Bath Spa Hotel: The Royal Crescent
If you are looking for a Bath spa hotel, there really is just one place to choose, as Irene Caswell discovers, when she visits the only Landmark building in the…
Served to You on a Plate in Shoreditch
Mark Bibby Jackson samples the fare at Plate Restaurant in London’s Shoreditch to see how inclusive Arnaud Stevens’ restaurant is. On a recent Facebook debate a fellow travel journalist asked…
Cool Places: From Horse Boxes to Windmills
Whether you are looking to take a coastal break or a pad in town, from glamping in a horse box, to staying in your own windmill, Cool Places lists the…
Things To Do in Berlin: Wine, Art, Fine Food & Beer
Mark Bibby Jackson travels to the German capital to discover a city thriving as it approaches the 30th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall. Discover things to do…
Take a Culinary Tour of Miyagi, Japan
Only 90 minutes north of Tokyo by bullet train, Miyagi Prefecture is a culinary capital of Japan with mouthwatering delicacies such as Matsushima oysters, local seasonal fish dishes, and grilled beef…
Isle of Wight Garlic Festival 2025
Newchurch, in the centre of the picturesque Isle of Wight, nestling amidst sloping hills, is the perfect location for a festival. It is here that every year in August the Isle of Wight Garlic…
Discovering the Eastend through a London Food Tour
A walking food tour is a great way to explore a new area. Find a local guide with a good reputation who knows their home turf well and enjoys sharing…
Gilroy Garlic Festival 2022, California
Garlic lovers get your diaries out now and book in 23 July to 1 August for the Gilroy Garlic Festival. This weekend is full of fun and great garlicky food, such as garlic chips and garlic…
Overwhelming Hospitality in Tbilisi Georgia
Mike Pickup travels to Tbilisi Georgia to discover a place rich in history with the world’s oldest viniculture and a ridiculous amount of food. “I’m off to Georgia” I told…
Six Hot Travel Trends for 2019
It is the time of year when traditionally we make our predictions for the ensuing 12 months. So, Travel Begins at 40 has gazed into our collective crystal ball to…
Olney Pancake Race 2026, Bucks, UK
While people around the UK are celebrating the approach of Lent by tossing pancakes in the warmth of their own kitchen, the gentlefolk of one Buckinghamshire town take to the…
Macao Holidays: Where Portugal Meets China
On his Macao Holidays, Mike Pickup discovers a place that fuses its Portuguese and Chinese heritage in three quite distinct ways. It’s little wonder that at times Macao seems more…
Battle of the Oranges, 2025, Ivrea, Italy
Referred to as the biggest food fight in Europe, the Battle of the Oranges Italy takes over the town of Ivrea on the three days preceding Lent, from the Sunday…
Chinese New Year 2026, Global
Chinese New Year is undoubtedly China’s pre-eminent and most intense festive period characterised by sumptuous family meals, the colour red, paper lanterns and lots…
Divided Streets of San Francisco
At the end of his week’s trip through California, Mark Bibby Jackson follows some of his favourite movies through the streets of San Francisco and finds amid all the amazing…
Reliving History at The Swan at Lavenham
Roger Hermiston and Eileen Wise fill their boots on local history while staying and dining at The Swan at Lavenham in Suffolk, as well as enjoying the most blissful spa…
What’s New in Sonoma County, California
The festive season brings a flurry of new wine tasting venues, taprooms, and restaurants to Sonoma County, adding to the region’s abundant mix of fine flavours and experiences. Here’s a…
Fine Tuning in Tri-Valley California
Continuing his journey from Tuolumne County to San Francisco, Mark Bibby Jackson pops in on Tri-Valley California and discovers a thing or two about fine wines. “I can detect tobacco…
Nowruz or Persian New Year 2025
Experience the opulence of Nowruz – or Persian New Year – in March with an abundance of food, music and hospitality in one of many Persian-heritage countries. Nowruz Meaning Nowruz…
Midhurst Spread Eagle: Fit for a Queen
Irene Caswell takes a micro-break to the Midhurst Spread Eagle in the West Sussex market town and discovers a hotel steeped in history that is truly fit for a Queen…
Dresden Giant Stollen Parade 2018
In recent years stollen has become as much a feature of Christmas as figgy pudding. But nowhere do they celebrate the festive cake as seriously as in Dresden where each…
Tsagaan Sar 2025 in Mongolia
Tsagaan Sar or Mongolia’s lunar new year is the most important festival for ethnic Mongols and the people of the Arctic where age-old rituals combine with eating local delicacies such…
Isle of Wight Holidays: Walks, Pubs & Victoria
On his annual Isle of Wight holidays Mark Bibby Jackson takes a step back in history, as well as visiting a few familiar haunts. The Isle of Wight has always…
Cork Chocolate Weekend 2018, Ireland
Billed as a chance to meet the best chocolatiers in Ireland, the Cork Chocolate Weekend runs from 23 to 25 November and is held at the Cork International Hotel, Ireland…
