Cycling in the Lake District is one of the best ways you can spend your time in this little slice of Cumbrian heaven. The Lake District National Park has dozens of different routes suitable for all kind of two-wheeled vehicles, from mountain bikes to sportier frames and road bikes. If you’re keen to pedal through Girzedale Forest or around South Lake, read our guide on the best of cycling in the Lake District.
Contemporary art galleries in London crop up in everything from shipping containers to revamped public loos. Are they the best locations to take in the London art scene? Possibly not. While we’re all for a quirky venue, the city’s big galleries remain the best places to see the must-see masterpieces from all genres. So yes, we’ve peppered our list with a couple of familiar names, but we’ve also got a few lesser known galleries for you to muse over brush strokes in.
It’s fair to say that London’s market scene is thriving. But when you’re tired of Spitalfields, seen all the stalls at Borough Market and grown weary of the tourists at in Camden, where’s left to browse? Happily, craft markets in London aren’t in short supply. Flea markets, antique markets, and yes, even vegan markets are yours for the mooching among. We’ve rounded up our favourite hidden gems.
The secret to finding the best speciality coffee in London? Go straight to the source. In this city? That means tracking down the finest roasters who are quietly grinding beans in the basement to quench your caffeine needs. We’ve sampled the brews, sipped the flat whites and lugged home bags of beans to filter out your best options.
For a city with a rep for being a concrete jungle, London really does pack in those green spaces and gardens. From the ever bountiful – and garden-strewn – Richmond Park, to tucked-away community gardens crammed with greenery and volunteers, there’s a garden for all horticultural types in London. Well-manicured spaces seem to always be crowd pleasers, but there are rooftops, urban secrets and indoor rainforests to uncover too.
Before you even set foot in London, you’re familiar with much of it. Star of the big (and small) screen, this city has been celebrated by directors for decades. So where to start your sightseeing? Do you pick off the palaces, parliament and parks – or are you heading straight to Oxford Street to get your shop on? The West End and O2 will be calling music and theatre fans. And then there’s the Thames. Stroll along it, sail it in a WW11 amphibious vehicle or eat your dinner on it via a late night cruise. In London, your options aren’t just endless, they come with the chance to experience something unique, quirky and, occasionally, downright daring.
As you’d expect from a global business heavyweight, life here is fast-paced and a smidge commercial. Though, there are enough vintage venues that provide respite from the dizzying wealth being traded on Canary Wharf. Drop by at lunchtime to see how traders like to lunch. Swing by Mayfair to do some celeb spotting or find your own little corner of London that feels just *you*. Trust us, it’s there. And finding it? The best part of visiting London.
Who among us can resist the urge to grab an aerial plate shot (or a swanky toilet selfie) in a suitably glam spot? In truth, few can ignore the call of the ‘gram. But in Instagrammable restaurants in London? The drive to capture everything from the art clad walls to the perfectly plated meals will spiral out of control. The cafes, restaurants and bars in the capital have gathered their memes, called on the help of the best interior designers and popped in enough quirks to keep snap-happy diners posting for years. The only real dilemma is deciding where to dine to max out those likes…
For the wanderluster who wants everything at their doorstep but isn’t so keen on spending hours travelling from location to location, there’s no better destination than Vancouver. The Canadian city has an abundance of rare wildlife, some of the most gorgeous mountain scenery and hiking trails on earth, and a thriving cultural scene that can go toe to toe with anything in the Old World. And that’s not mentioning the world class skiing facilities just ninety minutes away.
The great thing about the city is it so seamlessly blends everything you could want, while maintaining a high standard of, well, everything. It’s why you can eat at a world class restaurant on the same day you go whale spotting, or spend an afternoon taking in a serene hiking route and the evening strolling around thriving, historic Gastown. It’s also one of the only cities in the Western world where over half of the residents aren’t native English speakers (hence the varied culinary offerings). Vancouver is a city of extremes, definitely, but one that does them all so well you’ll be wondering why anybody ever leaves.
Wannabe sommeliers, Florence’s best vineyards have been busy producing wines that are bound to bowl you over. Whether you go it alone and hop on a local bus to a vineyard, take a wine tasting tour of Florence or just drop in to an enoteca (wine bar) for a tipple, you’ll not go far wrong. Yes, tours are made all the better with the help of an expert, but we’ve picked out some budget-friendly options if you already know your aggressive reds from your fruity whites.
Tasting menus, signature dishes and fine dining. What more do you need? In Florence, you’re going to want your perfectly presented plates within ambling distance of the Santa Croce. And, for the most part, you’re in luck. We’ve mulled over the best Michelin menus from restaurants in Florence to point you towards the city’s stellar dining spots.
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