Beat the winter blues

So Christmas has been and gone, New Year’s Eve is nothing but a fading (and fuzzy) memory.  January coldly looms ahead, a bleak reminder that we’re months away from summer and even longer away from the next Christmas.  Self-reflection, New Year’s resolutions, the effects of too much food and drink in December; all these things can quickly spiral into fully fledged ‘January’ blues.  Before you know it you’re contemplating your entire existence and wondering where it all went wrong.

The trick is, don’t let it get to that.  You know what to expect so make January count, don’t just write it off. Book something amazing, a holiday, a spa trip, a weekend in the city.  Go and see a musical, book a table in a comedy club. If you didn’t have quite enough of shopping in December, head for the January sales.

Whatever you decide to do, decide to do it NOW!  Not only does that mean you will have something to look forward to in January but it also means if you choose to travel by train, you can get an advanced ticket and save some much needed pennies for the longest month, financially, known to man.

Using our best fare finder widget, see whether splitting you ticket will help you save even more money.  The longer your journey, the more likely you are to make considerable savings by doing so. See our split ticketing page for hints and tips.

We’ve put together a few ideas to consider, things we think might make January seem like an exciting prospect for once.

Barnsley House – Cirencester

If you are looking to book the ultimate spa break, you need look no further than the quite frankly, breath-taking Barnsley House.  A hotel unlike any other; the height of luxury but with a relaxed and unpretentious feel. Sophisticate yet homely, opulent but somehow comfortable and functional.  The Spa itself has been designed to bring the tranquillity of the stunning gardens inside with floor to ceiling windows overlooking the grounds and aromatic herbs hanging from the wooden beams.  Every detail has been considered and the overall experience is one you will never forget. With five treatment rooms plus a steam room, sauna and heated outside hydrotherapy pool, you will leave Barnsley House a refreshed and energised version of your partied-out self! www.barnsleyhouse.com/spa

The nearest train station is in Kemble and from there it is under a twenty minute taxi ride away.  Use our best fare finder widget to book your ticket now.

Turkish Baths and Health Spa – Harrogate

If you feel like you need to regroup and energise yourself after a particularly hectic and full on Christmas, have you ever even considered a Turkish Bath experience.

There are three heated chambers, starting in the warm room, the heat prepares your body for the hotter rooms.  The intermediate room allows the warmth to continue its therapeutic effect of the musculature.  Finally the hot room opens the pores and stimulates the circulation

After that take a deep breath and brace yourself for the cold plunge pool. The change in temperature improves circulation, flushes out toxins and provides a toning effect.  After that you will spend 30 minutes cooling down in the relaxation room to round off your Turkish experience.

Harrogate railway station is a ten minute walk from the Turkish Baths so it couldn’t be easier.  Use our best fare finder widget to see how much money you could save by booking your tickets now.

www.turkishbathsharrogate.co.uk

The London Boat Show –ExCel

If Father Christmas didn’t bring you the yacht you asked for, how about heading to the now famous Boat Show at the ExCel to see what could have been? Now in its 61^st year, this world-renowned event is all about innovation and new technology.

An exhibition like no other, you don’t have to really be in the market for a boat to enjoy it.  Experience this amazing and in many ways futuristic, tribute to all things waterborne and enjoy fictionally choosing what boat you would buy, should there be a lottery win in the family.

With over four hundred exhibitors covering an area equal to six football pitches, it is a huge and impressive homage to everything from kayaks to 50ft Sunseekers.

Running from 9^th to the 18^th January and with tickets on sale now, why not throw caution to the wind and try something new next year.  Easily accessible via the underground, we would recommend getting to London Bridge and jumping on the Jubilee Line to Custom House however their website (www.londonboatshow.com) has an excellent ‘getting here’ page which will show you various train and tube routes.  From there simply go to our best fare finder widget and book your tickets now to get the most out of advanced fares.