154 City Pack by GRAMS28: Functional Luxury in a Bag
Mark Bibby Jackson casts his backpack to one side and tries out the 154 City Pack by GRAMS28, which the designers claim combines luxury with functionality. In truth I have…
Local Tourism in the Saalfelden Leogang, Austria
The Saalfelden Leogang is noted for its cycling, but non-cyclist Mark Bibby Jackson explores the sustainable, local tourism opportunities in this amazingly green part of Austria. Climate change is a…
Salzburg City Break: All Roads Lead to Mozart
Mark Bibby Jackson takes the train from London to Austria, for a Salzburg city break in birthplace of a certain composer. Even if you wanted to, I think it would…
Sri Lanka Safari, Festivals and Galle
Mark Bibby goes on a Sri Lanka safari, watches the most amazing festival and travels to the most beautiful city of Galle, before concluding his trip in Colombo. Serendipity. The…
6 Unmissable Global Festivals in October
From two of the most important festivals in the Indian calendar, to sausage festivals in Lincoln and Weimar, October is a month full of fun. Here is our selection of…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
Between Rock and … Polzeath: St Moritz Hotel, Cornwall
Mark Bibby Jackson travels to north Cornwall to experience the St Moritz Hotel, and takes some time to chill. I must admit to being a bit of a Poirot fan…
Don’t Look Back in Ostend
Mark Bibby Jackson visits Ostend Belgium and ends up turning full circle. When I informed a travel writing colleague of mine, I was travelling to Ostend, her response was just…
Circular Things to Do in Utrecht Netherlands: Bitterballen, Borrelen and Bikes
Mark Bibby Jackson visits Utrecht Netherlands to discover a visionary view of a sustainable future for the tourism industry. If you have never tried a bitterbal then you have never…
Manufaktura and the Movies: Łódź the Manchester of Poland
After visiting the Polish capital of Warsaw, Mark Bibby Jackson takes the train to Łódź, the Manchester of Poland, and finds himself unexpectedly moved. I knew something of the Warsaw…
Things To Do in Warsaw: a City Reborn
Following on from his visit to the POLIN Museum to learn about the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising, Mark Bibby Jackson discovers the things to do in Warsaw, a city reborn. Apart…
POLIN: Personalising the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising
Coinciding with the anniversary of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising, Mark Bibby Jackson visits the amazing POLIN Museum in Warsaw, Poland. Serendipity is an essential component of being a seasoned traveller…
From Culture to Nature: 5 Things To Do in Essen Germany
One of the European Best Destinations in 2023, Essen Germany is a city you might well overlook when considering your next holiday in Germany. However, there are many reasons why…
