With the summer (finally!) now upon us, many of us are starting to cast our minds to spending the weekends out and about with our family and friends, making the most of what the ‘Great’ British weather has to offer.
But, knowing what to do with these weekends can be a difficult decision.

Well, whether you’re a family of four, a group of students, or recently retired, and your looking for something new and exciting to do this summer, then the guys at WOW247 have put together this infographic to give you a little inspiration – and what’s more, these fantastic ideas will show you how you can get more bang for your buck!

Find Days Out with WOW247

If you’re one of the one in six people who openly admit that they’re not confident about parallel parking (and haven’t actually done it since their driving test) you will find this handy ‘how to’ guide extremely useful.

Cut it out and keep it in your glove compartment to make sure you are never stuck in the multi-story car-park again.

Parking Guide Infographic – An infographic by T W White & Sons

There’s so much to see and do in London that the visitor can feel quite daunted when it comes time to decide on the best way to see some of the city’s most iconic sights and attractions. Choosing a Thames River Cruise is an exciting alternative to the busy street based tours which are reliant on the fickle London traffic to work well. See some of the most famous London attractions from the comfort of a boat on the Thames. Big Ben and the palace of Westminster, the London Eye, Tower Bridge and more. There are many hop on and hop off type trips available and with piers close to some of the most famous landmarks such as the London Eye Pier, Westminster Pier and Tower Pier you can combine a relaxing river cruise with a closer look on land if you wish.

There are some terrific options when it comes to taking a river cruise in London. You may want a little more than the hop on and off type experience so why not consider a lunch cruise where you can enjoy a three course meal with wine as you float past St. Pauls and Tower Bridge? Afternoon tea is also a popular choice and a typical British cup of tea and scone as you drift pass the Houses of Westminster is hard to beat. There are also night time trips and the sight of the Thames with the bridges and buildings illuminated is spectacular. Take a trip all the way to the Thames Barrier and back, seeing dozens of interesting attractions from a completely new perspective.

There are many other attractions worth exploring in London. As well as the typical sights which are well known to visitors there are other slightly more out of the way treasures to discover. Spend the afternoon at London Zoo before walking to the top if Primrose Hill for fantastic views of London. Visit Camden Market for alternative clothing, jewellery and gifts and for excellent live music venues and pubs, or walk on Hampstead Heath where you can see the pond, Kenwood Hall and, from Parliament Hill Fields fabulous views of such iconic buildings as the Gherkin and the Shard. Visit Greenwich in South London for all things naval and wonderful parks or shop in Oxford Street for Selfridges and Knightsbridge for Harrods and Harvey Nichols. There are hundreds of exciting things to see and do in London, from the land or from the magnificent River Thames.

Taxi insurance has become more relevant, and necessary, than before in view of the increasing number of road accidents. Since both driver and the vehicle are at risk during such mishaps, there is need to provide covers as diverse as protection from road damage, cover for the passengers, vehicle damage, third party damage and so on.

Taxi insurance is the only effective safety net that taxi owners and drivers can fall back on, but there are costs attached to this that bear relevance and require consideration.

Though taxi insurance is pretty akin to private car insurance in most ways, the dangers faced by taxi drivers and the vehicles are far more than private cars. Moreover, since passengers in the taxi cannot be held accountable for any damages, the onus falls on the taxi owner/driver to make good the damages and that can be a heavy price to pay.

Taxi insurance is the only protection through which taxi owners/drivers would be able to meet legal costs, damage claims and other expenses. The right insurance cover can provide tremendous succour to taxi owners fighting a protracted legal battle and allows him to get on with his business.

Whether it is public hire or private hire, the taxi business depends a great deal on taxi insurance products. However, as mentioned above, this would come at a cost and it is in this context that we should look at the latest budget measures.

To start with, taxi fleet managers have welcomed the scrapping of the proposed 3p increase in fuel duty. They say that this measure would enable them to avoid big tariff hikes and that would get them more business.

This measure is also welcome from the perspective of them having to pay heavily each week on petrol as well as the fact they have to pay far more for insurance premiums. The taxi business is considered high risk and the premiums therefore are much higher than private auto insurance.

Taxi fleet managers have a point when they say they cannot cut down on their fuel consumption or have smaller and more fuel efficient vehicles to the extent they want to as the vehicles have to be of a certain width, power and dimensions to cater to their clients.

In view of the other costs being unavoidable, any relief measure proposed by the government is thus always welcome and thereforeit can be safely said that this budget has brought in some cheer for the taxi business.

If you are planning a trip to London, but have visited the bustling capital city many times before, you will be looking for something a little different to do with your time.  Piccadilly Circus, Trafalgar Square and many of the other attractions and places of interest that London has to offer are great to see, but once you’ve seen them once, they lose their appeal.  London is a vast and expansive city that has so much more to offer than the popular tourist attractions, if you know where to look.  In this article you will discover some of the lesser known gems and learn exactly where to find them.

The Thin House

It may be that you love London from an architecture point of view and it is not surprising really as it has one of the most breath-taking skylines from many of the different tall buildings and bridges.  Architectural masterpieces such as Canary Wharf, The Shard, The Gherkin and St Paul’s Cathedral are all great places to visit to get a glimpse of both the modern and classic side of London.  However, one intriguing building that you may not be aware of is known as The Thin House.  This s a building that is as the name suggests, incredibly thin and if you stand at the west side of the building along Thurloe Square in Knightsbridge you will be amazed at just how slender it is!

Camden Catacombs

For those of you who want to take a look at how London used to operate during the 19th Century, you will want to take a look at the area known as Camden Catacombs.  This is not easy to see, even when you are standing in Camden Lock where it starts, mainly because the actual catacombs are 21 feet underground.  Historically, these passages were created to keep the horses and pit ponies that worked on the railways and they extend from Camden Lock all the way to Primrose Hill.  Apparently, somewhere in the maze of tunnels there is an underground pool where canal boats were stationed.

The House They Left Behind

Those of you interested in the history of London during the Blitz in the Second World War will enjoy a visit to the property at 27 Ropemakers Fields on Narrow Street in Limehouse.  During the Blitz every house on this street was demolished, a whole terrace, apart from this one building.  It was originally built in 1857 and was home to The Black Horse, until it was converted in the modern restaurant simply known as “The House”  As well as a nice meal, you will be able to feast your eyes on various original paintings and artworks from the period.

Rio’s Naturist Club

If you want to go really leftfield on your next trip to London, Rio’s Naturist Club at 239 to 241 Kentish Town Road in Kentish Town may be up your street.  It is a health club for hip and young naturists and includes a wide range of facilities such as a tanning room, swimming pool, Jacuzzi and sauna – all of which are used completely naked.  There is also a refreshment area that serves food and non-alcoholic drinks to its naked customers.

It’s clear from the four places mentioned above that London has so much to offer than all the usual tourist haunts.  You should consider these four to be merely the tip of iceberg as you will many other places discussed and reviewed online that are not the average points of interest.  It is best to draw up anitinerary whenever you are visiting a big city like London, so that you can ensure that you visit everywhere you would like to, but just as important is getting appropriate travel insurance.  Staysure are one such company that offer competitive rates and attractive travel insurance packages that will ensure your journey round the more unusual places in London is anxiety free.

This is a big year for the Queen. Granted, last year people said the same, as the monarch (and all of the UK) celebrated her diamond jubilee, and, of course, who could forget the royal wedding (or Pippa’s famous dress). But this year, Queen Elizabeth still has a lot of to look forward to. She’ll be marking her 60-year coronation anniversary, become an even prouder grandmother when the Duchess of Cambridge gives birth, and turn 87-years old.

Rather than head into retirement like many of her contemporaries, the Queen maintains a full diary of royal engagements and, until recently when she was brought down by a stomach bug, always fulfils them.

While Queen Beatrix of Holland has chosen to abdicate the throne aged 75, you can’t see Queen Elizabeth of England following in her footsteps anytime soon.

While the Queen celebrates her official birthday on 21 April, it won’t be until 15 June that the public festivities take place. Hopefully it’ll be warmer by then.

So, what does the head royal do for her birthday? The same thing she does every year – enjoys the annual military parade, the Trooping of the Colour, which honours the long-standing sovereign and sees a crowd of thousands come to join in the festivities.

And you can be there too. A weekend in London for the Queen’s birthday is a time to celebrate England and everything that makes this country so uniquely British. With national pride taking over, you can take part in the regal occasion and relish in the cultural attractions that the capital has to offer.

The Hotel

London has some of the most reputed and luxurious hotels in the world. The Savoy is a well-known classic, which you’d probably recognise from its appearance in the film, Notting Hill, while the Hotel Russell exudes old English grandeur and a sense of long-standing tradition. Reputable London hotels offer guests world-class accommodation, spectacular food and the highest quality service – everything you want for a weekend break.

Keep Saturday Free

The Trooping of the Colour takes place on Saturday 15 June and is the must-see event of the Queen’s birthday weekend. The main fly-past starts at 1pm and is carried out by troops from the Household Division (Foot Guards and Household Cavalry) on Horse Guards Parade in Whitehall. However, spectators are advised to get there for a 10am start as various other events take place prior to the main attraction. The best place to watch from is The Mall, but you’ll also be able to find viewing spots at the edge of St James’ Park.

Head for the West End

The West End is a synonymous feature of London. No cultural trip to the capital would be complete without seeing a show in one of the world’s most famous and long-standing theatres. A walk around the streets of Piccadilly Circus will show you just how many shows there are to choose from, and with the bright lights of London’s best theatres calling you, you’ll struggle to choose between which billboard and set of raving reviews to go and see.

Scale the Shard

There are a countless number of famous tourist attractions to see in London. From the Tower of London and Big Ben to the London Eye and London Bridge, there’s plenty to visit. But the best, and possibly grandest, way to see them all in one weekend is to head to The Shard. As London’s tallest building, and the newest symbol of the capital, the view is the main reason to go there. There’s no better platform to admire the city’s skyline from.

When you travel to London these days it definitely makes sense to take your laptop with you. This is because it is a great city for hooking up to a free Wi-Fi service and passing a couple of hours on the internet.

My favourite internet activity just now is going onto an online casino and playing some games while I try to win money. The Maria casino is a fantastic example of an online games site where you can get stuck into a lot of different types of game and try to win some money. This is a brilliant way of passing some time in the evenings rather than watching the telly in your hotel room. So where will you do this?

McDonald’s

If you like to eat a hamburger while you play roulette then McDonald’s is as good a place to do it as any. There are also independent restaurants strung across the city which have free Wi-Fi access but if you like to know exactly what you are going to get served then you can’t go wrong here.

Leon

Anyone who prefers a healthy touch to their meals could do it here. As you try to win that life changing jackpot you could be tucking in to a meatball burger or a lentil and bacon soup. All of the branches offer Wi-Fi access – which isn’t always the case with other restaurant chains – so when you see the sign you will know that your internet connection is waiting for you there.

Coffee Republic

There is something so deliciously cool about sipping a classy cup of coffee while using the internet on your laptop in London. I could spend hours each day in here but if you want free access here you will only get the first 10 minutes without charge. This might be enough for me to get a quick game of blackjack but if I get on a winning streak I’ll happy pay the extra charge to stay connected for longer. Starbucks is another good option for internet fans who like coffee as well.

Pret a Manger

If you don’t mind paying a fairly steep price for your coffee and sandwich then you could feel right at home at a Pret a Manger. Most of the branches in London have free Wi-Fi and the price of the coffee might pale into insignificance one you win the jackpot on a slots game and start wondering about how you will spend your winnings in the big city.

Your Hotel

Don’t forget that many hotels in London now offer free Wi-Fi access for their guests too. Before you head out to eat some food or drink some coffee you might want to find out whether you can place a wager on the roulette table without even going outside. This is a great choice when the weather outside is miserable or you are too tired to think about going out to find a Wi-Fi hotspot.