Travel Guides
Staying in an Airbnb Inside Dubrovnik’s Old Town
There is staying in Dubrovnik, and then there is staying inside Dubrovnik. For this trip, I wanted the latter. I found Apartment Kate on Airbnb, right in the heart of the Old Town, inside the ancient city walls. Its entrance door is quite literally on the famous Jesuit Steps, recognisable from Game of Thrones, so from the moment you leave the apartment, you are immediately in the middle of one of the most iconic parts of the city.
An Evening at Farmhouse by Syrco, Al Wadi Desert
There are some restaurants where the experience begins long before you reach the table. Farmhouse by Syrco at The Ritz-Carlton Ras Al Khaimah, Al Wadi Desert, is one of them. Having recently reopened following a complete redesign, the restaurant welcomed us back for an evening of food, drinks and desert views, with a refreshed menu that puts local ingredients firmly at the centre of its offering.
Kayaking Along the Thames Through Central London
London is usually experienced from its streets, bridges and Underground, but there is another way to see the city that puts you right in the middle of it. Kayaking the Thames gives you a completely different perspective, with London’s skyline unfolding around you as you move with the river. You pass beneath bridges, alongside historic buildings and directly past some of the city’s most recognisable landmarks, all from the seat of a kayak.
Driving California’s Pacific Coast Highway
The only way to do this trip is to hire a Mustang, get the roof down, put on your favourite playlist and hit the road. California’s Pacific Coast Highway is one of those journeys where the drive really is the holiday. The classic route between San Francisco and Los Angeles follows Highway 1 through the Monterey Peninsula, Carmel-by-the-Sea, Big Sur and California’s Central Coast before reaching Santa Barbara and eventually LA. Highway 1 stretches for more than 650 miles along California’s coastline, but the San Francisco to LA section is the one to focus on for a classic road trip.
Hiking to Anse Major Beach in Seychelles
There are plenty of beautiful beaches in the Seychelles, but Anse Major makes you work for yours. Tucked into the northwest coast of Mahé within Morne Seychellois National Park, this small stretch of white sand and turquoise water is reached by a coastal trail from Danzil, near Bel Ombre, with no road leading to the beach. The official Anse Major Nature Trail is 2.4 kilometres one way and takes around an hour, depending on your pace and how often you stop for the views. It is classified as a low-intensity trail, but the terrain is rocky and uneven, with exposed granite, climbs and descents, so proper walking shoes are essential.
The Best Rooftop Bars, Pools & Views in Dubai
Whenever I arrive in a new destination, my first instinct is to find the highest vantage point possible. Whether it’s trekking up a rugged mountain trail or taking a high-speed lift to the top of a skyscraper, gaining that initial elevation is essential for gathering my bearings and truly understanding the scale of a city. In a place as architectural and sprawling as Dubai, this perspective is transformative; it allows you to see how the intricate veins of the motorways connect the futuristic skyline to the vast, golden desert beyond.
The Ultimate Guide to Battersea, London
Battersea has changed dramatically over the past decade. Once an industrial corner of south west London, it has become the focus of one of the city's most ambitious regeneration projects. For years, Battersea was best known for its power station. Today, it's one of London's most exciting neighbourhoods, where historic landmarks sit alongside new hotels, riverside restaurants and green spaces.
A Guide to Visiting Hatta, Dubai
Around 90 minutes from Downtown Dubai, Hatta offers a completely different side to the emirate. Surrounded by the Hajar Mountains near the Oman border, this mountain town is known for its rugged landscapes, outdoor adventures and cooler climate. Once a quiet farming community, it has become one of Dubai's most popular destinations for hiking, kayaking and weekend escapes.
The Prettiest Villages in the Cotswolds
The Cotswolds has recently undergone a radical transformation from a quiet rural retreat into a global digital phenomenon. This surge is primarily driven by the TikTok effect, where the region's honey-coloured Jurassic limestone and lopsided medieval hamlets have become the face of a viral English aesthetic. Once known only to local walkers and historians, these villages now face a massive influx of international tourists who view the 17th-century streets as the ultimate high-contrast backdrop for travel content. This newfound status as a social media honeypot has turned ancient wool towns into essential bucket-list destinations for a new generation of travellers.
The Complete Guide to Sigiriya, Sri Lanka
Sigiriya is a massive granite peak that rises two hundred metres above the flat plains of central Sri Lanka. This UNESCO site, known as Lion Rock, is more than just a natural landmark. It was a 5th-century capital city built by King Kasyapa, surrounded by a complex system of water gardens, moats and defensive walls.
The climb to the top takes you through different stages of history. Halfway up the rock, two giant stone lion paws mark the entrance to the old palace. On the western side, you will find the mirror wall, which was once polished so the King could see himself. Nearby, ancient frescoes of women are still visible in the rock, preserved for centuries.
The Ultimate Lincolnshire Guide: Coast, Country & Charm
Lincolnshire sits on England’s east coast, where long stretches of open countryside meet an uninterrupted coastline along the North Sea. It is a county defined by space rather than spectacle, where farmland, wetlands and small historic towns sit far apart, connected by quiet roads and wide horizons. Unlike more heavily visited parts of the UK, it moves at a slower rhythm, shaped by agriculture, seasonal tourism and coastal wildlife. This sense of scale is what makes it particularly appealing in summer, when daylight stretches late into the evening and the landscape feels even more open and accessible.
The Best Beaches to Visit in Cornwall
When it comes to dramatic coastlines and world-class shorelines, Cornwall completely stands apart. Shrugged by the wild Atlantic ocean, this southwest peninsula is home to some of the finest sand in Europe, where towering granite cliffs give way to expansive tidal flats and hidden, turquoise-water coves. Threaded together by the spectacular South West Coast Path, these landscapes offer incredible clifftop walking trails that lead directly down to the water's edge.
Review: The Find Hotel, Sri Lanka
There are some hotels that feel instantly recognisable, and The Find is one of them. Sitting at the far end of Kabalana Beach in Ahangama on Sri Lanka’s south coast, the boutique hotel has become known for its distinctive pink facade and interiors, something that now feels completely synonymous with the property itself. Yet after speaking to owner Myles, I discovered the hotel was never actually meant to turn out quite so pink. Inspired by the colour of traditional Sri Lankan pottery, the shade developed into something far bolder and more memorable than originally planned. The result is effortlessly iconic.
Review: Ella Trail Luxury Villa, Sri Lanka
The building is sharp and modern, all glass and concrete, designed so the view dominates every space inside, with terraces and openings that break the structure into levels. From the outside it feels stark against the landscape, but inside it is warm and cosy, opening fully to the view, with one side left completely open so air moves straight through from morning to night. Below, the railway line runs directly beneath the villa, part of the Kandy to Ella route. The blue train passes several times a day, slow enough to follow as it moves across the hillside.
The Ultimate Hiriketiya Guide, Sri Lanka
There is a specific kind of magic found in Hiriketiya that is becoming increasingly rare along Sri Lanka’s southern coastline. Often referred to simply as "Hiri," this perfectly formed horseshoe bay feels like a secret the jungle is trying its best to keep. While other coastal towns have expanded into bustling hubs, Hiriketiya remains a place where the roads are still mostly dirt, the palms lean impossibly low over the water, and the rhythm of the day is dictated entirely by the swell.