by Soniya Basu | Jun 10, 2025 | London
London is full of surprises, but here’s one that even most locals haven’t discovered: The Garden at 120 London, a free rooftop retreat with stunning skyline views. Nestled atop a sleek office building at 120 Fenchurch Street, The Garden at 120 is a totally free rooftop garden that’s a must-visit for budget-savvy explorers and city lovers. Whether you’re a desi student on a budget or a London-based ScottishIndian juggling work and wanderlust, this hidden gem is pure gold.(Read more UK travel tips for desi explorers)
A Peaceful Escape in the Heart of the City
While most people queue for hours to get into the Sky Garden or book pricey drinks at The Shard, The Garden at 120 quietly delivers panoramic skyline views without the fuss or fees. Open to the public on weekdays (and sometimes weekends), it’s the perfect lunch break escape or chill hangout spot after a day of city adventures.
And we’re not talking about just another rooftop. This one features landscaped greenery, tranquil water features, and Insta-worthy views of iconic landmarks like the Gherkin, Tower Bridge, and the Walkie Talkie.
Why It’s Perfect for the ScottishIndian Crowd
Let’s be real—whether you’re part of the ScottishIndian diaspora, a recent immigrant, or a third-gen Londoner repping both tartan and turmeric, your vibe is all about cultural crossover. The Garden at 120 reflects that too. It’s a modern urban space rooted in tradition (literally, with its mix of Japanese and English garden design).
It’s free, stylish, and welcoming—just like the experiences we spotlight at ScottishIndian.com. Think of it as your new favourite spot to take visiting family or shoot some content for your Desi-Brit lifestyle blog. Or maybe you just want a breather between City meetings. Either way, it fits.
Pro Tips for Your Visit
- No booking needed – just show up and take the lift to the top!
- Opening times: Typically 10am–6:30pm on weekdays. Check before you go, as hours can vary.
- Dress warm: It’s open-air, and London weather can be shady even when it’s sunny.
- Bring your camera or phone – it’s a goldmine for aesthetic shots.
- Food & drink: There’s no café on the rooftop, but Fenchurch Street has tons of global food spots nearby (shoutout to Brick Lane for post-rooftop bites!).
Final Word from ScottishIndian.com
At ScottishIndian.com, we spotlight experiences that blend culture, value, and vibe—and The Garden at 120 ticks all the boxes. It’s a budget-friendly retreat that reflects the vibrant lifestyle of the ScottishIndian community.
So next time you’re in London and want something off the beaten path that still slaps, skip the hype and head to The Garden at 120 London—a hidden gem in the sky.
And don’t forget to tag us in your photos with #ScottishIndianExplorer. Who knows, your pic might just be featured on our homepage!
by Soniya Basu | Jun 9, 2025 | 2025 Changes
India is on the verge of a major digital transformation in property management. The newly proposed Registration Bill 2025 is set to make it compulsory to register all property-related documents and transactions online — a game-changing move that could bring transparency, convenience, and much-needed modernization to real estate.
Here’s what the bill means for you:
Key Features of the Registration Bill 2025
🔹 Online Property Registration
No more waiting in queues or visiting local offices. You can now register your property from anywhere in India using your Aadhaar or any government-issued ID.
🔹 Mandatory Digital Uploads
All critical documents — including sale deeds, agreements, and power of attorney papers — must be uploaded digitally. This helps in maintaining a secure and accessible national property database.
🔹 Check for Disputes Instantly
Before buying a property, you’ll be able to verify whether it’s linked to any hidden loans or legal disputes. This feature aims to prevent fraud and protect buyers.
🔹 Fix Errors Before You Register
Have a spelling error in your name or address? You’ll need to fix those details before registration — incorrect information will prevent you from completing online registration.
How to Register Your Property Online: Step-by-Step (2025 Edition)
If the Registration Bill passes, here’s how you’ll be able to digitally register your property:
🪪 Step 1: Verify Your Identity
- Use Aadhaar or a valid government-issued ID
- Link your mobile number and email for OTP verification
📄 Step 2: Upload Required Documents
- Sale deed or agreement to sell
- Power of attorney, if applicable
- Tax receipts, utility bills (for verification)
- Clear ownership title proof
🏦 Step 3: Check for Disputes
- Use the online portal to check the property’s legal history
- Ensure no pending loans, litigations, or encumbrances
✍️ Step 4: Correct Any Errors
- Update incorrect names, addresses, or property details before submission
- Link the correct government records if needed
📬 Step 5: Submit & Pay Registration Fees
- Pay digitally via UPI, net banking, or card
- Receive a digital receipt and reference ID
📜 Step 6: Receive Digital Property Certificate
- A digitally signed e-certificate of registration will be sent to your email and stored in the national registry
Public Feedback Deadline: June 25, 2025
The bill is currently open for public feedback until June 25, 2025. Citizens, legal experts, and property owners are encouraged to share their thoughts and suggestions.
Why This Matters
This bill isn’t just about convenience — it’s about:
- 🛡️ Reducing fraud(see RBI insights on real estate fraud)
- 📄 Improving transparency
- 🏦 Digitizing real estate records
- 👨👩👧👦 Making property ownership safer and easier
For buyers, sellers, and investors, this move could streamline real estate transactions, reduce delays, and provide more confidence in the property market.
💸 Curious how this connects to wider financial changes? Explore our full coverage on Indian and UK tax for NRIs and residents.
The Registration Bill 2025 could mark the beginning of a fully digital, citizen-friendly land registration system in India. If implemented thoughtfully, it will be a win for governance, security, and everyday convenience.
📢 Have feedback on the bill? Make your voice heard before June 25.
by Soniya Basu | Jun 6, 2025 | Day Trips
Ready for an unforgettable weekend that blends culture, history, and high-flying fun? Mark your calendars because Scotland’s iconic National Museum of Flight is celebrating its 50th Anniversary with a free weekend full of aviation adventures on Saturday 15 and Sunday 16 June 2025 – and trust us, you won’t want to miss it.
At ScottishIndian.com, we love spotlighting events that bring together history, innovation, and culture – especially when they’re family-friendly and free.
📍 Location: East Fortune Airfield, East Lothian, EH39 5LF
🕘 Opening Hours: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM (last entry 4:30 PM)
✈️What’s Happening at the National Museum of Flight 50th Anniversary Weekend?
Located in East Fortune, just a short trip from Edinburgh, the National Museum of Flight is Scotland’s hub for all things aviation. And this year, it’s pulling out all the stops. Expect everything from:
- Classic aircraft displays – including the legendary Concorde
- Flight simulators and VR experiences
- Behind-the-scenes tours of hangars
- Live science shows and hands-on family workshops
- Street food stalls with global flavours – yes, we’re hoping for some Desi bites too!
- And plenty of interactive exhibits perfect for Gen Z TikTokers and curious millennials alike
It’s a full weekend of immersive aviation experiences for all ages – with no entry fee. Just pack your snacks, your camera, and your curiosity.
🌍 Why the National Museum of Flight Event Matters to the ScottishIndian Community
For the Scottish Indian diaspora, events like this are more than just a day out. They’re a chance to connect across generations. Imagine your parents reminiscing about their first plane journey from India to Scotland, while your little cousins marvel at supersonic jets. This is cultural storytelling in action – blending heritage with innovation.
Plus, for students, families, and professionals in our ScottishIndian network, it’s a great way to explore Scotland’s rich history while staying rooted in your own unique story.
Planning your trip? Check out Visit East Lothian for nearby attractions and Traveline Scotland for the best public transport routes to East Fortune.
📸 Pro Tips for a Fab Visit
- Arrive early – it’s FREE and it’s popular!
- Bring your camera – the hangars and aircraft make great Instagram backdrops
- Wear comfy shoes – there’s lots to explore
- Check travel options – there’s limited parking, so public transport or carpooling with your ScottishIndian crew is a smart move
- Dress for the weather – it’s Scotland, after all 🌦️
The 50th Anniversary of the National Museum of Flight is more than a celebration – it’s a love letter to the skies. And for our ScottishIndian.com readers, it’s a perfect weekend to enjoy aviation, culture, and community – all in one place.
Let’s celebrate Scotland’s flying legacy, take the fam, make memories, and snap that perfect “wingspan” pic for the ‘Gram.
Whether you’re curious, nostalgic, or just need a weekend plan – this one’s a win. See you at the hangar!
Explore more on our Events and Travel sections for the latest updates.
by Soniya Basu | Jun 5, 2025 | 2025 Changes
Restrictions also tighten for 7 more nations under the new executive order
In a move that sparks global concern and intense political debate, Donald Trump signs a new executive order on Thursday, June 5, 2025, enforcing a sweeping Trump 2025 travel ban targeting 12 countries and placing partial restrictions on 7 others.
The order—announced in a televised statement and on official White House social channels—comes after a violent incident in Boulder, Colorado, allegedly involving an undocumented immigrant. Trump says the ban is necessary to “protect national security” and tighten immigration screening.
🌍 Countries Affected by the Trump 2025 Travel Ban
Citizens from the following countries are barred from entering the United States under any visa type:
- Afghanistan
- Myanmar
- Iran
- Chad
- Republic of the Congo
- Equatorial Guinea
- Eritrea
- Haiti
- Libya
- Somalia
- Sudan
- Yemen
This includes students, tourists, workers, and family visitors—regardless of whether they have valid documents.
➡️ Read: Flying from a UK Airport in 2025: What to Expect
🚫 Partial Restrictions Under the Trump 2025 Travel Ban
In addition, 7 more countries face targeted restrictions based on overstay rates and “non-cooperation” with U.S. enforcement:
- Burundi
- Cuba
- Laos
- Sierra Leone
- Togo
- Turkmenistan
- Venezuela
These countries still have access to some visa categories, but the process becomes significantly more complex and selective.
➡️ Planning to move abroad? Check out our UK eVisa guide for Indian travelers
💬 Trump’s Justification for the 2025 Travel Ban
Speaking from Washington, Trump justifies the policy:
“We cannot have open migration from any country where we cannot safely and reliably vet and screen… That is why today I am signing a new executive order.”
He claims the policy is designed to prevent terrorism and undocumented immigration—though critics say it repeats the discriminatory tone of his 2017 “Ban.”
✈️ Who This Affects
The new restrictions directly impact:
- Families awaiting U.S. immigration approval
- Students planning to start U.S. universities this fall
- Business travellers and entrepreneurs
- Asylum seekers and dual nationals with ties to banned countries
🧭 What Happens Next?
As legal challenges unfold, the Trump 2025 travel ban continues to dominate headlines, raising urgent questions for global mobility, immigrant rights, and diaspora communities navigating already complex systems.
Affected individuals are urged to:
- Delay travel plans to the U.S. if uncertain about eligibility
- Consult immigration attorneys or embassies for real-time updates
- Explore alternative destinations such as Canada, the UK, or the European Union
For travellers from the South Asian diaspora, this policy shift may prompt renewed interest in the UK. Learn what to expect with our post on Flying from a UK Airport in 2025.
This 2025 travel ban reshapes U.S. immigration policy once again. Whether it holds up legally or becomes another election-year flashpoint remains to be seen.
For now, thousands of families, students, and workers around the world face uncertainty—many already caught mid-process in the visa pipeline.
Follow ScottishIndian.com for evolving coverage on immigration, politics, and diaspora life that affects Indian and global communities abroad.
👉 Join our WhatsApp Community to stay updated on immigration, global politics, and more.
by Soniya Basu | Jun 5, 2025 | Travel Hacks
UK airport travel in 2025 is evolving fast. Whether you’re visiting family in India, zipping to Europe, or escaping the Scottish rain, flying today is a whole new experience. From facial recognition tech to desi snacks at the lounge, here’s what ScottishIndian.com travellers can expect this year.
💡 Tech That Speeds Things Up
UK airports have gone full digital. Say goodbye to printed boarding passes and hello to facial recognition, digital passports, and mobile check-ins. Most major airports—like Heathrow, Edinburgh, and Manchester—have biometric e-gates, so if you’ve got a modern passport, you’ll breeze through. Biometric e-gates and CT scanners are the new norm in UK airport travel 2025, making the experience smoother for frequent fliers.
Security’s also had a major glow-up. According to the UK Government Airport Security Guidance, new CT scanners mean you can leave your liquids and laptops in your bag.
If you’re flying internationally (think: Delhi, Mumbai, Dubai), expect faster immigration queues thanks to automated border tech. Apps like TripIt and Flighty can help you track flights and receive real-time alerts on gate changes or delays.
🍱 Food & Lounge Perks While Flying from UK Airports
Gone are the days of sad sandwiches and £6 bottled water. Another underrated win of UK airport travel 2025 is how desi food options and upgraded lounges make flying feel more comfortable than ever. Expect more Indian-inspired options, vegan-friendly menus, and even South Asian snacks (because who doesn’t want samosas before takeoff?).
Lounges in 2025 are more accessible than ever—even without a business-class ticket. Apps like Priority Pass and LoungeBuddy offer affordable access. So, whether you’re waiting for a delayed flight or sneaking in a pre-boarding call with mum, these lounges are worth it.
Oh, and yes—free WiFi and charging stations are standard now. No more sitting on the floor near a random plug. Want food inspo for your return flight? Read about Stockbridge Market’s global eats.
🎒 UK Flight Experience Tips
Let’s be real: flying can still be stressful. But there are ways to make it smoother:
- Download your airline’s app for real-time updates.
- Use flight tracking tools like TripIt or Flighty for instant alerts.
- Arrive 2-3 hours early, especially for international travel—security may be faster, but lines still happen.
- Keep snacks, AirPods, and chargers close—some things never change.
And if you’re repping the ScottishIndian lifestyle, you’re probably balancing tradition and modern life like a pro. Whether you’re heading to a family wedding in Punjab or chasing adventure in Portugal, flying from the UK in 2025 is designed for travellers like you—smart, savvy, and global.
Bookmark ScottishIndian.com for more travel updates, culture stories, and real talk for desi souls living in the UK. Your passport might say UK, but your playlist still slaps with Bollywood beats. ✈️🔥
