Saunas, electronica and air guitar: Oulu, Finland’s tech city, is European Capital of Culture 2026
This Nordic city and digital hub is having its moment in the (midnight) sun, offering cultural, arty events and pleasingly eclectic silliness
Kids’ own adventures: 25 free school holiday activities around Australia this summer
Drop in to gallery workshops to make plushie pals or shimmering sun catchers, design the first city on the moon, control a gigantic whale puppet or meet a mermaid these school holidays
‘A watery gold sunrise lights the turbulent water’: the wild beauty of the Suffolk coast
Coastal erosion may threaten the area around Southwold, but a new ‘movable’ cabin makes a great base for exploring its windswept beaches, remote marshes and welcoming inns
11 of the UK’s best winter walks – all ending at a cosy pub
Too much turkey and Baileys? Blow away the Christmas cobwebs on one of our rambles. And if that doesn’t work, they all end at a pub for a hair of the dog
‘Emerge from misty woods above a sea of clouds’: readers’ favourite UK winter walks
Readers revel in winter light, wildlife spectacles and cosy pubs from Norfolk to Northumberland
‘It’s a social hub more than a pub’: Scottish community reopens its local inn just in time for Christmas
As pubs nationwide buckle under soaring costs, one Argyll village spent three years buying and restoring theirs – and has ambitious plans for the future
A tent, an electric stove and -40C temperatures: the chefs who cook ‘on ice’ in Antarctica
During the southernmost continent’s darkest, coldest days, scientists and researchers turn to food for comfort
‘An unsung alternative to the Cotswolds‘: exploring Leicestershire’s Welland valley
This hidden gem has country inns, canalside walks, a stunning viaduct, the historic town of Market Harborough – and not a tour bus in sight
Stargazing in the Lake District: a new forest observatory opens in Grizedale
There’s no shortage of stunning scenery and daytime activities in the Lakes. Now, an observatory is offering stellar nocturnal events too
Come on in, all ye faithful: 18 of the UK’s best mass swims for Christmas, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day
Festive sea swims are pure joy – and also blow away the cobwebs, unite communities and raise money for charity. Here are some old (and new) favourites
I took my kids to Lapland on the Santa Claus Express – but would the big man deliver?
If meeting Santa Claus is on your children’s wishlist, this trip on a festive sleeper train from Helsinki to Rovaniemi, with reindeer and huskies thrown in, is Christmas with jingle bells on
‘You can’t beat a wintry walk on a crisp, bright day’: readers’ favourite UK winter activities
From rock pooling in Somerset to stargazing in Northumberland, our readers share their favourite seasonal outdoor activities
Why west Cornwall is the perfect place to mark the winter solstice
With ancient standing stones and modern midwinter festivals, the West Penwith peninsula is a land of magic and mystery
Share a tip on your favourite beach in Europe
Tell us about your favourite lesser-known European beach – the best tip wins £200 towards a Coolstays break
A winter tour of Luxembourg’s fairytale chateaux – on the country’s free bus network
This tiny country is awash with atmospheric castles, many of which you can stay in, making for a magical wintry break. And it won’t cost you a cent to travel between them