Category: Travel

Guide to Christmas in London 2026 – Things To Do – Everything You Need To Know

You might think I’m crazy, writing about Christmas when summer hasn’t even ended, but hear me out! Planning your Christmas activities in advance isn’t a bad idea. I imagine there are many people around the world planning their trip to London around Christmas right now. It helps to have a guide available! Personally, although I live in London, I also like to plan ahead. In fact, I have already booked not one, not two, but three (!) Christmas attractions. Partly because they sell out quickly, and partly because it’s cheaper to book them in advance. I’m a self-proclaimed biggest Christmas enthusiast in London, and here is my guide for things to do in London around Christmas – 2026 edition.

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Hastings To Rye Harbour Hike – England Coast Path – Scenic Long Walk Day Trip From London

A few years ago, I went to Hastings for a long weekend. One of my favourite parts of that trip was a hike from Hastings to Fairlight. It’s been a few years now and I forgot the details of that hike, but I remembered that it definitely included some great news. Recently, I decided to do it again – this time, on a day trip from London, in an extended version: from Hastings to Rye, along the English Coast Path. It was a long journey, and a tiring too – mainly due to my poor planning. The views were worth it, though! Here is how it went.

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Folkestone To Hythe – English Coast Path – Day Trip From London

Today, I’m taking you on another day trip to the English seaside. I wasn’t planning to post about this trip, to be honest. I’ve been to Folkestone many times and already posted about my hikes from Folkestone to Dover and the Christmas market in Folkestone. This time, I thought I was going to Folkestone to have a relaxing time on the beach… whom was I fooling? A relaxing day on the beach? Me? I ended up walking over 30 kilometres, completing another section of the English Coast Path, visited a fascinating landmark, and dipped my toes in the sea… for the first time since I moved to the UK seven years ago! It was a memorable day, and here is how it went.

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Ullswater Hike – Lake District – Pooley Bridge To Barton Fell

Recently, I posted about my hike on Helvellyn in Lake District during extreme weather. I didn’t get to enjoy great views that day due to dense fog. Luckily, the next day, I was able to enjoy the views of Ullswater lake during a short hike from Pooley Bridge. That’s where I’m taking you today. It was a fantastic walk, I loved exploring the vast open space above the lake. There were by far more sheep than people in sight! Pooley Bridge is accessible by bus from Penrith, making this hike one of the few public transport-friendly hikes in Lake District. Join me on that trip!

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Extended Box Hill Hike – Very Long Hike Near London By Train

Today, I have a treat for the long walk hike enthusiasts from London. And by ‘long’, I mean more than 2 or 4 hours. We’re talking nearly 35 kilometres, 1000 metres elevation gain, and probably about 8-9 hours. If that sounds good to you, you might want to save this post. I recently went to Box Hill in Surrey Hills and, using the official hiking trails as my baseline, I designed my own, extended version of a Box Hill hike. It includes all of the iconic, popular viewpoints, and adds some more. How about a hidden gem of Surrey Hills, a viewpoint from which you can clearly see the skyscrapers of central London? Keep reading to find out where it is!

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Evening Hike Near Edale, Peak District – Grindslow Knoll, Woolpacks – Day Trip Hike

I travel to Manchester for work purposes a few times a year, but it never occurred to me to take advantage of it and explore Peak District… until last month! One evening, after a day spent in the office, I jumped on a train to Edale and enjoyed a quick evening hike. It was the end of June, so days were pretty much the longest they can be – my 3 hour post-work hike barely even caught the golden hour! Even though I only travelled from Manchester, a hike in the Peak District is perfectly viable on a day trip from London. I will be going back to the Peak District soon!

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Helvellyn Hike In Extreme Weather – Route From Glenridding Avoiding The Edges – Lake District Hike

Today, I’m taking you on an adventure I will never forget. I climbed Helvellyn, the third highest peak in Lake District, and the third tallest in the whole of England as well, sitting at 950 metres above sea level. And although I consider myself a seasoned hiker and have climbed plenty of mountains much taller than Helvellyn, it was a truly unforgettable experience… all thanks to the weather! Exposed to all elements, I spent half of that climb hoping that I don’t end up in the news that night… but, let’s start from the beginning.

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A Summer Day Trip To Guildford From London – Countryside Walk, Watt’s Gallery, Guildford Castle

Today, I’m taking you on a summer day trip from London to Guildford – by public transport, of course! It was a balanced mix of a long countryside walk with nice views combined with visiting local landmarks – an art gallery, a stunning chapel, a local museum, and a castle with the most spectacular gardens. I blindly chose Guildford for my day trip without high expectations, and I was thoroughly impressed! Here is your inspo for a cosy day trip from London, off the beaten track.

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A Cosy Summer Day Trip To Rochester, England, From London – High Street, Cathedral, Castle

Today, I’m taking you on a cosy day trip to Rochester – a charming town south-east of London, easily accessible by train. I have previously written about Rochester Christmas market, but I never visited Rochester in warmer months, until recently. Technically, I visited Rochester in the spring – I mentioned it in my quarterly spring photo blog. However, with temperatures over 30°C, the day certainly felt more like summer. Here is how I spent a cosy summer day in Rochester on a day trip from London.

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Kozi Wierch Hike – Tatra Mountains – Poland – Spectacular Views, Wildlife Encounters

Today, I’m taking you on a somewhat challenging but fun hike in the Polish Tatra Mountains: to the peak of Kozi Wierch, at 2291 metres above sea level. We enjoyed incredible views of Dolina Pieciu Stawow (the Valley of Five Lakes), saw a lot of native wildlife, and had a well-earned meal at the tourist hostel. What a day! Last year, I spent nearly two weeks in Zakopane, Poland, at the foot of Tatra Mountains. This year, at the start of June, I had a chance to go back, for a few days. The weather, like last year, wasn’t too generous, but we managed to use the good moments to the maximum.

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