The word “staycation” - holidaying close to home - is this summer's buzzword; the credit crunch is munching into holiday budgets and for once, the UK weather forecast is looking decidedly sunny. Suddenly that no-frills flight to Anywheresville, Europe seems as unattractive as an ice lolly in the rain.
Holidaying in the UK can be just as full of discovery as a foreign fortnight, just reat it as you would your normal holiday. Resist the routine; have a luxurious lie-in and a bountiful breakfast. Don’t be tempted to slip into work mode; curb your Blackberry urge. Don’t dip into DIY projects or heavy housework. Leave a voicemail message explaining that you are unable to take calls. Heck, why not saunter around the sitting room in your swimsuit?
Get inspired by your local area for days out. Local newspapers have listings of events, festivals and fairs. Community centres, libraries, churches, local shops and even doctors’ surgeries display posters for local events; keep your eyes peeled and use the internet as a research tool. National organizations like the Wildlife Trust, English Heritage and Historic Scotland run events all year round. Historic Scotland’s website even provides satnav coordinates for all their destinations so you won’t get lost. Take the Staycation Challenge and you’ll feel more refreshed and revived than a fortnight in Fuertaventura.
I took my own Staycation Challenge in my London neighbourhood, Wapping, an atmospheric area just east of Tower Bridge, and the heart of London's formerly bustling Docklands.
During my break I refuse to make my own breakfast, so I toddle across the road to Gastronomica, my local Italian deli-café. I flick through some glossy magazines and munch on a croissant as Roberta froths my coffee. “I’ve not seen you for a while,” she says. I feel sheepish for not regularly popping in to see Roberta and her gaggle of chatty Italian gals, especially as the coffee and atmosphere is so much better than any chain. I take advantage of their wi-fi and do a quick search for local events and attractions. Visiteastlondon.com throws up some suggestions, as does the Visit London website. I make some notes, drop my computer home (remember the staycation rules) and set off.
Next stop, the Wapping Project. Once a hydraulic power station providing the energy to lift every theatre curtain in London’s West End, it is now a hip eatery and art gallery. It is easy to spot, just look for the hundreds of bright yellow bird houses hanging in the trees. Inside, trendies, families and locals are enjoying brunch in a high-ceilinged dining room full of light and character. I head for the exhibition: a retrospective of fashion photographer Guy Bourdin. The sexy, slick images contrast with the heavy hydraulic machinery that has been left in place to add authenticity. The last time I saw a Guy Bourdin photo was at the V&A, and now it is right on my doorstep. I am seriously impressed.
I carry on along Wapping Wall and reach the Shadwell Basin Outdoor Activity Centre. Set on a picturesque residential basin the centre provides courses in canoeing, kayaking, powerboating and sailing, as well as a climbing centre, mountain biking and team building activities. Spotting a group of kids wedging into canoes with paddles in hand, I ask Will Tytler, the youth project manager, if I can join in. Alas, as an adult, I’d have to sign up for a course or get a small group of friends together for a private lesson. Kids rule the waves here. Youngsters aged 9-18 can pop in for open sessions from just £2; just call ahead for details. This summer the centre is also offering free kayak training for teenagers over 16.
Time for a meander along the river. Here, a stretch of the 184-mile Thames Path provides a panoramic view of London from Canary Wharf to Tower Bridge and beyond. I stop for fish and chips and a history lesson at The Town of Ramsgate, one of London’s oldest riverside pubs. Named after the Kent fishermen who landed their catch here, the atmospheric narrow alley alongside the pub leads to Wapping Old Stairs and into the river. The bloodthirsty Judge Jeffreys - responsible for hundreds of 17th-century hangings - was captured here as he attempted to flee the country dressed as a sailor. If you’re lucky, the barmaid might show you the cellar where convicts were kept before being shipped to Australia.
I chirpped further west along the Thames Path in glorious sunshine and reached St Katharine Dock. Once a highly industrialised working shipyard; now it’s the stylish playground of London’s international boating set. In a dockside café bar I sip a glass of wine, nibble on olives, and ogle the yachts. It could be the French Riviera or the Amalfi coast…but it’s my very own neighbourhood. Who needs a holiday when you can staycation like this?
Where to go in Wapping:
Gastronomica, Wapping
75 Garnet St, E1
Town of Ramsgate
62 Wapping High Street E1
