Saskia O'Donoghue

A travel guide highlights six British market towns suited to summer day trips and weekend breaks focused on outdoor dining: Lymington, Malton, Ludlow, Canterbury, Llangollen and Wigtown. It describes each destination’s markets, local food and drink, pub gardens, cultural or natural attractions, and nearby accommodation, with options ranging from seafood and craft beer to regional produce, cafés and pub meals.

Travel experts recommend destinations across the UK for 2026, including London’s new museums, Cornwall’s inland heritage sites, Devon’s Jurassic Coast and Agatha Christie attractions, Scarborough, Cumbria, Morecambe Bay, Dorset’s hill forts, Norwich and the Broads, Greater Manchester, southern Wales, the Scottish Highlands and Northern Ireland’s Causeway Coast. The suggestions combine coastlines, national parks, historic sites, cultural events, food, cycling, kayaking and scenic road trips, with a focus on accessible domestic holidays and new or commemorative attractions.

Naturism is becoming more popular in the UK, with 14 per cent of the public identifying as naturists or nudists and interest in naturist camping increasing since the Covid-19 pandemic. Andrew Welch, a former British Naturism commercial manager, attributes the growth to lockdown-era changes in attitudes toward clothing, freedom and outdoor activities. UK naturist sites are generally clothing-optional and emphasize community, relaxation and body acceptance, even when the weather prevents visitors from being nude. The piece highlights festivals, campsites and resorts in the UK and Europe, and recommends destinations including Sunfolk, Lancashire Sun Club, Nudefest, CHM Montalivet, Bélézy and Flevo-Natuur.

Lizzie Dean, head of onboard customer service on Great Western Railway’s Night Riviera, has spent nearly three decades working on sleeper trains between Penzance and London. Her role includes caring for passengers, providing breakfast and helping travellers settle into their cabins or seats. The Night Riviera and Caledonian Sleeper are benefiting from renewed interest, while new European services from operators including European Sleeper, NightJet and SJ EuroNight are contributing to a broader revival in overnight rail travel. Dean says the long shifts are worthwhile because she enjoys meeting passengers and considers working on the sleeper a privilege.

Heritage rail enthusiasts highlight nine nostalgic train journeys across the UK, showcasing historic steam and diesel routes that offer scenic landscapes and evoke memories of early railway travel. These lines span regions including Devon, Yorkshire, Wales, the Isle of Man and Lancashire, featuring restored engines, vintage carriages and unique narrow‑gauge systems preserved by volunteers and local groups. Each route offers distinctive scenery and heritage charm, from the Ribblehead Viaduct to coastal cliffs and rural countryside, with many operating special excursions and seasonal services.

The Cotswolds attracts millions of visitors each year, but overtourism has made some of its best-known villages overcrowded. Seven English alternatives—Stamford, Corfe Castle, Frome, Turville, Grantchester, Castleton and Thornton-le-Dale—offer similarly picturesque villages, historic buildings, countryside, independent businesses and cultural attractions, often with fewer visitors. The feature highlights notable sights, walking routes, transport links, pubs, restaurants and nearby accommodation in each destination.

Battle in East Sussex is presented as a lively market town built around the site of the 1066 Battle of Hastings. Its main attractions include the ruins of Battle Abbey, the battlefield, the Battle Museum of Local History and St Mary the Virgin Church. The town also offers independent shops, cafés, pubs, local accommodation, seasonal festivals and a popular Battle Brewery tap room. Recommended activities include the Battle Walk and exploring the wider 1066 Country, while local venues such as The Bull Inn and Bluebells Tearoom provide food and drink.

Fittleworth in West Sussex is presented as an attractive base for exploring the South Downs, with historic cottages, artistic connections to Turner and Constable, and access to Petworth, Arundel and the South Downs Way. The guide recommends The Swan Inn for accommodation and dining, Nutbourne Vineyard for wine tasting, Petworth House for art and heritage, local shops and restaurants, and walks associated with Edward Elgar. It also highlights the village’s community-owned store, local food and drink, literary connections and the Roman sculpture known as the Fittleworth Iphigenia.

Karlovy Vary is presented as an affordable Czech alternative to Bath for spa breaks, combining grand architecture, historic thermal treatments and low-cost accommodation and dining. The town offers inexpensive spa access, five-star stays at Grandhotel Pupp from about £116 a night, and low-cost travel via Prague. Its appeal includes UNESCO recognition, historic springs, film-related attractions, local food and scenic walks, with the writer concluding that the destination provides an indulgent and relaxing European mini-break without Bath’s high prices.

A solo traveller describes a 10-night Fred Olsen cruise from Southampton to Norway aboard Borealis as a sociable and luxurious way to see the Northern Lights. The ship offered extensive dining, entertainment and wellness facilities, while included meals, drinks, excursions and gratuities made fares starting at about £1,000 per person seem good value. Highlights included Ålesund, the Arctic Circle and seeing the Northern Lights near Narvik, although fog obscured some landmarks and the stop in Stavanger was too brief. The experience dispelled concerns about boredom and encouraged the writer to consider another solo Northern Lights cruise.

A five-hour Steam Dreams Rail Co. journey from Paddington through the Chiltern Hills to Oxford provided a nostalgic luxury-train experience for the writer and their steam-train enthusiast father. The trip featured 1950s-style carriages, Pullman dining, Champagne and attentive service, although the planned 70000 Britannia steam locomotive was replaced at short notice by a diesel engine. Passengers also criticized some views along National Rail routes, but the overall experience was highly enjoyable and reflects renewed interest in rail-based, flight-free travel.

Gibraltar is presented as a distinctive Mediterranean destination combining dolphins, Barbary macaques, beaches, British cultural traces and extensive history. The territory’s British status and complicated relationship with Spain are central to its identity, while Brexit has introduced border checks that may change under a proposed UK-EU-Spain-Gibraltar treaty. Tourism is expanding through new flights, cruise arrivals and planned attractions, although residents and environmentalists have raised concerns about the type and impact of future development.

Church Stretton, nicknamed “Little Switzerland” by Victorian visitors, is presented as a scenic Shropshire destination for walking, cycling and wildlife spotting on the Long Mynd and surrounding hills. The town’s independent shops, historic farmers’ market, cafés, pubs and restaurants are highlighted alongside accommodation, transport options and attractions including Acton Scott Heritage Farm and nearby Ironbridge Gorge. The guide also outlines local walking routes and historical stories, including an Iron Age hillfort, a sixteenth-century fire and the town’s association with Queen Victoria’s admiration for its water.

Affordable summer holidays under £500 per person remain available across Europe, particularly for flexible travellers willing to consider less-known destinations or travel in June and early July. The guide highlights budget options in Tours, Trieste, Corfu, Reggio Calabria, Ibiza and Faro, covering flights, accommodation and family activities. Shoulder-season travel can reduce prices and crowds, while July and August still offer deals through low-cost airlines and self-catering accommodation.

Local tourism experts recommend distinctive destinations and activities across the UK for summer 2025, as warmer-weather forecasts, overseas mass-tourism protests and strong domestic travel interest encourage Britons to holiday at home. Suggestions range from walking and wild swimming in Shropshire and Cornwall to gardens, food markets, heritage railways, coastal beaches, wildlife, cultural events and dark-sky observatories in destinations including Kent, Pembrokeshire, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Yorkshire, Northumberland and Cumbria.

UK travellers face a series of changes when visiting Europe, including the phased introduction of the EU Entry Exit System from October, which will replace passport stamps with biometric registration and checks. The Etias visa-waiver scheme is expected in late 2026. Other changes include airport security scanner rollouts, Venice’s day-trip fee, limits on vehicles in Ibiza, expanded Spanish visitor registration requirements, higher Greek tourist taxes, France’s outdoor smoking ban, and new Spanish short-term rental rules. Catalonia may raise its tourist tax, while the UK is seeking a return to the EU pet passport scheme. Overtourism protests are also planned across Southern Europe.

Wizz Air is introducing Airbus A321XLR aircraft on flights from Gatwick to Jeddah from 26 May and to Medina from August, becoming the first ultra-low-cost airline to operate the model. The aircraft offers fares far below those of Saudi carrier Saudia, but passengers will face 28-inch seat pitch, small toilets, no seat-back entertainment or Wi-Fi, and no complimentary food or drink. The plane can carry 239 passengers for up to 4,700 nautical miles and offers improved fuel efficiency, lower emissions and adaptive cabin lighting. The launch comes as Wizz works to repair its reputation after the UK Civil Aviation Authority intervened over disruption-compensation complaints; the airline has announced a £12bn customer-improvement programme. Further expansion to destinations such as Mumbai is being considered but appears unlikely soon because of the airline’s low-cost operating model.

Alfie Watts, joint winner of the 2024 BBC series Race Across the World with school friend Owen Wood, has continued travelling since filming ended, visiting 82 countries and aiming to reach every nation. He discusses his spontaneous travel plans, favourite and least favourite destinations, the differences between televised racing and ordinary travel, and his ambition to visit the Seven Wonders of the World on a £1,000 budget. Watts is also using his growing social-media following to support Winston’s Wish and YoungMinds, while advocating for the abolition of UK SATs. He would only consider returning to Race Across the World alongside Wood and is due to host a Vietnam group tour with Intrepid Travel.

Qantas’s Project Sunrise aims to launch non-stop flights between Sydney and London or New York lasting up to 22 hours by 2027. Sleep scientist Stephen Simpson and a multidisciplinary team are developing an integrated programme involving meal timing, hydration, cabin lighting, exercise, seating and passenger routines to reduce jet lag and improve comfort. The modified Airbus A350-1000 will carry fewer passengers and include wellness areas, while research into circadian rhythms is intended to inform an algorithm for managing the effects of crossing 11 time zones. Simpson also recommends adjusting sleep schedules before departure, staying hydrated, limiting alcohol and caffeine, moving regularly and avoiding bright light at inappropriate times.

A comparison of seven major UK airlines finds that Jet2 performs best for families, with the highest Which? customer score, strong service ratings, generous cabin baggage and a high likelihood of seating companions together without payment. Virgin Atlantic and British Airways offer favorable family seating and baggage policies, while easyJet provides relatively generous infant-equipment allowances. Ryanair and Wizz Air stand out for low fares and access to smaller European airports but score poorly for customer service and booking, with additional seat, baggage and infant charges. TUI offers family-oriented seating and free transport for pushchairs and car seats, but has the weakest punctuality record in the comparison. Across the airlines, families must weigh ticket prices against dynamic seat and baggage fees, infant charges and the likelihood of being seated together.

Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman discuss Long Way Home, the fourth motorcycle-travel series they have made together. Riding vintage motorcycles from McGregor’s home in the Scottish Highlands to Boorman’s home in Surrey, they travelled through 17 European countries over 10 weeks, encountering local communities, mechanics and volunteers along the way. The journey’s appeal lies in the pair’s long friendship, freedom from the controlled routines of filmmaking, shared love of motorcycles, food and landscapes, and the generosity of people they meet. Although the series title suggests a final journey, both men leave open the possibility of travelling and filming together again.

Families describe undertaking their own Race Across the World-style adventures with children, including bus travel through Peru, a four-month journey across South America, an 11-day Interrail trip around Europe and organised races from London to destinations such as Istanbul and Tirana. The trips were demanding at times, involving long bus and train journeys, altitude sickness, limited planning and difficult accommodation, but parents said they helped children build resilience, confidence and independence while creating valuable shared experiences.

Following the European Union Court of Justice’s ruling against Malta’s citizenship-by-investment programme, golden visas remain available in several European countries. Portugal, Greece, Italy, Latvia and Cyprus offer residency routes requiring investments ranging from €50,000 to €300,000 or more, with varying access to Schengen travel, family residency and eventual citizenship. The options are compared on investment rules, minimum-stay requirements, cost of living, English proficiency, flight times from the UK and climate, with Portugal and Greece standing out for lower living costs and established appeal among British expatriates.

A major power outage on 28 April disrupted flights, trains, metros, roads and other services across Spain, Portugal and parts of southern France, although electricity was largely restored the following day. Around 500 flights were cancelled, with many more delayed, while rail and urban transport services continued to experience knock-on disruption. Travellers are advised to check with airlines and tour operators before travelling. Eligible passengers can generally choose between a refund and rerouting, and airlines must provide care such as refreshments and accommodation during qualifying delays, although financial compensation is unlikely because the blackout may constitute an extraordinary circumstance. Package-holiday customers may also be entitled to an alternative holiday or a full refund if the disruption causes a significant change.

Six UK hotels with co-working facilities are recommended for travellers seeking a seaside break without taking time off work. Options range from Cornwall’s Watergate Bay Hotel and Brighton’s West Beach Hotel to Gladstone’s Library in Wales, Folkestone’s View Hotel, Solent Hotel near Fareham and Village Hotel Wirral. The article highlights their workspaces, transport links, leisure amenities and nearby beaches, with double-room prices ranging from £75 to £220 including breakfast.

A projected decline in the US dollar could make travel to the United States and destinations whose currencies are pegged to the dollar more affordable for UK visitors. The pound is already 10.5% stronger against the dollar than at its January low, while analysts cite economic uncertainty, tariffs and Donald Trump’s approach as factors weighing on the currency. The UAE, Jordan, Vietnam and several Caribbean destinations could benefit from the shift, although the effect will vary between hard and soft dollar pegs. At the same time, hostile border controls, high US prices and political uncertainty are discouraging some visitors, with Currensea reporting a 10% fall in members’ US spending and increased interest in destinations such as Spain, Greece, Italy and Thailand.

Travel experts recommend several ways to improve the chances of receiving free or discounted upgrades on flights, in hotels and on cruises. Strategies include joining loyalty programmes, asking politely at check-in, booking directly with hotels, travelling during quieter periods, volunteering for later flights, subscribing to travel newsletters and arriving early at cruise ports. Paid bids and last-minute upgrades can cost less than purchasing a premium ticket or cabin initially, while loyalty, flexibility and special occasions may increase the likelihood of complimentary upgrades.

Television presenter Jeff Brazier discusses taking part in the BBC’s seventh Pilgrimage series, a 300km medieval route from near Innsbruck in Austria through the Alps to Einsiedeln Abbey in Switzerland. He describes forming a close bond with Harry Clark, sharing a bed when accommodation was limited, learning about fellow participants’ faiths and using the walk for meditation and self-reflection. Despite difficult lodging, an allergy to horsehair and the physical demands of walking barefoot on some trails, Brazier says the companionship and candid conversations were the journey’s most valuable aspects. The series begins on BBC Two and iPlayer on 20 April.

Flash floods linked to Storm Oliver affected parts of Lanzarote, particularly Arrecife, Costa Teguise and San Bartolomé, causing flooded roads and hotels, power cuts, and some flight cancellations or diversions. The state of emergency has been lifted, the airport is operating normally, and no injuries have been reported, although localised disruption and damaged roads remain. Jet2holidays and TUI cancelled or amended stays at several affected hotels, while authorities advise travellers to monitor weather updates and follow local guidance. Travellers who cancel voluntarily are unlikely to receive a refund because the UK Foreign Office has not advised against travel, but passengers whose flights are cancelled generally have a choice of a refund or an alternative flight under applicable UK passenger-rights rules.

From 1 May 2025, foreign visitors entering Thailand by air, land or sea must complete the free Thailand Digital Arrival Card online before arrival, replacing the paper TM6 form. Travellers can apply up to three days before entry and must show the resulting QR code with their passport; transit passengers who do not pass through immigration are exempt. The change does not replace visas, and British citizens remain eligible for visa-free stays of up to 60 days under the rules described, although Thai officials are considering reducing this to 30 days. Visitors are also warned about serious penalties for overstaying, including fines, detention, deportation and possible re-entry bans.

Universal plans to open a major theme park and resort in Bedfordshire in 2031, projecting 8.5 million visitors in its first year and a potential £50 billion contribution to the UK economy by 2055. Its Orlando attraction, Epic Universe, offers a model for the UK venture, combining immersive franchise-based lands, technology, interactive experiences and entertainment for adults as well as families. The article highlights strong demand for attractions such as the Harry Potter studio tour, but also intense competition from overseas travel, home entertainment and established parks. Disney's failed Star Wars hotel illustrates the risks of expensive experiences, while Germany's Europa-Park demonstrates how continual innovation, new rides and premium offerings can encourage repeat visits. Helen Wright expects Universal's arrival to significantly reshape the UK theme-park market.

A comparison of the five largest low-cost airlines serving the UK finds that Jet2 performs best overall in Which? consumer research, while Ryanair ranks last. EasyJet offers a large network, reasonable value and a comparatively generous cabin-bag allowance but has limited family seating guarantees and mediocre comfort. Ryanair is among the cheapest and serves unusual destinations, but scores poorly for customer service, booking, food and value. Jet2 leads on customer satisfaction, service, punctuality and baggage, although its fares are higher. Wizz Air is expanding rapidly and has pledged major customer-service improvements after regulatory intervention, but continues to receive weak ratings for service, comfort and booking. Vueling provides low fares and a free cabin bag but scores poorly for its booking process, food and comfort.