logo
'Side Quest' sightseeing cycle routes for exploring London

'Side Quest' sightseeing cycle routes for exploring London

BBC News19 hours ago
Themed cycling routes to help people discover parts of London they are less familiar with have been launched by Santander Cycles and Transport for London (TfL).The Side Quests route generator provides people with randomly selected routes around the capital, each of a different difficulty level and a theme, such as food spots or film locations.Research commissioned by Santander and TfL found 55% of respondents wanted to explore more of London. "This scheme helps Londoners and visitors discover hidden parts of the city, stay active and enjoy the summer weather," said Will Norman, walking and cycling commissioner.
To mark the launch, Santander Cycles is offering floating water bikes for one day only on Wednesday. The water bikes, which can seat two people, will be available to use for free in 20 minute slots on the canals in the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, from 12:00 BST to 17:00. David Eddington, head of cycle hire at TfL, said he was "excited to see more Londoners and visitors explore the capital in an affordable way".
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Sacha Baron Cohen calls his body transformation a ‘mid-life crisis'
Sacha Baron Cohen calls his body transformation a ‘mid-life crisis'

The Independent

time19 minutes ago

  • The Independent

Sacha Baron Cohen calls his body transformation a ‘mid-life crisis'

Sacha Baron Cohen has unveiled a significant body transformation for his role as Mephisto in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The 53-year-old actor debuted his new physique on the cover of Men's Fitness UK, prompting speculation about its authenticity. Cohen confirmed his transformation was real, attributing it to a combination of Ozempic, private chefs, and personal trainers, jokingly calling it his 'mid-life crisis.' He sought advice from Matthew McConaughey, who recommended his trainer Alfonso Moretti, who initially described Cohen's body as 'like a ruler'. Cohen portrayed Mephisto in the season finale of Ironheart, and Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige has confirmed he will reprise the role in future MCU projects.

Travel expert issues warning over simple passport mistakes that will stop you from flying
Travel expert issues warning over simple passport mistakes that will stop you from flying

Daily Mail​

time20 minutes ago

  • Daily Mail​

Travel expert issues warning over simple passport mistakes that will stop you from flying

Holidaymakers jetting off this summer should be aware of some simple issues with their passports that could prevent them from flying. When going on a trip, tourists often have to juggle many different things including travel insurance, transfers and their luggage. But one important factor to consider is your passport – and issues with it could cause problems when arriving at your destination or returning to the UK. Chris Harrington, managing director at transfer company Hoppa, shared his advice for those going away this summer. The travel expert emphasised the importance of making sure your passport isn't too damaged. He explained: 'If your passport is damaged to the extent that it impacts its ability to function or verify who you are, this can lead to it being declared invalid.' Chris advises checking the condition of your passport after booking a trip to avoid problems. He added: 'Once you have booked your holiday, ensure your passport is in good condition and it doesn't have any water damage, tears, rips, stains or any pages are missing. One important factor to consider is your passport and problems with it that could cause problems when arriving at your destination or returning to the UK 'In most cases, minor wear and tear is acceptable, but for anything more severe, you will need to apply for a new passport.' Though life can become busy, it is important to ensure documents such as passports are up to date – including reflecting any changes to personal information – in order to ensure they are still accurate and valid. Chris said: 'Your passport needs to have all of your correct details on. Including name and date of birth, which means if this isn't the case, it could be invalid. 'When making your travel booking, it's important that the details you enter reflect those that are on your passport. 'For example, if you get married and you make the booking with your new surname, the passport needs to also have the same details. 'If you need to apply for a new passport due to getting married, this can be done before or after the ceremony.' Another point to look out for is the expiry date on your passport. Even if it hasn't expired, it's important to note that some countries require the passport to be valid for three months from the departure date. Chris explained: 'One of the common mistakes people make is not being aware of when a passport has expired. 'When you are going abroad, you need to make sure that your passport was issued within the last 10 years of the date you enter the country. 'It's important to remember that this is counted from the date of issue and not the expiry date. 'Alongside the 10-year rule, Brits travelling to the EU and Schengen countries also need to be aware that their passport needs to be valid for at least three months beyond their departure date. 'It's also worth noting that for some destinations, there needs to be 6 months remaining on the passport, so it's important to check the regulations for the country you're travelling to.'

Ozzy Osbourne is seen just two days before his death in a final heartwarming video having breakfast with his family
Ozzy Osbourne is seen just two days before his death in a final heartwarming video having breakfast with his family

Daily Mail​

time20 minutes ago

  • Daily Mail​

Ozzy Osbourne is seen just two days before his death in a final heartwarming video having breakfast with his family

Ozzy Osbourne was seen spending time with his family in a sweet final video shared just two days before his death aged 76. The music legend died on Tuesday just weeks after he took to the stage for his final show with Black Sabbath, with his family confirming the sad news in a statement. Ozzy's daughter Kelly Osbourne, 40, shared the video with fans on her Instagram Story on July 20, just two days before the singer died. In the clip, Ozzy was sat at a kitchen table using his tablet while spending time with his youngest daughter and her two-year-old son Sidney. The trio were enjoying breakfast together while reading the newspapers, including the Daily Mail which was spread out on the table. Kelly said: 'Good morning', before panning the camera to her father who was wearing a pair of headphones as she said, 'Dadda, say good morning'. Ozzy leaned forward and replied, 'Good morning'. Ozzy passed away on Tuesday, just weeks after he took to the stage for a final performance with his band in Villa Park, Birmingham. The Osbourne family said in a statement: 'It is with more sadness than mere words can convey that we have to report that our beloved Ozzy Osbourne has passed away this morning. 'He was with his family and surrounded by love. We ask everyone to respect our family privacy at this time.'Sharon, Jack, Kelly, Aimee and Louis.' Ozzy was born John Michael Osbourne in Birmingham in 1948, and dropped out of school at the age of 15. After serving two months in prison for burglary, he decided to pursue his love of music and by 1970 Black Sabbath had gained a huge following in the US and UK with the release of their first album. Ozzy quit the band in 1978 and divorced his first wife Thelma Mayfair, who he had two children with, four years later, amid his ongoing substance abuse problems. He went on to marry second wife Sharon Osbourne, who helped him transform into a successful solo artist and the couple had three children together. In the clip, Ozzy was sat at a kitchen table using his tablet while spending time with his youngest daughter and her two-year-old son Sidney over breakfast Ozzy gained a whole new audience of fans with the family's reality TV show The Osbournes in 2001. He is survived by his wife Sharon and his five children, Jessica, Louis, Aimee, Kelly and Jack. The Black Sabbath legend had been suffering from Parkinson's disease since 2003 and had undergone seven surgeries in the past five years, including a fourth spinal surgery in September 2023. His health battle began more than two decade ago, when in 2003, he broke his neck after falling off a quad bike leading to some extensive back surgery and metal rods being put down his spine. The British musician was diagnosed with a mild form of Parkinson's disease in 2003, however he only went public with the condition in 2020. However, Ozzy previously said that his biggest struggles were due to a fall which he suffered in 2019 which caused metal rods in his back to dislodge. The rods had been put there following a quad bike accident at his Buckinghamshire home in 2003. He told Rolling Stone UK magazine: 'The second surgery went drastically wrong and virtually left me crippled. 'I thought I'd be up and running after the second and third, but with the last one they put a f*ing rod in my spine. 'They found a tumour in one of the vertebrae, so they had to dig all that out too. It's pretty rough, man, and my balance is all f*ed up.' The illness led to him cancelling a string of tour dates while he recovered, including postponing the UK and European legs of his No More Tours 2. Ahead of his final live performance in July 2025, which was a benefit concert in Birmingham, Ozzy gave an update on his health status and state of mind. Speaking on SiriusXM's Ozzy's Boneyard, he said: 'You know what, I go on about the way I can't walk and I can't do this, but you know what I was thinking over the holidays? For all of my complaining, I'm still alive.' He continued: 'I may be moaning about how I can't walk as well but as I look down the road, there's people that didn't do half as much as me, and they didn't make it.' 'I'm trying to get back on my feet.' Host Billy Morrison added: 'Ozzy, you are so much better than you were just a year ago.' He replied: 'Yeah, but the recovery is very slow. That f***ing surgeon. Plus the Parkinson's. When you get up in the morning, you just jump outta bed. Oh I have to balance myself, you know? But you know, I'm not dead, as you say. I'm still actively doing things.' Also ahead of the gig, Ozzy's wife Sharon revealed: 'Ozzy's working with his therapist every single day. He's doing really well, actually. Ozzy's number one thing in life is his fans, so he's working hard to be ready for them, to make this show the perfect way to end things.'

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store