South Bank, London - Summer Festival

South Bank is full of attractions and events all year round, particularly in summer. The Summer Festival South Bank showcases every year creates a wonderful place for all to enjoy. I recently spent my entire Saturday roaming the banks of the Thames exploring South Bank. Without a doubt it would have been one of the best days I have had to date. 

I started my day from London Bridge Station where I wandered through Borough Market for the second time that week before I continued along the river front. I past the Millennium Bridge, the OXO Tower, Gabriel's Wharf, Shakespeare's Globe, Tate Modern and the South Bank Book market before finally arriving at the world-famous art centres of South Bank. 

This year's summer festival was the Festival of Love which showcased a different performance each week, free workshops for the public to get involved, as well as many theatre productions. There was so much to do and see around this area including the Real Food Markets located behind the South Bank Centre, street performances, and a wide range of restaurants, cafes and shops to enjoy. 

I so happen to wander into the Queen Elizabeth Hall just in the nick of time to purchase a discounted ticket to watch Grove on Down the Road - Best thing I did all day!! The show re-imagines the beloved story of The Wizard of Oz, showcasing an exhilarating Hip-Hop dance adventure for the whole family. It was amazing!


here are some photos from the Real Food Markets:

Old Spitalfields Markets, London

Old Spitalfields Market would have to be my favourite market so far in terms of stall variety, cleanliness and atmosphere. This market is steeped in history having been in operation on the site since the 1600s. 

Old Spitalfields Market is located in one of the finest surviving Victorian Market Halls dating back to 1876. The stalls occupy the centre of the hall whilst boutiques and restaurants are scattered along the edge of the building - this is what provides the atmosphere and vibe of these markets. The markets stalls sell everything from food to clothing and jewellery, book, shoes - you name it. You're bound to find something different, trendy, funky or retro amongst the clothes stalls. You can buy fresh bread and cakes, pies and pasties, organic vegetables, and meat to take home, or you can eat at one of the many restaurants and cafeterias which serve food from all over the world - Italian, Mexican, Chinese, Thai, and Indonesian, to name but a few. These are generally reasonably priced and well patronised by city workers, so you may find you have to queue at lunchtime.

The markets are within a 5 minute walk from both Shoreditch Train Station and Liverpool Street Station and are open seven days a week:

Monday - Wednesday:    10am to 5pm           (General Market Stalls)
Thursday:                      9am to 5pm            (Antiques & Vintage Market)
Friday:                          10am to 4pm           (Fashion & Art Market)
Saturday:                      11am to 5pm           (Themed Market Day)
Sunday:                         9am to 5pm            (General Market Stalls)

Be sure to exploring the surround area of these markets, in particular Brick Lane. 

P.S I highly recommend having a cupcake from Flavour Town Bake !!!

Camden Town Markets, London

Camden Town is an inner-city district that is often described as grungy and cheap. This area is very popular among students, particularly those from overseas. The suburb Camden (not to be confused with Camden Town) is home to a mix of famous local residents who reside in the beautiful old victorian houses in streets such as Albert Street and the nearby Primrose Hill area. Camden Town is also a couple of minutes walk from Regent's Park and the London Zoo. 

Camden has embraced a large congragation of people who follow alternative subcultures which is contributes to the vibe and atmosphere of this area. Camden Town is long known for its music heritage and of course the famous Camden Markets. 

The Camden Markets blew me away. They consist of a number of adjoining retail and food markets and is one of the biggest in Europe of its kind. It hosts hundreds of stalls and small shops selling new and vintage clothes, jewelery, art & ornaments, ideal for some gift shopping. The markets host the most varied global street food vendors in London. 

There is also furniture and lots of shoe shops including the original Doc Martens shop and an Aldo outlet shop. Camden also has the usual High St shops such as M&S, Boots, and Sainsburys,and a large Organic shop & cafe.

Here is a list of all the different markets of Camden Town:

• Camden Lock Market – crafts, books, clothing, jewellery and fast food.  
• Camden Lock Village – clothing and accessories, as well as a range of unusual items.
• Camden Market – originally Buck Street market, this sells fashion for all tastes.
• Inverness Street Market – a few of the original fruit stalls remain, alongside clothing, footwear and souvenirs.
• Stables Market – a mix of permanent shops and stalls selling household items, antiques, alternative clothing, food and much more.
• There is also an indoor fashion market at the Electric Ballroom, which is only open on Sundays. 

Camden Town is surrounded by public transport. Mornington Crescent, Camden Town and Chalk Farm are the underground (tube) stations on the Northern Line that served this area. The London Overground at Camden Road station is also close. 

For those you have not yet visited Camden Town, I recommend you find a day that you can spare in order to do so. Camden Town is a fun, eclectic and vibrant part of London not to be missed!! 

Borough Markets, London

Borough Market is a great place to explore for anyone interested in food. The market consists of up to 70 stalls offering exceptional British and international produce, from greengrocers, and artisan bread to specialist butchers and fishmongers. You can easily spend half a day sampling the delights that London and surrounding producers have to offer. 

The markets are open Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday. It is a good idea to check the official Borough Market website for special events and information of the traders. 

I was totally overwhelmed by the amount of stalls, cuisines, foods and produce on offer. Here are some photos I snapped as I nibbled my way around. 

Chateau de Courtebotte, Bordeaux, France

I have been spoilt with the opportunity to spend my past two weeks relaxing at the beautiful Chateau de Courtebotte in the heart of Bordeaux wine lands. This magnificent Chateau located in Saint Jean de Blaignac was built during the reign of Henri IV overlooking the Dordogne River. Chateaux de Courtebotte is surrounded by magnificent historic villages and vineyards of Saint Emillion, Pomerol, Médoc, Sauternes, Castillon and the Entre-Deux-Mers.

The estate has been recently renovated and offers four different accommodation options: The Hotel Rooms, The Suite, The Tree House and The Pavilion. I stayed in a week in both The Pavilion and The Suite. 

The Chateaux features a heated swimming pool, a Jacuzzi, a beautifully landscaped garden with a trampoline, cubby house, swing set and ping pong table and a grand fire place located within the ground floor of the Hotel. 

The atmosphere and peacefulness while staying at the Chateaux de Courtebotte blew me away. The Chateaux was completely booked out over the duration of my stay however you would never have know - I did not see more than two other families at a time.

There are lots and lots of local activities in the Region to see and do such as Caneoing, Winery Tours, Markets, Horse riding, Hot Air Ballon rides, bike routes and loads more. 

Definitely a highlight of my travels so far!!

Île de Ré, France

Île de Ré would have to be the Parisian's best kept secret yet. There is something oddly elegant about this french island and its beautifully preserved landscapes. Île de Ré is located off the west coast of France near La Rochelle, on the northern side of the Pertuis d'Antioche strait. It attracts wealthy Parisians and British holidaymakers all year around, but of course the island is in its prime in the summer. 

Île de Ré has more than 60 miles of bike paths therefore making it the ideal place for bicycle enthusiasts. Forget about your car as bikes are the main mode of transport used to go to the markets, do the shopping or have a drink in the café. During the summer seasons, most village centres are closed to traffic. The bike routes also allow you to discover the many faces of the regions and the variety of its landscapes at your own pace: countryside and forest alternative with marshland and coastline among which historic vestiges and remarkable monuments can be viewed. Today most of the island's natural resources are now nature reserves such as vineyards, forests and salt marshes. 

The island has a mixture of accommodation options; camping sites, mobile homes, hotels, or holiday homes. I stayed at Camping Les Varennes in a mobile home located in Les Bois-Plage Village for 2 weeks. This campsite is one of the best reviewed on the island, has great facilities and is very well located - 300 meters from Gros Jonc Beach, 5 minute cycle/10 minute walk to the village centre and within cycling distance to all the other villages. Here is the link for more information: http://www.les-varennes.com

This little Altantic-coast island of dunes and pine forest is home to 10 oh-so-chic harbour villages. My favourite villages were Saint Martin, La Flotte, Ars-en Ré and La Couarde. In summer all the villages have daily markets and village fairs for the kids. 

Saint-Martin-de-Rè

Situated in the centre of the island, Saint Martin is the capital of Île de Ré. The village centre is livened up in houses steeped in history, terraces outside cafés to discuss and dream, a port where fisherman and sailors meet in a friendly atmosphere. Saint-Martin has some of the most beautiful chic boutiques and restaurants one the whole island. La-Martiniere is definitely worth a visit if you love ice-cream - the best ice-cream on the island!

La Flotte

In the 19th century La Flotte was a tuna-fishing port. Every spring around a hundred boats would gather for the year's harvest from the sea. It seems a little difficult to picture nowadays as the village is so peaceful. La Flotte presents an interest contract between the grand houses along the quays and the maze of terraced cottages behind them. La Flotte is best described as a mini version of Saint-Martin while lovely restaurants, cafés and a few shops. 

Ars-en Ré

Ars-en Reé is one of the most beautiful villages on the island. The old port at Ars, built for the salt trade, todays welcomes modern yachts as well as old sloops and ketches. Ars-en Ré is surrounded by salt marshes where the salt maker still uses the old wooden tools to collect the salt. The markets at Ars, which featured fresh fruit, food delis and clothes, would have to be the biggest but the best on the island - highly recommend visiting.

La Couarde sur Mer

La Couarde has a very different feel to the other 3 villages I fell in love with as it does not have a harbour but rather a beautiful golden sand beach. The heart of the town has a seaside resort feel and is the centre of the town life, particularly with the bandstand producing a buzz of activity. This bandstand is the only one on the island and hosts open-air concerts during all the summer season. The shopping at La Courade would have been my favourite on the entire island.  

Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Museum & Tour

Ever dreamed of gliding through the gates of Wimbledon? I have and would highly recommend this experience to all - tennis fans or not. As expected, the place is kept in tip top condition and it oozes class! You can easily spend half a day here - I did! The museum offers entry and centre court tours for £22 per adult and £13 per child. 

The museum provides a remarkable multi-dimensional tour of the traditions, triumphs, sights and sounds that have made Wimbledon the most coveted title in tennis. Upon entry visitors are provided with interactives, touch screens and audio guides (available in English, French, German, Spanish, Italian, Russian, Japanese, Croatian, Portuguese and Mandarin) to help you experience the artistry and athleticism of tennis throughout time.

The tour of the grounds provides visitor with access to restricted areas normally closed to the public. The tour runs for 90 minutes and the guide was very knowledgeable, friendly and polite. I would strongly advise pre-booking tours online as they do fill up very quickly. 

There are a number of transportation options available. Check out the official Wimbledon website for details of how to get here: http://www.wimbledon.com/index.html