Author: Stanfords

The Gorillas Have Landed

With Maporilla due to settle into her new home in the coming days, we thought we’d look back at Bristol Zoo’s Wow! Gorillas public art project with the help of photographer Clive Minnitt.

Clive has published The Gorillas Have Landed – a collection of images showcasing the 61 life-size ceramic gorillas displayed across Bristol during summer 2011, including Rebecca Howard’s map-adorned creation – soon to be based at St Monica’s Trust after being displayed at Stanfords.

Available at our Bristol store for £9.99, five per cent of the book’s profits are being donated to Bristol Zoo’s gorilla conservation project, while a further five per pent is going to the Bristol Royal Hospital for Children.

Here’s a selection of Clive’s photographs – aside from the Stanfords-commissioned Maporilla (thanks to Kevin Leighton for this image), how many of the five can you name? Continue reading The Gorillas Have Landed

Win an iPad Mini!

Win an iPad Mini

This competition is now closed.

We’re delighted to welcome back Travel The Unknown and sister brand Trip Feast to our Covent Garden store’s themed area for the duration of January – and to celebrate, we’re giving away another iPad Mini!

The independent tour operators, which previously graced Stanfords in November, specialise in eco-friendly itineraries for smaller groups to destinations including India, Burma, Colombia, Lebanon, Jordan, Eastern Turkey, the Balkans, Mexico and Iran – as well as a range of culinary trips across Asia, Europe, Africa, Latin America and the Middle East.

Compact, durable and reliable, the new version of the iPad is perfect for every type of traveller. To be in with a chance of winning, simply complete the form below!

Lonely Planet-recommended Travel The Unknown will offer Stanfords’ visitors expert travel advice to some of the planet’s unspoiled hideaways until 31st January, while Trip Feast will provide information on cultural tours with a culinary twist.

Pay them a visit at our London store and start planning your next getaway! Continue reading Win an iPad Mini!

Paris's Top 5 Hidden Gems

Paris France

Planning a festive break to Paris? Ronny Lavie looks beyond the Eiffel Tower and Notre Dame to reveal five of the French capital’s hidden gems.

There have been more clichés written about Paris than there are gargoyles on the Notre Dame, and while a lot of them are based on truth, there is more to the French capital than the pretty lights of the Eiffel Tower and the designer shops on the Champs-Élysées. Paris is quirky, intelligent and romantic – due in part to these five sparkling gems.

1. Shakespeare and Co bookshop

37 Rue de la Bûcherie, 75005

If the whole of Paris was a bookshop Continue reading Paris's Top 5 Hidden Gems

Top 5 Stocking Fillers

We take a look inside the Stanfords online Christmas store one final time to reveal the top five stocking filler ideas.

Mini Hottie Union Jack

1. Union Jack Mini Hottie Hand Warmer

Keep the spirit of 2012 alive – and your hands warm – with this Union Jack-decorated self-heating hand warmer. Resembling a miniature hot water bottle wrapped up in a tiny knitted roll-neck cover, the hand warmer itself consists of a PVC pouch filled with gel. Inside the gel is a small metal disc – click this with your fingers and the pack will gently warm up – as if by magic – keeping your fingers toasty in the freezing winter weather for minutes on end. After it finally runs out and you want to use it again, simply pop the pouch in a pot of boiling water for 15 minutes.

> Buy the Union Jack Mini Hottie Hand Warmer! Continue reading Top 5 Stocking Fillers

Top 10 Christmas Gifts for Kids

The latest excursion into the Stanfords online Christmas store reveals the top 10 Christmas gift ideas for kids.

Animal Hands

1. Animal Hands

What’s your child’s favourite animal? A giraffe perhaps, or a zebra? Maybe even a slithery snake… whichever species from the animal kingdom your little one prefers, they’ll love Animal Hands – a set of eight temporary finger puppet tattoos featuring entire animal faces and their iconic markings and colours. Suitable for all the family, all you need to bring them to life is a splash of water and your hands – it’s that simple. If your house feels a bit like a farmyard on Christmas Day, it certainly will do now! Perfectly safe for little hands, full instructions are included.

> Buy Animal Hands! Continue reading Top 10 Christmas Gifts for Kids

The City We Live In: An Exhibition by Hubert Mical

Stanfords’ very own Hubert Mical has launched an exhibition of his 12 favourite London images, from Battersea Power Station at night to St Paul’s Cathedral.

Entitled The City We Live In, his images will remain on display at Mamuska Polish restaurant on the first floor of Elephant & Castle Shopping Centre until the New Year. Here’s a sample of what to expect:

Battersea Power Station

Continue reading The City We Live In: An Exhibition by Hubert Mical

Win a Round the World Flight and a New Zealand Adventure!

Win a round the world flight

This competition is now closed.

We’ve teamed up with Round The World Experts and Intrepid My Adventure Store to offer one lucky winner a round-the-world flight worth £1,250 and a place on G Adventures’ New Zealand in Style tour worth £1,500!

To be in with a chance of winning this incredible prize, simply complete the form below!

Round The World Experts is the UK’s biggest round-the-world travel specialist. Part of the Flight Centre group, it has access to the best round-the-world and multi-stop airfares on the market.

Intrepid My Adventure Store, also part of the Flight Centre group, has access to the widest range of adventure companies in one place.

Experts from both companies will be present in our Long Acre store for the duration of December – pay them a visit and start planning your next adventure!

Hand-Picked Christmas Gift Ideas From Stanfords Staff

Stanfords staff reveal what they’ll be buying for friends and family – and treating themselves to – this Christmas.

Intelliglobe

Intelliglobe – Talking Globe

Paul: “My little brother is beginning to show an interest in geography, so I think he’ll really like the Intelliglobe with its bright colours, raised relief and the fact it’s interactive. He’ll especially love the wireless pen and the world facts it brings to life.”

> Learn more about the Intelliglobe!

Continue reading Hand-Picked Christmas Gift Ideas From Stanfords Staff