Travel News

From the trendy bars of Hoxton to the delectable curry houses of Brick Lane, east London is fast becoming one of the hotspot's for London's young and stylish.

Once best-known as the setting for Eastenders and the site of a few crimes, the area has firmly resurrected itself from the doldrums of its recent past and now sits firmly on the 'up-and-coming' pile of the UK's capital.

With a range of museums including the Bethnal Green Museum of Childhood, the Geffrye Museum of interior design and the modern White Cube art gallery, there is plenty for the cultured.

And for those looking for a good night out, the bars of Hoxton and Shoreditch buzz with the young and famous, particularly around Hoxton Square where venues such as Trafik, Bluu and Hoxton Square Bar and Kitchen, which are jam-packed with trendies most nights.

For a fantastic curry, head a little further east to Liverpool Street station and make a trip up to Brick Lane. There is a fantastic selection of curry houses in this long-running home to an established Asian population.

For those who are fans of BBC's Eastenders, the 'real' Albert Square, on which producers based the popular soap, is Fasset Square close to Dalston Junction.

Every year on May Day a number of celebrations take place throughout the UK, some more unusual than others.

In the village of Cerne Abbas in Dorset, Morris Dancers unite at the famous fertility figure which stands at 180ft high on the top of a hill.

Carved in solid lines from the chalk bedrock, the Cerne giant's origins are unclear, but the first written records of its existence date back to 1751 and its name is likely to have derived from the Celtic fertility god, Cernunnos. The well-endowed giant is thought to have the power to help childless couples conceive.

May 1st marks the day when the Wessex Morris Men dance above the giant's head at the crack of dawn and then head down to the village to continue celebrations.

Morris dancing is a traditional english folk dance based on rhythmic stepping, which incorporates props such as sticks, swords and handkerchiefs.

The Hotel de Crillon in the French capital Paris offers sophisticated refinement and prices to match such tastes.

Set in the shadow of the Place de la Concorde, the hotel is actually an 18th-century palace and guests will certainly feel like they are living the life of royalty should they stay at the residency.

Rich in history and within walking distance of that quintessential French area, the Champs-Elysees, the Hotel de Crillon has been designed with the traditions of France in mind.

Hand-painted ceilings are the touch of decadence and design brilliance that arguably lift the hotel, while there are still places for the modern day trappings - such as flat-screen TVs - to make a stay in the hotel everything guests could imagine.

Eating and drinking at the Hotel de Crillon is a delight, matching experiences across the French capital, with Les Ambassadeurs a particular favourite with online source Concierge.

It suggests the Hotel de Crillon's onsite two-star is "fitting for occasions both formal and frivolous".

In a celebration of the resurgent Jewish Polish population, Krakow has hosted an annual Jewish Culture Festival since 1988.

With a host of entertainment centered around the former Jewish district of Kazinmierz, hundreds of people flock to the various venues in the area that take part in the festivities.

Synagogues, cafes, pubs and theatres participate in the celebration that entertains and educates crowds about Jewish culture through music, art, theatre and food. There are film presentations and exhibitions on Jewish themes and varied workshops including those on dance, song, cookery, theatre and calligraphy.

The first Sunday of the festival is marked with an inaugural concern, usually featuring a performance of cantoral music in one of the region's synagogues.

Throughout the celebrations, Klezmer bands and cantors delight crowds with their traditional melodies and the festival usually ends with a huge grand finale open air concert in Szeroka Street.

There are seven synagogues in Kazinmierz, including the 16th-century Remuh and High, the 17th-century Popper's and Kupa and the 19th-century Temple and Issac's Synagogues.

It is also home to Poland's oldest and perhaps grandest Old Synagogue, built in the early 16th-century and restored in the 1950s following extensive damage by the Nazis.

For a more original way to see the Czech Republic's capital, why not sign up for the Prague marathon?

Held this year on May 11th, the race round one of eastern Europe's most beautiful cities is now in its 14th year.

As the biggest race of its kind in the region, the Prague Marathon welcomes major internationals alongside a host of amateurs. However, there is a six-hour time limit, so those planning to run will have to ensure they take part in some serious training.

Making use of brand new technology, an electronic chip is attached to competitors' ankles that allows finishing times to be text-messaged to the participants' phones once they cross the finishing line.

Thousands of runners and spectators are entertained along the route by groups of musicians and entertainers and there are also a series of fun runs - anyone who's registered for the marathon can have a friend run in a fun run for free.

This is a fantastic way to view some of the great sites that this city has to offer, including Charles Bridge, Rudolfinum Opera House, the National Theatre and Prague Castle.