Travel

Scunthorpe and Wigan are among some of the unlikely places to be enjoying a tourism boost on the back of the UK heatwave. With temperatures set to reach record highs the number of Brits flocking to UK destinations has increased exponentially. Traditional seaside towns Southend-on-Sea, Margate, Scarborough and St Ives are all seeing a surge in popularity. Southend-on-Sea has seen train bookings to the town for July and August up an incredible 210 per cent compared to the same period...

There was something about the strapline “luxury that Leeds deserves” that struck a note with me as I rattled along the east-coast main line towards the metropolis named by Lonely Planet as one of the top 10 European cities to see last year. Despite boasting a stunning heritage, thriving cultural scene and booming leisure industry Leeds has been somewhat lacking on the hospitality front, but that could all be about to change. Located at the heart of the trendy Greek...

With 240 stylish bedrooms, four star luxury and London’s attractions (almost) on your doorstep - the Jurys Inn Croydon is perfect for a fun-packed break or comfy business stay. The hotel is a four minute stroll from bustling East Croydon Station, where regular services will take you to explore the capital via London Bridge or London Victoria in just 17 minutes. If you don’t want to venture into town, the Whitgift Centre is over the road, boasting 130 shops including...

Vijay Gopala spent 17 years living in meditative silence - where he almost never spoke - and contemplated life from his shack in the middle of an Indian forest.

By Anna Power The Spread Eagle Hotel and Spa is a truly historic hotel dating back to Tudor times, in the lovely English town of Midhurst, in the heart of the South Downs. Though the spa and parts of the hotel are clearly more recent additions, its original building, housing its lounge bar, restaurant and suites above, are beautifully preserved examples of the period, oozing charm and character with every creak of its timber frame, wobbly floors, latticed windows and...

From luminescent lanterns hanging high above the city to bright neon shop fronts - these photos by photographer Victor Chiang bring out the best of Shanghai's electric cityscape

Utopia is one of the most misused words in the book when it comes to hotels and spas. High street salons that claim to offer a slice of heaven as the number 62 bus wizzes by and overzealous hotels with a hot tub and sauna insisting they pertain a certain shangri-la are all culprits of making a beautiful word sound so meaningless. But amidst the sham utopians spare a thought for the genuine artefacts, because if you look in the...

by Alex Wright Want to try festivalling a little further afield this year? From being at one with nature in the wilds of Borneo to sailing the beautiful Dalmatian coast, we’ve got it covered for summer 2018. Asia: Sarawak Rainforest World Music Festival Return to nature with the Sarawak Rainforest World Music Festival. Held in the depths of Malaysia’s Borneo jungle, the festival runs from July 13 to 15. Immerse yourself in the country’s indigenous cultures and the impressive line-up...

Review: URSO Hotel and Spa, Madrid The URSO Hotel and Spa, named after Ursalia (the name given to Madrid during the Roman Empire), couldn't be better located. It lies in the Las Saleas area close to Madrid’s quirky, gay-friendly Malasaňa neighbourhood - known for its hipster bars, independent shops and cool cafes. Its proximity to the chic Chueca district and Gran Vía (Madrid's answer to Oxford Circus) makes it a prime location for getting to know both sides of Spain’s capital...