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I’ll see you at the bookshop!
Inside Heffers Bookshop & Cambridge Bookshop Guide
As one of England’s historic university cities, Cambridge has a wide variety of fantastic bookshops to explore.
Heffers is one of those - a vital and well regarded part of the literary scene in Cambridge, having been present in the city for over 100 years.
Formerly owned by the Heffer family, the shop was founded by William Heffer in 1876, initially selling stationary and later adding books. Heffers was eventually sold to Blackwell’s in 1999, but retains its independent charm.
The University Arms Hotel, Cambridge - Review
The University Arms Hotel has been high on my bookish to-visit list for a very long time, and for good reason! This literary hotel has a long history, having been in service in a variety of forms since the 1800s. Now owned by Marriott Bonvoy aspart of their Autograph Collection, the property boasts stunning Edwardian interiors and offers a truly luxurious experience in the heart of Cambridge.
I stayed at the hotel for two nights in one of their stunning terrace suites, and also had the chance to dine in their onsite restaurant the Parkers Tavern. The hotel underwent a thorough renovation in 2016, and it’s clear that Marriott invested a significant amount of time and money in the refit. I particularly loved the little details, and loved the signs that were shaped like books.
Welcome to the Viking Skaga - one of Viking Cruises’ noble river ships. She takes her name from an ancient Norse myth, where the Valkyrie Skaga rode into battle and escorted the dead to Valhalla, before preparing them to fight in the epic battle of Ragnarok.
A relatively new ship, the Viking Skaga only entered the fleet in 2020. At just 410 feet and carrying 168 guests and 48 crew, she was built specifically to sail down the Seine in France, although the specific itinerary will vary depending on the time of year. I was fortunate enough to join the ship for her week long Christmas on the Seine cruise, which starts and ends in Paris, calling at Vernon, Caudebec-en-Caux, Rouen, Honflour (via an excursion) and Les Andelys along the way.