaff this place is! If you're into your burgers, you've gotta try this place out.
On the night we went, they had a mahoosive party on upstairs meaning our main took 2 hours to come, but all was forgiven thanks to the unbelievable customer service these guys provided.
They brought us loads of snacks to keep us going and threw in a load of prosecco for good measure. Not to mention the grub was worth the wait.
Seriously, the waffles at the end were some of the best I've ever had.
Nandos
A little bit boring of us but sometimes you have to be #cheeky and go for a Nandos don't you?
There's way more on offer in Bristol's food scene but I just couldn't resist the allure of that sweet, sweet chicken.
Sue me.
Spicer & Cole
This was a cafe we stopped off at for breakfast on our first day in Bristol and I fully recommend giving it a try.
It gets very busy but just look at that grub they're serving up...
Would I recommend visiting Bristol?
100% yes.
There's literally something for everyone here - from upmarket eateries to independent, street-art draped bars - you'll find it all down in big ol' Brizzo.
Make sure to tell everyone that The Man Blueprint sent you - you'll be sure to get all sorts of discounts.
Well, you won't, because no one there has ever heard of me but it'd be funny if you did, so you know...do it.
Be sure to follow me on socials to keep up with the daily goings on of The Man Blueprint. You can also sign up for my inner circle using the newsletter form above. Just drop your email in there and it’s job done. Completely free and completely brilliant. Whilst you’re here, have a little browse of some other article you might like below too. You won’t regret it.
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The official whistle-stop Metz travel guide
Metz may not be the first place that springs to mind when you think of France - hell, it may not even be the tenth.
But it should definitely be up there.
Metz is one of the best cities I've ever visited and it is one of the few that has actually gone above and beyond my expectations (and then some).
Before we dive in, I just want to say a massive thank you to the Metz Tourist Board (and special thanks to Vivienne, our guide/Metz Oracle for the weekend) for having us - it was a pleasure.
Let's talk about Metz
Metz is about 3,000 years old and absolutely steeped in history and heritage.
There are so many different influences on the city, with input from the various countries that have claimed ownership of it throughout its lifetime.
The two standout influences that are prevalent throughout are Roman and Germanic architecture - two of my personal favourites. Due to its history as a military city, there are huge, grand buildings that were designed to stand the test of time - and that they have. It adds a satisfying contrast to the little alleyways and chic flats that pepper the streets.
It is now the economic hub of the Lorraine region which seems to be heavily driven my tech and science. This mixture of historic and innovative gives Metz a vibe that is difficult to put my finger on - but I like it.
Travelling
Travelling isn't quite as straight forward as some other destinations but it's pretty cheap and it's not hard if you've got more than one brain cell.
Since Metz borders so many different places, you can fly anywhere around it and travel in by train. You could even fly directly in to Metz if you wanted but plane tickets are substantially more expensive.
Here's exactly what we did;
Flights from Manchester to Luxembourg (€50 each way)
Bus from Luxembourg airport to city centre (€2 each way)
Train from Luxembourg central train station to Metz Ville ($16.50 each way)
We're looking at a total travel time of about 4 hours which isn't bad considering what it entails. It's very hard to mess this up so don't get stressed out during your travels, trust me.
At a combined cost of €135, this was definitely one of the cheaper travel routes I've done. Considering I went for such a popular time in the year, I'd say that's pretty good value for money.
Doing it in style @ The 1903 lounge
Airports are rather stressful places to navigate let's be honest with ourselves. That's why whenever I'm flying from Manchester airport, I'll splash the cash on their 1903 lounge.
If you book it in advance, it's only £35. For that, you get unlimited spirits, beers, champagne and coffee whilst fresh food is brought out constantly. You also get to escape the chaos downstairs, get access to free wifi and there are chairs and tables where you can look straight out on to the runway.
Not to mention plug sockets for your equipment if you need a quick charge, loads of magazines and pretty much the best airport experience you'll ever have.
This time around, they were kind enough to give me and my amigo a gifted stay which set the tone for the entire holiday and made us feel a teency weency bit like Z-list celebrities.
But yeah, the 1903 lounge is literally a must-do for anyone who wants a chilled out, child-free non-war zone to relax and indulge in before hitting the skies.
Where to stay?
We stayed in one of the best Hotels Metz has to offer - Hotel La Citadelle. This place is unbelievable - a repurposed military building from the 1500's, it has got loads of character and is somehow in absolutely top notch condition, which is something I noticed with so many of the buildings around the city.
It is opposite a quiet park, adjacent to the Mayor's residence, next to the old military arsenal building and behind the contemporary arts centre.
Quite the location then...
It's also about a 5 minute walk from the river, cathedral and just about everything else in Metz. The beauty of the city is that everything is within walking distance no matter where you are, but the location of La Citadelle was just ideal.
On stepping inside, we were greeted by a friendly receptionist, offered some specially brewed drinks (obviously couldn't turn down a freebie) and shown to our room.
The room had its own hallway. A bloody hallway!
Then we were treated to an amazing bathroom, separate toilet and huge room with a bird's eye view of the park in front along with a welcome pack, robes, etc. They really had gone the full 9 yards.
A place like this really does try its very best to live up to the lofty standards its guests hold it to - hence the fact their very own restaurant has a Michelin star.
Not too shabby!
And even if this hotel was awful, it'd be worth it just to see all of the supercars parked outside...
What to do?
Now this is the real question.
I wasn't too sure what to expect when I arrived apart from the itinerary we were given. Youtube videos and blog articles are pretty hard to come by save for the tourist board's website, so it is difficult to get a full feel for Metz before you visit.
This is what annoyed me.
I can't wrap my head around why there aren't more people doing city guides, reviews, etc - the place is so full of things to do that people should be visiting, then visiting again and again - and again.
With this in mind, I felt it to be almost my duty to go as in depth as possible with this article. But even this guide barely scratches the surface. Believe me when I say, I am desperate to go back and do a part 2 already!
Food
I always thought French food was baguettes, snails and frogs.
Is that bigoted? Probably. Anyway, I have to put it out there - I am now fully in love with French cuisine. Everything from their pastries to their cheese just grabs you and sends you into the gastronomical stratosphere.
At various points I would catch myself just murmuring superlatives because I was in some strange food/orgasm state for the duration of every meal.
Fresson
Pastries is one of France's strong suits and I can see why.
We visited a family run pâtisserie named Fresson, after its owner who runs the store with his wife and a small team, who make every single pastry, cake and sweet by hand.
The attention to detail on everything was unbelievable - not to mention the taste.
We had a St Louis macron (named after the square the store sits by) and one of their special recipe chocolates for our breakfast - all in the name of being continental of course...
La Fleure de Ly
This was not your bog standard restaurant.
I've rarely had a meal that was an experience but this most definitely was. There was about 6 courses, pallet cleansers, Michelin star-esque presentation and thankfully - phenomenal tasting food.
The atmosphere here is great - there is a really relaxed, personal feeling about the whole place, from its location and the front courtyard to its moddily lit restrooms and open kitchen.
La Fleure de Ly was on another level.
Le Bistronome
Another fantastic place to grab an amazing meal is Le Bistronome. We got to eat outside which was perfect - it felt like I was on the set of a movie.
The food was, again, unbelievable.
3 courses, 2 glasses of wine and an after dinner espresso - the French just do it so, so right.
Covered market
If you fancy a change of pace, try the covered market which is located literally right in front of the cathedral. There are so many stalls to choose from and even stores that'll sell you quirky goods like artisan coffee roasting equipment and let you pick your own beans like a pick 'n' mix.
Did I just say artisan?
Ugh.
We tried a restaurant in the market called L'assiette du Marche/Chez Mauricette which was slightly more informal than the other restaurants. But again, we were treated to the full 3 courses along with after dinner sweets and yet more drinks.
They go the full hog in Metz and I am absolutely in love with it.
Drink
We did quite a lot of this. From champagne breakfasts in the airport to post meal espressos, we sampled every last bit. Here's a few things you can guzzle in Metz.
Coffee in the square
Grab a quick coffee, sit outside and watch the world go by for a bit.
We did this on our first morning to get more of a feel for the place. As we were in the main square it was great to people watch whilst we got caffeinated up to our eye balls.
Worth doing.
Solar powered boat wine aperitif
I'm gonna stick my neck out on the line here and say that this may well have been the highlight of the trip. The Solis Mettensis was 2 hours of eating continental snacks and drinking local champagne whilst sharing some great company on an amazing scenic river cruise.
Due to its size, it was just me, my mate, an old couple that didn't speak a word of English and our captain.
And we had an amazing time.
Robbie, our captain, was an extremely knowledgeable bloke and told us all about the history of Metz and little snippets that only the locals know. He also had immaculate taste in champagne, as he let us drink his two bottles of Metz & Luxembourg-produced dry.
It's hard to describe it but if you do decide to visit Metz, you have to do this one.
Local brasserie
Brasserie La Tuilerie, just off the Moselle river, opened their doors just for us.
Imposter syndrome inbound.
We got to tour around their microbrewery learning about their processes, grand plans and history. We also got to sit down for an hour with the owners for a little drinking session, getting to know more about each other.
This was our first stop of the trip, so it was nice to get chatting to some locals right away.
Apparently, Metz has a lowkey underbelly of brasseries who all love to brew and share their very best creations across the city.
If you fancy tasting amazing beers all day, why not organise a tour of them all?
That's if you could make it to the last one after all them drinks...
Culture
I'm a little bit of a culture junky.
Thankfully, Metz gave me my fix - in fact I almost OD'd on culture it was that plentiful.
Good gear.
Locals
This has to be number one.
Maybe I felt so at ease straight away in Metz because it instantly felt like a home from home.
In Liverpool, people are proud of where they come from, we're proud of our history, we welcome strangers with open arms to tell them about how great our city is and of course, we've got a great sense of humour.
The people of Metz seem to be exactly the same.
I had never been to France before this trip, but all I've heard is that French people are rude. Is this because I've only spoken to people who have visited Paris? Maybe. If a French person visited London they'd probably think exactly the same about us.
It could be because we tried our best to learn the language and engage with strangers, but everyone we spoke to was really friendly and helpful.
They seemed to know everything there was to know about their city and were happy to chat in English too once we told them "Je ne parle pas très bien le français" - especially 3 fellas we met (all of whom were called Matthieu) who taught us the very best French swear words and insults.
Constellation
Apparently, we visited on the best night of the year - the opening of the Constellation festival and Fête de le Musique which meant there were stages set up throughout the city with people belting out tunes all day.
It was intense - the streets were absolutely rammed and it was like one big carnival.
I loved it.
The festival is actually a month long, so if you want to see it, be sure to head down between the last week of June to the last week of July.
Architecture
Everywhere you look, amazing architecture is looking right back at you.
Because of Metz's unique heritage as a military city and its spells under German, Roman and French ownership, it has collected inspiration from all over Europe.
This creates an awe-inspiring collection of streets, buildings and landscapes which were a genuine joy to walk through and most importantly - snap pics of.
Rivers
Metz has two rivers which join together - the lake of Metz and the Moselle river.
You should definitely go and walk along these and if you can, get yourself out on the water itself via a cruise of some sort - preferably a boozy one like we did.
Cathedral
This was one of the most aesthetic cathedrals I've ever set foot in.
With huuuuge ceilings, stained glass windows as far as the eye can see and a story in every single brick, The Cathedral of Saint Stephen of Metz has to be on your to-do list.
The stonework outside is stunning, with every figure telling a different story - most of them parables from the bible which is something I hadn't really seen before.
At night it was lit up for the Constellation light show which was trippy AF.
Metz has a plethora of alleyways, little winding streets and gorgeous parks to go and explore with no particular intentions.
It was nice to just walk around for a bit when we had time between stuff we were doing. If you stay for longer than 48 hours, definitely just stroll along the river and through any side streets you come across to see what you can discover.
Centre Pompidou Metz
We didn't get round to this but apparently it is fantastic.
Being the largest collection of 20th and 21st century artwork in France means they're probably doing something right over there. It is also the largest exhibition centre outside of Paris - not too bad ey?
Much, much more
There is so much more to do but since we went out for (too many) drinks, we needed a nap on our final day so didn't get round to exploring as much as we probably should have.
Shopping
We all love to shop don't we? Let's be honest with ourselves.I didn't get too much done whilst we were there, but enough to give a couple of recommendations.
Printemps personal shopping
France is rather famous for its shopping and for their fashion in general, which is why I was over the moon when their largest department/clothing store asked if I wanted to do a personal experience.
I was treated to a 45 minute session at Printemps Metz with personal stylist Christelle who was extremely knowledgable about the history of French menswear and dressed me head to toe in the latest fashion to give me a taster of how the homme Français do it.
There were 3 outfits prepared for me including brands like The Kooples, Sandro, Calvin Klein and Armani which felt rather bloody lovely and made me feel like a someone off Made in Chelsea.
Great mix of high and low end
A big trend that the French have is mixing layers. Not in the usual sense though. They are known to pair expensive, exotic materials with cheaper cuts for an interesting juxtaposition.
This experimental style can be seen throughout Metz, with lots of high and low end stores all selling their wares. It was amazing to take all of it in and dream up a few #chic outfits for myself before realising I could probably only afford the low end stuff...
Metz has genuinely bowled me over. I don't know why it was so far above what I expected but it was and that's all I can say.
Hopefully this 48 hour city guide has give you some inspiration as to what to cram into a fleeting weekend but feel free to do some more research if my itinerary doesn't tickle your pickle.
Be sure to follow me on socials to keep up with the daily goings on of The Man Blueprint. You can also sign up for my inner circle using the newsletter form above. Just drop your email in there and it’s job done. Completely free and completely brilliant. Whilst you’re here, have a little browse of some other article you might like below too. You won’t regret it.
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The official whistle-stop Bergen travel guide
Before we kick things off, let me just say a massive thank you to both Visit Bergen and Visit Norway for making this trip possible – you’re all a gang of Bobby Dazzlers.
Anyway – what a brilliant bloody city! Bergen was without a doubt, one of my favourite holidays to date.
It was very cold and sometimes rather wet, but these usually adverse conditions added to Bergen’s charm.
That might seem a bit odd to hear but trust me on this, this place is nothing like anywhere you’ve been before.
BERGEN: A BRIEF HISTORY
Bergen once was a vitally important seaport and to this day, there are still remnants of this rich history – the most impressive of which being the wooden buildings of Bryggen, which is actually a Unesco world heritage site.
It is known as the gateway to the ‘fjords’ and ‘Norway’s second city’, due to it being surrounded by seven hills, seven fjords and also being Norway’s second biggest city. Creative nicknames aren’t they?
Fast forward to the present day and Bergen still clings to its heritage and there is a real sense of pride floating round this place. Their port is still Norway’s busiest and they have expanded their international business to lots of industries like subsea technology, higher education and tourism (handy for yours truly).
GETTING THERE
Getting to Bergen is pretty easy. Most big cities fly directly there, but if they don’t, usually it’s only one quick change.
I changed at Stavangar on the way there and Inverness on the way back. In total it was about 3 hours flight time each way, not bad in my book.
Most airports offer places to chill out and plug your laptop in so you can crack on with some work or watch some Game of Thrones as you wait. I did a bit of blog work and had a read of a book and my travel was over in a flash.
Once you arrive at Bergen’s snazzy airport, you can either get the Flybussen or the Light rail into the city centre (or to any of the stops before that if you’re staying a bit outside the centre). Compared to Norway’s rather expensive costs on everything, the public transport is actually really cheap. It cost the equivalent of about £3 to get the rail into town.
From there, you can simply walk to wherever you need to go – everything is close enough together that there os virtually no need for Ubers or taxis.
WHERE TO STAY
We stayed in the Clarion Collection Havnekontoret, one of the swankiest gaffs in Norway and let me tell you – it did not disappoint.
Upon walking in, you are greeted with a little welcome kit, a ‘guest of honour’ card for the city and a naughty little view of the Bergen Harbour. I genuinely had a serious case of imposter syndrome here, it was too good to be true!
My favourite part of the hotel (simply because I’m a fat glutton) was that there was complimentary breakfast, lunch and dinner. The meals were different each night and were Scandinavian themed – it was unbelievable. So much so that we didn’t even eat out once.
There was a gym in the basement too, complete with weights, cardio equipment and a sauna! This would be ideal for those coming on a bit of a longer stay but as we were only there for the weekend, I didn’t need to use it.
The hotel was located pretty much smack-bang in the centre of Bergen. We were right next to the tram stop, we had the harbour right in front of us and Bryggen to the side. Everything in Bergen is pretty close together but the Clarion just makes things a million times easier.
One thing that I’ve never seen in a hotel before was a viewing tower. If you ask for a special key from reception, you can climb a big spiral staircase to one of the most unique hotel experiences out there. This viewing tower offers stunning views of the rolling hills, mountains, harbour and basically the entirety of Bergen.
I’m a big fan of the details, which is why the Clarion gets a 10/10 from me. They excelled here. When you walk into your room, there’s a little welcome hamper, bath robs, sliders, rituals toiletries – the works basically. Never has the saying “you get what you pay for” been more true.
The hotel was absolutely unbelievable. If you’re considering coming to Bergen, this should be the only place you book. The location, transport links, rooms, views, gym, food – the list goes on, this place is all you need.
THINGS TO DO
Despite having a small town feel, Bergen is one of Norway’s largest cities and thus, there is so much to see and do during your stay.
Here’s my top picks.
BRYGGEN
This was the first thing we did upon arrival and it didn’t disappoint. The first thing you think of when you think of Bergen is this.
The quaint little buildings, the wooden sidewalk – it’s amazing. It was literally like being in some sort of movie – can’t recommend this one enough.
FLØYEN / FLØIBANEN
I’ve grouped these together as they’re basically the same. Fløyen is the huge mountain of Bergen that offers ridiculous views for miles and miles. There’s also lots to do up at the top too.
You can either walk to the top or get the Fløibanen, which is the tram-thing that takes you up through to the top of Fløyen. This is an experience in itself and offers loads of cool photo opps and is great for those who don’t fancy the walk up to the top.
You can also get it back down if you don’t fancy the descent either. You can walk up and down via a path however if you fancy it – it should take about an hour each way.
MUSEUMS
One thing that Bergen does exceptionally well is museums. There are museums for basically everything. I’m not sure of the exact figure but the number of museums was definitely in double figures.
We went to the KODE museum which was brilliant. They had loads of different exhibitions on which were really interesting - not to mention #aesthetic.
Markets
Bergen has a famous fish market that is definitely worth a walk through even if you’re not hungry. But that wasn’t the market I went for.
The christmas markets were in full swing as it was the beginning of December and they were absolutely fantastic. Loads of different stalls selling all sorts of Christmas-related wares were vying for out attention and hard earned dosh.
We managed to avoid actually buying anything somehow but the hundreds of scoff options and festive tat on offer tested our willpower to the maximum.
The next couple of things are definitely worth a look if you have the time. Unfortunately we didn’t but they are very highly rated:
Fjord cruise
The world’s largest gingerbread town
Food & Drink
We didn’t actually go out for food or drink once during our weekend in Bergen.
Of course, there were coffee and pastry trips but in terms of actual meals out, we kept that to the hotel as it was just too nice to pass up.
There are loads of options for cool bars and restaurants still but we figured it would just be best to save ourselves £150+ per night and go with the free, lovely food of the Clarion.
You should however, definitely go and sample their local delights. We went to a cafe called BarBarista which was completely different to the norm.
With mad ornaments, dolls, bits and bobs hanging from the ceiling and walls, it was hard not to get lost in its unique magic. I had a chilli chocolate latte concoction which was unreal. I was tempted to go back for another but the £8 price tag made me think twice about being a glutton again.
There are tons of these unique, quirky little experiences dotted round Bergen. Half the fun of the whole experiences is just getting lost in the side streets and coming across amazing places like this.
The rest
So, the rest.
If we hadn’t have only brought hand luggage, we may may have ended up coming back with a lot more than we went with.
Bergen is full of brilliant shops that cater to all manner of interests but mostly their fashion and homeware stuff. This gear is off-the-charts cool and really lives up to the ‘Nordic style’ stereotype - in a good way.
The people are really friendly too, with basically everyone being able to speak brilliant English. This however, was the holiday that tipped me over the edge and made me want to take up a foreign language. I just found it baffling how basically 100% of a population could speak two languages fluently - I felt like a FRAUD.
Thus, 2019 is the year I get my act together - I may even learn Norwegian!
Getting about
Everything is walking distance. There’s no need for cabs or Ubers really as you can get everywhere in 20 minutes max walking.
I mean, you could moonwalk around if you wanted but that’s the only other transport option you’d need.
Bergen. What a brilliant city. Completely unlike anything else I’ve ever experienced. If you’re looking for somewhere that will blow your mind every few minutes, this is the place for you.
If you just want to go and drink beer, shout at people and trash your hotel, maybe you should stick to Zante.
Be sure to follow me on socials to keep up with the daily goings on of The Man Blueprint. You can also sign up for my inner circle using the newsletter form above. Just drop your email in there and it’s job done. Completely free and completely brilliant. Whilst you’re here, have a little browse of some other article you might like below too. You won’t regret it.
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The official whistle-stop Stockholm travel guide
Stockholm. Not the first destination that springs to mind when thinking of your next travel destination, but definitely one that should.
I have recently just come back from this wonderful city and couldn’t believe just how good it was considering how little we knew about it before going.
The Swedes call this city ‘beauty on water’ and with good reason, some of the views on offer were simply astounding and we were lucky enough to get some great pictures for you to feast your eyes on.
THE STOCKHOLM PRICE PROBLEM
When we told people we were off to Stockholm the default response was “That’s a bit strange! What is there to do there then?!!?!?” followed by “Ooo I’ve heard it’s expensive over there!!!”. While both of these responses were valid – it isn’t a popular tourist spot and some places can be expensive – we didn’t care.
After spending 3 full days in Sweden my pockets were £400 lighter. However, when you consider the fact that this included return flights, a 2 night stay in a great hotel, travel passes and everything in between, it starts to look relatively cheap – especially after everyone’s reservations beforehand. You’d probably end up paying that if you stayed a few days in Slough and I know where I’d rather go…
Let’s not forget that Stockholm is also a capital city, so any reservations you may have about having things to do are unfounded. We managed to pack a massive amount into our few days here and you could literally go back another 5 times and you’d still have things to do.
THE FOOD
Hands down the best meal I’ve ever had was cooked in a little German restaurant called Slingerbulten. It was an ox cheek and mash dish – simple and hearty which is exactly how it should be in my eyes. 2 mains, 2 desserts, 2 drinks and a side came to the equivalent of £50, not exactly the astronomical fees promised by every man and his dog.
One thing I noticed about the food scene in Stockholm was that there were lots of vegan restaurants available. Travelling whilst following a vegan diet can be notoriously hard so if you’re looking for a city break where you can enjoy amazing food along with everything else, Stockholm has got you covered.
There’s also a bevy of cafes all over Stockholm selling lots of fantastic food and drink but one thing that is synonymous with Sweden along with their meatballs is cinnamon buns. These are amazing but far too easy to wolf down, if you’re watching your waistline then be careful because one of these could easily turn into eight.
THE SIGHTS
The ABBA museum was definitely the highlight of the trip. It’s around £25 to get into but it’s worth the initial outlay. Believe it or not, I’m not actually an ABBA fan – but by the end of it I was hooked. Even if you’re not into Eurovision winners of yesteryear you need to buy yourself a ticket, because this was hands down the best thing we did all weekend.
Fotografiska is a museum solely dedicated to photography. There are hundreds and hundreds of pictures in here, with new collections going on display regularly. The main exhibition that was on display during our time of visiting was highlighting poverty and refugees which was hard hitting but a definite eye-opener and offered some major perspective.
The Old Town was our favourite area of Stockholm and was full of fantastic old buildings (believe it or not), amazing views and a whole host of backstreets where you could slink off to for a quiet meal or drink. The whole atmosphere around the old town is so relaxed and laid back that you’d think everyone was stoned 24/7 – turns out everyone in Sweden is just extremely chilled. Compare this to the thunder-faced commuters in basically every other capital city (except for Amsterdam, because everyone actually is stoned 24/7) and it’s a breath of fresh air.
One thing in Stockholm that is free is the changing of the guard. I’ve never witnessed anything like this before, being the uncultured swine that I am, so this huge display blew me away a bit. As Sweden have a royal family, this whole performance is very regal and would be ideal for those of you who love a good bit of royal prestige.
THE REST
The 72 hour travel pass is absolutely essential if you’re staying outside the centre like we were. It allows you to get on any train and is an easy way of getting trams to different parts of the city centre instead of walking everywhere clocking up too much exercise (because who wants to waste energy walking when you could save it for eating?).
Katarinahissen is a pedestrian bridge that offers amazing views of the whole of Stockholm and should not be missed, as it’s the best free option to get some amazing shots of the city. Unfortunately the lift up is broken, and with no plans to fix it in the pipeline you will have to take the stairs. If you’re not knock-kneed then definitely give this one a go on your way to Fotografiska.
The NK shopping centre was one of the most beautiful shopping centres I’ve ever seen in my life. It was like something out of Harry Potter except there were no wands and everyone was dressed better. There’s something for everyone here, with lots of high end designer wear, homeware, food & drink, you’re spoilt for choice. You do have to pay £1 for the toilet though so if you want to save money you can find yourself a dark corner outside and spend that pound on a sandwich instead.
Impromptu performances are extremely common as you traverse the cobbled streets of the old town especially, with everything from Alien worshipping flash mobs playing ABBA songs to people playing classical music by rubbing glasses. It’s a bit of free entertainment and can brighten your mood if they aren’t too terrible.
Stockholm. My favourite holiday destination so far and definitely somewhere you need to consider for your next weekend city break.
Be sure to follow me on socials to keep up with the daily goings on of The Man Blueprint. You can also sign up for my inner circle using the newsletter form above. Just drop your email in there and it’s job done. Completely free and completely brilliant. Whilst you’re here, have a little browse of some other article you might like below too. You won’t regret it.
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The official whistle-stop Liverpool travel guide
Liverpool – the best city in the world.
No bias here whatsoever, that’s just a fact.
Liverpool is a city of fantastic history with signs of its rich heritage scattered throughout the city. But that’s what Liverpool does best – it merges these wonderful old, historical buildings with new and exciting buildings, creative spaces and greenery in a completely seamless and wonderful way.
I could wax lyrical about this fantastic city forever but for your sake I’m going to give you a brief history and then a short list of what exactly our city can offer you.
LIVERPOOL: A BRIEF HISTORY
Liverpool was and still is famous as a port city – a hub where traders came to trade their goods from all corners of the world. Most famously fruit and (unfortunately) slaves.
The city used this income as a means of becoming one of the largest traders and industrial cities in the world. However, time passed, industry was required less and eventually unemployment levels rose spectacularly.
Fast forward to 2008 and Liverpool won their bid for European capital of culture, meaning huge investment in the city from the European powers that be. From then until the present day, Liverpool hasn’t looked back.
Liverpool has risen again to become a tourist hotspot, rivalling the other big cities of the UK such as London, Birmingham and Manchester when it comes to where those coming to our shores choose to spend their time and money. This upturn in fortunes can be powerfully summed up by this side by side comparison of Liverpool’s famous Albert Dock before and after the 2008 investment…
So, with that little bit of history done and dusted it’s time to show you exactly why I love my city and why you simply need to come and pay it a visit.
THE FOOD
Into fine dining? Come to Liverpool.
Massive meat loving carnivore? Come to Liverpool.
Animal loving vegan? Come to Liverpool.
Call a lolly-ice an ice-lolly? Come to Wigan.
Liverpool has one of the most vast and varied selections of eateries in the world. There’s big chains and independents all vying for your custom by bringing unique and fantastic culinary delights to the table (pun fully intended).
Even though there are literally hundreds of places to eat here I’ll give you a few that are guaranteed to sort you out more than most;
Mowgli
Indian tapas? A weird concept but one I fully advocate, some of the tastiest grub in Liverpool for criminally low prices. You’ll pay your tip on the toilet the next day though, don’t worry about that.
Credit: Peter Goodbody
The Italian Club
I don’t know if you guessed it but these serve Italian food. Looks tiny from outside but this restaurant goes back forever and has a huge high rise ceiling that makes you feel like you’re dining in the Vatican.
Fazenda
I go here religiously every year for my birthday (except for last year’s vegan phase) and with good reason. The food here is on another level to the usual chains of South American meat restaurants – brought round on loop until your stomach has capitulated, nothing compares in my opinion.
The Egg
If you’ve made the choice to ditch the meat then first of all – good for you. Second of all – you have options. The Egg cafe just off Bold Street serves up vegan and vegetarian food all day every day and is a regular meeting place of the Liverpool Vegan society in case you’re looking to meet like-minded people.
The Clubhouse
This is one of the newer additions to Liverpool’s food scene but has made a huge impact. Located in the Liverpool ONE shopping centre, it serves all sorts of food, from hanging kebabs to hummus boards. They also have an outside seating area which gets absolutely choc-full during the summer which creates an atmosphere like no other restaurant in the city I can think of.
THE DRINK
You’re spoilt for choice when it comes to where you want to sink some beverages in Liverpool. Not only alcohol though…the rise of the coffee connoisseur has seen an influx in coffee and tea shops popping up around the city so if your poison is ethanol or caffeine you’re in for a treat.
Unfortunately, I can’t mention them all but here’s a few of my favourites;
Someplace
This bar is hidden away from plain site, with only a green light hanging outside the door to indicate that there is something lurking behind. Go up the stairs and you’ll be greeted by a darkened room lit mostly by green light.
This green light is trying to tell you something – these fellas specialise in absinthe.
I know.
But the cocktails the bar staff make with the absinthe here are unbelievable. Just don’t go for the hardest options on your first go – like I did on my first date with my now-girlfriend. It doesn’t make you look big or clever. I’m surprised I even got a second date after the faces I pulled trying to drink straight absinthe and whiskey.
Jenny’s bar
One of Liverpool’s best hidden and most intimate venues. Jenny’s used to be a seafood restaraunt but now houses a dimly lit 70’s themed bar where you get table service and a cosy booth to try and woo your travel partner. Or just have a nice drink if you’ve come with your mum.
Boston pool loft
Now I’m not going to pretend Boston Pool loft is a high class la-dee-da establishment. It’s not. But it’s fun and that’s all that counts. You can play FIFA for free on their big screen, there’s pool tables, snooker tables, table tennis tables, shuffleboard tables and even table tables where you can put your drink!!!
They also have arcade games and pinball machines along with a free virtual reality night every Monday. If you want to learn more about that then head here.
Where can I go with my hangover?
Well, apart from the plethora of wonderful Wetherspoons in Liverpool, you can grab yourself a strong coffee and a hearty bit of grub at these fine establishments…
Ziferblat
I hate using the term but this is a hidden gem and a half. I’m not going to tell you where abouts to find it so you have to go through the heartache I did trying to find it as well.
BUT, once you do it’ll all be worth it. This is a cafe where everything is FREE. Everything except for your time. You can go here and scoff as much of anything you want and all you’re paying for is how long it takes you to digest said scoff. Beware though, it’s easy to spend 6 hours in here without even realising. Trust me, I’ve done it more than once…
Rococo
I love this place. Far better than your standard Starbucks or Costa, Rococo is located above Church Street and resides inside a renovated Victorian building. Long corridors, high ceilings and barmy decor is what I’m all about and Rococo has it in abundance. Go here if even just to gawp at the design of the place.
THE BUILDINGS
You just don’t get this sort of architecture outside of the UK but Liverpool especially is full of amazing feats of design. The amount of grade II listed buildings we have is testament to this.
Three graces
The most iconic buildings in Liverpool. The three graces is made up of the Royal Liver building, the Cunard building and the Port of Liverpool building. They’re full of offices now but they’re still a sight to behold, they’re also situated on the waterfront so you can go and explore the docks whilst you’re taking your pictures stood outside.
Handsome bugger…
Central library
Where I currently am writing this – the Central Library has had a huge makeover and is now one of the most impressive buildings in the city – both inside and out. Since the renovations it has been consistently voted amongst the best libraries in the world – and it’s free to go in.
Museums
The World museum, The Liverpool Museum, The Walker Art Gallery, The Tate Modern and The Maritime Museum.
What do all of these have in common?
They’re all great, they’re all in Liverpool and they’re all free to go in. I’ve never known a city to have so many amazing museums, galleries and activities you can do for free. Having just come back from Stockholm, where a trip to a museum costs £25, it highlights just how good we’ve got it here.
Cathedrals
How many cities do you know with two cathedrals on one street? How many? Oh, none? Well Liverpool does. Little old Liverpool is packing two cathedrals on one street and we’re not afraid to shout about it.
These are two absolutely beautiful structures and they’re not just pretty to look at. They often hold events such as vintage clothing fares and even whiskey tasting events in the crypt! If you’re heavily into the man upstairs there’s regular services you can attend as well. Basically, you’re spoiled for choice with us.
Universities
Liverpool is home to 3 universities – four if you count Edge Hill University which is situated on the outskirts. John Moores University has just won University of the year and Edge Hill won this gong in 2014 – not bad eh. So if you’re looking to expand your mind and drink loads of booze, come and pick one our unis.
THE EVENTS
Primarily, we are a city of fun and this is evident in all of the fantastic events we hold throughout the year.
Bongos bingo
Started by Johnny Bongo only a few years ago, Bongo’s bingo is nothing like you’ve ever seen, merging bingo (believe it or not) with music, prizes and alcohol. It’s obviously a winning formula as they’ve expanded not only to other cities in the UK, but overseas to places like Amsterdam and Sydney!
Shiverpool
One of my favourites this one. The guys at Shiverpool are all acticing students who are not only extremely fun to be around but give you a great history of the city, giving you chills as they recount Liverpool’s dark and scary past. Jumps aplenty ensue and you get some great photo opps at the end, just saying.
Food & Drink Festival
Do you like food? Do you like drink? If you answered yes to either of those I’m sure you’d enjoy a festival dedicated to food AND drink – who would have thought it?
Located in Sefton Park, this festival is full of all sorts of wonderful cuisine and acts as a melting pot for so many different people and cultures all coming together – a great experience for anyone visiting the city.
LIMF
The Liverpool International Music Festival is Europe’s largest free music festival (we give a lot away for free don’t we) and manages to draw in over 350 performers every year including the likes of Gorgon City, Sigma and Basement Jaxx. Can’t really ask for much more can you?
THE FOOTBALL
Oh the football…it runs through every scousers blood, football is what brings us together and tears us apart. Literally every single taxi journey ever in Liverpool goes like this:
“Alright mate.”
“Hiya mate, you on all night tonight?”
“Yeah, are you a red or a blue?”
The journey hinges on which answer you give to that question. So, are you going to be Everton or Liverpool for the duration of the trip? My suggestion is the latter but if you enjoy trophy-less heartache then I’d go with the blues.
Anfield, the better of the two…
Something unique to Liverpool is the fact that both teams’ stadiums are literally on either side of a single park. This may not be the case for long, as Everton have plans to move their stadium up towards the city centre – so get down while you can.
THE SHOPPING
There is no shortage of places to burn through your cash when it comes to shopping in Liverpool. There’s a mix of independents, cheap and cheerful, designer wear, flagship stores and just about everything in between.
Liverpool ONE
I used to work for these but there’s no bias – this place is responsible for the massive influx of visitors coming to Liverpool and has transformed the city centre massively. They brought flagship stores, events, green space and late night shopping to Liverpool where there was once marshland between the rest of the city and the docks.
It was designed to blend seamlessly into the city landscape and is all outdoors. There’s not many shopping centre’s that can say that. BUT, they do charge you 30p to go the toilet – so if you don’t like having to spend 30 pennies before you spend one then maybe go to some free ones before you head in…
Church Street
Probably Liverpool’s busiest street. This was the city centre’s main shopping area before the introduction of Liverpool ONE in 2008. Church street still houses all the shops you could think of ranging from high-end jewellers like Goldsmiths to everyone’s favourite, Primark.
Keep an eye out for the myriad of buskers and street performers on Church street as well – another bit of free entertainment for you lucky swines.
Autism awareness display just off Church Street
Bold street
This is geared towards the more independent shops and has a huge selection of vintage clothing stores, unique sneaker shops and organic marketplaces. One of Bold street’s endearing qualities is that it is seemingly a meeting place for Liverpool’s more extravagant characters. You won’t believe your eyes with all the different and unique people you’ll see flying through on rollerblades or equally strange modes of transport.
THE BEATLES
Yes they get their own category now shut up. Without doubt the biggest and best band ever, the Beatles are absolutely everywhere in Liverpool. They’ve got their own hotel, statues, museum, stores, pubs – you name it they’ve got it here in Liverpool.
You can go and stand next to John Lennon on Matthew Street, The Four of ’em on Canada Boulevard and even Eleanor Rigby on Sir Thomas Street. There’s also four statues on their famous hotel – The hard days night.
John Lennon in all his statue-y glory
The most famous place involving The Beatles of course is the Cavern club – where they played hundreds of gigs before hitting the big time. Go to Matthew Street and head in to listen to live music all day and night and take a look at their Beatles memorabilia.
There is also the relatively new Beatles Story where you can go and learn everything you could possibly want to about the Fab Four. They also have their own gift shop in case you’re looking to bring back some merch to show the grandkids.
THE PEOPLE
If there’s one thing you’ll probably notice more than most when you come to Liverpool, it’s the people. The people are what makes this city the greatest in the world. It’s not uncommon to get chatting to a complete stranger out of nowhere. But it’s these little things that can make your day more than buying an expensive trinket from a gift shop.
Not only are we friendly, we’re bloody funny. The famous Scouse humour is most definitely alive and well throughout the city. If you find it hard cracking jokes with us or can’t get through our language barrier then head down to a comedy club and get someone – who’s actually paid to be funny, to show you exactly how funny we can be.
If you really want to get the most out of your trip to Liverpool then get talking – interact with as many people as you can and you’ll come away with much more than pictures for your Facebook.
So there you have it, a comprehensive breakdown of what Liverpool can offer you. I’ve had to miss lots off because it’d take you an hour to read through if I’d waffled on any more. If you think there’s something that needs to be in the guide then comment below.
If you want more current news about the ins and outs of this fantastic city go here & here.
Be sure to follow me on socials to keep up with the daily goings on of The Man Blueprint. You can also sign up for my inner circle using the newsletter form above. Just drop your email in there and it’s job done. Completely free and completely brilliant. Whilst you’re here, have a little browse of some other article you might like below too. You won’t regret it.
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Spiritual and Psychological Benefits of Hiking
After visiting Moel Famau a couple of weeks ago I was inspired to write a piece on hiking. The hike itself wasn’t particularly hard – there were literally children doing it. But, there was just something special about it – I got such a buzz afterwards. This got me interested in learning more about the spiritual and psychological benefits of hiking.
Despite not being the most challenging it was certainly a tough 4 hours and provided an almost instant improvement to my wellbeing, which prompted me to do some research into the area. Some of the results I found were extremely promising.
I am going to share with you some of my anecdotal experiences mixed in with the hard science behind hiking and how these can have immense benefit to you – and more importantly, your testosterone (which you should always pay attention to)
The Scenery Can Clear Your Mind
Going up a mountain and hiking in nature is pretty much a guaranteed way to get yourself some of the best views in the world. Just looking out at the vast expanse ahead can have a fantastic head-clearing effect, which is only helped by the health benefits of hiking.
When we reached the summit of Moel Famau (not the hardest task in the world), we sat there in silence for about 5 minutes just taking in the miles and miles of green space ahead of us.
Besides getting a break from her whining…it offered me a perfect opportunity to let my mind completely empty. After a few stressful weeks with work beforehand it had an extremely de-stressing effect on me.
Clearing my mind not only gets rid of negative thoughts, but it also boosts my creative problem solving skills, perfect for problem solving tasks in everyday life. This can be almost like a form of exercises, which, as well as being great to reduce stress, has immense physical benefits (almost as much as the physical activity itself!)
Clearing your head has been shown to decrease cortisol substantially which can lead to huge increases in testosterone. This is mainly due to cortisol’s SHGB increasing properties. Basically – Clear mind – Lower Cortisol – Lower SHGB – Higher total & free testosterone.
The Air Can Improve Blood Flow
Although it’s quite common knowledge, I’m going to tell you anyway – the higher above sea level you go, the thinner the air becomes. Believe it or not, mountains are quite a way above sea level, meaning there’s less of that precious air for you to breathe in.
This challenges your respiratory system, and physical fitness in general much more than a standard walk. It can also induce a state of hypoxia without having to use one of those ridiculous bane masks that fitness ‘gurus’ like to pedal quite regularly.
Induced hypoxia has been shown to have a myriad of benefits such as increased blood flow to tissues, higher blood cell production, reduced risk of heart diseases, lower blood pressure and higher Vo2 max. These results can actually be observed after only one bout of exercise meaning just one hike can give you lasting benefits.
The Success of Getting Outside and The Spiritual Benefits of Hiking
There is a certain sense of accomplishment you get when you reach the summit. Technically, Moel Famau is actually a hill so my sense of accomplishment was diminished slightly upon learning that. This success and accomplishment gave me a spiritual boost, which is really hard to describe in words unless you have a spiritual experience yourself.
However, this is universal throughout life. Who doesn’t love to accomplish something after putting in some seriously hard work? Getting a high grade after putting in hours of research, winning a game of football you’ve put your all into or even completing a video game you’ve stayed up all night to play.
This is backed up by science which shows that competing with people or against yourself can be beneficial to testosterone. Especially when you taste success or complete a massive task – this can skyrocket testosterone and give you a massive mood boost along with the benefits increased testosterone bring.
THE END
To conclude, not only is hiking a great way to access the world’s greatest views but it comes with a whole host of health benefits both for the mind and body. Get your hiking boots out and get rambling.
Be sure to follow me on socials to keep up with the daily goings on of The Man Blueprint. You can also sign up for my inner circle using the newsletter form above. Just drop your email in there and it’s job done. Completely free and completely brilliant. Whilst you’re here, have a little browse of some other article you might like below too. You won’t regret it.