Getting to Amsterdam from the UK is really quite easy. From where I live it's an hours flight and you're there! We went on March 18th so it was still pretty cold and the weather wasn't great, but it didn't matter as the city was still beautiful even with grey skies! I can imagine it just being magical in the sunny spring time though. We arrived and took a train from the main airport (Schipol) to our hotel. We stayed at The Hampshire Hotel: The Manor which was B E A U T I F U L. It had one of the prettiest lobbies I've ever seen, the most beautiful rooms, delicious food and the friendliest staff. I just want to give a massive shoutout to the waiter that let us eat in the restaurant even when they'd closed and let us have pizza and a bottle of wine at 11pm when we were hangry and exhausted! The hotel was just a 10 minute tram journey (no.9) to the centre of Amsterdam which was perfect! 

The first day we were there we explored the centre of dam. Looking down the Nine Streets and the canals just made me realise what a historical but modern city this it. It has such a story to tell, but is so adapted for modern tourism and shopping. It has such a cool sense of style and is just an awesome place to be. The Nine Streets are a great mix of high-End (try Acne Studios) and vintage (you have to take a look at EPISODE) shops. From here we went to the central Amsterdam shopping area. The shops are awesome. There are a mix of shops from things we have at home to shops that are more rare in the UK. Either which way theres something for everyone and I left with a purse that was a lot lighter than when I went! We headed back to out hotel for a nap (having had 2 hours sleep the night before) and went out to the Anne Frank House in the evening. There always seems to be a queue for this place so either book ahead or be prepared to wait over an hour!