Immersive Dining: The Chambers Uncovered

Have you ever tried an immersive dining experience? The Chambers of Flavour describes itself as "inter-dimensional gastronomy," created by Gingerline, and is a fascinating dining experience which before today has been kept entirely secret.

Normally, the entrance to The Chambers of Flavour is concealed and diners must follow clues to find the 'X marks the spot' to enter the Chambers in London. Then all phones and cameras are locked away before the diners enter the experience. I love the idea that the dining experience is completely secret - all diners are sworn to not reveal the inside of the chambers and, impressively, all diners keep their secret.

However, I was lucky enough to be invited to the exclusive reveal to press of The Chambers of Flavour and photograph the dining experience for the first ever time. Although I love the secret nature of the experience, it can be a little scary to commit to a dining experience without any idea of what it promises. The Chambers officially closed yesterday and I'm excited to be able to share the entire wacky, wonderful and bizarre experience with you all.

Each course is held in a separate room with a separate theme - each designed by a different art director for a completely different feel. The experience began by sitting in a sled, which was pushed through a tiny tunnel...into a woodland wonderland. We hunted in the treetops for our appetiser; micro herbs and raw vegetables, parsley dressing and truffle infused tapioca pearls.

Next, we jumped through a hole in a tree to reach the soup course; 'motor oil' soup, served by a crash test dummy mime artist. For the main course, a waiter poured dry ice onto the table and our host burst out of the curtains to entertain us in the grand Victorian surroundings straight out of a horror movie. We then burst into a ball pit, where we were handed gin by a pirate (although I still don't why it wasn't rum!) in a plastic water bottle to drink whilst we slowly sank into the blue ball pit; this and the starter were my favourite rooms. 

Finally, we were seranaded by a drag queen air hostess in a aeroplane cabin before being served my favourite course; delicious mango and green tea profiteroles, accompanied by a strawberry gazpacho and chocolate soil. To escape, we slid down a metal chute, bursting confused and elated back into the real world. It truly felt like stepped back into reality after disappearing down an Alice in Wonderland-esque rabbit hole, full of wonders and surprises. 

The entire experience was engaging and great fun; it's a real 'in it together' meal where you enter in the fantasy along with your fellow diners and it's definitely more suited to confident people as there's plenty of opportunities to volunteer and take part in the room's various scenes. The experience is completely unique - and impressively, the food is great quality too; the Chambers are a dining experience first and foremost and the flavour combinations were delicious and clever. 

If you're looking for something unusual and unique, Gingerline are a company worth buying tickets for. Although the Chambers are now closed, Gingerline is not - they've got plenty more exciting events in the pipeline including a revamped Chamber of Flavours arriving in late 2016. Check out Gingerline for details on their latest event - a new batch of tickets will be released today at midday but you need to be quick! I can't wait to see what they do next!

Jess

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5 Things To Do In Iceland #SendMeAway

I'm forever dreaming about my next holiday and for once, I don't have anything booked to look forward to! When icelolly.com asked bloggers to share their dream destination, I couldn't resist imagining my next travel destination. The winner will win £1000 towards their perfect holiday and a coveted Olympus PEN camera, so I wanted to share 5 things I want to do in Iceland, the country which is number one on my bucket list:

1. The Northern Lights
The Northern Lights had to be number one on my 'must-see' in Iceland. I have seen some seriously stunning images but nothing would compare to seeing the real thing with my own eyes. Apparently February, March, October and November are the best months to get lucky with the lights and a solar flare means that you have the best chance of seeing the lights now until 2018, so I need to get organised!

2. Husky Sledding
I'm obsessed with the idea of husky sledding and what better location than Iceland? Huskies are amazing dogs and I've always wanted to go sledding; a thrilling mix of fluffy dogs and extreme sport. In fact, it was one of my failed New Year's Resolutions in 2015 so I really need to tick it off in 2016!

3. The Blue Lagoon
I can't think of Iceland without thinking of sitting in the Blue Lagoon, surrounded by snow and steam. The experience of two extremes, the heat of the water and the cold of the air, fascinates me and again, I really want to try it for myself. I would definitely try a silica mud mask and drink a glass of wine in the water - it's the perfect memory!

4. Icelandic Cuisine
For me, the quality of the food can make or break a holiday. Unsurprisingly, Iceland is well-known for its fresh seafood, thanks to its location. After reading Ally from Digital Diva's post about her trip to Iceland, I would love to try The Fishmarket. It sounds like a great place to try some fantastic local cuisine so it's top of my 'to eat' list.

5. Caving
Finally, it's another unusual activity, although I could have chosen geysers, whale watching, the Golden Circle or even pony-trekking on Icelandic horses - there is so much to do in Iceland! My final 'must do' is caving. The volcanic environment of Iceland has created its unique nature and caving is an exciting way to see more of the Icelandic landscape. I would love the explore the beautiful and fascinating magma caves - and everything else which Iceland has to offer!

I nominate Digital Diva, Queen Beady and Adventures in Tea and Cake to share their choices - with the requirement that if you enter and win, you have to take me! Deal? Where is your number one bucket list destination?

Jess

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4 Tips to Travel to New York

Facebook Memories can be both a great and terrible thing. They remind me of great times with friends over the years but they can also induce some pretty intense wanderlust. This week, Facebook decided to kindly inform me that exactly one year ago I booked an incredible trip to New York and since I don't yet have any holidays to look forward to this year, I spent my week reminiscing about my previous travel. I wrote a diary of our New York trip last year but I thought I'd put together a tips post if you were thinking of heading to the Big Apple in 2016:

1. Time It Right
This time of year is perfect to book a holiday to New York, as almost all of the airlines are offering great savings to tempt you to spend away those January blues. Last year, we booked some great value flights with British Airways and they currently have another great sale running, which is due to end on the 2nd February.

2. Plan, Plan, Plan!
We spent four days in New York and I found my need to organise every detail of a holiday really useful. Sometimes it's nice to 'go with the flow' but since we had such limited time in such a huge city, we wanted to make the most of our time and planning was the way to do this. Another great way to ensure you see all the famous sites is to consider a Vacation Pass, which allows you to pay one lump sum and guarantee your entry to all the museums, tourist attractions and tours in New York - they can be pricey, but they definitely take the hassle out of your trip.

3. Get Spendy
One of the things we were most excited about was, of course, the shopping. There are some incredible deals to be had in the USA and there are also plenty of products which aren't available in the UK. I watched tonnes of American YouTubers and decided on two 'must-buy' products I needed to track down; the Kat Von D Foundation and the Sephora Lip Stains - both of which have become staples in my make-up routine.

4. Layer Up
If you do plan to travel to New York in February, remember that it will be cold! We weren't quite prepared for the cold and snowy weather, although it resulted in some pretty and impressive photos in Central Park. Definitely invest in some warm layers, a coat, snuggly scarf, gloves and a hat to keep your ears warm. There is nothing worse than the cold ruining a fantastic trip - although it's always an excuse to go shopping in the huge Forever 21 on Times Square!

Do you have any other tips for a trip to New York? Will you be heading to the Big Apple this year?

*This is a sponsored post.*

Jess

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Discover Newmarket

I've lived in Newmarket all my life, but in reality I know very little about it. Growing up in a horseracing town when you have never ridden a horse means that I am blissfully ignorant about the most of the history and culture of the town in which I live. Luckily, things recently changed when I went on a Discover Newmarket tour to find out more about the town I call home:

Discover Newmarket is the 'official tour guide' for Newmarket, working to promote the town as a centre for horse-racing and everything connected to the sport. We started our tour by driving in our tour guide's car to The Gallops and watching the horses ride out in the morning. By using a car to get around Newmarket, we were able to see most of the town from the comfort of the vehicle and I was seriously impressed with our guides' local knowledge and gossip! After a quick driven tour past some of the key studs and buildings, we headed to The Jockey Club Rooms for a viewing of this prestigious member's only club. There are limited opportunities to visit The Jockey Club Rooms as a member of the public, so a tour around the artwork and building was a rare treat and I was fascinated to hear about the history of this club which was so vital to Newmarket's beginnings.

Next, I was excited to have the chance to go behind the scenes of a working stud and see the horses and trainers in the yard. The horses were, of course, beautiful and we were shown around by the head trainer, who was able to answer all of our questions, big or small. We then headed to the National Stud for a quick cup of tea followed by a tour of the stud. We were told about the famous lineages of some of the most successful racehorses and the insane amount of money involved in breeding future horseracing champions. Finally we headed to the National Horseracing Museum for a quick look around the exhibits before heading back.

We packed a huge amount in to the couple of hours spent on the Discover Newmarket tour and I left with so much more knowledge about my home town. We often neglect what's on our doorstep and I loved the opportunity to explore and learn about the town and the horseracing industry which is so important to it. If you're interested, check out Discover Newmarket to find out more about the various tours they offer - it's definitely worth it!

Do you often overlook your home town? Have you ever visited Newmarket?

Jess

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A Week in Yorkshire

I like to say that I am an adopted Yorkshirewoman. No, I’m not actually from there, but after spending three years at university in York, I fell in love with God’s Own Country and my dream is to move to Leeds and work there. So when I’m From Yorkshire got in touch, I decided to overlook the fact that this isn’t technically quite true and share some of their products, alongside my most recent stay in Yorkshire:

Tshirts: Both from I'm From Yorkshire* Skirt: Primark. Jeans: American Eagle. Boots: Clarks

I spent the October half term in a beautiful holiday cottage from Sykes Cottages. I discovered Sykes Cottages thanks to my first bloggers’ holiday but their dog-friendly cottages are perfect for a UK break as a family. We always head to the Sykes website when we are looking for a UK cottage break and they have a huge range of options across the country. This time, we had a fantastic cottage called 1 Fell Side, located a few miles from Todmorden in the beautiful Yorkshire Dales with a stunning view of Stoodley Pike from our garden.

Our cottage was the perfect base for our week in Yorkshire. Stoodley Pike was either an extremely steep 25 minute climb or a slightly more sedate but longer walk to the top of the hill, resulting in stunning views of the surrounding area. We could also walk to Todmorden along the canals or drive further afield. We spent one day visiting Ilkley, a favourite of mine which I wanted to introduce my parents to. We treated ourselves to a couple of fat rascals from Bettys before heading to Friends of Ham for lunch, as they are now dog friendly - a huge bonus for us! We then wandered around Ilkley and the surrounding rivers before heading back with a very tired dog! 

Another day, we headed to Haworth, which I have wanted to visit for years. I love Jane Eyre and I was fascinated to visit 'Bronte Country.' The Bronte Parsonage Museum was fascinating but morbid, when you realise quite how many members of the Bronte family have died in the Parsonage, and I was excited to see the 'little books' which the Bronte sisters are known for - they really are miniscule! Finally, we had to visit the Yorkshire Sculpture Park, especially the poppies. We had missed the chance to see the poppies in London so we were glad to get the chance to see them in Yorkshire. They really are a stunning tribute to World War One and will be staying at the park until January.

Throughout the week, I couldn't resist wearing my I'm From Yorkshire tees. I love the Little Miss and Mr Yorkshire ranges, and picked out this L'il Miss Flippin Eck t-shirt* as soon as I spotted it. I've been feeling particularly clumsy recently and I think the Little Miss figure represents me rather accurately! I also couldn't resist the Eeh Bah Gum t-shirt* although, I have a confession - I have no idea what eeh bah gum actually means! Can any real Northeners help me out? I really like the fit and they are great quality; something I don't always expect from 'novelty' t-shirts. Coming up to Christmas, there are a brilliant gift idea for any Yorkshireman, woman or fan of Yorkshire!

Where are your favourite spots to visit in Yorkshire? Where should I go next?

Jess

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Shop In York

I've been meaning to write a guide to shopping in York for ages. As part of my internship in my hometown, I've been writing a lot of guides to Cambridge, Newmarket and Bury St Edmunds and although I will be using these to inspire some future local posts, I wanted to switch to a different part of the country to write something entirely new. York is sometimes overlooked as a shopping destination, as it is so close to the much larger and more commercial Leeds, but it really has some fantastic gems:

I love the Zatchels store on The Shambles and was lucky enough to attend its opening last year. It's a lovely little store, full of their gorgeous satchels and well worth a visit. They often have some brilliant instore promotions as well as lots of limited edition satchels and backpacks. The Shambles is always worth a visit as it is packed full of fascinating and unique shops - and it looks like Diagon Alley!

York Does Vintage regularly visits the city, bringing a huge array of vintage clothing, accessories and homeware. It's always a great event, offering new and exciting items each season and the next fair is on the 29th November - check out all the future dates here. I always find something at these fairs and I love rifling through the racks to find that perfect vintage gem. Bowler Vintage (formerly known as Purple Haze, if you're an oldie like me) is one of the permanent vintage shops in York and full of both vintage and replica clothing. You can browse their replica clothing online but you need to head into store on Fossgate to browse their vintage goodies.

If you want brands, Monks Cross is the place to go. It's full of loads of high street brands, from New Look to River Island, as well as lots of places to stop for coffee.There is a huge M&S Simply Food hall as well as Rodgers of York for all your furniture dreams. There's even a Thomas Holiday Superstore with thousands of holidays under one roof, if you want to get out of York for a weekend!

The Imaginarium is worth visiting just for the experience. The shop is full of all kinds of curiosities and is full of Victorian style treasures. It's full of Pinterest-worthy decorations, props and prints; for example, I absolutely love the glass potion bottles. It's part of the Yorkshire Soap Company, so it also smells gorgeous! Unfortunately, you can't take any photos inside so you'll have to go take a look for yourself... Opposite, you will find one of my favourite discoveries in York. For me, a day out shopping is as much about the food as the clothes and I can never spend the day in York without a trip to Mannion and Co. The deli board is a wonder and it's the first place I recommend to anyone visiting the city. If you want to read more, check out my review of the sausage roll and deli board.

I love finishing a day of shopping with something to drink from Evil Eye Lounge. The famous bar is known for its strong and unusual cocktails, as well as its interior including double beds on the second floor. Traditionally rumoured as 'Johnny Depp's favourite bar in England,' it's trendy enough for this statement to hold the ring of truth. Certainly, if Depp has ever tried any of these cocktails, he would be a fan - the huge list is sure to have something for everyone. Evil Eye are also less well known for their excellent hot chocolates, so if you don't fancy a cocktail, I love finishing off a day of shopping with a Candy Swamp, a hot chocolate full of actual Malteasers and Minstrels as well as marshmallows and cream - perfect for these Wintry days!

York is a brilliant shopping destination which, as I've mentioned, I feel is often overlooked. The independent shops are simply fantastic, there are always interesting pop-up fairs and markets and the city is full of hidden foodie gems. Where would you recommend in York?

*This post was written in collaboration with Rodgers of York*

Jess

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24 Hours in Manchester: Sleep Well, Shop Well

Last weekend, I attended one of the most exciting events I have been lucky enough to be invited to. I feel like so many of my posts start like this at the moment, but I’ve been fortunate enough to receive some amazing opportunities over the last few months. This time, I was invited to Manchester for a dinner with The Front Row Society, followed by a relaxing stay at a Premier Inn and a day of shopping - what more could a girl want?

As I previously mentioned in my post about my weekend away in Birmingham with Travelodge, when I head on a UK city break I almost always stay in Travelodge. I have never actually stayed in a Premier Inn before, but I was excited to give the chain a thorough test drive with a stay in one of their king-sized beds. The Manchester City Centre Piccadilly was the perfect base for the blogger event, just two minutes from Piccadilly station, and so easy to find. Overall, I was really impressed by my room; the bed was massive and so comfortable, the room was really spacious and well-designed and the free WiFi was a huge bonus. I settled in (ie. I threw my bag down and changed my top, before running downstairs) and went to meet my fellow bloggers.

I hadn't met any of the other bloggers before who were at the event but I was so excited to be heading to a meal hosted by Megan, a blogger who I love reading. We were then treated to one the best meals I've ever had the pleasure to eat. Fumo is a San Carlo restaurant which produces incredible Italian food, and I have never eaten so much in my life. We were treated to plates and plates of food, including duck salad, goat's cheese, gnocchi, spaghetti bolognese and seafood linguine... Then we were told that the main courses were on the way! Nobody could believe it, but we were then presented with delicious pizza, pork belly, steak and perfectly cooked sea bream. Finally, we finished off the meal with huge piles of ice-cream, smothered in Nutella - perfection. 

The next day, we helped ourselves to breakfast at the Premier Inn, which I was pretty impressed by as there was a huge range to choose from, including a full English, various fruits and even muffins. I think I must have truly been in a blissful state thanks to my Premier Inn sleep, as I didn't take any photos of my shopping travels around Manchester. However, you can check out Megan's guide to the vintage shops we visited. I then headed to the Arndale where I picked up some knee high boots from H&M and a cute pinafore dress from New Look - keep an eye out for the outfit post!

Overall, I had a fantastic weekend thanks to Premier Inn, Propellernet and The Front Row Society - I'm looking forward to heading back to Manchester soon for some vintage shopping and delicious Italian food!

Jess

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A Weekend in Birmingham with Travelodge

As I mentioned in my recent weekend travel post on Southampton and London, I love any excuse to get away for the weekend, whether it is in the UK or abroad. I have only visited Birmingham once, many years ago, so when I was offered the chance to head there for a weekend to Travelodge with my parents, I couldn't wait to explore. We spent two nights and two days in Birmingham, so I wanted to put together a mini guide on what I'd recommend for a city break weekend - it's a pretty big post full of information, so grab a cuppa and have a read:

Where To Stay

I was invited to stay in Birmingham by Travelodge, but as a family, we always stay in a Travelodge anyway. I stayed in a Travelodge in Southampton and my parents always used to stay in one of the York Travelodges whilst visiting me at university. For me, Travelodge is the perfect budget-friendly option; you know exactly what to expect - a clean, practical room with good facilities and a convenient location. My parents and I were booked into a 'family room;' a king sized bed and two pull-out beds. The pull-out beds were really impressive - my parents actually chose to sleep on these beds, leaving me with the king sized bed (which I wasn't complaining about at all!) The room was really spacious and clean and the shower was hot and powerful, which for me is always a deal-breaker. Our room was impressively quiet and we definitely appreciated the small TV on the wall, which meant we could catch up with the rugby! I always recommend Travelodge when booking a UK break away, especially as they can easily be forgotten as they don't show up on sites like Hotels.com. The Birmingham Central Newhall St Travelodge was one of the more modern offerings and the location was an easy 20 minute walk to the city centre; close enough for ease of exploring but far enough away for some peace and quiet.

What To Eat and Drink

On the Friday evening, we arrived fairly late in the evening at our Travelodge and settled into our room. We wanted to eat somewhere close to our room so we chose the Handmade Burger Co, a short walk from the Central Newhall St Travelodge along the canals. The walk was such a lovely experience and so peaceful, contrary to my expectation of a city as big as Birmingham. Handmade Burger Co unfortunately hasn't made its way to Cambridge yet so although it was a chain, we didn’t feel like we were eating somewhere we could go to at home and it was a great start to the weekend.

The following day, I was determined to try some local Birmingham restaurants. For lunch, I would definitely recommend Purecraft Bar and Kitchen. Their Scotch Eggs are known as being some of the best in Birmingham and they didn’t disappoint; the picture alone makes me hungry. Purecraft had an impressive array of beers and ciders, as well as their tasty tapas-style pub dishes. I was really impressed with both the presentation and quality of the food we chose, and we had a very enjoyable lunch.

Birmingham is famous for its Balti curry so we knew we wanted to spend the Saturday evening in one of their curry houses. I'd research the Balti Triangle using this great local guide, so we jumped in a taxi to Ladypool Road, the main street in the area. I'd read some great reviews online about Al Frash so we decided to give it a try. The reviews were right; the curry was brilliant. We had a selection of starters, including some tasty chicken pakoora and I opted for the simple chicken Balti as my main. It was fantastic; served in a red hot pot and bursting full of heat and flavour. My only negative was the location as it was far less touristy than we were expecting and we felt a little bit lost – and if you want to drink alcohol, don’t forget to bring your own as most curry houses are unlicensed.

Of course, I managed to find some time for gin and I was excited to discover The Jeykll and Hyde bar, complete with a Victorian Gin Palace. This was one of my favourite bars I have visited in a long time, from the formal portraits of dogs in uniform, to the sign about gin and happiness. There was an extensive and fascinating cocktail menu, including sharers served in a gentleman’s bowler hat and cocktails in teacups. The sweet-flavoured cocktails were my favourite, and were extremely popular with everyone else in the bar too. You could choose from lemon bon bons, strawberry laces, chocolate éclair, pear drops and parma violets, all served in cute jam jars. I would definitely recommend taking the short walk from the centre of town for a few drinks in this curious and creative bar.

What To Do

Birmingham is well-known for its shopping, so a trip to the Bull Ring Shopping Centre was a must. I even braved Primark on a Saturday afternoon and bagged an amazing faux fur coat to add to my growing furry wardrobe. If you enjoy shopping, Birmingham is a great place to go for the weekend to treat yourself to some retail therapy.

Personally, I like to explore as well as shop when I head away for a city break. Whenever I head away for the weekend, I like to check for local festivals and events and we were lucky to discover the Emergency Poet at the Arts All Over The Place festival. My Mum had heard about the Emergency Poet on the radio earlier in the week, so when we found out that she was to be in Birmingham the same weekend as us, it felt like fate. We headed to The Bond Co to visit her and it was a really unique experience; I sat in an ambulance and answered the Emergency Poet’s questions, before she ‘prescribed’ me a poem to read. I really love the idea of taking the time to sit and simply read a poem in moments of self-reflection and enjoyed the fascinating, if wacky, experience. Birmingham seems like a great city for the arts, so if you are visiting, it’s a good idea to check out The Bond Co or The Custard Factory to see what’s on.

We also tried to visit the Back to Backs Museum but didn’t realise that it was vital to book a slot for this National Trust museum – if you are heading to Birmingham, I’d recommend booking a space on this tour to learn more about the history of Birmingham. However, we had already planned to spend our Sunday at the Black Country Living Museum, so we still got our history fix. The Black Country Living Museum is a huge site, full of historical houses, a school and shops. For me, the most interesting aspect was the opportunity to walk through part of a mine. My great-grandfather was a miner and it is a part of our family history which is very important to us, so it was both fascinating and emotional to glimpse a small insight into his experience. I really enjoyed exploring the Living Museum because I love the interactivity of these kinds of museums. I ate the best fish and chips I have ever had at the on-site fish and chip shop – I would recommend a visit on my lunch alone!

Have you ever spent a weekend in Birmingham? Is there anywhere you would recommend?

Jess

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A City Break in Southampton and London

As you many know, two weeks ago I finally completed my Masters’ degree and handed in my dissertation. It’s something I’ve been working on all Summer and I feel so relieved, but admittedly slightly lost, now this huge part of my life has been completed. I celebrated the end of this chapter in my life by heading to Southampton and London for a weekend and although I documented a lot of it on Instagram, I wanted to share some of my highlights in a more detailed post.

As soon as I had handed in my dissertation, I headed briefly to Southampton for dinner and drinks – I didn’t get much of a chance to explore but I loved the docks and would definitely recommend Banana Wharf if you are looking for somewhere for a special meal. For breakfast, I had a huge and delicious ice-cream from Sprinkles, then I travelled to London for the weekend. I loved having the time to play tourist and explore some places I’ve been wanting to visit for a long time. Cocktails at the Aqua Shard bar were definitely a highlight; I’ve been ticking off my panoramic skylines throughout the world and although I have headed to the top of tall buildings in to New York, Paris and Rome, I hadn’t yet got a chance to get a good view of London’s skyline. The Aqua Shard is free entry, as opposed to the £30.95 fee to get to the top of The Shard, although if you want to drink, a cocktail is a pricey £16, plus a service charge. However, the views were incredible, particularly at sunset and I loved admiring the skyline as I sipped on a luxurious cocktail.

The following day, I spent most of my time in Shoreditch, pretending to be hipster and trying out some places I’ve wanted to visit for a while. First on my list was The Blues Kitchen, an American blues restaurant known for its food and fun events. I chose the Pig ‘n’ Biscuits for brunch, which you can see above, and it was amazing; pulled pork, eggs, hollandaise and bacon bits on top of traditional Southern ‘biscuits,’ a scone-like base for the perfectly cooked eggs and delicious pulled pork. Then, I headed to a rather unique café; the London Cat Village. Now, I am most definitely a dog person and if a puppy café ever opens, I will be the first one there. However, I actually surprised myself by how much I enjoyed the cat café. For £4, I got to spend an hour playing with cats and I have honestly never felt more relaxed. There were a huge variety of cats and even adorable kittens, and every animal was alert, friendly and loving the attention. I’ve spent the last few weeks showing everyone I can the huge amount of photos I took on my phone and if you head to London for the day, I would definitely recommend it as a fun and relaxed thing to do.

I recently discovered the YPlan app, which is great for seeing what’s on in London that evening, the following day, or at the weekend. London is so huge that I can often find it so overwhelming I end up doing things I could do anywhere, like heading to a chain for lunch or shopping. Thanks to YPlan, I not only discovered the London Cat Village but I found out that the London Festival of Heat was on and I headed there for a taste of chilli and culture. Although it was frankly overpriced for a food market at £8, as it would have certainly been free up North, I still enjoyed myself and had fun challenging myself to try the hottest sauces on offer (in as small a quantity as possible of course). Now, whenever I head to London, I know to check YPlan to see what’s on and make the most of my time there.

I really enjoyed my weekend in London and having the time to explore the city. I packed so much more in than I was expecting and I can’t wait to carry on making the most of the capital whilst I work there part-time and get used to the commuter life. I love UK city breaks for a weekend of travel without the need to hop on a plane and I'm excited to share my recent weekend in Birmingham with you all too!

Where would you recommend to visit in London?

Jess

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