How I learned to meditate in Herefordshire
At a centre in the Wye Valley our writer puts aside her initial doubts and learns how silence and focusing on the breath can quieten the mind and boost wellbeing
Relax, revive, refresh: 30 of the best spa hotels and retreats in Europe
From luxurious urban escapes to holistic getaways and indulgent country breaks, here’s our pick of the very best spas
Happy new you! 10 of the best UK wellbeing retreats for 2025
Get the year off to a positive start by booking a restorative break. We pick the best wellness retreats, with yoga, swimming, walking and more in pretty settings from the Highlands to Essex
My voyage of good cheer around Finland – the world’s happiest country
With clean air, vast green spaces and more saunas than cars, Finns have plenty of reasons to be cheerful
Like a luxury spa – for £20: where to enjoy Britain’s Turkish baths revival
In 1900, there were 600 Turkish baths in Britain and Ireland. Today, only a handful survive. We enjoy a revived hammam in Newcastle and take a look at 10 more around the country
Hiking Cheshire’s Baker Way: the joy of a less-known walking trail
They get less fanfare and footfall than the UK’s famous long-distance paths, but trails such as this – which starts in Chester and saunters through the local countryside – are just as rewarding
A cycling, walking and running break in France’s best area for trails
Bagnoles de l’Orne in Normandy is a traditional spa town reinventing itself with new hiking and cycling routes – and a focus on sustainable tourism
Medical tourism is booming. But is it a price worth paying?
The number of people flying abroad to have cosmetic procedures is higher than ever, but are the risks too high?
‘Plus-size people face a lot of barriers’: the campaigners helping larger walkers to enjoy the great outdoors
From being properly kitted out to planning a walking route up Mam Tor, our writer finds her feet and her tribe in the Peak District
Give it a rest, Keir? Readers on Starmer cancelling his holiday
We asked for your views on leaders forgoing a getaway when there’s business such as the riots to attend to at home