City Rooms

Last year nearly two million people attended the incredible Notting Hill Carnival, so it definitely deserves the title and reputation of Europe’s biggest street festival! An annual celebration with the Caribbean community at heart, it’s a huge street festival for everything Caribbean. This festival has been going since 1966 and it’s amassed itself to an existing two day event, with 36 static sound systems, soca floats, steel bands, and a whole lot of delicious food! Still, the sheer size of this event can be pretty daunting, so here’s some tips and advice for how to make the most of this bank holiday weekend! Even though there are some great events and outside pre carnival fun we will be starting off with Sunday the 25th. The party starts at 10am with an opening ceremony then the parade starts at 10:30am. As Sunday is a family day at the carnival it is very busy but not as crazy as Monday can get. There will be entertainment all throughout the day on several stages so look out f...

In just a couple weeks it will be time for this year’s annual Record Store Day. Saturday April 13th isn’t just any other day, it’s a day where over 200 independent record shops all across the UK come together to celebrate their unique culture and celebrate. It’s become so big now that many of London’s top music boutiques are planning to join in on the day!  It doesn’t matter whether you’re a vinyl enthusiast or just really enjoy the music there is something for you ! The best part about it all , is that besides the actual vinyls, pretty much all the events available are free. Live music from Djs and performers, lots of exhibitions and a couple pop ups too. There’s so much to do all throughout the day you won’t have a minute to sit down. So we thought we would show you the Rough Trade options on offer, because we couldn’t have any list about record stores if we didn’t include at least one Rough Trade, but don’t worry, this list has two of them! However you can jump on over to Reco...

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 ...

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...

CHINESE NEW YEAR 2014 A bit of history... According to tales and legends, the beginning of Chinese New Years started with the fight against a mythical beast called the "Year". The "Year" looks like ox with lion head and it stays in the sea. At the night of New Year's Eve, the "Year" will come out to harm people, animals, and proprieties. Later people found that the "Year" is afraid of red color, fire, and loud sound. Therefore, for self protection, people form the habit of posting red Dui Lian in front of the house, launching fireworks, and handing lantern at year end. Traditions... Dinner The New Year's Eve dinner is the most important dinner for Chinese. Normally this is the family reunion dinner, especially for those with family member away from home. In the New Year's Eve dinner, normally fish will be served. Dumplings are the most important dish in northern china. These two dishes mean prosperous. Other dishes...

How Notting Hill Carnival Came About Notting Hill Carnival is the largest street festival in Europe and originated in 1964 as a way for Afro-Caribbean communities to celebrate their own cultures and traditions. Taking place every August Bank Holiday weekend in the streets of London. The Notting Hill Carnival is an amazing array of sounds, colourful sights and social solidarity. The carnival dates back to the Abolition of Slavery Act in 1833 and the first Caribbean carnival which was held in Trinidad. The carnival was a celebration of freedom which was expressed through song, dance and flamboyant costumes. This tradition continued as each year people took to the streets and as large numbers of West Indian immigrants  traveled  to the UK in the 1950s, this spectacular event established itself in London. Evolution of the Notting Hill Carnival in London The first carnival in London took place in 1959 and was held in a town hall in St. Pancras and the tra...

Summer is coming, even if it didn't look like it, in London as well!  And what is a summer without preparing BBQ ?? If you are looking for a summer barbecue in the city, make sure you check our recommended list of barbecues at London Pubs. The Garden Gate It's situated in North London, in  South End Road . This is one of the best garden pubs in London, where you can taste the handmade lamb and beef burgers, or just have a drinks in the outdoor bar. The garden is decorated with wood furniture and umbrellas and there are dozens of colorful flowers! Grand Union It's located in South London, in  Acre Lane , Brixton. Every Sunday, when the weather is good, there is a good-value barbecue where you can try the spicy chicken or racks of ribs. The home-made potate salad is an special course too. The garden consist of 300 picnic tables, each one matching sun umbrellas and beautiful flowers. If you are going in group, you should book in adv...