Bright Lights Big City | A Food and Travel blog

England, Hampshire, Hampshire Guides, seasonal, UK, Uncategorized, Winter

Hampshire Christmas Wreath Making Kits 2020

November 26, 2020November 26, 2020by Rebecca HendersonLeave a Comment

Discover Christmas Wreath Making Kits from Hampshire florists near you! Perfect for getting in the Christmas Spirit and holding on to those traditions in 2020.

Normally I make a wreath every year at a workshop but, it’s unclear if they can go ahead. I don’t want to miss out so a kit delivery is the perfect alternative, and might suit you too.

If you’re looking for a Wreath Making Kit from Hampshire, I’ve take the hard work out of the research and you can find a beautiful selection of kits across the county in this post. Take a look…

Continue reading →

England, Hampshire, Hampshire Guides, seasonal, UK, Uncategorized, Winter

How to get that Festive Feeling in 2020

November 23, 2020November 23, 2020by Rebecca Henderson2 Comments

Have you been wondering how to get that festive feeling in 2020? I certainly have.

All those little outings, traditions and things we do to make the season festive seem to be scattered with uncertainty.

But, if you look a little closer there’s plenty of things still to do and tweaks to traditions that can be made.

These suggestions will help you find a way through what will possibly be one of the strangest Christmas seasons we’ve ever had.

Pull on your Christmas jumper, strap on your reindeer ears and get ready to wobble your belly like a bowl full of jelly, because I’m here with some ideas to inject some festive feels into your life.

Continue reading →

England, England Food & Drink, Hampshire, Hampshire Food & Drink, Hampshire Guides, seasonal, UK, UK Food & Drink, Uncategorized, Winter

Hampshire Independent Gift Guide Christmas 2020

November 21, 2020November 21, 2020by Rebecca HendersonLeave a Comment

This is my very first Hampshire Independent Gift Guide, bringing you a round up of incredible local independent businesses from across the county.

Everything on this guide can be bought online, helping you work around restrictions and get that all important Christmas shopping done. Not even a pandemic can stop the spread of Christmas cheer. I’ve heard it’s spread by singing loud and clear. 😉

Oh yeah, and you’ll be supporting amazing local producers, creators and makers keeping creativity and retail diversity alive in Hampshire.

It’s really powerful that your Christmas shopping can also help your local community…

Continue reading →

Film, Fitness, Home and Garden, Lifestyle, Music, Travel, UK, Uncategorized

5 Ways to Navigate Lockdown Two

November 16, 2020November 15, 2020by Rebecca Henderson2 Comments

This 5 ways to navigate lockdown two post isn’t here to tell you what to do. There’s no right way to deal with the lockdown situation, you can do what ever you like. Take no notice of anyone who is saying you should or could be doing X, Y or Z. Lockdown, and this whole pandemic is hard enough without adding any extra pressure to do anything with this time.

Read, don’t read, run, don’t run…whatever you choose to do or not do is EXACTLY what you should be doing.

But, if you’re looking for things to do and fancy a couple of suggestions, here’s 5 ways to navigate lockdown two…

Continue reading →

Kit for your Trip, seasonal, UK, Uncategorized, Winter

The #KitForYourTrip Christmas Gift Guide 2020

November 10, 2020November 9, 2020by Rebecca HendersonLeave a Comment

The #KitForYourTrip Christmas Gift Guide 2020 is here to help you find the best and most useful travel products to gift.

Lots of these gift ideas will make great suggestions for avid travellers and people spending time outdoors. There’s nothing quite like a useful and thoughtful gift. Plus, all of these items can be found online, to make shopping in the middle of a pandemic that little bit easier.

Here’s some of my favourite bits of kit to inspire your gift giving this year.

Continue reading →

Alresford, Basingstoke, Brockenhurst, Chawton, England, Fleet, Gosport, Hampshire, Hampshire Guides, Isle of Wight, New Forest, Porchester, Portsmouth, Romsey, seasonal, Selborne, Southampton, Stockbridge, Titchfield, UK, Uncategorized, Wickham, Winchester, Winter

Hampshire Travel Christmas Gift Guide 2020

November 9, 2020November 8, 2020by Rebecca HendersonLeave a Comment

This Hampshire Travel Christmas Gift Guide 2020 is here to help you find the best experiential gifts for the travel lovers in your life.

This guide will help you navigate shopping local and online this festive season because let’s face it, the majority of shopping is going to be done from home. Weirdest year ever, right?

Supporting local businesses, creators, causes, charities and institutions is particularly important this year so they are all still there, once the pandemic is under control. Supporting them will ensure our towns and cities stay diverse fun places to explore.

Here’s some of my favourite local travel experiences to inspire your gift giving this year.

Continue reading →

Bournemouth, Bournemouth Food & Drink, Dorset, Dorset Food & Drink, England, England Food & Drink, UK, UK Food & Drink, Uncategorized

Kala Thai in Bournemouth

November 5, 2020November 5, 2020by Rebecca HendersonLeave a Comment

ᵃᵈ Just before the second lockdown happened I snuck in a visit to Kala Thai in Bournemouth.

Thai is one of my favourite types of food and I was excited to discover chef Tom Saengthong hails from Bangkok.

I was invited to review and was excited to try something new and head into Dorset.

Continue reading →

England, Food and Drink, Hampshire, Hampshire Food & Drink, Hampshire Guides, seasonal, UK, UK Food & Drink, Uncategorized, Winter

Hampshire Food and Drink Christmas Gift Guide 2020

November 4, 2020November 8, 2020by Rebecca HendersonLeave a Comment

This Hampshire Food and Drink Christmas Gift Guide 2020 is here to help you navigate shopping local and online this festive season.

The majority of shopping this year looks like it will have to be done online or planned for the future.

Supporting local businesses and creators is particularly important this year, more than ever, as we all try and find our way through the challenges the pandemic presents.

But, will us Brits let is dampen our Christmas spirit? Hell no, I hear you cry, especially not when it comes to the food and fizz. We’re resilient creatives who, by hook or by crook, will spread some festive cheer thanks to the modern wonder of online ordering.

Here’s some of my favourite local food and drink to give you some gift ideas this year.

Continue reading →

Alresford, Basingstoke, England, Fleet, Gosport, Hampshire, Hampshire Guides, New Forest, Portsmouth, Romsey, Southampton, Titchfield, UK, Uncategorized, Winchester

Where to get real Christmas trees in Hampshire 2020

November 2, 2020November 17, 2020by Rebecca Henderson3 Comments

Where to get real Christmas trees in Hampshire is your handy guide to finding the nearest place to you.

When I have been looking for real trees, I found it hard to find a good round up of the places across the county. I hope this guide helps you find your perfect tree this year.

Continue reading →

Boscastle, Cornwall, Cornwall Food & Drink, England, England Food & Drink, UK, UK Food & Drink, Uncategorized

Boscastle and the Museum of Witchcraft and Magic

October 30, 2020November 1, 2020by Rebecca HendersonLeave a Comment

Boscastle is a stunning little harbour and home to the Museum of Witchcraft and Magic.

This charming village and National Trust site is a great base for walks and there’s some quaint shops and tea-rooms to wander round.

If you’re looking for a slow magical Cornish day trip with cream tea and a beautiful coastal walk, Boscastle and the Museum of Witchcraft and Magic is worth exploring.

Continue reading →

Welcome to Bright Lights Big City!

If day trips and big eats are your thing, you’ve landed in the right place.

I’m Bex, I live in a beautiful county called Hampshire on the South Coast of the UK and I love living by the sea. The county is famous for growing watercress, its maritime history and for being Jane Austen’s home among many other famous literary giants.

I share my travels, great places to eat and as many different and unique experiences as I can with you through this blog.

Take a look around to see what I’ve been up to and for top travel and food recommendations.

Hampshire and Cornwall are by far my biggest sections but new posts are being added all the time, so please sign up to receive notifications of what’s been published lately.

Click on ‘Home’ to see the latest posts. But, if you’re new you might want to head to ‘Start Here’.

Don’t forget, if you’re looking for a specific place, you can also search by location under ‘Destination’.

Instagram