Win a two-night staycation at this ‘fabulous’ adults-only hotel and spa


Win a two-night staycation at this ‘fabulous’ adults-only hotel and spa
A relaxing getaway in the Welsh countryside awaits (Picture: Brook Aurora)

Picture this. You open your eyes in a cosy bedroom that feels like a ship’s cabin, slowly waking to the gentle sound of a flowing river and the scent of freshly baked bread. The only place you have to be today? The spa.

If this sounds like what you need, read on. 

Metro has teamed up with a top-rated Welsh hotel to give one lucky reader (and a companion) a chance to win a restorative escape in the heart of the British countryside.  

We’re giving away a two-night B&B stay at Albion Aberteifi in Cardigan, voted best hotel in Wales by the Times & Sunday Times in 2023.

You’ll also get cocktails for two at the hotel bar and a two-hour Nature Spa experience at fforest Farm (Welsh spelling, not typo), a short drive or a walk through a nature reserve. 

For your chance to win this gorgeous spring getaway, enter your details into the form below before midnight on Sunday, April 19.

And don’t forget to sign up to The Getaway Expert, our seven-day guide to becoming a more confident traveller.

Housed in an old shipping warehouse, Albion Aberteifi is inspired by the rich maritime heritage of Cardigan, the charming town that sits at the mouth of the River Teifi as it flows into Cardigan Bay in West Wales.

The hotel is full of quirks that tell the story of its seafaring history, from its salvaged timber furniture, 19th-Century graffiti and wrought iron frame that protects the Grade II-listed building’s original masonry, to its ghostly residents, said to be from the brig Albion which set sail for Canada from Cardigan in 1819.  

One of the cosy bedrooms at Albion Aberteifi (Picture: Heather Birnie)

But you won’t be disturbed by any bumps in the night, snuggled up in your cosy double bedroom. Each en-suite, wood-lined cabin boasts a stunning river view, Welsh wool blankets, handmade furniture and a super comfortable king-sized bed for a restful stay. 

Guests have raved about the ‘fabulous hotel’, praising in particular the ‘thoughtful attention to detail’ in everything, down to the complimentary Aesop toiletries in the bathroom.

Relax with a handcrafted cocktail in the hotel bar (Picture: Heather Birnie)

The breakfast is unique: they serve up a Scandi-style feast, with a buffet of delights including sourdough, smoked salmon and charcuterie to graze on.

In the evening, head to the Albion’s bar for delicious handcrafted cocktails for two.

Up close and personal with nature

It’s the perfect place to take respite from everyday life. Recent guests have used their time at the hotel to complete a novel, take on the local famous coast path walks, birdwatch in the local nature reserve, or to learn traditional Welsh weaving at local craft workshops.

Just a ramble away on the other side of the Teifi Marshes Nature Reserve is fforest Farm, a trendy hybrid of Welsh farm and Japanese forest retreat, where you can get up close and personal with nature.

Last year, they opened The Nature Spa, a woodland oasis where you’ll find everything you need for R&R, including individual cedar saunas, wood-fired hot tubs and cold plunge barrels.

Sweat it out in one of fforest farm’s cedar barrel saunas (Picture: Brook Aurora)
Wild swimming is encouraged(Picture: fforest Farm)

There’s also a tranquil spa lounge area, where you can curl up by the fire in the cosy lodge or relax on the sunlit terrace, along with complimentary herbal tea, showers and locker access.

For the more adventurous, wild swimming in the river Teifi or the hidden coves of the nearby West Wales coast is encouraged.

The area is the gateway to famous clifftop walks along the Ceredigion Coast Path, where you’ll find spectacular views over sandy bays, rugged rock formations and woodland gorges. 

An artisan haven

Back in Cardigan, or Aberteifi as it’s called in Welsh, you’ll find one of the coolest up-and-coming towns in West Wales. 

Once an old-fashioned merchant town, its colourful streets are now a haven for creatives and artisans, with galleries, theatres and cinemas.  

Discover the fascinating history of the region at the recently renovated 900-year-old Cardigan Castle, peruse traditional Welsh crafts and artsy modern pieces in the local boutiques and market stalls, and pop into one of their gorgeous cafes for specialty coffees and indulgent handmade bakes. In the evening, head to the Castle Inn for a cosy pint of locally brewed beer and pizza.  

What you need to know

How to get there: Although there’s no train station in Cardigan, it is easily accessible via car or bus from Carmarthen, Fishguard or Aberystwyth.  

Address: Teifi Wharf, Bridge Warehouse, Cardigan SA43 3AA

Rooms at Albion Aberteifi from £185pn B&B. 

Terms and conditions

A CHANCE TO WIN A TWO-NIGHT STAY PLUS NATURE SPA EXPERIENCE FOR TWO IN WEST WALES 

 Conditions of entry 

  1. This prize draw (the ”Promotion“) is only open to legal residents of Great Britain (excluding Northern Ireland). Any employees or agents of either the Promoter and/or the Prize Administrator and/or any company connected with the production or distribution of this Promotion, as well as any members of their immediate family (e.g., spouse, parent, child, sibling) and persons living in the same household as them, whether or not related, are not eligible to enter this Promotion. All bookings at Albion Aberteifi and Fforest Farm, including redemption of the Prize and the winner’s stay, are subject to the Promoter’s standard terms and conditions and rules of stay.
  1. Entrants must be aged 18 years or over at the time of entry. Proof of eligibility must be provided upon request.  By entering the Promotion, you are deemed to accept and be bound by these terms and conditions. 
  1. Enter between 00:01 GMT 6th April 2026 to 23:59 GMT 19th April 2026 inclusive (the “Promotion Period”). 
  1. The Promotion is free to enter; however internet access is required.  
  1. To enter, entrants must visit this page and submit their full name, email address, phone number, date of birth and postcode into the form on the page 
  1. Only one (1) entry will be accepted per person.  

Winner 

  1. There will be one (1) winner of the Prize. The winner will win a two-night bed and breakfast stay in one (1) double bedroom at Albion Aberteifi (the “Hotel”) for two (2) adults, cocktails (max one cocktail (1) per person) for two (2) adults at the Hotel bar, and a two-hour Nature Spa experience at Fforest Farm, Cwm Plysgog, Cardigan, Cilgerran SA43 2TB for two (2) adults (“Prize”) 
  1. The Prize must be redeemed by 31st May 2026 and is subject to availability. No pets are allowed. 
  1. The winner will be selected in a random draw, conducted by a computer process that produces verifiably random results, from all eligible entries, held on 20th April 2026. 
  1. Excludes travel and transfers to (and from) the Hotel and Fforest farm. All extras (e.g., mini-bar items) taken are to be paid for by the prize winner on departure. Preferred dates subject to availability.  
  1.  The Albion Aberteifi will contact the winner directly to book their stay, which must be taken by the 31st May 2026. Once the winner has booked their stay directly with Albion Aberteifi or Fforest Farm, any cancellation of that booking by the winner will result in the Prize being forfeited. 
  1. The winner will be notified by the Prize Administrator by email within one (1) week of this date and will be given details of how to accept their Prize.  Reasonable efforts will be made to contact the provisional winners, but it is each winner’s responsibility to monitor their email address (including spam folder). Failure by the winner to accept the Prize in the manner specified within fourteen (14) days of the Prize Administrator’s email will make any claim invalid and the Promoter will then select another winner using the same random process.  
  1. For the avoidance of doubt, the Prize does not include travel/transportation, accommodation, food, beverages, souvenirs, gratuities, car parking charges, or any other costs of a personal nature (including spending money) that are not explicitly set out in these Terms and Conditions and neither the Promoter nor the Prize Administrator nor any provider of any part of the Prize will be responsible for any such costs. 
  1. Gifts, prizes and other promotional items can only be redeemed once, are not transferable nor exchangeable for cash, may not be re-sold and are subject to availability.  
  1. Once the winner has booked their stay directly with Albion Aberteifi, any cancellation of that booking by the winner will result in the Prize being forfeited. 
  1. The Promoter and the Prize Administrator reserve the right in their reasonable discretion to substitute any such gift, prize or item with a gift, prize or item of equal or greater value. 
  1. By entering the Promotion, each entrant acknowledges that in the event of a win, their surname and county of residence may be disclosed to persons enquiring, where permitted by law. Provided no objection is received from the winners, a winners list will be made available by the Promoter and/or the Prize Administrator four (4) weeks after the end of the Promotion Period, for a period of eight (8) weeks. To request the winners list, please email competitions@mailnewspaper.co.uk. Without prejudice, the Promoter and/or the Prize Administrator will provide winner information to the Advertising Standards Authority when requested by them. 
  1. Entrants agree to provide reasonable cooperation to allow the Promoter and the Prize Administrator to use the name and/or likeness of the winner for advertising and publicity purposes in connection with this Promotion including but not limited to publication of the winner’s name and photograph on the Prize Administrator’s and the Promoter’s websites.  In addition, by submitting an entry and in consideration of the Promoter and the Prize Administrator granting a right to enter the Promotion, entrants agree to grant the Promoter and the Prize Administrator a perpetual, royalty-free, non-exclusive, sub-licensable right and licence to use, reproduce, modify, adapt, publish, translate, create derivative works from, distribute and exercise all copyright and publicity rights with respect to any materials contained in the entry (including but not limited to text, images or video materials) (the “Materials”) worldwide and/or to incorporate the Materials in other works in any media now known or later developed for the full term of any rights that may exist in the Materials. By submitting Materials to the competition, an entrant: 
  • warrants that the Materials are its own original work and that it has the right to make them available for all the purposes specified above; that it does not infringe any law; that it is not obscene or libellous; and that it does not violate the rights of any third party;  
  • agrees to indemnify the Promoter and the Prize Administrator against all legal fees, damages and other expenses that may be incurred as a result of a breach of the above warranty; and 
  • agrees to waive any moral rights in the Materials for the purposes of its submission to, and publication by, the Promoter and the Prize Administrator and the purposes specified above. 

Personal information 

  1. Any personal information provided to us during the entry process (including but not limited to your name, e-mail address, telephone number and date of birth) must be correct. We accept no responsibility for any incorrect personal information provided to us.  
  1. The Prize Administrator will hold your personal information in accordance with these terms and conditions and its privacy policy (available here).  
  1. The Prize Administrator will only share your personal information with the Promoter where you are the winner of the Promotion or where you have opted in to receive direct marketing from the Promoter (if relevant). The Promoter will hold your personal information as a separate controller in accordance with its privacy policy (available here) and shall implement and maintain appropriate technical and organisational security measures in compliance with the GDPR and any other applicable law. 

General 

  1. The determination and decision of the Promoter and the Prize Administrator on all matters shall be final and no promotional correspondence or discussion will be entered into. 
  1. The Promoter and the Prize Administrator reserve the right in their reasonable discretion: 
  • to disqualify any claimant, competitor or nominee whose conduct is contrary to the spirit of the rules or the intention of the promotion and to declare as void any or all of their claims or entries based on such conduct; 
  • to declare as void any claims or entries resulting from any printing, production and/or distribution errors (including but not limited to any error(s) on any website of the Promoter and/or the Prize Administrator, any game cards and/or other printed materials) or where there has been error(s) in any aspect of the preparation for or conduct of the promotion materially affecting the result of the promotion or the number of claimants or the value of claims; 
  • to add to or to waive any rules on reasonable notice; and/or, 
  • to cancel the promotion or any part of it at any stage in the event of circumstances beyond the Promoter’s and/or the Prize Administrator’s reasonable control. 
  1. No entries will be accepted in bulk, from agents or third parties. 
  1. To the fullest extent permitted by law (and subject to paragraph 27 below), the Promoter and the Prize Administrator hereby exclude all warranties, representations, covenants and liabilities (whether express or implied) relating to this Promotion and/or the Prize. 
  1. The Promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed, administered by or associated with any social media platform or any other third party. All third-party trademarks and other intellectual property rights are hereby acknowledged. Use of and entry to promotions via social media platforms is always subject to the rules, terms and policies of those platforms. By participating in the Promotion, entrants are providing information to the Promoter and the Prize Administrator, not to any relevant social media platform. To the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, the relevant social media platforms shall have no liability to any person in connection with or arising out of the Promotion howsoever caused, including for any costs, expenses, damages, and other liabilities. 
  1. Nothing in these terms and conditions shall exclude the Promoter’s or the Prize Administrator’s liability for: 
  • death or personal injury as a result of its negligence; 
  • fraud or fraudulent misrepresentation; or 
  • any liability that cannot be limited or excluded by law. 
  1. The Promoter and the Prize Administrator reserve the right, in their discretion, to modify, suspend or cancel the Promotion should virus, bugs, tampering, fraud or other causes beyond the reasonable control of the Promoter or the Prize Administrator corrupt or hinder the administration, security or proper play of the Promotion. 
  1. If any of the provisions of these terms and conditions are held to be invalid or unenforceable in whole or in part that part shall be severed from the remainder of the provisions and the validity of the other provisions and the remainder of the provision in question shall not be affected. 
  1. These terms and conditions shall be governed by the laws of England and Wales and any dispute shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of England and Wales, except that residents of Scotland may also bring proceedings in the Scottish courts. 

Promoter  

  1. The Promoter is Albion Aberteifi, Cardigan Quays Limited, Bridge Warehouse, Cardigan, SA43 3AA (company number 03855973) (“Promoter”).  
  2. The Prize Administrator is Associated Newspapers Limited, Northcliffe House, 9 Derry Street, London, United Kingdom, W8 5HY, (company number 00084121) (“Prize Administrator”). 


Easter travel just got cheaper with new £5 coach ticket across 100 UK towns


Easter travel just got cheaper with new £5 coach ticket across 100 UK towns
Explore the UK with a bargain ticket (Picture: Getty Images)

From quaint market towns to bustling cities, there are countless UK destinations perfect for a day trip or short break.

And thanks to the latest offer from coach operator, FlixBus, you’ll soon be able to explore the UK for the same price as a cup of coffee.

To celebrate it’s fifth birthday, the brand has slashed ticket prices to just £5 — with some even as low as £4.49.

Given that jet fuel prices have surged by 58.4% in the last two weeks — reaching their highest level in four years — there’s no better time to consider a staycation.

Until April 30, promotional £5 tickets are available for travel between April 13 and June 30 2026, with a range of more than 100 destinations across England, Scotland and Wales to choose from.

And as of April 1, FlixBus will launch in five new cities: Doncaster, Blackpool, Halifax, Huddersfield and Milton Keynes.

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Happy Birthday Flixbus! (Picture: Flixbus)

For Midlanders, if you’re in Leicester or Nottingham you’ll also be able to catch a Flixbus to Plymouth and Bristol for the first time.

There will be improved airport connectivity too, as a daily service from Heathrow Airport into London and Brighton will be added.

Gatwick Airport will also get a route to both Leeds and Sheffield, and there will be new connections from Manchester Airport to Newcastle, Sunderland, Middlesbrough, Leeds, Huddersfield and Bradford.

There will also be new routes between Bristol Airport and Plymouth, Taunton, Cheltenham and Exeter.

Need some inspiration? Head to the UK’s best place to live for 2026

Flixbus are improving connectivity in Norwich, with new services to Heathrow, Birmingham and Plymouth.

The routes come just as the capital of Norfolk has been named as the best place to live in the UK, topping The Sunday Times list for 2026.

Metro’s expert food writer, Courtney Pochin, hails from the area, and spent 24 years living in and around Norwich.

She attests to the fact that the city is a ‘pretty spectacular’ place, urging visitors to head to it’s ‘stunning cathedral’, soak up the culture at one of it’s many, many festivals, and experience it’s ‘extraordinary food scene’.

For more tips, read Courtney’s local’s guide to Norwich here

Street view with colorful brick houses near river in the small english town Norwich, England in autumn. Townhouses Buildings At Waterfront. Suburb Houses, Residential Building Near River In Europe.
Take a trip to pretty Norwich (Picture: Getty Images/iStockphoto)

And as of May, you can get your hands on £5 tickets for Flixbus routes to Colchester, Chelmsford and Ipswich.

Spring will also see more airport connections: from Birmingham Airport to London and Oxford, and Norwich to Heathrow.

Sarah Bartlett, PR lead for FlixBus UK said: ‘Five years ago, we set out with a bold ambition to revolutionise coach travel, and with a network of over 100 destinations, it’s clear passengers have fallen in love with FlixBus.

‘We’re offering tickets for less than a fiver to bring even more joy to travellers using our affordable, comfortable and reliable services.’

Flixbus routes with £5 tickets

While there are lots of routes across FlixBus network which can be found on their website, these are the new ones for Spring…

  • Doncaster – London
  • Blackpool – London
  • Blackpool – Stoke
  • Blackpool – Birmingham
  • Darlington – Manchester
  • Oxford – London
  • Oxford – Birmingham
  • Birmingham Airport – London
  • Birmingham Airport – Oxford
  • Halifax – London
  • Colchester – London
  • Chelmsford – London
  • Ipswich – London
  • Huddersfield – London
  • Bristol Airport – Plymouth
  • Bristol Airport – Taunton
  • Bristol Airport – Cheltenham
  • Bristol Airport – Exeter
  • Birmingham – Norwich
  • Birmingham – Plymouth
  • Nottingham – Plymouth
  • Leicester – Plymouth
  • Leicester – Bristol
  • Nottingham – Bristol
  • Brighton – Gatwick
  • Brighton – Heathrow
  • Manchester Airport – Newcastle
  • Manchester Airport – Sunderland
  • Manchester Airport – Middlesborough
  • Manchester Airport – Leeds
  • Manchester Airport – Huddersfield
  • Manchester Airport – Bradford
  • Gatwick – Leeds
  • Gatwick – Sheffield

Do you have a story to share?

Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@Metro.co.uk.


‘Prague’s ugly sister’ is a walkable gem with £2 pints and a blue church


‘Prague’s ugly sister’ is a walkable gem with £2 pints and a blue church
Where culture comes without a hefty price tag and a pint costs around £2.20 (Picture: Getty Images/Kristina Beanland)

Dull. Boring. Disappointing.

These are not the adjectives you want to describe your next city break, but after booking flights to Bratislava, this is what the internet offered up to me.

‘The most boring capital city I’ve ever been to,’ is a much-upvoted post on Reddit, in reference to the Slovak capital.

Back in the 90s, travel guru Simon Calder wrote of its ‘dismal reputation’ and its rather cruel nickname: ‘Prague’s ugly sister’. Ouch.

At the airport, a group on a hen do asked where my bestie and I were headed.

Our answer was met with a shrug and a ‘never heard of it’ — a marginal improvement over being informed that the place is rubbish, yet again.

But I’m here to tell you that while it might be one of Europe’s smallest capital cities, Bratislava is not to be underestimated.

Here’s how to spend a thoroughly enjoyable weekend in Europe’s ‘Little Big City’ that deserves to shake off its bad reputation.

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Rome skyline with domes of catholic churches at sunset, Lazio, Italy
Win a dreamy trip to Rome for you and a friend (Picture: Getty Images)

Unlimited pasta, world-class shopping, thousands of years of history on every street corner… who wouldn’t want to be in Rome?

We’ve teamed up with Wowcher to offer one lucky reader the chance to win a city break for two in Rome, including return flights from your chosen UK airport (Bristol, Edinburgh, Manchester, London Gatwick or London Stansted) and a stay in a four-star hotel walking distance of iconic spots such as the Colosseum and the Trevi Fountain.

Armed with travel tips from our exclusive new newsletter The Getaway Expert, this is your chance to explore the Eternal City like a real Roman. Good luck!

Enter now

 Open to UK (excluding Northern Ireland) residents aged 18 or over. Closes 11:59pm on 29 March 2029. Full T&Cs apply.

Day 1

Stroll through the picturesque Old Town (Picture: Kristina Beanland)

Straddling the Danube and bordering the Austrian and Hungarian frontiers, Bratislava’s magic lies in its Old Town, a largely pedestrianised area with charming squares, attractive buildings and thriving cafe culture.

This is the kind of city you go to to actually relax. You don’t need to do much in the way of planning, you can amble around, with a partner or your pals, giving them — and the city — your full attention.

And as you wander, the first thing you’ll need to do is grab breakfast. Bratislava claims to have more coffee shops per square kilometre than any city in Europe — there’s literally one on every corner, so you’re spoilt for choice.

I stopped by Bloom Bakery for a coffee and Bratislavské rožky — Bratislava roll, a horseshoe of pastry with poppy seeds or a rich, walnut filling. Highly recommend. They bake all their stuff on site.

@visit_bratislava

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Other decent spots are Kauka, with its aesthetic pink interiors, and Blue Mondays, which has an outdoor terrace.

On the fringes of the Old Town, there’s also the glass-fronted Propeller, where you can sip a flat white overlooking the Danube.

Sightseeing is a pretty light lift in Bratislava, but I liked that it was low stakes without the pressure of a strict itinerary. You can mooch around, popping into one of the many concept stores and drinking more coffee in between ticking things off the tourist trail.

Bratislava - From the Castle
The Old Town is the beating heart of Bratislava (Picture: Getty Images)

Check out Michael’s Gate, the last remaining medieval city gate in Bratislava, admire St Martin’s Cathedral, a beautiful church inside and out, and take a picture with Cumil, Bratislava’s notorious sewer worker statue that pops up out of a manhole cover.

A (steep) walk up to the castle is rewarded with views over the city. From the top, you can see UFO, a road bridge complete with a flying saucer-shaped observation deck.

A walk up to the castle is rewarded with lovely views (Picture: Kristina Beanland)

For lunch, swing by colourful sister restaurants Brixton House and Urban House. They serve small plates and familiar international favourites (gyoza, cacio e pepe, steak) in a buzzy atmosphere.

Then, to finish, walk to the highly Instagrammable Blue Church on the edge of the Old Town.

Often compared to an iced cake or a marshmallow thanks to its powder blue facade, the small Art Nouveau church, with its curved edges and whimsical vibe, is not to be missed.

The Blue Church (Picture: Kristina Beanland)

Once you’ve had your fill of sights, I beg you to book a spot on a wine tasting at the Slovak National Collection of Wine.

The experience is listed on a couple of travel blogs, but frankly, I don’t know why this isn’t plastered on billboards as soon as you land in the airport.

For £42 (booked via Get Your Guide), you’re invited to try 80 wines in 100 minutes. Challenge accepted.

Upon entering a small wine cellar in the Old Town, I was given an empty glass, a bread basket and two magic words: ‘free pour’.

80 wines in 100 minutes… (Picture: Kristina Beanland)

While Peter, the friendly sommelier, is happy to chat about top notes and legs, he’ll also leave you to roam the three rooms (sparkling, red and white) freely, drinking as much (or as little) as you like.

If you’re a real wine connoisseur, there are probably more informative experiences, but I can guarantee they won’t be as fun.

The last 100-minute tasting of the day is at 4pm, just in time to stumble out in search of dinner.

It’s a ‘free pour’ situation (Picture: Kristina Beanland)

The Slovak Pub is the largest bar in the city and a favourite among students and tourists — staff wear t-shirts emblazoned with the words ‘Bar-Slava’. It’s a rustic vibe with wooden beams and a maze of different rooms.

I won’t pretend to be an expert in central European cuisine but I enjoyed tucking into the Slovak dishes, particularly the cheesy garlic soup, served in a bowl made out of bread, and the potato dumplings.

Be sure to try the national dish, Bryndzové Halušky, smaller potato dumplings (kind of like gnocchi) mixed with cheese and topped with crispy bacon.

Try traditional grub at the Slovak Pub (Picture: Kristina Beanland)

If you want to keep the drinks flowing, the Old Town has bars and pubs aplenty. Bratislava is stag-do central, but the vibe was friendly and fun rather than obnoxious.

There are, of course, Irish pubs, the mainstay of stag-do destinations the world over (and the cost of a pint here averages at around just £2.20). End the night at the underground Goblins Pub or the Dubliner, where I stayed until close, dancing (badly) to the live band. If someone offers you a shot of Bošácka Slivovica, just say no.

If you’re looking for something a little more sophisticated, head to Michalska Cocktail Room, a speakeasy accessible via a wardrobe, or the late-night Bukoswki Bar, open until 3am on Friday and Saturday.

Where to stay in Bratislava

  • The Grand Hotel River Park is a five-star hotel, complete with a spa and swimming pool, and just 15 minutes from the airport. Away from the stag groups of the Old Town, it’s a more peaceful spot to rest your head. Room rates start from £162.
  • For a cheaper alternative, Hotel Saffron, around a 10 minute walk from the centre of the Old Town, is a four-star hotel with a restaurant and gym. For a one-night stay for a weekend in May, a standard double room starts from just £87.

Day 2

Okay, so technically I didn’t spend my Sunday in Bratislava.

Instead, I booked a spot on a day trip with TrailTails’ From Bratislava (£110 on TripAdvisor.)

More than a little bleary-eyed after the wine, the 6.30am call time was a lot.

Mercifully, our driver, Lucky, greeted us with snacks and water right outside the hotel, then swiftly stopped for coffee. Five stars.

The painted folk houses in Čičmany (Picture: Kristina Beanland)

The day trip is an undertaking. By the afternoon, you’ll end up more than 200 miles away from the city, not far from the Polish border in the High Tatras mountains, which are known as Europe’s ‘mini Alps’.

Before that though, your first stop is the village of Čičmany.

Officially a protected monument, people come here to visit the black timber houses, each painted with intricate patterns.

Lucky tells us that around 200 years ago, a local woman ‘got bored’ and decided to get crafty with a paint brush. Others followed suit, and now each house is a work of folk art.

Beautiful Bojnice Castle (Picture: Kristina Beanland)

There’s something slightly weird about the village, though. It’s incredibly quiet (even the dogs weren’t barking) but the houses are worth a visit. There’s a shop and cafe, too.

The next stop is the fairytale Bojnice Castle, which dates back to 1113 and is one of the oldest in Slovakia.

Set on a lake in a landscaped park, it’s a beautiful place to wander around, and there’s another cute cafe to get yourself some more delicious Bratislava rolls.

If you have time to go inside, you can get a guided tour of the cave hidden beneath the castle.

Traditional food at Thurzov Mlyn (Picture: Kristina Beanland)

Stop three is – you guessed it – another castle, Orava Castle, famous for being the filming location for 1922 horror, Nosferatu.

It’s a little creepy, and there are a lot of stairs, but the views are worth it.

The best bit about this stop though has to be the lunch at Thurzov Mlyn, a few steps from the castle. More garlic soup and dumplings were ordered, along with schnitzel, fried cheese and more red wine.

Then finally, it’s off to the mountains, and the ski resort of Štrbské Pleso. The scenery is breathtaking: snow-capped peaks, a frozen lake, and icicles hanging off the trees.

While Lucky encouraged our group to take a walk around the lake, I opted for a less treacherous option: a hot drink under a blanket at SIH Restaurant, overlooking the water.

It’s a stunning sight, and hard to believe you’re just hours from the sunny little streets of Bratislava.

Beautiful mountain views (Picture: Kristina Beanland)

The journey back from the High Tatras takes about three hours.

It’s a long old day, and if you’d rather spend it bopping around the Old Town, drinking more wine and walking along the banks of the Danube, then that works, too.

But to glimpse a side of Slovakia that so few see, this was a good way to do it.

How to get to Bratislava

Ryanair flies direct from London Stansted to Bratislava, with one-way flights currently available for as little as £14.99.

Bratislava Airport is just 9km from the city centre, making transfers easy. Avoid local taxis (I was quoted €35) and catch the bus, which stops outside of the airport and costs just €1.60. Tickets can be purchased via the app.

Ubers and Bolts are cheap to, with the journey costing around €12.

Some travellers also choose to fly in and out of Vienna, Austria, which is less than an hour away.

Fun fact: Bratislava and Vienna are the two closest capital cities in Europe, at just 31 miles apart.

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Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@Metro.co.uk.


‘Perfect escape’ town voted UK’s friendliest — and its Wetherspoon is beautiful


‘Perfect escape’ town voted UK’s friendliest — and its Wetherspoon is beautiful
Take a trip here and they’ll welcome you with open arms (Picture: Getty Images)

David Hockney, Judi Dench, Ed Sheeran — it’s safe to say that Yorkshire is home to some of the UK’s friendliest famous faces.

But could Harrogate, a spa town nestled on the edge of the Yorkshire Dales, be one of the most welcoming cities in the world?

As part of Booking.com’s 14th annual Traveller Review Awards, the company analysed more than 370 million verified reviews in order to identify destinations across the globe where you’d most likely walk away having made a friend or two.

And, as it turns out, us Brits have one such spot right on our doorstep.

A quaint street in Harrogate, North Yorkshire, with flowers sold on the pavement, and people doing their shopping.
Is everyone up North just friendlier by nature? (Picture: Getty Images)

Harrogate was named in the list of the world’s most welcoming cities, among destinations in Italy, Japan and Namibia. The Yorkshire town was also the only destination named in the UK.

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With the average house price sitting at £396,867, based on 2025 data from Rightmove, Harrogate is one of the most expensive towns in North Yorkshire to live in.

But it’s charm, independent shops, restaurants, and natural beauty, has won over visitors, with dozens of social media posts hailing the town as ‘peaceful’ and a ‘perfect escape’, and one creator saying she was ‘obsessed’ with the place.

So, only a three hour train away from London, what makes this little corner of Yorkshire so friendly?

An air of British charm and history

Harrogate, United Kingdom - May 25, 2022: Street bustling with shoppers on Princes Street in Harrogate
Harrogate is one of the most affluent areas of Yorkshire (Credits: Getty Images)

Metro sought the help of Harrogate local, Kate Chapman, 32, who was born in the town and raised in a nearby village, to tell us why it’s such a welcoming place.

Having lived in the area for more than 20 years, she thinks it’s ‘typical of the north’ to be friendly to strangers.

She adds: ‘The town likes to put on festivals and is very proud of it’s identity, and how it’s is represented.

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‘From Betty’s Tearooms, to the Turkish Baths, all the venues are welcoming to visitors.’

It also gets the A-list seal of approval. Kate explains: ‘Celebrities love Harrogate! Carol Vorderman and Sinitta individually spent some time in the town over Christmas.’

In fact, 80s popstar Sinitta was so taken by the place, she described being ‘charmed beyond my imaginings.’ High praise indeed.

But, friendly as the locals might be, Kate warns against one major visitor faux pas: never, ever, confuse Harrogate with nearby Knaresborough, a town about three miles east. ‘It really irritates the locals!’ she notes.

Knaresborough, Harrogate, North Yorkshire, England
Don’t confuse Harrogate with Knaresborough… (Picture: Getty Images)

Things to do and see in Harrogate

Whether it’s a simple morning strolling from coffee shop to coffee shop, or an action packed day of sight seeing, Harrogate has it all.

Family owned tea rooms and café Bettys is an institution beloved across the UK, with people flocking to its doors for over 100 years to try a slice of their Victoria Sponge, sample their iconic brunch, or buy a box of their signature Bettys chocolates.

The Turkish baths are another one of the most popular attractions in Harrogate. Widely used during Victorian times, only seven remain which date back to the 19th Century.

Boasting a high arabesque ceiling ornately decorated with colourful stencilled design, the baths are open every day, with varying times depending on when you visit. During the week, two hour slots cost £27, jumping up to £37 if you want to go on a Saturday or Sunday.

The baths offer three different kinds of sessions: ladies only, men only, and mixed. In all of these, guests are invited to move from one room to the next, enjoying three heated chambers, a cold plunge, steam room, and Frigidarium.

Speaking of lavish decor, the Wetherspoons is also worth a visit — and not just for a cheap pint.

Kate described the pub as ‘stunning’, and she’s not wrong. Once the heart of the former Harrogate Royal Baths, this Spoons sports an impressive stone staircase that leads down from the main entrance into the bar.

The Winter Gardens (JD Wetherspoon) at Royal Baths of Harrogate in North Yorkshire, England, with customers eating out.
Not your average Wetherspoons that’s for sure (Picture: Getty Images)

There’s beautiful green spaces too. Valley Gardens covers 17 acres of English Heritage Grade II listed park-land. Strolling through this gorgeous park, you’ll come across themed gardens, floral displays and historic buildings.

And you won’t go hungry. The Pickled Sprout is botanical restaurant and bar which uses local ingredients from local sources – picture burgers to die for and sharing boards you’ll want for yourself.

Other top grazing spots include Tilly Peppers for a slice of cake and Hoxton North for some top-notch French toast.

Harrogate is also known for its wide variety of interior design shops aka the perfect stores to mooch around and envision your future home’s decor. Local favourites include Susie Watson Designs and William Woods Interior Design.

View across Valley Gardens in the centre of Harrogate, UK.
Valley Gardens is perfect for an afternoon stroll (Picture: Getty Images)

Finally, for a night out, Kate has a few recommendations in mind. For live music, head to independent bar Montey’s or Irish hotspot Kate O’Brien’s.

And if you’re on the hunt for a cocktail or two, stop off at MOJO’s and try one of their speciality drinks ‘Fast Car’ – just prepare yourself for a hangover the next day.

The town’s annual festivals also add to the welcoming, community feel.

‘The Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival, and the Harrogate Comedy Festival, are always popular,’ Kate notes.

The world’s longest-running and most prestigious celebration of crime writing, the Theakston crime writing festival is held at the end of July and attracts people from all across the UK.

Similarly, the Harrogate Comedy Festival, which typically takes place in October, is also loved by locals and tourists alike. It’s previously featured big name acts like Jack Dee, Ross Noble, and Henning Wehn.

One of the most notable events in Harrogate, which see thousands of Brits flocking to the area, is the annual Great Yorkshire Show.

The 166th Great Yorkshire Show
The Great Yorkshire Show has been going on since the mid 19th century (Picture: Ian Forsyth/Getty Images)

From July 14 to 17 this year, the ‘biggest agricultural event in the England calendar’ will see attractions such as livestock competitions, showjumping, flower shows, alongside much more.

This particular event is almost always attended by a member of the Royal family. And given the fact that King Charles III has been a Patron of the Yorkshire Agricultural Society since 1998, who’s to say he won’t make an appearance this year?

Is Harrogate ‘ridiculously posh’?

Harrogate is considered an affluent area to many people, with a high demand housing market and significant cost of living expenses.

The typical first-time buyer home costs approximately £174,000, while rent in the town averages at about £1,586 per month.

Compared to the rest of Yorkshire, the spa town definitely stands out as a more quintessentially ‘posh’ area.

But while it’s been labelled by some social media users as ‘ridiculously posh’ with ‘pretentious’ cafés, Kate says that in reality, the town struggles with the same issues so many other locations across the UK do.

‘The high street is suffering,’ she shares. ‘Plus there isn’t much else there for young people especially.

‘As a teenager, there was only really the bowling alley and cinema (yes, Orange Wednesdays!).

North Yorkshire council is currently making a number of attempts to maintain local infrastructure, looking after public spaces and launching initiatives such as the North Yorkshire Local Assistance Fund (NYLAF) which provides emergency in-kind support for residents facing financial hardship.

And groups such as the Harrogate Mumbler have become integral to the community, compiling lists of day trips, activities and things to do with children in the area that are either low cost or no cost.

It’s this community feel that makes Harrogate truly stand out.

Alongside Harrogate, here were the other cities considered to be the most welcoming worldwide.

The most welcoming cities in the UK

The data from Booking.com also revealed the most welcoming cities just in the UK – do you spot your home town on the list?

  • Harrogate, North Yorkshire
  • Newry, County Armagh
  • Broadway, Worcestershire
  • Enniskillien, County Fermanagh 
  • Portstewart, County Londonderry
  • Wells, Somerset
  • Dornoch, Highlands
  • Hornsea, East Riding of Yorkshire
  • Stornoway, Isle of Lewis

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Reasons to visit Wrexham that are nothing to do with Ryan Reynolds


Reasons to visit Wrexham that are nothing to do with Ryan Reynolds
In a pub in Wrexham, Ben Aitken stood out like a sore thumb (Picture: Metro)

Welcome to B-List Britain, an exclusive Metro Travel series in which Ben Aitken, the award-winning author of Shitty Breaks, explores unsung cities that are quietly brilliant.

The aim is simple: to seek out the good stuff, uncover hidden gems, and demonstrate that anywhere (like anyone) can be interesting, if approached with the right attitude.

This week, he’s in a city with Hollywood connections…

When I think of Cymru, I think of Tom Jones, Fireman Sam, and the Welsh word for microwave (popty ping).

And when I think of Wrexham? Well, it’s just the Hollywood actor Ryan Reynolds, really, who, alongside fellow thespian Rob McElhenney, bought the local football club a few years ago and turned it into a Disney+ documentary.  

Wrexham resides in the top right corner of Wales, closer to Liverpool than Cardiff or Swansea.

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The English city of Chester is about ten miles to the north, and far too close for Wrexham’s liking.

After dropping my gear at The Lemon Tree (which is also an excellent restaurant), I proceeded to the Xplore! Science Discovery Centre (or Canolfan Darganfod Gwyddoniaeth to you and me), where I spent a happy hour fiddling with this, experimenting with that, and accidentally breaking the other.

To recover from the science, I had a swift pint at Drunk Monk, before moving on to The Rockin’ Chair, where a local band called Declan Swans were due on stage.

It was an odd gig, alright. The first song was about gout, the second was about diarrhoea, and the third was about a kangaroo called Timmy, who duly hopped out from the wings during the chorus.

After a late dinner at Lisbon (family-run, unassuming, cracking pork belly), I went looking for a bit of merriment.

I found it in spades at The Golden Lion, where, back in 1882, lager was first brewed on these shores, by two fellas from Germany who couldn’t stand the local booze.

The pub was crowded with locals – letting their hair down, having a sing-song – and I stood out like a sore thumb.

2RD4Y60 Wrexham, High Street, Butchers Market, Town Centre, Clwyd, North Wales, UK
Wrexham High Street, buckets of character (Picture: Alamy Stock Photo)

When I pulled out my notebook and started jotting things down, a woman called Kathy staged an intervention. She leant across from the neighbouring table and asked – politely, mind – just WTF I thought I was up to.

When I explained that I was documenting unfashionable Britain, Kathy said that while I was welcome to run my eye over Wrexham and then share my thoughts, I should bear in mind that those thoughts wouldn’t count for much if I didn’t get amongst it.

‘Places are people in the end,’ she said, ‘so stop scribbling about the f***ing pork belly at Lisbon and get on your feet and sing a song with my cousin Raquel.’

The next morning, after a reviving stroll along the River Gwenny, I set off for the football. I don’t want to bang on too much about what’s happened with Wrexham AFC over the last few years, but given that we’re off to a game, perhaps a bit more context wouldn’t go amiss.

More B-List Britain: the UK’s unsung cities

In March 2020, the club was at a low ebb. They were in the fifth division and in danger of being relegated to the sixth.

Meanwhile, across the pond, Rob McElhenney, having been inspired by a football doc called Sunderland ‘Til I Die, was on the phone to his buddy Ryan Reynolds asking if he wanted to go halves on a football club.

Wrexham was selected because, in short, the club had buckets of pedigree and was practically at rock bottom. Wrexham’s first game with Rob and Ryan in attendance was away to semi-pro Maidenhead, who had a window cleaner in midfield.

When the celebrity duo did a walkabout in Wrexham the next day, I’m told it was a bit like when Charles and Diana visited in 1982.

Wrexham co-owners Ryan Reynolds (right) and Rob McElhenney celebrate with the trophy after the Sky Bet League One match at SToK Racecourse, Wrexham. Picture date: Saturday April 26, 2025. PA Photo. See PA story SOCCER Wrexham. Photo credit should read: Martin Rickett/PA Wire. RESTRICTIONS: EDITORIAL USE ONLY No use with unauthorised audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or
Wrexham co-owners Ryan Reynolds (right) and Rob McElhenney celebrate with the trophy after the Sky Bet League One match in April 2025 (Picture: Martin Rickett/PA Wire)

Throughout the above, a documentary was being filmed. When the first series landed, Wrexham’s star well and truly rose. It has been ascendant ever since.

I was sitting with the away fans, because it was the only way I could get a ticket. For the first half an hour, Wrexham were awful, but then they woke up and scored three times in quick succession.

Every time I took out my phone to photograph the Wrexham celebrations, my neighbour looked at me like I was the quintessence of filth.

After the match, I popped into The Turf, a pub that’s been featured heavily in the documentary.

I got chatting with a group of Canadians who’d travelled over especially for the football (the lunatics). Our conversation was nipped in the bud when a rumour started up that Nessa from Gavin & Stacey was doing a shift behind the bar.

While it was good to see The Turf so busy, I do wish there was something in Wrexham’s success story that other cities could learn from and apply.

But there isn’t, is there? Because the truth is that what happened to Wrexham was akin to an act of God. For a similar PR impact, the Pope would have to move to Nuneaton.

Trevor, Wrexham, Clwyd, Wales, UK - May 23, 2023: Narrowboats in the Trevor Basin
Narrowboats in the Trevor Basin (Picture: BerndBrueggemann/Getty Images)

The next morning, with a couple of hours to kill, I scored a cortado at a coffee shop called Bank Street Social, and then some stellar beans on toast at a place called Marubbi’s, which is claiming to be the oldest café in Wales.

As I was finishing my breakfast, a worker in high-vis overalls came in and ordered the XL. It came pretty quickly, but the toast was missing.

The lad brought this up with the waitress a couple of times, but the toast failed to materialise.

He was lovely about it, though, this lad, as he asked for the third time.

It got to me a bit, the sight of this strapping lad with indelicate manners, wolfing down his three egg, three bacon, three sausage and so on, saying ‘Don’t worry, it’s all good, no problem, okey dokey.’

When the toast finally came, some five minutes after the lad had finished his breakfast, he folded up the triangles and squashed the whole lot into his mouth, waving an unseen goodbye as he went.

It might sound daft, but that’s what travel is about for me. Little scenes like that.

I can hardly put the young man forward as a reason to visit Wrexham, of course. He might only eat at Marubbi’s once a week, for a start, and what if the toast comes promptly the next time he’s here?

No, if you’re going to come to Wrexham, come for the things that can be depended upon.

Come for the character of the streets and the buildings. Come for the amount of friendliness per capita. Come, if nothing else, to acquire a few lines of Welsh, including byddaf yn ôl, which means, as chance would have it, I’ll be back.

Ben Aitken is the author of Shitty Breaks: A Celebration of Unsung Cities.