Leisure & Travel / Features
On your bike! 9 beautiful cycle routes to ride in the UK
After the events of the last year, many of us are looking forward to regaining some freedom and exploring The Great Outdoors. One of the best ways to discover the beauty and diversity of the UK is by bike - and the health benefits that cycling provides is just an...
Get your motor running… 6 of the best UK road trips
If there’s one thing many of us need now, it’s a holiday. But while we can’t go for a getaway just yet, there’s nothing to stop us dreaming about what we’ll do when the worst of the pandemic is over, and lockdown begins to ease. After months of confinement, the idea...
Amazing Africa! 25 trips of a lifetime in Africa, from camping in the Sahara to cycling among hippos in Eswatini
This month we look at Africa, which is up there among the best when it comes to memory-making destinations. Desert and delta in remote Botswana See the arid wilderness of Nxai Pan - a fossil lakebed salt flat that is home to a cluster of seven ancient baobab trees -...
Lockdown life: 15 adventures you can enjoy without leaving your home
With more time being spent at home, you might be looking for new, exciting, but safe ways to beat the boredom of being within the same four walls. The good news is that not all adventures have to involve thrill-seeking activities, or jet setting around the world to a...
Itchy feet? What is the future of travel in 2021?
With hope in sight, travel industry experts share their thoughts on how holidays might look this year. After months of unpredictability, it’s hard to imagine how holidays might look in the year ahead. But one thing’s for certain: with a vaccine roll-out already in...
Where can I travel without quarantine? Holiday destinations without restrictions for travellers from the UK
There are only a handful of countries you will be able to go to on holiday after lockdown without having to quarantine. Holidays are nothing more than a pipe dream right now. Travelling abroad for non-essential reasons is illegal in England and Wales, and strongly...
Thrill of the chill: The best outdoor winter swimming spots in Britain
Dive into our essential guide to wild swimming with our pick of the best places to swim in the UK, water safety and tips on how to get started. Wild swimming is all the rage in the UK, but how do you get started? Here is our essential wild swimming guide, including...
Treasured islands: 7 of the most beautiful islands around the UK and Ireland
There’s something about crossing the sea that makes a holiday feel proper. Staycations are all the rage right now for obvious reasons, but cars and trains lack the intrepid glamour of boats and planes, and when you visit an island it feels like you’ve entered a new...
Stick or twist? Popular card games and their origins
For centuries people have got together around campfires, dining room tables, on ships and in pubs to play friendly, and sometimes not so friendly, games of cards. With families and regions often having their own set of rules passed on from generation to generation, it...
Good skills: 8 very different digital skills that you can learn from home
While lockdown can feel frustrating and isolating, there have been many positive stories about people using their time to learn a new skill or pick up a new hobby. During the lockdown, many of us have also developed a deeper appreciation for technology because it’s...
Travel to Wales: 10 great walks to enjoy as lockdown restrictions ease
As Wales starts to open up again, Sarah Baxter recommends the best walking trails to enjoy that showcase its natural splendour. The acclaimed amble: Rhossili, Swansea Distance: 5 km; 2-3 hours The Ramblers’ Association voted this little bimble one of its top 10...
Coronavirus in Europe: What rights do I have when travelling?
Travel-related consumer rights queries increase as disease spreads. Consumer advice service UK European Consumer Centre (UK ECC) is urging UK consumers to check the new coronavirus advice pages on its website, or contact its advisors, if they’re not sure of their...