Disclaimer: unlike all the ladies who reviewed this place previously, I went there as a student…read more(short-course facial course) for 6 weeks - not for a treatment ! so I am not reviewing LCIBT as a beauty parlor but as an educational place. I have to say that the quality of teaching is impressive- I was trained by two ladies and both of them worked hard to make the hardest bone names and muscles sound easy and familiar ;-) * I have tried couple of other beauty colleges around London, and trainers there are just freaky ---but that's another issue I had a hand-on experience there (obviously on customers and on other students) which gave me confidence and pinpointed at areas I should work on to improve. so the two good points in this place are (1) quality of teachers, (2) the hand-on experience you get while you are training the not so appealing point was the price.. the course was over £600 which is why I can't afford to sign up for any other courses there- although I desperately want to try couple of other short courses. these prices might not apply if you are diploma student (talking with another student, I noticed she paid nearly nothing for 2-year comprehensive beauty course!)

I visited for an Indian Head Massage, on my budget pursuit to get rid of the pain, tension and…read moreaching in my neck and shoulders. Since ten minutes at Walk-In Backrub didn't seem to do the trick, a more lengthy student therapy was the next on my list of things to try. The salon is located in a posh listed building just south and east of Oxford Circus tube station on Upper Marlborough Street, and is rammed packed full of teenage learner estheticians dressed in white (the crowd of them at the reception counter where I needed to sign in was five deep, no joke) in the mani/pedi room at the front of the building. Once I did get signed in, I moved to the relative quiet of the waiting room, which offered quite comfortable plush settees. My trainee massage therapist came to get me after a while, offered me a cup of water that she already had in her hand (nice), and led me upstairs to the massage therapy room. The area where she seated me looked much like an A&E examination room, but I was somehow unbothered when I considered the £15 I paid for the service upfront. The massage began, and I felt as if the trainee was just touching me rather than massaging. I personally like a heavy massage hand. This said, I've never had an Indian Head Massage before, so I don't know if that's what it's supposed to be like. At one point when she leaned my head back to massage my neck and face, I was dreadfully uncomfortable, as I was slouched up with my neck craned backward simultaneously, so it was sort of the antithesis of a relaxing experience at that point. I left a little disenchanted by the entire experience, but I couldn't get upset when I only paid £15 for it. But then, later that night, I realized that the pain in my neck and shoulders had abated a bit. More so than it had when I had a woman manhandle me for a ten-minute rub elsewhere. I will probably go back for other treatments, because, well, it's so damn cheap. P.S. Book ahead.

I've been a long time patron of this beauty school. Spa services in London are so expensive and so…read morehit-and-miss that I can't stomach paying a ton for them, so the first time I saw the services menu with the really affordable prices on it, I had to give them a try. In the past 3 years or so I've tried a number of the treatments offered, and they've ranged from mediocre to very good. Never excellent, but also never bad. Your treatment is given by a student at the school, who might be anywhere along the time line of her training. At the end of the treatment you are asked to fill out a brief questionnaire about your experience, how you liked it, what you would have had done differently, etc. So you're also contributing to the education of a student, which feels almost like volunteer work. So, for a full body Swedish massage, one full hour, you pay 22 pounds. I haven't seen anything cheaper in town, and I'm a massage enthusiast. And as I said, I've had some really really nice ones, and some just ok ones. Haven't had a pedicure here because they don't have proper pedicure chairs in the facility, and I can soak my feet in a pot of water at home. The manicure is basic and nice, however. They also do a pre-massage infra-red treatment which warms up the muscles so you get more out of your massage. They're also really good about giving you post-treatment advice about future behaviours and products. Oh also had a facial here once that was really nice. Basically it's the best place to go for affordable beauty treatments in central London. And they're always really super nice to you. Only problem is they don't usually take walk-ins, you have to book ahead. But you can book several treatments back to back and treat yourself to a spa day at a ridiculously cheap price. I'm surprised this place isn't booked out months in advance. Oh also I see men in there a lot, which is cool. All are welcome.

I've got my diploma from here and I can say a lot about this school. This is not just a regular…read moreplace to learn how to do Make-up, but it's a whole lifetime experience. You get to meet people from different places, with different talents and techniques and share experience. You can get any Spa treatment you desire here and you won't have to break the bank for it. The procedures are on the most competitive prices in London. Don't hesitate because of the students, I can assure you that most of the people that study here, work more professionally and have more knowledge that the ones at your local salon. Which is great is that you can give tips, recommendations and tell the person that is treating you, how would you like to be treated or what would you like to change. You can basically instruct the students and you'll also be helping them in their future career. I graduated the Advanced Make-up Design, but like I said, you can get any beauty treatment here, not just Make-up. From nail care, pedicure, beauty therapy, massages, facial care and all of these of affordable prices.

Studied at Stanfords College UK on a number of their specialist courses, also sent friends there to…read moredo the same. Good company, very highly qualified lecturers. Would recommend it Mike

I held an event at the Home Brew Depot a couple of weeks ago and it was very well received by all…read moreguests. We were a large group of 11 but given then interactive nature of the session everyone was able to get involved in the brewing session. Josh guided us through the process and provided insightful knowledge about all aspects of the business. Supper was provided for us by the Adam and Eve pub who were very accommodating of everyone's needs. Definitely recommend for something different to do - you even get to keep some of your own beer to finish at home (although I have yet to taste mine).

Did their home brewing course in Homerton. Had a great time and learned a ton! I've been home…read morebrewing for a while, but most people had never brewed before. Seemed really accessible, good instruction.

The Place is the number one spot for contemporary dance class and shows in London…read more With no membership fees and it costing only £4 for the advanced level classes in the morning, The Place is outstanding value. All classes are taught by company members on a weekly basis. This makes Monday the best day to start so you don't get left behind in routines. Most teachers teach one routine throughout the week adding sections daily. The changing rooms and showers are very clean and tidy. The studios are large and airy with sprung floors. There really is no better place to go to learn contemporary dance anywhere in London. If you are a beginner they hold workshops and courses throughout the year. Check the website for more details.

The Place is a school for dance development that is leading the way in dance training, creation and…read moreperformance. Its one of Europe's most innovative dance spaces, where artists from all over the world come to push creative boundaries, to experiment and to perform outstanding new work for audiences who expect to be surprised, inspired and delighted. The Place also has a 280 seat theatre, an extensive range of classes, courses and participatory opportunities for adults and young people, and professional development programmes for artists. The theatre holds over 200 performances a year, including festivals and special events. I went along to The Place to see the performance done by Protein "May Contain Food". This performance runs from Thu 21 Apr to Sat 7 May but touring after this. The whole performance was very interesting all about food. First of all you enter a big room full of tables around the side all decorated differently some was done up with dried pasta laying across the table, some full of vegetables, some full of feathers laying across table etc. The table I chose was full of fast food wrappers and containers I don't like fast food but it looked more colourful and fun compared to the other tables. Also the main lead was the waitor for our table as the performance is all about waitors/waitresses, family/friends and food. They dance and sing about food teaching us about where food comes from, how we should appreciate food, how are life if revolved around food etc. Throughout we got tastings like a tomato and we had to roll it across our face, feel it, look at it, hear it etc to appreciate it. This was a fun unique way though with a very artist performance played out by the cast. I particularly liked the part when they was singing about meat they acted like animals, funny. Has to be seen to understand whole concept of performance.

Fantastic school and the location is great!read more

By far the best cooking day and class every. I attended the meat and poultry class and it was…read moreamazing! I've now done classes in Paris, Barcelona and London and the one at the Cookery School is by far the best!!!!! Ill Be taking more classes when I return to London

I attended a half day course 'The ultimate meat and poultry'. Surpassed expectations on all counts…read more The cookery school is centrally located, just off Regent St.Surprisingly compact inside but everything worked well due to great organisation of the space and activities. We were welcomed with freshly baked caraway seed cakes and cheese scones, still warm from the oven with tea or coffee. Our group of ten budding cooks was split into 3 groups. We had around ten dishes to make so each group did three / four dishes. The chef leading the class was excellent. Too many dishes to describe here but highlights included guinea fowl (a favourite of mine) braised in red wine and port, spatchcock poussin, lamb stew, duck with orange and roast beef with Yorkshire pud. We all worked on fully deboning a chicken which we then stuffed with a mushroom mixture, tied up like a burrito (I think ballotine is the correct term) and took home to eat. I can report it was delicious. On the side we also made two rice dishes and creme caramels. Finally, after a 10 am start and solid demo, concentrated prep and cooking, we reached 3pm. The table was set and the group sat down to eat what became a 10 course tasting menu. Tired and weak with hunger we ate and ate sampling each dish with a nice glass or two of wine to accompany. As well as being interesting and educational, it was enjoyable and learned lots of new tips and cookery techniques. It was busy and intense but not too much and pitched to the group who all had a reasonable level of cooking knowledge. I have the recipe cards and slowly working through some of the dishes we made...not too bad so far. Would definitely return for another class.

This is another valued addition to the quirkiness of the Leabridge road, where E5's urban dystopia…read moreturns visibly to countryside in a matter of yards. Driving up the long approach road between swaying beech trees and neighing mares, you would be forgiven for thinking you were somewhere near Newmarket. The illusion of rural calm continues inside as horses are hay-strewn stable to training yard and back again by their capable human minders. There are classes here to suit every level of ability from haven't-even-patted-a-donkey up to advanced. For the huntsman extraordinaire, there is the opportunity to have a free session with one of the better mounts. The price for all this is predictably high, in some cases as much as £30 for a group lesson of one hour. Presumably, the amount of feed needed to keep the three dozen four-legged-friends healthy along with exhorbitant insurance rates do not help matters in this regard. I have another reason to visit now though in the form of recently discovered hidden treasure around the back of the riding centre: about three tons of vintage, dark brown, crumbly horse manure - free to take away (bring your own sacks) and perfect for the budding guerilla gardener.

A fairly decent place for trying horse riding, or for a first few lessons when moving to London…read more Let me explain... Lee Valley Riding Centre is part of a community/council sports projects (ice ring, football pitches) and as such is perfectly organised: health and safety, open to the wider public, accessible by public transport, standardised teaching. It doesn't get much safer for beginners, or easier for seasoned riders. Excellent for children too. But it's also victim of it' success, with lessons booked WELL in advance (count several days to a couple of weeks), no access to open spaces for hacks, and bored to death horses. To be fair some are quite decent, but the real sport horses are privately owned, here on livery only. You'll want to find a "sharper" club or center soon, but don't be afraid to give this one a go first.

Acting and Dramatics for students pursuing a career in the performing arts, designers, technicians…read moreand those involved in dramatic arts. A great place for those in the circle to network; especially on a Friday evening with drinks at the RADA bar. This academy has enterprises; and the skills taught range from communication, Corportate entertainment, film production etc. The alumni list boasts of a few famous names like Judi Dench, Anthony Hopkins.