Barcelona: where history and culture meets the Nou

Robin Nowacki combines culture and cuisine with football on a visit to Barcelona – the capital of the Catalonian region of Spain

The English seaside

Photographer Peter Williams celebrates the peculiar eccentricities and quintessential charms – from helter-skelters to lighthouses, pirates, palmists and Punch and Judy – of this cherished and rapidly changing English landscape

Trading Standards

From the website:

“The Trading Standards Institute is a not-for-profit professional body formed in 1881. We have members in the public and private sectors in the UK and abroad.

TSI encourages honest enterprise and business and helps safeguard the economic, environmental, health and social well-being of consumers.”

Stargazing in the Brecon Beacons

One of the big tips for tourism this year was going to be space exploration. No, not joining Virgin’s space flights but watching the heavens. African countries and the outback of Australia where light pollution is minimal compared to almost any British suburb are promoting these opportunities. But you don’t have to necessarily go so far. Even the BBC has got into the act by running a series called Stargazing Live which is bound to excite interest.
The Brecon Beacons in South Wales are running events from March onwards where you can be guided by people who know what they are talking about.

Best value winter hotspots for British holidaymakers heading overseas

Save as they samba: British Pound 17 per cent stronger vs Brazilian Real compared to 12 months ago; that’s an extra £86.78 in holidaymakers’ pockets for every £500 spent

Ryanair Spins Again

No not the planes, but rather the PR department of an airline whose ability to create stories and repackage news is not even surpassed by politicians.
You will remember that for the summer season, Ryanair raised the cost of hold baggage to €20 for most bags and €30 for heavy ones. This was to last for July and August and return to the €15 level in September. Just after the school holidays and the busy summer travel season meant there was less opportunity for removing cash from passengers, but that is probably just coincidence.

We love London town!

Planning on returning to London town for the forthcoming Paralympic Games? We asked West End ambassador, Annalisa, for her recommendations on where to eat, shop and play after Stratford’s stadium lights go down