After a few years of absence, the Chinese New Year celebrations in London will take place once again on Sunday 22nd January. As the biggest celebration outside Asia, 300,000 people flock to Trafalgar Square and Chinatown every year to take in London’s most colourful festival.
With December’s salary quickly plundered, a mini break to a German Christmas market soon gets relegated to the one day wish list. But this year why not swap Wuerzburg for Winchester Christmas market which attracts a staggering 350,000 visitors every year. Nestled below the impressive façade of Winchester Cathedral, the market is a treasure trove of quirky artisan wares where you can warm your cockles on gluhwein, bratwurst and stollen.
Office Breaks Winchester Christmas Market
With nearly a quarter of British workers feeling increased pressure at work, our dearly departed colleagues can make August a particularly challenging month for those left behind to pick up the pieces. Using up a half day’s leave earlier this week, I sought sanctuary at Mayfield Lavender Farm – a Provencal paradise promising a soothing few hours of peace and relaxation away from the stress and strain of holiday leave cover.
Office Breaks Mayfield Lavender Farm
Hurtling from home to office, I pay scant attention to the stations that pass in a blur on my daily commute on the Metropolitan Line. Washed up at King’s Cross on a tidal wave of bodies, my main focus is to get out of the station as quickly as possible. But unknown to most of the four million commuters who use the network every day, the tube is due for a facelift. As part of the London Architecture Festival, I popped along to the achingly trendy offices of Studio Egret West to find out what’s in store for the London Underground of the future.
Office Breaks From pavement to platform
If you’ve ever embarked on a work project which has consumed every waking moment, you’ll identify with Working Process. The exhibition documents the painstaking creation of the late Alexander McQueen’s final couture collection, Horn of Plenty in 2009. From the first pin and tuck to the high-drama of the Paris catwalks, the exhibition provides a fascinating insight into the working process of one of the UK’s most celebrated designers.
Untitled from the series 'Alexander McQueen Working Process' 2008-09 © Nick Waplington Working Process
As a former lego fan, it was with nostalgic wonder that I noticed The Art of the Brick. Boldly going beyond the realm of spacecraft kits, the exhibition promised to elevate the humble plastic brick into an art form. Intrigued though not entirely convinced lego could be called art, I booked an afternoon off to discover the lofty heights my beloved bricks have now reached.
Office Breaks My Boy, The Art of the Brick
Is conserving hard-earned cash top of your priority list? My lunchbreak posh cheese and pickle addiction is leaking hard-earned cash that could otherwise pay for annual leave sojourns to far-flung climes. In the spirit of autumnal back-to-work austerity, I booked an afternoon off to pick my own at Parkside Farm.
Office Breaks Parkside Farm
As flip-flops retreat to the back of the cupboard and the tube returns to full-capacity, the September return-to-work is in full swing again. In the great wine growing region of Surrey, productivity is also about to soar as the harvest gets under way. Seeking a rural break far from the madding crowds, I booked an afternoon of wine tasting at Denbies Wine Estate.
Office Breaks Denbies Vineyards
From the sea of grey suits swaying on the underground to the uniform glass and chrome of city-centre offices, the working world can seem a sombre place. Breaking out of the monochrome monotiny, I booked an afternoon off to visit Matisse Cut-Outs at Tate Modern – a parallel universe of striking colours and bold designs to shake me out of the muted palette of my daily routine.
Office Breaks Matisse Cut-Outs
Are your Mondays mundane? The return to the working week marks a day laden with tasks to achieve, optimistic gym visits and even a carefully prepared home-made lunch. But what if one Monday afternoon, you could teleport yourself away from rigid routine to a distant galaxy of fun, spontaneity and out of this world indulgence? Protons at the ready, I logged off last Monday lunchtime to experience the Ampersand Hotel’s Science Afternoon Tea.
Ampersand hotel Science Afternoon Tea