What is Bond Street?

Bond Street is an area in London that has many beautiful buildings including high end stores and cafes. My sister and I also went to Seven Dials Market.

My Experience And What I Ate:

• Firstly, my sister and I roamed around Bond Street with the pretty lights and there were high end stores such as Dolce and Gabbana. At that specific store, I did not enjoy it as much as the staff kept following us for security reasons which made sense but it left me and my sister feeling a little uncomfortable. 
• My sister and I then went to the Ralph Lauren Cafe to try the hot chocolate and also walk around the Ralph Lauren store. 
• In Seven Dials Market, my sister and I were amongst the crowds of people and we tried three different foods and one drink. 

Ralph Lauren Hot Chocolate (£4.45)

This hot chocolate was overall delicious! It tasted of rich chocolate and it was also quite affordable. It was also given in a Ralph Lauren cup. For the price and the brand, I was quite happy with the hot chocolate. It wasn’t anything unique but it satisfied me. 

Dumplings From Osh Paz Dumplings  (£13.50)

This was my first time trying Uzbek food! We were given eight dumplings along with some cucumber, tomatoes and sauces. Overall the dumplings were of different sizes and we tried three different flavours – vegan, beef and chicken. I personally liked the beef one. It was executed nicely, with a waiting time of about 10-15 minutes. It looked appetising as it was shiny and it tasted uncommon yet I liked the texture of the dumplings. Overall, it was a 4/5.

Matcha Wheelcake from Wheelcake Island (£3)

Next up I tried the Wheelcake. This Wheelcake contained matcha. It was very small in size and you could identify the flavour from the pattern on the bun. The waiting time was painfully long as it took around 20-25 minutes despite it being small. Overall, it didn’t deserve the long wait as it was burning hot for me and the matcha was not very strong. Perhaps, the chocolate and vanilla ones are better. I would rate this a 2/5.

Cookies and Cream Crème Brûlée Crepe Cones From Boolay (£6.60)

This was one of the most exciting new foods I tried as I had seen Crème Brûlée in Masterchef before and I wanted to really try it.  Firstly, I must appreciate the experience of watching the lady make the cone in front of us. This composed of putting the crepe in the cone, pouring the chocolate inside and then placing the top on fire slightly to make it slightly burnt and create the crème brûlée. The waiting time was around 15-20 minutes for this. In terms of appearance, it was quite small but you could see the orange at the top with the gleam from the fire. In terms of taste, I really enjoyed tasting the chocolate inside. I expected there to be a bit more of a crackle when I ate the top,but it wasn’t so the texture was not the best. But the taste was nice and for that reason, I would rate this a 4/5. 

Kadak Chai From Chai Guys (£7.60)

The last item of this article was the Kadak Chai. This chai did not taste bad but it was not the best kadak chai I had. I liked how it was in a cup with the brand and it was freshly made in front of us, yet it did not meet my standards. Overall, I would rate this a 4/5.

What did I like about Bond Street?

• The colourful lights in the dark are so pretty and they illuminate the whole road.
• There are many high end stores to explore and look around in.
• Seven Dials Market had so many people and the diversity of the foods and people was spectacular!

What didn’t I like about Bond Street?

• You may not be able to purchase many items as many of them are very expensive. 
• You also have to ensure that you check that all the food is Halal and avoid going to places that serve alcohol.

Would I Recommend It? 

I would recommend Bond Street, especially in winter when there are all the lights (stay safe though!) I would also recommend Seven Dials Market but check for Halal food and be prepared for long waiting times especially in the weekends and holidays. 

This was my short review or diary entry about Bond Street and Seven Dials Market. These are my opinions about this place. Make sure to check out my other articles.

Thank you for reading, and have a lovely day!

• My 2023 Reflections As A Medical Student 
• My First Term of Medical School | Exams, Essays and Events 
• My First Month of Medical School | Moving Out, Freshers And Workload
• The Ultimate Guide To Ace Year 12 | Revision, Friendships And Supercurriculars
• How I Got All A*s At GCSEs | 10 Tips Every Year 11 Student Should Know

What is London Wonderground?

The London Wonderground is a funfair in London that is famous for its street food and activities. 

What happened in London Wonderground?

My sister and I went to the London Wonderground. On the day, it was very empty and there were barely any people. This made me and my sister realise the importance of having a busy funfair to bring out the summer vibes. We went to look at the sand, got some candy and also later had food in Baegel. Overall, because the funfair was pretty empty, the weather was not too sunny and the rides were pretty standard, I didn’t find this funfair to be that fun. Due to the reasons above, I rated this funfair a ⅖.  It is better to come on a day where it is sunny and come along with family and friends! But don’t stop here, read below!

Baegel:

What is Baegel?

Baegel was a food stall in the London Wonderground where my sister and I tried some burgers!

What I Ordered And My Opinions On It:

Bae N Fried Chicken Burger (£8.50)

This burger was one of the best burgers I tried! Since the funfair was empty, the queue was very short but the man took very long to make the burgers. It was executed how I wanted it to be executed. In terms of appearance and so large in size. It would fill you up. Overall, the taste was absolutely amazing! The sauce, the chicken and the halloumi made this burger spectacular and really brought out all the flavours. I really enjoyed having this burger. I know the burger is quite pricey but since it is in a funfair and it was large, I would still try it again in another funfair. 

The Place:

The shop was a stall with one man making and serving the burgers in the London Wonderground funfair. There are seating areas available in the funfair, so my sister and I sat on the benches and ate the food!

The Service:

As I mentioned already, it did take a pretty long time to get the burgers, but watch out if there is a long queue.

Would I Recommend It?

Overall, I rated the food from Baegel a ⅘. I totally think everyone who sees a Baegel should try this burger but it isn’t the cheapest burger out there, so I could not rate it a 5 on this occasion.

My Rating: 4/5

My Rating System:

⅕ – was below average and would not recommend even trying once

⅖ – the food was average and would not recommend trying

⅗ – the food was delicious but would recommend trying maximum once

⅘ – the food was really good and would recommend trying here

5/5 – the food was outstanding and is one of my favorites!

Order from here (not sponsored): London Wonderground (@londonwonderground) • Instagram photos and videos 

This was my short review or diary entry about London Wonderground and Baegel. These are my opinions about this place. Make sure to check out my other articles. 

Thank you for reading, and have a lovely day!

• My 2023 Reflections As A Medical Student 
• My First Term of Medical School | Exams, Essays and Events 
• My First Month of Medical School | Moving Out, Freshers And Workload
• The Ultimate Guide To Ace Year 12 | Revision, Friendships And Supercurriculars
• How I Got All A*s At GCSEs | 10 Tips Every Year 11 Student Should Know

A lot of people know Harrods, as it is the world’s leading luxury department store. But one place that my sister and I visited and that seemed like the sister of Harrods was none other than Fortnum And Mason. My sister and I visited the new outlet at the Royal Exchange last year too. Did we enjoy it?

What is Fortnum and Mason?

Fortnum and Mason is an upmarket department store in Piccadilly, London. My sister and I visited this original store a few years ago, but around 2018/2019, the Royal Exchange opened a new outlet for Fortnum and Mason too. My sister and I then visited the new outlet last year. So, which one was better?

What did I like about Fortnum and Mason?

• On both of the times we went, Fortnum and Mason was very posh, and it definitely brings out those elite vibes. 
• If you aspire to be wealthy in the future, looking around these types of shops can be quite inspiring.
• In both stores, there was a variety of shops available, although I must say that the shop in Piccadilly was much larger in size and had a greater range of shops.
• Because the shop in The Royal Exchange was mostly a food shop, I realised that there was also not much Halal food available.

What didn’t I like about Fortnum and Mason?

• Of course, the items in Fortnum and Mason, just like Harrods, are very expensive.
• Due to the high pricing, there may be little activities available for you to do.

Would I recommend it?

I think that if you enjoy shopping in general, or you have enjoyed being at Harrods before, then Fortnum and Mason is a must-go place. I would totally recommend the Piccadilly store over the Royal Exchange store, just because of its larger size, greater range and possibly more Halal options. But you are free to check both of them out if you want!

This was my short review or diary entry about Fortnum and Mason. These are my opinions about this place. Make sure to check out my other articles. 

Thank you for reading, and have a lovely day!

• My 2023 Reflections As A Medical Student 
• My First Term of Medical School | Exams, Essays and Events 
• My First Month of Medical School | Moving Out, Freshers And Workload
• The Ultimate Guide To Ace Year 12 | Revision, Friendships And Supercurriculars
• How I Got All A*s At GCSEs | 10 Tips Every Year 11 Student Should Know

Hello everyone! Another place that I visited with my sister in London back in July/August 2021 was Festival Gardens. Festival Gardens was a…you guessed it…garden but was this a special garden that is worth visiting?

What is Festival Gardens?

Festival Gardens is a garden which is a 2 minute walk from St Paul’s Cathedral. 

What did I like about Festival Gardens?

• The garden was organised into little patches of green grass. It was very beautiful and there were many colourful flowers and plants to look at.
• There were fountains for decoration with the clear blue water coming out.
• There was also many seating areas available.

What didn’t I like about Festival Gardens?

• The garden did not have any activities to do. There were mostly just couples and family there which meant it was quite boring. 
• The garden is a pretty reasonable size, but it is not too big so again, you can’t really play sports.

Would I recommend it?

I think that despite this garden being one of the very many nice gardens and spots that London has to offer, I must say that I don’t think it was one of my top-rate parks or gardens. Therefore, it is not a must-go place.

This was my short review or diary entry about Festival Gardens. These are my opinions about this place. Make sure to check out my other articles. 

Thank you for reading, and have a lovely day!

• My 2023 Reflections As A Medical Student 
• My First Term of Medical School | Exams, Essays and Events 
• My First Month of Medical School | Moving Out, Freshers And Workload
• The Ultimate Guide To Ace Year 12 | Revision, Friendships And Supercurriculars
• How I Got All A*s At GCSEs | 10 Tips Every Year 11 Student Should Know

After finishing my Year 12 exams Alhamdulillah, I decided to go ahead and travel to new places by myself. Canary Wharf was one of the places that came to my mind due to its rich vibes as well as its accessibility. On 2nd July 2022, I went to Canary Wharf by myself! I explored a few places there so here was my experience and review!

What is Canary Wharf?

Canary Wharf is a building complex in the London borough of Tower Hamlets. It is known to be London’s central business district, alongside Central London.

What did I like about Canary Wharf?

• Canary Wharf has some very tall buildings – some that are glass buildings and really makes you feel like you are in the centre of the city. 
• It is quite a safe area as there were many people on the Saturday that I went. 
• I went to the North and South Colonnade and in those areas, there are a wide variety of shops and colours – I felt so excited to see it. 
• There are many seating areas and small ponds or streams of water, so I was in awe of the tourist attractions.
• I also went to see the variety of restaurants available in Canary Wharf such as Sticks And Sushi and Chai Ki.
• Seeing the famous One Canada Square bridge which was once a trend on Instagram was really cool and I admired the beautiful art!
• Walking inside Canada Place in Canary Wharf allowed me to also wander around the stores and be in the midst of the hustle and bustle of the city.

What didn’t I like about Canary Wharf?

• Canary Wharf was great but one thing that was difficult was getting around – I wanted to see the Crossrail Place Roof Garden but my Google Maps kept rerouting so I ended up not going there.
• It can be very busy and people can be very much in their own business, so ensure to be aware of that.
• There was definitely a lack of Halal restaurants. I went to a few shops for something Halal and did not find much until I went to Pure and got myself some warm, delicious mocha. Make sure to do your research before going to eat/drink at Canary Wharf!

Would I recommend it?

I would definitely recommend this place! Even though there aren’t many activities to do near the station and in the places I went, it is still a wonderful place filled with beautiful tourist attractions, shops and really makes you feel busy in London!

This was my short review or diary entry about Canary Wharf. These are my opinions about this place. Make sure to check out my other articles. 

Thank you for reading, and have a lovely day!

• My 2023 Reflections As A Medical Student 
• My First Term of Medical School | Exams, Essays and Events 
• My First Month of Medical School | Moving Out, Freshers And Workload
• The Ultimate Guide To Ace Year 12 | Revision, Friendships And Supercurriculars
• How I Got All A*s At GCSEs | 10 Tips Every Year 11 Student Should Know

As I have already stated in my previous article, Eid 2022 was the best Eid of my life. After getting 3 hours of sleep after going to Chand Raat, I woke up at around 6:30 in the morning and I got ready to go to Eid prayers. Eid prayers are special because you get to thank Allah for getting you through Ramadan, you gain blessings by saying the Takbeer and you get to be with the Ummah starting Eid together. I went to Valentines Park for Eid this year for the first time, where Mufti Menk holds the Eid Salah.

What is Valentines Park?

Valentines Park is a park that is south of Gants Hill and is the largest green space in the London borough of Redbridge.

What are Eid Prayers?

For those who don’t know, Eid Salah celebrates and commemorates the end of Ramadan on the day of Eid-ul-Fitr. They are usually two rakats of Eid prayer and involve saying a lot of Takbeer to thank Allah and gain blessings. They can be done at home or outside, and this year, I really wanted to do it outside with my Ummah.

What did I like about doing Eid prayers in Valentines Park?

• Valentine Park is a beautiful park, with a pond, ducks, trees with flowers and of course, a large green space. It really reminded me of the beautiful world that Allah has put me in.
• I got to listen to and be part of the prayers held by the world-renowned Mufti Menk, an eloquent Muslim scholar who has inspired many Muslims. 
• The talk this year was about the 5 pillars of Islam, which was a simple topic, yet I remember feeling the deep sense of peace in my heart while listening as well as guilt for any mistakes/sins I have commited in the past.
• Praying together as an Ummah with the breeze rushing made me feel like Allah was blessing us, and with the soft sunlight pouring on us, it was even better.
• I accomplished something good right from the start of the day Alhamdulillah and I had the whole rest of the day to enjoy Eid.
• I then went to the funfair for a little while, where I saw my Chemistry teacher, got to see Mufti Menk and walked around with my sister to see the rides and food for a little while.

What did I dislike about doing Eid prayers in Valentines Park?

• I really liked how different Muslims from different backgrounds came together on this day. There were hundreds of people, the old and the young, men, women and children, and the sick and healthy. There were Hijabis and non-Hijabis. As a non-Hijabi, I felt slightly scared and guilty of taking off my Hijab after the prayer but I realised that we are all ion our own journey of Islam, and we should not judge others, instead we should focus on ourselves.
• There were men and women both exiting the park, and I think they should have separated the male and female exits.

Would I recommend it?

Yes, yes and yes! I would highly recommend going to this park just for fun and also when Eid Salah happens, which normally happens every year! Even if you are non-Muslim, you are welcome to come and watch the Eid Salah and witness the peace that we Muslims feel while praying!

This was my short review or diary entry about doing Eid prayers in Valentines Park in 2022. These are my opinions about this place. Make sure to check out my other articles. 

Thank you for reading, and have a lovely day!

• My 2023 Reflections As A Medical Student 
• My First Term of Medical School | Exams, Essays and Events 
• My First Month of Medical School | Moving Out, Freshers And Workload
• The Ultimate Guide To Ace Year 12 | Revision, Friendships And Supercurriculars
• How I Got All A*s At GCSEs | 10 Tips Every Year 11 Student Should Know

Without a doubt, this year’s Eid was the best Eid of my life. I managed to go to so many new places Alhamdulillah and I felt so blessed and happy to be able to celebrate this auspicious time with my family. I went to Chand Raat after Maghrib time with my sister. This was an unplanned surprise. 

What is Chand Raat?

Chand Raat is known as the ‘the night of the moon’ and is the evening where the first crescent moon is observed. I believe it happens in different locations, specifically in South Asian communities. My sister and I went to the Green Street location.

What did I like about Chand Raat?

• My sister and I left the house at around 9-10pm at night and it took us around 1 hour to get to Green Street. We reached at around 11pm and we stayed there up till 2am. We arrived home at around 3am.
• Chand Raat is essentially where many Muslims, specifically South Asians, get together and they celebrate by talking to each other, exploring stalls and shops and even setting fireworks.
• My sister and I walked across the roads of Green Street and we liked how many small businesses set up and people were using their skills to earn money e.g. henna artists were doing henna in many locations.
• I felt this sense of unity and it felt safe as many Muslims from different walks of life were coming together even in the darkness of the night to celebrate Eid.
• We also got to buy milkshakes and cake and eat food. 
• There was a specific area that my sister enjoyed watching where there were some people dancing, which was quite funny!

What didn’t I like about Chand Raat?

• Ensure you know how you will get home as many buses were on diversion and some trains were closed by that time. Try not to take any unsafe/empty routes home.
• It is a lot of walking so make sure you are comfortable doing so!
• If you decide to get henna done, it might get stained when walking, which is why my sister and I decided not to get our henna done here. 
• You will probably end up spending at least an hour here if you want to see everything so be prepared to get less sleep! When my sister and I arrived home, we slept at 3am and woke up at around 6:30am again, so we only got around 3.5 hours of sleep. But, it was a good experience for once in a rare occasion, so it was fine!

Would I recommend it?

I would recommend going to Chand Raat at least once if you live in London. The best thing about this is the unity and trying to bring a lot of people with you – it is safe and fun!

This was my short review or diary entry about Chand Raat Green Street 2022. These are my opinions about this place. Make sure to check out my other articles. 

Thank you for reading, and have a lovely day!

• My 2023 Reflections As A Medical Student 
• My First Term of Medical School | Exams, Essays and Events 
• My First Month of Medical School | Moving Out, Freshers And Workload
• The Ultimate Guide To Ace Year 12 | Revision, Friendships And Supercurriculars
• How I Got All A*s At GCSEs | 10 Tips Every Year 11 Student Should Know

This is my first solo travel by myself! On Sunday 8th May 2022, I embarked on a new journey by myself! I decided that I wanted to start solo travelling to different places near me on the weekends. Solo travelling is travelling by myself but also being able to discover new things and simply enjoying my new company. The first place I travelled to by myself was Wanstead Flats. This is a park that is quite large in size with a pond, playground and lots of grass! But did I enjoy it here?

What is Wanstead Flats?

Wanstead Flats is the southernmost portion of Epping Forest, in Leytonstone, Wanstead, London. 

What did I like about Wanstead Flats?

• Wanstead Flats is different from many other parks in London – it has a nice pond which looks especially amazing when the sun is glistening on it.
• Wanstead Flats is large in size so you can pick a spot and admire the view from different perspectives. 
• There are ducks, swans and pigeons so there is some biodiversity and it is nice to just watch the swans and take photos.
• There is a small children’s playground as well.
• There are paths if you want to run, cycle or do some exercises and space for picnics (although, it may be unsafe to eat next to some birds!)

What didn’t I like about Wanstead Flats?

• Of course, the park is very large but I did feel a bit unsafe to get deep inside as it is just lots of grass.
• I wish there were more benches as I could have sat down and enjoyed the view for longer.
• If you are scared of animals, such as swans, you may need to keep a distance and be a bit careful/

Would I recommend it?

I would recommend this park because I do not think it is your average park! Of course, I would not recommend coming here when it is dark, and also to go deep inside the park but enjoying the views of the outskirts of the park. Overall, I felt really relaxed coming here and I feel very grateful to have started my solo travelling journey here!

This was my short review or diary entry about Wanstead Flats. These are my opinions about this place. Make sure to check out my other articles. 

Thank you for reading, and have a lovely day!

• My 2023 Reflections As A Medical Student 
• My First Term of Medical School | Exams, Essays and Events 
• My First Month of Medical School | Moving Out, Freshers And Workload
• The Ultimate Guide To Ace Year 12 | Revision, Friendships And Supercurriculars
• How I Got All A*s At GCSEs | 10 Tips Every Year 11 Student Should Know

What is Elan Cafe?

Elan Cafe is London’s most Instagrammable Hot Spot. It is a cafe that is filled with flowers and all things pink. They also sell a range of foods and drinks.

My Experience:

Firstly, my sister and I entered the cafe and since it was a Saturday, it was pretty packed. We had to wait in the queue for a good 10-15 minutes and then it took about 10-15 minutes to order. The waiters were really busy and we wanted to order. After that, we had to wait about half an hour to get the drinks and then a further 10 minutes to get the cakes. 

What I Ordered And My Opinions On It:

Passion Fruit Drink

This drink was executed nicely, the appearance looked really colourful and aesthetically pleasing. I loved the flower on top. However, when it came to the taste, it was delicious with a punch of flavour but wasn’t anything new or extraordinary. Altogether, I rated this a ⅖.

Lotus Cake

Next up, we tried the Lotus Cake. This cake was the best item I tried in this cafe. It had a lotus flavour and it was very unique. I also liked the presentation even though the lotus crumbs on the top were a little messy. Since this cake was unique, I rated this a ⅘.

Classic Cake

I loved the presentation of this cake – it was elegant and beautiful. The liquid in the bottom did leak a little but that was okay. In terms of taste, this cake was very sweet so if you have a sweet tooth, this is great. But again, it was unique, so I rated this a ⅗.

The Place:

From the photos, I expected the shop to be much bigger in size but in reality, the shop wasn’t that large in size. Downstairs, there were only about 7 tables that were quite small, and my sister and I were a bit disappointed to not be given seats in front of the iconic EL&N background. There are a lot of seating areas outside though.

The Service:

As you saw in my ‘experience’ section above, my sister and I had to wait a really long time before getting our food and drinks so altogether, we were quite displeased about that. Altogether, the staff were friendly and hardworking but the service was very poor for a world-renowned cafe like this.

Would I Recommend It?

I would recommend trying this only if you want some good Instagram photos. However, even then you are not guaranteed to get a photo with the iconic EL&N background. So, overall, EL&N London is definitely overrated and I would not really recommend it overall.

My Rating: 3/5

My Rating System:

⅕ – was below average and would not recommend even trying once

⅖ – the food was average and would not recommend trying

⅗ – the food was delicious but would recommend trying once

⅘ – the food was really good and would recommend trying here

5/5 – the food was outstanding and is one of my favourites!

Order from here (not sponsored): Link 

This was my short review or diary entry about EL&N London. These are my opinions about this place. Make sure to check out my other restaurant reviews.

Thank you for reading, and have a lovely day!

• My 2023 Reflections As A Medical Student 
• My First Term of Medical School | Exams, Essays and Events 
• My First Month of Medical School | Moving Out, Freshers And Workload
• The Ultimate Guide To Ace Year 12 | Revision, Friendships And Supercurriculars
• How I Got All A*s At GCSEs | 10 Tips Every Year 11 Student Should Know

On Sunday 4th April 2021, my sister and I went to Regent Square Gardens. We sat down on the neches, had a chat, and also had an encounter with a dog. In this article, I will share my review and experience of going to this garden.

 What is Regent Square Gardens?

Regent Square Gardens is a garden in King’s Cross. It is described to be an ‘enclosed garden with benches, planted border, large plane trees and grassed areas. 

What did I like about Regent Square Gardens?

• It fulfilled the purpose of a garden – it had nature.
• There were benches so I and my sister could sit down and relax.
• It was an open space so you can have a picnic, exercise or meditate in this garden.

What didn’t I like about Regent Square Gardens?

• It was a very average garden, and it did not have any activities or playground equipment, nor any colour.
• It was also quite small, so if there were more people, it wouldn’t be very private.
• At one point, there was a dog sniffing everywhere and eventually I and my sister just left (lol!)

Would I recommend it?

No, I wouldn’t really recommend it as it is an average garden that is quite small with little to no equipment. My sister and I did think it would be bigger and have more activities in it. It is good for if you want to just sit down and relax by yourself though (stay safe though).

This was my short review or diary entry about Regent Square Gardens. These are my opinions about this place. Make sure to check out my other articles. 

Thank you for reading, and have a lovely day!

• My 2023 Reflections As A Medical Student 
• My First Term of Medical School | Exams, Essays and Events 
• My First Month of Medical School | Moving Out, Freshers And Workload
• The Ultimate Guide To Ace Year 12 | Revision, Friendships And Supercurriculars
• How I Got All A*s At GCSEs | 10 Tips Every Year 11 Student Should Know