Slow Travel with Jay is an independent digital publication dedicated to the craft of slow travel, iconic luxury hotels, and exceptional dining across the United Kingdom, Europe, and beyond.

We reject whistle-stop itineraries and checklist tourism in favour of staying longer, wandering deeper, and appreciating the character of a place. Travel should not be a race to collect landmarks. It is about atmosphere, history, architecture, and the distinct pleasure of lingering over a long lunch or settling into a truly great hotel.

Luxury Hotels, Restaurant Reviews & Travel Guides

Our editorial focus is deliberately simple and unhurried:

• Luxury & Boutique Hotels: Considered reviews of grand dame establishments, historic country houses, and characterful boutique retreats where service and setting matter.

• Memorable Dining: From neighbourhood bistros and historic brasseries to standout fine dining, focusing on meals that define the places in which they are served.

• Travel Inspiration: Curated regional itineraries, cultural city guides, and relaxed travel notes designed to help you explore at an easy, rewarding pace.

First-Hand Travel Recommendations

Our publishing is grounded in genuine travel and transparent editorial standards.

• First-Hand Reviews: When we review a hotel room, assess a menu, or write a dedicated venue guide, it is drawn directly from personal experience. Hotels we have stayed, restaurants we have dined in, and journeys we have taken ourselves.

• Curated Editorial Collections: For broader cultural features and historical roundups, we combine direct lived experience with considered architectural and cultural research. This includes our guides to London’s grand dame hotels and historic dining institutions.

• Editorial Independence: We never claim experience where we do not have it, nor do we republish generic PR copy or paid listicles. Whether sharing a direct review or a wider editorial guide, our recommendations are selective, transparent, and written with an independent eye.

Jamie (Jay) Riddell

Founder & Editor

Jamie is a travel writer, photographer, and experienced reviewer whose work prioritises depth, atmosphere, and authentic detail over rushed itineraries.

Having spent years travelling extensively across the UK, Europe, and beyond, he created Slow Travel with Jay to share considered, honest reflections on standout hotels, memorable tables, and unhurried destinations.

First-Hand Authority & Reach

His reviews and photography are independently followed and trusted by millions of travellers worldwide:

• Google Maps Contributor (Level 8): Ranked within the highest contributor tiers globally on Google Maps, with personal travel photography exceeding 37 million views.

• Tripadvisor Top 1% Reviewer: Recognised as a Superstar and Authority reviewer—placing his written guides, photography, and recommendations in the top 1% of contributors on the platform.

• Independent & Self-Funded: Every guide, review, and itinerary is drawn entirely from personal stays, meals, and journeys.

Whether uncovering a discreet boutique hotel in the South of France, wandering the covered passages of Paris, or documenting an exceptional dinner in a historic dining room, his focus remains straightforward: honest, first-hand insight for travellers who prefer to take their time.