City Breaks

A visit to Edinburgh's New Town, with its elegant Georgian streets and squares, to linger a little in the Georgian Museum and to hear tales of the Scottish Enlightenment when, said the editor William Smellie, you could stand at the Mercat Cross and 'in a few minutes, take 50 men of genius and learning by the hand.'  And the women?  Well, society hostesses Mrs Apreece and Mrs Waddington were much a...

We visit Edinburgh's Old Town, or 'Auld Reekie' as the poet Robert Fergusson called it. Thankfully, Daniel Defoe's 18th century warning that when walking the streets at night you risk 'having Chamber Pots of Ordure thrown upon your head' no longer applies.  We visit two informative museums - The Real Mary King's Close and Gladstone's Land - and then bring you the story of the city's most infamous...

The Royal Mile in Edinburgh is 'one of the fairest streets I ever saw', wrote James Howell in the 17th century.  We explore it from top to bottom, highlighting what to look out for and giving a little of the street's turbulent history: proclamations and drunken celebrations at the Mercat Cross, Jenny Geddes hurling a chair at the Reverend James Hannay in St Giles' Cathedral and John Knox raging ag...

Six more intriguing city break ideas from guest travel bloggers.  This month, we cover a couple of European favourites, take in both NYC and Mexico City, venture to Abu Dhabi and go on our first 'virtual trip' to the Jewish Quarter in Prague.  As ever, loads of ideas for what to see, do, eat and drink along the way.  Have a listen and be inspired.      Useful links  our website: https://www.citybr...

Tales from the history of Holyrood in Edinburgh: King David's escape from death while out hunting in the 12th century, inspiring him to found the abbey of the holy rood (cross), a royal wedding designed to unite the thistle and the rose in 1503 and all the drama of Mary Queen of Scots and her life at the palace.  (Think intrigues, religious unrest, murders and her eventual flight to England)  Hear...

A stroll through the history of Edinburgh Castle takes in kings and sieges, feasting, battles, murders and plots.  There are plenty of tales of capture and recapture, of English invaders and rival Scottish clans. Find out too what to look out for when you visit the castle today, including The Great Hall, built by James IV to host feasts and celebrations, the little room where Mary Queen of Scots g...

Walk the ghostly narrow closes of the old town, visit the elegant Georgian streets of the new town, tour that glorious castle, sample the whisky, the seafood or maybe a tattie scone; it's no wonder that Edinburgh is one of the UK's most popular city break destinations. Here is an overview of the series, offering some geographical, historical and cultural details to whet your appetite for the remai...

There will be no episode this week, but the new series, City Breaks Edinburgh, will begin next week. www.citybreakspodcast.co.uk 

Our interview with Stefanie Schnellhammer of Keksliebe covers all things culinary: The difference between Keks and Kuchen, how to eat a Weisswurst (and why you should always do it before 11.00 am) and why Prinzregententorte is Munich's favourite cake. She takes us through a number of Bavarian specialities and gives tips on where to find them when eating out in Munich or on a day trip to Lake Starn...

We welcome Jax Slisz back for a second week in order to hear about the 2 Munich tours he runs which help him explain some of the darker aspects of Munich's history to visitors: a 3rd Reich Tour and a visit to the Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial Site. He talks passionately about what there is to see, why it's important to know this story and how the memories of his Polish grandfather, Alois Slis...

After 5 years in Munich, Jax has founded his own tour guiding company, Heart of Munich Tours, and here he tells us what's on offer and shares lots of insider tips: why are Marienplatz and the Hofgarten two of his favourite stopping-off places, what cultural events is the city famous for apart from the Oktoberfest, what's the atmosphere like in the Hofbrauhaus and why is a beer garden only a (tradi...

Three great travel bloggers share their city break ideas with us:  we explore the world from Athens to Kochi and the alphabet from Auckland to Vilnius, taking in Funchal and Seattle on the way and all with lots of ideas for what to see, do, eat and drink along the way.  Have a listen and be inspired.      Useful links  our website: https://www.citybreakspodcast.co.uk to find us on twitter: @citybr...

Part 2 of our interview with Andrea Giordani from Feel Florence, the city's official tourism website, in which he takes us on a journey through some of the highlights of Italy's best-known literary work, The Divine Comedy by the 14th century Tuscan poet Dante Alighieri.  2021 marks the 700th anniversary of Dante's death and so now is the perfect time to get to know more about him and all the reaso...

The first of a two-part interview with Andrea Giordani from Feel Florence, the city's official tourism website.  The 14th of this month is the central day in a year-long series of events to mark the 700th anniversary of the death of Dante Alighieri, Florence's world-famous poet, author and philosopher (1265-1321).  Andrea tell us a little about Dante himself and the Florence he knew, introduces us...

We interview Helen Farrell, editor of The Florentine, to find out how this publication and website can enhance your knowledge of Florence.  She explains their news and listings functions and outlines the wide range of cultural information on offer; everything from new literature set in the area, to the recent celebrations for the 700th anniversary of Dante's death, via - of course! - Florence's re...

Our very first Florence Extra episode with guest Danielle from the Florence-based tour company Ciao Florence who tells us all about the various tours and experiences the company offers in Florence and the surrounding area.  She brings a refreshing Florence-based perspective and an insight into many things not covered in the original series. useful links https://www.ciaoflorence.it/en   https://www...

More inspiration from three great travel blogs: a Bulgarian city you may not have heard of, (but definitely should not miss), a round-up of Italian cities from the most popular to the charmingly lesser-known, Buenos Aires for beginners and Dubrovnik on the cheap.  Plus, of course, a general spirit of wanderlust, appreciation and can-do spirit.     Useful links  our website: https://www.citybreaksp...

Our London Bucket List features a wide range of must-do ideas, some of our own and lots more from our contributors: travel bloggers, historians and a London diarist.  Inspiration for all!   Useful links https://www.aworldinreach.com/?s=london+ https://besidestheobvious.net/2021/01/16/the-perfect-london-bucket-list-the-top-70-things-to-do-in-the-capital-of-uk https://www.berkeleysquarebarbarian.com...

A set-in-London booklist, four reading anthologies based on London and four walking tours focussed on the capital's best-known authors.  Plus, a whole selection of snippets of poetry and prose.  In short, a comprehensive introduction to literary London and a host of follow-up ideas.  This episode brings you everything from Dickens to J K Rowling, from the London of Agatha Christie's 'At Bertram's...

A selection of readings from diarists who have written about London across the centuries and from travel writers who came to visit.  Everything from eye witness accounts of the Fire of London and an assassination attempt on Queen Victoria, to those who hated the London fog and pickpockets and those who admired it as a city full of 'all that life has to offer'.   Useful link https://www.visitlondon...

We bring you another selection of City Break Ideas: Boston, USA on the 4th July; art and bubbling mud pools in Reykjavik; ruin bars and Turkish bathing in Budapest; a tour of New York's Grand Central Station; and what to eat at Eggslut in LA.  Plus loads more ideas on each of those cities.  Obviously.  Also, Stolpersteine, an art and holocaust memorial project found in many European countries whic...

We cover every kind of London shopping experience, popping into some globally recognised department stores, including Selfridges on its opening day in 1909, dropping by foodie havens, the best areas for a little vintage shopping and the cream of London's bookshops.  We also call into London's oldest shopping arcade, first opened in the 14th century, as well as one referred to as 'the newest kid on...

Windsor: a thousand years of English history.  We discuss everything from Edward III's Order of the Garter to Edward VII's new bathrooms, via the purchase of 40 Canalettos by George III and Christmas at Windsor for Victoria, Albert and their children.  We visit the royal tombs in the chapel, take an idyllic boat trip up the Thames and pop over the bridge to Eton, home of England's very poshest sch...

A trip a little way down the Thames for a wander round two of London's classiest areas.  Firstly, Kew, with its world-famous botanic gardens and, tucked inside, London's smallest royal palace, namely Kew Palace.  Then to Richmond, one-time site of the Palace of Richmond and home today to the capital's largest royal park.  History, boating, croquet, it's all here. Useful links https://www.kew.org h...

Five travel bloggers, four continents, three blogs with intriguing names, this episode offers a goodie-bag of city break ideas, plus the chance to meet an eclectic mix of people including Einstein and Ho Chi Minh.  All three blogs take a seize-the-day attitude to travel, summed up by one in Latin - 'Carpe diem' - and translated into English by another: 'Eat the cake, buy the shoes, take the trip'....