Three European Cities To Visit This Summer

We're up for exploring some new places this summer! | image source

Which cities are you looking to discover + explore this summer? With our Euro Road Trip still in the planning stage – and considering myself + Hollie have already have a trip to Florida booked for June – we’re taking a closer look at a couple of cities across Europe that we think would be great places to stop-over in, and soak up the local culture.

Choosing one in the UK + two in mainland Europe, each city has its own plus-points, strong reasons to visit, and a good bit of history. Perfect for weekend trips for people who love to explore, and who are attached to their cameras. For people like us then!

Let's go!

A mixture of old + new can be found within the streets of the England's second city | image source

Birmingham - Art, Menswear + Independent Businesses

Birmingham may seem like a strange choice, as it's only a three hour train ride away from Lancashire. But considering a budget of around £200 for a weekend, and the fact that we've only ever visit the city for work, Birmingham seems like a great place to start the Buckets road trip across Europe!

England's second city – famed for its integral role in the Industrial Revolution – is by far one of the best connected cities in the country; with trains, buses, planes and motorways running in every direction. Having visited the city before for work, I knew I wanted to return and explore more thoroughly.

Where To Stay

Bloc is a modern boutique hotel with rooms for under £50 a night  | image source

As with all three cities, we want to keep costs down, but we still want to stay in places we'd consider to be modern, well connected to the rest of the city, and of course clean.

Located in the city's historic Jewellery Quarter, Bloc Hotel fits the bill perfectly. With good reviews online and room rates hovering around £45 per night we reckon this would be ideal. Expect it to be basic and small (hence the name?), but it's got everything you need for a short break.

 What To Pack

Never leave the house without a brolly around these parts!

The price of the hotel includes towels and wi-fi (which is becoming increasingly rare for budget hotels these days), but I'd pack extra toiletries like hand soap and shower gel, as they don't always throw them in.

I'd be traveling to Birmingham by train – booked as separate journeys in advance, for a cheaper fare – which is a good three/four hour journey, so I'd plan to catch up on  podcasts with my iPad or use the old Kindle app for a bit of reading.

No doubt it will rain, so my trusty Fulton umbrella, Marmot rain jacket + Red Wing boots will be joining me as standard. A back-up phone charger is a lifesaver these days too.

What To Do

Visit Menswear + Denim Specialist retailer, Liquor Store.

Having a few friends from Birmingham helps, and it didn't take me long to realise you'd never be short of things to do, and places to explore. But if you don't know anyone in the city, try the "explore" feature on Instagram.

The Ikon Gallery regularly rotates its exhibitions of local and international contemporary artists, plus it's totally free! It's great to feel a connection to any new place you visit, so I'd be keen to see the "We Made It" exhibition at Think Tank too. Also the Library of Birmingham is a must-visit. Looking for something a little more exciting, then stick perhaps Indoor F1K on your list. There's also several picturesque parks across the area, so pack a book!

A trip to Birmingham wouldn't be complete without paying a visit to our favourite denim specialists Liquor Store, in the Great Western Arcade either. These guys know their stuff when it comes to menswear, with Store Owner, Phil, working in the denim industry for 15 years.

There's so much more of the city I'm yet to explore, and with quite a few lifestyle bloggers from this part of the country it would be a great opportunity to meet up with them. If it doubt take to the #Birmingham hashtag on Twitter.

Where To Eat & Drink

People watching at an independent, Faculty Coffee

"Where's the nearest coffee shop to the hotel?", is generally my first question when I arrive at a new place. Faculty Coffee is a sweet independent coffee shop who know their way around a strong roast, same goes for Six Eight Kafe. Both can be found slap-bang in the centre of the city.

With the aim to keep things affordable but still considered, we'd give The Church Inn (Winnie's recommendation) for cocktails – with 20% off every Wednesday with their Whiskey Club – and classic American soul food, and for beers I hear Pure Bar + Kitchen is worth paying a visit.

 A city known for it's historical + architectural relevance | image source

Lyon - A Good Dose of Sunshine + Culture

While I was looking a little closer to home, I gave Nik the task of researching into some of Europe's most beautiful, yet sometimes overlooked cities. Here's how he got on.
  
Nik: Not all of us are jetting off to Florida (Mat + Hollie are heading out for a few weeks in June) this summer. I’m looking for potential destinations in central Europe, but still a little further afield than ‘sunny’ Birmingham.

Let’s start with France! The Buckets Team have had two adventures here in the last year: Paris and the Alps. I still don’t feel like I’ve seen enough of the place though, so it’s off to Lyon - a beautiful looking city with plenty to do. And from 1st May Eurostar will go there direct from £89 return. Bargain!

Where To Stay

Affordable modern apartments to rent in Lyon city centre

For Lyon, I’ve turned to Airbnb. It’s such a useful service and offers great value, especially if you book well in advance. Look at this place in the centre of the city! The whole apartment is £51 per night - click through to see more photos of the place, I don’t need to say anymore.

If I was going for a hostel, I’d probably opt for Cool & Bed - what a name! It looks pretty fun and bang in the centre of the city too.

What To Pack

Always pack your comfiest trainers, but also perhaps some for an early morning jog?

My plans for Lyon involve a lot of walking, I reckon. Patagonia rucksack for the camera, Ebbets cap for the sun, and our Nike iD Roshe Run to keep things comfy. That should do it.

If it’s warm - and it’s quite likely in southern France - some moisturiser won’t go amiss, particularly as it’ll be my first sight of the sun after the long winter. Ruffians (one of our favourite barbers, with stores in London + Edinburgh) offer some great products, including a daily facial moisturiser. It’s light and unfragranced, so won’t interfere with anything else you’re wearing.

What To Do

Wandering the winding streets + famous river banks | image source

Mat would love this one: a funicular railway! Okay, okay, it's not the "coolest thing" a city can offer, but it's a funky looking thing and we love this sort of stuff don't we? Would be great opportunity to try out the new Periscope app, which we're just getting the hang of, but we'll clearly be sharing this place on Instagram straight away.

The railway takes you up to the basilica and it’s stunning views of the city. But, if you’re looking for something a bit more modern check out the Musée Cinéma et Miniature. It's a whole series of tiny ultra-realistic models of everyday life. Now that's pretty damn quirky!

Where To Eat & Drink

Sample some local culture at Cafe Mokxa | image source

Food and drink? Come on, it’s France! I wouldn’t worry too much about finding somewhere to eat. When it comes to a drink though, The Beers looks good - over 50 different beers from around the world might not sound like a lot, but you’ve not going to get through all of them in a weekend and there’s probably a fair few you won’t find at home. I definitely smell a ‘rock’ vibe here, so it’s Levi’s and Converse time rather than anything too smart.

Chilling is important for me on holiday. It’s one of the best bits, especially if the old head is a little heavy after a visit to the pub. Cafe Mokxa is a cool little independent coffee shop. Bag a table and keep it. 

If caffeine's not your thing or you want to bask in the summer sun, check out the Parc de la Tête d'Or. Lyon's Hyde Park, I'm told. It's massive, has a lake, and also has a zoo - fun for everyone, I’m sure.

 A multi-cultural city packed with museums, historical sites and modern design | image source

Antwerp - A City of Design, Not Just Diamonds

"Diamonds, don’t they come from Antwerp?" That one line from Snatch probably sums-up this city for most people. It’s just not on anyone’s radar, but it really should be. We love it for the striking design. The architecture alone is going to see you load up about a million Instagram posts over a single weekend. The fashion is pretty top-end too though. Maybe, again, a few more Instagram shots than actual purchases, but window shopping can be just as fun as the real thing.

If you have a look around at different flight options, £200 can get you to Antwerp and back.

Where To Stay

Affordable Airbnb apartments to match the city's modern reputation

Airbnb to the rescue again! Seriously, you won't beat this place when it comes to bang for your buck. £51 per night and you get an entire flat just 15 minutes walk from the city centre! Apartments like this do get booked up really quickly however, so remember to book in advance. If you want somewhere where they wash your towels for you, Atelier 20 looks to be a great find. A bed and breakfast in a traditionally restored Flemish town house. A good dose of culture before you’ve even hit the town.

What To Do

Designed by Zaha Hadid, the Port House is one of the city's newest buildings

Antwerp seems to be a city where you only need to stand and stare. Seriously, just look at the Museum aan de Stroom (maritime museum), the Antwerp Law Courts, and the (soon to be completed) Port House. There’s no need to go inside to enjoy these buildings. And that’s just the modern structures; the old town is just as fascinating. A 5-day bus + tram pass will cost you 15€, so you'll get around everything no problem.

Of course, you don’t go on holiday just to stare at buildings - although it is one of my favourite pastimes. Antwerp is famous for fashion, and high-end swank at that. So I'd probably have to pack something a little smart too - maybe just a pair of Clarks Desert Trek, slim black jeans, Uniqlo oxford shirts and a waterproof mac. Take a wander around some of the coolest stores around; Dries van Noten and denim specialists Kings & Queens to name a couple.

Fans of modern, colourful design will love HAY | image source

I’m not sure you’d end up buying anything, but that doesn’t usually stop me taking a good look around the places. We'd definitely make time to visit the HAY homeware + design store too.

Where To Eat & Drink

A trip wouldn't be complete without sampling the local food + drink | image source

Antwerp has restaurants to match its style. The sort of places you’re likely to only eat once in a year, or perhaps in your life! So let’s ignore those. Why not get some Greek mezze at Cafe Varelli, try the dim sum at Lucy Chang’s, or burgers at De Pelgrim? Hey, whoever said you had to stick to the local cuisine when visiting a place?

Once you’ve saved some cash on a cheap eat, splash out on a cocktail at SIPS. Keep the shirt and shoes on though - this place looks smart!

Much like the working week, I always need coffee on holiday - and lots of it. Antwerp is stuffed full of cafes and I think you’re going to be safe in any of them, to be honest.

Once the coffee is drunk dry, get to the Middelheim Museum. This is modern art on a massive scale. A huge garden and house with over 400 pieces of art, collected since the 1950s. I’m going just for this boat, to be honest. Whacky! With Mat's background in fashion, he would also appreciate a visit to the MOMU, which has a cracking design + book shop too.

Point of Interest

The MOMU is one of the city's most loved museums | image source

This is where Twitter comes into its own. Read all the reviews, previews, and TripAdvisor pieces you can, sure, but don’t forgot to ask your friends on Twitter for their advice too. We've found some of our favourite spots this way.

Rob over at Overdressed & Underprepared told me about Druon Antigoon; a mythical giant who would chop your hand off if you didn’t pay a toll when crossing the river. All very Lord of the Rings, but apparently it’s where the name of Antwerp comes from and they even have a statute of the soldier who killed Druon outside the town hall.

Legend say that Brabo was the one to defeat Druon Antigoon, his monument can be found in the city's Market Square | image source

Hopefully we've given you some new ideas of places to visit and things to do this summer. Birmingham may stand out as the odd one in a "Top Three..." , but we wanted to choose city breaks that reflect the needs of our budgets (considering the total costs of visiting multiple destinations) and aims for our Euro Road Trip.

Our original plan was to hit the road in May, but we've pushed it back until late August so we have a little more time to save! Are any of you planning trips this summer, where are you visiting? A city break, somewhere remote or off the beaten track?

This City Guide is in partnership with Lynx. Thank you for taking the time to support the businesses that make this blog happen.

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