Destinations
Where we’ve been looking up — and drinking down
Every city gets two perspectives — the streets and the taps. Pick a city to see everything we’ve written about it in one place, or scroll down to see where we’re heading next.
England
4 places, 1 of them home
Visiting since 2016
Whitby
An hour and a half from home, and still the best day out on the Yorkshire coast. An abbey on the cliff, 199 steps, the best fish and chips in the country, and a beach that empties when the town is full.
Home ground · since 2016
Durham
A Norman cathedral on a hill in a loop of the river, cobbled vennels most visitors walk straight past, three medieval bridges — and the breweries Ian has been drinking at for thirty years.
August 2026
London
Three days on foot over a bank holiday: Hammersmith’s riverside pubs, the long Thames walk to Barnes, Camden’s breweries under the railway arches, and Primrose Hill on the way home.
Multiple visits since 2016
Windsor
A town better known for its castle. We went for the coronation weekend and came back for the beer — a craft scene smaller than you’d expect and better than you’d hope.
Hungary
Our most complete city so far
June 2026 · six days
Budapest
Six days, two thermal baths, one free concert, nine taprooms and a stolen towel. Ruins, baths, taprooms and the Danube at dusk.
Poland
Two visits, one Christmas market
November 2014 and December 2024
Kraków
The Main Square, St Mary’s and Wawel Hill, the Christmas market in December, and cherry wine under a ceiling of red glass.
Events
Days out worth planning around
Berkshire · two visits
Royal Ascot
Two trips, one race day each time, at England’s most theatrical meeting: fascinators, Pimm’s in the heat, and the King’s carriage rolling past close enough to wave at. Brewery festivals are next on the list.
Coming next
Where we’re heading
Mexico · this year
Cancún
Our first trip to Mexico — the Caribbean coast, the food, and whatever Ian finds on tap.
England · coming 2026
North East Coast
Saltburn and Staithes: sea fret, fish and chips and seaside ale.
England · coming 2026
Newcastle
Victorian grandeur on the Tyne and one of the UK’s best beer cities.
Next big trip · 2027
Vietnam
Street food, old quarters and a craft beer scene that’s growing fast.
Before you go
Our travel checklists
Winter · Europe and the UK
Winter city break: what to sort before you go
Christmas markets, early dark and temperatures below zero: a winter city break is the best kind of trip, if you pack for standing still outside.
- Check the entry rules for your passport: EES and ETIAS for Europe, an ETA for the UK
- Travel insurance, with a printed copy in your bag
- The right plug adapter, and the cable that goes with it
- A card with no foreign fees, and always pay in the local currency
- Layers, a waterproof, and boots with a good grip: old town cobbles get icy
- Thick socks, gloves, a hat and a scarf, even if you never wear them at home
- Check which days the shops close: in some countries most shops shut on Sundays
Summer · beach and long-haul
Seaside holiday: what to pack and what to know
Sun, sea and the small things that spoil a beach day when you forget them.
- Check the entry rules for your passport before you book, and whether you need a visa or online permit in advance
- Travel insurance that covers water sports, with a printed copy in your bag
- Sun cream of SPF 30 or more, and reapply it after swimming
- Stay in the shade between 11am and 3pm, when the sun is strongest
- Swim where lifeguards are on duty, between the red and yellow flags
- Water, and electrolytes: in the heat you sweat out salts too
- The right plug adapter, and the cable that goes with it
Follow the journey
One email per trip — be the first to read about the next city.