With bikes now constituting up to half of all road journeys on some central London routes, cycling is taking the capital by storm. And with bike racks now as customary as breakout space, there’s never been a better time to get on your bike. Keen to get a piece of the two-wheel action, I headed down to the City to catch a peek at London Nocturne.
cyclists competing at London Nocturne
Farming may seem a far cry from office life but with a growing number of city farms springing up, you can now swap the boardroom for the pig pen. With a never-ending cycle of feeding, grooming, exercising, cleaning and cuddling, volunteers from all walks of life are in high demand. Being a country girl at heart, I ditched the stilettos for wellies and got down and dirty with the pigs, goats, hens and rabbits at Stepney City Farm.
Rounding up chickens at Stepney City Farm
“Dem bones, dem bones, dem dry bones” rang the soundtrack in my head as I visited the infamous Bone Church or “Ossuary” in Kutna Hora, Bohemia. Crammed with the remains of more than 40,000 mortals displayed on walls, ceilings and cherub-topped pyramids, I didn’t know whether to be impressed or repulsed.
Church of Bones, Kutna Hora
With 2016 marking the 90th anniversary of the first Winnie the Pooh book, I needed no better excuse to head off on a day’s hiking to Ashdown Forest: the inspiration for A.A. Milne’s Hundred Acre Wood. Spurred on by my recent celebrity-inspired hike to the Chilterns, what better way to relieve corporate stress than with a game of pooh sticks and a honey sandwich or two?
Ashdown Forest
Living in a city that’s home to 270 nationalities, I’m constantly amazed by the different cultures that surround me daily. And with such a range of faith festivals, there’s ample opportunity to learn more about those I regularly rub shoulders with on my daily commute. Intrigued by the brightly coloured turbans that grace our city, I decided to spend an afternoon immersed in Sikh traditions at the Vaisakhi Festival at City Hall.
A costumed Sikh man at the Vaisakhi festival in London
Do you start Monday mornings in a state of panic? If the working week overwhelms you before you’ve even set foot in the office, help is at hand. The trick to conquering Monday mornings is to treat Sunday as your preparation day. By sacrificing a couple of hours, you can start the week feeling organised, serene and ready to take on the world. Get ready for my essential Sunday tasks for a stress-free week.
Oyster Card
As spring-time beckons, there’s nothing like reading a good book in the park to transport you from the day’s stress. Offering an instant gateway into exotic lands,
travel books provide blissful escapism and a chance to relax and unwind during your lunch break. From the bubbling cauldrons of Marrakesh to America’s wide open plains, here’s my top 5 lunch break travel reads that continue to inspire my own personal journey.
Reading
From Roald Dahl to Mary Berry, leafy Buckinghamshire’s charms have attracted their share of celebrities. And with historic churches, idyllic villages and acres of stunning countryside, what’s not to love? In a bid to blow away the corporate cobwebs, I set off early on Saturday to embark on my celebrity inspired hike from Great Missenden to Amersham.
Roald Dahl’s grave
Are you stuck in a rut at work? Do you dream of giving up office life to run your own business from exotic climes? One person who has done just that is transformational coach, Lucia Labouchere, who gave up a high-flying job in the City to run a coaching business in the heart of Africa. Read her incredible story and find out how you too can find your dream job and do it from anywhere in the world.
Lucia Labouchere, transformational coach
The glittering Aegean sea, flower-laden churches and streets on fire, an Easter break to Santorini is a journey into ancient times. As the poppies and mimosa blossom, the island prepares for the most important religious festival of the year. If you’re keen to shake off the last vestiges of winter, it’s an ideal time to book an out of season spring mini break to Santorini and sample an unforgettable experience of the real Greece.
Santorini