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Happy 1st December! Christmas SURPRISE- Guess what I'm doing?!

 

Hi everyone,

So I know I said this in my November Newsletter yesterday, but I cannot BELIEVE we are now into the last month of 2016!! Where the HELL has this past year gone?!?! I’ve had the craziest, happiest and best year of my life, and I’m actually a little sad that this year feels like it’s ending so soon, although I have already started travel planning for 2017 and am looking forward to seeing what the new year will bring. As I mentioned in my Instagram post earlier on, and it’s the 1st of December today, the first day of this year’s Christmas Countdown, I thought I would launch something brand new for my blog – I’ve never done it before, so let’s see how it goes…

I’m doing a

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*** C H R I S T M A S  G I V E A W A Y ***

 

I am sooo excited about this as I’ve never ran any kind of giveaway/competition before on my blog! I thought it would be nice to do something different and, now that I’m in true festive mode, I thought I’d give a little something back to one of YOU, my lovely readers, to say thank you for being amazing and reading my blog!

Last Christmas I got given not one but TWO copies of The Lonely Planet’s  Best Ever Photography Tips and I’m giving one away to one of YOU lovely lot!

 

This is a brilliant book filled with tips and tricks aplenty and would make a fab stocking filler this Christmas! I’ll also throw in a little treat or two for the prize winner, so you’ll get an extra surprise when you open your parcel!

 

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As well as top travel photography tips and page after page of stunning shots, the book also gives advice on capturing the best landscapes, close ups and night time images, perfect if you’re always on the move or, if like me, you’re a total photography novice!

 

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So, I know you’re all DYING to know how you can take part in this, and it is oh so simple. To enter my 2016 Christmas Giveaway, all you have to do is Like my Facebook page  – once my page has reached 500 Likes  I’ll announce the winner (the 500th person to like the page) and will post your prize to you – it couldn’t be simpler!

What are you waiting for? Take part in my Festive Giveaway now – it’s officially OPEN! Go go go!

Can’t wait to see who the winner is!

Love Jess x

🌲🌲

A post shared by Jess Buck|JourneyswithJessica (@jessica16_x) on Nov 20, 2016 at 6:32am PST

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November Newsletter

Hi everyone,

It’s that time of the month again, and my jam-packed newsletter is here! As November is a five week month it’s felt like ages since I wrote my last newsletter, but I have crammed so much into these past few weeks and am so excited to tell you all what I’ve been up to! Here goes…

I celebrated Bonfire Night

 

My favourite time of year 💥🎉😍🍂 #bonfirenight #fireworks #autumn

A post shared by Jess Buck|JourneyswithJessica (@jessica16_x) on Nov 4, 2016 at 12:28pm PDT

 

Bonfire Night is undoubtedly my favourite time of the year, I just LOVE it! I love wrapping up warm, grabbing a sparkler and gazing towards the skies as they light up with firework after firework. The food is a winner too, who doesn’t love tucking into a  hot dog (or three) whilst watching the fireworks go off?! I was lucky enough to go to TWO local displays this year and they were both wonderful.

I watched Ghost the Musical on stage

Musicals are soooo my thing, I love everything about them and am attempting to see as many as I can over the next few years! This year I’ve already seen The Bodyguard, Chicago and Les Mis, so watching Ghost was my final show of 2016 and what a show it was. Every single element from the cast to the music to the performance was mesmerising; I cried like a baby at the end but I loved every minute of it! Congratulations to the fantastic cast, crew and production company for putting on SUCH an amazing show.

I attended WTM London for the first time

 

 

I was sooo excited to attend my first conference at WTM London this year and couldn’t wait to start rubbing shoulders with brands, tourism boards and fellow bloggers at the biggest travel trade show in the world. I met so many people and learnt so much in such a short amount of time, one day definitely wasn’t enough to take everything in. Read all about my amazing time at London’s ExCel Centre here – I already can’t wait to return in 2017!

I won FREE return flights with Jet2.com

 

 

So anyone that knows me will know that I have really BAD luck at winning things. I never win on scratch cards, on lottery tickets or at any competition at all, until this month when I was one of 20,000 lucky people who won FREE return flights with Jet2.com’s  Name It competition! I was sooo overwhelmed I couldn’t believe it! I have the choice of visiting over 58 of Jet2’s fab European destinations in summer 2017 and I need to pick my holiday destination by 16th December, so I don’t have long! At the moment I’m torn between a cheeky week in Tenerife, or a little city break to either Dubrovnik, Geneva or Warsaw – people of WordPress… HELP ME CHOOSE! I might run a Twitter poll because I genuinely can’t decide.. watch this space…

I visited London three times in space of 7 days

 

 

It’s no secret how much I love London, and I was delighted when I recently got the chance to visit the city three times in the same week. I did some sightseeing on the Southbank, some wandering around Winter Wonderland and accidentally stumbled upon the UK premier of Fantastic Beasts in the middle of Leicester Square! London is looking particularly beautiful now that all the Christmas lights are up, and I just love the city at this time of year.

I entered Accor Hotels latest competition

 

 

I found this competition after scrolling past something on Twitter but I was also emailed directly about it and was invited to enter before the deadline closed, so thought I would get my entry in nice and quickly! AccorHotels is inviting bloggers to share their top tips on how to spend 24hrs in their fave cities. Naturally, I chose to write about the Big Apple as I literally had just 24hrs there before I had to jet back to sunny London the day after Independence Day! The prize is an incredible 9 night stay in Berlin, Amsterdam and Paris which, for me, would be my total dream trip so I’m keeping everything crossed that I may have a teeny tiny chance of winning. Have a read of my entry – and GOOD LUCK to all other bloggers entering, don’t forget to use the dedicated hashtag #AccorHotels24Hrs

I spent a festive day at Winter Wonderland

 

 

If you follow me on Instagram you’ll know I’ve been to Winter Wonderland recently as my feed is FULL of festive images from my day out there a couple of weeks ago. London’s Winter Wonderland at Hyde Park is celebrating it’s 10th anniversary this year, and my fourth annual visit to the wintry spectacle certainly didn’t disappoint! I had a wonderful time and already can’t wait to return next Christmas (am I really thinking about next Christmas already?! Time – Please. Stop. Going. So. FAST!!

I reviewed a lovely hotel at the heart of the Cotswolds

 

Another day, another hotel review! Wonderful stay in the heart of the #Cotswolds – full review and blog post coming soon! #Oxfordshire

A post shared by Jess Buck|JourneyswithJessica (@jessica16_x) on Nov 26, 2016 at 2:11am PST

 

Last weekend I had the pleasure of staying in one of the cosiest Cotswolds retreats, The White Horse Inn at Duns Tew. I was reviewing the Inn on behalf of a PR company and had a wonderful time. The staff made us feel so welcome, the room was sooo nice and cosy, and the dinner and breakfasts the next morning were AMAZING! The White Horse Inn was such as lovely location to spend my last weekend in November, and I would whole-heartedly recommend it to those looking for the ultimate getaway at the heart of the Cotswolds. Full review and blog post coming soon!

So there we go, I told you I’d had a busy month! It seems like November has gone by nice and slowly, and has given me chance to catch my breath after my hectic summer and busy autumn. I can’t quite believe we are about to enter our final month of 2016 though, where the HELL has this past year gone?! I’m in full festive mode now, I’m halfway through my Christmas shopping and I’m looking forward to the big day. Have you got yourself prepared for Christmas yet? Are you spending the festive period away from home? Tell me all your plans!

Love Jess x

 

Unexpectedly #London bound… Again! ✨💃 #selfie #happytuesday #backtomyfavecity

A post shared by Jess Buck|JourneyswithJessica (@jessica16_x) on Nov 15, 2016 at 5:20am PST

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24 Hours in New York City – Competition for Accor Hotels!

Even if it ain't all it seems, I've got a pocket full of dreams 🏙🇺🇸 #newyork #NYC #bigapple #tbt

A post shared by Jess Buck|JourneyswithJessica (@jessica16_x) on Aug 18, 2016 at 2:01pm PDT

That skyline tho 😍🇺🇸🏙 #newyork #america #USA #contiki #grandsouthern #noregrets @contiki @statravel_uk

A post shared by Jess Buck|JourneyswithJessica (@jessica16_x) on Jul 9, 2016 at 4:34am PDT

 

Hey y’all!

On my recent American Adventure I was lucky enough to be able to explore New York City, on the very special day of 4th July, somewhere and something that had been on my bucket list for YEARS! I literally only had one full day to explore before I hopped back on a plane to London, so I had to make the most of my short time in the City that Never Sleeps! When I heard that Accor Hotels were running a fab 24 Hours In… competition (you could win a 9night European city break to Amsterdam, Paris & Berlin- eeek!) I knew that I just HAD to write about my whirlwind visit to The Big Apple. One day is definitely not enough to see everything, but here are my highlights and suggestions on how to spend 24 hours in New York…

Getting Around

 

 

I knew I was on limited time during my short stay in NYC, so in true tourist style I decided to hop on a sightseeing bus to get around, and tick off as many landmarks as possible! A hop on bus is a really easy way of getting your bearings and exploring as much of the city as you want to, without the need to get off. I stayed on board for two of the routes and saw everything from Brooklyn Bridge to the Empire State Building without having to walk for miles! I’d highly recommend using a tourist bus to explore the area if you’re limited on time, otherwise you can flag down one of those big yellow taxis, or  use the metro to get around the city, which can be a cheaper (but not as fun!) alternative.

Where to Eat and Drink

 

These streets will make you feel brand new, big lights will inspire you 🇺🇸🏙 #Newyork #NYC #bigapple #timessquare #tbt

A post shared by Jess Buck|JourneyswithJessica (@jessica16_x) on Aug 18, 2016 at 7:15am PDT

 

New York is one of those cities where there are more food and drink places than anything else! The city is brimming with trendy bars, cafes and restaurants offering every kind of food you can think of. There’s pizza places, Chinese takeaways, Mexican kitchens, Sushi restaurants, fast food outlets, you name it, everywhere in New York has it, from Lower Manhattan all the way through to Brooklyn! As I was staying close to Times Square, I found this a really convenient area to base myself, and there were plenty of dining options to choose from. NYC is famed for its iconic food, including bagels, hot dogs, doughnuts, cupcakes and, of course, its classic New York Cheesecake. When in the big apple though, a good slice of hearty American pizza (thin base, lots of mozzarella cheese and lashings of marinara sauce), is an absolute MUST!

 

What to See

 

 

The Big Apple is brimming with landmarks, tourist attractions and thousands of things to see and do. One of the most popular activities is catching a Broadway show; from Disney showstoppers Aladdin and The Lion King, to classic musicals such as Wicked, The Phantom of the Opera and Miss Saigon. With shows running every day of the week, you’ll have plenty of opportunity to catch a performance during your short time in the city. Book online to secure your seat and avoid disappointment on missing out, as shows get booked up well in advance and are extremely popular, particularly on weekends.

 

 

So I know you only have 24 hours in the city, but even if you don’t have time to go inside you must at least pass by the iconic American Museum of Natural History to take a photo!  One of the most famous buildings in the whole city, the museum attracts on average around 4 million visitors each year, and is extremely popular with locals and tourists alike.

There are hundreds of things to see and do in NYC, but if you only have 24 hours, here’s my top picks of the best of the rest:

Statue of Liberty | Brooklyn Bridge | One World Trade Centre & Ground Zero |

Central Park | Times Square | Madison Square Gardens | Hudson River

 

Where to Shop

 

Last day on tour 🇺🇸🎉 #NYC #timessquare #america #USA @contiki @statravel_uk #contiki #noregrets

A post shared by Jess Buck|JourneyswithJessica (@jessica16_x) on Jul 5, 2016 at 1:11pm PDT

 

NYC is well known for its savvy shopping;  from giant department stores to high street shops and designer outlets, its a haven for every type of shopper. I started at Times Square and made my way down the many side streets, and the central plaza, the focal point of the square. You might only have 24hrs to spare, but if you have time, make sure you pick up an I Love NYC tank top, or pop in to Macy’s for a designer steal!

What Not to Miss

 

When you remember that this time yesterday you were in #newyork 🇺🇸🇺🇸 #America #USA #NYC #reflections

A post shared by Jess Buck|JourneyswithJessica (@jessica16_x) on Jul 7, 2016 at 9:26am PDT

 

So I am a TOTAL sucker for skyscrapers; I just love looking up and gazing in awe at the sheer enormity of them, and I was in love with New York before I even arrived after rolling past the iconic Manhattan skyline upon arrival. For me, NYC has it all. The Empire State Building, the Rockefeller, the Freedom Tower at the World Trade Centre; each are iconic, special and mesmerising in their own way, and encapsulate everything New York is about. During your whirlwind 24 hours I’d suggest trying to see as many skyscrapers as you can, and, if you have time, climbing up them is always fun too!

 

Empire State Building 🇺🇸🇺🇸 @contiki @statravel_uk #contiki #noregrets #america #USA #newyork #NYC #grandsouthern

A post shared by Jess Buck|JourneyswithJessica (@jessica16_x) on Jul 5, 2016 at 1:14pm PDT

 

Hidden Gem

 

Experience the colors of the city—discover the sunset from #TopoftheRock. 📷: @jordbread

A post shared by Rockefeller Center (@rockcenternyc) on Nov 7, 2016 at 1:24pm PST

 

There are hundred of hidden gems in New York just waiting to be discovered, but I’ve been told that this one trumps them all (ahem)… I guess most visitors would climb the most iconic building in the city for those spectacular panoramic views, The Empire State Building, but I’ve heard there’s somewhere else that offers an even better view… Why not head over to The Rockefeller Centre, where you can see the whole of New York AND the Empire State Building too?! The view is arguably better from the Top of The Rock, and it’s not hard to see why.

So there we have it, my top tips on exploring NYC in a whirlwind 24hours, and on Independence Day too! Immerse yourself in the buzz of the city, visit the tourist sites and get around like a local on the metro for the full New York experience. Hopefully this post inspires you for your trip to the city and helps with that all important planning!

Have you ever been to New York? Tell me what you thought of it, I’d love to hear your comments and I already cannot waittttt to go back as soon as I can! Oh and if you’re also entering Accor’s fab competition then GOOD LUCK!

Love Jess x

Jumping in my last big yellow taxi 🇺🇸🚕 #newyork

A post shared by Jess Buck|JourneyswithJessica (@jessica16_x) on Jul 10, 2016 at 6:49am PDT

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My 2016 Dream Destinations Bucket List via Ice Lolly #sendmeaway

Hey everyone,

Welcome to February! I can’t believe January is over with already but it also felt like the weeks dragged on FOREVER! I was recently nominated by the lovely Victoria from The Girl on the Move Blog to put together my 2016 Bucket List as part of Icelolly’s Dream Destinations 2016 #sendmeaway campaign. There are sooo many places I want to visit this year, and my list of destinations expands all the time so I’m going to try and whittle this down as much as I can! Here we go, lets get wanderlusting!

Brighton, UK

https://www.instagram.com/p/BBMyX4zATxl/?taken-by=sophiessuitcse

This is my second planned trip of 2016 (I popped to London last weekend) and it’s not as exotic as some other destinations on this list but a little bit closer to home and I thought I’d get some UK representation in here somewhere 😉 Brighton is a city I’ve always wanted to visit but for whatever reason I’ve never had the chance to! My best friend recently moved down that way though so I’m going to take full advantage and head over to Brighton pier during my stay at the end of Feb – I’m so excited!

New York, USA

https://www.instagram.com/p/8OcAq5AGZP/?taken-by=thegirlonthemoveblog

New York, New York – isn’t this place on everyone’s Bucket List?! It’s quite possibly one of the most famous cities on the planet, and with good reason – LOOK AT THAT SKYLINE!! There’s so much to see and do in the Big Apple and I’m just dying to explore it’s dazzling streets and wonderful theatres. Hopefully I’ll be lucky enough to visit New York this year, otherwise it’s going straight back on the 2017 wanderlust wishlist!

Rome, Italy

Experience is the teacher of all things – Caesar. #openymyworld with @gabscanu in Rome 🇮🇹

A post shared by Flight Centre Australia (@flightcentreau) on Feb 3, 2016 at 10:06pm PST

When in Rome you should definitely check out all things architectural – the Coliseum is an epic landmark by any scale, and one of the most visited tourist attractions in Europe. Rome has been on my wishlist since I was a little girl – I was brought up as a Catholic and I’m fascinated by religion so it would be incredible to attend a service at the Vatican. I’m not sure if my budget/annual leave/free time will allow me to visit Rome this year but I’m certainly going to try!

Tallinn, Estonia

I thought I'd share another photo of beautiful Tallinn in Estonia – I just can't get over the inherent beauty of the Old Town. The core historic part of town isn't that big and can be easily explored if all you have is a day or so there. But I'd recommend spending a little bit more time and get to know the other parts of town away from the colorful UNESCO side, like the trendy Telliskivi district. Housed in a former secret Soviet-era industrial complex, Telliskivi has been taken over by some of the most creative minds in the country. Home to restaurants, bars, shops, galleries, coffee houses, creative companies and NGOs, the so-called Creative City is by far one of the most cutting edge neighborhoods in the world. It's also just a really fun place to visit, grabbing lunch at the F-Hoone restaurant before window shopping amongst the galleries, feeling inspired along the way. Most cities, even those firmly entrenched in their own historical legacies have something surprising to share. All you have to do is look for it!

A post shared by Matt Long (@landlopers) on Feb 4, 2016 at 9:10am PST

Time for something a little bit different now; for those avid readers out there most of you will know that I specialize in European city breaks – the quirkier the better! Tallinn is somewhere that appeals purely because of its harbourside location, cold temperatures during the winter (I need to see some snow!) and beautiful UNESCO world heritage sites. Tallinn is also suuuperrr cheap and I’d love to make the most of my bank holidays this year so I feel a cheeky weekend stopover in this beautiful city is on the cards!

Riga, Latvia

Like a fairy tale 💫 #openmyworld in Riga, Latvia with @augustaleighphoto

A post shared by Flight Centre Australia (@flightcentreau) on Feb 4, 2016 at 10:47pm PST

Riga is another quirky destination on my Bucket List and it’s a trendy, up and coming European city attracting more and more tourists. Boasting a picture perfect Old Town, quaint little streets, beautiful buildings and a multitude of museums, Riga offers something for everyone. Like Tallinn, Riga is also known for being excellent value for money and I’ll be sure to book a little weekend getaway at some point over the next few months!

Dubrovnik, Croatia

Croatia is somewhere I’ve been meaning to visit for a while, and Dubrovnik in particular is on my holiday hit list! I’m forever going to cold destinations on my city breaks (flashback to Iceland 2014!) so I thought I’d mix it up a bit and plump for somewhere a little warmer.. With a cool balance of beaches, city life and plenty of historical landmarks I’d be spoilt for choice in cultural Dubrovnik!

 

So there we have it, that’s my 2016 Bucket List! I’ll be interested to see where I end up this year and I’m so excited to reveal some big news very soon on the blog – I promise not to keep it a secret for too much longer! Thanks again Victoria for the nomination, you can also read her inspiring Bucket List here.

As part of Ice Lolly’s #sendmeaway campaign I’ve also been tasked with nominating three fellow bloggers to share their Dream Destinations Bucket List for 2016. I’d like to nominate Vicky & Chris from Eat Sleep Love Travel, Jess Gibson from The Travelista & Sophie Davis from Sophie’s Suitcase. Looking forward to reading your bucket lists guys!

Where are you heading to this year? Will 2016 be your year of discovery? I’d love to hear your travel plans!

Love Jess x

NB. Thanks to Sophie Davis, Victoria Dovaston, Flight Centre Australia & Matt Long for the Instagram inspo!

 

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Vimto Fusion Festival 2015 – August Bank Holiday Weekend!

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Hi everyone,

So during the last August bank holiday I attended a huge music festival with my younger sisters in Birmingham’s Cofton Park. The event has been running at the venue for the past three years and hosts Capital FM had promised that this year’s festival would be the biggest yet and they certainly didn’t disappoint! With huge headline acts over the three day weekend, including Ed Sheeran, Rudimental and McBusted, Vimto Fusion Festival was one of the highlights of the 2015 music calendar so far.

wpid-Photo-20150324183845035 Image courtesy of Google Images

We visited on the Sunday, 30th August, to see supergroup McBusted as the headliners along with a host of other stars including British pop princess Jess Glynne, US rocker Adam Lambert, hit boybands The Vamps and Union J and teen heartthrob Conor Maynard to name but a few. We arrived at the festival shortly before the gates opened at midday so didn’t spend much time queuing. Our transport was courtesy of a brilliant Fusion package put together by the festival in conjunction with National Express. Our ticket price was £79pp including entry to the festival and a return coach journey from Cheltenham which worked out brilliantly as the coach stop was virtually opposite Cofton Park. The event was very well organised with each act on stage at an allotted time and intervals in between each one so there was plenty of time for toilet, food and drinks breaks which was essential!!

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The layout of the festival was brilliant, the site was enormous and there were plenty of food and drink outlets offering almost every type of food you could think of; from pizza to pancakes and curries to candyfloss there really was something for everyone! There were a couple of bars on site and drinks prices were about what you would expect to pay at a pop up event but there were also free wine samples being handed out which me and my middle sister took advantage of… much to the dismay of our disapproving 16 year old sibling!

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As well as food and drink outlets there were also a range of pop up shops selling sweets, confectionary and typical festival items including flowery headdresses, glow in the dark boppers and, of course, the trusty pac a mac’s and ponchos that have been seen everywhere during this rainy summer! Although it did rain most of the day, it was warm and humid and was lovely when the sun was out! The umbrellas and wellies were out in full force though and this added to the festival vibe that was present throughout the event- think Glastonbury but without the tents and communal showers!

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As the event was sponsored by Vimto and Capital FM, there were free goodies being handed out throughout the day along with various competitions and prizes up for grabs. Vimto staff members were handing out as many free drinks bottles as you could manage, whilst Capital FM were giving away free ponchos (extremely useful as mentioned above!!) and were mingling with the crowds taking professional photos for their online social media gallery. Huge loudspeakers blasted out the latest chart tunes across the park whilst the entertaining Dance Cam was on hand to capture the audience singing and dancing along to the music before projecting their beaming smiles on the large screens on stage. There was also a large bouncy castle and a fairground for the kids (and adults) which was a great way of passing the time before the show started at 2pm.

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We had been sitting on our coats up on a hill a short distance away from the stage and were getting up and dancing along with fellow crowd members before we walked down towards the stage to get our spots prior to the larger acts being introduced. Blankets and coats were allowed but deck chairs were forbidden so be mindful of this if you are hoping to set up for the day! Capital FM DJ Christian Williams did a warm up to the concert shortly before 2pm, playing new music and chart hits to get the party started before fellow DJ act Gorgon City opened the show. They were followed by teen sensation Conor Maynard and Youtubers Alexa Goddard and Karen Harding along with new Irish boyband Hometown before the bigger acts appeared on stage from around 5.30pm until 9pm.  Union J and The Vamps both played brilliant sets and really got the crowds going – there were hundreds of screaming girls everywhere we looked! Adam Lambert was brilliant and Jess Glynne was incredible, both of their voices sounded amazing with the live music!

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Finally, just after 9pm, headliners McBusted graced the stage and kicked off their show with hit song Air Guitar. They sounded brilliant together and it was easy to see why the newly formed super group had been such a hit with audiences. They proceeded to delight the crowds with Busted classics including You Said No, Crashed The Wedding and Thunderbirds Are Go along with McFly chart toppers Five Colours In Her Hair, Obviously and All About You. The set was brilliant and I have never danced so much in my life! I saw McBusted in July when I went to their outdoor Concert at Westonbirt Arboretum so the set was virtually the same, but seeing my sisters faces light up when all our childhood classics were played was an amazing moment and made for a fantastic concert. McBusted bowed out to the hugely popular Year 3000 which we were singing all the way back to the coach and was a perfect ending to the show.

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For our first experience at Fusion we all had a wonderful time and categorically agreed that we would all be back next year without doubt! The festival was great for adults, kids, groups and families alike and there was something on offer for everyone. A big thank you to all the organisers and the brilliant acts for putting on such a fantastic concert, we will certainly be back!

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Have you ever been to a music festival before? How did you find it, and was it worth being out in the rain all day?! I’d love to hear your experiences!

Love Jess x

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