Why Florence, Italy makes the ideal spring break from London Life&Style If I were searching for heaven on Earth, Florence is the first place I would look. The Italian city‘s Renaissance art and architecture make my spirit soar with their otherworldly beauty, the mountainous backdrop refreshes my eyes and soul, and the food and drink? Well, a Tuscan feast is exactly what my body ordered, in [...]
Aboard the real Orient Express train from Europe to the East Life&Style It has always irked me that trains billed as the Orient Express, like the Venice-Simplon-Orient-Express, only go as far as Istanbul. Why evoke the romance of the Orient only to end the journey at the edge of Europe? It’s a disappointment, but more gallingly for anyone passionate about long-distance train travel, it’s also a missed [...]
Haute Maurienne Vanoise: A mindful hike in the French Alps Life&Style On my climb towards the Vallonnet glacial cave in Haute Maurienne Vanoise within the Savoie region of the French Alps, the landscape was pristine and the silence profound – it was a stillness I had never experienced before. There was no wind, no animal sounds, no people, no traffic. Nothing. The snow is abundant – [...]
City break in Munich: Where to stay and what to see in Bavaria January 31, 2025 If there’s one thing Munich is famous for it’s Oktoberfest. But if beer-swilling stag parties aren’t your thing, visit the Bavarian capital any time of the year apart from late September and you will find one of Europe’s richest, most varied city break destinations. The art scene is second to none, and the beer stein [...]
Les Gets: A smaller alternative to crowded giant ski resorts October 15, 2024 From a musician in a balloon to a connection with the rocks beneath her skis, Sophie Ibbotson finds bliss in the Alpine resort of Les Gets. The music-maker stood in the forest preparing his hot air balloon for a flight. It was the perfect night for storytelling, inky dark and with a thick crunch of [...]
Bristol holiday ideas: How to plan the perfect UK staycation August 27, 2024 Bristol is a varied, multicultural city unlike any other, with a rich and sometimes troubled history. Here’s how to plan the perfect weekend there. THE WEEKEND: For 1,300 years, the world has sailed in and out of Bristol. Explorer John Cabot pioneered trading routes across the Atlantic, and in doing so discovered Newfoundland; the infamous [...]
Take a road trip on the Southwest 660 August 5, 2024 Escape the office early on a Friday and head straight for the coast. The UK’s newest long-distance road trip, the Southwest 660, wraps 660 miles along the seafront from Bournemouth in Dorset through Devon and Cornwall, finishing at Watchet in Somerset. It is conveniently divided into 50-mile-long sections, several of which can be completed in [...]
I drove a canal boat to Stratford-upon-Avon – it was the ultimate UK spring break April 9, 2024 Sophie Ibbotson took out a boat called Poppy with some friends
Bologna is the REAL food capital of Italy – here’s why March 27, 2024 A weekend break in Bologna will always be about the food – with its UNESCO porticos and unique cuisine it's Italy's biggest secret
Why Simon Rogan’s Cumbria is the ultimate UK staycation March 25, 2024 The ultimate UK staycation: Sophie Ibbotson swaps the fells for feasting in the Lake District THE WEEKEND: The Cumbrian village of Cartmel has a remarkably strong claim to be the gastronomic capital of the northwest, and might just offer the perfect UK staycation. Michelin-starred chef Simon Rogan has three phenomenal restaurants here, plus a shop [...]
