Taking the Train for a Festive Manchester City Break
Mark Bibby Jackson takes the train from London Euston for a Manchester city break and sample the city’s festive offerings including its Christmas Markets. It’s been a long time since…
Unforgettable Global Festivals and Events in December
Explore global festivals and events in December 2024, from Europe’s enchanting Christmas markets to Guatemala’s colourful Fiesta de Santo Tomás. Experience diverse cultures, dazzling lights and unforgettable traditions worldwide. Follow…
Releasing the Bebok in a Transformed Katowice Poland
Mark Bibby Jackson visits Katowice Poland, a city transformed from its industrial past, with a bright cultural future, where he meets bison and bebok. Two trends have piqued my interest…
Drinking in The Best Pubs in Shrewsbury Shropshire
Discover the best pubs in Shrewsbury town centre from historic inns and real ale pubs to dog-friendly options and pubs with accommodation. Shrewsbury, with its winding river Severn and medieval…
Discover 10 Things to Do in Shrewsbury from the Culture to Pubs
Nestled in the heart of Shropshire, Shrewsbury is a medieval English market town that oozes history and charm. With almost 800 listed buildings, medieval streets full of timber buildings and…
7 Things to Do in Katowice Poland for a Unique Adventure
Katowice, the capital of the Silesian region in Poland, is an exciting city blending rich industrial heritage with modern cultural flair. Whether you’re a history buff, a nature lover, or…
7 Global Festivals in December
From the India to Turkey and Colombia to Belgium, we bring you the best festivals in December, including where to ring in the New Year, and that is not even…
Seal Watching at Winterton Beach Norfolk
Mark Bibby Jackson takes a short break in Norfolk where he makes friends with some seals in total isolation on Winterton Beach. When people ask me what’s the favourite place…
Christmas Markets in Europe and the UK
From the original December market to the city that created stollen, the source of mulled wine and the first Christmas tree, let Travel Begins at 40 guide you through some…
Day Trip to Gozo through History
During his stay travelling through Malta, Mark Bibby Jackson takes the short ferry ride for a day trip to Gozo to discover an island full of history. Day-trip to Gozo:…
Travelling through Malta Like a Local
Malta has never been a place high on my non-existent travel bucket list. I was put off it by tales of a family holiday there to which I was excluded…
10 Best Things to Do in Malta: Your Ultimate Travel Checklist
Welcome to the beautiful island of Malta, where history, culture and adventure await. If you’re planning a trip to this stunning Mediterranean destination, you’re in for a treat. From the…
Cruising the Danube River in Double-width Style
If you are thinking of cruising the Danube river – and with itineraries mixing big-hitter capitals such as Budapest and Vienna with beguiling scenery and fairy-tale towns, perhaps you should…
Buckingham Palace and The Cadogan Hotel Review
Roger Hermiston and Eileen Wise visit Buckingham Palace on their London stay at the Cadogan Hotel If its walls could talk London’s Belmond Cadogan Hotel would have some mighty colourful…
7 Unmissable Global Festivals in November
From the Day of the Dead to Christmas markets and Thanksgiving, November is a month that celebrates the emergence of winter. Here is our selection of the best festivals in…
Discovering Savonlinna and Lake Saimaa Finland’s Lake District
Mark Bibby Jackson travels to Finland’s Lake District to visit Lake Saimaa and the Savonlinna Opera Festival It is on our return journey that Captain Mikael allows me to take…
Celebrate the 250th Birthday of Jane Austen in Bath
In 2025, Bath is celebrating a big milestone — 250 years since the birth of Jane Austen in 1775. So, if you’re a fan of the iconic author, this is…
Why Autumn in Tampere Is the Perfect Time for a Finnish Getaway
If you’re planning your next break and haven’t decided where to go, look no further – Tampere, Finland in autumn is the place to be. The season has just begun…
Nantes: France’s Queen of Green
Something’s going very green in the French city of Nantes, as Judith Schrut discovered on her recent visit to this welcoming and eco-friendly gem on the western banks of the…
Exploring Green Graz Austria
Mark Bibby Jackson visits Graz Austria, a green city with a visionary view for our future. It was on a visit to Iași in Romania a few years ago that…
Hoxha, Mother Teresa and Norman Wisdom in Tirana Albania
Albanian strongman Enver Hoxha didn’t pussyfoot around billeting “illegal immigrants” on some off-shore barge or trying to fly them to Rwanda during his country’s Communist era. He just had them…
Road Trip through Ayrshire, Dumfries and Galloway
Mark Bibby Jackson takes a road trip through Ayrshire, Dumfries and Galloway on the trail of Rabbie Burns and meets a couple of US Presidents along the way. “Auld Ayr…
Chateau de Candie : An Appetizing Getaway in the French Alps
Our first glimpse of the Chateau de Candie, a historic small luxury hotel near Chambery in the heart of Savoy, France, was picture postcard perfect. A winding road skirted a field…
A Walk through Pittsburgh : a Surprising, Green City
The previous few days had challenged my pre-formed opinion of the Rust Belt. Buffalo and Cleveland were both interesting and lively cities with plenty of architectural gems and lots of…
