With the same fervor and enthusiasm that New Orleans puts into Mardis Gras, the city of Derry does for Halloween. For years it has successfully hosted The UK and Irelands largest free Halloween party. The City of Culture is gearing itself up for a Halloween Carnival as never before, with its biggest ever festival programme planned in 2013, with a week-long schedule of activities that promise to keep all ages entertained

Portobello Market in London is a British institution. It is a unique place where you can buy that second hand record from the 1970’s, buy a vintage dress or get some fresh strawberries. In the last twenty years it has also become one of the most famous markets and tourist destinations in Britain.

In a narrow street just off Leicester Square in Central London is one of the most unique restaurants you will ever stumble upon. And that is exactly what I did, I had just booked theatre tickets for an early evening show and wanted to grab something quick to eat, I saw a sign for ‘The Cork and Bottle’, I pushed open a door and descended via a metal spiral staircase into another world.

Galway is the bohemian capital of Ireland, for writers, potters, artists or musicians it is Mecca. It is a mediaeval walled town with cobbled streets and pubs that spill music and craic out in to the late night. Galway was founded in the thirteenth century and was governed by 14 tribes and today still retains that moniker. It is located on the west coast of Ireland and has been a shipping town with strong trade links for centuries to Spain and Portugal, indeed some say that Galwegians have a different look that the rest of the Irish, with blacker hair and bluer eyes.

Inspired by a local open air gig in nearby Bristol in 1970 a local farmer Michael Eavis decided to start his own festival and Glastonbury Performing Arts Festival was born. The first head line act was Marc Bolan, tickets were £1 which included free milk from his farm.

Cornwall is a world apart from the busy rush of British life. In fact Cornwall only became part of Britain in the seventeenth century and you can absolutely feel a different vibe. Truro is the capital of Cornwall and the only city in the county, it’s a hugely picturesque city located on the Fal and Truro rivers.