Travel News

Tourists may be tempted to hang around in London to go sightseeing, but the capital is not all of England. There are some interesting day trips visitors can make within an hour's train ride of the Big Smoke. Here are some of our favourite destinations.

Bath

Thermal spas galore make up this charming city that still retains a lot of its 19th-entury architecture. People have been going to Bath for its healing waters for centuries and there are plenty to be seen in the city.

Take a tour of Bizarre Bath on a comedy walk of Bath with some local comedians, who point and laugh at the funny things in town. Groups set off from one of the local pubs each night from 20:00 BST.

Don't miss the opportunity to stay in one of the best hotels in Bath, which includes Bath spa hotel Macdonald Bath Spa, which offers five-star facilities behind a Georgian façade.

Brighton

For a flavour of Brighton here is a sample - it is Britain's gay capital, it is full of visitors from all over the world and disc jockey Fat Boy Slim has played to hundreds of thousands on Brighton's famous pebble beach. Brighton offers alternative living outside London.

A lot of people commute here to London by train, which only takes an hour, each day while some people prefer to stay the night in one of the cheap hotels in Brighton for a quick visit. As well as the biggest gay pride party it also hosts a celebrated Artists Open House festivals twice a year, where people can look at paintings in domestic settings. The next is in December.

For a Brighton hotel with a sea view stay at family-run Marine View. It is a grade two-listed building in fashionable Kemptown by a garden square on the front.

Oxford

This is the city of Britain's super-brains or so the saying goes. A trip would not be complete without going on one of the Oxford University tours academic colleges and booking a spectators seat to one of the many boat ... read more

Glasgow is not the first choice for any aspiring foodie. Frying Snickers, Crème Eggs and pizzas have been known in the local fish and chippies as well as Mars Bars. Glasgow's climate tends to range from wet to wetter with famous Glaswegians including the likes of Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson and comedian Billy Connolly.

However, Scotland's largest city looks set for a turnaround with one of Dubai's most opulent hotel chains planning its first pit stop outside London here by 2011. The Jumeirah name is synonymous with elegance in spas, restaurants and comfort. There is an increasing range of high class hotels in Glasgow. The city is even heralding fine food at the end of the month by hosting the BBC's Good Food Show, which sees an end to deep fried Mars Bars (for the mean time anyway).

Luxury hotel chain chooses Glasgow.

High A Dubai-based hotel chain has chosen to extend its facilities to Glasgow. Jumeirah Glasgow Hotel will be a mix of hotel rooms and serviced apartments, which will include a signature Talise Wellness spa, gym, rooftop cocktail lounge, restaurants and bars. It will include a ballroom and executive suite, with designs by Ian Simpson Architects.

Low For a budget hotel in Glasgow The Hotel Beersbridge has received good reviews. It has 20 basic rooms and is five minutes from the best hotels in Glasgow in the city centre.

Spice up haggis with something different.

High For fine dining in Glasgow you will first have to get over the mouthful of a name to book a table at the Ubiquitous Chip. It has three classic dining areas, and a drive to showcase the very best Scottish ingredients, including Aberdeen Angus fillet with stovies, venison haggis with turnip cream alongside local fish and seafood. There are many elements to this venue, including The Big Pub and The Wee Pub, which are must-visits.

Low Alternatively, visitors on a budget can get fed for less at Monster Mash, which is a budge ... read more

Granada attracts a rate of visitors above average for a Spanish province every year, according to the tourist board, and figures are steadily increasing with the last annual statistic standing at a healthy 5.6 million.

The average guest spends €72 (£56) a day with skiers handing over €144 and delegates paying €300. Granada inhabitants earn 14 per cent of their gross domestic product from tourism, which generates 15 per cent of jobs.

What has Granada got to offer?

A collection of Unesco World Heritage sites from the monument of Alhambra and the Generalife to the Albaicin and Sacromonte, which make up part of Granada city, make up some of the most famous sights in Granada. There's plenty of historic architecture to see and places to visit by the best hotels in Granada, including the cathedral and its tombs. Monument the Nasrid alone welcomes more than two million visitors each year.

Sun, sand and ski

The famous Granada ski resort, the Sierra Nevada attracts more than 1.3 million visitors each years. There are 3,478 metre-high summits to shoot down in a mountain range that receive clear weather most of the year.

However, the scores of beaches and inlets of the Tropical Coast are also in demand in the province, which are perfect places to enjoy average temperatures of around 20 degrees Celsius.

Come all year round

Granada has been luring tourists from all over the world, although over half come from Spain. As well as attracting European visitors, Granada city is a favourite among Japanese travellers as is the affordable accommodation in Granada.

It has such a diverse range of activities on offer from water sports along the beautiful coastline nearby to winter sports at the Sierra Nevada, the province of Granada is amenable all year round.

Where to stay?
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Visitors to Madrid this autumn will never have seen so much film. A gay and lesbian film festival is followed by an event focusing on short films then there is a period focusing on experimental masterpieces, which take over the city towards the end of November. It would be hard to know where to start looking for the best hotels in Madrid, but we have a few top tips to get you started.

Gay film

The Madrid Gay and Lesbian Film Festival aims to create a more tolerant view of homosexuality and chooses films with pertinence. They are judged on their artistic merits for prizes such as best feature length and best short film and are voted for by audiences. The festival takes place at cinemas around the best hotels in Madrid from October 30th to November 9th.

Stay in...

For a gay friendly hotel in Madrid, the Hostal Pizarro is for you. It is located by some of the cheap hotels in Madrid in the Chueca district, which is famous for its lively alternative nightlife. The hostel is a great place to get to meet gay-friendly travellers with a large communal lounge, which has Wi-Fi access and a satellite TV. During the day it is home to many of Madrid's best shops. Culture is also only round the corner in the shape of galleries.

Shorts

This film has been the big break for many up and coming film directors, with Daniel Sanchez Arevalo winning last year's City of Alcala award for best director when he presented Traumalogia. For film fans, the Alcala De Henares Film Festivalfrom November 7th to 15th is a must-see with its focus directly on short film. 2008 will be the 37th year the festival has been organised by Alcala de Henares/Comunidad de Madrid. The Audience Award is worth €1,000 (£755). It is also home to the European Competition of Short Films this year which w ... read more

Bonfires that will be lit all over the United Kingdom on November 5th serve as a sinister reminder of a historical punishment for treason in England. Dissenter Guy Fawkes was burned at the stake in the 17th century for his part in a plot to blow up the Houses of Parliament alongside King James I with barrels of gunpowder. Those brave enough can stay at a hotel near the houses of parliament. Historically children used to make effigies of one of the United Kingdom's first terrorists to burn on fires lit all over the kingdom, often asking people for a "penny for the guy". Visit some of the venues in our guide from the best hotels in London.

Ealing Cricket Club

Ealing marks the 90th anniversary of the Royal Air Force (RAF) as well as the anniversary of the Gunpowder plot at Ealing Cricket Club on Saturday, November 8th this year. Fireworks will go off to music from 19:30, local time, with Wagner's Ride of the Valkyries and Dambusters chosen to celebrate the work of the RAF alongside some digitally remastered Sir Winston Churchill quotes. The gates open at 18:00, local time, and the Cricket Club will be serving up mulled wine, barbecues and candyfloss. Tickets are £5 for adults and £3 for children under 14. Stay in a hotel by Ealing or catch the tube to Ealing Broadway.

Fireworks at Hampton Court Palace

The Hampton Court fireworks take place on Saturday, November 1st. During the day the Palace boasts an exhibition dedicated to the pin-up King Henry VIII, costumed guides and the famous maze. Visit from the affordable accommodation in London. To celebrate Bonfire Night the architecture will be lit up to music, mirth and song. Tickets are £5 for adults and £2.50 for children with the gates opening at 18:00. Proceeds go to the Historic Royal Palaces, the Hobson Charity and the Gosling Foundation.

The Lord Mayors showdown ... read more