Ed Cunningham

It all started on TikTok way back in April 2022, when one user discovered a simple but truly snazzy Uniqlo crossbody bag. Small and sleek, the bag’s big trick was that it was much larger on the inside than it looked from the outside. A pack of cookies, wallet, charger, camera, pair of over-ear headphones, EpiPen, perfume bottle – they all fitted. Sort of like a Tardis bum-bag or Mary Poppins magic handbag but, also showcasing Uniqlo’s typically stylish, minimal design, it was actually cool. Fast forward a year or so and Uniqlo’s ‘round mini shoulder bag’ (alternatively called the ‘moon bag’ or ‘round mini’) is quickly becoming inescapable. In parks and on the streets, on Tubes and all over social media, summer 2023 is the season of the ‘moon bag’. Everyone in London now seems to have one. So... why? Why this bag over others? Why, according to Uniqlo themselves, has the ‘round mini’ sold out seven times since launch and become the brand’s best-selling bag? I personally think it’s cute so many twenty somethings all own the same Uniqlo bag ( in different colours). Look at us carrying round our little things 😊 — Lucy (@queerarchlvst) June 25, 2023 ‘The icon status of the bag has multiple reasons behind it,’ says stylist Alex Standley, who was once a fashion buyer for the likes of M&S and Amazon and now runs styling business Luxe Leopard Lifestyle. ‘The most obvious one being the fact that it perfectly blends practicality with fashion, fitting the current util

London can be pretty pricey if you're not careful. Whether you live in the city, work or just come for a visit, the spending can quickly add up. From the delicious food that stands on almost every corner and lines up the streets to just having a gander around the city looking for things to do, your wallet might start to feel very, very light. We don't even want to talk about how much a night out costs.  But surprisingly, the UK capital has actually got some wallet-friendly options for spending the night. Both big chains and independent hotel joints (yep, even four- and five-star ones) offer some rooms for under £100 a night – you just have to know where to look. And once you’ve saved all that cash? Well, you’ll be freer to spend your wonga on other, more important stuff. Like, erm, going to the pub. Anyways, here are our top picks for the best budget hotels in London.  Looking for more options? 🛌 Check out London’s best Airbnbs 💆 Relax at the best spa hotels in London 🏨 Scroll through the list of 100 top London hotels Who makes the cut? While we might not stay in every Airbnb featured, we've based our list on top reviews, hosts and amenities to find you the best stays. This article includes affiliate links. These links have no influence on our editorial content. For more information, see our affiliate guidelines.

Cold weather isn’t for everyone. Sure, there’s a certain cosiness to layering up, huddling around a fireplace or wandering around one of the world’s best Christmas markets. But plenty of us would much rather be on a deckchair, lazing around in toasty sunshine year-round. If you’re feeling the chill right now and on the hunt for some proper winter sun, well, we’ve got just the thing. Based on factors like average temperatures, amounts of rain and snow, daily hours of sunlight and seasonal hotel costs (as well as the research of travel blog ParkSleepFly and money advice service Forbes Advisor), we’ve come up with the best destinations for winter sun. (At least while it’s winter in the northern hemisphere.) Some of the destinations featured are warm all year round; others win out by virtue of being in the southern hemisphere, meaning warmer temperatures when it’s cold up north. Keep reading to find out which winter-sun destinations came out top – and the average temperatures in each from October to March. RECOMMENDED: 🏔️ Where to go this winter, according to travel writers❄️ The best places to visit in December🎊 The best places to visit in January🫶 The best places to visit in February

Ahhh, Hudson. A city in Upstate New York full of character, charm, and history. A trendy little place, too. Thanks to the antique wonders of Warren Street, a thriving LGBTQ+ community, and its dazzling rows of Queen Anne mansions, Hudson found itself phenomenally popular with New Yorkers and Bostonians during the last few years.  No longer just a base for launching hikes around the nearby Catskills and Hudson Valley, Hudson is now bursting at the seams with innovative art hub openings, hip bars, and tasty food spots. Defo a city to add to your must-see list. So, next time you fancy swapping the bustle and noise of NY or Boston for the streets of Hudson, you’ll want to make sure you’re staying at one of the city’s finest hotels or B&Bs. We've narrowed down our faves, from cozy inns and boutique hotels to functional and practical hideaways. Enjoy! RECOMMENDED: The best Airbnbs in Hudson Valley Who makes the cut? While we might not stay in every Airbnb featured, we've based our list on top reviews, hosts and amenities to find you the best stays. This article includes affiliate links. These links have no influence on our editorial content. For more information, see our affiliate guidelines. 

The City of Light is often the first choice for a dreamy getaway. From the diverse neighbourhoods and huge selection of stuff to see and do, it's truly a place that keeps on giving. While it's considered one of the essential cultural hotspots, booking a hotel for your trip can be a bit spenny, so that's why Airbnbs are a great alternative. Whether it's a charming flat in the centre of the city with views of the Eiffel Tower, or somewhere a little more quirky and unusual, Airbnbs are a fab way to experience the city in its rawness.  We’ve done the hard part for you and selected some of the finest Paris Airbnbs to suit anyone and any kind of trip. These fantastic stays will give you the chance to live like a true Parisian. Voila! 🇫🇷Here's where to stay in Paris💵 See our recommended list of cheap hotels in Paris Who makes the cut? While we might not stay in every Airbnb featured, we've based our list on top reviews, hosts and amenities to find you the best stays. This article includes affiliate links. These links have no influence on our editorial content. For more information, see our affiliate guidelines.

Boutique hotels are, for many (us included), some of the best hotels around. Not only are the best boutique abodes luxurious and full of amenities: but they’re also full of character and offer things that very, very few others can. NYC is, obviously, brimming with fantastic boutique hotels. From the Financial District to Williamsburg, hotels with rich histories and bold designs boast everything from mixology classes and full-body massages to Parisian gardens, rooftop bars, and awesome views over some of the city’s most famous attractions. And even when you’ve exhausted everything you’re boutique accom has to offer? Duh, you’re in New York. You’ve got more to explore than you could fit into an entire lifetime. RECOMMENDED: Full guide to the best hotels in NYCRECOMMENDED: The best NYC hotels with pools Who makes the cut? While we might not stay in every Airbnb featured, we've based our list on top reviews, hosts and amenities to find you the best stays. This article includes affiliate links. These links have no influence on our editorial content. For more information, see our affiliate guidelines.

When you have kids, the traveling game changes completely. Suddenly, you’ve got to have a minute-by-minute game plan. Where should you eat, sleep and go to keep the little ‘uns happy? It can feel almost like a military operation – especially in a city as huge as New York. But fear not. We’re here to help. From the Meatpacking District to Upper East Side, we’ve compiled some of NYC’s finest kid-friendly hotels. So, with accommodation out of the way, hopefully, your trip will be a walk in the park. RECOMMENDED: The best hotels in NYCRECOMMENDED: The best cheap hotels in NYC Who makes the cut? While we might not stay in every Airbnb featured, we've based our list on top reviews, hosts and amenities to find you the best stays. This article includes affiliate links. These links have no influence on our editorial content. For more information, see our affiliate guidelines.

Britons, the wait is over. Gone are those long, dark, chilly winter months... summer is finally here. This year the UK summer is as good as it’s ever been and there’s loads of stuff to keep you busy, from dazzling flower displays to music-festival season. But summer also means the return of another truly great thing: waterparks. Of course, many waterparks are indoors and so have plenty of appeal all year round. But there’s something special about them in the sunniest months. As soon as UK weather turns even remotely balmy, that’s a good enough excuse to stick on some swimwear, bust out the rubber ring and blow up yer armbands. And while there are few thrills quite so pure as ginormous wave machines, mega-slippy slides and hectic splash pools, waterparks are also simply very pleasant places to chill out, beat the heat and have some fun. So without further ado, here are the 12 best waterparks in the UK. Don’t forget your towel (or trunks, for that matter). RECOMMENDED:🏊 The best outdoor swimming pools in the UK🚗 The best road trips in the UK🪂 The best extreme outdoor activity breaks in the UK🚴 The most beautiful bike trails in the UK🏖️ The most stunning hidden beaches in the UK🏊 The best waterparks in London

The summer solstice isn’t just about druids, hippies, sun salutations and Stonehenge (though all are, admittedly, sort of to do with it). The longest day of the year also marks the height of summer and has been historically significant since, well, ever. Both scientifically intriguing and spiritually mystical, it’s fascinated humans for millennia... so why would now be any different? Here’s all you need to know about the summer solstice – as well as the best places in the UK to celebrate it. And if you’re up for venturing further afield, check out these magnificent solstice celebrations around the world. What is the summer solstice? Also known as midsummer, the summer solstice is the point in the year when the Earth (or, more precisely, the hemisphere of the Earth that you’re in) is most tilted towards the sun. Out of all 365 days in the year, it’s the one with the maximum hours of daylight and minimum hours of night time. When is the summer solstice? In 2023, the summer solstice in the Northern Hemisphere falls on Wednesday June 21. If we’re being really, really specific, the exact moment of the solstice will be 3.57pm BST. How can you celebrate the summer solstice? Everyone and anyone can celebrate the Earth getting up-close and personal with the sun. Whether you’re up for a spiritual awakening or a bit of human history, here are nine places in the UK ideal for making the most of the longest day of the year.

Colorado is one of the US’s most unspoiled – and thereby most drop-dead gorgeous –  states. Within its hundreds of thousands of square miles (which, in fact, make it the 8th largest in the union), are cultures and environments aplenty. From the dramatic, towering Rockies to the southwest’s endless desert, Colorado is packed full of incredible landscapes and exciting, adventurous things to do. Fittingly, the state also has no shortage of truly fantastic hotels. After all, once you’ve finished trekking or climbing, there’s nothing quite like putting your feet up in a deluxe pad. From bougie boutique hotels to rustic inns, all the way from Vail and Aspen to Denver, we’ve sorted the best establishments in Colorado for every kind of getaway. Recommended: the best Airbnbs with hot tubs in ColoradoRecommended: the best Airbnbs in ColoradoRecommended: the best restaurants in Colorado Who makes the cut? While we might not stay in every Airbnb featured, we've based our list on top reviews, hosts and amenities to find you the best stays. This article includes affiliate links. These links have no influence on our editorial content. For more information, see our affiliate guidelines.

No matter what gets you in the mood, Chicago's hotels are perfect for a romantic vacation, staycation or bae-cation with your person. But which of the city's hotels are the most appropriate for a seriously loved-up time? Below are some of our top picks, based on everything from jaw-dropping skyline views and lavish room features to quality dining experiences from some of the best restaurants in Chicago. Whether you're coming from out of town for a romantic getaway in Chicago or merely looking for a steamy staycation, these luxurious stays are sure to satisfy—so pack your overnight bag and prepare for a night to remember at Chicago's most romantic hotels. Alexa: dim the lights. RECOMMENDED: Discover secluded getaways near ChicagoRECOMMENDED: The best spa hotels in Chicago Who makes the cut? While we might not stay in every Airbnb featured, we've based our list on top reviews, hosts and amenities to find you the best stays. This article includes affiliate links. These links have no influence on our editorial content. For more information, see our affiliate guidelines.

Nowhere does luxury quite like New York City. From swanky lounges with views over the entire city to deluxe spas, high-thread-count linens, and sumptuous five-star restaurants, the Big Apple’s R&R is totally world-class. It’s decadent, debauched, and indulgent – in all the best ways. And who says that NYC’s most luxurious digs are only for visitors? If you’re a New Yorker craving that staycay, the city offers plenty of opportunities for escaping for a night (or two) to a well-earned retreat. And it caters to all tastes, too, from sleek, contemporary boudoirs to classic, antique getaways. Read on to find some welcome breaks from the city that never sleeps, right in the heart of it all. RECOMMENDED: Full guide to best hotels in NYCRECOMMENDED: The most romantic Airbnbs near NYC Who makes the cut? While we might not stay in every Airbnb featured, we've based our list on top reviews, hosts and amenities to find you the best stays. This article includes affiliate links. These links have no influence on our editorial content. For more information, see our affiliate guidelines.

Looking to seriously broaden your musical horizons? Colour Green could well be just the ticket. Pitching an evening of tremendously diverse sounds and styles – with a focus on women and non-binary musicians – this brand-new night has a line-up teeming with music from the world over. Camden’s intimate Green Note (our very own ‘London’s Favourite Music Venue 2015’, no less) will be graced by the soaring Latin/jazz/R&B of XATIVA, marvellously textured electronica from Alice Boyd and the studious jazz and South American folkloric music of Delfina Cheb. Musical adventurers, don’t miss it.

London’s Latinx music scene has a lot going on at the mo – and there’s nowhere better to get a taste of it than Alturas, which returns to Stoke Newington’s Doña this January. From the Latin/folk/jazz fusion of singer-songwriter XATIVA and silky, dark pop of Sophie Castillo to the Andean-inflected dancefloor concoctions of ANTIK’ARA and classic bossa nova of Cláudia Marques, revel in a diverse blend of contemporary Latinx sounds. And better yet, the deliciously kitsch Bar Doña will be dishing up its usual array of tacos and mezcal all night.

Tracing the exploits of a gruesome serial killer, the Jack the Ripper tours are scary enough as they are. But add a Halloween theme and the opportunity to drink a potentially frightful amount of booze? Even more spine-chilling. A collaboration between Spitalfields cocktail bar Discount Suit Company and walking tour company London’s Walks, the Halloween edition of the Jack the Ripper tour will explore the streets of the East End, led by charismatic Ripper expert Simon Whitehouse. But, vitally, it’ll include booze. Lots of it. Starting off with a complimentary hot punch, the hour-and-a-half-long tour will wind up at the Discount Suit Company itself, where there will be special 'Rocket Lolly' and 'Notorious' cocktails to mark the occasion. Tour guests will also receive a 25 percent discount off their final bill. Tours will start at 12pm, 2.30pm & 5pm

Despite being tremendously popular in his time, artist and illustrator Louis Wain has been somewhat overlooked of late. Luckily enough, he’s soon to receive the Hollywood treatment, being played by Benedict Cumberbatch in an upcoming film, The Electrical Life of Louis Wain. And while that film is sure to invigorate Wain’s legacy with the respect it deserves, you can get ahead of the curve by heading over to the Bethlem Museum of the Mind. Wain is best known for capturing cats in all their various forms, and the Bethlem’s exhibition is a glorious display of some of his finest illustrations. Expect a vibrant, characterful world of felines, ranging from the anthropomorphic to absurd. Animal Therapy: The Cats of Louis Wain is free, but you can still support both the exhibition and the Bethlem Museum of the Mind by buying from their online shop or via direct donations. The Bethlem Museum of the Mind is open Wednesday to Friday and the first and last Saturdays of month, 10am to 5pm. See the museum’s visitor page for more details

Fun fact: Frock Me was the first vintage fair in London. Back in 1997, founder Matthew Adams started the fair at Kensington Town Hall, which prided itself on a mix of fashion and decorative arts. It then moved to Chelsea Old Hall, taking more of a focus on fashion – but remaining London’s original, most essential vintage fair. For one date in November, Frock Me will be returning to its original venue in Kensington Town Hall. Promising 70 exhibitors with an enormous range of fashion (ranging from the Victoria era through to slightly more modern designer outfits), there’ll also be watches, jewellery and a pop-up café. For the fashion fanatics, preview tickets (11am-12pm) are £10. General admission (12:00-17:30pm) is £5, reduced to £3 with an NUS card.

Would you ever imagine that a mere 33 metres below Clapham High Street, there lies one of the UK’s most cutting-edge urban farms? Us neither, yet that’s where you can find Growing Underground, a farm fashioned out of a former Second World War bomb shelter. Cultivating veggies using LED tech and hydroponic systems, the farm produces pesticide-free, carbon-neutral and nutrient-rich greens that taste delicious. Snoop around and discover more about the history of the tunnel and the farm’s sustainable credentials during a 75-minute tour, which includes a fresh micro herb salad to take home with you. Green in more ways than one. 

As Afghanistan reels from decades of war and a brutal Taliban takeover, many of us are looking for ways to help the around 18 million Afghans in need of humanitarian assistance. And how better to lend a hand (or, more accurately, a bit of cash), than the Afghanistan Emergency Fundraiser? A joint project from Resident Advisor, The Right To Dance – a War Child fundraising movement – and Choose Love, the AEF will take over at The Cause in Tottenham for an all-night club event with an all-star line-up. The aim is to raise £10,000 for Afghans in need. When we say the names topping the AEF’s bill are huge, we really mean huge. Mercury-nominated duo Bicep and global megastar DJ The Blessed Madonna lead the way, though other names on show include ambient techno maestro Daniel Avery and UK garage revivalist DJ Banana, among plenty of others. There’s never been a better excuse to get down to The Cause, have a boogie, and raise money for a very, very worthy cause.

We’ve all missed live music, but isn’t local live music enjoyable on an entirely different level? Watching musicians get a break before they become global superstars, and having that feeling of discovering genuinely fresh talent for yourself? For The Music clearly think the same: born in lockdown, throughout the pandemic they platformed local acts with a series of filmed web episodes. Now, For The Music is curating its own, real-life festival to give a stage to some of East London’s finest local talent. The line-up promises ten acts throughout the day, ranging in style from R&B and hip hop to funk and indie rock. The setting, inspired by Jools Holland’s live lounge, will also feature local behind-the-scenes crew, as well as an array of street food and craft beer stands.  Tickets are free and on the door.

How much you can recreate a tropical environment without relying on the weather at all? Hazy Sessions is giving it a go, promising to cram uplifting beats, a VW camper van bar and truckloads of barrels of a ‘juicy’ new IPA on to the outside terrace of Westfield White City . The latest instalment of Goose Island Presents, this day-long event launches the Chicago-based brewery’s latest addition to its IPA range, Today’s Haze. If you don’t like fruity beers, maybe steer clear: this new brew is apparently ‘flooded with mango, citrus and stone-fruit character’. Let’s hope all that tropical effort doesn’t get drowned in bucketing rain.

Too many book festivals don’t have enough festival. It isn’t that there’s too much emphasis on books (how could there be?) but that there’s just not enough partying, drinking and grooving with your fellow bookworms. But not Queen’s Park Book Fest. Held, as always, in the public park, it’ll combine literary celebs with stand-up comedy, local history and lectures on pressing issues of the day. And crucially, each day is capped off by a party into the night. Not like a rave but, you know, just a jolly good time.

For one of her first post-pandemic performances, Laura Marling is lending a hand to Raise Three Fingers, a community of artists and creatives acting in solidarity against Myanmar’s military coup. Marling’s folky, rocky delights might be the main attraction at the organisation’s event in Southwark’s Marlborough Sports Garden, but she’s part of a packed schedule. Over the course of a one-day festival, Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly co-headlines, and there’ll be photography and art exhibitions, live comedy, keynote speeches, a craft fair and an auction. That’s a lot! And it’s all for a great cause – all proceeds go to Mutual Aid Myanmar, Advance Myanmar and Myanmar Crisis Action.

The great thing about non-fiction cinema is that its best stuff always leaves you knowing a bit more, thinking a little differently, seeing the world as an even more complex place than before. And no, not all documentaries do that – I’m looking at you, ‘Tiger King’ – but the kind shown at Open City Documentary Festival do. This year’s edition, as usual, spans stories from more different countries, peoples and eras than I can really do justice to, from a study of rural Japanese communities to an exploration of modern female labour in the UK. Embarking on a hybrid format after the pandemic, the festival will be showing 46 new films from 26 different countries, as well as putting on filmmaker Q&As, panels and workshops. The Open City Documentary Festival takes place at various venues across the city from Sep 8-14 and is online Sep 13-23.

The UK loves its pubs – and rightly so. Not just places that serve booze and (usually) grub, pubs are also community hubs and social hotspots. And everyone’s got their own fave boozer – so, naturally, any attempt to rank them all can be pretty controversial. Of course, we’ve got our own ranking of the UK’s best pubs right now but there are other pub-awarding bodies out there. Like the National Pub and Bar Awards, for example, which just announced its winners for 2023. Top of the pile at this year’s NPBAs was The Running Horses in Surrey, which was crowned ‘pub of the year’. An old coaching house on the old trade route from London to southern England, The Running Horses is a classic countryside pub with oak beams and wood-panelled walls. It’s one of just two pubs in the village of Mickleham, about 90 minutes’ drive from central London. Other winners in the 2023 NPBAs were The Marley Bow, which took top spot in London, Hearth in Antrim, which was crowned best in Northern Ireland, and The Old House 1147, which was top for Wales. The full ceremony featured a huge number of winners, from brands and pub chains to the top picks for regions of England and Scotland.   You can check out the full list of winners of the 2023 National Pub and Bar Awards on the official website here. Read more: this is officially the best beer garden in England. Plus: this popular British holiday destination will give you money back if it rains.

Ah, the moon. The Earth’s only (natural) satellite and our closest big space thing seems both so close and so far. But sometimes it’s closer than usual. At certain points in the year, the moon becomes a ‘supermoon’, appearing much bigger and brighter in the night sky.  Avid moongazers, it’s time to get excited. Following last month’s mighty strawberry moon (find out all about that here), this weekend will see the first supermoon of the year. It’s called the ‘Super Buck Moon’ – here’s everything you need to know about it. What is a Super Buck Moon? The Buck Moon is the name given to July’s full moon. It was apparently named by Native American tribes because it’s the time of year when the horns of male deer grow the most. This year’s Buck Moon coincides with a supermoon, which marks when the moon is closest in its orbit to the Earth and looks bigger and brighter than usual. In short: ‘Buck Moon’ plus ‘supermoon’ equals ‘Super Buck Moon’. When is the first July supermoon? July’s supermoon is also the first supermoon of 2023, and it takes place on July 2.  When is the best time to see the Buck Moon in the UK? The best time to catch the moon in the UK is at sunset on July 2. Sunset will be at 9.21pm, with moonrise from 9.13pm. It’ll also be worth a look the day after on July 3, from 10.14pm onwards. When is the next supermoon? The next supermoon is the Super Sturgeon Moon, on August 1.  How often do supermoons occur? There are four supermoons every year. This year in the northe

As anyone who’s ever graced its Thunderbolt, Cyclocopters or Western Mine Train will no doubt already know, Flambards is one of the UK’s most underrated theme parks. Near the town of Helston in Cornwall, it’s as exciting a family day out as any of the area’s beaches or other tourist attractions. And now, in extremely exciting news, Flambards is offering a sweet deal for visitors this summer. The theme park has announced that day visitors will automatically get their ticket extended for an entire week. That’s right, seven days for the price of one! Full-fee-paying guests will get a week of access from the date of first admission and it’ll be available all the way until October 30. Just in case you’re wondering whether there’s a whole seven days of stuff to do in Flambards, well, there might well be. The park’s attractions range from classic rollercoasters and log flumes to immersive indoor zones replicating things like Victorian England, Blitz-era London and the inside of the Concorde. Interested in picking yourself up a sweet theme-park deal? We don’t blame you. Find out more and buy tickets on the official website here. Did you see that a 40C heatwave lasting up to 14 days could soon be on its way to the UK? Plus: This popular British holiday destination will give you money back if it rains.

The high street isn’t having a great time of it right now. From Marks & Spencer and New Look to Boots and literally thousands of local banks, stores of all shapes and sizes are having to close their doors as shoppers flock online.  The latest shopping heavyweight to be impacted? The British supermarket chain Iceland, which has closed several branches around the country and is due to close more over the next few months.  Twelve of the stores have already shut their doors for good, and two others are set to close down by the end of September. Here’s everything we know. Which Iceland stores are closing down and when? Birmingham Road Retail Park, Bromsgrove (February 25) Chineham Shopping Centre, Basingstoke (February 25) White Rose Centre, Rhyl (March 14) South Street, Newport, Isle of Wight (March 25) St Catherine’s Place, Bedminster, Bristol (March 25) Deiniol Centre, Bangor, Wales (March 27) Newport, Wales (April 22) Marygate, Berwick (April 22) Harrow, London (May 6) Flint, Wales (May 27) Hitchin, Hertfordshire (June 10) Beccles, Suffolk (June 17) Swansea, Wales (July 29) Birkenhead, Wirral (September 16) Read more: Now Boots is set to close up to 300 stores. Plus: Nearly 1,000 train ticket offices across the UK could soon close for good.

Once upon a time, Uber was just a mere taxi-hailing app. Then they branched out into food delivery, before conquering all with trains, flights, hotels and even reindeer rides. And now the app has started up something else: Uber Boat, which is now available on the Greek island of Mykonos. Now, some of you might think that Uber already offers boats, namely the Uber Boat Thames Clipper in London. However, that one’s just a sponsorship. Mykonos’ Uber Boats mark the first time that the company has offered private boats on its app.  You can book an Uber Boat in Mykonos just as you’d book any Uber, anywhere. It’s all done through the Uber app, the only catch being that you need to book 45 minutes in advance and you have to be picked up from one of 25 pick-up/drop-off points around the island. But what’s an Uber Boat on Mykonos actually like? Well, to find out, we sent Time Out staffer Agnes Sali to try them out first-hand. ‘Mykonos is really scenic. It’s a very, very sexy island,’ she explains. ‘Because it’s very hilly. On a boat you’ve got a good view of everything in the distance: all the nice architecture, the mountains and hills...everywhere you turn, 360 degrees of beautiful scenes and amazing sights.’ ‘We got the boat from the beach to a restaurant,’ Agnes says. ‘To start with it was quite slow, letting us look around and enjoy the views. Then the skipper put some speed into it.’ But Agnes’ boat experience wasn’t just a matter of getting from A to B. It was also about fully ap

High in the Japanese Alps and surrounded by lush greenery and snowy peaks, Gokayama is one of Japan’s most jaw-dropping cultural sights. A Unesco World Heritage Site, Gokayama is known not only for its surroundings but for its carefully-preserved thatched-roof farmhouses. And now, excitingly, you can stay in a traditional Gokayama farmhouse on Airbnb. The stay will take place in the nine-home village of Suganuma, marking the first time in decades that the village has opened up to overnight guests. Guests will experience living in one of these dwellings, which are part of an architectural style called ‘gassho-zukuri’ that dates back hundreds of years. The experience doesn’t stop at simply staying in Suganuma, either. Over two nights, guests will also enjoy a traditional welcome with a tea ceremony, as well as participate in a crafts workshop and see some live Japanese folk music. Here are a few pictures of the Airbnb in Suganuma village. Photograph: Airbnb Photograph: Airbnb Photograph: Airbnb There are, however, a couple of complications. On the upside, all this is totally free. On the downside, it’s a one-off. Guests can request to book the Suganama on June 30 at 9am JST (1am BST – set your alarm!), with the experience taking place on July 17-19. In other words, it’s effectively only really open to people who are either in Japan or have a trip booked for those dates. But if you still fancy visiting a ‘gassho-zukuri’ farmhouse, don’t fret. This certainly isn’t the first

Marie Antoinette (you know the one: French Revolution, ‘let them eat cake’, head lopped off, etc) arguably lived one of the most legendarily lavish lifestyles of anyone, ever. As queen of France, she lived in the extremely fancy Palace of Versailles and famously had a taste for life’s finest and most eccentric luxuries. It makes sense, therefore, that Marie Antoinette’s private chambers are really very swanky indeed. And now you can actually visit them: the Palace of Versailles has recently reopened the chambers to the public – and they’re exactly as glamourous as you’d expect. Marie Antoinette’s private chambers consist of two storeys of rooms looking out over an inner courtyard. The main attraction is the ‘Méridienne’ chamber, which was fitted in 1781 and is covered in mirrors and lilac textiles. There’s also an elegant library and a ‘Gold Room’, which, as you can probably guess, features tonnes of gold things. And that isn’t all. There’s also a dining room and billiards room, as well as smaller areas for Marie Antoinette’s servants and chambermaids. It all makes for a fascinating look into MA’s private life. Here are a few pictures of the place. Photograph: © Château de Versailles / T. Garnier Photograph: © Château de Versailles / T. Garnier Photograph: © Château de Versailles / T. Garnier Pretty swish, huh? Marie Antoinette’s private chambers opened to the public on June 20 and you can find out more about visiting on the Palace of Versailles official website. Then t

Cruise ships are already pretty bloomin’ massive. Essentially entire towns on water, the biggest cruises are filled with everything you could want, from restaurants and shopping centres to waterparks. These days, all that stuff sort of comes as standard.  So imagine what you’ll get on the world’s biggest cruise ship. Well, you won’t have to imagine much longer: the largest cruise ship in the world has just launched, marking its maiden voyage before beginning proper commercial use next year. Called the Icon of the Seas, the ship was built in the Finnish city of Turku and will be operated by Royal Caribbean International. And its scale is truly something else. The Icon of the Seas is 365 metres long. That’s right: over a third of a kilometre! Once it’s fully furnished and filled with people, the Icon will apparently weigh a mind-boggling 250,800 tonnes. It’ll have space for 5,610 passengers and 2,350 crew, with 20 decks and eight entire neighbourhoods. It’ll eventually also have the world’s largest at-sea water park, with six waterslides, seven pools and nine whirlpools. Here’s what it’ll look like. Image: Royal Caribbean International Image: Royal Caribbean International Image: Royal Caribbean International Currently, the largest cruise ship in the world is another Royal Caribbean International ship, the Wonder of the Seas. That one, however, is only 362 metres long and has only 18 decks. Puny, we know. The Icon of the Seas is set to enter public service in January 2024,

Planning a trip to Europe next year? Well, it might get a whole lot more complicated. A law from the European Union means that non-EU travellers will have to register biometric details at the border – including their fingerprints. The new system (dubbed the European Union Entry/Exit System or EES) is set to come into effect at the start of 2024. It’s thought that the process will be entirely automated, with arrivals having to have photographs and fingerprints taken at self-service kiosks at the border, as well as having their passports scanned. It’s worth noting that this has all been on the cards for a while. The collection of biometric data has long been planned with the development of the EU’s new ETIAS visa scheme for non-EU arrivals (find out more about that here). The data will apparently be erased three years after your last trip to the EU. So, next time you jet off to the likes of France, Spain, Italy or any EU country, things might not be as straightforward as they are currently! The new system will apply to travellers from all non-EU countries, including the UK, USA, Canada, Australia and Japan. Did you see that this popular European destination has banned wheelie suitcases? Stay in the loop: sign up to our free Time Out Travel newsletter for the latest travel news and the best stuff happening across the world.

フランスといえば、世界で最も人気のある観光地の一つであるが、それが変わる可能性が出てきた。 2023年6月18日、フランス観光相のオリビア・グレゴワールは、同国が長い迎え入れてきた旅行者の数を減らす戦略をとることを発表。この政策について「環境、地元の人々の生活の質、観光客の体験」に対する脅威に対応するものであると述べた。 パンデミック以降、オーバーツーリズムがより顕著で、特に観光地が、時間も金もあまり使わない客であふれかえっていることが問題になっている。またその結果、地域社会が観光業からの恩恵を十分受けられず、経済力を失っていることも課題になっているのだ。 今のところ、政府はオーバーツーリズムとどう戦うつもりなのか、正確には発表していない。最も危機にある場所を特定するために、政府が国内の観光産業をチェックする機関を設置するのが、最初のステップになりそうだ。さらにオーバーツーリズムによって引き起こされる問題に対する認識を広めるために、旅行系インフルエンサーの助けを借りることも考えているという。 フランスの一部の人気観光地では、すでに観光客の数を減らすための対策を講じている。マルセイユのカランク国立公園では、有名なスギトンの入り江への1日の訪問者をわずか400人に制限する予約システムを導入。パンデミック発生時に初めて実施されたこの制限は、少なくとも2027年までは維持される予定だ。一方、ブルターニュのブレハ島は、1日の訪問者数の上限を4700人に設定した。 ただ、これらの人気観光スポットは、必ずしも全体の訪問者数を減らそうとしているわけではなく、年間を通してより均等に訪問者数を分散させようとしている。 フランスが観光客の数を管理するために行動を起こしている理由を理解するのは難しくない。結局のところ、最優先されるべきは地元の人々と環境だ。暮らす人が生き残ることができないような場所を、訪れる価値はあまりないといえるだろう。 今オーバーツーリズムに対抗しているのはフランスだけではない。アムステルダムやフィレンツェからバリ島に至るまで、世界中には旅行者に来てほしくないと思う観光地が増えている。 関連記事 『France is telling tourists to stay away from its biggest landmarks（原文）』 『京都がオーバーツーリズム対策でバス1日券の販売廃止へ』 『京都の伏見稲荷大社が「世界で最悪な観光地」にランク入り』 『観光客で混み合うヨーロッパの都市ランキング』 『混雑を避け手頃に旅行、世界のおすすめ穴場観光地』 『世界の地下にある奇妙でクールな観光名所6選』 東京の最新情報をタイムアウト東京のメールマガジンでチェックしよう。登録はこちら  

旅行者はふつう、地域経済にとって好ましいものだ。あちこちを訪れ、金を使い、地域のなりわいを維持する助けとなってくれる。 しかし、地域によってはやや過剰に観光地化が進んでいる。訪れる人の数を減らすために、積極的な対策を講じる所もあるほどだ。オーバーツーリズムは、混雑の行き過ぎや生活費の高騰を招くだけでなく、旅行者自身にも深刻な悪影響を及ぼす。というのも、地元住民が流出してしまえば、その場所の特色も消えてしまうからだ。 では、今、特に旅行者で混雑しているのはどこだろうか？　その答えを探る調査が、イギリスのバケーションレンタル検索サイト「Holidu」によって公開された。この調査では、ヨーロッパ諸都市への旅行者の数を集計し、住民の人口と比較している。 それによれば、ランキング首位はクロアチアのドブロブニクだ。城壁に囲まれたこの街には、年間で人口の36倍の観光客が訪れているとのこと。その理由としては、街の規模の小ささや、夏の日帰り旅行先やフェスティバル開催地としての知名度の高さが挙げられるだろう。 次点は同率2位で、イタリアのベネチア、ベルギーのブリュージュ、ギリシャのロードス。住民に対し、21倍の観光客である。 調査結果のランキングは以下の通り。 1. ドブロブニク（クロアチア）2. ベネチア（イタリア）、同率でブルージュ（ベルギー）、ロードス（ギリシャ）5. レイキャビク（アイスランド） 6. フィレンツェ（イタリア）、同率でイラクリオン（ギリシャ） 8. アムステルダム（オランダ） 9. ダブリン（アイルランド） 10. タリン（エストニア） いずれも驚くには値しない。ランクインした都市のほとんどは、観光名所として非常に人気が高いか、街の規模が小さい（もしくはその両方だ）。 「Holidu」による調査結果は公式ウェブサイトから確認してほしい。 関連記事 『These European cities are the most overcrowded with tourists right now（原文）』 『世界で最も過小評価されている14の旅行先』 『混雑を避け手頃に旅行、世界のおすすめ穴場観光地』 『駐日クロアチア共和国大使に聞く、観光対策と誇るべき日本的価値観』 『TikTok時代の「旅先の美しい写真」が旅行を台無しにする』 『2023年の「一人旅」を再定義する3人の女性』 東京の最新情報をタイムアウト東京のメールマガジンでチェックしよう。登録はこちら  

If you’ve always dreamt of upping sticks and moving to Italy (who hasn’t?), there’s never been a better time to do so. Not only can you pay just €1 a month to rent a home in a Sardinian village or buy an entire house for €1 in Molise – now one northern Italian city will pay you a massive €150 per month to live there. The place in question is Mantua, a city in eastern Lombardy in northern Italy, which is offering to pay €150 (£130, $165) per month towards the rents of new residents. As Mantua has an increasingly aging population, the hope is that the offer will bring young people and families to the city. And before you get any ideas about Mantua being run-down or dull – it most certainly isn’t. A historic city surrounded by lakes and filled with Renaissance palaces, Mantua is as renowned for its art and architecture as it is for its cuisine, which is diverse and award-winning (the city was crowned European Region of Gastronomy in 2017). In short, it’s a very desirable place to live. So how do you get your hands on Mantua’s €150 handouts? Well, first up you’ll need to sign on to rent a property in the city for at least a year. No official income threshold has been announced, though the scheme is reportedly aiming for those earning around €1,200-€1,500 (£1,000-£1,300, $1,315-$1,640) per month. Mantua is apparently looking to accept around 100 applications per year for the scheme, which will last two years. In total, €400,000 (£340,000, $440,000) has been set aside to fund it al