If winter has got you dreaming about packing your bags and leaving your layers at home, you're not alone. As much as our heart is in the UK, when it comes to the cold spell, Britain really does put our resolve to the test. But, while we still wouldn't dream of living anywhere else we still like to throw our things in a suitcase from time to time and explore distant shores.
So, with that in mind we've pulled together our picks of the most stylish places to take a city break in 2017. Why not pour yourself a nice steaming hot cuppa, take a pew on your sofa, and get comfy while you daydream about your next great escape…
Barcelona
The expanse of stunning Gaudi architecture alone is enough to warrant a visit to Spain's most lively second city. From the Palau Güell, to the Sagrada Familia and Casa Batilló. Guadi's dreamlike architectural stamp on the city is one that demands to be seen first-hand. Add to that shopping to rival London and Paris, a crop of new generation Michelin starred eateries and a beautifully preserved gothic quarter, and you can appreciate why Barcelona never loses its stripes as one of the world's most stylish cities.
Johannesburg
Parallels are constantly being drawn between bustling Johannesburg and New York City, and you don't have to look too closely to see why. Packed with hip bars, arty hotels, cool coffee houses, and a diverse culinary and entertainment scene, Johannesburg is becoming more like its American counterpart with every passing day. 7th street in Melville, lined with its colourful low rise Victorian buildings and home to the city's urbanites, is a must while 54 on bath with its neoclassical design, offers a chic setting for an evening meal.
Moscow
Home to the highest skyscraper collective in Europe, Moscow may be remembered by some for its turbulent Soviet history, but the expanse of contemporary high-rise glass and metal structures in the heart of Moscow city just goes to show how far Russia's capital has come. Of course, sites like the Kremlin and Red Square should still feature on your itinerary, as should a trip to the Russian ballet, but alongside these the city plays host to a vibrant nightlife, dining and museum scene that is attracting tourists and expats in their droves.
Antwerp
An international diamond capital, Antwerp's beautifully appointed streets are lined with jewellery shops, unsurprising considering 80% of the world's stones are processed in this Belgian city. Its fashion district is also home to some of the most magnificent museums dedicated to clothing design, located a short stroll from the hip neighbourhood of Het Zuid with its white boulevards and art nouveau buildings. The city's historic old town is one of the prettiest in Europe, and a visit to one of its beer houses is a sure fire way to propel back in time.
Seoul
If you want to catch a city on the cusp of its cultural awakening than Seoul is the place to head to in 2017. It's packed full of medieval charm, with traditional wooden structures, centuries old and still standing. But in contrast to its ancient history, Seoul also offers fantastic shopping in Gangnam, an eclectic live music scene in its Hongdae nightlife district, and a coffee house on nearly every street corner. The city, although vast, is easy to navigate with an efficient public transport network and an underground Wi-Fi connection that's ideal for instagramming on the go.
We hate to snap you back reality but that concludes our list of stylish escapes. But, if you have a recommendation for an equally cool city we'd love to hear about it. Just leave us a comment below. Or, if you have a question about any of our handmade Willow & Hall furniture goodies, check out our website or drop one of our friendly Customer Service team a line. They're there to take your calls on 0845 468 0577 or you can email them at [email protected].
Kind regards,
The Willow & Hall team