Six of the best stress-free European breaks by train
From a Dutch beach break to a forest lodge near Paris, there’s no flight or car required on these relaxing jaunts
Six of the best stress-free UK breaks by train
From a posh Scottish bothy to a new budget hotel in the Lakes, there’s no driving required on these relaxing jaunts
‘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
‘Immortalised by Monet’: the enduring seaside charm of Trouville, Normandy
The impressionist painter was much taken by the stylish villas and unique light of the French port, which 150 years on still refuses to be outshone by glitzy big sister Deauville
‘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
Six of the best farm stays in Europe for delicious local food in glorious countryside
Tuck into great food and drink at hotels, farms and B&Bs in France, Ireland, Portugal and beyond
James Joyce went by train from Dublin to Trieste. A hundred years on, it’s a very different experience
It is more than a century since Joyce crossed Europe by rail but there is still inspiration to be found on the overland journey to Trieste
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
Where tourists seldom tread, part 18: three seaside towns that defy the tides of fashion
Ayr, Bangor and Millom routinely bring up the rear in coastal town polls, but they offer a calmer alternative to the brash traditional seaside resorts
‘The river becomes an otherworldly bayou’: five of the best paddleboard and kayak adventures in the UK
Navigating to a backwater pub or brewery and paddling around one of Britain’s last wildernesses is a magical way to explore
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
Crest of a new wave: Cleethorpes is all set for a seaside revival
The resort is extending its bucket-and-spade appeal to a new generation with a raft of investment, a series of new festivals and some original offerings on the food and accommodation front
Lookout, Devon! Our overnight stay in a 1940s observation post
A clifftop bunkhouse built for the RAF during the second world war is perfect for a kid-friendly escape – with great views, sea swims, hiking and otter spotting
20 family nature holidays in the UK – from kayaking to stargazing and whale watching
Fun and educational outdoor activities in the wild that will coax kids off their screens this summer
Light at the end of the tunnels: classic rail routes through the Alps reopen
After serious floods and landslides, some of the great trans-Alpine routes have reopened – with new services added – offering unforgettable train journeys from Austria to the Adriatic