Traveller Letters: We won’t be returning to this stopover destination

“Although the people are mostly friendly, and it’s an interesting country, this is one of the few places we wouldn’t revisit.”

Timeless elegance: Britain’s new ‘ludicrously luxurious’ train

The Britannic Explorer – due to be launched in July 2025 – is a luxury hotel on wheels that will travel through some of the UK’s most magnificent landscapes.

• by Anthony Lambert

The UK’s smallest royal palace is now a global star

Visits to Kew Palace have surged since Netflix drama Bridgerton became a worldwide phenomenon, but there’s much more to its history than TV stardom.

• by Sue Williams

Formerly strife-torn, this is now one of Europe’s coolest cities

Northern Ireland’s capital is increasingly striking a chord with folk seeking culture, festivals and gigs.

• by Steve McKenna

New entry rules – and fees – for Australians to visit the UK

Australians can now apply for the new Electronic Travel Authorisation that will be a requirement for entering the UK.

• by Michael Gebicki

Already discovered by filmmakers, this English town is a revelation

Stamford is a town made for walking, full of lanes and alleyways opening on to the unexpected.

• by Sandra Hall

The European city that’s still divided by a wall

The strangest thing about this wall is that it runs right through a seemingly ordinary residential neighbourhood.

• by Brian Johnston

Five outrageously fun glamping spots in the UK

Who’d have thought glamping was a thing here? Not us. And yet, the options – ranging from Hobbit burrows with hot tubs to retro-style pods – are seriously good.

• by Tatyana Leonov

England’s most northern city is heaving with unexpected delights

From castles and hidden tunnels to one of the world’s great public artworks, Newcastle-upon-Tyne is emphatically more than its nightlife-mecca reputation.

• by David Whitley

Scotland’s iconic castle is a treasure trove of unexpected delights

With nearly 1000 years of siege-riddled history, Edinburgh Castle stands proud on the remnants of an old volcano – with big guns, prisons and precious crowns inside.

• by David Whitley