Sophie Dickinson

Beachy holidays with dodgy tan lines and cocktails are all well and good, but what about the – in our opinion – hugely underrated cold-weather break? Think endless hot chocolates, snuggling up in soft blankets, lots of red wine, and crackling fireplaces. Sheer bliss, right?  All you need to make this a reality is to find a property with vibes as warm as a gingerbread house (and some decent thermal leggings). We've scoured the UK to find the cosiest UK Airbnbs where you can hunker down and escape the norm. Our selection is full of rustic log cabins, traditional countryside cottages, and quiet shepherd’s huts.  Updated in October 2024: Because the English countryside is the gift that keeps on giving we've added a few more properties that we think will catch your eye like this gorgeous shepherd's hut in Ewelme and this historic manor in Langford Budville.  RECOMMENDED:💕 The best romantic weekend getaways in the UK🪵 Amazing cabins and cottages in the UK🌳 11 incredible treehouses you can book in the UK🧘 The best wellbeing breaks and yoga retreats in the UK🏞️ The most beautiful national parks in the UK Who makes the cut? While we might not stay in every Airbnb featured, we've based our list on top reviews, hosts and amenities to find you the best stays. This article includes affiliate links. These links have no influence on our editorial content. For more information, see our affiliate guidelines.

Buildings might have longer lifespans than most people, but that doesn’t mean they’re always going to be happily inhabited and serving their purpose. Once their residents have moved out and moved on, these spaces face uncertain futures – redesigns, razing to the ground or, perhaps, remaining stuck in time and left to the ravages of nature. Maybe it’s the dust and cobwebs left to gather or the eerie quiet that runs through them, but there’s something inherently spooky about an abandoned building. Abandoned doesn’t mean forgotten, though. Architecture and obscure history heads have made sure these gems have remained in the public consciousness. Here are 11 of our favourite abandoned buildings around the world and the unusual stories behind them. Grab a jumper before you dig in – they’re bound to give you the chills. RECOMMENDED:👻The most haunted places in the world🧟The best halloween movies of all time🎃The best halloween songs of all time At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines. This guide includes affiliate links, which have no influence on our editorial content. For more information, see our affiliate guidelines.

Everyone’s travel bucket list will look a little different – that’s the beauty of travelling. You might dream of hiking treacherous mountains, or basking in sunshine, or sleeping overnight in little domes which feel like they’re on the edge of the world. But no matter your travelling vibe, the Northern Lights seem to find itself on pretty much everyone’s list. And the good news? You’ve got a good chance of seeing them from a bunch of different corners of the world, so you can try again and again and again. Our editors have chosen the world’s most perfect spots for aurora-spotting (and in true Time Out fashion, we’ve included where to eat and where to stay when you’re there too). Hint: we’ve been lucky enough to see them from these spots ourselves. From Norway to Scotland, here are the best places on earth to see the Northern Lights. Tried and tested. Good luck! RECOMMENDED:🏜️ The best national parks in the world🌤️ The best places to ‘coolcation’ in Europe🏖️ The most underrated travel destinations in the world⛰️ The best hikes in the world At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines. This guide includes affiliate links, which have no influence on our editorial content. For more information, see our affiliate guidelines. 

While cities all over the world are getting more eye-wateringly expensive each year, Europe is still blessed with a bounty of budget-friendly destinations to visit – frugal city breakers need not fear.  And we aren’t just talking about teeny-tiny, off-the beaten track seaside towns or mountain villages untouched by tourism (although there are some lesser-known but worthy entries on here). We’re also talking sparkling, sprawling, historic cities with long lists of things to do rolled in – including a few capitals, too. To break down which locations are the most affordable, we’ve found the average price of an Airbnb, as well as the price of beer in each place. So without further ado, here are the best cheap cities to travel to in Europe. RECOMMENDED:🌃The best city breaks in Europe🌤️The best places to visit in Europe this autumn🏖️The best beaches in Europe🌊The best places to ‘coolcation’ in Europe At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines. This guide includes affiliate links, which have no influence on our editorial content. For more information, see our affiliate guidelines. 

Okay, summer’s status as the all-round best season is well-established – long days, sun-kissed skin, beer gardens, we get it. However, autumn has gotta be when the UK is at its most colourful, with trees and up down the country erupting into otherworldly colours the second October arrives.  We’re here to give autumn some love. Even if you’re an avid shorts-wearer and prefer the evenings when it’s light until way after 10pm, there’s nothing more satisfying than the crunch of those leaves under your boots, is there? After all, autumnal walks are a great excuse to don a funky scarf and drink a silly amount of chai lattes, and there are plenty of gloriously colourful spots to gander. So, from Surrey to Northumberland, Wiltshire to Cumbria, here are the very best places to see autumn leaves in the UK. RECOMMENDED:✨The most magical and mystical places in the UK🌈The most colourful places in the UK🏔️The most scenic hikes in the UK🌤️The best places to visit in the UK  Looking for more travel inspo? Check out our latest travel guides, curated by local writers. Oh, and this guide includes affiliate links, which have no influence on our editorial content. For more information, see our affiliate guidelines. 

Atlanta is a triple threat of a city; it has incredible food, awe-inspiring galleries, and it has a beautiful urban yet green landscape. What more could you want from a city? If you're taking a trip as a newbie, or even if you're a regular, there are a lot of things to do. So much so, you'd definitely need to take a few days to explore it, so you're going to need a place to stay. Sure, you could book one of the best hotels in Atlanta, but if you’re looking for a night of relaxation, it doesn’t get cozier than an Airbnb cabin. Some of them are hidden away in a forest or by the edge of a lake; others are tucked away right in the heart of the city. All of them are stunning, extra comfortable, and completely unique. We’ve hunted down the best, so you can pick from mid-century modern renovations to your classic, rustic tiny home. All you’ve got to do now is book one! Good luck choosing... RECOMMENDED:The best Atlanta treehouse AirbnbsThe best Atlanta Airbnbs with poolsThe best luxury Atlanta Airbnbs Who makes the cut? While we might not stay in every Airbnb featured, we've based our list on top reviews, hosts, and amenities to find you the best stays. This article includes affiliate links. These links have no influence on our editorial content. For more information, see our affiliate guidelines.

James Bond is back (you can read our full No Time to Die review here), and we all know what means: near-death experiences in a variety of improbably spectacular destinations. As ever, the location work is guaranteed to spark a sense of wanderlust in even the most hardened homebody. They’re always to die for, and James Bond always gets within an inch of doing just that – this time in Jamaica, Italy, Norway and Scotland. Oh, and not forgetting franchise debutants the Faroe Islands. If watching Bond 25 has you reaching for your passport, here’s where to go to follow in the footsteps of Daniel Craig, Rami Malek, Lashana Lynch, Léa Seydoux et al. Consider this your ultimate Time Out travel guide to the movie.

Glacier National Park is one of the US’s most stunning conservation areas. For astounding mountain ranges and spectacular lakes, the protected land – close to the Canadian border – is seriously hard to beat. Not forgetting the gorgeous alpine meadows, melting glaciers, and valleys. For activity junkies, its numerous hiking trails and opportunities for kayaking, cycling and camping are irresistible. But it’s also perfect for that romantic getaway, spending evenings under the night sky and gazing at the stars. Or for family trips wandering around the wildlife.  Sounds too good to be true, right? Luckily for you, an idyllic trip to the park is easily achieved, especially if you book somewhere suitable to rest your head afterwards. The Airbnb options are exceptional, with different properties for different needs. From family-friendly stays to relaxing retreats, these are the best Airbnb options for a trip to Glacier National park. RECOMMENDED: The best hotels in MontanaThe best things to do in Glacier Park Who makes the cut? While we might not stay in every Airbnb featured, we've based our list on top reviews, hosts, and amenities to find you the best stays. This article includes affiliate links. These links have no influence on our editorial content. For more information, see our affiliate guidelines.

While museums often take up a mere hour of your holiday, somewhere you’ll just pop into if Google says you’re nearby, others are the destination. Pretty much every city on earth has some kind of museum, big or small, full of dust or freshly restored, but there are a select few that are fascinating enough to warrant them being at the heart of your holiday.  And no two are the same. From housing knock-out collections of art and artefacts or bragging some unmatched architecture to the building itself being a remnant of an ancient era, it’s museums galore out here. So, whether you’re looking for modern art, sculpture, or historical artefacts, we’ve narrowed it down to the 20 best museums and galleries across the world, right now.  RECOMMENDED:🎨The world’s exhibitions worth travelling for🏛️The most exciting new museum openings🎭The best things to do in the world🗺️The best places to travel solo Sophie Dickinson is a travel writer who previously worked on Time Out’s international travel team. At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by experts who know their cities inside out. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines.

Of all the many things that have been upended since 2020, office life is one of the biggest. Tools like email and video chat apps have (at least in theory) untethered many of us from the workplace, meaning there may be very little need for many restless workers to stay rooted in one place. And that makes moving somewhere sunnier, cheaper or just more fun sound incredibly tempting. Now that travel has officially bounced back to 2019 levels, many destinations are emphasising longer-term stays over short-term breaks. And at the very extreme end, some are even trying to sell themselves as idyllic remote-working spots, with ‘digital nomad’ visas that allow you to live and work there for up to a year – or sometimes even longer. Here’s a guide to the countries offering digital nomad visas right now, and how you can qualify. And here’s what it’s actually like to be a digital nomad – and how to become one yourself.

Want to stay close to the city, but still feel like you’re truly escaping? These incredible Airbnb treehouses near Seattle have it all: gorgeous interiors, stunning natural scenery, and the ability to head into the metropolis if you need to. And if you don’t, you can hide out among the treetops, go for a hike, or watch a movie while listening to the sounds of the forest around you.  The homes we’ve picked range from the simple and affordable to seriously luxurious. So whether you’re planning a getaway with the whole family or a romantic retreat, there’s a treehouse that is perfect for you. Here’s our pick of the best.  Recommended: 🏙 Check out the best things to do in Seattle☕️ Go on the best Seattle tours🪵 Stay in the best cabins in Seattle 🛏 Or head to the best Seattle Airbnbs Who makes the cut? While we might not stay in and review every Airbnb featured, we've based our list on our expert knowledge of the destination covered, editorial reviews, user reviews, hotel amenities and in-depth research to find you the best stays. This article includes affiliate links. These links have no influence on our editorial content. For more information, see our affiliate guidelines.

As much fun as London is, sometimes it’s refreshing to get out of the capital and into one of the many picturesque villages within easy reach of the city. Swap cramming onto the tube for relaxing country walks, plunging into London’s lidos for a dip at a seaside town, and city parks for fields of outstanding natural beauty – you won’t regret it. The UK’s countryside offers up a wealth of worthwhile day trips year-round, but where should you head on your next venture into the great outdoors? We’ve collected ten of the prettiest villages you can easily visit, taken from the book ‘Escape London’ by Yolanda Zappaterra. You may have experienced their period charm in a film or TV show, but nothing beats a leisurely stroll through their winding streets, followed by a well-earned pint by a roaring pub fire.This article includes affiliate links. These links have no influence on our editorial content. For more information, click here.

You can’t really move for mid-range pizza restaurants in London. You’ve got places like Pizza Pilgrims for a quick dinner with your mum, Homeslice for a pal’s birthday, Gordos for eating on the street before a gig, and Yard Sale for some wacky novelty options. Fatto a Mano – a branch of which just opened in King’s Cross – doesn’t quite do any of these things. Sitting outside its (extremely busy) restaurant, you could just about imagine you were in Naples. The staff huddle around the giant pizza oven; the tables are pushed together under enormous linen umbrellas. It was a really sunny day when I visited, too, which obviously helps. I’m not sure King’s Cross in the winter quite has that same Italian charm. There is, though, the menu, which is all mortadella, ‘nduja and, yes, burrata, which promises to keep things traditional. As with a lot of these places, the aim of the game is speed. No sooner had we sat down than a very friendly staff member started taking our order. Fatto a Mano started in Brighton seven years ago, focussing on the all important pizza, sure, but also beer. My boyfriend, intrigued by the sound of a Limoncello IPA, orders a pint, while I go for a glass of the house white. He chose better: the beer is a hazy, citrusy, smooth affair; the wine is fine, maybe a bit warm, and nothing to write home about. Serves me right for not trusting their expertise. We’re talking smoke-charred and chewy crusts; portions so large the plates barely fit on the table. As for the f

There were a couple of signs that my trip to The Clerk & Well was going to be stressful. The pub – based in, you guessed it, Clerkenwell – has just reopened after renovations in a relatively quiet part of the city for decent places to drink. The street itself was extra quiet, due to roadworks, and had weirdly prophetic signs declaring ‘pressure tests’ right outside. Felt a bit on the nose, really. Anyway, The Clerk & Well needn’t have worried about this new-but-not-new place’s popularity. The pub was already packed by the time I got there at 7pm, although this wasn’t a crowded bar situation. Almost every table was filled with friends eating, couples sharing starters or a bottle of wine. Given that this was one of the establishment’s opening weeks, the staff were ever-so-slightly frazzled. No worry, though – I was seated quickly in a very comfy booth, which in my book is a sign of a good pub. The bar also doubles up as a sort of semi-open kitchen, so I was able to peer at the dishes as they were being prepared. This is clearly a pub you go to, to eat: the menu includes old favourites reworked, like the bacon and cheddar croquettes with mustard aioli, the five-bean Valrhona chocolate chilli or the glazed bacon belly with egg and pineapple. The pal I came with works nearby, so he was hoping to find a new regular for Friday drinks. This might be it, he said, surveying the stylish, dark wallpaper and moody low lighting. (But I’ll probably end up having a whole meal every time I co

Bibo is big on style. It’s sleek, without trying too hard for the Instagram crowd. Think: terracotta-toned, faux-adobe walls, Scandi-style drinking glasses that have an enigmatic coloured bead inside, and a vast, rose-gold, mirrored bar.  That stylishness was on show in the food presentation, too. The tapas dishes show plenty of intricate, artistic touches. Bibo’s patatas bravas – a Spanish staple, usually a bowl of crispy spuds, slathered in a sloppy tomato sauce – was instead attentively designed. Each perfectly round potato was lined up like a carb-heavy game of four-in-a-row, with a tiny, swirly hat of aioli balanced on each one, sprinkled with the tiniest flecks of basil. They were delightful.  We also ordered the grilled avocado salad, which was, again, not a tumbled-together tangle of lettuce and cucumber but a delicate sea of avocado boats, sailing on a feta foam. It was extremely tasty, but a bit on the expensive side, what with it being £13 for just four small avo halves on the dish. As a vegetarian, I left the oxtail brioche (helpfully described as ‘very oxtaily’) and the cod fritters to my boyfriend. He enjoyed both: the top of the brioche was a well for a gooey, meaty gravy; the cod fritters were just very posh, surprisingly yellow fish goujons. The vegetarian equivalent, porcini croquetas, were evidently much better: bursting with a creamy, umami mash and perfectly crispy. We ordered a second plate, and I genuinely considered getting a third.  I heard more Pete

The true story behind ‘Tokyo Rose’ feels surprisingly obscure. Iva Toguri was a Japanese-American radio host in Tokyo during the Second World War, who reached near-mythical status thanks to her broadcasts of pro-Japanese disinformation across the South Pacific and North America. As a piece of history, it feels ripe for rediscovery – although transforming it into a two-hour musical is a tricky ask.  The show begins with lively, ‘Hairspray’-esque songs like ‘Hello America’, which jauntily whack us. with all the key dates and details. It feels for a while that Maryhee Yoon and Cara Baldwin’s writing is too obvious, as we’re introduced to a cast that includes a posh British officer, a pipe-smoking lawyer, and a cartoonish presiding judge.  But Hannah Benson’s production soon becomes more interesting. We learn pretty early on that Tokyo Rose was in fact a moniker given to all female broadcasters in Japan. But the US doggedly pursued its own citizen Toguri as the ‘real’ propagandist. Post-war, we see her charged with treason and the story is interspersed with moments from her trial. Post-war, Toguri is charged with treason and the story is interspersed with moments from that trial. The fight to clear her name takes decades, and we watch as both Japan and American officials accuse her of being a traitor. ‘Tokyo Rose’ excels when it allows the genuinely impressive voice of Maya Britto to properly soar as Toguri. Lucy Park plays a series of comedic roles well, too, in what is a largel

In 2022, the city of Venice announced that it was going to be launching a tourist tax. Its introduction has been postponed a couple of times, with the launch initially proposed for June 2022, and then January 2023. Now it looks like it’s finally happening, as day-trippers wanting to enter Venice from April 25 will have to pay for a ticket to do so.  How much is the Venice tourist tax per night?  The fee will apply to visitors who travel only for the day to the ‘old city’ (that’s the entirety of the lagoon region), but not to those who are staying overnight. It will cost €5 (£4.30, $5.40) per person, and the new system issues a QR code upon payment, to help streamline the experience for visitors.  Those travelling directly to the ‘minor islands’ like Burano and Murano won’t need to pay, and locals and commuters will also be exempt. People staying in the city for one night or more will also be excused from the charge, as will people with a second home in Venice. However, those exempt from the fee must still register their trip online. The fee will be applied as part of a trial run until Sunday, May 5. It will then be enforced every weekend between 8.30am and 4pm (exluding June 1 and 2) until Sunday July 14.  It’s thought that the tax will simply be used to cover the cost of the booking system itself, rather than turning a profit. The idea is to try and discourage visitors on days when the city is likely to be at capacity. This comes after UNESCO announced it was considering add

Period-havers, rejoice: Spain has voted to offer three days of menstrual leave every month. Forget crawling into work with debilitating cramps; the scheme – which is the first in Europe – would give you time to spend curled up in bed or on the sofa or anywhere the hell else you like. Kind of outrageous that it’s so rare, to be honest. Painful periods are often minimised, because of, y’know, the patriarchy of it all. But the Spanish secretary of state for equality, Ángela Rodríguez, told the newspaper El Periódico that the bill was particularly important, as it would help those who suffer with especially nightmarish periods. ‘The rights related to menstrual health have never been discussed [in Spain]’, she said. The changes are part of a wider reform around reproductive health laws. New laws will also allow 16- and 17-year-olds to terminate pregnancies without their parents’ permission. Meanwhile, VAT will be removed from supermarket sanitary products, and public funding for hormonal contraceptives and the morning-after pill will also be made available.  Spain’s new law passed on February 16 – and while the country’s period leave policy might be the only one in Europe, it certainly isn’t the only country with such laws. For example, it’s already the norm in numerous Asian countries, including South Korea, Taiwan and Japan, which has had a law in place since 1947. Here’s hoping it’s rolled out more widely, eh? Stay in the loop: sign up to our free Time Out Travel newsletter fo

Looking to properly escape this summer? If avoiding tourists and being properly alone sounds like your kind of getaway, you should head to La Tagua. This cabin, built on stilts by the ocean, is seriously remote. Oh, and it’s really, really stylish, too. The Airbnb is in the seaside town of Navidad, Chile. Its vertiginous (but very sleek) exterior is reflected by the light wood and minimal furnishings inside. There’s a simplistic dining area, a chic kitchen and a linen-clad bedroom. But the real thrill is the surroundings – head out onto the balcony, and you can take in sweeping panoramas of the ocean. Expect to spot sea lions aplenty.  Photograph: Airbnb Photograph: Airbnb Photograph: Airbnb Unsurprisingly, the cabin has won a load of awards. The Santiago-based architects who designed La Tagua were inspired by the region’s landscape, so it’s built with pine and oak. And the name comes from a local bird species. Best of all, it’s now available on Airbnb, so if you’re looking for a retreat, you should get booking. Find out more on the official listing. Looking for more places to stay? Sleep surrounded by one million bees at this surreal (and slightly scary) Airbnb.Plus: These are officially Airbnb’s hottest destinations for 2022. 

Julia Child liked to immerse herself in the culture and atmosphere of French rural life when she wrote her groundbreaking cookery books. Her home, La Pitchoune in Provence, became both a refuge for her and a place for other chefs to come and share their ideas. She cooked, she reflected, she wrote... and the rest is history. Now, the cottage – which she built with her husband Paul in the 1960s – is available to rent throughout the year. That means you cook your next boeuf bourguignon or côte de veau in the kitchen of the very woman who helped export those dishes around the world. From April to June and from September to November, it’s reserved for aspiring chefs, who can take part in cookery classes in Child’s original kitchen (these cost £1,137 or $1,500 per person per day). From June to August, meanwhile, the whole place is given over to a luxury ‘gastronomy experience’, complete with unlimited wine, four chef-cooked meals per day and an on-site concierge (costing £1,949 or $2,571 per night for a group of six). But if you fancy just having the run of the place yourself? From December to February, you can rent the place for £667 ($879) per night for up to six people, with a four-night minimum stay. Here are a few more pics of the place: Photograph: Airbnb Photograph: Airbnb Inside the ivy-covered cottage, you’ll find beautiful, modern takes on traditional French farmhouse furniture, while the kitchen is covered in copper pans, drying herbs and all the eccentric, unruly cl

Flicking through Instagram this morning, a friend had shared a picture from the season three finale of Succession. It’s of Shiv (Sarah Snook), Roman (Kieran Culkin) and Kendall Roy (Jeremy Strong), curved around each other in a Fibonacci spiral of an embrace, with the caption: ‘How am I meant to go on after this?’ It’s a good question: Succession is all-encompassing, and especially after that season finale, it’s hard to know how we’re supposed to just wait, patiently, for series four. Season three had Kendall’s hellish birthday party and Roman’s ill-advised dick-pic fiasco. Logan (Brian Cox), Marcia (Hiam Abbass) and Kerry (Zoë Winters) entered into some strange arrangement and were dubbed ‘the skunk, the porcupine and the concubine’. Shiv and Tom (Matthew Macfadyen) took a terrible trip to Sex Vegas. It’s been a slowburn of a series, but it’s absolutely been worth it.Before you resign yourself to playing Good Tweet, Bad Tweet with the ‘No Context Succession’ account, here is everything we know about the next series. Caution: Succession season three spoilers ahead.  When is Succession season four out? Succession will return for a fourth season on Now TV and HBO in 2023. It was confirmed in October 2021 that the Roy family would be back on our screens, but the series isn’t written yet (in fact, creator Jesse Armstrong said he wouldn’t be in the writer’s room until January 2022). That means speculation about what is going to happen after the finale is very much speculation at t

It feels like we’ve been waiting for Japan to open for a long, long time. After two years of being completely banned, travellers are finally being allowed back into the country – albeit with a lot of restrictions. Here’s what you need to know.  Can I visit Japan right now? The current stage in Japan’s reopening is being described as a period of ‘test tourism’. The country reopened in April to some overseas residents, business travellers and foreign students, who have to be sponsored by a schools or employer. Then it opened up its borders to limited numbers of international tourists – but only as part of organised tour groups, and with strict pre-departure testing rules. There’s also a cap of 20,000 arrivals per day, and only those from a list of 106 countries (see that list in full here) can enter. Currently, all visitors entering Japan have to produce a negative Covid-19 test taken within 72 hours of departure. The quarantine rules are slightly complicated, too, and depend on your departure country. Countries are split into three categories: ‘red’, ‘yellow’ and ‘blue’ (see the full list of countries here). If you’ve had three jabs and you’re travelling from a ‘red’ or ‘yellow’ list country, you’ll need to quarantine for three days. If you’re coming from a ‘blue’ list country, you won’t need to quarantine. Both the UK and USA, for example, are both on the ‘blue’ list.  This ‘test tourism’ phase is being analysed by the government before deciding when the country will resum

Whether you’re old enough to remember it or not, you may well have heard about the time more than 17 million people refused to pay the Poll Tax in 1989 under Margaret Thatcher’s leadership. This would later lead to the reversal of the divisive tax, and was a rare example of public protest having real political impact. Now it seems something similar could happen in 2022.  Things right now are eerily similar to the late 1980s. That decade began with a fuel crisis, a cost-of-living crisis and major economic discontent. This year, it is predicted that many households in the UK will see an increase of nearly £1,800 to their annual energy bill from October (following an earlier rise of around £700 in April). Enter the Don’t Pay UK campaign: a movement fighting for those who may well struggle to heat their homes this winter. What is the Don’t Pay UK campaign? It’s pretty simple: the Don’t Pay campaign is demanding a cut to energy bills. The plan is to get at least a million people to pledge not to pay if the government goes ahead with its proposed hike in energy bills on October 1. Energy regulator Ofgem is set to increase its price cap – the maximum a gas or electricity provider can charge – by as much as £1,800. That hike is predicted to increase our annual bills to around £3,800 by the start of 2023. Sure, getting that many sign-ups might seem ambitious, but the campaigners say this would put sufficient pressure on energy companies and lower everyone’s costs in the pr

Chances are, you’ve heard about (and may well have experienced for yourself) the chaos at UK airports. Flights are being delayed and cancelled all over the shop, and bag losses are at a record high. And now we’ve got the data that proves just how dire the whole situation is.  Flight tracking site FlightAware has revealed the worst airports for delays and cancellations in the entire world. The study uses data from May 26 to July 19, so it’s pretty up to date. And guess what? Two UK airports have made the top ten. Perhaps unsurprisingly for anyone who has tried to get away this summer, London Gatwick Airport has seen an outrageous 41.1 percent of flights delayed over that time period. That’s closely followed by Heathrow, with 40.5 percent of services delayed. Not good at all. And while there are a few worse offenders – Toronto, Frankfurt, Paris and Amsterdam, we’re looking at you – those odds aren’t great for holidaymakers looking to fly, fly, fly away this summer. Here are the ten worst airports for delays in the world right now, according to the FlightAware report: Toronto Pearson International Airport, Canada (52.5 percent of flights delayed) Frankfurt Airport, Germany (45.4 percent) Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport, France (43.2 percent) Amsterdam Schiphol Airport, Netherlands (41.5 percent) London Gatwick Airport, UK (41.1 percent) Heathrow Airport, UK (40.5 percent) Munich Airport, Germany (40.4 percent) Athens International Airport, Greece (37.9 percent) Sydney Kingsford

There’s a load of reasons to head to a good pub garden right now. It’s the summer, for one. And the Lionesses are heading to Wembley for the Euro 2022 final. But, exactly, where are the best places in the UK for an alfresco pint or three?‘Wellness experts’ at Eden’s Gate have crunched the numbers to work it out. They looked at lists of the coolest beer gardens in the country, and cross-referenced that with their Tripadvisor ratings. Using that data, they figured out which the top 17 spots in the entire country are. And in at number one? That’d be the Ben Nevis Inn in Fort William, Scotland. Right at the foot of its mountainous namesake, this 200-year-old converted barn boasts live music, wholesome food and – officially – the best beer garden in the UK. That’s followed by the Hare and Hounds in Bath, which serves freshly made pizzas on its outdoor terrace. Or if the Lake District is more your thing, head to The Drunken Duck Inn in Ambleside for extraordinary views and intriguing-sounding dishes like gin-cured salmon. More into spending time in the city? Manchester appears on the list three times, as does London. The timber-clad Eagle and Child in Manchester, in fact, comes in fourth place. And the top ranking pub in the capital is the Albion in Islington. Ready for a big night out? Here are the top ten best pub gardens in the UK: Ben Nevis Inn, Fort William The Hare and Hounds, Bath The Drunken Duck Inn, Ambleside The Eagle and Child, Manchester The Perch Inn, Oxford The Whar

Even the Queen enjoys a tipple. So much so, HRH is opening a pub on the Sandringham Estate in Norfolk. And if you fancy serving her in person? You’re in luck: they’re hiring someone to run the boozer. We’re not sure the Queen is into real ale and craft lagers, but the royal estate is looking for someone with a load of hospitality experience to apply. The pub itself is on the site of a former social club, which was opened by the Queen’s great-grandfather King Edward VII. It had to close down, however, after Covid decimated its membership. Now estate agents Landles are looking for someone with a strong CV to take it over and make the place feel busy again. Photograph: Landles Photograph: Landles It’s a pretty impressive building: dating back to 1844, it overlooks the church that the monarch visits while she’s in town. Prince William and his family have a countryside retreat a few fields over, too, so they could be among the regulars. The former club is ‘full of character and occupying an elevated position’ with ‘tremendous panoramic views over the adjacent farmland and the wide blue skies of north-west Norfolk’, according to the estate agent. The pub will be owned by the Queen, of course, but if you fancy being the tenant, find out everything you need to know on the official property listing here.  ICYMI: this spectacular Grand Designs property is now on the market. Plus: which UK city will host the Eurovision Song Contest?

A lot of people are talking about House of Gucci right now. You’ve got the Italian-accented Lady Gaga, Adam Driver in oversized 1990s glasses and a lot of haute couture. And then there are the dazzling interiors, too. The Villa Balbiano is an ostentatious sixteenth-century palazzo by Lake Como and is the countryside retreat patriarch of Aldo Gucci in the movie. It looks lush and very much not like your standard holiday accommodation. But you know what? It could be yours to rent via Airbnb next spring. The house features six suites designed by acclaimed French designer Jacques Garcia. Inside, you’ll find paintings from Sotheby’s, antiques from Christie’s, delicate golden chandeliers, rich velvet furniture and original seventeenth-century frescoes. The bathroom is decked out in blue marble, and you can sleep on an elaborate baroque bed in the master bedroom. Photograph: Airbnb The outdoor space is gorgeous, too: its restoration even won a British Society of Garden Designers Award. Visitors can wander through ornate manicured gardens, or laze by one of the Renaissance-style fountains. There’s also a vast outdoor pool, plus a private pier and boathouse.So, fancy making like Patrizia Reggiani and planning a decadent retreat? The house is only available on March 22 next year, with a night’s stay costing a cool £845 ($1,125) – though for that price you’ll get all six suites. Booking opens on December 6 at 5pm (GMT) via Airbnb. Planning a big trip for next year? Here are the 21 bes

人生において危ない橋を渡ることは一向にかまわないのだが（急流の川下りが好きではない人はいるだろうか？）、安全でいられることがとても重要だと思う時もある。 特に一人旅をしている時は、そうではないだろうか。旅先の安全性は、その地の印象を大きく左右する要素だといえる。しかし、その地での犯罪や暴力の情報は、観光局が必ずしも積極的に発信するものではない。それゆえに、実際どの旅先が安全で、どこが危ないのかを把握するのが難しいことがある。 そんな時には、経済平和研究所が毎年発表している調査レポート「世界平和度指数」を見るといい。このレポートは、世界163カ国における政治的安定性、近隣諸国との関係、難民の数、核兵器、内戦や外戦、軍事費、投獄率などのデータを分析し、ランク付けしたもの。旅行者の身の安全を守るために必要なことよりはるかに広い領域について書かれているが、旅先の決定などには、かなり参考になるはずだ。 このレポートで今年、最も平和で安全な国に選ばれたのは、2008年以来毎年1位をキープしているアイスランド。同国は暴力的なデモや犯罪が少なく、静かな休暇を過ごすのに理想的な場所であること報告されている。 次に安全だとされたのは、ニュージーランド。3位以降は以下のランキングのようにアイルランド、デンマーク、オーストリアと続く。ランキングをよく見ると、トップ10のうち7カ国がヨーロッパ大陸の国で占められている。 逆に、最も安全ではない国は、5年連続でアフガニスタンとなった。これに続くのはイエメン、シリア、ロシア、南スーダンだ。レポートによれば世界の平和度は、全体として昨年の結果より0.3％悪化したという。つまり、世界はほんの少しかもしれないが、危なくなっているのだ。 そのことはまったくもっていいことではないが、同時にこのレポートでは、各国がここ数年の危機からの回復を続けるにつれて、そうした状況は徐々に改善されるだろうとの考えを示している。もしあなたが旅行の計画を立ているのなら、これからもっと平和的な場所が増えることに期待してもいいのかもしれない。 2022年 世界で最も安全な国／世界平和度指数 2022（経済平和研究所） 1. アイスランド2. ニュージーランド3. アイルランド 4. デンマーク 5. オーストリア6. ポルトガル 7.スロベニア8. チェコ9. シンガポール10. 日本 関連記事 『Can you guess which is the world’s safest country right now?（原文）』 『2022年「世界のベストレストラン50」に東京から3店舗がランクイン』 『東京は5位、世界で最も生活費の高い都市ランキングが発表』 『2022年、パスポートが最もパワフルなのは日本とシンガポール』 『海外で話題の都道府県ランキングが発表、福島県が急上昇、東京は？』 『2022年「世界で最も幸せな国」は5年連続でフィンランド』