first choice

Sedlec Ossuary, or as it’s more commonly known, the Church of Bones, is an hour away from the capital of Czechia, Prague, and contains eight million individual bones

One of the most disturbing and dark tourist attractions is just three hours from the UK.

While Transylvania and Edinburgh may be go to’s for a gothic aesthetic among travellers looking for a spooky break, the travel experts at First Choice have found something a little darker and more grisly. Nestled in a rural Czech town just an hour from Prague, you’ll find the Sedlec Ossuary, or as it’s more commonly known, the Church of Bones.

The Roman Catholic chapel is decorated with the skeletal remains of between 40,000 – 70,000 individuals. In total, there are more than eight million individual bones in the cathedral of death.

The first Cistercian monastery in Bohemia, founded in 1142, is rich in history. In the 13th century, the spot became a popular burial ground after a monastery abbot consecrated the land with soil from the spot of Jesus’ crucifixion.

OPINION

Milo Boyd

By the 15th century, a new Gothic church had been built at the location, with the lower chapel re-assigned to house the tens of thousands of victims of the Black Plague and Hussite wars. But it was in the 19th century that the ossuary transformed into the creepy hotspot it is today.

Up until this point, the bones had been haphazardly stored in the various crypts, but in 1870 the monastery’s owners hired a local woodcarver named František Rint to artistically arrange the bones and give them a new sense of purpose.

Rint bleached the bones and used them to create the unique decorations visitors can see today, including:

The Chandelier of bones. This is a massive chandelier that hangs from the centre of the nave and is said to contain at least one of every bone in the human body.

Schwarzenberg coat of arms: A coat of arms made entirely of human bones, including a raven pecking the eye of a Turkish soldier’s skull.

Garlands of skulls that are strung from the ceiling.

Bone pyramids, which are four large, bell-shaped pyramids of stacked bones that occupy the corners of the chapel.

While Sedlec Ossuary makes for a perfect spooky Halloween day out, visitors are welcome all year round. In fact, the summer months make for a great time to visit as the chapel offers late-night, candle-lit tours hosted by monks and an organ performance.

Fans of Danny Boyle’s 2025 apocalyptic horror film 28 Years Later might find the spot particularly appealing – with various visual similarities to the film. And with part 2: The Bone Temple set to release in cinemas in Jan 2026, the spot is set to increase in popularity.

Situated in the town of Kutná Hora, a UNESCO World Heritage spot with a tonne of other historical sites to explore, the Ossuary is just over an hour from the capital of Prague making it a great option for a day trip out of the city.

Tours from Prague centre can be organised with travel companies like First Choice, which offers a day-long guided experience of Kutná Hora and the Sedlec Ossuary from just £63 per person, including transfers.

In Prague itself, dark tourists can try everything from ghost walks to concentration camp and abandoned psychiatric hospital tours. Visiting the capital can be very affordable, with stays including flights and accommodation starting at £188pp with First Choice, and food and drink famously on the lower end compared to similar historical capitals like Berlin and Paris.

Pick a stay at the Royal Court Hotel a 19th century royal residence building, now a modern day 4-star in the heart of the city. Prices start from £188pp, based on two adults sharing a double standard room, on a room-only basis for 2 nights, flights departing from London Stansted on 22 January 2026. Hand luggage only and transfers not included.

Travel operator First Choice has named ‘shoulder season’ travel one of their top cheat codes for budget-conscious travellers. These are the best destinations to visit in September and October.

Summer may be over, but this might be the best time of the year to plan your next holiday. The start of ‘shoulder season’ means off-peak pricing for accommodation and flights, making it a great time to explore a new destination.

According to the travel operator, First Choice, you could save up to £240 per booking in September compared to August. While September is still a popular month for late-summer trips, many UK travellers don’t realise the holiday potential of October.

First Choice says October and the beginning of November are ideal for a city break, and they’ve shared some of the best – often overlooked – destinations to find some sun.

What are the shoulder seasons?

Shoulder seasons are the off-peak periods between busy travel seasons like summer and Christmas. Travel in months like September and October can often be slower, as destinations cool down but don’t yet offer the festive fun that Brits are eagerly awaiting. Spring is also a shoulder season, particularly the months of March or April.

What are the best destinations for shoulder-season travel?

If you’re keen for sun close to home, the Mediterranean is your best bet. Specifically, Turkey, Cyprus, Spain and Greece in Europe. The Canary Islands, Morocco or Tunisia in North Africa are also strong options.

If you’re willing to travel a bit further, Dubai is another great option. Additionally, summer hotspots like Seville, Rome and Marrakech present a different side for travellers to discover in the autumn months.

Turkey in September is a top destination for shoulder season holidays, as temperatures hang around 30C. Travellers can enjoy the beachy atmosphere of Antalya and Dalaman with fewer crowds and cheaper prices.

First Choice, says Tenerife is also “a classic all year round” pick. Temperatures cool down to the mid-20s in September, which is still conducive to beach days and hiking trips to Mount Teide. The often crowded summer destination will be significantly quieter during autumn, especially in popular areas like Playa de las Americas and Costa Adeje.

With temperatures of 28C in September – cooling to around 24C in October – don’t discount Majorca in the fall. Palma is packed with impressive features like the Moorish Palace and Arab baths that can be explored and appreciated year-round.

Finally, in Cyprus summer rolls into September, making it a great shoulder season destination. Travellers will have their pick of pristine beaches and can enjoy the island’s historic landmarks without the pushy crowds.

WASHINGTON — Former Vice President Kamala Harris says she would have picked Pete Buttigieg as her running mate last year but America wasn’t ready for the pairing, according to an excerpt of her new book.

Harris writes in an excerpt of “107 Days” published Wednesday in The Atlantic that former President Biden’s transportation secretary was her “first choice,” adding that he “would have been an ideal partner — if I were a straight white man.”

“But we were already asking a lot of America: to accept a woman, a Black woman, a Black woman married to a Jewish man. Part of me wanted to say, Screw it, let’s just do it. But knowing what was at stake, it was too big of a risk,” she writes.

Her thoughts on selecting a running mate come as potential 2028 contenders begin traveling the U.S. in the early days of the second Trump administration.

In the book excerpt, she writes about her love of working with Buttigieg and her friendship with him and his husband, but that the two of them on the Democratic ticket would have been too risky.

“And I think Pete also knew that — to our mutual sadness,” she writes.

It wasn’t immediately clear at what point she decided against Buttigieg, a former South Bend, Indiana, mayor and former intelligence officer in the Navy Reserves. Buttigieg emerged as a national political figure during his 2020 presidential run in which he finished atop the Iowa caucuses.

The Associated Press didn’t immediately hear back from a spokesperson for Buttigieg.

After Biden dropped out of the presidential race in July 2024 following a disastrous debate performance, Harris was left to head up the Democratic ticket.

She picked Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz as her running mate after his attack line against former President Donald Trump and his running mate, then-Ohio Sen. JD Vance — “These guys are just weird” — spread widely. They ultimately lost.

Harris’ book, whose title is referencing the length of her condensed presidential campaign, is set to be published by Simon & Schuster on Tuesday.

Monza, Italy’s Grand Prix home since 1949, offers year-round F1-fuelled attractions at a fraction of the cost. The capital of the Province of Monza and Brianza is about 15km from Milan.

Italian glamour, local history and cheap drinks are all part of the charm in the home of Ferrari.

Whether you’re a long-term F1 fan, are inspired by next week’s F1 film premier, or just have an appreciation of Charles Leclerc, Monza is a good summer holiday spot for racing and non-racing fans alike. It also happens to deliver a lot of trackside vibes, without the eye watering prices.

With the average cost of a Grand Prix ticket costing upwards of £360 and flights, accommodation and expenses bringing the average for travelling to watch a race up to around £790, increasingly popular F1 tourism remains out of reach for many.

Monza, Italy’s Grand Prix home since 1949, offers year-round F1-fuelled attractions at a fraction of the cost. According to travel company First Choice, a two-night trip to Monza starts from £150 for flights and accommodation.

The capital of the Province of Monza and Brianza is about 15km from Milan, with a similar sunny climate and the same Italian charm, but with less of the tourists and a much more relaxed vibe. Compared to the high-energy, fashion-meets-finance, high-flying feeling of Milan, Monza offers a much more laid back, off-the-beaten-track approach.

During race weekend, the city is a hive of F1 activity, but the home of Ferrari is just as motor-mad throughout the year. The Autodromo Nazionale Monza, or the ‘temple of speed’ as it’s locally known, is set in the woodland park of the Royal Villa of Monza and is the oldest purpose-built racetrack in Europe, having been built in 1922. The track is part of F1 lore, hosting the Italian Grand Prix almost every year since the championship began in 1950.

The track offers year-round tour experiences of the paddock, control room, podium, and track for €20 (£17), while on Sundays, you can rent bikes and cycle the track yourself for €10 (£8.50).

For an alternative track experience, the Old Monza Oval, an abandoned high-speed race track from the 1950s, still exists in the Parco di Monza. The Old Oval was constructed in 1955 and operated until 1961 when it was abandoned following a series of deadly crashes caused by the dangerously steep banked track floor which reaches a gradient of 80%.

The track still exists as an overgrown silent homage to Monza racing history, and in 2014 opened to pedestrians and cyclist keen to experience this eery part of F1 history up close.

For a more up-to-date immersive experience, Saint Georges Premier restaurant is a firm favourite of F1 drivers and team-mates as the official hospitality partner for the race. Outside of race weekend, it’s open to the public, with a high-end premium menu of dishes ranging from €18 – €35.

But Monza isn’t all about high price tags. In fact, there are plenty of places to secure a very cheap deal. Speedy Pub is a casual spot, with sandwiches, deli goods and a large range of international beers starting from €3 (£2.50), while Solobirra is a dedicated beer bar with a big local reputation for the owner who knows a thing or two about draft.

For a fully immersive F1 drinking experience, Pit Stop Café is located near to the race circuit, with signed F1 cars on the wall, amazing food, beers and cocktails.

A few days is probably all you’ll need to soak in Monza’s charm, but those looking to stay a little longer can take a day trip to Milan where you’ll find the Ferrari flagship store as well as the Alfa Romeo museum; or an hour train to Maranello which is home Ferrari Factory, Fiorano test track and the Museo Ferrari Maranello.

Trips to Monza with First Choice start at £150 per person, staying at the BandB Hotel Milano – a modern, clean B&B a 15-minute drive from the racetrack.

Price is based on two adults sharing a double standard room, on a room-only basis for two nights, flights departing from London Stansted airport on 29 July 2025. Hand luggage only and transfers not included. For more information check out First Choice.