Welcome to Modern Etiquette, a brand new series where we ask the pressing questions of 2018.

Christmas is nearly upon us, and with it an abundance of food, drink and parties. So the last thing that you need right now is to catch some kind of bug from a co-worker which means you’re dribbling from the nose all Christmas.

People who are sick should stay home and keep their germs to themselves – right?

But what if you’ve got piles of work to finish before Christmas? Or what if your job doesn’t pay your when you’re off sick? Coming in and showing your face might be the only option. And even if it isn’t, calling in sick around a time packed with parties is hard. No one wants to be accused of pulling a fake sickie.

So, what’s the right answer when it comes to going to work when you’re ill? Is it selfish and wrong, or a necessary evil as we’re all ground under the wheels of capitalism?

We asked Jakemans’ etiquette expert Jo Bryant to weigh in. She told Metro.co.uk:

‘There are no hard and fast rules about going into work when you’re ill, and it depends on the culture of your workplace and how your diary is looking. If you have a quiet day and working from home is a widely accepted idea, then it would be considerate to not go into the office when you have a bad cold.

‘On the other hand, if you have back-to-back meetings and a very fast-paced office-based job where it will be disruptive if you are not there, then you should probably struggle in.’

So, what happens when you get to work, with your viral plague in tow? Jo tells us: ‘Remember that you are most likely contagious, so be aware of good hand hygiene and try to minimise the spread of your germs. Don’t bore colleagues with endless moaning about how ill you feel, and avoid spluttering and sniffing near others. Take medication, sooth your tickly cough with a sweet  and do all that you can to keep symptoms at bay.’

And what if your co-worker is breathing an infestation all over you. Is it okay to tell them to go home and leave you in good health?

‘You could mention it quietly to a close colleague’ says Jo. ‘But it would be rude and inconsiderate to make someone feel singled out because they have a cold or a cough. It would be more constructive to be kind and check that they are ok, and if you feel the need to keep your distance do so in a discreet manner.’

Modern Etiquette is a weekly series. Rather than telling you what to do with a salad crescent or which shoes are most appropriate for Ascot, we’ll be working out how to navigate shared houses, drugs, ex-boyfriends and that moment when you send the screenshot of the person you’re bitching about to them. 

In the festive finale of the first Modern Etiquette series we’ll be addressing all the etiquette issues which come with Christmas, including hating a present, hating your siblings and hating Christmas lunch.

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Monday mornings are hard. They’re even harder if you haven’t had any sleep.

The curse of Sunday night insomnia is real, and can leave you feeling like death warmed up for the first half of the week.

New research, published in the Occupational Health Science journal, has pointed to a possible cause of your disturbed sleep – rude colleagues.

It turns out that having colleagues who are rude or unpleasant doesn’t only ruin your day in the office – it can also ruin your sleep.

And if your partner works in a similar field, then they could feel the effects as well.

The study found that couples who work in similar fields, in the same company or the same job, will feel the impact of their partner’s workplace dramas – to the point where it could stop them sleeping.

The scientists concluded that when one person has an unpleasant experience at work, they tend to take it home with them – causing troubled sleep for both them and their other half.

It can be anything from condescending comments, to being interrupted in meetings, or a disrespectful email. The results show that all of this workplace incivility can have a profound effect on a person’s ability to sleep.

The report authors added, ‘interventions aimed at alleviating negative work rumination may help reduce work-home spillover as well as crossover, particularly for work-linked, dual-earner couples.’

So if you take steps to minimize rude encounters at work, it could really help both you and your partner to relax and sleep better when you get home.

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It’s hard to have a few minutes by yourself to go to the bathroom when you’re a parent so long, lazy mornings in bed are out of the question.

Apparently, on average, parents spend just two minutes and 15 seconds getting it on each time they have sex.

And one in 12 busy couples even admitted they have so little private time that they have had full sex lasting less than a minute.

More than a quarter (26 per cent) don’t even bother getting undressed to save time, while 27 per cent use sex toys to ‘speed things up’.

According to the poll by parenting site ChannelMum.com, 71 per cent of mums and dads admit they turn to ‘quickie’ sex in order to keep the passion alive after having children.

Despite three quarters of couples having less sex after becoming a parent, almost half (47 per cent) of dads claim their sex life is better than ever.

However, just 29 per cent of mums agree.

A third also admit they have to ‘grab every opportunity’ for a moment of passion with their partner.

ChannelMum.com founder Siobhan Freegard said: ‘Finding time for passion as parents can be very hard, so it’s great that so many still enjoy an active and inventive sex life.

‘It isn’t about how long something takes, but how much you enjoy it, so well done to the minutemen who have fun in under 60 seconds.’

The study of 1,776 parents also found a huge gulf between how men and women get in the mood.

One in eight dads send intimate pictures to their partners, with 35 per cent asking their other half to send sexy images to them.

But four times more women want men to cook the dinner than sext a nude picture.

Instead, the biggest turn on for mums is a back rub, desired by half of the women quizzed.

Almost half (46%) would just like a lie-in to get them in the mood, with a quarter saying their partner vacuuming or put the bins out would likely lead to some nookie.

Researchers also found the most popular venue for a quickie for 42 per cent of parents is the playroom or living room when kids have gone to bed.

A quarter get passionate in the shower while one in five put a bolt on the bedroom door or romp in a locked bathroom.

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Christmas can be a minefield for family drama.

Three generations trapped in a house, sometimes for days on end. Forced to interact under the influence of copious amounts of alcohol and far too much rich food.

It’s only a matter of time before someone says the wrong thing.

We never spend this much time with these people, now, all of sudden, everyone’s drunk, furiously ripping off their paper hats and crying about Brexit.

It has been a politically charged year, and there are certain contentious topics that you might find yourself tiptoeing around (the #MeToo movement, trans rights and gender politics are particular family faves).

If you’ve also got to contend with keeping a lid on your racist uncle or your homophobic in-laws, you can almost guarantee there will be tears before bedtime.

So how do you deal with these awkward situations?

Uncle Pete is spouting off about immigrants again. Auntie Vera is telling everyone that there’s ‘just something’ she can’t stand about Meghan Markle. Grandma Mabel won’t stop talking about her gay neighbours and their ‘lifestyle choices’.

You want Christmas to be lovely, you don’t want to start a family feud – but it can be really hard to bite your lip when comments like these are making you uncomfortable.

Research, commissioned by Holiday Gems, found that 20% of people say disagreements with friends and family members stop them enjoying Christmas Day.

So is there a way to address topics that make you uncomfortable without everything blowing up? And is it even your job to school your family members on these kinds of things? Maybe the best tactic is to just sit there and eat your turkey.

Rhys says the subject of his sexuality is something that always causes tension over Christmas.

‘I grew up in rural Norfolk,’ Rhys tells Metro.co.uk.

‘My Mum was quite religious and my Father was in the military, so you can imagine the household.

‘There were a few subjects that were always taboo growing up. Way before Brexit, there was always the subject of sexuality.

‘I remember watching an episode of The Bill, a long time ago, when the story of PC Luke Ashton was broadcast – my Mum was disgusted by seeing two men kiss on TV.

‘Now, being a gay man, I am careful how I approach the subjects of boyfriends or anything that may appear “too gay”. Mum seems to have adjusted, yet there are always little jokes that appear more like jabs at my sexuality.’

And this isn’t the only issue for Rhys at Christmas. The remain vs leave Brexit debate has firmly wedged itself into his family relations, as he found himself isolated on one side of the argument.

‘I am the only remain voter in my immediate family,’ explains Rhys.

‘It did lead to a period of time when I didn’t speak to them at all, as I wanted to avoid their comments about how we were being invaded by immigrants.

‘Christmas is always hard as I have become a real London-lover. I would always prefer to stay here than travel up to Norfolk and listen to how bad it has become around the area.

‘I try to avoid any subjects that may cause arguments or offence and keep out of the house. I head into Norwich for “shopping”, or see old friends. I limit my time up in Norfolk as it only leads to stress and sometimes arguments.’

It seems as though avoidance is a popular tactic. Most people will try their hardest to not mention the topics they know are contentious. That way it’s easier to ignore the views you don’t agree with.

Sophie* has a similar tactic. ‘We’re pretty honest with each other as a family, which is why I try to avoid topics we’ll definitely disagree on,’ she tells Metro.co.uk

‘It’s bound to end in arguments, as no one is willing to hold back.

‘For us, the topics to avoid are Brexit (my immigrant father voted leave because of immigrants – go figure), and LGBT rights.

‘My advice is avoid trigger topics of conversation where possible, but if they do come up, tell them straight.’

And that’s where the problem is. How exactly do you tell them straight without ruining Christmas for everyone else?

First of all it’s about picking your battles. You have to weigh up whether calling someone out is really worth it. You can’t do it for every little thing that grates on you, so save it for the comments that you really can’t ignore.

It’s also about timing and tact – there’s a way of addressing offensive comments without spitting out your sprouts, knocking over the gravy boat and screaming across the dinner table.

Maybe wait for a quieter moment after dinner and pull the family member to one side for a quiet word. Maybe if you calmly explain to them why you found their comment offensive or upsetting, the will be more careful in future.

Psychotherapist and author, Susan Hepburn, thinks the key to handling these situations is understanding the root of your own reaction.

‘Christmas is meant to bring relatives and friends together but there is often at least one person who has strong views and cannot resist voicing their controversial opinions,’ Susan tells us.

‘Often, it’s just to get some attention, or to see how others react to their outrageous viewpoints.

‘Ask yourself: Am I actually offended by these comments, or am I just annoyed? Is it worth holding the Christmas table to ransom to put this person in their place and make everyone feel uncomfortable? Usually, it’s not.

‘Bear in mind that you are unlikely to change this person’s opinion, and you cannot fight a war on every front, so it’s usually better to simply change the subject. That way, you get the result you want in a less combative way.

‘Always steer the conversation away from combat and into more neutral topics such as family, holidays, work etc. Don’t take the challenge if someone insists on “poking the bear”.

‘However, if an offensive comment is made, and it affects someone personally at the Christmas table, it is better to take that person to one side, asap, to deal with it.’

Emily* says she struggles to know how to handle it when her Dad gets under her skin at Christmas.

‘I go back and forth on this,’ explains Emily.

‘My Dad says things to wind me up – especially after a couple of days together – which I know he doesn’t really believe, so I try not to bite, and go for the tactical ignore instead.

‘However, when he offers a legitimate un-PC opinion, I’m not comfortable with it being left unchallenged, especially when they’re aimed at other human beings, so I do call him out.

‘It isn’t (always) a standing-up-shouting-argument and can be a sensible discussion, which the rest of the family get involved in. But there are a few specific topics we have chosen to no longer talk about – we’ve both voiced our thoughts and agreed to disagree.’

Christmas is a time of heightened emotion and pressure. The increased exposure to family members you otherwise only see once or twice a year, can shed light on some uncomfortable truths.

Generational divides and polarising topics in the news can leave you feeling as though you don’t really know your own family – but it’s up to you to decide how much you’re going to let these opinions affect your relationship with them.

The majority of these arguments and disagreements seem less important when the booze has worn off and the family has dispersed. Underneath it all, love is normally enough to keep you together and allow you to forgive and forget.

But there are some topics that just can’t be ignored – don’t forget you always have a choice when it comes to Christmas. You don’t have to surround yourself with people who make you feel bad, family or not.

You can always opt out altogether, or spend Christmas with friends. Sometimes, removing yourself from painful situations is the best form of self-care.

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Though we should all actively be non-sexist, those who experience sexism regularly are probably more in tune with how limiting and insidious it can be.

One group of people who may understand the trials and tribulations faced by women, other than women and girls themselves, are dads with preteen daughters.

Dads’ experiences with their daughters make them less likely to be sexist than the average man, showed research by the London School of Economics.

When men have girls who go onto primary and secondary school, they become more aware of the challenges faced by young women, something the scientists called the ‘mighty girl’ effect.

Their results, published in the journal Oxford Economic Papers, were also encouraging in that it showed people are not fixed in their understanding of gender norms.

That means that stereotypical ideas of a boy or girl’s responsibilities are not fixed in adulthood.

The team of scientists used data collated by the British Household Panel Survey over a 21-year period (1991-2012).

The 5,000 men and over 6,300 women who participated in the study were asked whether they agree with statements such as: ‘A husband’s job is to earn money; a wife’s job is to look after the home and family.’

Men with school age daughters on average went against such conventional gender norms.

Single men (without children) or those who only had sons had a 37% chance of holding these traditional views.

Meanwhile, 33% of men with daughters in school felt this way.

‘They (dads) experience first-hand all the issues that exist in a female world and then that basically moderates their attitudes towards gender norms and they become closer to seeing the full picture from the female perspective,’ said Dr. Joan Costa-i-Font, co-author of the research to The Guardian.

But the researcher had some questions about the study and wondered whether the same effect can be seen in men who don’t live with their daughters.

Other interesting results from the study showed that men who already held feminist views did not have a shift in their attitudes to gender.

And of the women surveyed, they did not have an increased understanding of gender and sexism after having girls, possibly due to having experienced it themselves and understanding gender limitations already.

Though the results are positive it’s also important to address sexist behaviour and understand the oppression of gender even without having to see it through the lens of a daughter, wife, sister, or mum.

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Three years ago, Victoria Laniakea, from Queensland, Australia, decided to write a letter to her future husband, detailing the qualities she wanted in him.

In 2015 she moved to Canberra where she met, after several almost encounters, Philippe Lorrain – the man she was eventually married.

And on their wedding day, the 28-year-old read out the sweet letter she had penned those years ago, revealing the uncanny resemblance between the man she had written about and the one standing before her.

‘It just came to me one day, an idea just formed and I started writing,’ she told Femail.

‘It’s very personal but I could not believe how perfectly it described Philippe and our story, the things he’d later say to me, like how he was glad he hadn’t met me sooner because we both needed to grow into the people we needed to be at the moment we finally met.’

‘Like how he is strong but gentle, he has and could weather any storm, but still takes insects he finds in the house outside instead of killing them, that he was close by but originally from much further away… which turned out to be Germany.

‘I also commented a lot that I remembered being drawn to look at the stars, feeling like at those very moments he was looking at them too, though I didn’t know why.

‘Turns out he’s a rocket scientist and due to his craft of making and putting satellites in space he would often spend hours looking at the stars at night too.

‘There was also this deep sense of connection, like I knew I had met him before when we first met (even though we were strangers), which I had written in this letter.

‘A lot I can’t explain, but I can feel. He left Germany to come to Australia in search of something he didn’t understand either but trusted the feeling, so we are both perplexed by the ‘how’ but just know there’s something greater at work here.’

The couple believe they were destined to meet, having moved houses three times and each time moving a stone’s throw away from each other.

Victoria also ran past Phillipe’s house every so often and Phillipe picked up his mail from the post office in which Victoria worked. She also had lectures in the same place Phillipe did his PHD.

The pair eventually met at a bar after Philippe’s rowing club hosted an annual dinner after they realised how much they had in common, like their love of the stars, helped by Phillipe’s job as a rocket scientist.

He revealed that he also had recurring dreams about holding a woman and looking out  of a treehouse over a rainforest valley, which became the theme of the wedding.

They decided to get married in Victoria’s hometown in Queensland where she read the letter on top of a mountain.

She said: ‘I read it to him with trembling hands pressed against his chest and confetti soaked into my hair. It was absolute magic.

‘He teared up and couldn’t believe I had written it before we met (I had it date stamped with a cutout of the date from the day’s newspaper).’

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Scrolling through Instagram the other day, I found myself wondering whether I had accidentally put my phone into black and white.

But it turned out that my phone was fine. It was just that the pictures I was looking at were entirely grey and white – a symptom of an extremely popular interiors trend.

Fascinated by this entirely grey living room, complete with grey sofa, carpet, cushions and rug, I took a deep dive into the world of #greyinteriors and was genuinely shocked by what I found.

Pages and pages of pristine grey living rooms. Perfect grey bedrooms. All staggeringly clean and well tended, totally devoid of clutter and one hundred percent grey.

It’s not just living rooms either. Solidly grey kitchens. Children’s playrooms with grey pop up tents and grey wall decals. It seems like half the homeowners on Instagram have decided to eschew colour and live in a totally grey world.

But why?

I spoke to Sheena Murphy from Nune, about why people love to grey scale their homes. She told Metro.co.uk:

‘We’ve seen a shift towards wanting a home environment that is something of a retreat from the outside. Using soft neutral tones helps to calm the body and mind and provides relief from stress and the pace of city living. Having cohesion in your palette also allows for longevity. Most of us are less likely to tire of a neutral home than we are of a home with bold colour and pattern which is usually informed by trends that are so fickle in that they come and go so quickly.

But let’s face it, a solidly grey home can cross over from chic to a bit depressing. Is there a way of keeping the soothing qualities of greyness without living inside a rain cloud. Sheena says: ‘One trick to balancing a home with cooler greys is to incorporate lots of physical and visual texture in upholstery fabrics, rugs, bedding, pillows and artwork. Mixing warm and cool woods (pale oaks and warm walnuts) and metals (brass + nickel) also helps to provide a sense of tonal balance in a space.

‘Keeping things light and bright avoids a feeling of darkness, but moodier tones tend to work well in hallways and bedrooms where you might want to add some drama and change things up.’

Also, if you haven’t painted the town grey, but you’re thinking about it, remember that interiors trends change and rooms are harder to change than shoes or handbags. On the topic of upcoming trends, Sheena told us: ‘We’re already starting to see a shift in trends toward warmer neutrals, which makes sense in the cooler months. We want to feel warm and cocooned in the winter and so I think we will start to see a subtle move away from cooler greys and a shift toward beiges and taupes.’ 

So if you’re really into the idea of a super neutral home, consider taupe rather than grey to keep the look modern. Or alternatively, if you really like having an entirely grey home and find it calming, then ignore all of that you go grey-zy.

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There’s a new calendar filled with photos of dogs catching treats and it’s adorable.

The photos show different dogs’ joy as they catch treats in the air.

The pictures were taken by photographer Christian Vieler, who created the Dogs Catching Treats 2019 calendar.

Take a look at the photos below:

This is one very cute chap

These little guys are adorable

He’s really set on catching that treat

Just look at the concentration on this pup’s face

This big fella looks so happy!

Isn’t he beautiful?

Christian, who is based in Waltrop, Germany, has been taking photos in this amusing style since 2013 – he explained how his own dog, Lotte, inspired him when he was playing around with his camera one day.

‘To make her move and in order to test the ‘freezing options’ of the flash, I started throwing treats at her, days later, when I cleaned my hard drive, I noticed how funny the shots were,’ said Christian.

‘I asked myself: What is the magic behind these photographs? I think the expressions of the dogs remind us of well-known feelings like desire, loss, pain or joy. And that’s what we normally don’t see that clear in the faces of our dogs.

‘All models behave because I am the guy with the treats, and I have many treats in my bags.’

Most of Christian’s images are taken at his studio where he makes sure the dogs are as comfortable as possible before starting the shoot where he uses a low-level flash as not to scare the dogs.

If Christian notices a dog is uncomfortable, he’ll stop shooting straight away.

Dogs Catching Treats 2019 is available to buy from Christian’s for approximately £22.42 and can be shipped worldwide.

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Throwback alert: Barry M has just relaunched its Crackle Effect nail polish, and we’re feeling all kinds of nostalgia.

The nail polish takes us back to 2010, when we would paint our nails with a bright base colour, and pop the Crackle Effect over the top only to watch it crackle away to reveal the original colour.

It was fun, glittery, and very ugly. But we’re so glad it’s back.

The nail polish has been relaunched for a limited time only as a #Throwback product, and is currently selling for £3.99.

The description reads: ‘Apply one coat of Crackle Effect Nail Paint over any dry Nail Paint colour and watch the crackling effect appear before your eyes!’

Since the news came out that the nostalgic beauty item, people on Twitter have been getting excited for it – mainly taking them back to their emo days.

We don’t miss the full side fringe and heavy eyeliner.

The Crackle Effect nail polish is selling exclusively over on Barry M’s website for a short time only – so act fast if you want to get your hands on it.

Even if it is just for the memories.

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It’s no secret that toys, like a lot of other things, are gendered.

Little girls play with white picket fence houses while boys hammer away on mini construction sites or save innocent citizens as strong, important firemen.

The conversation around how children’s toys perpetuate gender stereotypes has been happening for some time, furthered by the Let Toys be Toys initiative which aims to end ideologies marketed at children.

In collaboration with the initiative, gender equality charity the Fawcett Society is now launching its own campaign – #Smashingsterotypes – to advocate for companies to be more mindful of the messages that they put out.

It’s not just toys that the brand is addressing, as it looks at how clothes, stationery, and books have been designed in such a way that they are mutually exclusive; usually pink for girls and blue for boys.

In this way, these items spread the message that little boys can’t have wands or that girls should be more concerned with homemaking and having fun in domestic settings (i.e toy houses, mini kitchens, ovens).

‘Gender stereotypes hold us all back and help to drive assumptions about who does the caring, they cause toxic masculinity and hold women and girls back in terms of the career choices they perceive as being ‘for them’, Fawcett Society executive Sam Smethers told Metro.co.uk.

‘Every year, Christmas shopping for children comes with a host of gifts promoting harmful stereotypes, from pink and blue slogans to toys marketed as only suitable for one gender.

‘By smashing stereotypes we will begin to address the underlying causes of the inequality, which causes the gender pay gap, drives misogyny and violence against women and girls.’

The charity has asked people to send in pictures of gender-specific items and use the hashtag #Smashingstereotypes to show the extent of the problem.

They will reveal more details of the campaign next year.

Some brands, however, have been toying with gender neutrality in recent years, marketing products aimed at different genders.

British store, Smyths Toys, was praised on social media because of the positive message it gave children after releasing an advert of a boy dressed as a queen.

Toy Planet, a Spanish company, released a catalogue showing boys playing with toys and pushing strollers while girls could be seen using tools and playing with dinosaurs, showing that children can play with whichever toy they want.

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I f*&king love New York.

I lived in Brooklyn for two and a half years until I moved back to the UK in April this year.

I support the Nets.

My favourite pie (read: pizza) spot is Lucali in Carroll Gardens. Failing that, I can name several other places that are great for slices from Bay Ridge to the West Side.

I love $7 lychee martinis from Verlaine on the Lower East Side (LES) during happy hour.

But I can also point you in the direction of many a great watering hole – from dive bars, like Bar 169 on the LES, to something a lil’ more speakeasy, like Bathtub Gin in Chelsea, or upmarket, like Rose Bar at Gramercy Park Hotel.

Basically, I’d say I know NYC pretty well.

But, no matter how long you’re on this earth, you can’t know it all. So here are five things I recently discovered about my beloved second home:

1. Roof farms are a thing

In a city where space is short, people really have to think outside the box. Or on top of the box.

Brooklyn Grange is a rooftop farm in Queens that supplies local restaurants with seasonal produce all year round. If you’re a knowledge nerd like me there’s a tour for that – which costs just $15 for 45 mins and there’s only ever a maximum of four people. Asides from tours, they put on workshops, dinner, yoga…basically, their social calendar is pretty packed. And I HIGHLY recommend a visit to their shop, also on the roof, especially to bag yourself some of their honey.

My biggest regret? I opted for the small jar.

2. Bookworms are cool

If you go down to the Morgan Library today, you’re sure of a big surprise: like an original score for Symphony no. 35 in D major, signed by Mozart himself. This is the private collection of one of America’s greatest financiers – Pierpont Morgan. Open Tuesday to Sunday, entrance is $20 – unless you’re savvy and pop along 7pm-9pm on Fridays when it’s free to get in.

Or, for something a lil’ more special, get LOCALIKE New York to arrange a private and bespoke tour.

3. Life’s good on the open seas (read: rivers)

A private sailing experience may sound spenny but, if you split it among a group, it’s actually not that bad. Depending on the time of day and experience you go for, it costs between $90-110 per person for a 2-hour ride, with a max of 6 passengers, on TARA (a 1964 Hinckley Custom Pilot 35 sailboat, if that means anything to you).

Captain Dave took us out of the North Cove Marina, up to the Statue of Liberty and down and round Lower Manhattan, pootling along between Manhattan and Brooklyn and under the Manhattan Bridge before heading back.

We sailed the Hudson, East and Harlem Rivers, which is just a cool thing to be able to say.

Tip: get Perfect Picnic to cover the food situ so you don’t have to bother. For just $35 dollars you can get The Classic Picnic which includes cheeses, meats, baguettes, olives, jam, cookies, tea and water. They’ll even deliver straight to the boat.

4. Why buy skincare when you can make your own?

Laena McCarthy is herbalist, wellness expert, and doula who specialises in women’s reproductive health – that’s after having a previous career in science and academia, of course. She’s also the lady behind Anarchy in a Jar, which creates food for bellies, and Laena Mira, which creates food for skin. Everything is made by hand with local produce, but she also holds classes so you can learn how to make anything from jam through to personalised infused-oils and balms.

Classes are often hosted by the excellent Brooklyn Brainery (community-driven and crowdsourced education) and prices vary.

Who knows, you could be an Estée Lauder in-the-making.

5. There’s more to Art Deco than meets the eye

Taking a walking tour with Louis Mazzari of Context Tours was something else.

This human encyclopedia knows more about the city and its architecture than an architect. And he doesn’t just cover the obvious ones – the Rockefeller, for instance – he also knows which revolving doors to whisk through in order to find a beautifully ornate, tranquil, period lobby behind.

Tours take around 3 hours and prices start from $60 per person with a maximum of 6 people on a group tour. If you’re not a fan of strangers, there’s always the option for a private tour.

From historians to mixologists, all the guides, like Louis, are experts and are happy to handle curveball requests on the fly, just like Louis did for us.

It means you get to see a side to New York few would discover solo.

Where to stay in New York

The Chatwal has one thing that is hard to find in New York: space. But it also has a Grand-Budapest-Hotel-like charm and service, where waiters remember your every request, accompanied by food that the late Anthony Bourdain would approve of – their Avocado Tartine is YUM and Stuffed French Toast is something else.

And this NYC establishment certainly has a colourful history – designed by Standford White (an American renaissance architect who is responsible for Madison Square Garden, the New York Herald Building, and The Washington Square Arch) it originally opened its doors as America’s first professional theatre club in 1905.

It was known for its raucous, champagne-fuelled parties and prestigious members list – graced by the likes of John Barrymore and Frank Sinatra to name just two. It was the place to go, be entertained and then sleep it off upstairs.

Continuing its heritage with an impressive list of suites with private terraces, butler service and an E-class Mercedes town car service, it really doesn’t do things by halves.

Superior Queens start from £750 per night. Crown Suites start from £1,025 per night. Visit thechatwalnyc.com for more info.

 

What to do in NYC

If, like me, your favourite word is ‘delegate’, try LOCALIKE.

You basically pay them to come up with an insider-itinerary for you so you can enjoy NYC like a local.

They can get private and more personalised access to things, like the Morgan Library, which would otherwise be out of reach.

Everything on our trip was organised by them so all we had to do was turn up.

Prices start at $49 (approx. £37), involves filling out a 15-minute questionnaire about your likes and dislikes, and results in an itinerary bespoke to you.

They are currently offering metro.co.uk readers 10% off New York PERSONAL, New York SELECTION, and gift certificates (not valid for New York SMART).

Valid for one month from the publication date of this article. Just punch in the code: METRO10.

If you stay at The Chatwal, they’ve also created bespoke packages for each of the Crown Suites which can be added on for an extra £450 per suite.

Visit localike-newyork.com for more info.

Hannah Berry George is a writer and director. Find more from her at hannahberrygeorge.com or on Twitter and Instagram @veryberrygeorge

For those of you who struggling with gift ideas for your friends, Greggs have got an answer.

They’ve launched a festive gifting bot that allows you to gift your Facebook friends with a selection of Greggs’ products, including the seasonal favourite, the Festive Bake.

The Greggs Gifting Bot, launched last week. It’s the first of its kind in the UK and enables users to surprise friends and family with a range of products,

Your options for Greggs presents include:

Sausage roll – £1, Pigs Under Blankets Baguette – £3, any hot drink – £2.20, any sweet treat – £1, any bake – £1.50 or a Festive Bake – £1.50

Imagine how popular you’d be if you decided to gift Greggs to a friend who was suffering from a hangover – or to blow your whole Secret Santa budget on Greggs.

If using Facebook to do this sounds a bit overly complicated then you could also just order them a load of pastries and give them as gifts. Basically the moral of the story is: if it’s salty and hot and covered in puff, it makes a nice gift.

MORE: You could be eating vegan sausage rolls at Greggs next year

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Training a dog can be challenging.

If your pup is acting out, your first instinct could be to shout at them. Surely showing your anger will help them learn that they’re in the wrong?

But animal experts are warning that yelling is the worst thing you can do if you’re trying to train your dog.

Yelling and shouting at your pet could actually make their behaviour worse.

Dr. Lyane Haywood, co-founder of Vet UK, also says hugs should be given out sparingly if you want to raise a well-behaved pooch.

‘When it comes to dog training, it should be seen as a two way street, involving a certain amount of give and take from both you and the animal,’ explains Dr. Haywood.

‘What it’s not is a dictatorship. There’s almost never a time when screaming and yelling at your dog is acceptable.

‘Unless your dog is about to run into a busy road and come to serious harm, I wouldn’t ever use any form of harsh voice.

‘Instead, it’s about rewarding good behaviour, not punishing the bad.’

Dr. Haywood says it’s important for dog owners to remember that their pets aren’t human, so they’re not going to respond in the same way. A human knows what you mean if you shout or sound angry – a dog doesn’t.

‘I often see dog owners in the park screaming at their dog for doing something wrong,’ Haywood tells us.

‘Or you might go to someone’s house and see the owner shouting at the dog for barking and making a fuss at the ringing doorbell.

‘But doing this is completely and utterly pointless. If you scream at your dog, your dog thinks, “Oooh, great, my human is really excited, too, I’ll make even more noise!”

‘It actually gets the dog more hyper-active. And it also sends out completely mixed messages.’

The experts are keen to reiterate that training a dog should be about positive conditioning. Reinforcing good behaviour is more effective than punishment could ever be.

‘You see people in the park trying to call their dog – calling, calling, calling – and the dog doesn’t come. Then, when it does return, it gets shouted at,’ explains Dr. Haywood.

‘The dog has done a good thing by coming back to you – however long that has taken – but you’re punishing that good behaviour.

‘It’s precisely the same when you catch your dog doing something naughty at home, like chewing a cushion.

‘Don’t shout, just take the cushion from it and give it something more appropriate to play with instead – something you should have done in the first instance.

‘And then it’s about rewarding the good behaviour, no matter how trivial it might be.’

Another thing dog lovers need to avoid is being overly-comforting – that means being less generous with the cuddles.

Dr. Haywood explains; ‘If your dog is frightened of something – the vacuum cleaner, a busy road, a loud noise – your gut reaction might be to comfort it by giving it a cuddle and a treat.

‘But all you’re doing here is rewarding a negative behaviour, reinforcing this unhelpful emotion and actually exacerbating fear.

‘Don’t rush to hug, instead remove the dog from the situation, let it calm down naturally, and re-introduce it to the thing making it scared, gradually.

‘Bring your dog as close as you can to the scary thing without it actually becoming afraid and reward the dog. Patience is key here.’

MORE: Look at these very cute dogs trying very hard to catch treats

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Taking your partner home for Christmas can be a bit a minefield.

Trying to explain strange family traditions, the long-standing argument between Uncle Keith and Aunt Suzie or that your non-pc relative is not a bad person, can make it a little bit stressful.

If you make it through that and get to the end of the day, the mulled wine might leaving feeling a bit frisky but there lies a whole new problem – sex in your childhood bedroom.

Maybe your parents have insisted on separate beds (or even bedrooms), in which case, be prepared to sneak around if you don’t fancy a sexless holiday season.

Even if you are sharing a bed, you can hear your dad snoring and the teddies from your childhood are glaring at you from the shelf where you left them when you moved out – it’s all a bit off-putting.

Your parents might be pretty easy-going but they probably hate the idea of hearing you getting it on as much as you hate the idea of hearing them.

It turns out, though, that more than half of people (54%) in a study by LoveHoney, said they still manage to have sex even with knowledge their parents are just a few centimetres away on the other side of the wall.

Just 9% of people said they put off having sex completely because they were creeped out by childhood memories.

Most couples (58%) admit that they do try to keep the noise down to try to stop any awkward moments over breakfast.

So what can you do if you don’t want to give it up completely for the holiday period but you still want to be able to look your grandma in the eye.

The best thing might be to just wait for a good moment when it’s just the two of you.

Although it’s likely everyone will be around on Christmas day, it’s best to just try to wait until you are home alone.

Maybe try to skip the festive family walk or wait until Boxing Day when everyone else hits the sales.

Diana*, 27, said: ‘I’ve had sex many times at home with my partner – but we always try to do it when my parents are not in as I’m so self-conscious about any kind of noise.

‘My bedroom has been completely redecorated since I moved out so it’s not like I’m surrounded by lots of teddies or Snow White wallpaper.

‘It’s more because of the noise. I’ve heard my brother and his girlfriend having sex loads of times, and so have my parents. It’s so icky and I don’t want to put them through that myself.’

But if that’s really not an option, you just have to do what you can to keep it comfortable put quiet.

‘We either wait until no one is in, or we have sex on the floor so there’s no risk of squeaky beds,’ Diana added

‘It’s certainly not my favourite place to have sex. To be honest, it’s a massive mood killer having your parents just a thin wall away.’

And even with the best laid plans, there’s always a risk they might come home earlier than planned.

Only 11% of couples surveyed have been caught having sex at a relative’s house over the festive season but it would certainly be quite the festive memory.

Priscilla*, 25, admits she was almost caught out by her parents a few times but managed to cover it up with some quick thinking.

She said: ‘There was always an element of risk that we’d get caught, and on a couple of occasions, we nearly did.

‘One time I made her run naked to the bathroom when my dad got in from work early and pretended she was having a shower .

‘We were young and excited and in love so even though I respect my parents and the rules they set about sleeping in the same room but not having sex in their house, emotions and excitement definitely took over.

‘We had to be careful and quiet because my younger sister’s room is right next door to mine.

‘But at the end of the day, we lived together anyway so I think it was just normal. If my parents ever heard us, they didn’t ever say.’

So if you can’t wait until you’re back in your more adult bedroom, just try to be discreet – or if that fails, slip away when the argument about Brexit breaks out.

That’s sure to drown out the noise.

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If you’re looking for something to distract you from your Monday blues, we’ve got a few brain teasers to keep you occupied.

Below are a selection of Christmas photos which each have hidden festive words within them.

According to the Solar Centre, who made the puzzles, only 10% of people can spot the hidden words in under 30 seconds.

How long will it take you?

Can you spot the Christmas word in this picture?

And how about this one?

And finally, what about this one?

Check out the answers below.

Picture one was ‘Mistletoe’

‘North Pole’

And finally, ‘Yuletide’

How long did each brain teaser take you to find the answer?

Let us know in the comments section.

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Luton Airport recently held the world’s biggest Christmas lights show by wrapping an easyJet A320 with 1.5 miles of multi-coloured Christmas lights.

The show took place in the easyJet hangar, and was synced to a remix of Tchaikovsky’s Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy.

Over 850,000 choreographed light sequences were used, with a team of 10 special effects artists and lighting designers spending four weeks working to design and create the amazing Christmas show.

Aiport staff and local children from Chantry Primary Academy and Whitefield Primary School attended the show, which was part of the airport’s 80th anniversary celebrations.

A little girl named Maddy Simonite got to turn the lights on – which she says made her feel like she ‘started Christmas’.

Maddy, nine, added: ‘I’ve been to see the Oxford Street Christmas lights but this was ten times better!’

Neil Thompson, operations director at London Luton Airport, said: ‘As we reach the end of our redevelopment – the largest in the airport’s 80-year history – we wanted to extend a huge thank you to staff and customers and give them a special Christmas gift.

‘Our team were given just 24 hours to dress an entire aircraft hangar and easyJet A320 Airbus plane before guests were treated to a dramatic Christmas lights switch on.’

Tina Milton, director of cabin services for easyJet, added: ‘Most people who work in a regular office get to partake in festive decorating, so we laid down the challenge to ground crew to create the most spectacular light show featuring a plane.

‘We were delighted to work with London Luton Airport to help get the festive feeling started among our staff and the local community in Luton.’

MORE: You can send your mates Greggs via social media

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If you’re part of any wedding-shaming groups on Facebook (would highly recommend) then you know that people have made some very questionable choices for their big day.

Some couples, however, absolutely nail it and manage to get pictures that are oh so perfect.

And it’s usually these ones that end up running for the Junebug Wedding photos of the year.

The annual photography contest is back and released its top 50 images, after receiving as many as 10,000 submissions.

‘I’m consistently amazed year after year by the sheer amount of talent that resides in the wedding photography community,’ said Carrie Schwab, Editor-in-Chief of Junebug Weddings.

‘This year’s collection is a testament to that talent. I’m so proud of our team, including our fantastic judging panel, for putting together a truly knockout collection. And a huge, enormous thank you to all who submitted this year.

‘We have to be mindful that one photographer does not win more than once, that different cultures, love, and photography styles are represented, and that the final collection has a good mix of the different elements of a wedding day: getting ready, the ceremony, the tears, the celebration.’

Here are the stunning images:

The next contest that Junebug Weddings will host is its annual engagement photo contest, which opens for submissions on 1 April.

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MORE: Bride reads letter she wrote to her ‘future husband’ three years ago, in her wedding vows

MORE: Can you be a feminist and still want a fairy tale wedding?

A cult beauty product left a student with blisters and scabs all over her face.

20-year-old Natasha Martlew had always followed a very basic skincare routine – soap, water and a light moisturiser – when she decided to introduce saliycylic acid into the mix too.

The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 2% Solution is recommended for blemish-prone skin and claims to de-clog pores.

But less than 12 hours after using a thin layer of the product on 4 December, Natasha’s face erupted in painful, weeping blisters and she was advised by a 111 operator to go to hospital.

Reportedly told by doctors she was ‘one of the unlucky ones’ who’d reacted to the product, Natasha suffered chemical burns and was issued a seven-day course of antibiotics to clear up the infection.

As the infection scabbed over, Natasha says she hid away indoors for fear of people looking at her and is signed off work for 20 days.

The psychology student, who has been left with ‘holes in her face’ is now sharing the grisly pictures to warn others about the potential dangers of beauty products.

Natasha, from Wirral, Merseyside, said: ‘My friend at work recommended it. I was really buzzing about trying it and was telling my whole family to try it as well.

‘I’d never used it before and didn’t want to put loads on so put one or two drops on a cotton pad and rubbed it on my face.

‘There was no reaction at first apart from it going a little bit red, but I presumed it was because I was putting something on my face so didn’t think anything of it.

‘When I woke up for work the next morning and looked in the mirror I wondered what was all over my face.

‘My initial reaction was that it was loads of spots, it looked like I had 100 whiteheads on my face.

‘I touched my chin and that’s when something popped and I realised they were blisters.

‘All this clear and yellow liquid came out, it was horrible.’

After calling in sick to work, Natasha called 111 and was advised to go to the nearest hospital within an hour.

Natasha went to Arrowe Park Hospital in Upton, Wirral, where she was examined by a nurse and consultant who confirmed she was suffering from chemical burns.

Natasha, who also works in a call centre, said: ‘I was crying my eyes out because I didn’t want to go out looking like I did.

‘I’m self-conscious anyway and always usually have my make-up on going out. I was thinking ‘how can I go out getting stared at like this?’

‘It felt like a throbbing pain on my face, it was burning and sore to touch. My forehead was where it hurt the most as that was the deepest burn.

‘A consultant at the hospital said it was chemical burns and that salicylic acid does have the potential to cause this as it’s an acidic product.

‘He said he was really, really sorry it had happened to me, but I’d just been unlucky.’

Natasha was prescribed a seven-day course of antibiotics and instructed to only wash her face with water.

The following day she visited her GP where she was told she was also suffering from contact dermatitis and was signed off work for two weeks to give the infection time to clear.

Natasha said: ‘It was awful because I’ve had so many problems with my skin in the past and it was really good.

‘I thought getting a good skin care routine would keep it like that, it was mortifying.’

The instructions on the The Ordinary product, part of the DECIEM group, advise to ‘use in the AM and PM’ and specifically instruct the user ‘do not rinse off’.

The packaging warns to stop using in case of ‘persistent irritation’ and also carries ‘sunburn alert’ highlighting that it may increase the skin’s sensitivity to the sun.

Natasha said: ‘I followed the instructions on the box as I’d never used it before and just put a small amount on.

‘When I looked at the box all it warned about was ‘persistent irritations’. I’d only used it once so that wouldn’t apply to me.

‘I just don’t understand why a warning about potential risks from using it just the once were not written on the box. If it was, I wouldn’t have used it.

‘I was just mortified that this happened, I think we were all in shock as it’s a normal product that a lot of people buy.

‘We don’t know why it had happened to me, it’s just one of those things.

‘I’ve just finished the antibiotics and started going back to soap and moisturiser. I was really nervous the first time putting moisturiser on again.

‘I’m starting to feel positive about it now, I do understand there are more people worse off in the world than me.’

After emailing The Ordinary they responded offering a £4.25 refund and a product to ‘soothe irritation’ – unimpressed by their offer, Natasha didn’t respond.

She is now urging The Ordinary to update its packaging to include warnings about possible side effects from just one application.

Natasha said: ‘I’m really upset. You put your trust in these brands that are supposed to be reputable companies.

‘You don’t expect that if you follow the instructions this will happen.

‘Now I’ve got to look in the mirror, see the scars and know that it could have been prevented if they’d have just labelled it to highlight the risks.’

Deciem were contacted for comment on Friday morning but have not yet responded.

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Airport delays, security queues, baggage strikes – sunshine getaways don’t always bring bliss.

Sometimes the ideal destination is a stylish room, great thread count, an en suite bath and a well-stocked mini-bar that is far closer to home.

Here is Metro.co.uk’s pick of the best London-based getaways:

Sexiest Little Hotel in South Ken: Blakes

Following a recent revamp the rich, theatrical, stage-like atmosphere here really sets it apart.

One of London’s sexiest hotels, Blakes is ideal for a romantic break – think black panelling, four poster beds and curved gold mirrors, dim lighting and deep, plush fabrics – all combining to offer a strong sense of something rather exotic for South Kensington.

Each room has its own design and offers a kind of modern decadence. All are inspired by various far-off lands: Russia, India, or Turkey. And do book for dinner.

The intimate 57-seat Blakes Restaurant was inspired by Anouska Hempel’s vision of a beautiful old-fashioned steamer sailing up the Bosphorus – bold and daring, you will be transported.

If the weather is decent make sure to visit the hotel’s stunning courtyard – which has also been given a fresh look by British designer Matthew Williamson.

Converted from a set of Victorian townhouses, Blakes Hotel truly sets the stage for something extraordinary – with an unassuming Victorian façade that just faintly hints at the mystery and magic within.

Blakes is also launching a ‘Mind, Body and Soul’ package for the new year which includes an overnight stay, yoga session with their resident yogi Eve Latil, a healthy brunch and a yoga mat to take home.

Priced from £421, it is the perfect way to start 2019, aligning and detoxing your mind, body & soul – an essential for facing the year ahead.

The hotel also has a New Year’s Eve package offering a 2-night stay with breakfast, dinner in Blakes Restaurant and entry to Blakes Below. Priced from £599 per room per night.

Overall verdict: Rich Romance. It doesn’t get sexier than this. Perfect for a quiet weekend with a loved one.

blakeshotel.com

Uber-stylish and fun: ME Hotel London

If you want a weekend in London that feels like getting away but is also in the heart of the action, ME Hotel is the one.

Its location on the Strand is perfectly located for South Bank, Covent Garden, Soho and beyond.

Designed inside and out by Foster & Partners, the result is a boutique hotel with a sleek aesthetic. Bedrooms are spacious, beautifully designed and accessorised with candles and artwork. Beds are enormous, the linen is gorgeous.

The rooms are silent, despite the bustle below, too – which is most definitely NOT the case in all London hotels, even some of the most expensive.

Check-in – set in a marble pyramid with glass top that looks out on to the stars, prosecco on ice and amorphous white sofas – is an experience.

You must book into STK, the vibrant steak restaurant on the ground floor. One of London’s most dynamic restaurants, cocktails and exceptionally good steak are the speciality.

You will very likely need to book a table – it fills up as the evening moves on and by 11pm, with DJ in full swing, is one of the most fun spots in town.

For post-dinner drinks, guests have access to the 10th floor Radio Rooftop Bar on the hotel’s roof terrace, with DJ til 2am, at which point you can retreat to your room for the half-size bottles of Jack Daniels and champagne in the mini bar.

The view from the Radio Rooftop Bar can genuinely be described as epic, even for a Londoner who thinks they have seen it from all angles.

It’s mesmerising and you would struggle to tear yourself away – if you didn’t have an amazing suite waiting for you downstairs.

Overall verdict: A super-stylish but very relaxed stay in an exquisite hotel with killer views, away from the hectic West End but with everything at your fingertips.

To book call reservations on 020 7395 3400, email reservations.me.london@melia.com or visit the ME Hotel website at melia.com.

The Shangri-La Hotel at the Shard

Nothing can beat the Shangri-La hotel at The Shard for a room with a view. Perched up on levels 34 to 52 of iconic London building The Shard, this hotel is without doubt one of London’s most exciting check-ins.

With the feel of a glass box suspended in the sky with the best of London glittering around you, the show-stoppers here include London’s highest infinity pool and highest champagne bar. Both nicely set the stage for a rather decadent and utterly lovely escape.

Romance seekers will love the hotels new Modern Couples experience and stay. Inspired by the Art, Intimacy and the Avant Garde exhibition at the nearby Barbican, it explores modern love across painting, sculpture, photography, design and literature and features famous couples such as Lee Miller and Man Ray, as well as Pablo Picasso and Dora Maar.

Once inside their luxurious room, guests will find a Barbican tote bag containing two tickets to the exhibition and a ‘love map’ detailing a romantic walk from the hotel to the Barbican.  The experience continues back at the hotel, where couples can sip on cocktails in GŎNG Bar, the most romantic cocktail bar in London, located on level 52 of the hotel in the Shard.

Overall Verdict: Modern Couples look no further – the best place for an infusion of culture and sky high romance.

The Modern Couples experience includes a one-night stay in a luxurious room, English breakfast for two, two tickets to the Barbican’s Modern Couples exhibition, two cocktails per person in GŎNG Bar,  Complimentary Wi-Fi, use of gym and infinity Sky Pool. Available from 10 Oct 2018 through 27 Jan 2019. Shangri-La Hotel, At The Shard, shangri-la.com

Stylish and Central – The Marriott Park Lane

Recently benefitting from a mammoth refurbishment  – this hotel glossy and glam, dressed in a  colour palette of pale greys, lilacs and neutrals in leather, silk, wood and marble – it’s the perfect escape from nearby Oxford Street’s hustle and bustle.

The bathrooms are worth the trip alone – sleek and spacious they offer massive tubs and marble all round. The overall effect here is residential – like a luxury apartment, it feels like your own home – only better obviously.

Thoughtful touches for those seeking romance included red rose petals from the door until the bedroom and strewn into a waiting bath.   Marble Arch is just outside with it’s inviting shops but you never hear a sound in the quiet of the room.

All 152 rooms and suites feature Bluetooth LCD screen TVs and Floris toiletries and the hotel’s restaurant on lobby level, Lanes of London, offers great food.

The 12.5-metre swimming pool in the hotel’s basement was a a major draw. It felt resort-like in the midst of busy London. Completely chic and spacious – with rejuvenating steam rooms and saunas adding to the allure.

Overall Verdict: Sexy and Stylish in the heart of London. Great for families and couples alike.

Deluxe rooms start from £429. marriott.co.uk

Seductive and Special: The MayFair Hotel

There are not enough superlatives to describe the opulent allure of the rooms at this characterful, seductive, elegant but fun hotel.

The spa is a stand out here with a distinctive oriental theme – think dark tones and gold finishings – along with the expected niceties such as heated stone beds, tranquil music, generous steam and sauna and plush robes just waiting to envelope you. The vast treatment menu is thoughtfully designed to meet every need and includes Caci facials, ESPA Massages and sumptuous detox wraps. Couples can enjoy a couples massage in one of the double treatment rooms.

The hotel’s restaurant at the hotel – the May Fair Kitchen – offers a delicious tapas style concept and the overall decor is sleek, plush and modern with a comforting feel throughout.

Visit themayfairhotel.co.uk 

The London Hilton Park Lane

A view with a room – the London Hilton gives a truly remarkable perch from which to soak up the very best London has to offer.  A  Park Lane institution, this iconic hotels has 38 floors facing three different directions – over the West End, Hyde Park and Buckingham Palace gardens. The creamy colour-schemes are also of the era, but marble bathrooms are smart and up to date.The contemporary room had cool, neutral and calm-toned décor with large wall-width and ceiling-high windows displaying far-reaching views of London city.

Michelin-starred dining at Galvin at Windows sits on the top floor – the pear souffle is not to be missed.The top floor restaurant, Galvin at Windows, now under head chef Joo Won, has retained its Michelin-star every year since 2009 and it has the best views in the hotel.

Location here is unsurpassed. You are on the edge of Mayfair, just off the southern stretch of Park Lane with Hyde Park directly across the road, Piccadilly a minute away and easy access to Buckingham Palace and Hyde Park Corner underground station.

Despite being such a grand, landmark hotel there were nice personal touches. Toys and games for children from Hamley’s in the room upon arrival and chilled cocktails on the rocks delivered in room as a welcome for mum and dad.  There is an inviting window seat to perch and enjoy the breathtaking views. In-room dining with a 24-hour food menu  There is everything from fish and chips to pizza and an extensive middle-eastern food menu with humus, cous cous and tagine.

Best things to do nearby  – we headed to the London Eye in the evening for their champagne experience which included fast track (no messy queues for you) and sipping bubbly overlooking one of the world’s greatest cities. As well don’t miss a visit to the nearby Sea Life Aquarium visitsealife.com which is a favourite for children and perfect on a rainy day.

Overall Verdict: Sweeping views with a personal touch. Iconic, landmark hotel well worth a visit.

Ice skating is having a real moment of glory, thanks to Dancing On Ice triple axel-ing it back into the limelight.

It’s the season to skate and be merry too, with ice skating making the perfect festive outing – just add rum-spiked hot chocolate or mulled wine.

Not only is it great fun, but it also proves to be a top workout, improving balance, core strength and muscle tone.

With the Torvill and Dean biopic set to hit our TV screens soon too, here are some spots around the city where you can try out some moves inspired by Britain’s most famous skating Olympians…

Queens Skate Dine and Bowl

According to the pros, one of the top spots in London for ice skating is Queens Skate Dine and Bowl (even the Beckhams have been spotted a few times at Queens getting their skates on). Housed under a huge climate-controlled roof – meaning you can loop, flip and axel all year round no matter what the weather – the venue is home to an ice-rink that’s almost the size of a football pitch.

For those looking for the ultimate Christmas selfie, Queens has brought the magic of snow to London (guaranteed) – the venue has installed custom-made snow cannons, so flakes gently drift down as you whizz around the rink.

After working up an appetite there is a new perfectly positioned rink side bar, The Sin Bin, which is being run in partnership with one of the city’s favourite burger joints, MeatLiquor.

Other activities on the site include curling (the nations favourite winter Olympic sport), go-karting-on-ice, ice hockey, arcade machines that the kids absolutely love and, of course, 17 ten-pin bowling lanes.

Hours: from 9am to 11.30pm* (*subject to change on differing days of the week / special dates)

Max Session Length: 3 hours

Tube: Queensway / Bayswater

Where: Notting Hill, 17 Queensway, London W2 4QP

Web: queens.london

Tower of London Ice Rink

To soak up some of the city’s finest historic views as you skate, head to the Tower of London rink.

This spot is especially impressive in the evening, when the palace walls (dating back to the 11th century) are illuminated by coloured flood lights.

There is a cafe and bar on the site, serving up an array of deliciously sweet and warming treats.

Be sure to check the weather before heading over, as this is an outdoor rink with no rain or snow protection. Also, it helps heading there slightly earlier to avoid the post-work crowds.

Hours: from 11am to 10pm*

Max Session Length: 45mins

Tube: Tower Hill

Where: Tower of London, EC3N 4AB

Web: toweroflondonicerink.co.uk

Canary Wharf Ice Rink

For a more modern landscape, head East to the Canary Wharf ice rink, which is nestled among towering skyscrapers and old docks surrounded by water.

Come the weekend, this financial district of town is less populated, making it the perfect place to try out your pirouettes without the crowds.

A couple of years ago there was a snazzy disco-style illuminated flooring installed underneath the ice but this year it has returned to its traditional shiny white guise.

After taking a spin on the ice, why not explore the Canary Wharf shopping centre which boasts dozens of restaurants, bars and outlets to suit all tastes. Tailored to the cash-rich workers in the area, this is one of the most expensive rinks in the city at £16.95 per adult.

Hours: from 10am to 10pm*

Max Session Length: 50 minutes

Tube: Canary Wharf / Heron Quays

Where: Canada Square Park, Canary Wharf, London E14 5AB

Web: icerinkcanarywharf.co.uk

Hampton Court Palace Ice Rink

Escape the hustle and bustle of the city, and skate back in time with a trip to Henry VIII’s majestic Hampton Court Palace.

This 16th century landmark – just a swift rail ride from town – is home to one of London’s most spectacular open-air ice rinks.

Located in front of the Thames-side Tudor palace, the rink has a seriously beautiful backdrop and is open to skaters of all abilities. To keep energy levels up, there is a rink-side cafe and bar serving up a warming new winter menu.

Visitors are encouraged to explore the other gems Hampton Court has to offer, including the spectacular state apartments, 65 acres of formal gardens and world-famous maze.

Hours: from 10am to 9pm*

Max Session Length: 45mins

Rail: Hampton Court

Where: East Molesey, Surrey, London KT8 9AU

Web: hamptoncourtpalaceicerink.co.uk

Skyline Skating

Top off your shopping trip with a spin around John Lewis’ rooftop rink. However, you’ll have to breathe in a little, as this square-shaped rink is on the small side.

Furthermore, it’s fashioned out of a white synthetic material instead of ice, which does take away from some of the Christmas magic slightly but the rest of the roof has been transformed into an atmospheric wintry space complete with log cabins and there are great views over the city, so it’s still well worth a visit. After all, who doesn’t love a rooftop?

There are also warming treats being served by MyPie (the chestnut and venison pie is well worth checking out) and to wash it down, there’s an array of delicious gin cocktails.

The space is especially impressive come nightfall, when the lights start to put on a twinkling display. Keep track of the weather, as the open-air ice rink will be closed during bad weather.

Hours: from noon to 9:30pm*

Max Session Length: Half an hour

Tube: Bond St or Oxford Circus

Where: 300 Oxford street, London, W1A 1EX

Web: johnlewis.com/our-services/roof-garden

Skate at Somerset House

Complete with a 40-foot fir tree and cheese fondue on the stove, the ice rink at Somerset House guarantees to get you in the Christmas spirit.

The intimate 900-square-metre rink is set within Somerset House’s grand 18th-century courtyard, which is especially impressive lit at night.

The Somerset House rink is run in collaboration with Fortnum & Mason, and the fine food purveyor is running a lodge with treats such as cheese fondue, raclette and smoked salmon on the menu.

If the weather doesn’t play along or skating doesn’t take your fancy, there is also a brilliant shopping arcade on the site to indulge in a spot of retail therapy. Not many people know about this pop-up shopping mall, so it proves to be much less crowded than Fortnum’s flagship Green Park outlet.

Hours: from 8am to 11pm

Max Session Length: 45 minutes

Tube: Temple, Charing Cross or Covent Garden

Where: Somerset House, Strand London, WC2R 1LA

Web: somersethouse.org.uk