How to escape the Olympics
Already exhausted by Euro 2012? Just can't face the thought of four weeks of Olympic competition? Fear not. Though much of the country will be absorbed in London 2012 there are still ways and means of escaping the onslaught of sport. Here are a few avoidance tactics to employ.
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Rock it out
Instead of sitting at home trying to find a TV channel that doesn't feature some kind of sporting event, why not lose yourself in music? Summer is festival time and that means you can enjoy at least a weekend of sport-free fun. For instance, Tinie Tempah, DJ Fresh, Labrinth and a host of other acts will be taking to the stage at Global Gathering on 27 and 28 July, Van Morrison will be appearing at The Green Man Festival in Wales (17 to 19 August), V Festival, featuring The Stone Roses, The Killers and Snow Patrol, takes place on 18 and 19 August and the likes of David Guetta, Deadmau5 and Calvin Harris will be working the crowds into a frenzy at Creamfields from 24 to 26 August.
Laugh it up
If one weekend's just not enough, consider the Camden Fringe festival. From opera and stand-up to theatre and puppetry, this London festival runs for a full four weeks from 30 July to 26 August, which means if you're stuck in the capital, there's something else to see and do throughout the entirety of London 2012.
Get away
A recent survey revealed that almost 10 million Brits have booked their summer hols deliberately to coincide with the Olympics. While nearly two thirds of those are heading to Spain to escape the sport and the inevitable crowds, Dublin, Amsterdam and Paris are all proving popular destinations. Of course, you may have to fork out a little extra for flights but by either immersing yourself in the history and culture of some of Europe's greatest cities or simply sunning yourself on the beach, you'll be lock London 2012 firmly at the back of your mind.
Hide here
For those of you that prefer a staycation, it's still possible to avoid the the summer of sport. Camping holidays have been growing in popularity as Brits choose to stay in the UK and there are now more and more ways to get a taste of the great outdoors without sleeping under canvas. For instance, the National Trust now hires out camping 'pods' in the heart of the Lake District. No TV, just the great outdoors.
Meanwhile in the Shetland Isles, camping bods, once used to house fishermen during the fishing season, can be rented from as little as £6 a night. It's not for those who like their creature comforts but since three of those available from the Shetland Amenity Trust have no electricity, there's little chance of any accidental Olympic news getting through.
And if camping's just not your style, try the relative luxury of a narrowboat. Though they're not cheap and most feature a TV should you wish to switch on, within a few days of slowly the cruising the UK's waterways you'll have forgotten all about London 2012.
Are you hoping to avoid the Olympics? What will you be doing to escape the summer of sport? Leave your comments below...
