London after Lockdown

I am sure, like everything, there is a 'I need to get away' for a few days once the lockdown restrictions have been lifted. Whether it is to escape to the sunshine to top up on that Vitamin D or whether it is to go and visit the family you haven't been able to see for the past 12 months or longer.

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I know my parents are wanting to come and visit me and that means finding a hotel for them to stay in. Here we are really lucky to have so many hotels on our doorstep especially in the city centre of London* with the likes of The Hoxton Holborn or the OYO Flagship Apollo Kings Cross, both of which are central to tube stations, train stations and are within walking distance to some of the most popular tourist attractions we have.

So where do we visit after lockdown? Well, my parents want to go to Camden and look round the market. Described as being 

"A shopping experience unlike no other, Camden Market has something unique and unusual for everyone. Street food from all over the world as well as arts, crafts and things “uniquely Camden”.

Camden also happens to be one of my favourite places to walk round in London, take in the scenery, the unique offerings from food and drink to all kinds of weird and wonderful shops, stalls and goings-on. Perhaps even a boat taxi along the canal, something I have never done in my years of living here.

Having been to Buckingham Palace and seen the Changing of The Guard, the next place to visit is The Tower of London. I have been here just once many many years ago and I know my Dad would love the history and the fact you can take a tour with one of the Yeoman Warders who talk you through and take you through the incredible 900-year history with all it has to offer - such as it being a royal palace, a prison and scarily also a place of execution. The most tempting is to see the Crown Jewels in all their glory.

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The third and final place which we all want to visit is Kew Gardens and after several attempted visits, I've never quite made it. If you aren't aware, Kew Gardens is officially called the Royal Botanic Gardens and dates back to 1759. In 1897, Queen Victoria added Queen's Cottage and the adjoining woodland. With over 30,000 plant varieties, there is a whole heap of things to learn and discover and if you time it right, there is a host of musical and cultural events held throughout the year.

The best thing about living in London is the endless choice of places to go and visit, even as a resident the is always something to do, a place to visit, an attraction or an event to take part in and right now I would just love to book into one for one night to not have to listen to the noise of my neighbours, maybe have a bit of room service and sleep! 

*In collaboration with Hotels.com, but all views are my own.

*this post contains PR samples and/or Affiliate Links unless indicated otherwise - you can learn more on my Disclaimer page.

Small Things Make a Big Difference! Improving Your Health

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2021 is the year that you can be the best version of you! Everybody's experienced highs and lows as a result of the pandemic. And no doubt, so many of us have felt a knock to our confidence, not to mention our own perspective of what our health really is like, for me my skin took a hit having to constant face-masks, so adding in CBD creams and serums has helped me to restore some calm to my skin, and this is definitely something I am going to continue doing in the future. While it's possible to boost your self-confidence and learn to take control of your attitude, your health needs to be in place as well. After all, if you've decided to make changes in your life, they are worth nothing if you don't have a healthy body! And the whole approach of tackling your health to change your life can seem momentous. But what are some of the best ways to improve your health, little and large?

Focus on Tackling Your Symptoms of Stress

When it comes to stress, there's the overriding reason, but it's also about recognising the symptoms, as and when they arrive. If you start to focus on tackling the symptoms, you will begin to recognise when you are hitting a downward spiral. The great thing is that there are different approaches out there. Some may work for you, and some may not. Ideally, you need to take opportunities to address the big symptoms that affect your life. For example, if anxiety is a continuous issue, you may benefit from a herb like CBD. They come in tincture form, but there are also CBD gummies, which can benefit when you are out and about. You can also think about other approaches to calm yourself down at the moment. Something like deep breathing is a very good example. For a lot of people, if they tackle the symptoms, it gives them better control over their lives and this leaves you with nothing to worry about and more time for doing things that you love, with people who mean a lot to you.

Look After Your Gut

A lifetime of unhealthy and processed foods can wreak havoc on our guts. The gut microbiome is essential for our overall health, and disruption in gut bacteria can result in chronic diseases, including obesity. Looking after your gut means cutting down on processed foods and sugar but also making sure that you have sufficient fibre in your diet, for this, you can take probiotic supplements. If you are someone that likes sweet treats, we can't deny you these, but you've got to be aware of the impacts they can have on your gut. 

The Importance of Vitamin D

Vitamin D has taken centre stage for many years, and now due to the coronavirus, a lot has been written about the impact of vitamin D on an individual's health and their ability to fight disease. A good quality vitamin D supplement is such a simple thing that you can take once a day, and you may very well see how it impacts your life in so many ways. You may not get as many colds, but you may also feel a bit better when you wake up in the morning. 

These three simple ways can make a difference in the quality of your life. And it goes to show that it is the smaller things that can make a big difference.

*this post contains either a paid for link, PR samples and/or Affiliate Links unless indicated otherwise - you can learn more on my Disclaimer page.