Guides

If there’s one thing the UK’s not short of, it’s hotels fit for a king or queen. In London and beyond, there’s five-star hotels a-go go, as well as luxury boutique retreats that are well used to catering for an audience demanding discretion and quality. Of course, it all comes at a price. But for those with cash to spare, or those keen to celebrate with the royals during Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding on May 19, here are...

When Spring arrives in Seville, temperatures can go from 15 to 30 degrees in 24 hours. Orange trees blossom overnight. And as flowers begin to bloom, the locals do too. At the beginning of April, stunning Spanish Señoritas in traditional, vibrant dresses appear across the city - often alongside dashing men on noble white steeds, with beers in hand. Streets stream with open-top, horse-drawn carriages, as high society families parade by, fanning themselves in the sun. Everyone is heading to...

When you think about Iceland, if all you imagine is drinking expensive beer in a Reykjavik bar and visiting the local nature baths for half an hour, think again. Hop to the North side of the country and you’ll find landscapes among the most breathtaking in the world. Stunning fjords, beautiful coastal highways, waterfalls of the gods, epic volcanoes, snowy mountains, hot springs and natural baths a plenty. North Iceland squeezes in more geographical wonders than seems physically possible. It...

With spring in the air, April is an ideal time to dust off the cobwebs of winter and explore the world again. We've picked out some hotspots that come into their own this very month. Got those bags packed? Tamil Nadu, India The south Indian state of Tamil Nadu is famed for its ornate Hindu temples. Brimful of colour, with thousands of statues making up the exterior, these temples are a wonder aesthetically. Go inside, and the spirituality is in...

A look beyond troubling headlines to the sights and sounds of Central America.

It’s the time of year when Christmas market stalls are opening up, the glühwein is being warmed and antique fairground rides are coming back into action. The Christmas market is a longstanding tradition, but that doesn’t mean that tradition is followed without creative touches. Each offers its own unique slant, and of the many that are dotted around Europe, here are the most unique Christmas markets around. Valkenburg Christmas Markets, Netherlands The Netherlands is always a winner when it comes...

By Phil Norris Pulling up outside Zadar's Old Town at dusk after a brief jaunt up the Adriatic Highway, I was acutely aware that this imposingly beautiful setting would be best accompanied by a frosty pivo. Over the next two days, I fulfilled this (admittedly very achievable) goal many times over, as I explored an offbeat city made up of brutal socialist-era architecture, winding Dubrovnik-esque alleys, Roman ruins, tourist-filled squares and tiny, dimly-lit watering holes. On the face of it, Zadar...

By Pat Levy Over the last couple of years Turkey has had a pretty bad press. On the border of  a devastating war zone,  damaged by political upheaval and terror attacks, trying  to accommodate thousands of refugees , its tourist industry is taking heavy body blows. Which is a terrible shame for those in Turkey whose livelihoods depend on tourism and for all travellers who enjoy new experiences. I spent a week in Cappadocia in central Turkey and experienced nothing...

Imagine a city that is 10 per cent cooler, 20 per cent more efficient, 30 per cent cleaner and 100 per cent friendlier than London and Toronto is what you get. In true Canadian fashion, this is a city that has extracted all the best civic qualities the UK has to offer and improved on all of them. It has culture abound, a fanatical sports scene and a bustling leisure offering amongst other things. And as the country celebrates its...