

Articles (60)

The 17 most romantic hotels and getaways in Chicago
No matter what gets you in the mood, Chicago's hotels are perfect for a romantic vacation, staycation or bae-cation with your person. But which of the city's hotels are the most appropriate for a seriously loved-up time? Below are some of our top picks, based on everything from jaw-dropping skyline views and lavish room features to quality dining experiences from some of best restaurants in Chicago. Whether you're coming from out of town for a romantic getaway in Chicago or merely looking for a steamy staycation, these luxurious stays are sure to satisfyâso pack your overnight bag and prepare for a night to remember at Chicago's most romantic hotels. RECOMMENDED: Discover secluded getaways near Chicago This article includes affiliate links. These links have no influence on our editorial content. For more information, click here.

10 restaurants to book for an unforgettable Motherâs Day
Of all the yearly occasions you might want to skimp on, you do not want to hold back on Motherâs Day. Itâs the day to treat the person who brought you into the world: to buy her loads of flowers, take her out for the day and, of course, luxuriate in a fabulous celebratory meal. But whether itâs brunch, lunch or dinner, where should be taking your mum for a treat on her big day? Luckily, weâre here to help. Weâve teamed up with Quandoo, an international foodie directory and booking platform, to help you find the best place to take your ma this Motherâs Day. Quandoo lists over 17,000 restaurants worldwide in its hassle-free, quick and free reservation system. The premise is simple: the more you use Quandoo to dine out and review restaurants, the more loyalty points you receive, and the more cashback you can get on future reservations. Sounds pretty great, huh? From innovative Indian kitchens and all-guns-blazing steakhouses to pretty food bars and communal abodes, below are ten restaurants to book for an unforgettable Motherâs Day.

Could cities soon be made of mushrooms?
Ah, mushrooms. Some are tasty, some are deadly and some will make you lick your hand and talk to the floor. But did you know that they could solve a ton of problems in the worldâs cities? Some scientists believe that fungi could be used to clean rivers, as fuel in vehicles, and even to build homes. As far-fetched as it sounds, the idea of building stuff out of mushrooms is pretty well established. The technology already exists and thereâs an entire professional field â âmyco-architectureâ â dedicated to it. In 2014, New Yorkâs Museum of Modern Art commissioned a circular tower made of 10,000 bricks containing a mix of living mushrooms and corn stalk waste. Sure, the structure â named Hy-Fi â wasnât habitable or particularly resilient (itâs since been taken down and composted), but it did show the potential of using fungi to build stuff. Scientists working with this technology technically donât use mushrooms exactly but things called mycelia, the root-like parts of a fungus. These can be grown into very complex, precise and strong structures, making it a really useful and adaptable building material. Photograph: Ecovative Perhaps the strongest argument for mycelia construction is that, while normal building methods are a huge contributor to climate change (and waste a large amount of natural resources), fungi are totally renewable and much more eco-friendly. âThe possibility of replacing plastics and other environmentally damaging materials and processes with something that

Five reasons to dive into Puttshackâs bottomless brunch
Every other Sunday, everyoneâs fave high-tech mini-golf bar Puttshack hosts bottomless brunch at its Bank location â and it's absolutely epic. Combining Puttshack's fab mini-golf with bottomless bubbly and tasty mid-morning nosh, Brunch Club really is a hole in one. Which sounds bloominâ great, doesnât it? Itâs difficult to think of many things better than mid-morning boozing, top-notch food and some healthy golf-based competition. So here are five reasons to head on down to Puttshack for a wild Sunday brunch mini-golf bonanza.

How to holiday like a Viking: six âThe Northmanâ locations to visit this summer
Fresh from seeing Robert Eggersâ brutal, blood-pumping Viking action flick The Northman? No doubt youâll be dying (figuratively, of course) to immerse yourself in the Viking world, to learn more about longboats, sagas, Valhalla and more. So hereâs a handy guide: where to go to dive deep into Viking lore and visit some of the filmâs spectacular landscapes. The Northmanâs plot takes it from Scotland to the Kievan Rus and finally to Iceland, but nearly all of the film was actually shot in Northern Ireland. Naomi Liston, The Northmanâs location manager, explains her task: âI was looking for three countries. Hrafnsey [the opening fort] was meant to be in Scotland, Fjölnirâs farm was Iceland and then the Slav village, where the massacre took place, was in Russia. So I had to find this whole continent in Northern Ireland.â But just because the film wasnât shot exactly where itâs set, donât think for a second that the settings arenât realistic, or, for that matter, any less stunning. Eggers is renowned for being a meticulous filmmaker whose works are insanely well-researched and historically accurate â and The Northman, from its headdresses and swords to rituals and folklore, is no different. If he was satisfied with a locationâs Viking credentials, you know theyâre legit. And Northern Ireland has plenty of Viking ties of its own, notes Liston. âThereâs an island called Rathlin Island where thereâs the remains of Iron Age people, and Vikings went to that island as well,â she says. âH

The 13 best sex and dating podcasts
Modern sex, dating and romance can feel, at times, like exceptionally tricky business. Each new technological development and social shift lays a new tripwire, making it even harder to keep up with whatâs going on. How on earth are you supposed to keep track of it all? There is a simple way: start listening to one of these excellent sex and dating podcasts. There are literally hundreds of podcasters out there revealing all their worldly romance tips. There are so many sex and dating podcasts out there, in fact, that itâs hard to know whatâs worth a listen. Which ones are trustworthy? Which are fresh? Which are interesting? And are some better than others when it comes to representing the experiences of LBGTQ+ communities and BIPOC? Sex and dating podcasts can be as tricky as the world of romance itself â but weâre here to help. Check out some of the best podcasts about lurve, lust and everything in-between. RECOMMENDED:đ§Â The best podcasts to listen to right nowđ€Â The best sleep podcastsâ The best political podcastsđ The best comedy podcastsđ© The best podcasts for women

The most spectacular astronomical events of 2022
Whenever life down here on Planet Earth gets a bit too much, thereâs something reassuring about being able to escape to the cosmos. Not literally, obviously (unless youâre Jeff Bezos and Elon Musk), but thereâs still a certain escapist bliss in studying the night sky. From eclipses and shooting stars to meteor showers, planetary alignments and moon phases, space is the greatest show off Earth. Although pros will want to splash out on a fancy telescope, for most of us stargazing is free, infinitely rewarding and a great way to fill up all that free time we seem to have on our hands these days. If you can, it helps to find a spot far away from the light pollution of the city (here are the best stargazing spots in the UK and USA), but the brightest astronomical phenomena are easily visible from your local park or even your window â as long as it isnât cloudy, of course. This year youâll be able to spot the regular meteor showers and full moons (each with its own name) as well as a total lunar eclipse and two spectacular solar eclipses. To help you spot shooting stars, see a âpink moonâ or tell your penumbral from your annular eclipses, weâve pulled together a list of the upcoming astronomical events weâre excited about. Read on for the most jaw-dropping cosmic events of 2022.Â

Five Unesco world heritage sites at risk of destruction in Ukraine
Obviously, when it comes to Russian invasion of Ukraine, people have to come first. Providing safe corridors for evacuation from cities on the front line, assisting refugees in the asylum process, and working with charities and humanitarian groups to help people on the ground â this is all stuff that should take priority. But that doesnât mean that we canât worry about other things in Ukraine, too. History and culture are vital to human societies â and are especially important when their very existence is threatened by imperialistic aggression. As weâve seen in all over the world from Syria and Mali to the Balkans, immensely valuable cultural sites arenât immune from destruction in warfare. Ukraine currently has seven Unesco World Heritage sites, many of which could be destroyed in the current invasion. They arenât all at risk (after all, itâs pretty difficult to destroy an entire forest, and thereâs an ancient Greek colony in Sevastopol which has been under Russian occupation since 2014) but some could certainly be threatened â especially with recent allegations of increasingly indiscriminate Russian bombardment. Below are five that are at risk right now. RECOMMENDED: 17 ways you can help the people of Ukraine right now

The 10 best wireless earbuds
A few years ago, wireless earbuds were a luxury. Everyone thought they were a bit OTT; maybe even that they looked a bit silly â after all, what was ever wrong with good old-fashioned wired earphones? Then the pandemic happened, and, with mask-wearing, wireless earbuds really came into their own. Once people tried a tangle-free, faff-free lifestyle, they didnât look back. These days, the market is brimming with hundreds of models of wireless earbuds. And they vary a heck of a lot. While there are key differences in comfort, battery life, sound quality and noise cancellation tech, in-ear buds also come with huge style differences. Some are minimal and fashionable, while others can be so ridiculously chunky that they make you look like some kind of android. Luckily, weâre here to point you towards the best earbuds for every occasion. Below weâve sorted your big-brand knock-offs from your budget bargains â read on for the top ten best wireless earbuds on the market. This article includes affiliate links. These links have no influence on our editorial content. For more information, click here.

Experience Eataly like never before during Restaurant Fest this March
Itâs pretty much an undisputed fact that everyone (yes, you included) loves Eataly. And how could you not? For casual Italiano fans and connoisseurs alike, Eataly is a literal heaven on Earth. Supremely tasty food? Check. A fabulous selection of vino? Of course. An enormous market packed full of the finest Italian ingredients ? You betcha. Which is why the return of Restaurant Fest, Eatalyâs signature dining event , has us drooling. This March 4-20, the Eataly stores in both Flatiron and Downtown are set to be taken over by more Italian dishes and wines than you can possibly imagine â and menus are starting at $19! So what even is Restaurant Fest? Well, in short, itâs an all-out celebration of all things Italian food. Itâs the chance to indulge in some of Eatalyâs finest dishes and drinks, and to take part in some pretty cool events, activities and experiences, too. As you can imagine, the food is top-of-the-range. Along with the phenomenal two-course menus starting at $19, experience Eataly like never before with all new features like a roaming mozzarella cart, trays of coccoli con prosciutto (fried balls of goodness stuffed with prosciutto), and tiramisu directly from the pan, just like Nonna makes it. It goes without saying that, for a meal this decadent, youâll want to pair it with something equally delectable, and Restaurant Fest caters to that, too. From rare regional wines to cocktail carafes, Eataly will offer over 100 wines by the glass starting at just $10 and fu

The eight best record players to buy online now
Sure, some people reckon CDs are back on the rise, but vinyl certainly isnât going away any time soon. In this age of music streaming, records are often the best way of supporting your favourite musicians. And what do you need once youâve got a full rack oâ records? You need a good player, thatâs what. As vinyl fans no doubt already know, record players are notoriously tricky things to buy. Not helped by the fact that vinyl snobs can be some of the webâs most irritating dudes/dudettes, buying a record player can lead you down very, very deep rabbit holes with different designs, levels of audio quality and countless other variables. Needless to say, you can also end up spending a pretty ridiculous amount of cash.  The perfect record player can depend on loads of things, from your current hi-fi set up to your budget. As a bare minimum, we imagine youâll want something with a lovely depth of sound â and certainly not something that'll scratch up your discs. Below weâve got a mix of record players and turntables (the difference being that the latter donât usually include speakers or a preamp) for a range of uses and budgets. Read on, and prepare to revolutionise your vinyl listening experience. This article includes affiliate links. These links have no influence on our editorial content. For more information, click here.

The best milk frothers to buy online right now
Mmm. Thereâs nothing quite like that thick, creamy frothed milk you get on top of a cappuccino at a proper coffee shop. For loads of us, itâs probably a main reason why we treat ourselves to a barista-made coffee. But you might not have to venture down to your nearest Pret or Starbucks every time you fancy frothy coffee for much longer â these days, you can get a proper milk frother to make top-grade milk foam from the comfort of your own kitchen. So how difficult can it be to froth some milk? Well, itâs more complicated than you think. You can get manual milk frothers, handheld ones and ones that are built into coffee machines. Some are also milk heaters, while others specialise in hot or cold froth. Plus, some are more effective with different kinds of milk. See? Thereâs loads of variables at play. Luckily, weâre here to point you towards some of the finest milk frothers in the business. From high-tech, glitzy machines to traditional, hand-powered devices, below are eight top milk frothers, for whatever your needs. This article includes affiliate links. These links have no influence on our editorial content. For more information, click here.
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Halloween Jack the Ripper Tour
Tracing the exploits of a gruesome serial killer, the Jack the Ripper tours are scary enough as they are. But add a Halloween theme and the opportunity to drink a potentially frightful amount of booze? Even more spine-chilling. A collaboration between Spitalfields cocktail bar Discount Suit Company and walking tour company Londonâs Walks, the Halloween edition of the Jack the Ripper tour will explore the streets of the East End, led by charismatic Ripper expert Simon Whitehouse. But, vitally, itâll include booze. Lots of it. Starting off with a complimentary hot punch, the hour-and-a-half-long tour will wind up at the Discount Suit Company itself, where there will be special 'Rocket Lolly' and 'Notorious' cocktails to mark the occasion. Tour guests will also receive a 25 percent discount off their final bill. Tours will start at 12pm, 2.30pm & 5pm

Frock Me! Vintage Fashion Fair, Kensington Town Hall
Fun fact: Frock Me was the first vintage fair in London. Back in 1997, founder Matthew Adams started the fair at Kensington Town Hall, which prided itself on a mix of fashion and decorative arts. It then moved to Chelsea Old Hall, taking more of a focus on fashion â but remaining Londonâs original, most essential vintage fair. For one date in November, Frock Me will be returning to its original venue in Kensington Town Hall. Promising 70 exhibitors with an enormous range of fashion (ranging from the Victoria era through to slightly more modern designer outfits), thereâll also be watches, jewellery and a pop-up cafĂ©. For the fashion fanatics, preview tickets (11am-12pm) are ÂŁ10. General admission (12:00-17:30pm) is ÂŁ5, reduced to ÂŁ3 with an NUS card.

Animal Therapy: The Cats of Louis Wain
Despite being tremendously popular in his time, artist and illustrator Louis Wain has been somewhat overlooked of late. Luckily enough, heâs soon to receive the Hollywood treatment, being played by Benedict Cumberbatch in an upcoming film, The Electrical Life of Louis Wain. And while that film is sure to invigorate Wainâs legacy with the respect it deserves, you can get ahead of the curve by heading over to the Bethlem Museum of the Mind. Wain is best known for capturing cats in all their various forms, and the Bethlemâs exhibition is a glorious display of some of his finest illustrations. Expect a vibrant, characterful world of felines, ranging from the anthropomorphic to absurd. Animal Therapy: The Cats of Louis Wain is free, but you can still support both the exhibition and the Bethlem Museum of the Mind by buying from their online shop or via direct donations. The Bethlem Museum of the Mind is open Wednesday to Friday and the first and last Saturdays of month, 10am to 5pm. See the museumâs visitor page for more details

Growing Underground Urban Farm Tour
Would you ever imagine that a mere 33 metres below Clapham High Street, there lies one of the UKâs most cutting-edge urban farms? Us neither, yet thatâs where you can find Growing Underground, a farm fashioned out of a former Second World War bomb shelter. Cultivating veggies using LED tech and hydroponic systems, the farm produces pesticide-free, carbon-neutral and nutrient-rich greens that taste delicious. Snoop around and discover more about the history of the tunnel and the farmâs sustainable credentials during a 75-minute tour, which includes a fresh micro herb salad to take home with you. Green in more ways than one.Â

RA Supports: Afghanistan Emergency Fundraiser
As Afghanistan reels from decades of war and a brutal Taliban takeover, many of us are looking for ways to help the around 18 million Afghans in need of humanitarian assistance. And how better to lend a hand (or, more accurately, a bit of cash), than the Afghanistan Emergency Fundraiser? A joint project from Resident Advisor, The Right To Dance â a War Child fundraising movement â and Choose Love, the AEF will take over at The Cause in Tottenham for an all-night club event with an all-star line-up. The aim is to raise ÂŁ10,000 for Afghans in need. When we say the names topping the AEFâs bill are huge, we really mean huge. Mercury-nominated duo Bicep and global megastar DJ The Blessed Madonna lead the way, though other names on show include ambient techno maestro Daniel Avery and UK garage revivalist DJ Banana, among plenty of others. Thereâs never been a better excuse to get down to The Cause, have a boogie, and raise money for a very, very worthy cause.

Museum of Architecture Gingerbread City
An entire city of gingerbread. Imagine that. Well, many of you probably donât have to imagine it â you mightâve seen it with your very eyes. The Museum of Architectureâs Gingerbread City exhibition is hugely popular, and has been running for several years. It returns in December, featuring over 100 architects, landscape artists, engineers and ecologists, all working together to craft a mini settlement made entirely of gingerbread and icing. The MoAâs Gingerbread City features all the manor houses, town halls and skyscrapers as usual though, within the guidelines of this yearâs theme of ânature in the cityâ, there are also meadows, parks and forests â as well as models showing the effects of pollution, flooding and climate change. This yearâs exhibition takes place at a new pop-up location near Knightsbridge. Given the amount of gingerbread on display, needless to say the Gingerbread City is essential Christmas viewing. Our advice? Eat something before you go â itâs a nightmarishly mouth-watering place to be hungry. 6-7 Motcomb Street, SW1X 8JU. Tickets go on sale on the Gingerbread City website on October 11.Â

For The Music Festival
Weâve all missed live music, but isnât local live music enjoyable on an entirely different level? Watching musicians get a break before they become global superstars, and having that feeling of discovering genuinely fresh talent for yourself? For The Music clearly think the same: born in lockdown, throughout the pandemic they platformed local acts with a series of filmed web episodes. Now, For The Music is curating its own, real-life festival to give a stage to some of East Londonâs finest local talent. The line-up promises ten acts throughout the day, ranging in style from R&B and hip hop to funk and indie rock. The setting, inspired by Jools Hollandâs live lounge, will also feature local behind-the-scenes crew, as well as an array of street food and craft beer stands. Tickets are free and on the door.

Goose Island Presents... Hazy Sessions
How much you can recreate a tropical environment without relying on the weather at all? Hazy Sessions is giving it a go, promising to cram uplifting beats, a VW camper van bar and truckloads of barrels of a âjuicyâ new IPA on to the outside terrace of Westfield White City . The latest instalment of Goose Island Presents, this day-long event launches the Chicago-based breweryâs latest addition to its IPA range, Todayâs Haze. If you donât like fruity beers, maybe steer clear: this new brew is apparently âflooded with mango, citrus and stone-fruit characterâ. Letâs hope all that tropical effort doesnât get drowned in bucketing rain.

Queenâs Park Book Festival
Too many book festivals donât have enough festival. It isnât that thereâs too much emphasis on books (how could there be?) but that thereâs just not enough partying, drinking and grooving with your fellow bookworms. But not Queenâs Park Book Fest. Held, as always, in the public park, itâll combine literary celebs with stand-up comedy, local history and lectures on pressing issues of the day. And crucially, each day is capped off by a party into the night. Not like a rave but, you know, just a jolly good time.

Raise Three Fingers: a fundraising event for Myanmar
For one of her first post-pandemic performances, Laura Marling is lending a hand to Raise Three Fingers, a community of artists and creatives acting in solidarity against Myanmarâs military coup. Marlingâs folky, rocky delights might be the main attraction at the organisationâs event in Southwarkâs Marlborough Sports Garden, but sheâs part of a packed schedule. Over the course of a one-day festival, Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly co-headlines, and thereâll be photography and art exhibitions, live comedy, keynote speeches, a craft fair and an auction. Thatâs a lot! And itâs all for a great cause â all proceeds go to Mutual Aid Myanmar, Advance Myanmar and Myanmar Crisis Action.

Open City Documentary Festival
The great thing about non-fiction cinema is that its best stuff always leaves you knowing a bit more, thinking a little differently, seeing the world as an even more complex place than before. And no, not all documentaries do that â Iâm looking at you, âTiger Kingâ â but the kind shown at Open City Documentary Festival do. This yearâs edition, as usual, spans stories from more different countries, peoples and eras than I can really do justice to, from a study of rural Japanese communities to an exploration of modern female labour in the UK. Embarking on a hybrid format after the pandemic, the festival will be showing 46 new films from 26 different countries, as well as putting on filmmaker Q&As, panels and workshops. The Open City Documentary Festival takes place at various venues across the city from Sep 8-14 and is online Sep 13-23.

Harry Potter: A Forbidden Forest Experience
Iâm sure most of us, at some point in our lives, have wanted to be in the magical universe of Harry Potter. And luckily enough, that immersive experience has arrived! Harry Potter: A Forbidden Forest Experience gives you the chance to hurl spells and interact with magical characters, meeting centaurs, nifflers and plenty of other beasts from the world of the âHarry Potterâ and âFantastic Beastsâ film series. Behind the magic, A Forbidden Forest Experience features the technical wizardry of award-winning theatrical designers and experiential creators. The experience is a night-time woodland trail at Arley Hall and Gardens in Cheshire and includes food and drink inspired by the wizarding world, as well as the opportunity to shop for plenty of Harry Potter merch. RECOMMENDED: find out which Hogwarts house you belong in with our Harry Potter house quiz
News (464)

Japan has finally reopened its borders to international visitors â but thereâs a snag
It feels like weâve been waiting for Japan to open for a long, long time. After two years of being completely banned, tourists are finally being allowed back into the country â albeit with a lot of restrictions. The country reopened in April to some overseas residents, business travellers and foreign students. And now it has opened up its borders to limited numbers of international tourists. This stage in Japanâs reopening is being described as a period of âtest tourismâ. So what does that actually mean? Well, the âtestsâ come in the form of very few packaged tours, which will be analysed by the government before deciding when the country will resume normal levels of tourism. While individual tourists remain barred from visiting Japan, if you donât mind being part of a tour company, your trip of a lifetime may be mere weeks away! Needless to say, there are more than a few complications as to who can actually attend these âtest tourismâ tours. Theyâre currently only open to triple-jabbed travellers from the USA, Australia, Thailand and Singapore, and all travellers have to book through travel agencies. Currently the rules for entering Japan are complicated â to say the least. Thereâs currently a cap of 10,000 arrivals per day (which is increasing to 20,000 in June), and only those from a list of 106 countries (see that list in full here) can enter. Schools or companies have to sponsor individuals hoping to enter, and visitors must self-isolate on arrival. Currently, you need

Google Maps ha lanzado una nueva funciĂłn para viajar en el tiempo
Para celebrar el quince aniversario de la funciĂłn 'Street View', Google ha anunciado que la empresa nos darĂĄÂ la posibilidad de viajar en el tiempo. Pero no, no es tan revelador como pensĂĄis. La herramienta no te permite ir tan lejos: solo se remonta al nacimiento de 'Street View', en el 2007. AsĂ que no esperes ver el nacimiento de la civilizaciĂłn ni nada de eso. Es mĂĄs probable que veĂĄis algo un poco mĂĄs pequeño, como la construcciĂłn de un supermercado local o el derribo de un antiguo aparcamiento. Por ejemplo, la aplicaciĂłn muestra la construcciĂłn de Hudson Yards en Nueva York. ÂżCĂłmo podĂ©is hacerlo? Id a Google Maps y dejad caer a la persona amarilla en una carretera (activando asĂ 'Street View'). DeberĂais ver un pequeño icono de un reloj en la parte superior izquierda (pronto lo podrĂ©is ver tambiĂ©n a travĂ©s del mĂłvil, en la parte inferior de la pantalla), que abre una nueva ventana emergente donde podĂ©is mover el control deslizante a travĂ©s del tiempo y mostrar cĂłmo el sitio ha cambiado en los Ășltimos 15 años. Actualmente, estas nuevas herramientas solo estĂĄn disponibles en ordenador y tambiĂ©n estĂĄn en proceso de lanzamiento en los telĂ©fonos inteligentes iOS y Android. Los cambios en Barcelona Foto: Google MapsCalle del Comte Borrell En el nĂșmero 117 de la calle Comte de Borrell, en el barrio de Sant Antoni, se contrapone un cruce lleno de coches en el año 2008, con la supermanzana de Sant Antoni, donde se convirtiĂł la acera en una plataforma Ășnica y se añadiĂł vegetaci

Brits will have to pay to visit the EU from next year
Brits travelling to or through the EU: your trips are soon going to get just that little bit more expensive. From the end of this year, anyone travelling on a British passport between the ages of 18 and 70 will have to pay âŹ7 (ÂŁ6, $7.50) to enter or transit through any EU country. The added faff and cost is a consequence of the UKâs exit from the European Union, which means that British citizens will no longer enjoy freedom of movement throughout the bloc. Bloody Brexit, eh? A new visa system for visiting EU countries called the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) is set to come into force at the end of 2022. When itâs launched, Brits will need an official ETIAS visa waiver in order to keep visiting European countries. It will be required for trips of up to 90 days (if you want to stay longer, youâll need another visa entirely) for both tourists and business travellers, and will need to be obtained at least 96 hours before departure. And while this might all sound quite complicated (and spenny), it isnât as bad as it sounds. The fee doesnât have to be paid every time you enter an EU country. The waiver lasts for three years, so you only have to get a new one either once it runs out or if you get a new passport. Plus, the ETIAS visa waiver system isnât just for UK citizens. It also applies to passport-holders of plenty of other countries around the world, from the USA and Canada to Brazil, Japan and Australia. You can see a full list of ETIAS countries

Google Maps ha llançat una nova funció per viatjar en el temps
Per celebrar el 15Ăš aniversari de la funciĂł 'Street View', Google ha anunciat una cosa força especial: l'empresa ens estĂ donant la possibilitat de viatjar en el temps. PerĂČ no, no Ă©s tan revelador com penseu. L'eina no et permet anar tan lluny: nomĂ©s es remunta al naixement de 'Street View', l'any 2007. AixĂ que no esperis veure el naixement de la civilitzaciĂł ni res d'aixĂČ. Ăs mĂ©s probable que vegeu alguna cosa una mica mĂ©s petita, com ara la construcciĂł d'un supermercat local o l'enderrocament d'un antic aparcament. Per exemple, l'aplicaciĂł mostra la construcciĂł de Hudson Yards a Nova York. Com ho podeu fer? Aneu a Google Maps i deixeu caure la persona groga a una carretera (activant aixĂ 'Street View'). HaurĂeu de veure una petita icona de rellotge a la part superior esquerra (aviat ho podreu mirar tambĂ© a travĂ©s del mĂČbil, a la part inferior de la pantalla), que obre una nova finestra emergent on podeu moure el control lliscant a travĂ©s del temps i mostrar com el lloc ha canviat en els Ășltims 15 anys. Un cop ho acabeu, podreu passar moltes hores de diversiĂł explorant. Actualment, aquestes noves eines nomĂ©s estan disponibles a l'ordinador i tambĂ© estan en procĂ©s de llançament als telĂšfons intel·ligents iOS i Android. Els canvis a Barcelona Foto: Google MapsCarrer del Comte Borrell Al nĂșmero 117 del carrer Comte de Borrell, al barri de Sant Antoni, es contraposa una cruĂŻlla plena de cotxes l'any 2008, amb la superilla de Sant Antoni, on es va convertir la vorera en una

You can stay in the prison where they filmed the new season of âStranger Thingsâ
Are you just a little bit into Stranger Things? Well, hereâs a rental thatâll blow your mind. A prison where they filmed some of the showâs upcoming fourth season has been turned into an incredible Stranger Things-themed Airbnb. The century-old LukiĆĄkÄs Prison in Vilnius, Lithuania, serves as an appropriately cold and severe setting for the fourth (apparently darker and creepier) season of the hit Netflix series. But if youâre worried that the Airbnb is as austere as the prison the LukiĆĄkÄs represents in Stranger Things, fear not. The cell youâll be staying in is kitted out with lots of home comforts â including plenty of ST-themed dĂ©cor like 1980s-style furniture and the first seasonâs famed coloured fairy lights. Considering it is, yâknow, a prison cell, the place is pretty damn swanky. And the actual room isnât everything this Airbnb has to offer. The rental also includes a tour of the prison, as well as visits to the exact filming spots used in the show. Here are a few photos of LukiĆĄkÄs Prison and the themed rental. Photograph: Olga Posaskova / Go Vilnius Photograph: Olga Posaskova / Go Vilnius Photograph: Saulius Ziura The prison only ceased functioning as an actual prison in 2019, so it retains quite a severe vibe â to say the least. These days, however, itâs known as LukiĆĄkÄs Prison 2.0 and is an arts and culture venue. If youâre interested in staying in the Airbnb, you can check availability and find out more here. Did you see this crane pod in Amsterdam, whi

Could Berlin really go car-free?
Earlier this year, Berlin pitched one of Europeâs boldest visions for a car-free future. Fifty thousand Berliners signed a petition by the Berlin Autofrei campaign calling for a law to ban cars from within the cityâs S-Bahn ring. The proposed area covers a whopping 88 square kilometres, which is roughly equivalent to Londonâs zones 1 and 2, and would be the largest car-free urban district in the world. Thanks to its huge popularity, the petition was officially considered by Berlinâs local government. However, it appears to have been stalled by the cityâs Senate, who have criticised the bill for being too radical, and it looks almost certain to be rejected. So is the dream officially over for the cityâs anti-car campaigners? Well, it might not actually be the end of the story. When a bill like this one is rejected, its organisers have the option to take the issue to a public referendum and potentially override the decision of the local government. For the referendum to be triggered, the petition will need to reach 170,000 signatures.  Now, when we say car ban, obviously the proposals donât advocate for no vehicles at all. Public transport would still be allowed into the zone, as well as people who depend on a car for their trade or because they have impaired mobility. Emergency services would also be exempt and, because sometimes people really do need to drive (to move house, for example), each citizen would be permitted up to 12 rented car journeys a year. Getting rid of car

Podries cobrar 50.000 lliures per mudar-te a una illa escocesa
Et ve de gust canviar el teu dia a dia per un estil de vida molt mĂ©s relaxat? Doncs escolta: no nomĂ©s podries mudar-te a una de les illes mĂ©s boniques i remotes d'EscĂČcia, sinĂł que a mĂ©s et podrien pagar per fer-ho. No, no estĂ s somiant... El govern escocĂšs ofereix 50.000 lliures esterlines (58.855 euros) per traslladar-se a una illa de la seva elecciĂł. Els diners es lliuren en forma de val, amb la idea que la gent utilitzi aquestes 50.000 lliures per a comprar cases, obrir negocis i, en general, donar un impuls a les comunitats insulars. S'espera que els "golden hellos", com se'ls anomena, es concedeixin a 100 persones abans del 2026. I a quines illes es pot viure? BĂ©, en realitat no s'ha especificat, aixĂ que pots suposar que qualsevol illa escocesa poc poblada i una mica remota estĂ disponible. Des de les Hebrides fins a les Orkney, tot el que necessites per aconseguir els diners Ă©s ser jove (idealment amb famĂlia) i justificar adequadament les teves raons per mudar-te a l'illa. Encara que es podria pensar que el pla Ă©s, pel que sembla, una cosa bona en general, hi ha hagut crĂtiques. Alguns han argumentat que el govern escocĂšs hauria de gastar els diners en coses com millorar el transport i la connectivitat de banda ampla, fent aixĂ que les illes remotes siguin mĂ©s atractives per viure-hi. En qualsevol cas, els bons es començaran a repartir a l'estiu. Podeu obtenir mĂ©s informaciĂł aquĂ. NO T'HO PERDIS: Coses per fer a Barcelona al maig Llegeix el nĂșmero de maig de Time Ou

PodrĂas cobrar 50.000 libras por mudarte a una isla escocesa de ensueño
ÂżTe apetece cambiar tu dĂa a dĂa por un estilo de vida mucho mĂĄs relajado? Pues escucha esto: no solamente podrĂas mudarte a una de las islas mĂĄs bonitas y remotas de Escocia, sino que ademĂĄs te podrĂan pagar por hacerlo. No, no estĂĄs soñando... El gobierno escocĂ©s ofrece 50.000 libras esterlinas (58.855 euros) por mudarse a una isla de su elecciĂłn. El dinero se entrega en forma de bono, con la idea de que la gente utilice esas 50.000 libras para comprar casas, abrir negocios y, en general, dar un impulso a las comunidades insulares. Se espera que los "golden hellos", como se les llama, se concedan a 100 personas antes de 2026. ÂżY en quĂ© islas se puede vivir? Bueno, en realidad no se ha especificado, asĂ que puedes suponer que cualquier isla escocesa poco poblada y algo remota estĂĄ disponible. Desde las Hebrides hasta las Orkney, todo lo que necesitas para conseguir el dinero es ser joven (idealmente con familia) y justificar adecuadamente tus razones para mudarte a la isla. Aunque se podrĂa pensar que el plan es, por lo que parece, algo bueno en general, ha habido crĂticas. Algunos han argumentado que el gobierno escocĂ©s deberĂa gastar el dinero en cosas como mejorar el transporte y la conectividad de banda ancha, haciendo asĂ que las islas remotas sean mĂĄs atractivas para vivir. En cualquier caso, los bonos empezarĂĄn a repartirse en verano. Puede obtener mĂĄs informaciĂłn aquĂ. NO TE LO PIERDAS: Cosas para hacer en Barcelona en mayo Lee el nĂșmero de mayo de Time Out Barcelon

Pay ÂŁ3 extra and Eurostar will plant a new tree when you book
While being much better for the planet than planes and cars, train travel still isnât exactly good for the environment. Trains powered by diesel still, obviously, emit harmful gases into the atmosphere, while even fully electric trains often get their energy supply from power stations fuelled by fossil fuels. In short, unless a train is totally powered by renewable energy, it has a negative impact on the environment. Which is why itâs still so important that train companies try and get a bit greener. And the latest to have a go at this is Eurostar, which is now offering to plant trees when they book. The scheme is part of a partnership with Trees 4 Travel, a reforestation charity with projects focusing on protecting ecosystems and biodiversity. So hereâs how it works: at checkout, a passenger can pay ÂŁ3 ($3.80) for a tree, which will then be matched by Eurostar. Trees 4 Travel then uses that cash to fund its reforesting projects around the world. Pretty simple, huh? Except that thereâs a catch. The tree-planting scheme is currently only available on Eurostar for Business, which is the platform dedicated solely to companies that want to book Eurostar tickets on behalf of their employees. In other words, this nifty tree-planting feature isnât really available for most Eurostar customers. So hereâs hoping they open it up to the rest of us sometime soon. You can find out more about Eurostarâs partnership with Trees 4 Travel here. Did you see that Eurostar will soon be linked up w

Why this small German town is putting every single cat into lockdown
After the past couple of years, needless to say weâve all had enough of lockdowns. But house cats? Well, they had it easy. While we were all shuttered away, kitties went about their usual day-to-day. The lucky bastards. But soon cats in a small German town are going to get a taste of what itâs like to be locked down. House cats in Walldorf, a picturesque town in the south-western German state of Baden-WĂŒrttemberg, are going to spend much of this summer trapped inside. So why is Walldorf inflicting such misery on the townâs poor kitties? Well, the local authorities want to try and protect some local bird species from extinction. The cat lockdown is part of much wider conservation efforts, especially those concerning the crested lark â one of Germanyâs most critically endangered bird species. The crested lark is so vulnerable because it nests on the ground, which means that its eggs are particularly exposed to predators like house cats. In 2021, only six of the birds were recorded in Walldorf. The townâs other measures to protect the lark include pausing construction work and laying traps for magpies and foxes. And it isnât just this summer that the cats are being locked up. Walldorf residents are expected to keep their feline friends indoors from April to August for the next three years â or face a âŹ500 (ÂŁ425, $534) fine. And if a cat kills a crested lark, that fine could rise to a whopping âŹ50,000 (ÂŁ42,500, $53,400). There are, of course, a few more nuances to the scheme than

Google Maps has launched a cool and fascinating new âtime travelâ feature
To celebrate the 15th birthday of its Street View feature, Google has announced something pretty special. Thatâs right, the company is giving us the ability to travel back in time. Pretty sweet, huh? Before you get ahead of yourselves, no it isnât quite as revelatory as you think. The tool doesnât let you travel back that far: it only goes back to the birth of Street View in 2007. So donât expect to see the birth of civilisation or anything like that. Youâre more likely to see something a bit more minor, like a local supermarket being built or an old car park being demolished. The above example shows the construction of Hudson Yards in New York. So how do you see all this stuff? Well, go onto Google Maps and plonk the little yellow person down on a road (thereby activating Street View). You should see a little clock icon in the top left (or, if youâre on mobile, at the bottom of the screen), which then opens up a new pop-up where you can move the slider through time and show how a place has changed over the past 15 years. Once you get the hang of it, youâll have hours of fun exploring ahead of you. These new tools are currently only available on desktop, and are currently in the process of being rolled out on iOS and Android smartphones, too. Over the past decade and a half Street View has amassed 220 billion images in more than 100 countries. Since 2007 the tool â and the places it maps â have changed a lot, so itâs nice to see so much of the companyâs archives being opened

Germanyâs âŹ9 travel pass: 5 spectacular train journeys you need to know about
Faced with the twin motivations of the climate crisis and the need to drastically reduce reliance on Russian natural gas, earlier this week Germany announced an ambitious new public transport scheme. For three months from June, all transport across the country will cost just âŹ9 (ÂŁ7.70, $9.60) per month. Ridiculous, we know. Which means an uber-low-cost train trip through Germany should be on everyoneâs bucket list this summer. But where should you go? Well, thatâs why weâre here. Now, there are obviously a few T&Cs when it comes to the âŹ9 pass. The key thing is that it doesnât apply to all trains â itâs only valid on Deutsche Bahn routes operated by Regional Bahn (RB), Regional Express (RE), S-bahn and U-bahn. In other words, it doesnât apply to high-speed routes like the Inter City Express (ICE). But fear not, there are still many, many trains included in the pass. So, within those limits, here are five rail journeys you should definitely have on your to-do list over the next few months. Berlin U-1: Friedrichshain to Charlottenburg Not all U-bahns are underground: take Berlinâs majestic U-1, for instance. Ride this gorgeous line between Friedrichshain and Charlottenburg and itâll take you over the River Spree via the iconic two-storey Oberbaum Bridge, then whizz you through Kreuzberg on the overhead line. Needless to say, itâs one of Berlinâs prettiest and most scenic train routes.  Photograph: BeautifulBlossoms / Shutterstock.com  Black Forest Railway Winding its way