It’s raining in London and your plans for the day were a walking tour and a wander through the parks. We share how much it really rains, what to pack, 12 things to do when it’s wet and a one-day itinerary that keeps you almost entirely under cover. How much it really rains in London (about half what…It’s raining in London and your plans for the day were a walking tour and a wander through the parks. We share how much it really rains, what to pack, 12 things to do when it’s wet and a one-day itinerary that keeps you almost entirely under cover. How much it really rains in London (about half what Sydney and New York get)The Met Office and BBC Weather apps, and why the hour-by-hour view mattersYour three choices on a wet morning: carry on, swap your days or leave LondonWhat to save for a dr...more
We break London down into 12 areas so you can choose a neighbourhood that matches your plans, your budget and the kind of trip you want. Doug and I share which area suits each of us, the pros and cons of each one, and three things to check on a hotel listing before you book. In this episode: - Coven…We break London down into 12 areas so you can choose a neighbourhood that matches your plans, your budget and the kind of trip you want. Doug and I share which area suits each of us, the pros and cons of each one, and three things to check on a hotel listing before you book. In this episode: - Covent Garden, Charing Cross and Trafalgar Square: a top pick for first-time visitors who want theatres, restaurants and sights within walking distance - Tower Bridge and the City of London: beside the...more
October in London feels cosy, colourful and much easier to enjoy when you plan around the rain, the shorter days and the half-term rush. This is the second episode of our monthly London bonus series from London Travel Planning, where we look ahead each month at what is on, what to book, and what wil…October in London feels cosy, colourful and much easier to enjoy when you plan around the rain, the shorter days and the half-term rush. This is the second episode of our monthly London bonus series from London Travel Planning, where we look ahead each month at what is on, what to book, and what will sell out before you get there. This episode is sponsored by WalksDevour, and I am joined again by Charley Sullivan from their London team. Everything you need to know if you are visiting London i...more
Want a UK autumn trip that feels more atmospheric and less frantic? In part two of our autumn special we travel from the far north of Scotland to London to find out why autumn might be the most rewarding time to explore, from dark skies and quieter roads to cosy streets and early festive sparkle. Sa…Want a UK autumn trip that feels more atmospheric and less frantic? In part two of our autumn special we travel from the far north of Scotland to London to find out why autumn might be the most rewarding time to explore, from dark skies and quieter roads to cosy streets and early festive sparkle. Sally-Ann from North Coast Explorer Tours and Charley and Becki from WalksDevour Tours share practical planning tips, the best places to look for seasonal magic, and how to make the most of sho...more
September in London feels calmer, brighter and more walkable once the school holiday rush fades. This is the first episode of our monthly London bonus series from London Travel Planning, looking ahead each month at what is on, what to book and what will sell out before you get there. This episode is…September in London feels calmer, brighter and more walkable once the school holiday rush fades. This is the first episode of our monthly London bonus series from London Travel Planning, looking ahead each month at what is on, what to book and what will sell out before you get there. This episode is sponsored by WalksDevour, and I am joined by Charley Sullivan from their London team. Everything you need to know if you are visiting London in September 2026, from the weather to the tickets that...more
This week on "Out of Office: A Travel Podcast," Kiernan heads back to London for the first time post-COVID—with his mother! The two revisit old standbys, new attractions, and musicals, musicals, musicals!
Things We Talked About:
Harbor Country in Michigan
https://www.bonappetit.com/story/where-to…This week on "Out of Office: A Travel Podcast," Kiernan heads back to London for the first time post-COVID—with his mother! The two revisit old standbys, new attractions, and musicals, musicals, musicals!
Think London is too expensive for your travel budget? Think again.
With the right strategy, you can experience this iconic European city without blowing your entire vacation budget.
Carli Rasschaert from Adventures With Carli shares how to do London on a budget while still having an amazing trip. …Think London is too expensive for your travel budget? Think again.
With the right strategy, you can experience this iconic European city without blowing your entire vacation budget.
Carli Rasschaert from Adventures With Carli shares how to do London on a budget while still having an amazing trip. We’re breaking down the biggest money mistakes travelers make in London, where to find better value on accommodations, how walkable the city really is, and how to enjoy some of London’s best experiences for free.
• Tips For Planning a Europe Trip For First-Timers - Episode 201
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• Paris Travel Guide - Episode 205
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How many days do you actually need? What should you budget? And what is the fastest way in from Heathrow? Tracy and Doug answer the 10 questions listeners ask most about visiting London, with the numbers and the reasoning behind each one. - How many days: why 4 to 5 is the first-timer sweet spot - W…How many days do you actually need? What should you budget? And what is the fastest way in from Heathrow? Tracy and Doug answer the 10 questions listeners ask most about visiting London, with the numbers and the reasoning behind each one. - How many days: why 4 to 5 is the first-timer sweet spot - When to go: the months we avoid, and why April catches people out - Getting around: zones, the £8.90 daily cap, Oyster versus contactless - Heathrow into London: Elizabeth line, Piccadilly line or ...more
The departure boards are flashing, the station is heaving, and there is still no platform number. If that scene makes your heart race, you are exactly who we made this episode for. With more than 25 years working on the UK railways, Doug joins Tracy to walk through London's mainline stations in plai…The departure boards are flashing, the station is heaving, and there is still no platform number. If that scene makes your heart race, you are exactly who we made this episode for. With more than 25 years working on the UK railways, Doug joins Tracy to walk through London's mainline stations in plain English, so your first UK rail trip starts with calm, not panic. Why London has multiple terminal stations, and how that affects boarding and timingWhich London stations serve which parts of the ...more
Rochelle talks us through a 41-day UK road trip from Bath to the Scottish Highlands and back to London, sharing what worked, what surprised her, and how planning early made the whole trip calmer. We swap honest notes on UK driving, smart booking tactics, and the tours, meals and accidental stops tha…Rochelle talks us through a 41-day UK road trip from Bath to the Scottish Highlands and back to London, sharing what worked, what surprised her, and how planning early made the whole trip calmer. We swap honest notes on UK driving, smart booking tactics, and the tours, meals and accidental stops that turned into lifelong memories. Planning a long UK itinerary without trying to do too muchLeaving Heathrow before the Easter crowds and saving London for the endCoping with UK driving as visitors,...more
Planning a London trip? In this episode we share the experiences that earned a place on our 2026 favourites list, and how to make each one work for your own itinerary. From food tours and royal palaces to day trips, exhibitions and a night in a real Tudor castle, everything here is something we did …Planning a London trip? In this episode we share the experiences that earned a place on our 2026 favourites list, and how to make each one work for your own itinerary. From food tours and royal palaces to day trips, exhibitions and a night in a real Tudor castle, everything here is something we did ourselves this year. Which two London food tours are worth booking (and the historic pubs they take you to)How to combine Changing of the Guard, Kensington Palace + afternoon tea at the Orangery in...more
The Award Travel 101 crew kicked off Episode 181 by discussing one of the week's hottest travel deals: Norse Atlantic's $118 one-way fare from Orlando to London Gatwick. While the price grabbed plenty of attention, the hosts reminded listeners to look beyond the headline fare, noting Norse's low-cos…The Award Travel 101 crew kicked off Episode 181 by discussing one of the week's hottest travel deals: Norse Atlantic's $118 one-way fare from Orlando to London Gatwick. While the price grabbed plenty of attention, the hosts reminded listeners to look beyond the headline fare, noting Norse's low-cost model means extra fees for amenities that many travelers expect. They also covered several major developments in the points and miles world, including American Airlines quietly increasing award p...more
Molly McDonald is a London-based YouTube producer and founder of Blue Door Productions, a YouTube-first content agency that brings broadcast-level production to digital storytelling. She studied journalism at Boston University and later earned a master's in Irish studies from NYU before building her…Molly McDonald is a London-based YouTube producer and founder of Blue Door Productions, a YouTube-first content agency that brings broadcast-level production to digital storytelling. She studied journalism at Boston University and later earned a master's in Irish studies from NYU before building her career in television production in New York City. Her client list includes Red Bull, BBC, and National Geographic, and her films have accumulated over 200 million views on YouTube.
This episode covers Molly's journey from Irish-American New Yorker to YouTube travel documentary producer, including her work on some of the most extreme human endurance expeditions ever filmed and what she learned along the way.
Travel has a funny way of dismantling the stories we tell ourselves about the world, and Molly McDonald has lived that firsthand, from the pubs her family built in Manhattan to the mountains of Iraqi Kurdistan. She grew up straddling two cultures, and that dual identity turns out to be the exact foundation for the kind of storytelling she now does for a living: finding the human truth inside extreme, unpredictable adventures. There's a real conversation in here about what it means to travel to places that scare you, why the media often gets destinations wrong, and how following a story you can't fully control is actually what makes it worth watching.
What place have you avoided visiting because of how it's been portrayed in the media, and has anything ever changed your mind? I'd love to hear your thoughts, and I hope you'll share by sending me an audio message.
Tune In To Learn:
Why growing up Irish-American in New York shaped Molly's approach to storytelling and travel
How Blue Door Productions brings TV-level production quality to the "wild west" of YouTube
What it was actually like to cross into Iraq during a live expedition, and what happened to all the fear
Why Kurdistan challenged everything Molly thought she knew about the region
How to capture authentic moments on camera when you can't predict what's coming next
Advice for aspiring YouTubers on what to cut, what to keep, and why most people share too much
Why the title and thumbnail of a YouTube video matter more than people realize
How to think about storytelling structure even when the story is still unfolding in front of you
What the concept of "soul places" reveals about how travel changes you over time
Why starting from zero on YouTube is actually an advantage, and what consistency really means
And so much more
Resources:
Sign up for our FREE newsletter
Learn more about Molly's work at Blue Door Productions
Follow Molly on Instagram at @mollybmcd
Watch Mitch Hutchcraft's expedition on YouTube
Want More?
100 Documentaries Project: Traveling the Globe to Find Extraordinary Humans + Changing the World One Story at a Time with Robin Danehav
Transition to Travel: West Africa + Canoeing the River Gambia with Will Hunt
Independent Travel as a Female in Afghanistan, Hitchhiking Iraq, and Ex-Pat Life in Sudan with Jacquelyn Kunz
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London has its own unwritten rules and once you know them, the city makes so much more sense. In this episode Tracy and Doug share 12 things that confuse visitors most, so you can move around with confidence and make the most of every day. They cover: Tube map versus real distance and when walking b…London has its own unwritten rules and once you know them, the city makes so much more sense. In this episode Tracy and Doug share 12 things that confuse visitors most, so you can move around with confidence and make the most of every day. They cover: Tube map versus real distance and when walking beats taking the UndergroundLondon zones, daily caps, Oyster card versus contactlessTube etiquette: letting people off, escalator rules, and mind the gapTower Bridge versus London Bridge and how to ...more
In this episode we bring together five local experts to share what UK summer travel really looks like from June through August, with practical advice on crowds, long daylight hours and booking ahead. We hop from Devon to the far north of Scotland, down to London, across the Cotswolds and up to the L…In this episode we bring together five local experts to share what UK summer travel really looks like from June through August, with practical advice on crowds, long daylight hours and booking ahead. We hop from Devon to the far north of Scotland, down to London, across the Cotswolds and up to the Lake District to help you plan days that feel memorable rather than hectic. Timing summer travel around school holidays and why June can feel calmerBooking accommodation and restaurants early, espec...more
We celebrate 200 episodes by sharing the practical UK travel planning tips that save you time, money, and stress, plus the misconceptions that trip up first-time visitors. We also share the places that still surprise us and what we’re building next to help you plan a UK trip that feels doable and me…We celebrate 200 episodes by sharing the practical UK travel planning tips that save you time, money, and stress, plus the misconceptions that trip up first-time visitors. We also share the places that still surprise us and what we’re building next to help you plan a UK trip that feels doable and memorable. • grouping London attractions to cut wasted travel time • using supermarket meal deals to keep costs down • booking must do attractions in advance without overplanning e...more
Some of the best day tours from London don't start with a train timetable - they start with stepping onto a small group minibus and letting someone else handle the route. We get out of London for the day and show how small group tours make big-ticket places feel easy, personal and genuinely memorabl…Some of the best day tours from London don't start with a train timetable - they start with stepping onto a small group minibus and letting someone else handle the route. We get out of London for the day and show how small group tours make big-ticket places feel easy, personal and genuinely memorable. We talk through four standout routes with The English Bus and share what to expect on the road, on the ground, and when it comes to booking. why a day trip from London changes how you see Englan...more
The founder of a food-tour company tells us in delicious detail about some of his favorite eats to enjoy on the streets of Rome. Then a British tour guide shares how to take in London's historic core as well as its changing landscape on a visit to the boroughs of The City and Westminster. And a tour…The founder of a food-tour company tells us in delicious detail about some of his favorite eats to enjoy on the streets of Rome. Then a British tour guide shares how to take in London's historic core as well as its changing landscape on a visit to the boroughs of The City and Westminster. And a tour guide from Lisbon illuminates the contrasts between Portugal's bustling cities and the more traditional way of life that persists in the countryside.more
On College Green in London's Westminster, surrounded by historic buildings, we talk to Frances Linzee Gordon about what it takes to become an elite, Blue Badge Guide, and the challenges that lie in wait when you begin working. Find a guide who suits you at britainsbestguides.org
If you have ever been asked “You alright?” in Britain and wondered whether you look unwell, you are not alone. We’re decoding the everyday UK habits that catch travellers off guard, even when they’ve visited before. Tracy and Doug share a light, practical guide to the social rules that locals follow…If you have ever been asked “You alright?” in Britain and wondered whether you look unwell, you are not alone. We’re decoding the everyday UK habits that catch travellers off guard, even when they’ve visited before. Tracy and Doug share a light, practical guide to the social rules that locals follow without thinking, so you can step off the plane feeling more confident and less confused. We talk through 12 classic British culture shocks that show up on UK holidays and London city breaks: the...more
