-
Just when I thought festival season was over and the outdoor activity was fizzling out until bonfire night, Bloomsbury has gone and got me all excited. With such a rich history, there’s plenty of culture to celebrate in the worlds of art, music and literature; previously, legendary authors such as Virginia Woolf, T.S. Eliot and Charles Dickens have called it home It all kicks off tonight with a procession of lanterns through Russell Square gardens,...
-
Anyone who has been to Brick Lane at the weekend will understand the appeal it holds for London’s hipsters. Although it’s not up everybody’s street (figuratively and literally), the jumbled mash of colours, sounds and smells attracts hundreds of people to this East End curry mile. The nights are crowded with diners, drinkers, clubbers and ravers, who hop from bar to bar and spill out onto the streets. Day times are perfect for picking your...
-
HOW DID I NOT KNOW IT WAS CHOCOLATE WEEK??? This type of rousing information does not usually pass me by! It is music to my ears and wonderment to my soul (I think that’s a word). From October 10 - 16, there will be a celebration of this sweet delight at select venues across London. I am having to physically restrain myself as I write this; the urge to sprint down to La Maison de...
-
I am pretty naff at taking photos. If I manage to get your whole face in shot, it’s a good day - but don’t expect to be shot in a flattering light or from a good angle... and prepare yourself for some seriously demonic red eyes. Luckily for you lot, I no longer own a camera; my humble android phone catches any unmissable moments with 3.2 megapixels. Those of you more accomplished in the art of...
-
Unbelievably, this Saturday 8th October marks the 10 year anniversary of the start of the war on Afghanistan. It doesn’t seem that long ago that Tony Blair sent thousands of British troops to fight “the war on terror”, but even after all this time, millions of people across the world argue that this war has never been justified. Nobody could have anticipated that this would go on for so long, and the country has been...
-
With temperatures soaring towards 30 degrees this weekend, it’s hard to believe that Autumn is here - but now it’s October, and we can’t delude ourselves any longer. The weather will be doing more Autumnal type things from this week onwards, bringing us back down to the ground like the golden brown falling leaves (how poetic). I remember the annual routine when I was at Primary School; each year, we’d raid our parents cupboards for Harvest...
-
Okay. Take a deep breath. Remain calm. Count to three... and now squeal like a banshee with child-like excitement! It’s the Disney Princess Parade in London this weekend! I’m sure not everyone is as fond of old Walt’s creations as I am, but it’s not very often that a Disneyland style event takes place here in the city. This is great news for families with young children, or anyone whose DVD collection looks like it...
-
If you’ve ever been to a city in the United Kingdom, you probably will have been offered a copy of the Big Issue magazine. It’s commonly known as a platform to help homeless people get back on their feet, giving them a legitimate income that they’ve earned themselves rather than them having to depend on handouts. It’s not a bad read, either; there’s a good mix of current affairs and entertainment. Some people make an...
-
If you’re going out for the night in London, Friday is one of the best times to do it. Most people are in a celebratory mood for the end of the working week, so the vibe is almost electric: excitement in the air! It also means you have a whole two days to get over your hangover before having to go back to work. Hurrah! If you haven’t already planned your night out, make sure...
-
This morning, a chap who was new to the country said to me “You must be rich, living here in London”. Obviously we’re all very lucky in the grand scheme of things; I do indeed have a job, a roof over my head and food on my plate. But alas, dear fellow, London makes us quite the opposite of rich! Anyone who resides in this great capital will know that the prices are jacked up...
-
You can’t beat a good gorilla. He’s King of the Jungle (when there are no lions around), the Daddy of all apes, our closest relative in the Animal Kingdom and pretty nifty on the drums (if Cadbury’s adverts are anything to go by). As a girl, my favourite pair of slippers were huge, furry gorilla feet, and the lovable mammals are still one of the top attractions at London Zoo. So why aren’t we more...
-
Brace yourself, folks: the glitterati will be out in force this week. This time of year always seems to come around so quickly, awaking that inner shopping addict that I’ve tried so hard to lull to sleep! London Fashion Week attracts the top people in the industry from all over the world; designers, models, magazine editors and celebrities. Even if you have no interest in the latest trends, you’ll find it hard to avoid the...
-
Now I remember why I love the summer so much; aside from the glorious sunshine (snort), floral dresses and picnics in the park, it’s littered with these lovely Bank Holiday weekends! This one will be the last we see for a while, so we’d better make the most of it. But before you get out your barbecue tools and crack open the cider, you might want to check the weather forecast. I know it’s not...
-
Out of the hundreds of pubs in London, only a handful serve really impressive food. If you know the right places to go it’s not hard to find one of them in your local area, but leaving it to chance could mean you end up with cold, hard chips and limp lettuce in your burger. One fairly good indication of the quality of food to expect is if you visit a branch from a large...
-
Come on, you all remember how the rhyme goes: “I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream!” The concept doesn’t really promote healthy eating or discipline for children, but you can’t deny that ice cream is pretty damn exciting. And besides, “I politely request some fruit sorbet” etc doesn’t have quite the same ring to it. London has been sweltering hot this week, so our desire for frozen treats has sky rocketed! Sadly,...
-
Are any of you as excited as I am? This weekend, from 29 July, Southbank is stepping back in time to host the Vintage Festival. You might have seen some posters up around London, or read about it online; if not, have a quick look! Whichever 20th century era you are a fan of, it’s covered here -- right from the 1920s through to the 1980s. Expect to see some excellent outfits, whether it’s a...
-
It looks like going to the cinema will never lose its appeal. Despite all the illegal downloads and previews available these days, it’s no match for surround sound, a big screen and a great big bag of popcorn or pick ‘n’ mix. Going to the cinema is one of those Friday night activities that’s popular for all ages: families, friends, couples or blind dates. It certainly beats having long awkward silences over the dinner table...
-
It seems like the whole world has a fascination with our Royal Family. Many countries don’t have a monarchy, and there are plenty of people who regard the concept as redundant. However, the recent wedding between Prince William and Katherine Middleton showed that celebration of the royals is alive and kicking across the globe! Merchandise was flying off the shelves, from mugs, plates and tea towels to t-shirts, hats and masks. Bunting seemed to be...
-
Contrary to popular belief, it’s not only men who are difficult to buy for. Take one of my friends for example: let’s call her Shirley. Shirley is quite the eco-warrior; she’s kind to animals, charitable, considerate. She’ll fight for equal rights until all prejudice and discrimination has been eliminated. These are wonderful and enviable qualities, but it rather limits my options when it comes to finding a gift she’ll like! As you can imagine, Shirley is...
-
Have you got your arty pants on? Because now is the time to get all cultured with the Summer Exhibition at The Royal Academy of Arts. Until 15th August, you can visit the grand gallery in Piccadilly at Burlington House. It’s the largest open exhibition of contemporary art in the world, and you can see it all for £10 or less. Just jump in a Piccadilly Circus taxi in W1 and you’ll be taken right...
