london | Voice of London

Dec92018 by Voice of LondonNo Comments

Obesity: A large problem for England

Almost two-thirds of adults (64%) in England are overweight or obese, a recent study by the NHS has found. The study also found that almost a third (30%) of children aged 2-15 were overweight or obese, with 17% of them who were obese. Tracy Parker, senior dietitian at the British Heart Foundation told the Voice of London that the findings paint a “troubling picture of people living in poor health” due to a range of lifestyle factors, including smoking and an unhealthy diet. She said it is “especially concerning that obese children are more likely to be obese adults”, as this, coupled with “spiralling diabetes rates” could lead to “thousands more people suffering heart attacks and strokes in the coming years." Mrs Parker believes that “greater availability of cheap calorie d

Dec92018 by Voice of LondonNo Comments

If tattoos could talk

Featured, Lifestyle, Society

From Winston Churchill’s anchor tattoo to Beckham’s fully-inked arm, body art has been a form of creative expression for hundreds of years. Nowadays, tattoos are becoming mainstream, but is there more than what meets the eye? These “fashionable ink accessories” have been a part of the British subculture since the Victorian era, when they were incredibly popular amongst sailors. Back then, the visual impact of the basic anchor, usually located on the shoulder wasn’t supposed to be attractive, but rather thoughtful. Tattoos had one duty: to tell stories about the sailors’ voyages and the places where they served. Gone are the days when tattoo studios were only found in back alleys on the outskirts of London. Due to its alternative and cultural vibes, the capital of the UK serves

Dec82018 by Voice of LondonNo Comments

Is London losing its cultural diversity to a rising tide of built-for-Instagram aesthetics?

Culture, Design, Featured, Lifestyle, photography, Society

Whether it’s an art exhibition, a new restaurant, or an inner-city festival, it appears that London’s cultural institutions must now cater to the like-seeking social media space first and foremost. In a city with more than enough foodies to fill seats, if your new restaurant lacks Instagram appeal — be that the food or the décor — it’s unlikely to get much in the way of footfall. It’s often seen by businesses as a platform for free promotion, but is the price of success a sacrifice at the Instagram altar? To some, it’s not seen as a sacrifice, especially if it boosts business and tourism. But are we conceding some of the uniqueness of London by applying the same cookie cutter social media aesthetics as other global cities to our art and public spaces? In the restaurant busines

Dec82018 by Voice of LondonNo Comments

Dine and dance at Dinerama

Food, Lifestyle, UK

Although Shoreditch may seem like it’s for hipsters with handlebar moustaches and corduroy turn-ups, there are in fact some secret gems that you can’t miss out on. Once a bullion truck depot and now a cosy Al Fresco dining extravaganza, East London’s Street Feast Dinerama is the place to go if you’re after amazing street food, a bustling atmosphere and some funky tunes. Grab a killer rum cocktail or sip on some local beer and hustle for a seat at the communal tables. There is something for everyone at Dinerama, as it features 13 vendors with a mix of food and drink from around the world. If you’re after some 10/10 jerk chicken then ‘White Men Can’t Jerk’ is the one for you. £7 for some Jamaican spiced chicken and chips — you can’t go wrong. Or if that doesn’t take your