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London’s sightseeing highlights unique to the first month of the year

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We should probably start here by paying a small tribute to the incredible JANUARY SALES that take place throughout the month. While shopping isn’t sightseeing per se, if you do fancy finding a genuine bargain while navigating your way through the city this month – make a beeline for Oxford Street during your stay.

However, onto things to immerse yourself in, capture on camera, and experience; there are certainly several things not to miss across the city this January.

The palaces

To experience the resolute commitment of the guards outside Buckingham Palace, do get yourself a spot for the Changing of the Guard, which takes place at 11:00 daily.

However, at nearby Kensington Palace, you simply must see the exquisite Diana, Princess of Wales exhibition, which is only on display until February. Showcasing an insight into one of the most beloved and missed royals of the 20th century, it treats fashion lovers to the incredible detail of some of the Princess’s most cherished designer dresses.

The photographs

For some inspiration in your own photography endeavours this year, between the Natural History Museum, Royal Observatory and Getty Images Gallery, you’ll have plenty of original, astounding images to engage with.

The National Geographic Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition returns to the Natural History Museum in January, while the Royal Observatory (of course) plays host to the Astronomy Photographer of the Year exhibition.

Over at the Getty Images Gallery, you’ll find a collection of the best Getty images captured around the globe over the last 12 months – professionally curated and displayed in one place.

The adventure

Over at Olympia in Hammersmith, on the weekend of 18 – 19 January, you’ll have the opportunity to hear from some of the world’s most experienced (and not to mention well-travelled) adventurers, including Sir Ranulph Fiennes.

The Adventure Travel Show provides annual inspiration for travel writers, bloggers, moviemakers and anyone with an intrepid mindset. You can also enjoy the latest in adventure films and, as the expo takes place over two whole days, you’ll be able to fit plenty more sightseeing in during your visit.

The ice

While many people in the UK are wondering whether they’ll ever see snow again, London does embrace winter well into the New Year, regardless of climate curiosities.

As well as many a wintery walk to take by the river, and through the many parks and gardens in the city, there’s ice skating to enjoy at the Natural History Museum and Canary Wharf. Plus, the Winter Lights Festival (also at Canary Wharf) lasts well into January, combining contemporary art with the unique atmosphere of a winter wonderland for the entire family to enjoy.

The Burns

If New Year’s Eve wasn’t enough of a party for you, then 25 January is your chance to celebrate again. Although Burns Night is traditionally a Scottish holiday, it’s embraced all across the UK, and London pubs tend to celebrate it well into the early hours.

The Dorsett Hotel, City of London, is a great place to stay during January, providing an ideal central location that means less time out in the cold – and more time surrounded by comfort and luxury after a busy day of sightseeing and revelry.

Don’t Forget These Things if You’re Travelling by Land to Distant Locations

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Some people love travelling by land while others despise it. Either way, you need to prepare yourself so you won’t feel inconvenienced while travelling. These are some of the things you should never forget if you’re going to travel for several hours on the road.

Medicines 

You might get dizzy while you travel, especially if it lasts for hours or even days. You need a pill to prevent you from feeling that way. If you’re not going to stop in the middle of your trip and you have recurring illnesses, you will find it challenging to grab medicine. Therefore, you need to pack everything that you need to keep you healthy.

Travel pillow

You can’t expect the trip to be comfortable, but you can make it feel like you’re home. Bring your favourite travel pillow with you. It makes you fall asleep quickly. It also calms you down if you start to get anxious.

Battery pack

If you want to keep using your electronic devices, you need a battery pack. Otherwise, you will feel stressed because you can’t use them. Your gadgets will only last for a few hours. If your trip is longer than their battery life, you need to bring your charger and fully charge the devices before leaving home.

Books 

When it takes a while to get to your destination, it’s the perfect time for you to read books. You keep complaining that you’re always busy and you don’t have time to read. Since you have nothing else to do anyway, you might as well start to read. Depending on your pace and the type of book you’re reading, you might finish a lot.

Toiletries 

Again, it feels uncomfortable to travel, especially for long distances. However, you can still make it feel like home when you have your beauty stuff with you. If you don’t want to travel with huge bottles, you can purchase small containers and transfer your beauty products into them.

Patience

Well, it’s technically not a thing, but you need a lot of it when you’re travelling far. You have to be patient since some trips can be uncomfortable. There are bumpy roads and heavy traffic. If you’re using public transportation, you might be next to loud passengers who only care about themselves. If you’re not patient, this type of travelling isn’t for you.

If you decide to cancel your trip, you can choose a nearby destination. It’s a good idea to rent a large house like the ones offered by thewowhousecompany.co.uk. It’s easy to plan. You just need to look for the right place and see if it has all the amenities you need. Yes, it’s costly, but you won’t have any other significant expenses. When you compute the cost, you will still save a lot of money. You can get to the place as soon as possible and rest right away. Besides, the goal is to relax. If long-distance trips don’t give you the rest you deserve, you might as well change your plans.

Key tips to stay in shape whilst not working too hard

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The biggest problem in any long term fitness goal isn’t, unless you’re a professional athlete, continuously reaching new goals and setting records. It’s actually just general maintenance. Not to make the wonders of the human body sound as primitive as keeping a room tidy, but the same principles do apply. Here’s some simple advice on keeping your mind and body neat and tidy without constantly exerting yourself.

Ask questions of yourself

As we get older we naturally, sadly, begin to lose muscle, bone density, and also find our skin getting thinner. This leads not only to what Healthline.com refer to as a “nutritional dilemma”, in that we need to start amending what we eat – but can also lead to confusion about how much we can consume without gaining weight. So, if your body has started to change, question it. Staying in shape in the long term is not only about working out – it’s also working out why things have changed.

Find the right balance

…and just as above, keep amending what you’re doing to maintain it. TinyBuddha.com recommends continuously trying new things – including foods – so that you’re never denying yourself the true experience of life. It can be frustrating, certainly, to find that we’re unable to eat what we like, as we age, or push ourselves to the same levels through exercise, but the peace of mind that comes with finding the right balance is far more rewarding over time.

Add resistance training and balance

If you’ve been a lifelong runner, or dedicated almost entirely to cardio, then you may not exactly fancy the idea of switching to the other side of the gym. And likewise, if you’re trying to get in shape it can be daunting to step over to the free weights section for the first time. As above though, as we age we lose muscle, so it’s something that does need your attention. But resistance training and balance work are so essential that they are core aspects of PT sessions, such as those involved in a fat camp from Prestige Bootcamp, while you’ll struggle to find a PT anywhere who doesn’t recommend them.

Push yourself, but not through the pain barrier

If working out is making you feel out of breath, getting your heart racing, and leaving you lathered in sweat – great. That’s what you’re aiming for, and it will help to sustain your cardiovascular health and stay trim around the waist. But if you’re picking up niggling injuries in the joints and muscles, even those that have troubled you before, don’t risk any permanent damage to your body. Recurring physical pain needs attention in the form of rest, amendment of your routine, or a professional eye.

If it’s not working, make a change

As an example, look at jogging. There are people who run for their entire lives, enjoy it, and stay fit and healthy without often diverging from their path. But it’s not for everyone. And neither is bodybuilding, swimming, cycling – all of it. Don’t get stuck on achieving a fitness goal that you’re not made for. If your body is saying no, then shouting it, then screaming it from all angles, switch up your routine until you find something enjoyable. Ultimately, if you enjoy it, you’ll never be working too hard again.

Why printed promo materials can still bring you a brilliant return on investment

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How many digital advertisements have you seen so far today? If you’re not sure, don’t worry – it’s probably too many to remember. However, if you’ve received a mailer, flicked through a magazine or distributed a few circulars at work, it may well be that you remember these more clearly.

Admittedly, if you’ve been wowed by a digital advertisement that caught you at the right time, and perhaps convinced you to learn more about it – then that’s just great marketing. Still, in an age where digital ads are far more than plentiful, there certainly remains a place for print – and here’s why.

We retain printed information longer

By the end of 2019, it’s expected that we will have seen the money pumped into social media advertising overtake print for the very first time. However, while this growing trend is set to continue, it will never compensate for the fact that we simply don’t pay as much attention to what we read online.

According to neuroscientific research, we use a different part of the brain when reading print, allowing us to ‘deep-read’ and remain switched onto the information. When it comes to our screens, we simply don’t process the information on the same level – and are less likely to remember it.

There’s now a gap in the market

Nonetheless, it must be said that online advertising is simpler, cheaper and allows anyone to reach practically anyone else with any product or service the advertiser is offering. Naturally, then, more businesses are using online as the mainstay of their marketing efforts – or as their only medium for advertising whatsoever.

So, why not take advantage of this? If people are receiving less of something, that they’re more likely to remember it – especially as it’s becoming rarer. Therefore, if you focus your efforts on print, you may be able to take advantage of a gap in the market. For especially strong impact, consider the range of innovative digital print equipment available from Duplo International.

It IS POSSIBLE to measure print success

Another big draw over in the digital world is the vast range of data and analytics available to people who use the platforms – something print can never have. However, by using a combination of traditional and contemporary methods, it is entirely possible to measure how successful your print marketing efforts have been.

Just as coupons and vouchers exclusive to print promotions have always been used to measure the impact of distribution, there are also two digital methods to consider. By creating unique subdomains and landing pages, you can assess how many people visit the pages on the back of your campaign. Then there are QR codes, too, which are simple and measurable and can also be rather creative at times!

Not everyone adores the internet

Finally, there are still some people out there who simply don’t shop, search or interact online. While this may be something of a niche market, you must also remember that the constant bombardment we get from online ads – even as soon as we head online – can be both annoying and overwhelming.

To be sure that you’re maximising ROI on your marketing efforts, ensure that you at least persist with print for the time being. It’s certainly not retro yet, and there’s no doubt that it’s still got a place in the world of promotional advertising and marketing.

6 quirky things that every London visitor should do

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Ah, London, the UK’s capital. It’s a thriving cultural metropolis that is practically a hive of tourist spots. However, you may be growing tired of visiting the same old tourist trap again and again. Instead, you want something fresh, new and exciting to get to know the UK’s culture. If you fancy exploring London’s quirkier side, here are the top things that every London visitor needs to try.

  • Drink coffee in a Victorian toilet

Once you have settled in to one of the fabulous hotels in Shepherds Bush, then it’s always a good idea to start off your adventure with a cup of coffee. However, don’t just stick to your hotel’s restaurant. Why not travel to The Attendant, a Victorian toilet that has been converted into an extremely quirky café? Don’t worry, it’s all clean down there, and the iron-gated entrance looks gorgeous. It’s the perfect place to relax.

  • The Seven Noses of Soho

Want to have a quick walk around Soho to see what it’s like? Well, you can actually book a walking tour to see the Seven Noses of Soho. Legends say that if you spot all seven noses then you will achieve infinite wealth. These stone noses are located all the way around Soho on different buildings. It’s a great way to get to know what Soho is really like during the day time. Most tours will take about 2 hours to complete.

  • Neon Travels in God’s Own Junkyard

This is a museum with a twist. God’s Own Junkyard is a psychedelic treasure trove of neon signs. It contains industrial estate signs, props used in old fashion shoots and even old sex shop signs from Soho. It’s the perfect place if you are looking for some pictures for Instagram.

  • Viktor Wynd’s Little shop of Horrors

Also known as The Last Tuesday society, this strange shop is full of old curiosities dating back from the Victorian period. Here you can learn all about the art of taxidermy, and see a range of quirky items, like skulls, sex comics and even dildos. This little shop even has its own bar, so if you ever find it getting too much for you, you might need a quick drink!

  • The Clink Prison Museum

This museum may look just like any other, but it actually used to be the world’s oldest prison. The Clink Prison has a history of locking people up. However, nowadays, you will just get a tour of the interior by actors who will bring its grisly past back to life. If you enjoy a good scream then this is the place for you.

  • Hampstead Heath Ponds

Now this may look like a normal pond, but if you travel to Hampstead Heath, you will find that this pond is actually used as an outdoor pool. It’s perfect for cooling down on a hot summer’s day, however, if you are a bit of a daredevil, you may want to jump in during the winter. It is an exhilarating experience to swim outdoors surrounded by nature.