It's the last bank holiday before Christmas, and plenty of ways to make the most of it... 1. Goatfest Live Music Festival Where? Codicote, Herts The details: August 23-25; day tickets from £12.50 (adults), £7.50 (ages 15-17), £3 (ages 6-14), free (under 6). goatfestuk.com Alas, no actual goats here – just lots of live music, street food stalls, and family-friendly activities (art workshops, outdoor play areas and the like). Headline acts include The Real Thing and Sam Tompkins – and there's camping on-site if you want to make a weekend of it. 2. Make Believe Where? BOM, Birmingham The details: Until August 31; free. bom.org.uk Time is running out to see ‘Make Believe’ at Birmingham’s BOM, where... To continue reading this article Start your free trial of Premium Access all Premium articles Subscriber-only events Cancel any time Free for 30 days then only £2 per week Try Premium … [Read more...] about 21 things to do in the UK this August Bank Holiday weekend
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Secret Croatia: 10 hidden places you never thought to visit
In recent years Croatia has experienced something of an awakening in the minds of British holidaymakers. After half a decade of steady growth in the number of UK arrivals, 2018 saw visitors numbers leap by nearly half to 820,000. The secret is out. The nation’s rough and rugged turquoise coastline, myriad of charming islands and seaside towns and decent value has made Croatia a rising star on our shores, which in turn makes it harder to find the quiet, little corners that made it so attractive in the first place. Here, we impart 10 whispers of wisdom regarding alluring holiday spots that you might otherwise have never heard of. Cities 1. Šibenik Hidden in a sheltered channel, where the River Krka meets the Adriatic Sea, Šibenik (sibenik-tourism.hr) is a labyrinth of cobbled alleys and stone stairways built into a hillside. On the main square, see the Unesco-listed Gothic-Renaissance Cathedral, with a splendid cupola, and the 16th century Town Hall (now … [Read more...] about Secret Croatia: 10 hidden places you never thought to visit
Forget Oxford and Cambridge
Norwich: an “irresistible destination for tourists”? Probably not the first definition that springs to mind when you think of this fine city. But the unconvinced should take note of Vietnam Airlines CEO Duong Tri Thanh’s words, as recently reported by The Telegraph. Don’t be fooled by the Alan Partridge “Normal for Norfolk” gags, either. If you look beyond the lazy stereotypes, there's much to recommend this city. It's easier to reach than you might think: less than two hours from London by train and there are direct rail routes to Liverpool, Cambridge and Great Yarmouth. Plus, the broads and the Norfolk coast are nearby. The city is steeped in culture – from the authors that roam its streets... Register for free to read this article, or log in to your Telegraph account Register Log in … [Read more...] about Forget Oxford and Cambridge
Book It: Four fabulous hotels in the UK for a great escape
Pull on your hiking boots and get back to nature… in five-star fashion, of course Northcote, Blackburn, Lancashire Best for… discerning foodies The low-down: On the edge of Lancashire’s Ribble Valley, this place is the perfect crash pad for walkers – the hotel can recommend routes (from a gentle 1.6km stroll to Clitheroe Castle to more challenging 11km hikes to Lancashire’s most famous hill). There are also bicycles and e-bikes available to borrow (try the 63km Hodder Valley route). Back at the hotel, it’s all about the food. Executive chef Lisa Goodwin-Allen (a MasterChef judge and current keeper of the restaurant’s Michelin star, held now for 20 years) uses ingredients gathered from local and artisan producers. The delicious six-course tasting menu included a quirkily titled ‘Flavour of Eccles Cake’ pudding when we visited. You can’t get more Lancashire than that. Out and about: With the Forest of … [Read more...] about Book It: Four fabulous hotels in the UK for a great escape
What did Napoleon do for Europe? More than you’d want to accept
Today marks 250 years since the birth of France's greatest ruler. But what was Napoleon's legacy on France – and the rest of the world? At first sight, Napoleon’s heritage has been but twofold: first, he popularised the wearing of one’s hat the wrong way on. His placing of the bicorn across his head rather than fore-and-aft was the direct forerunner of the wearing of baseball caps back-to-front, also adopted by unspeakably annoying people. Second, he made it acceptable for the shorter man to become a national leader. Both Nicolas Sarkozy and Silvio Berlusconi have the emperor to thank. In truth, Napoleon wasn’t that small, not like Prince or Jimmy Clitheroe. He was some 5ft 6in, about average for a 19th-century Frenchman. (About average for a mid-20th-century one, too; when I first travelled through France, I increased the mean male height wherever I went by 35 per cent). If the emperor is thought of as particularly short, it is due to British propaganda. Our … [Read more...] about What did Napoleon do for Europe? More than you’d want to accept