Oct. 18 (UPI) — U.S. Customs & Border Patrol agricultural specialists at the Port of San Luis in Arizona intercepted an insect not previously identified in the United States: Osbornellus sallus.
CBP Tucson office specialists found the pests during a routine inspection of a radicchio shipment arriving from Mexico at the port halfway between San Diego and Tucson, according to the agency on Friday.
Radicchio is a bitter and spicy leaf vegetable.
The Osbornellus sallus — which is a type of leafhopper that feeds on plants by sucking sap from grasses, trees and shrubs — was sent to an entomologist with the U.S. Department of Agriculture and Plant Health Inspection Service Plant Inspection and Quarantine.
USDA’s National Identification service confirmed it was a “first-in-the-nation” interception, and it is a potential threat to U.S. agriculture.
It was sent back to Mexico in accordance with protocol.
There are at least 105 species of Osboronellius, according to the National Museum of Natural History. Sallus is the Latin species name that translates to salty in English.
“CBP agriculture specialists are highly trained in detecting harmful pests,” Guadalupe Ramirez, director of field operations in Tucson, said.
“We have a great working relationship with our USDA partners and together we protect the nation from a variety of evolving dynamic threats such as invasive pests that could harm the United States’ agriculture resources,” Ramirez said.
CBP’s Office of Field Operations is part of Homeland Security.
The UK’s best food and drink can be found in a market town that’s been dubbed the ‘loveliest town in England’ – and it’s not where you’d expect but has grown in popularity over the years
The unexpected town with the UK’s best food and drink(Image: Alan Morris via Getty Images)
Long hailed by poet John Betjeman as “the loveliest town in England,” Ludlow is also globally recognised for its food and drink scene.
With over 500 listed buildings and a skyline dominated by a Norman castle, Ludlow combines ancient charm with modern appeal, cobbled streets lead to delis, bakeries, cosy pubs and renowned restaurants.
Often referred to as the ‘food and drink capital of the Marches’, Ludlow’s hospitality industry thrives due to its diverse local produce. In 2024, a Which? Travel survey of more than 9,000 people asked participants to rate the food and drink in their favourite inland towns and villages.
Ludlow triumphed as the nation’s top-rated food and drink destination. It was the only inland town to secure a full five stars for food, reports the Express.
As Which? Travel put it: “Instead of a handful of high-end eateries, there’s a culture of local produce as well as numerous pubs and cafes, served by people who care about the food.”
This ethos is reflected on the plate, with a focus on fresh, local ingredients and menus that change with the seasons. TripAdvisor currently ranks Old Downton Lodge as Ludlow’s best restaurant.
Riverside favourite CSONS is another beloved spot for relaxed, quality dining, along with Kin Kitchen and The French Pantry for cafe and bistro-style dining.
Pub lovers are spoilt for choice with establishments including The Queens and The Boot Inn, both receiving rave reviews on TripAdvisor.
Experts from Ludlow Distillery note that the town’s culinary scene thrives thanks to a strong network of food and drink producers, ranging from specialist cheesemakers and bakers to craft brewers and distillers.
They said: “The strength of this offering is best seen (and tasted) by a visit to the Local to Ludlow Market in the Castle Square (where growers and makers based within 30 miles of the town sell a range of high-quality and carefully selected produce), and the award-winning Broad Bean fine food delicatessen on Broad Street.”
The town embraces ‘Slow Food’, a global, grassroots movement with thousands of members worldwide that links gastronomic pleasure with community commitment. Over recent years, the initiative in Ludlow has grown substantially.
Slow Food Ludlow Marches offers year-round events, including visits, talks, demonstrations, meals and Taste Workshops at Ludlow Food Festival in September.
Ludlow Food Festival remains one of the town’s biggest annual events, regularly drawing around 15,000 visitors to Ludlow Castle over three days.
While it has finished for 2025, locals and tourists can look forward to the Winter Festival at Ludlow Castle. Scheduled to take place from 28th to 30th November 2025, the event will showcase local entertainment, mulled wine, and popular favourites from the Ludlow Food Festival.
To make the most of your visit, plan it for the second or fourth Thursday of the month when the Ludlow Local Produce Market is held, featuring food and drink produced within a 30-mile radius.
The stalls emphasise sustainability and seasonality, turning an ordinary shopping trip into a delightful afternoon outing. Beyond Shropshire, Wells was named as the runner-up for inland dining by Which? Travel.
Other places that received accolades include Lavenham in Suffolk, Llangollen in Denbighshire, Stamford in Lincolnshire, and Cartmel in Cumbria. Each offers a unique flavour of a gastronomic getaway.
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The best cities for food have been revealed and they are not all in Italy
15:24, 17 Oct 2025Updated 15:31, 17 Oct 2025
The top destination is also the home of Campari(Image: tifonimages via Getty Images)
When it comes to culinary delights, most people’s minds wander to Italy’s pasta, Japan’s sushi or Mexico’s tacos. However, a study by TasteAtlas has revealed the top foodie destinations around the globe.
The team analysed nearly half a million ratings from 17,073 cities in their database. Interestingly, many of the top-rated locations are just a short hop from the UK, with the majority of the top 10 nestled within Europe.
Naples clinched the top spot, thanks to its status as the birthplace of pizza, lasagna and macaroni.
But this stunning city wasn’t the only Italian gem to make the list, reports the Express.
Milan bagged second place, with its famous dishes such as risotto and panettone earning it high marks.
And let’s not forget that Milan is also the home of Campari, perfect for washing down those delicious meals.
Italy dominated the top three, with Bologna securing third place.
This city is renowned for its spaghetti bolognese, ragu and tortellini.
Despite the Italian dominance, other popular cities like Paris, Vienna and Mumbai also made the cut in the top 10.
Sadly, the UK didn’t manage to crack the top 30, with other notable absences including Hong Kong, Barcelona, Ho Chi Minh, Bangkok, and Amsterdam.
The top 30 best cities for food:
Naples
Milan
Bologna
Florence
Mumbai
Rome
Paris
Vienna
Turin
Osaka
Madrid
New York
Genoa
Nice
Lima
Jakarta
Kyoto
Gaziantep
Ferrara
New Orleans
Catania
Singapore
Venice
Istanbul
Tokyo
San Francisco
Lisbon
Guadalajara
Chicago
Philadelphia
This comes as Booking.com has unveiled its 2026 Travel Predictions, declaring the year ahead as the era of YOU – where individuality takes the spotlight.
One of the trends they found was Shelf-ie Souvenirs. This is where Brits will look to turn kitchen shelves into cultural showcases.
These shelf-ie souvenirs are moving from fridge magnets to pantry shelves, with travellers increasingly seeking edible and design-led treasures that turn everyday kitchens into showcases of global culture.
This shift is as much about meaning as aesthetics.
More than a quarter (25%) say edible souvenirs help them relive a destination each time they cook, while 24% value how these items showcase local craft, sustainability, and traditional methods.
For others, exclusivity and style play a role, with nearly one in five (16%) choosing destinations for rare souvenirs, limited-edition cookware, or packaging that looks as good on a shelf as it does on social media.
Despite a ceasefire deal with Israel, Palestinians across the devastated Gaza Strip continue to go hungry as food supplies remain critically low and aid fails to reach those who need it most.
As per the ceasefire agreement, Israel was supposed to allow 600 humanitarian aid trucks into Gaza per day. However, Israel has since reduced the limit to 300 trucks per day, citing delays in retrieving bodies of Israeli captives buried under the rubble by Israeli attacks.
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According to the UN2720 Monitoring and Tracking Dashboard, which monitors humanitarian aid being offloaded, collected, delivered and intercepted on its way into Gaza, from October 10-16, only 216 trucks have reached their intended destinations inside Gaza.
According to truck drivers, aid deliveries are facing significant delays, with Israeli inspections taking much longer than expected.
‘Palestinians want food’
While some food aid has trickled in over the past few days, medical equipment, therapeutic nutrition and medicines are still in extremely short supply, despite being desperately needed by the most impoverished, particularly malnourished children.
Reporting from Deir el-Balah, in central Gaza, Al Jazeera’s Hind Khoudary said some commercial trucks have entered Gaza over the past few days, but most Palestinians do not have the ability to buy any of the items they are bringing in as they have spent all of their savings in the past two years.
So far, what has arrived in the trucks includes “wheat, rice, sugar, oil, fuel and cooking gas”, she said.
While food distribution points are expected to open for parcels and other humanitarian aid, people in Gaza have yet to receive them. “Palestinians want food, they want shelter, they want medicine,” Khoudary said.
She added that even 600 trucks a day would be insufficient to meet the needs of Gaza’s entire population.
Palestinians gather to receive food from a charity kitchen, in Nuseirat, central Gaza Strip, on October 7, 2025 [Mahmoud Issa/Reuters]
Food ‘is not a bargaining chip’
The UN humanitarian chief, Tom Fletcher, has urged Israel to open more border crossings for humanitarian aid.
“We need more crossings open and a genuine, practical, problem-solving approach to removing remaining obstacles. Throughout this crisis, we have insisted that withholding aid from civilians is not a bargaining chip. Facilitation of aid is a legal obligation,” Fletcher said.
Since the ceasefire began, 137 World Food Programme trucks have entered Gaza as of October 14, delivering supplies to bakeries and supporting nutrition and food distribution programmes.
With the ceasefire in effect, WFP is now scaling up.
🔹137 trucks have already entered #Gaza — supporting bakeries, nutrition, and food distributions.
🔹170,000+ MT of food ready to move, enough to feed 2M people.
The United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) – the primary and largest organisation providing aid to Palestinians – has faced significant restrictions imposed by Israel.
The agency, which was responsible for delivering food, medical care, education and emergency assistance, says it has enough food aid in warehouses in Jordan and Egypt to supply the people in Gaza for three months.
(Al Jazeera)
This includes food parcels for 1.1 million people and flour for 2.1 million, and shelter supplies sufficient for up to 1.3 million individuals.
However, despite the ceasefire, Israeli authorities are continuing to block them from entering.
UNRWA has enough food outside #Gaza to supply people there for three months, amid desperate need. Our teams stand ready to deliver it.
But despite the #ceasefire, the Israeli Authorities’ block on UNRWA bringing any supplies into Gaza still continues after over 7 months.
As of October 12, at least 463 people, including 157 children, have died from starvation amid Israel’s blockade of the Gaza Strip. Nearly one in four children suffers from severe acute malnutrition.
After prolonged starvation, food must be reintroduced carefully under medical supervision to avoid re-feeding syndrome, a potentially fatal condition in which sudden intake of nutrients causes dangerous shifts in electrolytes, affecting the heart, nerves and muscles. A larger supply of nutritional aid, given safely, could dramatically save lives.
(Al Jazeera)
According to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), 90 percent of children in Gaza less than two years of age consume fewer than two food groups each day, which doesn’t include protein-rich foods.
At least 290,000 children between the ages of six months and 5 years, and 150,000 pregnant and breastfeeding women require feeding and micronutrient supplies.
In addition to this, there are an estimated 132,000 cases of children less than the age of five, and 55,000 pregnant and breastfeeding women projected to be suffering from acute malnutrition by June 2026, if immediate food aid isn’t made available.
THIS is the head-scratching moment a food delivery cyclist can be seen pedalling along the M4 in rush hour traffic.
The bizarre video of the delivery rider was captured by a passerby on a bridge running over the motorway.
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Footage captured shows a delivery rider pedalling along a busy motorwayCredit: Caters
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The scene occurred on the M4 during rush hour trafficCredit: Caters
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A cop car signals for the rider to pull overCredit: Caters
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He is then seen on the side of the road with a number of officers and vehiclesCredit: Caters
Desperately trying to keep up with the traffic, the rider furiously pedals down the motorway road.
Cars speed past on both sides of the road as he takes up an entire lane.
A police car then steers up to the bike with its siren blaring to pull up to the rider.
Unfazed, the man on the bike takes a quick glance over looks over.
A following angle then shows the rider pulled to the side of the motorway.
He is surrounded by three cops, with two more who can be seen approaching.
Three police vehicles are also spotted parked along the roadside to attend the incident.
The video was shared on social media, with a caption which read: “Absolute scenes on the M4.”
Text on the video also says: “I hate to tell you your McDonalds might be cold.”
Several viewers questioned why so many cops were needed for the delivery rider.
One wrote: “Why do they need 3 cop cars for one bro on a pushbike…sure this is overkill? Motorway or not.”
“3 cars vs 1 just eat man on his bike. Sounds legit.”
Moment delivery driver lobs water bottles to passengers through windows of broken-down train after it got stuck in 33C
Others joked about the wait for the food delivery: “Estimated delivery time 6 hours. Yeah.”
“When you set your just eat account to car not bike by mistake,” another wrote.
“Still waiting for my big mac meal…”
Some were more sympathetic to the rider: “He deserves a tip!”
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Users responded to the video posted on social mediaCredit: Caters
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Cops can be see berating the cyclist on the side of the motorwayCredit: Caters
“I feel so bad for him. Cycling his whole way through all the for some food,” another added.
It comes after another delivery rider was spotted passing motorists on the M6 earlier this year.
The Just Eat employee was filmed by a driver on the M6 in Birmingham, West Mids., which was shared to X.
In response to the incident, a Just Eat spokesperson said: “Most delivery drivers delivering food to customers’ doors are employed directly by independent restaurants.
“We do work with third-party courier companies, agency couriers and self-employed independent contractors in certain areas.
“We hold ourselves to the highest standards and in line with these, we would expect all drivers associated with Just Eat to act responsibly and respectfully at all times.”
Oxfam’s Chris McIntosh explains Israel’s war on Gaza has left Palestinians there with little purchasing power, as aid trucks remain stalled at the border despite a ceasefire.
There’s something about Thai cuisine that is warm and welcoming.
Perhaps it’s the fire that bird’s eye chili brings to a dish, or maybe the bold punchiness of tom yum soup.
My colleague and food critic Bill Addison referred to Thai as “a pillar cuisine of Los Angeles.”
And why not?
The city boasts the world’s largest Thai population outside of Thailand. Those who open restaurants open our palates to a diverse range of flavors and sensations from their micro-regional cooking styles.
Addison is wary of using the term “best.” Instead, he crafted a list of his 15 favorite Thai restaurants in Los Angeles. Here, we’ll highlight a handful of those choices, in Addison’s own words.
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If you’ve had any passing interest in Los Angeles dining culture this decade, you probably know the story: Anajak Thai was founded in 1981 by chef Ricky Pichetrungsi, whose recipes merge his Thai upbringing and Cantonese heritage, and his wife Rattikorn.
In 2019, when Pichetrungsi suffered a stroke, the couple’s son Justin left a thriving career as an art director at Walt Disney Imagineering to take over the restaurant.
It changed his life, and it changed Los Angeles, with Justin’s creative individualism — specifically his Thai Taco Tuesday phenomenon.
That’s when the menu crisscrosses fish tacos lit up by chili crisp and limey nam jim with wok-fragrant drunken noodles and Dungeness crab fried rice. Add what has become one of L.A.’s great wine lists, and the restaurant has catapulted into one of the city’s great dining sensations.
The restaurant closed for a couple of months over the summer for a renovation, revealing a brighter, significantly resituated interior — and introducing an open kitchen and a second dining room — in August.
The menu didn’t radically alter: It’s the same multi-generational cooking, tracing the family heritage, leaning ever-further into freshness, perfecting the details in familiar dishes.
Fried chicken sheathed in rice flour batter and scattered with fried shallots, the star of the Justin-era menu, remains, as does the sublime mango sticky rice that Rattikorn makes when she can find fragrant fruit in season and at its ripest.
(Bill Addison / Los Angeles Times)
Ayara Thai (Westchester)
Owner Andy Asapahu grew up in a Thai-Chinese community in Bangkok.
Anna Asapahu, his wife, was raised in Lampang, a small city in the verdant center of northern Thailand.
They melded their backgrounds into a sprawling multi-regional menu of soups, salads, noodles and curries when they opened Ayara in Westchester in 2004.
Their daughters Vanda and Cathy oversee the restaurant these days, but Anna’s recipe for khao soi endures as the marquee dish.
Khao soi seems to have become nearly as popular in Los Angeles as pad Thai. This one is quintessential: chicken drumsticks braised in silky coconut milk infused with lemongrass and other piercing aromatics, poured over egg noodles, sharpened with shallots and pickled mustard greens and garnished with lime and a thatch of fried noodles.
The counterpoints are all in play: a little sweetness from palm sugar and a lot of complexity from fish sauce, a bump of chile heat to offset the richness.
Pair it with a standout dish that reflects Andy’s upbringing, like pad pong kari, a stir-fry of curried shrimp and egg with Chinese celery and other vegetables, smoothed with a splash of cream and served over rice. The restaurant has a spacious dining room.
Note that lunch is technically carry-out only, though the family sets up the patio space outside the restaurant for those who want to stick around.
(Silvia Razgova / For The Times)
Holy Basil (Atwater Village)
Wedchayan “Deau” Arpapornnopparat and Tongkamal “Joy” Yuon run two wholly different Holy Basils.
Downtown’s Santee Passage food hall houses the original, a window that does a brisk takeout business cranking out Arpapornnopparat’s visceral, full-throttle interpretations of Bangkok street food.
His pad see ew huffs with smokiness from the wok. The fluffy-crackly skin of moo krob pops and gives way to satiny pork belly underneath. Douse “grandma’s fry fish and rice” with chile vinegar, and in its sudden brightness you’ll understand why the dish was his childhood favorite.
Their sit-down restaurant in Atwater Village is a culmination of their ambitions. The space might be small, with much of the seating against a wall between two buildings, but the cooking is tremendous.
Arpapornnopparat leaps ahead, rendering a short, revolving menu of noodles, curries, chicken wings, fried rice and vegetable dishes that is more experimental, weaving in elements of his father’s Chinese heritage, his time growing up in India and the Mexican and Japanese flavors he loves in Los Angeles.
One creation that shows up in spring but I wait for all year: fried soft-shell crab and shrimp set in a thrilling, confounding sauce centered around salted egg yolk, browned butter, shrimp paste and scallion oil. In its sharp left turns of salt and acid and sultry funk, the brain longs to consult a GPS. But no map exists. These flavor combinations are from an interior land.
(Illustrations by Lindsey Made This; photograph by Kevin Winter / Getty Images)
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There’s a perfect destination for Brits looking to escape the dreary weather this October – whether you’re looking for family fun in a vibrant resort, or peace and quiet in a truly unique landscape
Flamingo Beach (Playa Flamingo) is a sheltered, white-sand beach in the south of Lanzarote(Image: Getty Images)
With the temperatures dropping in the UK, many of us are looking for a last-minute break to soak up some final sunshine. And there is a destination just a short flight away that promises warm weather, beautiful beaches, delicious food and a host of fun activities – perfect for half term!
Lanzarote forms part of the Canary Islands; a Spanish island group located off the coast of Africa. It’s a popular tourist destination, and with good reason. Located just a four-hour flight away, its all-inclusive resorts are particularly popular with holidaymakers on a budget, and there are also more high-end options if you feel like treating yourself.
Whether you are looking for lively tourist resorts or inland villages with peace and quiet there’s something for everyone, with large hotels of the coastal towns coexisting with rural houses, villas and boutique hotels.
October is also the perfect time to visit Lanzarote if you’re after sunshine, with an average of 7 hours daily, and a comfortable peak temperature averaging 26.8C, and 19C at its coolest during the night.
Rain during this month is at most moderate with an average of 11mm, and in comparison to the summer months, the wind speed also drops during October to around 11.1mph.
Then there’s the landscape. Lanzarote has it all; mountains, lunar-style craters, black sand beaches, red terrain, white sands, beautiful azure seas, and even a live volcano – Mount Timanfaya – complete with centuries-old lava fields.
One of Lanzarote’s biggest draws are its beaches, including Playa Blanca, Arrecife and Puerto del Carmen. And there’s plenty on offer for waterbabies, too, with surfing, kiteboarding, windsurfing and scuba diving available.
Many of the island’s beaches are perfect for the smaller family members, as they are protected from waves and currents, as are the natural pools that have formed in the shelter of lava flows after eruptions.
There are also beaches for those who like waves and long walks by the sea, or alternatively lively beaches and marinas with all leisure services, restaurants and shops.
If seafood is your thing, then you’re in luck. Fresh produce, from squid and tuna, to prawns and octopus, you can tuck into some delicious dishes. Or, of course, you can opt for some typical Spanish specialities, like paella.
Lanzarote is also home to almost 20 commercial vineyards and many more private growers.
White has been the main wine from the native Malvasia, Moscatel and Diego grape varieties. In addition Lanzarote has some lovely reds from the Listan Negro and increasingly Syrah varieties. Book in for a tasting session or a vineyard tour to see what’s on offer.
Josie North, who has a nut allergy, faced a “very scary situation” on a flight from Los Angeles, California, to Heathrow Airport and complained to the Virgin Atlantic team
04:08, 11 Oct 2025Updated 07:27, 11 Oct 2025
Josie North recounted her experience on the flight(Image: Jam Press/@josienorth988)
A tourist with a severe nut allergy was left terrified after a pecan pie was primed to be served as a dessert on her flight.
Josie North alerted Virgin Atlantic attendants of her allergy and was assured no nuts would be served on the plane from Los Angeles to London Heathrow. However, just 15 minutes into the 10-hour journey Josie spotted the nutty dessert offering on the menu, and immediately called over an attendant.
The 28-year-old Brit, who is allergic to all types of nuts, said today: “I felt sick to my stomach. There was a chance I could die if that many people around me were eating nuts all at once.
“I told him [the attendant] there was just no way this pecan pie could be served. This was a very scary situation for me. If I was told they were serving actual nuts, and everyone around me is going to be eating nuts, I wouldn’t have got on the flight.”
But Virgin Atlantic staff had spoken to Josie to assure her flight attendants would accommodate her needs ahead of the flight last month. Josie, who runs a party card games business, was told Virgin is a peanut-free airline only, and so she insisted on speaking to another member of staff on the plane.
“I was very adamant that this was a very, very dangerous situation for me, especially as we were already in the air at this point,” Josie, from London, said. Eventually, the captain was involved and agreed the pie should be removed from the menu and replaced with Oreos and KitKats.
But Josie wants to raise awareness of her experience, and remind large organisations of the dire dangers of allergies. When she boarded the flight, the entrepreneur asked the attendant to make an announcement to let other passengers know someone on board had a nut allergy. She claims the employee only announced someone had a peanut allergy – while Josie is allergic to all nuts.
A “persistent” Josie insisted they do a second announcement, which they did, but shortly afterwards, she was horrified to see the nut dish on the menu.
Josie said: “I understand it might not be easy to eliminate anything that may have been contaminated by or made in the same factory as nuts.
“But to actively include food items that contain nuts on a flight is extremely dangerous and unnecessary. I’m sure most people go hours and if not days without having a single nut on land so why is it so necessary to have nuts mid-air with no access to emergency hospital treatment?
“I’m sure people would be equally as happy with a chocolate brownie or an apple crumble for their dessert! And there may even be children on the flight who don’t even know if they have nut allergies yet ” so what is the point in serving such a common allergen?”
A Virgin Atlantic spokesperson said: “We’d like to apologise to Ms North for any incorrect information she may have received prior to her recent flight with us.
“We would like to reassure her that a full investigation is taking place. The health and safety of our customers is always our top priority and for any special requirements including allergies we ask that customers inform our Accessible Travel Services teams in advance of their flight.
“For the safety of any customers travelling with an allergy we would strongly encourage customers to take all necessary precautions including bringing their own subsistence on board and to prepare for the possibility of inadvertent exposure.”
AN outdoor pool is the centrepiece of any self-respecting holiday resort.
Sunshine, sunloungers and kids trying to sink each other’s inflatables.
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The Love2Stay glamping resort in Shropshire boasts an impressive natural swimming poolCredit: Supplied
But this was no ordinary swimmingpool. This was a NATURAL pool — nestled in the Shropshire countryside.
No nasty chemicals in this water. It’s split into two zones — one side for swimming and the other filled with reeds and water lilies.
The swimming area has clean edges just like a regular pool, but the water is naturally filtered by sunlight and the plantsnext to it.
The normal electric-blue hue and chlorine pong we’ve swam in all our lives is gone.
This is just clear water, like swimming in a mountain stream.
Which was appropriate as we were staying at Love2Stay glamping resort, within sight of the River Severn.
It offers 36 glamping units, including safari lodges, and 120 camping pitches, all set on a gently sloping hillside just outside Shrewsbury.
Its Biotop natural pool is one of only a handful open to the public in the UK.
And there’s also a lake with paddleboarding and kayaking, archery lessons, arts and crafts, gym, assault course and a nature trail.
We stayed in one of the site’s glamping barns. Outside, each has a private hot tub, firepit with starter bag of logs, giant hammock and beanbags.
The Lord of the Rings-style accommodation near one of the UK’s most beautiful towns
Inside there’s a well-equipped open-plan kitchen, double bedroom and upstairs mezzanine for the kids to sleep on.
We were treated to a luxury food hamper on arrival, which comes with breakfast and dinner included.
Victorian fair
And we’re talking proper full English with fresh local ingredients and giant field mushrooms for the veggies.
There’s no shop on site — Sainsbury’s is a five-minute drive away — but the cafe serves hearty breakfasts and wood-fired pizzas in the evening.
You could spend the whole weekend without leaving the park but that would mean missing out on Shrewsbury’s medieval lanes.
We boarded the Sabrina boat, a charming 45-minute cruise that loops the River Severn. With tea, coffee and a wonderful commentary, it’s the best way to see the town’s historic riverside.
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The historic town of Shrewsbury is worth going to visit, and strolling down medieval lanesCredit:
Bridges swoop overhead as you admire Charles Darwin’s alma mater Shrewsbury School.
While the naturalist is widely seen as Shrewsbury’s most famous son, don’t forget T-Pau’s Carol Decker, who lived above the nearby boathouse.
And the beautiful green spaces surrounding it were transformed by TV gardening legend Percy Thrower.
Just down the road lies the Ironbridge Gorge, which has been transformed into the Valley of Invention and a Unesco World Heritage Site.
Here the Industrial Revolution was forged at the Coalbrookdale furnaces, and the gorge is now home to six museums.
The Iron Bridge, opened in 1781, still stands as a marvel of its time when it became the world’s first bridge made entirely of cast iron.
We took a circular walk up the side of the gorge, which gave us spectacular views of the valley.
Then we headed to Blists Hill Victorian Town. It’s a living film set, a cross between a Western and Great Expectations.
Enormous ironwork and industrial relics from its blast- furnace past sit alongside a lovingly recreated Victorian High Street.
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The glamping accommodation features a modern open-plan kitchen and living areaCredit:
Staff in period clothing are working as they would have 150 years ago, making candles, baking bread and hammering iron at the blacksmith’s.
If you want your kids to know what life was really like before wifi, you can enrol them in the Victorian school. A stern Miss gives period lessons with a stick and hoop.
There’s a fish-and-chips shop wrapping cod in the village newspaper, and even a traditional Victorian boozer — complete with a sing-song knees-up in the afternoon.
And there’s a full Victorian fairground, with steam-powered rides, coconut shy and swingboats.
If you like your Victoriana with even more Clarkson’s Farm, Acton Scott Heritage Farm has reopened after a five-year break.
In its barns and yards, you can meet the wool-spinners and press Shropshire apples. The schoolroom is now a cafe serving local produce.
Back at Love2Stay, we cranked the firepit to industrial temperatures for marshmallows and mapped out our expeditions into the Shropshire Hills to see the ponies on Long Mynd.
It’s perfect for families who like a touch of luxury when they’re in the great outdoors.
GO: Emstrey, Shropshire
STAYING THERE: Love2Stay at Emstrey, Shrewsbury, has lodges, cabins and camping pitches. Open year round, prices start from £125 per night for a Laurel Lodge, sleeping up to six. See love2stay.co.uk.
OUT & ABOUT: Sabrina Boat Tour, family ticket from £30.50 for two adults and two children.
See sabrinaboat.co.uk. Acton Scott Heritage farm tickets from £16 for adults, £8 for six to 16 years, under six free.
See actonscottheritagefarm.org.uk. Ironbridge Pass gives access to all museums for a year and starts from £38 for an adult or £99 for a family of two adults and up to four children. See ironbridge.org.uk.
As I fell asleep in a tent to the sounds of waves crashing on the beach and no cell phone service anywhere in the vicinity, I thought, this is the respite I needed. That is, until the wee hours of the morning when I heard something rumbling.
I slowly unzipped the tent door, poked my head out and saw it: a lone bison head-butting a picnic table, lifting one end into the air with alarming ease. I quickly snuck back into my hideaway and stayed quiet, listening to the gnarled sounds of this massive animal grazing just feet away from me.
A North American Bison roams free and grazes near Little Harbor campground in Catalina
(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
The experience of bikepacking around Catalina Island was more than I had expected — both in its natural beauty and in its surprises. Within two days, 40-plus miles and some 5,000 feet of elevation, I was gobsmacked by the vistas, the morning light on the canyons and the solitude on the campground — aside from the abundant wildlife.
While not an “easy” trip (did I mention 5,000 feet in elevation?), the route from Catalina’s East End to Little Harbor and back to Avalon is one I’d recommend to both experienced adventurers and those newer to bikepacking, a blend of cycling and backpacking. It just requires some planning. Here’s what you should know, from getting your bike pass to planning out your stops.
Before the trip
The author’s bike of choice for this trip: a Surly Pugsley.
(James Murren)
Make your bicycle, camping and Catalina Express reservations
All cyclists on Catalina Island must have a Freewheeler Bike Pass, which can be obtained by purchasing a Catalina Island Conservancy membership. The cheapest $50 membership gets you one bike pass for the year, along with free admission to the Wrigley Memorial & Botanic Garden, discounts on Catalina Island campsites and other perks.
Camping reservations are also made through the Catalina Island Conservancy website. I reserved one night at Little Harbor Campground, but if I were to do it again, I would book two nights.
To get to and from Catalina, take the Catalina Express, which runs multiple trips a day from three locations in the Los Angeles area. When purchasing your ticket, you’ll pay a separate “additional article” fee to bring your bike onto the ferry.
What to pack
The essentials at the Little Harbor Campground.
(James Murren)
Your bike. I decided to bring my Surly Pugsley fat bike simply because I love my state of mind when I’m on it. I feel like I’m going with the flow, stopping and taking pictures and having a good time. Time is not of the essence. A gravel or mountain bike will work fine on Catalina. E-bikes with pedals are also permitted and hard-shelled helmets are required for all bikers.
Bikepacking bags, a sleeping pad and sleeping bag. Just note that you’re allowed two pieces of luggage on the Catalina Express.
Clothes. Bring whatever you like to ride in and sleep in at night. I’d suggest a light puffy jacket if there’s no rain in the forecast, and pants and thermal leggings to keep the chill off. If rain is expected, pack appropriately, but also know that the Conservancy does shut down the trails and roads if the conditions seem dangerous.
Food. Sustenance for an overnighter can be covered by using the Airport in the Sky Restaurant near the Catalina Airport as a feed station. You can also fill your water containers there. Have a nice-sized meal at the café and buy what you need to eat while on your bike. I had the café pack me a sandwich for camping that evening. You can also bring food supplies with you or stop by Vons on the island to get what you need. At Little Harbor Campground, there is potable water, along with Porta Potties and cold showers.
Note: Fuel canisters/containers are not permitted on the Catalina Express. When you arrive on Avalon, Chet’s Hardware offers small canisters. If you buy one and do not end up using it, they will allow you to return it if the seal is intact. I ended up not using my stove. Overnight oats and cold instant coffee got me going.
My bikepacking journey — and what you might expect
Day one
Catalina Island boasts 40 miles of trails and roads that are open to mountain biking.
(James Murren)
I woke in Avalon and pedaled my fat bike along Pebbly Beach Road to the turnoff for Wrigley Road. Climbing up Wrigley, I turned left on Renton Road, going around the gate and ascending up the remote double track. I had not seen another person for quite a while as I biked deeper into the hinterlands of the island, connecting to East End Light Road. Along the “backside” of the southern end of Catalina, it felt even more remote. East End afforded stunning views of the ocean and San Clemente Island to the south.
East End Road met up with Divide Road, as the trail map showed. The ocean sparkled in the distance, little crystals dancing on its surface. I scanned for whales but didn’t see any this time.
A view of the boats in the Avalon harbor.
(James Murren)
The start of the route at East End Road.
(James Murren)
Divide Road merged with the Airport Road at the Wrigley Reservoir, which was empty of water. There was a slight challenge here, though, in that I came to a chain-link fence with an opening for people to step through. Luckily, a touring group in an open-air truck was going by and the driver pointed out that I could walk around the fence to the right, where there was a clear path to do so.
The Airport in the Sky was my lunch destination. My wife took a shuttle bus from the Conservancy to the airport and met up with me. After lunch, I set out from the airport on the mostly six-mile descent to Little Harbor campground. El Rancho Escondido Road had a bump or two along the way, breaking up the downhill riding with a little climbing. I turned right onto Little Harbor Road and made my way to my campsite. My tent set up and food safely stored in the provided metal boxes, I went over to the tiny beach and sat on a driftwood log, relaxing under the sun’s warm rays.
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2
1.Catalina Island’s Airport in the Sky restaurant is a great place to refuel. (James Murren)2.The island at dusk. (James Murren / For The Times)
In the middle of the night, as I mentioned above, a lone bison visited my campsite. Thankfully, nothing happened to me (other than not getting much sleep from that point on to sunrise) but Catalina Island officials warn visitors that there is no safe distance away from the large animal. “Never approach, touch or attempt to feed bison. If you feel threatened, identify an escape route,” the Conservancy states. “Place a large object between you and the bison (tree, rock, vehicle), and give the bison a path to avoid you.”
Day two
A stop at Cottonwood Beach. During the rainy season, you may see a small waterfall here.
(James Murren)
From the campground the next morning, I went around to Middle Ranch Road. More stunning views of the Pacific marked the first few miles as I climbed, then descended, and climbed some more. It was somewhere around 8:30 in the morning and it felt like I had the entire place to myself.
Eventually, Middle Ranch turned inland. The terrain was gradual in its ascent and once I reached Quail Valley and Middle Ranch, the recently graded road was fast hardpack that allowed for cranking away the miles. I was big-ringin’ it and cruising. Getting into a pedaling cadence was great.
Looking out at the blue ocean and sky.
(James Murren)
Middle Ranch met up with Airport Road, where I turned right and pedaled to Stagecoach Road. Stagecoach descended to Avalon, the hard road quickly dropping with forever views of the big blue ocean.
My overnighter came to a close and I thought of moments during both days when I was by stunned by the beauty that surrounded me — I was even able to see snowcapped San Gorgonio back on the mainland. I thought of friends that I wanted to bring along next time. Yes, no doubt, there will be a next time.
The Tudor Pass in Egham, Surrey, has been named the best fine dining restaurant in the UK – and it’s not hard to see why, with its stunning interiors and delicious food
The restaurant boasts one Michelin star(Image: Getty)
Topping the charts in its local area and making a splash on the UK’s fine dining scene, this intimate restaurant with its breathtaking interiors is a must-visit.
Nestled in Egham, a town brimming with stunning architecture in the Borough of Runnymede, The Tudor Pass is a gem tucked away in the Surrey countryside. Its exclusive ambience, offering just seven tables, provides a unique experience that celebrates the rich history of both the building and its surroundings.
Patrons can look forward to an extraordinary dining experience, complete with interactive service, all without the commotion of an open kitchen. The culinary magic is orchestrated by Chef Stefano Di Giosia, whose signature dishes are a fusion of classic flavours, seasonal ingredients, and a dash of personality.
With previous stints at renowned establishments like The Fat Duck and KOL, his passion for food is evident in every dish he creates. This dedication hasn’t gone unnoticed, earning the restaurant a coveted Michelin star for its exceptional cuisine, much to the delight of its customers.
One satisfied diner took to TripAdvisor to share their glowing review, describing it as “one of the top international dining experiences from a foodie”. They added: “Our experience at Tudor Pass implores me to provide a review placing this as one of the top restaurants you can visit, and it is at a very reasonable price point compared to all of the others.”, reports the Express.
One diner shared their experience, writing: “We’ve enjoyed tasting menus at a number of restaurants, including those with a Michelin star. You usually get one or two courses that miss the mark a bit – but our meal at The Tudor Pass was wonderful from start to finish.
“Every course was delicately presented and a delight to eat – every course made us smile!” Another satisfied customer praised their meal for its “real depth of flavour”.
The Travellers’ Choice Awards via TripAdvisor have celebrated the crème de la crème of UK dining, compiling an ultimate list of top-notch eateries across the country. Nestled at number 23 on the 25-restaurant-long list is the Tudor Pass, rubbing shoulders with famed establishments like The Witchery Restaurant in Edinburgh and Gouqi Restaurant in London.
A recent guest penned about their dining experience, stating: “The food was sublime; the tasting menu was exceptional (and we’ve had a good few worldwide).”
Another chimed in: “This was so much more than we were expecting, and a number of the dishes, as well as the extra touches such as the story cards behind the dishes, made this feel more like a two-star than a one-star restaurant.”
The Tudor Pass is nestled within the luxurious five-star Great Fosters hotel resort, boasting breathtaking gardens that guests can admire through the mediaeval-style windows. Whether you’re a guest at the resort or looking to elevate a special occasion, it’s evident why this Edham eatery has earned its place on such a prestigious list – and the premium pricing certainly reflects the quality of the experience.
Pricing
Lunch – Wednesday to Friday – 4-course tasting menu £95 and Signature tasting menu £125
Lunch – Saturday – 4-course tasting menu £125 and Signature tasting menu £155
Dinner – Wednesday and Thursday – 4-course tasting menu £125 and Signature tasting menu £155
Dinner – Friday and Saturday – Signature tasting menu £165
Few things can beat sitting down to a hearty pub lunch after a blustery autumnal walk. And if there’s a welcoming bar with an open fire, so much the better. We’d love to hear about your favourite cosy, country pub, where great food and a warm welcome are always on the menu.
The best tip of the week, chosen by Tom Hall of Lonely Planetwins a £200 voucher to stay at a Coolstays property – the company has more than 3,000 worldwide. The best tips will appear in the Guardian Travel section and website.
Keep your tip to about 100 words
If you have a relevant photo, do send it in – but it’s your words we will be judgingfor the competition.
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TV chef Jamie Oliver raked in £28.5million last year as he continued to bounce back from his restaurant chain collapse.
Jamie Oliver Holdings’ bumper 2024 income came from TV shows, book sales and restaurants.
It also covered his cookery school and fees for promoting Tesco.
Jamie’s Italian chain collapsed in 2018, with debts of £83million.
But he now has international brands and a restaurant in Covent Garden, central London.
Revenues were up from £27.1million in 2023, Companies House files show.
read more on jamie oliver
But profits took a slight dip to £4.6million last year, from £5.2million.
The chef and his wife Jools, both 50, received dividends of £3million.
A report said: “The principal drivers of this decrease in profitability were reduced revenue from the effects of the cyclical nature of long term partnerships contracts, partially offset by savings in central staff costs (excluding Owned and Operated sites)
“We have delivered new Jamie Oliver titles in both book and TV formats during the year and there has been continued strong performance from back catalogue book titles and our international television content distributor.
“The Board recognises that the Jamie Oliver brand is a key asset of the Group and is confident that the night controls are in place to protect its value.”
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Jamie Oliver raked in £28.5million last year as he continued to bounce back from his restaurant chain collapseCredit: PA
Netflix documentary looks at the careers of four legendary Chefs
Soybean farmers, such as the owners of the soybean field pictured in rural Iowa in 2019, may be in line for federal subsidies as a result of President Donald Trump’s tariffs on China. File Photo by Mike Theiler/UPI. | License Photo
Oct. 5 (UPI) — Soybean farmers could be the recipients of between $10 billion and $14 billion in government aid after China’s unofficial embargo tanked sales.
Soybean farmers are urging the president to reach a deal with China.
“China is the world’s largest soybean customer and typically our top export market,” said American Soybean Association president Caleb Ragland in a statement on Sept. 24 after China reportedly bought 20 shiploads of soybeans from Argentina when that country said it would waive all taxes on soybean exports.
“The U.S. has made zero sales to China in this new crop marketing year due to 20% retaliatory tariffs imposed by China in response to U.S. tariffs. This has allowed other exporters — Brazil and now Argentina — to capture our market at the direct expense of U.S. farmers. The frustration is overwhelming,” Ragland said.
“The soybean farmers of our country are being hurt because China is, for ‘negotiating’ reasons only, not buying. We’ve made so much money on tariffs that we are going to take a small portion of that money and help our farmers,” Trump said in a post on Truth Social.
The nasty outbreak has been linked to tomatoes and the UK Heath Security Agency has issued a new warning.
Experts revealed new, rare, strains of salmonella called as Salmonella Strathcona sparked the particularly severe bouts of sickness.
According to the ECDC and the EFSA, nine European countries have reported 29 cases of Salmonella Strathcona since January 2025.
Your product recall rights
Chief consumer reporter James Flanders reveals all you need to know.
Product recalls are an important means of protecting consumers from dangerous goods.
As a general rule, if a recall involves a branded product, the manufacturer would usually have lead responsibility for the recall action.
But it’s often left up to supermarkets to notify customers when products could put them at risk.
If you are concerned about the safety of a product you own, always check the manufacturer’s website to see if a safety notice has been issued.
When it comes to appliances, rather than just food items, the onus is usually on you – the customer – to register the appliance with the manufacturer as if you don’t there is no way of contacting you to tell you about a fault.
If you become aware that an item you own has been recalled or has any safety noticed issued against it, make sure you follow the instructions given to you by the manufacturer.
They should usually provide you with more information and a contact number on its safety notice.
In some cases, the manufacturer might ask you to return the item for a full refund or arrange for the faulty product to be collected.
You should not be charged for any recall work – such as a repair, replacement or collection of the recalled item
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Salmonella is a food bug that can cause illness in both humans and animals
Craggy coves and sandy bays make up the resplendent mix that is the Athens Riviera. So it was that at the end of an autumn day I found myself with a not unpleasant question: where to head to soothe bones still aching for a last splash of summer sun. For Athens offers something that other European cities cannot: a coastline of more than 40 miles dotted with beaches many a Greek island would covet.
Out of season, the shores of Attica still have a magnetic allure, as I discovered when swimming into a fading sun across the bay of Vouliagmeni. For those seeking rejuvenation in marine blue waters primed to turn orange pink as the sun sets, bathing off one of the Riviera’s public or private beaches does not disappoint.
With sea salt still clinging to my skin, I sat at Sardelaki, a tavern whose Mediterranean fare is as good as the spectacular view of the bay it sits on. In a nod to times past, the meze is served on large wooden trays.
Vouliagmeni beach, south of Athens. Photograph: Geopix/Alamy
Athens is as celebrated for its hills as its coastline: natural elevations within view of the Acropolis that make it a treasure trove for amblers when temperatures are cooler. For those who want to escape a metropolis that sprawls across almost 200 square miles, these rocky outcrops – bearers of fabulous names such as the Hill of the Nymphs and the Hill of the Muses – are a must.
In my view, this ancient capital is also Europe’s most soulful and sublime. If you reach the top of Mount Lycabettus, the city’s highest point, either by foot or on the funicular rail car, the reward is a spectacular vista of the entire Argo-Saronic Gulf and the islands beyond.
If you want to stay centrally, the ancient Plaka district remains the best base. The old-school Adrian hotel has doubles looking on to the northern face of the Acropolis from about £120 B&B. In the same area, Zorbas is a favourite restaurant with locals and serves the most succulent lamb chops. With views of the Acropolis, Athens’ rooftop restaurants are wonderfully atmospheric and perfect for warm autumn evenings – for a real treat head to Kuzina or the Michelin‑starred Macris. Helena Smith
Palermo
A 16th-century sculpture at the fountain of Piazza Pretoria. Photograph: Paul Williams/Alamy
Think Neapolitan margherita is the last word in pizza? Think again. In Palermo they prefer sfincione, a soft, well-risen rectangle of dough topped with intense, onion-heavy tomato sauce and sprinkled with caciocavallo cheese and oregano. Savoury, filling and comforting, it’s sold in bakeries, kiosks and carts all over the city (Via Maqueda in the historic centre usually has several vendors).
We try it at a kiosk on Piazza della Kalsa, near where we’re staying. Panineria Chiluzzo often has long queues, but they move quickly as young staff dish out slices of sfincione, as well as arancini and panelle (chickpea fritters). There are a few tables under the trees outside, but we eat as we walk into town along narrow Via Alloro. This is a pleasant stroll in October but wouldn’t always be. As heatwaves rolled over Europe this year, temperatures in Palermo topped 40C in the shade. At the end of July one sunbaked corner hit a record 70C at ground level.
Now, as temperatures creep to 24C by mid-afternoon, we can wander the city and savour how its long history is written in its streets. Passing baroque and art nouveau palaces, and Casa Stagnitta, the city’s oldest coffee roastery, we take in the Arab-Norman domes of the 12th-century church of San Cataldo; Piazza Pretoria, with its 16th-century fountain, installed under Spanish rule; and the impressive cathedral, built on the location of a ninth-century mosque.
The 12th-century Church of San Cataldo (foreground, left) in Palermo. Photograph: Sean Pavone/Alamy
On the way back we detour to Vucciria market, the origins of which also stretch back over 1,000 years. Some decry its touristification, but it is still noisy and brilliantly theatrical. Feeling brave, we stop for a traditional pani câ meusa (spleen roll), which is surprisingly OK, with its slightly sweet “meat” set off by grated cheese. The stallholder is particularly proud of his grilled goat’s intestines but, I’m sorry, no amount of salt and lemon can make those a treat for me.
We’re glad to head back to quieter La Kalsa, the former Arab quarter to the east, which was bombed in the second world war and languished for decades before being revitalised this century. Maison Butera (sea-view doubles from €161 B&B) is a four-room B&B with lots to see nearby. Up the street is Palazzo Butera, a 17th-century baroque pile restored and reopened in 2021 to house the Valsecchi art collection, which includes works by Gilbert & George and Andy Warhol.
Next day we walk 10 minutes to Palermo’s Botanical Garden, with its record-breaking multi-trunk fig tree. Birds are singing their hearts out as the sun pours down. Soon we’ll be in London, the clocks will go back and winter will start. We relish a last week in the light. Liz Boulter
Vienna
Parks in Vienna are a colourful delight in autumn. Photograph: Rusm/Getty Images
While lamenting the end of summer and hanging out at beach bars and bathing spots on the tributaries of the Danube, I’m now chasing a new hue. Vienna isa city of parks and manicured gardens, meadow sweeps and woodland belts, which swap their emerald halo for a rusty amber and ochre glow the Austrians call Goldener Herbst (golden autumn).
I leave behind the grandiose architecture and cobblestones of the historic centre. South-west of it, Schloss Schönbrunn Park splays from the grand Habsburg summer residence, where the gilt isn’t reserved for the interior, and makes its way into corridors of towering bronzed hedgerows and arched tree terraces that lead to the butter-yellow palace.
To the east, in the city’s Prater Park, I stroll beneath the chestnut trees of the Hauptallee, an avenue that’s almost three miles long and centuries-old. On the edge of the park, the retro-styled Superbude Prater hotel (doubles from €78 B&B) is a perfectly placed retreat.
Superbude hotel, Vienna
In a city with hundreds of urban farms (thanks to a long-standing commitment to promoting green spaces and fostering community spirit), autumn brings a feast of fresh produce on menus.Pumpkin cream soup is the seasonal staple – best devoured in a wood-panelled Beisl (Viennese gastropub) such as the art-splashed Am Nordpol 3 – and followed with a Wiener Schnitzel.
Unbeknown to many, Vienna is the only European capital to grow wine within its city limits, with 700 hectares (1,723 acres) of vineyards. There are 14 designated city hiking trails, known as Stadtwanderwege. Track 1 leads you through the vintner lands of Nussdorf. Settle in a hillside Heuriger (wine tavern) such as Wieninger am Nussberg, sipping a citrussy grüner veltliner with a Brettljause(a platter of cold cuts and cheese), while soaking up the sublime city vista.
The days are getting shorter, but now is the perfect time to wander among Vienna’s stately palaces, museums and historic abodes – a cultural crop in gilded gallery wings, mirroring nature’s showcase outside. Becki Enright
Budapest
Autumn at Fisherman’s Bastion in Budapest’s Castle District. Photograph: Noppasin Wongchum/Alamy
After the heat and crowds of high summer, autumn brings a less intense atmosphere to Budapest, and it’s the season I most love to visit the city. The sun mellows, green leaves drain to golden, and a cuisine that’s all about comfort food really comes into its own. Even the Hungarian word for autumn – őszi – has a cosy, laid-back sound to it.
That’s not to say it’s a place to hunker down. Few capitals are better suited to walking, and early autumn promises a Goldilocks sweet spot of temperatures, neither too hot nor too cold. It’s a joy to wander the cobbled streets of the Castle District without sidestepping tourists, to follow the Danube promenade without melting, and to meander among whisky-coloured trees on Margaret Island.
Many of the five-star hotels – such as the wonderfully styled Kimpton BEM and the Dorothea Hotel, with its oasis of a courtyard restaurant – offer affordable shoulder-season deals. But if you don’t need heaps of facilities, try Giselle Vintage Doubles (doubles from €87 room-only), an 18th-century royal mansion near Elizabeth Bridge brimming with yesteryear elegance that is surprisingly light on the wallet.
House of Music in Budapest’s City Park offers a journey through the country’s musical heritage. Photograph: E Fesenko/Alamy
From here, Budapest is your oyster. I always head to the Central Market Hall, a soaring masterpiece of 19th-century industrial architecture with stalls selling Hungarian products such as rich, sweet tokaji wine and lace tablecloths. The must-visit House of Music Hungary in City Park (itself lovely for an autumn stroll) leads visitors on an absorbing journey through the country’s musical heritage. And nearby Széchenyi baths is a favourite for a soak afterwards: the outdoor pools are particularly atmospheric as the air cools and steam curls from the thermal water.
There are autumn festivals and events aplenty too. Liszt Fest (9–22 Oct) at the Müpa concert hall celebrates not only works by the Hungarian composer but contemporary music and dance.
Budapest Design Week (8–19 Oct) showcases movers and shakers in jewellery, clothing and art. For something more active, time your visit for the Budapest Marathon weekend (11–12 Oct) or go skating in the shadow of the fairytale Vajdahunyad Castle at the outdoor City Park Ice Rink (opens from mid-November).
But a key draw for me is the delicious comfort food that’s abundant at this time of year: goulash stews, savoury pancakes and paprika sauces aplenty. Café Kör, in an old building with vaulted ceilings, and the retro Menza are longstanding restaurants that serve Hungarian classics. Just leave space for some dobos torte at Gerbeaud, because nothing says autumn like a caramel-topped wedge of sponge cake filled with chocolate buttercream. Monika Phillips
Zurich
Wherever you are in Zurich, you’re never far from water says William Cook. Photograph: Dalibor Brlek/Alamy
People get the wrong idea about Zurich, and I blame Harold Wilson. In the 1960s, the UK prime minister tried to blame the “gnomes of Zurich” for the pathetic performance of the British pound, and more than 60 years on, some misguided Britons still think of Switzerland’s biggest city as a boring financial destination. They couldn’t be more wrong. Banking is still a major industry, but the city’s tidy, tree-lined streets are full of people having fun.
I’ve been to Zurich more times than I can count, and like it more with each visit. For first timers, the big surprise is the vast and lovely Zürichsee (Lake Zurich), two miles wide, 25 miles long and crisscrossed all day by antique ferries. Wherever you are around town, you’re never far from water.
Another nice surprise is the abundance of fine art. Zurich’s palatial Kunsthaus is one of Europe’s great art galleries (check out the sleek new extension by British starchitect David Chipperfield), but there are also loads of smaller commercial galleries, especially in Zurich West, a former industrial quarter that’s become the city’s new creative hub.
Stay at 25 Hours Zurich West (from 230 Swiss francs/£214 room-only), a funky bolthole in the beating heart of this rejuvenated district or the new cool Mama Shelter (from £175 room-only), which opened in the lively Oerlikon area this summer with a garden terrace overlooking the city and a stylish bar and restaurant.
The interior of Cabaret Voltaire, where dadaism started. Photograph: Prisma by Dukas Presseagentur GmbH/Alamy
Zurich has always been a magnet for creatives and eccentrics. James Joyce wrote much of Ulysses here (his grave is in Zurich’s Fluntern cemetery) and his favourite haunt, the chic Café Odeon, is still going strong. The place that sums up Zurich’s rebellious streak is Cabaret Voltaire, the anarchic nightclub where dadaism, the multifaceted modern art movement, was born. The building is still a gallery and performance space, as well as a museum.
When the trees turn golden brown, this compact metropolis looks especially pretty. The best views are from the summit of Uetliberg, on the leafy edge of town. The Uetlibergbahn, Zurich’s mountain railway (which reopens on 5 October after a major refurbishment) takes you within a short walk of the summit.
The Zurich film festival is the one of the autumn highlights, but the most atmospheric spectacle is on the water. From 30 Oct-13 Nov, Zurich’s fleet of pleasure boats hosts the 70th Expovina Weinschiffe, the city’s annual wine fair. Anyone can buy a ticket (from £28) to go onboard and sample a huge range of wines from dozens of different countries (Switzerland’s crisp light whites are seriously underrated). If you’d rather drink beer, head to Bierwerk Züri, a fashionable modern brewery with a youthful clientele.
New restaurants are opening all the time, but my go-tos have both been around for ages and never seem to change. For traditional Swiss cuisine, you can’t beat Alpenrose, a homely historic hideaway a short tram ride from the city centre. For veggie cuisine, Haus Hiltl is a must. The decor is fairly modern and the menu is contemporary, but it was actually founded back in 1898, making it (by some accounts) the oldest vegetarian restaurant in the world. William Cook
Lyon
A spectacular view of Lyon. Photograph: Sander van der Werf/Shutterstock
Traboules, Lyon’s secret passages, pass through houses and courtyards, joining one street to another, transporting curious walkers from the Renaissance to the modern via a stone staircase and gothic arcade. They crisscross Vieux Lyon and the Croix-Rousse hillside where, in autumn, you might enter a traboule in the rain and come out beside the street market on the main boulevard in bright sunshine.
At the morning market in La Croix-Rousse, where the city’s silk factories used to be, a noisy line of food stalls offer roast chickens, clanking bags of walnuts and piles of oversized pumpkins, a contrast to the artistic displays of conserves and truffles at Halles de Lyon Paul Bocuse food hall in the east of the city. It’s almost truffle season but Lyon, the “gastronomic capital of the world”, has year-round delights including Saint-Marcellin cheese, rosette sausage and praline tart.
With their rich flavours and hearty portions, traditional dishes suit the colder months. If I need warming up, I go to Le Garet near the opera house, one of Lyon’s typical bouchon restaurants serving pig’s trotters, tripe and quenelle de brochet (pike dumpling). If I wake up hungry, Le Café du Peintre serves a mâchon (a selection of cooked pork with a jug of beaujolais) from 8.30am. For something more refined, Burgundy by Matthieu has one of the best wine cellars in France. It is on the banks of the Saône, near the new Navigône ferry stop.
On Wednesdays, weekends and public holidays, the riverbus continues to the spectacular Musée des Confluences, where the Saône meets the Rhône. Its programme this autumn includes exhibitions on the people of the Amazon, amazing animals and zombies.
Lyon’s Fête des Lumières. Photograph: Brice Robert/Only Lyon
This year marks the 130th anniversary of Auguste and Louis Lumière’s first film, Workers Leaving the Lumière Factory, which they created while living at the family’s art nouveau villa in Lyon’s Monplaisir district. It’s now part of the Institut Lumière, which houses cinemas as well as the museum, and is the hub of the annual Festival Lumière. Films and cinematic events take place from 11-19 Oct, with almost 450 showings across the city, including two remastered 1920s silent movies by Victor Sjöström – Le Vent (The Wind)and La Charrette Fantôme (The Phantom Carriage) – accompanied by the National Orchestra of Lyon.
Just before the start of winter, Lyon’s Fête des Lumières (lights not the brothers) runs from 5-8 Dec. The city’s heritage buildings are illuminated, and light installations are set up in the squares and on the riverbank. I watch from Place Bellecour and then wander down to the water where locals place lanterns in their windows to celebrate solidarity and brace themselves for the cold.
I stay at the Fourvière Hôtel (doubles from €139 room-only), a former convent near the city’s Roman ruins, which has a heated indoor pool, restaurant and great views over the city. Jon Bryant
Accommodation prices correct at time of going to press. These are the lowest available rates for October
Thanks to its fertile valleys, this region in Spain is romantically known as the Garden of Europe – but as well as an abundance of fruit, veg and olives, it also offers visitors stunning architecture and beautiful beaches
A lesser-known area in Spain enjoys mild winters and flights have been extended from the UK(Image: Getty Images/iStockphoto)
A university city in southeastern Spain is often overlooked by holidaymakers but has so much to offer and is still wonderfully warm in the winter.
Murcia can cater to everyone’s tastes, with a rich historical heritage evident in its Baroque architecture and cathedral, breathtaking natural parks and stunning sandy beaches – as well local menus that make the most of the region’s bountiful produce.
Despite it being Spain’s seventh largest city, it is relatively unknown among tourists. However, that could be about to change as UK airlines are extending their summer routes into winter, allowing visitors to enjoy a much welcome sunny break during the cooler months at home.
Easyjet is now adding Luton and Bristol airports to its Murcia schedule from October to March. Previously Gatwick was the only route to the region in the winter. There are currently flights available for as little as £20 and under, one way.
Ryanair has also added a new route from Stansted as part of its winter schedule. We found a seven night round trip for just £44 in November from the London airport to Murcia.
It’s a great time of year to travel there – the area enjoys mild winters and relatively low rainfall. Temperatures in November average a high of 21C, making it the perfect place to recharge in the suns rays before the onslaught of the harsh UK weather and seasonal Christmas madness.
It’s not just the clement climate that is the province’s appeal though. Despite it being a city with the expected hustle and bustle in some areas, its people enjoy a laid back pace of life and there are less crowds than other tourist hotspots nearby such as Alicante.
The area has a rich historical heritage and has been inhabited since the Bronze and Iron ages. There are Roman sites to explore and the city’s grand Cathedral de Murcia is a favourite among visitors with its Baroque and Gothic designs and ornate carvings.
In the same square is the 18th century Bishops Palace which is the official headquarters of the Diocese of Cartagena and displays magnificent Rococo style facades reminiscent of Italian palaces of the Renaissance.
Juxtaposing the historical masterpieces in the Cardinal Belluga Square is the modern annexe of the town hall which was completed in 1999 and was designed by Raphael Moneo.
The Real Casino is another must see in the city. Its numerous rooms reflect the varying periods of design from 1847 to the early 20th century in the building which was once an exclusive establishment.
For those who want to explore the local landscape, the Barrancos de Gebas is a badland – a dry, arid land with little vegetation and rugged hills – on the outskirts of Sierra Espuña Regional Park. A hike here will uncover the area’s different species of birds, butterflies and moths as well as breathtaking views.
If relaxation is more your thing the region has around 155 miles of incredible coastline. There are quiet, sandy beaches to doze on and if travelling by car it’s even possible to find relatively deserted areas. Cabo de Palos is a hotspot for scuba diving and snorkeling with plenty of shipwrecks to explore, some from the First and Second World Wars.
When it comes to food, as previously mentioned, Murcia has come to be dubbed the Garden of Europe or Europe’s Orchard. Its long agricultural tradition thanks to the fertile valleys of its landscapes means the region produces an abundance of fruit, vegetables, oils, nuts and flowers.
Chefs in local restaurants make the most of this along with the supply of fresh seafood from the coast to serve a variety of delicious tapas dishes. One must-try speciality is Marineras – a dish with tuna, potato and vegetables on toast.
Meanwhile, Murcia al Vino is a goat’s cheese cured in a locally produced red wine and the traditional dessert is Paparajotes. Originally eaten by Murcian farmers, it is made by taking a leaf from a lemon tree, coating it in fried dough, sugar and cinnamon and peeling the batter from the leaf which gives it a zingy citrus flavour.
Oct. 3 (UPI) — Officials at Long John Silver’s are replacing the chain’s former logo that featured a fish with one that features a chicken to share its “long-held secret.”
The new logo is designed to inform consumers that the seafood chain also offers chicken entrees.
“Guests have been telling us for years that our chicken is a best-kept secret,” said Christopher Caudill, senior vice president of marketing and innovation at Long John Silver’s, in a news release on Friday.
“Our hand-battered chicken strips — known as Chicken Planks — are every bit as crave-worthy as our legendary fish,” Caudill added. “It’s time we let that secret out.”
The Louisville, Ky.-based restaurant chain announced the change on Friday that will include a new wrap on the Long John Silver’s Front Row Motorsports car during the South Point 400 NASCAR race in Las Vegas on Oct. 12.
The restaurant chain tested its chicken-based products at its flagship restaurant in Louisville and received “overwhelmingly positive” feedback from its customers.
That feedback helped prevent the restaurant’s leaders from chickening out on the logo change following the recent uproar that occurred when Lebanon, Tenn.-based Cracker Barrel recently tried to change its longtime logo.
Cracker Barrel’s logo briefly removed an image of a seated elderly man resting his left elbow and forearm on a wooden barrel from its logo.
The change generated unexpected pushback from consumers and others, including President Donald Trump, who criticized the move on social media.
Cracker Barrel officials soon after announced they were canceling the logo change.
