Did you know that one in three Brits suffer from seasonal affective disorder (SAD), a form of depression that can be triggered by a lack of vitamin D that comes from the sun? For some it can be debilitating and they will need professional treatment, but for those who suffer from a more mild case of the ‘winter blues’ there are lots of things you can do to keep it at bay, including prescribing yourself a big dose of winter sun. During the heart of winter the UK gets just eight hours of sunlight (often fighting to be seen through…

Athens can lay claim to being the seat of democracy – it’s the birthplace of modern politics. Its cultural heritage is no less impressive – the philosophers of ancient Greece still hold sway over the world of rational thought. Then there’s the food – simple but oh so tasty. And… it’s also not an expensive city, it’s easy to get around and the locals are definitely friendly. For all those reasons, and more, I decided it was time revisit a city I’d not seen for around 40 years. What immediately became clear is that I should have come back sooner.…

Tired of Trondheim… bored of Berlin… vexed by Venice… numbed by Nuremberg? Maybe your travel pallet needs enlivening. Perhaps it’s time to take a novel look at some old favourites and what better to do that than with special events across Europe? Here are six picks for 2024 that’ll reinvigorate even the most jaded traveller. We’ve also included some ideas about how to enjoy them without breaking the bank – even the posh ones! So, if you want to find out how to soak up the glitz and glamour of the Venice Biennale without running up huge debts, then this…