Team Nomad

London offers its visitors a variety of sights to see, unique places to eat and areas to explore. Since there is so much to see and do, I have provided you with the top five things anyone visiting London must experience – so let’s begin…

1. Eat, eat, and eat some more!

London is a cultural melting pot, with people from all corners of the earth being represented in this bustling metropolis. Not only does this provide an amazing multicultural atmosphere, it also means that you can experience some truly amazing food! Greenwich Market is by far my favourite food market in London. During the weekend you can try some amazing international food – and when I say amazing I mean the yummiest food ever! Another reason I love it so much is that certain food stalls such as The Honest Carrot (my favourite) cater for vegans and vegetarians like me. Take a step back from the idea that England is all about the roast beef – there is plenty more on offer, and a huge range of places that cater to vegans and vegetarians exclusively. Check out this handy guide to help you find some of the most highly recommended vegan and vegetarian restaurants in the city!

2. Coffee at the Tate Modern

Apart from exploring the cool art exhibitions at the Tate Modern (which is free to enter), I recommend you go to Tate Café for the spectacular views of the Millennium Bridge and River Thames. I kid you not when I say this is probably one of the most relaxing places I have ever been to in London – and that’s saying something!

3. River Red Rover Cruise

A great way to see the city is via the River Red Rover – a sightseeing cruise along the River Thames. The great thing about this cruise is that you can hop on and hop off at different locations, and is the perfect way to wrap up a busy day of sightseeing on foot. Cold beer in hand, you can unwind as the well-informed and entertaining guides give an audio commentary of the various sites that line the banks of the river!

4. Tower of London

This is hands down the most enjoyable tourist attraction that I have visited whilst being in London. Not only is it a truly fascinating place – full of rich history that dates back hundreds and hundreds of years – the ‘Beef Eater’ tour guides are absolutely hilarious. These long-time military servicemen will provide you with incredibly insightful historical facts, whilst also offending absolutely everyone in their tour groups (in the nicest way possible) with their jokes. An absolute ‘must-do’ for anyone visiting London.

5. The Classic London Pub

Of course, no trip to London (or England for that matter!) would be complete without a drinking session in a London pub. They are certainly not hard to find, seeing as there is one on almost every corner of every street. They are ideal places to begin a big night out or, if you’re lucky, you may even be able to convince the staff to let you join them for an after-work lock-in. Be prepared though, pub staff are seasoned drinkers – and take great pleasure in drinking people under the table!

So there you go guys, happy exploring!

This article is provided by Catherine.

As many boat owners already know, the weather and water conditions will play their part in deciding when you can spend a day on the river, regardless of how enthusiastic you are to set sail.

This means that there are periods of time where your boat will be sitting around, making it vulnerable to damp and a build-up of dust and dirt. The last thing you want to do is spend valuable sailing time getting the boat ship-shape, so here are some pointers on how to keep your boat and sailing equipment clean and ready for action at a moment’s notice.

Plan ahead

The key to keeping your boat clean is to have the right equipment and to have a plan that involves cleaning your boat on a regular basis.

A steam cleaner from a respected brand like karcher uk will definitely help you to get some of the jobs done efficiently and can be used in conjunction with a manageable cleaning schedule.

You certainly don’t have to spend all your potential leisure time cleaning your boat, but if you plan to give the boat a good clean every third or fourth trip, or when the boat has been unused for a number of weeks, you should be able to keep on top of things.

Keeping the seats clean

Using a cleaning product that contains bleach in it may be suitable for white areas like platforms and some hard-seating areas but you could cause damage to coloured fabric seating by using it.

A safer option would be to use the steam cleaner, which has the ability to get fabrics clean and keeps them sanitised with the high-temperature steam. You may want to consider using a marine grade protectant after you have completed the cleaning. Don’t consider a protectant product that is designed for cars, as these are not compatible and may even break down some marine material.

Don’t encourage the damp

When you have finished using your boat for the day, consider taking the lifejackets ashore with you if they have become wet.

It would be much better to remove them and allow them to dry out in a warm environment rather than putting them back into their box, where they could very quickly accumulate mildew.

Dealing with mildew

No matter how diligent you are with your boat cleaning ritual, mildew and your boat will become acquainted with each other at some point in their lives.
The climate inside most boats is almost nirvana for mildew and if it doesn’t take a liking to the various fibres found in the clothing and cordage on board your boat, it will definitely be partial to the linseed oil that is found in many oil-based paints used on boats.

A clean and dry boat is a good start when you are attempting to combat the onset of mildew and good ventilation is essential. Obviously you have to be aware of the need for security, so you can hardly leave your boat to air whilst unattended. This means that regular cleaning of the interior will help to prevent mildew gaining a foothold.

A regular cleaning schedule won’t take long to complete, especially if you use equipment like a steam cleaner to get the job done quickly. The pay-off is that when the sun comes out, you can soon be straight out onto the water, ready to use your boat.

Jamie Ryan is a boat owner with a mission. From basic boat maintenance and right up to refurbishment and re-upholstering tasks under her belt, she enjoys sharing her experiences through blogging.