The Long Weekend: Where to stay and what to do in the rural bits of Mallorca, Spain December 7, 2018 The weekend: If you’ve been craving the chance to get back to nature (let’s face it, a quick sandwich in St James’ Park just doesn’t cut it), and a healthy dose of peace and quiet, head to this craggy peninsula on the north-eastern tip of Mallorca, pronto. An hour from Palma airport is the swish [...]
We head out to Japan to explore the incredibly diverse contemporary arts scenes of Takamatsu, Naoshima and Kyoto December 7, 2018 Standing on the end of a pier on Naoshima island, superstar artist Yayoi Kusama’s giant spotted pumpkin stands as a testament to the success of Japanese contemporary art. The nation’s art scene is often reduced to stereotype – cherry blossom prints, blushing geishas, delicate rock gardens – but this island on the Inland Sea dispels [...]
The former Stasi headquarters in Berlin has turned into luxury flats – but will it ever really get over its murky past? November 30, 2018 After the headquarters of the East German Secret Police was stormed in 1990, the building it was housed in has understandably struggled to find a place in modern, vibrant Berlin. But now it’s been renamed 2052 Industrie Lofts and turned into luxurious apartments that boast some of the largest outside terraces in the German capital, [...]
We planned a foodie road trip around Wales that you can complete in four days November 27, 2018 It took me 30 years to get to Wales. I never had an aversion to it, it was just easier to get on a plane than it was to learn how to drive. As a lifelong Londoner with no family to visit regularly beyond the M25, there was no immediate reason to learn, so I [...]
From towering glaciers to barnacle-encrusted whales, Lizzie Pook heads to unexplored east Greenland to learn how to capture this wild land on camera November 5, 2018 Spend enough time in the Greenlandic wilderness and everything starts to take on a cinematic quality. Inky waters roiling with dolphins seem like they should be scored by the soaring strings of an orchestra. Cathedral-sized icebergs, like colossal sparkling geodes, pass gracefully in the manner of silent film stars. Everything looks like opening credits; a [...]
Slowing down in Tokyo: Japan’s eccentric capital is best enjoyed at a snail’s pace November 5, 2018 Tokyo is the gateway to Japan for most visitors and one of the most varied and hyperdeveloped cities in the world. Only a special kind of masochist would brave the jetlag to visit Tokyo for a long weekend, but the capital is truly one of the urban wonders of the world, even if used only [...]
The best snow in California can be found in South Lake Tahoe November 5, 2018 There are far worse problems to have than being stuck in California for a weekend. But if you find yourself hanging around the Golden State with some time to kill, then you can do worse than check the snow conditions in nearby Lake Tahoe. I found myself in such a predicament last January, and so [...]
Belfast has big plans to become the home of the Titanic and a top TV shooting location. But will that help the property market? November 2, 2018 A couple of weeks ago, a consortium of hedge funds clubbed together to raise $19.5m to buy bric-a-brac from the bottom of the ocean. At first glance, these 5,500 items bore no relation to each other; a bowler hat, the sleek curves of a bronze angel, a steel door. Their immense value derives solely from [...]
From today you have to pay extra for your Ryanair hand luggage November 1, 2018 Ryanair's controversial new hand luggage rules take effect today, with customers having to pay extra if they want to take a small carry-on bag on board. For many airlines, two pieces of hand luggage are free of charge and already included in the price. But Ryanair passengers must pay £6 to add a 10kg cabin [...]
How much of Route 66 can you see in one weekend? We head to Chicago to find out… October 29, 2018 Route 66, America’s most legendary highway, is a month-long mission for many who attempt to drive the whole thing. It starts in downtown Chicago and ends 2,448 miles later in front of the Santa Monica Pier in Los Angeles. But what if you only have a weekend to Get Your Kicks on Route 66? With [...]
