Rising from the Somerset Levels mysteriously, the town of Glastonbury defies easy categorisation. While the world-renowned Glastonbury Festival draws 200,000 visitors to Worthy Farm each June, transforming nearby Pilton into a temporary city of music and arts, the town itself is decidedly more complex: a place where 7th-century abbey stones share space with artisanal incense makers, and where tea merchants dabble in tarot reading between serving Earl Grey, all year round.
The town embraces its peculiarities with neither irony nor apology. Druids in ceremonial garb browse rare book collections, while meditation bells punctuate conversations in centuries-old pubs, where local Lady of the Lake ales flow freely. Time bends here – ancient ley lines pulse beneath streets where modern mystics practise their craft, and Arthurian legends remain woven into the fabric of daily life.
A weekend in Glastonbury provides enough time to grasp the essence of this remarkable place, though you could spend months exploring its layers. You might, of course, end up bending time and space itself, as you sit propped against the Market Cross, realising that success lies in selective immersion rather than attempting to catalogue every curiosity that Glastonbury has to offer.
Day 1: Sacred Sites & High Street Spirits
Morning: Tor Awakening
Begin at Glastonbury Tor before dawn. The walk from the town centre to the base takes roughly 25 minutes along Well House Lane, and the 158-metre ascent rewards early risers with an unmatched spectacle: first light breaking over the Somerset Levels and Moors, illuminating the landscape that was once a vast marsh surrounding this legendary isle of Avalon. St Michael’s Tower, crowning the summit, casts long shadows across the hillside as the sun climbs.
After descending and walking the mile back to town, revive yourself at Coffee Zero on the High Street, where locally roasted coffee and homemade cakes offer restoration after the climb. Those with heartier appetites should feast on the ‘Excalibur’ English breakfast, which is a quality fry-up if ever there was one. The café’s large frontage window provides an ideal vantage point for observing the town’s gradual awakening – a parade of characters that would seem contrived in fiction.
Image via @coffeezero
Midday: Abbey & Arthurian Tales
Glastonbury Abbey demands unhurried exploration. These ruins once marked England’s wealthiest monastery, their remaining walls echoing with tales of Joseph of Arimathea, the Holy Grail, and the purported tomb of Arthur and Guinevere. Join a guided tour to understand the complex’s historical significance, then find solitude in the meticulously maintained herb garden, where mediaeval varieties still flourish.
For lunch, visit Knight’s Fish & Chips. Operating since 1909, it’s among Britain’s oldest fish and chip establishments. Named as Restaurant of the Year at the 2024 National Fish & Chip Awards, the kitchen’s dedication to traditional methods – fresh-cut potatoes, fish delivered daily, batter made to a century-old recipe – has earned it a reputation that extends far beyond Somerset.
Images via @KnightsFishRestaurant
Afternoon: Living The High (Street) Life
Glastonbury’s main thoroughfare presents a welcome alternative to Britain’s homogenised shopping districts where independent merchants occupy mediaeval shopfronts. As you stroll down the street you’re greeted by an eclectic collection of weird and wonderful shops offering everything from hand-forged silver to small-batch botanical incense. In some shops you’ll even find crystal balls and artefacts from all over the world with spiritual and religious significance, supporting the pagan way of life.
Don’t miss The Tribunal, a 15th-century merchant’s house, now houses both the Tourist Information Centre and Lake Village Museum, documenting the area’s ancient lake-dwelling communities.
Visit Chalice Well Gardens in the late afternoon. The iron-rich spring has drawn pilgrims for centuries, its waters staining the stones red. The terraced gardens provide spaces for contemplation, particularly in the yew-shaded upper reaches.
Evening: After Dark
As darkness approaches, explore the Victorian-era pump house that contains the White Spring. This underground chamber, illuminated by candlelight, offers a striking counterpoint to Chalice Well’s sunlit gardens. Check opening times in advance, as they vary seasonally.
Dine at The Rifleman’s Arms, where good burgers and other pub grub classics are efficiently delivered and reasonably priced. The cider selection presents the county’s finest artisanal offerings, and the building’s medieval bones – exposed beams, worn stone – create an atmospheric setting without falling into pub cliché.
Start your day at the Hundred Monkeys Café (open from 9am), which showcases the region’s organic producers, with eggs from nearby Sourdown Farm, sausages from Baltonsborough, and other reassuringly location-specific sourcing, too.
After that, take a short drive to nearby Meare, where an Iron Age settlement once thrived on these wetlands. While the ancient village lies beneath modern farmland, the 14th-century Meare Fish House stands as testament to the area’s rich aquatic heritage. Whilst there are a couple of decent hotels in Meare if you’re keen to extend your stay here beyond just a morning, it’s only a 10-minute drive back to Glastonbury, making it an ideal half-day excursion.
Return for the Saturday farmers’ market if timing allows, or proceed to the Goddess Temple – the first such sanctuary to receive legal recognition as a place of worship in Britain since the Reformation. The temple’s design and ceremonies honour feminine spirituality, with knowledgeable practitioners available for discussion.
Enjoy a pitstop (or indeed, a light lunch) at the wonderfully quaint Abbey Tea Rooms, back on the Magdalene Street. On the menu, there’s something to satisfy all appetites, from cakes and snacks to heartier, homecooked lunches. You could even stick around for afternoon tea, if the mood takes you in that direction.
Afternoon: Esoteric Explorations
Alternatively, delve into Glastonbury’s metaphysical marketplace along Silver Street and the High Street. The Crystal Man, established in 1990, displays museum-quality mineral specimens alongside more modest treasures. Next door, Star Child produces small-batch incense using traditional methods and locally foraged ingredients.
The Library of Avalon, hidden within the Glastonbury Experience Courtyard, houses an extraordinary collection of esoteric texts, some dating to the 1500s. The librarians possess encyclopaedic knowledge of local lore and occult history.
Complete your afternoon at the Somerset Rural Life Museum. Housed in a 14th-century abbey barn, the museum contextualises the region’s agricultural heritage from prehistory to present. The barn’s mediaeval roof structure ranks among the finest examples of its kind in southern England.
Evening: Final Revelations
Join a ghost walk (April through October) for a two-hour journey through Glastonbury’s shadowed corners. These tours blend archaeological evidence with local legend, creating a compelling narrative of the town’s evolution from mediaeval pilgrimage site to modern spiritual centre.
Then, as a fitting, foodie finale, make sure to reserve well ahead for dinner at the Michelin-recognised Queen of Cups. Housed in a 17th-century coaching inn, the restaurant presents modern Middle Eastern cuisine filtered through a distinctly Somerset lens. Executive Chef Ayesha Kalaji sources meat from the neighbouring butcher, vegetables from regenerative farms within five miles, and seafood from Brixham’s day boats.
The Queen’s Feast – a chef’s selection requiring full table participation – best demonstrates the kitchen’s capabilities. Signature dishes include laverbread falafel with sumac and lime-dressed fennel, and chalk stream trout wrapped in brik pastry with green shatta and dill labneh. Do not miss out on desserts, which are spectacular; a recent jasmine and pistachio panna cotta was one of the finest desserts we’ve ever eaten, genuinely. The drink list champions Somerset’s craft distillers and small-scale wine producers committed to organic practices.
Conclude your second day at the King Arthur, where an extensive gin collection focuses on local distilleries. The garden offers views of the illuminated abbey ruins, while weekend evenings often feature musicians in the back room, their repertoire ranging from traditional folk to experimental psychedelia.
The Bottom Line
A weekend in Glastonbury merely introduces this layered settlement, where ancient mysteries intertwine with contemporary spirituality. The town rewards open-minded exploration, offering experiences that resonate long after departure.
Consider extending your Somerset journey with visits to Wells Cathedral or the Stanton Drew stone circles. The surrounding Levels offer exceptional walking routes, particularly around Shapwick Heath National Nature Reserve, where wildlife thrives in the carefully managed wetlands.
And if Somerset has well and truly made its mark by now, then continue into Bath for the weekend, one of the UK’s most gorgeous cities.
So many articles about home renovation projects and domestic upgrades lead with the value you could add to your property. Hell, we’ve written quite a few of them.
Less advice, it seems, is out there on the home improvements that will add most value to your life, in terms of the happiness, satisfaction and domestic contentment they bring.
There’s always something that can be tweaked, upgraded, or replaced to make your home look better, feel more comfortable, or be more functional, sure, but today, we’re focusing on those projects and purchases that can help you feel happier in your home, pure and simple. With that in mind, here are 9 domestic upgrades designed with your happiness in mind.
Spruce Up Your Front Door
We’re starting symbolically at the portal to paradise. Or, as most normal people call it; the front door.
Whilst this might not immediately feel like a home improvement project designed with your wellbeing in mind, we think it’s fair to say that your front door sets the tone for your experience beyond it. As such, it’s worth making sure yours is looking on point and inviting.
A fresh coat of paint in a cheery colour can do wonders. According to Country Life, blue and green are the best front door colours for selling a house, whilst feng shui suggests red is the ideal front door colour, its auspiciousness representing both safety and good fortune.
Personally, we think pastel shades – in yellow or pink, particularly – set the perfect tone for the home. Just make sure any colour you do choose complements the overall aesthetic of your home’s facade.
If you’re looking for something unique, consider adding some stained glass panels or decorative hardware. This is a relatively simple and inexpensive project that can have a big impact on your home’s curb appeal. It is also a great way to add your own personal touch to your home.
Soundproof Your Property
If you live in a lively urban area or have thin walls and particularly noisy neighbours, soundproofing your home can make a world of difference to your overall wellbeing within. Not only will it make your living space more peaceful, but it can also improve your concentration when working from home and help you get a better night’s sleep, too.
As the team at akuwoodpanel.uk, there are a few different ways to soundproof your home, and the method you choose will depend on your budget and needs. You could add insulation to your walls, install soundproof windows, or even use acoustic panels. These projects can be as simple or as complex as you want, but they’re sure to make your home a more peaceful place.
Add A Hot Tub Or A Swim Spa
From the front door to the back, and out into the garden…
Nothing says luxury quite like a hot tub or swim spa, an addition to the home with little functional purpose except the ultimate goal of rest and relaxation!
You’ll be pleased to hear that you don’t actually need a sprawling (or even small) garden to accommodate a hot tub. You can even put a hot tub in your basement or bathroom. Basements are, in fact, an ideal location, especially as the concrete floors can properly support the weight of the hot tub. Great news!
They go on to advise that it’s important to ensure any room you’re considering for a hot tub (if you don’t have the outdoor space for one) should be well ventilated and, ideally, well lit, as hot tubs tend to cause a lot of humidity and create a slip hazard when not illuminated properly. If the resultant condensation is allowed to build up, you risk mold growth and damage to your property.
But with that small caveat firmly dispensed with, it’s time to turn those bubbles to ‘strong’ and luxuriate in your latest domestic addition.
Well-lit domestic spaces contribute a remarkable amount to your overall wellbeing at home.
Natural light, in particular, provides some serious health benefits, boosting Vitamin D, alleviating the symptoms of seasonal depression, improving sleep and so much more. On the flip side, dark and closed-off spaces can often feel overwhelming and intrusive, leaving you yearning for daylight and vast expanses of outdoor space (and this is not what you want when you are relaxing indoors).
Whether you’re undertaking a proper project, like smashing through a wall and installing a new window, or simply moving some obstructive items away from a windowsill, there are plenty of opportunities to allow more natural light into your home, all of which will almost certainly make your home a more enjoyable place to spend time.
Turn Your Attic Into A Dedicated Chill-out Zone
If you have an unused attic, have you considered turning it into a dedicated chill-out space? This project will require some work, sure (you’ll need to insulate the space and add flooring, drywall, and electricity, at the very least), but when you let out that first satisfied sigh as you sink into your ergonomic beanbag, it will all be worth it.
Once the space is finished, you can use it as an extra bedroom, home office, playroom, a simple meditative space, or anything else you can imagine. If you are stuck for inspiration, however, then check out these loft conversion ideas.
A Lick Of Paint Goes A Long Way
The colours and the shades that you use throughout your home can and will have an impact on the enjoyment you get from spending time there. Using softer and earthier tones and hues can help you feel more connected to nature and grounded in your property, which may heighten your sense of enjoyment. Or, you may also find that more colour schemes of a sunnier disposition may leave your home feeling warmer and calmer.
In fact, there’s a whole scientific discipline concerned with such matters. According to colour psychology, if you’re looking for colours that inspire wellness, dark greens and navy blues channel a harmonious ambience, whilst warm yellow or even muted bubble gum pink offer an uplifting aesthetic.
Smarten Up Your Home
It feels like with each passing day, a new and innovative way to make our homes more efficient and a more enjoyable place to spend time emerges, and installing smart technology is a great way to do that.
These devices can automate tasks like turning off lights when you leave the room or adjusting the thermostat based on your schedule. Not only will this save you money on your energy bills, but it can also make your life more convenient. And with the wide range of smart devices available, you’re sure to find ones that fit your needs and budget. So if you’re looking for a way to make your home more efficient, installing smart technology is a great option.
There’s something undeniably soothing about having a special corner of your home dedicated solely to unwinding with a good book. Creating a reading nook doesn’t require vast amounts of space or extravagant expense, but the impact on your daily contentment can be profound.
Begin by selecting a quiet spot with decent natural light—perhaps a bay window, an awkward alcove, or even that empty corner of your bedroom. The essential components are straightforward: a comfortable seat (an armchair, window seat, or even a collection of floor cushions), appropriate lighting (ideally a mix of natural light and a purposeful reading lamp), and easy access to your favourite reads.
Consider adding soft touches like a small side table for your cup of tea, a luxurious throw for chillier evenings, and perhaps a small rug to delineate the space as separate from the rest of the room. The beauty of a reading nook is that it creates a visual reminder to slow down and take time for yourself—a rare luxury in our increasingly hectic lives.
According to research from the University of Sussex (admittedly reported 9 years ago, and a lot has changed since then!), reading for just six minutes can reduce stress levels by up to 68%, making it more effective than listening to music or going for a walk. Your dedicated reading space becomes not just an attractive feature of your home, but a practical investment in your mental wellbeing, offering a daily sanctuary from the demands of modern living.
Turn Your Bathroom Into A Wellbeing Sanctuary
We almost reached the end of your article without mentioning the bathroom, perhaps the most important space in terms of your overall domestic contentment. Rather than keep you, why not check out these ideas on how to make your bathroom a wellbeing sanctuary? You won’t regret it!
Let’s face it—adulting is hard work. Between deciphering council tax notices, remembering to MOT your car, and figuring out what exactly a ‘good’ pension contribution looks like, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. Fortunately, there are innovative solutions that can genuinely transform how you handle life’s demands. Here are 10 modern tools that will revolutionise your daily grind and make adulting significantly more manageable.
Automated Receipt Categorisation
Apps like Expensify and Dext (formerly Receipt Bank) use optical character recognition to automatically read and categorise your receipts. Simply snap a photo, and the technology will extract the merchant name, amount, and date—perfect for self-assessment tax returns or expense claims.
These apps can also flag potential tax deductions you might have missed and create expense reports in seconds rather than hours. For freelancers and small business owners, these tools can save significant time on financial admin while reducing the risk of HMRC disputes.
Digital Estate Planning Services
Services like Farewill let you create legally sound wills and organise your digital legacy—from social media accounts to subscription services. Rather than leaving your loved ones to sort through digital breadcrumbs, these platforms help you establish a clear plan for both physical assets and online identities, all without the solicitor’s fees.
They also provide secure document storage for insurance policies, property deeds, and other critical paperwork, with designated access for trusted emergency contacts. These digital solutions offer a more affordable alternative to traditional estate planning services while providing the peace of mind that comes from knowing your wishes are documented and accessible to those who need them.
Small Claims Process Navigators
Dealing with disputed deposits or faulty products used to mean drowning in legal jargon or costly solicitor consultations. Now, platforms like CaseCraft use AI to guide you through the small claims process, ensuring accurate and efficient claim submission without the headache. These tools demystify legal procedures with step-by-step guidance tailored to your specific situation.
They can help with everything from crafting persuasive demand letters to completing court forms correctly the first time, potentially increasing your chances of a successful claim. The guided process eliminates hours of confusing research and preparation, making it more accessible to stand up for your consumer rights, even if you’ve never dealt with legal processes before.
Decision Fatigue Eliminators
Whering and Stylebook analyse your existing clothes, track what you’ve worn, and suggest outfits based on weather and occasion—eliminating that morning “nothing to wear” crisis. These tools help you break free from decision fatigue by automating routine choices without sacrificing personal style.
They streamline your morning routine by providing ready-made outfit combinations and help you rediscover forgotten pieces hiding in your wardrobe. They also facilitate seasonal wardrobe transitions and help identify genuine gaps in your collection rather than encouraging emotional shopping triggers.
Platforms like Brilliant break down complex subjects into digestible five-minute sessions, offering interactive courses in mathematics and science with visual problem-solving approaches.
These services transform dead time into productive learning moments with carefully crafted microlessons designed to fit into natural breaks in your day. The bite-sized format makes complex topics more approachable and builds consistent learning habits without the intimidation factor of traditional courses or textbooks.
Air Quality Monitoring Systems
Devices like Airthings track indoor pollutants, CO2 levels, humidity, and temperature in real-time. These systems alert you when your environment might be affecting your concentration, sleep quality, or respiratory health, allowing you to make simple adjustments that dramatically improve your wellbeing and productivity.
These devices can help you identify when simple actions like opening windows or using certain cleaning products affect your indoor environment. The data tracking features allow you to experiment with changes to your home setup and see concrete results, rather than guessing about potential environmental factors that might be affecting your wellbeing.
Forgotten Subscription Hunters
In today’s subscription economy, it’s all too easy to lose track of recurring payments. Services like Bobby and Broadband Choices not only track your recurring payments but also compare market rates and suggest better deals. Some even handle the awkward cancellation conversations for you—negotiating exits from those impossibly binding gym memberships.
These platforms can identify hidden auto-renewals and alert you to price increases before they hit your account. It’s surprisingly common to discover subscriptions you don’t remember signing up for, or services you intended to cancel after a free trial. Getting a holistic view of your recurring payments can be eye-opening and create significant opportunities for monthly savings.
Neighbourhood Sharing Networks
Apps like Olio and Fat Llama facilitate hyperlocal sharing of everything from power tools to food that would otherwise go to waste. These platforms build community connections while reducing consumption—perfect for those items you need occasionally but can’t justify purchasing outright.
Beyond the obvious financial benefits, these services help reduce landfill waste and unnecessary manufacturing. Particularly useful in urban environments, they help city dwellers overcome the storage limitations of smaller living spaces while maintaining access to a wide range of useful items. Beyond the practical benefits, these platforms can foster community connections and reduce waste, creating a more sustainable and connected neighborhood.
Digital Boundary Enforcers
Freedom blocks distracting websites and apps during designated focus periods. Unlike basic ‘do not disturb’ functions, these tools use gamification and psychological techniques to help you maintain digital boundaries. Even cooler, Forest visualises your focus time as growing trees, creating a virtual woodland that represents your productivity streaks.
The visual progression creates a powerful incentive to maintain concentration. The gamification elements make the process of avoiding distractions more engaging, while the psychological barrier of having to kill a virtual tree to check social media provides just enough friction to break habitual phone-checking behaviors.
Anti-Procrastination Accountability Systems
Services like Beeminder and StickK put money on the line when you fail to meet self-defined goals. These commitment contracts leverage behavioural economics to help you follow through—whether that’s finally sorting your pension or tackling that DIY project. The financial stakes transform vague intentions into concrete action with remarkable effectiveness.
You can define the terms and consequences completely on your terms, from charitable donations to “anti-charities” that support causes you oppose. The psychological power of loss aversion—our tendency to strongly prefer avoiding losses over acquiring equivalent gains—makes these tools particularly effective for tackling long-procrastinated tasks that willpower alone hasn’t been able to address.
The Bottom Line
True adulting mastery isn’t about struggling through tedious tasks—it’s about implementing systems that handle life’s complexities with minimal friction. These innovative tools address the genuine pain points of modern life, from decision overload to legal complexities, without requiring you to become an expert in every domain.
By strategically outsourcing parts of your mental load to specialised technology, you create space for what matters most—whether that’s creative pursuits, increased productivity, meaningful relationships, or simply the luxury of occasionally doing absolutely nothing at all. After all, perhaps the most sophisticated adult skill is knowing when to seek assistance rather than shouldering everything yourself.
If you’ve ever found yourself in the caring role – perhaps unexpectedly or gradually taking on more responsibility – you’ll know all too well that feeling of being stretched impossibly thin, caught between the pressing needs of your loved one and the relentless demands of your own life.
According to a recent study of the UK workforce, a staggering 51% say their career has been impacted by taking on responsibility for different generations of their family’s health and wellbeing. Millennial workers are particularly squeezed, with 40 per cent of those aged 25 to 44 reporting their career had suffered as a result of caring for parents, grandparents, siblings and children – truly earning their title as the ‘sandwich generation’.
The scale of informal care in Britain is enormous. A 2024 census estimated that in 2022/23 around 8% of the UK population (5.2 million people) were providing unpaid care – that’s roughly equivalent to the entire population of Scotland. These are the unsung heroes keeping our social care system from complete collapse.
The NHS has acknowledged the “vital contribution” of carers, saying it was “critical and underappreciated … not only to loved ones, neighbours and friends, but to the very sustainability of the NHS in England”. In plainer terms: without you, the whole system would crumble.
Yet this heroic effort comes at a significant personal cost. According to a sobering report by Carers UK into the state of caring in the UK and the impact it has one their health, over three quarters (79%) of carers feel stressed or anxious, half of carers (49%) feel depressed, and half of carers (50%) feel lonely. The irony isn’t lost on us – those providing such essential care often receive precious little themselves. With this in mind, here are some top tips for caregivers on how to help look after yourself…
Connect With Friends & Family
“I’m fine, really,” might be the biggest lie carers tell themselves – and others. That instinct to soldier on, to not ‘burden’ those around you with your struggles, is deeply ingrained in many of us. But here’s the truth: isolation is the silent amplifier of stress.
Some people don’t like to bother others with their problems, but it’s important to open up about your challenges. Ask for and accept help from your friends and family without the guilt that so often accompanies it. If you don’t explicitly tell them that you’re struggling or need support, they simply won’t know. Most people genuinely want to help; they’re just waiting for the green light from you.
They may be able to step in, even if it’s just to give you the space to go swimming for an hour (more on the importance of exercise shortly). A friend popping round for a cuppa while you nip out for a haircut isn’t just about the practical help – it’s about maintaining your identity beyond ‘carer’.
The numbers speak for themselves: In the aforementioned Carers UK report, 68% of carers reported that spending time with family and friends improves their wellbeing. Meanwhile, 61% said they needed more support to be able to look after their own health. That disconnect – between what helps and what’s happening – points to the difficulty many carers have in reaching out.
Organise Your Time
When the days blur into one another and you’re perpetually responding to someone else’s needs, time becomes an elusive concept. But reclaiming control of your calendar isn’t a luxury – it’s essential self-preservation.
It’s crucial to plan your time deliberately so you can carve out precious moments away from your caring responsibilities. Having a structured calendar and giving people adequate notice means you can make solid plans, creating little islands of anticipation in what can sometimes feel like an ocean of obligation.
That dental appointment you’ve been putting off? Block it in. The coffee with a friend that keeps getting cancelled? Make it non-negotiable. Those small acts of forward planning aren’t selfish – they’re survival.
Organise regular carer support, even if it’s just a couple of hours a day. Investigate whether you’re eligible for carers’ assessments, respite care or direct payments through your local council. When the pressure is mounting, it’s all too easy to let your own needs slip to the bottom of your priority list. But remember, if you’re depleted and exhausted, the quality of care you can provide inevitably diminishes too.
Being strict with your schedule isn’t rigid thinking – it’s creating protective boundaries that allow space for those all-important moments of respite. Think of it as building a pressure valve into your week that prevents the whole system from overheating.
Consider Respite Care
Here’s a striking statistic: According to the Carers Report 58% of people said that taking a break from caring improves their wellbeing. Yet so many carers push themselves to the absolute brink before even considering respite care – as though taking a breather somehow constitutes failure.
Let’s be perfectly clear: respite isn’t an indulgence; it’s essential preventative maintenance for your wellbeing. Moreover, respite care is not merely a matter of expense; it’s about supporting caregivers and maintaining quality care.
Caring for a loved one may be deeply satisfying at times, but it’s also exceptionally challenging both physically and emotionally. Respite care is short-term care designed to give family caregivers exactly that – respite – for a few hours, days, or weeks. Respite care brings a welcome breather for carers, allowing them to care better too.
The options are more diverse than many realise. Respite care services vary depending on the provider and type of care, such as in-home care where someone comes to your home, day centres providing structured activities, or short stays in nursing homes or residential care facilities while you go on holiday. You can even arrange for a volunteer to come to your home and spend a few hours with your loved one each week. Your local council, GP or organisations like Age UK can help navigate the options available in your area.
So, what’s the financial impact on families? The cost of respite care for elderly loved ones hinges on several variables, but here’s a snapshot of the average cost of respite care in the UK:
In-Home Respite Care: Expect to pay £15–£25 per hour for a visiting carer offering companionship or personal care. For 24-hour live-in care, weekly rates for respite care typically range from £1,350 to £2,000.
Residential Respite Care Fees: Staying in a residential care home is £1,488 per week, and in nursing homes with registered nurses, it is £1,638.
Day Care Centres: These centres are inexpensive, averaging £50–£100 daily, and vary in activities and area.
Many carers experience profound guilt about utilising respite services, feeling they should manage everything themselves or that nobody else can provide care to the same standard. This thinking needs radical reframing: respite isn’t a luxury or an admission of failure – it’s an essential component of sustainable care. A rested, recharged carer is ultimately a more effective one.
Prioritise Your Mental Wellbeing
For carers, mental health often has to take a back seat. Many don’t have time to stop and think about it. But just like the safety demonstration on an aeroplane instructing you to put your own oxygen mask on first, you need to address your own wellbeing before you can effectively care for others.
Take a moment each day – even if it’s just five minutes – to check in with yourself. How are you really feeling? What might help ease your burden today? Sometimes simply acknowledging our struggles can lighten their weight.
Practice Relaxation & Mindfulness Techniques
The constant vigilance required when caring for someone can leave your nervous system in a perpetual state of high alert – your body flooded with stress hormones even in moments of apparent calm. It’s like having your internal alarm system permanently switched to ’emergency mode’. Over time, this takes a serious toll on both physical and mental health.
Mindfulness is all all about paying more attention to the present moment – to your own thoughts and feelings, and to the world around you. According to the NHS, Mindfulness can improve our mental wellbeing and help us enjoy life more and understand ourselves better.
Learning to deliberately activate your body’s relaxation response isn’t just nice to have – it’s a vital skill for carers that can literally change your brain chemistry. Think of it as developing an internal ‘off switch’ for when those stress responses are no longer serving you.
Simple breathing exercises can be done anywhere, at any time – while waiting for the kettle to boil, sitting in a doctor’s waiting room, or even during a difficult conversation. Try the 4-7-8 technique: breathe in for 4 seconds, hold for 7, and exhale slowly for 8. This pattern triggers your parasympathetic nervous system, helping to lower cortisol levels and create a sense of calm. The beauty is in its simplicity – no special equipment, no need to carve out huge chunks of time.
Mindfulness apps offer guided sessions tailored specifically to those with limited time and high stress. Even three minutes of focused attention on your breathing can reset your emotional thermostat and bring you back to centre. Apps like Headspace and Calm offer specific programs for carers that acknowledge both the practical constraints and emotional complexities of the caring role.
For something even simpler, try the ‘five senses check-in’: pause and notice five things you can see, four things you can touch, three things you can hear, two things you can smell, and one thing you can taste. This quick grounding exercise pulls you out of swirling thoughts and back into the present moment.
Exercise
Even if you’re feeling very low and drained mentally and physically, it’s important to take time to exercise. Physical activity doesn’t need to mean gruelling gym sessions – gentle movement is enormously beneficial for both body and mind.
A brisk 10-minute walk around the block can flood your brain with mood-enhancing endorphins. That said, it can be tricky to leace the home when your caring for someone. Consider things you can do from home, like chair you which offers gentle stretches and dancing around the kitchen to your favourite song, that counts too.
Exercise not only boosts your physical resilience but also creates mental space where problems often find their solutions. Many carers report that some of their best problem-solving happens during physical activity when their conscious mind is temporarily occupied elsewhere.
Consider A Gratitude Diary
When days seem endlessly challenging, deliberately focusing on what’s going right can provide essential psychological nourishment. Keeping a gratitude diary – noting down three things you’re thankful for each day – may seem simplistic, but research consistently demonstrates its effectiveness in elevating mood.
Your entries needn’t be profound. Perhaps you managed to enjoy a cup of tea while it was still hot, or noticed the first spring flowers emerging. Training your brain to spot positives creates new neural pathways that gradually make positivity your default setting.
Prioritise Sleep
According to the Carers report, the most commonly reported symptom was increased tiredness (88%), followed by difficulty sleeping (87%). The same report revealed that 72% of carers said that getting a good night’s sleep improves their wellbeing.
A good 7-9 hours a night ensures that we’re operating at our optimum, with sleep not only helping us recover physically, but also building better mental resilience.
Create a proper wind-down routine before bed – dim the lights, avoid screens, perhaps try a warm bath or gentle stretching. If worries about your loved one keep you awake, keep a notepad by your bed to jot them down, allowing your brain to temporarily release them.
If night-time disturbances are inevitable due to the needs of the person you’re caring for, try to establish a nap routine during the day. Even 20 minutes can help reduce sleep deficit and restore cognitive function.
Nourish Your Body
When caring responsibilities take over, nutrition often becomes an afterthought – grabbing whatever’s quick and convenient rather than what truly nourishes. Yet the quality of fuel you give your body directly impacts your energy levels, mood and resilience.
Batch cooking on days when you have more time can ensure healthy meals are available when you’re too tired to cook. Keep nutritious snacks easily accessible – nuts, fruit, yoghurt – to maintain energy levels throughout demanding days.
Hydration is equally crucial; dehydration can mimic or exacerbate feelings of fatigue and low mood. Consider setting reminders on your phone if you tend to forget to drink enough water while attending to others’ needs.
58% of carers said engaging in a hobby or interest improved their well-being. It can be hard to leave the home to engage in some hobbies or interests when you’re caring for someone. Consider gardening? Reports suggesting 87% of people who garden for more than six hours per week feel happier.
Hobbies provide more than just enjoyment – they reconnect you with your identity beyond that of ‘carer’. Whether it’s knitting, reading, painting or something entirely different, nurturing your personal interests maintains your sense of self during challenging times.
Look for activities that can fit around your caring responsibilities. Audiobooks allow you to enjoy literature while keeping your hands free. Crafts that can be picked up and put down easily work well when your time comes in unpredictable pockets.
Counselling, Therapy Or Listening Support Services
Counselling can help improve your mental wellbeing and the NHS can help. That said, unfortunately, the waiting lists are long for NHS services are long, however there is help available if you need someone to talk to. Organisations who can provide emotional support:
Samaritans, who are available 24/7 for anybody who needs a listening ear. They can be telephoned on 116 123 or emailed on [email protected]
Shout, a text-based service for when you’re struggling to cope and need to talk, available 24/7. Text ‘SHOUT’ to 85258.
Hub of Hope – This national database brings together local community and charity groups and services, as well as local NHS services, which can support your mental wellbeing.
Joining A Carers’ Support Group
Perhaps one of the most powerful resources for maintaining wellbeing as a carer is connecting with others who truly understand your situation. Carers’ support groups provide a space where you don’t need to explain or justify your feelings – everyone gets it.
Many areas have local groups that meet regularly, but if mobility or time constraints make attendance difficult, online forums and virtual meetings have blossomed in recent years. Carers UK offers an online community where you can share experiences, seek advice, or simply vent to people who understand.
These groups aren’t just for emotional support; they’re also invaluable sources of practical information about benefits, services and local resources that might otherwise remain undiscovered.
Remember Your Worth
In the daily grind of caring, it’s easy to lose sight of the enormous value of what you’re doing. The care you provide saves the UK economy billions annually, but more importantly, it transforms the quality of life for those you support.
Take a moment each day to acknowledge your own compassion, patience and dedication. Caring isn’t just what you do; it’s a profound expression of love and humanity.
This article is not intended to replace medical advice, diagnosis or treatment given by a qualified health professional. Instead, this article only provides information, not advice. For any medical enquiries, always consult your GP first.
We don’t think we’re going out on a limb here when we say that the hallmark of a comfortable home is the living room. It’s the place where people congregate, kick back, recharge and maybe even watch it coming home.
Creating a comfortable living room feels easy, sure; just add cushions and all that. But to design one that’s comfy and stylish…well, that’s another matter.
To do so, you have to rethink the whole purpose of the space, and this is not easy when the living room is the most occupied room in the house. But rethink we will; from couch and carpet to cosy, here are some tips on upgrading your living room mainstays.
Ramp Up The Cosy Factor
Your sofa serves as the heart of any living room—it should be warm, alluring, and inviting. If yours has become tired and uninspiring, consider whether it’s time for a replacement or simply needs refreshing with thoughtfully chosen accessories.
A tired sofa can be transformed with the addition of sumptuous throws in tactile fabrics like soft wool, velvet or faux fur. Layer different textures to create depth and visual interest whilst providing practical warmth for chilly evenings. Select cushions in complementary or contrasting colours to your existing scheme, varying their sizes and shapes for a curated rather than uniform appearance.
The area surrounding your sofa deserves equal attention. A plush rug underfoot (more on that in a moment) adds another dimension of comfort, whilst a well-positioned side table keeps essential items within arm’s reach. Consider the lighting nearby—a floor lamp arching over the seating area or a table lamp casting a warm glow can create an irresistible nook for reading or conversation. These simple additions can dramatically enhance the cosy appeal of your living space without requiring significant investment.
Transform Your Space With Strategic Rug Placement
A well-chosen rug anchors your living space, defines conversation areas, and adds crucial texture and colour. The most common mistake? Selecting rugs that are far too small for the room.
Ensure your rug is large enough that at least the front legs of all furniture in a seating arrangement rest upon it, creating a cohesive grouping rather than disconnected pieces. For durability and comfort, pure wool offers unmatched luxury, whilst polypropylene provides impressive stain resistance for busy households. Custom rugs allow you to control every element from size to pattern—perfect for awkwardly proportioned rooms or specific colour schemes.
Don’t limit rugs to centre stage; runners in hallways create a sense of journey, whilst smaller accent rugs can highlight architectural features. Whatever your choice, secure it with proper underlay to prevent slipping and extend its life.
Add Greenery
Instead of that ubiquitous, British mainstay of a bowl of potpourri, why not upgrade the floral notes of your living by introducing some greenery?
Adding flowers and plants is a surefire way to add colour, life and even shape to an indoor space. Do remember that there’s nothing less uplifting than wilting, tired looking plants, so it’s essential that you prioritise sturdy, long life houseplants that don’t require much care. A Japanese peace lily is an excellent addition to any living room and doesn’t require heaps of attention. Alternatively, Flamingo flowers make a wonderful addition, with spider plants known for being particularly easy going plants.
Not the one you wear when it’s chilly, silly, but rather, a fresh, thought provoking coat of paint.
Bringing out your creative side and picking a colour scheme for your living room that matches your style and personality is key. When choosing a colour, bear in mind the psychology of colour when it comes to choosing your piece as different colours evoke certain feelings and elicit certain reactions. Yellow, for instance, is uplifting and associated with happiness and sunny dispositions while blue is known to soothe the mind because of its cool, calming and relaxing effect.
Some of the most classy colour tones to paint your living room currently on the market include teal, charcoal, peach, ecru and pistachio. Hmm, that sounds like a rather delicious meal, don’t you think?
Switch Up The Lighting
You might think that upgrading the lighting options in your living room is an expensive endeavour, but it doesn’t actually have to cost a whole lot of money or entail a full revamp. You can, instead, simply introduce table lamps at different heights, creating layers.
This works well since full on, bright overhead lights will likely lead to a clinical, functional feel, which is the opposite of what you should be channelling. Instead, consider a mixture of task, mood and ambient lighting for best results:
Mood lighting helps to set the mood in a room. This type of lighting tends to be low-light and warm, often creating shadows and pockets of intrigue.
Task lighting helps you to perform a specific task, such as a desk lamp illuminating a surface from which you write/illustrate/compose your masterpieces. It gives light to your workspace and provides a very specific job. It isn’t meant to light a whole room and instead creates focal point in one specific, designated space.
Ambient lighting is meant to be used throughout the home so that you can move from room to room without a transition too stark. It can replace sunlight during the evening hours, which means it should be bright enough to stand its ground in darker periods. Ambient lights tend to be wall or ceiling mounted.
Bring New Life To Window Treatments
Your windows are the eyes of your living room, and how you dress them can dramatically transform the atmosphere of the space. Tired, dusty curtains that have seen better days not only look shabby but can actively diminish the quality of light filtering through.
Consider swapping heavy drapes for something lighter and airier during the warmer months. Linen curtains offer a relaxed, breezy feel whilst still providing privacy when needed. For the cooler seasons, layering is key—thermal linings behind your decorative curtains can help keep heating costs down whilst adding a sumptuous, full-bodied look to your window dressings.
Don’t underestimate the impact of curtain hardware, either. Replacing basic plastic rails with wooden poles or sleek metal fixtures can elevate the entire window area. Position your curtain rails higher and wider than the actual window frame to create the illusion of larger windows and higher ceilings—a designer trick that works wonders in modest-sized rooms.
Curate A Thoughtful Art Display
Nothing says “this room is unloved” quite like bare walls or, worse yet, mass-produced prints that bear no connection to your personality. The art you choose to display speaks volumes about your character and can serve as brilliant conversation starters.
When selecting artwork, focus on pieces that genuinely move you rather than what’s currently trendy. Mix different mediums—perhaps a striking canvas painting alongside framed photography or textured wall hangings—to create visual interest. Gallery walls remain popular, but consider a more curated approach with fewer, more meaningful pieces grouped with intention.
Don’t shy away from commissioning something special from a local artist if budget allows. A bespoke piece not only supports the artistic community but ensures you have something truly unique. For the budget-conscious, vintage markets and charity shops often yield surprising treasures that, when professionally framed, can look remarkably sophisticated.
Declutter With Stylish Storage Solutions
A truly comfortable living room allows you to relax without visual reminders of life’s chaos. Yet many of us struggle to find the balance between practical storage and aesthetic appeal.
Built-in solutions offer the most streamlined approach—consider bookshelves that frame your television area or window seats with hidden compartments. If architectural changes aren’t possible, invest in furniture that works twice as hard, such as ottomans with lift-up tops, side tables with drawers, or elegant blanket boxes that double as coffee tables.
The key is to be ruthless about what deserves space in your living area. Those magazines from 2018? Recycle them. Remote controls? Corral them in a decorative box. Children’s toys? Designate attractive baskets that can be quickly filled when adult time approaches. Remember, there’s nothing more luxurious than negative space—areas where the eye can rest without encountering clutter. Your newly organised living room will feel significantly larger and more restful as a result.
Lighten Up The Floor
Though it’s underfoot and rarely examined in great detail, the floor is the part of the space that can alter your entire perception of your living room. Removing tired old carpet or that rug which now looks rather old fashioned rather than antique can lift the atmosphere of the room, and sanding down the floorboards and adding a lighter varnish can further brighten not just the floor, but the whole living room.
If this talk of flooring has piqued your excitement, firstly, you need to get out more. But more importantly, check out these 7 flooring ideas for your living room. You won’t regret it!
It’s a tale as old as time itself; staring into the abyss and wondering what happens once the lights go out. It’s natural to be gripped by a certain fearful feeling when contemplating life’s biggest question, and then to sweep it under the carpet along with all the other dust we eventually become.
But as a survey of just over 2,000 adults reported in the Financial Times revealed, more than two thirds of the UK population either hasn’t purchased any life insurance (57 per cent) or doesn’t know whether they have or not (11 per cent).
This, it turns out, may be a rather big mistake, particularly for those who have large debts such as mortgages, and/or partners or children who are financially dependent on them. However, choosing a policy can be complicated – and mistakes may have serious consequences. With that in mind, here are some of the main mistakes to avoid when you buy life insurance.
Waiting Too Long
In the vast majority of cases, the younger you are when you take out your life insurance policy, the cheaper it will be. This is primarily because, at a young age, you’re also less likely to have medical conditions that will impact the cost of insurance or your eligibility for certain policies.
Of course, your circumstances are likely to change as you get older, so make sure that your chosen policy is still appropriate if you go on to buy a house, get married, or have a child. You can always switch to a better deal as and when you need to.
Whilst we certainly wouldn’t want to make any assumptions about your levels of virtue, there are some people who are tempted to lie to insurers about medical issues and other factors that they think will drive up the cost of their policy. This is known as ‘non-disclosure’ within the insurance industry.
This is a big mistake. If and when you or your family make a claim, they will check your medical history and other details extremely carefully – and if they discover that you’ve withheld the truth, then it may well invalidate your policy.
The potential consequence of that is that your loved ones are left with nothing. Not only is this not worth the risk, but it also isn’t necessary. There are specific policies available for those with a medical problem that ensure you get the best cover at an affordable price regardless of your personal situation.
Not Doing Thorough Research
Life insurance policies can be confusing, so it’s vital that you do your research properly when choosing one. Here are some top tips to help you out:
Shop around and get quotes from multiple providers, then compare them closely to determine the best fit for you
Consider your family’s financial situation carefully, so you can determine exactly what type of cover you require – and ensure that you don’t overpay for cover that isn’t necessary
Read about the different types of life insurance policy that are out there (for example, whole life cover, decreasing term, increasing term and level term) so that you can make an informed decision about which will best suit your circumstances
Get advice from a professional if you’re still confused about which option to go for
Not Reviewing Your Policy Regularly
Life doesn’t stand still, and neither should your insurance coverage. Many policyholders make the critical mistake of filing away their policy documents and never giving them another thought.
Your circumstances will inevitably change over time—perhaps you’ll have more children, pay off your mortgage, or experience significant salary changes. It’s advisable to review your life insurance policy every few years or after major life events to ensure it still meets your needs. This is also an excellent opportunity to learn about IUL plans (Indexed Universal Life) and other newer options that might better suit your evolving financial situation.
Overlooking Tax Implications
A common oversight when arranging life insurance is failing to consider the potential tax burden on your beneficiaries. Without proper planning (some may, of course, call this ‘avoidance’), your life insurance payout could be subject to inheritance tax, significantly reducing the amount your loved ones receive.
Consider writing your policy ‘in trust’ — this legal arrangement ensures that the money goes directly to your named beneficiaries without becoming part of your estate for inheritance tax purposes. This simple step could save your family thousands of pounds in unnecessary taxation.
Focusing Only on Death Benefits
Many people don’t realise that some life insurance policies offer benefits that can be accessed during your lifetime. Particularly if you wish to learn about IUL plans and other comprehensive insurance products, you’ll discover options that combine life coverage with investment components or living benefits such as critical illness cover. These additional features might include access to funds if you become seriously ill or cash value that builds up over time. Whilst these policies typically cost more, they provide protection that extends beyond the traditional death benefit.
Types Of Insurance Policies
Finally, let’s look a little at the most common types of life insurance policy to consider:
Term life insurance – This is the most popular type of life insurance and will provide cover for a fixed period. A lot of the time, policyholders will reduce their premiums by agreeing to decrease term life insurance. However, the potential payout will also come down, typically in line with a repayment mortgage.
Whole life insurance – This results in a payout when you die. Even so, this reassuring security comes at a price and you’ll be paying premiums late into life.
Convertible term insurance – This offers a fixed term policy that can be changed to a whole of life or endowment policy at the end of term without having to provide additional medical evidence.
Over 50s life insurance – This type of policy is designed for people aged-50-79 and doesn’t involve questions or an assessment of the applicant’s medical health or history.
The Bottom Line
This might seem like hard work but putting in the effort to get the right life insurance policy is well worth it. It will give you peace of mind to know that the people you love will be financially stable after you’re gone, whether that’s enabling your partner to pay off the mortgage, covering the kids’ tuition fees, or simply ensuring that your funeral costs are handled. And you can’t put a price on peace of mind, after all.
We couldn’t agree more. Fresh off the back of a trip to Città del Sole, and with a wallet untroubled but a waistline widened, it’s truly striking just how fresh, flavoursome and affordable the food is there.
It shouldn’t need saying but we’ll do so anyway for those at the back; Naples’s culinary scene isn’t only about pizza. Sure, it’s the home of the stuff and the city plays host to many, many of the best pizzerias on the planet, both traditional and groundbreaking, but there’s so much more to enjoy about Neapolitan cuisine, from deep-fried street food snacks all the way to intricate fine dining.
Yep, Naples has got it all, but in a city where every corner houses a woodfired oven or a display of cream-filled sweet treats, it can be hard to separate the good from the great. We’re here for only the greatest; here are the very best restaurants in Naples.
L’antica Pizzeria da Michele
Ideal for, quite simply, the best pizza in Naples…
Of course, of course, we’re still going to talk about pizza in our rundown of the best restaurants in Naples. Because this delicious, democratic dish – arguably the world’s favourite – is just so well represented in the city of its birth.
The best in Naples? For us, it’s also the most simple; the one served at L’antica Pizzeria da Michele. A pizzeria steeped in history, da Michele has been doing its thing in the heart of Forcella since 1870. Only two food items are served here; a Marinara or a Margherita. Both are absurdly good – light, fresh and digestible, and irregular enough to be spilling off the sides of the plate when they hit the table. Both were just €5.50 when we visited last month.
This unassuming spot has garnered global fame, even featuring in the film Eat Pray Love. Despite its global recognition, L’antica Pizzeria da Michele remains a favourite with locals just as much as it’s become something of a box ticking exercise for tourists.
Though queues stretch down the street from its 10:30am opening until it closes 12 hours later, there’s a ticketing system that offers some hope against the crowds. Simply collect yours and pitch up at the much-maligned but massively convenient bar opposite, Caffetteria Brasilena Aperol Spritz, which has a decent view of the digital queue number sign. It ticks along reassuringly fast. You can even eat your pizza at the bar to circumnavigate the queue, if you wish.
50 Kalò, founded by the acclaimed pizzaiolo Ciro Salvo, has rapidly established itself as a cornerstone of Naples’ contemporary pizza scene, with Salvo one of the world’s most recognisable and acclaimed pizzaiolo.
Located in the bustling Mergellina district and overlooking an attractive roundabout, this pizzeria is celebrated for its scientific approach to dough-making, which has earned it a place in the prestigious 50 Top Pizza list, currently sitting at number 7 in the world.
The name 50 Kalò translates roughly to ‘good dough’ in Neapolitan slang, and Salvo, a third-generation pizza maker, is renowned for his meticulous attention to hydration levels in that dough, often reaching up to 70-80%. The result is an exceptionally light and airy crust. You’re going to hear the word ‘digestible’ a lot in this article, and the pizzas at 50 Kalò are most certainly that.
The menu at 50 Kalò features a blend of traditional and more innovative toppings, with a strong emphasis on high-quality, locally sourced ingredients. Signature pizzas include the Cosacca, which features a San Marzano tomato base and a liberal grating of Parmigiano Reggiano, a homage to an old Neapolitan recipe that’s been having something of a resurgence in recent years, and the Salsicce e Patate, a white pizza topped with piquant fennel sausage and small cubes of potato. No pizza here tops €10.
If a flight to Naples feels a little excessive just to get your hands on a €7 pizza, then you’ll be pleased to hear that since 2018 there has been a London branch of 50 Kalò. We’ve even included it on our list of the 22 two best pizzas in London. Do check it out sometime.
Founded by Gino Sorbillo (a pizzaiolo with serious pedigree – more on that later) in honour of his Aunt Esterina, Antica Pizza Fritta da Zia Esterina Sorbillo specialises in the art of pizza fritta, producing deep fried pizzas in the heart of Naples’s historic centre that aren’t in the least bit oily.
The Ripieno is the headliner, make no mistake, an indulgent affair filled with ricotta, smoked provola cheese, cicoli (pork crackling), and tomato sauce, encapsulating the essence of traditional Neapolitan flavours. Be warned; you’ll want to let this one sit for a few minutes prior to tucking in, as the middle is like lava when straight from the fryer.
With huge queues and just a couple of high top tables outfront on the street, this one should be tackled in a grab and go fashion. No matter; there are plenty of walls to sit on nearby.
*Please note that Da Fernanda, probably Naples’s most cherished pizza fritta purveyor and a regular of celebrity jaunts food around the city, sadly closed in 2023 due to the death of Nonna Fernanda. Our thoughts remain with her family*.
1947 Pizza Fritta Napoli
Ideal for taking your time over your pizza fritta…
With our buccal mucosa scalded and stripped of its lining, it might feel like folly to go seeking out a second fried pizza. But we simply can’t resist (which is kind of what got us in this mess in the first place), so we’re heading to 1947 Pizza Fritta Napoli next.
Just around the corner from L’antica Pizzeria da Michele in Forcella, this restaurant, named after the year it was founded, has perfected the art of the ol’ pizza fritta, with a dough that’s expertly fried to achieve a crispy exterior while maintaining a soft, airy interior. It ends up tasting a little sweet – doughnut-like, even – but once this gives way to the gorgeous fillings, it all makes sense, that sweetness a wonderful contrast to the smoked provola cheese, speck and Pienello tomato that makes up our favourite order, the Sophia.
The good thing about 1947 Pizza Fritta when compared to our old friend Sorbillo from a few paragraphs previous is that there’s plenty of seating available here, both indoors and out. When you consider just how well pizza fritta goes with a cold glass of Peroni, it only feels right to order a few of both and take your time.
Ideal for exemplary versions of Neapolitan classics in a convivial dining room…
We’ve typed ‘pizza’ so many times already that our ‘z’ key is starting to stick, so we’re heading into the tangle alleyways that make up Spaccanapoli next for something a little different.
Just off the main thoroughfare, you’ll find La Locanda Gesù Vecchio, an absolute gem of a trattoria that serves up hearty, generous Neapolitan dishes without frippery or fanfare.
The dining experience is both simple and informal, with closely set tables that invite a convivial atmosphere. The ziti with Genovese ragu is an obvious highlight, and seemed to be ordered by just about every table when we visited, as is the aubergine parmigiana, which was just so much lighter than just about any version we’ve had in the UK.
Hopefully, that might help you save room for dessert – these guys do the sweet stuff very well. The pastiera, a traditional Neapolitan dessert made with a sweet shortcrust pastry filled with ricotta and accented with orange blossom water, is very good indeed.
The fact that the restaurant has just two sittings an evening, with all guests sitting down at the same time at either 7pm or 9:30pm, creates a lively, sociable atmosphere. The eminently drinkable house wine for €20 and skilfully made Negroni for €7 certainly helps things along. Watch for the theatrical way they collect bottles of wine for the tables.
The restaurant’s success has even led to the opening of another venue on the same street. That hasn’t made it any easier to snag a reservation, though recently La Locanda Gesù Vecchio has started taking reservations over email. There’s a dedicated gluten free menu, too – a source of pride for the restaurant.
Ideal for Naples’s best ‘old school’ seafood experience…
Naples isn’t all about red sauces and starchy anchors. Being a coastal town and a major port, there’s also some fine seafood to be found in the city. Da Dora, to our mind, is the premier seafood restaurant in Naples, a wonderfully old school place – all nautical decor and photos of famous guests on the wall – that’s simply impossible to resist.
The standout dish here is without doubt the linguine alla Dora. Generously stacked with lobster, mussels, and fat prawns with their head juices still intact, all bound together with just a whisper of fresh tomato sauce, it’s a showstopper, and just so so good.
There’s the local classic spaghetti alle vongole too, the briny clams pert and sweet, as well as crisp, salty fritto misto featuring, pleasingly, whole anchovies, and a selection of crudo, the kitchen showing their confidence in the freshly landed produce.
A bottle of tight, fruity Biancolella white wine from across the way in Ischia is all you need to see this spanking seafood selection on its way. Oh, and a bib. You’ll definitely need a bib here…
Forgive us for returning to pizza so soon, but this is Naples after all, and the pizza is so digestible that it’s quite possible to have several in a single day. We certainly have…
La Notizia, helmed by the renowned pizzaiolo Enzo Coccia, is one of the most influential pizzerias in the world, and more than worthy of a spot on our list of the best 22 restaurants in Naples.
Coccia, a third-generation pizza maker and one the pioneers of the concept of ‘slow pizza’ which emphasises the importance of long fermentation times for the dough, has transformed his pizzeria into a culinary pilgrimage of sorts for aspiring pizzaiolo, earning it the distinction of being the first pizzeria in the world to be in the Michelin Guide all the way back in 2010.
He has even written a seminal book, The Neapolitan Pizza, a Scientific Guide on Artisanal Pizza-Making, and teaches at the Pizza University on his days off. What a guy.
Located on Via Michelangelo da Caravaggio, La Notizia is split into two venues on the same stretch: La Notizia 53 and La Notizia 94, each offering a slightly different menu but maintaining the same sky-high standards, of pliable, light-as-you-like dough and organic, locally-sourced toppings.
The pizzeria is also known for its rigorous selection of ingredients, all sourced from local producers and Slow Food Presidia, ensuring the highest quality and sustainability. Pizzas here straddle the innovative with the ancient, with the Mastunicola, an ancient recipe with lard, pecorino cheese and basil, a highlight. The Cetara, topped with anchovies from the Amalfi Coast, yellow tomatoes, and oregano, is another perfectly poised pizza from a true master of his craft. No wonder he’s affectionately nicknamed ‘The Maestro’.
Ideal for quite comfortably the best pizza on Via Della Pizza…
From the same team behind the acclaimed and always popular pizza fritta joint from a few paragraphs previous, Sorbillo is another of Naples’s most revered pizzerias. Located on Via dei Tribunali, it’s a cornerstone of Naples’ pizza scene, with a history dating back to 1935.
Founded by Luigi Sorbillo, the pizzeria is now helmed by his grandson, Gino Sorbillo, who has become a culinary icon (and something of a divisive figure) in his own right. Gino’s approach respects tradition while pushing boundaries, such as his use of organic flour, a meticulous 30-hour dough fermentation process, and, more recently, his introduction of a pineapple pizza to his menu.
The eponymous Sorbillo sits on the city’s so-called Via Della Pizza, a strip with several superb pizzerias. But Sorbillo is on another level altogether. This one gets busy, so be prepared to share a table or counter with other guests.
Ideal for the tastemaker’s number one pizza in the world…
Down by the waterfront but still nominally in Naples’s historic centre sits 10 Diego Vitagliano Pizzeria, which for the previous two years has been named as the best pizzeria in the world by the prestigious 50 Top Pizza awards.
Actually one of three outposts in the city (with one in Pozzuoli and one in Bagnoli), the Santa Lucia branch is our favourite, with a modern, airy feel to the dining room and plenty of terrace seating for those warmer Naples days.
Chef Vitagliano is a rising star in the pizza world, with his pizzas distinguished by their light, airy crusts, achieved through a meticulous 36-hour fermentation process and the use of a blend of high-quality flours. Toppings can be as prosaic and traditional as you like, or can veer off into the contemporary and even experimental, if you so wish. For a taste of the latter, try the Marinara Sbagliata (the incorrect marinara), which features a San Marzano DOP marmalade and wild garlic pesto. It’s a joy. There’s even a pizza tasting menu, if you’re feeling particularly hungry.
That said, and perhaps surprisingly for a place that’s been recognised for serving the world’s best pizza, the take on traditional Neapolitan snacks are perhaps the best thing here, with the deep fried pasta balls oozing with whipped ricotta and mortadella. So, so good.
Pair with a glass of sparkling red wine (as suggested by the team here), and relax into a pizzeria experience that straddles the traditional and the contemporary with real skill.
In the historic Materdei district, Starita a Materdei is a legendary pizzeria with roots dating back to 1901. Founded by Antonio Starita, this family-run establishment has been passed down through generations, with Don Antonio Starita currently at the helm.
The Montanara Starita, a lightly fried pizza that’s topped (rather than filled) with tomato sauce, provola cheese and basil, is the signature here, and a feat of some engineering – light but crisp, and not oily at all. It’s superb.
The absolute classics are excellent, too. We can’t resist their Diavola, which is – a rare thing with this type of pizza – nicely spicy but not absurdly salty. Pizza Express, take note!
Images via @pizzeriastarita
The warm, rustic interior, dressed up with vintage photographs and memorabilia, hammers home the pizzeria’s rich history. End with fried dough sticks (angioletti) dressed in a gorgeous pistachio cream or nutella for the full Startia experience.
Ideal for a classy, precise pasta tasting menu experience…
Piazza Municipio is a large public square sitting in the heart of Naples, known for its proximity to the historic Castel Nuovo and the city’s main port. Right opposite the castle, you’ll find one of Naples’s more contemporary pasta places; Di Martino Seafront Pasta Bar.
Opened by the Di Martino family, renowned pasta producers from nearby Gragnano, the restaurant seamlessly blends a pasta shop, take-away service, and a full dining establishment, all with a contemporary flair not exactly ubiquitous in a city still largely in thrall to old-school dining and tradition.
Pull up a pew at the horseshoe counter and watch the show commence, as skilled chefs perform endless mantecatura with the deftest wrist flicks. It’s all going into some seriously silky pasta.
The pick of the bunch on a recent visit was those appropriately shaped seashells tofette, which caught the sauce of broad beans and tuna bacon just beautifully. Equally good, and arriving in a neat little Jenga-style stack to remind you that this is a fancier operation than Nonna’s down the road in Quartieri Spagnoli, is the ziti with Genovese ragu. Glossy with added bone marrow, it’s an absolute treat.
Enjoy both on the a la carte menu for a premium price of €28 and €24 respectively, or as part of the restaurant’s pasta-based tasting menu (has there ever been a more enticing phrase?), which is a lavish nine-course affair priced at €100. Add a wine pairing option (much recommended – it was excellent) for an additional €40.
With operating hours from Tuesday to Sunday and views of the shimmering water and castle from the bright and airy dining room, it’s the ideal spot for a laid back but sophisticated lunch or dinner. Do note that it’s closed on Mondays.
Ideal for contemporary Neapolitan dining in artistic surrounds…
Sitting pretty (honestly, really bloody pretty) on one of Naples’s defining thoroughfares Via Toledo is the city’s history Banco di Napoli building, which now houses the Gallerie d’Italia museum. And inside that gallery is the fittingly easy-on-the-eye Luminist Café Bistrot.
Allow yourself to be enticed inside by the glass pasticceria display, which houses rows of intricately adorned pastries and cakes. Or, settle in for lunch proper (the restaurant closes at 6pm, but this is very much a lunch place in vibe and feel) and enjoy regional Campanian specialties and a few international twists for good measure.
The spaghetti with bottarga and lemon-spiked pangrattato is superb here, but you can go off-piste, too, with a hamburger, paella or even ceviche. Or, you could stick to the classics, as we did, and have yet another ziti alla Genovese. It’s just too good to ignore.
Luminist maintains a 30% minimum of natural wine on its wine list, amplifying its dedication to seasonal and organic fare. An air-conditioned, wheelchair-accessible environment ensures comfort for all guests. On a properly humid day in Naples, it’s such a welcome respite in here.
Ideal for celebrity spotting and old school fine dining…
A favourite of Diego Maradona during his time in Naples in the 1980s, Mimi alla Ferrovia has been frequented by celebrities and Neapolitan high society from the moment it first opened its doors back in 1944.
Though the tablecloths are starched white, the ceiling frescoed and the clientele celebrity, the vibe inside is refreshingly laid back. As is the food, with traditional Neapolitan and Campanian dishes served as they should be; generously proportioned and singing of their star ingredients. The ravioli of seabass – expertly made, naturally – arrives under several plump, still-pink prawns, whilst baby octopus is served with fresh tomatoes, olives and capers.
It’s refined but generous, and the service matches that sentiment, perfectly balancing attentiveness with privacy when required. In a city where the hospitality can occasionally be a touch brusque, Mimi alla Ferrovia stands out as something of a special occasion kind of place for its elegant pace. The fact Robert de Niro or even Alain Ducasse might be on the adjacent table certainly does no harm.
Ideal for Naples’s best Michelin-starred experience…
Speaking of special occasion sort of places, Palazzo Petrucci is the only Michelin-starred restaurant we’ve featured on our list of the best places to eat in Naples, owing to its breathtaking views of the Bay of Naples and its sophisticated seafood menu that offers a different take on the food of this most cherished part of Italy.
Designed by revered local architect Alfredo Galdi, the restaurant offers a modern, minimalist setting that perfectly complements chef Lino Scarallo’s intricate tasting menus. Notable dishes include a rare blue lobster stuffed with caponata and buffalo mozzarella paired with Sicilian red prawns. That said, the candele with Genovese reduction, snapper tartare, provola fondue and lemon zest is a dish that will be remembered for some time still.
Prices for the tasting menu here start at €100, though we’d highly recommend forking out on the six course seafood menu featuring raw fish for €150, which offers the most comprehensive introduction to Scarallo’s cuisine. It’s a superb, sophisticated dining evening, and our favourite fine dining experience in Naples.
The pizzeria that operates under the Palazzo Petrucci umbrella, back in the city centre, is also excellent.
Crudore, on the edge of the attractive Villa Comunale, places an emphasis on raw fish which sets it apart in Naples’s culinary landscape.
Even if the name passes you by (a pun which means ‘king of the raw’), you’ll feel the freshness of the offering as you walk through the dining room to your table, with a huge display of sea bream, langoustines and more over ice assuring you that the catch is glistening. Of course, there are walls made up of fish tanks, reiterating that point.
That fish is served with real panache, delicately assembled and sliced just right, with Japanese influences peppered throughout. If they’ve got sea urchin on display, order it; we’ve had two superb preparations of the stuff on previous visits to CrudoRe’. That said, for those squeamish about raw fish, there’s still plenty to enjoy, including excellent clam ravioli and seafood risotto, the latter brought to life with fresh stracciatella.
The cellar is stacked, too, with 450 labels of champagne and 550 of wine. Sure, it’s all a bit (well, a lot) bling and brash, but when the food is this good, we’re not complaining.
Ideal for a gold standard version of Naples’s favourite sweet treat…
Neapolitans are just as crazy about their sweet stuff as they are seafood and pizza, and arguably the headlining sweet treat in the city (rum baba might have something to say about that) is the iconic pastry sfogliatelle, a a crispy, layered pastry filled with sweet ricotta cheese and candied citrus peel. God, it’s good.
La Sfogliatella Mary, in the bustling Galleria Umberto I, is known citywide for its mastery of the iconic Neapolitan pastry. Established in 1979, this small yet renowned pastry shop has become a pilgrimage site for pastry enthusiasts. The sfogliatelle, available in both ‘riccia’ (curly) and ‘frolla’ (smooth) varieties, is crafted with meticulous attention to detail.
The riccia version features a crisp, multi-layered shell filled with a fragrant mixture of ricotta, semolina, candied citrus, and a hint of cinnamon, while the frolla offers a tender, shortcrust pastry alternative. We’re very much here for the former variety, which, to our mind, is the best in the city.
La Sfogliatella Mary also excels in other traditional pastries of the region, such as baba and pastiera, but it is the sfogliatella that truly steals the show. Hence the name.
Ideal for artisanal gelato in both traditional and inventive flavours…
We’re on a roll (and a sugar high) in terms of sweet treats now, so we’re heading to Casa Infante, a cherished name in Naples synonymous with artisanal gelato and traditional Neapolitan pastries.
Founded in 1940, this family-run gelateria and pastry shop has built a reputation for its commitment to quality and innovation. Casa Infante’s gelato, made from the finest Campanian ingredients, offers a wide array of flavours, from classic pistachio and stracciatella to inventive combinations like ricotta and pear.
With multiple locations across Naples, Casa Infante always seems to pop up when you most need it. As in, when you’re hot, sticky and in need of a refreshing, cooling pick-me-up.
Speaking of pick-me-ups, the espresso here is excellent, too. And since you’re here, why not pick up a jar of baba soaked in rum to take home? It makes the ideal souvenir!
Another pit stop for a Neapolitan sugar hit, we’re heading to Pasticceria Poppella next. Nestled in the Rione Sanità district, it’s renowned as a historic pastry shop renowned for its innovative and traditional confections. Established in 1920, Poppella has become a household name, particularly famous for its signature creation, the ‘Fiocco di Neve’ (Snowflake).
This delicate pastry, a soft brioche filled with a light, creamy ricotta and milk mixture, has garnered a cult following for its combination of indulgence and cloud-like texture that disappears in a couple of bites. We are very much one of that following, as, it seems, is most of Naples. You can expect to queue here, so order several to take away.
Ideal for cones of freshly fried fried small fish…
Sweet stuff for starters and fish for dessert? Feels a funny way round, granted, but you don’t have to follow this rundown of the IDEAL 22 places to eat in Naples in order, of course. Neither do you have to eat at all of these places in a single day. That would be mental…
Anyway, just beyond the tightly knotted, always shaded streets of Centro Storico, in a part of town that feels like you’re coming up for air and bursting into the light, is Montesanto and its Pignasecca Market. Lively as hell and full of debate, bartering and the odd quarrel, there’s an irresistible energy to proceedings here, and nowhere is this better exemplified than Pescheria Azzurra, a seafood lover’s paradise that has been serving the community since 1950.
This family-run fish market and eatery is renowned for its fresh seafood, sourced daily from the nearby Tyrrhenian Sea and displayed on ice in the open air, with Neapolitans dropping by in a constant stream to inspect the catch.
What sets Pescheria Azzurra apart is its ‘from catch-to-table’ experience, where diners can select their seafood directly from the market and have it cooked on-site. The signature here is the frittura di paranza, a mixed fry of small fish, but you’ll get the classic Campanian pasta dishes too. There are tables, sure, and a predictably chaotic queue for them, but it’s just as nice to order a cone of fried fish, a beer or two, and just pitch up against the wall opposite to take in the show.
No trip to Naples (or roundup of the best restaurants in Naples) would be complete without a meal at Trattoria Da Nennella. Or, more precisely, no trip to Naples would be complete without being gently ribbed by the staff at this infamous trattoria.
Because that’s all part of the fun at Trattoria Da Nennella, a place where the hearty, roughly hewn renditions of Neapolitan homestyle dishes play second fiddle to the spectacle of service (where a waiter might suddenly be playing an actual fiddle, let’s be honest).
In the business since 1949, there’s plate throwing, insult chucking and chanting galore here, a theatrical experience that pairs surprisingly well with the pasta e patate and salsiccia e friarielli. The trattoria’s rustic yet somehow flashy decor, with its chequered tablecloths and vintage photos (what else?), adds to the fabric of the place, and the slightly fabricated vibe, it has to be said.
Idealfor legendary Neapolitan homecooking in the corner of a covered market…
Shimmy through the throbbing activity of Mergellina’s covered market, perhaps vaulting over a couple of crates of fresh fruit and veg in the process. Make for the far corner of the arcade and the crowds of hungry diners, all seeking a plate or two of home-cooked food from one of Naples’s most iconic kitchens.
There is no printed menu here, no waiters. Instead, what’s cooked is what’s fresh and seasonal from the market. Simply make your order at the counter (you’ll pay here once you’re finished, too) and keep one roving eye on any of the three or four tables. Be ready to pounce when a free one emerges.
Though it might not be on when you visit, we’ve enjoyed the finest spaghetti alla puttanesca of our life here; a properly briny, spicy version which had been cooked low and slow in good quality olive oil until almost confited. We’ve heard great things about the kitchen’s pasta e fagioli, too.
Cibi Cotti Nonna Anna first opened its doors in 1963 as a humble take-away kitchen. It wasn’t until the 1980s that the restaurant expanded to include tables. Now, it does both takeaway and sit-down. Though Nonna Anna Pappalardo sadly passed away in 2017, her children keep the name alive and the place is as bustling as ever. So bustling, in fact, that we wouldn’t recommend coming here between 1pm and 2pm, when office workers come in their droves – the ultimate compliment on the quality of the food, we think!
Cibi Cotti Nonna Anna is only open between midday and 3:30pm, and is closed on Sundays.
We end in the Vomero district, at Braceria Pastore. We’ve gorged on all our sweet treats during the day, as is the Neapolitan tradition, so we’re ending our tour of the best food in Naples instead with a steak. This is a city that doesn’t play by the rules, after all.
This family-owned braceria (simply meaning ‘steakhouse’) has built a reputation for serving some of the finest cuts of meat in the city, sourced from local farms and expertly prepared over an open flame. The menu features a variety of meats, including the headlining steaks, lamb chops, and the signature salsiccia napoletana (Neapolitan sausage), all blistered and burnished on the grill until smoky. Honestly, after an orgy of pastry, pasta and pizza, a big ol’ hunk of meat is just the ticket.
Don’t expect the usual steakhouse staging of wooden beams and exposed brick walls; the vibe here is more simple, with a few cream leather banquettes and stark overhead lighting. Not to worry; it only serves to illuminate the perfect bark and blushing centre on that steak. You know what? We might just stay here a while and admire this thing…
A change in the seasons always seems to signal a shift in the state of our nails, hair and skin, too. It feels like the sudden onset of spring this year is no different.
As the days get longer and warmer, and the humidity drops significantly, you may well have noticed a change in your hair’s fortunes. If you are struggling with thinning, frizzing, dry hair, or split ends, you’re probably eager to improve your hair’s strength and shine.
While your genes or a medical condition can sometimes determine your hair strength and volume, there are also some simple, habitual actions you can take to improve your hair health and ensure the most voluminous, controllable locks possible.
If you would like to ensure full, fabulous hair and transform the look and feel of your ‘do, then read on; here are 7 top tips for strengthening your hair this spring.
Turn Down The Heat
Heated styling tools, such as straighteners and hairdryers, can do damage to your hair when used regularly, as part of any styling routine you might have. If you often experience dry or fine hair, be aware that excess heat can weaken your locks, and your hair could experience damage and frizz from exposure to such high heat levels.
If you need to use a hairdryer, keep it six inches away from your hair and avoid using it on one spot for too long, constantly moving the air around to avoid scorching. Go further, and invest in a heat protection product to prevent damage. There are several excellent heat protection sprays and formulas currently on the market.
Absorb More Vitamins
They say that ‘’you are what you eat”, and this is certainly true for your hair. Your hair is one hungry protein filament, and needs vitamins to support its health and growth. Accordingly, your diet feeds into your hair, and if you have a nutritional deficiency, you could be prone to hair thinning or loss. On the flip side, absorbing more vitamins can repair your locks and improve your hair’s health.
Vitamin C, in particular, is essential for hair health. When you absorb vitamin C, your body can then create collagen, which is a protein that is essential for hair structure. What’s more, it can increase the body’s iron absorption, which will support hair growth, too.
While it’s certainly important to keep your hair clean, you might be overdoing it on the shampoo. Using too much can strip natural oils from your hair, and that’s even before we consider the temperature of the water in your shower, which, when too hot, can wreak further havoc on your hair. The experts recommend limiting the frequency of your hair washes to twice a week, and try not to use more than 10 millilitres of shampoo in one go to maintain its health.
Doing so more regularly than this could result in dryness and weakened follicles.
A Scalp Massage
Massaging your scalp (or even better, getting someone to do it for you!) can improve blood flow to your hair follicles, which may, in the long run, result in thicker, stronger hair.
Treat yourself to a four-minute scalp massage each day to increase its strength and thickness over time; be sure to apply pressure with your fingertips and use circular motions for best (and most relaxing) results.
Eating a diet which limits sources of protein may occasionally lead to hair thinning. This is because follicles require protein for growth, and as such, it’s wise to maintain a healthy, balanced diet if you want healthy, luscious locks. Some key sources of protein include:
Lean meats
Oily fish (like salmon and mackerel)
Eggs
Seeds and nuts
Beans and legumes
Spinach
Kale
You could also strengthen your follicles by applying an egg yolk mask. In addition to featuring protein, yolks include folate, biotin, and vitamins A and D, which can improve hair health and growth.
Consider Natural Oils
Incorporating natural oils into your hair care routine can work wonders for strengthening and nourishing your locks. Argan oil, coconut oil, and jojoba oil are particularly beneficial as they penetrate the hair shaft and provide deep moisturisation without weighing your hair down.
Apply a small amount to damp hair, focusing on the mid-lengths and ends, to seal in moisture and reduce breakage. For an intensive treatment, massage warm coconut oil into your scalp and throughout your hair, leave it on overnight, and wash it out in the morning. This regular practice can help restore shine, reduce frizz, and create a protective barrier against environmental damage. Remember that a little goes a long way—start with a pea-sized amount and adjust as needed for your hair length and thickness.
Address Early Signs Of Hair Loss
If you’ve noticed more hair than usual in your brush or shower drain, don’t panic—addressing hair loss early can make a significant difference. As the team behind The Treatment Rooms London tell us, hair thinning affects many people, particularly as they age, but there are several approaches to manage it effectively.
First, consult your GP or a trichologist to rule out any underlying health conditions. Consider trying caffeine-infused shampoos, which have shown promise in stimulating hair growth when used consistently. Supplements containing biotin, zinc, and iron may also support hair retention, though it’s best to have your levels tested before beginning any regimen. Minimise tight hairstyles that pull on your follicles, such as ponytails or buns, as these can contribute to traction alopecia over time.
Most importantly, manage stress through mindfulness, yoga, or meditation, as chronic stress can significantly impact hair growth cycles. Remember that consistency is key—most treatments take at least three months to show visible improvement.
The Bottom Line
Full, manageable hair doesn’t come easily. Indeed, luscious locks need nurturing and feeding if they’re to remain at their best throughout spring and beyond. Good luck!
The term ’boutique hotel’ now appears so frequently in London’s hospitality landscape that you might be forgiven for wondering if any joint with fewer than 300 rooms has adopted the label. Yet beyond the marketing veneer lies a genuine movement—a collection of fiercely independent properties offering experiences tough to duplicate or franchise.
These singular hotels—each with its own distinct narrative—have emerged as the thinking traveller’s alternative to both budget chains and luxury monoliths. They represent London at its most authentic: occasionally eccentric, perpetually creative, and stubbornly resistant to homogenisation.
From Georgian townhouses where history seeps through the floorboards to reimagined municipal buildings where public service has transformed into private pleasure, these establishments offer accommodations that transcend mere convenience to become destinations in themselves.
Here are ten of London’s most compelling boutique hotels — each with fewer than 100 rooms, independent vision, and the kind of distinct personality that transforms a visit into something approaching temporary citizenship.
The Zetter Townhouse, Clerkenwell
Behind a Georgian façade in Clerkenwell sits what feels like the private residence of an eccentric collector rather than a commercial hotel. The 13-room Zetter Townhouse deliberately cultivates this illusion through its fictional muse, wicked Great Aunt Wilhelmina, whose imagined tastes dictate the property’s gloriously maximalist design.
The hotel’s cocktail lounge doubles as reception, immediately signalling this isn’t standard hospitality. Here, taxidermy creatures watch over proceedings while staff mix drinks from Tony Conigliaro’s menu—concoctions that might incorporate lacto-fermented fruits or distilled soil. Yes, soil.
We love this hotel’s absolute commitment to character over convention. Rooms feature details like wrought-iron four-posters and freestanding copper bathtubs, while still offering proper reading lights and sensible plug locations—proving imagination and functionality needn’t be mutually exclusive.
Clerkenwell itself suits the hotel perfectly; this ancient parish was once home to watchmakers and printworks before becoming a hub for architectural practices and design studios. Like the hotel, it balances historical richness with contemporary creativity. There is now a second in Marylebone.
Whilst Soho has transformed repeatedly over centuries, Hazlitt’s remains defiantly unchanged on Frith Street. Occupying four connected Georgian houses, the hotel takes its name from essayist William Hazlitt, who spent his final days in what now serves as one of 30 guest rooms, each preserving period authenticity without descending into theme-park historicism.
Hazlitt’s resists modern hotel conventions at every turn. There’s no reception desk—instead, you’re welcomed in a wood-panelled lounge. Televisions exist but remain hidden in vintage cabinets. Bathrooms feature restored Victorian plumbing fixtures that occasionally require patience but deliver character absent from contemporary counterparts.
The hotel cultivates a literary connection through both its namesake and its guest list—many publishers house their authors here during promotional tours, resulting in a library of signed works from regulars like Tartt, Rushdie and Rowling.
Staying at Hazlitt’s means embracing certain quirks: floorboards that announce your every movement, staircases unsuited to rolling luggage, and plumbing that occasionally voices opinions. These aren’t flaws but essential components of its authenticity—something increasingly precious as Soho undergoes its latest reinvention from media district to tourist thoroughfare. Oh, and you’re only a couple of minutes away from some of our favourites restaurants in Soho, including Quo Vadis on Dean Street.
If Hazlitt’s looks backward, The Mandrake thrusts itself forward with theatrical intensity. Named after a plant associated with mysticism and hallucinatory properties, this 34-room hotel in Fitzrovia delivers an experience deliberately designed to disorient and enthrall.
The entrance—an unassuming black door on Newman Street—gives little indication of what awaits: a central courtyard wrapped in three storeys of hanging jasmine and passionflower, creating a vertical garden that seems to defy urban possibility. This juxtaposition between stark exterior and lush interior sets the tone for a property that continually plays with perception.
The Mandrake’s rooms progress from merely striking to actively surreal. The Penthouse features a bathroom carved from a single massive block of Veronese marble, while the Jurema Penthouse includes a private outdoor bathing area surrounded by medicinal plants.
What makes The Mandrake genuinely boutique isn’t just its limited room count but its divisive vision—this is hospitality with conviction rather than broad appeal, creating an experience impossible to replicate elsewhere.
Henrietta Hotel, Covent Garden
The Experimental Group made their name with cocktail bars before expanding into hotels, and this heritage informs every aspect of the 18-room Henrietta Hotel. Occupying two townhouses just metres from Covent Garden’s bustle, the property demonstrates how thoroughly French sensibilities can reinvigorate British tradition.
Designer Dorothée Meilichzon has created rooms that reference both the building’s Victorian origins and 1970s Italian design—think geometric headboards, terrazzo bathrooms, and brass fixtures that develop patina rather than receiving regular polishing to manufactured perfection.
The jewel in Henrietta’s crown is arguably its newly reimagined restaurant, Henri. Here, celebrated British chef Jackson Boxer (of Brunswick House fame) has created something far more intriguing than standard hotel fare. While the marble-topped tables, ceiling murals and gilt candlesticks suggest traditional Parisian bistro, the menu delivers delightful subversion. Dishes like fried pied de cochon with bier mustard, vegan carrot râpée with black olive and sesame, and bavette steak with Szechuan peppercorns and XO-infused cognac sauce create what Time Out called “a reflection of modern Paris, a place often thwarted by its own monolithic history.”
The restaurant, recently redesigned by Meilichzon herself, offers both indoor seating and a sun-drenched terrace—rare outdoor space in this densely built neighbourhood. While many hotel restaurants feel like afterthoughts, Henri functions as genuine destination dining that enhances the property’s appeal for both guests and locals.
What sets the Henrietta apart isn’t flashy amenities but confident restraint. By focusing on fundamentals—genuinely comfortable beds, thoughtful lighting, proper soundproofing—and adding carefully considered details like books selected by Mayfair’s Heywood Hill booksellers, it achieves a subtle balance between style and substance often missing in design-led properties.
Batty Langley’s, Spitalfields
Named after an 18th-century designer who published guides for creating “genteel” interiors, Batty Langley’s embraces historical cosplay with rare conviction. The 29 rooms occupy reconstructed Georgian buildings on Folgate Street, just steps from the Liverpool Street financial district but atmospherically centuries removed.
The owners—the same team behind Hazlitt’s—have sourced genuine antiques rather than reproductions, creating environments that feel genuinely lived-in rather than artificially aged. Four-poster beds, oil portraits and reading nooks tucked into unexpected corners create spaces that reward exploration.
What separates Batty Langley’s from heritage hotels is its playful relationship with history. Bathrooms hidden behind bookcases acknowledge both period accuracy (Georgians didn’t feature plumbing prominently) and modern preferences for privacy, while the ‘necessarium’ (toilet) might take the form of a mahogany throne that makes every visit ceremonial.
The absence of standard hotel facilities—there’s no restaurant, just breakfast delivered to your room and an honesty bar in the library—reinforces the illusion of staying in a private home rather than a commercial property.
Spitalfields itself embodies the tensions in contemporary London between preservation and development, chain retailers and independent businesses, financial wealth and creative capital. Batty Langley’s sits confidently amid these contradictions, offering a perspective distinctly its own.
Not all boutique hotels require investment banker budgets. The Pilgrm (deliberately misspelled) demonstrates how thoughtful design can create distinctive experiences at accessible price points. Occupying a Victorian building near Paddington Station, it strips away unnecessary hotel conventions to focus on what actually matters to contemporary travellers.
Gone are minibars, telephones, reception desks and other hospitality relics. Instead, guests check in online and find their rooms equipped with basics executed exceptionally well: proper mattresses, rainfall showers, reliable WiFi and Marshall speakers. Salvaged materials—parquet flooring reclaimed from elementary schools, mahogany staircase balusters repurposed as clothing hooks—add character while reflecting environmental consciousness.
The Pilgrm’s 73 rooms range from compact singles (‘Bunk’) to more generous doubles, but all share an aesthetic that respects the building’s Victorian bones while incorporating contemporary necessities. The lounge serves exceptional coffee, natural wines and contemporary comfort food with minimal fuss.
What makes The Pilgrm genuinely boutique isn’t fabricated eccentricity but confident purposefulness—this is hospitality that knows exactly what it wants to be and doesn’t waste energy pretending otherwise.
The Rookery, Clerkenwell
While Clerkenwell now houses design studios and architectural practices, its name derives from ‘Clerk’s Well’—a medieval water source where parish clerks performed religious plays. This layered history informs The Rookery, a 33-room hotel occupying three restored 18th-century townhouses on a cobbled lane near Smithfield Market.
‘Rookery’ historically described crowded tenements, but this modern incarnation offers precisely the opposite—spacious rooms named after former local residents, furnished with antiques chosen for comfort rather than merely appearance. Four-poster beds, working fireplaces and roll-top baths create environments that invite lingering.
Unlike boutique hotels that mistake discomfort for character, The Rookery balances period authenticity with modern expectations. Heating works properly, beds don’t sag, and bathrooms deliver consistent hot water through fixtures that merely look Victorian.
The property’s heart is its small library featuring an honesty bar and open fire—a room that has hosted everything from publishing negotiations to marriage proposals. Without restaurant or spa facilities, The Rookery concentrates on creating somewhere genuinely restful in a city that rarely stops moving.
Clerkenwell’s evolution from medieval religious centre to industrial zone to creative hub means guests step outside into streets where 12th-century priory ruins stand alongside brutalist council estates and contemporary glass offices—a physical timeline of London’s continuous reinvention.
Town Hall Hotel, Bethnal Green
When the Town Hall Hotel opened in 2010, Bethnal Green wasn’t an obvious location for luxury accommodation. This former municipal building—a magnificent 1910 Edwardian structure with 1930s extensions—demonstrates how thoughtful architecture can both preserve heritage and create something entirely new.
The 97 rooms occupy former council offices and public spaces, ranging from snug ‘feature doubles’ to expansive apartments. Original architectural elements—marble staircases, wooden panelling, Art Deco windows—remain intact while accommodating contemporary necessities. The former council chamber now serves as an event space, its public gallery and speaker’s podium preserved rather than removed.
https://www.townhallhotel.com/home
Unlike boutique hotels that rely on decorative flourishes, Town Hall Hotel’s distinctiveness emerges from its fundamental structure—high ceilings, generous windows and architectural details that couldn’t be replicated in new construction. The concrete and brass additions by architects Rare complement rather than compete with the original elements.
The hotel houses two remarkable dining venues helmed by Chef Rafael Cagali—Da Terra, a two Michelin-starred fine-dining concept offering intricate 5-10 course tasting menus, and Restaurant Elis, a more relaxed interpretation of Cagali’s Brazilian-Italian heritage featuring rustic dishes and elegant snacks. For drinks, the Silk Weaver bar provides artful cocktails, while the Assembly Lounge—formerly where the Council would convene—offers light bites and refreshments throughout the day.
What makes Town Hall Hotel truly boutique isn’t just its independent ownership but its genuine relationship with its neighbourhood. Rather than creating a fortress against local reality, it serves as community hub through its restaurants, bars and public spaces, offering visitors authentic connection with an area often missing from tourist itineraries.
Portobello Hotel, Notting Hill
Long before Notting Hill became synonymous with a certain Hugh Grant film, the Portobello Hotel was quietly establishing itself as London’s most discreet rock-and-roll refuge. Occupying two connected Victorian townhouses on Stanley Gardens, this 21-room hotel has hosted everyone from Johnny Depp to Kate Moss without ever releasing tell-all memoirs.
Each room presents a distinct personality, from the split-level ‘Tree House’ to room 16 with its seven-foot circular bed. Victorian bathtubs—including one infamous champagne-filled incident involving a famous model—stand proudly in bedrooms rather than being relegated to separate bathrooms.
What distinguishes the Portobello is its genuine individuality in an area increasingly defined by international wealth. While Notting Hill has transformed from bohemian enclave to banker territory, the hotel maintains its slightly shabby elegance, valuing character over perfection.
The absence of a restaurant underscores the Portobello’s residential feeling, though breakfast arrives via room service, and honesty bars on each floor encourage independent mixing. The drawing room provides records, board games and newspapers—amusements requiring neither passwords nor chargers.
The Boundary Project, Shoreditch
Sir Terence Conran’s design influence shaped British tastes for decades, and The Boundary Project represents his vision for what urban hospitality could be. Occupying a converted Victorian warehouse on Redchurch Street, the project incorporates 17 hotel rooms, three restaurants, multiple bars and a bakery—creating a vertical village rather than merely accommodation.
Each room draws inspiration from different design movements or practitioners—the Bauhaus Room features furniture from Breuer and Le Corbusier, while the Scandinavian Room showcases pieces by Wegner and Jacobsen. Unlike superficial design hotels that merely mimic iconic styles, these rooms contain genuine collectible pieces within spaces that actually function as places to live temporarily.
The rooftop restaurant and bar—with views across East London’s transformed skyline—attracts as many locals as visitors, creating a genuine neighbourhood presence rather than tourist isolation.
What makes Boundary genuinely boutique is its integration of different functions that could exist independently but create something greater through proximity—hospitality as ecosystem rather than mere service provision.
The Bottom Line
What separates London’s finest boutique hotels from both budget chains and luxury behemoths isn’t simply room count or ownership structure but their ability to create experiences impossible to replicate elsewhere. Through deliberate design choices, location-specific programming and genuine connection to their surroundings, these properties offer something increasingly rare: a sense of place.
In an era of international standardisation—where hotel rooms from Bangkok to Barcelona increasingly resemble one another—these distinctive properties remind us that true luxury isn’t marble bathrooms or thread counts but the opportunity to experience somewhere genuinely unique. These aren’t just places to sleep but portals into different versions of London—each offering perspective impossible to gain from guidebooks or passing visits.
There’s something rather magical about exploring Japan on two wheels. Perhaps it’s the way morning light filters through bamboo forests as you pedal along quiet country roads, or how the glittering Pacific appears suddenly around a bend in coastal Hokkaido.
In a country where ancient tradition harmonises with cutting-edge modernity, cycling offers the perfect rhythm to experience both worlds – fast enough to traverse diverse landscapes, yet slow enough to absorb every nuance of Japanese culture that might otherwise slip by in a bullet train blur.
Japan presents a cyclist’s paradise that remains surprisingly undiscovered by Western tourists. From perfectly maintained roads winding through volcanic landscapes to dedicated cycling routes connecting rural villages, the Land of the Rising Sun offers unparalleled adventures for cyclists of all abilities.
Today, we’re exploring some of Japan’s most spectacular cycling destinations, with recommendations on routes, journey lengths, must-see sights, and places to rest your weary legs. Strap on your helmet, fill your water bottle with green tea, and join us as we pedal through Japan’s most breathtaking scenery…
When Is The Best Time To Go On A Cycling Holiday In Japan?
The ideal time for cycling in Japan falls within two distinct seasons: spring (April to June) and autumn (September to November). Spring offers the legendary cherry blossom season, with pink petals carpeting the countryside, while autumn transforms the landscape into a blazing tapestry of red and gold maple leaves.
Avoid the rainy season (June to mid-July) when downpours can be persistent, and the sweltering humidity of summer (July-August), particularly in central and southern regions. Winter cycling is possible in southern areas like Kyushu, but the northern regions become snow-covered and best left to other adventures.
Japan’s climate varies dramatically from north to south, so pack accordingly. A lightweight waterproof jacket is essential year-round, and layers are your best friend for adapting to changing temperatures as you climb mountains or descend to coastal plains.
Rental bikes are widely available in major tourist destinations, with options ranging from city cruisers to high-end road bikes. Most cycling-focused regions now offer convenient luggage forwarding services, allowing you to pedal unencumbered while your suitcase meets you at the next accommodation.
Now, let’s clip in and explore Japan’s most rewarding cycling routes.
The Shimanami Kaido
Ideal For: Casual cyclists and architecture enthusiasts
The Shimanami Kaido ranks as Japan’s most famous cycling route, and for good reason. This 70-kilometre spectacular connects Honshu and Shikoku islands via six smaller islands in the Seto Inland Sea, crossing each span on dedicated cycling lanes that run alongside (but safely separated from) vehicle traffic.
What makes this route truly special isn’t just the engineering marvel of its bridges, but how each island offers distinct character and attractions, from citrus groves and sandy beaches to traditional pottery villages and contemporary art installations.
Photo by Jan Bouken: https://www.pexels.com/photo/the-shimanami-kaido-in-japan-8193003/
Cyclists can comfortably complete the full route in one day, though a leisurely two-day journey allows time to explore the islands thoroughly. The terrain remains largely gentle with a few moderate climbs onto the bridges, making this accessible to cyclists of nearly all fitness levels.
Bicycle rental stations at both ends and on the islands allow for one-way trips, with excellent signage throughout. For overnight stays, consider the design-forward Cyclonoie guesthouse on Omishima island, which caters specifically to cyclists with secure storage and maintenance facilities.
Culinary Specialties Along The Way: The route is famous for fresh seafood, particularly grilled sea bream and octopus, along with Setouchi lemons and locally-crafted craft beers that make for perfect post-ride refreshment.
The Northern Alps Traverse
Ideal For: Mountain lovers and endurance cyclists
For those seeking a more challenging adventure, the mountainous routes through Japan’s Northern Alps offer epic climbs, breathtaking descents, and scenery that rivals Europe’s most celebrated alpine passes.
A recommended route starts in historic Takayama and makes its way through the prefecture of Nagano, covering approximately 230 kilometres over 4-5 days. This journey takes you over several passes exceeding 1,500 metres in elevation, with the iconic Venus Line providing some of Japan’s most dramatic mountain vistas.
Cyclists should prepare for serious climbing, with some gradients reaching 10% or more. Your efforts are rewarded with pristine mountain lakes, steaming onsen (hot spring) towns, and forests that transform spectacularly with the seasons. Wildlife sightings of macaque monkeys and even the occasional black bear (from a safe distance) add to the adventure.
Accommodation options range from traditional ryokans in onsen towns like Kamikochi to cyclist-friendly guesthouses in Matsumoto. One distinctive highlight is staying at Shirahone Onsen, where the naturally milky-white hot springs provide perfect therapy for cycling-weary muscles.
Culinary Specialties Along The Way: Mountain regions offer hearty fare like soba noodles, hoba miso (local vegetables and miso grilled on magnolia leaves), and seasonal wild mountain vegetables that taste extraordinarily revitalising after a day of climbing.
The Wakayama Coastal Route
Ideal For: Spiritual seekers and coastal scenery enthusiasts
The Wakayama peninsula south of Osaka offers an extraordinary blend of spiritual pilgrimage routes, dramatic Pacific coastlines, and tranquil rural villages seemingly frozen in time.
A recommended 140-kilometre route follows sections of the ancient Kumano Kodo pilgrimage path (adapted for cycling) and the stunning coastal roads of the Kii Peninsula. This journey typically takes 3-4 days, connecting sacred sites of the UNESCO-listed Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range.
The terrain varies from gentle coastal riding to moderate inland climbs, with short challenging sections that might require dismounting for all but the most experienced cyclists. What makes this route special is the seamless blend of natural beauty and spiritual heritage, from the towering Nachi Falls to the grand Kumano Sanzan shrines.
Accommodation highlights include temple lodgings (shukubo) at Koyasan, where you can join Buddhist monks for morning meditation, and traditional minshuku guesthouses in fishing villages where your dinner was likely swimming that morning.
Culinary Specialties Along The Way: Wakayama is renowned for its tuna, bonito flakes (katsuobushi), and umeboshi (pickled plums), with mehari-zushi (rice balls wrapped in pickled mustard leaves) making perfect cycling snacks. The higher elevations of the peninsula also produce excellent sencha tea – Japan’s most popular green tea variety – and many small producers offer tastings where you can sample this revitalising brew between rides.
The Hokkaido Dairy Loop
Ideal For: Nature lovers and those seeking wide open spaces
Japan’s northernmost island presents a cycling experience utterly different from the rest of the country, with vast plains reminiscent of European countryside, dramatic volcanoes, and significantly fewer people.
A popular 300-kilometre route circles through eastern Hokkaido’s dairy country, starting and ending in Kushiro, passing through the picturesque Akan-Mashu National Park and the flower fields of Biei. This journey typically takes 5-7 days, offering a sense of remoteness rarely found elsewhere in Japan.
Cyclists enjoy wide, well-maintained roads with minimal traffic, making this region particularly appealing for those who prefer tranquility over tourist hotspots. The terrain alternates between flat farmland and moderate hills, with a few challenging climbs into volcanic areas that reward with otherworldly crater lakes and steaming fumaroles.
Wildlife encounters make this route especially memorable, with potential sightings of Hokkaido red foxes, tancho cranes, and even abundant deer. Accommodations range from dairy farm stays to lakeside hotels with natural hot springs and sweeping views.
Culinary Specialties Along The Way: Hokkaido is Japan’s dairy heartland, offering exceptional ice cream, cheese, and butter. Don’t miss the fresh seafood, particularly crab, uni (sea urchin), and scallops, along with the island’s signature soup curry and remarkably refreshing local beer.
The Kyushu Hot Spring Circuit
Ideal For: Relaxation seekers and cultural explorers
Japan’s southernmost main island offers a unique cycling adventure where every day’s riding culminates in soaking travel-weary limbs in some of the country’s finest natural hot springs.
A suggested 180-kilometre circular route from Fukuoka takes you through Kyushu’s volcanic heartland, including the otherworldly landscapes of Aso-Kuju National Park, the historic hot spring town of Kurokawa Onsen, and the picturesque countryside of Oita Prefecture. This journey typically takes 4-5 days, with the option to extend into the ceramic towns of Saga Prefecture.
The route features several challenging climbs through volcanic terrain, but the promise of therapeutic mineral waters at day’s end makes the effort entirely worthwhile. What sets this route apart is the incredible variety of onsen experiences – from riverside rotenburo (outdoor baths) hidden in bamboo forests to historic bath houses dating back centuries.
Accommodation typically centres around traditional ryokans with their own hot spring facilities, where you’ll sleep on futon mattresses and dine on multi-course kaiseki meals featuring local specialties.
Culinary Specialties Along The Way: Kyushu is famous for its tonkotsu ramen, charcoal-grilled chicken (yakitori), and pristine vegetables grown in volcanic soil. The region’s sweet potato shochu (distilled spirit) offers welcome refreshment after a day in the saddle.
Piecing Together Your Own Grand Tour of Japan
For the truly adventurous cyclist, combining elements of these routes into a comprehensive exploration of Japan represents the ultimate two-wheeled adventure. While logistically challenging, the country’s excellent train network (most of which accept bagged bicycles) allows you to connect these diverse regions into one epic journey.
Japan bike tours might start in Tokyo, heading north to explore Hokkaido’s wilderness, before returning south to tackle the Northern Alps. From there, train connections would take you to western Japan for the Shimanami Kaido, followed by the spiritual routes of Wakayama, before finishing with the hot springs of Kyushu.
This comprehensive adventure would cover approximately 800-1,000 kilometres of cycling over 3-4 weeks, offering an unparalleled insight into Japan’s diverse landscapes, cultures, and cuisines. The best approach is to ride the highlight sections in each region rather than attempting to cycle every kilometre between them.
The Bottom Line
Japan offers a cycling experience like no other – a perfect fusion of natural beauty, cultural depth, and impeccable infrastructure. Whether you’re conquering mountain passes in the Japanese Alps, island-hopping across the Inland Sea, cruising around Tokyo, or soaking in hot springs after a day’s ride through volcanic landscapes, cycling provides an intimate connection with this fascinating country that few other forms of travel can match.
The Japanese concept of ‘omotenashi’ (wholehearted hospitality) ensures warm welcomes throughout your journey, even in remote areas where foreign faces remain uncommon. For cyclists seeking adventure beyond Europe’s well-travelled routes, Japan represents the perfect next frontier – challenging, rewarding, and utterly unforgettable.
The town’s cherished park is one sprawling space to stand a little while within – it’s good to feel humbled from time to time – and a sighting of its most famous residents, those proud, marauding deers, is the kind of thing tha’ll have you briefly forgetting the state of your Slack Channel ‘till Monday.
Look up, and you might see parakeets flying above, whistling Hey Joe as they glide to nearby Kew Gardens. You could stroll there from Richmond Park, too, cutting through The Quadrant and checking out Richmond’s boutique shops and laid back pubs as you do so.
At Kew Gardens, find solace in the world-renowned botanical collections, whether you’re sweating it out in Temperate House, the largest Victorian glasshouse in the world, sniffing blossoms in the Japanese Garden, or sashaying through the canopy of ancient trees that makes up the Treetop Walkway.
It’s suddenly struck us that, for a day that’s meant to be all about R’n’R (Richmond and Royal Botanic Gardens, of course), we’ve done a hell of a lot of walking here, and have built up something of an appetite in the process. Fortunately, Richmond is – unsurprisingly for a place of famed affluence and retreat – blessed with some excellent restaurants to satisfy that hunger of yours.
With that in mind, here’s our rundown of the best restaurants in Richmond, London.
The Dysart Petersham
Ideal for precise, hyper-seasonal fine dining…
We’ve come out swinging in our rundown of where to eat in Richmond, at a Michelin-starred joint, no less; The Dysart in Petersham.
Sitting pretty (real damn pretty) at the gates of Richmond Park in a beautifully restored, century-old Arts and Craft building, look for the distinctive half-timbering on this former pub’s facade as you approach. It’s a sight that promises a meal of keen seasonality and precise cooking the closer you get.
This family-owned restaurant embraces its rich heritage through the meticulous restoration of oak furnishings and a commitment to aesthetic simplicity, both in the dining room and on the plate. Under the stewardship of head chef and former Roux scholar Kenneth Culhane, The Dysart offers a highly seasonal menu characterised by a natural ethos and the use of impeccably sourced ingredients.
Though rooted in classical French cooking, there’s a few Far Eastern flourishes here that keep things feeling fresh, whether that’s in the ginger and makrut lime leaf-infused champagne sauce that accompanies an expertly cooked, comprehensively charred fillet of sea bream, or the Vietnamese dressing (essentially a nuoc cham) that lifted a tartare of scallop and razor clam to new heights.
That said, and perhaps not the most natural progression from a couple of dishes of citrus-spiked seafood, the best dish we had on a recent visit was also the most classical; a remarkably good oxtail risotto that used seven-year aged Acquerello carnaroli rice.
This is a dish that has clearly benefited from the kiss of ol’ father time (hmm, that sounds creepy) – our server told us the oxtail had been marinating in red wine for 3 (!) weeks (!), before being gently roasted for another 12 hours, its marrow giving back to the braising liquor, which is then used to bind the shredded oxtail. What a dish this was, and only given more punch by a little pickled chilli.
These are the kind of flourishes that make The Dysart not only one of Richmond’s best restaurants, but also one of London’s finest. With a wine list that has won AA’s ‘Notable Wine List Award’ for the last two years in a row, and a managing director Barny Taylor who reliably works the floor with an attentive touch, this is such a welcoming place to settle into.
…but we’re glad we did eventually leave, as Richmond has much more to offer restaurant-wise than just the excellent Dysart.
Located a pani puri’s throw (or, you know, a two minute walk – you don’t have to waste good food) from Richmond station and Richmond Theatre, Cinnamon Bazaar is a transportative kind of place, its vibrant (AI has pretty much ruined that word for us, but it’s essential here) palette of pinks and greens calling to mind the multisensory overload of India’s bazaars to joyous effect. You’ll too be asking where they bought their cushions from by the end of the meal, we have no doubt…
The follow-up to acclaimed chef Vivek Singh’s Covent Garden restaurant, which has been Michelin-recognised for seven years now, the second coming of Cinnamon Bazaar is every bit as good as the first, its peaceful Richmond location feeling really well judged when we visited on a Sunday evening, batteries low and in need of a lift.
Boy, did it provide one, with an opener of India’s most loved street food, chaat, doing exactly what they’re ‘sposed to; hit every taste receptor on the tongue and induce those wide, knowing eyes across a dinner table. The pani puri, in particular, is a gold-standard version, its gossamer-thin shell giving way to a comforting tangle of spiced chickpea and potato, and rich, tart tamarind. It’s rapturous, and were it not for the lovely dkhola chat also on our table, almost impossible not to order a second round.
The menu at Cinnamon Bazaar, crafted by Singh and his head chef Rakesh Singh, pledges a mix of traditional Indian street food dishes and bigger plates that might be billed ‘fusion’ in less loving hands than our own. In the cold, clammy hands of Gregg Wallace, it might even be held up as ‘confusion’ before a creepy cackle.
In reality, the flourishes of British comfort cooking on the Cinnamon Bazaar menu make perfect sense, the mission to serve food inspired by the marketplaces that lie on the various trading routes connecting the empires of the Old World emphatically realised in a spicy, piquant ox cheek vindaloo with masala mash and, even more so, in the signature lamb rogan josh shepherd’s pie, which is rich and elegantly spiced. Though both might feel a bruising in the wrong hands, they are expertly judged and surprisingly light here. Good news, as it leaves enough room for the Peshwari naan, floral and cardamom-rich, and the silky lemon rice.
Two superb desserts seal the deal. The first, a mango and pistachio kulfi, further affirms that there are very capable hands in the kitchen who are keen to execute things with a light but precise touch. The rasmalai tres leches – a light and airy sponge cake, soaked in sweet milk table side – is even better. If you can resist diving in, wait a few minutes for the cake to soak up that heady, perfumed milk; it’s heavenly.
For our next visit, the restaurant’s High Chai caught our eye – that is, a pan-Indian riff on afternoon tea. Pitched at £27.50 a person (a steal) including a pot of the finest Jing tea, the offer includes three rounds of chaat, a riff on a fish finger sandwich (yes please), a kadhai chicken spring roll, and a trio of sweet treats. All of this seems to fit the restaurant’s trump cards to a tee. Next time, next time…
Ideal for produce-driven Italian food sat amongst jasmine and bougainvillaea…
Sustainable, seasonal food is the name of the game at the Petersham Nurseries Café, now in its third decade. Run by the Boglione Family, the restaurant’s ethos is deeply rooted in the slow food movement, celebrating traditional methods of growing quality ingredients. It sources its organically-grown produce from Haye Farm in Devon, ensuring the highest quality foundations for its dishes.
The greenhouse setting, complete with its eclectic blend of Indian artwork, giant vases filled with striking bouquets, and the ambient scents of jasmine and bougainvillaea, creates an intimate environment full of hidden corners and foliage-covered canopies for a little intimacy. The walls are adorned with artworks from Francesco Boglione’s personal collection, adding a subtle touch of artistic flair to the curated alfresco dining experience.
It sets the scene for a meal that promises to soothe and replenish with its organic, produce-driven Italian menu and refined, quasi-spiritual surroundings. Rather than just another strapline, that commitment to sustainability is the real deal; the Petersham Nurseries Café (not really a cafe, we should add) is one of only four in London to hold a Michelin Green Star. The other three, if you’re asking? Mayfair’s Apricity, the City’s St. Barts and the trailblazing Silo over in Hackney Wick.
With the mission and – to be honest – clientele so cloying it makes you sneeze (might just be our hayfever, though), there’s a danger that the food here might be something of an afterthought. Fortunately, the plates of peak British produce complemented by speciality ingredients sourced from Italy are on-point.
So, that’s tortelli with aubergine, tomato, burrata, inspired by the Campanian classic parmigiana di melanzane, followed by blushing lamb rump with corno pepper, cumin yoghurt and a harissa jus, pulling influences from the Middle East as much as Italy, but in succinct, summery fashion.
Heavenly stuff but heaven doesn’t come cheap; two courses are a whopping £65, three are £75. No wine clocks in under £30 a bottle, though there is a very drinkable, faintly floral 2022 Grüner Veltliner for £9 a glass. Perhaps we’ll have just the one…
It could be argued that The Victoria is Richmond Park’s ‘local’, owing to its all-things-to-all-people posture and position. A versatile pub-cum-restaurant that caters to a diverse clientele, it’s just a five minute walk from the park’s Sheen Gate and into East Sheen, which has become something of a gastronomic destination of late, mainly for the next two dinners we’ll be having on this list.
The vibe at The Victoria strikes a perfect balance between cosy and sophisticated, attracting a motley crowd – some in wellies, some in heels, some in Bodux – as a result. The menu, crafted by celeb chef and former Michelin-star holder Paul Merrett, features a robust selection of dishes that straddle traditional pub British classics and more Mediterranean-leaning dishes.
Conveniently close to Mortlake station, The Victoria is easily accessible for those on a day trip out west, and families will appreciate the large enclosed playground, allowing children to play while parents relax with a glass of wine (25 wines on the menu are available by the glass, which is commendable) or one of the cask ales from the well-stocked bar. Indeed, the conservatory overlooking the terrace is a perfect spot for a long, leisurely lunch with one eye on the kids and the other on your pint of boiled prawns with Marie Rose sauce.
Of note, the Sunday roasts here bring the crowds in, and are great value at around the £20 mark.
Ideal for London’s best Indian food, all in the most suburban of settings…
A 15 minute walk north of Richmond Park in sleepy North Sheen isn’t necessarily where you’d expect to find the best Indian food in London. But in this incongruous, unassuming spot on Upper Richmond Road, sandwiched between Sophie’s Dressmaking Atelier and Topps Tiles, we’ve had the finest dahl makhani this side of Ludhiana, a version so superior to the famous Dishoom one that it’s laughable. No wonder this place has been praised in the nationals, with both Jay Rayner and Tom Parker Bowles lauding its quality.
Perhaps we should be surprised; Black Salt is the sister restaurant of the boy Hayler’s beloved Dastaan, and the chefs have previous in some of the city’s most acclaimed Indian kitchens, with two having met at Gymkhana and a third with time at Jamavar under their belt. Together with the owners Sanjay Patel and Simeron Lily, a father and daughter team, that’s some serious pedigree.
To be fair, it makes sense that the restaurant has flourished in this well-heeled neighbourhood since it opened in 2021; Black Salt delivers a fine balance of high-quality Indian cuisine in a relaxed and inviting atmosphere, with keenly priced dishes that don’t stray above the mid-teens. For the complexity at work in the saffron prawn curry, redolent with cardamom, clove and nutmeg, and tempered with coconut milk, those prices represent a bargain.
The pork cheek vindaloo is similarly complex. Not the bruising version that will have you biting down on the bathroom windowsill the morning after, it’s instead a rather delicate affair; tart and tangy, its chilli heat only revealing itself when you’re wiping the bowl clean with a fistful of the excellent roti.
However you play it, the cute, bulbous samosas with mint and tamarind chutney are obligatory. What pastry it is – just the right side of chalky and so flakey we’re still finding remnants in the folds of our jeans weeks after visiting.
Anyway, end with the absurdly good pistachio kulfi, knock back a couple of big bottles of Cobra, and wish that this place was your neighbourhood curry house.
And you’re looking for further bargains, then Black Salt does a ‘2 for £20’ menu Tuesdays to Sundays between 5pm and 6pm. During this magic hour, you get a snack, a curry, the chef’s choice of vegetable dish, steamed rice and your choice of naan or roti. All for just twenty notes.
Ideal for highly rated Neapolitan pizza from one of the world’s most exciting pizzaiolo…
We accept that it’s a little tedious to open with talk of the sister restaurant somewhere that’s not Richmondfor the second time in as many entries, but the Napoli On The Road mothership in Chiswick definitely needs mentioning here.
Named as the best pizzeria in Europe (outside of Italy) on the Italo-centric and increasingly influential 50 Top Pizza Europe list, Napoli On The Road is the obsessive, floury work of Michele Pascarella, a celebrated pizzaiolo who began his London journey with a mobile Ape Piaggio, delighting the city with wood-fired pizzas in pub car parks before laying down roots with his first bricks-and-mortar establishment on Devonshire Road.
Pascarella last year earned the prestigious accolade of Global Pizza Maker of the Year 2023, a testament to his mastery of correct form and structure. And whilst the inaugural Chiswick branch is one that garners all of the attention, this only means that the second outpost in Richmond is a little easier to actually book.
And book you should; these are exceptional pizzas, whether you order a simple, perfect margherita from the ‘classiche’ section of the menu, or you go for something a little more playful from the part billed as chef Pascarella’s ‘Signatures’.
The Cheesewick (not yet given a Richmond twist) is particularly good, a five cheese affair with ricotta, fior di latte, stracciatella, crispy parmesan chips and blue Stilton. If that sounds like an umami overload, it gets even punchier; there’s a piennolo cherry tomato (from Vesuvius) jam to tie everything together. It might sound a lot, but boy is it good, the chef’s highly digestible dough ensuring things don’t get too much. Even further joy is found in the pizza fritta here, if you’ve got room – the double pepperoni number with hot honey is profound.
Best of all though, and back to the classiche section in a cyclical kind of style deserving of pizza, Napoli on the Road’s We’re On Fire is, genuinely, one of the best pizzas we have ever had, in London, Naples or anywhere else in the world. Its sauce sees nduja mixed subtly and seamlessly with a covering of tomato until emulsified – an inspired touch as, all too often, nduja can make a pizza incredibly greasy. Then, dotted across the surface of the pizza, ice cold buffalo stracciatella soothes the rough edges of the nduja, rounding off the tomato’s acidity for good measure. It’s inspired and just so delicious.
The house red, the Greco Di Tufo Oltre DOCG Bellaria from Campania, drinkable and light, is the perfect foil to these fine pizzas. Whatever you do, do end with the pear and ricotta torte; a Naples classic that we always order if we see it on a menu. At Napoli On The Road, it’s the best version we’ve ever had.
Ideal for elevated riverside dining with serious gastropub credentials just beyond Richmond…
Perched on the banks of the Thames in leafy Barnes, just beyond Richmond’s well-trodden restaurant scene, The Waterman’s Arms delivers that rare combination that makes a gastropub truly special: food you’d cross town for in a setting that feels warmly familiar from the moment you step inside.
This historic 1850s riverside pub has undergone something of a renaissance since September 2023, when Patty & Bun founder Joe Grossmann (a Barnes local himself) took the helm. Rather than bringing his burger empire to SW13, Grossmann enlisted Sam Andrews—previously of The Camberwell Arms and Ducksoup—to craft a menu that feels both comforting and considered.
Inside, the two-floor space strikes the perfect balance between polished and lived-in. Exposed brick walls, wooden furnishings and candlelit tables create that coveted ‘local you wish was yours’ atmosphere. But it’s the first-floor terrace that’s the real prize, offering panoramic Thames views that transform a simple meal into something rather special.
The seasonally-driven menu is built around whatever’s best at market, with a daily chalkboard showcasing the kitchen’s latest finds. Small plates deliver big flavours—the curried scallop has rapidly become a signature, while the aubergine with merguez and yoghurt demonstrates the kitchen’s deft hand with seasonal produce.
Where The Waterman’s truly excels is with its commitment to all things porcine. The pork collar with pig skin ragu is something of a revelation, balancing fatty, chewy edges with tender meat in a sauce so rich and slightly sweet that you’ll guard it jealously from fellow diners. For the ultimate Sunday lunch experience, their porchetta with pickled nectarine features impeccable crackling and a blush-pink centre that locals now plan their weekends around.
Seafood, fittingly for a riverside establishment, gets equal attention. Oysters arrive with a zingy fermented chilli dressing, while the market fish, simply grilled and swimming in saffron butter, exemplifies the kitchen’s confident approach to letting quality ingredients speak for themselves.
The Sunday offering forgoes traditional roasts with all the trimmings in favour of theatrical sharing centrepieces—the lamb shoulder with mint sauce is an absolute belter. Whatever you order, the chips are non-negotiable—crunchy, crumbly and consistently cited as among London’s finest.
Drinks maintain the high standard, with Forest Road beers on draught alongside Estrella Galicia. The wine list spans accessible to aspirational, with several options under £30 (practically a miracle in 2025). Cocktails are executed with precision—the Gibson martini providing the perfect aperitif before diving into those sharing plates.
For the journey, it’s a mere two-minute walk from Barnes Bridge station, a short hop from Richmond, or a pleasant 30-minute riverside stroll from Hammersmith if you’re feeling energetic (and need to work up an appetite). While not technically in Richmond like the other spots on our list, this Barnes gem is absolutely worth the slight detour. Either way, The Waterman’s Arms offers that increasingly rare combination—a genuine destination restaurant that still feels like a proper pub. As The Telegraph’s William Sitwell put it, it serves “the sort of dishes you would trample through deep snow for.” We’re inclined to agree.
Across the road from Richmond station and right next door to the aforementioned Cinnamon Bazaar if you’re on something of a restaurant bender, Bacco Ristorante Italiano (to give it its full title) is a family-run Italian joint that eschews contemporary affectations in favour of something decidedly more old school.
So, that’s a big, warmhearted welcome from owner Stefano, generous, sauce-heavy portions of all the good stuff, and rounds of gratis limoncello once you’re on first name terms with your waiter. Which, as usually happens, isn’t long after you’ve sat down…
The restaurant takes great pride in the fact that all the essentials – the focaccia, the ciabatta, the pasta – are homemade. Though the head chef here, Luca, is proudly Piedmontese, the menu at Bacco isn’t fiercely regional, and you’ll find dishes from across Italy on the menu. That said, a couple of Piedmont classics are indeed some of the highlights, with the vitello tonnato a particularly luxurious version of a classic.
The pasta dishes centered around seafood are exceptional, too. Linguine frutti di mare sees fresh pasta tossed until silky with prawns, clam and calamari, all those briny juices adding heft to a tomato-spiked sauce. Lovely stuff, but even better is the seafood risotto, which is precision-made and texturally perfect. The compass point mussel placement can’t even knock this one off its stride.
Presentation on some of the dishes can be a little kitsch, sure – think parmesan tuiles moulded into pasta bowls, zigzags of balsamic reduction and syrupy chocolate sauce, and a fish platter that sees fillets served in neat stacks on a board – but it’s all part of the charm. It certainly does no harm that those fillets are expertly fried, crisp skin, tender flakes and all.
As you’d hope from a restaurant named after the God of Wine, the chiefly Italian wine list is extensive, ranging from small producers to well-known vineyards. And with plenty of terrace seating for the warmer months (andterrace heating for colder ones), all the ingredients are very much in place for a hearty, family-style meal. Cin Cin!
Ideal for an opulent seafood feast, champagne, oysters and all…
Whittaker Avenue’s sprawling Revolution Bar site never quite felt in keeping with the vibe of Richmond residents, and it’s hard to imagine the status-obsessed folk of this affluent London district necking a shot of Sambuca and belting out Don’t Stop Believin’ on a Tuesday night.
Nope, line caught fish and lines of fish scale are more the thing ‘round these parts, so it should come as little surprise that the absurdly opulent second coming of Mayfair seafood institution Scott’s has fitted in perfectly over in residential Richmond.
Set against the scenic backdrop of Richmond’s riverside, Scott’s exudes luxury, positively glowing gold as you approach. Inside, you could imagine a little bacchanalia going down against the sturdy silver columns or in the crushed moss allure banquettes. There are, of course, crystal chandeliers to swing from…
…Sorry to disappoint, but we’ve only come for seafood, and under the guidance of head chef Tom Fraser, the confident fish cooking that made the original Scott’s so popular is all present and correct here. Sidle up to the oyster bar for a few freshly shucked ones and some fizz, or take a table and order a the Dover sole, grilled whole or done in the Meunière style. Either way, it’s cooked expertly until it slips off the bone in satisfying, graceful fillets with just the nudge of a knife. Yours for £48.
Indeed, even in today’s economy, prices are large here, with starters in their late teens and mains resolutely not dipping below £30. It’s a special occasion kind of place, that’s for sure. Even so, it’s pretty wild that you won’t find a single bottle of wine on the menu for under £37. Phew.
In fact, everything is kinda massivehere, with the restaurant accommodating up to 600 guests. Booking is still recommended for the most sought after perches, such as the second floor terrace that overlooks the Thames. For those not in thrall to all things fish, there’s also three or four meat dishes on the a la carte, and a dedicated vegetarian menu, too.
If it’s your kind of thing to have a wandering piano soundtrack when sucking the head juices out of grilled Atlantic prawns, then check out the live jazz performances every Wednesday evening from 7:30pm to 10pm.
Ideal for great value Lebanese street food in an intimate setting…
Tucked away on George Street, just down the road from Richmond station, Beirut Street Kitchen brings an authentic slice of Lebanon to Richmond, proving that good things really do come in small packages. This compact two-floor eatery might be modest in size, but it packs a mighty punch when it comes to flavour and atmosphere.
The story here is one of passion and heritage – founders Layla and Tariq have transformed this 460-square-foot space into something that genuinely captures the spirit of a Beirut souk. The ground floor is dominated by the theatre of the open oven, where flatbreads are rolled and baked to order, their aroma filling the intimate space. Upstairs, a cosy dining room features a carefully considered design of terracotta, clean white tiles and warmly-coloured accents that manage to feel both contemporary and traditional.
The menu is refreshingly focused and remarkably good value. Build-your-own wraps and bowls form the heart of the offering – a steal at under a tenner – where you can pair your choice of succulent chicken shawarma, expertly spiced lamb kofta, or some of the best falafel we’ve had in London (properly crisp on the outside, herbaceous and fluffy within). The sides deserve equal attention: a silky hummus and particularly good moutabal, its smoky aubergine depth lifting everything it touches, are essential additions to any order.
Don’t skip the halloumi fries – they’re a perfect example of how simple food, done well, can be extraordinary. The house-made lemonade provides the perfect foil to all that savoury richness, though the traditional jallab with its date molasses and rose water is perhaps even more refreshing on a warm day.
For dessert, the baklava strikes that perfect balance between honey-sweet and nutty that makes this Middle Eastern classic so addictive. It’s best enjoyed with a pot of fresh mint tea on their small but pleasant outdoor seating area, watching Richmond life unfold. With most dishes hovering around the £3-7 mark, this is some of the best value authentic Middle Eastern cuisine you’ll find in West London.
Do be aware that this is a brunch to early dinner operation, with opening hours running from 10am to 6pm daily, and an hour’s later start on Sundays.
Ideal for artisanal Italian gelato that’s worth queuing for…
Since opening its doors in 2005, Gelateria Danieli has become nothing short of a Richmond institution. Positioned perfectly on Brewers Lane overlooking Richmond Green, this gelato shop has mastered that rare trick of feeling both local and destination-worthy at the same time.
The success story here belongs to Carlo and Bridget, a husband-and-wife team who spotted a gap in London’s gelato scene and filled it with style. Carlo brings Sicilian authenticity and flair, while Bridget, a nutritionist by training, ensures their creations cater to various dietary requirements without compromising on taste – their dairy-free and vegan options are genuinely excellent rather than mere afterthoughts.
Their pristine display case is a canvas of colour, showcasing around twenty different flavours at any time. The classics are impeccably executed – their vanilla is anything but vanilla, the chocolate rich and profound – but it’s their speciality combinations that really shine. The Crema Siciliana speaks of Carlo’s heritage, a velvety smooth custard-like gelato that puts other versions to shame. Perhaps the finest flavour here is the pistachio, properly nutty affair rather than that artificial marzipan backnote that lesser gelaterias rely on. The texture throughout is gloriously smooth and dense, with that characteristic Italian kinda-chewy (chewy…is that the right word?) elasticity that marks out proper gelato from regular ice cream.
The range extends beyond traditional gelato, too. Their sorbets are a revelation – the chocolate sorbet is remarkably creamy despite being dairy-free, while the lemon and mango varieties burst with authentic fruit flavour. The frozen yoghurt selection offers a lighter alternative, with flavours like strawberry and natural yoghurt providing a refreshing tanginess that’s perfect for warmer days.
The pricing here reflects the quality of ingredients and craftsmanship without straying into luxury territory – a single scoop will set you back £4, while those seeking a more substantial fix can indulge in two (£5.50), three (£7), or four scoops (£8.50). The affogato deserves special mention – a perfect marriage of hot espresso and cold gelato that, at £5, offers a slice of Italian coffee culture at its finest.
For those looking to spread the joy, Danieli offers generous takeaway options that make perfect dinner party finales – their 500ml containers (£14.95) are particularly good value for gatherings. The shop has gained additional fame as having appeared in the background of Ted Lasso scenes a couple of times, but don’t let that fool you – this isn’t a tourist trap trading on TV fame. This is simply exceptional gelato, served with pride and knowledge by a team who genuinely care about their craft. On summer weekends, the queue often stretches down Brewers Lane, but take it from us – it’s worth the wait.
Don’t miss their second location, Danieli on the Green, just down the lane. From Easter until the end of summer, you can enjoy their gelato there alongside a selection of chocolates and sweets. Come October, this sister shop transforms into a chocolate lover’s paradise, offering an extensive range of confectionery right through from Christmas until Easter. Both locations are equally worthy of your time and calories.
Ideal for a taste of Brittany by the Richmond riverside…
Another gem on the Richmond riverside, Chez Lindsay is a welcome thing here; a lowkey independent joint in an area often dominated by chain restaurants.
As you approach Chez Lindsay, it’s immediately clear what you’re getting yourself in for; a chalkboard with the simple mission statement of ‘crêperie’ hangs above the entrance, and tricolore bunting flaps gayly in the wind.
All promises are delivered once you’ve crossed that thoroughfare into Richmond’s own tribute to Brittany, with a dedicated galette menu – those buckwheat pancakes that the region is famous for – as well as a broader a la carte made up of country-spanning French classics.
We’re here for the former, and, perhaps predictably, the Complète – the absolute classic galette of egg, cheese and ham. It’s an exemplary version, and when paired with a crisp, gently cloudy Kerisac, there are few places we’d rather spend a Saturday lunch.
You know what? We think we might just stay here a while…
With a run of sunny April weather not seen since the halcyon days of the first COVID lockdown (remember that?!), suddenly summer doesn’t feel so far away.
We all know what that means – it’s time to revamp our gardens and outdoor spaces ready for all the fun, frolics and frivolity that only the warmest weeks of the year can provide.
And what better way to do that than by incorporating organic and natural furniture elements? Not only do they add an earthy, rustic charm to your garden, but they’re also eco-friendly and sustainable. What’s not to love? With that in mind, here are 8 organic and natural furniture elements that you can add to your garden this summer.
Rattan Furniture
Let’s kick off our list with one of the garden’s favourite pieces – rattan furniture. Rattan is a vine-like plant native to Southeast Asia, making it a perfect choice for those looking to add a tropical vibe to their garden. It’s lightweight, durable, and weather-resistant, so it’s ideal for outdoor use. You can find a wide range of rattan furniture pieces, from lounge chairs and sofas to dining sets and coffee tables – the choice is yours.
And the best part? Rattan garden furniture has a timeless appeal, ensuring your garden stays stylish for years to come. Plus, it’s the perfect excuse to invite your friends over for a tiki-themed party!
Reclaimed wood furniture is an excellent choice for those looking to add a touch of history and character to their garden. Made from salvaged wood sourced from old buildings, barns, and other structures, reclaimed wood furniture is not only eco-friendly but also tells a story.
Each piece has its unique markings, knots, and grains, adding a sense of warmth and charm to your outdoor space. From dining tables and benches to planter boxes and garden gates, there’s no shortage of ways to incorporate reclaimed wood into your garden design.
Photo by Michael Heuser on Unsplash
Hemp & Jute Furnishings
Complete your natural garden aesthetic with the addition of hemp and jute furnishings. These durable plant fibers create stunning outdoor cushions, throw pillows, hammocks, and hanging chairs that add both comfort and style to your space. Unlike synthetic materials, hemp and jute are biodegradable, sustainable, and resistant to mold and mildew—perfect for unpredictable summer weather.
The natural, earthy tones of these materials blend seamlessly with other organic elements, while their texture adds visual interest to your outdoor oasis. Plus, many artisanal craftspeople work with these materials, meaning you can often find unique, handcrafted pieces that tell a story. Whether it’s a cozy jute hammock strung between two trees or hemp cushions adorning your reclaimed wood bench, these versatile textiles will elevate your garden’s comfort factor while maintaining its eco-friendly credentials.
Bamboo Accents
If you’re looking for a sustainable and versatile material, look no further than bamboo. Bamboo is a fast-growing grass that can be harvested without killing the plant, making it an eco-friendly option for your garden. It’s also incredibly strong and durable, so it’s perfect for outdoor use.
You can incorporate bamboo into your garden in various ways – from fencing and screens to furniture and decorative accents. Add a bamboo bench or a set of bamboo chairs to create a cosy seating area, or use bamboo poles to build a pergola or trellis for climbing plants.
Natural Stone Features
Nothing says “organic” quite like natural stone. Adding stone elements to your garden not only creates a sense of permanence and stability but also adds a touch of elegance and sophistication.
Consider using flagstone or slate for your garden pathways, or create a stunning patio with pavers made from travertine or limestone. You can also use natural stone for retaining walls, fire pits, and water features. And if you’re feeling extra fancy, why not add a beautiful stone sculpture as a focal point in your garden?
Living Furniture
Why settle for ordinary garden furniture when you can have living furniture? Living furniture is created by shaping and manipulating live plants into functional pieces, such as chairs, tables, and benches.
The most common plant used for this purpose is willow, which is flexible and easy to work with. However, you can also use other plants like ivy, grapevines, or even fruit trees. Not only does living furniture look stunning, but it’s also a great conversation starter – just imagine the look on your guests’ faces when they realise they’re sitting on a living chair. Hmm, sounds rather creepy when you put it like that actually…
Woven Grass Mats & Rugs
Add a touch of comfort and style to your garden with woven grass mats and rugs. Made from natural materials like seagrass, jute, or sisal, these mats and rugs are not only eco-friendly but also incredibly durable and weather-resistant. They’re perfect for defining seating areas, adding texture to your patio, or providing a soft surface for barefoot strolls through your garden. Plus, they’re easy to clean – just give them a good shake or hose them down when they get dirty.
Tree Stump Seating & Tables
Last but very much not least, let’s not forget about the humble tree stump. If you’ve recently had a tree removed from your garden or have access to some tree stumps, why not repurpose them into unique seating and tables?
Tree stumps can be used as-is, or you can sand and seal them for a smoother finish. You can even paint or stain them to match your garden’s colour scheme. Arrange a few tree stumps around a fire pit for an intimate gathering spot, or use a large tree stump as a side table for your outdoor lounge area.
The Bottom Line
Adding organic and natural furniture elements to your garden is a fantastic way to create an inviting and eco-friendly outdoor space. With options like rattan furniture, reclaimed wood, bamboo accents, natural stone features, living furniture, woven grass mats, and tree stump seating, you’re sure to find the perfect pieces to make your garden shine this summer.
So go ahead, embrace Mother Nature with arms wide open (she gives great cuddles), and give your garden a stylish and sustainable makeover!
Malaga, the sparkling gem of Spain’s Costa del Sol, with its year-round sunshine, azure skies, and the inviting Mediterranean Sea, has become a beacon for Brits seeking a sun-soaked but culturally stimulating lifestyle. This Andalusian paradise offers more than just picturesque beaches; it’s a city steeped in history, art, and a burgeoning food scene, all without the hefty price tag of some of its European counterparts. And with some seriously sunny days to luxuriate in, too…
For those considering a move to this coastal haven, here’s a guide to some of Malaga’s most wallet-friendly neighbourhoods, where the charm of Spain is alive and the dream of an affordable life under the Spanish sun is within reach. Welcome to Malaga, or as you might soon affectionately call it, ‘Málaga la Bella’.
El Palo, with its narrow streets and traditional fishermen’s houses, is a district that exudes authenticity. This beachside barrio is famous for its espetos (sardines skewered and cooked over an open flame), and its family-friendly atmosphere.
Ideal for the beach aficionado with a taste for tradition: El Palo is perfect for those who love the sea and want to live in a neighbourhood that retains its Spanish identity. It’s a place where the pace of life is dictated by the tides and the community is close-knit.
Cost of Renting: € to €€ In El Palo, you can find some of the most reasonable rents in Malaga. A one-bedroom apartment can be rented for as little as €700 a month, a steal considering the proximity to the beaches and the city centre.
Local’s Tip: Take a stroll along the Paseo Maritimo and join the locals in their evening ‘paseo’ or walk. It’s a social ritual that captures the essence of life in El Palo.
Soho: The Artistic Heart
Malaga’s answer to the avant-garde, Soho is a neighbourhood transformed. Once a rundown area, it’s now a canvas for street artists from around the world, boasting vibrant murals that have turned the district into an open-air gallery.
Ideal for the creative spirit: Soho is a haven for artists, musicians, and creatives of all types. It’s home to the Contemporary Art Centre of Malaga (CAC Malaga) and a variety of trendy cafes and bars.
Cost of Renting: €€ Soho’s popularity has been on the rise, which means rents have followed suit. However, it’s still possible to find good deals, with one-bedroom apartments averaging around €800.
Local’s Tip: Don’t miss the chance to visit the CAC Malaga on a Sunday when admission is free. It’s a great way to immerse yourself in contemporary art without spending a cent.
Ciudad Jardin: The Green Oasis
Ciudad Jardin, or ‘Garden City’, is a district that lives up to its name. Set back from the hustle and bustle of the city centre, this area is known for its lush green spaces and family-friendly vibe.
Ideal for families and nature lovers: With its parks, gardens, and sports facilities, Ciudad Jardin is a breath of fresh air for those looking to escape the urban grind.
Cost of Renting: € to €€ This neighbourhood offers some of the best value in Malaga, with spacious apartments and houses available for less than you might expect, considering the amenities on offer.
Local’s Tip: Explore the historic Jardin Botanico La Concepcion, a tropical garden with plants from around the world. It’s a perfect spot for a picnic or a leisurely afternoon.
La Luz: The Affordable Gem
La Luz is a residential neighbourhood that’s often overlooked by newcomers, yet it’s a place where you can truly live like a local. It’s well-connected to the city centre and offers a genuine community feel.
Ideal for the budget-conscious expat: La Luz is a practical choice for those looking to stretch their pounds further. It’s a district where you can find all the essentials without the premium price tag.
Cost of Renting: € La Luz is one of the most affordable areas in Malaga, with rental prices significantly lower than in the city centre. A one-bedroom apartment can be found for around €600 or even less.
When Brits imagine the sun-soaked, squid-fuelled ideal of relocating to Spain, Pedregalejo is perhaps closest to their vision. Once a humble fishing village, has evolved into one of Malaga’s trendiest neighbourhoods. Its beachfront promenade is lined with chic eateries and bars, attracting a stylish crowd.
Ideal for the modern expat with a love for the coast:Pedregalejo offers a blend of traditional charm and contemporary living, making it a hit with younger expats and professionals.
Cost of Renting: €€ While Pedregalejo can be pricier than some other neighbourhoods, it still offers reasonable rents compared to other European coastal cities. Expect to pay around €900 for a one-bedroom apartment.
Local’s Tip: Indulge in the local cuisine at one of the many chiringuitos (beach bars) and try the fritura malagueña, a delicious assortment of fried local fish.
A Few Practicalities
Navigating Residency Post-Brexit: Since Brexit, British citizens must navigate new rules for living in Spain. For stays longer than 90 days, you’ll need a visa. The Non-Lucrative Visa is popular among retirees, while the Golden Visa suits investors. Start this process early by contacting the Spanish consulate in the UK or a local gestor (administrative assistant) in Malaga for guidance.
Healthcare in Malaga: Register with the local health centre (centro de salud) once you have your residency. If you’re working and paying social security in Spain, you’ll have access to state healthcare. Otherwise, consider private health insurance. Clinica Rincon and Hospital Quiron are two reputable private healthcare providers in Malaga.
Setting Up a Bank Account: For day-to-day finances, open an account with a bank like Unicaja or Banco Sabadell, which offer services tailored to expats, including English-speaking staff. You’ll need your NIE (Foreigner’s Identification Number), passport, and proof of address.
Understanding Local Taxes: In Spain, you’re a tax resident if you spend more than 183 days a year in the country. As a resident, you’ll pay income tax on worldwide income to the Agencia Tributaria. Seek advice from a local asesor fiscal (tax advisor) to navigate the double taxation treaty between the UK and Spain.
Language Barrier: While Malaga is cosmopolitan, with many English speakers, learning Spanish is invaluable. The University of Malaga offers Spanish courses for foreigners, and there are numerous language schools like Malaga Si and Enforex.
Choosing a Removals Company: For your move, select a removals company experienced in removals to Spain, specifically. They can advise on customs regulations post-Brexit, which is crucial for a smooth transition.
Driving in Malaga: If you’re bringing a car, you’ll need to register it with the Spanish traffic authority (DGT) and pay the corresponding taxes. You don’t need a car to get around smoothly, though; consider the ‘Tarjeta de Transporte’ card for discounts on buses and the metro. Malaga’s transport system is extensive, with the EMT bus network and Renfe trains connecting you to other cities.
Cultural Integration: Malaga has a rich cultural tapestry. Participate in local festivities like the Feria de Malaga and Semana Santa. For daily life, adapt to the later meal times and the afternoon siesta, which sees smaller shops closing between 2 pm and 5 pm.
Building a Social Network: Connect with fellow expats through groups like Costa Women and Internations Malaga. They host regular meetups and can be a great support network.
Local Amenities: Familiarise yourself with local markets like Mercado Central de Atarazanas for fresh produce, and explore shopping areas like Calle Larios for your retail needs.
The Bottom Line
Malaga is a city that offers a rich tapestry of experiences, from its sun-kissed beaches to its historic streets. It’s a place where every sunset promises the start of something beautiful, and for Brits looking for a new chapter, it’s a city that feels like home. Choose your barrio, embrace the Andalusian charm, and you’ll soon be living the dream in ‘Málaga la Bella’. ¡Bienvenidos a Malaga!
At the confluence of the Water of Leith and the Firth of Forth, Edinburgh’s port district of Leith presents a compelling contrast to the medieval grandeur of the Royal Mile. Once a separate burgh with a fiercely independent spirit, this dockside neighbourhood has transformed from industrial maritime centre to one of Scotland’s most cherished culinary and cultural quarters.
While the towering Edinburgh Castle and cobbled wynds of the Old Town may dominate postcards, even the briefest foray into Leith reveals a district where industrial heritage harmonises with contemporary flair – where converted whisky warehouses house Michelin-starred restaurants and centuries of seafaring history infuse every corner with distinctive character.
With just 48 hours to discover this dynamic port district, thoughtful planning is essential. We’re here to help with that; here’s how to make the most of your weekend escape to Edinburgh’s most dynamic neighbourhood.
Day 1: Historic Docks & Culinary Discoveries
Morning: Breakfast at The Shore
Begin your Leith adventure along the Water of Leith, where historic pubs (bit early for a pint, mind) and converted warehouses line the picturesque quayside. As the morning light shimmers on the water, wander to Mimi’s Bakehouse on The Shore, a beloved local institution open from 9am.
Here you can enjoy their legendary scones with clotted cream and jam or opt for a full Scottish breakfast with tattie scones and black pudding – a hearty introduction to Scottish morning fare. Their Empire biscuits, two shortbread rounds sandwiched with raspberry jam and topped with glace icing, have earned local devotion (and soon, yours). We’re rather fond of the the ‘Beforenoon Tea’ here, think mini bacon rolls, a mini biscoff pancake stack served alongside a curated list of tea from Edinburgh’s Eteaket Tea.
While most tourists are still queuing for attractions in the city centre, take advantage of the relative tranquillity to wander along the Water of Leith Walkway. Follow the riverside path toward the 12th-century Leith Parish Church, admiring the blend of historic industrial buildings and contemporary waterfront developments. Continue to the Leith Victoria Swim Centre, a striking Edwardian bathing complex dating back to 1899, which stands as a testament to the area’s rich municipal heritage. Bring your swimming costume if you fancy a dip!
If the morning weather turns characteristically Scottish, duck into Coburg House Art Studios on Coburg Street, where over 80 artists and craftspeople work and occasionally open their studios to the public. The ground floor gallery showcases rotating exhibitions of paintings, jewellery, ceramics and textiles from local artists.
Midday: Royal Yacht Britannia
Around a ten minute walk back towards the water is the Royal Yacht Britannia, the former floating residence of Her Majesty The Queen, now permanently moored at Ocean Terminal. Having sailed over a million nautical miles on 968 state visits, this majestic vessel offers a fascinating glimpse into royal life at sea.
The self-guided audio tour takes you through five decks, from the State Apartments and Royal Bedrooms to the gleaming Engine Room. Don’t miss the Royal Deck Tea Room, where you can pause for elevenses with views across the harbour – the fruit scones are particularly excellent (provided you didn’t have your fill at Mimi’s!), and you’ll be dining in the very space where the royal family once enjoyed informal meals.
For lunch, you have two options. You coud keep things super casual at nearby Ocean Terminal; the top floor food court offers several casual dining options with harbour views. Or, you could hop on the 35 bus back to The Shore (about 10 minutes) for lunch at Fishers on The Shore, a Leith institution housed in a 17th-century watchtower. This seafood bistro offers a set lunch menu at around £25 for three courses, featuring the freshest catches from Scottish waters. Try their smoked haddock chowder or Shetland mussels steamed in white wine – straightforward dishes that let the quality of the ingredients shine. The maritime-themed interior, with its weathered wood and nautical touches, is a little kitsch, sure, but it sets the tone.
After lunch, explore Leith’s historic heart. Begin at the Custom House, built in 1812, which stands as a reminder of Leith’s once-thriving port status. Though currently undergoing redevelopment as a cultural hub, its neoclassical façade remains impressive from the exterior.
A short stroll away on Henderson Street awaits The Biscuit Factory, Scotland’s largest arts hub housed in a former Crawford’s biscuit manufacturing facility. The industrial-chic space hosts rotating exhibitions featuring local artists, with studios often open to visitors on weekends.
No exploration of Leith would be complete without discovering some of its famous cinematic connections. Fans of Trainspotting might recognise locations from both the novel and film adaptations, including the foot of Leith Walk. For literary enthusiasts, Leith features prominently in Irvine Welsh’s works, offering a stark counterpoint to Edinburgh’s more polished literary associations with Sir Walter Scott and Robert Louis Stevenson.
For an afternoon refreshment, seek out Teuchters Landing on the docks. This unpretentious pub occupies a former waiting room for the Leith to Aberdeen ferry and offers an impressive selection of Scottish ales and over 90 whiskies. Their hoop of doom – a mug of macaroni cheese accompanied by chunky chips – makes for the perfect afternoon fortification.
As evening approaches, Leith offers several dining options depending on your preference and the day of your visit. If you’re in Leith on a Friday or Saturday, The Pitt Market in nearby Bonnington is worth exploring. This street food collective brings together some of Edinburgh’s most exciting culinary entrepreneurs in a converted industrial yard. The rotating vendors might include anything from Scottish venison burgers to authentic Vietnamese banh mi, all washed down with craft beers from local microbreweries. Take the 16 bus from Leith Walk for easy access.
If The Pitt isn’t open during your visit (or you prefer a more traditional setting), book a table at The Granary on The Shore. This converted warehouse offers hearty Scottish fare with contemporary flair at more accessible prices than some of Leith’s fine-dining establishments. Their cullen skink (smoked haddock soup) makes an excellent starter, followed by classics like haggis with neeps and tatties or Borders lamb rump. Main courses hover around £20, and the portions are generous.
Cap your night with a visit to Nobles Café Bar & Restaurant on Constitution Street. This Victorian-era space with stained glass windows and nautical touches offers expertly crafted cocktails with a Scottish twist. Try their Leith Sunset featuring Edinburgh Gin, Campari, and blood orange, or for whisky enthusiasts, their flight of Highland single malts provides an education in Scotland’s national spirit. The bar’s atmospheric interior, complete with maritime memorabilia, perfectly encapsulates Leith’s blend of heritage and contemporary cool.
Begin your second day with breakfast at Toast on The Shore. This bright, waterfront café offers panoramic views across the docks while serving excellent morning fare. Their avocado toast topped with poached eggs and chili flakes certainly does the job. The baristas here take pride in perfectly crafted coffees using beans from Edinburgh roasters, making this a proper Scottish breakfast with contemporary flair.
For those interested in learning more about Leith’s fascinating history, the Leith Museum at Trinity House Maritime Museum on Leith’s Kirkgate offers an insightful collection of artefacts documenting the area’s seafaring past. The 16th-century building itself, once the headquarters of the maritime guild, is worth visiting for its architecture alone.
Midday: Design and Shopping
Dedicate your late morning to exploring Leith’s creative side, starting with a visit to Custom Lane on Commercial Street. This design centre and creative workshop houses makers’ studios, exhibition spaces, and a café, showcasing Scotland’s contemporary designers. The rotating exhibitions and design-led shop offer unique pieces that reflect Scotland’s innovative approach to craft and design.
For lunch, head to The Little Chartroom on Leith Walk, chef Roberta Hall-McCarron’s intimate neighbourhood bistro. The concise menu showcases Scottish produce with global influences – perhaps Shetland mussels with ‘nduja or Highland venison with seasonal roots. At around £49 for a three-course lunch, it represents good value for cooking of this high calibre.
After lunch, it’s time to discover how Leith connects to the broader Edinburgh experience. For an efficient overview, numerous bus tours in Edinburgh include Leith on their routes, offering comfortable transportation with informative commentary on the area’s evolution from separate port town to vibrant Edinburgh district.
If you’re keen to remain with your feet on terra firma, head to Leith Links, a large public park where golf was reportedly first played in Scotland. The green expanse offers a peaceful retreat from urban exploration and a glimpse into local life as dog walkers, joggers, and families enjoy this historic common ground.
You’ve worked up an appetite by now, we can tell, so we hope you’ve booked a table at Heron on The Shore well in advance. This stylish waterfront restaurant, opened in 2021 by chefs Sam Yorke, Scotland’s youngest Michelin-starred chef, and Tomás Gormley, has quickly established itself as one of Edinburgh’s finest dining destinations. Floor-to-ceiling windows frame views of the Water of Leith, while the kitchen showcases impeccable Scottish ingredients through a modern lens.
The menu changes regularly with the seasons, but you might find dishes like hand-dived Orkney scallops with Jerusalem artichoke, North Sea cod with smoked mussels, or Perthshire venison with blackberries and kale. It’s not cheap, with the tasting menu here priced at £135, but then again, great dining isn’t.
End your weekend with a nightcap at The Lioness of Leith, a stylishly refurbished traditional pub on Duke Street. Their cocktail menu ranges from perfectly executed classics to inventive concoctions utilising Scottish spirits and unexpected ingredients. The Leith Spritz with Edinburgh Rhubarb and Ginger Gin, Aperol, and prosecco makes for a refreshing conclusion to your culinary adventures. The pub’s eclectic décor – featuring vintage furniture, local art, and the occasional taxidermy – epitomises Leith’s knack for honouring tradition while embracing the unconventional.
Leith is somehow both authentic and aspirational, historic and forward-looking, working-class and cosmopolitan. In just 48 hours, you can sample its maritime heritage, culinary excellence, creative energy, and genuine community spirit – all while experiencing a side of Edinburgh that many visitors overlook.
As your whirlwind tour concludes, you’ll understand why Leithers proudly distinguish their neighbourhood from the rest of Edinburgh, even as they embrace their place within Scotland’s capital. The district’s sturdy dockside architecture framing views across the Forth, its seasonal cuisine celebrating Scotland’s natural bounty, and its unpretentious approach to culture and hospitality exemplify a distinctly Leith character – industrious, genuine, and quietly revolutionary.
Hmmm, perhaps that’s not actually ‘good’ news after all, but let’s face it, holidaymakers may well be looking to change their travel habits as the decade (and crisis) unfolds.
A travel trend predicted to have a bumper 2025 and beyond is the cycling holiday, with climate-conscious, fitness-forward travellers keen to avoid planes, cars and the rest, for something a little more two-wheeled and analogue.
But what makes a great cycling holiday destination? Firstly, the obvious; flat terrain, designated cycle paths, plenty of car-free roads, and places to lock up. And for those travelling from the UK, the opportunity to do the whole thing on two wheels, hopping on the Eurostar or a ferry before cycling onwards. For a handful (well, two handfuls) of places that tick all of those boxes and then some, here are 7 of Europe’s most cycle-friendly holiday destinations.
Amsterdam
Amsterdam, replete with parks and canals, and boasting such flat terrain that the ‘Netherlands’ even translates as ‘low lying country’, is a cyclist’s paradise. The city is as flat as a Dutch pannekoeken and has four times as many bikes as cars, nearly a million in total, with 10’000 bike parking spots around Amsterdam Central Station alone.
A couple of cycling tips for the uninitiated: avoid rush hour – Amsterdam’s roads are super busy, and during this time commuters (both on bikes and cars) become less forgiving to tourists trying out their two wheels. That said, it should be noted that in the whole of the Netherlands, cyclists have right of way at any and all times.
Aside from that, the city has many unwritten cycling rules, such as not to chain your bike to a stranger’s, don’t cycle on footpaths and never, ever get on your bike after indulging in anything psychoactive.
Finally, if you’re looking for a carefully laid framework for your cycling holiday to Amsterdam, you should follow the city’s famous canals. There are a total of 165 canals in the city, providing a natural border to the Pjjp, the Jordaan and the Museum Quarter – making the entire city picturesque and, in its own way, peaceful. Of course, anywhere there’s a canal, there’s also a parallel path, making this a beautiful way to cycle and never got lost in the city.
A staggering 62% of all commutes (both work and school) are taken on two wheels in Copenhagen, with local government consistently investing in new projects to encourage cycling and make life on two wheels easier for residents of the Danish capital. In fact, every day nearly a million miles are cycled in the city!
All of this makes Copenhagen an incredibly hospitable place to spend a cycling holiday, taking a tour of the sites, sounds and smells that make this such a wonderful city.
Some intrepid explorers even choose to combine their cycling holiday in Copenhagen with a visit to Sweden’s Malmö. Though the city is just 17 miles away, and accessible over the Øresund Bridge, this route isn’t actually available to cyclists.
Fear not; a far more scenic (and significantly longer) cycle route exists, which follows gorgeous coastal paths north before pivoting south into Sweden. Because you didn’t want your cycle to be over in just 17 km, anyway. Heaven!
We had to include at least one city on home soil for a cycling holiday, and it’s to the UK’s undisputed most bike-friendly city, Edinburgh, that we’re heading next. Here, there are 1751 cycle routes, making up a total of 164,913 km mapped ways, which is enough to satisfy even the most voracious of Velo-enthusiasts. Many of these paths are disused railway lines, presenting flat, navigable terrain.
Alternatively, for those ravenous riders we just mentioned, Edinburgh possesses some famous peaks, the most notorious of which lies outside the city, in the form of the Bathgate Alps. Known as ‘West Lothian’s cycling mecca’. This is a serious ride, make no mistake, with some killer descents sure to test even those with calves made of steel.
If you are keen to experience this dramatic, rugged scenery on two wheels but are somewhat overawed by the challenging terrain, consider instead looking into electric mountain bikes, which boast an integrated motor to boost propulsion up those trickier (see: steeper) ascents. There are plenty of places in Edinburgh itself to hire both normal and electric bikes should you be making the trip up north without a bike.
Back in the city, the Union Canal is perenially popular; it’s flat and traffic-free. The Waters of Leith, stretching 12 miles to Balerno, is another picturesque little ride, and comfortable if you’re keen to take things at more of a canter than a chase.
Split
Croatia’s Minister of Tourism, Gari Cappelli, has recently declared that the country is “committed to developing Croatia as a top destination for active and sustainable tourism.”
We think it’s fair to say that the country is already among the most active of vacation destinations, and Split, Croatia’s second largest city, is one of its most cycle-friendly, too.
Split’s surrounding valleys and mountainous areas, along with the low-traffic and pedestrianised areas in the city, are perfectly suited for cyclists looking to enjoy both challenging and leisurely trails. Closeby, Istri, Hvar Island, and Central Dalmatia are also great spots for cycling, if you’re planning a larger excursion on two wheels.
If that sounds like a plan you’d like to take and run (or rather, cycle) with, did you know that you can now combine cycling tours in Croatia with the ever popular cruises that start from the Port of Split? Such cruises incorporate the excellent variety of cycling routes in and around Split with trips to the islands we just mentioned if you’re seeking more challenging terrain and trails. Heaven!
Bordeaux
The gorgeous, gastronomic powerhouse Bordeaux is a cyclist’s paradise, with some of the finest pit-stops on the planet for when you’re keen to park up and tuck in.
It certainly doesn’t hurt that the city’s surrounding wine regions are generally acknowledged as being the finest producers of premium plonk on the planet, and are eminently cyclable to boot. In fact, Old World wine regions often go hand in hand (hey, put them back on the handlebars!) with great cycling, since the best conditions for vines to thrive is amongst benevolently hilly terrain, and in a hands-on, non-industrial environment. All of which equates to gentle climbs, fresh air and quiet roads.
As the guys at electricrider.co.uk point out, such flat, mellow terrain is perfectly suited to eBikes, if you’re keen to simply take in the views rather than focus on your pedals.
But let’s return to the city, first. Bordeaux is relatively flat and replete with cycle lanes, with the majority of its main cultural landmarks, including Bordeaux Cathedral, the Basilica of St. Michael and Place Royale, the huge central square, all accessible by bike.
There are two well-traversed cycle paths leading out of the city in either direction; the Roger Lapebie bike path from Bordeaux to Sauveterre-de-Guyenne is a 60km scenic stretch of well signposted, straightforward cycling, complete with stunning views at every turn. Alternatively, cycle in the opposite direction, heading west to the coastal town of Lacanau, which is part of the Gironde department and supported by a 60km off-road path.
We’re finishing up our cycling tour of Europe in Antwerp, Belgium, one of the continent’s most cycle-friendly cities. There are over 500 km of cycle paths here, alongside a shared bicycle system that is the envy of cities with sustainable ambitions the world over.
These fixed stations allow you to rent and return a bicycle (there are 300 across the station, with a total of 4200 bicycles), with the first 30 minutes being free, enabling plenty of short journeys done in fits and starts, if that’s your thing. You can also buy a day, week or yearly pass at an affordable price. Day passes cost €5, weeks €11 and the annual card costs just €55.
If cruising around the city is a little too low-BPM for you, then Antwerp and its surrounding countryside boasts some challenging routes and loops, too. We’re particularly fond of Lakenhal Herentals – Begijnhof Herentals Loop from Herentals, which covers 30 miles of rugged, gorgeous terrain.
Valencia
Spain’s third-largest city, Valencia, has transformed itself into one of Europe’s most cycle-friendly destinations over the past decade. Its predominantly flat topography, warm Mediterranean climate, and extensive network of dedicated cycling infrastructure make it ideal for a two-wheeled holiday.
The crowning jewel of Valencia’s cycling scene is undoubtedly the Jardín del Turia, a 9km-long urban park built in the former riverbed of the Turia river. After devastating floods in 1957, the river was diverted, and the dry riverbed was transformed into a sunken garden that now cuts through the heart of the city. This verdant corridor offers cyclists a traffic-free route connecting many of Valencia’s key attractions, including the futuristic City of Arts and Sciences and the Bioparc.
Beyond the city centre, Valencia boasts over 150km of dedicated cycle lanes and paths, with local government continuing to expand this network year on year. The newly completed Green Ring (Anillo Verde) is a 26km circular route that connects various parks and green spaces around the periphery of the city, perfect for those looking to venture a bit further afield.
For the more adventurous, the Albufera Natural Park lies just 10km south of the city and offers spectacular cycling routes through Spain’s largest lake and its surrounding rice fields. This wetland area is a haven for birdlife and the birthplace of paella (probably), making it an ideal destination for a day trip that combines cycling with culinary exploration.
Valencia’s commitment to sustainable transport extends to its public bicycle sharing system, Valenbisi, which offers over 2,750 bikes across 275 stations throughout the city. Visitors can purchase short-term subscriptions, making it simple to hop on and off as needed without the hassle of bringing your own bicycle.
What truly sets Valencia apart from other cycling destinations is how it seamlessly blends historical charm with modern infrastructure. One moment you’re cycling past Gothic and Baroque architecture in the medieval quarter, and the next you’re cruising alongside ultramodern structures designed by Santiago Calatrava. Add in 300 days of sunshine per year, and you’ve got the recipe for a perfect cycling holiday.
A Few Logistical Considerations
If you’re planning to travel to any of these cycling havens with your own beloved two-wheeler rather than hiring locally, it’s worth considering aluminium bike boxes. These robust protective cases have become the gold standard for cycling enthusiasts who want peace of mind when transporting their bikes via plane, train or ferry. Unlike soft cases, the rigid aluminium construction provides superior protection against rough handling and the inevitable bumps of travel.
Many seasoned cyclists consider them essential gear, particularly when heading to destinations like Copenhagen or Bordeaux where you’ll want your perfectly-fitted bike to enjoy those spectacular routes. They’re not exactly cheap, but given the value of most decent bicycles these days, it’s a relatively small price to pay for ensuring your cycling holiday starts without the heartbreak of damaged equipment.
