Because of traditional links, because of a stronger developed industry or maybe because it has so much to offer, Kenya was always a popular African tourist destination for Britons. Then, a couple of years ago, the civil unrest in the country slowed tourism down. With that now a long way in the past and a new constitution that seems to be widely welcomed, Kenya is reasserting itself as a strong magnet for adventurous Britons.

Birthdays get celebrated. Special birthdays normally have a bit more fuss made over them. But when you get to be 1,000 years old then the boat really does get pushed out. Next month, Hanoi in Vietnam has a ten day celebration at which they are expecting 30,000 visitors per day.
Originally called Thang Long, Hanoi became the capital a millennia ago but didn’t change its name until 1831. The combination of Vietnamese and French influence is everywhere so there is both an old world, colonial and modern feel.

To many of us, autumn leaves means one of two things; either raking up bag loads of the things as autumn wears on or trains being delayed due to slipping on the rails.
To others though, it means the time of year to watch as the foliage turn from green to gold and russet colours before falling. People travel to the Borders, the Brecon Beacons and the New Forest to see the changes. Abroad it is New England in the USA that is the place that most people think of. But has Ontario in Canada attracted you?

CD Traveller tells you what’s hot in the travel world

Despite having visited, and lived in, many wonderful cities in Europe, if you were to ask me what my favourite city was, I would always say Chester. It has everything: over 2000 years of history, beautiful architecture representing over a thousand years of building, countryside appeal and (for those who want it!) a world-famous racecourse and ample shopping!

For 2 months, Gloucester cathedral will host the largest exhibition of UK sculpture outside London. There will be 75 different pieces on display in the cathedral and its grounds. So big is the venture that when I was there a few weeks ago, they were erecting scaffolding and preparing for it. It was going to take a whole week to just get the exhibits into position. Called Crucible, the event opens on September 1st and runs until October 30th so there is plenty of time to get down to Gloucester to see it. And it won’t be going to any other towns or cities. Miss this opportunity and you don’t get another.

On the West Sussex coastline, Littlehampton is almost a traditional seaside resort. For decades, Londoners caught the train down for either a day out or for a week’s break in a guesthouse. Those days are long since gone you might think but no, you meet people who have been going to Littlehampton for years and years. It breeds loyalty like a lot of our seaside towns.

To people outside the south east of England, Chichester is one of those places that sounds like many others. If anyone has heard of it then it is probably due to the fact that it is where a theatre festival is held, because it is near Glyndebourne or because it is the county town of West Sussex. For those more local it is a well visited centre for day visits either because of the shops, the cathedral or the nearby Roman ruins at Fishbourne (the largest Roman palace yet discovered in the UK) where one of the finest mosaics is to be found.

CD Traveller reader, Maryann Noronha, takes us on a tour of her five favourite destinations

The boutique hotel experts Mr & Mrs Smith are back, with a brand new guide to the most stylish and seductive places to stay across the Channel. Smith editor Lucy Fennings rounds up a top-10 selection of bijoux boltholes, pied-à-terres and romantic rural retreats from their latest travel tome.
Here, their second extract for CD Traveller [...]