VIVA London Out And About.

kiri | 7th July 2016

Finally our Capital City has come alive with the sunshine, the dark and damp streets are now full of laughter and late nights, and of course it is our job to steer you and your sunshine gear in the right direction for the next few months.

Park Life:

Park Life

London is know as a concrete jungle but there are plenty of parks and outdoor spaces to seek restbite in. We have picked our top five to laze the days away in:

Victoria Park:

If you are looking to move away from the traditional park, then head east to Hackney and Victoria Park, It is slightly rough around the edges, but that makes it a little more loveable. Right next the cannel you can reach it easily on bikes, and with a selection of cafes in and around its perfect for a sunny day.

Clissold Park

At the top end of Church Street in Stoke Newington, with a small exotic bird enclosure, as well as chickens, goats and deer enclosures, a butterfly dome, a paddling pool, a grade II listed building, cafes and playground area, and room to sunbath why would you want to go anywhere else.

Camley Street Natural Park

Is something different and worth checking out an urban nature reserve with a two-acre haven in the middle of Kings Cross, only London could offer such a wonder.

Greenwich Park:

If you are south of the river and looking for a place to relax and stretch your legs then where else to head than the beautiful surroundings of Greenwich. With13-acre grassland enclosure, an urban sanctuary for deer, foxes and over 70 species of bird, it is one of the largest green spaces in south-east London.

Battersea Park:

There is so much going on here it is almost unfair and certainly one for the little ones in our lives, with a family run zoo complete with lemurs, meerkats and pygmy goats, and an adventure play ground your sure to lose a sunny day or two here.

Of course don’t forget London still has Hyde Park, and Regents park if you want to stay central and main stream.

Rompas Reggage Shack Red Stripe rub-a-dub club

Rompas Reagge shack

It must mean summer is here when Rompas Reggage Shack opens it’s doors again. Now in it’s third year the Red Stripe rub-a-dub club open deck, vinyl only event looks set to impress once again, the event remains free and supported by Wray and Nephew and Red Stripe. The rules are simple, turn up with your records and add your name to the wall, once your name is called you’ll get 20 minutes to play your favourite reggae, dub, dancehall and everything in between.

GROW in Hackney Wick is the new location and the dates are as follows: 21st May 19th of June 23rd July 27th of Aug and 24th of September

Raving Not Behaving:

Raving and Not Behaving

With summer bursting through it’s hard to ignore the rise of the day festival in our capital city, so here are our top 3 picks:

Hospitality In The Park: Is the UK’s first outdoor event that brings together all things drum & bass in one place with a 360-degree celebration of dance music’s most diverse and exciting genre on: Saturday the 24th of September in Finsbury Park.

Sunfall: Is a new one day festival in Brockwell Park on the 9th of July just a taster of the line up: Benji B, Goldie and Joy Orbison to underground heroes like Zomby, Fatima Yamaha and freak-jazz saxophonist Kamasi Washington

: Returns on Sunday the 17th of July with Sigur Ros, which will be one of only two UK shows from them in 2016, as well as Caribou, Lianne La Havas and Matt Corby.

Time to Escape:

Time to escape

Fancy escaping the big smoke for the weekend? Here are Viva’s top 6 ideas for a refreshingly different weekend.

  • Love drinking fizz? How about learning more about your favourite tipple with a visit to France. Book a day trip with The Champagne Tour Co. and become a boffin on bubbly. 
  • Love raving not behaving on the weekend? Book a cheeky luxe villa for two nights with Chic Ibiza Villas and dance yourself silly on the white isle.
  • Love wining and dining? Why not book a weekend away to Copenhagen, the foodie’s favourite Nordic capital. Find the best flights on momondo.
  • Love to get out and explore? Try caving, gorge scrambling, orienteering or abseiling in Yorkshire or the Lake District with Lost Earth Adventures.
  • Love to call game, set and match? Improve your court skills on a tennis course at the glamorous Chateau Lou Casteou in the South of France.
  • Love a surprise? Grab a last minute bargain on a fun new experience out of the capital – be it paintballing, glamping, sailing or a weekend away, Bownty has the best selection of deals.

 

London Loves:

Every once in a while you find a few new products and items that are hard not to fall in love with, here at VIVA London we have found a few that are impossible not to tell you about.

Water In A Box

Firstly Water In a Box from Vivid Water has been created with the long-term aim to encourage people to change their habits when it comes to choosing a water brand and to go for cardboard instead of plastic. It’s such a perfect idea, and we can all change the world we live in by the small changes we make.

www.waterinabox.co.uk

Subpac If you’ve never experienced a Subpack in person, you haven’t lived. The technology gives you the feeling that you’re at a show with massive subs all while you’re in the comfort of well wherever you choose, this is literally the perfect gift for any music lover.

www.thesubpac.com/subpac-s2-2/