A Self-Guided Harry Potter walking tour of London

A Self-Guided Harry Potter walking tour of London

Monday, 22 October 2018

One of the amazing things about London is that you can walk in the footsteps of your favourite movies practically on every street corner.

It may come as a surprise to you but I, of all people, haven't been on a Harry Potter walking tour of London yet. At least, I haven't paid for one. I have done pirates, ghosts and general history, but never one of my favourite things of all time.

One sunny day in the Summer, Gary and I decided to have one of our rare 'date days' around London. It mostly consisted of doing our own self-guided walking tours of Harry Potter areas, lord knows why Gary agrees to do all of these things with me but he is a bit of a hero.

There are obviously way more places around London that have been used for Harry Potter orientated things, but we did not leave in enough time... typical us. Here are just a few things every Harry Potter nerd should visit when they're in London.

The Harry Potter floor of Hamley's

Not exactly hidden away in the basement with a Diagon Alley inspired archway entrance is the the dedicated area to all things Harry Potter. As you enter you a greeted by Hogwarts 'students' in their robes showing off all the toys and merch, a giant Hagrid, which I really hope is to scale, and the soundtrack playing in areas.

If you're after the collectibles rather than just toys and stationery, my advice is to pop back up to the top floor where the Noble Collection can be found. The Harry Potter section of Hamley's didn't have the fancy Ollivander wands, only the toy versions and it was so busy I got a bit stressed out! The Noble Collection is way quieter and I left happily with the Ollivander's version of the Elder Wand in hand. My collection is ever growing!

Leadenhall Market at the Leaky Cauldron

All Londoners know of Leadenhall Market and a weekend is the perfect time to go and see it, especially if it's mostly for the gram. On a weekend, that whole area of London is pretty much a ghost town. Even the New Look on the corner isn't open when the banks and businesses aren't. Obviously, it would have been lovely to see the market in action, but I was having one of those weird head moments where I'd much rather not have to deal with people! I also work 9-5 so I guess the only time I can bloody go to the market is when it's bloody closed!

The eagle-eyed Harry Potter readers out there will recognise Leadenhall Market from Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone when Hagrid takes Harry shopping in Diagon Alley. Did you know, around the corner from here is the actual Leaky Cauldron?

It's not nearly as creepy looking as in the movies and it's actually an opticians... but it's the Leaky Cauldron, guys! I promise!

Trying to find the Ministry of Magic in Westminster

This one was a little bit tricky because my GOD DAMN SCAFFOLDING CURSE STRUCK AGAIN. Also, I was an idiot and forgot the red phone box Mr. Weasley and Harry used to get to the Ministry was actually a prop. Out of my annoyance I didn't get a picture but you can find it 5 minutes walk from Westminster Tube Station, just past Downing Street.

Grimmauld Place - AKA Claremont Square near Angel

You know that Scaffolding Curse? Yeah, it struck again here too. Fan-fucking-tastic, right? Luckily for me, most of the houses on Claremont Square look exactly the same so I staged a photo in front of one of the scaffolding free houses anyway, much to the bemusement of one of the residents who was playing in the street with his little girl.

 Not as dark and dingy as the House of Black is in the movies and the majority of them are covered in beautiful flowers. Kind of dampens the aesthetic a touch but I have to remind myself that Harry Potter isn't real sometimes and that set design is a thing...


Platform 9 3/4 King's Cross

Everyone knows this one but it is most definitely my happy place. I go here often even if it's just to feel a bit happier after a bad day. It's one of the few places in London where I can deal with lots of people in one place and that's only because I know it's a magical pilgrimage all Harry Potter fans go on and that not everyone is as lucky as I am. I only live 20 odd minutes away so can go as often as I like!

We missed so much off, including the Millennium bridge! Bless Gary, he has already agreed we can do another one again soon and has promised that we'll wake up earlier to fit more in. Maybe even do it over two days!

Regardless of how much we missed, I well and truly had the best day nerding out with one of my favourite people and I cannot wait to do it again.

Have you ever done a Harry Potter walking tour of London?

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Making potions at the Cauldron

Making potions at the Cauldron

Monday, 15 October 2018

It finally happened, guys. After missing out on tickets last time, I finally got to go to the Cauldron with Love Pop Ups London and I couldn't have been happier. Let's face it, who wouldn't want the opportunity to feel like an actual Witch making potions while drinking delicious cocktails at the same time? Not this girl, I was all for it.

If you don't know about the Cauldron (where have you been?), it's a molecular / immersive bar in Elephant and Castle where you make your own drinks Sure, making your own drinks isn't the most original idea BUT you use a magic wand... and make your drinks in an actual cauldron.

The Cauldron is very unassuming from the outide. In fact, if I wasn't so uncomfortable about being in unfamiliar surroundings at night alone, I would have walked right past it. Once you're inside though, it's as if you have just stumbled into the Wizarding World.

With books balanced precariously all around the room, crystal viles, even photography by Xavier Boldu everywhere. It was an absolute delight to see some of my favourite Harry Potter fans, like Weasley's Book, over the walls and it felt like I was in a combination of Flourish and Blotts and The Apothecary.

You could see that they had gone through every effort to include the tiniest of details. From Rhunes carved into compartments on the tables, to giving you robes as you walked through the door. I obviously wore my own because I'm a loser.

On to the important bit. The drinks and the magic.

Before the experience really begins, you get a little welcome drink of Poetic Mead. It's hidden away in one of the compartments on the tables which you open with the wand. that's right. You Alohomora that shit for booze. I cannot explain to you how happy this made me. I even did a little squeal.

The drink itself was nice, it was just very tiny. It added to the charm though especially since it was in the smallest jar ever.

After the welcome bev, you had the choice of two drinks to make yourself. Just so you're aware, they're served in pairs so you'll need to make sure whoever goes with you is happy with the choice too!

The Potions Master delivers all of the ingredients to your table as well as step-by-step instructions, which we were RUBBISH at following. But that all adds to the experience, right?

Our first 'potiion'  was the Blood Boiling Curse. It consisted of gin, a bouncing magic bean (which you used the magic wand to control), troll bogies and the sands of time. Because of course it did. Cue me saying 'bleurgh, troll bogies' very loudly. I am but basic.

It was a nice combination of sweet and bitter. I felt like it could have done with a bit more gin but that's mostly because... well, gin.

The Botony Brew was my favourite part of the experience, mostly because of the cauldron. A simmering and smoking concoction that would have made Professor Slughorn proud, but only because there's no pleasing Professor Snape when you're a Gryffindor.

I don't have a sweet tooth and it was a little too much for me. But that could have been because we added too much Montenegro (whatever that is). Watch your measures, peeps and don't stray from the instructions! Bonus was though, there was enough in our cauldron for three full glasses each, so they're not exactly stingey there!

In short, if you're a fellow nerd like me, the Cauldron is an experience you wouldn't want to miss. The whole experience lasts about 1hr 45mins so make sure you're not late for your pre-booked spot. Make sure you make the most of your time there and explore everty nook and cranny. You'd be amazed by the tiniest things you see and little nerdy references hidden around the place, and more than just Harry Potter too! I'd wholly recommend taking a peek in the wardrobe... if you're not too squeamish! Make sure you book tickets soon though, if this round is anything like last time, slots fill up pretty quickly.

Have you been to The Cauldron yet?

*Discalimer: I went to the Cauldron as a guest of Love Pop Ups London but honestly couldn't recommend it enough. All ramblings and appreciation are 100% my own. 

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Why it’s O.K. to not want to visit again

Why it’s O.K. to not want to visit again

Wednesday, 10 October 2018

As you may have heard, I didn't exactly fall in love with Cyprus when I went on a Villa Holiday with the girls. Now, I'm not saying I hated every second of it because that would be far from the truth. It's just not my favourite.

Unlike some of the girls, I have never been to Cyprus, Greece or Turkey so I really had no idea what to expect from that side of the world. I only really know what I've seen in History books and movies. Plus, none of us bothered to do any proper research before we arrived. After several years of wanting to visit, I was really excited so it was a shame to be so underwhelmed.

There aren’t many places I have visited where I felt no desire to go back. With Cyprus, it felt like I was doing something wrong because I have heard so many people rave about it. Sure, we were there off-season and we didn’t really know where to go and explore, but at the same time, it was all a bit ‘meh’. I had a great time at some points, but I don’t miss it at all.

So far this year, I’ve been to two countries that I definitely want to see more of so it’s almost like Cyprus is the let down of the bunch.

Now, don't get me wrong, there are many reasons that could be why I didn't enjoy it as much as I imagined. I'm not blaming the country at all.

As we were there on a blogger trip (NOT being ungrateful here, at all), half of one of our days was spent with activities of the resort. A resort I could NEVER afford in my wildest dreams. It was very much forced fun with golf and tennis, which we made fun, but definitely not something I look for in a holiday. It made the day feel a bit forced. Like we had to have fun. We had to enjoy resort life, even though I'm the kind of person who's more than happy to go camping in a field.

Because we went in the off season so the weather was unpredictable. Sure it was a lot warmer than back in London but we seemed to go on one of the only weekends in the whole year where there wasn't blazing sun. It wasn't exactly bubbling or bustling with people either. At times, I felt like we were the only ones on the resort! I'm sure this would have been entirely different at the height of summer but I'm not sure that would have made me feel any better. The British Expat area we passed with its Red Lion pubs made me feel uncomfortable. Like some of the magic that could have been in Cyprus had been sucked away and replaced with a mini British replica to stop people from feeling homesick.

Most importantly, I didn't feel inspired by Cyprus. It was all very beige. The blue seas were a beautiful contrast but from where we were (and the weather) we couldn't really appreciate them. We only really popped to the sea to visit Aphrodite's Rock on our way to the airport on our last day.

The whole point of this isn't to slag of Cyprus, not at all. In fact, I have had conversations with so many people recommending areas to visit that may be more my style of travelling, or simply to go at a different time of year. My main reasoning is how it's OK if I'm not too fussed about going back. As much as I look forward to seeing all the new places and seeing as much of the world as I can, there are a couple of places I will always go back to. Cyprus doesn't feel like one of them though and I don't feel like I should be bothered about it.

I have had a couple of people say 'oh, you should really give it another go', but I really don't want to and that's OK. You shouldn't force a relationship if you're not happy, just like you shouldn't just keep going back to the same place in the small hope you might end up liking it eventually. I wouldn't want to waste money on something I'm not going to enjoy either. Although I know it doesn't matter how much you spend on a holiday, you always don't want to just throw money away (essentially).

Give me new adventures and new places to fall in love with instead.

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A day in Covent Garden

A day in Covent Garden

Tuesday, 25 September 2018

When I say I live in London, I don't live in PROPER London. I live in quiet East Finchley, tucked away in Zone Three. It's far from the bustling crowds and fast paced life you generally see in the movies. It's got tree lined streets, the smell of open fires in autumn and winter and frequent community festivals. It's peaceful. It's quiet. Tourists don't know it.

When ever I do head into central London, it feels like an adventure. Visiting Covent Garden is something I generally reserve for when friends and family visit because, even though I know my way around after living in London for 11 years, it's nice to feel like a tourist sometimes. For our anniversary at the weekend, Gary and I were up at, what felt like, the crack of dawn to go and explore Covent Garden and celebrate each other. But on the cheap... it was the weekend before payday after all!

Where to Explore / Instagram

We got to Covent Garden for before 9am because if I know anything as a Londoner and an Instagram fiend, it's best to get to your destination before the shops open. This way, you'll have more space to capture those gorgeous pictures you're after, and also you can spot new things that you may not have noticed before. I for one, didn't know that Covent Garden was now surrounded my flower displays everywhere you look. It does make sense though, what with how it used to be a flower market.

It felt more private, like we had stumbled across something secret, being there so early. There was no one around and it felt more like the *that* scene from My Fair Lady. I'm not ashamed to admit that I ended up singing 'Wouldn't it be lovely' to Gary at one point. Ideally I wanted to take a photo sitting on the church steps a la Audrey Hepburn, but it was the set up point for all the street performers! Oh well.

Neals Yard is a destination for any Instagrammer but my scaffolding curse struck once again. I obviously wanted to to replicate THE photo of the gorgeous buildings that every other Londoner has on their feeds, but alas. I am cursed...

Also, bonus nerd spot. Did you know Monty Python used to live here? I didn't until I decided to #LookUp!

Where to Eat

For breakfast, we chose to leave the main Covent Garden centre and headed to Dishoom on Upper St Martin's Lane. Having been to Dishoom before, I was so excited because I know how good their food is. However, I have never had their breakfast before and their infamous Naan bread is something I've wanted to try for so long. As we were nice and early (are you spotting a theme here?), we didn't have to queue at all when normally you would have to as they don't take reservations. All I can say, it's definitely worth the early wake up call.

Where to shop

It wouldn't be me if there wasn't something nerdy in here, would it? My ONE destination while we were in central London was to visit the Noble Collection UK on Neal Street. The Noble Collection is the home for nerdy and movie replicas and collectibles. From the Lord of the Rings to Harry Potter, 300 to Suicide Squad. Whether you're after a fluffy Niffler, or a board game, new wand (me) or a fantastic headdress so you can be Galadriel for the day, this is the place for you.

It honestly felt just like being in Olivander's and I did get a chuckle from Gary who was timing how long it took me to choose between two wands. Personally, I don't think 25 minutes is long enough. Quite fast if you ask me.

Where to drink

Now, to be fair we went for the easy choice here. The heavens opened on us and we were not dressed for the ocassion, what with being idiots and not checking the weather that morning... We opted for the Nags Head on St James Street, and this is mostly becuase I'm a sucker for a blue plaque. And I didn't want to get wet anymore...

What's nice about this pub is how it feels homey even though it's always busy. I go to this pub whenever I'm in Covent Garden because it does still feel like a local even though it's full of strangers. They do a banging Guinness too which was the best way to finish up our anniversary celebrations.

Obviously, there is so much more to do in Covent Garden than what we got up to. I'm still slightly kicking myself that we didn't go to the Transport Museum but I wasn't up for the queue in that rain... If you have been, do let me know what I missed out on! 

How would you spend a morning in Covent Garden? 

*Disclaimer: £75 of spending money was kindly gifted by Hotels.com but all views are my own. 

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Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets at the Royal Albert Hall

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets at the Royal Albert Hall

Monday, 18 June 2018

Since Gary took me to see Beauty and the Beast at the Royal Albert Hall with a live Orchestra for my birthday last year, it's been my mission to see as many of those shows as possible. As a musician and a film buff, it's pretty much two of my favourite things combined.

Last year, I was absolutely gutted that I missed out on the showing/performance of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone due to the crazy demand, I watched instagram stories with such envy. This year, I refused to let that happen so I was online on release date desperately trying to get tickets but I once again failed.

Somehow, the gods (old and new) smiled down on me. A friend knew someone with spare tickets. At the very last minute and £60 lighter (worth it), I had my hands on a pair and poor Gary had to deal with my excitement and happy tears. Again.

It's obviously been forever and a day since I last saw a Harry Potter  movie on the big screen (no, I'm not including Fantastic Beasts this time), so it took me straight back to those earlier years. The anticipation of what was going to happen and seeing young kids and many adults dressed up in costumes for the occasion. I'm a weirdo who likes to dress up, dress up for the theatre so only took my scarf and wand this time. A little bit gutted about that after I saw someone wearing a Keeper costume... Why don't I have one?

For me, the orchestra added a new layer of magic to the whole experience. That could be because of the musician in me, but there were moments where I felt more involved and almost a part of it all. It was even more moving than just watching it at home. Every crescendo was even more intense and finally listening to Hedwig's Theme live definitely brought a tear to my eye. Also, the difference to with my little community orchestra is VERY clear.

One of the things (other than the obvious demand) that put me off tickets for other, non Harry Potter related,  Royal Albert Hall performances was what I thought the cost would be. It turns out, it's really not that much, you just need to know where to look! With our second hand tickets, I paid the full price including booking fee because that's fair (and I normally refuse to buy tickets from other sources). Seats where we were are only £30 each and as you can see, the view really wasn't bad! Much better than when Gary and I stood in the heavens for Beauty and the Beast.

With tickets for The Prisoner of Azkaban now available, I'll be going straight there to book tickets. It's conveniently playing just before my birthday which is pretty much a sign that I must go anyway. I just hope there are still tickets available on payday... turns out booking holidays is expensive other wise I would have booked already!

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Nerding about in Oxford

Nerding about in Oxford

Monday, 11 June 2018

How many people do you know who will take a day off work just to run around Oxford in Hogwarts robes? Just me? Oh, ok then. I'm cool with that.

As part if my 12 in 12, I'm trying to see more of the UK as well buggering off to far off countries. There's so much more than the usual beer gardens, streets and sights I see every day. Oxford is one of those places I have always swung through on my way to other events/places, never really spending an hour or two. It's home to so many literary inspirations that a Pilgrimage had been on the cards for a long time. All I needed was some fellow nerds, a couple of wands and robes.

The inspiration behind the door to Narnia

Many people already know that Oxford is essentially 'home to Hogwarts' in a way but it's also the inspiration behind the Shire, Lyra's home and the start of the journey to Narnia. Basically everything I love. As we're ridiculously unorganised people sometimes, we booked our travel on what felt like the ONLY day there wasn't a free literary walking tour happening so we mostly survived off Google Maps and finding our own way to things.

Out first stop of our nerdy adventure was to sit where Tolkien and C.S. Lewis used to meet, the Eagle and Child.

The Eagle and Child is a nerd's dream, even if the pub as a whole leaves much to be desired. You're not there for a 5 star meal and beautiful surroundings. You're there for the geeky decor and banter with the bar staff. You'll have a great time even if one of the toilets does overflow while you're there. It's all part of the charm, really! Just make sure you do what we didn't do and check the opening times, Otherwise you'll be those losers hanging outside an empty pub for half an hour...

Just being there made me beyond excited for my trip to New Zealand later in the year. Especially after I saw this sign.. something I quote far too much for my own good!

I guarantee you, I will say this at least once in Hobbiton, even though they don't serve pints in the Green Dragon.

LOL

With Oxford being as small as it is (in a way), we walked everywhere and managed to find everything we wanted to see as well as other little bits we weren't looking for, such as the inspiration behind the door to Narnia (above) and stunning architecture every where. The only REAL thing on our list was to pay a visit to Christchurch university. We wanted to go up those stairs, huddle in the cloisters (despite Umbridge's Educational Decree number 26) and hang about in the Great Hall. in robes. Looking awesome. I have no idea how many tourist pictures we're in now but they all LOVED us... and copied our poses.

There are a lot of things we didn't get to do because we were disorganised and ran out of time. If we had arrived a wee bit earlier, we would have been able to get to Christchurch earlier and therefore wouldn't have had to pick between the Colleges. Bodleian Library is still up there on my list now so I guess I'm just going to have to go back soon. Jordan College from His Dark Materials, (called Exteter College in real life) is still up there but getting lost in the streets of Jericho has finally been ticked off.

Oxford is a magical place and I'm going to stop just using it as a stop off point and try and see more of it, especially since it's practically around the corner. If you want to be a nerd like me and take your own visit to this literary heaven make sure you:

Book tickets in advance

The queue to get into Christchurch was HUGE and it was raining. If you book in advance you can skip ahead

Actually make a plan

We ran out of time. One day with no plan wasn't enough to see everything we wanted to

Do a tour but also make your own

We resorted to Google to find out some things but if you manage to get there on a day when the Literary tours are happening (i.e., not on a Bank Holiday) you'll be able to find out so much more than we did. At the same time, make sure you get yourself a little bit lost and enjoy the beauty if the city. Take a moment to look up and around you.

Get there early

Don't make our mistake, guys. Get there early or spend an extra day if you want to do everything.

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Being a Harry Potter Fan as an adult

Being a Harry Potter Fan as an adult

Wednesday, 18 April 2018

I know, I know. Being a grown up Potterhead isn't exactly big news or something new. But hear me out a bit.

There have been a couple of times this month alone where I feel people have mocked my life choices. They have blatantly taken the piss out of  my sheer passion for this fictional world that sometimes feels more like home than anything else.

I've had someone flat out laugh at me when I told them I was a big fan, someone say 'the funniest part of that was you looking so serious' when I told them I wore Gryffindor robes in Christ Church College and someone say it's time to stop acting like a kid.

I'm sorry, but screw you.

I feel like I have had constant debates with people over whether or not Harry Potter is for kids. As much as I believe it's not, that's down to the individual person at the end of the day. But whether or not you think it is for children, it doesn't make it OK for you to make me feel small.

I have a passion for something and I don't think that's something to be ashamed of. I'm sure if I also spoke to people about my love for Shakespeare, travelling or even computers games, I wouldn't be met with nearly as much mockery as I do when they find out about the Harry Potter world I am enveloped in.

Sure, I don't try to hide it from people, but why the hell should I? People wear football shirts and talk about the latest controversy on XFactor without feeling like they should hide what they're interested in so why should Harry Potter be any different?

The Harry Potter world is something that's grown far beyond that last page and the grounds of Hogwarts. And it's growing every day. We have a whole swathe of people from my generation who have named their children Harry and Hermione. We also have a bunch of much stronger young people as a result of being inspired by the heroes and heroines within those pages.

Even the March For Our Lives protests in America this year could be partly attributed to the strength gained from Harry Potter. The young people mobilised and marched onwards with placards quoting 'Expelliarmus!' and 'Dumbledore's Army Still Recruiting'. There are real life 'Death Eaters' in this world, and there's a whole generation of people ready to fight back. 

Yes, pretty much 30 and I like Harry Potter. I like to dress up, buy wands and cuddly toys. I read the books every year and have been to the Studio Tour more times than anyone I know. But it's all OK. I'm perfectly happy with the way I am. Just because you don't understand something doesn't mean it's wrong or silly. I've had so many opportunities and life experiences gained from this world of magic and I will continue to show my love for it.

Maybe soon I'll stop feeling hurt when people laugh at me but until then, I'll just seek solace in the Prisoner of Azkaban, remember 'Expecto Patronum' and carry on.

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Things to do on a weekend in Prague

Things to do on a weekend in Prague

Monday, 16 April 2018

It seems like bloody forever ago that I went on my first 12 in 12 trip! Especially considering I booked everything back in September... After years of wanting to go and going through a touch of Instagram envy, I finally got to experience this pretty city for myself, with one my favourite person in the world too!

From the second we were in our taxi from the airport and driving down the hills and winding streets to our hotel, I had already decided that I was in love with Prague. A journey down was fill of bright colours, some tired looking buildings (which I love). It really doesn't take much to please me, does it?

We stayed in Praha 5 at the NH Prague City hotel which was roughly 20 minutes from the airport and a walkable distance from the Old Town. That part isn't the prettiest of neighbourhoods but the hotel itself was lovely. I was mostly excited about the cable car between the two different parts of the hotel, but I was devastated to learn that it was out of service when we arrived. Bloody refurb.

Spending a weekend in Prague can be easily done, obviously depending on what you want to do! Personally, I felt the two days and a bit we had there weren't quite enough, there's a lot we missed and I really wanted to do ALL THE THINGS. If you're going for around the same time, here are a couple of suggestions. But there is so much more.

Try the local brews

Czech Republic is well known for its pilsner, but there's also a growing craft beer scene. I actually had one of the best beers I have ever tasted in the Three Roses pub in the old town. All the beers they sell are brewed in the pub itself and there's even a little family tree of everything they have ever made as well as the person who made it. 

It was our favourite place to go for a quick pit stop between tourist-ing and the staff are so friendly. They made you feel at home in a way and were full of jokes all the time. I 100% recommend it to all beer fans out there.

This is not the Vienna Red but it's still pretty tasty

One little thing, though. We noticed that the menus didn't have percentages on them so LORD KNOWS how strong the beer we were drinking was. No wonder we felt tipsy most of the time!!

Also, bars and pubs run on a tab system so try not to make a tit out of yourself like I did and think you pay in rounds...

Goulash for days

Not gonna lie, I lived on it. I know it's the ultimate cliché when tourists visit Prague but it has been one of my favourite dishes for a while so I loved having it in the place it was born, if that makes any sense whatsoever.

As with every where, it can be difficult to tell which restaurants are obviously tourist traps (like all the Angus Steak houses in London...) and which are local specialists. The gem we found on our last day was Restaurace Mlegnice right near the Old Town Square. There were queues out the door at one point and we ended up sharing a table with two other couples. The food was the best I'd had all the weekend  so it's no wonder it's on Culture Tip's best restaurants in Prague list. (note, this is also how we found out about it...) 

Catch the Changing of the Guard at Prague Castle

Yes, I know. not exactly everyone's kinda thing and we all know and we Londoners occasionally laugh at the swarms of people who hang around outside the gates of Buckingham Palace, but I do love a bit of Pomp and Circumstance and a Marching Band. 

The actual changing of the guard happens at 12pm but it can get really busy so don't be surprised if you have to queue to get into the castle afterwards! 

Actually go in to the Castle Grounds

If only for the architecture, it's worth a visit. Gary and I weren't too fussed about going in to the actual castle, we were more than happy to just wander and #LookUp.

For one thing once you finally get to the castle, the view alone makes those bastarding steps absolutely worth it. 

I mean, look at that.

Within the Castle Grounds, there's way more to do than we had time to. This is mostly due to us sleeping through our alarm and not arriving in the time we planned. There the St. Vitus Cathedral that we only saw from the outside... parts of it were under refurbishment and the one part that was open to the public had the world's biggest queue!

There's also Golden Lane which was top of my list to see. It's one of the oldest parts of the castle and from what I've seen online, it's just so cute.

I can't give you a personal opinion on this one or any of the pretty photographs I planned to take... we didn't get to go. This is reason #86767907 we'll be going back to Prague. If only for the Instagram.

Visit Charles Bridge

Possibly one of the most popular spots in Prague, it's constantly busy. When Gary and I arrived on the Friday (at Golden Hour, BOOM) it was rammed. We decided to get there a little earlier the next day but it was STILL busy. We went a long it anyway and I took as many pictures as I possibly could. My one recommendation for you would be to get there at bum fuck early. 

For more things we wanted to do but didn't get to...

The Astronomical Clock

The one thing I wanted to do and it's UNDER REFURBISHMENT!! A large portion of the clock and Tower itself is being reconstructed until June 2018 and parts of the Town Hall will also be closed.

My heart broke when I saw the Scaffolding all over it so here is an advanced warning to you, you might not get to see it. 

#LookUp

For one small stroke of luck, Gary and I were still able to actually go UP the tower and in to the Town Hall. It wasn't the same but still very pretty and once again, delivered on stunning views over toe Old Town Square

The Jewish Cemetery

When I was researching places to go and things to see, this was pretty much near the top of every list. However, we arrived a little too late. The Cemetery and Synagogue close early on a Friday in preparation of Sabbath the next day. As we left again on the Sunday, we didn't have time to re-arrange our visit.

All around it are a bunch of antique shops and Jewish bakeries (all were closed for us) so if you get to go yourself, let me know where the best places to go are!

 If there's one piece of advice I could give you about visiting Prague, it would be to realise that everywhere is really easy to get to so make sure you get yourself lost. You never know what you're going to find down any cobbled streets. See all the things, drink all the beer and have all the food. Have the BEST time. Now, if you don't mind, I'm going to start looking up flights so I can go back. 

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