• The Grim's Dyke Hotel afternoon tea
    days out - Harrow - Local Review - London

    The Grim’s Dyke Hotel afternoon tea

    October 21, 2023 - By 

    A few weeks ago we booked a table at The Grim’s Dyke Hotel for afternoon tea. We were celebrating our 15th wedding anniversary so wanted to do something special. We last visited The Grim’s Dyke Hotel on an Open House weekend when the house was open to the public. It’s a gorgeous Arts and Crafts house designed by R. Norman Shaw for Frederick Goodall, and later the home of W.S. Gilbert. The Grim’s Dyke Hotel afternoon tea The house is now a hotel with extensive grounds. On the day of our visit there was a wedding party enjoying drinks on…

  • Best pumpkin patch near London
    days out - Local Review - London

    Best pumpkin patch near London

    October 18, 2023 - By 

    A couple of weekends ago we made our annual trip to our local pumpkin patch at The Pop Up Farm. The name is funny because it’s not a pop up farm, the pumpkins are planted and grown at the farm! We love going every year and picking a wheel barrow full of pumpkin and squash to decorate our home. As you enter the farm you can collect a wheelbarrow and head out to the pumpkin patch. The pumpkin fields are quite big and we found it was worth walking to the further end to get the best pumpkins. When the…

  • dog-friendly Rogues Quarter Board Game Cafe
    London

    Rogues Quarter Board Game Cafe

    October 14, 2023 - By 

    A few weeks ago we had a brilliant day out in London. We decided to try a new Board Game Cafe, Rogues Quarter, followed by a pub lunch and long dog walk. The weather was perfect so we were looking forward to our day out. Rogues Quarter Board Game Cafe First stop was Rogues Quarter Board Game Cafe. Rogues Quarter Board Game Cafe can be found in Kentish Town, which is our old stomping ground. It was great to be back in the area and the Board Game Cafe can be found on Queens Crescent, a really vibrant street, housed…

  • Exploring Ally Pally and The Knitting & Stitching Show
    days out - London

    Exploring Ally Pally and The Knitting & Stitching Show

    October 7, 2023 - By 

    It’s been a few years since I’ve ventured to the Knitting & Stitching Show at Ally Pally. It’s a biannual show which also takes place at Harrogate. Exploring Ally Pally and The Knitting & Stitching Show The Knitting & Stitching Show is a great show for people who love craft. There are exhibitions, workshops, demonstrations and lots of shopping to be done. I didn’t manage to book myself on any workshops (they sell out quickly) so I just went to look round the exhibits and do some shopping. I made sure to visit first thing on Saturday morning as the…

  • Java Whiskers Cat Lounge Marylebone
    days out - Local Review - London

    Java Whiskers Cat Lounge Marylebone

    September 19, 2023 - By 

    My son loves cats so, for a summer holiday treat, I booked a visit to Java Whiskers Cat Lounge in London. Java Whiskers is a Cat Cafe in London’s Marylebone and is a fun place to stop off for an hour. We’ve been to a few Cat Cafes including London’s first cat cafe, Lady Dinah’s Cat Emporium, back in 2018. They are always fun to visit and we were excited to explore somewhere new, and meet lots of cats of course. Java Whiskers Cat Lounge Marylebone Java Whiskers Cat Lounge has two branches in London, the original one in Marylebone,…

  • Bermondsey Foreshore Walk
    days out - Local Review - London - London Borough of Southwark

    {Exploring} Bermondsey Foreshore Walk with Thames Festival Trust

    August 31, 2023 - By 

    We love a guided walk. They are such a great way to learn new things and see things differently. Last year we were lucky to attend a guided walk along the Thames foreshore at Bermondsey. My daughter always seems to spot small things, and often comes home with a pretty feather or unusual stone from the beach. I knew she would enjoy a guided walk along the Thames foreshore. {Exploring} Bermondsey Foreshore Walk with Thames Festival Trust The Thames Trust is an annual festival of the Thames and features guided walks and events along the Thames. I booked the family…

  • Morph trail London 2023
    City of London - Local Review - London - Sculpture trails

    Morph’s Epic Art Adventure London trail (Part 2)

    August 5, 2023 - By 

    Last month I shared a post about our epic visit to London to see the Morph’s Epic Art Adventure London trail. I’m sure it’s possible to visit all the sculptures in one day but we decided to break it down and visit them over a few days. We love a trip into London as there’s always so much to see and do. Not only is Morph’s Epic Art Adventure London trail accessible to all, it’s also free and fun to do. We did pay for the app but it’s definitely made ticking off the sculptures more fun and well worth…

  • d20 Uxbridge Board Game Cafe
    days out - Hillingdon - Local Review - London

    d20 Uxbridge Board Game Cafe

    July 26, 2023 - By 

    A few weeks ago we visited our local Board Game Cafe, d20 Uxbridge Board Game Cafe. If the name sounds familiar that’s because they have another branch we’ve previous visited, d20 Watford. d20 Uxbridge Board Game Cafe The Uxbridge branch can be found down Windsor Street which is the prettiest street in Uxbridge. It’s full of independent shops and the perfect place for a board game cafe. It’s at the furthest end of the street, away from Uxbridge town centre, but still only a few minutes from Uxbridge underground station. There are at least two rooms at d20 so we…

  • The Tusk Gorilla Trail at Covent Garden
    days out - London - Sculpture trails

    The Tusk Gorilla Trail at Covent Garden

    July 22, 2023 - By 

    Visitors to London are blessed with not one, but two free sculpture trails this summer. The other day we told you about Morph’s Epic Art Adventure London. We’ve visited the trail twice so far (there are so many sculptures to find!) but were equally excited to hear about The Tusk Gorilla Trail at Covent Garden. The Tusk Gorilla Trail at Covent Garden The immersive art installation an be found in the heart of historic central London. The trail is live from 14th July until 14th October 2023 in support of African conservation. There are 15 life-sized sculptures of gorillas, all…