Author: Shared Suitcase
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Creswell Crags: One of Britain’s Most Remarkable Prehistoric Landscapes
If you’re looking for a family day out that combines spectacular scenery, fascinating history and plenty of space to explore, Creswell Crags is hard to beat. Straddling the Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire border, it is one of those places that feels completely different from anywhere else in England. We spent around three hours here with our 14 month old daughter, Elanor, and left feeling like we’d only scratched the surface. Why Creswell Crags is so special Creswell Crags is an internationally…
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Shugborough Estate: A family-friendly day out in the Staffordshire countryside
Some National Trust properties are all about the house. Others are all about the gardens. Shugborough Estate offers a little of everything, making it an excellent choice for families who enjoy exploring at their own pace. We visited as a family with our 14-month-old daughter, Elanor, during a short break in Staffordshire, combining it with a visit to Boscobel House and an overnight stay at Hurst Stable in Wheaton Aston. Even without stepping inside the mansion, we comfortably spent between…
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Boscobel House and the Royal Oak: Where a King Hid in a Tree
Some historic places impress through their scale. Others through the stories they hold. Boscobel House, tucked away in the Shropshire countryside, falls firmly into the second category. This is the place where the future Charles II hid following his defeat at the Battle of Worcester in 1651. With Parliamentarian soldiers searching the surrounding area, he spent part of a day concealed high in the branches of an oak tree before taking refuge inside Boscobel House itself. The escape became one…
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The Unexpected Magic of Livorno: Tuscany’s Most Overlooked City
Most people arrive in Livorno with one plan. Leave. Cruise passengers pile onto coaches towards Florence and Pisa almost immediately, treating Livorno as little more than a transport hub. After spending time there ourselves, that honestly feels like a mistake. Livorno has character. Real character. It feels lived-in, creative and proudly coastal in a way that some polished Italian destinations no longer do. It is scruffier around the edges than Florence, certainly less conventionally beautiful than Siena, but there is…
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The Complete Honest Guide to Civitavecchia for Cruise Travellers
Most people know Civitavecchia for one thing. It is the port of Rome. The place cruise ships dock before thousands of people immediately disappear towards the Colosseum, Vatican and Trevi Fountain. After spending a day there ourselves, we can understand why. That is not to say Civitavecchia is bad. In fact, it is surprisingly pleasant in places. Relaxed, walkable and easy enough for a slow wander in the sunshine. But it also feels very much like somewhere you pass through…
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The Surprisingly Beautiful Day Trip to Ajaccio, Corsica
There are some places that feel built for a long stay. Ajaccio is not really one of them. And oddly, that is part of its charm. The capital of Corsica feels relaxed, walkable and easy to understand in a single day. You can swim in the sea, climb through Napoleonic history, eat extremely well, wander quiet streets lined with faded Mediterranean buildings and still feel like you have properly “done” the city before dinner. For us, Ajaccio worked best exactly…
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Barcelona: Frantic, Free, Fantastic, Never Finished
Barcelona is one of those places we’ve both been to several times, and for good reason. Some cities are “once and done” – but Barcelona always draws you back, whether it’s for a weekend or a longer stretch. Every trip feels a bit different, even when you’re revisiting the same sights. The city has a way of feeling instantly recognisable. We arrived just off Las Ramblas in spring, bags dropped, windows open to street noise below, and it already felt…
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Ten Effortless Travel Habits That Actually Save You Money
Most travel savings advice focuses on dramatic hacks and one-off wins, but the biggest financial impact usually comes from small habits repeated over and over again. These are the quiet decisions that shape every trip, often without you noticing. Done consistently, they reduce stress, cut unnecessary spending, and make travel feel calmer and more controlled rather than restrictive. Carry-on Discipline Saves More Money Than Flight Hacks Ever Will Travellers often focus on shaving £20 off a flight while ignoring the…
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Edinburgh Is Relentless in the Best Possible Way
We arrived in Edinburgh the way it feels like you should. By train. Rolling into Waverley Station from Manchester, stepping straight out into the city centre, bags on our backs and the castle looming somewhere above us. It is one of those arrivals that immediately sets the tone. You are not easing into Edinburgh. You are dropped straight into it. It was only a weekend, which somehow felt both generous and not nearly enough. Edinburgh has that way of making…
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From Nyhavn to Nightcaps: 48 Hours in Copenhagen
Copenhagen is one of those cities that seems designed for exploring at an easy pace. Everything feels connected – the bikes, the waterfront, the food – and you quickly fall into its rhythm. Cycling I (Elliot) visited Copenhagen with a group of about 6 friends. We rented bikes on our first day, and within minutes were swept into the flow of locals who make cycling look effortless. Wide lanes, courteous drivers, and a culture built around two wheels mean you…
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Deacon’s Bank, Chapel-en-le-Frith: Review
We’ve been before but have had Deacon’s Bank on our post-baby list for a while. On a crisp October Sunday, we finally made it, baby in tow, and it turned out to be exactly the sort of lunch you hope for: relaxed, well-paced, and properly cooked food that feels both refined and comforting. Setting The restaurant sits in the middle of of Chapel-en-le-Frith and manages that sweet spot between smart and welcoming. It’s a lovely setting, in an old bank…
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Exploring Northumberland’s Wild Edge
Northumberland is an incredible part of the world, never mind the UK. We recently took a multi-day road trip to see some of the best of what it has to offer! Leaving the Peaks for the Kingdom of Castles We set off from the Peak District before dawn, the kind of road trip where the mist hangs low and the boot’s filled with waterproofs, walking boots, and mild optimism. Northumberland has always sounded slightly mythical – a land of windswept…
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Limoges: Porcelain, Beef and a City Built on Quiet History
Elliot visited Limoges with a group of friends. We flew direct from East Midlands into Limoges – one of those budget routes you don’t expect much from, but it’s hard to resist when the flight’s cheap and the journey quick. Modest Expectations Limoges isn’t a top-tier French destination, and you can see why. It’s small, it’s quiet, and it doesn’t have the instant drama of Paris or Bordeaux. But that’s not to say it isn’t worth the trip. Roman Roots…
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Podgorica – Romans to Rakija: 48 Hours in Montenegro’s Underrated Capital
Podgorica isn’t the kind of place that usually makes it onto European city-break shortlists. Montenegro’s capital doesn’t have the instant allure of Dubrovnik or Kotor, and a lot of travellers skip it altogether. But a couple of days here proved it’s more interesting than it first appears – and it’s certainly one of the cheapest city trips we’ve ever done. Layers of History The city wears its history in layers. The Ottomans left mosques and a bazaar quarter; the Montenegrin…
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Marseille Uncovered: Warmth, Waterfronts and a City with Grit
Marseille…this one was just Elliot – no Kirsty – on a quick solo hop (well, with a cricket team) from Manchester. The flight’s only about an hour and forty-five minutes, barely long enough to finish a podcast before landing in Marseille, where the air instantly feels warmer and saltier than home. Even at the end of September it was properly mild, the kind of warmth that makes wandering on foot a pleasure. Hotel Centre La Juliette We stayed at the…
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Review: The Cow, Dalbury Lees, Ashbourne
We’d had high hopes for The Cow at Dalbury Lees. The menu looked polished, the interiors stylish, and reviews online made it sound like a hidden gem near Ashbourne. So, with a group of five adults, two small children, and the lure of a long Sunday lunch ahead, we arrived — a touch early at 11.45 for a noon booking — to find the team setting up. To their credit, the staff couldn’t have been nicer. They welcomed us in…
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Zagreb: Heartbreak to History in Croatia’s Capital
Most people seem to skip Croatia’s capital for the coast, but we thought it deserved a stop. What we found was a city with some real charm, a few surprises, and a fair bit of sweat – mainly thanks to August heat and an air-conditioning unit that didn’t work. Museum of Broken Relationships The headline stop was the Museum of Broken Relationships. Elliot knew about it through work and we weren’t sure what to expect, but it’s genuinely worth it.…
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Avoid These 7 Common Travel Mistakes for a Smoother Journey
We’ve all made a travel mistake or two – it’s part of the process (and can actually lead to a great story, let’s be fair). But some mistakes are avoidable, and some are more costly than others. Here’s a list of common travel mistakes we’ve learned to avoid over the years. 1. Overpacking It’s easy to get carried away and throw in extra ‘just in case’ items, but overpacking leads to stress and discomfort. We stick to the essentials and…
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Portobello Café: A Taste of Italy Right in the Heart of Hadfield
If you’re looking for a little slice of Italy in the Peak District, look no further than Portobello Café in Hadfield. Owned by Natasha and Alex, who previously ran one of our absolute favourite spots in Whaley Bridge, Portobello brings the same passion, authenticity, and commitment to quality that made their last restaurant so memorable. Now, they’ve created a charming daytime café that serves up a delectable range of sandwiches, Italian snacks, and great coffee. A Warm Welcome and Authentic…
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Review: The Duncombe Arms, Ellastone
Sunday lunch that sadly didn’t deliver. We had high hopes for The Duncombe Arms. It’s got a strong reputation and regularly appears on lists of the best gastropubs in the country – the kind of place you’d expect to knock a Sunday roast out of the park. So we booked in as a group one weekend, looking forward to a proper treat. First impressions were good: the pub itself is lovely – all exposed beams, smart decor with some interesting…
