Travel

Istanbul, Turkey: Full of eastern promise, perfect for a weekend mini break

Sarah Freeman visits the wonders of Istanbul, only four short hours from our shores and immortal in its beauty.

Island hopping in Sweden: 'Pine forests, cobalt rivers and toy-town villages of scarlet wooden cottages'

Sweden has more than 30,000 islands to take in, and many of them are easily accessible from the capital, Stockholm. Sophia Constant took a road trip to find out more.

St Regis Mauritius: A tropical idyll where the biggest challenge is deciding how to relax next

A long weekend at Forsthofalm, the Alpine hotel made entirely from timber

Recent research suggested that time spent enjoying nature does wonders for us, with even a couple of hours a week making a big difference. Melanie Bryan tested the theory with a long weekend at Forsthofalm, a hotel in Austria that promises to leave you feeling better than when you started.

Country Life's ten favourite cities in the world — can you pick a favourite?

Fishing in Iceland: The joy of tussling with 20lb salmon in the wake of David Beckham

David Profumo takes a fishing trip to Iceland, where he deploys a Balmoral Special to bag a grilse on Sheep, the number-one pool on the fabled river Haffjarðará.

Curious Questions: What's the world's largest totem pole?

Martin Fone finds himself intrigued by the totem pole, and wonders which is the biggest ever made.

100 years of British Airways, from a converted bomber transporting grouse to afternoon tea at 35,000ft

Britain's national carrier celebrates its 100th birthday on 25 August, 20019. Isobel Green picks out a few of the companies most important milestones.

Sugar Beach, St Lucia: The sweet spot in between the Pitons where you get a butler, four-poster bed and can whizz round in a tuk tuk

Viceroy's Sugar Beach hotel sits in the gap between St Lucia's famous, UNESCO-listed peaks. Nigel Tisdall paid a visit.

How to do a long weekend in the Hamptons, from where to stay and eat to the best place to brush up your surfing

A long weekend in the USA? Yes, it can be done, says Country Life's travel editor Rosie Paterson, who headed to Long Island and returned almost before anyone noticed she'd escaped from the office.

The history of Tintagel and the enduring appeal of King Arthur, a millennium and a half after his reign

Richard Lea reconstructs the history of Tintagel and the legend of King Arthur.

Curious Questions: Does Amsterdam really have the most bridges in the world?

Everywhere you look in Amsterdam there seems to be a way of traversing the waterways of the city. But are there really more bridges here than anywhere else in the world? Martin Fone investigates.

Seattle: A foodie (and drinkie) tour of the city which inspired the culinary world of Frasier

The Space Needle, Pike Place Market and its fair share of rain; surely there can’t be much more to this corner of the Pacific North West? Indeed there can, finds Alexandra Fraser.

The Utterly Inessential Beach Shopping List: From ocean-inspired drinks to a Dragon paddleboard for the entire family to enjoy

Bored of being in the office? Well, this weekend is your chance to drop everything and jump on a train down to our gleaming coastline. Alexandra Fraser rounds up a few of the utterly inessential things that you should probably, potentially, but definitely not absolutely, bring with you.

A Tuscan resort on Italy's Silver Coast with villas which blur the line between holidays and holiday homes

In a nature reserve on the coast of Tuscany, the Argentario resort aims to bring the best of owning a Tuscan villa with the ease and amenities of taking a holiday, as Sarah Readman discovered.

Pisa, Italy: A wellness haven of ancient thermal baths, historic Italian villas and deliciously healthy food

Pisa's termes have long been the retreat of royalty and the famous, attracting kings, queens and a good number of Romantic writers. Alexandra Fraser went to explore the healing waters and to discover just what makes this quiet corner of the world the ultimate wellness destination.

A 'delectable sanctuary' in Puglia, where the bandits once roamed

Nigel Tisdall paid a visit to Masseria Torre Maizza, a lavishly-refurbished hotel in an all-too-often neglected part of Italy.

Longlands, Devon: A magical glamping site perched in the perfect hills of the Exmoor, just a stone's throw from the sea

Longlands is an idyllic haven from the busy world, with a boating lake, a sunset hot tub and a village of safari lodges that make camping the height of luxury. Alexandra Fraser didn't want to leave; here's what she thought when she finally did.

Lygon Arms, Broadway: A Cotswolds inn with history notched in its ancient wooden beams and hand-hewn stonework

In the heart of picture-perfect Broadway, gateway to the Cotswolds, the Lygon Arms has been a favourite getaway for centuries. James Elwes finds out why.

Tel Aviv, Israel: A city of surprises, from electric bicycles and 13th-century fortress walls to the best hummus in the world

A magical mixture of modern and ancient, Tel Aviv combines inovation with preservation, in a city that bows to its ancient traditions while celebrating its modern atributes. Hetty Lintell paid a visit.