Black, Brummie and proud: a walking tour of the real Handsworth

The Birmingham neighbourhood is hugely significant in the Black British story – a history seemingly unknown to Tory MP Robert Jenrick – as revealed on a guided walk that remembers Nelson Mandela and Benjamin Zephaniah

Like a place in one of his fairytales: exploring Hans Christian Andersen’s homeland in Denmark

With turreted castles, quirky museums and offbeat art, the island of Fyn where the author grew up is a place of myth, magic and adventure

Six of the best autumn city breaks in Europe for an overload of culture and fabulous food

From Athens’ beach-studded – and still warm – coastline to the ancient food markets of Palermo

Autumn in Madrid: why Spain’s capital is city-break gold

The searing summer over, it’s back to business as usual in Madrid – which means dazzling blue skies and a bounty of cultural events

‘Like it had been put on Earth specially for me’: readers’ favourite European city breaks

From the later summer glow of Marseille to polar nights in Tromsø, our tipsters choose their favourite cities

‘Hop on the boat and wake up in Spain’: readers’ favourite ferry breaks from the UK

From Rotterdam to Bilbao, our tipsters recommend the best trips by ferry

‘It landed like an alien spaceship’: 100 years after Bauhaus arrived, Dessau is still a magnet for design fans

The German city is celebrating the renowned art school’s centenary with exhibitions, digital tours and bike and bus routes connecting landmark Bauhaus buildings

Laid-back Noord: a scenic antidote to the crowds of central Amsterdam

A four-minute train ride from Amsterdam Centraal is an easygoing world of floating homes, art galleries and inexpensive waterside bars

10 of the best secret gardens in Europe’s major cities

From Paris to Athens, we pick hidden havens to escape the summer heat and tourist crowds

Foodie Finland: the best restaurants and cafes in Helsinki

Finns’ deep affinity with nature is blossoming in its restaurants, where a new generation of chefs are fusing local wild produce with more exotic flavours – all at reasoonable prices

Forget the stereotypes, Benidorm is the complete package

The resort was ahead of its time – built to handle industrial numbers of tourists while not displacing residents. And beyond the full English breakfasts and pub crawls, there’s an authentic Spanish side to it

Five of the best European city breaks for summer

With outdoor concerts, alfresco dining, rooftop bars and plenty of parks and places to swim outdoors, these cities make for a great summer getaway

From Joyce’s death mask to Bono’s sunglasses: a look around the Little Museum of Dublin’s grand curiosities

This people’s museum is crammed with curios donated by Dublin residents. A major facelift has added a library, archive and exhibition on ‘fearless women’

The reinvention of Catania – Sicily’s once crime-ridden second city

A decades-long crackdown on organised crime is opening up Catania, with previous no-go areas now welcoming tourists and new businesses. Discover its restaurants and bars before the prices catch up

10 Lisbon restaurants I’d recommend to a friend visiting the city

A local food writer selects places to eat that offer a flavour of Lisbon’s fast-evolving restaurant scene