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Girl About Travel: Tips for Girly Weekends

Girl About Travel’s Blog Squad of local experts have compiled this collection of weekend break itineraries to inspire you to explore three of the UK’s greatest cities. This issue, the focus is girly weekends away, so we’re talking lots of shopping, spa treatments, and eating and drinking – basically anything that’s fun with a group of friends!

This is a feature from Issue 14 of Charitable Traveller. Click to read more from this issue.

Maxine

Liverpool

Liverpool is fun, friendly and fabulous – just as all the best girly weekends should be! The city’s iconic skyline makes the ideal backdrop to a weekend here and is the focal point for all the great shopping (visit Liverpool ONE), amazing places to eat and drink and welcoming places to stay. Easily accessed from across the UK, and quick to navigate once you’re here, I can’t recommend Liverpool enough for a weekend away with good friends.

Where to stay

Liverpool has a huge range of apartments and hotels to stay in that are ideal for large groups, and the pick of the bunch is 44 Renshaw Street. A collection of gorgeously renovated apartments, they sleep up to eight and have shared access to a rooftop terrace – the perfect spot for drinks and photos with the city skyline as your backdrop. An extra bonus, 44 Renshaw is just over a five-minute walk from Pins Social Club, for cocktails, pizza, and bowling to kick off your weekend.

Maxine

Liverpool

Liverpool is fun, friendly and fabulous – just as all the best girly weekends should be! The city’s iconic skyline makes the ideal backdrop to a weekend here and is the focal point for all the great shopping (visit Liverpool ONE), amazing places to eat and drink and welcoming places to stay. Easily accessed from across the UK, and quick to navigate once you’re here, I can’t recommend Liverpool enough for a weekend away with good friends.

Where to stay

Liverpool has a huge range of apartments and hotels to stay in that are ideal for large groups, and the pick of the bunch is 44 Renshaw Street. A collection of gorgeously renovated apartments, they sleep up to eight and have shared access to a rooftop terrace – the perfect spot for drinks and photos with the city skyline as your backdrop. An extra bonus, 44 Renshaw is just over a five-minute walk from Pins Social Club, for cocktails, pizza, and bowling to kick off your weekend.

Cocktails anyone?

A weekend with friends involves lots of dinners, drinks, and dancing, and Bold Street, two minutes from 44 Renshaw, is a hot spot. However, my pick is the beautiful Florist, on Hardman Street – it’s decorated with floral walls and blossom trees and is girly heaven. Next, I’d head to Mason’s for more cocktails and live music most nights with singers, dancers, and sax players, or for a bingo night like no other at Bongos Bingo at Content. It’s a lot of fun!

Pamper time

If you want to treat yourself, book a slot at the beauty bazaar in Liverpool ONE – there’s a wide range of treatments available, so get your hair and make-up done as well as a pedicure and manicure. For some spa time, head to 30 St James Street. This gorgeous hotel has an impeccable spa and it’s only £15 for three hours of access at the weekend.

Up and active

If you’re here with a group of friends, I’d book at least one of these activities: a kayak or SUP tour on Birmingham’s canals starting from the fascinating Roundhouse; captain an eco Go Boat, seating up to eight, and bring your own food and drinks as you power through the historic canals; indulge in a truffle-making workshop and chocolate tasking with Creative Chocolates; or book a personal shopping
session at Selfridges in the Bullring.

Tori

Birmingham

Big, bold and beautiful, Birmingham makes for a wonderful girls’ weekend getaway and its bright city lights are the perfect backdrop to every celebration. New restaurants and bars spring up all the time, and Birmingham has plenty of cosy corners to chat in and luxurious spas to relax in, as well as high street gems, sassy boutiques and vintage markets, so pack your bags and come and explore.

Tori

Birmingham

Big, bold and beautiful, Birmingham makes for a wonderful girls’ weekend getaway and its bright city lights are the perfect backdrop to every celebration. New restaurants and bars spring up all the time, and Birmingham has plenty of cosy corners to chat in and luxurious spas to relax in, as well as high street gems, sassy boutiques and vintage markets, so pack your bags and come and explore.

Up and active

If you’re here with a group of friends, I’d book at least one of these activities: a kayak or SUP tour on Birmingham’s canals starting from the fascinating Roundhouse; captain an eco Go Boat, seating up to eight, and bring your own food and drinks as you power through the historic canals; indulge in a truffle-making workshop and chocolate tasking with Creative Chocolates; or book a personal shopping
session at Selfridges in the Bullring.

Best for brunch

Brunch is a big deal in Birmingham, and Dishoom is top of the list. Inspired by old Bombay, it’s Instagram gold, and the sweet uttapam stack is a must. Other favourites include JuJu’s cafe (its Porky Hash is legendary, and there’s an equally good vegan option available too), the Medicine Bakery in the Mailbox, and York’s Cafe at the Ikon Gallery

Private dining

I’m a big fan of booking a private dining area with a group of girlfriends so we can hear ourselves chat, but still be part of the action. Tattu, Gaucho and the Ivy all have good options in the city centre, or venture out to vibrant Moseley and the Michelin-recommended Chakhana. Set in a beautiful old bank, its Vault private dining room gives a glamorous nod to its past.

Jenny

Chester

A beautiful historic city, Chester has the most complete city walls in the UK, the world’s oldest racecourse and the largest Roman amphitheatre. But among all those old stones is a vibrant city, buzzing with new hotels, enticing restaurants and lots of good shopping opportunities. Plus, thanks to its small but perfectly formed size, it’s easy to navigate on foot.

A golden oldie

Brimming with a rich history and packed with heritage buildings, start your city break in Chester with a walk along its raised Roman Walls. A brilliant way to get your bearings, the walls offer a bird’s eye view of many of the city’s famous sites. Take in the River Dee, Chester Castle, the Eastgate Clock, Chester Cathedral and Chester Racecourse – it’s well worth taking a guided audio tour to learn more, available to book at the Tourist Information Centre.

Jenny

Chester

A beautiful historic city, Chester has the most complete city walls in the UK, the world’s oldest racecourse and the largest Roman amphitheatre. But among all those old stones is a vibrant city, buzzing with new hotels, enticing restaurants and lots of good shopping opportunities. Plus, thanks to its small but perfectly formed size, it’s easy to navigate on foot.

A golden oldie

Brimming with a rich history and packed with heritage buildings, start your city break in Chester with a walk along its raised Roman Walls. A brilliant way to get your bearings, the walls offer a bird’s eye view of many of the city’s famous sites. Take in the River Dee, Chester Castle, the Eastgate Clock, Chester Cathedral and Chester Racecourse – it’s well worth taking a guided audio tour to learn more, available to book at the Tourist Information Centre.

Tea and cake

No visit to Chester is complete without afternoon tea, and you’re spoilt for choice in the city. I love to combine afternoon tea with a spa and pampering session, which is possible at several of Chester’s beautiful hotels, including the Chester Grosvenor, Carden Park and the Grosvenor Pulford. For afternoon tea with a difference, book a table at Chester Zoo and spend the day discovering its 500 species and stylishly landscaped gardens too.

Shopping treats

Chester is the place to shop until you drop and for a great selection of independent boutiques, head to Chester Rows, the distinctive half-timbered double-decker walkways that are unique to Chester. Among them, Suzie K’s is one of my favourites – filled with trinkets and treasures, it has a hidden courtyard cafe where I love to grab a quiet coffee and take five.

The Holiday Insider's Club

This feature comes to you via the The Holiday Insider’s Club. Free to join, this all-female members’ club and travel concierge service empowers women to dream, plan and book amazing holidays that can’t be googled. Run by travel industry experts, The Holiday Insider’s Club  is a network of women sharing reviews and recommendations and offers unbiased advice, travel guides, itineraries, offers and discounts. Charitable Travel is the official partner of The Holiday Insider’s Club, meaning members can seamlessly book incredible holidays via the club – and of course give money to their favourite charity.
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This is a feature from Issue 14 of Charitable Traveller. Click to read more from this issue.