Advice

The plaudits keep coming for Bristol: the happiest city in the UK, best place to live for under 25s (outside of London), top food destination, vegan hotspot and Britain’s first-ever Green Capital.  A creative spirit and irreverent independence are in Bristol’s DNA, so it’s also little wonder that it has produced artists such as Banksy,

All hotels have been independently reviewed and selected. We will earn a commission if you book via the links below, but this never affects our rating. Our expert writers are usually hosted on a complimentary basis in order to gain the first-hand experience necessary for their review. Love them as you do, just occasionally your

You could happily spend all day eating and drinking wherever you are in Spain, and I frequently do. One thing just sort of slides into the next – if you’re doing it right.  Be warned though, this means resetting your eating routine and having your lunch and dinner at least an hour or two later

32 species of shark Rising ocean temperatures are likely to bring 10 new species of shark to British waters by 2050, according to a 2019 study by Nat Geo Wild to celebrate Sharkfest. New arrivals could include the great hammerhead, bigeye thresher and oceanic whitetip shark, which has a reputation for feeding on shipwreck survivors. The

Somerset’s landscapes are steeped in legend, from the lush fields of ‘Avalon’ to Cheddar Gorge and the wilds of Exmoor. The winding, country lanes hold secrets: a spectacular gathering of birds at sunset; a cave filled with fertility symbols; a farm taken over by huge sculptures.  The local food scene is flourishing, involving everyone from

All hotels have been independently reviewed and selected. We will earn a commission if you book via the links below, but this never affects our rating. Our expert writers are usually hosted on a complimentary basis in order to gain the first-hand experience necessary for their review. Dubai is designed to keep kids enthralled. Its

Cities bursting with priceless art? Florence, Lucca, and Siena fit the bill. Spectacular hill towns with gentle rhythms and sweet piazzas? Bagno Vignoni, Monteriggioni and Massa Marittima are only the start of a list of villages that will steal your heart. Add in top notch-spas focusing on local treatments alongside natural thermal waters, outdoor pursuits

Civilised, ceremonial and the perfect event to choose for a celebration, afternoon tea has seen something of a renaissance in recent years. It is not lunch or dinner but rather sits proud as its own event; it’s too frivolous to do as a regular thing so is a special occasion for most. Afterall, we can’t

Lisbon is having a moment. It is the place on everyone’s lips and its breezy sea views, glossy tiled facades and red roofs feature on many an Instagram feed. The food surprises, with a depth far beyond the famous pastéis de nata (custard tarts) that are so known and loved. There is history; from the 12th-century

Think of the French Riviera and perhaps you’ll picture super yachts, antique cars and grande dame hotels – and, yes, all that is there in droves. But the iconic 70-mile strip of coast also has something to offer any taste or budget. Step back from the coast and beach and dissolve into vineyards and craggy

Firenze, the cradle of the Renaissance, is one of Europe’s great art cities. With frescoes by Giotto and Ghirlandaio, canvases by Botticelli and Bronzino, and sculptures by Michelangelo and Giambologna, there is so much exquisite art and architecture within its ancient walls that it’s easy to become overwhelmed. But, there is more to handsome Florence

Abu Mena, Egypt At risk since 2001 What Unesco says: “The church, baptistry, basilicas, public buildings, streets, monasteries, houses and workshops in this early Christian holy city were built over the tomb of the martyr Menas of Alexandria, who died in A.D. 296. The local soil, which is exclusively clay, is hard and capable of supporting

All hotels have been independently reviewed and selected. We will earn a commission if you book via the links below, but this never affects our rating. Our expert writers are usually hosted on a complimentary basis in order to gain the first-hand experience necessary for their review. Wilder and less trammelled than the rest of

As idle as a painted ship upon a painted ocean, Sea Cloud Spirit lolled in the Pacific – its 32 magnificent sails untroubled by the slightest breath of air. We were becalmed. Unlike the Ancient Mariner we, of course, had engines – silent, ­diesel-electric ones – and no shortage of libations on board. But that

There is no better spot to eat in Spain than San Sebastián. It’s a brash statement, but if anyone can make it, it’s the food-obsessed Basques that populate this dazzling coastal town. With the second-most Michelin stars per capita and a respectable claim to the title of most bars per person, this is a glutton’s

All hotels have been independently reviewed and selected. We will earn a commission if you book via the links below, but this never affects our rating. Our expert writers are usually hosted on a complimentary basis in order to gain the first-hand experience necessary for their review. Lisbon, with its narrow-cobbled streets, bougainvillea-clad squares, sea

All hotels have been independently reviewed and selected. We will earn a commission if you book via the links below, but this never affects our rating. Our expert writers are usually hosted on a complimentary basis in order to gain the first-hand experience necessary for their review. With grand Regency squares, dozens of indie markets

On a business trip to Cairo, I arrived late at night expecting a driver to meet me. Nobody was there. Time to make a call. I’d made the arrangement through my guide using WhatsApp messaging so that seemed the easiest way to get answers. I flicked mobile roaming back on and sorted the problem out.

All hotels have been independently reviewed and selected. We will earn a commission if you book via the links below, but this never affects our rating. Our expert writers are usually hosted on a complimentary basis in order to gain the first-hand experience necessary for their review. From gracious old farmsteads and magnificent manor houses

All hotels have been independently reviewed and selected. We will earn a commission if you book via the links below, but this never affects our rating. Our expert writers are usually hosted on a complimentary basis in order to gain the first-hand experience necessary for their review. All too often regarded as an extension of