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What to look for
With sunny skies and warmer temperatures, everyone is eager to spend time outdoors. While the best way to protect yourself from Covid-19 is to stay-at-home, exercising once a day is still encouraged. Luckily, Surrey has over 2,100 miles of footpaths to explore — here’s what to look for:
Bluebells — Considered England’s favorite wildflower, bluebells typically begin blooming in April and peak in May creating violet-blue carpet on forest floors. The UK is home to nearly half of the ancient blue bluebell woodlands in the world. Checkout the Be careful when walking since it can take years for bluebells to recover from damage. Hopefully with less foot traffic, the displays will be even more stunning in the years to come.
Geocaches — Number 49 out of 50 on National Trust's 'Things to do before your 11-3/4' is Geocaching. Before smartphones, you had to rely on a physical somewhat clunky GPS, but now all you need is to download an app and you are ready to go. Basically, you follow coordinates and clues to find a hidden box known as 'caches'. Inside you'll find a logbook and potentially trinkets left by others before you. Apparently, Geocaching is even popular among celebrities with Anthony Bourdain, Melissa Joan Hart and Hugh Jackman all playing along.
www.geocaching.com
Painted Rocks — A non-tech treasure hunt involves reading clues on Surrey Rocks! Facebook group and hiding and seeking painted rocks. Once you find one, take a photo of where you found it and post it to the site – or you can hide it somewhere else and post a clue instead (a lot of people choose to keep their first rock and re-hide others they find). You can also decorate and hide rocks of your own for someone else to find. Beyond making someone’s day, you’ll also be able to see how far they have gone — since people will take them on holiday. Of course, once the travel ban is lifted!
Note : *Since it is unknown how long Covid 19 stays alive on different surfaces – it is probably best to not touch your finds for the time-being
Hope everyone finds a bit of joy outside!
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As the lockdown continues and trips from home are limited, here are a list of Surrey shops and restaurants that are still open for business:
Out of necessity
In case you are not having luck at your local supermarket, some farm shops may have what you are looking for . . .
Garson’s Farm Shop (Esher) — Over 65's and vulnerables can shop before the store opens to the pubic Monday – Saturday 8 am – 9 am and Sunday 10 – 11 am and have groceries delivered their cars (includes NHS and other key staff).
www.garsons.co.uk ✆ +44 1372 460181
Winterdown Road, West End, Esher KT10 8LS
Priory Farm (Nutfield) — Priory Farm Shop is offering free delivery on orders over £50 and within a 5-mile radius. Public opening hours are 9 am – 1 pm (keyworkers are able to shop until 5 pm).
www.prioryfarm.co.uk ✆ +44 1737 823304
Sandy Lane, South Nutfield, Redhill, Surrey RH1 4EJ
Squire’s Garden Centre (Multiple) — The Squire’s Food Hall - Frensham features locally sourced products and Food Shop - Badshot Lea has essential food items are the only locations open. Their Garden Centres are accepting orders of £50 or more with free delivery within 7-mile radius.
www.squiresgardencentres.co.uk
Break from the kitchen
If you need a break from the seemingly endless stacks of dishes, let someone else do the cooking . . .
Carlo's Trattoria (Guildford) — Considered Guildford’s Best Loved Italian, Carlos Trattoria has been around for over 30 years. They have a weekly set menu and individual dishes both chilled and frozen along with a selection of house wines with collection from their car park.
www.carlostrattoria.com ✆ +44 1483 224180
Shere Road, Newlands Corner, Guildford GU4 8SE
Meat the Greek (Guildford) — This small cafe serves delicious gyros, kebabs and souvlaki – add an order of homemade tzatziki sauce served with pita bread and fries with feta sauce – you have a meal. Order online for collection or delivery.
www.meatthegreek.co.uk ✆ +44 1483 458644
15 Chapel Street, Guildford GU1 3UL
Lift the spirits
While pubs and breweries are closed, how to make staying at home more bearable . . .
Denbies Wine Estate (Guildford) — Denbies is offering on-line wine sales with 20% discount on 6 bottles or more. Collection available Monday – Friday 10 am – 3 pm or by delivery.
www.denbies.co.uk ✆ +44 1306 876616
London Road, Dorking, Surrey RH5 6AA
Silent Pool Distillers (Albury) — Silent Pool has stay at home gin bundles, including Date Night and Summer Garden. They are offering free Silent Treatment hand sanitiser with gin orders, 20% discount for NHS and emergency services staff and free delivery for orders over £50 for everyone.
www.silentpooldistillers.com ✆ +44 1483 229136
Shere Road, Albury, Surrey GU5 9BW
*Note : Easter weekend opening hours and delivery may vary from the ones listed above.
Hopefully it will not be too long before these restaurants and shops open fully again!
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Online that is
With London theatres shut down for the foreseeable future — three ways to get your theatre fix:
Opera & Ballet
Royal Opera House — Fridays at 7 pm
27th March : Peter and the Wolf (The Royal Ballet 2010)
3rd April : Così fan tutte (The Royal Opera 2009)
10th April : Treasure Island (The Royal Opera 2010)
17rd April : The Metamorphosis (The Royal Ballet 2013)
www.facebook.com/royaloperahouse
www.youtube.com/user/RoyalOperaHouse
Shakespeare
TheShowMustGoOnline — Weekly readings Thursdays at 7 pm of the complete plays of William Shakespeare in the order they were written
19th March : The Two Gentleman of Verona
2nd April : Henry VI Part 1
www.robmyles.co.uk/theshowmustgoonline
Theatre
National Theatre — Every Thursday in April at 7 pm
2nd April : One Man, Two Guvnors (James Corden)
9th April : Jane Eyre
16th April : Treasure Island
23rd April : Twelfth Night (Tamsin Greig)
www.youtube.com/user/ntdiscovertheatre
Here's to hoping the curtains will rise again soon to new and bigger audiences!
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With advice against “unnecessary contact”, send special treats instead this Mothering Sunday:
Cuppa & Tea
Emma Bridgewater — Founded in 1985 when she was unable to find cups and saucers for her own Mum — Emma Bridgewater has remained true to 'the necessity of getting the thought and design absolutely right'. Today, it is the largest pottery manufacturer based in the UK.
Their Mother's Day collection is currently 20% off.
www.emmabridgewater.co.uk
T2 —
T2 is a specialty tea shop originally established in Australia. They are know for their extensive array of teas (200+) along with colorful teapots, cups and countless tea accessories. Their Mother's Day specials include a Bazaar Beauty Pink Tea for One set and Top Sips Assorted Tea Sampler alone or together make a perfect pair.
www.t2tea.com
Soap & Scent
LUSH Cosmetics — From humble beginnings in 1995 with their first store located in the small seaside town of Poole, UK, Lush Cosmetics now boasts 900+ stores worldwide. The company is known for ‘fresh handmade cosmetics’ that are 100% vegetarian and cruelty-free. Lush offers over 170+ soaps alone — their Parsley Porridge Soap, an herbal, antibacterial suds would be welcome by anyone.
www.lush.com
Perfume Studio — For a truly unique and thoughtful gift, purchase a voucher for a bespoke fragrance experience. 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. Due to coronavirus outbreak, Fragrance Design Experience Vouchers are valid for up to 18 months.
www.theperfumestudio.com
Sweets
The Biscuiteers — These iced biscuits taste as good as they look and are literally works of art (not surprisingly many Biscuiteers icers are artists as well). Fashionable corporate clients include Dior, Burberry and Gucci. They ship worldwide and can be found at Fortnum & Masons, Harrods and Selfridges. Use code MUMSDAY for 10% off their Mother's Day flowers biscuit tin.
www.biscuiteers.com
Monty Bo Jangles Truffle Bar —
There are simply no words to describe these award-winning French cocoa dusted truffles. A limited selection is available from local grocery stores, specialty shops and on-line. Customize a trunk of 100 truffles — be sure to include at least one box of Ruby Fruit Sunday in honor of Mothering Sunday.
www.montybojangles.com
All can be ordered from the comfort of your home and sure to bring a smile to the Mums in your life — until you can visit in person again!
For more: Download the London via Surrey Book App
With the current Italy travel advisories, you don’t have to leave England to get a taste of Pompeii. London Mithraeum Bloomberg Space is touted by archaeologists as Pompeii of the North. The excavation between 2012 and 2014 was one of the most extensive in London. It revealed over 14,000 finds covering the entire period of the Roman occupation of Britain — 40s AD to the early 5th century under Bloomberg London.
In addition to well-preserved streets, the Museum of London Archaeology (MOLA) uncovered items such as charms, coins, writing tablets and even perfectly preserved leather shoes thanks in huge part to the waterlogged site.
Originally discovered in 1954, the Temple of Mithras was moved 100 meters away. It has since been restored to its original site under Bloomberg’s European headquarters. The exhibition now includes 600 artifacts and includes an audio-visual enhanced walk around the Temple itself. It was named by Time as one of the World's Greatest Places in 2018. Self-guided visits take approximately an hour and booking is currently available until May 2020.
Best of all entry is free and no need to travel or worry about the weather either!
www.londonmithraeum.com
12 Walbrook, London, EC4N 8AA
Top Surrey attractions
Whether you have a Harry Potter fan, budding artist, race car driver or garden lover, top Surrey attractions have you covered:
Art Aficionado
The Watts Gallery – Artists’ Village (Compton) — The images of William Orpen and G F Watts are the inspiration behind half-term activities at Watts Gallery — recognized as the 2018 Tourist Destination of the Yearby the Surrey Business Awards. The Gallery is hosting a pop up portrait studio, digital portrait making master classes along with storytelling sessions for various ages.
www.wattsgallery.org.uk ✆ +44 1483 810235
Down Lane, Compton GU3 1DQ
Green Thumb
RHS Garden Wisley (Woking) — Family-friendly trails and activities await at RHS Garden Wisley — the second most visited garden in the UK. Crafts, planting, storytelling, theatre and walks are offered throughout the week. Best of all there is no need to book ahead and all activities are included in regular admission.
www.rhs.org.uk/gardens/wisley ✆ +44 1932 857381
Wisley Lane, Wisley GU23 6QB
Potter Fan
Warner Bros. Studio Tour(Leavesden) — Measuring over 530K square feet, the studio complex is one of the world’s largest. The Making of Harry Potter is a self-guided behind-the-scenes exhibition that includes original costumes, props and sets. Learn how props are made through Introducing the Art Department on display during half-term.
www.wbstudiotour.co.uk ✆ +44 3450 840900
Studio Tour Drive, Leavesden WD25 7LR
Speedster
Brooklands Museum (Weybridge) — Brooklands is considered the birthplace of motorsport and aviation in Britain and winner of the 2019 Tourist Destination of the Year by Surrey Business Awards. Some of the activities on offer over half-term include joining a pit crew, riding in a vintage car up Test Hill or Race Track or touring the Concorde.
www.brooklandsmuseum.com ✆
+44 1932 857381
Brooklands Road, Weybridge KT13 0SL
Enjoy half-term whatever the weather!
For more: Download the London via Surrey Book App
In case you have the stamina to pull an all-nighter, here are just a few American-like eateries that will broadcast the game live:
Balthazar — Located in Covent Garden, Balthazar is nearly identical to its original New York location. Tickets include chicken wings, hot dogs, New York cheesecake and even takeaway mini-donuts for the morning.
£70 From 10:30 pm — 4:30 am
www.balthazarlondon.com✆
+44 2033 011155
4-6 Russell Street, London WC2B 5HZ
Bodean‘s BBQ Smokehouse (Multiple)— Famous for its Kansas City barbecue (perfect for Chiefs fans), Bodean’s will include a complimentary beer, nachos, wings and of course their famous barbecue baby back ribs.
£30 From 10 pm
www.bodeansbbq.com
Hard Rock Cafe (Multiple) — With the Super Bowl taking place in Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, it isn’t surprising that the original Hard Rock Cafe in London and its Piccadilly Circus location is hosting a viewing party complete with beer, American fare and cheerleaders.
£50 From 10 pm — 5 am
www.hardrockcafe.com
These restaurants have thought of nearly everything — except a doctor’s note for school or work for the morning!
For more: Download the London via Surrey Book App
For more: Download the London via Surrey Book App
LUSH Cosmetics — From humble beginnings in 1995 with their first store located in the small seaside town of Poole, UK, Lush Cosmetics now boasts 900+ stores worldwide. The company is known for ‘fresh handmade cosmetics’ that are 100% vegetarian and cruelty-free. Lush offers over 170+ soaps alone — their Parsley Porridge Soap, an herbal, antibacterial suds would be welcome by anyone.
The Watts Gallery – Artists’ Village (Compton) — The images of William Orpen and G F Watts are the inspiration behind half-term activities at Watts Gallery — recognized as the 2018 Tourist Destination of the Yearby the Surrey Business Awards. The Gallery is hosting a pop up portrait studio, digital portrait making master classes along with storytelling sessions for various ages.
RHS Garden Wisley (Woking) — Family-friendly trails and activities await at RHS Garden Wisley — the second most visited garden in the UK. Crafts, planting, storytelling, theatre and walks are offered throughout the week. Best of all there is no need to book ahead and all activities are included in regular admission.
Warner Bros. Studio Tour(Leavesden) — Measuring over 530K square feet, the studio complex is one of the world’s largest. The Making of Harry Potter is a self-guided behind-the-scenes exhibition that includes original costumes, props and sets. Learn how props are made through Introducing the Art Department on display during half-term.
Brooklands Museum (Weybridge) — Brooklands is considered the birthplace of motorsport and aviation in Britain and winner of the 2019 Tourist Destination of the Year by Surrey Business Awards. Some of the activities on offer over half-term include joining a pit crew, riding in a vintage car up Test Hill or Race Track or touring the Concorde.
