The UK + Central Europe

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The UK + Central Europe Traveler
A day in the sun
November 30, 2025 in Croatia ⋅ ☀️ 7 °C
Today’s plan was to hit a couple of museums… but when the weather turns on pure sunshine and blue skies, you don’t waste that indoors. ☀️☀️☀️ So, running around Zagreb again like an overexcited tourist was absolutely on the cards.

I revisited a bunch of spots from yesterday’s walking tour, but this time everything looked extra glorious under the bright light. Today, though, I also spent plenty of time in Kaptol, strolling through its charming streets and parks. After that, I headed back to the Lotrscak Tower to catch the twelve o’clock cannon blast - again. And it still made me jump. Some things never change. 🤣🤣🤣

From there, I wandered through the Tunnel Gric, which was a fun little detour. Then I made my way down towards the Main Square… where I somehow ended up in the middle of an anti-fascist protest. At least, I think that’s what it was - hard to be sure when you can’t understand a single shouted word. 😅

After escaping the crowd, I actually went back to the Lotrscak Tower - this time to climb up it. And honestly? Absolutely worth it. The view from the top of the 30-metre tower was fantastic, especially with the city glowing under the late-afternoon sun. 🤩

As the day turned to night, I wrapped things up by heading to a local pub to watch the Premier League games. It was here that I got a bit of a surprise: people were smoking inside. Definitely not something I’m used to back home, but it certainly added to the atmosphere.

Even though the smoke made my hoodie stink, it was the perfect end to a very unplanned, very lovely day in the sun. Just another load of washing for future me. 🤪🤪🤪Read more
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The UK + Central Europe Traveler
Wandering around Zagreb
December 1, 2025 in Croatia ⋅ ☁️ 4 °C
This morning I started the day by heading west through the Tunnel Gric to the Lower Town. From there, the plan was to check out a few of Zagreb’s big landmarks - the Croatian National Theatre, the Croatian National Archives, and the Botanical Gardens.

All three were temporarily closed, which felt a bit like the universe telling me to slow down… but they were still impressive from the outside. 😅 The theatre in particular looked majestic in the morning light. Honestly, I could snap a photo at every step here - Europe really does spoil you like that.

I grabbed lunch in Park Karla Petra Svacica, which turned out to be a great little spot to sit, eat, and people-watch for a while. After that - and a bit of aimless wandering through the city - I made my way up to St. Mark’s Square to catch the sunset. 🤩 The view over Zagreb as the sky started shifting colours was absolutely worth the climb.

My main stop of the afternoon/early evening was the Museum of Broken Relationships - a place my tour guide from a few days ago had strongly recommended. I ended up spending almost two hours inside. It was fascinating, but also surprisingly emotional; every exhibition was a tiny story of heartbreak, loss, or something once loved. Even so, I still really enjoyed it.

To cheer myself up a bit, I walked down to the nearby pedestrian street for dinner and had a really tasty wok-type dish. And it did! 😄🤣 Afterwards, before heading back to my hotel for the night, I took a slow loop around the Christmas markets, which were full of festive vibes. 🎅

And that was today - a mix of quiet sightseeing, sad museum stories, and good food.Read more
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The UK + Central Europe Traveler
A marathon of museums
December 2, 2025 in Croatia ⋅ ☁️ 0 °C
Today was absolutely freezing in Zagreb - cold enough that the city issued a fog warning - so spending the day indoors felt like the only sensible plan. I started the morning with a walk through Zrinjevac Park, its trees looking even scarier in the mist. 🤣🤪 From there, I continued past the Mimara Museum which, although I knew it was temporarily closed after a recent earthquake, still surprised me by being completely wrapped up in scaffolding and hidden from view. 🫣

My first proper stop was the Nikola Tesla Technical Museum, where I ended up spending well over three hours. There were simply that many exhibitions - everything from old steam engines to model mines and small planes.

Eventually, I headed back east towards the Archaeological Museum, grabbing lunch on the way and nearly losing my fingers to frostbite while eating it outside. As you can probably guess, the museum was full of ancient artefacts, but the standout was definitely the Zagreb Mummy - both eerie and fascinating.

After a short warm-up break back at my hotel, I made my way up to St. Mark’s Square for my final museum of the day - the Zagreb City Museum. I only had about an hour and a half before closing time, so I more or less speed-walked through it, but it still managed to be one of the more interesting stops. The exhibitions walk you through the city’s history in a really engaging way (even if you’re rushing).

Dinner tonight was at an Italian restaurant conveniently close to my hotel, because I realised something shocking: I’d gone this long without having a single spaghetti bolognese on the trip. So I corrected that immediately. 😂 Afterwards, I strolled back to Zrinjevac Square for one last wander through Zagreb’s Christmas markets before calling it a night.

Tomorrow, I catch the train to Ljubljana - a city I’ve wanted to visit for many, many years, ever since watching Richard Ayoade’s travel show as a teenager. I can’t wait!!! 🇸🇮Read more
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The UK + Central Europe Traveler
Ljubljana at last!
December 3, 2025 in Croatia ⋅ ☁️ 4 °C
This morning began with a leisurely checkout in Zagreb and an even slower walk to the main train station. I boarded what I was pretty sure was my train - same departure time, different train company - but luckily it turned out to be the right one. 😅😂 The journey itself was gorgeous - the tracks followed the Sava River and wound through mountains, making the ride feel like a scenic tour! 🤩

Once in Ljubljana, I checked into my hotel, which is only about five minutes from the Triple Bridge. Even though it was already dark by the time I reached the bridges, the atmosphere was incredibly charming, and I spotted a few pieces of architecture I’m definitely coming back to photograph in daylight.

After a quick look around and a stroll through the Christmas markets (plus booking a couple of day trips), I found a local pub showing the Arsenal vs Brentford match. The Gunners were comfortably the better side and wrapped it up 2-0. 💪💪💪

My first impressions of Ljubljana are really promising - it already feels like somewhere I’m going to love. Bring on tomorrow!!! 🥳Read more
TravelerCan you bring me back a European Christmas tree decoration??? You’re living my European Christmas market dream! Happy to reimburse you…
12/4/25Reply
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The UK + Central Europe Traveler
Exploring Ljubljana on foot
December 4, 2025 in Slovenia ⋅ ☁️ 3 °C
Today started very early - my alarm went off so I could catch the Ashes Test Match in Brisbane. 🏏 I had the game streaming on my laptop, but I was definitely watching through very tired eyes, nodding off more than once.

My day properly kicked off with a free walking tour. We began in Congress Square before heading to Presernov Trg, the main square of Ljubljana. From there, we crossed the Triple Bridge and wandered into the Town Square, eventually making our way to Saint Nicholas’ Cathedral. Next, we strolled through a local market (sampling some local breads and chocolates) and continued on to the Butchers’ Bridge. The walk then followed the Ljubljanica River up to the University of Ljubljana building. The guide was fantastic - incredibly knowledgeable and engaging - and it was a great introduction to the city’s history and layout.

After the tour, I decided to hike up to Ljubljana Castle, enjoying the views over the city as I climbed. 🤩🤩🤩 I explored the grounds for a while, including the Terrace Platform, before heading back down. I’m planning to return another day for the full-priced ticket so I can have a proper look around inside.

Following a quick pit stop at my hotel, I headed to a nearby pizzeria for a wood-fired dinner. 🍕 As the rain started to fall, I made my way back to the hotel, where I did my final load of laundry for the trip (a small but satisfying victory!). I even managed to channel Mum’s legendary skill of making an impossible amount of wet clothes fit perfectly onto a drying rack. 🤪🤪🤪

Tomorrow brings another early alarm, this time for a day trip to Lake Bled. I can’t wait to see what’s in store!Read more
TravelerLaundry skills 😆. Dad & I can picture exactly where you’re walking around in Ljubljana - so fun! Enjoy lake bled - that will be spectacular
12/4/25Reply
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The UK + Central Europe Traveler
One incredible day at Lake Bled
December 5, 2025 in Slovenia ⋅ ☁️ 3 °C
What. A. Day. Today might just be my favourite day of the entire trip so far - and honestly, one of my favourite days ever (… possibly second only to Grand Final Day 2023 #GoPies). 🤪😂 I even took 136 photos, which probably tells you everything you need to know about how good it was. 🫣😳

The adventure began bright and early with a hotel pickup for my day trip to Lake Bled. Our first stop was Bled Castle, where we arrived around 9 a.m. We had an hour to explore, and the highlight was without question the view - Lake Bled drifting in and out of the morning fog, looking almost unreal. 🤩

From there, we headed down to the lakeside. I spent a while walking along the water before hopping on the boat to Bled Island. Boats leave every hour on the hour, so I had a full hour to have a proper look around - and I made the most of it. I circled the island on the walking track, visited the church, climbed the clocktower, and wandered through the small museum. It was peaceful, charming, and absolutely beautiful.

Back on the mainland, I grabbed a very satisfying baked potato for lunch and took a short stroll before it was time to return to Ljubljana.

Once back in the city, I drifted through the streets without much of a plan - just exploring, people-watching, and soaking in the evening atmosphere. I made my way to the Metelkova district in the east of Ljubljana, taking in the vibrant street art and the area’s unique, lively energy. Later, a craving for a burrito hit hard, so I found one (which was a great decision), and then roamed the city at night, which felt calm and lovely after the big day out. 😄

There’s a little surprise planned for tomorrow… so stay tuned! 👀Read more
TravelerMy guess for tomorrow is 🇮🇹
12/5/25Reply
TravelerEurope just keeps delivering! ❤️
12/5/25Reply
TravelerTom you have such stamina. Visiting all these wonderful places daytime and evening and also sustaining such captivating write-ups.
12/6/25Reply
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The UK + Central Europe Traveler
An Italian detour: exploring Trieste
December 6, 2025 in Italy ⋅ ☁️ 11 °C
Today’s adventure took me all the way to Italy - a day trip to Trieste, just 75 kilometres southwest of Ljubljana. I hopped on the morning bus, and before I knew it, we were rolling into the city with the Adriatic Sea gleaming in the sun nearby. Not a bad way to start the day. 🇮🇹🇮🇹🇮🇹

Thanks to a bit of late-night research, I already had a loose plan: the Castle of San Giusto, the Roman Theatre of Trieste, the Arco di Riccardo, and the Unity of Italy Square. But first, since the bus stop is right by the Canal Grande, I wandered over for my first look at the Adriatic. 🤩

I grabbed a cappuccino outside Piazza Sant’Antonio Nuovo, sipping it in true Italian fashion before setting off properly. My route took me up the Giants’ Stairway and into the Parco della Rimembranza - a gorgeous climb through trees and grassy slopes - eventually delivering me right to my first major stop: the Castle of San Giusto. I spent about an hour exploring the exhibitions and soaking in the views over Trieste, which were completely worth the climb.

After that, I headed back downhill to the Roman Theatre of Trieste, then continued weaving through the little maze of streets to find the Arco di Riccardo. There’s something so fun about wandering around with a destination in mind but no real rush to get there. 😄

My final big stop was the Unity of Italy Square, which turned out to be very, very lively - thousands of motorbikes were riding through as part of a charity event. The noise, the beeping, the chaos… it weirdly reminded me of South East Asia. 🤣🤣🤣

By then I was starving, so I did the only sensible thing one can do in Italy and ordered a margherita pizza. Early dinner, zero regrets. Following a day of exploring, it disappeared embarrassingly quickly. 😅😂

After the bus ride back, I arrived in Ljubljana well after dark. I went for a short, slow walk through the evening streets, enjoying the Saturday night atmosphere - a great way to end another incredibly happy day in Europe. 🍻Read more
TravelerMagnifico!!
12/6/25ReplyTranslate
TravelerA "bonus" country for this trip ❤️
12/6/25Reply
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The UK + Central Europe Traveler
A slow Sunday in Ljubljana
December 7, 2025 in Slovenia ⋅ ⛅ 7 °C
This morning started with a peaceful stroll along the Ljubljanica River. It was the perfect warm-up for a day that turned out to be full of walking.

By lunchtime I’d wandered into the main square and grabbed something to eat, soaking up the weekend energy before tackling the inevitable big activity of the day - the climb to Ljubljana Castle. And wow… that hill does not mess around. 🤣🤪

My ticket came with a whole bundle of things to see - the 4D Virtual Castle film, the Museum of Puppetry, and the Slovenian History Exhibition. I explored them all at a leisurely pace, then climbed the clocktower for those absolutely magnificent views over the city. Red roofs, green hills, and mountains in the distance. So good. 🤩

After about two hours wandering the castle grounds and the surrounding parklands, I made my way back down the hill and slipped into full “aimless roaming” mode, drifting through Ljubljana’s streets with no real plan. Honestly, it’s one of the best ways to enjoy this city.

Later on, after a quick break back at my hotel, I found a nearby pub and ordered fish and chips. As a bonus, the Fulham vs Crystal Palace game was on the TV, so I stuck around and watched a bit of the match. ⚽️

And that was today - just me, my feet, and another happy day exploring Ljubljana.Read more
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The UK + Central Europe Traveler
Goodbye Ljubljana, hello London
December 8, 2025 in Slovenia ⋅ ⛅ 6 °C
I stretched out my morning in the hotel as long as possible before stepping out into the sunshine. With no rush, I wandered east towards Tivoli Park, letting the quiet streets set the pace for the day.

Eventually I found myself at the National Museum of Slovenia and slipped inside for a few hours of exploring. The exhibits ranged from prehistoric artefacts to rich cultural history, and I took my time moving through each room.

When I stepped back outside, the weather was a perfect 10 out of 10 (at least for winter) - the kind that makes you want to walk just for the sake of it! 🤩 With about three hours left before I needed to head to the airport, that’s exactly what I did. I crossed the busy road into Tivoli Park and headed up towards Tivoli Castle, looping slowly through the grounds before drifting back to the Old Town. No plan - just sunshine, familiar streets, and a final lap past Ljubljana’s main sights glowing in the afternoon light.

Then it was time to collect my bags and say goodbye to the city. I made my way to the airport and caught my flight from Ljubljana to London Gatwick. After landing, I hopped on the train into the city - including getting on the wrong one once or twice - but I finally made it to my apartment.

Now I’m ticked up in bed, grateful for the day and excited for one last adventure tomorrow. One more day in Europe, and I’ll be spending it racing across my favourite city in the world!!! 🥳Read more
TravelerWhen a man is tired of London he's tired of life 😂
12/9/25Reply
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The UK + Central Europe Traveler
One last lap around London
December 9, 2025 in England ⋅ ☁️ 12 °C
Well, well, well… after 35 days on the road, the time has finally come to head home. It still doesn’t feel real. After 2,134 photos, 27 videos, 9 countries, 7 stops, 3 (internal) flights, 2 trains, and 2 buses… just like that, this adventure draws to a close. So, to celebrate a truly incredible trip, I decided my final day in Europe should be a whirlwind lap of London’s greatest hits - a highlight reel to wrap it all up. 🤩

I started the morning wandering through Kensington Gardens and Hyde Park, letting my legs find their rhythm one last time. I passed the Albert Memorial, looped around Wellington Arch, and eventually arrived at Buckingham Palace. From there, I strolled up The Mall for a quick coffee before weaving my way through Leicester Square and Trafalgar Square, soaking in the familiar hum of the city.

Next came Horse Guards Parade and a hello to Big Ben. Then it was onto the Tube and eastward to the Tower of London and Tower Bridge. The tide was out, revealing “London’s only beach” at Horselydown Stairs - a very cool vantage point to see the bridge from. I followed the Thames to Borough Market, where the crowds and chatter felt like classic London at full volume. 🤣

After ducking back to my hotel for a short rest, I somehow still had energy to spare, so I had fish and chips for an early dinner and set off again - this time to see London after dark. I wandered through Hyde Park past the colourful glow of the Winter Wonderland, then drifted towards Buckingham Palace once more. Along Birdcage Walk, the edge of St. James’s Park was quiet and peaceful, and Big Ben lit up against the night sky felt like a great farewell.

With a little more time to play with, I hopped back on the Tube to St. Paul’s Cathedral, then returned to Tower Hill - all of it shining beautifully after sunset. Usually on these trips I’m tucked away in my hotel by this hour, so getting to see London by night felt like a rare treat in itself. 😅😂

And for the last hurrah: a Tube ride out to Leyton to watch Granddad’s O’s - Leyton Orient - take on Luton Town in League One. Everything was going perfectly until Luton scored a 96th-minute equaliser! Not exactly the ending the home team wanted, but definitely a memorable finish.

After 36,000 steps, I’m more than ready to collapse into bed before my early flight home tomorrow. I think it might be a while before country #30… but honestly, I probably would’ve said the same last year, so who knows. I’ve loved every moment of this trip through the UK and Central Europe, and there are so many stories to one day tell the grandchildren.

As much as I’d happily never go home, I’m also looking forward to what’s familiar (and to not living out of a suitcase!). And I know I’ll be back. 😉 Until next time, Europe - I’m already counting down the days.Read more
TravelerWhat a trip! We’ve loved seeing you travel so well but will be happy to have you home 😘
12/9/25Reply
TravelerYour adventures have been wonderful to read and the way you write is great so happy to follow you on all your trips, your memories will last forever, safe travels home Tom. xx
12/10/25Reply
TravelerIt was brilliant to see you Tom. Looking forward to seeing your mum and dad in February. Love to all ❤️xx
12/10/25Reply
TravelerThank you for taking us along with you, safe travels and see you soon xx
12/10/25Reply
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Trip end
December 9, 2025