Liv Kelly

More women than ever before are heading off on solo jaunts to far-flung destinations – in fact, a recent survey found that more than half of Gen Z women would consider travelling abroad by themselves. Why? Well, solo travel is a brilliant way to seek out memorable experiences, different cultures and new friends, all on your own schedule.  But, where should they be going? That’s where we come in. Below is a round-up of 12 top-tier solo travel destinations which are safe and easy places to navigate if you’re a woman going it alone. Expect recommendations of friendly cities, well-trodden backpacker routes and plenty of chances to meet some new faces along the way (or prioritise some quality alone time – it’s up to you). So, without further ado, these are the best places across the planet for women travelling solo, plus some advice on how to stay safe. RECOMMENDED:🏝️The best places in the world to travel alone🗺️ The best places in Europe for women to travel alone🏘️ The most beautiful small towns in the world🏙️ The best cities in the world India-Jayne Trainor is a British-Australian travel writer based in London. At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines and check out our latest travel guides written by local experts. This guide includes affiliate links, which have no influence on our editorial content. For more information, see our affiliate guidelines. 

Want a drink? You've come to the right place. This is Time Out’s list of best bars in London, our curated guide to London’s drinking scene, featuring the buzziest booze dens in the capital right now. If it’s on this list, it’s excellent. These are the 50 places we'd recommend to a friend, because we love drinking in them and have done many times over. From classy cocktail joints to delightful dives, hotel bars, speakeasys, bottle shops, rooftops and wine bars, London's got them all. But what makes a truly good bar? Well, our critieria for inclusion on this list is simple; a menu of genius drinks is important, but so is overall vibe – there’s no point having the perfect paloma if you have to drink it in a bar that smells of bins. To make the Top 50, a bar has to be fun, inclusive, and full of lovely folk as well as looking the part.  April 2025: A rash of great new bars have opened in London over the past year or so and many of them have made the immediate jump to our hallowed Top 50. The latest additions to our list include rowdy sports bar meets 80s horror movie set Bloodsports in Covent Garden, whisky wonderland Dram Bar on Denmark Street, the hypnotic Bar Lotus in Dalston, Below Stone Nest in Chinatown, Rasputin’s by London Fields, and Bar Lina, an Italian aperitivo spot underneath a famous Soho deli. Now go forth and drink. RECOMMENDED: Like bars? Then you'll love London's best pubs.  Leonie Cooper is Time Out London’s Food and Drink Editor, and she'll have a gibson marti

Trawling London for excellent seafood restaurants is a joy – it turns out that there are plenty of fish in the sea when it comes to where eat a fine coastal supper in the capital. To help you make your choice we've done the decent thing and spread the net wide across the city to bring you the very best in bivales, crustaceans, molluscs and more. From fish and chips and Michelin-starred must-visits to sushi – with this list, London is your oyster. Go fish. RECOMMENDED: The best bargain oysters in London. Leonie Cooper is Time Out London’s Food and Drink Editor. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines.

The future of some of London’s day festivals may have been thrown up in the air earlier this summer, but Londoners are still exceptionally lucky to have an abundance of day-long musical extravanganzas to choose from, with something taking place almost every weekend throughout the warmer months. Forget trekking across the country to live in a field for five days. When you live in London, you can hop on the tube, and an hour later 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. We Londoners love live music, so it’s no surprise that we’re absolutely spoilt for choice when summer rolls around. You’ve got festivals devoted to hip-hop, jazz, leftfield pop, disco, afrobeats, heavy rock ‘n’ roll. Whatever your taste may be, my god does London have a day festival for you. We are right in the thick of festival season right now. You’ve probably already secured the tickets and started planning your outfit, but if you’re doing things a little last minute this summer, there is still time to plan your day festis. 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

Things are getting more and more expensive here in Europe, and many of our reliably ‘cheap’ cities aren’t so cheap anymore. The hotspots in Greece, Spain, Italy and more are plagued with overtourism and prices are starting to look similar across the board. But don’t fear: if budgets are tight this year, there’s still plenty of spots that won’t break the bank.  The best part? These are the spots with less tourists and less crowds, and the flights there are likely to be much cheaper too. Of course, it goes without saying that a ‘cheap city’ is highly subjective, depending on a whole load of factors: which city you’ve travelled in from, what time of year you’re visiting, how bougie your tastes are and all the rest of it. On our list of cheap destinations in Europe, we’ve got everything from thriving capital cities to underrated towns. Ready to see a different side of Europe and afford dinner out? Read on for the cheapest (and best) cities to visit in Europe in 2025.  RECOMMENDED:🌃 The most underrated travel destinations in Europe🏰 The best city breaks in Europe📍 The most beautiful places in Europe🌊 The best places to ‘coolcation’ in Europe At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines. This guide includes affiliate links, which have no influence on our editorial content. For more information, see our affiliate guidelines. 

Of all the many things that have been upended since 2020, office life is one of the biggest. While some of us have settled into a half-office, half-home working hybrid set-up, others have taken the opportunity to untether themselves entirely from the workplace and copped themselves a visa that enables them to live and work remotely. While there are downsides to the digital nomad lifestyle, we’re still living in an era of profound  digital nomadism. Many destinations are selling themselves as idyllic remote-working spots, with visas that allow you to live and work there for up to a year – or sometimes even longer. Here’s a guide to the countries offering digital nomad visas right now, and how you can qualify. And here’s what it’s actually like to be a digital nomad – and how to become one yourself.

September in London may be ‘back to school’ time, but it’s also when the city comes alive. A lot of London’s cultural scene goes into semi-hibernation mode over the summer, but come autumn it kicks back into gear with landmark museum exhibitions, new theatre and art shows and brand new food and drink openings.  There’s also a whole host of city-wide fests taking over the capital, including Open House London – giving us a chance to get a sneak peek inside usually private buildings – London Design Festival and Totally Thames – the brilliant celebration of London’s watery main artery. While autumn is still on the horizon, summer isn’t over yet. So make sure you grab your final chance to enjoy the spoils of the season by booking a seat at some of London’s best rooftop bars and alfresco restaurants and lolling about in the city’s best urban beaches, parks and lidos. Get your diary out and start filling it up now. Stay in the loop: sign up to our free Time Out London newsletter for the best of the city, straight to your inbox.

There’s a reason why so many romantic comedy films are set in London; quite simply, it’s one of the best places in the world to be loved up. The picturesque Little Venice, the historic Whispering Gallery at St Paul's Cathedral, and Waterloo Bridge (which has breathtaking views of the city) are among the many romantic places to visit at any time of year – and we can’t get enough. But to encourage your love to reach full bloom, it's important to pick a hotel with the right kind of vibe. Breakfast in bed, complimentary cocktails upon arrival, and pampering spa packages are the sort of special touches that can make all the difference when you’re in the mood to woo... or maybe even pop the question. Take a look at our favourite romantic hotels in London.  Updated in May 2024: To keep our curated lists tip top we always keep an eye out for any new or trending properties. And this time around we've set our sights on this hidden sanctuary in Shoreditch, and this luxury hotel in South Kenso that's all about British elegance.  Looking for more options? 🛏 Check out London’s best Airbnbs ❤️‍🔥 or London's naughtiest hotels. Who makes the cut? While we might not stay in every hotel featured, we've based our list on top reviews, hosts and amenities to find you the best stays. This article includes affiliate links. These links have no influence on our editorial content. For more information, see our affiliate guidelines.

London’s LGBTQ+ scene is among the most fabulous in the world, with a wealth of bars, clubs, nights and other spaces serving the city’s queer communities. So it’s no surprise, then, that London celebrates Pride month like nowhere else in the world.  The culmination of this month of parties and protests is Pride in London, which usually takes place in the early days of July and sees the city centre transform into a huge, chaotic, rainbow-coloured celebration. The main event is the Pride Parade, a huge spectacle typically comprising around 600 groups and 35,000 participants, but there are also five stages around Soho and the West End and a Family Zone, all of which will be serving up a wealth of free entertainment throughout the day. Here is everything you need to know about the route and timings of Pride 2025’s Parade.  When is the London Pride Parade 2025? This year London’s Pride parade will place on Saturday, July 5.  How can I take part in the London Pride Parade 2025? With the big day arriving this weekend, applications have long since closed for groups wishing to take part in the parade. But while you might have missed the boat (or float?) for this year’s march, you can still catch all the action from the best seats in the house by booking tickets for the Haymarket Grandstand. Final release tickets are available here for £65. What time does the London Pride Parade start? As in previous years, the Pride parade is expected to kick off at midday from Hyde Park c

Europe is incredible for festivals, make no mistake about it. And what could be better? Travelling to festivals abroad means getting to explore somewhere new and see a bunch of cracking artists, as well as maybe – just maybe – enjoy better weather and cheaper beer. Europe is certainly not in short supply of some really brilliant places to party, from tiny, lesser-known spots in the Azores to your classic, mega, headliner-packed fests in France and Netherlands and Alpine jazz weekends. And don’t worry, if you haven’t booked yet, there’s a load of them still to come this summer. Here are the best music festivals in Europe for 2025.  What is the largest festival in Europe? Glastonbury festival in the UK is normally thought of as the biggest festival in Europe (if not the world). But though it’s certainly the most well known, in terms of numbers, it’s not even the the biggest in the UK! The biggest in Europe is actually Donauinselfest in Vienna, Austria, which sees upwards of two million visitors a year. After that, it’s probably joint between Glasto and Tomorrowland in Belgium.  RECOMMENDED: 🎪 The best UK music festivals🎤 The best music festivals in the world🌃 The most underrated destinations in Europe🌤️ The best European city breaks At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines. This guide includes affiliate links, which have no influence on our editorial conten

Though the Cotswolds is closely associated with chocolate-box villages, cobbled streets and teeny-tiny pubs, the region itself is actually pretty enormous. It stretches all the way from Stratford-Upon-Avon to southern Bath, across the likes of Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire, Wiltshire, Somerset and Warwickshire, and the entirety of it is considered an Area of Outstanding National Beauty. And while those famous, ‘gram-worthy spots are of course worth a visit (Arlington Row, we’re looking at you), the region is home to lots of quirky, surprising and grand attractions to keep you entertained for days, no matter the month or season. What's the best village in The Cotswolds? Okay now time for the big question. Which village is actually the best? Well, the truth is that it depends what you're looking for. Bourton-on-the-Water might take the top spot for quiet romance, thanks to its Venice-like bridges and waterside tearooms. Castle Combe is the winner for film lovers (both War Horse and Stardust were shot here), while Bibury, dubbed the “most beautiful village in England” by William Morris, has that postcard-pretty wow factor.  RECOMMENDED:🏩 The best Airbnbs in the Cotswolds ✈️ The best weekend breaks from London 🌤️ The best places to visit in the UK🏔️ The best hikes in the UK🚃 The most scenic train journeys in the UK🏊‍♀️ The best wild swimming spots in the UK This list was recently updated by Time Out Travel writer Liv Kelly. At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written b

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 Egyptian percussion instruments. In my case, the opportunity to live on the doorstep of some of the planet’s most iconic cultural institutions was a big reason why I moved here at the first chance I got, and I’ve racked up countless hours traipsing around display cases and deciphering needlessly verbose wall texts in the eleven years since. From iconic collections, brilliant curation and cutting-edge tech right down to nice loos, adequate signage and a decent place to grab a cuppa; my colleagues and I know exactly what we want from a museum, and we’ve put in a whole lot of time deliberating

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

Despite being labelled by a cursive, neon pink signpost above its entrance, you could easily miss Viajante87 – it’s hidden in plain sight amidst the noise and fluorescence of Notting Hill Gate, and once you’re inside, feels miles away from all that too. The room is draped in moody layers and furnishings of rich teal with touches of gold, giving it a particularly luxe feel which is matched by the vibe of the service. Everything here is quite formal: we were met by a security guard who radioed a host to collect us at the bottom of the stairs, and, behind a heavy velvet curtain, were greeted with a cheery and unnervingly synchronised ‘hola!’ from the bartenders. That’s because, as is detailed on the cocktail menu, Viajante87 is based around the concept of ‘drinking like a local’, with your choices all inspired by flavours which hail from Central and South America. The three main sections on the menu are organised to mimic the stages of a journey: they’re branded as ‘comfortable’ (aperitif-like drinks), ‘curious’ (a little stronger) and ‘courageous’ (digestifs). If you’re feeling really courageous, you could even ignore the order in which they’ve designed the menu, though this lot clearly know what they’re doing.  Order this On the ‘be curious’ page of the menu, you’ll find the Pura Pache, a clean and fruity long drink which is a good light cocktail to kick things off. But if you’re a fan of bitter, negroni-esque flavours, don’t skip over the Blood Moon.  Time Out tip While this

Given it’s the second largest island in the Mediterranean (after Sicily), Sardinia brags quite a lot of coastline – 2,000 km, to be exact. Scenic beaches aren’t hard to come by here, but Delphina’s Valle dell’Erica occupies a particularly glorious spot on the island’s northern tip, on a plush green hillside where the coastal breeze ripples through the grass. Sounds lovely, right? On a clear day you can see across to Corsica, and when it’s hazy – as it was on my visit – you’re still surrounded by the ocean. Long story short, spectacular views are guaranteed.  Such vistas are best soaked in from the panoramic breakfast terrace in the main hotel building. Incidentally, the breakfast buffet is the only place where you’ll actually remember you’re in a resort. Valle Dell’Erica feels more like a small hilltop town: there are seven bars, seven restaurants, four pools, an enormous spa and a whopping 273 rooms. This sprawling complex houses two separate hotels: Hotel Erica (a slightly larger space with 148 rooms, catered to families) and Hotel La Licciola (a smaller, couple-oriented hotel, where 17 of the 125 rooms have access to an exclusive area and private pool). Rooms are cloistered in small blocks of three or four, each comfortably if plainly furnished, and are built with local granite and cork. From the resort’s beaches, the buildings appear to dissipate into the land – the brand calls this design ‘low visual impact’, a move to protect Sardinia’s coastline from the threat of towe

Given it’s the second largest island in the Mediterranean (after Sicily), Sardinia brags quite a lot of coastline – 2,000 km, to be exact. Scenic beaches aren’t hard to come by here, but Delphina’s Valle dell’Erica occupies a particularly glorious spot on the island’s northern tip, on a plush green hillside where the coastal breeze ripples through the grass. Sounds lovely, right? On a clear day you can see across to Corsica, and when it’s hazy – as it was on my visit – you’re still surrounded by the ocean. Long story short, spectacular views are guaranteed.  Such vistas are best soaked in from the panoramic breakfast terrace in the main hotel building. Incidentally, the breakfast buffet is the only place where you’ll actually remember you’re in a resort. Valle Dell’Erica feels more like a small hilltop town: there are seven bars, seven restaurants, four pools, an enormous spa and a whopping 273 rooms. This sprawling complex houses two separate hotels: Hotel Erica (a slightly larger space with 148 rooms, catered to families) and Hotel La Licciola (a smaller, couple-oriented hotel, where 17 of the 125 rooms have access to an exclusive area and private pool). Rooms are cloistered in small blocks of three or four, each comfortably if plainly furnished, and are built with local granite and cork. From the resort’s beaches, the buildings appear to dissipate into the land – the brand calls this design ‘low visual impact’, a move to protect Sardinia’s coastline from the threat of towe

Landing in Keflavik on a frosty 2C afternoon is a bit of a shock to the system compared to the balmy October temperatures of the UK, but once we start winding through the snow-dusted, ash-coloured peaks that loom moodily over Iceland’s coast, the biting cold feels appropriate.  Thankfully, the nippy feeling doesn’t last long. ION’s collection of hotels includes four properties – ION City and Hotel Von (starting rates are €430 and €175 respectively) where we stay in Reykjavik, Hotel Budir (from €277), our first stop nestled cosily between the mountains and the lapping shore of the Snaefellsnes Peninsula, and ION Adventure (€565) which is celebrating its tenth anniversary in 2024. Each embody the Nordic concept of ‘hygge’, that feeling of convivial cosiness that you can only really experience in such perishingly cold places.  All are intrinsically Icelandic, but ION Adventure is the true show-stopper. A sleek glass box emerging from the moss-laden Mount Hengill, the hotel is a bold contrast to the tumbling volcanic landscape around it. But that landscape is still incorporated into the design, with furniture made from locally-sheered wool and actual lava. Sustainability is at the heart of these designs – even the sinks are made from recycled tires – and much of the interior is crafted by Icelandic architects. The hallway leading to the brand-new wing of 23 rooms (where we stayed) features bare concrete walls which will not be painted – paint is bad for the environment, guys – an

You’d be forgiven for feeling a little intimidated upon approaching Eastwell Manor. Its stern, neo-Elizabethan stone façade is dotted with boxy windows which appear as if they allow little light, and reaching reception involves dragging your luggage through an eerily still, imposing courtyard. But the vibe’s pretty different inside.  Through the comically large, dark-wood doors, the formality of the building does match the tone of the service, but we were warmly greeted by wafts from the restaurant, the excited buzz of guests from a wedding party and formally dressed but amicable team members. And that’s what’s unexpected about this place – how homely a massive country estate (particularly one with a tennis court, a hawking centre and beehives) can feel as soon as you arrive.  Our room, in the cottage buildings in the west corner of the grounds, was one designated for people on a spa break (it’s only a two-minute walk from the spa building) and other guests were flitting between the two buildings in just their dressing gowns, despite the October chill. The spa itself, the facilities of which include a swimming pool, jacuzzi, sauna and steam room on the ground floor, as well as a restaurant, plus treatment and ‘relaxation’ rooms upstairs, does all the things a good spa should do, but is perhaps not quite matched to the size of the hotel – we arrived mid-afternoon to cop a poolside seat but were left with only one available spot to plonk ourselves. But the hotel doesn’t just of

Entering our park-view room on the ninth floor of the Athenaeum, our jaws dropped not because of the suite itself, but because it immediately lived up to its name: the south-facing hotel rooms offer tremendous views of the lush treetops of Green Park, and if you’re lucky enough to stay in on one of the top floors (nine is the highest), it’s pretty splendid. What’s more, the hotel has been designed to incorporate the park’s proximity: the compact, comfortable rooms and ground-floor reception feature floor-to-ceiling windows and plenty of mirrors to complement and exaggerate the nearby greenery. Entering the hotel feels almost like you’re stepping inside an opulent conservatory.  Throughout the hotel there are nods to grand decor, but it’s not overdone. Twinkly light fixtures, velvet Chesterfield headboards and touches of gold are not going to be to everyone’s taste, but they feature in the light-flooded rooms and add glamour to mostly white walls and bedding – this hotel is in Mayfair, after all.  That emphasis on elegance is also reflected in the kind of service you get at the Athenaeum. Front of house members, at the reception during check-in and in the restaurant, were congenial, warm, but the atmosphere here is formal: there’s no small talk, no chit-chat during breakfast service – everything feels very proper.  While the surrounding neighbourhood boasts plenty of bougie places to eat, the hotel’s ground-floor restaurant is a worthy alternative, particularly for afternoon t

With interiors that look like they probably haven’t been updated since the place opened in 1997, and prices that also feel like they’re stuck in the past, a trip to locally loved Bayswater restaurant The Bengal feels like stepping back in time. The dated decor serves to create a relaxed, comfortable atmosphere in which to enjoy generous portions of classic curry house fare. The chef’s special bhunas and jalfrezis – both traditional Bengali dishes – stand out on a large menu of traditional Indian and Bangladeshi curries. Whether you’re sitting in or ordering a takeaway, this is a reliable option for inexpensive, flavoursome dinner. 

Located next to the south-facing exit of Queensway station on Bayswater Road, this whacky little ice cream shop serves everything from bubble waffles to soft-serve gelato and slushies, all in a vibrant array of colours and with a huge variety of sauces and toppings. Need to reward the kids for making it through that sweaty journey on the Central line? With popcorn, apple sorbet and even unicorn flavour on the menu, they’re sure to love this place.

The movies? They’re not just a way to fill a rainy evening anymore. In fact, thanks to the world’s abundance of some seriously scenic outdoor cinemas, going to see a film at a stunning alfresco screen has fast-become a go-to summer activity.  Time Out just named Westpac OpenAir in Sydney as the planet’s most beautiful outdoor cinema, but our recently refreshed list contains a whole load of spots to check out in Europe, too, and the first of these is Mies van der Rohe Pavilion in Barcelona.  ‘Okay, it’s not the most comfortable, and you’ll find better sound systems elsewhere, but few open-air cinemas can compete with the Mies Pavilion’s film screenings. This architectural gem was designed by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe and Lilly Reich as the German pavilion for Barcelona’s International Exhibition in 1929.’ writes María José Gómez, director of Time Out Barcelona, ‘It was demolished a year later, but in 1986 it was rebuilt in Montjuïc, its original location. And for the past few years it has hosted Pantalla Pavelló: runs of films related to architecture that are projected on its travertine marble wall and watched by the audiences dotted around the pond. Magic.’ Recommended: I went on a food tour of Copenhagen inspired by ‘The Bear’ – these are the best things I ate.  But Spain clearly knows what it’s doing, as Amante in Ibiza, Sala Montjuïc also in Barcelona, and Cinema Lliure a la Platja in Catalonia all also claimed a spot on our roundup. The second entry for Europe was Cinéma d

It’s been a tricky couple of years for Alpine railways – lines have suffered from derailment, landslides, floods and subsequent closures, but there’s some exciting news regarding one of the most integral routes.  The Tauern railway, which stretches all the way from Schwarzach-Sankt Veit in the state of Salzburg to Spittal an der Drau, Carinthia has been closed since November 2024, but it’s just been announced that it will reopen next week. So, from July 14, it means that services which had been suspended due to its closure can return (yay!) – these include the overnight service from Stuttgart and Salzburg to Venice, as well as the Nightjet train from Munich to Rome. Does the Tauern compete with the efficiency of Europe’s high-speed railways? No, but that was never the point. It’s an old-style main line which carried both passenger and freight trains, but it’d be silly to fly past such glorious Alpine scenery.  Recommended: The incredible 2,500-mile train tour of France launching in September. The line journeys through the Salzach valley towards the dazzling Tauern Alps, stopping in Bad Gastein, a spa-town which drips in belle epoque detailing. It then reaches the Tauern tunnel (one of the shortest of the great Alpine rail tunnels) before emerging into Carinthia.  ‘The Tauern tunnel reopening is so important, as it’s a key route for trains from Bavaria to Slovenia. It is also used by travellers heading through the Alps to north-east Italy. The Austrian province of Carinthia be

Tot i ser eclipsada per la popularitat de la costa mediterrània d’Albània, Tirana, la capital del país, també mereix plenament un lloc al teu radar de ciutats per visitar, especialment si viatges amb un pressupost ajustat. Quan qualifiquem una destinació com a "assequible", evidentment cal agafar-ho amb pinces, ja que un lloc només es pot considerar barat si s’hi viatja des d’un lloc més car, i això no és vàlid per a tots els visitants. Però Tirana ha entrat a la nostra llista gràcies a la seva excel·lent relació qualitat-preu en comparació amb la resta d’Europa en general. Per exemple, una cervesa costa 3,45 euros i un Airbnb té una mitjana de 46 euros per nit, uns preus que també s’estenen a una gran part de les activitats i llocs d’interès que ofereix la ciutat. Foto: Shutterstock "Tirana està impregnada d’història de l’època comunista: el Bunk’art 1, un refugi antiaeri de la Guerra Freda convertit en museu, és una de les atraccions més populars de la ciutat i entrar-hi només costa 3 euros. Cal destacar, però, que molts edificis tradicionals han estat transformats amb colors vius gràcies a l’art urbà”, es valora en la nostra llista. “També hi ha restaurants magnífics, com el Mystic 2, i bars, com el Radio Bar, on serveixen plats excel·lents i còctels a preus raonables", afegeix.  Foto: Shutterstock Si busques una mica més de cultura, tant el Museu Nacional d’Història com la Galeria Nacional d’Art són parades que valen la pena, però assegura’t de reservar també una esto

A pesar de estar eclipsada por la popularidad de la costa mediterránea de Albania, Tirana, la capital del país, también merece plenamente un lugar en tu radar de ciudades a visitar, especialmente si viajas con un presupuesto ajustado. Cuando calificamos un destino como "asequible", evidentemente hay que tomarlo con pinzas, ya que un lugar solo puede considerarse barato si se viaja desde otro más caro, y eso no es válido para todos los visitantes. Pero Tirana ha entrado en nuestra lista gracias a su excelente relación calidad-precio en comparación con el resto de Europa en general. Por ejemplo, una cerveza cuesta 3,45 euros y un alojamiento en Airbnb tiene un precio medio de 46 euros por noche, unos precios que también se aplican a muchas de las actividades y lugares de interés que ofrece la ciudad. Foto: Shutterstock «Tirana está impregnada de historia de la época comunista: el Bunk’art 1, un refugio antiaéreo de la Guerra Fría convertido en museo, es una de las atracciones más populares de la ciudad y la entrada solo cuesta 3 euros. Cabe destacar, sin embargo, que muchos edificios tradicionales han sido transformados con colores vivos gracias al arte urbano», se valora en nuestra lista. «También hay restaurantes magníficos, como Mystic 2, y bares, como Radio Bar, donde sirven platos excelentes y cócteles a precios razonables», añade. Foto: Shutterstock Si buscas un poco más de cultura, tanto el Museo Nacional de Historia como la Galería Nacional de Arte son paradas que v

If you’re of the opinion that going to the movies is an activity reserved for chilly winter evenings, you obviously haven’t checked out our newly refreshed roundup of the planet’s most glorious outdoor cinemas. Foolish.  Across the world, there are plenty to choose from, whether you’re in Catalonia and fancy a screening with a mediaeval castle as your backdrop, or are hiking around Colorado and stumble across a showing at the Red Rocks Amphitheatre.  But none can quite compare to our crowning champion when it comes to big outdoor screens. Where is it, you ask? Well, it’s perched overlooking Sydney Harbour.  The Westpac OpenAir sits on Mrs Macquaries Point with the city’s skyline (including blockbuster landmarks like the Opera House and Harbour Bridge) in the background. There’s dolby digital surround sound and 4k projection, as well as some seriously comfy seating and even the option to throw in a bougie dining experience on the site’s waterside terrace.  Recommended: I went on a food tour of Copenhagen inspired by ‘The Bear’ – these are the best things I ate.  ‘A movie needs to really land when it has to compete with Sydney Harbour, the Opera House and the Harbour Bridge all doing their jaw-dropping thing in the background. Then again, if you do catch a dud, there’s always the lights twinkling on the water and the fruit bats flying overhead to ensure a trip to this breathtaking screen in Sydney’s Botanic Gardens is a memorable one,’ writers Time Out contributor Stephen A Rus

Airbnb is obviously a great platform for booking somewhere to stay on your holiday, but it offers some seriously cool experiences to get involved with too – and a particularly smurf-tastic one will soon be available to book.  This summer, two families will have the chance to live like Smurfs – well, sort of. Airbnb is offering an exclusive, four-hour experience to coincide with the release of Smurfs, which will take place in the Belgian Woods, where the idea for these characters was born.  Nicolas Tytgat, grandson of creator Peyo, will be hosting the experience alongside ‘Papa Smurf’, and there’s a load of activities on the itinerary where you’ll get properly stuck in with the Smurf lifestyle.  Recommended: The world’s biggest Legoland has just opened in this Asian country.  Upon arrival, you’ll be greeted by your hosts with a ‘smurfberry drink’, and have the chance to make your own Smurf hat; turn your hand to some archery in the woodland, gorge on a Smurf-inspired picnic and, most excitingly, learn from a Smurf-trained choreographer a routine to perform on the open-air forest stage.  Photograph: Airbnb Photograph: Airbnb Photograph: Airbnb Photograph: Airbnb Photograph: Airbnb It’s a jam-packed day, right? To finish it off, you’ll get a scoop of Smurfberry ice cream – oh, and you’ll get to keep your hat afterwards. Can’t let those top-tier designs go to waste.  ‘I grew up surrounded by the magic of the Smurfs, so to bring fans to Belgium, the birthplace of the Smu

Will announcements of new train routes in Europe ever stop rolling in? Who knows, but we’re certainly here to ride the wave, and the latest addition to the long list of new services has just been announced.  From as soon as May 1, 2026, a brand-new direct train will be connecting the brilliant capital cities of Prague, Berlin and Copenhagen – yes, you read that right.  The project is a joint effort between Czech Railways (ČD), Deutsche Bahn (DB), and Danish State Railways (DSB), and has been supported by the European Commission, which is keen to encourage cross-border rail travel. Recommended: The incredible 2,500-mile train tour of France launching in September.  It also comes after the completion of renovations on the Berlin to Hamburg train line, and according to Railway News, a stop there and in Dresden will be featured, too.   So, what do we know so far about the service? Well, it will likely run twice daily, taking seven hours between Berlin and Copenhagen, and 11 between the Danish capital and Prague. A seasonal night train between Hamburg and Copenhagen will be extended to make use of the new route.  The trains themselves will be ČD’s ComfortJet trains, which can travel up to 230km per hour and seat 555 people, with 99 of those in first-class. Onboard, passengers will have access to a dining car, cinema area, and even adjustable seating.  Stay tuned for everything you need to know about this service, including when tickets go on sale. In the meantime, have a look at t

There are amazing hotels dotted all over the world which, whether they’re historic city-centre boutiques or sprawling coastal resorts, encompass top-tier service, showstopping locations and really lovely places to rest your head. But which are the best of all? Well, that’s all subjective, but Travel + Leisure’s 2025 World’s Best Awards, which are based on a humungous survey of its readers who weighed in on the rooms, locations, service, food and value of hotels where they’ve stayed, is a darn good place to start.  The publication has just dropped a list of the world’s 100 best hotels, and the crowning champion for 2025 was (drum roll, please) andBeyond Bateleur Camp on the Maasai Mara National Reserve in Kenya.  Recommended: This is the world’s best city right now, according to Travel + Leisure.  The site is home to just 18 tented suites (plus a deluxe family suite) across its two locations, giving a seriously low-key ambience, and that paired with a highly experienced team – many of whom who have worked at the hotel for at least 10 years – means andBeyond has ‘an air of confidence and camaraderie’, according to Travel + Leisure.  Whether you’re on the north or south site, you’ll be guaranteed stunning views over the Masai Mara plains, and wildlife even passes freely throughout the camps – though don’t worry, apparently predators rarely venture so close. As for what you’ll be eating, the site’s chef ‘Magic’ Jackson designs a new menu every day for lunch and dinner – just tell

Marseille was the place to be in 2024 thanks to its vibey nightlife, lovely beaches and Mediterranean climate, but it’s also the latest Euro-summer hotspot to be affected by a scorching heatwave and subsequent wildfires.  Thanks to an area of high pressure trapping hot air from north Africa, much of southern Europe has been scorched by unseasonably high temperatures over the last couple of weeks, and the dry conditions left behind have left huge swathes of land susceptible to quick fire spread, all fanned by warm, dry winds.  On Tuesday, a wildfire broke out near France’s second city, and while it’s being contained for now, authorities are concerned the conditions could mean it re-escalates quickly. Flights, train services and roads into and out of the city remain affected.  It’s obviously worrying news if you’re headed to Marseille, so here is all the latest information about whether it’s safe for you to travel.  Recommended: Full list of holiday destinations with ‘red heat’ warnings due to Europe’s heatwave.  Where are the wildfires in Marseille?  A wildfire reached the outskirts of Marseille on Tuesday July 8, leading to the lockdown of the city’s 16th arrondissement and prompting hundreds of evacuation orders across the city as well as directives for locals to remain indoors, according to the Independent.  It’s thought that the fire has burnt through 700 hectares (which is around 7km squared), and was fanned so far due to winds of up to 70km per hour. Reports say that the

It wasn’t that long ago that Paris had a reputation for, let’s say, being un petit peu mucky. Cigarette butt-covered streets, endless dog poop and piles of uncollected bins were classic Parisian stereotypes. And the murky Seine? Well, it was said to be brimming with E.coli – a quick dip could find you bound to the loo, or worse, for days.  However, the massive €1.4 billion investment into cleaning up the river has finally paid off, and over the weekend – after a 102-year ban – the Seine officially reopened to swimmers.  There are technically three different spots open for bathing – Bras Marie, Bras de Grenelle, and Bercy – and according to France 24, each is equipped with changing rooms, showers, and beachy furniture to accommodate between 150-300 people.  📍 Need to cool off? Discover our pick of the best swimming pools in Paris ‘It’s a childhood dream to have people swimming in the Seine,’ said Paris mayor Anne Hidalgo, ‘Look at how happy everyone is!’ So, how was this all done? Well, thanks to the massive river regeneration project, which started in 2018, the river clean-up efforts have been slowly but surely seeing results as fish start to return and the water becomes less murky.  Sewage pollution has been specifically targeted thanks to a 46,000-cubic-metre water tank under a public garden on the left bank (big enough to hold the volume of water from 20 Olympic-sized swimming pools).  The tank was designed to store excess rainfall and drastically reduce (but, notably, no

Auctioning off homes for cheaps has been a tactic employed by small European towns for a while now, and it looks like it’s not going anywhere, as Ambert, a commune of just 6,500 people in southeast France, is joining the €1 homes club.  Why? To stop it’s population dwindling further. The tactic is part of a wider, five-year project to encourage people to move in, and because one part of the town has property vacancy rates of up to 60 percent, the local authorities have put two homes on the market for just a €1 (roughly 85p).  So far, the wider project seems to be working. Another class was added to Ambert’s school two years ago, and renovations to the old chamber of commerce and industry building will mean it reopens as a public spaces (with jobs for local people on offer) in 2026.  So, selling these homes should be pretty easy – well, sort of. Much like lots of other €1 home schemes, in France but more commonly in Italy, is that they not only come with hidden costs, but also some rather significant terms and conditions.  Firstly, there are no second-home buyers allowed. According to The Local, buyers must agree to live in the property for a minimum of three years once it’s habitable. If they don’t, they could face penalties such as repaying any grants given for the refurbishments. This relates to the second requirement. While €1 is seriously cheap, both properties require some serious TLC and everything from roofing and insulation to new windows and electrics could be necess

Não há muito tempo, Paris tinha a reputação de ser, digamos, um pouco suja. Ruas cobertas de beatas de cigarro, excrementos de cães por todo o lado e pilhas de lixo por recolher eram lugares-comuns da cidade. E o Sena turvo? Bem, dizia-se que estava repleto de E. coli – um mergulho rápido poderia deixá-lo preso à sanita, ou pior, por dias. No entanto, o enorme investimento de 1,4 mil milhões de euros na limpeza do rio finalmente valeu a pena e, no fim-de-semana, o Sena reabriu oficialmente aos banhistas, pondo fim a uma proibição de 102 anos. Existem tecnicamente três locais abertos a banhos – Bras Marie, Bras de Grenelle e Bercy – e, de acordo com a France 24, cada um deles está equipado com balneários, chuveiros e mobiliário de praia para acomodar entre 150 e 300 pessoas. “É um sonho de infância ter pessoas a nadar no Sena”, disse a presidente da Câmara de Paris, Anne Hidalgo. “Veja como todos estão felizes!” Então, como é que tudo isto foi feito? Bem, graças ao enorme projecto de regeneração do rio, que começou em 2018, os esforços de limpeza do rio têm vindo a dar resultados lentos, mas seguros, à medida que os peixes começam a regressar e a água se torna menos turva. A poluição por esgoto foi especificamente combatida graças a um tanque de água de 46 mil metros cúbicos sob um jardim público na margem esquerda (grande o suficiente para armazenar o volume de água de 20 piscinas olímpicas). O tanque foi projectado para armazenar o excesso de chuva e reduzir drasticamente (e