visited

This seaside town has recently been in the spotlight for negative reasons but I was surprised by what I found there

This seaside town has been previously dubbed the “worst seaside town” in Yorkshire by a Which? poll, a label that has made national headlines and painted a bleak picture of life on the coast. It is true that Bridlington faces its share of challenges: a third of residents live in some of the most deprived areas of England and child poverty rates are among the highest in the region.

The most recent Index of Multiple Deprivation (IMD) ranked Bridlington South as the 45th most deprived area in England out of 32,844 areas, a measure that takes into account income, health, housing, education, and quality of life. Data from the East Riding Intelligence Hub (2021/22) also found that 69.2% of Bridlington neighbourhoods are among the 10% most deprived nationally.

But to call it “the worst” is not fair or accurate and to stop with that statistic would be to miss half the story. Despite the grim headlines, tourism brings nearly five million visitors to Bridlington every year. The harbour remains one of the busiest shellfish ports in Europe, and it’s not called the “lobster capital of Europe” for nothing.

An impressive 300 tonnes of lobster arrive here annually, destined for markets across Europe and beyond. By the harbour you can also find delicious fish and chips at the Naked Fish on Queen Street, a recommendation given to me by Mike Cohen, chief executive of the National Federation of Fishermen’s Organisations, who used to run the fishermen’s association in Bridlington.

Although the day wasn’t the sunniest, many visitors were out enjoying the sea air along the promenade, while families made the most of the golden sands and beaches that first made the town famous.

When I visited, I was surprised to find that Bridlington wasn’t the rundown resort I was expecting. Many of the headlines suggest a town in decline yet what I saw was a community that, while facing hardship, continues to show resilience, pride, and warmth.

Everyone I spoke to was incredibly friendly, and many local residents spoke with passion about regeneration efforts, independent traders, and the year-round events like the iconic Bridlington Regatta or the Bridlington Kite Festival that keep the town alive long after the summer crowds fade.

That welcoming, friendly spirit combined with a determined drive to overcome challenges and push for positive change is the main reason I’d return. It gives Bridlington a sense of warmth, resilience, and community that stays with you long after you leave.

The Old Town is a charming maze of Georgian streets, vintage shops, art galleries, and cosy cafés. It’s easy to see why parts of Dad’s Army were filmed here.

Down by the seafront, the promenade stretches for miles, perfect for a windswept walk with a bag of chips in hand.

In the town centre, the impressive 12th-century priory church offers a glimpse into Bridlington’s medieval past and a market selling a variety of different products as well as a range of independent shops.

The Bridlington Spa, a beautifully restored Edwardian theatre and events space, sits proudly on the South Bay and draws acts from across the UK from comedians and touring musicians to ballroom dancers.

Just a short drive away, you can also go see the beautiful Bempton Cliffs, a nature reserve famous for its breathtaking sea cliffs and is home to thousands of nesting seabirds, including puffins.

Bridlington may not be perfect, but it’s far from the “worst.” Behind the statistics and the surveys lies a town with grit, history, and heart, one that deserves to be seen for more than just its headlines and challenges.

ON Spain’s Costa del Sol, the city of Malaga is rich in heritage with a buzzing social scene.

It also offers a winning combination of a city and beach break rolled into one, meaning you can blend shopping and sight-seeing with downtime and relaxation.

Here we pick Malaga’s highlights.

WHY SHOULD I GO?

THE weather in Malaga is unlikely to disappoint, at any time of the year.

Right now temperatures are ideal — sunshine in the mid-20s — which is perfect for relaxing with a book by the pool or on the beach, as well as pounding the city streets without getting too hot and bothered.

Even if you’re not one for lying in the sun, a few days can easily be spent exploring the city’s excellent shopping scene or its old town with Roman ruins and Renaissance architecture flanking the streets.

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The city centre is also just 15 minutes from the airport by car, which makes it an ideal destination for a short break.

STREETS MADE FOR WALKING?

MALAGA is the sixth largest city in Spain, and fairly sprawling.

But that doesn’t mean you can’t explore it easily on foot.

It does depend on where you’re staying as to whether you’ll want to grab a taxi to the city centre, though.

All of the city’s main landmarks, including the cathedral, Alcazaba fortress-palace and Roman Theatre, are within a few minutes’ stroll of each other.

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HIKE up to the top of Gibralfaro Castle for fantastic views over the port and city.

This fort was built in the 14th century to house troops and protect the Alcazaba.

Standard entry is seven euros, which allows you to walk the perimeter of the fort via its tall walls as well as visit the small on-site museum.

Be sure to wear comfy shoes as the winding path visitors must climb to reach the castle from the town is pretty steep, and smooth paving means it’s easy to lose your footing.

If you do struggle with hills, you can grab a bus to the top.

For equally impressive views, a walk around the adjacent Alcazaba is not to be missed (standard entry is ten euros).

This stunning building is a marvel of medieval architecture.

Malaga is the birthplace of artist Pablo Picasso and it would be remiss not to visit the Picasso Museum, which showcases some of his famous works.

WHERE SHOULD I EAT?

ALMOST all tastes are catered for on the beachfront, but seafood should be the order of the day here.

Make sure you have at least one serving of pil-pil prawns, which features on most menus here.

I loved Majumi Beach Club, which has a relaxed vibe and dishes up some excellent local grub.

Try the sardines, which are grilled on an outdoor fire. The tomato salad with anchovies is also a hit with visitors.

For a nice evening meal, Los Marangos in the old town serves top paella, tapas and other authentic dishes from the region.

FANCY A DRINK?

PICASSO Bar Tapas has a really buzzy atmosphere.

As the name suggests, you can enjoy tipples such as fruit-loaded sangria alongside tapas-style nibbles.

Or if you’re looking for more of a party vibe, there are plenty of late-night venues in Torremolinos including Irish bars and karaoke venues.

I preferred to take advantage of the Cosmos Sky Bar at my hotel — Hotel Costa Malaga — which poured me freshly shaken cocktails while I soaked up the excellent views from the rooftop.

WHERE SHOULD I STAY?

HOTEL Costa Malaga is very affordable at around £50 a night.

It is best suited to adults rather than families with young children, due to its lack of kids’ facilities.

And that is a big sellling point as it means the hotel attracts a laidback crowd who come for the balmy weather and good food.

Rooms are modern, with the ocean visible from many of the balconies.

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As well as a reasonable-sized pool, there’s a gym area and on-site buffet and breakfast restaurant.

The best part is that the beach is just a ten-minute walk away, where you can spend the day flopped on a lounger in one of the many beach clubs — or have a go at one of the watersports on offer.

THERE is something to be said for an English seaside trip in autumn, when all the crowds have gone home.

And historic Broadstairs in Kent is certainly one of the UK’s finest coastal spots.

The beach town was loved by Charles Dickens, who called it the “freshest and freest little place in the world”.

However, it has come a long way since the author visited, with trendy new bars and hotels springing up.

I tied my windswept hair back and ventured into the bracing sea air of Viking Bay, Broadstairs’ main sandy beach.

Due to the time of year I was joined by just locals — and their dogs rolling in the sand — as well as sailing teachers and their students.

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You can’t come to the coast without trying the fish and chips, and some of the best is dished up at The Mermaid.

“Phwoah, shall we get some?” I heard a passer-by say as they ogled my overflowing portion.

I should have offered them some of mine as I had to admit defeat halfway through.

The seaside town is pint-sized and walkable, with both the Dickens House Museum and The Charles Dickens pub right beside each other.

The museum is housed in the cottage that inspired the home of Betsey Trotwood, the great-aunt of David Copperfield in Dickens’ novel of the same name.

It is only open from April to the end of October.

But time it right and you could experience a real-life Christmas Carol, with it reopening for a number of festive weekends in December, alongside live music and crafts.

And while you can’t go inside Dickens’ former holiday home Bleak House, you can enjoy it from the outside when it opens to the public for the monthly farmers’ market.

The town’s pretty high street is also a step back in time, with a quaint mix of old-school butchers and gift shops alongside modern coffee places.

My bag quickly became heavy after giving into the temptation to shop, stocking up on early Christmas presents and trinkets.

With the nights drawing in even earlier, dinner came round all too quickly.

And one of the best spots in town for a bite is Bar Ingo.

Opened in 2024, the tiny restaurant is a cosy affair — just five tables crammed against steamed-up windows. But it is worth the squeeze.

Bohemian auntie

It’s run by Swedish chef Tomas Eriksson, who once worked in the kitchens of celebrity-loved Soho House in London.

I gorged on small plates of rich braised beef, juicy octopus and crispy ham croquettes, alongside a glass of Portuguese orange wine.

It’s a place where you end up chatting to your table neighbour after they spot you eyeing up one of their dishes.

I had never been so grateful that my bed was just a few yards away.

Smiths Townhouse is one of the newest spots on the block, originally a coffee shop before reopening as a boutique hotel last month.

The six bedrooms take up most of the space in the pretty converted Georgian building. Each one feels like it’s been decorated by your bohemian auntie.

Think antique rugs and mid-century beds (one of which is rumoured to have been owned by Elton John).

The rooms are intimate and chic, with dark blue walls and floorboards that creak underfoot while padding over to make a cup of tea.

It’s tucked down a side road off the main high street, which means you’ll get a blissfully uninterrupted night of sleep.

I awoke to the smell of freshly brewed coffee coming from the downstairs cafe.

I thought I’d woken up early but I came down to find it already full of locals chatting about their night out over full English breakfasts and toasties.

The hotel has big plans for the future too, including an on-site bar, DJ sessions and a Pilates studio.

If you’re visiting during the summer, Broadstairs always has so much to offer, with big events including the Dickens Festival in June and Folk Week in August.

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But for some bracing sea air, Michelin-worthy restaurants and stylish new hotels without the crowds? Maybe a trip is the best saved for an October weekend.

I get why ol’ Charlie sung its praises . . . 

This seaside town has a reputation for being one of the country’s most expensive but I was forced to second-guess my assumptions

When I arrived at this seaside town, I expected the usual trappings of a millionaire’s coastal enclave: quiet streets, immaculate homes and the faint sense that everything is just a little too polished. After all, this New Forest harbour town is one of the most expensive coastal spots in Britain, with average house prices more than double the national average at £600,000, Express reports.

I was expecting it to be the kind of place where second homes outnumber locals, where the shops sell handmade dog treats, and where residents drive the kind of cars that never seem to gather dust. But as I wandered its cobbled streets and Georgian lanes, it became clear that Lymington in Hampshire doesn’t fit that stereotype.

For all its quiet wealth and picture-perfect charm, the town felt unexpectedly alive. What surprised me most wasn’t the grandeur of the homes or the sparkle of the Solent. It was the sense of community that seemed to ripple through everything. Even in a place where many doors stay closed for much of the year, there’s warmth and connection that you can feel as soon as you arrive.

Taking a stroll down the High Street on market day, the stretch of road transforms into a bustling corridor of colour and conversation. Locals chat across stalls piled high with artisan bread, handmade soaps and the day’s catch from the nearby quay. There’s the smell of roasted coffee from one of the independent cafes and the sound of a busker’s guitar drifting between the Georgian facades.

Down by the quay, children crouch on the old stone walls, dangling lines and bacon rinds into the water in hopes of catching crabs. The chatter of families mixes with the clang of yacht masts in the marina. Behind them, pubs like The Ship Inn and The Mayflower are full with people swapping stories over pints, as they’ve done for generations.

A few streets away, tucked behind the main road, small galleries and bookshops hum with quiet trade. And that’s the contradiction that makes Lymington fascinating. There’s no denying that many homes sit empty for large parts of the year. Walk along Captain’s Row or past the elegant townhouses near Bath Road, and you’ll spot drawn curtains and pristine gardens with not a footprint in sight. Yet somehow, the town refuses to feel hollow. Residents talk about the issue openly.

“It’s frustrating,” admits Adam Stote, 55, who recently downsized to a smaller property near the river. “We all wish more homes were lived in full-time. But the people who are here, we make up for it. There’s a real community and everyone looks out for each other.”

Part of that may come from the setting itself. The Solent glitters on one side, the New Forest rolls in from the other, and in between, Lymington feels cocooned, almost self-contained. It’s a place where the pace slows, where people stop to talk, and where heritage feels more like a habit than a history lesson.

Unlike other luxury coastal enclaves, the flash of Sandbanks, the celebrity polish of Salcombe, Lymington’s wealth whispers rather than shouts. Residents here seem to gladly trade glistening supercars and infinity pools for sea salt-dusted climbing ivy on weathered bricks. This difference adds to the town’s traditional character, from the quirky antique shops to the long-running St Barbe Museum and community theatre. Even the famous seawater baths, dating back to the 19th century, are run by locals who fought to keep them open.

Of course, Lymington isn’t perfect. The housing market prices out young families and parking is an eternal headache. As I walked back toward the train station, the tide was slipping out of the harbour and the sky had turned gold over the masts. It may be one of the most expensive seaside towns in Britain, but it’s also one of the few that still feels like a community first, and a postcard second.

Garry Beach, in the north of the Isle of Lewis, has been named the most underrated beach in the whole of the UK by Boat Booker. Milo Boyd went to see what everyone has been missing

Milo Boyd is a Digital Travel reporter who covers aviation news, the environment, the cruise industry and much else including travel tips, bargain holiday suggestions and inspirational global trips.

Far, far away – perhaps as far away as you can get from Greggs in the UK – is the country’s most underrated beach.

The Outer Hebrides may not be home to a single outlet of the beloved sausage roll franchise, but it does have Garry Beach. It sits high up on the largest of the Western Isles, Lewis.

Garry has just been named the most underrated beach in the UK by Boat Booker. Studying Google Maps beaches tagged as “secluded” and “secret,” and then ranking those with fewer than 100 reviews, the firm highlighted those coastal spots with pristine waters and dramatic scenery where relatively few have trodden.

Scotland dominates the rankings, with six locations in the top 10. Spots on islands such as Mull and Barra are high up. Porth Trwyn in Wales is the highest-ranked non-Scottish beach, coming in at four.

OPINION

Milo Boyd

OPINION

Milo Boyd

It is easy to understand why the Hebridean seaside might be underrated, given how remote and difficult most of it is to get. And this particularly goes for Garry Beach.

I spent two days, about eight hours of driving, a three-hour ferry, and a five-hour train, getting to the Isle of Lewis, before another hour on the road north of Stornoway to Garry Beach. I did so in a hefty Range Rover which I borrowed from the kind people at Turo rental car.

If the journey 668 miles from London to Stornoway doesn’t put you off, then the 15 miles from Stornoway to Garry Beach might. I’d argue it’s among the dullest, bleakest stretches of countryside in the UK.

Sitting in the back of the spacious Sport 2020, my Swedish in-laws kept muttering about just how bleak a destination it was. But, when we arrived, North Lewis’s less fetching roads were quickly forgotten. The beach itself is lovely.

A small car park holding around five vehicles was situated a short two-minute walk from the water’s edge. From there, we wandered over a grassy knoll onto the sandy bay, which stretches several hundred metres on either side.

Like many of the more remote Scottish beaches – and particularly the sandy ones that can be found in the Hebrides and Shetland – the water is a brilliant blue that feels like it’s been lifted by a fire-fighting plane straight out of a rum advert filmed in the Caribbean and dumped several thousand miles away for the benefit of a handful of dog walkers and a lone fisherman.

The beach sits on the eastern edge of Lewis, meaning it is not treated to the dramatic waves and salty spray of the island’s Atlantic coast. Things are a little more gentle here. Rather than smashing them in a froth, waves lap around the intriguing rock formations that stick up from the sand. Several have been eroded to create excellent climbing platforms and archways into the surf.

Beyond the fact that the Isle of Lewis is miles away from all but the 20,000 or so people who live there, Garry Beach has another major issue: the weather.

The hottest temperature ever recorded on Lewis was 26.3 °C, back in 1999. Unless you’re incredibly lucky, this beach requires a serious raincoat and the ability to withstand Hebridean gales.

During the high season of July, sunseekers can expect 12 days of rain and the mercury to hit average highs of 16C. That is roughly 7C colder than the southern coast of England.

Unless you are made of incredibly stern stuff, this is not a beach for lounging on the sand for hours on end or frolicking in the waves. It is a beach that combines the beautiful and the bleak of the British Isles’ coastline in a way that few other places anywhere can.

If you like the sound of what Garry is offering, but don’t think you can face the mammoth journey, then there are some slightly closer options. One of my personal favourites is Sandaig, a beach several miles from the beautiful Scottish village of Glenelg.

The peaceful spot was immortalised as Camusfearna in ‘Ring of Bright Water’, a book written by Gavin Maxwell about his life living alongside pet otters.

Not only is the water sparkling and very tempting for those who can handle the intense chill of a Scottish sea loch, winding paths lined by little bushes and tree run between craggy rock towers, creating the perfect arena for a game of Flags or 40:40. If the weather does close in a little, then there’s plenty of driftwood lying around that can be used to warm a chilled party huddled in one of Sandaig’s natural rock alcoves.

ONE European island with dreamy beaches and a crowd-free city has been named as a top destination for 2026 holidays.

Whilst it is part of Italy, Sardinia is actually located closer to Africa than mainland Italy and as a result, it boasts warm temperatures and exotic fauna and flora.

And now it has been named as a Destination of the Year by Expedia Group’s Unpack ’26: The Trends in Travel report, which gathered data from millions of visitors and revealed that searches for Sardinia holidays have risen by 63 per cent.

Having recently visited, I know exactly why – Sardinia is a Mediterranean gem unlike any other.

Most travellers head to Olbia in the north of the island, but Cagliari in the south – the capital of the island – is also a great destination to explore.

The south of the island and around Cagliari is full of quaint villages, rocky hills and breathtaking beaches.

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I stayed in a small village called Chia, which is home to two Hilton hotels.

The resort has a number of pools to enjoy and there are two hidden beaches resort guests can access, both with crystal-clear warm waters and hardly any people.

Rooms at one of the hotels – the Conrad Chia Laguna Sardinia – start from £257 per night, for two people including breakfast.

You can also do a number of activities from the resort, including a two-hour horse ride up into the island’s hills.

It was such an amazing way to see the island and experience a bit of local life.

And from the resort, it took me less than an hour to reach Cagliari.

The city is small, but even on a sunny Saturday at the end of August, its streets were quiet from hordes of tourists.

As well as sitting on the coast with panoramic views of the sea, the city has a great blend of culture and history.

One of my favourite spots in the city is Bastione di Saint Remy – a neoclassical fortress made from white and yellow limestone.

While you do have to climb tens of steps, once at the top of the monument you are treated to spectacular views of not only the city, but the islands stretching coastline.

For a while I just sat enjoying the blazing sunshine and the views, with boats whizzing in and out of the port accompanied by the sounds of bustling cafes on the city’s streets below me.

Around Bastione di Saint Remy, there are many winding streets with quaint shops and cafes to explore, which form the city’s historic quarter.

Prices in the shops and cafes are cheap too, with coffees setting you back around 87p to £1.74.

Food didn’t set me back much either, with a salmon and avocado brunch setting me back less than a tenner at Ex Tipografia.

Cattedrale di Santa Maria, Cagliari’s main cathedral is also worth exploring.

It features a mix of different architectural styles and has a stunning crypt inside – just remember if you are visiting to cover up as this is a place of worship.

Make sure to not miss The Underground Cagliari Tour – this unique activity takes you to three different underground sites across the city.

Stops include the Salesian Institute Tunnel-Shelter, which was used by a school as a shelter during heavy WWII bombings.

The entire tunnel is also lit by candles when you visit.

The second stop is at the Crypt of Santa Restituta – it is a natural cave that has been expanded over centuries and has also served as a place of worship.

Finally, you head to the Archaeological Area of Sant’Eulalia, which sits beneath the Church of Sant’Eulalia in the Marina district and reveals the remains of a Roman road.

The tour costs from £26.61 per person.

If you want to enjoy the Mediterranean weather, make sure to explore Orto Botanico.

It is a huge garden with lots of different varieties of plants and Roman archaeological remains and it costs less than £4 to visit.

Return flights to Cagliari cost as little as £38 in November from London with Ryanair.

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If you are looking for more inspiration for an Italian getaway, then check out this tiny Italian island set to be ‘turned into an oasis’ to escape hordes of tourists.

Plus, the brilliant five-star Italian campsite with beautiful beaches, affordable restaurants and activities for the whole family.

EVER wondered what Thailand might have looked like in the ‘90s, years before the first selfie was snapped or before travel influencers descended in droves?

When I landed on the shores of Koh Yao Yai this August, I got a first hand glimpse.

Just 20 minutes away from Phuket’s tourist-choked roads and party-hopping beaches, this peaceful little paradise in the heart of Thailand’s Phang Nga Bay feels frozen in time – almost as if it’s
veiled by a ‘90s sepia-toned filter.

Life moves slowly here, carried by the chorus of tropical
cicadas and the gentle lull of the sea.

Meaning “big long island,” Koh Yao Yai drifts in relative anonymity between Phuket and Krabi.

The afternoon I arrived on the island by speedboat, I wandered along the empty stretch of Loh Pared Beach, feeling a bit like young Leonardo DiCaprio in The Beach, eyes wide as he stumbled upon a deserted Maya Bay for the first time.

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Ironically, today, Maya Bay remains packed with tourists, while this secret spot, just two ferries away, brims with the kind of charm that time forgot.

What To Do in Koh Yao Yai

Enjoy Sidecar Rides Along Phang Nga Bay

One of the best things to do on the island is hit the roads on a 110cc scooter and drift aimlessly through its fishing villages.

I loved drinking in the sights of island life as they whizzed past: water buffalos wallowing in muddy fields, sparkling sea views layered with limestone karsts, and stilt-propped homes in shades of pink, and blue.

Many hotels and local motorbike operators rent scooters for as little as £6 (฿300) a day.

You can also hire a vintage-style scooter with a sidecar – a fun way to get around these parts – if you fancy a romantic twist to your island holiday.

Take a Batik Painting Class By The Sea

Across the hill from Klong Hia Pier, a local batik shop offers a relaxing afternoon escape from the island’s heat-hazed beaches.

When I visited Batik De Ko Yao, the instructor Lai led me to a bench overlooking the sea and guided me through the basics of batik painting.

The entire process, from tracing the design with molten wax to brushing it with vibrant dyes, was surprisingly meditative.

Once done, Lai dyed and proofed the piece before packing it up for me to take home.

Explore Crowd-Free Beaches

The beaches of Koh Yao Yai are starkly empty save for ghost crabs scuttling in and out of flint-coloured sand, or the occasional longtail boat with locals out fishing.

Especially worth visiting is Laem Haad beach, where the tide retreats beyond the shore each morning, revealing a serpentine sandbar that’s fun to walk across.

From there, you can spot the island’s smaller sibling, Koh Yao Noi.

In the evenings, watch the sun smear the skies in orange-pink hues at Loh Pared Beach, a soft white-sand cove on the island’s western end.

Another excellent spot is the Klong Son beach, where I arrived after braving a rocky road flanked by rubber trees.

The sun was blazing, the water warm, and although I craved a cold
drink, I was pleased to see that there were no shops or shacks lining the beach.

Take a Mangrove Tour

The island’s mangrove routes are perfect for relaxed and low-impact activities like kayaking.

Local guides lead you through canopied mangrove forests and sunlit lagoons in southern Koh Yao Yai, where you can spot a variety of indigenous wildlife – from mudskippers and tree snakes to monitor lizards and tropical birds – as you kayak through the waters.

Where To Eat and Drink

Koh Yao Yai is home to a predominantly Muslim population, which means bars and booze shops are rare – but not impossible to find.

Small, family-run shacks also dot the island, serving fragrant Massaman and Panang curries with rice, spicy salads, and Thai specialties for as little as £3 to £4 per plate, or under £20 for a meal for two.

One local favourite is Isaan Fine1, which has a bar menu serving cheap Thai beers like Singha, Leo, and Chang’s for just £3 a pop.

While you’re here, make sure to fill up on pad thai, drunken noodles, and fresh Thai salads, too.

Another spot to enjoy drinks, grub, and music after a day out is Gypsy, a rustic island-style shack on the far end of Loh Pared Beach.

Sink your toes into the sand while you enjoy a cold beer or a mojito for just under £5.

For a more elevated experience with bay views, head over to the Jetinn Sunset at Pier at the Santhiya Resort.

Open from 5p.m to 7 p.m. daily, this overwater bar offers a lively sundowner vibe with panoramic views of Phang Nga Bay.

Cocktails are a bit pricier than elsewhere, but the vibe and views more than make up for it.

Where To Stay

If you don’t mind the splurge, lavish retreats like the Santhiya Koh Yao Yai and Anantara Koh Yao Yai offer idyllic sea-view villas and suites from £140 and £275 per night.

For a more laidback stay, the Thiwson Beach Resort offers rustic bungalows overlooking the sea from just £70 a night.

A short walk away, the Better View Resort has sea view rooms for £84 a night.

If you prefer to keep it simple and stretch your stay, budget-friendly options like the Koh Yao Beach Front are excellent.

Located steps away from the Laem Haad beach sandbar, you can rent breezy bamboo huts here for as little as £27 a night.

Tucked further inland, the Patcharin Homestay and Bahnwalee offer clean wooden cottages between £20-£30 a night.

Wherever you stay, Koh Yao Yai presents a glimpse of Thailand as it once was: unhurried, unfiltered, and magical.

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If you are still looking for holidays in Thailand, then you could go kayaking, hiking, have cooking classes and zip-line in the Thai city that is top place to visit next year.

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The English Riviera is a 22-mile stretch of the South Devon coast with Torquay at its northern end. It’s sometimes compared to the French Riviera, but it’s a very different place

Stand on the promenade of this legendary seaside resort when the weather’s pleasant, and you could easily mistake yourself for being somewhere on the Mediterranean rather than in Britain. Lines of palm trees flutter in the wind, waves gently wash onto an expansive sandy shore and gleaming art-deco structures perch on the hillside overhead.

Take a closer look, though, and there are telltale signs you’re actually on the English coast rather than somewhere along the French Riviera. Reach reporter Milo Boyd is pretty sure traditional fish and chip outlets, seaside souvenir shops and penny arcade machines aren’t common sights along the Côte d’Azur.

And whilst a typical July afternoon in this Devon resort of 50,000 residents reaches around 20C with some cloud cover, the French Riviera basks in 29C temperatures with glorious sunshine and clear blue skies.

Parallels drawn between the Devon shoreline and the glamorous French destination date back to Victorian times, when tourists likened the mild microclimate and stunning landscape of Torbay – a 22-mile section of the South Devon coast with Torquay at its northern tip – to the 186 miles of the original Riviera.

Whilst the French Riviera sometimes faces criticism for being overly warm, rather posh, and costly, Torquay regularly receives brutal assessments of an entirely different nature.

Actually, it appears to attract an unfair share of criticism, reports Devon Live.

Last year, a Which? survey declared Torquay as Brits’ most disliked seaside destination, whilst The Telegraph ranked it as their 13th most disappointing coastal location.

Even one of Milo’s taxi drivers couldn’t resist having a dig, branding the high street as a “dump”. The decision-making process of these competition judges is a mystery to him, and their lack of taste in coastal spots is evident.

After a weekend getaway in Torbay, Milo was captivated and intrigued by Torquay, a seaside town unlike any other he has encountered in the UK.

Food and drink in Torquay

One of the town’s most appealing and tasty features is its food. Sure, you can find the traditional cod and chips every 10m along the seafront as you would in most UK seaside towns, but Torquay has much more to offer.

Milo had the good fortune to get a quick tour of the town’s food scene through an invitation to the 7 Chefs event on 4 October. Over seven hours, guests are treated to seven different seafood dishes, each crafted by a different chef and served in a different independent restaurant.

This annual event is highly sought after, making stops at the Michelin-starred Elephant for some braised octopus, the sibling-run Ollie’s for a generous lobster thermidor, delicately prepared oysters at No. 7 Fish Bistro and Offshore for its unique take on mussels with katsu.

If you fancy indulging in top-quality seafood and British-produced wines, then this event is perfect for you.

It might only happen once annually and set you back £120, but you’ll require a solid 364 days to recover after tackling diver-caught scallops at The Yacht, a generous helping of fish and chips at Pier Point, and cheese with far too much port at Twenty1 Lounge.

“Lightweight,” one of my fellow foodie companions shouted after me as he ordered another couple of reds for good measure, whilst Milo hauled his aching frame into a taxi.

The event also runs in Brixham on the opposite side of the bay.

The vibrant, boutique village houses one of England’s largest fishing markets and restaurants, including Olive, The Prince William, and The Mermaid, where many of the 40 fish and shellfish varieties landed here are consumed.

‘The Queen of the English Riviera’

Torquay is often dubbed ‘the Queen of the English Riviera’, and rightfully so.

On a bright day, the magnificent art deco properties crown the hillside overlooking the bay, sparkling in the sunlight like gems in a tiara.

Torbay lies just beyond the western tip of the Jurassic Coast and comprises Devonian limestones intersected with red ochre deposits.

These form a intricate landscape featuring elements like the wave-carved Berry Head platform and natural caves. On a Sunday afternoon, Milo was given a tour by Nigel Smallbones, the ranger at Berry Head Nature Reserve for 27 years.

He showed Milo the roosting spot of a 1,600-strong guillemot colony, the cave system where his son monitors the 56 resident horseshoe bats, and explained how rock enthusiasts travel from as far as China to appreciate the geology.

A short half-hour drive around the bay led me to Kents Cavern – a prehistoric cave system unearthed by some tough Victorians. It’s an awe-inspiring place that continues to yield significant scientific discoveries, including the jawbone of a Neolithic girl likely devoured by cave hyenas, and a colossal bear skull.

If exploring a cavern filled with stalagmites and stalactites isn’t your cup of tea, just up the road lies a piece of British comedy history – the hotel that inspired John Cleese’s Fawlty Towers. Perhaps due to its somewhat infamous association, the hotel has since been replaced by a block of flats and a commemorative blue plaque.

One stark difference between the Rivieras is their approach to drinking. Milo was genuinely taken aback and impressed by the amount his fellow restaurant-goers consumed, and how some managed to stomach a full English breakfast on a sunrise boat trip the next morning.

Such passion and resilience would be hard to find on the French Riviera.

Locals he spoke with admitted that Torquay’s nightlife isn’t what it used to be, with several mourning the loss of two clubs that once offered unlimited drinks for under a tenner.

Nevertheless, the party atmosphere endures through the 1,200-capacity Arena Torquay, which is hosting an Ibiza throwback evening next week, alongside a string of bars along the quayside.

With roaming packs of stag and hen parties, some donning lederhosen in honour of Oktoberfest, Torquay remains regarded as a cracking spot for a night out.

Devon’s temperate climate and breezy conditions mean its flourishing vineyard industry creates light, refreshing wines that complement seafood perfectly – a fortunate match.

Torquay also boasts several gin distilleries.

Laurance Traverso, director of the Coastal Distillery Co, served me a delightful G&T from his waterside headquarters.

So what’s behind the animosity?

There’s undoubtedly a segment of the British public that simply doesn’t rate Torquay.

If you rock up for a family break and have the bad luck of being drenched for seven days straight, Milo can see their point.

Some townsfolk have grown fed up with the high street and how districts beyond the seafront and tourist hotspots have deteriorated.

Local Sophie Ellis-Marsden revealed: “I avoid that end of town. I don’t have much nice to say, to be honest. The waterfront is lovely, and that’s the only thing that is.

“It’s nice, don’t get me wrong, I moved here from Milton Keynes for the sea, but it needs more work. More shops just seem to be shutting down. Everything’s gone, and I don’t really know why.”

The local authority appears determined to tackle these problems head-on.

Significant investment has already been made, with much more planned for the future.

The Strand at the harbourside has been transformed into a piazza-style promenade, featuring expanded pedestrian zones for dining and seating, plus improved public transport connections.

A former Debenhams department store is earmarked for demolition, to be replaced with new homes, cafés, restaurants, and an upmarket hotel.

Additional proposals are in the works for the town centre, along with further development at The Strand, which the council estimated would create approximately 80 full-time jobs, £32 million in wages, and attract 86,000 new visitors over a 30-year period.

The total cost of the scheme is reported to be £70 million.

Laura Teagle, who enjoyed a “gorgeous” day trip to a European city, has shared a money-saving hack that will help you travel to abroad for less than it costs to get around the UK

France is synonymous with its sun-drenched vineyards, bustling boulevards and medieval castles. A trip over the British Channel is one many make from the UK for a weekend break or longer. But one influencer has taken the extreme route and managed to find a genius way to make a day trip to France affordable.

While the Eurostar is famed for offering easy travel to places like Paris and Brussels, there’s one underrated gem in France that TikTok personality Laura Teagle says foodies and day-trippers must visit. While train fares continue to soar, making enjoyable days out across Britain increasingly costly, Laura has a handy trick to make a day trip to France easy and friendly on the wallet.

Posting under @teagleeats, Laura shared with her audience how she managed to secure discounted Eurostar fares. The influencer nabbed £39 railway tickets to a French destination she described as “gorgeous” at a lower cost than journeying between major British cities.

Laura chronicled her excursion to Lille, a “charming” city situated just inside the border with Belgium. She opened her post declaring: “When a day trip to France is cheaper than a day out in London you best believe I’m going.”

Laura – who also operates her own confectionery enterprise called Teagle’s Treats – outlined how she obtained the budget-friendly train fares. In a TikTok video following her post showcasing her adventure to Lille, she revealed: “Okay I didn’t realise this wasn’t common knowledge but I’m gonna tell you the best life hack for travelling to France for cheap.

“So I’m always going straight to the Eurostar website, then once I’m there instead of typing in a date, a time and location, I’m gonna go down and I’m gonna search for this – the book now button for Paris for £39. When you get there you’ll see this: all these different locations all from £39 each way.

“The next trick is to go all the way through the calendar and see where all of these £39 dates are and choose the one that’s most appropriate. So in this case I choose January 17 and then obviously to return on the same day, I’m gonna click the same date.

“Then we’re gonna choose ‘get times’ and we’re gonna be presented with this screen. Then I’m gonna swipe through all of the different times and choose the cheapest or the best time available.

“So in this case it’s a 7:04 train for £44 and for the return, I’m gonna do the exact same thing. I’m gonna swipe choose the best cheapest price for the latest train so the 7:35pm.

“And that’s literally it. That is how you travel to France for the day for so cheap.”

Throughout her adventure in Lille, Laura and her mate explored numerous bakeries to taste the regional delicacies. Following her 7am departure from London aboard Eurostar, she and her companion popped into a Lille supermarket to grab some brie for €1 (87p).

She described the “gorgeous” stroll to a patisserie, where she tasted pain au chocolat that she dubbed “literally the best” and declared she craved “75 more” of the bakery’s eclairs. Following that, it was a morning exploring the Palais des Beaux-Arts museum.

Laura branded it a “must go” destination for merely €4 (£3.5). Another bakery visit ensued, where she sampled Lille’s renowned brioche and suggested tourists should also savour the wonderful cuisine available. She continued: “Being close to Belgium we obviously had to check out beer shops” before making a beeline for Méert, a bakery that’s become an internet sensation for its delectable treats.

Laura enthused: “I don’t care that this is hyped up online and the queues are long, you have got to go.” She posted a snap of a vanilla tartlet from the bakery, confessing she “literally dribbled” while capturing the shot.

She reiterated: “I’ll say it again. God! Bless! The! French!” Laura and her companion then enjoyed an alfresco lunch, featuring a cheese board that left her “speechless” and saucisson, a French sausage she dubbed “our actual fave”.

After sampling some local booze, they made their way to the Lille flea market which she declared was “100% worth the visit”. Their next stop was Au Point Central, a bistro offering €5 glasses of Pinot Noir.

Come dinner time, Laura and her friend hit Cafe de Paris for a “perfect” sirloin steak, fries and a salad at a cost of €25 (£22). Laura’s final verdict was unequivocal.

She declared: “I will absolutely be continuing to advocate for getting the first train out/last train back on Eurostar on all and any occasions.

“£150 all in return trains, all food, drinks and activities like London could just never? Grab your passport, grab your girls and go flirt with the French, eat their food and drink their wine.”

Torquay, which sits at the northern end of Torbay in Devon, is a town that attracts as much hate as it does love so one reporter went to find out why

Milo Boyd is a Digital Travel reporter who covers aviation news, the environment, the cruise industry and much else including travel tips, bargain holiday suggestions and inspirational global trips.

Stand on the boardwalk of Torquay when the sun is shining, and it’s easy to forget you’re in the UK and not on the Med.

Rows of palm trees sway in the breeze, the sea laps onto a long sandy beach and white art-deco buildings sit on the hill above. Look a bit harder, however, and there are signs you’re in the English rather than the French Riviera.

I’ve not visited Saint-Tropez before, but I’m fairly confident fish and chip shops, bucket and spade emporiums and 2p arcades aren’t major fixtures on the Côte d’Azur. The average July day in the Devon town of 50,000 is 20C and a bit cloudy, while the French Riviera enjoys 29C days of sunshine and blue skies.

OPINION

Milo Boyd

READ MORE: Holidays to sun-soaked island with £3 beers and 30C October weather just got cheaper

Comparisons between the Devonshire coastline and the glitzy French region originated in the Victorian era, when visitors compared the warm microclimate and beautiful scenery of Torbay, a 22-mile stretch of the South Devon coast with Torquay at its northern end, to the 186 miles of the original Riviera.

While the French Riviera is sometimes criticised for being too hot, a bit snobby, and expensive, Torquay occasionally comes in for harsh words of a different variety. In fact, it seems to get a disproportionate amount of heat. Last year, a Which? survey named Torquay as Brits’ least favourite seaside town, while The Telegraph named it as its 13th worst coastal spot. Even one of my cabbies stuck a boot in, condemning the high street as a “dump”.

How the judges of those competitions came to their conclusion is something of a mystery to me, and their poor taste in coastal spots is obvious. After a weekend break in Torbay, I came away enchanted and intrigued by Torquay — a seaside town that is unlike any other I’ve come across in the UK.

One of the town’s strongest and most delicious qualities is its food. Of course, you can get a classic cod and chips every 10m along the seafront as you can in most UK seaside towns, but Torquay also offers a lot more.

I was lucky enough to get a whistle-stop tour of the town’s culinary scene through an invitation to the 7 Chefs event on October 4. Over the course of seven hours, guests experience seven different seafood dishes, each created by a different chef and served in a different independent restaurant.

The annual event is a hot ticket, stopping off as it does at the Michelin-starred Elephant for a spot of braised octopus, brother-and-sister-run Ollie’s for a very generous lobster thermidor, delicately prepared oysters at No.7 Fish Bistro and Offshore to try its katsu take on mussels.

If you love gorging yourself on the highest-grade seafood and British-produced wines going, then this is the event for you. It may take place just once a year and cost £120, but you’ll need a good 364 days’ break to digest once you’ve taken on diver-caught scallops at The Yacht, a not-so-mini portion of fish and chips at Pier Point, and cheese and too much port at Twenty1 Lounge.

“Lightweight,” one of my new gourmet pals called after me as he got another couple of reds in for good measure, while I heaved my creaking body into a taxi.

The event is also run in Brixham on the other side of the bay. The multi-coloured, boutique village is home to one of England’s biggest fishing markets and eateries, including Olive, The Prince William, and The Mermaid, where many of the 40 fish and shellfish species landed here are eaten.

Torquay is sometimes called ‘the Queen of the English Riviera’, and for good reason. On a sunny day, the grand art deco houses crest the hill overlooking the bay, twinkling in the sunshine like jewels in a crown.

Torbay sits just past the western end of the Jurassic Coast and is made up of Devonian limestones cut through with red ochre deposits. These create a complex landscape with features like the wave-cut Berry Head platform and natural caverns.

On Sunday afternoon, Nigel Smallbones, the ranger at Berry Head Nature Reserve for a 27 year stint, showed me around, pointing out where the 1,600-guillemot-strong colony roosts, the cave system where his son monitors the 56 resident horseshoe bats, and how rock fans come from as far away as China to enjoy the geology.

Half an hour’s drive round the bay found me down within the rock formations at Kents Cavern — a prehistoric cave system excavated by some hard-as-nails Victorians. It’s a dramatic place that keeps delivering major scientific discoveries, including the jawbone of a Neolithic girl probably eaten by cave hyenas, and a massive bear skull.

If a tour of the stalagmite-and-tite-filled cavern isn’t your thing, then just up the road is a piece of British comedy history — the hotel where John Cleese had the inspiration for Fawlty Towers. Perhaps because of the slightly damning association, the hotel is long gone, replaced by a block of flats and a blue plaque.

Another fundamental difference between the Rivieras is their attitude to boozing. I was genuinely shocked and impressed by how much my fellow restaurant crawlers put away, and how some of them had steady enough stomachs for a fry-up on a sunrise boat trip the following morning.

You’d struggle to find people of such passion and stern stuff on the French Riviera.

Locals I chatted to conceded that the nightlife in Torquay isn’t what it once was, a number lamenting how two clubs that offered all-you-can-drink for less than a tenner are now long gone. However, the party spirit lives on in the form of the 1,200-capacity Arena Torquay, which hosts an Ibiza throwback night next week, and a row of bars down on the quayside.

Given the marauding groups of stag and hen dos, some dressed in lederhosen in respect of Oktoberfest, Torquay is still considered a good place to party.

Devon’s mild climate and wind mean its growing vineyard scene produces light, crisp wines that pair well with fish—a happy coincidence. Torquay also has a number of gin distilleries. Laurance Traverso, director of the Coastal Distillery Co, poured me a delicious G&T from his base down by the water.

So why the hate?

There is, undeniably, a section of the British public that doesn’t like Torquay. If you arrive on a family holiday and have the misfortune of getting rained on for a week, I can understand it.

Some residents of the town have grown frustrated with the high street and how areas away from the seaside and the gaze of tourists have become run-down. Local Sophie Ellis-Marsden explained: “I avoid that end of town. I don’t have much nice to say, to be honest. The waterfront is lovely, and that’s the only thing that is.

“It’s nice, don’t get me wrong, I moved here from Milton Keynes for the sea, but it needs more work. More shops just seem to be shutting down. Everything’s gone, and I don’t really know why.”

The council seems committed to sorting out these issues. There has been some serious investment, with plenty more in the pipeline. The Strand at the harbourside has been turned into a piazza-style promenade, with wider pedestrian areas for dining and seating, and better public transport links.

A former Debenhams department store is set to be demolished, replaced with new homes, cafés, restaurants, and an upmarket hotel. There are plans in the town centre too, and further development at The Strand, which the council predicted would provide about 80 full-time jobs, £32 million in wages, and bring 86,000 new visitors over a 30-year period. The entire cost of the scheme is reported to be £70 million.

How to visit

The official English Riviera site has plenty of suggestions on where to stay and what to do.

The train from London takes three hours from Paddington to Torquay.

It is the season for wrapping up warm and enjoying an autumnal walk, and this beautiful village in the north of England has been compared to the fictional town of Stars Hollow where Gilmore Girls is set

As the chillier days arrive, many of us are putting up our Halloween decorations, lighting candles, snuggling on the sofa with a blanket and switching on our favourite cosy, autumnal shows and films. While many choose horror films at this time of year – or programmes like Wednesday or Stranger Things on Netflix for magic and excitement – one of the most cherished cosy autumn shows is Gilmore Girls.

The programme, created in the early ’00s, is set in the fictional New England town of Stars Hollow, renowned for its autumn festivals, pumpkin patches, and coffee shop culture – and recently one Yorkshire town has been likened to it. Haworth has been dubbed the “real life Stars Hallow in England”.

The enchanting West Yorkshire location is steeped in history and perfect for those wanting to discover a picturesque, charming village this autumn. Tucked away in the Yorkshire Moors, it is best known for being the residence of the Brontë sisters, who penned some of the most revolutionary novels in history.

From delightful cafés, independent shops like Mrs Brighton’s Sweet Shop and The Cabinet of Curiosities, and excellent pub food, there is plenty to do.

READ MORE: ‘I removed huge plant from my home, but people say I made huge mistake’

You can picture Gilmore Girls’ Lorelai strolling around the cobbled streets before pausing for a coffee, and Rory relishing reading and selecting a new book in one of the shops.

In a recent video shared on her social media, @lilyjbet gushed: “Just found England’s very own Stars Hollow. Haworth, a dreamy Yorkshire village, feels like stepping straight into Gilmore Girls – filled with cosy cafés, charming bookshops, and the sweetest little independent stores. Easily reached by train to Keighley and a short bus ride, it’s the perfect autumn escape.”

Another user chimed in: “It’s a gorgeous place! It’s where the Brontë sisters grew up, their parsonage is just around the corner from those shops. Steeped in history.”

A second added: “I love it there it has the Brontë sisters house and it gives of Gilmore girls.”

Another fan enthused: “I adore it here, well worth the trip to the Brontë house/museum while you’re there.

“Oh my god, I need to move there,” one user exclaimed.

“Awww such a magical place,” another commented. Another user shared: “Haworth is so pretty, I’m desperate to go back, its been a while.

“It’s so dreamy,” echoed another.

How to get there

If you’re driving there are a number of car parks you can use. The Bronte Village car park is open from 6pm to midnight, while the Gas Street car park is open 8am until 6pm, and the museum car park is open 8am until 10pm.

Keighley is the nearest train station to Haworth. According to Trainline, from London there are typically two trains a day that run to Keighley and it will take you just short of three hours. From Birmingham to Keighley there are around 28 train per day, and there are over 160 trains per day from Manchester to Keighley, taking around 2 hours and 26 minutes to get there.

Ruhi Çenet, a Turkish YouTuber who’s gained a reputation for visiting some of the planet’s most hard-to-reach destinations, travelled to a place where temperatures can drop to below -60°C

An intrepid travel vlogger, who has visited the coldest inhabited place on Earth, almost lost his nose to the elements in just 15 minutes. Ruhi Çenet, a Turkish YouTuber and travel vlogger who’s gained a reputation for visiting some of the planet’s most hard-to-reach destinations, travelled to Oymyakon, in Sakha Republic, Russia, where temperatures can drop to -67.7°C, the lowest ever recorded in the Northern Hemisphere.

Oymyakon, also home of the lowest temperature recorded outside Antarctica, has (as of reports from 2024) roughly 2,000 inhabitants and lies in the Oymyakon plateau, situated in what the Guardian describes as a “bowl-shaped depression” with a dry, frosty climate.

In the video, titled The Coldest Village on Earth: Oymyakon, Ruhi flew east from Moscow over seven hours and then travelled 900km to the Siberian settlement, where a thermometer displayed an icy -60.5°C upon arrival at 2am.

Ruhi was later filmed donning more than 20 layers of clothing “just to stay alive”, including reindeer fur boots, trousers, and a coat, as he prepared to step out from a 30°C home and take on the icy elements.

In words spoken by a narrator, the vlogger, who had ice crystals forming on his eyelashes and stinging skin within seconds of being outside, explained how the settlement is so cold that mobile phones stop working, and any cars left exposed to the cold freeze in just a few hours.

Ruhi held his thumb up to the camera, showing a large, yellow blister forming on his skin, and, in two striking shots, he was also filmed holding up the frozen corpses of a wolf and what appeared to be a rabbit.

Later on in the video, in a segment covering the working day of a local cattle farmer named Yevdokiya, Ruhi’s face suddenly went numb.

In words spoken by the narrator: “I couldn’t move the muscle on the left side, like I was having facial paralysis. When my nose started freezing. Yevdokiya noticed right away.”

Next, the camera filmed a close-up of Ruhi’s nose, which, after staying outside for “just over 15 minutes”, had started to turn white along the tip in patches, an unmistakable sign of a serious condition. He asked: “Is it frostbite?”, to which the answer was a resounding, “Yeah”.

The narrator continued: “The cold shrinks the blood vessels and eventually reduces blood circulation. Without enough warmth, water inside each cell freezes into ice crystals, causing the cells to rupture and triggering a stabbing pain and tissue to die.”

Ruhi was quickly advised to cover his face and be careful or it “might turn black”. As the team rushed back to a group of buildings, it was detailed how, from that point onwards, Ruhi wasn’t able to spend more than 10 minutes at a time outside, or he would risk the frostbite getting worse.

Fortunately, Yevdokiya presented what she described as a “cure” for the condition. She held what appeared to be a medicine bottle containing aloe and alcohol, and proceeded to dip a swab in the mixture and hand it to Ruhi.

According to the narrator (who translated), she said: “You soak it like this and apply it to the area that’s frozen and don’t rub it, okay? Otherwise, you’ll damage the vessels and the capillaries and it’ll lead to sores.”

Ruhi, who proceeded to hold the swab to his nose (and filming then continued), appeared to be unscathed by his brush with frostbite by the end of the video.

Vietnam is regularly voted one of the best countries to visit in the world but when I visited I unearthed a whole new side to it – and it was incredible

Simon Green Head of Trendswatch

05:00, 05 Oct 2025

Simon joined Daily Star in 2015. Having spent a few years covering all things video, he became Senior Assistant Editor (Digital). Since June 2024, he has been Head of Trendswatch on the Content Hub

Looking out of my car window I see sandy coves drift past below towering cliffs. To my left are endless rolling mountains filled with lush jungle.

I’m winding my way around central Vietnam’s Hai Van Pass – described by former Top Gear man Jeremy Clarkson as one of the world’s most beautiful coastal roads. My destination isn’t a cheap no-frills hostel, the kind used by millions of backpackers who descend on Vietnam each year.

Instead, I’m staying in two five-star sister resorts – Angsana Lang Co and Banyan Tree Lang Co – on the outskirts of a small fishing village 55 minutes from Da Nang airport. I turn off a road on the edge of Lang Co village and drive past endless paddy fields, where water buffalo happily graze.

My first hotel – Angsana – comes into view. Smiling staff greet me with some welcoming cold flannels. I’m led to my one-bedroom courtyard suite and immediately take a dip in my private pool to wash away the jet lag.

I dry off on the sunbed and wonder what this already-impressive region has in store for me during my stay.

Just a short stroll from my room sits a golden two-mile private beach with no soul in sight. But the thought of walking its length doesn’t entice me after my 18-hour journey, so I instead hop on a quad bike that’s on offer.

I hurtle across the sand with gentle waves to my left and wild jungle to my right, before taking a turn that transports me straight into a scene from Jurassic Park. Insects and birds chirp all around as I navigate the well-marked path through the wilderness.

By the time I’m back at the resort, my adrenaline’s pumping and I’m in need of a pick-me-up. I slurp down some Vietnamese coffee, which is refreshingly iced and served with sweet condensed milk, and I’m raring to go again…

An hour from the Lang Co resort lies Hue, the former capital of Vietnam. My tour guide takes me to the impressive walled Imperial City, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Built in 1804, it boasts palaces that housed the rulers of the last royal dynasty. I walk over a lily-covered moat and through the guard gate that towers ahead.

The palace is adorned with dragons externally, but the interior is even more spectacular. Gold-leafed walls and pillars surround a glistening gold throne where the monarch used to sit.

This grandeur is juxtaposed with bullet holes that are still visible on the city’s walls – a tragic reminder of the site’s significance in the Vietnam War’s bloodiest battle.

Another conflict Hue residents have overcome is occupation by the French, which ended in 1954. And this clash of cultures is reflected by the region’s delicious diverse food scene. I head to a traditional Hue restaurant called Les Jardins De La Carambole, which translates as ‘the starfruit gardens’ in French.

But instead of the escargots and entrecote you’d expect to guzzle down in Paris, Bun Bo Hue is on the menu. The spicy beef noodle soup is served with Hue-style crispy pancakes known as Banh Khoai.

There’s also a tingly green mango salad, as well as grilled beef in banana leaves. It’s undoubtedly one of my favourite meals of the entire trip. Heading out of the Imperial city, belly full, I reach the final pitstop on my Hue tour – Dong Ba market.

Inside is a sprawling network of street vendors willing to sell you anything and everything – from replica Ralph Lauren shirts to traditional food. It’s customary to haggle within markets in Vietnam, so I give myself a pep talk and pretend I’m on an episode of The Apprentice.

I feel like Alan Sugar is ready to become my business partner when I haggle 1,000 Vietnamese dong off the price of some coffee.

Then my tour guide brings me swiftly back to reality. When I brag to him about the deal I made, he tells me (through laughter) that I’ve only knocked off 20p. Soon it’s time to check into my next hotel – Banyan Tree Lang Co.

It’s just a short boat ride from Angsana along a 950-metre-long canal. As I step off, a golf buggy is waiting to drive me to my beachfront private villa. It comes complete with a picture-perfect private pool and Jacuzzi overlooking the beach.

I happen to be visiting during the Season of the Lotus and a whole host of activities celebrating Vietnam’s national flower await me.

Treats include a two-and-a-half hour wonderful Lotus spa experience, finished off with an aromatic lotus bath to revitalise my skin after hours under the glare of the scorching sun. I then enjoy lotus afternoon tea, served by waiters in traditional Vietnamese garments pouring out mugs of fresh herbal brews.

I sit with lanterns hanging above my head, observing the pretty lotus flowers blooming above the water in front of me.

When the time comes to eat there’s just enough space left in my belly for a meal at the Saffron Thai restaurant, offering wonderful panoramic views over the bay. The spot has been awarded a Thai Select signature status (the cuisine’s equivalent of a Michelin star) and after gorging on my lobster curry I can see exactly why.

My day of relaxation feels perfect – but I’m soon itching to get back out there and explore what’s on my doorstep. Roughly 90 minutes away to the south of the Lang Co properties sits one of Vietnam’s most popular tourist destinations – Hoi An.

Its ancient town, another UNESCO World Heritage Site, dates back to the 15th century. As I walk down its streets I pass wooden fronted Chinese shophouses, French colonial buildings and traditional Vietnamese houses.

But before I fully immerse myself in the region, I decide, perhaps rather bizarrely, to head to Hoi An’s leading bespoke tailors Yaly Couture. Hoi An has built a reputation as Vietnam’s clothes capital thanks to dozens of tailors offering jaw-droppingly cheap rates on anything from custom suits to dresses.

And Yaly is one of the most renowned, having tailored outfits for the likes of Mick Jagger and the president of Singapore. After picking from the exhaustive list of materials and colours, I opt for a two-piece cashmere suit.

Back at home, buying a tailored suit as good as this could easily cost north of £1,000. But my jaw drops when I go to pay and an unbelievable “£180” comes up on the screen. I’m seriously glad that I don’t have to do any haggling this time.

Shopping session completed, it’s time to sample some of the country’s world-famous Banh-Mi. A remnant of the country’s colonial past, it’s a French-style crispy baguette with a combination of delicious fillings.

I race to authentic local deli Madam Khanh to try it for myself before closing time – and luckily manage to nab the last one. In the queue behind me, the news filters down that I’ve sold out the shop and I’m greeted by jealous and slightly angry faces.

One bite of the veggie-filled sandwich reveals why – it is absolutely delicious. The Vietnamese Bamboo Circus is the perfect place to digest as I watch some wonderfully ripped men and women tell the story of central Vietnam through death-defying stunts – all using just bamboo. By the time I leave the theatre, the sun has set and the ancient town has come alive.

An iconic sight greets me at the river – hundreds of paper flower lanterns bobbing on the surface of the water. I hop onto one of the basket boats boat to release one myself.

You’re meant to make a wish as you let your light drift away into the night.

Wish you were here? What are you waiting for? Just go and book a Vietnam break you will never forget.

Book it

Travelbag offers seven nights on B&B at the Banyan Tree Lang Co resort in Vietnam from £1,699pp including flights from Heathrow and private transfers. travelbag.co.uk

Rooms at the Banyan Tree Lang Co resort start at £337 a night B&B.

Rooms at the Angsana Lang Co resort start at £118 a night B&B.

MORE INFO – vietnam.travel

The UK’s coastlines are among the most stunning in the world and can be appreciated all year round, especially in autumn

Just because the summer season has concluded, it doesn’t mean you can’t still relish sandy shores and delightful coastal towns. The UK’s coastlines are amongst the most breathtaking globally and can be savoured throughout the year – especially during autumn when you can wander the coastal path and treat yourself to hot chocolates at welcoming beachside cafés.

Senior Journalist, Portia Jones, confessed that autumn is her favoured time to visit the seaside towns of Wales as it tends to be more peaceful, and lodging could potentially be more affordable (particularly if you manage to bag a brilliant deal). She revealed: “Tenby, widely regarded as one of the best seaside towns in Wales, is one of my favourite destinations during the off-peak season.”

With gorgeous beaches just a brief stroll from the vibrant town centre, charming cobbled streets that could rival those in Italy or the French Riviera, and a selection of eye-catching, brightly-coloured houses that many British towns would covet, it’s scarcely shocking that this coastal treasure consistently features as one of the “best” seaside towns in the entire UK, reports the Express.

Dubbed the ‘jewel in the crown’ of the ‘Welsh Riviera’, Tenby has long been a favoured tourist hotspot and is one of the most cherished seaside towns in Wales.

Here, you’ll uncover a scenic harbour, Victorian architecture, sandy beaches, independent cafés and picturesque coastal walks along the captivating shoreline, reports Wales Online. Step beyond its ancient 13th-century walls, and you’ll discover sun-drenched shores and breathtaking clifftop vistas across the water towards the enchanting Caldey Island.

Portia revealed: “I have visited Tenby many, many times over the years, from childhood holidays to grown-up escapes with friends and my significant other, and I love it a bit more with each visit.

“While summer is perfect for sea swimming and long wine-filled afternoons on sun-trap pub terraces, I have come to appreciate Tenby more in autumn. Sure, the weather might not be as sunny, but this is Wales. Frankly, you can have a torrential downpour in August and a mini-heatwave in late September.

“It’s completely unpredictable, so you may as well chance a cheaper autumn visit and hope the weather gods smile upon you. I love that if you visit Tenby during the week, say, mid-October, you can escape the crowds and wander the pretty streets and sandy beaches in relative peace. Just wrap up warm, buy a hot chocolate, and watch the waves roll in from a chilled-out seaside cafe. Lush.”

She added: “Accommodation-wise I’ve found that you can get some pretty good deals in the off-season – especially if you visit midweek rather than at a weekend. One of my favourite spots is YHA Manorbier – a very affordable stay that’s a short drive from the town centre.”

This wallet-friendly hostel, situated in a former military base, provides glamping and camping options and costs under £50 for a private en suite room for two people (YHA members pay even less). Lodging choices include reasonably priced private quarters, distinctive American Airstreams, charming camping pods, and pitch-up camping.

Portia usually books a pristine private en suite room for just £45 for two visitors, and as a YHA member, she gets an extra 10% reduction. Granted, the private quarters may have limited space for large luggage, which estate agents might call “bijou” and regular people might describe as “compact.”

However, for slightly over £20 each, it offers outstanding value – especially in the expensive Pembrokeshire area. Portia observed: “Let’s be honest; you’re not checking into a YHA expecting a concierge, Egyptian cotton sheets, and a robe monogrammed with your initials. You’re here for the vibes. A community-spirited atmosphere fostered by shared kitchens, mismatched mugs, and conversations over wine in the lounge.”

Fancy staying closer to the town centre? Browse autumn deals on Booking.com and bag a hotel for roughly £75 for two adults. The Premier Inn Tenby Town Centre property costs just £68 per night for two in October and offers a cosy base right in the heart of all the action. Despite the summer rush being over, there’s still plenty to savour in Tenby.

From strolling along the coastal path and sampling craft beers in local pubs, to exploring independent shops for your Christmas shopping, Tenby has it all.

The town is home to several golden beaches perfect for a brisk autumn sea dip if you’re brave enough, or simply sipping hot chocolate while taking in the windswept coastline. South Beach, a sandy beach backed by dunes near the town centre, proudly holds the esteemed Blue Flag status.

When it comes to dining, Salty’s Beach Bar and Restaurant, situated right on the beach, is well worth a visit. Castle Beach, just a hop, skip and jump from the town centre, was crowned the UK’s best beach in 2019 and currently boasts an impressive 4.8 out of five rating on Google.

North Beach, nestled in Pembrokeshire, has previously been voted the most photogenic beach in the UK, beating other stunning spots like Durdle Door in Dorset and Brighton seafront. Harbour Beach may be the smallest, but it offers a charming backdrop of colourful houses, bobbing boats, and a road leading back to the town centre.

Autumn is the perfect time to explore the Tenby Coast Path. This picturesque section of the larger Pembrokeshire Coast Path offers breathtaking views of Tenby’s vibrant harbour, Caldey Island, and St Catherine’s Island.

Favourite trails include the four-mile stroll to Saundersfoot, a moderate nine-mile loop that returns inland, and a challenging 10.9-mile point-to-point path to Freshwater East. If the weather takes a turn for the worse, why not pop into Tenby Museum and Art Gallery?

It’s the oldest independent museum in Wales. Founded in 1878, this charming museum is home to a wide range of local geology, biology, archaeology, and maritime artefacts waiting to be explored.

Many of the exhibits also delve into the culture and heritage of South Pembrokeshire, offering you a peek into local history and art. A delightful gift shop near the entrance sells local books and gift items.

Entry to the museum will set you back £6.50 for adults and £3.50 for children. They also run a reusable ticket scheme – all tickets can be used for one year after purchase, so you can make as many return visits as you like within that time at no extra cost.

For those who fancy a Welsh tipple, there are two local breweries in Tenby. Both produce top-notch beers and supply local bars and restaurants. Tenby Brewing Co., which took over from Preseli Brewery, has multiple stockists in Tenby and is one of the leading craft breweries in Wales.

The award-winning brewery was conceived when two mates decided to ditch the daily grind and start their own brewery over a pint. The Yard, their trendy venue at the brewery, boasts a capacity of 150 and offers an exciting rotating menu from fantastic pop-up food vendors, draft beer lines from their range, and some of their favourite brewers.

Harbwr, the newer kid on the block, is a craft brewery and taproom that brews a variety of cask and bottled ales just above Tenby harbour. When it comes to food, Tenby’s cluster of tiny streets and pastel-coloured buildings conceals its best restaurants and cafes down the narrowest of alleys.

Plantagenet House is a hidden treasure, featuring flagstone floors, exposed beams, and a 40-foot medieval Flemish chimney. If you’re quick off the mark, you might even secure a table by the fireplace.

“A recommended dish is their vegan Thai coconut curry, which features squash, chargrilled spring onion, spiced rice, and roasted almonds,” Portia suggested.

Links restaurant, located on the ground floor of Tenby Golf Club, offers Michelin-starred dining, making it a top pick for food enthusiasts visiting Pembrokeshire.

The menu, crafted by a talented local chef, focuses on simple yet incredibly tasty dishes made with high-quality Welsh produce. Start your meal with their freshly-baked ale bread served with whipped Marmite butter – trust me, it’s the perfect starter.

The ambience strikes the perfect balance between laid-back and sophisticated, with a menu that seamlessly merges humble yet thrilling dishes. From hot smoked salmon paired with cucumber and buttermilk to heritage tomatoes coupled with buffalo mozzarella, there’s something to tickle every palate.

For your main course, relish in locally-sourced delights such as Pembrokeshire beef or Cornish cod in a bisque sauce, or treat yourself to a succulent rump of Welsh lamb served with all the right trimmings.

And don’t forget to save space for pudding – whether it’s a decadent dark chocolate fondant with tarragon ice cream or a zesty lemon meringue with almond cake and blueberry sorbet, you won’t leave feeling unsatisfied. D. Fecci and Sons might just dish up the best fish and chips in Wales, having catered to both locals and tourists since 1935.

With potatoes grown locally in Pembrokeshire and groundnut oil creating wonderfully crispy haddock, cod, and calamari, the chippy also offers fresh mackerel during the summer months.

For delightful treats, pop into Mor Tenby, an elegant family-run coffee house and gift boutique selling their signature coffee blend (“Coffi Mor”), sweet treats, deli items, home fragrances, household goods, gifts, and Welsh specialities.

A beloved establishment in Tenby, Top Joe’s remains the top spot for pizza lovers. This former ’60s diner has transformed into an artisanal pizzeria offering freshly-made pizza, pasta, and salads featuring high-quality Italian ingredients. Nestled in the heart of this delightful coastal town, it’s a firm favourite with both locals and visitors.

The culinary expertise of Chef Giovanni Recchia, recently acknowledged as one of the world’s best at the Pizza World Championships, enhances the menu. He crafts pizzas using locally-milled flour and top-notch ingredients, including cured meats from Trealy Farm Charcuterie.

With one of the worst pub food experiences, a deserted high street and a pint-glass littered river front – there is only one thing going for this Essex town.

Driving out of the sun-dappled bucolic roads of Highgate, a sense of stillness and dread descended on our A12 approach to Burnham-on-Crouch.

Drizzle spat onto the window as the windscreen wipers failed to fully clear the smudgy stain obscuring our first St George’s flag sighting on turning into Maldon – arguably patient zero of the recent redecorating of the country.

“Oh my God, look at the price of petrol”, my friend and driver Pierre shouted, veering off the road.

At a truly shocking £1.289 a litre – this was easily the highlight of the trip.

Trudging out of our faded periwinkle Nisan Micra in the co-operative car park, it seemed we had injected the only shade of colour into the bleakest town in the UK, reports The Express.

The sky was white-grey, the community boards bleached into oblivion, and the streets were desolate, and strangely perfumed with what smelled like incense.

Along the so-called high street we stumbled upon our first stop, the Essex & Herts Air Ambulance charity shop. A man in a fitted leather jacket best left in the early naughties made a B-line for the front desk and asked the cashier if they “had any war records.”

This would have seemed odd if it weren’t for what sounded like a 1940s factory choir blasting through the sound system. Lined by pebble dash magnolia homes, the high street was thronged with bloated Land Rover Discoveries, surprisingly well polished against the cracking paint of the houses behind them.

Walking on, we got chatting to a man on a stall outside a barber shop. He said he commuted from London to the family business. When asked what he thought of Burnham-on-Crouch, namely the amount of St George’s flags, he said only “I try to stay out of politics.”

Next on the charity shop roster was the Helen Rollason Cancer Charity. A volunteer came bustling out of the back shouting to her second that she needed back up because “there are quite a few customers out here.” There were a total of four of us in the shop.

It was a surprise some wares had made it past the screening process onto the shop floor. Specifically, one doll dressed as a Native American had made it to the shelves and it looked old enough to pre-date the toy industry’s push for better representation of the global population. The book shelves were almost-exclusively stocked with war books, with Allan Bullock’s questionably named ‘Hitler and Stalin: Parallel Lives’.

Considering the St George’s flag to actual human being ratio, the town’s war memorial was surprisingly sparse following the recent 80th VJ day. There was just one kitchen-clock sized wreath next to the monument, yet every chiropodist, beauty salon, hairdresser and corner shop was adorned with either a Union Jack or a St George’s flag.

Walking along the promenade, it was clear the River Crouch itself was Burnham’s best chance at making a convincing postcard. However, considering the dregs of the September sunshine, it more closely resembled a milieu for a disgruntled Brit-slop ITV detective to look out on whilst toiling over his case.

Then was our lunch. With a couple of suspicious looks up and down, and the smell of a carpeted woody interior- the pub seemed nice enough. I ordered the cranberry and brie toastie, and Pierre ordered a tuna melt with chips to share.

I became nervous when I heard the (deathly quiet) table next to us complain about something in their food. Then, Pierre pulled a food-covered hair from his toastie, before, astoundingly, ploughing on.

This was handled with an apology and we were offered a free pudding – which we declined – and they ended up taking our lime soda and pint off the bill.

After lunch I proposed a tea stop at The Cabin Dairy. This was the town’s one saving grace. The interior resembled the height of neo-Victorian maximalism of 2009, with the shelves looking like a jumbled raid of TK Maxx’s knick-knack section.

The staff were warm, and the scone was delicious, soft and straight out of the oven.

I was surprised to be so happy to fork out any more money in what I had decided was indeed the bleakest town in the UK. If you do find yourself near Burnham – don’t go if you can help it – but know that the Cabin Dairy is there to mop up the emotional drainage of your, hopefully brief, stay.

Dunsop Bridge, nestled in the heart of the Forest of Bowland, is the closest village to the exact centre of the UK, which has been pinpointed by Ordnance Survey

The quaint village of Dunsop Bridge in Lancashire has been officially recognised as the most central point in the UK by Ordnance Survey.

The exact centre of the nation is pinpointed on a hillside just northwest of the village, near the Whitendale Hanging Stones. Dunsop Bridge, nestled in the heart of the Forest of Bowland and located about nine miles from Clitheroe, is the closest village to this precise midpoint.

Although often cited as the UK’s centre – marked by a commemorative plaque on its village green – the actual central spot lies a few miles northwest on a hillside above the village.

Once part of the West Riding of Yorkshire, the tiny, picturesque village became part of Lancashire after boundary changes in 1974.

Not only is the village famous for its central location, but it also houses the 100,000th BT phone box, installed by explorer Sir Ranulph Fiennes in 1992, reports Lancs Live.

Situated where the River Dunsop meets the River Hodder, Dunsop Bridge is a popular destination for walkers. Favourite routes include the Saddle Fell Top and Slaidburn Walk, drawing nature lovers and outdoor enthusiasts alike.

Much of the surrounding land is owned by the Duchy of Lancaster. In 2006, Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip visited the village, strolling through the area, visiting the Puddleducks Cafe, and watching a cow’s hoof trimming at Radholme Laund Farm.

Their visit concluded with lunch at The Inn at Whitewell to celebrate the Queen’s 80th birthday.

Renowned for its tranquil ambience and breathtaking moorland vistas, Dunsop Bridge acts as the entrance to the renowned Trough of Bowland.

The Forest of Bowland National Landscape celebrates the village’s “lovely winding paths” and its charm as an ideal location for picnics or a peaceful tea stop, featuring resident ducks and verdant banks.

The Forest of Bowland National Landscape website states: “Dunsop Bridge is the entrance to the famous Trough of Bowland. Lovely winding paths from here through the moors to Lancaster are popular with thousands of fell walkers.

“With resident ducks and grassy banks it is the perfect place to stop for a picnic or a cup of tea and a cake at the cafe.”

Whether for rambling or simply absorbing the tranquil environment, Dunsop Bridge continues to be a treasured jewel in Britain’s crown.

JUST hearing the name Courchevel conjures up images in my head of ­gold-trimmed ski jackets, sheepskin-draped lodges and food prices that would frighten even Jeff Bezos.

That’s because when I first skied in the area, nearly 20 years ago, a round of drinks in the part known as Courchevel 1850 would set you back the price of a small flat.

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But these days you don’t need to be a Silicon Valley tech bro or ­Russian oligarch to ski the resort’s 150km stunning pistes.

I was staying in the small resort of La Tania, the perfect gateway to the French alpine jewel of Courchevel, where celebs and royalty from Kate and Wills to the Beckhams have skied.

La Tania is — in French ski resorts terms — a tiddler of a place and has only been an official part of the Courchevel region since 2018.

Since then this purpose-built ­modern village, which only came to life for the 1992 Winter Olympics, has become a fixture for families and those looking for a cheaper and quieter place close to the action.

That action being Les Trois Vallées — aka the “world’s largest interconnected ski area” — where from €69 (£60) a day you can access 600km of runs, which is the equivalent of skiing from Paris to Geneva.

A key selling point of Les Trois Valées is that unlike many of the French resorts that have been affected by warmer weather, snow is guaranteed.

A whopping 85 per cent of all runs are at an altitude of over 1,800m — and half of them are green or blue. Some peaks on the region’s SIX ­glaciers are even above 2,500m — great for when the season has been a particularly snowless one.

I was staying at the beautiful Chalet Jonquille, a snowball’s throw from the town and the bottom of the main lift and run by the ever professional tour operator, Ski Beat.

From the outside it looks like a traditional A-frame chalet but inside it was all open plan and modern with a hot tub on the balcony and a cosy cinema room downstairs.

I always judge a chalet on the food — if it’s not up to scratch it can ruin a ski trip. And I was not disappointed.

After a full day on the mountains every cell in my body is crying out for a scalding hot fix of tartiflette or some other heavy French cuisine — and a few large glasses of red. I got that in spades.

BIKINI-CLAD DANCERS

Helpfully Ski Beat prides itself on offering top-notch cuisine and red and white wine on tap in its catered chalets.

The homemade cakes served for afternoon tea were so good you might be tempted to cut short your time on the slopes, just so you don’t miss out on a slice.

La Tania may be small but it is by no means a sleepy backwater.

There are many bars and restaurants in the village where you can do everything from chowing down on local delicacies like fondue to dancing to a band until the wee hours.

The imaginatively named Pub Le Ski Lodge is exactly that — a charming ski lodge with a decent selection of beers.

Half a litre of Pélican blonde (7.5%) will put hairs on your chest and knock out any aches and pains in your legs, as I found to my pleasure.

It also serves snacks like French tacos (try them!), which at ten euros a pop, won’t break the bank. Dining piste side, it can make a cheap and cheerful lunch spot.

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Courchevel also has its own La Folie Douce (a famous party bar) up at Meribel, where you can watch bikini-clad dancers pirouette on table tops as EDM beats pound your ears.

It’s a fairly show-off crowd but utterly fascinating to watch as they guzzle Veuve Clicquot out of the ­bottle in their Balenciaga salopettes.

The Bouc Blanc, also at Meribel, is a cheaper option where plats du jours are a more reasonable 21 euros

Views here are superb and when the sun is out there are few greater ways to spend a day — beer in hand, watching the world ski by.

And if you’ve still got the legs, you can ski all the way back to La Tania.

Sarah Lim has travelled to 24 countries in Europe and has shared her experiences of the places where she felt the most unsafe, specifically as an Asian female traveller

A seasoned globe-trotter has been using TikTok to document her adventures across 24 European nations. In an unexpected departure from typical travel review, Sarah Lim opted to spotlight five cities in Europe where she experienced feelings of vulnerability, particularly as an Asian female explorer.

“Five cities where i didn’t feel safe in Europe (as an Asian female),” she captioned her post. Sarah added: “I went to several countries in Eastern Europe as well, through both the Baltics and the Balkans and i found Western Europe to be more unsafe unfortunately.”

Here is her list of destinations you might wish to steer clear of.

Paris, France

Describing alarming encounters in the French capital, Sarah revealed: “I was stalked at night alone on my first trip and then chased by a bunch of men when I was with five friends on my last trip.”

She also highlighted the widespread threats such as bag snatchers and pickpockets she came across.

Brussels, Belgium

Whilst she managed to avoid any major incidents in Brussels, Sarah confessed she couldn’t dispel a sense of discomfort, particularly after dark. “There were many groups of men lingering around the city centre at night, very unsettling,” she explained.

Additionally, Sarah referenced an even more troubling incident – a Singaporean exchange student’s stabbing in Brussels, which reinforced all her concerns about the city’s security.

Milan, Italy

Sarah’s Italian escapade kicked off with a near-miss scam at her flat, which she described as “very convincing” due to the fraudster’s numerous “accomplices”.

She also voiced concerns about her safety, stating: “Walking around at night near the residential areas felt quite unsafe – had to call male friends to escort me and my friend back.”

Barcelona, Spain

Next stop, Barcelona. Sarah reported no major issues but remained “very vigilant” due to the city’s notorious pickpockets.

She revealed: “I heard about stabbing and mugging cases from fellow Erasmus students.”

Rome, Italy

In Rome, Sarah experienced more trouble, noting: “It felt the most touristic – hence the number of scammers in the open. Pickpockets and snatch thieves were common here.”

Her TikTok post resonated with many viewers, leading them to share their own travel tales.

One user empathised with her Brussels experience, commenting: “Finally someone mentions Brussels,” and explaining their decision to leave despite a good job because they felt “I lived there for eight months and everybody asked me why I left if the job was so good. I literally always felt so unsafe.”

One user slammed the romantic notion of Paris, stating: “When people call Paris the city of love its hilarious because all I know is stabbings, getting stalked and pickpockets.”

Another shared a similar experience in the French capital: “I was stalked in Paris too when I was out alone in the middle of the day. Belgium was definitely shady at night and we managed to stop a pickpocket.”

Echoing these sentiments, another person said: “Milan and Paris are so real. One of my Paris friend got her bag snatched on the train. And Milan, the pickpockets are everywhere, we literally identified some of them from afar.”

However, not everyone had negative experiences. “I used to live in Paris, and actually felt very safe as long as I wasn’t near the Gare du Nord area!” one person revealed.

“And actually felt so safe in Rome as well. But of course people have different experiences.”

Another added on a positive note: “Lucky to have stayed in Paris for a month and never felt unsafe or threatened!”.

One UK city has been named one of the “best places to go in autumn in the UK”.

Canterbury is frequently hailed as Kent’s crown jewel, boasting a bustling city centre packed with eateries and a history you can feel in every cobblestone.

The county’s only city was crowned one of the “best places to go in autumn in the UK” by Conde Nast Traveller. Following this recognition for the city, journalist Millie Bull – who calls Kent home – visited Canterbury once more to discover why.

Having been there a handful of times, Millie admitted that she has consistently departed wishing she’d “spent longer exploring”.

Reporting to Kent Live, Millie said: “In autumn, the city’s historic architecture is highlighted by browning trees and shorter days.

“In October, Halloween decorations adorn shop windows and in November, the smell of chimney smoke wafts through the city streets.”

Millie continued: “Occupied since Paleolithic times, the city’s long history is hard to ignore. The city wall, which was founded in Roman times and rebuilt in the 14th century, is one of the first sights visitors will see.

“The Westgate, a medieval gatehouse, stands tall at 60 feet and is the largest surviving city gate in England. The gatehouse was built in 1379 and is now one of the city’s most distinctive landmarks.

“Walking around these spectacular monuments and Canterbury’s narrow, cobbled streets is like stepping back in time.”

Millie recommended that first-time visitors to Canterbury should definitely experience a section of The Pilgrims’ Way.

This ancient pilgrimage route stretches from Winchester to Canterbury or Southwark to Canterbury, covering a whopping 138 miles through woodlands and fields.

She added: “Visitors can attempt a section of the route from the village of Wye to Canterbury which is 12.5 miles long.

“It takes roughly one to two days to complete and begins at the church of St Gregory and St Martin in Wye and takes you through beautiful woodland, river banks and into the city of Canterbury.

“The route ends at Canterbury Cathedral where visitors can walk the Cloisters and kneel where the shrine of Thomas Becket used to be.”

But if history isn’t your cup of tea this autumn, Canterbury boasts a wide range of shops to keep you entertained. Millie suggested: “The posh Fenwick department store has everything from designer bags to homeware, food and drink and an epic toy section.

“Some of my favourite shops in Canterbury are Superstore Vintage, Bird and Blend Tea Co., and Violet Elizabeth.”

When it comes to dining in the city, Millie recommended Café des Amis; she said it’s a must-visit.

Millie elaborated: “Despite the name, Café des Amis offers some of the best Mexican cuisine I’ve ever eaten. Reasonably priced with a three-course set menu for £26 available Monday to Friday from 12pm to 6pm, the food is delicious, the service is impeccable and the vibe is relaxed.

“If you’re not big on wine, they have a fantastic selection of cocktails as well as tequilas.”

For something a bit out of the ordinary, Millie recommends the UK’s largest cat café, Canterbury Tails, where “a fully plant-based menu is served up alongside 27 furry felines”.