Advice

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. On a romantic break in Manchester, you can

‘Tsk tsk.” How our guide, Neycer Pizango, heard the teeth-­sucking call above our skiff’s outboards, I’ll never know – for even with engines cut, I struggled to identify anything beyond birdsong and clicking cicadas. Then a shadow moved, and a tiny, maned primate leapt, tutting, into a spondias tree’s boughs. “It’s a pygmy marmoset: the

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. European spa hotels are amongst the best in

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. Considered an eyesore by Parisians when first built

You really can’t overstate the case for visiting Cape Town. First, there’s the in-your-face beauty of a craggy mountain range that drops precipitously into a glittering sea, its flanks carpeted in greens and delicate florals. Then there’s the pristine white beaches lapped by – it must be said – a chilly Atlantic, their curves defined by

Piccadilly A main thoroughfare since at least medieval times, when it was known as “the road to Reading” or “the way from Colnbrook”, Piccadilly takes its from from the piccadill, a wide, decorated collar that was sufficiently popular to make the fortune of a tailor called Robert Baker. When he built himself an impressive residence hereabouts it was

Every day of the week, 24-hours a day, there’s always something going on in the city that never sleeps. From big-name museums to meander through, architectural wonders to gawk at, galleries to see, and neighbourhoods to explore, you’d have to live seven lives to experience all the best things to do in New York. Below

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

There are days when visitors to this exquisite jewel box of a city outnumber locals two-to-one, and when getting from the station to St Mark’s square is a battle. But despite this, Venice never loses its capacity to enchant: stepping out of the station to be greeted by a glittering canal with the dome of

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