Writing
I have worked as journalist for over 30 years and have extensive experience of feature and news writing for print and digital media with daily, weekly and monthly publishing schedules. I've also worked as a commissioning editor and sub editor. Scroll below to read some of my recently published online features.
How contemporary art is reviving UK coastal towns
Think of the great British seaside and you may imagine fish and chips, donkey rides, piers and days spent sheltering from the rain along a blustery promenade. But as Blackpool inaugurates an Art B&B, it seems contemporary art is increasingly becoming part of the seaside landscape and a key factor in reviving the flagging fortunes of the UK’s coastal communities.
How travel lovers can enjoy urban sketching at home
Since our interactions with digital devices have gone into overdrive, screen fatigue can so easily set in. So what better way to unwind and tap into your inner creative child than recording your surroundings on a sketchpad?
Best of Warsaw
With the Foster + Partner designed 310m Varso Tower set to be completed in 2020, Warsaw is on track to displace London as home to the tallest building in the European Union. Closer to the ground, a youthful energy is also transforming this 700-year-old survivor into an ideal location for a central European city break.
Top 20 Free Things to Do in Tokyo
Exploring Japan's capital is a mind-blowing experience, but it can also blow your budget. Don't despair – there’s an abundance of things to do and see in Tokyo that don’t cost a single yen. From gardens and temples to contemporary art, sumo practice and a world-famous fish market, here's Tokyo's best free attractions.
Tokyo Escapes: Kamakura & Yokohama
Tokyo is dazzling, frenetic and fashionably cool, but there are times when the population crush and non-stop energy turns this urban paradise into a pressure cooker. An easy escape is to head for the seaside in Kamakura and Yokohama, both easy day trips south of Tokyo.
Cycling the Cape Winelands
Hiding in plain sight, the beautiful Dwars River Valley in the Western Cape's Winelands has been something of a blind spot on the tourist radar as visitors dash between the storied wine estates and chic restaurants of Stellenbosch and Franschhoek. The Dwars River Escape Route aims to change that, offering, among other things, a guided mountain biking trail through historic villages and a gorgeous landscape.
A Tale of Two Townships
The suburbs of Soweto, part of metro Johannesburg, and Khayelitsha, the vast township on the Cape Flats east of Cape Town, are throwing off their reputation for 'misery tourism'. These reborn townships are embracing an enterprising future that includes new monuments, contemporary theatres, community centres covered in public art, gourmet restaurants and third wave coffee shops.
Ghibli Movie Locations
Visit the mesmerising Japanese locations that inspired Studio Ghibli films including the Oscar-winning Spirited Away, the Oscar-nominated The Tale of the Princess Kaguya and the children’s classic My Neighbour Totoro.
A Literary Tour of Russia
Throughout the 19th and 20th centuries Russia produced towering figures of world literature, including Pushkin, Chekhov, Tolstoy and Solzhenitsyn. Many of their former homes and places associated with these literary titans have been turned into museums or are tourist attractions in their own right. Visiting them can help provide an insight into what inspired their prose, poems and plays.
Exploring Russia's Jewish Heritage
Chief Rabbi Berel Lazar has spent 2018 travelling across Russia to participate in ceremonies at a couple of historic synagogues. From the eastern Siberian city of Tomsk to Kaliningrad in the westernmost reaches of the Russian Federation, these buildings stand as a testament to the deep roots enjoyed by the country’s 180,000 Jews and the endurance of their faith across the largest nation on Earth for over a thousand years.
How Travel Guides are Handling Ukraine's Break-up
As Crimea changes flags from Ukraine to Russia, publishers of guidebooks and maps must decide whether to play catch-up or wait-and-see on the coverage they give to the disputed Black Sea peninsula.
The World's Best Public Swimming Pools
Whether it’s for the exercise, a cooling dip as temperatures soar, or just the sheer fun of splashing around, the following selection of public pools dotted around the globe offer not only memorable settings, but also convenient access to highlights for tourists, making it easy to combine your swim with some classic sightseeing.