The iconic Tower of London is home to the Crown Jewels, the Yeoman Warders and the infamous ravens. But few people know that every night after dark, one of the world’s most ancient rituals takes place here. The Ceremony of the Keys dates back seven centuries and is one of the most spine-tingling events you can witness in the capital.
Hailed as the new wonder treatment, salt cave therapy is now all the rage amongst stressed, burnt out London office workers. Claiming to work wonders on the skin, reduce stress, cure insomnia and even improve your mood, is this saline wonder treatment all it’s cracked up to be? I ventured out of central London to find out.
A flash of red and white snakes through the undergrowth as a fleet of heaving Santas thunders past in this year’s Santa Dash. Struggling to grapple with wayward beards and flouncy red tops, they brave the grey drizzle of an early December Sunday morning. Feeling festive, I decided to cheer them on as they braved the elements.
Father Christmas at the Santa Dash 2018
With the clocks about to plunge us into semi-permanent darkness, opportunities for outdoor adventure after work are in short supply. Unable to face the prospect of re-joining the gym, bouldering suddenly caught my fancy. Now more popular than rock climbing in the wilds, bouldering offers all the thrill of the great outdoors but with crash mat, café and central heating included. What’s not to love?
man bouldering at the Arch climbing wall in Burnt Oak
As the acclaimed dish-du-jour of Japanese restaurant, Nobu, black cod miso is reserved for wealthy City workers. But for those who can’t afford to splurge £42.50 on a main course, why not learn to make this Asian foodie delight at home for a fraction of the cost? If you’re yearning to upgrade your culinary skills, Sozai Cooking School is now helpfully offering black cod miso cooking lessons after work.
learning to cook black cod with miso sauce at Sozai cooking school
Following last week’s post on Obesity in the workplace, I felt it was time to dust off the running shoes and pound London’s pavements again. Going for glory, I opted for the Supernova London 5K race at the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. After all, if it was good enough for Jessica Ennis-Hill.……
The ArcelorMittal Orbit lit up at night at the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park
Reduced blood pressure, better sleep and stress relief on a par with medication drugs: it seems there’s no end to the benefits of float therapy. In an increasingly over-stimulated working world, could an hour of sensory deprivation be the answer to workplace stress? Intrigued, I popped down to floatworks in Vauxhall to drift off for an hour in a parallel float spa universe of blissful relaxation.
floatworks floatworks float spa reception area
Scurrying back and forth to work under sludgy February skies, I decided it was time to inject some colour into my life. And what better way to do so than to experience Okuda’s street art exhibition, Lost Olympus, at the Stolen Space Gallery. Mixing with surreal, mythological characters proved just the company I needed to lift the spirits on an otherwise mundane, Thursday evening after work.
Refugee Goddess by Okuda
It’s official, gin is the new vodka with £1 billion of sales recorded for the first time this year. And where better to sink a post-work G&T or two than the City of London Distillery. Rising up from its ashes, you can now work your way through more than 380 gins in their clandestine, basement bar. Flexing my tasting muscles, it was a tough assignment but someone had to do it.
City of London Gin Distillery
As the witching hour of Halloween beckons, our thoughts turn to scary stories of haunted houses and morbid mazes. And where better to indulge your fangs this October than Dreamland Margate’s multi-award winning Screamland. Offering spine-tingling sensations and horrors galore, it’s a night of fiendish fun for all the work team. Those of a nervous disposition may wish to look away now.
Dreamland-Margate Belly boy at Screamland