Travel News March 2022
THE THREE MUST ‘C’s OF LONDON
Seeking a weekend getaway to London? Erin English checks out London’s must ‘C’ attractions....
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OR some locations, forty-eight hours can be all that is needed to make the most of a city. With a range of excursions to occupy your time, from spending your morning taking in the sights of Hyde Park, to discovering the fast-moving tube system, and sneaking in an evening performance of a must-see show. London is the diamond getaway for those seeking a weekend city break! Commonly misrepresented as the city of hustle and
bustle, London can make for a refreshing and invigorating trip with plenty of sights to see. Upon first arrival, it can be quite daunting for those not used to the underground, however with tube lines surrounding the whole of central London. Travellers who arrive into London via trains to the major railway hubs such as London Victoria, Paddington, Kings Cross/St Pancras, Waterloo, and Euston will have vast underground options to ensure they reach their accommodation swiftly and safely. A top tip when embarking on the London Underground, is to use contactless at the ticket entry points, this option offers a discounted price when compared with the cost of purchasing a ticket at the machines provided within the tube station. With the contactless pay-as you go daily cap within Central London, otherwise known as Zone 1, being £7.40 a daily with limitless use within the zone. Much cheaper in comparison with daily travel card which equates to £13.90. Covent Garden
Located just a few streets away from Oxford Street is
Covent Garden, which is filled with market-stalls, high end fashion retailers, along with tasty eateries. Culture congregates in the centre of Covent Garden, as street performers line the streets and cosy cafes place seats in the heart of the square facing St Paul’s Church. Despite many weekends away in London, my recent
trip was my first time heading to Covent Garden, and I was certainly impressed.
A quintessential British
marketplace situated in the heart of central London, there was plenty to peruse.
Throughout Covent Garden there is an eclectic mix of stores and stalls selling vintage, original fashion, hand-crafted accessories, unique gifts and everything in
Lunar New Year In London’s Chinatown
between. In addition, there are plenty of food stalls and eatery surrounding the area. If you want to maximise your London experience, why not take part in a tea- tasting trial in Whittards? After hearing rave reviews about the shop located in the centre of the market-place, I was determined to put my taste-buds to the test. Upon entry, the teapots lined the shelves, urging people to sample their unique teas. Tasting is free of charge, with tasting cups provided around the store. Ranging from exotic iced-teas to eclectic hot chocolates, Whittards is a truly indulgent experience for those seeking a unique experience in central London. Chinatown
Decorated for the Lunar New Year festivities, which ran from the 31 January 2022 to 06 February 2022, visiting Chinatown the first week of February was a delight. All set to ring in the Year of Tiger, many people flocked to the area to embrace Chinese culture ahead of the celebrations. As I walked around Chinatown, there were vendors and market places set up over the course of the celebratory weekend, with restaurants packed with those seeking to indulge in the famous Chinese cuisine. Determined to adhere to the tradition of buying a symbollic red item ahead of the Lunar New Year, a Chinese tradition which is said to bring good luck to you and your household in the new year, it was almost impossible to ignore the shops selling a range of celebratory items. After heading around a few of the shops to complete this tradition, I finally had an ornamental red laughing buddha in tow. A symbol of good luck, contentment and happiness in Chinese Culture. Diving deeper into the area, you may stumble across the Opium Cocktail Bar. A parlour where guests experience asian-inspired cocktails, travellers can embark on their own cocktail making master-class right in the heart of chinatown. A two hour immersive experience, you learnt need to know about the art of cocktail making. With a knowledgeable guide, who sprinkles the cocktail tutorials with interesting facts about the drinks themselves and the surrounding area. A lovely way to round up your visit to Chinatown. Chelsea
Although a little further out that the previous locations listed, a visit to Chelsea is well worth the short journey on the tube.
A classic tea-tasting cup in Whittard’s
Chelsea is home to Kings Road, that runs from Sloane Square to the Chelsea Design Quarter. Kings Road, London was the hub of mod-culture in the 1960s. Where Mary Quant, an iconic figure of MOD Fashion in the 1960’s , opened her first store ‘Bazaar.’ Kings Road, stands as an epicentre of fashion history. With Vivienne Westwood’s first World’s End clothing store located at 430 Kings Road. With streets and shop-windows that witnessed the emergence of hippie-fashion and punk styles, along with many iconic designers. A trip to Kings Road, Chelsea is a must-see for any fashion-lover. To round up my visit to Chelsea, I headed to the iconic Chelsea Physic Garden. The Chelsea Physic Garden is London’s oldest botanic garden and contains a unique living collection of around 5,000 different useful and medicinal plants that have changed the world. Despite the central location, a walk around the gardens is accompanied with a feeling of stillness. A refreshing last stop in London, a trip to Chelsea is the perfect reflect to a jam-packed weekend.
A WEEKEND IN LONDON 9
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