Thursday 1 December 2011

Travel seems busy busy today. Keep us updated on what you are seeing on the roads. Tweet us @CityNow1 or check out the facebook page

https://www.facebook.com/pages/City-Now/153486084752133
Follow Alice's top tips for this weekend. Check out the links below to find out more about shopping and the Eats London Design Show.

http://www.grosvenorlondon.com/Editorial/NewsArchive/Pages/ChristmasinBelgravia.aspx


http://www.eastlondondesignshow.co.uk/

Ice Skating

Natural History Museum
The first of the pop-ups to welcome unsteady skaters to its sides, the NHM Ice Rink is now open until 8 January, 10am-10pm weekdays and from 8.45am on weekends. Tickets for adults £12.75-14.30 for a 50 minute session depending on time of day.

Broadgate Ice
With three sessions daily available – 12-2:30, 3:30-5:30 and 6–8pm (9pm on Friday) – on a first come, first served basis it looks like lunch hour and after work outings round Liverpool Street just got more interesting. Tickets adults £9, kids £6, £2 skate hire. Open from today until 12 February but check the website.

Canary Wharf
The Docklands ice rink opens on 12 November in Canada Square Park until 19 February. Skate in the shadow of the soaring towers in one hour sessions from 9.45am-11pm weekdays and Saturdays and till 7.30pm on Sundays. Tickets for adults off peak £10, kids £7.50.

Winter Wonderland
Hyde Park’s Winter Wonderland ice rink opens on 19 November until 3 January. Be careful you don’t fall over distracted by the Giant Wheel, the bright lights of the funfair or the smell of mulled wine. Daily skating sessions run from 10am-10pm. Off peak tickets are £10.50 adults, £8.50 kids.

Tower of London
Taking to the ice alongside the impressive Tower wall will set you back £10.50 off peak adults and £8 kids. The rink is open from 19 November to 8 January, between 10am-10pm for one hour sessions, skates included.

Eyeskate
Skate at the foot of the London Eye between 19 November and 6 January. Buy your ticket online for a 45 minute session and tickets start from £7.35 (£10.50 on the day). There are also opportunities to combine a slow spin on the Eye with a quick whizz on the ice. Skating sessions start from midday in November and 10am in December, through till 9pm, skates included.

Westfield (west and east)
Combine shopping with ice skating at Westfield’s Shepherds Bush (indoors) and Stratford City (outdoors) sister shopping centres. The cheapest skate is available to buy online for the ‘off peak’ sessions: adults £8.50, kids £5.50 (plus 50p booking fee). Open 19 November to 8 January.

Somerset House
One of the prettiest places for your wintry ice dance, Skate at Somerset House offers ice dance lunchtime workouts and club nights (disco music while you skate/stumble/tumble). The rink opens 22 November to 22 January and one hour sessions start at 10am with the last skate at 10.30pm, tickets from £7.50.

Hampton Court Palace
Glide gracefully past the magnificent tudor palace from 26 November to 8 January daily from 10am-10pm. Off peak adult price £10.50, kids £8, skates included.

And don’t forget London’s brilliant permanent ice rinks: Alexandra Palace, Streatham Ice Arena and Queen’s Ice and Bowl at Bayswater.
Don O'Briens homemade Christmas Card


Christmas Cards

One might be forgiven for not splashing out on Christmas this year, given the state of the economy.
But the Christmas card industry can look to their laurels as it seems no one is cutting back.

But HSBC launched a Christmas Spending Survey, and it turns out as much as 20% of people said they would be spending more this year than last.

Estimations show that the average person will spend £378 on family members’ presents and a further £183 on food, drink and entertainment.

Philosophy Forums.

Do you think they would help someone you know suffering from a mental illness?

Since 2007 the male suicide rate in Islington has been 19 per 100, 000 men making it the highest in any London borough. Women are affected too - the female suicide rate is double the national average.

Jamie meeting the journalists of tomorrow!
Laura Cress live from the Old Bailey bringing you the latest on the Stephen Lawrence trial.

Forensic experts examining DNA and reporting their findings. Keep listening to see how this affects the trial.