A few months ago my boyfriend and I managed to secure a spot at the wonderful Sky Garden in London. We fancied a cheap day out (ugh student life) doing something different and that we'd both thoroughly enjoy. We love visiting new places, admiring views and it's always an extra bonus for us if it's FREE!! When I popped to London for a lovely weekend in between university stress, we booked an afternoon slot for the Sky Garden, located on Fenchurch Street. This whole blog post is dedicated to our experience because I feel like this location is extremely underrated and not talked about enough considering its beauty, affordability and a nice place to clear your mind. 

So my number one tip for going to the Sky Garden would definitely be to book in advance - tickets sell super quickly, probably because you don't have to pay, so make sure you're pro-active and book in advance. You can only book a few weeks in advance so if you want to make sure you definitely get a booking, then check every single day for slots. I'd definitely go during the afternoon again because of how bright the building was; it filled me with a creative buzz and was a lovely light to view the beautiful city. The only other tips I'd have is to try booking on a day that you know will be sunny or fog-free. Unfortunately, we didn't check the weather regularly and ended up going when it was extremely foggy. However, we still managed to see a great distance so I'd still suggest you don't cancel the trip. We had a wonderful time and could still gaze at the views for hours. Ultimately, the best time to go would definitely be a weekday if possible - this way you will avoid the busy weekend crowds and enjoy the experience in the best way. We went up on a weekday in the afternoon which was the perfect time - super relaxing and not very busy at all. 

If you fancy a bite to eat or something to drink, do not fear. Indulge in the wonderful food facilities that are available in the Sky Garden - there are perfect places for brunch or dinner dates, as well as a fun family trip or something for the road. The bakery goods looked delicious but we were trying to save our money so we didn't purchase. However, I will for sure be picking up a muffin or cookie next time we go. The prices weren't too expensive either - they probably equate to similar costs you see in your local Starbucks/Costa/coffee shop. I have no idea how pricey the restaurant was but I'm certain I want to go for a cute date night one evening. I think the views would be gorgeous at night - seeing the lights turn on across the city would be amazing to watch.

Overall, this experience was a 10/10 for me. I found it super calming, the greenery was my aesthetic and I personally believe it is one of the best, and very few, cost-free things to do in London. 

Where have you been that was amazing but didn't cost a penny? Where are your favourite places to visit in London?

Lots of love

"WILL POWER HAS A NEW FRIEND" 

Something I've been desperate to share you with you guys is this new app I'm using. And no, this isn't a sponsored post. I'm just OBSESSED with how enlightening this app is and fits in with my mini resolution of staying off my phone for longer periods of time. HOLD is an app, originating in Norway, for higher education students which has now moved to the UK to help all of us British students out! Staying off your phone for twenty minutes (and more) helps you accumulate points to trade in for rewards. Who knew that spending hours off your phone could lead you to freebies, vouchers and discounts for your favourite activities/brands?!

If you are also looking to boost your productivity, stay motivated for longer hours and get that assignment finished way before the deadline is due, then you have to download this app. I cannot recommend it enough and will continue to use it throughout exam season. My stress levels have definitely decreased and I'm sure I'll see many more improvements in my mood, mental health and motivational levels the more I use HOLD on a daily basis. Let me know if you end up downloading the app so we can challenge each other to get the most points!! I'm the most competitive gal on the planet so challenge me...

CHECK OUT MY INSTAGRAM BECAUSE I'M GOING TO BE HOSTING AN EXCITING GIVEAWAY WITH HOLD WHERE YOU CAN WIN FOOD SHOP VOUCHERS TO SAVE ON YOUR NEXT FOOD SHOP!! 

Have you downloaded the app? Do you feel like you spend way too much time distracted on your phone?

Lots of love

When you are thinking about going to uni, there are a lot of things that you are going to have to
consider. One of the most important, of course, is the university itself. The last thing you want is to
end up in a place which you are unhappy with, or which you feel is not going to provide you with the
best possible education. It is helpful if you have some strong idea of what kind of qualities you would
hope to find in such an institution, as that will help you to make your decision much more easily. This
blog post I'm going to tell you my favourite qualities that I feel you should consider when choosing
the best, most ideal university for you!

Plenty Of Extra-Curricular Opportunities

For me, university was much more than just adoring the course itself. You also want to make sure that
you are going to make the most of whatever else there is on offer, and this is one of the first things
you might look into when you are choosing your perfect uni. There should be plenty of extra-curricular
options which you can join, support and embed into your free time. Socialising has made university
so enjoyable and relieving for me so I'd definitely recommend it. If you are into sports, you will want
to look into the best universities for sports, for instance. Alternatively, if you enjoy theatre and dance
like me, you could find a university that offers those societies. As long as your interests are catered
for, there is no reason you shouldn’t enjoy your time at university a lot more. You could even push
and challenge yourself to join something you've always wanted to try, who knows? You might fall in
love with it!

Great Teaching

To be honest, the teaching itself is the most important thing; you should definitely look into whether
or not a particular university offers good teaching in the first place. This can vary from course to course
but there are a lot of ways that you can discover this. One of the best is to simply look at the league
tables, which are ultimately just an indication of what kind of level of teaching you can expect to
receive from any given university. The better the professors, the more likely it is that you will get the
kind of education you really want, so make sure that you have looked into this as soon as possible in
order to find the best uni for you. Although I don't personally believe that the league tables mean
you'll end up with a better job than someone at a university 'higher' than yours. Attend the university's
open day, speak to lecturers that you'll potentially have, chat to current students and find out if they
seem knowledgeable in their field of expertise - if it all seems good, go for it!

Accommodating Atmosphere

The way you feel when you are on campus is hugely relevant too, which is why it is quite so important
to go to an open day and check it out for yourself. You need to make sure that you are actually happy
with how you feel when you are on campus, otherwise you will find it much harder to feel comfortable
when you're walking around and working at university. This is hugely important for your mental health
and having the best possible experience doing your degree. Find a university that has a great and
accommodating atmosphere, especially in the areas you will spend most of your time in. Therefore,
make sure to visit the library, lecture theatres and the student's union to see how you feel.

What qualities do you look for in your ideal university? What is most important to you?

Lots of love