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5 Gurdwaras to visit in the UK: Part 3 London & the South East

4/4/2022

 
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Gurdwaras in London & the South East

This is the third part of a series looking at Gurdwaras in the UK. London has a sizeable Sikh population, rivalling the Midlands as a centre of both Panjabi culture and the Sikh faith in the UK. Areas like Southall, Hounslow and Ilford all have large Sikh communities, and these towns have several Gurdwaras each. Outside of London, both Slough and Gravesend are well known within Panjabi circles for their Sikh communities. In this article, I explore 5 Gurdwaras in London and the South-East.

You can read part 1 of my series on UK Gurdwaras here (Midlands).
You can read part 2 of my series on UK Gurdwaras here (more Midlands).

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5 Gurdwaras to visit in the UK: Part 2 (more) Midlands

7/2/2022

 
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More Gurdwaras in the Midlands

There are over 300 Gurdwaras in the UK, but a sizeable proportion of them are in the West Midlands. This second article in the series explores a few more of the larger and well established Gurdwaras in the area. You can read part 1 of the list here.

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Living in London

15/11/2021

 
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Life in London

After 7 years in London, living in zones 1,2 and 3, north and south of the river, and east and west of Charring Cross, I thought it was about time I summed up my experiences of living in the city. It's obscenely expensive, and an echo chamber for metropolitan elitism that bears little to no resemblance to the rest of the UK. It can be cold, grey and miserable - and it is nothing but a giant monopoly board for the privileged few who buy property to launder their money, and then let it sit empty while rent prices go through the roof for everyone else.

But it is also creative, energetic and lively and with something for everyone. It has architecture that will make your jaw drop, history that will immerse you, and open spaces that'll make you forget you're in one of the world's most powerful cities. You could live here all your life, and by the time you figure it out, the city has changed again. It's a city you can love and hate in equal measure - but there is nothing quite like it anywhere else.

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10 things to do in the Midlands

25/10/2021

 
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The Midlands

Popular culture in the UK seems to distinguish between the 'north' and London, with scarcely a mention of the land in between. However, the Midlands is culturally, historically and economically one of the most important regions in the country. After all, the Midlands is where the Industrial Revolution took birth, the middle-earth of Tolkien, it's the place that gave us league football and the sport of rugby, it's the birthplace of William Shakespeare and is home to the UK's second largest city. This article focuses on the (West) Midlands and I look at 10 reasons why you really should visit it.

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5 Gurdwaras to visit in the UK: Part 1 Midlands

27/9/2021

 
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Gurdwaras in the Midlands

All Gurdwaras are beautiful, after all, they house the focal point of Sikh life - Guru Granth Sahib Ji. There are over 300 Gurdwaras in the UK, and a significant number of them are based in the West Midlands, an area with a large and well established Sikh population. In this article I will cover a small list of Gurdwaras between Wolverhampton, Sandwell, Walsall and Birmingham, I'll look to cover the East Midlands and the southern part of the West Midlands (Coventry, Warwick and Leamington) in another article.

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The Jurassic Coast, UK

6/9/2021

 
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Summary

Airport Rating n/a
Reception of locals ****
Cost: £££££
  • A 96 mile long World Heritage Site that spans 200 million years of history
  • Coastal erosion has uncovered the layered history of the area, and exposed fossils from prehistoric animals and plants
  • Stunning scenery and views over the southern coast of England, with views across the English Channel
  • No issues travelling as a Sikh, but it can be expensive to buy food
  • Main Sights: Exeter Cathedral, Exmouth Beach, Budleigh Salterton, Sidmouth, Beer, Lulworth Cove, Durdle Door, Golden Cap

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West Midlands Safari Park, UK

9/8/2021

 
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Summary

Airport Rating n/a
Reception of locals n/a
Cost: £££££
  • 200 acre space in the English Midlands filled with over 600 animals and 150+ species
  • The first park/zoo in the UK to house all five African Big Five animals
  • Home to white lions and white tigers and the heart of conservation efforts for a number of critically endangered species
  • Fairly priced for the experience you get, but bring a packed lunch, food inside is expensive

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My experience of the Euro 2020 final

26/7/2021

 
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Summary

Security Rating *
Reception of fans ****
Cost: £££££
  • The first major final of an international football tournament in England since 1996, and the first time England have reached the final for 55 years
  • The impact of the lockdown delayed the tournament by a year, and when it happened, stadium capacity was restricted
  • No issues as a Sikh - although the tournament created some issues for Sikhs in general  
  • Trouble before and after the game, with further instances of racism on social media

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The Black Country, UK

21/6/2021

 
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Summary

Airport Rating N/A
Reception of locals *****
Cost: ££££
  • Large area north-west of Birmingham, defined roughly as the boroughs of Dudley, Sandwell and parts of Wolverhampton and Walsall
  • Widely considered as the birthplace of the Industrial Revolution and named after the thick black smoke and soot that dominated the landscape in the 19th century
  • Large and well established Sikh population particularly in the north and eastern parts of the Black Country
  • Main sights: Black Country Living Museum, Dudley Zoo and Castle, Dudley Canal Trust, Priory Ruins, Wrens Nest Urban Nature Reserve, The Crooked House, Himley Hall and Park, Baggeridge Country Park, Red House Glass Cone Museum

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Bridgnorth, UK

3/5/2021

 
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Summary

Airport Rating N/A
Reception of locals *****
Cost: ££££
  • Located in Shropshire, one of the more rural counties in the UK, Bridgnorth is a small town with a small town vibe
  • Separated by the River Severn into a High Town and a Low Town that is connected by a series of steps and a funicular railway
  • No issues to visit as a Sikh as it's located near the Black Country and Wolverhampton, areas with large Sikh populations
  • Main sights: Cliff Railway, Bridgnorth Town Hall, St Mary's church, St. Leonards church, Bridgnorth Castle, Severn Valley Railway, Lavington's Hole

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    British Sikh, born in the Midlands, based in London, travelling the world seeing new cultures.

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