Trainspotting from the bathtub: why Manchester’s newest bolthole is on the right track

You don’t have to be a railway buff to enjoy the Station Agent’s House. The restored Georgian gem is a perfect base for exploring the historic Castlefield district

‘A perfect place to build a film community’: a tour of Scotland’s island movie clubs

The Sea Change film festival on Tiree is a DIY affair that celebrates women and also connects communities on a series of small, scattered isles

Waterford revival: the reinvention of Ireland’s oldest city

From Viking history, to its wild coastline and even its ‘damp’ weather, Waterford has taken its natural assets and run with them

My favourite late summer city break in southern Europe: readers’ tips

Beaches on Sardinia, food markets in Aix-en-Provence and historic Sarajevo are among our tipsters’ highlights

In search of Monet’s wild landscapes: a glorious art adventure in central France

Rouen, Paris and London are better-known Monet destinations, but rural La Creuse’s rugged gorges, spectacular lake and medieval castle really captivated the artist

From the Dolomites to Sicily: readers’ favourite unsung places in Italy

Spa towns, perfect seaside haunts, brilliant food and art, and spectacular walks feature on our tour of lesser-known Italy, courtesy of our readers

The renaissance of Venice’s favourite retreat

When Venetian nobles wanted to escape the heat and crowds of the city they headed to the Brenta Riviera. Today’s visitors are following their lead

Hamburg’s wartime bunker is reinvented as an unlikely green oasis

An iconic air raid shelter in the St Pauli district has been given a new lease of life with the addition of a hotel and rooftop urban park

Alternative Greece: six of the best holidays beyond the sunlounger

From wildlife spotting to wine tasting and cargo boat sailing, discover new ways to explore the mainland and islands

In the footsteps of Lee Miller and the surrealists: a tour of her arty Sussex retreat

A film about the war photographer and model Lee Miller will be released this year. Her son is our guide for a trip to Farleys, her art-filled Sussex home

Berlin by rail: a cold-war adventure

Taking the sleeper train to Berlin, the writer and his teenage son explore the city’s fascinating legacy, eerie buildings, war relics and stunning street art

An alternative guide to Sheffield: a crucible for left-field culture and regeneration

With a £470m redevelopment of the city centre, a feted documentary festival and a vibrant foodie scene, the former steel-making hub is showing its true mettle

Art in the Arctic: exploring Bodø, Norway, European capital of culture for 2024

The Norwegian town, just inside the Arctic Circle, makes a picturesque (and unusual) setting for a programme of exhibitions, gigs and outdoor activities – and the sun doesn’t set all summer

Why I love Europe’s hidden gardens

When I toured Spain’s world-famous estates and palaces, it was a small semi-concealed garden I stumbled upon that made the biggest impression – and inspired me to discover other urban oases across Europe

An alternative guide to the Lakes: how to escape Cumbria’s twee side

Avoid the tourist hotspots of the Lake District and you’ll discover a more authentic side to the area with artists, microbreweries and community pubs