All Aboard the Royal Yacht Britannia

A few weeks ago I was in Edinburgh for a short city break. The highlight of the trip was going aboard the Royal Yacht Britannia!

A special tour had been arranged for 8am, and my group were able to board the via the Royal Brow, the entrance used by the Queen and her guests!

Our tour guide showed us round the yacht, and we saw areas including the crew's quarters, the dining room and the Queen's private rooms. We also saw the Bloodhound (a royal racing boat,) and the Queen's Rolls Royce.

As the yacht was used by the Royal Family for their vacations, many personal effects and photographs remain. All of the clocks on the yacht show the time of 3.01pm, marking when the monarch stepped off the vessel for the very last time.

It was a fascinating and fun trip, and having breakfast on the top deck was a fun way to begin the day!

Check out my photos for a look at my visit to the Royal Yacht Britannia! View more of my photos over on Flickr.

A way to make an entrance!

Anyone for a game?

Crew bar

The Crew's napkins

Details of the table setting

Newspaper from the last day the Queen was on the yacht

Pop up bar! 

The dining room

The Queen's Bedroom

Rule Britannia

Selection of family photos

Our group- we were psyched to sit on the sofas!

All the clocks are set to 3.01pm, marking the last time the Queen stepped off the yacht.

May through Instagram

Using gorgeous cards from Rifle Paper Company to write my thank you messages | Catching up with friends from New Zealand | Reading the Chelsea Clinton interview in Elle | A month of election talk and voting | Lunch with the American Ambassador, Matthew Barzun | Pretty-fying my ponytail with Pulleez | Exploring the treasures of Royal Yacht Britannia | Edinburgh's stately architecture | God Bless the Queen! 

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In Pictures: Edinburgh Trip

This past week I've been in Edinburgh. I was last in the city two years ago during the Fringe Festival so it was good to visit at a different time of year!

Bute House, Official Residence of the Scottish First Minister

Friday was dedicated to strolling along Princes Street and a mandatory stop at Harvey Nichols in Multrees Walk. In the evening we dined at Amarone, an amazing Italian restaurant located in Georges Street. Do not miss it if you're in the city!

Saturday and Sunday we walked to the Castle and through Princes Street Gardens. I love exploring the old buildings, and I think the Royal Mile is one of my favourite parts of Edinburgh.

On Monday, we had an early trip to the Royal Yacht Britannia before it opened to the public. Once used by the Queen as her 'floating residence,' the yacht is now the UK's No.1 tourist attraction. It was super fun to visit and see behind the scenes, as well as many personal effects. Definitely visit if you're going to be in the area! For more photos from my trip to the yacht visit my Flickr page.

The Bloodhound racing yacht

Rum barrel

It was the perfect mini break, and with only an hour's flying time, I'll likely visit again!

Tips for short haul trip packing

I regularly travel on long haul journeys so this week's short haul trip to Edinburgh feels like luxury!

Having just returned from a long journey, packing a suitcase is the last thing that I want to do. For long haul journeys I've got the suitcase and the routine down to a fine art, so packing for less than five days is feeling like a bit of a challenge! I'm not a girl who travels lightly, so the thought of taking the bare minimum is causing quite a panic.

Here's what my short trip haul is looking like so far:

Bag

My large L.L. Bean tote (complete with monogram!) is a serious contender for all my essentials. It's strong, durable and incredibly roomy.

Shoes

I usually travel with five pairs of shoes.... so this trip I am aiming for three. My New Balance x Bergdorf Goodman sneakers will be on my feet when I travel and for exploring the city. They are the most comfortable sneakers EVER! I'll pack my pair of Chanel ballet flats for the daytime events when I need to be a bit dressy, and my J.Crew leopard wedges for nighttime fun!

Clothes

Here's where the dilemma begins... what's the weather going to be like? I've been advised to take a coat with me, so I'll be taking my trusty Barbour jacket which has literally travelled the world with me.

A pair of black jeans and x2 black pants will be perfect to mix and match for travelling and for each day, and I'll throw in a super light asymmetrical linen black jacket for hopping between lunches, meetings and sightseeing.

My stash of trusty striped Breton tees in every color scheme imaginable will also be making an appearance, as will some cute lace tops in black and white for the evenings. Simple is best!

I'll also throw in a few favourite pieces of knitwear that I can mix and match, and two neutral scarves depending on what top I'll be wearing.

Accessories

I'll take my most personal of jewels as well as this fun necklace from Knotty Gal for nighttime fun! I'll also be using my Chanel bag in the evenings and for when I don't need to carry my large Longchamp tote.

Beauty

This is one area that I excel at. I've amassed quite a collection of travel sized toiletries for my various trips, and my washbag has to be one of the most organised I've ever seen! I have travel sized versions of my favourite make-up items, and just pack my regular brushes to make sure something stays the same!

Other Essentials

Work won't stop for me- I'll be taking my MacBook, various chargers as well as my Nikon for those essential sightseeing snaps.

How do you pack for a short-haul trip? Does the dreaded baggage allowance stress you out? Share your tips with me in the comments! 

August in Instagram

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A little of my August...

A signed copy of Mika Brzezinski's 'Obsessed' | Goodies from Blair Ritchey | Up and above my UP goals | Rizzoli & Isles rewatch | Edinburgh Castle | Andy Murray's Gold Post Box | Swag from Ralph Lauren and Banana Republic | the Scottish countryside | lighting up the world

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