Making life a holiday with interesting vacation and adventure ideas.

If you have a taste for adventure and 23 days to spare, you will soon be able to take a 7,000 mile rail journey from London in the UK to Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh. Of course, to really enjoy the trip you may want to explore some of the venerable cities on route.

The United Nations-sponsored scheme, links London, Brussels, Cologne, Vienna, Bucharest, Istanbul, Tehran, Quetta, Lahore, Amritsar, Delhi, Calcutta and Dhaka; it incorporates one of the old Trans-Asian Silk Paths and is already laying claim to being the world's greatest railway journey.

Read a detailed report from Dean Nelson in Delhi.

You might also be interested in Michael Palin's Great Railway Journeys (DVD).

Labels: Bangladesh, Dhaka, London, rail, Trans-Asian, UK

Fashion Fringe, now in its fith year, was concceived by Colin McDowell as a dynamic fringe event to coincide with London Fashion Week; it helps to support and promote young talent in the British fashion industry. Created in 2004 by IMG global sports, entertainment and media company, under the creative direction of Colin McDowell, who is a fashion historian and senior fashion writer for the Sunday Times Style Magazine, the event offers the winner the opportunity to create their own fashion company, with a prize of more than £100,000, together with mentoring, business support, PR and legal advice.

Applicants (Design Duos are also permitted to enter) must have been resident in the UK or Eire for 3 years or more, or have a valid work permit until 2012, and they must also be over the age of 21 to enter. Closing Date for Applications is 2 May 2008 and you can apply online.

Labels: 2008, fashion, Ireland, London, UK

The Daily Telegraph's Adventure Travel Show returns on Friday 25 through Sunday 27, January 2008 and this year is at the Business Design Centre, Islington, London.

Opening Times are:
Friday 25th January ? 12pm? 8pm,
Saturday 26th January ? 10am ? 6pm,
and Sunday 27th ? 10am ? 4pm.

Find plenty of inspiration and practical advice, with more than 100 free talks including expert knowledge about remote and exotic locations, real life experiences, hints, tips and celebrity appearances.

Labels: 2008, Adventure Travel, exhibition, London, Shows, UK

Around 30 cyclists joined a protest this morning, at the opening of the new Eurostar terminal, St Pancras station, London. The cyclists were highlighting the poor facilities and planning for bikes, despite much-publicised claims regarding carbon-neutral travel to Paris. More.

Labels: cycle, Eurostar, London

If you're in London, fancy walking or cycling to Paris? Or, of course, if your in France making the trip to England? It is proposed to build a cycle route linking Sussex to Paris in time for the 2012 Olympics.

Miles Godfrey, writing in The Argus, reports that Sussex has signed up to an agreement with the French authorities to create the 'Avenue Verte', which will enable cyclists to travel on one unbroken route from London to Paris, crossing the channel via the ferry at Newhaven.

Not only that, the route will also be available for use by walkers and horse riders, and it is expected that, with few exceptions, the 'St Paul's Cathedral to Notre Dame' route will be off-road.

Labels: cycle, England, France, London, National Cycle Network, Paris, route, Sussex

Winter Wonderland is set to transform Hyde Park, London, between Hyde Park Corner and the Serpentine, into a magical world of ice and festival fun, providing fun, laughter, and excitement for all. As well as the stunning ice rink, Winter Wonderland includes gentle rides for younger children. There will also be a brilliant German Christmas Market, including authentic arts, crafts, presents, foods and traditional mulled wine, from a range of genuine traders making it the ideal place to do some Christmas shopping and enjoy the atmosphere of the Festive season. The bandstand will feature regular carol concerts and, when time allows, even Santa himself is scheduled to make an appearance in the run-up to Christmas.

The site is free to enter, with tokens for all rides and attractions available for purchase on the day but advance booking for the Ice Rink is strongly recommended throughout the season.

Winter Wonderland in London's Hyde Park, runs for six weeks from 1 December, 2007, to 6 January, 2008. It is the perfect event for family, friends and colleagues to delight in the exciting Christmas atmosphere, and you can use this link to book tickets for the Ice Rink through TicketMaster.

Labels: 2007, Christmas Market, Hyde Park, Ice Skating, London, Winter Wonderland

Tomorrow morning, 17 July, 2007, visitors to the Southbank will see a model of the Taj Mahal sail up the Thames to London Bridge Pier, marking the beginning of India Now, a three-month festival in the UK's capital which will showcase India's contribution to world culture. This is the most comprehensive festival of culture ever to be staged in London and celebrates the riches of India's diverse and dazzling traditions, including new Indian trends across art, film, theatre, food, music and fashion.

The festival is to be launched by London Mayor Ken Livingstone, together with a host of celebrities, including Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty, English actress Joanne Lumbley and Indian cricket team, Rahul Dravid.

Our listings contain many interesting activity holidays in India.

Labels: 2007, festival, India, India Now, London, UK

It seems early to be thinking about Christmas but some opportunities are so fantastic, you have to grab them as soon as they are presented to you. Deep within a forest, at the summit of a volcano, exists an extraordinary world, a world of possibilities, a world called Varekai.

In the Romany language, the word 'Varekai' means 'wherever' and is the title of Cirque Du Soleil's new production at the Royal Albert Hall, London, UK, paying tribute to the nomadic soul, to the spirit, the art of the circus tradition, and to the infinite passion of those whose quest takes them along the path that leads to Varekai.

The story of Varekai begins with a solitary young man falling from the sky, parachuted into the shadows of a magical forest, a kaleidoscopic world populated by fantastical creatures, the scene is set for an extraordinary adventure on an inspired incantation to life rediscovered. And the Cirque Du Soleil performers are technically brilliant, I really cannot think of a more magical way of enjoying the Christmas season. The production opens 10 January, 2008 and runs to 3 February, 2008.
Buy your tickets for Cirque Du Soleil from Ticketmaster now and then enjoy the summer!

Labels: 2008, Christmas, Cirque du Soleil, London, Royal Albert Hall, Tickets, UK, Varekai

Next week is the London Marathon, 22 April 2007. The race has been described as the World's longest street party with people in fancy dress and outlandish costumes, bands playing on every street corner and crowds lining the streets to cheer the runners on.

Over 30,000 people will be racing from Greenwich Park to The Mall and more than £15 million will be raised for charity but it looks as if the warm, sunny weather that the UK is currently enjoying, will persist, with temperatures remaining at about 24 C, which is twice the seasonal average, so runners will have to take care that they are prepared and that they take on board plenty of fluids during the race. If next week is anything like today, even the spectators will find it warm.

Labels: London, London Marathon, marathon

London Boat Show opens Friday 5 through to the 14 January, 2007 at the ExCeL centre, London.

The venue is easily accessible from Central London and is situated in the heart of London Docklands; located one mile East of Canary Wharf and one mile West of City Airport. When driving to ExCeL London follow signs for Royal Docks, City Airport and ExCeL, postcode E16 1XL. There is easy access to the M25 and M11 motorways, the A406 and the A13.

Labels: boat, ExCeL, London, London Boat Show