Liv Kelly

It's easy to get so tangled up in the tinsel-decked glories of Christmas that you forget there's another big bash, just a week later. But New Year's Eve is the kind of night that you forget at your peril. Attempt to wing it and you might well end up stuck at home in front of Jools Holland's Hootenanny, because all London's best clubs and parties book out weeks or months in advance.  But fear not, we're here to make sure you give 2025 a seriously good send-off. Here's our list of the best NYE bashes to ring in 2026 at, from never-ending club nights to LGBTQ+-friendly celebrations. Assemble your crew, book your tickets, plan the perfect ‘fit and prepare to say a big fat goodbye to the old year. RECOMMENDED: Find things to do in London on New Year’s Day.

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 headliner-packed fests in France and the Netherlands. There’s just one festival you’ll see sadly missing from our list – everyone’s favourite festival Glastonbury is taking a fallow year in 2026.  What is the largest festival in Europe? Glastonbury 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. The more you know! 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 may include affiliate links, which have no influence on our editorial content. For more information, see our affiliate gu

It’s officially winter. There’s no denying it. It was only Halloween a second ago and now we seem to be hurtling ever closer to Christmas. But don’t let it feel like Christmas is the only thing going for this time of year – there’s plenty of time for nesting in December. In our opinion, this is the perfect time for a holiday. After all, European breaks weren’t all they cracked up to be this summer, marked by heatwaves and overtourism. So we’d go as far as to argue that a ton of the most well-loved holiday hotspots are even better in winter, when summer destinations lose their throngs of tourists, and cosy breaks get even cosier. On our list of the best winter destinations in Europe, we’ve got everything from Italian foodie breaks to the official home of Santa Claus. Here are our favourite spots in Europe for winter to embrace the cold for 2024. RECOMMENDED:⛲️ The most underrated destinations in Europe⛷️ The most affordable ski holidays in Europe🏞 The most beautiful places in Europe⛄ The world’s best Christmas destinations🏔️ The best places to travel in December, January and February Ella Doyle is Time Out’s guides editor. 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. 

Visiting New York is a frantic experience, and when you’ve only got a number of days to get through shedloads of dining, cocktail-drinking, sightseeing and museum-hopping, that oh-so-precious shut-eye becomes all the more important. Thankfully, even though New York’s famous moniker is the ‘city that never sleeps’, the Big Apple is brimming with stylish, innovative, and world-renowned hotels. So, we’ve combed through all the neighborhoods and avenues to bring you this hand-picked roundup of the very best, from swish new-openings in Brooklyn to opulent institutions in Manhattan.  New additions for fall 2025 include Brooklyn’s gleaming William Vale, Manhattan’s iconic Knickerbocker, the elegant, Park Avenue-adjacent Loews Regency and the beachy Rockaway Hotel. But that’s only the beginning—scroll on for Time Out’s fresh roundup of the best places to stay in New York City.  📍 Discover our ultimate guide to the best budget and Midtown hotels in New York City 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 affiliate links. These links have no influence on our editorial content.

As much as Christmas trees, turkey and a mildly overworked Santa have become staples of the festive season, so has the music that soundtracks this cheer-soaked time of year. Christmas songs don’t just endure – many end up becoming the crown jewels of an artist’s entire career. From golden oldies by Elvis Presley, Chuck Berry and Bing Crosby, to ‘80s icons like Wham! and The Pogues, to modern favourites from Ariana Grande and Leona Lewis, these tunes have embedded themselves into our seasonal rituals. What is the best-selling Christmas song of all time? That honour still belongs to Bing Crosby’s 1942 classic ‘White Christmas’. With over 50 million sales, it’s not only the biggest Christmas record in history – it’s the best-selling song of all time, full stop. Guinness World Records first crowned it back in 1955, and it’s held onto the title ever since. What is the most-streamed Christmas song of all time? Mariah Carey’s ‘All I Want For Christmas Is You’ may trail Crosby in pure sales (a mere 16 million), but streaming has turned it into a seasonal juggernaut. It finally hit No.1 in both the UK and US decades after its release and became the first Christmas song to pass 2 billion Spotify streams. Hot on its heels: Wham!’s ‘Last Christmas’ (1.83 billion) and Brenda Lee’s ‘Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree’ (1.27 billion). Are there any new Christmas songs for 2025? The past decade has delivered plenty of modern holiday staples, from Ariana Grande to Sabrina Carpenter to Cher. As

Ah Christmas, it really does creep on us every year. One day you're necking tinned cocktails on a picnic blanket in a packed summer park, the next you're looking up mulled wine recipes and wondering why you don't seem to have a night off til January. But why not get ahead of the game in 2025? Start planning now, and you'll be able to shop in quaint Christmas markets instead of online panic buying, arrange family pantomime outing, drag your friends to a jolly carol service, check out seasonal pop-ups and get stellar pics of London's OTT light displays. Time Out’s editorial team start thinking about Christmas long before the first autumn leaves flutter to the ground. We've beaten the crowds for a spot at Somerset House ice rink and strolled around the Southbank Centre’s Winter Market, year after year, and we're ready to show you some more leftfield, imaginative ways to celebrate the season. Keep checking this list and you'll see it fill up with magical Christmas events for 2025; hopefully it provides you with everything you need to make the absolute most of the holiday season, London style. London’s best Christmas events at a glance:  Best for families: The Magic of Christmas at London Zoo Best for buying gifts: DIY Christmas Art Market  Best for a party: Humbug: The Immersive Christmas Dive Bar Best for music: Raymond Gubbay Christmas Festival Best for festive feels: Christmas at Kew  RECOMMENDED: 🎅Check out our full guide to Christmas in London🎄Discover the best hotel

Grazing the Arctic Circle and straddling two tectonic plates, Iceland offers a visual feast of volcanic landscapes, spurting geysers and Northern Lights that have not gone unnoticed by Instagrammers or Game of Thrones location scouts. With the increasing interest in outdoor activities and exploration of the island’s remote, ethereally beautiful regions, hotels are popping up far and wide, instead of once being concentrated in the capital. From Airbnbs to luxury hotel stays, there’s plenty to choose from to kick start your Icelandic adventure. Enjoy, folks.  Which part of Iceland is the best to stay in? It entirely depends what kind of trip you’re after, but the safest bet is almost always the country’s marvellous capital Reykjavik. Once you’re here, the opportunities are endless – have a cosy city break and barely leave your neighbourhood, or rent a car and use Reykjavik as a safe base to explore the rest of Iceland, from the Golden Circle to the Blue Lagoon. Check out our list of the best restaurants in Reykjavik to get you started.  RECOMMENDED: The best Airbnbs in Iceland 🏘️ The best areas to stay in Reykjavik Who makes the cut? While we might not stay in and review every hotel featured, we've based our list on our expert knowledge of the destination covered, editorial reviews, user reviews, hotel amenities and in-depth research to find you the best stays. This article includes affiliate links. These links have no influence on our editorial content. For more informatio

It may only be the start of the festive season, but we are already thinking about festival season 2026. And we can’t wait.  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 line-up announcements for next year’s events are already coming in thick fast, with huge acts like Tyler, The Creator, Lewis Capaldi, CMAT, Lily Allen, Scissor Sisters and Deftones set to take to the London stage next summer. Plus, the future of events in Brockwell Park was thrown up in the air in 2025, however the south London park’s usual lineup of events – which includes Cross The Tracks, Wide Awake and Field Day – will all return in 2026.  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

We know that London is the best city in the world. But like any metropolis, it can also get a bit much sometimes. Occasionally, what you want isn’t to drink cocktails in a trendy bar after seeing the hottest Gen Z bedroom popstar at the Islington Assembly Hall, but a little peace and quiet, actually. Enter: the weekend getaway, invented by the Victorians (probably), there’s a reason why Londoners have been taking sojourns to the seaside on sunny bank holidays since the 1800s.  Together, we’ve come up with a cracking list of our favourite day trip destinations near London. There’s something for everyone here, from historic cities and cute villages to sandy beaches and rolling countryside. We've included some recommendations for ace restaurants, quaint little pubs, and our favourite things to do at each destination on the list – all of which are close enough to the city that you can get there and back in one sweet day.  Best day trips from London at a glance 🍔 Best for foodies: Margate 🎭 Best for culture lovers: Stratford-Upon-Avon ⛪ Best for history buffs: Canterbury 🛁 Best for families: Bath 🐴 Best for hikers: New Forest 🍺 Best for pub crawls: Lewes 🏖️ Best for seaside fun: Brighton RECOMMENDED:✨The best day trips an hour from London👪 The best family day trips from London☀️ The best weekend trips from London🏘️ The best Airbnbs near London🌳 The best quirky Airbnbs in the UK This article includes affiliate links. These links have no influence on our editorial conte

When you hear the term ‘winter city break’, you’re probably picturing Christmas markets, hot chocolates and snow-capped mountains as far as the eye can see. But with some of our favourite summer holiday destinations getting hotter and hotter (and falling victim to the affects of years of overtourism), it might be time to start thinking outside the box.  Hear us out: winter travel, but not where you’d expect it. Think Italian hotspots without the crowds, Mediterranean holidays without the heat and underrated cities that aren’t even on your travel radar yet. These are our top unexpected picks for winter, selected by Time Out editors.  ☀️ Europe’s best destinations for winter sun Underrated winter destinations at a glance 🏛 Best for a historic buildings: Athens, Greece 🎄 Best for local traditions: Madrid, Spain 🎭 Best for avoiding crowds: Venice, Italy ⛷️ Best for skiing: Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina  Ella Doyle is Time Out’s travel guides editor. 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.  📍 The ultimate guide to destinations in Europe

We’ve reached that time of year when there are now less than 100 days until Christmas. It might not be time to start untangling your fairy lights or baking mince pies, but there’s no harm in giving a little thought to your festive social plans. As winter arrives, Christmassy pop-ups spring up in central London, with plenty of cosy atmosphere that makes them perfect for a festive little tete-a-tete. We’re talking riverside heated igloos, Alpine-themed lodges and kitschy nostalgia-themed bars that will keep you warm and, most importantly, full of food and festive drinks. Most spots aren’t yet confirmed for 2025, but keep an eye on this page for the best hideaways, markets and quirky festive experiences waiting to lure you in from the cheek-tingling cold. London's best winter pop-ups at a glance: 🎢 Best for coaster kids: Winter Funland, West Kensington🎅 Best for partying with Santa: Humbug, Waterloo🥌 Best for silly sports: Club Curling, various locations🐷 Best for old-school feasting: The Great Christmas Feast, West Kensington🥶 Best for daredevils: Up at the O2's snow globe climbs, Greenwich PeninsulaRECOMMENDED: Here are the best things do in London this Christmas

Whether you’re a fully-fledged railfan or just a traveller who loves convenience, 2024 has been an unmatched year when it comes to new night services. Countries throughout Europe, in bids to make travelling more planet-friendly and affordable, have launched countless sleeper routes this year, meaning most of us now have plenty of motivation to swap flights for night trains on our next trip. In other words, sleeper trains are back, baby, and at Time Out, we’re here for it. With the option to hop on a train, journey thousands of miles and wake up in your destination (hopefully with enough energy to go out and explore), night services are kind of ideal scenarios, right? And luckily, you’ve got us train afficionados on hand to point you in the right direction. So, pack your bag, embark your cabin and settle in – here are the most exciting sleeper trains we can’t wait to ride in 2025.  RECOMMENDED:🌤️The most scenic railway journeys in Europe🗺️The ultimate Interrail itinerary for Europe🚂The most beautiful European train journeys from London🚞The best train journeys in the world 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. 

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

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

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

It’s a tough time to be working in the aviation industry. Faced with staff shortages and huge levels of disruption, many workers at airlines and airports are facing long, stressful hours and poor working conditions. And, thanks to the cost of living crisis, loads of them are doing it all for lower wages, too. Needless to say, it’s no wonder that so many staff at airports and airlines have been going on strike. From Italy and Belgium to Greece and France, airports across Europe have seen thousands of flights delayed and cancelled by industrial action. Strikes can, of course, have a serious impact on your holiday, so it’s best to be as informed about them as possible. Read on for our guide to who’s going on strike in Europe right now, where and when those strikes will happen – and whether you need to worry about them.   Transport strikes in Italy Workers across Italy are gearing up for a general strike on November 28. Ground staff from various airlines, including KPMG and Air France, will walk out between 9am and 5pm, causing delays to both inbound and outbound flights. Make sure to arrive in plenty of time to account for any disruptions to check-in or security. Spain baggage handling strikes Airports across Spain are set to be affected by strikes over labour rights by Azul Handling baggage staff. It’s part of the Ryanair Group and handles the bags for the majority of the operators’ flights. The affected times are as follows: from 5am-9am, on Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays and

Italy’s food is loved far and wide. And it’s not just margherita pizza and spaghetti bolognese – there’s a whole lot more to this country’s cuisine, from regional dishes like Campania’s sfogliatella and Calabria’s ’nduja to the homegrown cooking techniques now used all over the world.  In fact, Italy’s culinary culture is so influential that it could soon be included on Unesco’s List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.  Following a joint proposal from the Italian ministries of culture and agriculture, a dossier, which has now been edited by Professor Pier Luigi Petrillo at Roman university Luiss Guido Carli, has undergone technical evaluation.  Recommended: The 20 best cities in the world for food right now. Photograph: Shutterstock Now that the UN body has given initial approval for the bid, all that’s left to do is await review by the Intergovernmental Committee. ‘It is wonderful to see the interest with which the recognition of Italian cuisine as a UNESCO heritage site is being followed,’ said Francesco Lollobrigida, Italy’s Minister of Agriculture, Food Sovereignty and Forestry, according to euronews. ‘But we have not yet crossed this great and well-deserved finishing line.’ The finish line in question is a meeting of the Unesco committee in New Delhi from December 8-13. Have your napkins at the ready.  Does Italy have any other Unesco-listed cultural practices? Yes! While it seems likely that the country’s food will soon be added, manual bell-ringing, opera si

It’s likely been a while since you journeyed to the airport with a physical copy of your plane ticket in hand – in fact, Ryanair says that 80 percent of its passengers now rely on digital boarding passes – and instead, it’s become a whole lot more convenient to keep a copy on your phone.  And that reality, paired with Ryanair CMO Dara Brady’s hopes of a ‘faster, smarter, and greener travel experience for [their] customers’, means that as of today, Wednesday November 12, the operator will only accept digital boarding passes. Originally slated to be implemented from November 3, the transition was delayed slightly to ensure it didn’t coincide with the end of peak travel season for UK schools’ half term breaks, but it’s now officially in place.  Recommended: All the European airport, airline and transport strikes to watch out for right now.  But, what about that 20 percent who do still use paper boarding passes, namely older travellers who might not have smartphones? Well, Ryanair has said that you’ll still be able to request a paper boarding pass from check-in desks at the airport, free of charge.  This also applies if your phone dies or is lost or stolen, if you can’t connect to the internet, or if you’re travelling from Morocco (where physical boarding passes are a government requirement).   Everybody else? You better download the myRyanair app (which is actually quite handy, as it will also provide you with real-time status updates on boarding, gates, and delays, as well as t

Luxury train rides are the epitome of old-fashioned glamour, but they’re far from a thing of the past. From a five-hour super-luxe train in southern Vietnam to this whopper 80-day luxury journey, there’s plenty of choice no matter where you are in the world.  In fact, we’ve compiled a roundup of our favourite routes right here. And while they’re all pretty dazzling, few are quite as iconic as the Orient Express.  The Venice-Simplon-Orient-Express, now owned by Belmond, has unveiled a brand-new, uber-opulent route, all the way from Paris to Tuscany.  📍 RECOMMENDED: Discover the best winter train routes in Europe Departing from Paris’s Gare d’Austerlitz station, the service journeys through France’s lush countryside before arriving in Florence the following afternoon.  There are three room options: according to Condé Nast Traveler, historic cabins transform from banquette seating into sleeping quarters at night, suites come with double beds and en suites, and Grand Suites brag marble-clad bathrooms, towering windows, red velvet furnishings and a butler.  All guests will be greeted with pastries, tea and champagne, and treated to dinner by renowned chef Jean Imbert, who has designed an elegant menu featuring French and Italian influences. There’ll be cocktails and live piano music in Bar Car 3674 in the evening, and breakfast will be served to travellers in their cabins – but that’s far from the end of the journey.  After a transfer to and guided tour of the Tuscan mediaeval to

*]:pointer-events-auto [content-visibility:auto] supports-[content-visibility:auto]:[contain-intrinsic-size:auto_100lvh] scroll-mt-[calc(var(--header-height)+min(200px,max(70px,20svh)))]" dir="auto" tabindex="-1" data-turn-id="request-WEB:26654764-50b8-4594-893e-df18da220579-7" data-testid="conversation-turn-16" data-scroll-anchor="true" data-turn="assistant"> *]:pointer-events-auto [content-visibility:auto] supports-[content-visibility:auto]:[contain-intrinsic-size:auto_100lvh] scroll-mt-[calc(var(--header-height)+min(200px,max(70px,20svh)))]" dir="auto" tabindex="-1" data-turn-id="request-WEB:26654764-50b8-4594-893e-df18da220579-14" data-testid="conversation-turn-30" data-scroll-anchor="true" data-turn="assistant"> *]:pointer-events-auto [content-visibility:auto] supports-[content-visibility:auto]:[contain-intrinsic-size:auto_100lvh] scroll-mt-[calc(var(--header-height)+min(200px,max(70px,20svh)))]" dir="auto" tabindex="-1" data-turn-id="request-WEB:26654764-50b8-4594-893e-df18da220579-16" data-testid="conversation-turn-34" data-scroll-anchor="true" data-turn="assistant"> Chaque hiver, quand le thermomètre parisien flirte avec les 3 °C et que le ciel reste désespérément gris, une partie des habitants de la capitale file vers le sud en quête de vitamine D. Un réflexe bien parisien : fuir la grisaille dès que possible, quitte à travailler à distance entre deux baignades. Et ils ont de quoi faire : si une grande partie de l’hémisphère nord connaîtra des tempé

À l’arrivée de l’hiver, nombreux sont ceux qui redoutent les températures en chute libre et les journées pluvieuses. Heureusement, à l’approche de décembre, les places européennes s’apprêtent à retrouver leur effervescence hivernale. Les marchés de Noël, nés dans l’Allemagne médiévale, se sont imposés comme une institution à travers le continent, entre artisanat, gastronomie et folklore local. Pour sa sélection 2025, Time Out dresse la liste des vingt marchés de Noël les plus remarquables d’Europe, des ruelles pavées de Bruges aux allées illuminées d’Édimbourg, en passant par les villages alsaciens et les capitales nordiques. En tête du classement, Nuremberg s’impose une nouvelle fois comme la référence. Du 28 novembre au 24 décembre, la Hauptmarkt se transforme en décor de théâtre : échoppes en bois, guirlandes suspendues, effluves de bratwurst et de vin chaud. Une atmosphère familiale le jour, plus festive la nuit, quand les visiteurs troquent la photo souvenir contre un mug fumant de glühwein ou une bière locale au goût de fumée. Manchester arrive en deuxième position, saluée pour la vitalité de son centre-ville et l’ambiance bon enfant de ses allées décorées, un choix qui confirme le renouveau touristique de la métropole britannique. Enfin, Paris complète le podium. La capitale française n’a pas besoin de Noël pour briller, mais la saison des fêtes lui sied particulièrement. Une douzaine de marchés s’y déploient chaque hiver, du parvis de Notre-Dame aux abords de la Défen

A medida que 2025 llega poco a poco a su fin, probablemente empieces a pensar no solo en todos los lugares increíbles que has tachado de tu lista este año, sino también en los destinos que podrías visitar en 2026. Si buscas nuevas ideas, Lonely Planet acaba de publicar su lista de los mejores lugares para viajar, y junto a destinos ya populares como Ciudad de México, Botsuana o Cerdeña, también propone opciones más inesperadas, entre las que se cuela España. África, Irlanda y... un lugar mágico en el sur de España En el primer puesto encontramos Reunión: un departamento francés en el océano Índico (a unos 230 km de Mauricio), descrito por Lonely Planet como el mejor lugar "para descubrir un patrimonio natural y multicultural único". Su población, diversa y plural, se refleja también en su paisaje natural, con 400 microclimas distintos, una abundante biodiversidad y uno de los volcanes más activos del planeta.   Cádiz. Shutterstock   Pero no es el único destino de la lista donde brilla la naturaleza: ¿por qué no considerar Tipperary? Puede que quede lejos, pero este condado rural irlandés es perfecto para una aventura en plena naturaleza. El valle de Glen of Aherlow es un sitio majestuoso para recorrer a pie o a caballo, y la zona está llena de historia (con lugares como la Roca de Cashel o el Castillo de Cahir) y buena comida (solo el famoso queso azul de Cashel ya merece el viaje). Y la guinda del pastel, España y, en concreto, la antigua ciudad portuaria española de Cádiz

As 2025 gradually draws to a close, you’re probably going to not only start thinking about all the cool places you ticked off the bucket list this year, but also about what lies ahead for your travel plans in 2026, right? Well, if you need some fresh contenders, Lonely Planet has just published its roundup of the best places to travel, and along with some already-popular destinations like Mexico City, Botswana and Sardinia, there are some out-of-the-box suggestions on the agenda, too.  First up, Réunion, a French Department in the Indian Ocean (which is around 230km from Mauritius), described by Lonely Planet as the best place ‘for delving into a unique natural and multicultural heritage’.  Generations of migration has meant today, a wonderfully diverse population and spectrum of faiths call the island home, and that variety is mirrored in its natural landscape, which is home to 400 different microclimates, a bounty of species and one of the world’s most active volcanoes.  Photograph: Shutterstock Recommended: The best travel destinations for 2026, according to National Geographic.  However, it’s not the only destination on this with nature in buckets – why not consider Tipperary? Sure, it might be a long way (get it?!) but the rural Irish county is primed for remote adventure. The Glen of Aherlow is a majestic valley where you can hike or horseback-ride your way around, and there’s lots of historical sites to absorb (like the Rock of Cashel or Cahir Castle) and food to be

For most of us, choosing an airline to fly with will come down to the basics: cost and timing. But if you’re more of a choosy traveller, it’s handy to know which ones can be hit and miss when it comes to punctuality and service, and which ones are operational award-winners.  That’s where the World Travel Awards come in. The ‘Oscars of Tourism’ just announced a shedload of European winners at its 32nd annual ceremony held in Sardinia, and German airline Lufthansa was crowned Europe’s leading airline for 2025. Not only that, but it also cinched the prize as the best economy class airline and the best airline brand. Recommended: These are apparently Europe’s worst airports for delays due to the new entry-exit system (EES).  Lufthansa crowned as the best airline and best economy class in Europe Lufthansa won the coveted title in 2024 – as well as 11 other years since the awards launched back in the early ‘90s. It operates in more than 200 places, making it the second-largest airline in Europe (after Ryanair). Elsewhere, Swiss International Airlines was crowned the winner in both the business class and first class categories. Find the full list of winners on the World Travel Awards website, and have a look at the very best European airlines below.  These are Europe’s 10 best airlines in 2025 Air France British Airways Iberia Icelandair KLM Royal Dutch Airlines Lufthansa SAS Scandinavian Airlines Swiss International Air Lines TAP Air Portugal Turkish Airlines Did you see that th

The most wonderful time of year is fast approaching, guys. And we don’t mean Christmas – we’re talking about the announcement of the winners for the Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards.  While the ceremony to crown this year’s champions isn’t taking place until December 9, a roundup of all the finalists has landed, and it’s a surefire way to brighten up your drizzly October morning. Scroll on for our favourite snaps, and stay tuned for the announcement of 2025’s winners in a few weeks’ time.  Photograph: Andrew Mortimer / Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards 2025 Photograph: Diana Rebman / Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards 2025 Photograph: Henry Szwinto / Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards 2025 Photograph: Erkko Badermann / Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards 2025 Photograph: Meline Ellwanger / Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards 2025 Photograph: Lars Beygang / Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards 2025 Photograph: Miles Astray / Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards 2025 Photograph: Ralph Robinson / Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards 2025 Photograph: Stefan Cruysberghs / Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards 2025 Photograph: Mark Meth-Cohn / Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards 2025 Need another hit of joy? Check out last year’s winners in our roundup.  Did you see that scaffolding has finally been removed from this iconic European attraction after 20 years? Plus: The winning shots from the Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2025 – in pictures.  Stay in the loop: sign up to our free Time Out Travel newsletter for all the latest travel

We’re as shocked as you are that Christmas is on the horizon once again, but instead of clinging to the ever-shorter light evenings and avoiding pulling out your winter coat for as long as possible, let’s just welcome it with open arms. After all, it’s actually quite nice when our cities get all festive. The smell of mulled wine drifting from pubs. Shopping streets adorned with sparkly lights. And, of course, the merriest place of all: the Christmas Market. These pop-up festive fairs originated in medieval Germany – and so, unsurprisingly, you’ll find the best and most traditional examples of them in Europe. To help you decide exactly which one to visit this season, Time Out has just published a freshly curated list of the very best European Christmas markets for 2025. Photograph: Shutterstock The 20-strong roundup features pretty piazzas from across the continent, including festive classics like Bruges, Colmar and Edinburgh. Claiming this year’s number one position is (Christmassy drum roll, please...) Nuremberg! Opening on November 28 and running until Christmas Eve, the city’s Hauptmarkt will be filled to the brim with twinkly lights, quaint wooden stalls and, of course, wafts of bratwurst.  What’s the vibe like? Well, according to our roundup, ‘families pitch up to pose for photos with golden-haired ‘angels’ who work the crowds, and ‘after hours, the grown-ups prop up the bar with take-home mugs of glühwein and the local smoked beer.’ Sounds pretty merry, doesn’t it? Ma

¿Qué hace que una ciudad valga la pena para vivir? ¿El transporte público, las zonas verdes, la escena artística o la vida nocturna? ¿Su belleza, el sentimiento de comunidad o la diversidad e inclusión que promueve? Diríamos que todos estos factores son clave, pero hay uno que los engloba a todos: nuestra felicidad. Por este motivo, desde Time Out hemos preguntado la opinión de 18.500 personas que viven en ciudades de todo el mundo para descubrir qué es lo que las hace felices en el lugar donde viven. Más concretamente, se les pidió que respondieran a afirmaciones como: “Me siento más feliz en mi ciudad que en otros lugares donde he vivido”, “Encuentro alegría en las experiencias cotidianas que me ofrece mi ciudad”, “El nivel de felicidad en mi ciudad ha aumentado recientemente” y, en general: “Mi ciudad me hace feliz”. Foto: Shutterstock A partir de sus respuestas, hemos elaborado una lista de las ciudades más felices del mundo, así como un resumen de las ciudades europeas donde los locales tienen más probabilidades de sonreír de oreja a oreja. Y quien lidera el ranking –y ocupando la novena posición a escala mundial– es Sevilla. ¿Por qué? Pues bien, un 86% de los sevillanos encuestados han dicho que encuentran alegría en el día a día y que sus vecinos parecen positivos, mientras que un 74% estaban de acuerdo en que el nivel de felicidad en la ciudad había aumentado últimamente. Foto: Shutterstock En total, un impresionante 91% de los locales han afirmado que su ciudad l