Archive of articles from 2014
British Museum most popular London visitor attraction
The British Museum is the most popular visitor attraction in the capital, according to statistics released by the Association of Leading Visitor Attractions (ALVA) today.
Shrek-themed attraction to open in London
Shrek and his friends will be stepping out of the swamp and onto the South Bank, with an exciting new attraction, set to open in the summer of 2015.
Chocolate Kitchen opened at Hampton Court Palace
Since the humble cocoa bean arrived on our shores in the seventeenth century, Britain has been a nation of chocolate lovers.
Holidaymakers ‘quids in’ as Sterling rises
Exactly 12 months ago sterling fell to a year low against most major holiday currencies including the euro and the US dollar.
Ancient step pyramid discovered in Egypt
A step pyramid, even more ancient than the oldest of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World – The Great Pyramid of Giza – has been uncovered by archaeologists in southern Egypt.
Scottish isle Lewis and Harris wins Europe's Best Island
Scotland's Lewis and Harris Island has beaten some of the most famous and idyllic destinations in Europe to win Europe's Best Island in the Tripadvisor Travellers’ Choice Islands Awards.
Genoa hosts Pesto World Championships
If you're a pesto-lover, then you might want to head to Genoa this March to witness Italian culinary masters and foodie fans alike battle it out to win the Pesto World Championships.
European hostels win big at the annual Hoscars
An outstanding 79 per cent of the Hostelworld Hoscars were awarded to hostels in European destinations, highlighting the continent at the heart of the budget travel industry.
Tourism to Egypt to be promoted 'without Cairo'
Visiting London yesterday, Wednesday February 14th 2014, Egypt’s Minister of Tourism, Mr Hisham Zaazou, spoke frankly of the challenges Egypt has faced during the last three years and continues to tackle moving forward.
New community of Komodo Dragons found in Indonesia
Dragons are creatures of legend but in a landscape as spectacular and biologically diverse as Indonesia, myths become reality – as demonstrated by the recent discovery of several Komodo dragons (Varanus Komodoensis) living in Mbeliling Forest on Flores Island.
Namibia named top country in Wanderlust Awards
Namibia has been voted number one in the Top Country category at this year's Wanderlust Readers' Travel Awards, with a satisfaction rating of almost 97 per cent.
2014 to be a great year for London events, Mayor says
This year is shaping up to be a bumper year for great events, says the Mayor of London Boris Johnson.
Vietnam, Mexico and Cuba favourite long-haul destinations
Vietnam, Mexico and Cuba have been highlighted as three of the fastest-growing long-haul holiday destinations for British travellers, according to a new report out today.
Ireland gets first Dark Sky Reserve
The Emerald Isle is sure to become a stargazing hotspot, after the announcement that the country is now home to its first ‘International Dark Sky Place’.
Eurostar introduces new tickets to six German cities
Eurostar, the high-speed passenger service linking London and mainland Europe has today introduced a new ticket offering in partnership with German high-speed rail operator, Deutsche Bahn. From today, tickets are available to purchase to six popular cities in Germany – Aachen, Cologne, Bonn, Düsseldorf, Frankfurt and Munich.
Hotel bed taken up mountain to prove 'ultimate sleep'
Hotel brand Ibis has come up with a very unique way of showcasing their ‘Sweet Bed by ibis’ – which guarantees absolute comfort – by persuading a team of adventurers to sleep where no-one has slept before.
ABTA sees strong early holiday bookings for 2014
ABTA – The Travel Association reveals that ABTA Members are reporting strong early bookings for summer 2014 with some companies reporting sales up more than 10 per cent year on year. Following weeks of bad weather, with the UK battered by a series of storms, latest reports indicate that British holidaymakers are very much looking forward to the summer.
Guide to Chinese New Year celebrations in London
This Sunday (February 2nd) sees the long-awaited arrival of the 2012 Chinese New Year Celebrations in London.
Thailand declares State of Emergency in Bangkok
The Thai Government has imposed a 60-day State of Emergency in Bangkok and neighboring provinces, beginning on Wednesday January 22nd 2014, to cope with the political unrest and protests.
Ryanair launches new flights to Lisbon and Zadar
The no-frills airline Ryanair has announced two more new routes from Manchester to Lisbon and Zadar, which will operate from April.
Hot spot: The Thon Hotel Bristol Stephanie in Brussels
‘The biggest hotel rooms in Brussels’ – this is the boast on the posters in the lift at the four-star Thon Hotel Bristol Stephanie in the Belgian capital. European capitals are notorious for the small size of hotel rooms and I have stayed in at least five different hotels in Brussels over the years and never seen a large room. Until now.
Bali best value destination of 2014
Resort prices in Portugal and Spain provide the report’s most unexpected story. Even though sterling is still weaker year-on-year against the euro (-1.9 per cent), prices have plummeted 18 per cent in the Algarve.
New National Trails website launches
Walkers and cyclists will be able to explore over 2,500 miles of countryside with the new National Trails website which launches today.
London hotel rates second most expensive in Europe
London hotel rates have increased in the past year, according to new research by HRS, with the capital city now the second most expensive in Europe.
Tallest hotel in North America opens in Manhattan
The Big Apple has a new addition to its already-famous skyline, with the opening of the combined Marriott Courtyard hotel and Marriott Residence Inn hotel in Midtown Manhattan; now the tallest single-use hotel in North America.
