Our rankings reveal the 50 biggest emerging market banks amid China’s slowdown and India’s rapid rise.
China is mired in an economic slump that is expected to further worsen in 2026. Concerns over the downturn prompted Fitch to downgrade the country’s sovereign rating, citing a “continued weakening of China’s public finances and a rapidly rising public debt trajectory during the country’s economic transition.” Additionally, the agency expects that “sustained fiscal stimulus will be deployed to support growth.” Stimulus contributes to asset growth in the country’s banking sector through the financing of large infrastructure projects and incremental loan growth.
But in a show of China’s continued dominance in our ranking of the 50 Biggest Emerging Market Banks in 2025, Chinese banks take the top 15 spots and account for half of all institutions in the ranking. However, despite its 4% aggregate growth, the country’s share of total banking assets in the top 50 has declined to about 84% from 90% last year as banks in the eight other countries in the rankings are expanding more rapidly.
Most notable are the five Indian banks, which averaged 14% year-over-year asset growth. Among emerging market countries, India’s economy is leading the pack, with GDP growth of 6.5% in 2024 and a forecast of 6.6% in 2025 and 6.2% in 2026. Recognizing India’s sustained progress, S&P upgraded its sovereign rating in August, stating that its “robust economic expansion is having a constructive effect on India’s credit metrics.” The agency expects “sound economic fundamentals to underpin growth momentum over the next two to three years.” Furthermore, the agency’s view is that “continued policy stability and high infrastructure investment will support India’s long-term growth prospects.”
If China’s banks are excluded, a clearer global view of the biggest emerging market banks materializes. India adds four more for a total of nine banks in the rankings, with State Bank of India moving to the top from 16th place here. Brazil’s Banco do Brasil would then take third place, with two South Korean banks rounding out the top 5. Other countries entering the rankings would be Egypt, Mexico, and Poland.
Global Finance has China dominating the top of the biggest bank rankings.
While many factors contribute to fluctuations in bank balance sheets, sustained global economic expansion continues to underpin the asset growth reflected in our 2025 ranking of the world’s biggest banks. In the aggregate, these banks account for $95.5 trillion in assets, up 3% year over year. Once again, Chinese banks hold the top four spots on the list and place 15 institutions overall. The pace of expansion for this subset has been slightly higher at 4%, with assets totaling $38.4 trillion. The Chinese top four are majority state-owned policy banks, which have grown a bit faster at 5%. Their franchises typically benefit from large government stimulus measures and infrastructure spending.
In North America, the US places six institutions in our ranking, with assets growing only about 1.4% year on year. Notably, JPMorgan Chase has over $4 trillion in assets. All four Canadian banks showed balance-sheet expansion, leading to an overall increase of about 4.6%.
Among European banks, HSBC leads the pack with over $3 trillion in assets. The region holds 19 spots, with aggregate assets up about 1.7%. On a country level, France places the most, with six institutions, followed by the UK with five.
Our Asia-Pacific region winners include three Japanese banks while Australia now places two banks, with Commonwealth Bank of Australia a new entrant. State Bank of India rounds out our ranking.
Deadly protests followed the 92-year-old president’s re-election, which opponents have called ‘fraudulent’.
Published On 6 Nov 20256 Nov 2025
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Cameroon’s longtime leader, Paul Biya, has been sworn in for a new seven-year term following his victory in last month’s presidential election, which his opposition rival has described as “a constitutional coup”.
Addressing Parliament on Thursday, the world’s oldest president promised to stay faithful to the confidence of the Cameroonian people and pledged to work for a “united, stable and prosperous” country.
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There were deadly protests in several parts of Cameroon days after the October 19 vote, followed by a three-day lockdown this week after former minister and key contender Issa Tchiroma claimed victory and alleged vote tampering.
The government has confirmed that at least five people were killed during the protests, although the opposition and civil society groups claim the figures are much higher.
The incumbent, Africa’s second-longest serving leader, took the oath of office during a session of Parliament in what residents describe as the heavily militarised and partially deserted capital, Yaounde.
Priscilla Ayimboh, a 40-year-old seamstress in Yaounde, does not see a new term for Biya as likely to change anything.
“I’m tired of Biya’s rule and I no longer care whatever he does. It’s a pity. I wonder what will become of Cameroon in the next seven years: there are no roads, water, and jobs,” she said.
Munjah Vitalis Fagha, a senior politics lecturer at Cameroon’s University of Buea, told The Associated Press news agency that Biya’s inauguration was “taking place in a tense yet controlled political atmosphere, marked by deep divisions between the ruling elite and a growingly disillusioned populace”.
Fagha added: “The ceremony occurs amid calls for political renewal, ongoing security challenges in the Anglophone regions, and widespread concerns over governance and succession.”
President Paul Biya’s campaign posters are visible in Anglophone [File: Beng Emmanuel Kum/Al Jazeera]
Cameroon’s top court on October 27 declared Biya the winner of the election, with 53.66 percent of the vote, ahead of his ally-turned-challenger, Tchiroma, who secured 35.19 percent.
Tchiroma insists Biya was awarded a “fraudulent” victory in the election.
“The will of the Cameroonian people was trampled that day, our sovereignty stolen in broad daylight,” Tchiroma wrote on Wednesday night. “This is not democracy, it is electoral theft, a constitutional coup as blatant as it is shameful.”
Biya came to power in 1982 following the resignation of Cameroon’s first president and has ruled since, following a 2008 constitutional amendment that abolished term limits. His health has been a topic of speculation as he spends most of his time in Europe, leaving governance to key party officials and family members.
He has led Cameroon longer than most of its citizens have been alive – more than 70 percent of the country’s almost 30 million population is below the age of 35. If he serves his entire term, Biya will leave office nearly 100 years old.
The results of his nearly half-century in power have been mixed; armed rebellions in the north and the west of the country, along with a stagnant economy, have left many young people disillusioned with the leader.
HomeAwardsWorld’s Safest Banks 2025: Islamic Banks In GCC
GCC banking institutions display the importance of growing open banking.
The evolution of Islamic banking in the countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) is accelerating as new products and regulatory developments shape the industry. For the institutions cited in our ranking of the Safest Islamic Banks in the GCC, an important area of growth is open banking, which allows bank customers to securely share financial data with third-party providers. This represents a significant opportunity to capture new business with commercial clients, particularly in the small to midsized enterprise segment.
Embedded Shariah-compliant products enable a range of services for real-time cash management, collections, and payments. To speed this development, Islamic banks are expanding partnerships with fintechs. GCC countries have made this area a high priority. The Saudi Central Bank has launched an open banking platform, establishing frameworks for corporate APIs: an important component of the bank’s fintech strategy related to the government’s Saudi Vision 2030 initiative.
The sukuk market is growing steadily—S&P estimates $200 billion in issuance during 2025, up 4% year over year—but the market must adapt to maintain growth as heightened regulation is on the horizon. Under evaluation is a new guideline (Standard 62) from the Accounting and Auditing Organization for Islamic Financial Institutions (AAOIFI) that alters the dynamics of the sukuk market. According to S&P, the new standard will mean “a market shift from structures in which contractual obligations of sukuk sponsors underpin repayment to structures where the underlying assets have a more prominent role. This could change the nature of sukuk as an instrument, exposing investors to higher risk, and increase market fragmentation.”
A new leader has emerged in our 2025 ranking of the Safest Islamic Banks in the GCC. Al Rajhi Bank, the largest Islamic bank globally, has claimed the top spot thanks to a Moody’s upgrade to Aa3 after the agency raised Saudi Arabia’s sovereign rating to the same level last November.
Emerging markets are navigating new risks from tariffs.
Because many emerging market countries rely heavily on exports, their economies and banking systems face heightened risk from the imposition of US tariffs. With this segment representing some of the largest trading partners of the US, including China, South Korea, and Taiwan, tension surrounding trade negotiations continues to escalate—particularly with China, following the US administration’s most recent threat of 100% tariffs on Chinese imports. Notably, institutions in these three countries represent half of our 50 Safest Emerging Markets banks. South Korean banks claim the top three positions and place nine overall, while China and Taiwan place eight banks each among our rankings.
In every country impacted by US tariff policy, the banking sector must navigate the collateral damage its clients experience due to disrupted trade flows and supply chains. For emerging market economies, the declining value of the US dollar softens some of this impact through relatively cheaper import costs in these markets and eases dollar debt service for those countries and corporations with outstanding dollar-denominated debt. Not surprisingly, emerging market GDP growth expectations have fallen. In the October edition of its World Economic Outlook, the International Monetary Fund forecasts a decline for the emerging market and developing economies from 4.3% in 2024 to 4.2% in 2025 and 4% by 2026.
The GDP decline forecast for China is more pronounced, with 5% growth in 2024 falling to 4.8% in 2025, and further to 4.2% in 2026. An overall deterioration in China’s credit fundamentals prompted Fitch to downgrade the country’s sovereign rating in April to A from A+. As a rationale for the move, the agency cites “a continued weakening of China’s public finances and a rapidly rising public debt trajectory during the country’s economic transition.”
“Sustained fiscal stimulus will be deployed to support growth, amid subdued domestic demand, rising tariffs, and deflationary pressures.”
Fitch Ratings
Fitch adds that “this support, along with a structural erosion in the revenue base, will likely keep fiscal deficits high.” Following this action, the agency downgraded China Development Bank (its ranking fell to No. 13 from No. 8 last year), Agricultural Development Bank of China (to No. 14 from No. 9), and Export-Import Bank of China (to No. 15 from No. 10).
Moody’s upgraded Saudi Arabia’s sovereign ratings in November, with the view that the kingdom’s progress in economic diversification will be sustained, further reducing its exposure to oil market developments and providing a more conducive environment for sustainable development of the country’s nonhydrocarbon economy. Meanwhile, S&P recognized the country’s sustained socioeconomic and capital market reforms with a March 2025 upgrade. Bank upgrades followed, allowing Saudi National Bank to climb to No. 25 in our rankings from No. 35 last year, Al Rajhi moved up to No. 26 from No. 36, and Riyad Bank is now No. 36, up from No. 49.
The kingdom doubled its representation in our rankings to six banks, as Saudi Awwal Bank (No. 41), Banque Saudi Fransi (No. 43), and Arab National Bank (No. 45) are new to the Top 50 this year. Consequently, these moves pushed Ahli Bank, China Merchants Bank, and Banco de Credito e Inversiones from our rankings. Moody’s upgrades provided the catalyst for upward shifts in our rankings. Better credit fundamentals at Emirates NBD Bank, based in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), allowed the bank to rise eight places to No. 17; while Taiwan’s E.SUN Commercial Bank’s improving business franchise, robust risk management, and corporate governance helped move the bank up nine places to No. 30.
Global Finance’s rankings expand from 50 to 100 of the safest banks.
The global banking sector faces major challenges as economies worldwide navigate volatility driven by US tariff policies and intensifying competition that is reshaping bank strategies and business models. Against this backdrop, our 2025 rankings expand the World’s Safest Banks from the Global Top 50 to the Top 100, offering a broader view of the sector and deeper insight into its resilience.
Washington’s evolving tariff policy and the resulting disruptions to global trade and supply chains have fractured economic ties among the largest US trading partners, contributing to upward pressure on inflation and to diminished global growth. These represent persistent issues that are likely to grow as the full effects of tariffs take hold. According to the World Trade Organization (WTO), the October forecast for growth in global trade volume in 2025 rose to 2.4% from 0.9% in August, mainly due to the front-loading of imports into the US ahead of announced tariffs. The WTO outlook for 2026, however, is more muted, with trade volume growth falling to 0.5%.
The September economic outlook of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) projects global GDP growth to decrease from 3.3% in 2024 to 3.2% in 2025, and to 2.9% in 2026. Regionally, growth in the US economy is forecast to fall from 2.8% in 2024 to 1.8% in 2025 and 1.5% in 2026 while euro area GDP growth is expected to be 1.2% in 2025, declining to 1% in 2026. China is facing a possible contraction from 4.9% GDP in 2025 to 4.4% in 2026.
As this year has unfolded, many of the world’s central banks are firmly in an easing cycle, with broadening global rate cuts to spur their respective economies. The institutions at the forefront in providing the most effective service offerings continue to invest in technology to aggressively transform their business models beyond their current digital platforms and online capabilities. Increasingly these banks are utilizing generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) to accelerate this transformation by leveraging data analytics to quickly identify new solutions to drive growth and uncover cost efficiencies.
The Global Top 100
Frequently, changes in a country’s sovereign rating provide the catalyst for year-over-year shifts in our annual rankings. Notably, Moody’s downgraded France to Aa3 from Aa2, citing the country’s fiscal challenges with deficit reduction and weakening public finances. Bank downgrades followed, given reduced government-support uplift to the ratings under the agency’s methodology. Consequently, Caisse des Depots et Consignations fell to No. 29 from No. 11, SFIL dropped to No. 47 from No. 19, BNP Paribas fell to No. 60 from No. 48, Credit Agricole fell to No. 61 from No. 49, and Banque Federative du Credit Mutuel fell to No. 62 from No. 50.
Similarly, following Fitch’s April 2025 downgrade of China due to weakening public finances, follow-on downgrades kept Chinese banks lower in the rankings, with China Development Bank at No. 73, Agricultural Development Bank of China at No. 75, and Export-Import Bank of China at No. 76.
On a positive note, Saudi Arabia benefited from a Moody’s upgrade to Aa3 from A1 in November 2024, with the agency citing progress on economic diversification. S&P recognized the country’s sustained socioeconomic and capital market reforms with a March 2025 upgrade to A+ from A. These moves allowed two banks to enter the top 100: Saudi National Bank at No. 99 and Al Rajhi Bank at No. 100.
In Canada, National Bank of Canada’s progress in growing its franchise to expand beyond its home market of Quebec prompted an S&P upgrade that moved the bank to No. 44 from last year’s No. 68. At Toronto-Dominion Bank, anti-money laundering deficiencies prompted both Moody’s and S&P to downgrade the bank, resulting in a drop in its ranking to No. 41 from No. 21 last year.
Methodology
Our rankings apply to the world’s largest 500 banks by asset size and are calculated based on long-term foreign currency ratings issued by Fitch Ratings, Standard & Poor’s, and Moody’s Investors Service. Under our methodology, we require a rating from at least two of these agencies. It’s important to note that the largest 500 banks with at least two agency ratings are sourced from a universe of approximately 1,000 banks, as not all banks hold two agency ratings. Where possible, ratings on holding companies rather than operating companies are used; and banks that are wholly owned by other banks are omitted. Within each rank set, banks are organized according to asset size, based on data for the most recent annual reporting period provided by Fitch Solutions and Moody’s. Ratings are reproduced with permission from the three rating agencies, with all rights reserved. A ranking is not a recommendation to purchase, sell, or hold a security; and it does not comment on market price or suitability for a particular investor. All ratings in the tables were valid as of August 15, 2025.
MOST childhoods for Brits were made up of reading books like The BFG, Matilda and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.
Next year, you’ll be able to experience some true nostalgia as a new museum showcasing the work of famed illustrators, like Sir Quentin Blake, will open in the UK.
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The new House of Illustration will be in ClerkenwellCredit: Tim Ronalds ArchitectsSome of Quentin Blake’s own work will be shown in the museumCredit: Sean Dempsey/PA Wire
Sir Quentin Blake is well-known for illustrating lots of Roald Dahl’s books, as well as his own like the Mrs Armitage series.
Quentin Blake Centre for Illustration will open in May 2026, and it’s an attraction that has been 20 years in the making.
On the project, Sir Quentin said: “I have long dreamt of a permanent place with ‘illustration’ above the door, and now the amazing reality is that we have it.
“I am proud to think the centre has my name on it – illustration is a wonderful universal and varied language.
“Here we shall celebrate its traditions and welcome the astonishing diversity of visual language from across the world. Hurrah!”
Once open, the museum will have exhibitions that will feature rarely-seen works from all over the world.
Original illustrations from leading and emerging illustrators, including work loaned from Quentin Blake’s own archive, will be on show.
There will be open spaces and a cafe for visitors to grab a bite to eatCredit: Tim Ronalds ArchitectsOn-site will also be a gift shop full of illustrated goodiesCredit: Tim Ronalds Architects
Also on the site will be free spaces, including public gardens, displays and an illustration library.
You can take a seat at the café which will serve up fresh food and drinks, and there will be a shop stocked with illustration gifts.
There will be illustrator residencies in London‘s oldest surviving windmill which is also on the old waterworks site in Clerkenwell.
Other events at the museum will be illustration workshops and learning programs.
Previously, the House of Illustration was in Granary Square from 2014 to 2020.
The Michelin Guide has unveiled a new way of recognising the best hotels in the world, with three properties in Wales named as must-visit destinations
There’s plenty of activities on offer in the town(Image: Rheilffordd Llyn Tegid)
A picturesque lakeside town in Wales has earned the distinction of housing one of the wordl’s best finest hotels. Nestled on the northern shore of Llyn Tegid, a freshwater glacial lake encircled by towering mountains, Bala is home to Palé Hall Hotel, which has been awarded a prestigious MICHELIN Star key for delivering exceptional hospitality experiences.
This innovative recognition system for the world’s best hotels has seen three Welsh establishments, including Palé Hall, featured in The MICHELIN Guide as essential destinations.
On October 8, assessors also unveiled the new “Key” awards, which mirror Michelin Stars for dining establishments by spotlighting the most remarkable hotels across the UK and Ireland. The Great Britain and Ireland collection comprises 14 Three-Key hotels, 43 Two-Key hotels and 82 One-Key hotels, with 19 properties receiving their first awards for 2025.
The esteemed guide recognises three Welsh properties: Palé Hall Hotel in Llandderfel, Penmaenuchaf in Dolgellau, and Grove of Narberth in Narberth. Each has received a One Key distinction.
Palé Hall, a favourite Welsh retreat of mine where I’ve enjoyed several stays, is an 18-room Victorian mansion boasting a rich history and opulent décor. Perfectly situated on the fringes of Eryri National Park (Snowdonia), it offers easy access to walking trails, lakes, and thrilling outdoor activities, reports Wales Online.
This luxurious hotel, part of the Relais and Châteaux, Pride of Britain Hotels and Celebrated Experiences collections, is independently owned by Anthony and Donna Cooper-Barney, who took the reins in 2024.
Arriving at this grand rural hotel is an event in itself. The historic façade, surrounded by gardens, woodland and rolling hills, sets the stage for a memorable stay.
Each spacious room and suite is individually designed with thoughtful touches, and some even boast unique features like a stained-glass roof light, chrome bateaux bath, and antique beds.
Built in 1871 by renowned railway engineer Henry Robertson, the house exudes charm and sophistication. Known for his ambitious railway projects across Wales, Robertson didn’t hold back in creating a home that reflected his accomplishments.
Designed by architect Samuel Pountney Smith, the hall stands as a symbol of elegance and grandeur with its honey-coloured stone and eclectic Jacobean style.
Palé Hall’s place in history isn’t just about its famous guests. During the First World War, it served as a convalescent hospital, offering recovery and respite for wounded soldiers amidst its tranquil surroundings.
Palé Hall has played host to a remarkable roster of guests over the years, including royalty. Queen Victoria was captivated by the house and its picturesque surroundings during her visit in 1889.
The grand bath she used and the ornate bed she slept in are still present in the now aptly named Victorian Room, one of the many opulent suites available for those looking to indulge.
When it comes to food, you’re in excellent hands. For an unforgettable dining experience, a visit to the hotel’s Henry Robertson dining room is essential.
This elegant space, complete with its marble fireplace, ornate plaster ceilings, and chandeliers, provides the perfect backdrop for a fine dining extravaganza.
Palé Hall, an AA three-rosette and Michelin Green Star establishment, prides itself on delivering top-notch cuisine that celebrates the best of British and Welsh produce.
Here’s what the MICHELIN Guide has to say about Palé: “Set on 15 acres of riverside parkland in the Dee Valley, at the edge of the vast and wild Snowdonia National Park, Palé Hall is nothing if not secluded – a situation that only heightens the effect of its high Victorian opulence. Over the course of its colourful history, it’s played host to guests no less eminent than Winston Churchill and Queen Victoria herself. And in its current incarnation as a luxury hotel, it’s among the finest in Great Britain.”
The hotel makes for a stunning base in the picturesque lakeside town of Bala, which boasts a rich heritage stretching back centuries. Founded by Roger de Mortimer of Chirk Castle through Royal Charter around 1310, the town witnessed Henry Tudor’s army pass through in 1485 en route to the Battle of Bosworth.
During the 18th century, Bala thrived as a centre for producing flannel, stockings and gloves. Today, it’s transformed into a popular tourist destination, attracting visitors from across Britain and further afield.
The town holds a remarkable religious heritage, celebrated at the Mary Jones Pilgrim Centre, which chronicles the inspiring tale of a devoted Welsh girl.
Back in 1800, 15 year old Mary Jones completed an extraordinary 26-mile trek from Llanfihangel-y-Pennant to Bala, having saved for six years to purchase a coveted Bible. Her remarkable pilgrimage of faith would go on to spark the creation of the British and Foreign Bible Society.
At the Grade II-listed centre, you can embark on Mary’s pilgrimage and delve into the past with interactive displays, exhibits, and activities.
For those who are fond of trains, the Bala Lake Railway is a must-see. This charming narrow-gauge railway line meanders along the southern shores of Llyn Tegid, offering a captivating hour-long journey from Llanuwchllyn to Bala on a vintage train.
For those who love the great outdoors, Bala is a hub of adventure and offers a variety of activities, such as rafting, fishing, swimming, and sailing.
The National White Water Centre, based in Bala, is a must for adrenaline junkies. Here, water is regularly released from a dam into the River Tryweryn – a steep, fast-flowing mountain river that creates predictable rapids all year round.
Rafting is an adrenaline-fuelled activity where participants tackle fast-flowing rivers in inflatable rafts, typically alongside a small crew and an experienced guide who knows the waterways inside out.
For a safe yet thrilling experience, book a guided rafting session and feel the rush of battling surging rapids alongside your fellow adventurers.
Hiking enthusiasts will find Bala serves as a perfect base for exploring Wales’ most spectacular scenery. Westward lie the imposing peaks of Eryri (Snowdonia), boasting challenging and breathtaking routes, whilst the tranquil Berwyn Mountains eastward deliver a sense of unspoilt wilderness.
Families can enjoy numerous gentle routes, including the Treasure Trail, which accommodates pushchairs and leisurely ambles. Alternatively, follow a designated path for a peaceful lakeside ramble.
History and culture buffs can explore heritage routes such as the Town Trail, the Mary Jones Walk and the Betsi Cadwaladr Trail.
After a day filled with adventure, numerous independent pubs and cafes are on hand for a hearty meal and a pint. The historic Plas Coch Hotel, originally built as a coaching inn around 1780, serves up traditional Welsh dishes using fresh local produce.
A BAN has been placed on tobacco on a popular island to stop people of a certain age from ever buying it.
Called a ‘generational ban’ it means that anyone born after January 1, 2007 is prohibited from buying or using tobacco.
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The Maldives is attempting to stamp out smoking for good by implementing a generational banCredit: AlamyThe Maldives is hugely popular and full of luxury hotelsCredit: Alamy
The destination that’s implemented the new rules is the Maldives, and it’s the only place in the world to have done so.
The measure makes it the only country with a generation-wide tobacco prohibition in an effort to promote a ‘tobacco-free generation’.
The ministry said: “Under the new provision, individuals born on or after 1 January 2007 are prohibited from purchasing, using, or being sold tobacco products within the Maldives.
“The ban applies to all forms of tobacco, and retailers are required to verify age prior to sale.”
The health ministry called the measure a “historic milestone in the nation’s efforts to protect public health”.
It added that the prohibition “reflects the government’s strong commitment to protecting young people from the harms of tobacco”.
The measure is not just for locals, it applies to any tourists visiting the islands.
So for Brits heading to the Maldives, you might find yourself being asked for ID in shops if buying tobacco.
Selling cigarettes to minors will carry a fine of 50,000 rufiyaa (£2,470) for the sellers.
Ahmed Afaal, vice chair of the archipelago’s tobacco control board, told the BBC that he didn’t expect bookings to reduce due to the ban.
Shop owners will face a huge fine if caught selling cigarettes to minorsCredit: Alamy
He said: “People don’t come to the Maldives because they’re able to smoke.
“They come for the beaches, they come for the sea, they come for the sun, and they come for the fresh air”.
And then added that the Maldives was projecting more than two million tourists in the next year making it one of the world’s most popular destinations.
The banning of tobacco is a new rule, but the Maldives also banned the import, possession and use of vapes last year.
Electronic cigarettes and vapes are completely banned no matter what age you are – and you aren’t allowed to bring them into the country.
You won’t be denied entry if caught bringing one into the country, but it will be confiscated at the border and a customs officer will provide you with a receipt which you must present when you depart the country to have your items returned to you.
Anyone caught vaping in the Maldives will face a 5,000-rufiyaa fine (£247).
These measures apply to all of coral islands in the Maldives, of which there are over a thousand.
AROUND the world there are plenty of train stations – but not all of them can be classed as ‘beautiful’.
However, some look less like a place full of commuters and more like a work of art and have been given a prestigious award by Prix Versailles.
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‘The World’s Most Beautiful’ train stations have been revealed and one of Saint-Denis PleyelCredit: UnknownAlso in Paris is Villejuif – Gustave Roussy StationCredit: Michel Denancé
Prix Versailles is a series of architectural competitions, which includes airports, hotels and other buildings.
Now, it’s released the finest train stations that make up the ‘World’s Most Beautiful Passenger Stations List 2025’.
Two of these are in France, and both in the suburbs of Paris, so Brits can visit them in just a few hours.
Saint-Denis is a commune in the northern suburbs of Paris, France and its impressive train station opened last year.
Saint-Denis Pleyel was designed by Japanese studioKengo Kuma and Associates.
The station is tiered on different levels and decorated with wooden slats and floor to ceiling glass windows, so the inside is flooded with light.
Above the station itself is a rooftop park, and inside, is a huge open space with plenty of multi-level escalators.
Gustave Roussy Station in Villejuif, which is 40-minutes south of Paris opened in January 18, 2025.
The station was designed by the architectural firm Dominique Perrault Architecture.
It’s an underground cylindrical station with an open-air, multi-layered roof and is in the style of an ‘upside down skyscraper’ – it’s one of France‘s deepest passenger stations.
The design of KAFD Station resembles sand dunesCredit: HUFTON AND CROWJudge said Mons station is ‘cathedral-like’Credit: Supplied
Over in Belgium is the Mons railway station which has a suspended canopy which is a nod to the Galerie de la Reine shopping arcade in Brussels.
The station originally opened in 1841, but went through its most recent transformation in 2025.
The judging panel said: “It’s a streamlined style made up of steel and dazzling white to form a cathedral-like walkway”.
Other stations receiving the award include Gadigal Station in Sydney, Australia.
The name honours the Aboriginal people who were original custodians of the land around that part of Sydney, and inside are bright tiles in colours such as yellow, purple, red and blue.
Baiyun Station in Guangzhou, China has also picked up the award for its recent transformation which has added shops and even an urban park.
It’s dedicated to 24 high-speed train lines, six subway lines and three bus terminals.
Inside Gadigal Station, Australia, is brightly coloured yellow and purple tilesCredit: UnknownQasr Al Hokm Station in Riyadh has an inside gardenCredit: Unknown
Another is KAFD Station, Riyadh in Saudi Arabia, which is very futuristic-looking with a wave-like exterior that is meant to resemble sand dunes.
Also in Riyadh is Qasr Al Hokm Station which has been described as being like a “periscope” as the glass roof reflects light throughout the station.
Bringing the outdoors in, there’s also a “luxuriant garden unexpectedly materialises within the subterranean space”.
Jérôme Gouadain, Secretary General of the Prix Versailles, underscores the grandeur of the ideals embodied by these edifices: “Excellence lends itself to recognition and humility, and is a necessary quality in this day and age, when there is such a need to extend the harmony manifested in these new passenger stations across entire continents.
“The commitment and the technical and aesthetic prowess demanded by these structures are the highest possible tribute to the building community.
“Already a part of this century’s heritage, this infrastructure is revitalising the role that we as a society attribute to mobility. At each site, beauty is given concrete form, like a lung breathing new life into the city, a shared symbolic territory in the service of its inhabitants.”
Baiyun Station in China has added shops and even an urban park to its designCredit: yang min
World’s Most Beautiful Station List 2025…
Gadigal Station Sydney, Australia
Mons Station Mons, Belgium
Baiyun Station Guangzhou, China
Saint-Denis – Pleyel Station Saint-Denis, France
Villejuif – Gustave Roussy Station
Villejuif, France
KAFD Station Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Qasr Al Hokm Station Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Seven stations across the world have been declared the most beautiful in the world – like Mons Station in BrusselsCredit: Unknown
The world’s longest flight connects America to Asia, with passengers strapped into their seats for almost 19 hours – and it’s not for the faint-hearted
Isobel Pankhurst Audience Writer and Luke Chillingsworth
12:19, 03 Nov 2025
Singapore Airlines runs the longest flight in the world(Image: Alvin Man via Getty Images)
The world’s longest flight links America to Asia with travellers buckled in for nearly 19 hours. The current record holder for the longest long-haul journey is the Singapore Airlines route from New York’s JFK Airport to Singapore Changi.
The 9,537-mile trip has a scheduled flight time of 18 hours and 50 minutes and was introduced by the carrier in 2018. The service operates using Singapore Airline’s cutting-edge A350-900ULRs, which can remain airborne for more than 20 hours without refuelling.
The aircraft achieves such endurance thanks to a specially adapted fuel system. This enhancement boosts the plane’s total fuel capacity to an enormous 24,000 litres.
Yet the journey isn’t readily available to all, as Singapore Airlines doesn’t provide economy class seating on this route.
Rather, Singapore Airlines provides 67 Business Class seats and 94 Premium Economy Class seats. Premium Economy travellers can benefit from additional legroom, a footrest, and an adjustable headrest. Passengers can also utilise noise-cancelling headphones and WiFi throughout their journey.
Business class travellers experience ultimate privacy, whilst their seats transform into completely flat beds to ensure a peaceful sleep during travel.
Singapore Airlines assert that the A350-900ULR will provide customers with a “more comfortable travelling experience”. The aircraft boasts a range of additional features including elevated ceilings, expanded windows and specially designed lighting to combat jetlag.
The carrier maintains that the plane’s innovative carbon composite airframe also enables enhanced air quality. Those seeking a ticket are expected to be extremely wealthy, with seats routinely costing well into five figures.
Singapore Airlines’ CEO, Mr Goh Choon Phong, previously stated that the new route will be the “fastest way” to travel between the two major cities.
He said: “Singapore Airlines has always taken pride in pushing the boundaries to provide the best possible travel convenience for our customers, and we are pleased to be leading the way with these new non-stop flights using the latest technology, ultra-long-range Airbus A350-900ULR.
“The flights will offer our customers the fastest way to travel between the two cities – in great comfort, together with Singapore Airlines’ legendary service – and will help boost connectivity to and through the Singapore hub.”
A SEASIDE capital city a short flight from the UK, with no council tax or TV licence fees and you can eat outside in winter… what’s not to like?
That’s the score in my adopted home town which I moved to from the UK just over 11 years ago.
I ditched the UK for one of the world’s best cities a few hours from the UKCredit: Dayna Camilleri ClarkeIt has waterfront restaurants and Michelin-starred chefsCredit: Joel Gueller
Though it’s Europe’s smallest capital, Malta’s Valetta squeezes in 320 monuments and over two dozen churches into an area half the size of Hyde Park with more history per square metre than anywhere else on the Med.
But Valletta’s more than just a pretty face.
Since it was crowned the European Capital of Culture in 2018, the once-sleepy capital has roared back to life with millions of euros invested in attractions, architecture and nightlife.
Living here has its perks. I pay no council tax, no TV licence, and car insurance costs are a fraction of what I used to pay in the UK.
Public transport is free, a recent vet check-up for my cat cost just €25 (£21.74), and with 300 days of sunshine a year, I’ve never needed the heating or a tumble dryer.
In summer, it’s all alfresco dining and harbour views; in December, the city gate glows with a Christmas market – and you can still enjoy a lunch outside in the sun.
Come February, Carnival takes over with parades and costumes, and later the festas, Malta’s patron-saint celebrations, light up the streets with fireworks, brass bands and confetti.
Valletta knows how to celebrate, and food plays a big part.
For a real taste of Malta, start underground at Nenu the Artisan Baker that is hidden in a vault on one of the city’s backstreets, where even locals flock for the nation’s much-loved ftira bread.
Its founder, Carmel Debono, known as Nenu, was born into a family of Qormi bakers in the 1950s and still fires up a 100-year-old oven to make traditional Maltese loaves like Ħobża tal-Malti and ftajjar.
It’s a slice of Maltese history, served the old-fashioned way.
Nenu is a vaulted restaurant that serves up ftira bread and traditional Maltese loavesCredit: Nenu the ArtisanTribelli is a former warehouse dating back to the 1600s that’s been turned into a huge restaurantCredit: Joel GuellerThe streets in Valletta are steep, cobbled and colourfulCredit: Viewing Malta
Then head down to the Valletta Waterfront, where locals fill the tables, especially for Sunday lunch.
Stop at Tribelli, a former warehouse from the 1600s turned into a family-run Maltese restaurant serving traditional dishes like rabbit stew, fried pasta and platters of local cheeses, sausages and bigilla, a broad bean dip.
Order a bottle of Maltese wine and sit on an outside table with one of the city’s best views of the Grand Harbour.
If looking for more of a quick bite, Valletta’s full of cheap eats.
Grab a pastizz, a golden, flaky pastry filled with ricotta or mushy peas – at under a euro each, they’re the best bargain in town and loved by everyone from builders to bankers.
Once stomachs have been lined, it’s time to head to Strait Street, which was originally Valletta’s red-light and sailors’ quarter.
Now lined with glitzy neon signs and balconies strung with fairy lights, it’s instead home to vintage shopfronts and cocktail bars like Tico Tico and Yard 32.
It’s also worth making a pit stop at The Pub, the tiny watering hole where actor Oliver Reed died while filming Gladiator.
The staff even wear his legendary last bar order on their T-shirts.
Public buses in Malta are free for residents, but the city is so compact that tourists can cover most of it on foot.
Don’t miss St John’s Co-Cathedral with its extraordinary Baroque interior, or the Upper Barrakka Gardens overlooking the Grand Harbour.
Day trips are easy too, with ferries running to the Three Cities or the sister island of Gozo.
But there are also dozens of boutique hotels, guesthouses and Airbnbs that keep things affordable.
Valletta is a far cry from the all-inclusive coastal resorts that once put Malta on the package-holiday map, but you can still get very affordable return flights from £40 to the UK.
With all this going on, it’s little wonder Valletta’s just been crowned the world’s best city by Condé Nast Traveller.
Ten years on, I still pinch myself, sipping a glass of local Girgentina wine up in a city rooftop bar, with the UK reachable in three hours on a plane, but feeling like a lifetime away.
You’ll see the Valletta Triton Fountain at the city gateCredit: Viewing MaltaValletta is a far cry from the all-inclusive coastal resorts that once put Malta on the package-holiday mapCredit: Getty
LOVE a buffet but fancy something a little more luxury? Well, we’ve found the spot perfect for that with the world’s biggest buffet just a few hours from the UK.
Les Grands Buffets in the south of France is so in demand that it often has a seven-month waiting list.
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The world’s largest all-you-can-eat buffet is located in Narbonne, FranceCredit: AlamyIt often has a seven-month waiting listCredit: AlamyThe luxury buffet dates back to 1989 and welcomes 400,000 people a yearCredit: Alamy
The luxury buffet dates back to 1989 and welcomes 400,000 brave diners each year.
That’s around 600 people each day, for lunch and dinner.
Whilst not exactly your budget buffet, it isn’t too outrageously priced either at €65.90 (£57.38) per person.
The inside of the restaurant is so vast that visitors are handed a map upon entering – there are four dining rooms in total.
One of the rooms – called Salon Dore Jean de la Fontaine – was created by the same people who restored the Palace of Versailles, so as you can imagine, is pretty extravagant.
In fact, around 18,000 gold leaves have been added to the finishings in the room.
Another – the Tente d’Apparat Jean-Baptiste Nolin – is a tented room that pays tribute to Louis XIV.
If you’re a glutton for punishment, you can even weigh yourself before and after to see how much food you have consumed.
All of the food served at the buffet is inspired by 19th century chef Auguste Escoffier, who is often considered one of the masters of traditional French cuisine.
In total, there are 150 entrees, main courses and desserts at the buffet.
One section of the restaurant is a seafood buffet, with dishes including a royal seafood platter, fish soup and smoked salmon.
Bottomless lobster is also available.
At the foie gras buffet, guests can help themselves to a range of different duck foie gras, including ones with pepper or creme brulee.
Then there is also a pâté en croûte buffet and a cooked meat and terrine buffet.
For main dishes, guests can enjoy a range of options such as veal, snails,a roasted leg of lamb, scallops, quail stuffed with foie gras, suckling pig on a spit, omelettes, salmon, beef fillet, beef stew, onion soup, squid, wild boar stew, gratin dauphinoise… The list goes on.
Les Grands Buffets is home to the largest cheese selection in the world, in a restaurant with over 100 varieties of cheese.
When it comes to sweet treats there is a cake section, with a towering chocolate fountain.
The restaurant is so vast, that guests are handed a mapCredit: http://www.lesgrandsbuffets.comIn total, there are 150 entrees, main courses and desserts at the buffetCredit: Alamy
Classic desserts make an appearance as well, such as creme caramel and black forest gateau with candied cherries.
Flamed desserts are available too, like crepes, rum bananas and baked Alaska.
The restaurant has over 32,000 reviews on Google, equalling an average rating of 4.5 stars.
One recent visitor said: “You don’t come here just for the food.
“It’s about the whole experience which is totally ridiculous and fun.
It also has the world’s largest cheese selection in a restaurantCredit: AFP
“While it wasn’t the best buffet food I’ve ever had, the showmanship and atmosphere really do make up for it.”
Another added: “It is a feast for once in a lifetime.”
The restaurant is located in Narbonne, a town in south France on the Canal de la Robine.
If visiting, the town has some other lovely spots to explore such as the Gothic Cathédrale Saint-Just et Saint-Pasteur, which started construction back in the 13th century but was never finished.
For some history, head to the Archbishop’s Palace which is home to a number of archaeological and art museums.
And if it is sunny, you can explore Plage de Narbonne beach which has golden sand and clear waters.
One of the world’s most expensive buffets is in the UK
THE Sun’s assistant travel editor, Sophie Swietochowski tried out one of the world’s most expensive buffets and here is what she thought.
The Grove Hotel inHertfordshirewent viral earlier last year whenTikTokfoodies discovered its Glasshouse restaurant where everyone dines en masse, but in five-starluxury.
Costing a whopping £82 per person at the weekend, there is certainly enough to choose from.
After several, overly-generous spoonfuls of caviar, a few servings of beetroot-cured salmon and seven superbly crafted sushi rolls, decorated with dainty herbs, I felt I’d made a good dent in “getting my money‘s worth” – a statement that had been thrown back and forth between my buffet partner, Mum, and I.
The shellfish section was part of one of 10 dining areas at the buffet.
There was a sushi station with hand-made California rolls placed delicately alongside huge tubs of wasabi and seaweed salads.
If all this isn’t enough to wrap your head around, you can also order directly from the chefs, doting on each station, when there is something in particular that you fancy that isn’t on display.
The desserts – including achocolate fountainand fruit for dipping, rows of perfectly wobbly creme brûlées and a freezer containing all manner of ice cream flavours – are in a section on their own, so you don’t even need to ponder those choices until you’ve satisfied your savoury stomach.
‘They call this place the Bermuda Triangle of Transylvania,” says tour guide Marius Lazin, his breath expelling a procession of cotton-wool ghosts into the sharp evening air. “So many people have disappeared here, some say it’s a portal to another dimension.” Marius is leading me on a night walk through what is often described as the world’s most haunted forest: Hoia-Baciu, a square mile of old-growth native woodland on the outskirts of the Romanian city of Cluj-Napoca. He’s been coming here three nights a week for the past 12 years, but even he looks a little uneasy as he arcs his torch like a searchlight against the knotted walls of elm and beech trees which embrace us on all sides, looking so thick that they might be the boundary of the known world.
Marius motions with his torch towards several pairs of slender beech trees, eerie in their symmetry, branches intertwined to form arches – portals or stargates, you might speculate, were you possessed of a particularly febrile imagination. “Many came in here and never came out. But don’t worry,” he adds, turning to me with a grin. “Our tours have a 100% return rate.”
Reports of strange happenings here date back centuries – the forest is named after a local shepherd who is said to have vanished in the distant past, along with 200 of his sheep. But Hoia-Baciu came to international attention in 1968, when a military technician named Emil Barnea photographed what he described as a UFO hovering above a circular clearing in the centre of the forest. In the decades since, Hoia-Baciu has drawn yogis, shamans, ufologists and paranormal investigators from across the world, curious to experience the strange energies said to echo through the forest.
‘Home of Dracula’ … Bran Castle, in Transylvania’s Carpathian mountains. Photograph: Jeremy Woodhouse/Getty Images
It may be one of the world’s premier pilgrimage sites for lovers of the paranormal, but the forest is under threat. The western suburbs of Cluj-Napoca – a modern tech hub of more than 400,000 people, described as the Silicon Valley of eastern Europe – are encroaching, and developers are pushing for permission to clear the trees to build apartment blocks. Barring a few hectares home to locally rare Mediterranean oak trees, the forest is not officially protected, but Marius hopes that the company he co-founded – the Hoia-Baciu Project – will help to change that, encouraging the authorities to recognise the forest’s value as a tourist attraction. The company offers day and night walks in the forest, yoga sessions, paranormal lectures, treasure hunts and escape games – and even, for the particularly intrepid, overnight camping.
As twigs and autumn leaves snap and crunch beneath our boots, Marius recounts some of the folk tales and alleged paranormal happenings here. One famous story describes a five-year-old girl disappearing during a family picnic, only to rematerialise five years later with no memory of what had happened to her, having not aged a day, her clothes shy of the slightest speck of dirt.
More common reports describe mobile phones and camera equipment inexplicably shutting down on entering the woods, while emotional responses range from full-blown dread to states of ecstasy. Some people report seeing strange rashes on their skin, hearing disembodied whispers through the trees, or feel hands grabbing or pushing them, even when sure they are alone.
Marius pulls an iPad from his rucksack and shows me the UFO images which catapulted Hoia-Baciu to international attention in the 1960s. Grainy and monochrome, they appear to show a button-like flying saucer hovering above the trees. He flicks through dozens of other photographs taken in the years before and since, with similar saucer-like objects, glowing orbs or wraith-like apparitions. Enigmatic photographs of this nature have been a fixture of paranormal research for more than a century, not much use as evidence, but it’s worth noting that Barnea did not stand to profit from publishing his photographs – on the contrary, he lost his job in the military, with the communist government not looking kindly on anything with a supernatural tang. “Many of the old researchers who investigated the forest ended up in psychiatric wards,” Marius says. “Did the communist regime put them there? Or did something really happen to them, here in the forest?”
An evening walking tour of Hoia-Baciu. Photograph: Hoia Baciu Project
While many of the stories may be unverifiable, there is much before my eyes that is undeniably strange. All around are trees whose trunks are bent and twisted into fantastical shapes. Some bulge outwards at the base, their crowns disappearing into the black night, so they resemble giant meat hooks hanging from the heavens. Others droop like melted candles, or are bent in strange, spiralling patterns. Various suggestions have been given to explain the deformed trees: that hurricane winds could have bent the saplings, or naturally high radiation levels in the soil account for their crooked growth. But scientific investigations have turned up no satisfactory evidence.
Marius’s tours allow visitors to take part in a little scientific inquiry of their own. As we approach the clearing in the trees where Barnea took his famous UFO photographs, he hands me an EMF meter, a stalwart of ghost-hunting kits which measures electromagnetic fields. “We’re entering the most active part of the forest,” he says. “See what you can find.”
The trees suddenly stop dead as we emerge into a perfect circle. The only greenery is the short grass beneath our feet; it’s clear that it hasn’t been mown, and appears that this strange clearing is natural, not the work of human hands.
Wielding my EMF meter, I sweep the clearing like a detectorist, briefly excited when the needle begins to tick madly back and forth, only for my vibrating phone to indicate that the electromagnetic disturbance was just an incoming text message. Despite spending several hours in the forest, and being genuinely baffled by the twisted trees and the strange clearing, I haven’t seen anything I’d describe as supernatural. Perhaps the forest is a blank canvas, on to which people project their own fears and desires.
Transylvania generally is a place which stirs the imagination, where the border is blurred between fact and folklore. In rural Romanian communities belief persists in strigoi (“screamers”) – undead, shapeshifting bloodsuckers, who rise from their graves to terrorise local communities.
Misty and spooky: Hoia Baciu wood. Photograph: Pal Szilagyi Palko/Alamy
Bram Stoker’s famous vampire Count Dracula is forever associated with Transylvania, and Bran Castle – a Saxon monolith perched on a rocky outcrop in the Carpathian Mountains around four hours’ drive south of Hoia-Baciu – is keenly marketed as “Dracula’s Castle”. While it bears little resemblance to the shadowy ruin described as Dracula’s dwelling, and there is no evidence that it inspired Stoker, it’s still a major attraction for fans of all things gothic and ghoulish – particularly around Halloween, when the castle hosts costumed parties.
But even myth-shrouded Transylvania – literally, “the place beyond the forest” – feels solid and predictable compared to these eerie woods, which seem to be, for reasons radioactive, atmospheric or simply folkloric, a nexus for human imaginative power. “In Hoia-Baciu,” Marius says, “the line between reality and imagination is very thin.”
Universal’s Halloween Horror Nights is scaring the life out of punters with Terrifier. Kelly Williams decided to give it a go and left with goose bumps and utterly horrified
Kelly Williams Assistant News Editor (Live)
09:51, 29 Oct 2025Updated 09:53, 29 Oct 2025
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Despite having never been to Universal’s Halloween Horror Nights before, I knew the Terrifier was going to be bad, but I didn’t expect it to feel like my stomach – and nerves – were being tested with every step.
The smell hit me before anything else – putrid rot, bleach, coppery blood, even the stench of faeces. It stuck to the back of my throat so thick I nearly gagged. The house started deceptively dry, as if lulling me into thinking I’d make it through clean. That didn’t last.
Within minutes, I was in the middle of a full-on blood bath. Red splattered walls, dripping ceilings, and warm droplets spraying across my arms. They say it uses six gallons of blood and 35 bodies – the most ever – and I believe it. Every corner I turned was another slaughter.
And then there was Art the Clown. Not just once, he appeared everywhere, each guise worse than the last. He came at me dressed as a sick parody of Santa, revving a chainsaw and plunging it gleefully into a victim’s back with that same, mocking grin.
A few rooms later, I caught him mid-kill, snapping someone’s jaw with a crunch that echoed through the hall. The squelch of him disembodying someone else was another gruesome scene that still haunts me.
In another chamber of hell, he stood behind a screaming man, dragging a blade across his throat as blood sprayed into the air, and I had to turn my face away. The worst was the bathroom scene. It stank of mold and sewage, and the sinks were clogged with guts.
There were bodies piled in the bathtub and a mirror streaked with gore. I wanted to close my eyes, but Art was there too, standing so still it made me wonder if he was waiting for me specifically. Then came the familiar warped jingle of the Clown Café, cheerful and wrong, like a lullaby for nightmares as Art danced nonchalantly along.
By the finale, I was lightheaded from the smell and the sights, practically stumbling toward the exits where I was faced with a choice – dry path or blood bath (of course, I went for the latter). My stomach lurched with every step, I came so close to throwing up. But I made a run for it, and when the warm spray of blood (water really) finally hit me in the last corridor, I felt it on my skin long after I’d escaped.
I staggered out laughing, but it was the kind of shaky laugh you let out when you’re not sure if you survived or just got broken. Terrifier wasn’t just a haunted house. It was being dragged into Art the Clown’s world – unrated, unrelenting, and almost too much for me to handle.
Book the holiday
Virgin Atlantic Holidays offers seven nights on a room-only basis at the Loews Sapphire Falls Resort in Orlando, starting at £1,719pp, including Virgin Atlantic flights from Heathrow and a ticket to Halloween Horror Nights. Find out more and book at virginholidays.co.uk.
A US Air Force plane flew inside Hurricane Melissa on Monday over the Caribbean, revealing a rare weather phenomenon known as the ‘stadium effect’. Forecasters say the Category 5 storm is set to be Jamaica’s most destructive on record and is expected to make landfall early on Tuesday.
WHO can say no to a Wetherspoons? And what if I told you the smallest one in the world is just as good as the rest, if not better.
Not only is it the smallest Spoons, but it is also in a rather bizarre location – a train station.
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I visited the worlds smallest spoons – it felt like being in an airportCredit: Cyann Fielding
Of course, some UK airports have Wetherspoons, but I have never come across one in a train station before.
Sat at one end of Cannon Street Station in London, you will find the Sir John Hawkshaw, complete with just 42 tables.
Whilst that might sound a lot, compared to the usual London Spoons, this is considerably less.
And the obscurities about this spot just continue – if you need to use the toilet, well then you’ll need to head to the other end of the station and down a set of stairs.
I tested out the journey myself, and it took me around one minute (no good if you’re desperate!).
For those who love to train spot, sit outside on the terrace, which is essentially like sitting on one of the platforms.
The boozer opened back in 2014 and is named after one of the co-designers of the original station building, which first opened in 1866.
Inside, it does have a more cosy feel than most Wetherspoons pubs I have visited.
With Halloween fast approaching, the interior was decked out with cobwebs and pumpkins.
But keen to experience the pub-slash-train-station experience, I opted for a table on the terrace to enjoy my nachos.
Despite its small size, the pub still features Spoons’ extensive menu and the service isn’t impacted either.
To learn more about the pub, look for a blue plaque on the veranda.
It states: “The station had eight platforms under a single span arch roof.
“Far below the station are the remains of a Roman palace, built in the first century.”
At another point, the ‘Steelyard’ was used by German and Flemish merchants.
However, in 1666, it was then destroyed during the Great Fire of London.
A quarter of a century later, and the Company of Plumbers built their Livery Hall on the site, which remained there until the 1860s.
I sat peacefully enjoying my chips, nachos, chicken strips and raspberry lemonade, coming to a grand total of £18.
Whilst eating I noticed how the pub also has a unique soundtrack – clinking glasses mixed with the clack-clack of trains running over metal rails.
In all, I found myself feeling like I was in a quiet bubble in the middle of the hustle and bustle of commuters and tourists.
It felt as if I was in an airport, enjoying a drink whilst people watching – but with no pressure that I was going to miss my flight.
For the tired and sore commuter, this spot is ideal for a post meeting drink, before hopping on a Southeastern train home.
And of course, in typical Spoons style, your pocket won’t be stretched either.
Whilst to most, this may feel like another typical Wetherspoons spot, it somehow manages to fit all the character you get with Spoons into a small venue.
SOME of the prettiest Wetherspoons pubs can be found in old cinemas and even bingo halls – here are the top spots…
Opera House, Royal Tunbridge Wells: The former opera house in Royal Tunbridge Wells first opened its doors to the public back in 1902.
The Winter Gardens, Harrogate: The Winter Gardens used to be part of the Royal Baths in Harrogate and provided a place where people could relax.
The Corn Exchange, Bury St Edmunds: The Grade I listed building started life as a location for merchants and Victorian farmers to trade back in 1862.
The Royal Victoria Pavilion, Ramsgate: Ramsgate’s Royal Victoria Pavilion holds the title of the world’s biggest Wetherspoons.
The Velvet Coaster, Blackpool: The pub is named after one of Blackpool’s most famous historical fairground rides, in which thrill-seekers of the past sat in velvet-lined carriages that rolled along a wooden track.
The Caley Picture House, Edinburgh: The art-deco insides of the Caley Picture House in Edinburgh make it look like like it could feature in the Great Gatsby.
The Palladium, Llandudno: The Palladium in Llandudno, in North Wales, is another Wetherspoons that used to be a cinema.
The Counting House, Glasgow: The ex-Bank of Scotland building was designed in the Italian Renaissance style and visitors can even have a drink in its underground vault.
Hamilton Hall, London: Outside of London’s Liverpool Street Station is Hamilton Hall, which at one stage was a ballroom in the Great Eastern Hotel.
The Knights Templar, London: Elsewhere in London, The Knights Templar can be found inside a former Union Bank building.
A SEASIDE city in the UK has been named among the happiest in the world.
It has a world famous pier, pretty shopping streets and an enormous beach that sees millions of tourists during the summer months.
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The city was ranked on a number of statements, including if people feel happier in the city than anywhere elseCredit: GettyBrighton has been named one of the happiest cities in the world by Time OutCredit: Alamy
We all like to be beside the seaside, and therefore it is no surprise that, according to Time Out, Brighton is one of the happiest cities in the world.
Cities across the world were ranked on a criterion of five statements: My city makes me happy; I feel happier in my city than other places I’ve visited or lived; The people in my city seem happy; I find joy in the everyday experiences my city offers; The sense of happiness in my city has grown a lot recently.
Overall, Brighton then scored 11th place on the table and it was the only city in England to gain a spot on the list.
And it isn’t surprising, as the city has a lot to boast about including being close to London and having sprawling beaches.
If heading from London Victoria, it takes just 58 minutes to reach Brighton on the train with an adult anytime day return usually costing £34.70.
Once there, one of the obvious spots to explore is the beach.
The pebble beach stretches far and is also where visitors can find the historic pier.
For breathtaking views, head up the BA i360 observation tower, costing £18.50 per person.
Then make sure to head to Brighton’s Grade-II listed pleasure pier, which boasts a number of fairground rides, bars and restaurants – all hovering above the sea.
It stretches a total of 525 metres and is the ideal spot to catch the sunset.
For history lovers, there is also the Royal Pavilion to explore with ornate interiorsCredit: GettyBrighton does have a lot to boast about – it has a sprawling pebble beach and quaint lanes full of independent shopsCredit: Alamy
If you then stroll along the promenade, make sure to check out the Upside Down House.
Inside, there are lots of quirky photo ops and it costs between £7.45 and £14.95 to enter.
Heading into the town, make sure to explore Brighton’s art district – North Laine.
You can wander around independent shops and stop off at traditional pubs.
Often referred to as ‘the lanes’, the area is full of higgledy-piggledy alleyways and avenues.
There are then also the historical lanes, to the south, which have a number of restaurants, bars and boutiques.
Claiming the top spot for the world’s most happiest city was Abu DhabiThe Scottish city of Glasgow came in 20th place
For those who love exploring history, visit The Royal Pavilion – a palace in the middle of the town.
This rather extravagant building is a former palace that was commissioned by King George IV.
Today, the attraction is a Grade I listed building and is known for its ornate designs inside.
It costs £19.50 per adult and £11.75 per child to visit.
There’s also the Brighton Museum & Art Gallery, which costs £9.50 to enter.
With its central gallery having just reopened following a £2million upgrade, visitors get the chance to see collections of fine art, decorative arts, fashion, and local history.
If you’re looking for a spot to grab a bite, then head to Baqueano – the number one rated restaurant in Brighton, with a full five out of five stars from more than 1,900 TripAdvisor reviews.
Though don’t expect it to be cheap – the catch of the day will set you back £28.50 and a fillet steak, £39.30.
And if you are looking to stay longer, you won’t be short of choice when it comes to hotels and accommodation.
For example, you could stay at Drakes Hotel, which is set along the seafront and is just a 10 minute walk from the beach.
Cape Town in South Africa has beautiful beaches and bustling city tooThe Spanish city of Seville is another of the world’s happiest cities
Inside, the rooms are all individually designed with bespoke furniture, large TVs, tea and coffee making facilities and free wifi.
There’s even a 24-hour cocktail bar.
It costs from £134 per night to stay at the hotel.
Alternatively, for a slightly cheaper option, you could stay at the DoubleTree by Hilton Brighton Metropole costing from £95 a night.
The hotel features an indoor pool, fitness centre, onsite restaurant and even has pet friendly rooms.
Other cities on the list features Abu Dhabi securing the top spot.
Then the only other UK spot, was Glasgow, placing 20th. The city was also named the friendliest in the country, and you can read why by one local who lives there.
Medellín in Colombia also made the listCredit: Alamy Stock Photo
The 20 happiest cities in the world in 2025
THESE are the 20 happiest cities in the world in 2025, according to Time Out.
Abu Dhabi, UAE
Medellín, Colombia
Cape Town, South Africa
Mexico City, Mexico
Mumbai, India
Beijing, China
Shanghai, China
Chicago, US
Seville, Spain
Melbourne, Australia
Brighton, UK
Porto, Portugal
Sydney, Australia
Chiang Mai, Thailand
Marrakech, Morocco
Dubai, UAE
Hanoi, Vietnam
Jakarta, Indonesia
Valencia, Spain
Glasgow, UK
If you are looking for other seaside spots to visit, there is also an English seaside town that’s better in autumn with London-worthy restaurants and new hotels.
Finland, a Nordic nation of 5.6 million, has been named one of Lonely Planet’s 25 Best Destinations in 2026 – and it’s not hard to see why the Finns are so happy
Finland’s people appear to have figured out the secret to a happy life(Image: alexsl via Getty Images)
One of the globe’s finest destinations also happens to be amongst Europe’s most sparsely populated.
Finland, a Nordic country home to 5.6 million people, has earned recognition as one of Lonely Planet’s 25 Best Destinations in 2026. The nation was the sole European country to secure a place on the list, though it did share its ranking with regions across Italy and Ireland, amongst others.
Recent years have seen considerable attention focused on Finnish contentment levels. This March, Finland claimed the title of the world’s happiest nation for an eighth consecutive year, as reported by the World Happiness Report 2025, reports the Express.
“Happiness isn’t just about wealth or growth – it’s about trust, connection and knowing people have your back,” said Jon Clifton, the chief executive of Gallup. If we want stronger communities and economies, we must invest in what truly matters: each other.”
The formula behind Finland’s contentment proves fascinating and complex.
Trust forms the foundation of Finnish culture. Numerous youngsters in the country bundle up warmly to attend woodland schools, even in the country’s northern regions during brutal Finnish winters.
They’re permitted to clamber, leap, scramble, and engage in countless other activities to their heart’s desire, with educators choosing to allow learning through experimentation rather than stepping in. Beyond this bedrock of trust lies an immense pride in their homeland.
Finland boasts one of the globe’s highest national service participation rates. Roughly 27,000 conscripts commence service annually, with approximately 80% of Finnish men fulfilling their duty. Moreover, increasing numbers of women volunteer for service, with more than 1,500 enlisting each year.
Another major contributor to Finnish contentment is the nation’s stunning natural landscape. Known as the Land of a Thousand Lakes, Finland features nearly 200,000 lakes and remains roughly three-quarters blanketed in woodland.
The nation serves as an ideal spot for witnessing the Aurora Borealis, visible on countless evenings, particularly throughout Lapland.
“Whether you are paddling through Finnish Lakeland in the golden light of a midsummer evening, feeling the heartbeat of Sámi reindeer-herding culture in Inari or embracing the bitter cold of Lapland on a dogsled ride as the northern lights come out to play, you will realize that Finnish happiness is tuning into nature, in touch with your inner child,” Lonely Planet writes.
Fortunately, there’s ample room to savour this magnificence.
Finland ranks amongst Europe’s most thinly populated nations, averaging merely 17 residents per sq km, contrasted with 227 per sq km in the UK. Lonely Planet’s Kerry Walker says if you do visit Finland, you shouldn’t leave without first embracing Sámi culture in Lapland.
“Give Santa the slip and head to Inari or, further north still, Utsjoki, for reindeer-driven sleigh rides and joik (rhythmic poems) sung around a flickering campfire in a simple lavvu tent. Go for the whole Arctic shebang with husky mushing, snowshoeing and ice fishing, then hole up in a log cabin, igloo or aurora-gazing dome to watch the flakes silently fall,” she suggests.
The Sámi inhabit Finland’s northern territory of Lapland, a region that extends into Sweden and Norway too.
Many still engage in age-old reindeer herding practices, though contemporary methods and gadgets like drones and snowmobiles are now employed.
If the prospect of holidaying somewhere with minimal crowds appeals to you, Mongolia could be perfect.
This vast landlocked nation, nestled between China and Russia, spans more than 603,000 square miles yet houses barely 3.5 million residents, making it the globe’s most thinly populated independent country.
Indeed, roughly half the nation’s inhabitants reside in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia’s capital city.
BRITS could be set to welcome a new mega zipline after the world’s biggest tunnel flopped.
The Olympic Park’s iconic ArcelorMittal Orbit was crowned the world’s longest tunnel after it was built in 2012.
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A mega zipline could be opening in the UKCredit: AlamyThe Olympic Park’s iconic ArcelorMittal Orbit was constructed in 2012Credit: AlamyWelsh adventure company Zip World took over in SeptemberCredit: ZipWorld
But, despite all its glory, the site never attracted enough visitors to operate a sustainable business.
In a bid to save the location from ruin, Zip World took over in September and vowed to install a huge zipwire.
The company has submitted a planning application which, if accepted, would see a switchback zipwire made.
Tourists would be strapped into a chair that takes them from the top of the Orbit and back up again.
The wire would measure a whopping 440m and stretch over to London Stadium.
Plans need to be approved by Tower Hamlets and Newham council officials.
If they are given the greenlight, it is estimated the attraction would fetch 60,000 visitors each year.
Designed by Sir Anish Kapoor and Cecil Balmond for London 2012, the ArcelorMittal Orbit delighted visitors during the games before reopening to the public in 2014.
The ArcelorMittal Orbit isn’t just a huge sculpture, it’s also home to the world’s biggest tunnel slide, the Helix.
Standing at 76m and stretching for 178m, brave visitors can reach speeds of up to 15mph on the slide.
The huge tunnel slide also features 12 turns, which twist and snake around the Olympic Park sculpture, making for a dizzying journey.
If this sounds too stomach-churning, then visitors can also take in panoramic views over London from the ArcelorMittal Orbit 360 viewing deck.
Located at the top of the sculpture, the viewing platform boasts views for as far as 20 miles on a clear day.
Visitors have praised the attraction in their reviews on TripAdvisor, with one person writing: “The views across London are spectacular, and you get great views across the park, the stadium, and the city”.
ZipWorld boss, Andrew Hudson, said earlier this year: “We are excited to announce the re-opening date for the ArcelorMittal Orbit at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, ready for half term.
“This is just the start for Zip World in London, and we can’t wait to welcome both locals and thrill-seekers from around the world.
“We’ve got many more epic adventures lined up that will redefine urban excitement in the heart of the city.
“We’ll continue working closely with LLDC as we expand our off world-class experiences to bring something truly unique to the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.”
Entry tickets to the ArcelorMittal Orbit 360 viewing deck start from £7, with tickets for Helix starting from £14.
Adventure giant Zip World has a host of other attractions in the UK, including the UK’s first zipline rollercoaster at Penrhyn Quarry in Snowdonia.
The Aero Explorer ride opened in 2023 and offers thrill-seekers a “high-speed journey across the quarry” like no other.
An overhead track is connected to a harness on the rider, which enables them to glide around as if they’re on a rollercoaster.
The track is found high above the quarry, offering views of the landscape as people fly around connected to the circuit above.
Plus, how London’s newest tourist town in a “forgotten” district is a £1.3billion attraction with hotels, theatre and a rooftop bar.
It is estimated the proposed zip line would fetch 60,000 visitors each yearCredit: AlamyThe attraction is home to the world’s biggest tunnel slide, the HelixCredit: ZipWorldPlans need approved by Tower Hamlets and Newham council officialsCredit: Alamy
