2017SPRING EDITION ’s WhatIN LONDON THIS OnSPRING 1 Welcome to the Spring Issue of Word of Mouth Magazine AUTUMN EDITION 2015 A Note From The Editor... SUMMER EDITION 2015 A Warm Hello to Our Readers! SUPPORTING LOCAL BUSINESS THROUGH WORD OF MOUTH SUPPORTING LOCAL BUSINESS Have you heard, the universe is telling us that winter is long gone, and THROUGH WORD OF MOUTH HEAL YOUR spring is here to stay – this can only be a good thing, right? As we MIND, BODY AND welcome springtime with open arms, we’re also starting to notice the perks of lighter evenings, blossoming flowers... and leaving the house MAKE THE SOUL MOST OF without wearing a fur-hooded coat is always a bonus. AUTUMNAL THE REST FASHION & OF SUMMER HOME In and Out of the city with WOM + For your reading pleasure, every issue we like to keep a finger firmly on the pulse of what’s happening in and around South London. We also | 3 like to give you a taste of international waters by including scintillating | [email protected] • ACTIVITIES WORD OF MOUTH MAGAZINE• FOOD • SHOPS • FASHION reads about the likes of wine and travel, just in case you fancy holidaying any time soon. FITNESS • • BEAUTY HEALTH WORD OF MOUTH MAGAZINE | [email protected] | 3 HEALTH• BEAUTY • FITNESS• FASHION • SHOPS • FOOD • ACTIVITIES In the spirit of spring, we’ve been busy rounding up the best topics for you to enjoy with your morning coffee, or a cheeky glass of fizz - whatever floats your boat. From the history of Easter and sweet dessert wines to pair with your favourite dishes, to the hidden museums of South London and the skinny on which events and exhibitions to go see now; there’s lots of exciting features to keep you entertained. Turn to page 12 if you’re in the mood to book a budget-friendly spring break anytime soon, and page 34 where you’ll discover the quirky ‘Robot Zoo’ exhibition every Londoner is talking about. From ethical fashion and trendy London day spas, to productivity apps that’ll help you stay organised... oh, and spring-cleaning hacks that actually work, you’ll find it all here amongst the glossy pages of Word of Mouth Magazine. Enjoy the issue... Dawn Wood Editor-in-Chief Word of Mouth Magazine Why not tell us what you think of our Spring 2017 issue? We’d be delighted to hear your thoughts. Facebook us your comments @wommagazineuk @WOMMAGAZINEUK@WOMMAGAZINEUK @WOMMAGAZINEUK@WOMMAGAZINEUK @WOMMAGAZINEUK @WOMMAGAZINEUK@WOMMAGAZINEUK 2 ADVERTISE YOUR BUSINESS WITH WORD OF MOUTH MAGAZINE: [email protected] 3 UNWIND WITH MOTHER NATURE’S SLEEPY TEAS LAVENDER AND CHAMOMILE ARE THE ONLY HERBS TO HELP YOU EASE INTO YOUR BEDTIME ROUTINE. Page 46 TOP 5 LONDON DAY SPAS FOR THE RESTLESS SOUL WHAT CAME FIRST, THE EGG OR THE CHICK? BREATHE AND REBOOT YOUR MIND, BODY AND DISCOVER THE ORIGIN BEHIND EASTER’S TREATS SOUL WITH THESE LUXURIOUS LONDON SPAS. AND TRADITIONS. Page 52 Page 6 PRODUCTIVITY APPS THAT’LL CHANGE THE WAY JET-SET YOUR CARES AWAY THIS SPRING YOU WORK & LIVE FOR THOSE WITH PERMANENT WANDERLUST, WE ALL NEED A HELPING HAND IN THE CHECK OUT THESE BUDGET-FRIENDLY HOLIDAY ORGANISATION DEPARTMENT FROM TIME TO TIME. SPOTS. Page 64 Page 12 THE 24 HOUR TUBE IS HERE SWEET WINES TO SIP ALL YEAR ROUND INTRODUCING LONDON’S MOST CONVENIENT INTRODUCE YOUR TASTE PALATE TO THIS PUBLIC TRANSPORT MODE, THE NIGHT TUBE. SELECTION OF STRICTLY-SWEET WINES. YUM! Page 68 Page 22 YOUR WHAT’S ON GUIDE FOR SPRING 2017 THE HIDDEN MUSEUMS OF SOUTH LONDON DON YOUR CULTURE CAP AND IMMERSE YOURSELF THESE WELL-DISGUISED MUSEUMS ARE QUITE IN A SLICE OF THE ARTS, SOUTH LONDON STYLE... POSSIBLY THE BEST THING SINCE SLICED BREAD. Page 74 Page 28 WHAT IS LASER CUTTING? AIN’T NO TOURIST! GET CREATIVE AND TRY AN ARTISAN TECHNIQUE ESCAPE THE CROWDS AND DISCOVER FUN THINGS USED BY THE FASHION INNOVATORS OF TO DO THAT ARE A LITTLE DIFFERENT FROM THE YESTERDAY AND TODAY. NORM. Page 78 Page 30 GREEN IS THE NEW BLACK ROBOT ANIMALS ARE FASCINATING CREATURES ETHICAL FASHION HAS BECOME MORE APPARENT LEARN ABOUT YOUR FAVE ZOO ANIMALS AND THAN EVER. LEARN HOW TO DO YOUR BIT FOR THE THEIR UNIQUE BEHAVIOUR IN THIS ROBO-TASTIC ENVIRONMENT. LONDON EXHIBIT. Page 82 Page 34 THE DANGERS OF MICROBEADS EXPRESS YOUR SELFIE WHO KNEW THESE TINY PARTICLES COULD HAVE LOVE SELFIE-SNAPS? THIS IS ONE EXHIBIT SUCH A CATASTROPHIC ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT? DEDICATED ENTIRELY TO THE ARTISTIC SIDE OF Page 86 SELFIES. Page 36 THE ULTIMATE SPRING-CLEAN GUIDE SIMPLE AND EFFECTIVE CLEANING HACKS TO HELP KEW GARDENS: A HISTORY OF NATURE, ART & YOU DUST THAT GRIME OUT OF YOUR HOME. ARCHITECTURE Page 88 ENJOY SPRINGTIME IN THIS BOTANICAL GARDEN OF BLISS... IT’S THE PERFECT ESCAPISM. Page38 ADVERTISE YOUR BUSINESS WITH @WOMMAGAZINEUK @WOMMAGAZINEUK @WOMMAGAZINEUK @WOMMAGAZINEUK WORD OF MOUTH MAGAZINE ADVERTISE YOUR BUSINESS WITH WORD OF MOUTH MAGAZINE: [email protected] 4 5 EasterTREATS & TRADITIONS Written by Chloe Laws 6 7 Easter is often seen as a paradoxical holiday: in one sense it’s the time of year when Christians celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ. On the other hand it’s a commercially-driven celebration where children are gifted chocolate eggs, and we all eat hot cross buns lathered in butter. Yum! of Jesus that was shed on the cross. Eggs were also typically a food that Christians would Whereas eggs were once seen as the typical abstain from during Lent, thus they were Lent sacrifice, now it’s chocolate. But where do these traditions stem from? And how did bunnies, saved and decorated for ‘Holy Week’ before Good Friday, the day that Christians being gifted to children. remember Jesus was crucified on the cross chicks and chocolate-eating become so integral to Easter? Today over 90 million chocolate eggs are for their sins, has many a tradition too. Hot sold in the UK every year, and on average a cross buns are widely consumed, with the child receives eight. Yes, as many as EIGHT. cross decoration engraved on top to remind THE ORIGINS OF EASTER WHICH CAME FIRST, THE EGG The Easter-egg hunt is said to re-enact the Christians of Jesus’ sacrifice. These delicious OR THE CHICK? The word ‘Easter’ is derived from two old pagan rolling away of the stone from Christ’s tomb, buns are said to replace the historical offering festivals - that of ‘Ostara’ which celebrated So where do Easter eggs fit into all this history? with the most famous Easter Roll taking place of bread - and they are much tastier than a new life, and the Arabian Sun festival, ‘Ishtar’. The egg symbolises new life and fertility, while on the White House lawn every Monday after piece of toast! Early Christians turned this celebration of the bunny stems from the goddess, Eostre, the holiday. new life into a celebration for the new life of whose earthly symbol was the rabbit. The The tradition of chocolate eggs began in 19th HOW TO CELEBRATE THIS YEAR Jesus. And historically it falls on the date of egg was given as a gift long before it became Century France and Germany before it spread For 2017 Easter eggs have gotten even more Passover, a time of year when Jewish people synonymous with Easter, often wrapped in a across Europe, and eventually to the USA. lavish and delicious, with high-end designers remember God saving Jews from slavery in gold leaf, or boiled and painted by peasants. Katherine Tegen, a children’s author who having a go at creating them. For example, Egypt. For thousands of years hard-boiled eggs were wrote ‘The Story of the Easter Bunny’ said, Roberto Cavalli has just launched a Zebra Officially Easter starts with Lent on Ash decorated on Nowruz, the Iranian New Year. “To receive the special Easter eggs, children white chocolate egg. The perfect gift for Wednesday, and then continues for 46 days Christians adopted this symbolism, stating were told to make nests from hats or baskets your fashionable beau. Want to show mum until Easter Monday. that dyeing the egg red represents the blood so the Easter Bunny could leave them there.” how much you love her? Go for Fortnum and 8 9 Mason’s Marc de Champagne truffle egg, it’s dreamy! Do you partake in a vegan lifestyle? Think that means you have to give up Easter eggs? Think again. Hotel Chocolat has a selection of vegan-friendly products with “more cocoa and less sugar.” After all, saving the planet doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy chocolate. Another tradition getting a serious makeover this year is the hot cross bun, with M&S launching a savoury take on the popular pastry. This may sound peculiar to the palate, but definitely worth a try. With mature Irish cheddar, sweet onion, Brewers paste and sultanas, they’re surprisingly good. Who knew sultanas and cheese was such a delightful pairing? Want to steer clear of the inevitable sugar rush your children will have on Easter weekend? Why not get them an alternative gift, one they’ll be equally as excited by. Build-A-Bear has a workshop that lets your little one build their own Easter Bunny toy. Super cute! Whether you celebrate Easter as a Christian or in a more secular way, it’s a great time of year to spend quality time with your family and sample some treats. With Good Friday and Easter Monday both falling on bank holidays in England and Wales, it’s worth taking some well deserved time off and heading to one of London’s many hunts.