There’s been a very decorous rivalry between Guernsey and Jersey, in the Channel Islands, with one, then the other, inching ahead in the “attracting tourists through books and film and TV” stakes. Jersey had the long-running Bergerac series, and now Guernsey has stepped into a very clear lead (its earlier literary appeal was founded on… Continue reading
Browsing Category Travel Blog
Rotterdam’s revival – how direct London trains will boost Holland’s second city
Eurostar launches direct services between London, Rotterdam and Amsterdam through the Channel Tunnel on 4 April, 2018. The first passenger train, for the press and “invited guests” (above), ran on Tuesday, Feb 20th, 2018. The inaugural train was slowed by the congestion caused by regular domestic services in Holland, but it still arrived early at Rotterdam Centraal. From London that… Continue reading →
How to beat the redeye airport morning blues
I never had to get up seriously early until I was into my 20s. Then the redeye mornings started in earnest. These days, as a species, we –children included–are now doing more getting up at unearthly hours to set off on long journeys than probably any people since our distantly wandering ancestors. Although I also… Continue reading →
Never mind the weather: Patrick Leigh Fermor takes meteorological liberties in A Time of Gifts
The man widely regarded as one of the finest British travel writers of the past century set off from London 84 years ago next week on his epic hike across Europe. It was weather just like this week (late November, the start of December 2017). Just above freezing, snow flurries, a biting north wind. Except… Continue reading →
Liverpool celebrates Summer of Love with new attractions
Liverpool is celebrating 2017’s outstanding nostalgia anniversary. “50 Summers of Love” celebrates the brief and localised ascendancy of the flower over the gun, the pacifying power of rock music and, er, free love. San Francisco can claim authorship, but it was some boys from Liverpool who gave us Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band and All… Continue reading →
National Gallery of Ireland reopened and reborn
Restored and enhanced National Gallery of Ireland opens in Dublin. The Irish never need much of an excuse to celebrate. But this summer they have a deep and genuine cause for rejoicing. The restored and much-improved National Gallery of Ireland (NGI) opened in Dublin on June 15th (2017), after a six-year building programme in its historic… Continue reading →