Top tips for a sustainable group trip to London!
Enjoying a destination to the full with minimal impact on the planet—that is a wonderful challenge that we are happy to take into account when creating a group travel itinerary. But let's face it: London is a major global city, and cities are usually not the first destinations that come to mind for a sustainable trip. However, in recent years London has invested heavily in making the city more environmentally friendly. In this blog, we take you through a number of sustainable group travel options to London!
Travel green!
With Eurostar, you travel directly from Amsterdam or Rotterdam to the heart of London in just under 4.5 hours. Depending on the group size, goMICE will reserve one or more exclusive carriages solely for your organisation. A relaxed, sustainable start to your group trip to London!
Sustainable days in London
Once you have arrived in London, it is of course wonderful to take in all the highlights, but there are also various sustainable group activities possible that will give your itinerary a sustainable touch. Or you could make the entire travel programme environmentally conscious. A few examples?
The Royal Botanic Gardens
Also known as the botanical paradise in south-west London, it is a wonderful location for an (active) morning or afternoon in nature. In these gardens you will find the greatest biodiversity in the world! From impressive Japanese gardens, more than 14,000 trees from the global plant and tree kingdom, to the largest Victorian glasshouse in the world. And that a stone's throw from the bustling centre of London!
Relax during an open-air group yoga session, get moving during an active team-building workout led by a professional personal trainer, or unwind during a forest bathing session. The latter is a Japanese-inspired session where the group is immersed in the green woodland world during a sensory-stimulating forest walk. Conclude the visit to The Royal Botanic Gardens with a class in the garden kitchen, where the group is introduced to the sustainable production of food products.
London through the eyes of a local
Discover London during your sustainable group tour through the eyes of a local on a bike tour or on foot. In addition to visiting the must-see highlights, the group is taken to the off the beaten track places in the city. From visiting local businesses and taking a look at innovative green roofs, to a break at a local coffee bar. Experience the real London.
Do good and feel good
Planting trees is, alongside a lasting memory at the destination, a great way to do your bit towards greening the city. Do good and feel good! London is already known as a city with plenty of nature, but there are still various forgotten areas that can be given a new lease of life by giving nature a boost. A valuable activity that can also be combined with a tough team survival challenge!
Vegan Cooking Class
Cooking in a way that is good for animals and the planet, as well as being outrageously delicious, is the central focus of the vegan cookery course. Aside from the fact that cooking together is simply great fun, various healthy, vegan dishes will be covered, and afterwards you will walk out the door with your head full of inspiration for vegan dishes!
Eat Eco
London is a true haven for food lovers and also demonstrates that an amazing taste experience and environmentally conscious preparation go together brilliantly. The following restaurants prove that more than enough!
- Zero-waste restaurantLondon is home to the world's first zero-waste restaurant: restaurant SiloAn extra unique feature of this restaurant is that they have a mill to grind grain, are self-sufficient in terms of plant-based milk and butter, and have a digester with which they produce compost. Enjoy a creative and responsible tasting menu with products that you would not normally encounter quickly in a restaurant.
- Green Michelin-star afternoon teaYes, you read that right; a green Michelin star! This award has been presented annually since 2021 to restaurants and chefs who are at the forefront of running their restaurant ethically and environmentally consciously. In London, Petersham Nurseries Teahouse awarded this beautiful star. Enjoy a traditional English Afternoon Tea in the teahouse, which is located in a greenhouse surrounded by colourful flowers and green trees. All delights are made from local, environmentally friendly and seasonal ingredients!
Sleep Sustainable
The city features a wide range of eco-certified hotels! We are sharing a number of top sustainable accommodations with you:
- Treehouse Hotel London****. As the name of this hotel suggests, it is designed like a rustic treehouse! But a luxury one, complete with a rooftop coffee and wine bar and a wonderful terrace. In terms of sustainable initiatives, single-use plastics have been banned from the hotel, various water stations can be found across the site, and they have set up a compost production programme.
- Hilton London Bankside 5-star. Located on London's popular South Bank, this modern design hotel features luxurious decor and facilities. But what is the hotel doing in terms of sustainability? The Hilton features a Kitchen Garden, which helps to combat food waste, reduces the hotel's carbon footprint and cuts down on food transportation miles. The home-grown produce from the Kitchen Garden is used to prepare the dishes on the menu.
To engage and enthuse your target audience sustainably in advance!
As you can see, London is exceptionally well-suited for a sustainable group or incentive trip! We completely understand that you cannot wait to travel to the United Kingdom together with your employees or business associates 😉 Therefore, start getting your target audience excited, informed and involved right now with a sustainable preliminary phase through our Stretch-method. We are creating a ‘green’ communication pathway, for instance by deploying our Digital tools and eco-friendly gifts. In this way, your organisation or message stays top of mind with your target audience for longer and we ensure even more impact!
Curious about the possibilities for your organisation? Then get Contact Get in touch with us; we would be happy to help you plan your green group trip to London!
Source:
- https://www.visitbritain.com/nl/nl/trein-naar-de-meest-milieuvriendelijke-attracties-groot-brittannie
- https://www.visitbritain.com/nl/nl/duurzaam-gastronomisch-londen
- https://www.wearthlondon.com/blog/8-eco-friendly-activities-to-do-in-london/
- https://www.countryandtownhouse.com/travel/londons-eco-friendly-hotels/