City Rooms

It is that time of year again when it acceptable to eat chocolate every single day, and for the sake of this article, we will pretend we didn't already do this! Dating back to the 1800s the first advent calendars consisted of drawing a chalk line on the door for every day leading up to Christmas Eve. It is believed that the first printed calendar was made in the early 1900s and it was inserted into a newspaper as a gift for the readers. This little piece of history is still well and alive today but as many of you know, this tradition has transformed. In this post, we will be looking at the best advent calendars to get your family! With all the options available to us nowadays it can be difficult to know what the best ones are. This year there is no need to stress from child to adult, you will be able to please everyone! Traditional - Chocolate Calendars The standard advent calendar mostly consists of mini branded chocolates. Such as Milkway, Mars, and Lindt....

London is the heart of the United Kingdom and a destination for travellers from all over the world. We’re only a couple days away from halloween now, and if you’re not feeling spooky enough right now then read ahead to hear about some of the most unsettling stories behind places all around London. If you’re up for it then you can take a venture around London to see if they are either haunted, or just generally unsettling. Firstly we starting off quite gruesome, at the Bleeding Heart Yard. The name of this small square is enough to give you chills. It might look pleasant enough, but Bleeding Heart Yard in Farringdon has a horrific history. Legend has it that on January 27 1626 the mutilated body of society beauty Lady Elizabeth Hatton was found in the cobbled courtyard. She had been murdered and her limbs strewn across the ground, but her heart still pumped blood. Charterhouse Square, is where we are off to next  where 35,000 plague victims were buried. The history behind it ...

Halloween comes round every year quicker than you expect, and you almost never have time to execute those perfect group costumes that you spoke about in late August. Oh well, there’s always next year right? Well for now, here’s five super quick and simple options to try and convince the party guests around you that you do actually make an effort sometimes. If you aren’t able to get these right then maybe you should stay in and queue some scary movies, but there’s probably not much scarier than your lack of commitment but i’m sure you know that.   When life gives you lemons, make a punny costume that will surely have a lot of people rolling their eyes. Just get a plain white tee, if you don’t have one already you can pick one up for really cheap. Depending on your creativity level you can either just write ‘LIFE’ on the shirt in black pen, or cut the shapes out of black card and stick them to your shirt. Next step, an absolutely crucial one...buy a bag of lemons. Go around hand...

If you’re looking to soak up some amazing culture in the midst of London, then has a look through this list of some of the beautiful art exhibitions happening right now. A few of them are ending very soon, so make sure you get out there quickly. There’s a mix of modern and classic, so you can really take in how art is so subjective. In Ed Ruscha’s ‘Course of Empire,’ it shows twenty years of beautiful paintings showing the difference in the city over the years. It’s on until the seventh of October this year. This one is at the National Gallery in Trafalgar Square, and it’s completely free. Anthea Hamilton ’s ‘The Squash’ is the last on our list today that ends on the seventh of October as well. It’s a very interesting performance performed every day in one of the seven outfits inspired by various strains of Cucurbita. It’s on at the Tate, so another plus is that it’s free to go. Another one that’s ending on the seventh of October is ' Thomas Cole's Journey ’. He has...

Outside of the H&M and Topshop that sits on every street of London, there are tens of thousands of people looking for a bit more individuality and just as cheap as those H&M sales that you can’t resist. With how the market is changing there are so many different places to get vintage clothing and not break your bank. The option for plus size clothing, ethically sourced, handmade, or custom pieces you can’t try out these five vintage markets we have listed below! You’ve got the mix up of classic brands, and their pieces from the 90’s that are perfectly coming back into fashion, and completely new designs by up and coming designers who’ve booked a stall in the hopes get their name out there! We can start off with Spitalfields Market, which is great as it’s open all week long, but for those fashion finds to make sure you head down on Saturday as it completely transforms into one of the best spots for all thing fashion. They have eighty-eight individual fashion stalls for you t...

This weekend is the one we've all been waiting for, the August Bank Holiday. Where everything is going on and the city never sleeps. Festivals everywhere; from the Reading and Leeds festival to Notting Hill Carnival. If you are a carnival-goer make sure you check out our last post on carnival prep, you don't want to miss it! When you think of a bank holiday this is the one that gets you most excited. Every year there is something bigger and better. We want to make sure you aren't missing out on anything that is happening this weekend. Stay tuned for our recommended events and activities to make the most out of your bank holiday weekend! Weekend Getaway Airbnb has skyrocketed in the last few years with their brand seen everywhere you go. Take advantage of their service and get out of London for a couple of days. The places listed can be affordable and luxury! Perfect for a weekend getaway with your significant other of a group of friends! The app allows you to explore ...

Yes, that's right. Today marks, 'Happiness Happens' day! In light of this, I began thinking about what actually makes humans happy. Is it other people? Great food? Likes on an Instagram post? What is it that truly makes us happy? Many people would say happiness stems from the desire to feel good about ourselves. However, others believe humans have an innate sense to do good and bring happiness to the people around them. How do we do this? I am going to give you some tips. Continue, reading for my ways to spend 'Happiness Happens' day. 1) To get this list started, I want you to think of your best friend. Think about the positive impact they have on you and the support they show within your relationship. Wouldn't you love to make them happy? Maybe they have been having a really stressful time lately and just need some appreciation? Instead of going to the movies or finding a nice restaurant, wander around London and see what you find. You could visit the Sky ...

When it comes to a Saturday night, your go-to plans end up being partying, a nice dinner with family, or just a relaxed movie night with friends. It’s not often that your plans are to be locked in a room with said family and friends for the evening. Escape Rooms are ideal for anyone who wants to have a thrilling evening, one that may even bond you just a little bit, as long as you keep your sanity. Escape the room games started off as a Japanese craze, but since then they have really spread far and wide, making its way to London! With some very interesting scenarios to be involved in, you’re sure to have a fun night, maybe a little stressful, but overall worth it. These escape rooms involve being “locked” in a room with a timer, usually counting down an hour. You and your team must solve the puzzles, get clues, and uncover different secrets to eventually get out before the timer hits zero. There are different types of games though, so if there are any styles you prefer then you ha...

If you have no clue what a silent disco or a silent rave is then I can help you out. Basically, a silent disco or silent rave is an event where people dance to music but they’re only listening to it through noise-cancelling headphones. So everyone at the event will be given to them so they can enjoy their evening but for those who take their headphones off, they will hear no music. Which can look very interesting as it’s an entire room of people dancing to nothing? One benefit that’s quite new to silent discos is the ability to have multiple channels so you can pick what you listen to from a few select DJs. So, even if you and your friends are listening to different music, you can still have fun and enjoy each others company. To further explain it, try to picture two different DJs spinning, but without any speakers setup. The floor is filled with hundreds of people all with headphones, singing and dancing. But there's no actual music from the DJ being played aloud. Instead, th...

Since London is getting cooked alive by the sun and us Londoners just don’t know how to deal with that, why not go for a quick dip?  Take a trip down to any of these London outdoor pools, and lidos. As we are really getting into the heat of summer now, you can really enjoy the sun but still relax, as it’s not always easy to just lay out in it for 6 hours a day. Most of them offer more than just a spot to splash about though, with safes, an d other exercise facilities, you can go with friends or family and make a day of it! Brockwell Lido has a huge Olympic sized pool, and not only that has a gym, hydrotherapy zone and an indoor cycling studio! What more could you ask for? Well if you're about to say food, then they have you covered already. With their Art Deco Grade II-listed Lido Cafe, they serve all day long whether you want a light snack or a candlelit dinner. Now if you’re still asking for more we may call you greedy but Brockwell goes the whole nine yards with summer s...