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I’ll see you at the bookshop!
Hotel Wedina Review - Hamburg’s Literary Hotel
When I planned to sail on Cunard’s newest cruise ship, Queen Anne, during her first voyage into Hamburg, I was delighted to discover that the city has its very own literary hotel.
Based in the St Georg district of central Hamburg, the hotel itself is very easy to find with its striking red exterior. We arrived after a short drive from the cruise port, which we booked on Uber, and were greeted by their friendly reception staff in their flawless English.
Review: Shakespeare’s Theatre Much Ado About Nothing Bag by Vendula London
Many long time followers of mine will know that I love a book themed handbag. I have a sizeable collection, and my favourite is a gorgeous Vendula London Old Bookshop bag that I received as a Christmas gift in 2022.
So I’m sure you can imagine that I was very excited when I saw that Vendula were releasing a new Shakespeare themed collection, based around the play Much Ado About Nothing.
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.
Bookshop Review: Barter Books
Tucked away in the northernmost corner of England, Barter Books can be found in Alnwick - a small town in Northumberland. The shop is a complete showstopper with lots of unique features, and is easily one of the best book shops that I’ve ever visited.
Barter Books is housed in Alnwick’s beautiful Victorian train station, which was decommissioned in 1968. Today the space is simply magical.
App Review: TooFar Media
If you’re looking for something new to read, then I have the app for you.
Author Rich Shapero has created an immersive storytelling experience within the TooFar Media app. Combining fiction with a unique blend of art, video, animation and music to bring readers into the story, there really is nothing else quite like it.
Each of the eleven stories is written by Rich, who aims to write novels that ‘dare readers with giant metaphors, magnificent obsessions and potent ideas’. The app feels like a very natural extension of this philosophy. When I opened the app for the first time, I was presented with all eleven of Shapero’s novels. Each is available to download free of charge and is accompanied by art, animation and sound that you will never find in a physical book. Here’s a closer look at three of the stories.
Welcome to Zürich’s designated literary hotel, the B2 Boutique. This is somewhere that’s been on my literary travel bucket list for a very long time, and visiting was an absolute dream come true. I’m excited to show you around!
Upon entering the hotel lobby you’ll snatch your first glance of the B2 Boutique’s coveted library. The lobby area has lots of comfy seating options and doubles up as a large coworking space, making it a great place to grab an armchair and a coffee and get some work done, or just relax with a book.