Sri Lanka Train Ride, Tea Plantations and the Pekoe Trail
Mark Bibby Jackson goes on an amazing Sri Lanka train ride, visits former capital Kandy, tea plantations and hikes along the Pekoe Trail. I first fell in love with train…
Inhabit Hotel on Southwick Street for a Mindful Break
So many of London’s hotels tend to be big, showy, and audacious, with an extra helping of elitism added on for good measure, but where do you rest your head…
Sigiriya Rock, Dambulla and Elephant Safari in Sri Lanka
In the first of a series of articles covering his trip to Sri Lanka, Mark Bibby Jackson goes on an elephant safari, sees the wonderful cave paintings at Dambulla and…
7 UK Festivals in September 2023
To music on a Holy Island to Derby’s biggest street festival, read Travel Begins at 40’s round-up of the best UK festivals in September 2023. UK Music Festivals in September…
Drinking Cocktails in London with 40 Elephants
Mark Bibby Jackson tries out cocktails in London at the 40 Elephants, in the Great Scotland Yard Hotel Westminster, one of the best cocktail bars in London. In my early…
Eco Glamping with Unique hideaways
Travel Begins at 40 looks at Unique hideaways a company that provides eco glamping escapes in the UK, from staying in a treehouse to a converted wagon or yurt. The…
Greek Chic on a Corfu Holiday
Maria Boyle enjoys a week of culture, food and relaxation on her Corfu holiday with her two girls. Located north-west of mainland Greece, surrounded by the Ionian Sea, Corfu’s lush…
A Mini Break at Askham in the Glorious Lake District
Marion Ainge steams across Ullswater and savours a sumptuous afternoon tea while staying in Askham in the Lake District. The sunlight sparkles on the water as the historic Western Belle…
Cookery Course at Mrs Portly’s Kitchen
Roger Hermiston takes a cookery course from Linda Duffin of Mrs Portly’s Kitchen in Brockford, Suffolk. It seems that there’s a word for it – but I’ll wager you’ve never…
Going Solo on a Yorkshire Walk from Harrogate
Mark Bibby Jackson goes on an escorted Yorkshire walk organised by Solos Holidays, visiting Ripon Cathedral, Fountains Abbey and Brimham Rocks. There is no more appropriate setting for the Theakston…
WOMAD 2023 Review : Sitting and Dancing
From Peru to Ghana, intermingling the UK’s multicultural beat, this year’s world music festival certainly lived up to its billing. Read Robert Spellman’s WOMAD 2023 review. “What acts are you…
Celebrating the Local at the InterContinental Cartagena de Indias
Mike East stays at the InterContinental Cartagena de Indias Hotel, Bocagrande Colombia and is impressed by the hotel’s celebration of the local. The Intercontinental Hotel InterContinental Cartagena de Indias is…
From The Lord to Lords: The Wesley Camden Town
Mark Bibby Jackson checks into The Wesley Camden Town hotel in London and discovers it to be a most welcome addition to the capital’s hospitality scene. When The Wesley Camden…
Hotel Des Brasseurs: Carbon Clean Vision for the Future
Mark Bibby Jackson takes a sneak preview of Hotel des Brasseurs in De Haan, Belgium, which is the first carbon neutral hotel in Flanders. It is on a journey to…
What to Pack for a Holiday: Ultimate Packing List
Maria Boyle provides her insider tips on what to pack for a holiday. Follow her ultimate holiday packing checklist. What to Pack for a Holiday: Pre-departure Packing Cubes I wish…
Things to Do in Tallinn Estonia – Tales of the Unexpected
Gill Haynes travels to Estonia to find a surprising capital city that celebrates both modern and old, with a wonderful cuisine. Discover the things to do in Tallinn. It felt…
Travels with My Mum: Northern France Road Trip
Mark Bibby Jackson and his mother go on a northern France road trip from the UK to Calais through the Loire and back to Normandy. Endless. Like in a film…
Cycling Thrills in Les Gets France
James Clark takes to two wheels in Les Gets, France, to see what it feels like to cycle up to the top of the world, and then come back down…
7 of the Best Festivals in August 2023
Travel Begins at 40 has produced its own brief round-up of the best festivals in August around the world from Colombia to Nevada and Utah to Notting Hill. Cultural Festivals…
Discovering Malmö Sweden: Pretty in Pink
Invited to attend the Southern Sweden Design Days by Visit Sweden, Visit Skåne, and the host city of Malmö Sweden, Mark Bibby Jackson soon discovers the city’s obsession with the…
Pereira Colombia: Coffee and Hot Springs
Located in the western Andes, Pereira Colombia is a pleasant city to explore, in the midst of the coffee region. Nearby, and not to be missed, are the waterfall and…
10 Things In Which America Is Better Than The UK
This article compares the United States and Great Britain, examining ten areas in which the United States demonstrates unique characteristics. This is not a competition for supremacy, but an exploration…
Pedals in Puglia Italy
Head for Italy’s ‘heel’ with Judith Schrut as she shares delights and highlights from her recent cycling trip in Puglia, deep in Italy’s sunny south. Whether you’re an Easy Rider…
KMSKA Antwerp: Two Museums in One
While in Antwerp for the 50 best restaurant awards in 2021, Mark Bibby Jackson was given a behind the scenes look at the leading arts museum in Antwerp before it…
