Liv Kelly

There isn’t really a bad time to visit New York, but when the streets are at their stuffiest and the sidewalks practically radiate heat, having a glistening pool at your hotel can offer travelers some much-needed respite. That’s why we’ve taken the time to handpick the best ones, from cabana-lined rooftops in Brooklyn to stylish, spa-adjacent plunges hidden away in Manhattan. Dive into our dazzling list, updated fresh for spring 2026. Which area is best to stay in New York? Pools are hidden away all over New York City, from deceptively secluded Manhattan rooftops to spacious Brooklyn hangouts with brilliant skyline views. For all the best local tips on where to stay, have a read of our guides to all NYC’s neighborhoods, compiled by Time Out’s local writers.   New York’s best hotels with swimming pools, at a glance: 🌃 Best view: 1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge 👙 Best rooftop: Gansevoort Meatpacking District 👛 Best budget: Margaritaville Resort Times Square 💎 Most luxurious: The Peninsula New York 🤩 Most iconic: The William Vale 📍 Discover our ultimate guide to the best hotels in New York How we curate our hotel lists Our team of writers and travel experts review hotels all over the world—new openings, old classics and everything in between—to bring you fresh, honest recommendations, all year round. We have reviewed many of the hotels featured below, but we may not have stayed at every single one. Any we haven’t stayed in have been selected by experts based on their amenities,

Much of the northern hemisphere is set to shiver through single-digit temperatures for the forseeable. And while even southern Europe won’t reach properly hot temperatures until springtime 2026 at the earliest, there are still a handful of perfectly warm European destinations to visit in the mean time. From Greek Islands to the coasts of Spain and Portugal, parts of the continent experience wonderfully mild weather, even in the coldest winter months. Tans are not garuanteed, but balmy, sunny t-shirt weather? Most certainly. Here are our top picks in Europe for a healthy dose of glorious winter sun. What is the warmest place in Europe in winter? The undisputed champion of European heat in December and January? Unsurprisingly, Spain’s Canary Islands take the title. This archipelago of eight inhabited islands just off the coast of northwestern Africa is Europe’s winter sun champion, sitting pretty with December and January temperatures that many towns in Northern Europe would be happy with at the height of summer. The Canaries are particularly delightful at this time, and you might even spot some migrating humpback and fin whales. If it’s good enough for the world’s largest mammals, it is good enough for us. Besides, does it get much better than Christmas on the beach in the Canary Islands?  Europe’s best winter sun destinations at a glance ☀️ Best for scorching heat: The Canary Islands 🏛️ Best for a balmy city break: Cadiz, Spain 🏞️ Best for hiking and scenery: Madeira 📍 D

New York: it’s a frantic experience. That’s why, when you’ve only got a handful of days to dine, sight-see, museum hop and shop, that oh-so-precious shut-eye becomes all the more important. But, despite its famous moniker as the “city that never sleeps”, the Big Apple is brimming with stylish, innovative, and world-renowned hotels. So, here’s Time Out’s gleaming collection of our absolute favorite places to stay, all tried and tested by local writers.  New for spring 2026 are reviews of Nine Orchard, Ace Hotel Brooklyn, The Ned NoMad, and our brand-new number one, The Fifth Avenue Hotel. Scroll on. Which area is best to stay in New York? Well, we’ve compiled an entire neighborhood guide to help you find the best fit for your trip, but first-timers should consider Midtown (particularly on and around Fifth Avenue), frequent visitors who want to feel like a local should opt for hotels in Williamsburg, and for particularly stylish boutique stays, you’ll find plenty of those in Tribeca, NoMad, the Lower East Side, and the Meatpacking District.  New York’s very best hotels at a glance: 💎 Most luxurious: The Plaza 👛 Best budget: The FiDi Hotel 🌃 Best view: The Ritz-Carlton New York NoMad 👙 Best pool: Equinox Hotel New York 🍸 Best boutique: Nine Orchard 🪩 Coolest: The William Vale 🤩 Most iconic: The Hotel Chelsea 📍 Discover our ultimate guide to the best hotels in New York How we curate our hotel lists Our team of writers and travel experts review hotels all over the world—

March 2026: It’s spring, which means London’s arts and culture scene is in full swing with plenty of major openings across the capital’s biggest museums. Heading to the National Gallery, the Science Museum, Young V&A or the Tate Modern? There are new shows to check out on such disparate subjects as the studio behind ‘Wallace and Gromit’, legendary artist Tracey Emin, Pantanal – the world’s biggest wetland, Samurai, groundbreaking fashion designer Elsa Schiaparelli and photographer Catherine Opie. Or find out more great things to see this year with our pick of 2026's cultural highlights. Museums are one of the things that London does best. This city boasts grand institutions housing ancient treasures, modern monoliths packed with intriguing exhibits, and tiny rooms containing deeply niche collections – and lots of them are totally free to anyone who wants to come in and take a gander. And with more than 170 London museums to choose from, there's bound to be one to pique your interest, whatever you're in to.  Want to explore the history of TfL? We’ve got a museum for that. Rather learn about advertising? We’ve got a museum for that too. History? Check. Science? Check. 1940s cinema memorabilia, grotesque eighteenth-century surgical instruments, or perhaps a wall of 4,000 mouse skeletons? Check, check and check! Being the cultured metropolitans that we are, Time Out’s editors love nothing more than a wholesome afternoon spent gawping at Churchill’s baby rattle or some ancient Egy

March 2026: It finally seems as if spring is on the way, so we've updated our roasts list to reflect the return of sunnier days. Try the Macbeth in Hoxton, which offers a great Portuguese-style Sunday sesh or the ravishing Jamaican-inspired roast at Buster Mantis in Deptford. There are a couple of posh restaurants in the mix too, with a Nordic roast at the plush Ekstedt at the Yard near Westminster, and a serious meat feast at Quality Chop House in Clerkenwell. Our worthy Number 1 is the simple, spectacular roast at London’s OG organic pub, The Duke of Cambridge in Islington.  London’s best Sunday roasts at a glance: 🥩 Central: Duke of Cambridge, Angel 😇 North: The Angel, Highgate ⛪ South: Old Nun’s Head, Nunhead 🌈 East: The Nelson’s, Hackney 🍻 West: The Mall Tavern, Notting Hill Sunday lunch. There’s nothing quite like it. An elemental meal, one that Londoners take incredibly seriously. Debates about what constitutes the ‘perfect’ Sunday roast have been known to last for hours. There is no shortage of top roasts in London. We’ve rounded up the city’s best Sunday meals from a host of pubs, restaurants and breweries all around town. What makes a good roast? For us, it’s simple; a welcoming room is a good start, maybe in a pub with an open fire. Then it comes to the plate – we need perfect roast potatoes, well-cooked lamb, beef or pork and a decent plant-based option too. A Sunday roast is more than just lunch - it’s self-care. From snug neighbourhood staples to more bij

There’s nowt wrong with a pork scratching or bag of Scampi Fries to accompany your hand-cranked pint of amber ale, but we are ever grateful for the invention of the gastropub. London boozer The Eagle, which opened in Farringdon in 1991, is widely regarded as the first one. Its chalkboard full of dishes with ‘big flavours and rough edges’ brought proper butcher’s sausages with lentils, generously portioned pasta dishes with fennel and lemon and lovingly crafted steak sandwiches to the polished pedestal table. It changed the pub food game in the ’90s and the dining world has never looked back. Outside of London, one of the best ways to enjoy a gastropub is to arrive several hours before your booking and take yourself off on a hike to work up an appetite. That first sip of a pint when your chosen trail guides you right back to the pub’s door tastes even sweeter when your cheeks are ruddy and your glutes are burning. When it comes to the main event, dishes can be hearty classics or surprising takes, like when a ‘pickled onion’ accompaniment comes as a swoosh of gel on your plate. Ingredients must be as local as possible, seasonal, obviously, and there has to be a decent wine list as well as a cracking pint. Oh, and you should absolutely never be at risk of going home hungry.  There’s a separate list for you if you’re looking for London’s best gastropubs. But here are 15 of the best gastropubs across the rest of the UK right now. Tuck in.  Kelly Bishop is a food writer based in M

Whether it’s your first or your one-hundredth time in New York, you could do a lot worse than booking a hotel right in the middle of the concrete jungle. Manhattan’s Midtown neighborhood is perfectly placed for sightseeing and exploring all of the shops, bars and world-class restaurants right at your fingertips. You’ll find everything from luxury landmarks  plus more affordable boutiques, and to keep you up to date with all the very best places to stay, we’ve added brand-new reviews of Andaz 5th Avenue and Sofitel New York. Enjoy. Which area is best to stay in New York? Well, we’re obviously gonna make a strong case for Midtown, which is home to a shedload of any first-time visitors’ bucket list attractions. It’s also well connected to both the Upper West and East, Lower Manhattan, Brooklyn, and pretty much anywhere else you’d want to go. Have a read of all our guides to all NYC’s neighborhoods, to help you decide.  New York’s best Midtown hotels at a glance: 🌃 Best view: The Shelburne Sonesta  👙 Best pool: The Peninsula New York 👛 Best budget: voco Times Square South New York 💎 Most luxurious: Ritz-Carlton Central Park 🤩 Most iconic: The Knickerbocker 📍 Discover our ultimate guide to the best hotels in New York How we curate our hotel lists Our team of writers and travel experts review hotels all over the world—new openings, old classics and everything in between—to bring you fresh, honest recommendations, all year round. We have reviewed many of the hotels featured

If there’s one thing—just one thing—you’re coming to New York City for, it’s got to be the views. There are few spectacles more iconic than the twinkly Manhattan skyline, after all, but housed inside many of those towering skyscrapers are hotels with magnificent views. With brand-new coverage from our local writers on Equinox Hotel, The Shelburne Sonesta and the Park Terrace Hotel, as well as many, many more.  Which area is best to stay in New York? Manhattan’s dense concentration of high-up, high-end hotels means you’re blessed with options for up close and personal views of The Big Apple, but heading over to Brooklyn is also a great option for more sweeping city vistas. Have a read of all our guides to all NYC’s neighborhoods, to help you decide.  New York’s best hotels with a view, at a glance: 🌃 Best view: Ritz-Carlton Central Park 👙 Best pool: Equinox Hotel 👛 Best budget: The Shelburne Sonesta 💎 Most luxurious: Mandarin Oriental 🤩 Most iconic: The Plaza 📍 Discover our ultimate guide to the best hotels in New York How we curate our hotel lists Our team of writers and travel experts review hotels all over the world—new openings, old classics and everything in between—to bring you fresh, honest recommendations, all year round. We have reviewed many of the hotels featured below, but we may not have stayed at every single one. Any we haven’t stayed in have been selected by experts based on their amenities, features, pricing and more. By the way, this article includes

‘When a man (person) is tired of London,’ as Dr Samuel Johnson wrote in 1777, ‘he is (they are) tired of life.’ Well, it’s fair to say that Johnson wasn’t running for the tube before squeezing himself into a sweaty, crowded carriage and then spending the day being bombarded with short videos about apocalyptic geopolitics on TikTok, Instagram, and Twitter? London is the greatest city in the world, but should you find yourself a little tired and in need of some R&R what better way to recover than booking yourself into one of London’s world-class spas? And, better still, getting a massage or, even, a facial with a bespoke sound journey while you’re at it? Spa culture - from high-end luxury to community spaces - is really starting to take off in London. On our list, you’ll find standout spas and treatments, five-star hotels and community spots all offering you the chance to unplug and unwind, regardless of whether you’re on a champagne or lemonade budget. Here - in no particular order - are our absolute favourite places to relax in the capital. Best spas in London at a glance Best for affordable pampering: Ironmonger Row Baths Best for a serious splurge: Ushvani Best for men’s grooming: Thai Square Spa Best for couples’ visits: Aire Ancient Baths Best pool: Surrenne at The Berkeley Best facial: Salon C Stellar RECOMMENDED:The best saunas in LondonThe best facials in LondonThe best hotels in London

Dreaming of sand between your toes, wind blowing in your hair and sun beating down on your skin? You might just be due a trip to the beach. Here in the UK, we can’t quite guarantee the sunshine, but we can guarantee some seriously stunning beaches which will rival those of Mediterranean (and might even be contenders for the best beaches in the world).  We have white sand beaches, we have pebbles, we have towering chalk cliffs and rock pools galore. We pretty much have a beach for every occassion. Not sure where to go? We’ve rounded up the best beaches in the UK right here, from Scotland to Cornwall, all chosen by Time Out travel writers who have been to visit them IRL. You’ll also find our expert reccs for where to stay, so you can make the most of your beachy getaway. Enjoy.  Where are the UK’s most beautiful beaches? Pretty beaches are dotted all over the UK, but you’ll find some absolute beauties in Scotland, Cornwall and Wales, where the water is often clear, beaches are surrounded by tall cliffs and greenery and you might even find sand between your toes. On our list of the UK’s best beaches, we’ve included the prettiest and most serene stretches of coast out there, but we’ve also included those better for vibes, families and big old picnics. They might not be lookers, but they’re perfect for a seaside day out.  RECOMMENDED:🏖️ The most amazing hidden beaches in the UK🌊 The best outdoor swimmming pools in the UK🏊 The best wild swimming spots in the UK🌤️ The best place

We’ve made it through the most depressing month of the year, the endless wait for that post-Christmas payday is finally over, and festival season 2026 is on our minds. By the time summer rolls around, Londoners will be absolutley spoilt for choice. With something taking place almost every weekend throughout the warmer months, you can forget trekking across the country to live in a field for five days; simply hop on the tube and before you know it you’re listening to your favourite artists, tinny to hand, knowing that there’s a hot shower and a cosy bed waiting for you once the day is over.  The future of events in Brockwell Park was thrown up in the air in 2025, but you’ll be glad to know that most of the south London park’s usual lineup of events will return in 2026, with Cross The Tracks, Field Day and Mighty Hoopla all in the diary for late May. And the line-up announcements for next year’s events are already coming in thick fast, with huge acts like Tyler, The Creator, Lewis Capaldi, Lorde, Lily Allen, Blood Orange and Deftones all set to take to London stages come the summer. Have a scroll through our comprehensive guide – which we keep meticulously updated with all the latest line-up announcements – and see what takes your fancy. RECOMMENDED: ⛺ The best UK music festivals🌍 The best festivals in Europe

Whether you’re a frequent traveler or somebody visiting New York for the first time, you deserve a place to stay which embodies everything that makes the Big Apple so effortlessly, timelessly cool. After all, a hotel is far from just a place to rest your weary, tired head: when you think about it, they’re basically your gateway into the city.  So, from towering concrete masses to boutique Brooklyn outposts, new additions for Time Out’s 2026 roundup include Nine Orchard, The William Vale, The Standard, High Line, and The Hoxton, Williamsburg. Scroll on for an expertly-curated list of the coolest hotels on the block when it comes to where to stay in NYC. Which area is best to stay in New York? If you’re after a neighborhood which is as cool as your hotel, below you’ll find stays in Tribeca, NoMad, the Lower East Side, the Meatpacking District, and Brooklyn. In fact, we have guides to all of NYC’s neighborhoods, so you can find a spot which is the best fit for you.  New York’s coolest hotels at a glance: 💎 Most luxurious: Crosby Street Hotel 👛 Best budget: Moxy NYC Downtown 🌃 Best view: The Standard, High Line 👙 Best pool: 1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge 🤩 Most iconic: The William Vale 📍 Discover our ultimate guide to the best hotels in New York How we curate our hotel lists Our team of writers and travel experts review hotels all over the world—new openings, old classics and everything in between—to bring you fresh, honest recommendations, all year round. We have reviewed many

If you’re after a refined and polished bar perfect for quiet conversation, Homeboy is not the place. What it is good for, however, is expertly-executed cocktails served in what feels more like a raucous Irish pub. Enter and you’ll be enveloped into a snug, pleasingly low-lit space and affably greeted like a regular, even if you’ve never been here before. It’s a welcome tonic to the monosyllabic, named-after-a-generic-white-bloke bars which have proliferated London of late: there’s ample room on plump Chesterfield banquettes and lots of dark wood. On Thursdays and Sundays your evening will be soundtracked not by vinyl, but by a live Irish band.  There are TVs which, when we visited, were blaring the Six Nations, and once the music actually gets going, this place gets properly noisy. However, the seamlessness of the table service and the lively atmosphere proves that this place is a well-oiled hospitality machine – as do the drinks. Homeboy Bar’s menu features a signature collection of cocktails which have been steadfast inclusions since it opened, but there’s also a list of drinks inspired by Irish idols. The Punk Poet is one of these: it blends Wild Turkey 101 Bourbon with orange zest-infused oil, dark chocolate liqueur and demerara sugar, and it’s moreish, sour and sharp. The emphasis is very much on mixing a bit of Irishness into classic cocktail recipes, and dirty martini drinkers will also enjoy an Irish Sea.  Oh, and arrive hungry. This place doesn’t just knock it out of

Head along to University of East London’s Docklands campus after dark and you'll find this spectacular free festival brightening up the skies. This year, the theme is the four elements, which means there'll be tons to see inspired by the wonders of wind, earth, fire and water. Its eclectic line-up includes glowing hula hooping, fire acrobatics, a giant roaming octopus and dragon, and illuminated performers walking high above the crowds. There'll also be refreshments from local street food stalls throughout the evening. Book your free place to be part of the fun. 

Pass under the quintessential New York black awning, rotate through the revolving door and Sofitel New York greets you with a lengthy, imposing, Art Deco-esque lair of a lobby. It’s a lowly illuminated but pleasingly warm welcome from New York’s crispy late-fall streets, and while confusingly you’ll need to walk all the way towards the glitzy statement staircase at the far end to reach the actual reception, there are plenty of staff floating around to assist you.  This hotel is Sofitel’s new North American flagship property, which, after a substantial facelift, is a Midtown base that brims with potential. Despite a slightly bizarre entrance and shortcomings in the food offering, the hotel’s impressive location, immaculately designed beds and assured luxury service are where it gleams. Here’s what we thought of Sofitel New York.  Why stay at Sofitel New York? You probably haven’t traveled all the way to New York for a glimpse at the French way of life, but Sofitel is keen to deliver at least a flavor of it anyway. With the brand’s renewed emphasis on eating, drinking and sleeping well (which they refer to as the ‘French zest’), Sofitel New York has emerged from its site-wide renovation, striving and mostly succeeding to deliver on all those with polish.  The number one reason you should stay at this hotel is because of its prime—and we mean prime—location. Beyond having the Rockefeller Center, Empire State Building, Bryant Park, Central Park, Broadway and Times Square all with

Lisbon strikes an unmatched balance of spontaneous small town energy while ticking all the criteria a great city should – stellar restaurants and bars, cool museums, top-tier places to go shopping and plethora of unique and interesting neighbourhoods to explore. It’s that balance which is also somehow executed by ME Lisbon, a large luxury stay in Marquês do Pombal which, despite its glassy exterior, intimidatingly polished lobby and sheer size, is an unabashedly friendly and thoughtfully designed hotel that I would definitely return to.  Why stay at ME Lisbon? While this hotel is big, corporate, and ultra luxurious, the warmth of the service, the excellent restaurant and the tasteful design mean it still feels quintessentially Lisbon. Sure, it’s a far cry from the whimsical little boutique hotels you’ll find in Alfama or the city centre, but ME Lisbon, armed not only with a friendly team, good food and a marvellous scent (literally everything smells good – even the air in the lifts) but also a downright beautiful spa and rooftop pool mean you can properly kick back here.  What are the rooms like at ME Lisbon? There are 213 rooms at ME Lisbon, with a whopping 12 different types to choose from – we stayed in an expansive Beyond ME+ Suite Street View which overlooked Avenue António Augusto de Aguiar and bragged a walk-in dressing area with shedloads of storage, a bar and mini fridge, living space and Smart TV, plus a bedroom area and a vast and luxurious en suite.  The entire sp

It’s been four years since Mozart’s revered comedy was performed on a London stage, but the English National Opera’s upcoming production of Così fan tutte has had some whimsy injected thanks to a collaboration with Improbable, an improv-based theatre company. The opera follows the outcome the cynical placing of a bet by two soldiers, Ferrando and Guglielmo, that if tested their fiancées, Fiordiligi and Dorabella, would have affairs, and soprano Lucy Crowe OBE and mezzo-soprano Taylor Raven are starring as the two sisters.  With Olivier Award-winner Phelim McDermott at the helm and Critics’ Circle Young Talent Award winner Dinis Sousa conducting, this co-production (in partnership with New York’s Metropolitan Opera), written originally at the height of Mozart’s career in the 1790s, has now been transformed by set (by Tom Pye) and costume design (by Laura Hopkins) to unfurl on 1950s Coney Island.

Montreal is a cool city – and I don’t just mean literally. From its dazzling fine art museum whose architectural engineering is just as outstanding as its collections, to its hearty, diverse food, stylish bars, top-tier shopping and an actual underground network of streets (yes, really), it’s somewhere I recommend you move to the top of your bucket list for 2026. And when you do pay a visit, the Sofitel Montreal Golden Mile is ready and waiting to greet you. Just like the city, this hotel has an effortless, stylish je ne sais quoi about it, largely thanks to the conclusion of a recent site-wide refurbishment. The result? A comfortable and exceptionally well-run hotel, perched on one of the coolest streets in the world. Why stay at Sofitel Montreal Golden Mile? The Sofitel Montreal Golden Mile is, simply, an expertly run hotel. The service is attentive but not overbearing, the rooms and suites are spacious with considerate details, and you’re in a handy Downtown location, just minutes from the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts and Mount Royal.  On top of all that, the hotel has impressive environmental credentials – it was awarded 5 Green Keys in early 2025, the highest possible certification from eco-label programme Green Key Global, plus a local Montreal sustainability award – thanks to details such as its policy on using no paper or plastic bottles. It’s also platinum certified by SHe Travel Club, a certification platform for women travellers. What are the rooms like at Sofitel

Through the MacSmiths Repair Shop on Hackney Road is where you’ll find this cave-like, perfect-for-the-winter cocktail bar. We arrived drenched from the rain into the pleasantly toasty, warmly but lowly-lit space which sits at the bottom of a small staircase, and the vibe feels most like the den of a whacky old professor – think kooky portraits, cluttered old computer monitors and even something called a poem-o-graph. This is the place to come if you’re trying to ‘get into’ whisky. As of 2025, the bar is run by the same team behind the nearby Absinthe Parlour at The Last Tuesday Society, and not only does it have 24 different kinds on an evolving roster (when a bottle runs out, a new whisky replaces it), but they also have Whisky Wednesdays for tastings and specially curated cocktail menu. It’s no surprise they refer to themselves as a ‘whisky bunker’. For a crash course on whisky without committing to a full drink, there were three flight options on the menu: the ‘world wonderer’, the ‘smoke stack’ and the brilliant dessert trolley, which included notes of tropical vanilla, honeycomb and banana bread – it’s definitely one for those of us with a sweet tooth. Service is suitably laid-back, and if you’re overwhelmed by the lengthy list of options, you won’t feel too intimidated to seek out some recommendations from the bar staff about the drinks or well-paired snacks. Order this If, like me, you’re a fan of cocktails that’ll make your face scrunch up, order the Pickleback Sour.

St Martin's Voices and St Martin's Brass will this year be bringing us some stunningly festive performances of glorious music, carol singing and festive readings. Conducted by Andrew Earis, expect to hear beloved classic songs such as ‘The Holly and the Ivy’ and ‘O Holy Night’ plus the audience carols of ‘Hark! The Herald Angels Sing’ and ‘In the Bleak Midwinter’. Set against the beautiful backdrop of St Martin-in-the-Fields Church, these concerts promise to be a magical start to Christmas. 

What’s the vibe?  This space is one of Brighton’s most refined restaurants. It sits on Upper Market Street unbeknownst to the majority of passers-by, which gives it an exclusive, elevated vibe. The restaurant is tastefully and simply furnished with lots of pale wood and natural light giving it a beachhouse feel, and that is reflected in the menu.  What should I order?  The menu here changes regularly, but there’ll be a three-course set lunch menu for £35 per person or a decadent six-course option at dinner time which costs £85 per person. Each will include simple but super elegant seafood dishes, and the restaurant’s signature dish, the egg and soldiers, will (hopefully) be available at dinner time.

What’s the vibe?  In a nutshell, the vibe here is casual, speedy and really, really tasty. It’s unlikely you’ll wait long for your food to arrive, nor will you be at the table for much more than an hour, but we guarantee every second will be worth it. Why? Well, Bincho’s isn’t just a favourite of Brighton’s locals, but also of its chefs. What should I order? The chef here describes himself as an Izayaka fanatic, and after spending three years in Japan finessing the cooking techniques, you can bet that this is the most authentic take on southeast Asian cuisine that Brighton has to offer. There aren’t any duds on this menu – the only mistake would be not arriving ravenous.  

You might expect a Grade I National Trust property to be a bit of a stuffy and impersonal place to stay for a weekend, but Bodysgallen Hall, a lovingly restored manor house on Pydew Mountain in north Wales, is quite the opposite.  The hotel provided us tired, post-hike guests with a stay so comforting that, despite its looming size, felt more like we were at the home of an impossibly wealthy relative than a high-end hotel. Swathed by crackling fires, good, tasty food and amiable staff, this place is primed for a properly restful weekend.  Why stay at Bodysgallen Hall?  If you don’t just want a break from your day-to-day life but some proper respite from the 21st century, this is the place to stay. Bodysgallen Hall’s Main House feels a bit imposing as you approach it, but there’s something undeniably old-timey and welcoming about the place once you’ve stepped inside.  It brags all the traditional quirks that a proper country estate should, with comically low ground-floor ceilings, dark wood-panelled walls, heartily-stoked fires and marshmallow-like armchairs throughout the reception area and jumbled hallways, and much of it was built around 600 years ago. Though modern elements (speedy wifi and high-pressure showers) have seeped through, a weekend here still feels like you’ve dipped back into a different era.  What are the rooms like at Bodysgallen Hall? The Main House bedrooms could well remind you of a grandparent’s house, and I mean that as a compliment. The furnishings are

What’s the vibe?  Picture crisp white tablecloths, immaculately manicured waiters and an elevated, classy atmosphere, and you’ve pretty much got the opposite of Halisco. This is not the place for a formal evening dinner, but it most definitely is the place to take someone you’re trying to impress. Lip-smacking cocktails, inexplicably tasty Mexican-inspired small plates and an efficient, friendly, knowledgeable team of locals are what make this place so damn brilliant – and I bet my margarita that you’ll be telling your friends about it.  What are the prices like? The menu here follows a small-plates format – you’ll have snacks sitting around or just below £4, small plates, which range roughly from £8-£12, and of course the tacos, which tend to start at £9.50 for two. Lucky enough to swing by in the summer months? There could well be a salad and ceviche section, which last year started at £6. Mix it up, and don’t expect things to arrive in order.  What should I order? Halisco’s menu changes seasonally, but be sure to start your dinner with corn chips and guac, order the tenderstem broccoli (if it’s available) in whatever form it comes, and – even if you’re a meat eater – the oyster mushroom birria tacos. To wash it down, my go-tos are either a hibiscus margarita or a modelo chelada.  What’s worth visiting nearby? The newly opened Bar Halisco! Perched just over the road is Halisco’s brand-new sister venue, which opened just in time for National Margarita Day 2025. It’s got all

Oriente Medio es una región vasta, con una enorme variedad de destinos turísticos, desde la antigua ciudad de Petra en Jordania hasta los lujosos hoteles de Dubái. Sin embargo, varios destinos de toda la región quedaron paralizados durante el fin de semana pasado después de que el antiguo líder supremo de Irán, el ayatolá Alí Jamenei, fuera asesinado el 28 de febrero en un ataque aéreo conjunto de Israel y los EE. UU. Desde entonces, el país ha lanzado ataques de represalia contra Israel, los Emiratos Árabes Unidos y otros destinos en todo Oriente Medio. Durante el fin de semana informaron de daños en todo tipo de infraestructuras, desde aeropuertos hasta hoteles de lujo, y grandes franjas del espacio aéreo han sido cerradas hasta nuevo aviso. Aquí tienes todo lo que hay que saber si tienes un viaje reservado a Dubái, Abu Dabi o a la región de Oriente Medio en general en estos momentos, incluyendo los últimos consejos oficiales del gobierno. ¿Es seguro viajar a Oriente Medio ahora mismo? No se considera seguro viajar a la mayoría de países de Oriente Medio. Tras un ataque coordinado de los Estados Unidos e Israel, Irán ha respondido con represalias y, como consecuencia del intercambio de misiles entre los dos países, se han producido daños en aeropuertos, hoteles de lujo y residencias en todos los Emiratos Árabes Unidos, según informa The Times. En la capital libanesa, Beirut, la BBC informa que 31 personas han muerto y 149 han resultado heridas por un ataque israelí, y vario

L'Orient Mitjà és una regió vasta, amb una enorme varietat de destinacions turístiques, des de l'antiga ciutat de Petra a Jordània fins als luxosos hotels de Dubai. Tanmateix, diverses destinacions de tota la regió van quedar paralitzades durant el cap de setmana passat després que l'antic líder suprem de l'Iran, l'aiatol·là Ali Khamenei, fos assassinat el 28 de febrer en un atac aeri conjunt de l'Israel i els EUA. Des de llavors, el país ha llançat atacs de represàlia contra l'Israel, els Emirats Àrabs Units i altres destinacions arreu de l'Orient Mitjà. S'han informat danys en tota mena d'infraestructures, des d'aeroports fins a hotels de luxe, i grans franges de l'espai aeri han estat tancades fins a nou avís. Aquí tens tot el que cal saber si tens un viatge reservat a Dubai, Abu Dhabi o a la regió de l'Orient Mitjà en general en aquests moments, incloent-hi els últims consells oficials del govern. És segur viatjar a l'Orient Mitjà ara mateix? No es considera segur viatjar a la majoria de països de l'Orient Mitjà. Després d'un atac coordinat dels Estats Units i l'Israel, l'Iran ha respost amb represàlies i, a conseqüència de l'intercanvi de míssils entre els dos països, s'han produït danys en aeroports, hotels de luxe i residències arreu dels Emirats Àrabs Units, segons informa The Times. A la capital libanesa, Beirut, la BBC informa que 31 persones han mort i 149 han resultat ferides per un atac israelià, i diversos avions dels EUA s'han estavellat a Kuwait dilluns al mat

Our dating lives have always been a hot topic of conversation, but major societal shifts in how we meet people, what our intentions are and how often we have sex feel more prevalent than ever before.  Over the last couple of years, talk of a ‘sex recession’ and data revealing that Gen Z are having less sex than their predecessors has emerged, but what does our knowledge of sex in different cities all over the world reveal about our habits? Ahead of Valentine’s Day, Time Out has looked into the results of our latest survey, which asked 18,500 urbanites living in the world’s major cities how often they had sex. The list below is ranked by the proportion of locals who responded ‘at least once a week’, so let’s take a look.  Recommended: The best (and worst) cities for dating and finding love, according to locals.  Topping the ranking in joint first place (where 67 percent of respondents said they were gettin’ it on at least once a week) was Macau on the south coast of China and Krakow, Poland’s second city.  Following closely behind in second place are Guadalajara, Sao Paulo and Luxembourg, where 66 percent of people we spoke to are getting intimate on the weekly, and Porto came in third, with 64 percent.  Overall, Brazil was unveiled to be the sexiest country, with three different cities claiming a top 20 spot, and Mexico wasn’t too far behind, with two hubs making our ranking. Did your city make the ranks? Scroll on to find out.  These are the 20 cities having the most sex Ma

Europe has long been the most visited continent on the planet, but there are still countries in this lovely part of the world that remain relatively slept on by international travellers.  Where, you ask? Well, Riviera Travel is here to tell us. The cruise operator has looked into data from Eurostats on Europe’s least visited countries, using statistics on the number of nights spent at tourist accommodation in each country.  Recommended: The most underrated destinations in Europe to visit in 2026, according to Time Out.  Topping that list is Liechtenstein, which apparently only had 228,579 nights spent in tourist accommodation in 2024 (the latest data used in this study). Given its location between Austria and Switzerland, it’s hardly surprising this teeny little country delivers on magnificent scenery – the capital, Vaduz, is home to a famous castle which offers visitors sweeping views of the Rhine Valley – but Liechtenstein is often visited as a day trip from one of its neighbouring nations, which explains such low visitor numbers.  Rounding out the top three are North Macedonia, which saw just over 2 million nights spent there in 2024, and in third was Luxembourg, which welcomed around 3.6 million. Latvia and Montenegro follow behind in fourth and fifth place. Have a read of the full top 10 below.  These are the 10 European countries with the fewest tourists Liechtenstein North Macedonia Luxembourg Latvia Montenegro Estonia Albania Lithuania Malta Serbia While we’re on th

Sampling the local cuisine is as crucial to visiting a new country as seeing all the top landmarks, but Europe’s dining scenes vary enormously when it comes to the budget you’ll need to cover a meal for two.  Ferry GoGo, a ferry comparison site, has conducted some research and compiled a list of European countries, ranging from bougiest to cheapest, based on the average price of a three-course dinner for two (excluding drinks) at what it describes as a ‘mid-range’ restaurant.  So, where will your budget go the furthest? Well, that’d be in Kosovo, where a meal of starters, main courses and desserts will only cost you around €20 (a little over £17). It’s followed by North Macedonia (€24.38) and Moldova (€30.32), so clearly the region is the place to be for budget-friendly dining.  Recommended: The cheapest city breaks in Europe for 2026, ranked But, what kind of thing will you find on the menu? Well, Kosovo’s national dish is flija, a pie made of layers of crepes which are sandwiched between a creamy mixture of yoghurt, butter and cheese which is compressed and cooked under a metal lid. Stuffed peppers, pickled vegetables and, of course, baklava are all also menu staples, so there’ll be plenty of hearty plates to tuck into. Oh, and make sure you try one of the country’s famous macchiatos. At the other end of the spectrum, where dinner out will instead cost you a pretty penny, is (drum roll, please) Switzerland! And no, we’re not shocked either. An average three-course meal for

If you’re an environmentally-minded traveller (as we all should be) knowing as much as possible about how hard our destination of choice is working to do its part in saving the planet can only be a good thing.  Across 180 different countries, the Nature Conservation Index evaluates how each one is protecting its environment, using factors such as the number of plants and animals at risk and the size of protected areas to the quality of conservation laws.  Using those, it has compiled a list of the best (and the worst) countries in terms of their commitment to nature conservation, and the results are pretty intriguing.  Claiming the top spot as the best country in the world for nature conservation, it’s Luxembourg. The teeny-tiny European country scored 70.8 out of 100 overall, with thanks in particular to what the report describes as ‘a robust network of protected areas’ which ‘serve as sanctuaries for a wide range of plant and animal species’.  The grass isn’t so green in Kiribati, though. The Pacific island nation has a bounty of rich biodiversity and has taken steps this year to safeguard its natural environment and marine life, but much of its coasts are at risk of erosion and unmanaged waste has led to significant water pollution. Then there’s funding for all the measures needed – that’s something Luxembourg probably doesn’t struggle with.  The best countries for nature conservation Luxembourg Estonia Denmark Finland UK Zimbabwe Australia Switzerland Romania Costa Rica

Scenery and atmosphere are important when it comes to a great beach, but when you get down to the nitty gritty, there are actually so many factors to consider to maximise your trip to the seaside.  The Telegraph recently published its analysis of the world’s best beaches, which included recommendations for atmosphere, sunsets, and families. And now travel insurance platform Quotezone.co.uk has set out to find the best beaches in Europe.  It evaluated factors such as average sea temperatures in June, peak summer temperatures, the number of five-star reviews, the daily cost of staying nearby and the typical wave height, and the results are in! Claiming the top spot is Nissi Beach, a stunning stretch of white sand and pristine waters in Ayia Napa, Cyprus. Known as a spot with plenty of nearby bars and beach parties, Nissi is also great for sunbathers, as the average temperature is 30.5C, and the sea temperature a toasty 24.4C. Nissi Beach also has 4,334 five-star reviews – clearly it does the job! In second place it’s Mellieha Bay Beach in Malta, where temperatures average a slightly more comfortable 29.2C and waves are lower at 0.13m, compared to Nissi’s 0.25. In third place was Portoroz Beach in Slovenia, which only has 148 five-star reviews but is the cheapest destination on the list, with a one-night stay costing around €93.  These are the 10 best beaches in Europe, according to Quotezone Nissi Beach, Ayia Napa, Cyprus Mellieha Bay Beach, Malta Portoroz Beach, Slovenia Elaf

Both Türkiye and Cyprus are popular holiday destinations thanks to their gloriously warm Mediterranean climates, but their proximity to the ongoing conflict between the US, Israel and Iran means it’s become a worrying time to travel to the region.  Türkiye remains mostly unaffected so far, but it shares its eastern border with Iran, and after an attack on an RAF base in Cyprus on Sunday night, we’ve compiled a guide to everything you need to know about how the conflict is affecting travel to the two destinations, and if you’ll be able to rearrange your trip.  Recommended: Is it safe to travel to Dubai and Abu Dhabi? Latest advice after airports across the Middle East close.  Is it safe to travel to Türkiye and Cyprus right now? At the time of writing, the UK has not issued any new guidance against travelling to Türkiye, which excludes the longstanding advice to avoid all travel within 10km of the Syrian border. However, the BBC has reported that NATO shut down a missile headed towards Turkish airspace on Wednesday morning. The country also shares its eastern border with Iran. The situation could worsen across the region, and so it is important to exercise caution.  As for Cyprus, RAF Akrotiri was hit by a missile on Sunday evening, which meant the airport was evacuated and all British schools on the island were closed, according to The Sun.  Have flights been cancelled?  According to FlightRadar, flights to major Turkish airports (Istanbul, Antalya and Ankara) are mostly oper

On April 16, all the winners of the Sony World Photography Awards 2026 will be announced at a glitzy ceremony in London, but there’s no harm in taking a sneak peek at those in contention for a prize, is there?  After the shortlist of images from the Student and Youth categories were unveiled in January, the awards body has now released all the entries from the professional competition competing for the grand prizes – including the coveted title of Photographer of the Year – and we’ve combed through to find our favourite travel snaps. Scroll on to have a look.  Photograph: Andreas Secci / Sony World Photography Awards 2026 Photograph: Hugo Hebbe / Sony World Photography Awards 2026 Photograph: Borja Arbagues / Sony World Photography Awards 2026 Photographer: Eduardo Valenzuela / Sony World Photography Awards 2026 Photograph: Dong Wei / Sony World Photography Awards 2026 Photograph: Fei Xin / Sony World Photography Awards 2026 Photograph: Liam Man / Sony World Photography Awards 2026 Photograph: Marcus Westberg / Sony World Photography Awards 2026 Photograph: Michael Blann / Sony World Photography Awards 2026 Photograph: Sunita Mandal / Sony World Photography Awards 2026 Oh, and if you’re keen to get a closer look at the winners, they’ll all be on display at the exhibition in London’s Somerset House, from April 17 to May 4 2026.  ICYMI: Why is Rome chopping down its iconic pine trees? Plus: Berlin just opened a museum dedicated to Ukraine in a former bunker.

There’s a lot going on in Paris’s art scene right now, from the massive refurbishments taking place at the Louvre to the striking installation ‘La Caverne’, which is set to take over the city’s oldest bridge in June (and our top pick for the best new thing to do in the world this year).  And soon, there’ll be a brand-new gallery in the mix, as a long-awaited space dedicated to Swiss sculptor Alberto Giacometti will be gracing the French capital. According to Artsy, the Fondation Alberto et Annette Giacometti has announced that Musée & École Giacometti, which will be housed inside the former Gare des Invalides train station in Paris’s 7th arrondissement, should finally open its doors in the latter half of 2028.  Revamping the station is part of wider urban renewal project Réinventer Paris, where lots of neglected heritage sites are set to be transformed. This project was won by two property developers, Emerige Group and Nexity, and the grand building itself was originally constructed for the 1900 World’s Fair. Right now, the foundation’s home is Institut Giacometti, a tiny 350-square metre space in the 14th arrondissement, but the new museum, perched on the Seine and next to Pont Alexandre III, will boast 6,000 square metres in total.  Half of that will be dedicated to exhibition space – which includes permanent displays of Giacometti’s work, as well as temporary showcases of contemporary art and a recreated version of his atelier – and the other half will be home to a cafe,

There are loads of things to consider when choosing where to raise a family. Obviously, you’ll want to live somewhere safe; then there are practical factors, such as parental leave allowance and affordability. And as nice as it is to grow up in the countryside, living in a city ensures there’s plenty to do to enable a fun upbringing. But which cities offer the very best of everything for young families? Handily, Compare the Market AU has produced a brand-new report answering that exact question. Nine different factors were assessed and weighted to award 50 cities with an overall index score. These included a safety score; the World Happiness score; the number of things to do with kids; the monthly cost of living; national family benefits spending; national statutory parental leave; national child vaccination rates; national education spending; and green spaces per capita. Pretty comprehensive, right?  According to the company’s research, the world’s best place to raise a family is Brisbane. Scoring 6.457 on the index overall, the capital of Queensland in Australia topped the rankings, faring particularly well for safety, national child vaccination rates, and the number of green spaces per capita – which is apparently an impressive 84.89.  Recommended: The 17 best things to do in Brisbane with kids, according to Time Out.  Aussie cities did pretty well generally, though, with Sydney, Perth, and Melbourne claiming spots five, six, and seven, and two New Zealand cities, Auckland

The Middle East is a vast region, full of a huge variety of travel destinations from the ancient city of Petra in Jordan to the glitzy hotels of Dubai. However, several destinations across the region have been at a standstill over the weekend after Iran’s former supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was assassinated in a joint air strike from Israel and the US on February 28. The country has since launched retaliatory attacks on Israel, the UAE and other destinations across the Middle East. Damage to everything from airports to luxury hotels has been reported over the weekend, and vast swathes of airspace have been closed until further notice.  Here is everything you need to know if you have a trip booked to Dubai, Abu Dhabi or the wider Middle East region right now, including the latest government advice.  Is it safe to travel to the Middle East right now? It’s not considered safe to travel to most countries in the Middle East. Over the weekend, following a coordinated strike by the US and Israel, Iran retaliated, and as a result of the missile exchange between the two countries, there has been damage to airports, luxury hotels and residences across the UAE, according to The Times.  In the Lebanese capital of Beirut, the BBC reports that 31 people have been killed and 149 injured by an Israeli attack, and US planes have crashed in Kuwait on Monday morning.  Have flights been cancelled?  Yes – at the time of writing, all flights to and from Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Doha, Bahrain and