Category: Review

There are cities you visit, and cities you feel. Finland’s Helsinki is the latter.

It is one of those rare European capitals that doesn’t shout for your attention – it simply earns it. Set against the glassy waters of the Baltic, the waterfront is Helsinki’s spine: ferries gliding between islands, cafés spilling onto boardwalks, and the sea shimmering.

The Finnish capital feels like a deep breath you didn’t know you needed.

 

Helsinki’s design culture is also central to its addictive vibe, from the smooth curves of Alvar Aalto’s architecture to the functional beauty of everyday objects, the city’s aesthetic is rooted in purpose.

The Design District is a treasure trove of independent studios, concept stores and galleries, each one offering a glimpse into Finland’s obsession with craftsmanship and clarity.

Even the metro stations feel curated – bold colours, clean lines, and a sense that someone has thought carefully about how you move through the space.

You cannot understand Helsinki without understanding sauna. It’s not a novelty here; it’s a ritual. They are EVERYWHERE – there’s even a dedicated sauna pod on the city’s observation wheel!

Helsinki’s food scene is a quiet triumph. Nordic flavours – clean, seasonal, and beautifully restrained – are elevated with creativity and warmth. The city’s restaurants balance innovation with comfort with dishes that feel like a love letter to the landscape.

But one of Helsinki’s greatest luxuries is how effortlessly nature folds into urban life. Islands dot the coastline like stepping stones, each one offering forests, beaches, and picnic spots just a short ferry ride away. Even within the city, parks and waterfront paths create a rhythm of calm that makes Helsinki feel more like a sanctuary than a capital.

Some of my highlights included. . .

City Highlights Cruise – On this 90-minute guided sightseeing cruise enjoy the shorelines of Helsinki from a whole new perspective. During the cruise you see summer terraces, beach cafés and beautiful parks as well as both older and newer city architecture and interesting urban areas like Kaivopuisto park and the classy harbour area of Merisatama.

The Temppeliaukio Rock Church, carved directly into bedrock, is one of the city’s most unique and striking architectural experiences.

Suomenlinna, a UNESCO-listed sea fortress spread across several islands. Wander through old fortifications, pastel wooden houses, coastal paths and cafés. It’s peaceful, scenic and deeply atmospheric. A full day exploring is highly recommended and will also bring you into contact with some more unexpected sights, including a Second World War submarine that you can go inside! Even the 15-minute ferry hop across the water affords an opportunity to enjoy idyllic panaromic views.

Market Square & Old Market Hall – Where Helsinki’s flavours come alive -and you won’t be able to leave without bagging a local memento of your stay or irresistible lunchtime treat.

City Sightseeing Hop On-Hop Off Bus – With 19 stops and departures every 30-40 minutes, this is the perfect way to take in the top sights and learn about the city’s fascinating history as well as take advantage of this public transport option.

The tour has recorded commentary in 11 languages: English, Finnish, Swedish, German, French, Spanish, Italian, Russian, Korean, Japanese and Chinese.

Helsinki’s cultural scene is bold, modern, and beautifully curated with a rich choice of museums to visit.

One of my favourites was The Museum of Contemporary Art Kiasma, Finland’s leading museum of contemporary art. Kiasma is part of the Finnish National Gallery, together with the Ateneum and the Sinebrychoff Art Museum but time only allowed for one of them.

Helsinki isn’t trying to be the next big thing – and that’s precisely why it feels so modern. It’s a city that values quality over spectacle, wellbeing over chaos, and authenticity over trend-chasing. There’s a confidence in its quietness, a sophistication in its simplicity, and a charm in its gentle eccentricities. It’s about purpose. Everyday objects are crafted with intention, public spaces are shaped with care.

This is a city worth taking plenty of time to explore, but where beauty is built to be used. It’s the kind of place that stays with you long after you’ve left.

To get the most from your visit I would strongly recommend the Helsinki Card which, unlocks more than 50 free and discounted attractions across the city, including public transport, representing incredible value across one, two or three days.

Discover more HERE.

But, however you’re travelling, one thing I can promise you – you’ll fall in love with one of Europe’s most vibrant and unforgettable cities and which, I am assured, offers a unique experience every season of the year.

Just the excuse I need to come back again soon!

This was the first part of my two-centre holiday in Helsinki and Tallinn. Read all about Tallinn HERE.

Step into a world of deception, desire, and deadly ambition.

Tom Ripley is a nobody – until he’s offered an unexpected opportunity: travel to Italy and bring home the wealthy and carefree Dickie Greenleaf. But as Tom is drawn into Dickie’s glittering world of privilege, his obsession takes a dark turn. What begins as an innocent invitation spirals into a web of lies, identity theft. . . and murder.

Set against the sun-drenched backdrop of 1950s Italy, this gripping stage adaptation of The Talented Mr. Ripley brings Patricia Highsmith’s iconic novel to life in a thrilling new production.

Patricia Highsmith’s iconic tale of charm, deceit and dangerous ambition, arrives at the Belgrade Theatre with a sleek, psychologically charged production that grips from the first moment and refuses to let go.

The production wisely avoids caricature, instead presenting Ripley as a man whose desperation to belong curdles into something far darker. The performance is magnetic – quietly intense one moment, chillingly unpredictable the next. It’s a portrayal that keeps the audience leaning forward, searching for the cracks in his carefully constructed façade.

Opposite him, Dickie Greenleaf is rendered with effortless charisma by Bruce Herbelin-Earle, the kind of golden‑boy allure that makes Ripley’s obsession both believable and inevitable. Their dynamic – part admiration, part envy, part possession – drives the production with a taut, simmering energy.

The staging is elegant in its restraint. Clean lines, clever lighting, and fluid scene transitions evoke Italy’s sun‑drenched coast without ever distracting from the psychological drama. The design team uses shadow and silhouette to powerful effect, underscoring the story’s themes of identity, duplicity, and the masks we wear.

The Talented Mr Ripley at the Belgrade Theatre is a stylish, intelligent, and atmospheric adaptation that honours Highsmith’s original while carving out its own theatrical identity. Anchored by a standout central performance from Ed McVey, this is a gripping exploration of ambition, identity and the seductive pull of reinvention.

Maisie Smith, best known for her Eastenders character, provides solid support as Marge Sherwood.

How far would you go to be someone else?

A darkly compelling triumph for the Belgrade, The Talented Mr Ripley plays until Saturday and tickets are available from the box office HERE or call: 024 7655 3055.

A visit to Brasserie Beau inside Hotel Indigo Bath feels like stepping into a quietly confident celebration of modern British dining. The restaurant’s distinguished setting – a Grade I listed Georgian townhouse – immediately sets the tone – elegant, atmospheric, and unmistakably Bath.

The space hums with warmth and conversation, and the design strikes that sweet spot between contemporary and traditional charm.

Brasserie Beau positions itself as a sanctuary from the bustle of Bath’s city centre, and it delivers. The dining room is inviting without being fussy, with a sense of occasion that doesn’t tip into formality. It’s the kind of place where you can settle in for a long lunch, a celebratory dinner, or a relaxed Sunday roast. The terrace and cocktail bar add a sociable, grown‑up energy – ideal for pre‑dinner drinks or a leisurely afternoon.

Located on the ground floor with an outdoor terrace, Brasserie Beau adheres to a simple yet powerful ethos – only the finest British ingredients find their way onto the plates. Executive Chef Bruce Theobald and his team champion wild food and support small producers, ensuring that every dish bursts with flavour. This also ensures that the menus evolve daily, guided by the seasons and the availability of ingredients.

This commitment comes through in the menu’s simplicity – dishes that let quality speak for itself, elevated by thoughtful technique. In fact, there’s a sense of care in the cooking, the kind that suggests a kitchen team genuinely invested in flavour and provenance. Even my unfussy spatchcock chicken dish was cooked perfectly and was extremely flavoursome. All too often restaurant dining can turn into a style over substance type of experience, but no so here.

The result is food that feels grounded yet refined – comforting British staples given just enough polish to feel special.

The wine list is notably extensive, offering a broad range that suits both casual sippers and those looking for something more curated. The cocktail bar is a highlight, with the terrace providing an appealing backdrop for a pre‑dinner drink or a lazy afternoon spritz. (When the sun’s out of course!)

Service at Brasserie Beau is pitched at the right level: friendly, knowledgeable, and attentive without the dreaded hovering. Staff are confident in the menu and happy to guide, which adds to the sense of ease.

Brasserie Beau is a – relatively recent – welcome addition to Bath’s busy dining scene, stylish without pretence, rooted in British culinary identity, and genuinely enjoyable to spend time in. It’s the kind of restaurant that feels equally suited to locals, hotel guests, and destination diners. And, with its strong ethos, beautiful setting and thoughtful execution, it stands out as a place that understands both hospitality and flavour.

The restaurant, which has 100 covers, is open seven days a week from 12pm to 9:30pm offering visitors a sanctuary where they can eat, drink, and unwind away from the bustling city centre.

The restaurant is set in the handsome honey-coloured Georgian Terrace adjacent to Hotel Indigo Bath which we were also lucky enough to call home for the night. The perfect base from which to explore the city, this beautiful boutique hotel soaks up the history, romance and literature which can all be enjoyed just a few steps away.

The hotel’s communal spaces and each of its 154 rooms have a contemporary design which reflects the influences of the architects and novelists who made Bath famous for its storytelling and passionate social scene.

Spa towns have inspired literature through the years, and none more so than Bath which plays a central role in books by Jane Austen, Charles Dickens and Mary Shelley amongst others. Jane Austen resided in a number of properties in Bath for five years and even set two of her six published novels, Northanger Abbey and Persuasion, in the city.

With precious little time to explore the city, we prioritised a trip to The Roman Baths – a first for both of us – which didn’t fall short of all the tourist hype. A unique experience that comes highly recommended.

Visit Brasserie Beau HERE.

Visit Bath HERE.

Visit Roman Baths HERE.