The smell of roasting chestnuts, the sparkle of Christmas lights, snowy carriage rides through Central Park and lavish shop window displays – visiting New York in winter is like stepping onto the set of a real-life Christmas movie. The Big…
winter
The ‘most wonderful time of the year’ is on its way – so turn on the carols, light the fire, pour a mulled wine and get planning your perfect winter weekend break.…
A winter wonderland of pink skies, husky sleds, frosty fir trees, steaming hot chocolate and twinkling lights – Finnish Lapland is where all your snow-filled fantasies come to life.…
Wooden chalets full of Christmas ornaments, towering Christmas trees, sparkling lights and the smell of log fires burning, roasting chestnuts and bubbling pans of Glühwein. Christmas markets have taken over Europe, and there are few cities which don’t have…
There’s an extra dose of magic to a trip to Paris in winter, when the City of Lights is lit even brighter by thousands of twinkling bulbs. Each of Paris’ districts has something festive going on, from window shopping…
I was a bit of late starter on the slopes and didn’t start skiing until my mid-30s. I don’t like the cold and I’m not exactly sporty, so I didn’t think it’d be my thing. But unexpectedly I loved…
There’s something magical about historic European cities in winter. A dusting of snow, twinkly lights, crisp chilly nights and the smell of glühwein and Christmas biscuits make everything seem extra special.…
Skiers in brightly coloured jackets weighed down by boots and skis stagger along the pavement, overtaken by a horse and cart and watched by a group of old ladies chatting on a roadside bench. Not a sight you normally…
For many people, skiing in Europe means the Alps. It’s where I learnt to ski and I’ve been back again and again. France, Switzerland, Austria and Italy are home to Europe’s best-known ski resorts, but they come with a…
Over the years I’ve become a dab hand at travelling with just a carry-on bag. Unless I’m heading off long-haul or long-term, I can easily manage a city break or a summer holiday week without having to check in…
A thick layer of snow crunched underfoot and tiny snowflakes swirled around a skyline filled with Gothic church towers and castle turrets. Arriving in Tallinn was like walking into a wintry fairytale. Europe’s best preserved medieval city is a…
Streets lined with orange trees, tapas bars hung with hams, horse-drawn carriages, flamenco shows and even a bull ring – Seville’s got everything you’d expect from Spain, wrapped up in one beautiful package, with a mix of architectural influences…
The gorgeous mountain scenery, log cabins fringed with icicles and fir trees laden with snow drifts. The feeling of freedom as I finally mastered parallel turns and made it to the bottom of the piste upright. The sense of…