Go green, go chiconomy class, save a fortune and enjoy the ferry from England to France. By Holiday Goddess Editors.

Our first tip is to go on a weekday, not a weekend or public holiday. Our second tip is to squeeze into the calmest, warmest off-peak days you can find.
But if you can manage all this, then walking onto a ferry from England and walking off in France is a wonderful experience.

It’s also ridiculously chiconomical. Fares begin at £19 and if you pick up a newspaper offer or special promotion, you can sail for the price of lunch.

Connect to your ferry stop by train from London, if that’s your hub. But if you’re on the UK coast anyway, remember you’re halfway to Europe anyway.

The best deals are for you and your friends en masse. Pack out the car, split the cost. And remember, the luggage allowances are incredibly generous compared to those parsimonious deals with budget airlines.

Fares are available to Ireland, Belgium, Spain and Holland too. And we really like the free guides to download at http://www.directferries.co.uk

There may be parties of schoolchildren on your boat. It may feel a little odd to realise you’re travelling sans flight attendants. But seriously, if you haven’t tried the ferries from England to Ireland and Europe, you’re in for an unforgettable experience.

The mini cruises to Europe (well under £100) are also worth a look.

Faith Bleasdale survived London-Singapore flights for years. In economy. This is how she did it…

When I lived in Singapore it felt as if I spent most of my time on a plane. The eleven hour flight between the UK and Singapore became my second home. Travelling in economy class is a grim ordeal that I think would perhaps rehabilitate prisoners; I had to develop my own way of surviving. Most people are flying to go on holidays, which means that they are more forgiving of the flight but still, I thought I would share with you my tips for making it as painless as is possible!

When I started my carry on bag was full to the brim of things I thought I would need, by my last flight I had mastered it as much as I ever would, being the sort of person who is always a tad over-prepared. My first tip is to organise your handbag, making sure that everything is easily accessible. When you are first squeezed into your seat and everyone is trying to board the plane getting your essentials to hand is a skill that needs practice.

But first to what to take?

Posh always looks amazing when she steps off the plane, although she obviously doesn’t go ‘cattle class’. However I would always travel in jeans and take a pair of yoga trousers and a long sleeved T-shirt with me to change into, along with my favourite woollen socks. I didn’t feel great stepping off the plane in what looked like my pyjamas, and although the airplane loos aren’t exactly great changing rooms, they are just about manageable. Also take a big scarf or pashmina with you to cosy up in.

Sleeping on the plane isn’t always easy but if you want to rest your eyes, which will help with the looking good at the other end, take a good quality sleep mask and invest in a pair of earplugs.

Planes dehydrate, especially if you indulge in some of the free wine they serve (which I always do), so drink plenty of water. It’s simple but crucial both to avoid water retention and to help your skin. In addition it’s important to carry the right products. Due to recent events you are allowed to take 100ml bottles, which is the perfect excuse to try to blag sample sizes of your favourite products. Take a good facial moisturiser, and apply it frequently, as well as a soothing eye cream, and a lip balm. Deodorant is obviously essential and I always pack some baby wipes which are just really useful for a whole multitude of things! Then, before landing you can reapply your make-up, get changed and you will look ready to face the paparazzi!

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Jane de Teliga ducks away from the London high street to discover still-swinging London.

The fascinating maze of streets in Soho are among my favourite London haunts. If you’re visiting London and want to escape the Oxford street high-street hell, just a quick walk and you’ll be in the heart of Soho. Just off Regent Street at Great Marlborough street is the wonderful Liberty, the jewel-like department store, with a wonderfully edited fashion selection for men and women.

Carnaby Street © Bob Ford / 123rf

Pop out the back door and you’re in Carnaby Street, with a cute network of little streets running off it, full of boutiques, cafes and pubs that have some of the vibe of this swinging ’60s mecca. Shop along Foubert’s Place for All Saints or have a mani pedi at The Cowshed. Go to Kingly Court, for Vintage Store, Marshmallow Mountain, or if you’re a yoga fan, climb to the top for a session at Triyoga, one of London’s best, with mats provided.

Walk up Broadwick Street and turn into Lexington Street for fresh modern vegetarian at Mrs Marengos. For good English food, go to the charmingly shabby Andrew Edmonds. Continue on to Berwick Street market, and step over the cabbage leaves, to Flat White, a mecca for Australians and New Zealanders who are fanatical about their coffee.

If you’re really over the duty-free perfume selection and want something uniquely British, then we recommend you try the following brands. You can pick up some of these in Selfridge’s, Liberty’s, Harrod’s or Harvey Nichols – but it’s more fun to visit the store of origin to choose your ultimate personal scent.

Floris at 89 Jermyn Street, www.florislondon.co.uk
Jo Malone www.jomalone.co.uk
Miller Harris www.millerharris.com
Penhaligon’s www.penhaligons.com
Angela Flanders Perfumery www.angelaflanders-perfumer.com
Aromatherapy Associates www.aromatherapyassociates.com

If you sew or do craft (or have a friend who does) then you can’t miss London’s V.V.Rouleaux – an easy three-minute walk from Sloane Square tube station on the Piccadilly line.  Simply the most beautiful, unusual and desirable ribbons, buttons and faux flowers we’ve ever seen. At http://ww.vvrouleaux.co.uk

http://www.Belindarobertson.com
http://www.brora.co.uk
http://www.pringlescotland.com
http://www.marksandspencer.com
http://www.loropiana.com

Twelve of Princess Diana’s classic dresses are on display at Kensington Palace including the famous Victor Edelstein creation worn when she danced with John Travolta. Have tea in the beautiful Orangery afterwards. For more information www.hrp.org.uk

Smythson produces visiting cards, writing paper and wedding invitations for the great and the good. It also offers a series of tiny, cult-status leather notebooks and diaries. Expensive but worth it. We still think their ‘Blondes, Brunettes, Redheads’ notebook is the wittiest. Visit www.smythson.com

There are so many summertime festivals now that an entire book is required just to read about them. You’re unlikely to get into Glastonbury unless you know someone (or work for one of the Glasto charities) so consider the rest. And book well ahead. Your bible should be The Big Chill Summer Living and you can order it from Guardian Books at guardianbooks. If you’re serious about landing the most sought-after festivals with the biggest acts, or hopping from event to event in an organised way, this book will save you time and hassle.

If you’re Korean, miss the place, are dating a Korean…or just love the food…go to New Malden (30 minutes from Waterloo by train) and pretend you’re in Seoul. Head for High Street and you’ll find the bakeries, supermarkets, restaurants and kimchi ingredients of your dreams. Check out Burlington Road too, just off High Street. Walk straight out of New Malden station – you can’t miss Little Korea.

If you’re in London for a while and miss France, or want to brush up on your French before you head over there, join the Institut Francais Mediatheque, which lets you borrow anything French culture has to offer, from the oldies (Tintin, Piaf) to the newbies. Visit http://www.institut-francais.org.uk.

You must go to V. V. Rouleaux when you are in London and see the ribbon, tassels, feathers, fake flowers and general fabric frippery. This legendary shop is at 6 Marylebone High Street and online at vvrouleaux.

You need to send flowers but you don’t want to end up with horrible carnations, but you don’t want to blow your travel budget at Harrods either. Try http://www.foreverflowering.com which passes muster with the fussiest fashionista. Click, pay, wait for delivery.

If you can’t find what you need from Boots, check out John Bell and Croyden, who are at 50-54 Wigmore Street and online at http://www.johnbellcroyden.co.uk. We find it useful for pre-flight purchases: eye-masks, Bach essence, useful advice on sleeping pills.

Saints and silver, pictures and postcards, and stock good enough for Harry Potter films (true: the stuff here featured in Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone). Graham Kirkland is the name of the shop and it’s unlike anything else, anywhere. Visit http://www.grahamkirkland.co.uk and 271 Lillie Road SW6.

You’ll buy this chocolate just for the boxes (hot pink and turquoise and gold) never mind the Royal Family’s warrants. But those traditional English rose and violet creams have to be tasted to be believed too. The shop is at 14 Princes Arcade, a little arcade just off Piccadilly (nearest tube Piccadilly Station). The website is http://www.prestate.co.uk

So what’s not to like? Trying to get a table.

Here’s how: forget dinner which is just a little too much of a scene. Forget lunch, or even breakfast, unless you want to book ages in advance.

Instead, London insiders go for impromptu morning coffee, or afternoon tea and cake. You can pretty much turn up at 10.45 or 3.45 and grab a table, or ring ahead if you’re not nearby.

It’s also a great way to have The Wolseley experience on a budget. You will be served with the same élan as punters having a three-course meal and tea served in one of their vintage silver pots, with a little something from the pastry chef is a serious treat.

The Wolseley, 160 Piccadilly, LONDON W1

www.thewolseley.com

This is child-friendly in the day time, and good for (noisy) people-watching at night. A kids-only Margarita is around £5 with extra topping. A thoroughly woman-sized pizza (parma ham with tomato, parmesan and rocket) is about double the price. Find The Landsdowne online at www.thelandsdowne.co.uk.

The Albert, 11 Princess Road

There is a huge beer garden here for summer drinking and a small conservatory. The Albert is all old-fashioned wooden tables and chairs, and traditional English pub life. When we visited, nachos and crayfish tail and avocado salad was on the menu. There are free board games, and a Tuesday night quiz.

The Queens, 49 Regents Park Road

Stuffed alligators, old books on the shelves and big fireplaces – how can you say no? This huge Victorian pub offered potato skins, devilled whitebait with Bloody Mary sauce and olives when we called. The dinner menu featured everything fromThe Queens fish pie at £10.50 or fresh pea and mint soup with granary bread. There is a good house champagne and the wine list is great.

Queens Number One, 1 Edis Street

Not a pub – but a thoroughly modern bar. There was a good Thai menu when we called. Apparently actor Jonny Lee Miller has been spotted trying the karaoke on Sunday nights. How can you resist?

The Princess of Wales, 22 Chalcott Road

An excellent winter pub with candle-lit pews, china plates on the walls and ye olde framed photographs. Good for private psst-style lady spyconversations. The brie, grape, cranberry sandwiches were a very reasonable £3 when we dropped in and there were good old jacket potatoes too.