All wrapped up: the 10 best British towns and cities for Christmas shopping with a local flavour

Where better to source what you need for the season than the places with a reputation for making it? From fizz and food to fine art, here’s our festive shopping guide

Exploring the home town of the artist Joseph Wright of Derby

With a new exhibition of his work at the National Gallery in London, a visit to the artist’s home town reveals the landscapes and industry that inspired him

Wetlands and wildlife in the Netherlands: slowing down and connecting with nature in Friesland

The cosy cabins, bike rides and serenity of De Alde Feanen national park make it the perfect place to switch off and unwind in winter

Share a tip on a favourite European travel discovery of 2025

Tell us about your favourite discovery this year – the best tip wins £200 towards a Coolstays break

‘It just blew me away’: the new Gidjuum Gulganyi Walk in northern NSW follows ancient trails

Bundjalung man Ashley Moran has a personal connection to the track and says the multiday hike will give walkers a new appreciation of the area’s significance

Why Herefordshire was the perfect stand-in for Shakespeare’s Stratford in the new film of Hamnet

Crooked buildings, welcoming inns, ancient woodlands … it’s easy to see why the location scouts chose this idyllic corner of England

10 places to stay in the UK and Europe where you can travel back in time

From a Tudor manor in Wales to a swinging 60s hotel in Prague, these hotels and guesthouses are steeped in history

History comes alive at a new hotel-museum in the ancient Italian city of Matera

The past lives again at an unusual immersive hotel housed in the cave dwellings of Italy’s oldest city, once ruled by ancient Greece

‘We stayed in a 500-year-old palazzo for €100’: readers’ favourite historic places to stay in Europe

Travel back in time at a folly in Scotland, a parador in Spain and a German castle

Chatsworth estate in Derbyshire opens a new family-friendly hotel

With affordable rooms, the Hide hotel makes a great base to explore one of England’s most famous stately homes, as well as the glorious Peak District national park

New sleeper service will run from Paris to Berlin next year

European Sleeper will operate the new service from March 2026, replacing the Nightjet train that is being axed next month

From the Andes to the Amazon: a six-week riverboat adventure to Belém, Brazil’s gateway to the river

Visiting the city hosting the Cop30 conference brings with it questions about farming, tourism and sustainability

Share a tip on a favourite church or cathedral in Europe

Tell us about your favourite European church or cathedral, including those in the UK. The best tip wins £200 towards a Coolstays break

My search for the perfect steak frites in Paris, the staple of French brasserie cuisine

It’s on every prix fixe menu in France, but which restaurant serves up the best incarnation in the capital? I stomped and chomped my way across the city to find out

Continental thrift: five of the best cities in Europe for vintage shopping

From flea markets in Berlin to thrift stores in Athens, a vintage shopping veteran picks her favourite places to shop for preloved bargains and unique souvenirs