The return coach journey was a gifted PR service, however, all views are my own.
This week, my boyfriend Joe and I went on a press visit to London with National Express coaches. In this blog post I will be sharing my day with you and what we got up to, while also reviewing my return coach journey.
First of all, we got our coach into London from Bournemouth bright and early at 6:30am. We got into Victoria Coach Station at 9:50am so we could spend a lot of time in London. Our coach had phone charging facilities which was needed for a day out in London, air conditioning, leather seats and a toilet (also needed).
National Express have competitive prices and are often cheaper than trains. It didn't even take much longer than the train journey from Bournemouth to London and it didn't feel too long at all. Coaches are also the most environmentally friendly form of public transport, so well worth considering for your next trip away. I'll be honest, I never really thought of travelling anywhere by coach until this experience but it's definitely worth doing for a day trip like this.
Related: UK cities you need to visit
Exploring London
The first thing we saw when we left Victoria Coach Station was Peggy Porschen cakes. I had seen it all over Instagram so we decided to go in and try a cake. We had the salted caramel and popcorn cupcakes and it was the best cupcake I've had in my life. It should have been for £4.50 per cake but I didn't mind spending that as I enjoyed it so much in the end.
After sitting in Hyde Park for a short while eating our cakes, we decided to go to Covent Garden. We had a walk round there, then Leicester Square and finally China Town. I had to refrain from going into M&M world because I always want to go in but never buy anything. London was actually quite quiet, probably because it was a Monday, but I thought it would be a lot busier than it was being the first day indoor places were open.
Camden Market
We then went to Camden and looked around the market for a while. Of course, we ended up getting food at the market! I got a cheeseburger from Burger and Beyond which was amazing, and mac and cheese from The Mac Factory which was also amazing. We had planned a boat trip on the canal that goes around the zoo and ends up in Little Venice, but we didn't get to go because it started pouring down just as we were about to depart. Classic.
When the weather turned and we couldn't get on our boat trip, we ended up just going inside places to stay and stay dry, and away from the thunder and lightning. Our coach back was at 7pm so we just made our way to Victoria again and went inside pubs to stay dry.
Related: 48 hours in Lincoln
Home time
We then got the coach back and ended up back in Bournemouth at around 9:20pm, it was a lot quicker on the day home due to less traffic. By this point we were so tired from getting up so early, but a good tired as we had a lovely day out. We walked almost 8 miles and over 20,000 steps.
We both went straight to sleep when we got in and I had the best sleep I've had in so long! It was such a lovely day, despite not going quite to plan with the weather, and getting the coach was so easy too. It was also very well socially distanced on the coach which I was happy with, I felt safe due to the limited seating and wearing of face coverings.
Related: 3 days in Suffolk
Thank you to the National Express for a lovely journey, we had a great day.
Have you ever travelled by coach before?
AD - This is a sponsored post.
This month marks 5 years of Wool of the King, so I thought I’d share my experiences over the years and the sort of things I have got from blogging and growing my social media channels, including gifted products and payment. I am hoping this post will encourage young people, bloggers or not, to pursue their goals.
Early years
When I first started my blog in 2016, I was at college and I
only really wrote blog posts occasionally. It was just a space for me to chat
about things I wanted to chat about as a hobby. When I started university, I still
only occasionally posted updates and one day, one of my posts got over 1000 reads.
I was so happy and this really motivated me to write more, but with assignments,
a part-time job and a uni social life, I found it really hard to keep up with
my blog so I stopped writing for a while.
It wasn’t until 2020 at the start of the pandemic that I
started to write weekly blog posts and really start focusing on my growth. At
first, it was just out of boredom, I had so much more free time so I decided to
use that time to grow my blog and social media.
Growing my online presence
Once I started blogging more regularly, I wanted to make
sure these posts were being seen and gaining an audience, so I focused on
growing my social media channels including Twitter and Instagram. As a result
of this, my blog views were growing each month and I began to partake in gifted
influencer campaigns on my blog and over on Instagram. I was so excited by this
because I never expected to be doing anything like that!
If you want to find out more about influencer marketing,
check out the Mindy Parisi Influencer Spotlight.
In this instance, engagement is key! The more you engage
with others, the more they will engage with you, it’s so important in growing
your blog and socials.
Onwards and upwards
This year is the first year I have started making money
through blogging and I never thought I would be able to say that. It may not be
a lot to some, and it’s not enough to make a living from at the moment but having
any extra money through blogging is crazy to me as it started out as just a
hobby when I was 17.
So far, I have made money through sponsored posts on my blog,
influencer ads, advertising slots on my blog and affiliate sales. Last month I
made a total of £184 which has been my highest paid month yet. I would love to
be able to write E-books one day and sell those.
I have spoken a lot about blogging in this post, but a lot
of my influencer campaigns are on Instagram. These days, lots of brands look to
collaborate with content creators on there. I used to think you had to have
over 10k followers to collaborate with brands but this is not the case anymore
as smaller accounts often have higher engagement.
Read more about the rise in influencer marketing.
I have really loved my blogging journey, but it hasn’t
always been easy. There have often been times where I’ve wanted to give up, or
thought no one was going to take me seriously and it’s fine for that to happen.
The trick is to just not give up when you feel like that, and keep pushing
through with whatever it is you may be wanting to do. I have been blogging for
5 years now, but it has only been in the last year that I have started seeing
signs of success.
When was a time that you wanted to give up on something but
kept going?
This product was gifted to me as a PR product but all views are my own and I will be honest in my review. This post also contains affiliate links, meaning if you purchase a product through the links I will gain a small commission at no extra cost to you.
So if you're in the blogging community, you will probably already know that Eleanor from Not So Modern Girl, recently released an E-Book called The Art of Blog Writing, and I am so excited to have a copy to review!
Even the most seasoned bloggers need advice on blog writing from time to time and it's always great to hear advice from different sources, so we can keep on top of our game.
The E-Book usually retails for £3.99 which is a great price considering Eleanor is a blogger with over 4 years experience. It includes a step-by-step guide on writing a new blog post as well as tips on creating great social media posts and advice on spelling mistakes to avoid and proof reading checklists.
Related: How to find out the best blogging niche for you
A lot of E-Books these days can have some scary jargon in that is intimidating for new bloggers but The Art of Blog Writing, in my opinion, has really straight-forward points that could easily be applied to blog writing.
The text also includes some great advice on writing social media posts as well as blog posts. If you are using social media to support your blog as many bloggers do, you will need to know how important it is to represent yourself and your brand across your social media channels and Eleanor explains this in the E-Book.
If you are looking for advice on writing blog posts and social media content then look no further. The Art of Blog Writing explains all the basics in a simple way, without any scary information or jargon that you may learn later down the line.
Related: Top tips for creating digital branding as a blogger
Have you read Eleanor's E-Book?
AD - This blog post features my monthly advertisers. If you would like to advertise with me or find out more then please contact me.
This is now my 4th month of featuring advertisers on my blog and I have been really loving it. I love reading posts like these too and discovering new bloggers so I hope you have been enjoying discovering these wonderful bloggers too! This month, I have 5 amazing bloggers to share with you, I also offer ad slots to small shops too so if you are a small shop or business owner wanting to increase sales or views to your website then let me know!
The first blogger I have to share with you is one of my favourites, it's Enviroline Blog. Caroline is not only a lovely person, but she also shares amazing content about the environment and eating disorder recovery. I always learn so much when I read her blogs and love keeping up with her content on social media too.
Check out these posts from Enviroline Blog
Start by checking out these posts
Here are a few of my favourite posts from Georgia
- 10 locations that should be your UK holiday destination for 2021
- 5 cost effective ways to make a visual impact in your home
Start by checking out these posts
Check out these posts from Miel and Mint
I have been so excited about posting this! I love travelling to different places in the UK but I haven't been to enough cities yet so I asked some bloggers on Twitter to collaborate with me and send me their favourite cities and why. I've included some of my own favourites too. Sorry if your city is missed off, these are just the favourites of some bloggers and myself.
As coronavirus restrictions continue to be lifted in the UK, we may as well make the most out of being able to visit the different parts of the country, as well as being safe of course. Be sure to keep up to date with government guidelines before planning anything.
I have listed the cities and the blogger who wrote about it next to them so be sure to check them out after this post! The ones with no name next to them are my favourites.
Cities you need to visit in the UK
1. London
I love visiting London, there is just always so much to do and I have a great time any time I go there. I feel like everyone in the UK should visit if they can because it's just such a cool place to be and really has everything.
2. Lincoln - Sophia Patel
3. Bristol - Polly's Pad
4. Bath
5. Bournemouth
6. Liverpool - Until Another Day
7. York - Skinned Cartree
8. Brighton - Samanthia Blogs
9. Cambridge - Jess in your Ear
10. Oxford - Rays of Adventure
11. Leeds - Aimsy's Antics
12. Edinburgh - The Learner Mum
13. Belfast - Grace Bee
14. Norwich - Anny's Adventures
15. Swansea - Cruise with Amber
16. Derby - Lovely Local Indie
17. Winchester - The Globe Trotter
18. Salisbury
Some positives
Some negatives
LESSONS I LEARNT FROM JUGGLING BLOGGING WITH UNIVERSITY
1) Nothing's impossible and you can do anything you put your heart to
2) It's about finding the right balance
3) Me time is a must even when there seems to be too much on my plate
4) Passion is so so important
About the author
Socials:
AD - This is a sponsored post.
With the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic, a lot of you might
have stopped going on dates or trying to meet new people. That’s fine, it’s
been a tough time for a lot of people but it doesn’t necessarily mean that you have
to stop meeting new people or going on dates, especially as online dates are
becoming so prevalent now.
You may have been taking part in virtual or socially
distanced dates already, but I am going to be sharing some online date ideas
and in person date ideas around Dorset for you to get back into the swing of
things. I will also try and give you my best advice on dating, I don’t consider
myself an expert but I managed to get myself a boyfriend and we have been
together for nearly 3 years so I must be doing something right.
Online Date Ideas
If you’re on the dating scene and haven’t tried online
dating yet then you need to! As the pandemic has made most of us realise, we
really rely on technology so we may as well use it to meet new people. It is
quickly becoming the norm for people looking for dates and it can help you connect
with others in a safe way. You can find local single people on a Dorset Dating Site.
One of the main benefits of online dating is that you don’t
have to leave your house so if you feel the date went terribly, it’s not too
much lost as you won’t have gone anywhere. Also, they won’t notice if you’re in
pyjama bottoms on a call. Look up dating sites UK to find singles in your area.
Quiz
I feel like so many people have done quizzes over zoom so
why not do it on a date? It would be fun to make up some questions to ask each
other as a way to get to know each other. Obviously if you are only just
getting to know them you need to be careful with what you ask them, but it
could be a really cool way to find out what you have in common.
Drawing Games
You could pick any game to play on an online date, I am just
using a drawing one as an example of something that could be fun. You could
challenge each other to draw the same thing and see who’s is best, or draw
something and the other person has to guess what it is.
Date Ideas Around Dorset
Now that rules are being relaxed and you can meet someone
outside at a distance, it might be nice to start dating in person again, so I’m
going to give you a few ideas of what you could do with someone out and about
round Dorset.
Here are some socially distanced date ideas that are great for meeting new people
- Outdoor Minigolf
- Walk along the Beach
- Have a picnic in a park
- Get takeaway food or coffees
Before we finish, I’d just like to share with you my number
one piece of advice before dating. If you are nervous about whether they will like
you, just focus on whether or not you will like them. After all, the dating
experience is about you and what makes you happy.
Have you tried online dating?
I'm 22! I'm actually posting this on my birthday. I've seen a lot of people do this kind of post around their birthday so I thought I'd try it too. It was actually quite hard to think of 22 things but I got there in the end. So here we go.
22 Things I've Learned in 22 Years
1. It's better to have a few good friends than 100 bad ones
Honestly, having fake or bad friends can be so damaging to your mental health. It's great to have lots of great friends but what's the point having lots of fake friends? If you have a few good friends, you will really appreciate them more.
2. You have to be your own cheerleader
Don't wait for people to support you and gas you up for your achievements, you should celebrate yourself!
3. I should stop calling myself dumb
I always say I'm dumb as a joke and that often provokes people to join in and say it to, when in reality I'm really not - I've nearly finished a degree.
4. Confidence is key but fake it 'til you make it
I've recently learned that confidence really is key. When you think of the most confident people, you wouldn't really try messing with them or putting them down. Although, it's hard to be confident, the more you try and act confident, the more it will come across to others that you are.
5. It isn't an edgy personality trait to like Lana Del Rey
My favourite artist is Lana Del Rey, don't know if you've heard of her? Haha 14 year old me thought I was so cool and different but really, you like what you like and it doesn't matter. It's not cool to try and be different.
6. I can't keep everything bottled up
I am someone who finds it really difficult to talk about trauma or how I'm feeling, I'll often make jokes out of things as a coping mechanism. Keeping it bottled up is the wrong way to deal with it because I'll often get overlooked. How will people know to be there for you if you don't let them know? I've found it's much more healthy to be open about how I feel.
7. Everyone is working at their own pace
The worst thing you can do is compare yourself to others when it comes to your life goals. Especially in your 20s when some people are married with kids, and some people are just starting to figure out what they want to do. It's all FINE there's no rush on anything.
8. You shouldn't sacrifice your feelings just to get on with people
I hate confrontation so a lot of the time when people have peed me off I haven't said anything, but if someone wrongs you, they aren't going to realise unless you tell them.
9. Age doesn't mean anything
Again, everyone is working at their own pace it doesn't really matter about your age. I am also saying this because I am a 22 year old with some greys coming through.
10. You don't owe anything to anyone
In the past I felt like I had to do things for people and felt bad for saying no to things, but now I'll pretty much only go out of my way for people who deserve it.
11. Like what you like
This relates to my Lana Del Rey point earlier. Unfortunately there are people that will make fun of you for what you like so you may as well openly enjoy whatever it is you enjoy, unapologetically.
12. Celebrate the small wins
13. You don't have to have a life plan
14. Putting yourself first isn't selfish
15. Appreciate little things
I feel like I don't always fully appreciate good times until they are a memory and the more things that turn into memories, the more I realise I need to appreciate those things while they happen and not just after.
16. If you can't love yourself, how in the hell can you love somebody else?
So true, thank you RuPaul.
17. Saying no to people is fine
Again, it's not selfish to set boundaries and to not do everything for people.
18. You won't always have awful taste in men
I used to always go for toxic males and now I have the nicest boyfriend ever and am winning at life, I just wish I didn't waste so much time.
19. There is a lot in the world that needs to change
As you get older, you realise that there are so many things that are wrong in the world and things you thought you knew seem to be untrue and that we need to make take active steps into spreading kindness and trying to make the world a better place.
20. You will probably feel 18 forever
Ever since turning 18, every year I feel like I haven't got any older and I think I will keep thinking I'm 18, at least for the near future anyway. I wonder if when I am 30, will I still feel like I'm 18?
21. Don't grow up too fast
When I was a teenager, all I wanted to do was be older but now, I am going to be an adult for the rest of my life. You are only young for a short amount of time so you may as well make the most out of it.
22. It will be harder to think of things for this post than what you thought
I struggled with finding 22 life lessons I've learnt, but I hope you enjoyed reading my list.
What's one thing you've learnt?
Social Icons