News / Activities / Staycation
7th January 2021
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This is the year to try something new and with health benefits including an improved immune system, increased happiness and better sleep, why not give wild swimming a go? You’ll be surprised to find several wild swimming spots dotted around so you won’t even have to travel far.
This year, looking after yourself has to be a top priority. Ensure you take plenty of time to unwind and restore your mind and body with a massage or facial.
In 2021, take some time out to help others, through volunteering or donating to charity. As well as the obvious positive effects this has on those you’re helping, it will also improve your happiness and wellbeing, giving you a warm glow. There’s an abundance of charities you can support or work with so choose something close to your heart.
Although international travel is not so easy at the moment, there are many experiences to be had on British soil and with English wine booming, take yourself on a wine tasting tour in Surrey. Both Greyfriars Vineyard and Denbies Wine Estate will make you feel as if you’re abroad with a tour and tasting at their scenic vineyards.
Learn a new skill that will go down a treat at your next dinner party. Master the art of mixology at a cocktail making masterclass at The Athenaeum. You’ll learn about the history of cocktails over canapes before being guided by experts to make three cocktails of your own. Find out more here.
Plan an experiential dinner in our dome! Enjoy a special evening with delicious food, riverside views and exclusive use of our ever-popular dome.
2021 is looking to be an incredible year for art with the arrival of some must-see exhibitions in London. Get ready for the arrival of the biggest privately-owned Banksy collection landing this March and get fully immersed in the Anderson aesthetic at Accidently Wes Anderson at The Old Bank Vault in Hackney. You can ‘Step into infinite space’ at Yayoi Kasama’s long-awaited Infinity Mirror Rooms at the Tate Modern.
How often do you really stop and take in the beauty of your local area? Windsor is a hotspot for tourists for good reason, so we’re claiming 2021 as the year to fall back in love with it – after all, it is right on our doorstep.
Get your culture fix whilst getting outdoors with a visit to a historic National Trust property, each set within stunning grounds. Half an hour from The Runnymede is the country manor at Polesden Lacy which is surrounded by a 1,400 acre estate. Look over the beautiful Surrey hills while taking in the history of the Roman era.
This year, tick paddle boarding off your bucket list and enjoy an al fresco excursion on The Thames. If you’re staying with us, we will have some boards for hire, or for complete beginners, join our friends over at SUP4 for a lesson.
If 2020 taught us anything, it’s that being outdoors is great for your physical and mental wellbeing, so what better way to enjoy the outdoors than by hopping on a bike and cycling round London’s Royal Parks. Why not aim to tick them all off by the end of the year?
In 2021, try your hand at something new with outdoor pursuits at our sister hotel, The Grove. Suitable for adults, kids or the whole family, shoot arrows at the Archery station, glide through the woodland on a Segway or take aim with a game of laser clay pigeon shooting.
The chance to get up close and personal with their favourite animals is something your little ones won’t forget. Make memories this year with a trip to Whipsnade Zoo choosing from their range of family experiences including ‘Meet the Animals’.
Brand new to Somerset House, DODGE has transformed their magnificent courtyard into a joyful world of colour, sound and spectacle. As well as the dodgems, enjoy an interactive light and sound installation and a vibrant outdoor dining experience from chef Jimmy Garcia.
It’s not just adults that will benefit from being out in nature. Kids can experience the benefits whilst the team at The Grove teach them outdoor skills on their popular forest camps. Think den building, campfire cooking and bird spotting in the great outdoors!
