travel

36 Hours In Edinburgh with Novotel Hotels

Victoria Street, Edinburgh

Victoria Street, Edinburgh

Gifted stay with Novotel Hotels

I was very kindly invited by Novotel Hotels to stay at the recently renovated Edinburgh hotel right in the centre of the city. Having visited Edinburgh a good 6 years ago, I was keen to go back and explore again.

The hotel is situated perfectly for exploring Edinburgh - it is just a short walk from all the major tourist attractions. Rooms vary from standard rooms to suites. I was kindly upgraded to the Suite which was really spacious and had the pièce de résistance - a balcony with amazing views.

Novotel Edinburgh Suite Balcony - the views are gorgeous!

Novotel Edinburgh Suite Balcony - the views are gorgeous!

11pm

After dropping our bags and freshening up we immediately headed out for some cocktails - you know me, I can’t stay away from an espresso martini for too long. The Dome was recommended by one of my lovely instagram followers and it really is an impressive building - the perfect place for a sophisticated cocktail.

9am

There is an option for room service breakfast at the hotel for an extra £5, if you already have breakfast included in your room, which is really good value. I love nothing more than breakfast in bed at hotels - hiding away in your dressing gowns, watching tv. It feels like a real luxury. And it meant we got to relax in the room for longer and take advantage of the gorgeous sunny morning on the balcony.

Breakfast in bed, Novotel Edinburgh

Breakfast in bed, Novotel Edinburgh

Sunny morning coffee on the balcony, Novotel Edinburgh

Sunny morning coffee on the balcony, Novotel Edinburgh

11am

Victoria Street is a beautiful curved street with gorgeous colour facades each holding lovely little cafes and shops which is one of my lasting memories from the last time I was in Edinburgh. We stopped off at Hula and sat outside in the sunshine and sipped on juices before making our way across the city.

Victoria Street, Edinburgh

Victoria Street, Edinburgh

Victoria street is just off the Royal Mile which is a must see if it’s your first or millionth time visiting Edinburgh. It is a hub of souvenir shops, cathedrals and bagpipes all leading to the stunning castle on the hill.

The Royal Mile, Edinburgh

The Royal Mile, Edinburgh

1pm

After wandering through the old town and into the new town, we stopped off at Badger & Co to warm up with coffee and cocktails. I can highly recommend the blood orange mimosa!

2pm

Circus Lane is an Instagram favourite so of course I had to go check it out. That’s the beauty of visiting a city the second time round, you can forget the tourist must sees and start heading to the outskirts to explore places you might not necessarily see on the first visit.

Circus Lane, Edinburgh

Circus Lane, Edinburgh

3pm

The Scran & Scallie, Edinburgh

The Scran & Scallie, Edinburgh

We had booked a table at The Scran and Scallie in Stockbridge - a gorgeous gastro pub run by two of Scotland’s top chefs, Tom Kitchin and Dominic Jack. I would say booking is a must as the pub was packed. We had an amazing meal here and some delicious champagne too.

Stockbridge is a wonderful little area, bustling with boutiques, bars and restaurants. It reminded me a lot of Burton Road in Didsbury and I could definitely see myself living here!

5pm

Back to the hotel to freshen up. The decor here is really relaxed and welcoming which was a nice surprise for me. Neon lights, lounge chairs and plants make the reception a place you actually wouldn’t mind chilling out in which is something most big brand hotels fail at in my opinion.

Novotel Edinburgh Reception

Novotel Edinburgh Reception

Novotel Edinburgh restaurant

Novotel Edinburgh restaurant

Novotel Edinburgh Bar

Novotel Edinburgh Bar

8pm

It took us a a few minutes to find Bramble Bar - a hidden underground space on Queen Street in the new town area. It’s a really cool cosy bar serving up fabulous gin cocktails if you like gin - which apparently everyone in the world does except me! There are also regular djs and the tunes were amazing!

Ready for a night out in Edinburgh

Ready for a night out in Edinburgh

9pm

Dinner at The Honours was beautiful. It’s a fine dining kind of setting with a more relaxed price list which appealed to us. The scallops were incredible, and although we were too full for dessert they looked and sounded amazing.

Just up the street from The Honours is Copper Blossom which is a cute cocktail bar with lots of lovely decor and foliage which of course I was a like a moth to the flame.

Copper Blossom, Edinburgh

Copper Blossom, Edinburgh

8am

Sunday morning chilling in bed with the balcony doors open and the sun streaming through was perfect. We really lucked out with the weather this weekend, although cold, it was mainly dry and sunny. And the weather made the suite even more special.

Suite view, Novotel Hotel, Edinburgh

Suite view, Novotel Hotel, Edinburgh

Brushing my teeth with a view, Novotel hotel Edinburgh

Brushing my teeth with a view, Novotel hotel Edinburgh

11am

Coffee before the train, back where we started on Victoria Street. La Barantine is a cute little bakery with lots of Parisian patisseries and great coffee. And it’s also just a 10 minute walk from Waverley station.

La Baratine, Victoria street, Edinburgh

La Baratine, Victoria street, Edinburgh

I would highly recommend visiting Edinburgh if you’ve never been before, or if you are thinking of going back soon. The Novotel Edinbrugh Centre is the perfect central location and a really good hotel, deserving of it’s 4 star status. Comfy beds, gorgeous rooms and delicious breakfasts make it the perfect city break base camp.

Novotel Hotel, Edinburgh - the perfect city break base camp

Novotel Hotel, Edinburgh - the perfect city break base camp

*This was a gifted stay provided by Novotel in exchange for some images and blog post. All words are my own and I would never recommend somewhere I didn’t enjoy.

Italian Adventure

So a little break from Interiors and Manchester but I just have to write about my amazing adventure in Italy. I had been planning this trip for a year and had waited ever so patiently (or not in the case of my friends and workmates!) for September to arrive. The main reason for visiting was for a wedding of our close friends, for whom I was honoured to be bridesmaid. We decided to combine this with a road trip around Northern Italy. 

Stops covered were Lake Como, Milan, Parma, Modena, Portico & Florence and these are just a few snippets of the journey... 

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First stop of the trip was Lake Como. We arrived late at night after driving from Milan Airport and the crazy winding roads in the pitch black meant we didn't have a clue where we were, or what our surroundings looked like. It meant the best surprise first thing in the morning though.

Waking up to this!

Waking up to this!

Our apartment was found via AirBnB - Residence Le Terrazze. You definitely need a car to get up here but it is sooo worth it. The views are insane and there's a private spa with a hot tub and pool which was right up our street! 

I don't think I've ever been somewhere so beautiful, I just couldn't get over the view. No wonder all the celebs including George Clooney call it home. 

Breakfast with a view!

Breakfast with a view!

As I mentioned before, staying up in Perdelo, you would be wise to hire a car. But everywhere else in Lake Como is pretty accessible using the lake ferries. We only had 3 days to explore and managed to see Bellagio & Varenna. It was pretty tough prizing ourselves away from the apartment if i'm being honest. 

Varenna

Varenna

View from Vezio Castle

View from Vezio Castle

One top tip if you are staying in the Varenna area is to go and eat at Crott Del Meo. It was the first and best meal of the whole two weeks. Authentic Italian cooking that served whatever chef was cooking that evening. Absolutely delicious. 

Stop 2. Milan

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It was a whistle stop tour of Milan as we did it in less than 24 hours. We stayed in the Navigli district which is a bit Northern Quarter-esque in the sense that it was once run down and has now become the trendy area to drink and eat. Set on a series of canals, this is the home of Aperitivo time. Most of the bars have a massive buffet selection which you have access to when you buy a drink. It was a really cool atmosphere and definitely reminded me of home. 

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Air BnB Milan Style

Air BnB Milan Style

Next Stop: Parma 

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Parma was a pretty surprise and a lovely afternoon was spent wandering the peaceful streets en route to our next accommodation. I just loved the coloured buildings - they were so cheerful basking in the sun. The churches were also some of the most beautiful that we saw throughout the whole trip. It was so non touristy and quiet on that random wednesday that I wouldn't want to stay there longer than a day or two but who knows it might come alive when the sun goes down. 

Chiostri di S.Giovanni Evangelista

Chiostri di S.Giovanni Evangelista

Home for the night : Al Vigneto Farmhouse

We had pre-booked a farmhouse in the Emilia Romagna hills over looking Parma for an authentic foodie evening. After a slight mix up, we were greeted by the owner who looked after us extremely well. He fed us his own vineyard Lambrusco (3 euros a bottle!) and hooked us up to a local restaurant - Trattoria Leoni where no one spoke any English but we got by with a little help from google translate and our foodie instincts. The food was insane and we had such a lovely meal on the terrace overlooking the city. 

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The night spent in the wilderness alone was a little spooky for me and the lack of air conditioning combined with a mosquito fight meant an unsettled sleep but waking up to another amazing view was totally worth it. The breakfast was also delicious, setting us up for the next destination. 

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Stop 5 : Modena

We went on the hunt for a balsamic producer and accidentally stumbled across the world's oldest. Acetaia Giuseppe Giusti is a unconspicious building in the middle of the countryside. The family has been making balsamic vinegar since 1605 and you can just turn up and take a tour for free. It was so informative and the best bit was being able to taste all the different products they produce, including the 100 year balsamic which would set you back 500 euros!

Giuseppe Giusti balsamic factory

Giuseppe Giusti balsamic factory

Ciao Bologna - Stop 6

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Bologna was probably the least researched part of our trip - we knew very little and to be honest I wasn't that fussed about going. By this point most of our friends had made it to the wedding venue and I was desperate to see them and celebrate. But boy am I glad we stopped here. Beautiful Bologna, full of life and vibrancy. This is clearly a student town which meant it was bustling with bars and restuarants and shops. It also has the most covered walkways in Italy which was handy for the afternoon downpour we experienced - if only Manchester city council would take note! 

Terrazzo Love on my Air BnB bedroom floor

Terrazzo Love on my Air BnB bedroom floor

We had a great day exploring and an even better evening soaking up the nightlife. This was also the first place we had a proper espresso martini - I rate places on how good they are! We had the real bolognese which doesn't involve an inch of spaghetti and drank excessive amounts of Limoncello. Perfect!

Bologna's answer to the leaning tower - The Two Towers

Bologna's answer to the leaning tower - The Two Towers

Wedding Destination - Portico Di Romagna 

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This tiny Italian village in the heart of the hills was invaded by the Brits for a weekend and for that I apologise! Portico was founded in ancient times along the road to Florence and came to be known first as a market place during the Roman times. It captured my friends hearts so much that they decided to get married here and invite us all along for the ride. 

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The hotel that looked after us all was Al Vecchio Convento and I cannot recommend this place enough. Marisa, her family and her staff attended to our every whim and made sure we were well fed and drunk at all times. This place is truly magical and I cannot wait to return. 

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It was the best weekend filled with love and happiness and it was beyond perfect.

Photo courtesy of Roaming Rooney

Photo courtesy of Roaming Rooney

Last But Not Least : Florence

View from our rooftop terrace - absolutely noway sponsered by Nutella!!!

View from our rooftop terrace - absolutely noway sponsered by Nutella!!!

Florence was by far the busiest place we'd been for the last two weeks and seeing lots of tourists was a shock to the system! Our group had now grown from 4 to 8 plus my friends adorable baby so we needed a good base in the heart of Florence. AirBnB provided the most beautiful apartment in the heart of Florence. Saverio and his wife were the best hosts, providing us with everything we needed. Their apartment is gorgeous and I even debated not writing about it to keep it our little secret so we can back again and again! 

Bedroom details

Bedroom details

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Florence itself was just how I imagined it - beautiful historic buildings wherever you turn. We took a free walking tour on the first day which is something I've never done before but our friends highly recommended them. It's a great way to get your bearings and see some things you would never normally see. And all for free! 

After that our days were spent wandering the city, stumbling on random streets and enjoying the sunshine. We climbed the Duomo and admired the amazing 360 views but to be honest, the view from our own private roof terrace was second to none!

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One of the guests from the wedding party recommended we go to the Sculpture museum whilst in Florence - The Bargello. It's way quieter than the Uffizi museum so if you don't fancy the queues and the crowds, this is the one to go to. It has a beautiful central courtyard which is really peaceful and the sculptures are memorizing. 

The Bargello Museum

The Bargello Museum

The last night of our trip was spent on the roof terrace, drinking prosecco and reminsicing on everything we'd experienced over the last two weeks. It was the most full on holiday I'd ever done - i've never been struck by the travelling bug and the thought of backpacking round Asia has no pull whatsoever. This was absolutely perfect for myself - I saw so many beautiful places just two hours from home that will stay with me forever.

Thanks for reading, apologies for straying away from the interiors theme but I just had to document it all! 

Too much food, too much prosecco and too much love - perfecto!

Too much food, too much prosecco and too much love - perfecto!