Shane loves the outdoors and travels around the UK visiting and reviewing all the top attractions.
Everyone has been on one of these at least one in their lifetime, either you’re the one that came up with the idea of going on a date or you were forced on the date. You can either be a serial dater and have lots of practise and experience or a first timer that has no idea on what to do. It doesn’t matter what one you this can give you some life saving tips. Here are ideas on what to do for a range of dates so that you can get the perfect date!
First dates are what gets the ball going, it’s the first step of an relationship, nothing is worse than having nothing in common with the other person and you just sit there in complete silence, awkwardly but on the other hand the first date is what gets the relationship moving, you both might have the best time ever and want to progress to the second date and so forth. Some examples of what you can do on the first date are…
No one likes boring, serious dates where you feel like you are being interrogated and judged. You like to feel appreciated, loved and also to have a laugh with the person you like or love (depending on how long you have been together for). So here are a few ideas for a fun date!
It doesn’t matter what your budget is, you can always have a date! Here are a couple of ideas of what to do if you don’t have a lot of money but still want to spend quality time with your loved one.
Double dates… you either hate or love them. Girls usually come up with the idea to go on a double date with their friends, so their boyfriends can meet, or you get dragged along to one because you are the only single one out of your mates and they need someone else.
Hope you all had fun this weekend and enjoyed the bank holiday! Here are 7 things you need to put on your bucket list immediately to keep the memories flowing... With a wide range of things to do to suit everyone’s needs and wants. From tours to learn history to nature walks and pools to enjoying chocolate!
The River Cam runs through the heart of Cambridge, so enjoy the amazing views in a traditional Cambridge Punt. Some of the famous Cambridge landmarks you can expect to see during this 45-minute tour is the Bridge of Sighs, King's College Chapel, The Wren Library at Trinity College and many more sights in Cambridge from a river point of view.
So how it all happened: well the water fell as rain about 10,000 years ago and then sank to a depth of about 2km. Here it is then heated by high temperature rocks below the ground before rising back up through one of the three hot springs in the centre of the City, the Cross Spring, Hetling or King’s Spring, which supplies the Roman Baths. The thermal waters also contain over 42 different minerals, the most concentrated being sulphate, calcium & chloride. This is a luxury bath to relax your body and mind while you soak up all the minerals.
Are you are feeling adventurous? Do you love views? Then this is the one for you! Climb up the O2 with a tour guide, this will get you blood pumping while you ascend the great O2 arena. At the end it is all worth it as you get to see a picture-perfect view of London like no one has seen it.
This gives you a chance to see behind the scenes of parliament. Experience what it’s like to stand in the House of Commons and Lords. See the art in the hallways, the architecture. This is the perfect way to find out how laws are made, ask as many questions as you like to the tour guides. Learn the history behind Parliament.
This is great to see how royalty lives while you explore the rooms in Buckingham Palace. From the ballroom to the throne room and state rooms, see the treasures that lay hidden in Buckingham Palace. Roam in the well-kept gardens behind the Palace and see what plants are kept there.
Do you love nature and walking? Well this is the trip for you, take a walk to get to the fairy pools! This first Waterfall marks the start of the magical pools. Some of the pools make great swimming, but rarely get warm. The first waterfall is the highest fall and also the deepest pool. For the courageous only there are some great high jumps. On the other side of the river from the path it is possible to jump into deep blue pool (around 10 meters high).
The next pool up is properly the most famous of the lot, a beautifully clear blue pool ideal for a relaxing swim. It features a natural arch, with an exhilarating under water swim though the arch.
Do you love to eat chocolate? Then visit Cadburys world in Birmingham! Take a walk down the history of how Cadbury’s came about, the adverts and take a ride of the Cadbury’s world very own roller-coaster (don’t worry its just a little one, no heights or flips). Enjoy the taste of the chocolate as you get to try some and witness how it is made! This is not to be missed off your bucket list.
So, we are back, ready for more places for you to visit! This time we got some astounding and luscious cocktail bars for you to visit for any type of occasion. Whether you are on a first date, meeting up with work colleagues for drinks after work to let of some steam after a long, hard day, having a weekly gossip with your good, old friends or catching up you’re your family. Even if you just fancy something different than your old, regular pub. Keep on reading to find out where you next adventure will be!
Located at Clapham, 15-16 Lendal Terrace, London.
These cocktails are inspired by the Sax Rohmer book titles and are made from a unique blend of Asian spices and Chinese teas. Enjoy drinking these sublime cocktails while listening to live music. DJ is there till 3AM so you can dance the night away (or until your feet hurt). Click HERE for more information.
Located at Marylebone, 31 Duke Street.
This venue if for the history lovers as it takes inspiration from the roaring 1920s, Burlock is also one of the largest rum houses in the UK (perfect for the rum lovers as well). Authentic Cuban and Caribbean food is served as well to try with paired cocktails, are you daring enough to try it? Click HERE for more information.
Located at 202 Bishopsgate, Shoreditch.
This is a secret underground cocktail and craft beer bar; this stylish hideaway uses unique and unusual ingredients to make their scrummy cocktails by doing so the menu changes seasonally to create a menu suitable for the next upcoming season with fresh new ingredients for your taste buds! Click HERE for more information.
Located at New London Theatre Parker Street, Covent Garden.
This is perfect for the holiday lovers or people wishing they were on holiday. This venue is a trip to paradise with a ‘lagoon pool’ style dance floor, palm trees and over 500 decorations to make the place look like a tropical beach party. There are also cabaret style performances with live music as well. The Tropicana beach club also serves around 50 cocktails! From classics to new and flavoursome cocktails. Also selling beach style grills from across the Southern Hemisphere… Click HERE for more information.
Located at 264 Acton High, Acton.
This is a cool and quirky place, this isn’t a normal venue but a unique and exciting experience, if you’re looking for something different this is the place for you. Get special circus performances by professionals, Ariel acrobats, swing dance classes and live music from DJs. What a way to get a drink while watching a spectacular show! Click HERE for more information.
Located at 31-33 Heddon Street, West End.
The temperature is -5 degrees Celsius, it is the only cocktail bar in the UK that is permanently frozen solid. Before entering guests are kitted up with thermal caps and gloves and then go inside for a 40-minute slot. This venue also undergoes a yearly transformation so that it is always different and is never the same. Click HERE for more information.
The Beast from the East, combined with Storm Emma, has sent the UK into a week of fresh hell. No one knows what to do, whether they should go to work or how they can possibly survive without 15 loaves of bread stockpiled at home. For us down in the South East, the worst has passed (although as this post is being written the snow has started once again), but for those all around the country still experiencing the blistering winds and icy tundra that is your local high street, the weather is snow joke…
In all seriousness, the snow is at Red, Amber and Yellow alerts for most of the country. Whoever said March was the month of spring has lied to us, and we are not happy. Whilst the first day of snow is amusing, the novelty has worn off and is wearing thin (like our patience). So, there won’t be many Days Out in the UK this weekend we feel – as it’s advisable to remain inside in the adverse weather conditions. So, instead of telling you about all the wonderful attractions (that are most likely closed), we’re going to talk to you about ways to keep yourself amused this weekend!
Yes, if you’re stuck inside, entrapped by the snow, then you’re going to be pretty bored of daytime telly. However, we’ve got some fun alternatives you can try if you don’t fancy watching multiple episodes of Jeremy Kyle and Come Dine With Me… Here’s our list of things you can do this weekend instead of venturing into the cold.
Yes, board games can make or break a family weekend. Monopoly is out the window (quite literally thrown out the window in some homes). So, maybe it’s time to dust off the playing cards and teach the family poker? Or, there’s always good old UNO. Any game would be fun, but if you want to cause a rift in the household, we’d recommend monopoly.
One thing that some couples and families may find themselves doing is giving the house a fresh coat of paint, on the inside. Since you’ll be trapped inside, there’s really not much excuse – unless you find yourself without paint, paint brushes, wall paper or the energy to bother. Hey, don’t look at us, we’re only suggesting things to do.
Are you sick of the items dating back to the early 80s in your wardrobe? Well, whilst you’re snowed in, it may be the perfect time to have a big clear out in your wardrobe! Not only will you free some space up, but you can take your clothes that you don’t want anymore to homeless shelters and charity shops around the country, to keep those at risk warm through the cold weather. Remember, every donation helps so if you’ve got some clothes you don’t wear anymore, donate!
And if all of that doesn’t tickle your fancy, venture into the wild and chuck some snowballs at each other. Alleviate that boredom by engaging in some semi-non-violent fun. As long as no one takes a snowball to the face, or a block of ice to the head, you should be fine. Remember to wrap up warm!
The MET Office has advised to stay in doors / don’t travel if you can avoid it in this weather. So, have a nice weekend in. Maybe read all of our old Blogs or scroll through our Events page to kill some time? Why not. And hopefully, better weather will spring upon us soon… Until then! Stay warm, stay safe and maybe don’t venture for a Day Out this weekend.
We’re back with a highly satirical blog post, so please take this with a pinch of salt…
If you felt bad dumping someone just before Valentine’s Day, well we’ve got some good news. February is coming to a close, so you can now begin to think about ways to break it off with unloved ones. We’ve done a survey around the office of great places to take people before you dump them.
Whilst this may seem cruel, it’s a nice way to treat someone before you part ways, and both move on with your lives. We’ve talked strategies and optimum locations, in order to create our 3 top choices, for places to dump people. If you’re feeling uninspired and want to break it off, read on. And if you can’t take a good joke, please click the back button…
Here’s our list…
Whilst a good exhibition is a great day out, the benefit of breaking it off in a museum is unmeasured, and we’ll explain why. Firstly, you know that awkward silence you’re trying to fill when thinking about ending it with someone, well in a museum there’s lots to see and talk about. ‘So where is this relationship going?’ can be answered with ‘Ooo look a big whale skeleton’, and so on. It’s a perfect amount of time until the end, where you can finally break the bad news. The second advantage is that museums are usually a fairly crowded place. Usually, us Brits aren’t one to make a scene in public, so your other half won’t be able to scream at you, until you’re on the phone to them later…
A fun day out + no public drama = a semi-happy breakup.
Our top choice - Natural History Museum
There are some lovely country parks all across the UK, with some of the best views and wide-open spaces – perfect for making your escape. See, not everyone reacts well to ending a relationship. So, when it gets ugly, get out. You can sprint to your hearts content across the beautiful landscape, hopefully making it back to the car before they do… Just don’t run on the grass or flowerbeds. The key is to be respecting of the dumpee, the grounds and the environment.
Beautiful scenery + Room to escape = a semi-happy breakup (maybe, we promise nothing).
Our top choice - Hyde Park
Paintballing is the past time of stag parties and company team builds, mainly because it’s a great way to vent any frustration in a ‘non-violent way’. However, we’d recommend layering up for this one, because it could get ugly. Yes, paint balls hurt, so if you’re anticipating a bad break, beware. However, it can be very therapeutic and beneficial for you both, airing your frustrations via shooting paint. In all honesty, it’s a great day out – even if you end it on a sour note.
Painful Paint – Relationship Frustration = a semi-happy breakup (we’re only assuming at this point, we don’t know what’s going on…).
Our top choice - Mayhem Paintball
And that’s our list, if you liked it, feel free to share it with your friends / those on the verge of a breakup. And once again if you’ve got this far and don’t like a good joke – hit the back button. We’ll be back next week with some more great days out in the UK.
Hello to our lovely readers, it’s been a while. We’ve been swamped over here at DOUK. However, we haven’t forgotten about you (don’t worry). Is it too late to say happy new year? Probably…
With so many new and exciting things set to happen this year, we thought we’d shine a spotlight on one of our favourite attractions in this post. The V&A has so many great and interesting exhibits coming out this year, so we thought it only fair to share our insider knowledge with you, and let you know what’s coming up in 2018.
The V&A, or the Victoria and Albert Museum, has been around since the late 19th century, and is rich with history and intriguing exhibitions too. The museum has changed so much over the 100+ years it’s been around, with a host of almost 5,000 years’ worth of human creativity and innovation under it’s roof. The building itself is a marvel and is strikingly beautiful.
Below, you’ll find our top 5 exhibition picks coming to the V&A this year…
First on our list we have the Videogames exhibition, which runs between September 8th, 2018 into the new year of February 24th, 2019. This exhibition dives into the world of video games, and the resurgence happening within the expansive genre. Looking at a new wave of designers, players and critics who are enhancing and advancing the platform in new and exciting ways. This unique exhibition looks at videogames as a platform of design, art and experience (as opposed to being ‘a waste of time’ as cited from parents around the world).
This exhibition will look into the changes undergone since the mid-2000s, when this gaming renaissance began, and look at all the technological advancements that have happened over the past 18 or so years. Exploring the impact videogames have on the internet and social media too, with how this directly effects how games are played, discussed and designed. There’s loads of hands-on stuff to get involved with, and surely, you’ll find a few games to play as well.
For more information on this exhibit, you can click HERE.
This exhibition, sponsored by Viking Cruises, looks into the history of ocean travel. From Brunel’s 1859 steamship to the launch of the QE2 in 1969, this exhibition sheds a light on ocean travel like you’ve never seen before. This exhibition is already underway, and runs until early June this year, so be sure to hurry down to the V&A soon!
Featuring stories of the ships’ designs and all the innovative architecture behind the luxurious ships, there are more than 250 objects to see and learn about. Some of the highlights of the exhibition include a panel fragment recovered from the infamous Titanic’s first-class lounge and some art deco interiors of an early 20th century ship (Normandie) too.
Click HERE for more info on the current exhibit.
Up third, we have an exhibit that explores the relationship between fashion and nature. Fashioned from Nature looks at fashion from the early 17th century up until the modern day. Looking at fashion inspired by nature, as well as the raw materials that are in the fabric of the very clothes we wear. In this UK exhibition first, you will dive into and explore the relationship between fashion and the environment, looking at the impact of mass production and sourcing these materials has had on the natural world. Throughout this exhibit you’ll see items from the past 400 odd years, with some beautiful pieces of clothing as well as objects of protest against fashion’s ‘environmental crimes’.
Learn about the current research behind developing fashion fit for the modern ages, from eco-friendly sources materials and recycled food waste fibres too. It’s an exhibit that’s not one to be missed, and its prevalence is of the utmost importance in our current age. The exhibit includes work from designers such as Vivienne Westwood, Stella McCartney and many, many more.
To find out more about this upcoming exhibit, click HERE.
From one of the most widely recognised, and most innovative, painters of the 20th century, Frida Kahlo is an icon of both art and fashion, crafting herself through dress and self-fashioning. For the first time outside of Mexico, this exhibition will be hosted by the V&A and will feature Kahlo’s clothing and personal possessions too. All of these items were discovered back in 2004, in the Blue House, following the opening of storerooms which have previously been sealed for fifty years. This ground-breaking exhibition will feature Kahlo’s iconic style, and how it presents her complex duality behind her Western and Mexican identity.
Highlights of this exhibit include some stunning hand-painted corsets, and iconic paintings such as My Dress Hangs There and The Love Embrace as well. This exhibition will run from mid-June until early November, so see it while you can!
For more info, click HERE.
We’ve previously written about this exhibit in another blog post, however we can’t get over how amazing this exhibition is going to be! This exhibit is the first of its kind for the V&A, as it looks into technology and how it is shaping the future and our current age. All of the items on display, are either in development or at prototype stage, so the future doesn’t seem so far off (you might say the future starts here…). From aerial unmanned drones to laundry folding robots, this exhibit has so much to see.
You can read our full post covering our exclusive press preview by clicking HERE. As for more information on the exhibit? If you want that, click HERE.
And that’s it from us! Hope you enjoyed our 5 V&A exhibits coming this year. If you want anymore information about upcoming events from the V&A and any of our other wonderful attractions, click HERE.
It’s official, we’ve settled back into the office after the struggle of the first day back. We’re here, we’re happy – it’s 2018! We hope all our readers had a lovely festive period and a fantastic New Year. With the New Year comes some great new events from up and down the country. We’re here to fill you with some 2018 inspiration, with a list of fun things to do this year.
Here’s our top 5 events, happening in January across the UK!
Although Halloween is 10 months away, some of you just need a little bit of paranormal spookiness in your lives. Hampton Court Palace has the solution for all your needs. This exclusive out of hours tour of the grounds will uncover the mysterious haunting of the palace, with the keen eyed able to spot some ghouls. With over 500 years of history, the palace is teeming with ghosts and stories, like the Tudor royal nurse, whose spirit stalks the old apartments and the mysterious ‘Skeletor’ figure - captured on CCTV in the dead of night.
There’s a family event available too, for the little ones (7/1) Tours are available on selected dates 7th, 14th and 21st, and tickets are priced as follows: Adult Ghost Tours: £27.50, Family Ghost Tours: Adults £14 / Children £7.
If you love learning about the world of crime and spending time with your dog, then boy do we have a day out for you! As it is National #DressUpYourDogDay on January 14th, bring them along to The True Crime Museum and enter them in a fancy-dress competition. Plus, bringing your dog gets you free entry! 1 dog = 1 owner’s free entry. You can even put up your pooch’s pic on the Dog Mug Shot Wall. Admission is between 10am – 5pm.
Every January there is a surge in gym memberships, workout gear and healthy food. But then the novelty wears off, and you’re left wondering why you paid for a gym. If you’re tired of staring at a blank wall on a treadmill, we’ve got just the thing! Run around the beautiful RSPB nature reserve in a fun and active session for all ability levels. With distances from 5km to 12km, there’s enough running to fill your lungs with fresh air and achievement. Running on January 21st, this session only costs £1 – and runs between 9.30 and 10.30.
On January 16th, visitors to the Royal Observatory will be able to attend an exclusive lecture on the latest developments and research in astrophysics. You don’t need to be a pro, just have a taste for space, and come along ready to learn. Renowned astrophysicist at University College London, Professor Raman Prinja, talks the evolution of stars. Stars; from dusty birth to explosive death’ costs £10 for adults and £7 for children (ages 11+).
Marking the anniversary of Guy Fawkes’ infamous ‘confession’, head down to the Tower of London, on January 31st to hear some of the innermost secrets of poets and storytellers alike. This exclusive performance explores the themes of coercion and free will, inspired by Guy Fawkes’ interrogation following the ‘Gun Powder Plot’ failure. Tickets are £25, and this is an over 18s event. Taking place at 7pm in the atmospheric St Peter’s ad Vincula chapel.
For more information on upcoming events in January and beyond, click HERE for our events page. Keep your eyes peeled for some exciting events coming in 2018. HAPPY NEW YEAR!
