Village de Noël 2025, Calais, France
Calais runs two festive hubs rather than one long linear market. The Village de Noël takes over the covered hall on Place d’Armes with a seasonal ice‑rink (30‑minute sessions), a…
Marché de Noël 2025, Calais, France
For classic chalet browsing, head to the Marché de Noël on Place du Grand Théâtre Roughly forty wooden stalls fill the square beside Calais’s historic theatre, selling regional delicacies, decorations…
9 of the Best Christmas Markets in France to Visit in 2025
France is home to some of Europe’s most magical Christmas markets, where twinkling lights, festive decorations, and the scent of mulled wine fill the air. From the charming streets of…
Colmar Christmas Markets – La Magie de Noël 2025, Colmar, France
Colmar’s old town becomes a glowing maze of six themed markets, from gourmet treats near Saint‑Martin to children’s delights in Petite Venise for Colmar Christmas Markets. Illuminated churches and canals…
Reims Christmas Market (Marché de Noël) 2025, Reims, France
Reims Christmas Market is one of France’s biggest markets along the Promenades, a short stroll from the Gothic cathedral. Expect rows of chalets with regional crafts and gourmet treats, plus light…
Noël à Metz (Christmas Markets Metz) 2025, France
Noël à Metz delivers one of France’s most inviting Christmas experiences, with chalets and attractions spread across five handsome squares. Shop for hand‑crafted gifts beneath the cathedral’s golden stone, ride…
Marché de Noël de La Défense (Paris) 2025, Paris (La Défense), France
Paris La Défense hosts the region’s biggest Christmas market, stretching along the esplanade beneath the Grande Arche. Expect hundreds of stalls with artisan gifts, regional produce and global street food…
Slow Walk on the Opal Coast from Escalles France
Mark Bibby Jackson stays at Hotel l’escale in Escalles and goes on a coastal walk along the Opal Coast France and returns to his youth for his mother’s birthday. Northern…
A Literary Weekend in Paris
Some cities are so intertwined with literature that to walk their streets is like stepping into a story. Paris is one of them. Writer Maria Boyle and her book-loving daughter…
All You Need to Know about ETIAS and New EU Travel Rules 2025
New EU travel rules for UK citizens will commence from 12 October 2025 under the Entry/Exit System (EES), which acts as a digital replacement for passport stamping, in one of…
Culture from the Ashes: Louvre Lens Museum, Pas-de-Calais
Mark Bibby Jackson explores the remarkable transformation of France’s former coal capital, Lens with its magnificent Louvre Lens Museum. Is it my imagination but I sense the scent of iron…
Timeless Tranquillity in the French Ardennes
In the industrial shadows of north-eastern France, Mark Bibby Jackson travels through the French Ardennes to discover a region of resilience, strong sense of community, and devastating natural beauty —…
Cutting the Mustard in Dijon France
Mark Bibby Jackson wanders through Dijon France, discovering Burgundy’s finest wines, and savouring the birthplace of real mustard in France’s gastronomic capital — the gateway to the Vallée de la…
The Art of Luxury Villa Rental in Saint-Tropez
A silly part of me was hoping to find the Saint-Tropez France my parents had described, even though I knew it was no more. A louche scene of artists and…
Star Treatment at the Hotel Barrière Le Majestic Cannes
Mark Bibby Jackson reviews his luxurious short stay at Hotel Barrière Le Majestic Cannes—where cinematic glamour meets real-world comfort on the Côte d’Azur. It was my first visit to Cannes…
The 4 Best Hotels in Le Touquet France
Le Touquet-Paris-Plage, a chic seaside town on France’s northern coast, has long been a haven for Parisians, and Brits, seeking a weekend retreat. With its sprawling beaches, pine forests and…
World Puppet Festival 2025, Charleville-Mézières, France
The World Puppet Festival 2025 will take place from September 19 to 28 in the charming French town of Charleville-Mézières, nestled in the Ardennes region. Over ten days, this quiet…
11 Carnivals Around the World for 2025
Whether you call it the carnival, Mardi Gras or simply a fête, the approach of Lent brings with it a wonderful explosion of colour and exuberance. Travel Begins at 40…
From Le Touquet With Love: L’Hotel Barrière Le Westminster
Mark Bibby Jackson checks into L’Hotel Barrière Le Westminster Le Touquet and falls in love with this Anglo-French gem on the Opal Coast. For the past hundred years there has…
Riding the Storm in Pas-de-Calais France
Mark Bibby Jackson ignores weather warnings to travel to Pas-de-Calais France during Storm Darragh with his mother. Does he live to tell the tale? The plan is to visit the…
9 Festivals in February 2025 Around the World
Travel Begins at 40 rounds up the best festivals in February 2025 across the Globe, from Mongolia to Easter Island, so wherever you are you just can’t help celebrating the…
Arras Christmas Market 2025, a Fairytale Festive Experience
Every winter, Arras transforms into a glittering Christmas wonderland. Nestled in the Grand’Place, the Arras Christmas Market or Ville de Noël à Arras is one of the largest in Hauts-de-France…
Winter Jazz Festival Le Touquet 2025, France
From 19 to 23 February 2025 the Winter Jazz Festival Le Touquet France promises five days of star-studded performances at the Palais des Congrès. Le Touquet and Jazz Le Touquet-Paris-Plage…
Cité de Noël, Béthune Grand’Place, France
From November 28 to December 28, the enchanting Cité de Noël transforms Béthune’s historic Grand’Place into one of the most captivating Christmas markets in the Hauts-de-France region. Nestled beneath the…
