Today, we celebrate our first birthday here at Byway. What a year it’s been! We were born in the first lockdown, and are celebrating our birthday virtually in the third - but this time with a clear travel timeline, with slow travel surging, and with spring in the air ☀️

I founded Byway on 20th March 2020, as we went into our first lockdown. Schools, pubs and restaurants had just been told to close, travel wasn’t allowed, and I believed that if there was ever a time to build a platform for joyful flight-free, locally-oriented holidays, this was it. So, I left my job, headed home to Bermondsey, London (along with my husband, two year old and four year old) and Byway was born. This year has been a joy of enthusiasm and energy for our mission from our team and customers alike (thank you all!); we’ve sent customers away with five star reviews between lockdowns, featured in the press from the Guardian and the Independent to The Times and the Daily Mail, certified as a Pending B Corporation and bonded with ABTA, launched a Covid refund guarantee and much more besides. Here are some of my personal highlights, in picture form.