Travel advice
Practical, researched answers to the questions UK travellers ask most before a trip: how to get there, what it costs and what to watch out for.
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Travelling to Europe from the UK: EES, ETIAS and passport rules
The EU's Entry/Exit System is now fully in use, so UK travellers register fingerprints and a photo at the border instead of having their passport stamped. ETIAS, the €20 …
Getting thereEurostar vs flying to Europe's Christmas markets
If you live in or near London, Eurostar is usually the easier way to reach the Christmas markets in Brussels, Bruges, Paris, Amsterdam and Cologne, with city-centre to ci…
Getting thereSleeper trains from the UK: what still runs and what to expect
Britain has two overnight sleeper services, the Caledonian Sleeper to Scotland and the Night Riviera to Cornwall, and several European night trains can be reached with a …
Airport parkingAirport hotel and parking: when the night before is worth it
Staying at an airport hotel the night before you fly turns a pre-dawn drive into a short transfer, and a hotel and parking package can cost less than many people expect. …
Airport parkingIs meet and greet parking worth it?
Meet and greet parking means handing your keys to a driver at the terminal instead of parking yourself and catching a shuttle. It usually costs more than park and ride, a…
Christmas marketsChristmas markets by train from London
From St Pancras you can be at a Christmas market in Lille in under an hour and a half, in Brussels in about two hours, and in Cologne, Aachen or Strasbourg in roughly fou…
Christmas marketsWhen to book a Christmas market break
The best time to visit most Christmas markets is a weekday in late November or early December, and the best time to book is as soon as your dates are fixed, because train…
Winter sunBest winter sun under 5 hours from the UK
If you want real warmth between December and February without a long-haul flight, the Canary Islands are the safest bet, with Madeira and Marrakech close behind for dayti…
Northern LightsWhere to see the Northern Lights from the UK
For most UK travellers, the best Northern Lights trip is three or four nights in Tromsø, Iceland or Finnish Lapland, with a guided tour that can drive away from cloud. Ab…
LaplandLapland with kids: what it costs
A do-it-yourself four-night trip to Rovaniemi for a family of four can cost roughly £1,100 to £1,200 plus around €800 to €1,000 on the ground if you keep activities to a …
Facts checked against official and operator sources. Prices and rules change, so always confirm before you book. Some links are affiliate links: if you book through them we may earn a small commission, at no extra cost to you.
