Foraging, wildlife, art, cycling and walks feature in this pick of autumnal activities, set to a glorious backdrop this year as leaf colours promise to be particularly rich Read More
The Finnish capital, which has committed to being carbon neutral by 2035, is great for island-hopping, nightlife, cool design and steaming saunas Read More
Yorkshire folk have long known the region is brilliant for cycling – hosting the 2014 Tour de France just confirmed it. As it welcomes another world-class event, we road test three fam… Read More
Overtourism isn’t in evidence when we catch the last rays of summer at a new hotel well-placed for enjoying this peninsula’s quiet beaches, empty footpaths and welcoming pubs Read More
In Kotor and Dubrovnik large cruise ships dock regularly throughout the season, depositing thousands of people each day into the tourist hotspots and putting intense pressure on the historic… Read More
From the Highlands to Suffolk, our tipsters’ trips feature boltholes to cosy up in, plenty of culture and autumnal walks that often end in a country pub Read More
A top Swedish chef has turned his love for cooking over fire into a two-day festival of open flames and Nordic flavours on a pretty island in the Stockholm archipelago Read More
Northern Italy’s iron paths give hikers the chance to feel like mountaineers but without rope, anchors or knots. Our writer straps in for the high-altitude thrill of his life Read More
In this village north of Hiroshima, traditional culture is evolving into a modern idyll, as a talented family revives the fortunes of a quiet backwater Read More
Shrines, onsens and classical theatre vie with baseball and hip-hop as Japan’s kaleidoscopic array of culture delights our tipsters on their travels Read More
Harvest festivals have come a long way from a few tins of beans on the altar. Our pick of seasonal events includes feasts, fruit picking, cider swilling and more Read More
Utrecht’s picturesque city centre and traditional cafe culture rub up against its exciting music and art scene – and it’s best explored by bike Read More
On sultry evenings, canny city-dwellers escape the heat for carafes of chilled white and traditional foods in maker-run wine bars a short train ride from Rome Read More
As the England squad arrives at its Rugby World Cup training camp in Miyazaki, a local bar owner picks the coastal city’s food, drink and cultural highlights Read More
Egypt’s vast, much-delayed museum is scheduled to open in 2020. But while Tutankhamun’s treasures are being readied for tourists, some critics see the building as a vanity projec… Read More
A stylish hotel north of Lisbon is part of a plan to spread tourism beyond Portugal’s popular cities and surfing spots. For our writer and family, it works a treat Read More
A bohemian mountain community in Ticino has rejected national-park status – and fast-track development – in favour of small grassroots projects Read More
Once capital of the kingdom of Castile, this ancient city is full of bars and restaurants perfect for relaxing after a day exploring historic sites and famous vineyards Read More
As I walk down the path, past the grey statue of Vladimir Ilyich Lenin on my left-hand side, Soviet marching music is playing from loudspeakers attached to imitation Gulag watchtowers in the… Read More
Cathedral Island is the oldest inhabited part of Wroclaw with evidence of the first settlers going back to the 7th and 8th Century AD. There have been churches here since 1000 AD and the vie… Read More
The painting was created over 100 years after the battle at the behest of some patriots in the then Polish city of Lwow. The group of painters completed the work in around 9 months. After WW… Read More
To the north of the Old Town is the University Quarter which stretches to the River Oder. This quarter contains the Church of the Holy Name of Jesus, built by The Jesuits as part of the univ… Read More
Wroclaw is not pronounced Rock-Law, but Vrots-wahf. This is Poland’s 4th-largest city. Being so close to Germany, whether it liked it or not, Wroclaw was heavily involved in WWII espec… Read More
In case you think there’s something offensive going on in Wroclaw, there isn’t. There’s a political point at play. These gnomes are a reference to the symbol of the Orange… Read More
If you like gnomes, especially statues of gnomes, then Wroclaw is a place you should visit. There are over 300, all in miniature, scattered throughout the city. There’s even a map avai… Read More
To the north of the medieval town is the Ethnographic Museum with its enthusiastic guides who were able to answer all my questions in English. The exhibits range from a roadside shrine of St… Read More
Professor Filutek was Lengren’s most famous creation. The professor appeared once a week on the last page of Przekrój magazine, together with his dog Filuś, for over 50 yea… Read More
This story focuses on the unfair treatment of a child, Janko, a peasant child, who becomes fascinated by the sounds of fiddles from a nearby manor house. He tries to sneak into the manor to… Read More
Also on Rynek is the frog fountain paying homage to a Pied Piper type story. The frogs are all looking at a young man called Janko Muzykant playing a fiddle. The tale is that a witch once ca… Read More
Torun came under the influence of the Teutonic knights in 1233. They built the walls and the castle. The port flourished to the extent that Torun joined the Hanseatic League in the 1280s. Th… Read More
The city of Torun lies on the Vistula River in northern Poland. The Old Town sustained little damage during World War II and is almost all original. The city was the birthplace of the great… Read More
The streets were packed with visitors for the city’s annual three-week long St Dominic’s Fair – the largest open-air trade and cultural event in Poland, attracting over a m… Read More
The Old Town was 90% destroyed by these armies and by the Russian forces seeking to wrest Gdansk away from Nazi Germany. My understanding is that the sensitive restoration of the city after… Read More
Now it was time to discover the rest of Gdansk and to go back even further into the past. The city’s name is thought to originate from the Gdania River and was first recorded in 997 AD… Read More
Solidarity is the heartbeat of recent Polish history and to emphasize this point a ‘feedback wall’ in the final exhibition room is covered with a reproduction of the 1981 cardiog… Read More
Jerzy Popiełuszko avoided a deliberate car accident on 13th October 1984 but the authorities had yet another plan. It was carried out on 19th October 1984. The priest was beaten by thre… Read More
The Coastal Culture Trail links three modern art galleries along 18 miles of this stretch of seaside. On a family trip, our writer explores by train, bus and on foot Read More
A monastery perched high in a gorge, a quiet riverside bar serving cocktails … from Albania to the Netherlands our tipsters know how to hop off the tourist trail Read More
When the heat is on it’s time to hit the water. From aqua parks and windsurfing to mermaid classes and underwater hockey, here’s our pick of fun things to do Read More
The colourful history of Brownsea Island in Poole harbour takes in Henry VIII, Lord Baden-Powell and the Famous Five. Now the public can camp among its flora and fauna Read More
Submerged sculptures and others that appear at low tide to be installed at several Queensland sites, as part of a project that also aims to rehabilitate sections of the reef Read More
The Swiss town’s wine festival is as revered as it is rare but, from a Chaplin museum to boat tours and chocolate heaven, a trip need not be grape-related Read More
Plitvice Lakes national park in Croatia is booming, but quieter areas with crystal-clear rivers to enjoy are nearby, including across the border in Bosnia-Herzegovina Read More
Sweden’s capital comes alive in summer, with its archipelago of stunning islands perfect for boat trips and swimming, not to mention a buzzing food scene Read More
With its belle époque resorts, long empty beaches and medieval castles, the Emerald Coast is big on laid-back charm – and perfect for a family adventure Read More
Brittany’s coastline is dotted with places to stay, from cool contemporary hotels to the watering hole where ‘Onion Johnnies’ once knocked back cider Read More
Here’s the deal – you can have a free copy of this book
if you click on this netgalley link and follow the instructions
If you don’t like clicking on links, here’s t… Read More
Scotland’s new Hebridean Whale Trail highlights places to spot the mysterious creatures and other sealife, while surrounded by some of the UK’s wildest scenery Read More
Arts, watersports, concerts, outdoor cinema, food festivals and bucketloads of family fun … Here’s the pick of events on or near the UK’s beaches this summer Read More
These shacks, sheds and cafes prepare fish and chips and seafood straight off the boat, to the delight of our coast-walking, beach-loving tipsters Read More
Jodrell Bank is famous for the monumental Lovell telescope – but alongside all the serious science there are plenty of fun activities and hands-on experiments to inspire kids Read More
The 50th anniversary of Apollo 11’s landing, on 20 July 1969, is being celebrated globally but giant leaps aren’t necessary for these ‘missions’ in the UK Read More
Excerpt from the book 40 Humourous British Traditions. Is British humour your cup of tea? Britain has many well documented, yet strange traditions. This book describes 40 more tradition… Read More
Electro music fans are heading to Turin for this weekend’s Kappa Futurfestival, but this also one of the best cities in Italy for culture and affordable restaurants Read More
The Dolomites take centre stage in a region where Italy meets Austria but there is a sustainable approach to food, wine and accommodation that’s eye-catching, too Read More
Don’t go the extra mile for a bed in Europe’s great cities. From Rome to Vienna, Berlin to Barcelona, here are 10 great hostels just a short hop from the train Read More
Looking to stay close to the beach? Check out (and maybe check in to) these stylish, recently opened hotels and apartments from Latvia to Las Palmas Read More
Ebikes aren’t just easing the pain of hill climbing, they’re changing the face of cycling. There’s even a new festival in Verbier celebrating their popularity Read More
The comedian spent his childhood in Lebanon and fell in love with its cuisine. Returning to tour the country’s mountains, he finds the food as good as ever Read More
Even the fittest riders need a place to relax, refuel and carry out repairs. Our expert knows the best bike-friendly hotels and B&Bs in cycling hotspots Read More
The house where George Orwell penned his masterpiece, published 70 years ago today, has hardly changed, nor has the brooding and remote Scottish island he loved Read More