Spring Savings
My best gal is coming to London for a brief visit. In typical fashion, she told me she’s coming two days before she lands! I haven’t seen her in a year and although we chat daily and facetime, there’s something far more special about being present with her. She’s not a big fan of cities though, being a Yorkshire girl born and bred. So I was intrigued when she asked what we could do in the big smoke that felt like home. Challenge accepted!
The temperature is warming up, the evenings are becoming lighter, the blossoms have bloomed and the wisteria has followed suit. Those fresh mornings breathe new hope in our lives and promise of what’s to come for the year. Time to grab your pals (or lovers) and spend some time in the city!
But what of us who cannot afford the last minute European city break, or let’s be frank, those of us who can barely afford the restaurant dinner with friends (I spent £45 last week on one meal)! And what if you’re hosting your friend like I am, and need some fun and varied activities to keep yourselves amused?
Stay tuned, I got you! Here are 6 things you can do with minimal spending.
My ride or die Bobbin Bicycle.
Bike Rides / Long Walks
I cherish my weekend walks! I tend to dedicate a good 1.5 hours to it on each day! It’s a great way to move the body if you’d rather skip the gym and allows you some breathing space if you’re cooped up in the house or office most days. There are so many studies these days on the benefits of walking, especially for your mental health. Whack on your favourite music playlist or even catch up with a pal on the phone as you stroll. For me, I have weaned myself off and simply enjoy nature’s sounds and try to decompress.
If walking isn’t your thing, how about hopping on your bicycle and riding down to some of London’s prettiest parks like, Richmond, Wimbledon, Regent’s, Victoria and Hyde (to name but a few). If you’re a solo adventurer, then a podcast could keep you company. If not, why not encourage your friends (or family) for a group cycle. There are even online groups who meet up and cycle together. You could even turn into a full day affair and have a picnic, which leads me to…
2. Pack a Picnic
Grab a cute wicker basket and a tartan pattern blanket, and enjoy some outdoor dining! Picnics in the park are great budget-friendly date ideas. It’s amazing how much thought can be put into a relatively simple idea and the gesture goes a long way. For food, I recommend crab meat (white) spread across toasted baguettes, roasted red peppers, black olives (sorry not a fan of green), beef and horseradish sandwiches, freshly baked cookies and doughnuts. For your beverages, it’s got to be some loose leaf tea or coffee, this can be provided in a flask or a nearby café if you’re a coffee connoisseur. Alternatively, grab your best pals and head to the coast for picnic delights. Breathe in the salty air and even throw in some beach time games like volleyball. Depending on the time of year, you may even brave the chilly English seas! Rye, Brighton, Margate, and Whitstable are just some of the places within close distance of London.
3. Visit a (City) Farm
Spring welcomes new life, and is there anything more adorable than baby chicks and lambs?! Farm life and petting zoos are well-known in the country, but in recent years, city farms have become more commonplace. This means you no longer need to travel on the M25 to see some cute piggies! Feed the lambs, ride horses, and even buy eggs, meat, honey, fruit and vegetables from their farm shops. Deen City Farm, Spitalfields Farm, Hackney City Farm, Stepney City Farm, Mudchute Farm, Vauxhall Farm, Surrey Docks Farm are all firm favourites for the urbanites.
4. Window Shop at a Farmers Market
Some of my best weekends were getting up early and heading to Borough Market, with either my partner or my friends. Around 1,000 years old, this market is a legacy in London. Boasting over 100 stalls in fresh produce, restaurants, bars and shops. If I am throwing a dinner party, this is the place I come to for tiger prawns, pancetta, cheeses, and plenty more. The cheese in particular, is what I empty my bank balance on! Of course, there are plenty of farmers markets all across the capital and you can simply enjoy the stroll through the stands. Sometimes all you need is a coffee, as you eyeball the food stalls and chat with friends. The London Farmers Market website offers you key dates for your diary. Being a SW gal, I frequent the Wimbledon one on Saturdays.
5. Frolic in Flower Fields
Right, ok, I can already hear you on this, some of these are not technically London-based, BUT, I would be amiss if I didn’t tell you about the beautiful, Instagram-worthy flower fields that you could visit.
Tulip fields at Tulley’s Farm and at Norfolk Tulips are 100% worthy of a train ride. Step into Amsterdam-inspired tulip fields, dine on Dutch food and be infused with the fresh, floral scents. The limited time that these flowers bloom means tickets have to be bought in advance and you gotta be quick too! These places sell out fast! The bright and vibrant flowers will put you a spring in your step and you gaze in awe that such places exist in the UK. If tulips aren’t your vibe, there are some wonderful lavender farms that will pique your aromatherapy needs. Mayfield Lavender is a popular one, and you can also spot the violet-blue foliage in areas of Kew Gardens. For the die-hard flower enthusiasts and gardeners, there are also specific events like the Chelsea Flower Show and the Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival.
6. Uncover history at National Trust properties
I have been a member for about 4-5 months now and it is a gamechanger. Especially when you discover that there is a wide portfolio of properties right here in London. From sprawling estates to modernist homes, you have lots of places to visit, before you’d need to travel outside of zone 6.
Ham House & Gardens is a surprise hit for me, as I knew nothing about this place before. You can read about my visit here.
The Homewood is for my modernist architectural people and did you know there is a Roman bath underground? Well, a Roman bath built in the Tudor times (sorry) and you can visit the site by appointment only, through Westminster council. Beside the homes/estates, there are plenty of landscape gardens throughout the city that are richly planted with greenery, herbaceous and flowering from all over the world. The National Trust offers insight to long standing traditions and its history specifically connected to London.
Plenty of things to do, plenty of things to see. Let’s enjoy the season together!
