Category Archives: day out

The Cavendish Hotel London – a review

Two weeks ago, we were invited by The Cavendish Hotel London to see how family-friendly their hotel really is. The Cavendish Hotel is located in the heart of Piccadilly & Mayfair and is within walking distance of fabulous shopping areas and famous sightseeing landmarks such as Piccadilly Circus or Buckingham Palace. The four-star hotel has great transport links, which make exploring London very easy, but that’s not the only plus point that the Cavendish Hotel London has. Read on for our opinion on service, family-friendliness, food and, of course, our room.

Our executive room at the Cavendish Hotel London

During our time at the Cavendish Hotel London, we stayed in a king-size executive room on the third floor. It was spacious, and had the biggest and comfiest bed I have ever slept in. No lie! Amy slept on a pull-out double sofa in the lounge area of our room. It was big enough for two children, so if you travel with two young children, this room might be a great option for you. The room was also equipped with two TV sets with Sky TV and movie channels (one in each room), a good-sized desk as well as a Nespresso Coffee Maker and further tea and coffee making facilities. The bathroom featured a walk in shower and bath and the complimentary toiletries and robes were finishing touches that really made us feel at home. Amy enjoyed both the bath and shower while we got ready for dinner – as you do when you are a toddler on their first hotel testing mission.

Food at the Cavendish Hotel London

We had dinner and breakfast at the Petrichor Restaurant at the Cavendish Hotel and the quality of food and service was outstanding. Ben and I chose a starter and main each and Amy enjoyed a dish from the kids menu, which was really reasonably priced considering that we were dining in the restaurant of a four star hotel in the centre of London. Unfortunately, we had to skip dessert as Amy got tired, but the dessert menu looked lovely and I have no doubt that it would have been just as nice as our starters and mains.

For dinner we had:

Slow cook Aylesbury duck legs, pickled cucumber, spring onion, sesame seeds, orange reduction
Pan-fried Scottish scallops, pepper coulis, crushed peas, compressed apple saunce
Chicken and smoked bacon roulade, chorizo, rocket dressing, sauteed red chard and truffle puree
Wicks Manor pork belly & tenderloin, pumpkin puree, savoy cabbage, potato and black pudding gratin

petrichor restaurant the cavendish hotel london scallops chicken and bacon roulade petrichor restaurant the cavendish hotel London

Breakfast was served as a buffet and you could enjoy:

a seletion of five fresh fruits, organic flavored, fruit and natural yoghurt, homemade marmalade or strawberry jam
a range of Kellogg’s and other popular breakfast cereals, muesli, homemade granola and dried fruit
Ham and Milano salami, smoked Scottish salmon, variety of British cheeses
Freshly squeezed orange juice, apple juice, grapefruit juice, water, milk
Freshly baked breads, croissants, assorted muffins and Danish pastries
Wet cured, smoked back & streaky bacon, Cumberland & old English sausages, pan fried button mushrooms, baked beans, free range scrambled egg
as well as a selection of freshly prepared breakfast options

Service at the Cavendish Hotel London

The service that we received at the Cavendish Hotel was second to none. No matter who we dealt with, each member of staff was friendly, attentive and went out of their way to make us feel welcome. The concierge team looked after our car and luggage when we arrived and although we had to run back and forth because we forgot bits and bobs in the car, they never seemed annoyed or put out by any of our wishes and questions. Check-in was quick and easy and the reception staff came up trumps when I remembered that I had forgotten to print out tickets for the Tower of London. I phoned them from our room and within minutes, someone slipped an envelop with the printed tickets under the door.

The restaurant staff at The Petrichor were no exception. They helped us with our menu and drinks choices and got us a second highchair, after Houdini aka Amy managed to escape the first one. The restaurant manager Amanda was exceptionally friendly and told us how delighted she was to see a young family dining out with a child. She brought Amy an activity pack and some crayons while we waited to be served and had a smile for her whenever she passed our table.

In fact, there were a number of small touches that made the Cavendish Hotel London (there are a number of Cavendish hotels around the country) stand out as the luxurious hotel that it is. Our room surprised us with a selection of glossy magazines as well as different coffee pods for the Nespresso machine and bottled water. The bath room was stacked with sumptuous toiletries from Taylor of Old Bond Street and when we checked in, we received a VIP envelop that allowed us to choose from a list of gifts. We picked the homemade chocolates and they were divine. Flavour combinations I had never before tasted, infused into rich ganache and pralines that melted on our tongues. Beautiful!

How family-friendly is the Cavendish Hotel London?

Initially, I was a little skeptic about taking Amy to a luxury hotel like the Cavendish, however there was no need to worry. We were made very welcome and no one bat an eye lid when Amy got a bit louder during dinner or threw her crayons around. In fact, Amy was a bit of an ice-breaker. The receptionists started chatting to her while we checked in, the restaurant manager brought her an activity pack and smiled at her whenever she walked past us and the lady from room service gave her a biscuit when she ran across the corridor. She really enjoyed all the attention she got.

Our room was also perfect for families traveling with children. It was child-friendly and Amy absolutely loved running around and exploring it without being restricted by bulky furniture. The restaurant was prepared for families with young children too. There were two different types of highchairs available and activity packs kept kids entertained while they waited for their food. Travel cots were also available upon request.

All in all, we had a fabulous time at the Cavendish Hotel London and would thoroughly recommend it for a city break with or without children. Despite being in the centre of London, the Cavendish is a beautifully quiet hotel that allows you to put your feet up and relax after a long day exploring the British capital. It’s immaculately clean, spacious and the staff are beyond friendly.

I know that older kids of blogging friends received a welcome pack and kiddie dressing gown when they stayed, so I thought there would be something similar available for younger children, but unfortunately there wasn’t. A nice idea for toddlers and pre-schoolers would be a welcome pack with crayons or some stickers, as I could imagine there would be sad faces, if you travel with two children and only the older one receives some goodies. Saying that, had I not heard about the welcome pack from other bloggers, I really wouldn’t have missed it.

Disclosure: We were guests of the Cavendish Hotel London for one night and also received complimentary dinner and breakfast. My opinion however is 100% mine!

Our trip to Bath: Bath Guildhall Market, Abbey, Royal Victoria Park and more

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My sister and her boyfriend have been back home in Germany for a week now and when they left, I thought I’d have plenty of time to write about all the fun things we did while they stayed with us, but somehow life was a little hectic and I haven’t written about a single thing. I have taken so many photos though that I really want to share some of them – especially as they remind me of the good weather we had when they were here. Somehow England always manages to show itself from its best side whenever my family come to stay. The skies are blue, the sun is shining and the heat and humidity that usually lingers around in Bristol is made bearable by a light breeze. We were lucky again this time, so we decided to drive to Bath for the afternoon. It’s only a thirty minute drive away and a beautiful place when the sun is out. We went straight into the city centre as Ben and Jakob wanted to go into the Roman Baths (my sister and I have both been on numerous occasions), but the queue was so long that they would have had to wait around 20 minutes before even getting to the ticket counter. We decided to visit the Abbey instead and have a stroll around the city centre.

We listened to the water burbling along. We watched canoeists paddle along the river before sliding down the weir.

We saw Sass & Belle owl cushions at a little market stall and took one home with us.

We admired the cute little craft stalls at Bath Guildhall Market before stopping for some cake and making our way to Royal Victoria Park.

We ran along paths, played hide and seek behind the big pavilion and picked daisies before Amy had enough and wanted to play on the big playground.

We had a wonderful day. Everything was in bloom, we all laughed a lot and when we got home, we were all so tired that we had a really early night and you all know how unlike me that is!

What’s your favourite place in Bath or the rest of the UK when the weather is nice?

February Food Favourite & Mother’s Day Chocolate Gift Ideas

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This post might look a bit random at first glance. The combination of savoury snacks and divine chocolates might not be an obvious one, but there is a reason behind my apparent madness. From now on, I want to introduce one foody item a month that was a firm favourite in our household during each month of the year. As you can see above, February’s favourite were the Deli 24 snacks. We were sent an entire box of them a while ago and let me tell you one thing: They didn’t last long!

Deli 24‘s range includes seven different flavours which come in handy single or multi packs making them the perfect snack for lunch boxes, picnics or if you fancy a little something between meals. They come in the following flavours:

I absolutely adored the Ham and Cheese flavour and Amy was a massive fan too. I wasn’t overly keen on the Piri Piri Strips and the Chicken with Sage and Onion Stuffing however, simply because I don’t like sage or stuffing, but Ben and Amy really enjoyed them to the point that we have gone and repurchased them since finishing our samples. What I really liked about Deli 24′s snacks is that they are all individually packaged, which means that they are easily to portion when you are planning your day out or pack your little one’s lunchbox. They also tasted really natural and I couldn’t find a hint of artificial flavouring in them, which always is a massive plus point for me. A real bonus is that they are a great source of calcium for little bones and teeth, so I am happy to give them to Amy as a snack when we are out and about. Unfortunately, our local supermarket doesn’t stock the whole range yet, but I hope the other flavours will soon hit the shelves as well. After all, Deli 24′s snacks are a great alternative to your ordinary cheese string or lunchbox snack and will definitely make a regular appearance on our family outings.

Now onto something completely different. Well, not completely different, but we are going from a savoury snack to something sweet and indulgent. With Mother’s Day just around the corner, I would like to introduce to you two gorgeous boxes of chocolate that would make every mother’s heart melt and therefore are the perfect gift for Mother’s Day. They are Green & Black’s Taster Collection and Guylain’s Seashells. Both come in beautiful gift boxes and are great for sharing, entertaining or a cheeky little treat with a nice glass of wine.

While Green & Black’s Taster Collection allows you to trial 24 different chocolate flavours reaching from dark chocolate with crystallised ginger to milk chocolate with butter scotch, Guylain’s Seashell collection concentrates on the chocolate maker’s traditional Belgian recipe of 100% pure cocoa butter and their unique hazelnut praliné filling made with caramelised and roasted hazelnuts. Both boxes of chocolate are rather different in flavour, but both of them will win you over with their love for quality chocolate.

Although both gift sets feature white, milk and dark chocolate, I would suggest Guylain’s Seashell collection to milk chocolate lovers as it definitely has a prominent milk chocolate taste whereas Green & Blacks Taster collections features a number of quite rich and dark chocolate flavours from Belize and the Dominican Republic and is probably more enjoyed by someone with a taste for warmer and deeper flavours.

Either way, they make a wonderful present for Mother’s Day or any other occasion and I’d be happy to receive either of them on Mother’s Day. Both brands are a little more high-end, but you definitely get what you pay for with both Green & Black’s Taster and Guylain’s Seashell collection. You’ll just have to decide which one’s for you now!

Disclosure: Thanks to Deli 24, Green & Black’s and Guylain for the samples for this review.

Playing outside with children

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Comfortable footwear is a no-brainer when out and about with kids. Actually functionality always needs to be taken into consideration, as catching up with even one child can be a challenge at times. Thankfully, there are always shoes to cater, with quality and styled footwear on the market that tick the boxes of affordability, functionality and aesthetics. In saying that, there are some features to be aware of when considering new footwear.

What to bear in mind when spending your earnings on new shoes

A good shoe for walking around a lot should consist of soft and resilient leather. An alternative could be a mixture of high quality vinyl and mesh. When it comes to running shoes, it is important to see that the sole is cushioned in the heel.
Apart from knowing by the feeling, you can see at first sight if a shoe will have long-term comfort, when it is round at the toes and not pointed so that the toes crimp together.
It’s self-explanatory, but some women still do it anyway: wearing high heels is a big ‘NO’ on a trip to the playground with children. Comfort beats style in this case and there is nothing worse than helping the children in the playground with your heels digging in the sand. Comfortable clothing in general should be a priority. To compromise, Boots with a little bit of heel or Oxford shoes are a smart (and stylish) alternative.
A sole made of flexible rubber is also a good choice. It should be at least 1cm thick for comfortable walking without putting strain on the pressure points of your feet.
Parents usually take this factor into consideration when buying shoes for their children: Being both waterproof and breathable is so important for outdoor activities with the kids. For active parents who like to take their kids on an outdoor adventure, resistant material is the be all and end all!

Disclosure: This is a featured post. For more information, please see my disclosure policy.

From Ripley to Regents: London Days Out for Everyone

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The City of London boasts some brilliant attractions, spanning everything from wildlife and underwater worlds to cutting edge art and ancient history. There are enough ideas for several hundred days out in the UK capital but if you have a family in tow, it makes sense to choose places and activities where there’s something for everyone.

On the educational side, the Natural History Museum is an obvious choice if you haven’t been before: kids young and old will be fascinated by the insect, mammal and dinosaur specimens here. The Science Museum is also in South Kensington, within easy walking distance and with fun, interactive demos and a multi-sensory outdoor garden, it’ll keep everyone entertained. Happily, both museums are free of charge.

For something a little different, Ripley’s Believe it or not is the ultimate attraction for the curious-minded and it’s a big hit with children of all ages. A range of bizarre exhibits inspired by the eccentric explorer Robert Ripley is on show and you can see shrunken heads from South America, the blue-faced man from China and get lost in a mirror maze, all under one roof. Have a look online for discount vouchers on tickets to Ripley’s.

Animals are always a family favourite and in London there’s a choice of world-class attractions with live animal exhibits. Visit Regent’s Park to see giraffes, monkeys, lions and many more from all over the globe at the London Zoo. Or if you fancy some underwater action, the Sea Life Aquarium is on the river bank near the London eye and is worth a visit for the stunning tunnel walkway where you’ll come within inches of sea turtles, octopuses and knife-toothed sharks.

London really does cater for all tastes so the best approach is to plan the trip well; think about Underground routes and ticket options before you go. Many companies offer discount and voucher codes online, so it’s worth doing a bit of research ahead of time.

Disclosure: This is a featured post. For more information, please see my disclosure policy.

Things to do and see at Bristol Christmas Market

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Having grown up in Rostock, the city that has been hosting North Germany’s biggest Christmas market ever since I remember, I just had to pay Bristol’s German Christmas Market a visit to see, if you can compare the two and of course to write my very first UK Christmas market review .

So on a Sunday afternoon, we wrapped up warm and made our way into Bristol city centre – the home of Bristol’s German Christmas Market. Altogether, there are 35 traditional wooden stalls which are beautifully decorated with evergreen garlands and fairy lights, a giant pyramid showing a nativity scene and an advent calendar counting the days in anticipation of Christmas.

Parking is quite uncomplicated in Bristol’s city centre. There aren’t many places that don’t charge, but there are a number of spacious car parks, so it really isn’t a problem finding parking close by. There’s a car park each in The Galleries or Cabot Circus and both are so close to the Christmas market that it won’t take you any longer than 5 minutes before you can join the fray.

Because the Christmas Market is in the heart of the city centre it can get rather busy in the late afternoon, especially at the weekend, but there are beautiful little stalls selling handmade toys and traditional German Christmas decorations that always remind me of my childhood. They sell candles, soaps, ornaments, jewellery, pyramids and even original Räuchermännchen from the Erzgebirge (Ore Mountains), which are little incense smoker that spread the most beautiful Christmas smell in your living room. So, if you are looking for quite unique little gifts that aren’t available on the high street, then Christmas markets might be a great alternative for you when you go Christmas shopping. Amy loved looking at everything and couldn’t get enough of all the fairy lights that sparkled when it turned a little darker.

Of course, a visit to the Christmas Market is incomplete without trying some of the delicious food and drink on offer, so we stopped at a couple of stalls to pick up some of our favourites. An absolute must-eat for me are chocolate pineapple and caramelised almonds. They are just the epitome of Christmas for me and I just can’t wonder around a Christmas market without getting them. When I was little I used to love the candied apples or grapes, but I have gone off them as they are just terribly sticky – I do see why kids love them though. At the next stall we got some Mutzen or Oliebollen as they are called sometimes. They are basically deep-fried dough with lots and lots of icing sugar and another absolute must-eat, if you want to experience Bristol’s Christmas Market the German way.

After a couple of rides on the children’s carousel (we downloaded a flyer online that gave us a second ride for free), we warmed up with a hot chocolate before making our way home – munching on caramelised almonds and humming Christmas songs in the car.

Compared to the Christmas market in my hometown Rostock, Bristol’s German Christmas market is somewhat tiny, but it’s not always the quantity that counts. The city has made a great effort to bring as much German flair as possible into the South West and although I was missing some more rides for the little ones, I can say that we had a great time as a family. We had a lot of fun strolling from stall to stall, the food was just like at home and I even had a friendly chat with the German stallholders. What more could I ask for? Maybe some snow for our visit next year!

Disclosure: I was given £50 to spend at the Christmas market, but I would have bought the same things had I not been paid for this review. I just can’t walk past chocolate pineapples and caramelised almonds. Try it, you’ll see what I mean!

Shopping the clever way

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For most people shopping isn’t just a way to get new things, but also fun. After all, we work and earn money not only to pay the rent and the various bills but also to allow ourselves some treats now and then. Spending money can therefore be very enjoyable and not only a necessity. To make the most of one’s money, I have collected some useful hints. Those are just some ways to shop the clever way:

Make use of vouchers

Vouchers can be found online and also in various magazines. They often allow for some great deals, whether it’s coupons for saving on clothes or Groupon vouchers for restaurants. Groupon is one of the largest websites for vouchers and I have often found great deals through them so I recommend checking them out. The cool thing is that coupons for various products, events and activities can be found on their site so there’s always something for every taste. For example, if you want to see a new movie, you can just make use of these cinema tickets and enjoy reduced entrance fees.

Shop online and compare prices

Online shops often have great deals in comparison with actual stores on the streets. Whenever you find something nice but you don’t feel the urge to own it right here and right now, search for the item online. You are most likely to find deals online that are way cheaper than in the stores. Also, whenever you visit an online store, make sure you pay others a visit as well. Even online, the prices can differ radically. So take your time and don’t call on the first attractive offer you stumble upon.

Compare shipping costs

>Even a cheap offer can turn out to actually be quite expensive when the costs for shipping are high. Therefore, don’t just pay attention to the price for the actual item, but add the costs for shipping to that. Sometimes, shops have special offers when they will send out orders for free, either generally or once your total costs exceed a certain sum.

Look for auctions

With some items, it doesn’t really matter whether they are used or brand-new. Books, for example, usually drop dramatically in value once they have been used. Visit one of the many auction-sites on the web and look out for snips. You might want to be careful though when it comes to buying certain products like electronic devices or clothes since they might not work anymore or the fabric might be damaged.

Disclosure: This is a featured post. For more information, please see my disclosure policy.

Christmas Gift Guide: Top 5 Experience Gifts for Mums

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The count down to Christmas has started and we can already feel its spirit out and about in shops and markets. Christmas is definitely my favourite time of the year, nothing can compare to the feeling of warmth and happiness that I get when I am with the ones I love. At Christmas there is magic in the air or why else would be get that warm fuzzy feeling when we greet strangers or enjoy dinner with our friends? Christmas puts a smile on my face, because it’s the best time to spoil and indulge the ones we love with little treats and presents or give back some love to our family and friends in form of a very special gift.

If you haven’t finished your Christmas shopping yet or you feel a bit uninspired, but still want to make your gift a memorable and unique one, get some ideas from my top 5 experience gifts for mum. With these suggestions, a big smile of surprise and excitement is guaranteed!

1. Girls spa days for two

This is the perfect opportunity to relax after the unavoidable Christmas stress and make up for all the busy times that stopped you from chatting to mum. Treat her to a beauty therapy and enjoy some quality time with her in the spa’s leisure and relaxation facilities. With a choice of over 45 locations, you can select your favourite resort and enjoy a day package that will include a massage or a facial treatment by a full qualified beauty therapist and the unlimited access to the pool, sauna, steam room, solarium and gym. At a very affordable price, this is, without a doubt, my number one! It will make mum feel pampered and looked after, she definitely deserves a break!

2. Photographic Makeover

What about a fun photoshoot that will make your mum feel like a Hollywood star? My number two is a very special one as it includes pampering treats and professional make up & styling that will get our mums ready for an amazing photoshoot. This experience will definitely make them feel the absolute protagonists of the day. Your mum will be thrilled with the final results and overwhelmed with the choices she will have at the end of the session. She will be treated like a proper celebrity and will feel like the absolute idol of the day. How fun does that sound?

3. London hotel & Theatre break for two- Silver

If your mum is more of a calmed and classic type, indulge her with a night escape to a beautiful Macdonald Hotel where she will be surrounded by the beautiful hotel’s properties and the grandeur of nature. Spoil her to a captivating, romantic and charming break for two that will include a full or continental English breakfast in the relaxing country side. You can choose from a selection of Macdonald hotels throughout the country- from the most convenient to the one you think is prettiest. Pick up your hotel and let your mum enjoy of the pleasures and tranquillity she has been seeking.

4. English vineyard Tour, wine tasting and lunch for two

This is a very interesting yet exciting experience for those who are partial to a tipple. The English vineyard tour will teach and show you the whole process behind the wine production as well as educate you into the estate and history of the vineyard. You will also be able to enjoy some wine tasting and a delightful lunch plus a bottle of wine to take home. An experience that will awake all her senses!

5. Fudge Making workshop for two

Is your mum the best cook in the world? Does she love the culinary art? This fudge making workshop is the best and funniest treat if she is a cook lover. In this experience, she will have the opportunity to experience with fudge as well as learning from the best experts on the process of fudge making. This experience includes all the accessories she will need to make some fudge at Jim Garrahy’s fudge shop and plus she will get a £5 discount to all purchases over £15! Let’s start cooking!

Disclosure: I received a Activity Superstore voucher as a thank you for sharing these experience days in my gift guide. I would however suggest these for every mum as they are great fun. My mum would definitely love these!

Amy’s first visit to Hollywood Bowl

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Last week, we were invited to a game of bowling at our local bowling alley, Hollywood Bowl in Avonmeads Bristol. As a mum of a toddler I instantly tought: toddler+slippery bowling alley+not being able to join in = disaster, but I was proved wrong. My mummy blogging friend Jacqui from Mummy’s Little Monkey had told me that Hollywood Bowl has special ramps and devices that enable even the youngest members of your family to join in and I thought those who dare win.

Iain from Hollywood Bowl booked us in for Friday and arranged all the organisational stuff for us, which was really helpful as I am slightly disorganised at times. This way, we just had to turn up, get our shoes and have fun. We arrived 10 minutes early and were greeted by a friendly young lady, who took our shoes and provided us with fancy bowling shoes. This might sound ironic, but I absolutely love bowling shoes. They are so comfortable that I could wear them all day. What I was most impressed with at this point was that Hollywood Bowl even provided shoes for Amy. She’s got relatively big feet for her age, but I still didn’t expect them to have shoes for toddlers. I was pleasantly surprised.

After a quick introduction to the set-up of the ramps, we started our game and Amy was absolutely fascinated by the lights, sounds and the whole surroundings. She loved getting the ramp out with daddy and giving the ball a big push before it rolled along the alley and knocked the pins over. There were even bumpers that stopped the kids’ balls from ending up in the gutter. Cheats! Amy had a blast and clapped whenever we cheered her on. It was just too cute to look at. She was having such a great time and you could really see that she was enjoying herself. Amy’s cousin Grace and Ben’s dad had joined us for the afternoon and they were having equally much fun. At Hollywood Bowl in Avonmeads, and I am quite sure this counts for all other Hollywood Bowl franchises, bowling really can be an activity shared by all the family.

We had a fabulous day that we finished with a complimentary meal of burgers and chips as well as a big pitcher of lemonade and some arcade games for pudding. It was such fun! I still can’t believe that my 18 month old girl went bowling for the first time. It’s such a great idea to get children involved in what I thought used to be an adult activity. The facilities were child-friendly and all the staff had a smile for Amy and Grace. We will definitely take the girls again, but next time we have to make sure that mummy doesn’t end up behind the toddlers again.

Disclosure: We were provided with a free game of bowling and a free meal for the purpose of this review, but as always my opinions are my own.

- Day 8 -