Travel

by Rosie Benson, travel writer Living so close to the continent and spoilt for choice with budget airlines, it’s easy to forget that we have our very own island getaways right here on our shores. There are more than 6,000 islands across British and Irish waters, and even more when including British Overseas Territories. We’ve put together a selection of some of the best. Jersey The largest of the Channel Islands, Jersey is a time-honoured favourite of holidaymakers - not...

By Joe Mellor, Deputy Editor Before I begin I have a confession to make, I love this part of the world – North Cornwall. I am also half Cornish, not that you would tell by my rough Geordie accent. My mother was born in Port Isaac (the village the TV show Doc Martin is filmed in) So I was sold on this excursion, before I even got there. I even used to come to this hotel when I was a...

By Amy Sharpe Like most people, I spend most Mondays feeling desperate for a detox – cursing myself for sloshing too many vinos and overdosing on cheese at the weekend. So I couldn’t have been happier rolling up to the Reynold’s Retreat in Sevenoaks, Kent, to sample one of their 'Two's Company' pamper packages one rainy Monday in November. The weekend’s alcohol sweats started dissolving the second I laid eyes on the place. A glorious stately home with woodland views, it...

Frequent travellers along the East Coast Mainline could find themselves out of pocket more than any other rail travellers in the country, it has been revealed. A new study has found that all five of the top five worst value-for-money journeys lay on the East Coast line, currently operated jointly by Stagecoach Group and Virgin Group. London to Newcastle was revealed as the worst value-for-money, followed by London to Edinburgh, London to Leeds, London to York and Leeds to London. The...

There are few places that are as alluring in the cold wintery months as they are in the summer, but the scenic area of the Cotswolds is one. With the thoughts of roaring fires, hearty meals and brisk walks too much to resist, myself and BFF Laila took a trip to check out two of its many hotels, and here’s our verdict. The area A short journey from the nearest town of Lechlade (or slightly longer car/bus/taxi ride from Swindon),...

As part of a weekend in the Costwolds, my pal Laila and I spent a night at The Plough Inn, a charming pub, restaurant and B&B in the small village of Kelmscott (population: 198). Our expectation was high as en route from Swindon train station, our taxi driver told us that Kate Moss was recently in, bringing none other than Liv Tyler with her. But do they give every patron the VIP treatment? We find out... The area Kelmscott is...

It’s the home of Rowntree and Terry’s; George Cadbury and Lewis Fry studied their trade there – no wonder York has a reputation as the spiritual capital of chocolate. So where better to go for a staycation with the sis? We’re the daughters of a cornershop owner, so we were reared on York’s finest: the likes of Aero, Kit Kat, Quality Streets and Yorkies. Bring it on, say we. That’s fighting talk, as we soon found out. Make no mistake,...

Ever thought about 'doing a Joey from Friends' and wearing all your clothes to avoid being check-in luggage fees? You're not the only one. Because that's actually happened. A survey by Norwegian Air of 50 London Gatwick ground staff has revealed the most bizarre attempts to avoid checking-in their hand baggage when their bag is oversized or overweight. The survey revealed the following top 10 ways in which passengers tried to get out of paying: A passenger wore three pairs of...

The only problem with a more accessible world is that our bucket list just keeps getting longer and longer. As tempting as it would be to slot in a holiday for every week of next year, but wary of budget etc, here are just some of the highlights on next year's calendar. Booking fingers at the ready? January: Aurora Borealis - Lapland You've probably seen pictures - where green, blue and purple hues dance across a pitch black sky - but trust us...