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London Glampacker List: Richmond in Winter

February 10, 2012 By glampacker 1 Comment

Richmond is a quaint village on the outskirts of Central London – well known for the huge Richmond Park home to wild deer! Visiting Richmond makes you feel like you’ve completely left London for a quiet riverside town – even though its only a 30 minutes on the underground from London city.

There are many free things to do in Richmond, London in winter – such as having a leisurely walk along the River Thames and exploring the park. There’s a fascinating history behind Richmond Park itself – Richmond Palace was the home of Charles I who brought his court to Richmond to escape the plague in 1627!

For some reason, being in Richmond reminded me of Melbourne’s South Yarra river. The River Thames is a serene backdrop to cafes and restaurants, hotels and even houseboats. Late in the afternoon, the setting winter sun soon brings impending cold, but much like exploring Hampstead Heath in winter, Richmond is still a fun and beautiful place to visit in London during winter.

Filed Under: london, Travel Photography, UK Tagged With: landscape, nature, winter

February Snow in Kensington Gardens, London

February 6, 2012 By glampacker Leave a Comment

When snow first falls in London the city becomes really peaceful. On Saturday evening, the snow was heavy and quickly layered London with a white blanket. London streets become slightly deserted and eerily very quiet for a Saturday night. The next morning it was all business – snow shovelling, travel disruptions and walking through sludgy, wet pavements.

However in Kensington Gardens the snow remained fun. Children took out their sleds and wore away the snow on the mini hill near Kensington Palace. Snowmen of all shapes and rather dubious sizes turned Kensington Gardens into a snow sculpture exhibition. Most of all, everyone – young and old, locals and tourists alike had plenty of fun playing in the snow!

As an Aussie, I’ll never get over the joy of playing in the now. Last winter I was caught up in the Boxing Day blizzard in New York City and I unsuccessfully sledded in Prospect Park in Brooklyn. This winter, I kept my snowboots on and stuck to throwing snowballs instead!

Filed Under: london, Travel Photography, UK Tagged With: landscape, nature, snow, winter

How to move to London with nothing but a backpack

February 1, 2012 By glampacker Leave a Comment

There are over a hundred thousand Aussies in London. That doesn’t mean that moving to London is easy, regardless of whether you’re an Aussie or from a non-English speaking country.

When I moved to London all I had was a backpack that weighed 15 kilograms. I travelled in style on a budget around Europe for 6 weeks before arriving in London. I went island hopping in the Greek Islands, strolled around Paris, ate lots of gelato on the Amalfi Coast and tried not to get lost on the back streets of Rome. After all this travelling I was exhausted, but was I ready to become a Londoner?

On my first day in London I survived getting grilled by the UK Border Agency and getting to my hostel without getting lost. Reality soon sets in though when you realise you’ve just moved to a big city with no job and you don’t know a soul. There are a lot of things I learned when I moved to London the hard way.

So how do you move to London with nothing but a backpack?

Set a daily living budget in London
After travelling around Europe I was a little bit broke after glampacking in expensive cities like Paris and Rome. So when I moved to London I had to survive on a tight budget. It’s possible to live on 20 pounds a day or less in London, not including accommodation expenses, if you’re particularly frugal on food by scouting for 2 for 1 discounts and stocking up your hostel fridge.

Save money in London with a travel card
The first thing to buy when you move to London is an ‘Oystercard’ or travelcard. You’re lost in London without it! You can buy a weekly or ‘pay as you go’ is a better option if you’re travelling intermittently but if you’re travelling regularly get a weekly and it will save you more pounds!

Research the job market before you move to London
The UK job market is in a bad state at present. This doesn’t mean that it should be the one reason that keeps you from leaving the comfort and security of your life back home. My tip for getting work quickly when you move to London is to line up meetings with recruitment agencies. Set the meetings up before you leave home, make sure your CV is only one or two pages long and get yourself a job interview proof outfit. Think positive!

Find a London flatshare fast
There are a lot of flatshare websites in London and there are even flatshare speed dating parties. The process of finding a flat share is vigorous and it soon becomes as similar to finding a job. When you visit a flat prepare to be interviewed by the tenants but also feel free to interview your potential flatsharers. Aside from the basic getting to know you questions ask more detailed questions like what are their schedules? Will there be bathroom clashes in the morning? What are their rules about having houseguests? Is there a cleaning rota?

If you’re new to flatsharing it can be overwhelming but always do your homework before signing a lease and paying any deposits. Don’t be shy in telling everyone you meet that you’re looking for a flatshare, finding a flat by word of mouth is often a lot easier than spending hours online scouring London flatshare websites – with dubious photos! And never pay any money before viewing a flat, there are a lot of scams out there so always use common sense.

How to make new friends in London
Making new friends is pretty easy when you live in a hostel. I ended up living in a hostel run by nuns and it turned out to be the place where I made life-long friends. Living in the hostel helped me to make friends from all over the world. Meetup also has some great groups for people new to the city of London.

Just say ‘Yes’!
When I first moved to London I made it my mission to just say yes. Yes to invitations, to visiting museums and galleries, going on walking tours. The only way to truly get to know your new home is by experiencing it, walking the streets rather than always travelling on the underground, embracing the weather (even if it’s hardly ever sunny) meeting locals and having fun.

Filed Under: london, UK Tagged With: expat

Restaurant Review of Dinner by Heston Blumenthal

December 18, 2011 By glampacker 2 Comments

Mr Heston Blumenthal is one of the UK’s most infamous celebrity chefs. His aim is to make food fun. The kitchen is his theatre and the theatrics that appears on your plates are nothing short of extraordinary.

Dinner by Heston Blumenthal is an extravagant experience. So it was a very special glamorous way to celebrate my 26^th birthday with five of my closest friends at the very posh Mandarin Oriental Hotel in London.

This stylish affair is set in a restaurant that overlooks Hyde Park, where we could see the lights of Winter Wonderland and the towering ferris wheel. It was a busy Sunday evening and in the Heston’s restaurant you can see directly into the theatrics of the open kitchen. It’s like a fishbowl for patrons and the chefs!

Meat fruit is one of Heston’s well-known dishes. On the outside it looks like a mandarin. Inside its actually pate! The pate is deliciously creamy whilst the ‘skin’ of the mandarin has a hint of Clementine!

The main I chose was a recipe adapted from 1630 – pigeon cooked in ale and cider. It was a rich dish, the pigeon was very tender without being gamey and the sauce was well combined with artichokes.

The tipsy cake made my tastebuds sing! This cake is slow cooked and accompanied by roasted pineapple.

To finish the night…a touch of chocolate ganache!

The Mandarin Oriental Hotel has a beautiful Christmas tree in the main lobby as well as a roaring fireplace. Dinner by Heston Blumenthal and Christmas in London, what more could a girl want for her birthday?

Filed Under: food, london Tagged With: dinner, drinks, winter

The best view of London from the London Eye

September 14, 2011 By glampacker 2 Comments

The London Eye is one of the more modern stalwarts of the great city skyline. It’s in movies and it’s on postcards. However it wasn’t high on my London ‘Glampacker List’. Perhaps because I wasn’t quite convinced that it offered the best view of London or maybe because I get claustrophobic at times.

On a perfect summer morning, one of the rare days where it’s 25 degrees without a cloud in sight, being in a capsule on the London Eye definitely delivered the best views of London.

For the ‘money shot’ stand in the left hand far corner and you’re practically next to Westminster and the Big Ben.

Tips for visiting the London Eye:

Book online so you can collect your tickets.
Beat the crowds and get there early, the ticket office opens at 9.30am and there was already a line at 9.15am
Being in the first lot of visitors means you get into a capsule quickly avoiding the two hour waiting time that afternoon visitors often have to put up with!
Buy a combination ticket if you’re planning on seeing other attractions like Madam Tussaund’s

Filed Under: london, view

London Glampacker List: Review of Afternoon Tea at the Ritz

August 31, 2011 By glampacker 7 Comments

Enjoying afternoon tea at the Ritz was the finest, most indulgent and poshest of all my high tea experiences to date. Sharing the afternoon with two lovely friends visiting me in London all the way from Australia made the experience all the more memorable.

Afternoon tea at the Ritz, London, is often seen as one of the more touristy tea experiences in London. Don’t let that idea put you off your scones and clotted cream. In my opinion, afternoon tea experiences need a fine combination of decadent food, impeccable service and great ambience to be five-star. Even if you’re a budget traveller, some once-in-London experiences are worth shelling out for…

The Food

It’s the small touches that made a difference at the Ritz. You start with champagne, if you’ve opted for the champagne tea. You’re given plenty of time to sip your champers and nibble on the finger sandwiches before the tea is served. I chose the Darjeeling which is light and not too strong to complement my dessert nicely. The tea menu is printed on a takeaway card, which one of the waiters happily handed over to us to keep at the end!

Size and portions matter at afternoon tea. So when I inspected the top tier of the cake stand, we felt a little disappointed. Only 3 cakes? Really? Always having eyes bigger than my stomach, I soon realized that cakes were being served and on display on trolleys. The difficult decision was Victorian sponge or a more heavy fruit cake? Although Victorian sponge sounded like the more boring option, the sponge was light and fluffy with a touch of vanilla.

The petit fours were sweet but offset by the fresh cream. I also tried the shotglass of caramel mousse with raspberry coulis but it couldn’t compare to the cakes!

The apple and raisin scones are warmed up before being added onto your cake tier. This was the first time I’d ever had warm scones brought separately at afternoon tea! The scones are smaller than the usual big plate size scones commonly found elsewhere. Size didn’t matter as these miniature scones were light, obviously made with buttermilk and smoothly sliced open to be slathered with Devonshire clotted cream and strawberry jam.

The Service

At the Ritz, the service is prompt and attentive. More sandwiches? Only want roast ham sandwiches? Not a problem. We Aussies like our ham sandwiches…The waitstaff are happy to have a chat, take your photo and don’t rush you to leave…even though I was well aware we only had a 1.5 hour time slot.

The Ambience

It’s the Ritz. The Palm Court is opulent, the decorations are ornate and the room feels huge even though it’s not a ballroom. The room was full of other diners from families to ladies and couples with hardly an empty table in sight!

To make the afternoon even more memorable? Request a song. The classically trained pianist plays medleys of your requests. The songs I chose?

Dream a little dream. Moon River.

Glampacker’s Tips for Afternoon Tea at the Ritz, London:

Book online, dates and time slots fill in fast!
Dress to impress, this means frock up. You want to look as lovely as the cakes!
Order champagne. You’re having afternoon tea at the Ritz…this alone calls for champagne!
Visit the powder room because it’s pink!

Filed Under: afternoon tea, food, london Tagged With: drinking, reviews, things to do, tips

Sensational Butterflies at the Natural History Museum

July 18, 2011 By glampacker 5 Comments

Butterflies are captivating creatures. During summer hundreds of butterflies are ‘hatched’ in the outdoor house at the Natural History Museum in South Kensington, London.

Once you step inside you’re transported into a rainforest far from Central London. It’s humid, butterflies are zipping all around you and you can hear birds chirping. It’s far from the rainy, cloudy weather outside!

The butterfly house is an exhibition for all ages with ‘butterfly experts’ on hand to answer questions and lots of sensory areas to get close up and personal with the butterflies. I even learnt a thing or two about butterflies and their ultraviolet sight!

Looking closer at the plants, you can spot cocoons which are characteristic of each specific butterfly breed.

Feeding areas with pineapples and apples attract the butterflies sucking on the fruits with their long tongues. You can inspect this with the handheld magnifying glasses, although it’s a little bit creepy!

Before you exit you’re warned to check your clothes in case one of the butterflies escapes into London. The exhibit is only £3.50 to enter and is on until 11 September 2011.

Filed Under: london Tagged With: butterflies, museums, nature, things to do

Things I’ve Learnt from a UK Working Holiday – One Year On

July 15, 2011 By glampacker 2 Comments

One year ago exact to the day I left my hometown of Perth, Western Australia. It’s the longest time I’ve ever spent away from home, my family, my friends and of course my dog! I went glampacking around Europe and then arrived in London with just my backpack. When you embark on a UK working holiday as a female solo traveler there are some things you learn the hard way…

A very London rooftop view

Growing Up
It’s difficult to ever really feel ‘grown up’ when you’re in your twenties. When you’re thrown in the deep end of arriving in a big city like London with no job, no where to live and few friends you go into survival mode. Typically this means eating on a tight budget, living in a hostel, spending wisely and networking like a pro for work or flatshare opportunities. The funny thing about being an ‘adult’ is that you don’t even realize it…until you have to pay bills!

There’s a lot you can do on a weekend
You can go to Dublin and drink Guinness, you can go to Edinburgh and Inverness, you can even drive to Stonehenge, Bath, Wales and visit a castle on the way back to London. Weekend trips don’t have to be a whirlwind, the best part of living in London is being able to escape it all in only a couple of hours!

The Secret Garden

Flatsharing is an artform
Flatsharing is a twentysomething experience that is fun and yet challenging when you’re fighting to get to the bathroom. After all the flat viewings, interviews/interrogations by other flatmates, lease sagas it’s really nice to be settled and have a little temporary home away from home. It helps if you have a nice garden too!

It never gets easier saying goodbye
The coming and goings in London is constant. I’ve had to say goodbye to two close friends in the past month and it still feels awful. But you also make new friends and there’s also your London Family who you’re always going to be ‘stuck with’! Also when your friends fly all the way around the world just to come visit you, it makes you feel very special.

Could you not miss a face like this?

How to beat homesickness
The dreaded illness known as homesickness can hit you at the best of times. Like when you’re in the supermarket and there isn’t any Tim Tams or when you really miss being greeted by dog as soon as you get home. The best way to beat it, don’t think about what you miss but what you’ve gained. Appreciate each moment in an untypical expat lifestyle and live in the moment. So weekend in Paris?

Contemplating life in Paris…

Filed Under: london Tagged With: australia, life, photography, Reflection

Hampstead Heath in Summer

July 11, 2011 By glampacker Leave a Comment

When there’s sun and 30 degree weather in London, everyone heads to the park! Hampstead Heath is one of my favourite parks in London where there’s great city views but it’s also a peaceful retreat away from the city. The park is full of lush greenery, snaking pathways and hidden open areas bordered by trees and shrubs.

On a 30 degree day Londoners were queuing for the outdoor bath. A two pound fee lets you enter, which helps maintain the bath. Forgive me for being squeamish, but I couldn’t quite get myself to enter the murky waters. My friend assured me that her quick dip was refreshing, even if the bathing sign warns you about the potential dangers of swimming in stagnant pond water.

I was more than happy to stick to the grassy meadows of Hampstead Heath. Sunbathing in the park with a picnic, a rug and great company is a lovely ‘British’ way to spend an afternoon.

Filed Under: london Tagged With: hampstead heath, nature, parks, photography, walks

Jamie Oliver’s The Big Feastival – Great Combination of Food and Festival!

July 4, 2011 By glampacker 4 Comments

It’s hard not to like Jamie Oliver. He’s in your face with his big brand, personality and unadulterated, fun, messy cooking style. Jamie pretty much has everything – restaurants, food lines, TV shows, cook books, a magazine, the list goes on! Recently added to the list was The Big Feastival – a festival which combines eating, drinking and live music all into one!

I was lucky enough to win tickets to attend Jamie Oliver’s Big Feastival in Clapham Common. The Feastival was held all in the name of charity – the Prince’s Trust and the Jamie Oliver Foundation.

On a very sunny Sunday we entered the Feastival and got to see Jamie in the flesh straight away cooking in the Big Kitchen tent. It was a bit hard to see at first, he does attract a large crowd! Jamie showed off an easy peasy smoked trout with a Tuscan bread salad. He was assisted by Gennaro Contaldo who added lots of olive oil to every dish. Lovely!

Also in the Big Kitchen was Rachel Allan showing off how to make a Flirtini and white chocolate trifle.

Kiwi chef Peter Gordon taught us the correct way to cook cous cous – do not use boiling water and do not cover it! Use water at room temperature otherwise it gets lumpy and sodden. He mixed up cous cous with pureed broccoli as a side to accompany pan fried clams with chilli and lemongrass. For dessert he prepared a rice pudding with strawberries and vanilla. We had a taste of the clams which were juicy with a hint of spiciness.

The Big Feastival worked on a token system for the major food stalls which included well known chains like Wahaca and Gourmet Burger Kitchen, Jamie Oliver’s Fifteen and Barbecoa and restaurants like Mango Tree and Canteen.

There were lots of food sampling in the Artisan Food Markets and a big bake off in the WI Tent – which celebrated domestic goddesses with demos, knitting, art and crafts, brownies by the Beehive Bakery and a vintage clothing stall with items from Lily Allen’s store Lucy in Disguise.

What did we eat?

Corn-fed chicken satay with roti from Awana

Tagliatelle from Locanda Locatelli

Haggis with potato mash

Okonomi-yaki from Abeno

This was washed down with Aperol Spritz, which I had previously in Milan, and pear cider!

Other than eating, there were lots of fun things to check out like:

Big music stage featuring Rockaoke – amateur singers belting out the latest hits regardless of pitch or tone!
The Funfair featuring a carousel and mini ferris wheel
Psychic readings in the Gypsy Caravans
The Kitchen Garden – helping non-gardeners learn how to grow an edible garden

The Kitchen Garden Scarecrow

The Big Feastival was lots of fun with great food served up all afternoon. I purchased a Big Feastival recipe book to cook my own feast at home, with proceeds going to charity, without using hot water in my cous cous of course!

Thank you for the lovely time, will definitely be back next year!

Filed Under: food, london Tagged With: clapham, drinking, festivals, jamie oliver, london, summer

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