It's a well known fact that spending a night in the capital is NOT cheap. If you want to be anywhere near the hustle and bustle of central London then you're looking at forking out hundreds of pounds just to get a decent night's sleep.
But don't panic.. the team at Imperial College London have a solution! They are opening up their accommodation to the public all through the Summer from 2nd July to 23rd September at extremely affordable rates. You can even get a buffet breakfast included too for a small additional charge.
I was lucky enough to stay at the Prince's Gardens accommodation in South Kensington. As I didn't actually go to university I wasn't quite sure what to expect in terms of how well the rooms would be kitted out, but I was actually pleasantly surprised! I was greeted by a big double bed, desk area and even a seating area with coffee table. There was a large en-suite bathroom with a shower and plenty of toiletries. Just remember to pack a toothbrush and toothpaste as they weren't provided in the room.
Just outside the accommodation building there's a shop which has a full selection of snacks and drinks. Perfect if you just need a light meal.. or a midnight snack! It also overlooks a the leafy area of Prince's Gardens would be ideal for a short walk or a picnic in the Summer. At reception I was given a map and guide to the area which was super useful for someone that doesn't live in the area. It made me realise what a fantastic location the accommodation is in. Literally a stones throw from attractions like the Royal Albert Hall, Science Museum, and the V&A.
As you'd expect there was also FREE Wi-fi throughout the accommodation building and it was actually pretty fast considering there are over 1,500 other rooms! Good enough to stream Netflix and surf the web without any trouble whatsoever. Alot of hotel chains still feel the need to charge for internet access so the fact that Imperial College London offer it for free is a real bonus for me.
Tea and coffee making facilities were also provided, which was a nice touch. Plenty of coffee sachets and tea bags which would have been plenty even if i was staying there for a few more days. There was also two bottles of mineral water which was a life saver due to the heat wave we're enduring right now!
There are also a couple of other locations as well that you can choose from including Notting Hill and Paddington. The rates are super competitive and start from £95 per night for a single room. The Imperial College London accommodation really is the perfect choice for a reasonably priced overnight stay in London. You'd be very lucky to find a quality room at these prices from a hotel chain.
There's also overnight parking available for an additional charge if you need it, however this must be booked in advance so make sure you mention it as part of the booking process. The reception staff were all super helpful at guiding me around the area, giving me tips on places to see and also some recommendations on places to grab a bite to eat.
I also really appreciated the quick check out option the next morning. I had to leave by 7am so it was super handy that I could simply drop off my room key into a box in reception without having to go over to the check in building a short walk away. You can find out more about the accommodation on offer here.
The video below gives you another chance to see the accommodation
*Thanks to Imperial College London for providing the accommodation free of charge for review. All opinions are my own.
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Dads are impossible to buy for - is it just me? Whether it's Christmas, birthdays or Father's Day, I'm never sure what to get mine even though we're actually quite similar. With the big day just a couple of weeks away now I thought I'd pull together some of the ideas I've had so keep scrolling to see if my gift guide has something yours will love too...
If he's a massive movie or TV buff why not pick him up The Wire - The Complete Series on DVD. This gritty american crime drama is just what dads need for that Sunday afternoon binge. What makes The Wire unusual is that it's a cop show that refuses merely to be a cop show. It inhabits Baltimore in all its attributes. We see inside the local politics, the local media, community groups, the lives of the city's homeless people, the personal lives of its law enforcers, and above all the lives of its criminals. It's very brave and unusual to show us the criminal side of a community from the criminals' point of view, and The Wire is innovative in being so unflinching in depicting this. It's a far cry from the glossy world of, say, CSI.
If your Dad is a bit of an audiophile and Apple geek then why not pikc him up the brand new Homepod. At £340 it's certainly a luxury gift but he's obviously worth it right? If you still live at home then at least it's an excuse to get one in the house and experience the incredible sound that you get from a high spec speaker like this. The HomePod is covered in a seamless cloth grille, which Apple claims lets sound emanate without altering it in any way.
There’s a chunky woofer powered by a custom amp, a 360-degree seven-tweeter array, and a six-mic array for capturing your voice from a distance. The mics work well and pick up voices capably, even at a distance and with music blaring. If you really want to treat him this Father's Day then the Homepod is the perfect gift.
If you'd rather sort out his skincare routine then why not pick him up the Clinique For Men Daily Oil Control Skincare Kit which you can pick up from John Lewis. At £26 it's a real bargain for Clinique and contains a few of their bestselling products to get his skin in shape. The Oil Control Face Wash thoroughly cleanses and removes excess oil, while the luxurious Cream Shave provides a rich buffer against razor drag and nicks. Whereas the Mattifying Moisturiser delivers lightweight, oil-free hydration and skin-strengthening ingredients, plus helps skin stay matte all day.
If he's more into fashion then why not pick him up a nice new shirt for the office or for weekends. You really can't go wrong with any of these from Jack Wills and Ted Baker...
Don't forget to check out my other gift guides for guys here:
If he's a massive movie or TV buff why not pick him up The Wire - The Complete Series on DVD. This gritty american crime drama is just what dads need for that Sunday afternoon binge. What makes The Wire unusual is that it's a cop show that refuses merely to be a cop show. It inhabits Baltimore in all its attributes. We see inside the local politics, the local media, community groups, the lives of the city's homeless people, the personal lives of its law enforcers, and above all the lives of its criminals. It's very brave and unusual to show us the criminal side of a community from the criminals' point of view, and The Wire is innovative in being so unflinching in depicting this. It's a far cry from the glossy world of, say, CSI.
If your Dad is a bit of an audiophile and Apple geek then why not pikc him up the brand new Homepod. At £340 it's certainly a luxury gift but he's obviously worth it right? If you still live at home then at least it's an excuse to get one in the house and experience the incredible sound that you get from a high spec speaker like this. The HomePod is covered in a seamless cloth grille, which Apple claims lets sound emanate without altering it in any way.
There’s a chunky woofer powered by a custom amp, a 360-degree seven-tweeter array, and a six-mic array for capturing your voice from a distance. The mics work well and pick up voices capably, even at a distance and with music blaring. If you really want to treat him this Father's Day then the Homepod is the perfect gift.
If you'd rather sort out his skincare routine then why not pick him up the Clinique For Men Daily Oil Control Skincare Kit which you can pick up from John Lewis. At £26 it's a real bargain for Clinique and contains a few of their bestselling products to get his skin in shape. The Oil Control Face Wash thoroughly cleanses and removes excess oil, while the luxurious Cream Shave provides a rich buffer against razor drag and nicks. Whereas the Mattifying Moisturiser delivers lightweight, oil-free hydration and skin-strengthening ingredients, plus helps skin stay matte all day.
If he's more into fashion then why not pick him up a nice new shirt for the office or for weekends. You really can't go wrong with any of these from Jack Wills and Ted Baker...
Don't forget to check out my other gift guides for guys here:
- TOP 5 GIFTS FOR GUYS - OLIVER BONAS
- TOP 5 | LUXURY FRAGRANCE GIFTS FOR GUYS
- TOP 5 | MEN'S FRAGRANCE GIFTS UNDER £50
It's that time of year again where most of us will be jetting off on our Summer Holiday. Therefore will need to begin the daunting task of packing (and ensure you don't forget anything!) The art of packing, as so often in life, you learn from your mistakes. Countless times we’ve all packed just shy of our baggage allowance and ended up just wearing a handful of items. But it’s undeniable that packing is notoriously known for being difficult and is one job almost all of us dread, myself included.
When going on holiday, it is crucial you have the essentials in check. Always ensure you’ve got your passport with you when heading to the airport – and make sure it is in date! – as well as any visa details if one is needed. I always pop my passport into my hand luggage as the first thing I do. Be warned - if you do need to order a new passport prior to your holiday then you must allow at least 4-5 weeks for it to be delivered once you've sent off all the paperwork. Don't risk it by ordering one late! They only have to be renewed every 10 years and cost around £70.
If carrying around lots of cash or loose change makes you feel uneasy, it is worth considering a cash card. For example, the Post Office offers a ‘Travel Money Card’ which is essentially a prepaid multi-currency card that’s convenient, easy to use and secure. These cards are often used if you're planning a trip to several countries and just want to take a single card, or in countries where there isn't a specific pre-paid card that carries that currency.
If you're off somewhere hot and sunny (lucky you!) then some top notch sun care should be on the top of your packing list. Kiehls do an incredible range of sun care and I've linked some of my favourite products below. The Daily Reviving Concentrate is a must have for keeping your skin hydrated whilst you spend all day sunning yourself, along with the infamous Ultra Facial Moisturiser. They also do a pretty extensive range of sun creams and aftersun, which although they aren't cheap, are super easy to apply and range from SPF 15 all the way up to 50.
Sun Care Must Haves
Welcome to my monthly Let's Play series, in which I tell you all about the games I've picked up and been playing over the last 4 weeks. You can check out my previous Let's Play posts here. This part of the year is always pretty good for new game releases, plus I also picked up a Nintendo Switch last weekend so you can expect some initial impressions on that over the next few weeks. I actually found quite a bit of time for gaming during April so here's where I've been spending my time...
Far Cry 5
I'm to to say this right off the bat.. Far Cry 5 is already one of my games of the year for 2018. It perfectly combines the freedom of a massive fully destructible open world with great gun play and player progression. I've not played anything like it so far this year.
The story isn't great so I would advise ignoring the majority of it right from the outset and concentrate on the awesome gameplay that seeps out of every inch of the huge playable map. You'll find random events happening constantly, which keep you engaged in the action rather than the story. There's just so much to do beyond the main story thread so don't worry about running our of side quests and collectables to find. Sneaking your way through all the various outposts eliminating the enemies that guard them are some of the best moments in the game.
Buy it here > https://amzn.to/2J9xv1i
Sea of Thieves
Now from one of my games of the year to one that has really disappointed me, even after the incredible hype that seemed to surround it right from when it was announced. We haven't had a decent pirates game for ages now and i was really hoping that Sea of Thieves was going to start a new trend, but unfortunately this empty "go here and grab this" simulation feels more like the awful No Man's Sky than the start of a cool new genre in multiplayer console gaming.
Sea of Thieves’ opening hours are a magical recipe of wonder and mystery. It never explains much, but figuring out the subtle, multi-layered functionality of everything from a compass to your sails is fun and surprising. Jaw-dropping lighting works in harmony with the deep, rich waves of the open sea as clouds puff in and out of existence. However, from then on it turns into an extremely repetitive buggy experience, which proves to be especially boring when playing solo as there's seemingly no AI to fill the world with so you're just left to your own devices.
Random matchmaking works fine, but real friends are best because if you get people without mics or a cooperative spirit you might as well set sail with a hole in your boat. Sea of Thieves works well when treated like a chat room or a party game, where it serves as catalyst for having a good time with the people you’re with.
Buy it here > https://amzn.to/2INnQOP
Check out the rest of my Let's Play series:
January 2018 - http://www.theguyontrend.co.uk/2018/01/lets-play-january-2018.html
May 2017 - http://www.theguyontrend.co.uk/2017/05/lets-play-may-2017.html
March 2017 - http://www.theguyontrend.co.uk/2017/04/lets-play-march-2017.html
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