Bridges and Balloons, Allianz Stadium, Twickenham (2026)

I love finding special places to explore at home and around the world. This blog is filled with those finds, from magical treehouses to otherworldly landscapes. I love places that have a story behind them or simply knock you off your feet with their beauty – be they little coffee shops, friendly guesthouses, or hidden nooks within the city. The places I find are cosy, creative, unique, and sometim

es bohemian, hipster or green. They’re never bland, and they’re always places you want to tell people about – which is why I share them with you. I put these finds into photo stories, videos, best of collections, and in my dedicated Special Stays series. And I also write travel planning resources and detailed itineraries, so you can replicate a trip if you like. I also share personal stories from along the way: stories of grief, false starts, love, nomadism, working on the road, frustrations, freelancing, confusion, trying to start a business, and the good, bad and ugly side of travel.

15/06/2026

People who found me on Instagram are often surprised by this…

Before Instagram even started, I was building Bridges and Balloons.

I began in 2012 and nowadays it’s a travel site packed with travel tips and guides for destinations all over the world.

My itineraries, family destination guides and accommodation round-ups are particularly popular.

The site gets over 250k page views per month and is the main way I make a living from this job.

So if you’ve never seen it, do head over to the link in my bio. If you like what you see here, chances are there’s a guide or two you’ll find useful!

12/06/2026

I’ve created a huge collection of the best Airbnbs for families in France. Comment ‘FRANCE’ and I’ll send you the whole collection.

For now, you can see 8 of my favourites in the reel. All have a pool, perfect for the long sunny days of a French summer, and ideal for families to return to after a day’s sightseeing. My kids are desperate to stay in the one with the slide!

Many have space for larger families and multi-genrational trips too. And they cover many different regions from the west coast to Provence. There’s even a Harry Potter themed one!

Comment ‘FRANCE’ and I’ll send you the full collection.

Disclosure: I’m a member of Airbnb’s affiliate program

07/06/2026

How to get the most out of 48 hours in London with kids 🇬🇧✨

On our latest a visit to London, we went full tourist and spent a weekend showing the kids all the big London landmarks. I grew up near the city and lived there for over a decade, so normally we take a more local approach, but it was fun to approach it like a first timer.

So if you’re visiting London for the first time as a family, this is the weekend itinerary I’d recommend…

I also have a more detailed version on Bridges and Balloons, which I’ll save to my London highlight ✨

✨ DAY 1
• Borough Market breakfast
• South Bank walk or boat trip (Shard, Tate, The Globe, St,Paul’s, skate area, Leake Street Tunnels, London Eye)
• Bus to Trafalgar Square via Big Ben
• London-themed afternoon tea at Haymarket Hotel
• Hamley’s
• Dinner in Soho or Chinatown
• West End show for older kids

✨ DAY 2
• Buckingham Palace (changing of the guards if you’re willing to wait)
• St James’s Park
• Explore Inside Tower Bridge
• Tower of London
• Home

Of course there are so many more things you could add or switch depending on your tastes and how much time you have. I’ve suggested lots more options on the blog and ways to adapt this itinerary. I’ve saved the link in my London highlight.

04/06/2026

Remember our dreamy stay at Riad Botanica? I’m excited to say we’re giving you the chance to experience it too with a 2-night stay for up to 2 adults and 2 children.

I absolutely fell in love with this place. It’s one of the most stylish family-friendly riads I’ve found in Marrakech – a rare combination in a city where many of the most beautiful riads are adults-only. The design is spectacular, blending Moroccan tradition with Australian art deco, all centred around a gorgeous courtyard where an orange tree takes pride of place. Every detail has been thoughtfully considered, from the carved bedheads to the beautiful colour palette throughout.

Our boys loved the pool, bunk beds and indulgent rooftop breakfasts, while we appreciated the peaceful location in one of the medina’s most refined neighbourhoods – just a short walk from stylish restaurants, boutiques, spas and Bacha Coffee.

Here’s what you can win:

🌿 A 2-night stay at Riad Botanica for up to 2 adults and 2 children (from June-August or Jan-Feb)

🍽️ Daily breakfast

🚗 Transfers from the airport

To enter:

🌺 Follow and

✨ Tag someone you’d love to take with you in the comments. Each comment counts as one entry.

🇲🇦 Tell us one thing you’re excited about doing in Morocco with kids!

The winner will be announced on Thursday 18 June.

Good luck! I can’t wait to see who gets to enjoy this special place. 🍀✨

✈️ Please note that flights are not included.

22/05/2026

Being an influencer isn’t one of those jobs that’s easily explained…or respected.

I used to work in the charity sector where I’d frequently bathe in the glow of other people’s admiration for choosing something “good”. And when I worked in journalism, that was met with respect.

It’s not the same being a blogger and influencer. You get bewilderment from boomers, and a spectrum of wonder to scorn from fellow Millennials, tending to weigh toward the negative.

While I miss the easy validation of others, I also get it. This job is weird. It’s new and ever-changing, and didn’t even exist until after I graduated. And there are a minority that give it a bad name.

But in myself, I’m proud of it. I’ve found a job that fits the life I want and the flexibility I need. It’s much more work than meets the eye, and there are times when I miss the security and boundaries of a 9-5 (it’s hard to find the off-switch when it’s your own business). But overall, the positives far outweigh the negatives. That doesn’t mean I don’t struggle to take parts of it seriously at times though (case in point being filmed with an Aperol Spritz 😂).

And yesterday, I had some lovely news. I’ve been shortlisted in not just one, but two categories at the Awards. I’m up for Blogger of the Year and Content Creator of the Year. The blogger award means a lot as I’m proud to be in the running 14 years into this career, and after a year of trying hard to innovate and try new things

And as for the content creator award, this one’s proof you can improve when you put your mind to it. I was neglectful of Instagram for the first 12 or so years of my career, but in 2025, I tried my hardest and grew this account from around 12k to 50k in the space of a year.

And of course that’s thanks to you! So big, big thanks for the support. I appreciate you all ❤️

Address

Allianz Stadium
Twickenham
TW2 7BA

Website

https://bridgesandballoons.com/

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