Beautiful

WHILE many will be hitting beaches across the UK, we’ve got an idea to help you swerve the crowds.

These glorious woods and forests are perfect for escaping the current heatwave, with plenty of dappled shade for lovely treks and picnics.

Here, Sophie Swietochowski looks at seven great days out . . . 

WESTONBIRT ARBORETUM

One of the UK’s largest and most glorious arboretums, Westonbirt, in Gloucestershire, is much more than just a forest.

More than 2,500 species are thriving here and some of the trees in this 240-hectare space are so ancient, they’ve weathered almost 2,000 years of change.

Why not grab a sandwich from the cafe and take a pew next to the arboretum’s oldest tree — a small-leaved lime in the Silk Wood area.

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HALDON FOREST PARK

Devon’s beaches are likely to be packed in the coming weeks, but this fabulous park is a great alternative.

There are plenty of shaded areas, plus kids can be kept entertained along the Room on the Broom activity trail.

Pack a coolbox of goodies and take advantage of the many picnic spots.

BEDGEBURY NATIONAL PINETUM & FOREST

This haven in Kent is the largest pinetum in the entire world, and its collection of conifers is renowned globally.

Now is the best time to visit, as the team have mowed grassy paths to help visitors explore, while also sheltering beneath the giant trees.

HAMSTERLEY FOREST

If you would prefer to cool off by water, this forest in County Durham has a river running through its centre.

Kids can slip off their shoes and go for a paddle after tiring themselves out at the outdoor Viking Wildplay, which is pretty well shaded.

If you do want to stroll the trails, they are mostly wheelchair-accessible and pram-friendly.

ALICE HOLT FOREST

Worried about how you’re going to amuse the kids over the summer months?

Then make a beeline for this forest in Hampshire.

It’s an adventurer’s paradise with nature and play trails galore and even a Go Ape course, sheltered by the surrounding trees.

Make sure to check the events page ahead of your visit to find out what’s happening that week.

DELAMERE FOREST

This gorgeous spot in Cheshire is a wonderful spot for nature enthusiasts.

Major work has gone into restoring the hidden pools within the forest to encourage the return of the White-Faced Darter dragonfly — one of the rarest in the UK.

This forest is likely to be one of the coolest of the bunch, too, thanks to the many peat bogs and moss carpets that keep the forest floor damp.

FINESHADE WOOD

Both the kids and Fido will love this gloriously sheltered spot in Northamptonshire.

You’ll be sharing the 516 hectares with deer, dragonflies and butterflies, and keep an eye out through the tree canopy for the buzzards soaring overhead.

When the heat gets too much, the on-site Grounds Cafe is loaded with ice cream — and there’s even some doggy-friendly scoops, so no one misses out.

• For more details on any of the sites featured on this page, head online to forestryengland.uk.

I BET you’ve heard of Istanbul – but did you know a short boat ride from the city there is a hidden gem island?

Meaning ‘Big Island’ in Turkish, Büyükada is the largest of the three Princes’ Islands in the Sea of Marmara, which is near Istanbul.

Despite being the largest, the island itself only spans two-square-miles.

And from Istanbul, you can hop on a ferry (there are two different companies that head there) with tickets ranging from £2.50 to £3.20 per way and taking between 45 minutes and an hour and a half to get there.

Tie in your visit to Buyukada, with the other two islands – Heybeliada and Burgazada – before heading back to Istanbul.

As for what to see and do on Buyukada, until recently the only public transport on the island were horse-drawn carriages.

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But now, thanks to the island becoming more popular with tourists, you can hop on a number of electric buses – with no cars allowed on the island.

At the north end of the island, you can expect to see streets lined with 19th century, wooden villas.

Famous ones in particular include the Con Paşa Mansion, which was built by a Venetian merchant and Mizzi Mansion, which boasts a red brick tower.

Make sure to stop by the Nizam neighbourhood too, where you’ll find more Ottoman era villas including white buildings draped in vibrant, purple flowers.

The area isn’t too big, but do make sure you head down Cankaya Caddesi which is often named the most beautiful street in Turkey.

History fanatics should also drop by Trotsky House, which is where Leon Trotsky lived in exile between 1929 and 1933.

On the other hand, the southern end of the island is mostly home to great walking and hiking routes, thanks to being home to the Büyükada Ecotourism Area.

You’ll find Mediterranean pine forests and the island’s highest peaks to explore.

You’ll also find Prinkipo Greek Orphanage, which is the largest wooden building in Europe and the second largest in the world.

The island is home to some beautiful beaches as well, including Aya Nicola Beach.

For around £6.40, you can hire a lounge chair with an umbrella and also access showers and changing rooms, making it the ideal spot for a beach day.

Alternatively, you could head to Viranbağ Plajı, which also boasts a restaurant.

While you do have to pay an entry fee to the beach (which usually is a few quid), it is often less crowded than other spots on the island.

A popular way to explore the entire island is by hiring a bike – and thanks to its size, it only takes a couple of hours to cycle around.

The best way to get to the island is by flying to Istanbul and then taking a short and scenic ferry ride across to the island itself.

Flights to Istanbul cost from £108 per way in July.

And if you want to extend your time on the island, you can stay in one of the hotels or guesthouses.

For example, there’s Hillora Hotel Buyukada, which has views, a sauna, a sun terrace and a garden.

Plus it is just a six-minute walk from the beach.

The hotel costs from £149 per night.

For something more historical but also cheaper, head to Büyükada Anastasia Meziki History Mansion, which has its own restaurant, bar, terrace, patio and mountain views.

The hotel even has a hot tub to relax in.

Rooms at the hotel cost from £86 per night.

AFTER a bargain family break? All-inclusive getaways to far-flung sunshine spots are seeing huge price cuts for this summer – so get booking.

The United Arab Emirates boasts the largest price drop, with holiday providers and hotels launching mega deals to entice Brits back after the outbreak of war in Iran, according to data from TravelSupermarket and icelolly.com.

All-inclusive family breaks in particular are looking cheap as chips, with the nightly cost of getaways down 25 per cent on the previous year in the UAE.

The study looked at all-inclusive seven-night family breaks departing in August to popular holiday destinations, factoring in inflation, and found that, on average, a Middle East holiday would set families back just £169pp per night in August this year.

Last year, it would have been £226pp per night.

Chris Webber, Head of Holidays and Deals at TravelSupermarket, said: “Events in the Middle East have made some families think twice about where they travel this summer, and tour operators have responded by cutting prices.

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“The result is destinations like the UAE and Egypt are offering some of the best value we’ve seen in years.”

The Dominican Republic has seen the second largest fall in prices, with dips of around 11 per cent on average from the previous year.

The average cost of a family getaway there would be £228pp per night this year, compared with £257pp per night in 2025.

Mauritius placed third in the price drop table, having seen a 10.9 per cent dip since 2025.

Mid-haul destinations such as Egypt, Morocco and Tunisia are also looking more affordable than they were last year, with reductions of 8.1 per cent, 6.5 per cent and 2.5 per cent respectively.

Malta is the only European destination to see prices drop in 2026.

The average August cost fell from £137pp per night in 2025 to £136 in 2026, a dip of 0.9 per cent.

By comparison, some of Brits’ favourite European holiday hotspots have seen hikes since August last year.

Prices for Greece have risen by five per cent on all-inclusive family holidays.

Spain had the second-largest hike, with average costs rising by 3.9 per cent on the previous year.

But it was still one of the poll’s less expensive destinations for August 2026, with an average nightly cost of £155pp.

Overall, research shows Morocco looks set to be the cheapest destination.

An all-inclusive family holiday there will cost families as little as £120pp per night in August – a proper bargain when you consider flights, accommodation and all food and drink is included.

This was followed by Tunisia, Bulgaria and Malta, where the average August breaks are £124, £126 and £136pp per night respectively.

Chris said: “After a few years of holiday prices only seeming to move one way, it’s encouraging to see all-inclusive prices looking pretty steady for 2026.

“For families who are comfortable travelling further afield, there are genuine savings to be had — and comparing prices across providers is the best way to see where your budget stretches furthest.”

This tunnel is famous for its beautiful lighting and top air quality.

Norway has no shortage of beautiful roads. From snow capped mountains to glacial passes, a road trip through this gorgeous country means you will never be bored. It’s not just open road though – Norway is also home to one of the most beautiful tunnels in the world.

The Lærdal tunnel in West Norway is the longest road tunnel in the world, stretching 24.5 kilometres (15 miles) beneath a mountain range. It connects Aurland and Lærdal, in the heart of Sogn, and provides a ferry-free connection between Oslo and Bergen.

Construction of the tunnel began in 1995 and finished in 2000 and during construction an incredible 2,500,000 cubic meters of rock were extracted from the tunnel.

It cost a whopping £75million to construct. The tunnel is divided into four sections separated by three large caves.

The tunnel is known as one of the most beautiful in the world due to the way it has been designed to prevent driver fatigue and claustrophobia.

The main section of the tunnel is brightly lit with white lights, but each cave is lit with blue and yellow lighting around the edges to create the illusion of a sunrise.

These caves were lit with the idea of breaking up the monotony of the tunnel and allow drivers a short break.

The caves also work as turnaround points during the 20-minute journey.

There is also a rumble strip in each lane which stops drivers becoming inattentive and drifting.

At every kilometre, a sign lets you know how far you have travelled through the cave and how much further you have to go.

One of the other impressive things about the Lærdal Tunnel is that it is the first in the world to be equipped with an air treatment plant.

This plant can be found in a cavern 100 metres wide and it removes both dust and nitrogen dioxide from the tunnel air.

I headed down to East Sussex to undertake the hike crowned as Britain’s most beautiful and ‘eye-catching’ trail — then everything went wrong.

A hiker I am not. But when my husband told me the only thing he wants for his birthday this year is to be outdoors and go for a hike – a hiker I became. Begrudgingly.

The location for my (destined to be comical) exploits? The Seven Sisters Cliff Walk in East Sussex. ‘Walk’ being an under exaggeration.

Fair disclaimer before you read on – this story is basically a 900-word ode to my unsurpassable levels of fitness. *Cue Rocky theme song*

Whether I would be a picture of grace or not, at least the destination we picked was sure to be stunning, having recently been named one of the most beautiful and ‘eye-catching’ hiking trails in the world.

The new study by online running shoe retailer SportsShoes.com assigned each hiking trail an ‘eye-catching’ score using eye-tracking technology, ultimately giving us the world’s top 10 most beautiful hikes. The Seven Sisters Cliff Walk ranked ninth on the list.

We set off for the hike on what somehow turned itself into a glorious day amidst an endlessly rainy week and fervently thanked our stars for big little mercies. Then we missed our train and the order of the universe was restored.

We eventually made it to our seaside destination of Seaford – an hour and a half after the initial expected arrival – and set off on our hike. The wind was knocked out of my lungs the second my eyes gazed upon Britain’s most famous chalk cliffs. They were eye-catching alright.

Having done my due diligence much in advance, I had already been informed by countless reviews online that the ‘cliff walk’ was easy to moderate difficulty. Each and every one of the reviews was a lie. The difficulty level was hard, high, expert, nightmare.

The very first hill ascent left me winded, and when I reached the top of the ‘first’ sister of the Seven, I looked at my husband and called an emergency meeting. I loved him and happy birthday, but we would be taking shortcuts.

One look at my red, panting face and he quickly agreed, lest our outdoorsy hike turn into an emergency room visit. Good call on his part.

While I’m on this self-flagellating shame-spiral, it’s probably a good time to mention that I danced at an almost professional level for over a decade of my life. That girl was nowhere to be seen on this hike.

After taking a few embarrassing pauses while fit-as-hell pensioners passed me by, we finally descended the first hill, made our way to Cuckmere Haven, and braced ourselves for our next adventure (read: obstacle), The River Crossing.

With an unspoken agreement passing between us not to take the detour, my husband and I made our way to the flowing stretch we had to cross, and silently began taking off our shoes and socks. Nothing would stop me from undertaking this adventure (except for a very strong current, or really high water, or too much of a crowd – you get the gist).

Jokes aside, it was the part of the hike I was most excited about, so I was crossing this river come hell or high water. Pun intended and all that.

Holding onto each other for dear life, we made our way across the (extremely sharp and pointy) rocky river crossing and finally collapsed on the other side. It may well have been the most memorable, and fun, part of the hike. Would I do it again? Probably. Would I moan and whine doubly throughout? Definitely.

At that point it was time for a well-deserved pint, so off we headed towards the Cuckmere Inn for a scrumptious birthday lunch. After devouring my first ever Sunday Roast and finishing it off with a banoffee cheesecake, the greatest hiker in the world, aka me, got ready for the second leg of our ‘cliff walk’.

A short bus ride to Birling Gap later, we were back at the foot of a daunting cliff, and I, once again, questioned my commitment to our vows as I begrudgingly made my way up another hill that was not ‘easy’ or ‘moderate’ to climb.

Like the Big Bad Wolf in Three Little Pigs, I huffed and puffed my way up towards the Belle Tout Lighthouse, which, spoiler alert, was not pretty enough to be the reward for this monster mountain I had just climbed.

Another descent and one more seemingly endless and exhausting descent later, we got our first glimpse of the Beachy Head Lighthouse and clifftop and all was forgiven.

After spending an adequate amount of time ooh-ing and ahh-ing over the stunning, drop-dead gorgeous beauty we were surrounded by, we made our way towards The Beachy Head pub for our final pint (Pimms for me) of the day.

As the sun finally began to set on the day, we started walking towards the bus stop that would take us to Eastbourne Station so we could catch our train back to London.

It was on this walk that I began to realise something was horribly, terribly wrong. My entire right foot began feeling taut and stiff, and the shooting pain behind my kneecap rendered me limp.

What started as a slight wobble in East Sussex turned into a full blown limp by the time we reached London. Holding on for dear life, I made my way back to my apartment, each step more painful than the last, as I cursed my pro-athlete levels of fitness.

The nation has an excellent publicly funded healthcare system

The world’s most liveable city for 2026 has been revealed in The Economist Intelligence Unit’s latest Global Liveability Index. The research examined education, stability, healthcare, infrastructure, and culture across 173 cities around the globe.

Copenhagen, the Danish capital, claimed the top spot as this year’s most liveable city, retaining the title for the second consecutive year. The European city was awarded “perfect” scores across the stability, infrastructure and education categories.

The Economist Intelligence Unit said: “In our 2026 survey, Copenhagen ( Denmark ) retained pole position for the second year running, scoring a perfect 100 out of 100 in three categories and above 95 in the other two, with Vienna ( Austria ) and Melbourne ( Australia ) close behind.”

Copenhagen has also been ranked among the world’s most walkable cities in 2026, according to a recent study by Time Out magazine.

The Danish capital is “compact and mostly flat” with “clearly marked pedestrian zones and elevated pavements”. Copenhagen is also home to Europe’s first and longest pedestrian-only street, Strøget.

Healthcare in Copenhagen is widely regarded as “excellent”. The nation boasts an exceptional publicly funded healthcare system offering free medical treatment, superb infrastructure and highly qualified doctors.

Most liveable cities in the world

1. Copenhagen, Denmark
2. Vienna, Austria
3. Melbourne, Australia
4. Sydney, Australia
5. Zurich, Switzerland
6. Geneva, Switzerland
7. Osaka, Japan
8. Adelaide, Australia
9. Vancouver, Canada
10. Tokyo, Japan

When you think of beautiful bridges, it’s probably the world-famous ones that spring to mind. Marvels of engineering like San Francisco’s Golden Gate, or the rich history of London Bridge. However, according to Time Out magazine, the ‘most beautiful’ bridge in the world is a small stone arch tucked away in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Stari Most, which translates to ‘Old Bridge’, is located in Mostar, a city that lies on the banks of the Neretva River.

Commissioned by Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent in 1557 and completed in 1566, the bridge is made of local limestone and spans the river without using any central pillars.

In 1993, the original bridge was destroyed by shelling in the Bosnian War.

However, UNESCO aided its reconstruction, with divers recovering the original stones from the river and masons using the same 16th-century tools to re-create the structure as closely as possible.

It’s now a UNESCO World Heritage site, and has recently been named as the ‘most beautiful’ bridge in the world by Time Out.

UNESCO describes Stari Most as “a symbol of reconciliation, international co-operation and of the coexistence of diverse cultural, ethnic and religious communities.”

The bridge is visually stunning, standing 27 metres above the emerald green river below.

There is also a long history of daredevils and athletes jumping from the bridge into the water.

The first recorded leap dates back to 1664, according to Bosnian Voyager.

By the 19th century, it was a tourist attraction, with people from all over the continent flocking to the bridge to watch adrenaline seekers hurl themselves into the river.

Since 2016, the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series has transformed Mostar’s bridge into an elite global sporting stage that keeps the tradition alive.

The competition takes place in late July, and spectators line the river to watch world-class divers jump from the bridge.

The East Sussex walk has been ranked among the world’s most beautiful hiking trails according to a new eye-tracking study – but be warned, it’s a strenuous 12-mile route that’ll take up to seven hours to complete

New research has revealed one of the world’s most breathtaking hikes can be found right here on our doorstep in the UK, rewarding walkers with unrivalled coastal views.

An eye-tracking study has identified the most stunning hiking trails across the globe, with running shoe retailer SportsShoes.com employing cutting-edge technology to monitor the eye movements of participants as they were shown some of the most iconic routes from around the world.

The findings assigned each location an ‘eye-catching’ score, establishing which trails were the most visually striking. As a result, the UK’s very own Seven Sisters Cliff Walk, nestled along the English coastline in East Sussex, made it into the top rankings.

It will come as little surprise to those who live nearby or have tackled the trail that it would be regarded as a top 10 hike, with its tranquil sands and azure waters framed by the most stunningly white cliff tops imaginable.

The Seven Sisters are so magnificent they have featured in some of Britain’s most beloved blockbuster films, including Atonement and Harry Potter. The iconic cliffs form a demanding route that can take anywhere between four to seven hours to complete, yet tourists appear to agree it is worth every single step.

The hike

Most walkers opt to begin the challenging trek in Seaford and finish in Eastbourne, allowing them to soak up the celebrated views of the Seven Sisters as they reach the summit. Across the 12-mile route, hikers can expect to conquer seven hills, some considerably steeper than others.

The ideal vantage point for capturing all seven cliffs in a single shot is at Hope Gap, though for the finest views from the clifftop, you’ll want to hold on until you reach the iconic Belle Tout and Beachy Head lighthouses.

Fortunately for walkers, there’s a charming little pit stop along the way where you can take a breather and enjoy a range of food and drinks at the Bearling Gap Cafe. Here you’ll also find a handy centre complete with toilet facilities, so you needn’t worry about being caught short during the journey.

Having tackled the walk themselves, one visitor wrote on Tripadvisor : “The cliffs are breathtaking from a distance, and the view from the edge, facing the open sea, is unforgettable. Heading down to the pebble beach gives you a completely different, striking perspective.”

According to the full findings, topping the list as the ultimate hike boasting the most jaw-dropping scenery is France’s Calanques de Marseille. Tucked within the Calanques National Park, nestled between Marseille and Cassis, the route is truly spectacular, featuring a stunning backdrop of white limestone cliffs plunging into turquoise coves, with a variety of trails to suit different timeframes and fitness levels.

The Top 10 list includes:

1. Calanques de Marseille, Marseille, France
2. Plitvice Lakes Trail, Plitvice Lakes National Park, Croatia
3. Lauterbrunnen Valley, Bernese Oberland, Switzerland
4. Inca Trail to Machu Picchu, Cusco, Peru
5. Bastei Rock Formation, Saxon Switzerland National Park, Germany
6. The Narrows, Zion National Park, USA
7. Étretat Cliff Walk, Étretat, France
8. The Loop, Kalbarri, Australia
9. Seven Sisters Cliffs Walk, East Sussex, England
10. Causeway Coast Way, County Antrim, Northern Ireland

ALL over the planet are incredible islands – but these ones have been declared the best in the world.

Travel + Leisure has found the very top destinations from Asia to Africa and Australia – not to mention one spot went to the UK.

The best islands were declared from reader votes of which there were hundreds of thousands.

In top spot was the Thai island of Koh Samui which got a top score of 95.64 out of 100.

The publication said: “This first-time winner in the Gulf of Thailand—with an array of elevated accommodations, luscious jungles, and roaring waterfalls—has become a leading destination for self-care.”

It was also praised for its beaches, vibrant culture and waterfalls.

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The island is south of Bangkok, known for its pretty beaches, not to mention bargain cocktails and tasty street food.

Travel Reporter Alice Penwill who went last year said: “The island has luxury resorts and picture-perfect beaches

“But the real Thailand is in the busy beach bars flogging happy-hour deals, tiny restaurants with garish tablecloths, and the constant thump of Thai boxing promotions from crackling loudspeakers.“

In second place was the beautiful Maldives followed by the Galapagos Islands and Bali.

But in 13th place is the first and only UK island to make the list – Skye and the Hebrides.

The wild Scottish archipelago is known for mountainous landscapes, rugged coastlines and rare white-sand beaches.

Travel Reporter Cyann Fielding, who visited Eilean Shona – part of the Inner Hebrides – described it as a “real-life Neverland”.

She said: “Whilst there isn’t much to do on the island, it is the perfect retreat away from the modern world and the stresses of day to day life.

“The island has an endless amount of walks you can take, and a couple of mine included heading to the summit and to the opposite side of the island where I found Shoe Bay, with a white sand beach and crystal clear waters.

“And whilst exploring the island, make sure to keep an eye out for wildlife as birds of prey often circle overhead.

“In less than 24 hours I had completely fallen in love with the island.”

Other top islands close to the UK include Malta which is dubbed one of the ‘jewels of the Mediterranean’.

Its capital, Valletta, is one of the sunniest cities in all of Europe – it gets on average 3,000 hours of sunshine each year.

The Italian islands of Sardinia and Sicily which are a short flight away for Brits also got high marks.

In Greece, Milos and Crete placed in the top 25 – as did Paros, which was last year’s winner, some of which are set to be the next big Greek island holiday destinations.

One writer visited Paros last year and loved the island for its “beautiful beaches, traditional villages and a buzzing nightlife.”

She added: “One thing I loved about the island is that it has everything you want out of a holiday.

“Whether that’s a quiet spot on a sandy beach to relax, head off on a wild boat party, or eat authentic Greek food on a candlelit table.”

Here’s the full list of the ‘best islands in the world’…

Here are Travel + Leisure’s best islands in the world – and their scores out of 100…

1. Koh Samui – 95.64
2. Maldives – 95.38
3. Galapagos Islands – 94.99
4. Bali – 93.20
5. Phuket – 93.18
6. Seychelles – 92.95
7. Fiji – 92.71
8. Sri Lanka – 92.67
9. Dominica – 91.87
10. Zanzibar – 91.83
11. Golden Isles – 91.59
12. Sardinia – 91.57
13. Skye and the Hebrides – 91.17
14. Malta – 91.00
15. Grenada – 90.36
16. Madeira – 90.33
17. Azores – 90.18
18. Maui – 89.70
19. Sicily – 89.53
20. Milos – 89.50
21. Virgin Gorda – 89.43
22. Crete – 89.39
23. Vieques – 89.38
24. Paros – 89.33
25. Kauai – 89.16

With pristine beaches, upmarket hotels and plenty of historical sites to explore, Bodrum is a Turkish Delight for all ages, says mum of two Hannah Britt

Looking for your next family holiday destination? Look no further than Bodrum, a stunning Turkish peninsula on the Aegean coast. Known by insiders as the Maldives of Europe thanks to its crystal clear waters, it’s loved for its Mediterranean climate and rich history. Bodrum perfectly blends relaxing beach holidays with vibrant nightlife and ancient ruins, all framed by classic white-washed houses and the iconic Bodrum Castle.

What to do…

Bodrum Castle

A trip to Bodrum Castle is a must to wander through the historic fortress. Built by the Knights of St John, it now houses one of the world’s most important collections of ancient shipwrecks and relics. There are a flock of friendly peacocks in residence too, which I have to say were the highlight for both my girls.

Bodrum Antique Theatre

Elsewhere, Bodrum Antik Tiyatrosu is a remarkably preserved 4th-century BC Greco-Roman amphitheatre carved into the slopes of Mount Göktepe. Overlooking the city and the Aegean Sea, it stands as one of Anatolia’s oldest surviving theatres.

Bodrum windmills

A walk up to the 18th-century windmills between Bodrum and Gümbet provides sweeping views of Bodrum and beyond. On clear days you can see the Greek island of Kos. The windmills themselves are in need of some TLC, but it’s a lovely spot to sit – and there’s a cafe right next to them, with a swing on which to take some snaps for Instagram. The coffee is good too, along with the pomegranate juice.

Where to eat…

Liman Koftescisi

We headed down to the glamorous Bodrum marina to dine by the water at Liman Koftescisi, a renowned Turkish restaurant. The meatballs with aubergine were divine. We sat outside to enjoy the early evening sunshine and it’s a lovely spot to watch the world go by. The kids enjoyed the delicious food as much as the grown ups, and staff catered to their every whim – including several glasses of milk.

Körfez Restaurant

Also on the marina lies Körfez, Bodrum’s oldest dining establishment. First opened in 1927, this renowned seafood and Mediterranean spot specialises in fresh Aegean and Cretan cuisine, famous for dishes like octopus rice, fried calamari, and freshly caught local fish. The atmosphere is airy and bustling, and the catch of the day was cooked to absolute perfection.

Where to drink…

Karnas Vineyards

For those who love wine, Bodrum is abundant. Karnas Vineyards is a family-owned, boutique winery and agricultural estate located in the Karaova region of the Bodrum peninsula. Spanning over 20 hectares, it is famous for being the first vineyard to plant the Zinfandel grape variety in Turkey, producing award-winning wines using sustainable and traditional techniques. Featured in the Michelin Guide, the vineyard features a terrace restaurant serving local, farm-to-fork meals made from ingredients grown on-site or by local farmers.

Garova vineyard

Just down the road, Mehmet Vuran is the owner and winemaker at Garova in the Karaova Valley of Bodrum. A visit to his estate is as much of a delight for children as it is for the grown ups thanks to a menagerie of animals, with cows, chickens and baby chickens running around. As the golden sun dipped behind the horizon, as our visit to Bodrum drew to a close, we toasted to our return.

Where to stay…

Club Med, Bodrum

Club Med, Bodrum, is a real hidden gem. A luxury all-inclusive hotel, perched on a hill at the end of a beautiful beach, it’s a want-for-nothing palace of a place. While it’s not specifically for children, little ones are welcomed with open arms. We stayed in a dual-floor family complex, which was roomy, spotless and with a lovely view out over the archery courts.

A large balcony with ample seating and shade provided a lovely place to sit a while too. Elsewhere, food options are brilliant – with an ever-changing buffet, mixed up to keep things fresh. Once a week the Club Med white party sees everyone dressed to the nines and brought together for an evening of live music and food around the pool.

A daily boat trip welcomes children on board and provides a complimentary sightseeing and snorkelling tour – a brilliant touch. And the sandy beach has enough beds and brollies for everyone to enjoy peace and quiet. The water, clear enough to see the fish nibbling your toes, is divine. When I tell you that we didn’t want to leave, it is no lie. From the eldest of us to the youngest we were thoroughly impressed.

*For more on planning a trip to Türkiye, see Go Türkiye

*Getting there – Without Flights: Seven nights all-inclusive stay at Club Med Bodrum, Palmiye, Turkey from £2,490 (based on a family of four). Price based on departure date 06.06.26. Book now at www.clubmed.co.uk/r/bodrum/y or call 03453 676767. London Flights: Seven nights all-inclusive stay at Club Med Bodrum, Palmiye, Turkey from £4,014 (based on a family of four). Price based on departure date 06.06.26. Book now at www.clubmed.co.uk/r/bodrum/y or call 03453 676767

If you want a quiet and peaceful summer break, this island needs to be on your list.

The summer holidays are approaching, and if you’re planning a holiday, then you know it can be tricky to decide where to go. Living in the UK means we’re lucky enough to have Europe on our doorstep.

With so many dream locations to choose from, it can be difficult to decide where to go. If you value peace and quiet, it’s a good idea to look for places that are a little off the beaten path while still providing a relaxing, sunny getaway.

That’s why travel experts at Solmar Villas have researched data from more than 160 places to reveal which are the best for a crowd-free holiday.

Where to visit for a peaceful holiday

Coming in first place was Alonissos, Greece. This stunning island is located in the northern Sporades and is famous for its laid-back charm and unspoiled beauty.

It’s the smallest of the inhabited islands in the Sporades archipelago and offers a totally relaxed holiday.

It’s home to the largest marine protected area in Europe which offers birds, reptiles and mammals a safe breeding ground.

You can visit the park and perhaps catch a glimpse of the rare Mediterranean Monk Seal as you dive beneath the crystal clear water.

There’s no shortage of gorgeous beaches to spend a day at, and the Old Town is well worth a visit too.

The Old Town sits above the island on a hill 200 metres above sea level. There’s narrow winding alley ways, colourfully painted doors and plenty of charming cages and tavernas to stop in for a bite to eat or a drink.

You can enjoy awe-inspiring views out over the island and the sea that surrounds it while sitting in the shade of the island’s greenery.

How to get there

There is no airport on the island, so the best way to get there is to get a ferry from the neighbouring island of Skiathos. The ferry takes around two hours to the largest town on the island – Patitiri.

From Patitiri you can explore the rest of the island, whether you want to lounge on the beach, explore the marine reserve or soak up the rich history of the city – all without the crowds that flock to other Greek islands like Mykonos and Santorini.

Sharon Bradbury, travel expert at Solmar Villas said: “Many families don’t have the option of travelling outside the school holidays, so choosing the right destination becomes even more important.

For families looking to make the most of their summer break, it can be worth looking beyond the usual hotspots. A quieter destination often means a more relaxed experience from the moment you arrive. “

The 20 quietest places to visit on school holidays

1. Alonissos, Greece
2. El Hierro, Spain
3. Skopelos, Greece
4. Mustique, St. Vincent & Grenadines
5. La Gomera, Spain
6. Paxos, Greece
7. Åland Islands, Finland
8. Isle of Harris, United Kingdom
9. Costa Verde, Spain
10. Koh Yao Noi, Thailand
11. Mani Peninsula, Greece
12. La Palma, Spain
13. Skeleton Coast, Namibia
14. Fernando de Noronha, Brazil
15. Cantabria, Spain
16. Esposende, Portugal
17. Koh Mak, Thailand
18. Con Dao Islands, Vietnam
19. Aitutaki, Cook Islands
20. Little Corn Island, Nicaragua

This village in the Cotswolds has been named the world’s most beautiful village in a Forbes-featured ranking, with its honey-slicked cottages and River Coln setting beating Mediterranean destinations

Travel lovers have awarded this charming village with cobbled streets a top spot as the most picturesque village on the planet.

Now a thriving tourist destination, Forbes crowned the Cotswolds settlement as the most beautiful village in the world, giving Mediterranean coastal hotspots a real run for their money.

While England has no shortage of stunning landscapes, from the rugged beauty of the Lake District to the sweeping coastlines of Cornwall, the Cotswolds continues to attract visitors from across the globe with its fairytale villages and quintessentially English charm.

Yet it’s one particular village that has truly made a name for itself. Forbes, in partnership with Unforgettable Travel Company, revealed the 50 most stunning villages in the world — and placed Bibury firmly at the top.

The publication wrote: “Bibury unfurls like a watercolour dream-where honey-slicked cottages line Arlington Row; their mossy roofs whispering tales of 14th-century weavers. The River Coln murmurs gently here-weaving through golden buttercups and forget-me-nots, while plump ducks paddle lazily beneath canopies of willow.”

Visitors travel from all corners of the globe to admire these honey-coloured cottages and sweeping willow trees, located just a 15-minute drive outside of Cirencester. However, locals are increasingly vocal about the issue of overtourism, as thousands descend upon the tiny village during peak season.

Residents are calling for greater action to preserve the peaceful and intimate atmosphere that makes the area so beloved in the first place. Nestled on the banks of the River Coln, Bibury is steeped in history and natural beauty, with the cottages on Arlington Row dating back as far as 1380.

Today, the village’s character is safeguarded by the National Trust, who own most of the properties along the row, except for two that are now operated as holiday lets.

The historic row was subsequently transformed into weavers’ cottages during the 17th century and has remained unchanged ever since. Their characteristics appear to be straight from a storybook, and their location beside the meadow, which is inhabited by water-loving plants and birds, feels like something from a fantasy novel.

One visitor shared their thoughts on Tripadvisor, saying: “Quintessential English rural scene. Okay, we were one of the many tourists doing the same thing in admiring the buildings, but it didn’t spoil our time.

“We managed to park nearby for free, and the walk by the beautiful clear river is all part of the experience. Worth a visit.”

With nature forming the essence of this small village, many choose to visit England’s oldest trout farm, Bibury Trout Farm, where they can wander the grounds and observe vibrant wildlife. Tucked away within the village, this is a destination where you can catch a fish, hire a barbecue, enjoy a round of Crazy Golf, or simply relax in the welcoming onsite cafe.

One visitor who made the trip to the farm wrote: “We had such a fun trip at Bibury Trout Farm! The grounds were beautifully maintained, everything was clean, and the trout fishing and BBQ experience were fantastic.

“The staff were incredibly friendly, and we really appreciated the effort they made to make our visit enjoyable. Highly recommend it!”.

Should you be considering a day out to Bibury, it’s worth planning your parking arrangements ahead of time to avoid causing unnecessary disruption to the village. Where possible, experts advise visiting during the off-peak season and mid-week to ensure a more relaxed experience.

WATCHING the morning sun sparkle on an immaculate padel court as the first players warm up, I can’t help but admire their dedication.

I, however, have a different priority in mind and a few minutes later I’m settled at a shaded table on a flower-filled terrace, enjoying breakfast of omelette, mini tortillas and crushed tomatoes on crusty bread.

Fellow guests in their pristine tennis whites head towards yet more courts as the Andalusian sun rises into a clear blue sky.

Perhaps later. For me, the comfy Balinese beds beside the terrace pool are calling.

And that’s the joy of the Higueron Hotel Malaga Curio Collection by Hilton on Spain’s Costa del Sol.

There are sporting and spa facilities that would put a posh country club to shame — and all sorts of indulgent ways to do very little but soak up all that sunshine.

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Don’t let the name fool you though.

While it has Malaga in the title, the hotel actually sits in the hills directly above the bustling, British beach favourites of Benalmadena and Fuengirola.

Malaga city itself — with its Picasso Museum and buzzing tapas bars — is an easy 30-minute drive away.

Meanwhile, the superyachts, designer boutiques and champagne-fuelled glamour of Marbella and Puerto Banus sit 30 minutes in the other direction.

Snag yourself a cheap hire car from the airport and the whole coast is your oyster.

But the joy of this hotel is just how much there is to keep you busy without ever leaving the grounds.

The extensive sporting facilities include not just the ten padel and tennis courts, but beach volleyball sand courts and three for basketball as well as indoor and outdoor pools and a huge air-conditioned gym.

The spa is just as comprehensive, with a hydro circuit in its heated pool with pressure jets, massage beds, Jacuzzi and waterfalls.

There’s also a sauna, steam rooms and dedicated rooms for treatments.

Luckily for me, the hotel had plenty to keep non-sporty guests busy.

As well as the main pools and terraces — including a stunning adult-only rooftop infinity pool — there’s also a private beach club on the coast.

A free hotel shuttle whisks you down the hill to yet more comfy lounging spots, a pool and two superb restaurants.

And what could be more indulgent on a sunshine break than food created by a Michelin-starred chef?

There are seven a-la-carte restaurants in the hotel and the beach club, three of which have menus designed by award-winning chef Diego Gallegos.

While the Michelin-starred Sollo has tasting menus at £150pp, you can still enjoy the chef’s creations at funky fusion restaurant Arara.

Its £51 tasting menu features Brazilian, Peruvian and Andalusian flavours with a South East Asian twist, with eight courses designed to be shared by diners.

For daytime indulgences, catch more chef- inspired dishes at the beach club, including clams cooked in sherry with flying fish roe and delicious prawns in a spicy pil pil sauce.

Rooms in the main resort are ultra-modern — opt for a deluxe for stunning views of the resort and Mediterranean beyond.

And if you’ve really got cash to splash, the exclusive Leiro Suites are another level.

There’s more space, Scandi designs and funky balcony furniture.

But you’ll also get the choice of breakfast at the rooftop Infinity restaurant and access to the Balinese beds there and at the Beach Club.

Also included is spa access, free guided sports activity, early check-in and late check-out and parking, as well as priority ­reservations.

The hotel offers the best of the Costa Del Sol and a host of sporting options to keep you fit and healthy.

For me though, those Balinese beds at the Infinity Rooftop are the reason

I’ll definitely be returning for the stunning views — and the most chilled of snoozes.

I was lucky enough to visit this gorgeous island and I can’t wait to go back.

Summer is here, and with that comes summer holidays. Living in the UK, we’re blessed to have Europe on our doorstep – but with so many options, how can you decide where you want to go? There’s the popular spots of course, places like Barcelona in Spain or Mykonos in Greece.

However, these destinations can quickly become overrun with other tourists who have had the same idea as you and what should have been a relaxing break can soon become an overcrowded nightmare.

Luckily, there are plenty of places that are just as beautiful but without the sky-high price tag and teeming crowds. One such place is a charming Greek island, just a few hours ferry ride from the bustling capital of Athens.

I was lucky enough to visit this island a few years ago, and it absolutely blew my mind.

It’s got the bright blue and shining white buildings that are iconic of Greece, as well as the crystal clear beaches – some of which look like they’ve been plucked straight from another planet.

There’s charm in every corner of the cobbled streets, as well as delicious food and laid-back beachfront bars.

This paradise is Paros, a pear-shaped island in the middle of the Aegean Sea. It’s the perfect spot to base yourself if you fancy a bit of island hopping, with its even quieter sister island, Antiparos, just minutes away by boat.

When you step off the boat at the main Paros port in Parikia, you are greeted by gorgeous beaches and a market square lined with tavernas and bars.

Bougainvillaea grows across the narrow streets, and there are plenty of boutique shops to explore, too.

Sleepy cats wander to and fro across the alleys, and if you fancy taking a day trip, you can hire a car, scooter or even a buggy to travel across the island to the other village of Naoussa.

Here, the town buzzes with life, and you can eat some of the tastiest seafood, freshly caught. It’s also home to one of the island’s most stunning beaches.

Kolymbithres looks alien due to its large, clay rock formations that line the bright blue, calm ocean.

If you fancy it, you can hire a sunbed – but the rock formations make a perfectly good bed in of themselves.

Some sections are small enough for one or two, while other, larger recesses can fit dozens. It’s a fabulous place to spend the day, dipping in and out of the water and sunning yourself on the white-washed cliffs that surround it.

Behind the bay, there are a few bars and taverns where you can buy drinks and snacks, then carry them back over to the beach. Make sure to take all your rubbish with you to avoid spoiling this beautiful bay.

This picturesque English gem boasts rich history, stunning stone houses and scenic nature walks that keep drawing visitors from around the globe

When it comes to getting away, sometimes a staycation is the ideal choice. Not only do you avoid the hassle of travelling to and from the airport, sidestep delays and save a small fortune on parking fees, but the UK really is quite remarkable.

One English village has previously been named among the finest in the world. In 2021, FBM Holidays named Castle Combe in Wiltshire as the prettiest place in the UK.

Meanwhile, property experts handpicked the location as part of The Daily Mail’s list of 24 villages to live in 2025.

Castle Combe boasts a fascinating history and is utterly charming thanks to its stone cottages and scenic countryside walks.

The village itself sits on the borders of Gloucestershire, Berkshire, Dorset to the south and Somerset, so you can expect to be immersed in breathtaking scenery.

Castle Combe is not only beautiful but has also appeared in numerous films, including The Wolf Man, Stardust and War Horse. Not to mention it featured in the original Dr Doolittle film and featured in popular TV show Downton Abbey.

Things to do in Castle Combe, Wiltshire

St Andrew’s church is among the must-see attractions, with the building dating back to the 13th century.

It features a faceless clock which ranks as one of the oldest functioning clocks in Britain. The church holds a Google rating of 4.6 online, with one visitor commenting: “Very picturesque church from the outside. We had a wander around inside.

“It’s free to get in but with a suggested £1 donation which is reasonable. There’s a faceless clock inside which I’ve never seen before!”

Another wrote: “Was not able to go inside but nice to walk around outside. A typical English village church in a very nice setting.”

A third simply commented: “St Andrews Church is set in the beautiful village of Castle Combe.”

Another historic landmark in Castle Combe is The Market Cross, which dates back to the 14th century.

Visitors flocking to the site have awarded it an impressive 4.4 Google rating, with one traveller writing: “Nice historical place. Really preserved well and very scenic.”

Another commented: “Great when you finally get to take a photo with no people sitting all around it.”

A third said: “Scenic, dreamy, beautiful place, almost hidden away. We had a great experience, visited on a weekday, it was decently crowded. It could be difficult to find a parking spot especially, on weekends. Nevertheless, I recommend this place.”

There’s more than meets the eye with this picture-perfect market town, jam packed with independent shops and an idyllic river meandering through, as rowing boats pass by

Away from the hustle and bustle of London life, just a little further down the Thames, is a much quieter tow where people are flocking for an escape into independent shops and riverside walks.

With a real sense of vibrancy about it, this Buckinghamshire town is being put on the map as it continues to evolve into a cool and quirky hotspot for the capital’s commuters. Not just that, but for people wanting a day trip that feels a lot more wholesome and doesn’t cost quite as much.

Marlow is one to watch, especially for those looking to relocate out of the city. Its location along the River Thames makes for a peaceful spot, which could compare to the likes of Richmond or Cambridge, where people can hire both rowing boats and self-driving boats to explore the town from the water.

What makes it most recognisable to passers-by or those travelling through is its eye-catching suspension bridge which spans the River Thames, joining Buckinghamshire with Berkshire. It first opened in 1832 and has been somewhat of a landmark for the area ever since, as a distinctive feature that helped the town to grow as an inland port.

High Street

The charming town is made up of historic streets with listed buildings and an abundance of independent boutiques, cafes and bistros, adding to the atmosphere of the place. But above all, it’s Marlow’s High Street that has received the most considerable amount of attention. Recently, when it was dubbed the best in the UK.

Estate agent Knight Frank named the UK’s best high streets after the property experts took a look at some of the streets that offer the most charm, and this was their favourite. Their focus was on the areas that home buyers were flocking to, and Marlow came out as a seriously desirable spot that they described as both “charming and lively”.

Matt Davies, partner at Knight Frank, said: “We tend to see a slightly younger buyer base in Marlow, driven in large part by its outstanding educational institutions, including grammar schools such as Sir William Borlase’s.”

There’s an endless amount of unique little shops selling clothing, gifts, homeware, stationery and more. Some of the standout stalls include the gift shop Twenty Three Living, The Marlow Bookshop, URU Home and Saddle Safari, all joined by an array of local pubs, cafes, galleries and salons.

Marlow has also made a name for itself in the realm of food, with high-end chefs operating out of the area and it being home to Michelin-star cuisine. Celeb chef Tom Kerridge runs a pub in the heart of the town named The Hand of Flowers, a short walk off of the high street, which stands as the only UK pub to hold an impressive two Michelin stars.

A customer described their experience at the highly acclaimed pub on TripAdvisor. They said: “Service was excellent from the minute we arrived, and the atmosphere in the restaurant was great. We’d highly recommend!”

And of course, like any higher-end high street, it’s home to The Ivy and other high street chains such as Zizi, as well as having smaller bistros and traditional pubs to choose from.

LESS than two hours from the UK is a fairytale-like city that is getting easyJet flights for the first time.

EasyJet is launching a new route between the UK and Nuremberg in Germany from three UK airports this year.

Flights to Nuremberg will head off from Manchester, London Luton and London Gatwick.

Manchester flights will start on November 2, flying on Mondays and Fridays.

Then in London, Gatwick flights will start on November 19 flying on Thursdays and Sundays and Luton flights will start on November 23 flying on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.

Flights will cost from £31.99 per person.

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You may have heard of or even watched Nuremberg the film, but how much do you actually know about the city?

When in the medieval city make sure to head to the Imperial Castle (Kaiserburg), which looks over the city and Old Town.

Between 1050 and 1571, every Holy Roman Emperor lived at the castle and today visitors can see the main imperial palace, with different floors for different groups of nobility.

Visitors can head around the grounds for free, but if they want to go inside any of the buildings they’ll need to get a ticket.

There’s also Weißgerbergasse, which is one of the city’s only streets to survive the Second World War and is lined with colourful timber-framed houses.

The street is home to a number of independent cafes as well as galleries.

For some more souvenir shopping, drop by the Craftsman’s Courtyard where you can watch live sessions of artists making pottery, glass ornaments and keepsakes.

For history fans, you can learn more about the Nuremberg Trials at the East Wing of the Palace of Justice.

Here you can tour Courtroom 600, which is where the international war crimes trials were held and above the courtroom you will find an exhibition about the trials.

When exploring the city, make sure to also drop by Zum Gulden Stern, which is an 800-year-old bratwurst kitchen.

Inside, the restaurant has an old-world feel – ideal for enjoying with one of the kitchen’s famous hand- grilled, smokey pork sausages.

And for something sweeter, try Lebkuchen, which is Nuremberg’s version of gingerbread.

And with flights launching in time for the festive season, it is ideal for a winter break to one of Europe’s oldest Christmas markets.

The Christkindlesmarkt dates back to the 16th century and visitors can explore around 180 wooden stalls, with red and white striped roofs.

Mass produced, plastic items are banned from being sold at the market, so instead you’ll find traditional handmade gifts including collectible figurines.

The new flight route comes as easyJet has also announced it will be launching other new routes,including to Morocco, France and Egypt.

Flights from London Luton to Rabat in Morocco will launch on November 5.

Over at London Southend Airport, flights to Lyon in France will start on December 3, with flights on Thursdays and Sundays.

A route between London Southend to Sharm El Sheikh in Egypt will start in the new year on January 4, with flights each Monday and Friday.

The airline is also expanding flights to Budapest in Hungary, from Bristol, Belfast and Liverpool airports.

Scotland will get a new service as well, between Edinburgh to Tromsø, Norway from November 30.

And over in Manchester, there will be flights to Vienna, Austria, launching on November 19.

Isle of Man will get its first international route with the airline, to Geneva, starting on December 19.

THE most beautiful pubs in the UK have been revealed – ranging from historic inns to more modern upgrades.

The winners were named in Camra’s Pub Design Awards, across a number of different categories.

The Historic England Conservation Award was given to the pub which “carefully preserved the pub’s historical architectural features“.

Coming out on top is Woodman in Birmingham, which dates back to 1897 when it was a public house for Ansells Brewery,

Since then, it has undergone a £300k renovation back in 2024, which saw the restoration of the Victorian tile walls as well as the woodwork throughout.

It is also right by Old Curzon Street Station, part of the new HS2 line which will open in 2030.

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Two winners were named for the Conversion to Pub Use award, which is for buildings that were not originally built as pubs.

One of the winners is Blue Stoops in London, which used to be a wine bar.

Found near Notting Hill Gate Station, it has been turned into a pub by Allsopp’s Brewery and since its opening, people have raved about the food menu as well as the atmosphere.

The pub is a joint winner with St Peter’s Tavern in Liverpool, which is a converted Roman Catholic Church.

Much of the grand interiors remain, including the Lady Chapel and original alter.

The Leyton Engineer pub in London won the Refurbishment Award.

It originally opened in 2012 as a pop up pub for the Olympics, taking over Leyton Town Hall, and reopened in 2024 after a huge revamp.

And the Community Local Award went to Lord Southampton in London, which was praised for being a space for local groups.

Pub Design Awards judging panel chair Andrew Davison said: “In these troubled times, the pub still has a key role to play in our communities, and those who are working to conserve, repair and renovate them should rightfully be applauded.

“The Pub Design Awards recognise the extraordinary amount of effort, the imagination and design, plus high-quality craftsmanship which have gone into all of these projects”

Claudia Kenyatta and Emma Squire, co-CEOs of Historic England, added: “Pubs continue to be cherished historic spaces for people across the country.

“Each pub is distinct, telling the story of the community they stand within and continue to serve.”

SWIMMING with sharks in the dark and no cage? Well that is a Jaws-droppingly bold idea.

Just a couple of hours after arriving at the Sun Siyam Iru Veli resort in the Maldives, and being wowed by my over-the-water villa, I’d plunged straight into the aquatic action with an intense but exhilarating experience.

My group of five guests would be night swimming by a coral reef with nurse sharks, which are generally docile around humans.

But they are up to 10ft long and have around 75 teeth!

As the sun set over the Indian Ocean, we gathered at the dive centre to get kitted out and be briefed by guides Alex and Ammaday.

I’m an experienced snorkeller, but it took me a while to get the hang of following the group and coping with the current and waves.

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I was definitely not hanging back to avoid being first on any shark buffet.

Armed with underwater torches, we spotted colourful fish and corals before several nurse sharks swam towards us, some of which were 8ft in length. Absolutely fin-credible.

It is one of various extra-charge activities (£80pp) at the cosy five-star all-inclusive resort in Dhaalu Atoll, now with Privé Collection status after Maldivian-owned Sun Siyam rebranded to mark its 35th anniversary last year.

And now that the Foreign Office has scrapped its advice against travel to destinations such as Doha, flights to this sun-soaked hotspot will be smooth again.

The bucket-list experiences don’t end with sharks.

Another on offer at this resort is the chance to be “cast away” on a desert island, a couple of miles offshore and only accessible by speedboat.

Just us and a resort host on a 200-yards-long by 30-yards-wide sandbar surrounded by pristine sea that’s perfect for snorkelling.

Like the radio show, your Desert Island Discs-covery comes with a “luxury item” — a Japanese bento box and prosecco lunch under a sunshade to refuel you while you enjoy blissful seclusion (experience costs £158pp).

There are plenty of activities included in the price of a stay, too, including guided daytime snorkel tours of the house reef (I found Nemo) and a trip to neighbouring island Ban’didhoo, where some of the 125-villa Iru Veli’s staff live.

Most of the 600 inhabitants work in the fishing industry and our guide Altho showed us the marina where mackerel, yellowfin and bluefin tuna are landed.

To stop overfishing, only rod and line is legal.

After checking out the 17th-century coral-walled mosque, kids’ parks, outdoor gyms and a football ground financed by Sun Siyam, I nosed around a souvenir shop, a 24/7 convenience store (Maldivian WD-40, who knew?) and the small shipyard by the beach.

While there are no resorts on this local island, there is one guest house, the friendly Divhoni, with clean rooms from £55 a night B&B. It’s well worth seeing where Maldivians actually live and work.

As for the other excursions, guests staying at Iru Veli are also entitled to a complimentary sunset cruise to spot dolphins, and £77pp spa credit or scuba, if PADI certified.

All of the swimming and snorkelling requires high energy and the resort’s restaurants can certainly help with that.

Much as I liked the food at the Aqua Orange main buffet, which is included in the price of a stay (the butter chicken curry with ginger pickle was awesome), the most memorable meal was at extra-charge Japanese-themed Teppanyaki, with incredible egg juggling, groan-worthy jokes and stellar chicken, steak, lobster and yellowfin tuna from chef Irvan (set menu £108pp and veggie £71pp). No prizes for guessing where the tuna came from.

One paradise island is never enough, though, and I spent the second half of my week at Sun Siyam’s five-star Iru Fushi resort in the North Male Atoll; like Iru Veli, a 45-minute seaplane transfer from the international airport.

And no sooner had I arrived than I was leaving!

Wild horses couldn’t normally drag me away from a tropical beach, but the throbbing 200 horsepower of a four-seater white “Rolls-Royce” jet car was irresistible.

After a briefing, I was behind the wheel of the £51,000 car-boat, driving across the ocean and getting 007 vibes like the scene with the aquatic Lotus Esprit in the movie The Spy Who Loved Me.

But you don’t have to be a secret agent facing down metal-mouthed baddie Jaws to bag this showstopper.

Starting at £94 for two, you can take the jet car out (escorted by a guide on a jetski) for a thrilling 45mph blast across the ocean that you’ll be telling your mates about for months.

Add drone videos to smash it on socials.

It’s one of various extra-charge activities at the gorgeous Luxury Collection all- inclusive resort.

Others include an Insta-fave floating breakfast in your villa’s infinity pool (£108 for two with fizz).

But there’s so much already included, you can have a brilliant week without spending more than the cost of your holiday in this archipelago of 1,200 islands.

Top of your list will be the Secret Sundowners pop-up bar (alcoholic and non- alcoholic cocktails at Sun Siyam resorts are terrific), wine tasting, kayaking and SUP, guided reef snorkelling and the excellent Sax On The Beach music session.

Food is also a highlight of any Maldives getaway and Sun Siyam’s inclusive restaurants and buffet are so good, you don’t necessarily need to visit a la carte venues.

However, the prawn thermidor I had at Islander’s Grill was sensational.

As was my accommodation, an over-the-water butler-service villa larger than some flats I’ve lived in and with an infinity pool, spa bath and direct sea access.

Iru Fushi has 221 villas and you will rack up your daily steps count getting around this sizeable resort, be it to the dreamy, award-winning Thalgo spa, Fluid bar and its terrific family pool, the adults’ pool and adjacent beachfront No Mistake bar (an unmissable spot), the highly-rated (and included) curry and pan-Asian restaurants or the water sports and dive centre.

You could just lie on the blissful beaches in the Maldives — or you could also drive on the sea like Bond and swim with sharks in the dark.

The choice is Jaws . . . 

THE thought of going on holiday alone may fill many with terror but if you’re struggling to find a travel companion, a solo travel specialist is the perfect solution.

Friendship Travel, which creates sociable breaks for solo travellers, offers trips across the globe, from snowboarding in France to safaris in Kenya, Nile cruises, walking tours, pottery-painting experiences and book-reading breaks.

You can even just flake out on a Caribbean beach.

I’m just back from a watercolour painting week in Olhao, a fishing town in Portugal’s Algarve region.

I have a husband and two grown-up kids who could travel with me, but none of them shares my love of art.

So a week-long retreat with budding painters, coached by an experienced artist, sounded perfect.

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It’s only a two-and-a-half hour flight from Gatwick to Faro in Portugal, so I passed the time reading Plein Air Painting With Watercolours by Grahame Booth, our tutor for the week.

As I flipped through the glossy pages of stunning step-by-step landscapes, I wondered if I would be able to paint as well as he could. Spoiler alert: I would not.

I’d been nervous about travelling alone, but flying solo was so peaceful that the only time I missed having a companion was when I had to drag my 23kg suitcase (included in the trip) off the baggage carousel.

After a 20-minute transfer, I arrived at Casa Rosa, a pretty boutique hotel on a quiet side street near the market and harbour.

It has en-suite bedrooms, plunge pool, sauna, sun terrace, and fully equipped artists’ studio.

On the first night, all the guests were due to meet over dinner in the dining room.

I had my last moment of panic before I left my room that evening, picturing myself either being an immediate outcast or swallowed up by a group of misfits.

But I was wrong on both counts.

There were ten of us, ranging in age from early 20s to mid-80s.

Eight women (including me), Jasper, a very posh elderly gentleman from Dublin, and Grahame, our tutor.

Over the wine and three-course meal (included in the price), we all bonded and shared our reasons for travelling solo.

Some, like Jasper and Kate — a cool, retired film producer from Florida who was travelling with her daughter Liz — were widowed and wanted to spend time with fellow art-lovers.

Others, like Oonagh, a glamorous ex-pat living in Portugal, and Pauline, an outgoing Irish woman who runs her own craft shop, had husbands at home who weren’t keen on painting.

Sue, one of the younger guests, runs art classes online and wanted to pick up new techniques.

It was a fun, chatty group, and as I crashed out in my enormous double bed at 10pm, sipping from the complimentary flask of herbal tea that had appeared on my bedside table, I felt I was among friends.

The week followed an easy routine.

Every morning we’d all meet at 8.30am and eat a buffet-style breakfast together at a long, sunny table outside on the terrace.

There were warm pastries, oats, local honey, cold meats and cheeses, fresh coffee and juice.

To give you an idea of the quality of the food, the jeans I wore flying over to Portugal wouldn’t button up for the journey home.

Then we’d gather up our art materials and Grahame would lead us to a variety of local beauty spots and attempt to teach us how to sketch and paint outdoors.

He is a very funny teacher, who’d regularly offer down-to-earth advice like, “If you can’t draw cars, don’t!” or, “If it looks right when it’s wet, then it’s wrong”.

We all sat behind him, watching in awe as his brush rapidly covered his paper in sloshy, brisk marks that eventually became the bustling outdoor cafe, a calm church or the fish market.

At lunchtime we were left to our own devices and I took to escaping for a Sagres (the local beer) to boost my confidence for the afternoons, when we’d paint our own pictures.

We could either paint out on the streets — where passers-by would pause next to my sketchbook and shoot confused looks between my picture and the landscape I was failing to recreate — or upstairs at the hotel’s own studio.

The three-course dinner each night featured local dishes including quiches, pork, soups and barbecued fish.

The hotel happily catered to the vegetarians and gluten-free guests, as well.

On two nights we went out as a group to a restaurant, and treated locals to a medley of Les Mis songs as we walked back to the hotel.

There was lots of free time to go shopping. Olhao is famous for its hand-made cork, ceramics and mosaics, and one day we all took a boat trip over to Culatra Island.

On the last evening, Grahame organised a critique of everyone’s work.

My nerves returned and I expected him to either set fire to my sketchbook or suggest I book myself on to Friendship Travel’s other activity holidays (pottery painting, perhaps, or book reading), but he was shockingly positive.

And then we had a riotous and boozy last dinner together, with a talent show organised by Pauline.

It’s a week I’d gladly repeat.

The service from Friendship Travel was kind and personal, and I felt supported every minute of the trip.

Mind you, it was lovely to see my husband waiting for me in arrivals — so I could finally stop dragging my own case.

The overcrowding one of the most popular tourist islands in Europe has sparked comparisons to a ‘long toilet line’ – with large crowds gathering as early as 7am

Holidaymakers have been warned a beautiful Greek island and one of the most popular sunshine resorts in Europe has descended into “one long toilet line”.

Travel content creator Mambo Italiano took to X to share footage of the scene recorded at 7am – with dozens of men, women and children tourists queuing into the streets at a photo spot. “Social media trends have turned the world’s most beautiful places into endless bathroom lines at a concert, where everyone waits for hours just to take the same photo to show to people who couldn’t care less,” she ranted in a caption.

“Nothing captures the shallow decay of our time better than this.”

The clip in question was recorded in Oia on the island of Santorini, which is located in the southern Aegean Sea – around 120 miles from the Greek mainland.

Mambo Italiano’s video followed the queue around several corners to reach its end – a lookout point over the crystal-blue sea overlooking Santorini’s famous blue-domed Greek Orthodox churches from an excellent vantage point.

“Oia is an over touristed,” one X user exclaimed in response. “One of the worst places I’ve been. Other parts of Santorini are lovely.”

A second person concurred: “I have to agree – there are much better areas on the island. Oia is good for photos and that’s about it.”

While a third explained: “People are no longer visiting places to see and enjoy. They want to visit and photograph themselves on those places, so then they can post them social media for likes and attention, with the only intent of saying, ‘oh look at me, I was here and you not’ and ‘look how special I am’ etc etc etc.

“That’s the only reason for those long queues, it is not to see and enjoy, it’s only to show off.”

And a fourth X user agreed: “Everything has turned into an influencers Instagram photo shoot. Beautiful places are ruined by main character syndrome narcissists.

“Every new eatery has a grass wall outside the entrance, loud music and serves high priced s*** on a plate.”

According to Greek Trip Planner figures from INSETE and municipal data show approximately 3.4 million visitors reach Santorini through a combination of air arrivals, cruise ship tenders, and inter-island ferries each year.

“The 3.4 million annual visitors produce a ratio of approximately 220 tourists for every resident per year – or, expressed differently, 107.8 tourists per 100 inhabitants at any given time during peak season,” they added.

“This density figure, documented in a 2018 European Commission study, placed Santorini beyond the measurable limits of standard overtourism indicators.”

The airport has won a prestigious architecture award after a huge multi-billion Euro project, and it was the only European location on the list of the world’s most beautiful airports for 2026

The world’s most beautiful airports for 2026 have been announced, and only one European hub has made the list.

Prix Versailles published its World’s Most Beautiful; Airports List 2026, which included airports from around the world, “each one exhibiting extraordinary, distinctive architecture”, according to its press release. Among the winners on the list were Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport in China, and Pittsburgh International Airport in the US.

The sole European destination to make the cut was Frankfurt Airport, which unveiled its brand-new Terminal 3 in April, mostly for passengers taking long-haul flights. The £3.46 billion expansion took over 11 years, and became one of the continent’s largest infrastructure projects.

Sitting on 1.3 square kilometres of land, it’s around the same size as Frankfurt’s core city centre, and it includes a 2,900-square-metre culinary space, 112 check-in counters, premium lounges, and upmarket boutiques.

The terminal is connected to the rest of the airport via a 3-mile-long Sky Line people mover, which can carry up to 4,000 passengers, with the journey taking just eight minutes. Terminal 1 has two train stations connecting the airport to passengers’ final destinations: a Regiobahnhof that takes passengers into the city centre and Fernbahnhof where you can take Germany’s high-speed ICE trains across the country.

Terminal 3 was designed by architect Christoph Mäckler, and the awards announcement said it “was contrived to be a lively urban environment”. It added: “To give travellers a smooth, familiar experience, its piers, boarding gates and lounges emulate the streets and squares of a city. Its aesthetics rely on noble materials in warm tones, like Jura limestone and travertine. Vast spaces, bathed in natural light thanks to large plate glass windows, create a soothing atmosphere while minimising the use of artificial light sources.”

Frankfurt is not generally a city break destination chosen by Brits, but it has a colourful old town with medieval houses and historic charm. Römerberg in particular is popular with tourists, and the cosy half-timbered houses make the perfect backdrop for Frankfurt’s famous Christmas market.

The Städel Museum is another must-visit for tourists, and this vast art gallery has works from the Middle Ages to the present day, as well as impressive visiting exhibitions such as a Monet show that’s on until July 5. If you don’t have much time to see the city, head for the Main Tower, which stands at 240 metres, for impressive 360-degree views.

Frankfurt is also known for being the financial capital of continental Europe, and its financial district is sometimes known as ‘Mainhattan’ after the River Main and its skyline’s resemblance to New York. Wander around and you’ll see lots of unique, contemporary architecture such as the glass-panelled Commerzbank Tower and art-deco style Messeturm.

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