Celebrate Chinese New Year

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Beginning January 31st

For the second consecutive year, London's Chinese New Year celebrations have been scaled back. As the largest one outside of China and considered a kickoff to the tourist season, it is a sign that the pandemic is still holding on. Despite this, there are still creative ways to ring in the Year of the Tiger:

London's Chinatown (January 31st 5 pm - 10 pm) — Small lion dance and night market in Newport Place, Soho with screens showing pre-recorded performances.

BAO (Until February 13) — Order one of their lucky classic or daikon buns to automatically receive a red envelope with a prize inside. Prizes range from £5 vouchers to spend at a digital supermarket, crates of beer and even a chance for a bao a day for 2022. There are also featuring a limited edition tiger-striped bun filled with chocolate.
www.baolondon.com

Hakkasan (Until February 15) — The only Michelin-rated Chinese restaurant in London, Hakkasan, will feature a special Chinese New Year meal complete with Tiger-themed decor. £118 / person www.hakkasan.com

Light Festival (Until February 27th) — Six installations will be on display at Battersea Power Station, including Digital Origami Tigers by LAVA (Laboratory for Visionary Architecture). The larger than life tigers are based on traditional lantern-making techniques combined with today's technology.
www.batterseapowerstation.co.uk

While Chinese New Year officially ends February 15th, you can enjoy the the restaurants and shops in London's Chinatown year-round — Happy New Year 新年快乐 (Xīn Nián Kuài Lè)!

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New Year Theatre Sale

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Tickets starting at £10/seat until February 28

This year's Official London Theatre promotion extends until the end of February.  Not only are London shows some of the best entertainment, they are also some of the most affordable if you know where to look for tickets.  Some of the top shows on sale, include:

. . . London Theatre 'Top 10 London Musicals' (8 of the 10 on sale)
  • Back to the Future
  • Come From Away
  • Dear Evan Hansen
  • The Drifters Girl
  • Frozen
  • Mamma Mia!
  • Tina - The Tina Turner Musical
  • Wicked
. . . Visit London '10 best musicals and West End Shows' (9 of the 10 on sale)
  • Back to the Future
  • Get Up, Stand Up! The Bob Marley Musical
  • The Lion King
  • Mamma Mia!
  • Mary Poppins
  • Matilda The Musical
  • Phantom of the Opera
  • Tina - The Tina Turner Musical
  • Wicked
www.officiallondontheatre.com

For tickets to The Book of Morman and Moulin Rouge! The Musical that are not available  through Official London Theatre, try www.lastminute.com — prices start at £41 and £29 respectively for these shows.  And good site to search for tickets year-round! 

Best of 2021— Part II

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Top 10 posts — Part II

The best of the best from 2021

5. Cozy and covered dining — Six weatherproof options for London and Surrey
www.londonviasurrey.com/2021/04/cozy-and-covered-dining.html

4. Snowy Surrey saunter — Hour-long walk worth bundling up for
www.londonviasurrey.com/2021/01/snowy-surrey-saunter.html

3. May flowers bloom into June —Catch the flowers while you still can
www.londonviasurrey.com/2021/05/may-flowers-bloom-into-june.html

2. Favorite Custom Gifts — Skip the mall madness and support small businesses on-line instead
www.londonviasurrey.com/2021/11/favorite-custom-gifts.html

1. Bridgerton on location — Bridgerton on location
www.londonviasurrey.com/2021/01/bridgerton-on-location.html

As we turn the corner on 2021 — cheers to 2022 and everything it holds!

For more: Download the London via Surrey Book App

Best of 2021

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Top 10 posts — Part I

After being locked in, posts about getting out were popular along with gift-giving and of course those involving the royalty:

10. Hampton Court Flower Show blooms on — World's oldest and largest flower show takes place in July
www.londonviasurrey.com/2021/07/hampton-court-flower-show-blooms-on.html
9. London Cocktail Week — £7 drinks at 250+ venues in October
www.londonviasurrey.com/2021/10/london-cocktail-week-is-back.html

8. Experience Gifts — Five gifts not to be missed
www.londonviasurrey.com/2021/11/experience-gifts.html

7. Fit for a Prince — Duke of Edinburgh Royal Warrant Appointments
www.londonviasurrey.com/2021/04/fit-for-prince.html


6. Gifts for Mum's Day . . . — Mothering Sunday and beyond
www.londonviasurrey.com/2021/03/gifts-for-mums-day.html




Best of 2021, —Part II will feature the best of the best from 2021.

For more: Download the London via Surrey Book App

Experience Gifts

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Five gifts not to be missed

For the person that has everything or needs nothing, an experience gift might just be the perfect fit. Some of my favorite ones are offerring gift vouchers, including:

Bisley Shooting Ground — Set within 3,000 acres in Surrey, Bisley Shooting Ground is Europe’s largest sporting clay ground and one of the top shooting schools.  Here's a chance to try one of the fastest growing sports in the country with no prior experience required.Vouchers available £50 — £150
www.bisleyshooting.co.uk


Coutours — Emma Parker uses her PR background to discover London's hidden gems, including 'Feast from the East' (street food in London's East End) and 'History of London in 4 Drinks' (tea, coffee, gin or beer). hidden gems, including 'Feast from the East' (street food in London's East End) and 'History of London in 4 Drinks' (tea, coffee, gin or beer).
Walking tour vouchers start at £20 / person
www.coutours.co.uk

Perfume Studio — After an introduction to 18 blends created by their Master Perfumer, you'll have a chance to sample, test and combine them to create a signature fragrance of our own to take home.
Fragrance experiences starting at £49 /person
www.theperfumestudio.com

Shoreditch Street Art Tours — This tour always offers something different since new art shows up all the time and in the most unusual places. Think of it as live Where's Waldo, but the art you are looking for ranges from famous Bansky to C215 to piggy sculptures.
Public tour vouchers £20 / adult, £10 / child
Sweet Tooth Tours — Led by Le Cordon Bleu pastry chef Lynne Staartjes, Sweet Tooth Tours highlight London's best sweets (bakeries, chocolate shops, gelaterias), savories (cheese mongers) and more.  Once you have tasted London, head to Paris where Lynne leads similar tours!
London experiences start at £58 / person (minimum of 2 for a private tour)

While you are shopping for someone else, you might just find something for yourself too!

For more: Download the London via Surrey Book App

Favorite custom gifts

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Without heading to the shops

Black Friday marks the official start of the holiday shopping season. Skip the mall madness and support small businesses on-line instead:


Original Welly Boot Collection — Since 2002, This is Nessie has been producing signature watercolor wellie prints. Designs are updated every season and comes framed or ready to be framed.
Bonus : 20% off orders £60 or more
www.thisisnessie.com


Personalized Metal Street Sign — Not on the High Street’s popular aluminum street sign can be personalized with your family’s name and post code. If this doesn't suit, they have 5,000+ other small creative businesses to choose from.
Bonus : On sale for £12.80 with free UK delivery
www.notonthehighstreet.com


Vintage Map  — Select a special place, a message and design and let Posh Totty Designs do the rest. Their pieces are handmade and made-to-order, including keepsake jewelery.
Bonus : Free UK delivery with code 'DASHER'
www.poshtottydesigns.com



London Needlepoint Kit — Not exactly custom, but considering it is just the kit — each one comes out as one-of-a-kind. I personally didn’t have the patience to stitch it. Thankfully my sister did!
Bonus : £5 off small kits with code SMALL5 and £10 off big kits code BIG10 for orders placed by Tuesday
www.hannahbass.com

Order on-line now for discounts and holiday delivery!

For more: Download the London via Surrey Book App

Halloween Happenings

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Something for everyone in Surrey

Halloween has become increasingly popular in the UK and is one of the country’s biggest cultural events. Here are a few ways to celebrate in Surrey:

For kids
Claremont Landscape Garden (Esher) — Complete the spell and save creatures from an evil wizard and earn your own wand.
£2 / trail added to normal admission
www.nationaltrust.org.uk/claremont-landscape-garden
✆ +44 1372 467806
Portsmouth Road, Esher, Surrey, KT10 9JG

Garsons Farm (Esher) — Garsons will award prizes for spotting colored pumpkins and spooky silhouettes, the most creative pumpkin colouring contest and guessing the weight of their giant ghost pumpkin. Visit to take photos among the pumpkins and their photo booth.
Free
www.garsons.co.uk ✆ +44 1372 460181
Winterdown Road, Esher KT10 8LS

For Adults
The Ivy (Cobham) — Why should kids have all the fun? The Ivy has teamed up with Cazcabel Premium Tequila to serve up Halloween hand-crafted cocktails, including Diablo Verde, Bone Marrow, A Clockwork Orange and The Skull Crusher.
Starting at £9.75
www.theivycobhambrasserie.com ✆ +44 1932 901777
48 High Street, Cobham KT11 3EF


For Family & Friends
The Oatlands Park Hotel (Weybridge) — Afternoon tea includes finger sandwiches, scones with jam and clotted cream along with Halloween themed cakes and pastries and feature tea from T2.
Starting at £26.95, £15 (for under 12s)
www.oatlandsparkhotel.com ✆ +44 1932 847242
146 Oatlands Dr, Weybridge KT13 9HB

Painshill Park (Cobham) — Afternoon tea will include pumpkin and apple scones along with other Halloween themed treats. £30, £21.50 (for children) includes entry to the Garden and Fairy Door Trail
www.skywalkadventure.co.uk ✆ +44 1372 701107
Sandown Sports, More Lane, Esher, Surrey KT10 8AN



While fancy dress is not mandatory, it is highly encouraged!