Travel

By Maggie Majstrova As we rattle through the English countryside in a rather crowded train carriage, I’m struck by the number of weekend trip destinations afforded to my fellow Londoners by the UK’s extensive rail network. Having spent most of my life in the capital, I suspect I haven’t explored the rest of the country nearly as much as it deserves. Well, now’s a good a time as any. Located in the rural village of Barnby Moor on the border...

Thanks to its towering, khaki cliffs, cinematic volcanoes and long, golden beaches, Hawaii is a filmmakers metropolis. And for that exact reason, this isolated group of 137 islands has been used as a captivating, tropical set in movies for decades - from Jurassic Park and Pirates of the Caribbean to 50 First Dates and Aloha. To celebrate 25 years since the creation of Steven Spielberg's original Jurassic Park, we picked out five of the most famous movie locations in Hawaii. ...

Natasha Ednan-Laperouse, 15, picked up the artichoke, olive and tapenade roll from the chain’s Heathrow Terminal 5, an inquest heard

Shilpa Ganatra takes a trip up north to check out the UK's very first Radisson RED The vibe Radisson RED is the contemporary boutique arm of the brand, and as it’s well-received in its other five locations across the globe – we went to the Brussels location for its Christmas markets – it’s finally received its first UK version. Stepping in on a mild autumn day, it has all the vibe of a slick bar: think pumping music, wrought-iron fittings...

They describe Herman the cleaner as the ‘epitome of happiness’

Agrigento is a hidden gem along the south coast of Sicily. Once considered the driving force of the golden era of the Ancient Greek civilization, the city now rests, propped upon the remnants of the ruins of the once glorious empire. Nestled amongst these ruins is the Valley of the Temples, a World Heritage Site that put Agrigento back into the spotlight. Amongst the archeological finds and the plush select Sicily villas, Agrigento becomes the bridge between the past and...

The founder of environmental campaign group Blue Planet Society believes social media including Instagram and Facebook is fuelling the problem

Caroline Howley takes in the sights, sounds and scents of the historical city of Porto. “Love: that deep feeling. It will bring you happiness or disgrace.”  After a night drinking altogether too much Vinho Verde, we’d stopped by Porto’s São Bento Railway Station to see, admittedly through blurry eyes, its famed azulejo tile frieze. Before long, my Portuguese guide Carolina had inexplicably dragged me towards a weighing scale on one of the platforms. But instead of telling me how many pounds...

Alex Wright takes an adventure around the Estonian island of Vaike-Pakri, discovering failed dams, sunken ships and sauna tents along the way. “We train NATO soldiers during the week,” remarked by guide Rene. “They are not as good as you would think though. They’re always capsizing or complaining they’re tired.” Welcome to kayaking on the Baltic, Estonian style where the waves are big and the laughs even bigger. I’m on a two-day paddle around Vaike-Pakri, the smaller of a set...