Belmond's Venice Simplon-Orient-Express

best bed: Venice Simplon-Orient-Express

There are luxury trains... and then there is the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express. The original Orient Express began running in 1883, but today’s Venice Simplon-Orient-Express was launched in 1982 after American entrepreneur James Sherwood tracked down and painstakingly restored historic carriages from…

La Scala, Milan

Ah Milan… 7 Things to Do

Ah Milan… or Milano da bere… “Milan to drink.” The phrase came from a gloriously 1980s Ramazzotti advertising campaign and became shorthand for fashionable, prosperous, pleasure-loving Milan. Beautiful clothes, fast cars and cocktails before dinner. Not a terrible philosophy for…

Schiaparelli: Fashion Becomes Art at V&A South Kensington. Photo - David Parry PA Media Assignments

London Calling: Five Blockbusters You Can’t Miss

London does autumn rather well. The tourists thin out, the coats come back, and suddenly the museums start rolling out exhibitions designed to make us abandon any sensible plans for the afternoon. This year is particularly good. From a 1,000-year-old…

The Pan Pacific, London

best bed: Pan Pacific, London, UK

Sleek Singaporean hospitality meets old London money… Pan Pacific London is a glossy, calming, quietly fabulous hotel in the middle of the City, which is to say: exactly where one needs a little calm. Set at One Bishopsgate Plaza, steps…

Nice, France

Ah Nice…. 6 things to do

Ah Nice…. named after the goddess Nike, city of flowers, sunshine, art and capital of the Riviera. A historically important port with a reportedly 330 days of sunshine, the largest carnival in France and a favorite holiday destination of Queen…

Prince's Palace, Monaco

A Day Wandering Monaco: From Medieval Fortresses to Billionaire Skyscrapers

Monaco is roughly two square kilometres, which means you can walk across the country faster than it takes to lose €50 at the casino. But despite its toy-sized geography, the principality packs eight centuries of architectural ambition into a very…