Sheffield’s musical adaptation of the 1963 Cliff Richard hit film “radiates enough rays of feel-good energy to leave you with a tan”, said Matt Barton on The Stage.

The story follows a group of friends who take a road trip across Europe in a double-decker bus. The gang travel through France, Switzerland and Italy towards their final destination of Greece, picking up a pop group and a mysterious American singer along the way.

But beyond the “globetrotting destinations”, it’s about the journey, which “provides a vehicle for Richard’s easy-going hits”. They beam with “warm familiarity”. The audience is kept in a “gentle sway, while pops of colour burst out of the sepia set and the boys step out of their boiler suits to strut around in stripy shirts”.

Amanda Stoodley’s costumes are “fabulously colourful, heightening the feel-good fun factor”, said Jacob Bush on The Reviews Hub. “The 1960s aesthetic is perfectly captured while somehow still feeling fresh.” Though the structure of the bus is “mainly left to the imagination”, it is “impressive to see a full-size Mini and scooter on stage”.

Directors Elizabeth Newman and Ben Occhipinti ensure the show is “packed with hits” and delivers an “irresistibly feel-good evening" in Sheffield’s Crucible Theatre, said Mark Brown in The Telegraph. Versions of the show were staged in 2018 and 2019, but Michael Gyngell and Mark Haddigan’s adaptation adds a “twist” by moving the opening scenes of the “charming” journey from London to Sheffield.

The cast is undoubtedly “talented”, but George Jones as the “fine-voiced, charismatic Don is a standout”. In fact, “he gives an even more likeable and magnetic performance than Sir Cliff himself”. The score is “crowd-pleasing” and boasts many of Richard’s well-known songs, including “Bachelor Boy”, “The Young Ones”, “On the Beach” and, of course, the title number.

It is an “immensely good-humoured and infectious show”, said Ron Simpson on WhatsOnStage. Opposite Jones, Fanta Barrie has a “standout turn” morphing from “glamorous singer to urchin boy to Don’s ever-graceful bride”. There was, however, one problem that the Crucible “could do nothing about”: singing the title number with the lyrics “We’re going where the sun shines brightly” to an audience “gasping in the current heatwave!”

The Crucible Theatre, Sheffield until 18 July, then Blackpool Grand Theatre

After scoring tickets to see your favorite team, you are going to need to book somewhere to stay if you don’t live nearby. The cold, hard facts: The best accommodations are always within walking distance.

You can enjoy the game, stay for every inning or quarter and not worry about leaving early to beat the lot-exiting traffic. These seven hotels are close to — and in one case, in — some of North America’s biggest sports. They’re not just convenient, though. They are straight-up great stays.

The Anthem Hotel, Inglewood, California

The thrill of the game continues at The Anthem Hotel. This vibrant hotel is in the “lively” Stadium District, next to Intuit Dome and down the street from SoFi Stadium and Kia Forum, said The Points Guy.

All of the comfortable rooms were recently renovated and are decked with blackout curtains. There are also, for an immersive experience, themed suites that celebrate L.A. basketball and soccer. Cool off in the “massive” pool, and enjoy cocktails at the colorful Soundwave Pool Bar or rooftop Tom’s Watch Bar. (rates from $130)

Caravan Court, Arlington, Texas

A historic motor court, aka a vintage roadside motel, has been revamped for the modern age. Caravan Court’s well-appointed rooms come with stocked Smeg refrigerators, Nespresso coffee makers, smart TVs and wireless charging pads.

AT&T Stadium and Globe Life Field are short walks away, so before and after the games you can swim in the hotel pool, relax in a private cabana and hang in the Idle Hour Social Club or Elora Sky Club rooftop lounge. (rates from $152)

Carté Hotel, San Diego

Petco Park is a fast walk — or even quicker trolley ride — from Carté Hotel. The sleek property features several odes to San Diego landmarks, starting with the heated saltwater pool inspired by the Balboa Park Lily Pond and gazebo honoring the Botanical Building.

Head to The Rooftop for craft cocktails and live music with a side of fantastic city views. The bar’s game day menu features all the bites you want to eat while watching sports. You know the ones: buffalo wings, cheeseburgers, beer-battered fries and other edible kin. (rates from $232)

Fidelity Hotel, Cincinnati 

The spectacular 1913 Beaux Arts Gwynne Building has been transformed into Fidelity Hotel Cincinnati, the city’s newest lodging. The sophisticated rooms and suites feel like home, with plush couches and beds.

Oversized windows look over downtown, and Great American Ball Park, home of the Cincinnati Reds, is right around the corner. When it’s time to eat, there are two restaurants to choose from: the full-service Gwynne and grab-and-go Cora’s All Day Café. (rates from $143)

Hotel Commonwealth, Boston

The Hotel Commonwealth’s Fenway Park Suite is a mere 507 feet from the legendary stadium, bringing guests as close to the action as possible. Fans will appreciate the one-of-a-kind decor and furnishings, including original seats from the ballpark, an authentic scoreboard and a coffee table signed by Red Sox players. From the balcony, there’s a direct view into Fenway, which is a five-minute stroll away. Hotel Commonwealth occupies an entire block in Kenmore Square and is known for having “comfy” mattresses and “warm” service, said Condé Nast Traveler. (rates from $362)

The Rally Hotel, Denver

Guests at The Rally Hotel love its “rare mix” of “sports excitement and luxury amenities,” said Rolling Stone. Adjacent to Coors Field, the property offers “quick access” to Colorado Rockies games and McGregor Square’s restaurants and stores.

Rooms are “stylish” and “upscale,” featuring curated art and one-of-a-kind furnishings, and the rooftop pool boasts impressive city views. At check-in, guests are greeted with a glass of Coors Banquet or seasonal wine, and additional amenities include ice cream during the hotel’s social hour and access to s’more kits and roasting tools. (rates from $253)

Toronto Marriott City Centre Hotel, Toronto

You can’t beat the sights from Toronto Marriott City Centre Hotel. It’s inside Rogers Centre, home of the Toronto Blue Jays, and several accommodations peer directly into the field.

From inside The Rawlings Room, guests can watch the action unfolding a few feet away. That could include batting practice and warm ups, or the big game itself. The hotel’s Sportsnet Grill also offers a great vantage point of the stadium, with floor-to-ceiling windows and plenty of big-screen televisions broadcasting every inning. (rates from $265)

This eye-opening podcast from Serial Productions follows David Wood’s capital defence lawyers as they “try to save their client’s life” during his last weeks on death row, said The New York Times.

It’s been over three decades since Wood was convicted of murdering six young women and girls and burying their bodies near El Paso – crimes for which he was nicknamed the Desert Killer. The five-part series centres around the “high stakes and at times bizarre work involved in trying to halt an execution”.

Pulitzer Prize-winning death penalty reporter Maurice Chammah is given “extraordinary level of access” to the inner workings of this capital case in its “final stretch”, bringing listeners “into the room with the lawyers” as they attempt to “poke holes in the case” and search for elusive witnesses, all while the “clock ticks down”.

Made in collaboration with the non-profit news organisation, The Marshall Project, it’s a “spare but thought-provoking” podcast, said The Guardian. As Wood’s execution looms, his lawyer’s final attempt to prove his innocence naturally seems “inconceivable to the victims’ families”.

“More dead women as content! How marvellously unsurprising, I thought”, said Jude Rogers in The Observer. But as I kept listening I realised “this isn’t another mindless excursion into true crime’s murky waters, but a proper immersion in the waves that surround it.” Even sections about the legal process that should be “brain-crushingly dull” are made to “glisten” with fascinating details.

The series begins with an answerphone message from a convicted murderer who shared a prison cell with Wood. In it, he claims police took him and other prisoners on a scenic drive, plied them with hamburgers, and encouraged them to say that Wood had confessed to the El Paso killings.

Like other Serial Productions’ work, the “modus operandi is hardcore”: to introduce a “deeply tangled” court case, “then patiently tease apart the threads, demanding the listener’s full attention”.

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Summer is here, and it’s time to fire up the grill. Cooking outside keeps your house cooler and cleaner — and when you use these nine tools and accessories, making yourself one with the flames is a whole lot simpler.

Bambusi meat cutting board

Grill masters will love this “smartly designed” bamboo board, said CNET. Treads on one side of the “sturdy” block help “stabilize slick meats,” and a deep juice groove catches “all that liquid gold for basting or making sauce.” The other side is smooth and great for prep work like chopping vegetables. ($25, Amazon)

Black Diamond Spot 400-R headlamp

Sometimes grilling sessions last into the night, or you want to get started after dark when temperatures drop. Wearing a headlamp ensures you can see what you’re doing and cook safely well after the sun goes down. The Spot 400-R is a “small, powerful and effective” headlamp with a “simple and intuitive” user interface, said GearJunkie. It’s lightweight, rechargeable and can run on low for 225 hours. ($58, Amazon)

GIR silicone basting brush

With its long handle and two types of durable bristles, this basting brush is “perfect” for “applying marinades and sauces while food is on the grill,” said The Strategist. Silicone is highly heat-resistant and also makes cleaning a “breeze.” (starting at $10, Amazon)

Grillaholics grill basket

Throw your diced vegetables in the basket, and let the grill do the work. The stainless steel basket’s “larger perforations” provide “better heat and air circulation” and give veggies more contact with the grate, resulting in “more color and flavor,” said Wirecutter. The basket can also be used for chicken wings, fish and small pieces of meat. ($30, Amazon)

Nordic Ware Naturals baker’s half sheet

Baking sheets aren’t just for cookies and one-pan dinners — they are also the “perfect vessel” for transporting food to and from the grill, said Wirecutter. This half sheet is made of “sturdy” aluminum and has a 1-inch rim you can “grip comfortably with one hand while working fast over the grill.” The galvanized rims also won’t warp, so you can plan on keeping the sheet for years to come. ($33, set of two, Amazon)

Oxo Outdoor Grilling turner and tongs set

Made of stainless steel with nonslip grips, Oxo’s turner and tongs help you flip burgers, rotate hot dogs and even open bottles with ease. Both tools are sturdy, and come with metal loops at the end so you can hang them. The scalloped tongs are especially useful, with extra-long handles that are the “perfect length” and a built-in bottle opener if you want to enjoy a cold beverage grillside, said Serious Eats. ($24, Amazon)

Scrub Daddy BBQ Daddy grill brush

Using a wire-bristle brush to clean your grill is “out,” as the sharp fibers can “dangerously” dislodge, get stuck to grill grates and “end up in your food,” said Food & Wine. The bristle-free BBQ Daddy is made with woven steel-wool mesh, and you just dip it in water, then let the steam of the grill “power” the brush through the “built-up deposits” and “residual gunk.” ($30, Amazon)

Thermapen One meat thermometer

Getting an accurate meat temperature is an important part of grilling, and the Thermapen One meat thermometer offers precise, consistent readings in about one second. You’d be “hard-pressed” to find an “easier-to-use” or “faster-responding” thermometer, said Food & Wine. The large display is backlit and “rotates to orient itself,” so you never have to “read the temperature upside down.” ($80.50, ThermoWorks)

Williams Sonoma mini rub bestsellers set

Kick your dinner’s flavor up several notches. Four of Williams Sonoma’s best-loved rubs are in this sampler, with each blend of spices and seasonings bringing a different point of view to the table. The mildly spicy Potlatch Classic Seasoning combines paprika with chile pepper, while the Smokehouse Rub strikes a savory-sweet balance. Chile Lime Rub pairs bold New Mexican chiles with tart lime, and Butcher’s Rub mixes salt, pepper and garlic with chile flakes, paprika and mustard seed, plus a dash of Worcestershire sauce. ($30, Williams Sonoma)

If the weather doesn’t scorch, you want to be outside during the year’s hottest months. You also want to be drinking because you are going to need to both stay hydrated and take the edge off. These eight destinations run the spectrum from full-bore bars to semi-restaurants that also do drinking very well. Fun in the sun — or better still, shade — is how to hit the bars this time of year.

Bacchanal Wine, New Orleans

Bacchanal is New Orleans’ worst-kept secret: a top-tier, low-key destination with an enormous patio, far from the scrum of the French Quarter. At its core, “it’s just a really, really cool wine shop, with a great number of bottles prechilled,” said Imbibe magazine. That is merely the opening salvo. You could leave with your bottle, or you could head to the building’s back and share your bottle with a bunch of current — or new — friends while you nod along to the live jazz band.

Bowstring Brewery, Raleigh

If your idea of the ideal outdoor drinking spot involves 10,000 square feet, throngs of people and constant live music, Bowstring Brewery is where to be. There are more than 10 beers available by draft and endless others available in a can. The food menu is designed for people-pleasing, with pizza, wings and cheesesteaks. Sometimes, you want to hide in a bar. Other times, you want to be among loads of other drinkers. Bowstring is all about the latter.

Club Tee Gee, Los Angeles

Los Angeles is a wonderland of outdoor drinking spaces. But good luck finding one that sports the right vibe — cool but not trying too hard. Club Tee Gee nails it. The 75-year-old bar reopened in 2018 after a renovation and now has a “banging roster” of dance parties, karaoke nights and regular live music, said The Infatuation.

Jet Wine Bar, Philadelphia

Sparkling Spanish whites, earthy Georgian oranges, bright Chilean reds — Jet Wine Bar wanders wide for its exciting by-the-glass wine list. Out back on the patio is where you want to be while getting to know your wine. Once a month, there is a wine tasting group, and its leader, Jill Weber, comes at wine from an uncommon angle, taking attendees on “wild side quests through unexpected histories” about the day’s wine-growing regions, said Philadelphia magazine.

Metro, Indianapolis

This “laid-back” bar is the “gathering place for much of Indy’s LGBTQ+ community,” said Do317 of this bi-level institution. Mondays have $5 martinis, mules and margaritas, Fridays and Saturdays are for boogying upstairs and the patio at Metro is an any-day spot for a leisurely drink or three.

Paymaster Lounge, Portland, Oregon

A good dive bar rarely lends itself to outdoor seating. Too much sun and space can burn the allure away. Paymaster Lounge sizes its patio right, with plastic siding functioning as roof material and well-worn communal tables optimal for staying put. Two bonuses: an outdoor pool table, if that is how you want to pass your time, and a drink menu far better than it needs to be.

Strega, Nashville

“Casual but not sloppy,” said Nashville Scene about the admirable vibe of this new Italian-centric bar. On the ample patio are darts, a pool table and a shuffleboard, along with plenty of tables under umbrellas. The drinks at Strega, like the Cucumber Lemon G&T and Italian Margarita, are smart and accessible. From 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. during the week, pizza slices are a mere $1. Come thirsty, come hungry.

Supergeil, Detroit

In some ways, Supergeil, with its dishes that speak to the culinary connections between eastern Europe and northern Africa, can indeed be experienced as a restaurant. But the inspired cocktails, many of which are made with spirits from the local distiller Two James Spirits, demand that attention must be paid. Do so on the patio, and order a doner or lamb meatballs to help you keep drinking.

“It would take a lifetime to explore all of Scotland’s kelp-fringed islands,” said Mike MacEacheran in The Times. Stretching all the way from the “west-coast Hebridean chains” to the “northerly Orkney and Shetland archipelagos”, there are around 800 of these “mystical destinations” – although just under 100 are inhabited.

Whether you’re looking for a place to immerse yourself in nature or the setting for your next foodie break, these are some of Scotland’s best islands.

Jura, Inner Hebrides

Deer outnumber residents by almost 30 to one on this “sardine-shaped” island, said MacEacheran in The Times. On the western side, three mountains – the Paps of Jura – “rise up from stretches of blanket bog interspersed by lochans (small lochs)”. There are plenty of hiking trails to explore; be sure to walk to the north side of the island where you’ll find the “lonely” whitewashed house where George Orwell wrote “1984”.

Islay, Inner Hebrides

Just a short ferry ride from Jura lies Islay. Known for its distinctive, peaty whiskies, the island is home to a “whopping” 14 distilleries, said Robin McKelvie in The Telegraph. With its “floor-to-ceiling windows sweeping out to water”, Ardnahoe is the “stuff of ‘Grand Designs’”: stop by for a delicious lunch with whisky pairings. Book a room at the Port Charlotte Hotel which “feels like living in a postcard”.

Isle of Harris, Outer Hebrides

If you’re looking for “blissful isolation” and stunning scenery, make a pilgrimage to the Isle of Harris, said Ted Thornhill in The Independent. Luskentyre is one of the best beaches in the world: an “outrageous sweep of golden sand” that’s “almost totally deserted”. While the west coast is filled with beautiful sandy stretches that wouldn’t look out of place in the Maldives, the east coast is a “lunar-like landscape pockmarked with tiny lochs”.

Orkney mainland

Located on the Mainland, the largest island, Heart of Neolithic Orkney is a network of 5,000-year-old monuments that “blows Stonehenge out of the prehistoric water”, said McKelvie in The Telegraph. It’s worth travelling to Orkney to visit this Unesco World Heritage Site alone. But there are more “showstopping” landmarks to explore, such as Maeshowe where you can take a guided tour “down the long dark tunnel into the ancient burial cairn illuminated with Viking graffiti”.

Unst, Shetland

Britain’s most northerly inhabited island is a wonderful spot for birdwatchers. It’s home to the Hermaness Circular: a dramatic clifftop nature reserve where you can spot “puffins, guillemots and dive-bombing skuas”, said Kerry Walker in National Geographic. The “drama peaks at the island’s northern tip”, where you’re met with sweeping views of “rocky islets like Muckle Flugga – home to a 19th-century lighthouse built by the father of ‘Treasure Island’ author Robert Louis Stevenson”.

It is not just that you want to avoid adding additional heat to your home during summer. Skipping the oven and the stove for meals during the dog days also ensures a mere modicum of effort. Because the last thing anyone wants to do during summer is spend unnecessary time feeding themselves.

Bean Salad Marbella

The best bean salads are adventures in contrast. This legume-centric take on chicken Marbella combines prunes, capers and almonds with a plucky vinaigrette of red wine vinegar, maple syrup and Dijon mustard. In the interest of ease, choose whichever canned beans suit your fancy. (Get your recipe)

Everything Bagel Cottage-Cheese Dip

Cottage cheese: very much not just for breakfast! Acquaint your crackers and crudités with the pleasurable versatility of this savory dip. Bring out the premade everything bagel seasoning dip, or make your own. Stir it into cottage cheese, along with capers and scallions. Make the dip a day ahead or so, if you like. (Get the recipe)

Greens-and-Beans Sandwiches

Mashed beans are mixed with a sesame-scallion sauce then stacked with fennel, planks of feta and chile-spiked cucumbers on rye bread. Zip, crunch, salt, lushness — satisfaction in no time. (Get the recipe)

Raw Thai Citrus Crunch Salad

The dressing does the heavy lifting in this vibrant tangle of zucchini, carrots, cabbage and red bell pepper. You whir together soaked cashews, dates, lime juice, chile, ginger and garlic, then toss it with the uncooked vegetables. The result is both light and rich, precisely how you want to be satisfied when the scorching weather heckles. (Get the recipe)

Strawberry Malt Icebox Cake

Seven ingredients and many hours in the fridge are all this no-bake recipe requires. The cake anchor is dozens of vanilla wafer cookies layered with whipped cream laced with malted milk powder and strawberry slices. No muss, no fuss, all summertime deliciousness. (Get the recipe)

Sugared Melon with Cardamom and Mint

A sublime melon needs nothing further than a fork and your mouth. Then you go and toss it with turbinado sugar, salt, and smashed cardamom, let it sit for an hour or so and realize: Oh, now that is a whole other kind of delicious. (Get the recipe)

Tomato Tonnato

No, not toh-may-toh, toh-mah-toh. Toh-may-toh, toh-nah-to. Tonnato being the absurdly delicious — and absurdly simple — sauce of tuna, mayonnaise, capers and anchovies. Tradition dictates, in its birthplace of the Piedmont region of Italy, that tonnato is served with thin pieces of veal. Here, the lush puree is mounded on a plate, then topped with sliced ripe tomatoes, black sesame seeds, basil and flaky salt. (Get the recipe)

Wedge Salad with Tahini Green Goddess Dressing

The “green” comes from a glut of basil, cilantro, dill and parsley. The dressing’s base is mayonnaise and sour cream, along with the traditional addition of tinned anchovies and the untraditional — and inspired — inclusion of tahini. The wedge salad never saw the tahini coming and will never want to bid it goodbye. (Get the recipe)

There are plenty of chances to see some impressive live comedians this summer. Get a laugh or two with these talented stand-up comics currently zigzagging across the States.

Mo Amer

Mo Amer has been entertaining audiences for a long time with his comedy, which often relates to his Palestinian heritage. Now he is back on the road with an ongoing tour across the United States.

Amer’s shows are popular, but if you can’t get tickets, don’t panic. You can still enjoy his comedy in the critically acclaimed Netflix show “Mo.” Plus, there may be another chance to see him onscreen, as Amer recently “teased plans for a feature-length film set in his hometown” of Houston, Texas, said the Houston Chronicle. (through November)

Bill Bellamy

If you want a blast from the past this summer, check out Bill Bellamy’s ongoing comedy tour. The comedian is best known for honing his comedic chops on HBO’s “Def Comedy Jam” but has evolved over the years to become a beloved stand-up artist.

“The thing about comedy that I love is you can take your real life and just embellish it,” Bellamy said to KTLA-5 TV. Audiences “come to see me, and they know they’re going to laugh, they’re like, ‘What is he going to say?’” (through October)

Alonzo Bodden

Until the end of summer, you can catch “Last Comic Standing” alumnus Alonzo Bodden as he takes his stand-up shows across several states. The funny man, who fans may also recognize from consistent appearances on NPR and the progressive news channel The Young Turks, began in a much different career field: aviation.

“Long ago, I fixed and built airplanes and worked at Lockheed,” Bodden told the Fullerton Observer, but “I could always make people laugh. When you put public speaking and being funny together, you start looking at comedy as a career.” (through August)

Ilana Glazer

Ilana Glazer wears many hats, among them comedian, actor, writer and director. But in the months ahead Glazer is going back to their roots with a stand-up tour across the U.S. and Europe.

Well-known for their acclaimed Comedy Central series “Broad City,” Glazer has recently talked about how current events inform their stand-up. “We are in this anti-human, techno-fascist moment in the United States,” Glazer told the Irish magazine Hot Press. The U.S. “feeds so much of global culture that I feel like it’s urgent to start having international conversations between real people in this way.” (through August)

Jessica Kirson

If you’re looking for a New York City original this summer, look no further than Jessica Kirson. Known for traversing the comedy club scene throughout the Big Apple, the stand-up artist is taking her talents on the road for the remainder of the year as part of a cross-country tour.

The tour is coming on the heels of Kirson’s acclaimed Hulu comedy special “I’m the Man,” and the comedian often “plays sold-out theaters across the country, drawing crowds who know her voice, her energy and exactly what kind of night they’re signing up for,” said Pridesource. (through Jan. 2027)

David Sedaris

David Sedaris is an American comedy icon, and now he is back on tour for nearly another full year. Sedaris may be better known for his humorous essays and novels than his stand-up career, but the funny man and NPR veteran is nonetheless recognized for his “dry, observational storytelling that explores family life, travel mishaps, retail oddities and human quirks,” said Sedaris’ website. His new tour “brings the celebrated humorist back to theaters with his signature blend of sharply observed memoir, diaristic humor and dry, conversational delivery.” (through Feb. 2027)

Ali Siddiq

Another Comedy Central veteran as the winner of the station’s first “Up Next” stand-up competition, Ali Siddiq’s ongoing international tour will have you laughing until nearly the end of the year. His tour is coinciding with “My Father,” a new stand-up special that explores Siddiq’s relationship with his late dad.

For Siddiq, who served time in prison before turning to comedy, joke-telling is cathartic. “I think that’s the biggest part of it, that I take the stories and me reliving them in front of people or revisiting them in front of people is healing,” Siddiq told NPR. (through November)

Emil Wakim

Emil Wakim endeared himself to fans during his turn on “Saturday Night Live” despite being on the show for only one season. He was also, notably, the first “SNL” cast member of Lebanese heritage.

Now, Wakim is bringing his stand-up on the road for a tour across the United States. If you can’t catch Wakim live, you’ll be able to see him on television soon enough, as he’ll be recording his first stand-up special for Netflix this October. The recording will take place on the same Indiana stage “where I started comedy nine years ago,” Wakim said on Instagram. “Everything has been for this.” (through October)

The RS5 is Audi Sport’s first plug-in hybrid, and the most complex car in its RS division, said Top Gear Magazine. “This is not your average Audi.”

It pairs a 2.9-litre, 503bhp twin-turbo V6 with a 174bhp electric motor, powered by a 25.9kWh battery. Despite weighing a “daft” 2,370kg in Avant form, it feels relatively light thanks to clever suspension and ground-breaking rear axle technology, and it can do 0-62mph in just 3.6secs.

“Exceptionally”, “unhingedly agile” for such a big car, the RS5 is “a hoot” to drive, said Autocar. It’s fast and also “supple” and “refined”, with a “very smooth response”. The steering is “always precise” and the car shows “great body control and resistance to pitch”. It has a 50-mile electric range, and should return about 70mpg officially, but the smaller 48-litre fuel tank means stops to refill.

The RS5 comes as a saloon or an estate, and there’s plenty of space up front, with two figure-hugging sports seats and lots of storage, said What Car?. The driver gets an 11.9-inch digital display, plus there’s a 10.9-inch passenger’s touchscreen and a 14.5-inch infotainment touchscreen, with crisp, clear graphics.

However, most functions are buried in menus and there are very few physical buttons. Higher-spec trims quickly drive up the cost.

“A summer’s night, attentive groundlings, gales of laughter: when the Globe is in its element, there’s no more magical spot,” said Dominic Cavendish in The Telegraph. “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” kicked off the summer season in April, in an enjoyable (if frenetic) staging which will play in rep until late August.

Now it’s joined by a “Much Ado” that is “one of the most charming accounts” of the play in years.

It’s a giddy, light-filled production of Shakespeare’s “romcom”, said Matt Wolf on London Theatre. Director Chelsea Walker brings “wit, incisiveness and vigour to a play shot through with those very qualities”, plus “a generous dollop of heart”.

“Much Ado” is “rightly celebrated as a showcase for one of theatre’s most-cherished sparring partnerships”, said Donald Hutera in The Times. Here the “skirmish of wit” between the “tart-tongued proto-feminist” Beatrice, played with “mischievous vivacity” by Pippa Nixon, and Ken Nwosu’s “equally marriage-wary” Benedick is a pleasure to behold. “This pair of frenemies function like opposing magnets whose push-me-pull-you attraction, outrageously exploited and manipulated by those around them, grounds the play in rollicking and sarcastic humour.”

Yet lurking beneath the frivolous “discourse on the vagaries of love” in “Much Ado” “are darker forms of pretence and deceit”. I’d say that the production has the balance between them “just about” right.

I felt that the evening could have leaned more deeply into the play’s problematic elements, said Arifa Akbar in The Guardian. For instance, the scene in which Beatrice’s young cousin Hero (Assa Kanouté) is humiliated at her own wedding to Claudio contains a powerful moment – but it “does not fully swivel”, as it should, “into stark, potentially tragic territory”.

Still, in its charms the production delights. Elegant and effervescent, it has a “universally adept” cast, and “simply gorgeous” costumes, dance and music (courtesy of a live band). It is “insuppressibly crowd-pleasing, eminently worth seeing”, and surely destined to be a “summer blockbuster”.

Globe Theatre, London SE1. Until 24 October

“If you dipped in and out of the documentary ‘Jon Snow: A Last Big Story’” (Channel 4), you might be confused as to what it was all about, said Benji Wilson in The Telegraph.

At one level, the film, in which Snow reveals his Alzheimer’s diagnosis, is a “touching tribute to a now diminished national figure”. But it also includes a “bravura piece of reportage”: while visiting Zambia with his wife, the neuroscientist Dr Precious Lunga, Snow hears about the collapse of a dam at a copper mine – a disaster that has gone largely unreported – and starts to investigate. The documentary weaves these two strands together to create a whole that is “deeply affecting”.

It’s a delight to see this veteran reporter back in his element, said Lucy Mangan in The Guardian, as he and his team break the story of the worst environmental disaster in Africa for 30 years.

We also see Snow in the grip of what is “an unforgiving, relentlessly worsening condition”: he repeats himself, has to be reminded why the camera crew is there, and doesn’t know what day it is. But “his compassion and his outraged sense of justice remains undimmed”: “if this is Snow’s swan song, it is as fine a one as he could wish”.

The film is deeply moving, and makes important points about Alzheimer’s, said Susie Goldsbrough in The Times; but I wish it had focused more on how the couple are coping with their everyday lives, and skipped Snow’s report, which was painful to watch, and ended up making the actual disaster look “queasily like a sideshow”.

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Summer is a sleepy season for new cookbooks. Publishers are stacking the deck for the fall, when a glut of books are sent into the world steeled for holiday gifting. But the publishing machine never quite halts, and the coming months do star a (smaller) collection of exciting new releases.

‘Cooking from Scratch: A Careful Selection of Useful Recipes’ by Toya Boudy

New Orleans is forever a keystone of African American culture. Boudy, a native New Orleanian, draws the thread from the Black past to the Black present, using the first known cookbook published by a Black woman, Malinda Russell’s 1866 text, “A Domestic Cook Book,” as a model. The subtitle of “Cooking from Scratch” is “A Careful Selection of Useful Recipes.” Practicality and lineage, with recipes that capture south Louisiana, like mini crawfish pies, and those that honor the homeland, like African spinach stew, anchor Boudy’s story in the now and the omnipresent before. (out now, $33, Countryman Press, Amazon)

‘Great Bakes from the Midwest: Modern Classic Recipes from the Midwest’ by Martin Sorge

The debut cookbook from Sorge, the winner of “The Great American Baking Show” in 2023, sprints across a variety of baking topics. It is a fitting approach, considering the show’s versatility demands. Chapters on cookies, bread and cobblers and their kin cover all the baking essentials.

There is often a Midwestern bent to Sorge’s recipes, proper for someone whose home base is Chicago. Focaccia bursts with the flavors of a Chicago hot dog. A Michigan Forest Cake employs the state’s famed sour cherries. Homey and precise, the book will prime you for baking success.(Aug. 4, $38, Agate, Amazon)

‘Coffee Shop at Home: The Ultimate Guide to Making Your Favorite Coffee Drinks’ by Katerina Diaz

You’ve heard the gripe: Millennials spend all their money on fancy coffee drinks. The bromide has been debunked, but there is power — and delight — in making coffee shop drinks at home. Diaz shows you how, by walking almost-caffeinated readers through how to shop for beans, buy equipment and brew. Plus, there are recipes for the syrups and techniques you crave, including Brown Sugar Oat Milk Shaken Espresso and Honey Lavender Latte. Yes, even pumpkin spice appears, in the form of Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew. (Aug. 11, $25, Clarkson Potter, Amazon)

‘Cooking Thai: Heritage and Modern Recipes from My Kitchen Notebooks’ by Pim Techamuanvivit and Andrea Nguyen

Plenty of chefs have Michelin-starred restaurants across different continents. Less common is a female chef doing so. All the more rare is a Thai American woman juggling that kind of constellation. Techamuanvivit, the Bangkok-born chef of San Francisco’s one-starred Kin Khao and Nari and Bangkok’s one-star Nahm, gets to the bones of Thai food. There are family recipes, alongside modern interpretations of Thai food.

A personal tale that also looks at one of the world’s great cuisines from a bird’s eye view, “Cooking Thai” might overturn your ideas of Thai food. Essential bonus: Techamuanvivit’s co-author, Andrea Nguyen, is one of the States’ premier cookbook authors, a guarantee that this book’s recipes will be clear-eyed and executable. (Aug. 25, $40, Ten Speed Press, Amazon)

‘Foods of La Frontera: Recipes and New Taste Frontiers from Both Sides of the Border’ by Pati Jinich

Jinich is like an ambulatory Benetton ad. She deftly flits between the U.S. and Mexico, aiming to not solely showcase recipes from both sides but to reveal the humanity behind those dishes. In her latest book, the Mexico City-born, Washington, D.C.-based author and television personality wanders the borderlands of the two countries.

Tamales are loaded with bean, chile and cheese. Chocolate deepens tres leches cake. Nachos receive the starry treatment they warrant. Whether you want to cook ideal versions of dishes you already know and love or crave to better understand the exceptional liminality of La Frontera, Jinich’s newest treatise is ready to assist. (Sept. 15, $35, HarperCollins, Amazon)

“It’s well known that pregnancy and childbirth affect women’s brains and hormones,” said Camilla Cavendish in the Financial Times: so profound is the impact of “baby brain” that “a computer can tell a mother from a non-mother just by looking at a scan”.

How parenthood affects men is less well understood; but in her new book, Darby Saxbe, a professor of psychology at the University of Southern California, “fills an important gap in our understanding”.

Saxbe herself carried out one of the world’s only studies into how men’s brains are altered by having a child, and it revealed that men undergo many of the same changes as women, “though not quite as dramatically”.

In men, the “volume of grey matter shrinks”, enabling a “temporary tuning-up of the parts of the cortex that connect us to others’ emotions”. New fathers also suffer a drop in testosterone, which facilitates bonding with their infant, as well as making a “dad bod” likely.

Combining academic data with “stories about the men in her own life”, Saxbe’s book is a “refreshing” call to “bust the stereotypes of fathers as clueless or uncaring”.

Kierkegaard described becoming a father as a transition from the “aesthetic stage, which is mainly about yourself, to the ethical stage, which is mainly about other people”, said Thomas W. Hodgkinson in Literary Review. “Dad Brain” engagingly explores how such a “massive life change” manifests itself physically. The fact that it is about such an under-investigated area is both its “USP” and a weakness: Saxbe’s account of the “science of fatherhood” inevitably ends up feeling frustratingly patchy. New fathers lose 1% of their brain matter. Is that a lot to lose or a little? I’m still not clear. Still, “anyone due to become a dad” could do a lot worse than this accessible, “nicely done primer”.

Buy “Dad Brain” for £19.99 from The Week Bookshop

The new beginning for the old US Embassy on Mayfair’s Grosvenor Square was one of the most eagerly anticipated openings in recent memory. The years spent walking past the hoarding, dodging the street closures, and watching as the iconic façade changed but also remained the same, tantalised locals and visitors alike. In the few months since guests have finally been welcomed inside, those of us who have had the privilege of a stay have not been disappointed.

The Chancery Rosewood is an all-suite property, positioned as a new standard in global luxury hospitality. The sheer size of the building allows for space to be the baseline for all its aspects, from the huge rooms to an utterly gargantuan fitness space. This is a place for casual drop-ins, with the coffee house at street level already popular with Londoners, as well as overnight visits. Stays of an hour or a week are equally welcome.

Why stay here?

First, the add-ons are generous. Perks like airport transfers, usually chargeable or only with a few room classes, are included with any booking. Use of the house cars, a fleet of lavish Bentley Bentaygas, is available to any guest who needs to travel within two miles and doesn’t fancy the Tube. From the heart of Mayfair, that covers the majority of central London. Check-in and departure are flexible to your schedule. These little touches make an enormous difference.

Inside, the design is soft and considered. The centre of the building is one huge atrium, giving a breathtaking sense of scale to the lobby. Rooms are impeccably furnished, with sumptuous soft touches contrasting the dark woods of the flooring and resplendent marble of the bathrooms. Views look across the Mayfair rooftops or the square itself, depending on your position within the building.

The Asaya Spa is easily accessible from street level at the exterior or via a private lift from your suite floor. The gym is truly exceptional, catering to a growing demand among travellers who refuse to compromise their fitness routine while travelling. Blonde wood and sand-coloured Technogym equipment give an airy aesthetic, which makes up for the lack of natural light. Sauna, steam and snow shower are found next to the 25-metre pool to aid recovery.

Eating and drinking

The word ‘iconic’ is woefully overused these days but is fairly applied to the giant gold eagle remaining on the roof from the building’s US Embassy days. The terrace at the Eagle Bar provides a panorama worthy of a visit on its own. Breakfast at Serra is as light and airy as the room itself, with an open kitchen to watch exquisite plates being assembled as well as a particularly delicious porridge; GSQ is a neighbourhood café with alfresco seating for an alternative start to the day and some excellent pastries. Afternoon tea is served in Jacqueline, hidden behind the reception area, and comes with chamber music on weekends. At Japanese fine dining restaurant Tobi Masa, chef Masayoshi Takayama presents seasonal Omakase at a small 12-cover counter or à la carte sushi throughout the rest of the dining room.

Things to do

You have two options: everything and nothing. Those who have selected The Chancery Rosewood as a London base will find all of London on their doorstep, be it the shops and galleries of Mayfair, the greenery of Hyde Park, or the museums of Kensington. It’s worth noting that the London address of Carbone, the buzzy New York Italian kitchen currently one of the hottest names in global hospitality, is also in The Chancery Rosewood, and there are plenty of other restaurants and bars and clubs around if you want to get into London life.

Equally, those who search for indulgent respite will find it here as well. Moving from your suite to a meal to a pampering in the spa can easily take up a full day, and there’s no reason for tomorrow not to look similar. This is a property very well suited to a reset rather than an energetic city break, and we all need that sometimes.

The verdict

The stakes were high for this hotel when it opened, such was the potential of the site and the expectation and demand of the market. It has delivered on its promise. The beauty of the surroundings, the attentiveness of the service, and the inventive ways the existing building has been reimagined to create a welcoming, soothing environment out of a bureaucratic and utilitarian frame are genuinely exceptional. The bar has been raised for hotels that aspire to this level worldwide.

Nick was a guest at The Chancery Rosewood; rosewoodhotels.com

“Breathe a fiery sigh of relief,” said Jack Seale in The Guardian. After two “forgettable” series, “House of the Dragon” has finally “found its focus”.

Set centuries before “Game of Thrones”, the new season of the spin-off sees a “power vacuum” emerge in Westeros, into which various rulers and royals “seek to step”. The third instalment kicks off with the bloody Battle of the Gullet at sea: an “orgy of CGI carnage” with “underwater punch-ups and dragonly intervention”.

But the “explosive” sequences early on thankfully don’t “come at the cost of nuanced character drama and thoughtful quasi-historical themes”, said Caroline Siede in Empire. In one “tremendous” episode, Emma D’Arcy (Queen Rhaenyra) is put at the centre of the action as we’re given a “high-wire day-in-the-life-style story about what it actually means to be a queen”.

Until now, the prequel had lacked an “over-the-top anti-hero”, said Ed Power in The Telegraph. The “long wait is at an end”, however, as “top telly totty” James Norton has been brought in to play the “love-to-hate” Lord Ormund Hightower. He goes “full fantasy panto” with his “absurdly OTT” performance, accelerating from “calmly psychotic to full-fledged loony” in one memorable scene. The “reliably charismatic” Matt Smith returns as Rhaenyra’s “power-mad husband” Daemon Targaryen. He is a “devilish delight”.

However, the “increasing prominence” of Mysaria only further highlights how “wretched” Sonoya Mizuno’s performance is, said Nick Hilton in The Independent. And the many “portentous conversations” in shadowy rooms lack the “earthy wisdom” and “wit” that made “Game of Thrones” so compelling.

The show at times “stretches itself thin” moving between so many characters on an “increasingly crowded board”, said Siede in Empire. But the “upside” is a “welcome sense of unpredictability” about what will come next, in a series that’s packed with plot twists. “More action-packed but as thoughtful as ever”, season three might just be the show’s “best offering yet”.

Horror movies are enjoying a jump-scare moment, as hit films like “Obsession” and “Backrooms” thrill zeitgeist-moving Gen Z audiences. Summer promises to deliver yet another slew of memorable thrills, including these five highly anticipated features.

‘Leviticus’

A movie with already-deafening buzz, director Adrian Chiarella’s queer horror story drops at a time of retrenchment for gender and sexual minorities in many parts of the world, including the United States. Naim (Joe Bird) and his mother, (Mia Wasikowska), move to a small Australian town, where he begins to fall for Ryan (Stacy Clausen). A pastor (Nicholas Hope) then subjects the boys to a cruel form of conversion therapy in which they are both stalked, terrifyingly, by a shape-shifting demon that impersonates the other boy. A “Sundance darling with few quote-unquote recognizable movie stars and no I.P. ties to speak of” that was snapped up by Neon after thrilling audiences at the Sundance Film Festival, it fully deserves to be the “next big summer horror movie,” said Ryan Lattanzio at IndieWire. (in theaters now)

‘Evil Dead Burn’

If you’re watching an “Evil Dead” film at this point, it isn’t for the originality but rather for the seemingly endless joys of seeing angry demons lay waste to whatever unfortunates happen to rouse them from their turpitude. Director Sébastien Vanicek (“Infested”) takes over the franchise after the unexpected success of 2023’s “Evil Dead Rise.”

The new story features a grieving widow, Alice (Souheila Yacoub), whose visit to her in-laws’ isolated cabin goes predictably awry when someone decides to open up the Book of the Dead and read it aloud. Have the characters not seen any of these films? The movie “unleashes the franchise’s most savage and terrifying ride to date, blazing onto big screens with an all-new chapter of carnage and demonic mayhem,” said Meagan Navarro at Bloody Disgusting. (in theaters July 10)

‘Ice Cream Man’

Parents who believe sweets turn their kids into raging monsters may sympathize with the plot of this bananas movie from director Eli Roth (“Cabin Fever”). Ari Millen (“Orphan Black”) plays an ice cream man whose wares convert children into demonically possessed killers, who then turn on their parents and teachers in ways that make “Children of the Corn” look like a bedtime story for toddlers.

Roth, who also stars in the film, “looks to slaughter any sense of good taste with his brand new horror movie, delivering a blood-soaked exploitation film,” said John Squires at Bloody Disgusting. Even the trailer is not for the faint of heart. (in theaters Aug. 7)

‘Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma’

Fresh off her career-making turn in the recently concluded HBO Max comedy “Hacks,” Hannah Einbinder stars as a young, queer filmmaker tasked with rebooting a trashy slasher franchise called “Camp Miasma.” When she seeks out Billy Preston (Gillian Anderson), the reclusive star of the original, she finds Preston living in the woods where the film was set and discovers that the movies might not all have been fiction.

The franchise’s villain, Little Death (Jack Haven), is trans, and director Jane Schoenbrun “approaches critiques of transphobia in horror cinema with so much levity and irreverence,” said Samantha Allen and Ana Osorno at Them. But the film lands because it is able to “shed the meta trappings and dive deeper into raw feeling.” (in theaters Aug. 7)

‘Hope’

Rounding out the summer, South Korean director Na Hong-jin returns with his first feature since the wild, justifiably acclaimed 2016 horror movie “The Wailing.” Bum-seok (Hwang Jung-min) is the chief of police in a small town under siege by nightmarish alien creatures. Jung Ho-yeon (“Squid Game”) plays his deputy, who helps him track and hunt the creature, while Beom-seok’s cousin, Sung-ki (Zo In-sung), leads a separate group on the monster’s trail.

Alicia Vikander, Michael Fassbender and Taylor Russell also star as three of the aliens. The film is “jammed with sharp, semi-parodic meta-commentary” yet remains a “full-on, unapologetic action movie packed with breathtaking and breathless car chases, horse chases, foot chases and monster chases,” said John Bleasdale at Sight and Sound. (in theaters Sept. 9)

The best golf resorts don’t just offer world-class courses. They’re also a sanctuary where you can relax away from the fairways with a pampering spa treatment, delicious meal or countryside stroll. The hotels on this list promise all that and more, with a wide range of activities to keep the entire family entertained – and stellar service to boot.

Viceroy at Ombria, Portugal

Situated among the rolling Algarve hills, Viceroy at Ombria offers guests some of the “prettiest views” and “top-tier dining options”, said Conor Keenan in Golf Monthly. Located around half an hour’s drive from Faro airport, the property has established itself as a “resort with a golf course, rather than a golf course with a resort”. It is designed to be “accessible” for new players while catering to those who are “more capable longer hitters”. To unwind after a round, guests can relax in the private outdoor heated pool, indoor thermal pool as well as Finnish sauna and salt steam room. The property has “plenty to do for non-golfers” such as hiking, cycling and exploring the “tucked away villages dotted around the valleys”.
viceroyhotelsandresorts.com

JA Mar Hall Golf & Spa Resort, Scotland

This might be the “grandest airport hotel in the world”, said Antonia Quirke in Condé Nast Traveller. The “terribly scenic” resort is a 10-minute drive from Glasgow airport and sits on the southern banks of the River Clyde. Designed in 1828 by Sir Robert Smyrk, the architect who worked on the British Museum, the property houses an 18-hole golf course and spans 250 acres. Few experiences can compare to enjoying “the timeless beauty of the volcanic Old Kilpatrick Hills” while playing the fourth hole. In 2025, the resort underwent an extensive refurb but it has retained its “spirit of Victorian ambition and adventure”. The property has a state-of-the-art spa and guests can enjoy “excellent” food made with “farm-to-plate ingredients” at the Dining Room and indulge in a fancy tipple at the “fantastic” cocktail bar.
jaresortshotels.com

Camiral, A Quinta do Lago Resort, Spain

“Perched among rolling hills” and five minutes from Girona airport, Camiral “exudes excellence and quiet luxury”, Harry Fletcher in The Independent. There are two “blockbuster” golf courses. The Stadium, host of the Spanish Open and the Catalunya Championship in 2022, is a challenging course with “real bite”. The other is the “more playable” Tour course. The resort will also host the 2031 Ryder Cup. After the golf courses, the biggest attraction is the impressive wellness centre and “tastefully designed” rooms with "nods to Spanish art”. As for dining, guests can head to Origin for a “memorable” meal that celebrates “local ingredients". And in the Lounge Bar you will find a “well-stocked” collection of spirits, “including Macallan and Lagavulin whiskies”.
camiral.com

Big Cedar Lodge, Missouri, US

This 4,600-acre property sitting on the edge of Table Rock Lake gives you the chance to play under the “powder blue Missouri Ozarks sky”, said T.J. Olwig in Travel + Leisure. The “newest thrill” in the resort’s "ever-expanding golf playground” is the Cliffhangers: an “unconventional” course that features “cliff-hugging switchbacks and a maze of showy cart path water crossings”. The lakeside cottage feels like staying in a “chic mountain chalet” complete with a large living room, open kitchen and “towering stone fireplace”. If that doesn’t sound relaxing enough, a visit to the Cedar Creek Spa can do the trick; there are four saltwater pools and a “comfortable indoor pool for cooler days”. The lodge boasts 13 restaurants and bars, including the Buzzard Bar, which offers “burgers, live music, and a drink on its lakeside patio”. Guests can also take a lake swim or enjoy the water with the “pedal boats, canoes, and kayaks”.
bigcedar.com

It’s the season of known quantities in theater-land. A beloved ’80s movie comes to fresh dancing life. Harry Potter beats back evil yet again, this time as an adult. And the semi-fictionalized life of Alicia Keys storms across the stage to the tune of her hits and new songs. Over the next few months, the motto is “go with what you know.”

‘Dirty Dancing: The Musical’

Not everything is yet known about this stage reboot of the iconic 1987 movie. Per the production’s press info, this incarnation of “Dirty Dancing” will be a “fresh creative approach to the timeless love story.” What is established is that the celebrated director Lonny Price, who played Neil Kellerman in the movie, is helming this version and Darrell Grand Moultrie, who has a robust background in choreographing both ballet and Beyoncé, is in charge of the dancing. Sounds promising, no? (tour begins Aug. 12)

‘The Great Gatsby’

The design team for this musicalization of the iconic F. Scott Fitzgerald novel “pulled out all the stops,” achieving a kind of design “nearly unprecedented in terms of scale and quality,” said Christian Lewis at Variety. This “The Great Gatsby” leans heavy on the glitz of the roaring twenties: The production numbers are grand, and the performances rousing. (through Aug. 22, 2027)

‘Harry Potter and the Cursed Child’

This forward-looking sequel to the original Harry Potter series follows the children of Harry and Ginny, and Hermione and Ron, as they begin their own journey through the halls of Hogwarts. It is a fun, fast-paced romp, and the stage magic and special effects are potent and head-scratching: Wait? Wasn’t Hermione on that side of the stage, so how did she appear on the other side seconds later? Know that the Dementors do appear — and it is terrifying. (through Oct. 11, 2026)

‘Hell’s Kitchen’

Alicia Keys took her hit songs and her life story and melded them into a vibrant musical, “Hell’s Kitchen.” Keys’ stand-in protagonist, Ali, is a 17-year-old growing up in the show’s namesake neighborhood on the west side of Manhattan. Expect to catch “No One,” “Fallin’” and “Empire State of Mind,” along with new songs written for the show. It’s “thrilling from beginning to end,” said Elisabeth Vincentelli in The New York Times. (through Aug. 15, 2027)

‘The Lion King’

The Disney behemoth just will not quit. Nor should it. Because 29 years after its Broadway debut, director-designer Julie Taymor’s singular vision of “The Lion King” made a good movie into a startling, inspired piece of live theater. (through May 30, 2027)

‘Moulin Rouge! The Musical’

Baz Luhrmann’s 2011 movie musical is lush and riotous. The stage adaptation is much the same: deliriously fun and over the top. Songs appearing in the show include “Roxanne,” “Gimme Shelter,” “Brick House” and “Material Girl.” There are more than 70 hits sprinkled like glitter across this tale of a pair of lovers and a cast of performers at the Moulin Rouge cabaret club. (currently through Aug. 9, 2026)

‘The Notebook’

The book-to-movie-to-musical pipeline hits its heartstring-tugging zenith with the Broadway-ification of “The Notebook.” In an attempt to breathe fresh life into the romantic tale of Allie and Noah, three pairs of actors play the characters across different time periods in their lives. The adjustment is novel, but the resulting version of the story hasn’t “lost its romantic magic,” said Gloria Oladipo in The Guardian. Brace yourself for Alysha Deslorieux’s barn-burning Act One number, “My Days,” as Middle Allie. (through May 16, 2027)

Mahon old town’s stone-paved narrow streets, lined by sandy limestone buildings, top the cliff overlooking one of Europe’s best natural harbours. That harbour has attracted invaders over the centuries: Romans, Byzantines, Vandals, north Africans and the French have all taken ownership – and it has passed between the UK and Spain three times. A British influence lingers, with words like "grevi" (gravy) and "boinder" (bow window), and “Hannover” and “Stuart” street names.

In the heart of this historic setting lies Can Alberti: a salmon-pink townhouse turned boutique hotel. The property’s own interactive map, detailing bars, restaurants, beaches and places to see, makes it easy to explore from here.

Why stay here?

Tucked away on a quiet street, this 18th-century mansion is home to 14 rooms, each decorated in calm tones and natural textures, with tiled floors softened by rugs. The wardrobe conceals a kettle, drinks and snacks plus minibar, robes and the bang-on-trend bonus of a straw basket, to use during your stay. In the bathroom, a non-plastic toothbrush and other necessities are practical, thoughtful touches.

The hotel dates from 1740, when it was built by Vicente Diego Alberti Mercadal, whose great-grandson Vicente Alberti Vidal, a theatre enthusiast, was important during the Enlightenment.

Since 2016, the owners have continued the artistic connection by filling the place with art, from nautical signal flags to Shepard Fairey’s “Obey”, and organising exhibitions in collaboration with galleries. The next, which runs until 25 July, features works by gallery artists Teresa Gancedo and Pepo Hernando, French artists Lionel Sabatté and /w, and photographs by Mallorcan artist Toni Amengual.

Eating and drinking

Breakfast is taken on the patio under a white shade sail, while swallows swoop across a blue sky. Eggs are cooked to order, and oranges freshly juiced. Fruit, Greek yogurt and granola filled my plate, plus delicious seeded bread from local bakery Pigalle. Try Menorcan specialities like sobrasada – squidgy sausage – and at least three cheeses, plus the Catalan classic of grated tomato on bread with olive oil. Coffee comes from an upmarket machine, each cupful ground fresh.

Can Alberti has no restaurant but its central location puts you only a couple of minutes’ walk from dinner. A popular staple for over two decades, Ses Forquilles offers French/Spanish classics such as beef tartare and foie gras, pan de coca, traditional Catalan flatbread, and jamón croquetas. In the plant-filled courtyard, my partner was leaning towards grilled sea bass or beef tenderloin before being seduced by the waiter’s suggestion of slow-roasted Menorcan suckling pig, deliciously succulent. The vegetarian options were slightly limited… my starter-as-main was a long sausage of skinned aubergine, dressed with flavourful basil, cheese and tomato-based sauces, garnished with browned breadcrumbs. For dessert, the almond coulant oozed its caramel-coloured ‘lava’ at my spoon’s touch.

Anna y Pepe is a buzzy restaurant serving a selection of tapas, run by the couple it’s named after. Anna is a consummate host, making everyone feel welcome. After sharing pan con tomate and tortilla, sweet with caramelised onions, we diverged: for him, potatoes, leeks and Catalan black pudding topped with a fried egg; for me a burrata and tangy tomato salad with pesto. Somehow we found room for dessert: creamy cheesecake for him, a battle between banoffee pie and lemon and basil sorbet for me (the pie won).

Things to do

Menorca’s art scene dates from the 1960s when the Grupo Menorca founded the island’s first contemporary art gallery. In recent years, its importance in the art world has grown, most recently with the 2021 opening of the free-admission Hauser & Wirth gallery, open from May until October. Take a €10 (£8.60) boat trip from Moll de Llevant 61 to the Isla del Rey, where, from 21 June, there’s a group exhibition curated by Rashid Johnson.

The Cantina café has tables beneath the olive trees, wicker lampshades swaying above. The grounds were created by renowned garden designer Piet Oudolf, whose other works include the Planting Ribbon in Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.

The island was the site of a British naval hospital, built in 1711, which became a general hospital. After closure in 1964, the site fell into disrepair, before local volunteers set to work. On summer Sundays you can take a guided tour of fascinating collections of medical equipment, and the Royal Navy’s chapel, with a white ensign flag, and commemorative items from royal family visits.

Many artists live and work in Mahon, including self-taught ceramist Blanca Madruga, who creates deceptively simple textural forms such as ring-shaped halo lights, El Santo and La Santa (male and female saint).

In the Encant gallery, owner Elvira has imaginatively transformed the space, while retaining original features such as sash-window shutters – protection from the up-to-100mph “tramuntana” wind – and a rain water cistern beneath a glass floor, a common feature in old homes. Here, she curates exhibitions from international artists, almost all connected to Menorca, as well as her own photography. Currently on show is the work of Rita Moreno Mir, whose palette reflects the island’s landscape.

Turn left out of the hotel for the Museu de Menorca, revealing a comprehensive history from modern mass tourism back to prehistoric times, and the Talayotic culture, from 1600 BCE to 123 BCE. The “talayots” – structures built from massive stone blocks without mortar – won the island Unesco World Heritage Site status. The hotel’s interactive map shows itineraries for the 1,600 prehistoric sites.

Next to the museum, climb the church tower of Sant Francesc (weekends only) for unrivalled city views. Suffering from visual fatigue? A massage always restores a sense of calm, and the hotel can arrange sessions, so I happily made my way down to the subterranean treatment room, where Andrea skilfully undid the tension in my neck and shoulders, caused by my sedentary work, a very early start, and a not-so-spacious middle seat on the flight.

For further relaxation, head to tranquil Es Grau beach, a crescent of pale sand backed by a quiet fishing village, around four miles (7km) from Mahon. The loudest sound was my sloshing as I waded through the shallow warm water to swim near moored boats. Behind the beach is the Parc Natural de s'Albufera des Grau nature reserve, with marked trails and binoculars to borrow from the information centre to spot wildlife. Los Tamarindos bar/restaurant serves Spanish and Menorcan favourites right on the sand, shaded by tamarisk trees.

The bus service is seasonal, so it’s best to book a (strictly metered) taxi online or by calling the central number, 00 34 971 48 22 22.

The verdict

The friendly, attentive staff and laidback set-up really made me feel part of the household, free to come and go, while the lounge and bar area on the first floor felt genuinely welcoming. A lack of signage adds to the “at home” feel, and taking a wrong turn – as I did almost every time I left the room – merely encourages slowing down to savour your surroundings, and see more art, or perhaps another elegant staircase and chandelier.

No one actually said “mi casa, su casa” but it would have felt entirely appropriate if they had (probably just as well, or I might still be there…).

Adrienne Wyper was a guest of Can Alberti 1740, hotelcanalberti.com

Visit the “specialist aisle in most British supermarkets” and you’re almost certain to find a “red jar with the kindly face of a middle-aged Chinese woman staring back at you”, said Ammar Kalia in The Guardian.

These are jars of Lao Gan Ma chilli crisp – a “spicy, crunchy and moreish umami condiment” that has made the woman on the label, Tao Huabi, a fortune. Generously dolloped on top of everything from dumplings to fried eggs, chilli crisp has become a “social media sensation” and inspired countless spin-offs from independent producers.

It is usually made by “pouring hot oil over chilli flakes, spice mixes and fresh ingredients such as spring onions, garlic and peanuts”, resulting in a “multi-sensory flavour bomb”.

Both “comforting and punchy”, Lao Gan Ma is “stupendously addictive and can be added to basically anything”, said Dusty Baxter-Wright in Cosmopolitan. “Fiery yet sweet”, it’s “crunchy with soybeans and tingly on your tongue”.

Lao Gan Ma is a “classic for a reason”, said James Park in Eater, but there are other options. As a “self-proclaimed chilli crisp hype man”, I discover “creative” new brands almost “daily”. Momofuku Chilli Crunch is “full of umami with a surprising level of heat”; what “sets it apart” from other jars is the addition of shiitake mushroom powder. Try serving this with baked brie and “you will be hooked”.

Other stand-out jars include Barnacle Foods Kelp Chilli Crisp, which features “salty” Alaska-grown kelp, in addition to spicy chilli flakes, fried onion and garlic. Fermented black beans add an extra “layer of depth” and it goes perfectly into a “light vinaigrette to top off fresh oysters”.

Or you could try making your own. Start by heating a neutral, high-heat oil then add sliced garlic and shallots, and fry “until golden”, said Great British Chefs. Remove the crunchy bits from the oil before mixing in dried chilli flakes and Sichuan peppercorns. Then return the fried garlic and shallots to the oil, “allowing everything to infuse together”.

There are so many dishes a drizzle of chilli crisp can lift to another level. Consider “using it as a topping for pizzas and tacos” or even folding it into bread dough to make a “spicy, aromatic loaf that pairs wonderfully with savoury spreads”.

When it comes to island holiday destinations, the Maldives is one of the most sought after – and for good reason. The blue waters and skies seem endless, making you feel as if you have been transported to a different world. If you’re looking to switch off from your regular life, it is the place to be.

Last year, Centara opened two new resorts in the North Male Atoll, a chain of over 50 islands and islets that’s home to mesmerising corals and marine life. The Centara Grand Lagoon Resort and Centara Mirage Lagoon Resort make up The Atollia by Centara Hotels & Resorts. The multi-island destination is located 40 minutes away from the airport via speedboat and is connected by a walkable bridge for easy movement between the properties. While both are operated under the same brand, each provide a unique atmosphere suited for different types of holidaymakers.

Why stay here?

Winner of the Condé Nast Traveller Readers’ Choice Award 2025, the Centara Grand Lagoon Resort is nothing short of a tropical utopia. The buildings are inspired by the ocean, with soaring high ceilings, curved walls and pared-back décor in earthy tones.

If you choose the overwater villa, you can opt for one with a private pool and an outdoor deck that blurs the line separating you and the ocean. My husband and I are usually early risers and the view of the sunrise on the horizon was a major highlight of the trip. If you are lucky, which we were, you may spot dolphins swimming close to the deck in search of food in the mornings.

The Centara Mirage Lagoon Resort is a little more playful with its architecture and the overall aesthetic is eye-catching and modern. This is a family-centric accommodation with many facilities catered to children, including an expansive water park. Both resorts also offer two- and three-bedroom villas, which come with either a pool or Jacuzzi. If staying overwater is not your style, there are beachfront room options available too.

The spa

The island offers state-of-the-art luxury spa facilities that are operated under the SPA Cenvaree brand. Centara prides itself on its embedded philosophy of Thai hospitality and this is evident in the services on offer. There is an exhaustive list of traditional Asian therapies available as well as some modern salon offerings. The expert therapists are immensely knowledgeable and friendly. They help set the tone of the experience by making you feel comfortable and relaxed as soon as you step foot inside.

What sets the spa at the Lagoon apart is the design; it is located away from the rest of the resort area and feels like a sanctuary. Past the reception, you enter a minimalist white courtyard complete with water basins holding rustic centrepieces. The treatment rooms are spacious and filled with natural light. We were lucky to experience a couple’s massage and left feeling completely rejuvenated.

The facilities also include a Candy Spa that offers kid-friendly treatments like manicures and pedicures so the little ones can keep themselves engaged while parents indulge themselves.

Eating and drinking

When it comes to food, the Centara brand aims to provide guests with a taste of Thai culture while honouring Maldivian traditions. There are six distinct dining locations spread over both the properties offering various cuisines. The resorts are separately operated but all the restaurants are quite easy to get to regardless of where you choose to stay. A buggy is a quick call away but you can certainly walk too – that is, if you are willing to withstand the scorching sun you will face en route.

The best dining spot was Centara’s signature restaurant Suan Bua, serving authentic Thai food at the Mirage. I especially enjoyed the larb gai and massaman curry. The ingredients were fresh and the balance of tangy citrus notes and fiery spices made for an unforgettable meal. Every restaurant is included in the all-inclusive rates but the ones serving only a la carte menus require reservations so letting the concierge know where you want to dine early on is highly recommended.

Another memorable meal was at the Blue Fin, a Mediterranean-style beachfront restaurant specialising in seafood. We splurged on the lobster as it wasn’t included in the package but it was definitely worth it. I would be remiss not to mention the remarkable steak tartare on fried brioche, which played with a mix of textures.

Right next to Blue Fin, is the Sunset Social. As the name suggests, it is the perfect place to catch some magnificent views. The big draw is the catamaran seating and the specialised cocktails but traditional Atollian food is also served here. My favourite cocktail was Spirit of the Sun, which is made with elderflower-infused gin and lavender essence.

The Lagoon resort is also home to The Gallery, which is where guests come for their buffet breakfast and lunch. For dinner, they serve Indian tandoor dishes and also have a very small teppanyaki grill. Unfortunately, we didn’t get a chance to try the Japanese food due to capacity issues and we felt like the Indian food was a bit bland, which we relayed to the staff. They made us a special breakfast the next day to make up for the disappointment and were very open to feedback.

The other spots on the island are Mirage’s Acqua, a traditional Italian spot serving all the cuisine’s classics, and The Sailhouse, where guests have their breakfast. The Lagoon also has The Club, which is a special access all-day lounge serving everything from breakfast to afternoon tea. Both resorts have swim-up bars in their main pool so you can cool down while enjoying your time in the water.

Things to do

The North Atoll is a prime hotspot for divers and surfers. Being a city person, the fear of not having enough to do held me back from going on island holidays for a long time. My stay at Centara changed my perspective because of the endless opportunities to be adventurous.

We started off kayaking in see-through boats, which allow you to look underwater as you paddle along enjoying the sea breeze. Seabob riding was also a surprising favourite for me. The seabob is an underwater scooter that operates like a mini roofless submarine. I was a bit afraid of how fast it would be but the staff were very encouraging and there were varying speed functions, which allowed me to choose a level I was comfortable with. We also went snorkelling and enjoyed seeing the fascinating coral and marine life from up close.

The resort had several other activities we didn’t get a chance to do including jet skiing, deep sea diving and sunset cruises. An especially lovely moment during the holiday was when we were surprised with a private beachfront dining tent for my husband and I to enjoy our dinner by the water. It was certainly a night I will cherish for the rest of my life.

The verdict

With so many resorts in the Maldives to choose from, any new ones need to overachieve in order to compete with long-time favourites. Centara more than lives up to its great reputation with The Atollia.

The resorts are significantly different but guests can effortlessly move between them. Despite Mirage being the more family-focused property, Lagoon has kid-friendly offerings as well and families can enjoy both resorts. For couples or groups of friends, the Lagoon is perfect for an unforgettable relaxation retreat. The Atollia allows you to choose what kind of energy you want for your holiday and gives you the best of both worlds.

Deeya was a guest of Centara Grand Lagoon Resort and Centara Mirage Lagoon Resort; centarahotelsandresorts.com

Babak Anvari’s Bafta-winning film “Under the Shadow” (2016) tells the compelling – and frightening – story of a woman living in Tehran at the height of the Iran-Iraq War in the 1980s, whose grip on reality starts to fragment after her doctor husband is sent to the front, and her apartment is hit by missiles.

This taut and nerve-shredding stage adaptation, by Carmen Nasr, “could scarcely be timelier”, said Ryan Gilbey in The Guardian. “When Shideh and her neighbours huddle together in their bomb shelter, cursing Europe and the US for abandoning them, this could be a livestream from 2026.”

Director Nadia Latif’s stylish, well-acted production honours the original film – and its paranormal elements – but “escapes its shadow”, said Dominic Cavendish in The Telegraph.

For Shideh (Leila Farzad), life has become a “form of entombment”. With the action confined to a single room and a bomb shelter, we share her “dementing claustrophobia” – and her horror at the idea that her home has been invaded by a djinn, or malevolent ancient spirit.

There are several jump scares as the atmosphere becomes increasingly unnerving. In a superb performance, Farzad conveys the “surreal, terrifying ordeal of living in a war zone and the misery of having your life ripped away by forces beyond your control”, said Sarah Hemming in the Financial Times. Her Shideh is “truculent, grieving” and consumed by cold rage.

The piece is beautifully realised by Latif and designer Ben Stones, said Sarah Crompton on WhatsOnStage. A bomb blast, and the shock of “inexplicable happenings” in the apartment, are magnificently conjured. This production is “intriguing and always watchable”. But as the djinn becomes embodied, the delicate balance between the real and the supernatural starts to falter. “The play’s shocks begin to stray into ‘Woman in Black’ territory, and its shifts in tone become too jarring.”

Some special effects simply “work best in a multiplex”, said Clive Davis in The Times. Still, this intriguing play “succeeds in taking us into an unsettling realm; one where ideology, rather than a ghost, is the enemy”.

Almeida Theatre, London N1. Until 4 July

“You will, no doubt, be familiar with the 1995 footage of a supposed alien autopsy,” said Sarah Dempster in The Guardian, in which, over the course of 18 minutes, figures in hazmat suits dissect the corpse of a pot-bellied humanoid.

Since its “yikes-inducing” TV debut, the black-and-white film is estimated to have been viewed by a billion people. Now, for better or worse, it’s back. Over three “increasingly extraordinary” episodes, “The Alien Autopsy Scandal” unknots the incredible tale behind the footage.

It’s a saga “worthy of an Ealing comedy”, said James Jackson in The Times. Ray Santilli, a music producer, claims that in 1993 he was shown real footage of an alien autopsy filmed by a US military veteran at Roswell, New Mexico, in 1947 (when an alien aircraft is supposed to have crash-landed there). He wanted $100,000 for it. But by the time the money had been raised, the film had oxidised and was ruined.

So, according to Santilli, he and his business partner decided to “restore” the footage in their flat in Camden, north London. The “alien” was created by a sculptor who had worked on “Doctor Who”, and then stuffed with animal organs. It’s bonkers, but “you may find yourself applauding the audacity of it all”.

“It’s a great watch – 'Spinal Tap' territory, but real,” said Rhik Samadder in The Guardian. The dishonest duo got rich from their deception, but in the age of AI slop, there is a certain charm to analogue hoaxes such as these. I thought I would feel scorn, but to my surprise, “I was moved”.

When a coalition of “clerics, leftists, students, nationalists and secular intellectuals” launched the Iranian Revolution in 1979, they were united less by a shared vision than “a shared rejection” of the Shah’s rule, said Reza Aslan in The New York Times. And as Bozorgmehr Sharafedin and Yeganeh Torbati observe in “Stolen Revolution”, “egalitarian ideals and immense hopes” were snuffed out as “the religious regime hunted, expelled and jailed its former allies”.

That is the story of this “quietly devastating” book, which charts Iran’s transformation over the past half century into a “mafia state”. The authors tell it through the lives of six Iranians, including a revolutionary ideologue, a tech entrepreneur, and two women at the forefront of the 2022 Woman, Life, Freedom protests.

“The result is one of the most perceptive books on modern Iran in years, capturing not only the machinery of repression, but the fragile forms of hope that survive beneath it.”

Once in power, Iran’s first supreme leader, Ruhollah Khomeini, swiftly “abandoned his revolutionary promises”, said Dina Nayeri in The Guardian. All talk of prosperity ended (our saints “gave up their lives for Islam, not for economics”, he intoned). Conservative dress codes were enforced, and a new military police force – the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps – was entrusted with preserving the revolution.

While the presidency of Mohammad Khatami (1997-2005) marked a more liberal, “reformist era”, the hardliners regained control when he left office and have ruled the country ever since.

“Stolen Revolution” is both an “unwavering account of the regime’s absurdities” and a “meticulously researched primer on modern Iran”.

Parts of it will “move some readers to tears”, said Justin Marozzi in The Times. The authors describe the fates of Kosar Eftekhari and Rozhin Yousefzadeh, who joined the “protests that erupted after the death in custody of Mahsa Amini”, a young woman arrested for not wearing her hijab properly. “Eftekhari had her right eye shot out by a smirking plain-clothes officer”; Yousefzadeh was thrown into the “filthy and dangerous Qarchak women’s prison”.

It was ostensibly in the hope of ending such tyranny that the US and Israel launched their war against the regime. This “blistering” book suggests that, on the contrary, the conflict will only entrench its most hardline elements further – and that it will prove to be “yet another US blunder in the Middle East, [and] one that will cost Iranians, and the rest of us, dearly”.

Summer means it’s probably going to be hot where you are or at least some version of “warmer than it often is.” And with rising temperatures come slipping appetites. You still want to eat, but you want to do so in a different manner. These restaurants across the country specialize, in part, in summer-ready dishes. So bring yourself and your appetite, whatever that happens to look like when the mercury skyrockets.

Handroll Bar Rolling, New York City

It’s all there in the name: This Manhattan restaurant specializes in hand rolls, served from a long bar at which you sit and the rolls are, well, rolled. At Handroll Bar Rolling, choose from a set of four, five, six or seven seafood rolls or four or five vegan rolls. Should you crave a more bespoke meal, choose from one of the 20 a la carte roll options, such as eel with avocado, blue crab, scallop and shiitake. There’s sublime satisfaction in having each step of your meal waved your way in handheld progression.

Honest, Houston

In the proper hands, a chain restaurant is a glorious institution. Honest was born in Ahmedabad, the largest city in the northern Indian state of Gujarat. The restaurant group has since exploded and landed in oodles of states across the U.S., and its menu reads like a greatest-hits compilation from across the subcontinent. This time of year, you likely want chaat, those deliriously snackable nibbles born in Bombay. Whichever you choose — whether its bhel puri with its puffed rice base or dahi puri and its thin, crackling edible cups — the chaat will be a riot of textures, chile heat and sweet chutney lift.

Hue Oi, Fountain Valley, California

The menu at this restaurant in Orange County serves the Vietnamese dishes that Americans know best. You are here, though, for Hue Oi’s dishes from the central region of Vietnam. To skitter among a variety of recipes, order a selection of banh, a genre of savory snacks that includes banh beo chen (tiny saucers of steamed rice cakes topped with ground shrimp and fried shallots) and banh khoai (small crackly crepes stuffed with bean sprouts and two kinds of pork). Because you didn’t really come all this way for egg rolls and pho, did you?

Kokkari Estiatorio, San Francisco

You could order a main course at this nearly 30-year-old restaurant near San Francisco’s downtown. At Kokkari, though, the mezethes (small plates) section is stacked: More than 15 wee dishes cover every craving you might have. Some, like the gigantes (monster-sized white beans with tomato sauce, feta and rivers of olive oil), are evergreen staples. Others are hyperseasonal, such as kalamboki (roasted corn with feta butter) and aginares souvlaki (artichoke skewers with bell pepper, red onion and a yogurt side). Choose your weapon. Then select another, and on you go.

Kunjip, San Jose, California

When the weather scorches, zero in on numbers 6, 7 and 8 at Kunjip. Saucy, spicy sweet-potato-starch noodles served with cucumber, radish, Korean pear, sesame oil and boiled egg are the base for bibim naeng myun (number 6 with sliced beef) and hwe naeng myun (number 8 with marinated raw skate). Or go light and slurpable with mul naeng myun (number 7), in which those same noodles and accompaniments are set in a light beef broth loaded with ice. Soup can indeed be hot-weather refreshment.

Malagón Mercado y Tapería, Charleston, South Carolina

Tortilla española, jamón serrano, queso de Valdeón — you go to a restaurant in the States that claims to traffic in tapas, and you want the classics. Malagón has them. But this small restaurant, with a Michelin star to boot, also knows how to be free-wheeling. There might be fried rabbit on the menu or shrimp skewers with guindilla-pepper vinaigrette. A smashing drink menu loaded with vermouth and endless Spanish wines ensures your food will play so very nicely with its accompanying beverages.

SRV, Boston

“Cicchetti” are the Venetian notion of what we often know as tapas in the U.S.: diminutive bites crafted to be eaten alongside a drink or cocktail. SRV serves delightful pasta, salads and mains in a broad Italian idiom. Wander that way, if you must. But begin with the cicchetti. This time of year you might encounter crostini with duck prosciutto, stracciatella and cherry, fried rice balls with pickled green garlic and a lofty puree of whipped salt cod with black bread. After a couple drinks, you may find you have worked your way through every cicchetti available.

Tanta, Chicago

Oh, the zippy luxury of Peruvian fish dishes. Like your raw seafood in chunks? How about the nikkei ceviche with tuna, tamarind leche de tigre and cucumber, scallions, avocado, daikon, sesame seeds? Prefer your fish sliced? Consider the apaltado, with salmon, tapioca cracker, chile oil, cherry tomatoes and choclo (large kernels of starchy field corn). Tanta is beloved in Chicago. Your meal here will reveal why.

The warm weather is finally here. With summer’s arrival comes a slew of concert tours to enjoy as the season’s live performances get underway.

Ariana Grande

Many hope for eternal sunshine throughout summer, and it appears Ariana Grande is one of them. Because the pop superstar has embarked on her “Eternal Sunshine” tour.

The venture, spanning North America and Europe, is in support of the “Wicked” actor’s prior two studio albums, and it may be the last chance to see Grande on a concert stage for a while. “I do know that I’m very excited to do this small tour, but I think it might not happen again for a long, long, long, long time,” Grande said last year on Amy Poehler’s Good Hang podcast. (through September)

A$AP Rocky

A$AP Rocky is one of the biggest names in rap and delighted fans when he released his first studio album in nearly eight years. Now he’s back on the road promoting that album with his “Don’t Be Dumb” tour.

The rapper is traversing the U.S. and Europe, and has revealed there is a difficult side of touring. “To go on tour, sometimes you got to quit drinking. You got to quit smoking. You got to get on a routine, get your breath work right,” the artist told Vibe. “There’s a lot of preparation that goes into it.” (through October)

BTS

There is no arguing that BTS is one of the world’s biggest bands, and the K-pop group’s loyal fans can now catch the group on the road during its “Ariang” world tour. The massive events, in support of BTS’ 2026 album of the same name, span seven continents over nearly an entire year and feature a “360-degree, in-the-round stage design — a first for a K-pop stadium tour,” said concert promoter Live Nation. The “immersive setup places the audience at the center of the experience while allowing for increased capacity at every venue.” (through March 2027)

Chris Stapleton

Few headliners have embarked on a concert tour as long as Chris Stapleton’s. The country icon’s “All American Road Show” tour began all the way back in 2017 and is finally coming to an end later this year.

In the time Stapleton has been touring, he’s released four studio albums and has performed at some of the world’s biggest venues, with guest stars including Willie Nelson and Imagine Dragons. Stapleton’s tour wrap-up comes as he “also celebrated the ten-year anniversary of his groundbreaking debut album, ‘Traveller,’ last year” said his website. (through October)

De La Soul

Hip-hop enthusiasts have a chance to see De La Soul live on its ongoing concert tour, with shows on several continents. The opportunity to attend one of these shows will surely be a thrill for fans of the legendary group, whose 1988 debut LP “3 Feet High and Rising” is considered one of the greatest hip-hop albums ever. But De La Soul has also undergone a metamorphosis in recent years, as in “many ways, one of the most influential groups in hip-hop is new: The duties have been reassessed,” and the “focus has shifted,” said NPR. (through October)

Doja Cat

Rapper and singer Doja Cat burst onto the scene more than a decade ago and has since become one of the biggest names in music. Now fans of her fifth LP, “Vie,” can hear her perform the songs live during her “Tour Ma Vie” in support of the 2025 studio album. The concerts, which play on all six inhabited continents, could be the last opportunity for fans to hear Doja Cat, at least for a bit. “I think I want to take three years off. I want to just do whatever,” the singer told Elle. (through December)

Foo Fighters

You can learn to fly across the country with the Foo Fighters during their ongoing “Take Cover” tour in support of the legendary rock band’s 12th LP, “Your Favorite Toy.” Wandering across four continents, the concerts mark a big change for the Foo Fighters: It is the band’s first live-performance series with new drummer Ilan Rubin, who was admittedly nervous about joining. Rubin did his “research, because, obviously, the band’s been around for so long,” the drummer told the Go with Elmo podcast last year, and a “lot of these songs have gone through different iterations over the years.” (through January 2027)

Olivia Dean

British singer Olivia Dean had her breakthrough last year with her second studio album, “The Art of Loving,” propelling her to international fame. So it seems natural for Dean to be making her way through the “The Art of Loving” tour, giving fans their first glimpse of the artist in a concert series.

At the shows, Dean’s followers can “expect a shared experience where everyone comes prepared to sing along and dance, a dose of fashion” and “songs she hasn’t performed live before,” said Elle. Performing live “has always been Dean’s favorite part of her artistry.” (through October)

Raye

If you’re looking for another British superstar, catch Raye when she performs alongside Bruno Mars on his “The Romantic” tour. It makes sense that Raye wouldn’t embark on a headlining tour of her own — because she just got through with one. The singer concluded her “This Tour May Contain New Music” tour earlier this year. But while people may understandably head to Bruno Mars’ concerts to see him perform, Raye is one of several big-name opening acts for Mars that you won’t want to miss. (through December)

Wiz Khalifa

Wiz Khalifa has maintained his status as one of the most well-known names in the rap game, and he’s joined forces with another superstar rapper, MGK. The duo is making their way across three continents on the “Lost Americana” tour.

While the concert series is officially MGK’s tour, Khalifa is billed as a co-headliner. If you can’t get to a live show, you can hear new music on the duo’s “Blog Era Boyz” mixtape, in which Khalifa and MGK “take it back to 2010 with nine tracks that channel the anything-goes spirit of the time,” said Apple Music. (through July)

Madonna’s bold 14-minute film to mark her latest album, “Confessions II”, has put music videos back in the spotlight. While the viewing figures are yet to reach the stratospheric heights of years gone by, the buzz generated by her star-studded new film shows the medium is far from dead. Here are seven trailblazing artists who helped revolutionise the genre.

Michael Jackson, Thriller (1982)

“As if it wasn’t enough writing one of the greatest pop songs of all time”, Michael Jackson went one step further by pairing it with “one of the most memorable music videos ever recorded”, said Kelly Murphy and Dale Maplethorpe in Far Out Magazine. Essentially this is an entire “horror movie in its own right”, and, of course, it gave the world an “iconic” dance that won’t ever be forgotten.

A-ha, Take On Me (1985)

Steve Barron’s “thoroughly immersive” music video for A-ha’s “Take on Me” expertly mixes live action with hand-drawn animation, while “seamlessly” bringing in each member of the Norwegian pop trio, said Slant Magazine. The story follows a teenage girl who is “literally drawn into a newspaper comic strip and falls heads over heels for its protagonist”. More than four decades on from its release, it remains “one of the most gripping narrative videos of all time” – and a “testament to the power, proficiency and poignancy of the medium itself”.

George Michael, Freedom! ’90 (1990)

Shunning his “image-driven fame”, George Michael refused to appear in any of the music videos for his album “Listen Without Prejudice”, said Slant Magazine. Instead, for this shoot he brought in a “bevy of top models” to lip-synch to his “pointed” lyrics, including Cindy Crawford, Linda Evangelista and Christy Turlington. David Fincher directed Michael’s defiant video which was intended to mark the Wham! singer’s “artistic rebirth”; by the final credits his famous black leather jacket and guitar have been “ceremoniously burned and destroyed”.

Madonna, Vogue (1990)

“‘Come on, vogue’ – Madonna commands it, and the world listened,” said Rolling Stone. In her third collaboration with David Fincher, the Queen of Pop turned vogueing – an “outlandish” form of dance that originated in Harlem’s queer, underground ballroom scene – into a “refined form of feminist posturing and a statement of sexual defiance”. Madonna has since been accused of cultural appropriation for the track, but “there’s no denying” her “iconic” video propelled ballroom into the mainstream and inspired “countless queer kids to ‘strike a pose’”.

Gorillaz, On Melancholy Hill (2010)

There are “countless” stand-out Gorillaz music videos but “On Melancholy Hill” is the “most poignant”, said Far Out Magazine. This is a “masterclass” in perfectly capturing a song’s atmosphere; it can mean anything you want whether that be a “rumination on loneliness”, “unrequited love”, or a “general feeling of malaise”. The beautifully animated video sees band member Noodle survive a ship sinking and embark on an underwater adventure in a submarine. There’s no “sense of resolution” which means you’ll be drawn back to the video for “another taste of that weird sense of longing”.

Beyoncé, Formation (2016)

This “surprise-released” video for “Formation” cemented Beyoncé’s status as “one of the most important” artists of all time, said Rolling Stone. In it, she moves between a “plantation-style house, where the black denizens are the masters not the slaves, to the top of a sinking police car”. The star teamed up with director Melina Matsoukas to make the video, taking inspiration from the likes of Toni Morrison and Maya Angelou to craft this “striking commentary on significant moments in Black American history”.

Childish Gambino, This is America (2018)

The “gut-punch impact remains no matter how many times” you watch “This is America”, said Rolling Stone. Donald Glover’s “musical alter-ego” Childish Gambino wanders from scene to scene, shimmying his way through “dancing kids, angry cops” and moments of both “social unrest and unfettered black joy”. Bursting with references from “viral dance videos to the 2015 shooting in a Charleston church”, it’s a music video that “launched a thousand think pieces”.

Anish Kapoor’s first major exhibition was at the Hayward Gallery nearly 30 years ago. But his latest, delivered in an age of “minuscule attention spans”, is filled with so many “tricks and surprises you’re likely to drop your phone mid-text into a black hole”, said Jonathan Jones in The Guardian.

Kapoor’s “mind-warping” piece “Mount Moriah at the Gate of the Ghetto” (2022) is one of the standouts – a mountain hanging upside down from the ceiling, painted in “thick slathers of red and black” and dripping “fire or lava that metamorphoses into wet, fresh blood”. It’s a “metaphysical rollercoaster ride of a show, a divine bloodbath”.

His “Plastic Sacrifice” series exposes “horribly surgical-looking”, synthetic PVC skin. “They resemble a serial killer’s trophy art.” Contrary to the “small, dry efforts” of much modern art, Kapoor “soaks the Hayward in the blood and guts of his unfettered imagination”.

With his “brilliantly gross” sculptures of “gory, vile piles of wet guts”, Kapoor’s message is clear, said Eddy Frankel in The Times. “It doesn’t matter how special you think you are, at the end of the day we’re all just meat”.

His paintings using Vantablack – the most light-absorbent pigment on Earth – are not as successful, however. What are meant to be deep, searching abysses are just “black squares and circles”. These may be “pretty heinous”, but, at its best, Kapoor’s art is “universal, enormous, overwhelming and very, very human”.

The newest intriguing installation, “Ha Makom”, finished earlier this year, could be a “film set, a spaceport, or a remote ancient temple”, said Alastair Sooke in The Telegraph. Inspired by Uluru, the “sacred sandstone monolith” in Australia, it combines the “pristine” precision of his work, with “intense” colour.

In all, the “beautifully presented” show is “zinging”. If there had been any doubt, “Kapoor silences those who characterise his ambitious aesthetic quest, striving for metaphysical effects, as out of step with our ironic and cynical times”.

Hayward Gallery, London SE1, until 18 October

Really savvy travellers know that second cities are the ones we should all be flocking to: the overlooked ones, the quieter ones, the underestimated ones that have so much to offer.

Brno must be the epitome of this. Bursting with character, beauty and culture, it may be the Czech Republic’s second city, but it’s by no means second rate. In fact, having spent a considerable amount of time here, I would argue that it’s the perfect place to explore Czech culture away from the crowds.

Things to do

I’m always an advocate of just walking around to get to know a place, and here is no exception. Take in the varied architecture, as well as the Vegetable Market, Brno Dragon, Capuchin Monastery, Freedom Square, and bizarre Astronomical Clock as you explore.

The Brno Pass is a convenient way to see as much as you can in the city, and great value too. Use it to visit some of the city’s biggest sights, such as the imposing Cathedral of St Peter and Paul and the Old Town Hall, which dates from 1240.

The pass also gives you entry to Špilberk Castle, probably the most identifiable sight in all of Brno. This 750-year-old castle tops a hill of the same name, and can be seen from most of the city. The complex houses several museums, with art and artefacts explaining the region’s history. The park and walls have wonderful views, so take a seat and relax.

From here you will see just how many spires Brno has; there are dozens of churches. The Church of St James, however, should be on your list. Founded in the 13th century, its angelically white interior feels peaceful and serene but climb up into the roof space and you will find a fascinating light show.

Architecture buffs may also be surprised to learn that Brno is home to one of modernist designer Mies van der Rohe’s masterpieces, the Unesco-listed Villa Tugendhat. Built in 1930 for textile company owners Greta and Fritz Tugendhat, it was a sensation when finished, and still impresses today.

One of the newest attractions are the Water Tanks under Žluty Kopec, a complex of three cisterns built between 1874 and 1917. They are vast, cathedral-like, and truly astonishing examples of industrial engineering. Enjoy the art show and peculiar acoustics.

Subterranean tourism seems to be a big thing here. Head underground to the Labyrinth under the Vegetable Market to learn more about how the city grew. There’s also the Second World War air-raid shelter, 10-Z bunker, and the Ossuary at the church of St James, which is the second largest in Europe after Paris’ Catacombs and houses the remains of 50,000 people.

Get out of the city and head to the Brno Reservoir, a 259-hectare man-made lake that’s just a short hop on the tram away. It’s probably best enjoyed in the summer, when you can swim and take boat trips across to Veveří Castle. Also, check out the nearby Brno Zoo and the Brno Dam, built in the 1930s. On its shore is the Infinit Maximus Resort Spa, home to heated outdoor pools, hot tubs and a sauna complex.

Eating and drinking

At the elegant Pavillon Steak House, in Park Koliště near the National Theatre, service is smooth, and the food is hearty and delicious, yet still refined. The steak selection is a fantastic treat for two.

The Czech Republic has a large Vietnamese population, and the food is some of the best this far west of Hanoi. Try Bonjour Vietnam for a big bowl of aromatic pho, or refreshing summer rolls.

Castellana Trattoria is one of those family Italians that’s become a local favourite. We couldn’t spot another tourist, which has to be a good sign. Expect steaming mounds of pasta, as well as charcuterie boards of hand-sliced prosciutto.

For casual eats go to Bistro Bastardo, a Mexican burrito spot that always had a queue outside, as well as Úvozna, a burger joint near the Water Tanks, or Zaza for puffy sourdough pizzas.

You’ll find a daily menu, a lunch deal that’s usually great value, almost everywhere. At Nepalese restaurant Pokhara we got soup plus a thali of three curries, rice and naan for around £7.

Lokál u Caipla is the place for traditional food and unmissable Czech pilsners, or you can try U Třech Čertů in the city centre. If you’re looking for a drink, head to t’PUUB for craft beers, Café Trojka for student vibes, Super Panda Circus for cocktails, Výčep na Stojáka for its suntrap, Monogram for coffee, and Klára Bára Wine Cafe for wine. The cosy Pivnice U Poutníka and Poslední leč both feel like real locals’ places.

Where to stay

The Grandhotel Brno is a great spot to rest your head. Situated across from both the railway and bus stations, it’s not far to take your bags, and almost everything on this list is walkable. The beds are large and comfy, and the rooms have plenty of space for chilling out after a long day. The breakfast features local delicacies such as poppyseed cake, as well as meats, hot bites and even sparkling wine for those special occasions.

Jaymi McCann was a guest of Go To Brno

There’s a “surging interest” in apes, said Euronews. Nature documentaries like David Attenborough’s “A Gorilla Story”, which revisits the gorilla family he first filmed in 1978, are inspiring tourists to book gorilla-trekking holidays in Rwanda, Uganda and the Republic of Congo.

But tracking these beautiful creatures in their natural habitat isn’t easy: it’s physically strenuous, and permits are strictly limited, to protect the endangered animals.

Rwanda has 14 mountain gorilla families that have been carefully habituated to human observers and “can be visited by up to eight tourists for one hour daily”, said Lizzie Frainier in The Times. I travelled to the foothills of Mount Karisimbi in Volcanoes National Park to meet a family group of 14. Watching a baby gorilla running around in a “ferny glen” and frolicking into the “dense brush” was “magical”. I’ve had my fair share of wildlife experiences as a travel editor but none has compared to this.

This kind of “low-volume, high-value tourism” is pricey: a day’s trek costs over £1,000, with proceeds going towards anti-poaching initiatives and community development. Accommodation ranges from basic guesthouses to “ultra-luxe boutique hotels”. If you really want to push the boat out, check in at Wilderness Bisate Reserve, which has “epic misty 360-degree views and four palatial suites”.

On my trek through Uganda’s Bwindi National Park, the forest suddenly becomes “alive” with mountain gorillas, said Olivia Singer in Vogue. On my five-day trip with Abercrombie & Kent, I spot “two gargantuan silverbacks and a baby”; they “meander around us” for an hour “as they go about their business”. It is, I decide at once, “the best day of my life”.

Each night, we rested our heads in Gorilla Forest Lodge’s “remarkably lovely cabin suites”. Gorgeously decorated with “locally crafted furnishings”, each room features a “bathtub so vast, it could easily accommodate a silverback”.

New video game releases have been scant this year, as developers wait for the Grand Theft Auto VI drop date. But the next few months still have a few gems to eye. This summer, original games reminiscent of classic favorites are being released, along with a remastered collection of Metal Gear Solid entries.

The Adventures of Elliot: The Millennium Tales

Square Enix’s latest 2D role-playing game arrives this summer from the teams behind the Octopath Traveler games and Live A Live. Fans of those games might expect The Adventures of Elliot to be “turn-based like its genre compatriots,” but the game will feature “real-time combat” instead, said Polygon. As the eponymous main character, you explore the land of Philabieldia across four time periods to fulfill a 1,000-year mission.

The game is a “throwback to classic Super Nintendo-era action-adventure games,” said PCMag. The Adventures of Elliot is a “faithful homage to the Legend of Zelda games of old.” (June 18; Nintendo Switch 2, PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S)

D-Topia

Fans of more chill games will likely enjoy the new “gentle-paced,” as described by the publisher, puzzle adventure from Annapurna Interactive. Even with its less tense game style, the premise of D-topia revolves around a shadowy society run by AI that is working to ensure happiness for the greatest number of people.

D-Topia is an “experience that’s laid-back” but with a “dark undercurrent,” said Comics Gaming Magazine. It “not only looks jaw-droppingly gorgeous” but “hooks you with an intriguing premise oozing with intrigue.” Its “blend of cozy charm and subversive darkness” has critics “eager to see more.” (June 18; Nintendo Switch & Switch 2, PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S)

Beast of Reincarnation

Pokémon developer Game Freak is drifting from its usual fare for Beast of Reincarnation, an action role-playing game that’s “closer to a Souls game” with more intense focus on battling enemies than the “monster-collecting series that the developer built its name on,” said Polygon. Players take on the role of a young woman navigating a post-apocalyptic Japan with her dog companion while fighting off monsters.

According to the developer, Beast of Reincarnation isn’t an open-world game but is instead “made up of stages that are larger in scope than, say, those in a Devil May Cry game,” said Kotaku. (Aug. 4; PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S)

Marvel Tokon: Fighting Souls

Superhero fans can rejoice, as last spring's Invincible VS “isn’t the only tag-team fighter for comic book readers this year,” said Polygon. From the developer behind Dragon Ball FighterZ, Marvel Tokon: Fighting Souls features classic Marvel heroes like “Spider-Man, Iron Man and Black Panther” with “new anime-inspired designs.”

The game gained attention online “thanks to its art style and the pedigree of its developer,” said Gizmodo. As a “4v4 tag-team fighter,” it is the “very same thing which defined Marvel vs. Capcom,” a beloved classic. PlayStation came to developer Marvel Games with a desire to “bring Marvel back to the forefront of the tag-team fighting genre,” Marvel Games’ senior product development manager Michael Francisco said in a statement. (Aug. 6; PC, PS5)

Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 2

Following the release of the first Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection in 2023, volume two arrives this summer. While the first set included the first five Metal Gear games, this one has Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots, Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker, and Metal Gear: Ghost Babel.

The collection is notable as “it’ll be the first time Metal Gear Solid 4 is made readily available outside of the PlayStation 3,” said Polygon. Master Collection Vol. 2 will include “bonus content in addition to the games.” A few of the additional items: a screenplay book and a digital soundtrack. (Aug. 27; PC, PS5)

“Tropical fruit and chilli sauce” is a tried-and-tested flavour combination that “works”, said Lucy Knight in The Guardian. The zingy mix of fruity and spicy – “fricy” – flavours has been around in South American cuisine for years. Now, though, it’s being tipped as the food trend of the summer here, with “more fresh, spicy, exciting flavour combinations” appearing on UK menus.

‘Fricy’ may sound like a “silly word” but the demand is real, Holly Thomson, food editor at online food retailer Sous Chef, told the paper. The website has seen a 19% year-on-year increase in sales of the “hero product” of the trend: a Mexican lime, salt and chilli spice blend called Tajín.

“The hashtag #fricy hasn’t quite gone viral” yet, said BBC Bitesize, but there are “plenty” of posts celebrating the flavour combination. The Mexican drink mangonada, more traditionally known as chamoynada, a mix of mango with chamoy, a condiment made from pickled, spiced fruit, has “more than 47k TikTok posts with people trying the fricy taste for themselves”. Spicy fruit bowls that mix “fruit such as pineapple and mango covered in spices like chilli” are also having a moment.

Food trends usually rely on “emotional pull” and “visual appeal”. Just as the “striking purple” hue is responsible for the rise of ube, or purple yam, the “vivid yellows, oranges, reds and browns” of the mangonada makes people “curious” to taste it.

The mangonada has lured many customers into Mango Twist, a London café founded by Peru-born Dominic Vargas, which sells its own version of the drink. The “tangy, spicy, sweet, salty” combination is “something you wouldn’t find in the UK that easily”, Vargas told The Guardian.

But this isn’t the first trend marrying the sweet and savoury. People have been “endlessly seeking umami” flavours in their food, Marks & Spencer food trends lead Annette Peters told The Times. She added that this explained the increasing demand for miso-infused desserts because the “balance of sweet and savoury gives you such a depth of flavour”. As long as the dish doesn’t “tip into cloyingly sweet”, the pairing can be “delicious”.

There are luxury resorts that strive to feel like homes, and then there are homes that accidentally become luxury resorts. The Seed Bali sits firmly in the latter category.

Set on Bali’s less frenetic east coast in Candidasa, The Seed began life not as a commercial hotel but as a private sanctuary: an extravagant, deeply considered coastal estate built as somewhere to retreat with friends and family. Only later was it opened up as an exclusive-use resort. That origin story matters because it explains almost everything about the place. The Seed does not offer luxury in the polished, corporate sense. Instead, it feels like borrowing the sprawling tropical compound of your wealthiest, most tasteful friend – the sort of person who casually happens to own a treehouse, an underground karaoke bar and a five-metre diving platform.

Arriving here, you immediately notice how personal it all feels. The villas are filled with books, instruments, games, curios and thoughtful details that suggest actual living rather than generic hospitality design. You are not simply assigned a room, you are temporarily entrusted with the care of an extraordinary beachfront home.

Why stay here?

Most luxury resorts in Bali divide guests into different areas: your villa, your pool, the restaurant, the bar. The Seed does the opposite. The entire estate is yours alone. This means there are never any strangers drifting past your breakfast table or competing for loungers. And it means no awkward encounters with someone else’s screaming children while you are attempting serenity beside the pool (just your own screaming children if, like us, you brought them along for the high-end ride of their little lives).

Instead, what you get is 6,400 square metres of private beachfront escapism spread across multiple villas and communal spaces, all stitched together by jungle paths, koi ponds, cascading pools and hidden corners.

What is perhaps most impressive is how relaxed it all feels despite the obvious expense involved. There is no trace of stiffness or pretension and even though the staff hugely outnumber the guests, somehow they manage to remain almost invisible unless summoned. At one point our children collectively decided, in the way children do, that they desperately needed pancakes in the middle of the afternoon. Minutes later the pancakes appeared without fuss and doused in sugar syrup (which made them an instant hit). Perhaps some people might prefer the alternative: perpetually attentive service, but for those looking for genuine privacy, a largely invisible staff is a real pleasure.

The accommodation itself borders on absurdly indulgent. Choosing where to sleep becomes almost a competitive sport among your group. The Treehouse is exactly as magical as it sounds: a two-storey treetop hideaway with open-air decks, elevated reading nooks in the high branches and an outdoor rain shower beneath the sky. The Rabbit Hole is more playful, with its games room, pool table, ping pong and private bar, seemingly designed for long nights and bad decisions. Villa Eywa may be the architectural showstopper though: split accommodation connected by an elegant deck suspended above water so that you can literally swim beneath your own living room. It even has its own private waterfall which, delightfully, you can switch off if the sound becomes too much at night.

Several villas also include fully equipped kitchens and bars, meaning you can easily entertain yourselves if desired. If part of your group wants to keep drinking and talking into the early hours while others retreat to bed, there are enough private spaces to allow both.

And then there are the outdoor bathrooms. Many spots in Bali do these well, but The Seed fully embraces the pleasure of showering beneath open skies while warm evening air drifts through tropical greenery.

Eating and drinking

The Seed’s dining impressively manages a difficult balancing act: variety and tastiness without too much fussiness. Meals are served either communally around big tables or more casually wherever you happen to be lounging at the time.

The menu moves between Indonesian and Western influences. Particularly memorable were the chicken satay skewers, which were adapted for us to avoid peanuts due to an allergy. Ironically this made them arguably more historically authentic than the peanut-heavy versions now associated with satay after Portuguese and Spanish traders introduced peanuts from South America into Southeast Asia several centuries after their invention. Regardless of historical accuracy, they were excellent: smoky, light and savoury.

Equally strong were delicate fish dumplings resembling oversized tortellini, served beneath a bright curry sauce. Desserts leaned tropical. The pandan cakes were feather-light yet buttery, balanced neatly by sharp passionfruit sorbet. Of course, some travellers might want more undilutedly local cuisine, while others may prefer to have steaks and burgers all the way. For us it felt like the mix was pitched well – and in any case the kitchen will adapt to your preferences.

There is also a very well-stocked bar featuring genuinely top-shelf spirits rather than the usual resort approximations. Cocktails are excellent and dangerously drinkable. Our favourite was the coco margarita, best consumed while sitting outdoors beneath stars and watching the flickering lights of nearby Nusa Penida and Lombok on the horizon.

Things to do

The danger at The Seed is that you never actually leave it. Much of the pleasure comes simply from exploring the estate itself. There are hidden pathways, jungle gyms, koi ponds and lounging spaces that reveal themselves gradually over the course of your stay.

The pool alone could occupy several days, and did so in our case. Beautifully landscaped, it shifts from shallow lounging areas suitable for children into deeper sections for proper swimming. Then, in the middle, comes the genuinely unexpected feature: a deep plunge pool beneath a five-metre diving platform.

There is also an outdoor cinema positioned beside the ocean. One evening we watched the Richard Curtis animated Christmas film “That Christmas”, which felt wonderfully surreal in 25-degree Balinese heat. Still, sprawled outdoors with popcorn arriving for both children and adults, it became one of those oddly perfect holiday memories.

Should your group be more nocturnal, The Seed has perhaps the most elaborate after-hours set-up imaginable. Beneath one of the villas lies a soundproof underground entertainment space containing a bar, cinema, karaoke kit and fully equipped music room complete with guitars, piano, drums, microphones, amplifiers and an excellent sound system. It is the sort of room that begins innocently with “just one drink” before someone ends up attempting Led Zeppelin covers at 2am.

For those seeking virtue before inevitable vice, there is also a deck that is perfect for yoga, as well as a sauna and cold plunge, dug next to the pool with a little viewing window for friends to wave to you as they swim past. The gym is a spectacle in its own right: a seemingly Fred Flintstone-inspired jungle hideaway with barbells made of tree trunks and resistance baskets that you fill with heavy rocks.

The verdict

The Seed feels less like a hotel and more like gaining temporary access to a private world that could, by rights, have remained private. Children are well catered for, adults can oscillate between wellness and mild debauchery, and the sheer variety of spaces means groups can coexist without being on top of one another.

It is no great surprise that The Seed has been nominated in this year's Condé Nast Traveller Awards in the Readers’ Choice category. On Bali’s increasingly crowded luxury landscape, it offers something entirely distinctive: privacy, personality and the rare feeling that you are not staying in a resort at all, but in someone’s really rather wonderful home.

Arion was a guest of The Seed, Bali; the eight-bedroom estate sleeps up to 21 guests

If you’re getting ready to hit the beach this summer, you may want to bring along some tunes. Fortunately, there is a wide selection of new albums from big-name artists to help you herald the arrival of all that glorious sunshine.

Boards of Canada, ‘Inferno’

Boards of Canada hadn’t released a solo LP in 13 years, but now the Scottish electronic duo is stepping back into the fire with “Inferno,” their second studio album. Despite the long hiatus, the pair didn’t miss a beat, as Boards of Canada are “back like they’ve never left,” said Rolling Stone, which gave “Inferno” rave reviews.

The album has significant symbolism, and its “themes are clearly concerned with our anxious here-and-now,” said Clash. The LP’s “invocation of religious themes, apocalyptic imagery and theocratic Americana are blended, chopped and warped into a mosaic.” (out now)

Giveon, ‘Beloved: Act II’

Eight-time Grammy nominee Giveon made waves with his second studio album, “Beloved,” in 2025, but the R&B star wasn’t done. He has since released a deluxe version of the LP, “Beloved: Act II.”

The new iteration “unveils five exclusive bonus songs, offering a deeper look into the artist’s introspective lyrics and captivating baritone,” said the singer’s website. The album’s 19 total songs, which are influenced by Giveon’s former relationship with singer Justine Skye, represent a “rich, immersive soundscape that defies musical standards and solidifies Giveon’s place as a modern icon.” (out now)

Lizzo, ‘Bitch’ 

One of the most notable hip-hop singers of her generation, Lizzo is back after a four-year pause with her fifth studio album, “Bitch.” The singer is known for her strong stances on women’s empowerment and named the LP after the derogatory word because it “takes a label once used to diminish women and [turns] it into a declaration of confidence and unapologetic self-love,” Lizzo said in a statement. The album is about “showing the Lizzo everybody knows and loves, letting her tell her side of the story and just letting her play again,” she told USA Today. (out now)

Of Montreal, ‘Aethermead’

Indie pop group Of Montreal has been pumping out records for three decades and has now released a milestone LP: The band’s 20th studio album, “aethermead.” The album is based on a deeply personal moment in lead singer Kevin Barnes’ life. It was written after Barnes “split up with his then-fiancé and left the isolated surroundings of Vermont for Brooklyn,” said Under the Radar magazine. “I’ve always had a romantic fascination with New York, but for forever I couldn’t figure out how to make it work. The timing was perfect this time around,” Barnes told the publication. (out now)

Vince Staples, ‘Cry Baby’

Vince Staples has been staying busy recently, as his seventh LP, “Cry Baby,” marks the rapper’s fourth studio album in just five years. While Staples is known for his “acclaimed introspective projects,” his newest venture marks a departure from that type of music, providing a “more outwardly facing artistic statement and piece of social commentary,” said the album’s record label, Loma Vista. Much of the LP focuses on policing reform, with the artist turning “most of his attention toward police and the racist system that empowers them,” said Okayplayer. (out now)

Beth Orton, ‘The Ground Above’

Beth Orton performs one of the most unique genres of music, a blend of folk and electronic often called folktronica. Now she is back with “The Ground Above,” her ninth studio album and first since 2022.

The LP is “billed as being split into two halves, with the first part tackling more ‘fragmented’ terrain, and the second section exploring more ‘expansive’ melodies,” said Pitchfork. The album features several notable collaborators, such as Nick Hakim and Tom Skinner. The LP’s self-titled track is out now. (June 26)

The Strokes, ‘Reality Awaits’

One of the most popular early 2000s rock bands, The Strokes haven’t released an album in six years, but that’s soon changing. The group’s seventh LP, “Reality Awaits,” is on the horizon.

The studio album marks yet another collaboration between the band and legendary producer Rick Rubin. “The feeling was just, ‘try anything, try everything,’” and the songs worked well “once we got on the same page,” the band’s bassist, Nikolai Fraiture, said of Rubin on the YouTube show The Plug. The Strokes’ prior album, also produced by Rubin, garnered rave reviews. A single from the album, “Going Shopping,” is out now. (June 26)

Lido Pimienta, ‘Caribenya’

Head to a tropical paradise with “Caribenya,” the fifth studio album from singer Lido Pimienta. The Colombian Canadian artist has become famous for incorporating a variety of sounds into her music, including styles from the indigenous peoples of the Americas.

The album is “firmly rooted in the Latin American and Caribbean anti-colonial concerns Pimienta has explored throughout her career” and “relies on joyous resistance, on the moments of escape on the dance floors and beaches and living rooms of our loved ones as the world burns,” said Glide magazine. The LP’s lead track, “Tóxica,” is out now. (July 17)

Tricky, ‘Different When It’s Silent’

This one is no trick: English rapper Tricky has a new studio album, “Different When It’s Silent.” While the artist has released music under various stage names, the LP marks his first studio album as Tricky in six years.

The album is something of a homecoming for Tricky, as it was “recorded between the trip-hop innovator’s new home of France and old hometown of Bristol,” said Pitchfork. “I just love making music. I’m grateful I’ve had the chance to live this life and keep creating,” Tricky said in a press release. A single from the album, “Out of Place,” is out now. (July 17)

Cypress Hill, ‘Dios Bendiga’

Cypress Hill helped Latin American music become a widespread part of the broader hip hop community, and now the group has completed a significant achievement: the 11th studio album, “Dios Bendiga,” which marks Cypress Hill’s first album entirely in Spanish. The LP helps reveal a “thrilling new chapter in a celebrated legacy that has spanned across cultures, languages and territories,” the group’s website said. “Dios Bendiga” was also produced by the Grammy-nominated DJ Flict, who has collaborated with major hip hop stars like Snoop Dogg and Lauryn Hill. A single from the album, “Campeones,” is out now. (July 24)

A “sprawling” estuarine reserve in the eastern Indian state of Odisha, the Bhitarkanika National Park is home to the country’s second-largest mangrove forest and no fewer than 1,825 saltwater crocodiles (the world’s largest reptile).

I explored it on one of the four luxury catamarans – each with just two “teak-floored” guest suites – that were introduced here last year by Delhi-based Antara Cruises, said Sneha Thomas in DestinAsian. The meals served on board were good (including some terrific local dishes).

We went on guided walks and motorboat trips deep into the “dense” forest, and also visited a village on the park’s fringes. Conservation efforts have brought the park’s crocodiles back from the brink of extinction, but there is much other wildlife to see, including spotted deer, fishing cats, cobras and more than 200 bird species.

A three-day cruise costs from £790 per person (antaracruises.com).

The Blytonesque charm of St Martin’s

Of the five inhabited Scilly Isles, none is more enchanting than St Martin’s, said Paul Miles in The Telegraph. Situated in the north of the archipelago, it is a “Famous Five” sort of place that has barely changed since the 1950s. Home to just 140 people, it lacks the “upmarket” shops and holiday lets of Tresco (more popular with “well-heeled” tourists). But it has seductive beaches of “almost-white” sand, lovely walking paths, and with the island’s mild climate, it “feels like a garden”, peppered with exotic species such as “tall” echiums and blue-and-white agapanthus. It’s worth hiring a kayak to visit the uninhabited islands nearby, and dropping in at the community observatory, with its two telescopes: on clear nights, the skies here are “tar-black” and full of stars.

A wild mountain railway in France

Climbing from Nice into the Alpes-Azur mountains, the aptly named Train des Merveilles (Train of Wonders) plies one of Europe’s most “spectacular” railways, said Annabelle Thorpe in The Guardian. Built between 1883 and 1929, it reopened in December following a year-long, €73 million (£63 million) renovation. The line crosses more than 100 bridges and viaducts, climbing 1,000 metres in 100km on its way to Tende, a town set amid the “jagged” peaks of the Mercantour National Park. The landscape is so wild and the little medieval towns along the way so unspoiled that the two-hour journey seems to take you back in time. Make a day of it if you can, and stop at Sospel, with its 13th-century bridge and “crumbling” baroque churches, and La Brigue, to see the huge and “vivid” 15th-century frescoes by Giovanni Canavesio in the Chapel of our Lady of Fountains, two miles outside town.

Just south of Alice Springs, in the dead centre of Australia, the MacDonnell Ranges rise from the desert plains like creases on a tablecloth. With peaks up to 1,531 metres and cut through by deep gorges, these mountains are wild and spectacular, said Oliver Smith in the Financial Times.

For the region’s Aboriginal inhabitants – the Arrernte people – the place “brims with stories, sanctity and secrets”. Winding through their western half for 220km is one of the greatest hiking paths in the outback, the Larapinta Trail. Even a single day’s walking on it is a “serious undertaking”, with water available only at 13 trailheads along the way (each accessible by 4WD), and food at three (through-hikers must arrange additional drops). But for lovers of remote places and untamed nature, the effort is well worth it.

I walked sections of the trail early in the season (which runs from April to October), when the landscape was at its greenest after the summer rains. Waterholes “sparkled” and “desert oaks cast shade over wildflowers”.

My guide was Anna Dakin, a British artist who has been leading hikes here since 2018 through Art Tours of Australia. She admires the work of the celebrated watercolourist Albert Namatjira (1902-1959), a local Arrernte man whose old house (now in a “sorry state”) we visited. Anna and I set up base camp by the Finke (believed to be the world’s oldest river), where we slept in swags (canvas bivvy bags) beside a campfire, and made day trips by 4WD to different trailheads, walking about 15km a day.

We were roused each morning by a “dawn chorus of butcherbirds and willie wagtails”. In the early light, the “terracotta” landscape was “flecked with subtle colours”, from the “silver-green spinifex” to the “red-and-blue mallee trees”. It was yet lovelier at sunset, and our walks took us to wondrous places, including the Standley Chasm – a “pocket paradise” like a cathedral nave, where cycads and lemongrass grow between towering sandstone walls.

Cupra has carved a niche for itself as VW’s “fun, sporty brand”, but this could be “its ticket to the mainstream”, said Car Magazine.

The Raval is based on VW’s new MEB+ platform, with six trims and four motors to choose from. The entry-level Origin has a 114bhp electric motor and 37kWh battery with just 50kW DC charging. The flagship 222bhp VZ extreme hot hatch is “a stonker of a small electric car” with a 52kWh battery.

The “mature” VZ is “a blast to drive”; thanks to a “hefty punch of power”, it can get from 0-62mph in 6.8secs, said Autocar. With adaptive dampers and electronic front locking differential, it feels “properly engaging”, giving a taut, well-damped ride with “huge grip”. The brakes have an initial bite, but are satisfyingly firm. It may be “a bit lively” on UK urban roads, but it’s a great, playful, “surprisingly tactile little electric hot hatch”.

Cupra’s “spicy-little-tearaway” is surprisingly practical too, with a 441-litre boot, roughly 60 litres more than the VW Golf, said Top Gear Magazine. The “interesting” interior is “not gimmicky”. There’s a 10.25in driver’s display and a “responsive” 12.9in touchscreen. The VZ extreme gets “lovely”, comfy, “knitted” Cup bucket seats. With decent kit as standard, the Raval is “a solid little entrant to the market”.

Britain’s landscape has long been “a source of inspiration for artists”, whether the countryside, the coastline or the sprawl of “growing towns and cities”, said Tara Joshi in The Observer. This new exhibition at Pallant House records the various ways in which painters, printmakers and sculptors have captured the “sense and spirit of place” in our surroundings.

Bringing together works by more than 60 artists, it takes in much more than pictures of “pretty rolling hills”, instead encompassing “stories of labour, memory and myth”, and styles from romanticism to surrealism to pure abstraction.

As is often the case at Pallant House, it focuses on artists who espoused a particularly British form of modernism – Graham Sutherland, Eric Ravilious and Paul Nash are all present. Scenes of pastoral tranquillity clash with visions of “monstrous trees”, “almost flesh-like” terrain and “landscapes that seem post-apocalyptic”.

The show begins with the 18th-century “picturesque” movement and the Golden Age of the English watercolour, said Laura Freeman in The Times, featuring artists such as William Gilpin, John Sell Cotman and J.M.W. Turner. The real focus, however, is on the 20th century. Its first decade saw artists such as Wyndham Lewis and Edward Wadsworth revering the machine as an engine of progress; landscape painting seemed a “quaint” pursuit.

Yet following the industrial slaughter of the First World War, painters discovered “a new impulse to cherish” an environment beyond the cities. Paul Nash, recovering from the Western Front, painted ancient sites such as Avebury in Wiltshire and the Wittenham Clumps in Oxfordshire. Edward Bawden designed wallpaper mimicking the patterning of the fields. A new boom in motor touring led to illustrated guide books for Shell, employing many of these artists.

In this “gently elegiac show, rapture and sadness go hand in hand”. The growth of new developments is a recurring theme: Ravilious depicted a new bungalow beside a red-brick school.

There are a fair few “second-rate exhibits”, said Alastair Sooke in The Telegraph. Many British modernists were mediocre, ripping off “stronger talents”, deploying an ugly palette or fetishising rural customs to the point of sentimentality. The best work, by contrast, has an “idiosyncratic poetry”, finding “strangeness in the familiar”.

There’s a “first-rate” Ravilious watercolour of the Cerne Abbas Giant, turfed over so as not to offer the Luftwaffe a navigational landmark; it’s hidden behind a barbed-wire fence, “as if Britain’s primeval id had been cordoned off”.

Other highlights include five panoramic semi-abstract paintings by Ivon Hitchens and a “vast” vision of the Thames Estuary by Michael Andrews, painted shortly before his death in 1995. It’s “otherworldly”, like a depiction of the hereafter. It makes for a fine ending to this uneven, but interesting show.

Pallant House Gallery, Chichester, W Sussex. Until 1 November

Summers are the perfect time to explore, and that includes at museums. These new exhibitions — an examination of American Pop Art, a closer look at the scandalous painting that rocked early 20th-century France and an immersive celebration of Yoko Ono — are all worth the trek.

‘Guggenheim Pop: 1960 to Now,’ Guggenheim New York

The evolution of American Pop Art is explored in this exhibition of 29 pioneering and contemporary artists, like Maurizio Cattelan, Yayoi Kusama, Roy Lichtenstein and Andy Warhol. A “reaction to the consumerism” that infiltrated the U.S. post-World War II, American Pop Art “elevates everyday objects” like soup cans to the “status of art,” often with an “irreverent sense of humor,” said Artsy. By placing historic works alongside recent acquisitions by current artists, the Guggenheim aims to demonstrate how the art form, “as a strategy, continues to inspire, provoke and evolve,” said Lauren Hinkson, the museum’s curator of collections. (through Jan. 10, 2027)

‘Hew Locke: Passages,’ The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston

Using “found materials and iconic imagery,” Guyanese British artist Hew Locke creates “theatrical tableaux” that speak on “iconographies of empire, history and collective memory,” said The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston. “Hew Locke: Passages” is an impressive — and comprehensive — look at his work, from the 1990s to today. More than 40 collages, sculptures and assemblages will be displayed, including “Infanta,” Locke’s “richly detailed” charcoal drawings, and his reimagined royal coats of arms. (June 21-Sept. 13)

‘Matisse’s Femme au chapeau: A Modern Scandal,” San Francisco Museum of Modern Art

When Henri Matisse debuted “Femme au chapeau (Woman with a Hat)” in 1905, it was a “clanging bell” that announced the “split between Postimpressionism and Fauvism,” the French avant-garde art movement, said Galerie. This portrait of his wife, Amélie, with a “greenish face” and “crazily bright, abstracted hat,” was like nothing ever seen before, and stunned the art world. “Matisse’s Femme au chapeau: A Modern Scandal” tells the “full story” of how the painting changed the rules and showcases works by the other artists who appeared in the 1905 Salon d’Automne in Paris. (through Sept. 13, 2026)

‘Saodat Ismailova: Melted into the Sun,’ Smithsonian National Museum of Asian Art, Washington, D.C.

Through her videos and photographs, Uzbek artist and filmmaker Saodat Ismailova “immerses” viewers in the “expansive landscapes, layered histories and cultural memory” of Central Asia, said the National Museum of Asian Art. “Melted into the Sun” is Ismailova’s first major solo museum exhibition in the United States, and her work will be presented alongside historical objects in the museum’s collection. Highlights include “The Letters,” photographic prints based on portraits of Ismailova’s family, and “Her Right,” a short film about “sacrifices made for the freedom of contemporary Uzbek women” that will be projected on horsehair. (June 13-Nov. 29, 2026)

‘Willem de Kooning Drawing,’ The Art Institute of Chicago

Famous for his “frenetic, abstract canvases,” Willem de Kooning was also an “exceptional draftsman” who got his start “copying from casts and antiquities like the Old Masters before him,” said Artnet. More than 200 of his drawings will be shown during “Willem de Kooning Drawing,” from the iconic “Excavation” and “Woman I” to pieces that have never before been seen in public. Some of the most fascinating works in the exhibition were completed during the 1960s, when de Kooning would create “obstacles to his long-honed skill,” like drawing with his non-dominant hand or while blindfolded. (June 14-Sept. 20, 2026)

‘Yoko Ono: Music of the Mind,’ The Broad, Los Angeles

A “cultural reframing” of Yoko Ono’s legacy is underway, and instead of being seen as the “woman who broke up the Beatles,” she is now “widely understood” to be one of the “foundational figures of conceptual and performance art,” said Vogue. “Music of the Mind” features works that “underscore” this, like “Freedom,” a 1970 film addressing women’s liberation, and original typed pages of her 1964 book, “Grapefruit.” Visitors can also directly participate in Ono’s work, with opportunities to hammer a nail into a canvas or tie a wish to a tree outside in the Broad’s plaza. (through Oct. 11, 2026)

It’s the ice, people! Yes, ice is central to the making of any cocktail — unless it’s a hot one. In the playland of frozen drinks, though, ice plays an all-the-more crucial role. It doesn’t simply chill then bolt for the sink. Ice becomes integral to the lush texture of a blended cocktail. These frozen reconsiderations of classic cocktails are summer manna.

Frozen Banana Daiquiri

An instant coconut cordial is made by combining coconut milk and sugar. Then you’re off to the banana-daiquiri races by blending together two kinds of rum (1 part each) with fresh lime juice (¾ part), half a way-ripe banana, that cordial (2 parts) and a load of pebble ice. (Get the recipe)

Frozen Caribbean Coffee

What happens when Irish coffee, tres leches cake and spiced coconut syrup take a trip to the islands? You get a lively, luxurious blended drink that merges a mixture of sweetened condensed milk and whole milk (2 parts) with an egg, coffee liqueur (¾ part), rum (½ part), brandy (½ part) and a heady masala-coconut syrup (¾ part). (Get the recipe)

Frozen Gin & Tonic

In this brain-freeze-y adaptation of a G&T, the tonic water is substituted by a tonic syrup. Because no one wants a watery frozen cocktail. A touch of that syrup (½ part) tangoes with gin (1½ parts), simple syrup (½ part) and lime juice (¾ part). (Get the recipe)

Pink Frozen Margarita

Campari (1 part) provides the pink element in this animated variation on a classic margarita. The tequila (3 parts), triple sec (2 parts), lime juice (2 parts) and agave nectar (2 parts) all play their roles like they typically would. The blender and ice step in for this performance, turning everything the right kind of chill. (Get the recipe)

Frozen Mojito

All that you admire about a mojito is present here. The mint (1 part), the rum (2 parts), the simple syrup (1 part), the fresh lime juice (1¼ parts). Start the four together in a blender so the mint is properly blitzed. Then add ice (8 parts), zap away and pour a few out for your pool mates. (Get the recipe)

Frozen Moscow Mule

You know the quartet — vodka (2 parts), ginger beer (3 parts), lime juice (¾ part), simple syrup (¾ part). Pour the lot into a blender, add ice, and your Moscow mule becomes even more of a warm-weather lounge-fellow. (Get the recipe)

Frozen Negroni

A Negroni is always an appetite-whetter. Come summer, one wants it to do double duty by dragging it into refreshing territory too. Freeze the base combination of gin (4½ parts), Campari (2½ parts) and sweet vermouth (2½ parts) for at least eight hours. Then whir that with ice in a blender. Zip, hunger, poolside nap. (Get the recipe)

Paloma Slushy

A handful of ingredients turn a classic paloma into a summertime icon for you and three pals. Start by freezing together grapefruit juice (2 parts) and lime juice (1 part) for a chunk of time. Toss the frozen juices in a blender along with tequila (1½ parts), sugar (¼ cup) and ice (4 cups). And if you like, line the rims of those glasses with salt. (Get the recipe)

Low-budget horror movie “Backrooms” has been generating “considerable buzz”, said Wallpaper. The unsettling directorial debut from 20-year-old YouTuber Kane Parsons is based on a viral web series he made as a teenager. It made $81 million (£60 million) in North America on its opening weekend, a new record for an original horror film.

The inspiration for “Backrooms” came from a discussion on the 4chan message board about slipping through a “crack in reality” and finding yourself in an “infinite maze of identical corridors”. Now, the A24 studio has adapted the chilling series into a film starring Chiwetel Ejiofor as a furniture salesman who discovers in his showroom basement a “fluorescent-lit threshold opening onto an eerie, labyrinthine office space” that looks like it stretches on for ever.

“Backrooms” is the latest success in the genre of liminal horror, based on the unsettling feeling of “in-between” spaces. “The horror here is not a monster or a ghost, but the Backrooms themselves.”

If that sounds like your kind of scare, here are eight other liminal horror films to lose yourself in.

The Shining, 1980

“One of the great classics of liminal horror,” this iconic film is “arguably one of the scariest” movies of all time, said SlashFilm. Much of Stanley Kubrick’s masterpiece centres on the “eerie emptiness” of the sprawling hotel Jack (Jack Nicholson) and his wife Wendy (Shelley Duvall) are looking after for the winter with their son Danny (Danny Lloyd). The long, deserted corridors that lead nowhere helped introduce the idea that emptiness “can, in itself be a character” or unsettling presence that creates a “sense of liminal dread”.

Lost Highway, 1997

“David Lynch can nail the atmosphere of liminality,” said MovieWeb. His surreal, neo-noir thriller follows jazz musician Frank Madison (Bill Pullman), who is accused of murdering his wife (Patricia Arquette). Through a series of haunting “dreamlike” sequences, Lynch builds an “uncanny” world while examining men’s toxic “obsession with women” and the lies people tell themselves to escape the truth.

The Blair Witch Project, 1999

Possibly still the “greatest found-footage horror movie”, this low-budget film is also an “excellent” example of liminal horror, said ScreenRant. The action follows three students who set out into the woods to document the mythical Blair Witch. “It’s a search none of them ever return from.” Space stretches and the “never-ending woods that loop constantly create a suffocating atmosphere”. It’s a must watch.

Pulse (Kairo), 2001

This Japanese techno-horror sees “ghosts invade the world of the living through the internet, terrorising those they encounter along the way”, said ScreenRant. It’s a “testament to the power of liminal horror” how Kiyoshi Kurosawa’s nerve-jangling film steers clear of “blood and gore”, instead exploring the “terror that comes from the corner of a room”.

It Follows, 2015

It “may not seem like it at first glance”, but “the label of liminal horror is a perfect fit” for this supernatural horror, said MovieWeb. The action follows Jay, a young woman who, “after sleeping with her boyfriend, becomes the recipient of a fatal curse” that follows her wherever she goes. “That is, unless she can pass it on.” With the feel of a “dream taking place in a cold landscape not unlike our own”, it’s a frightening watch.

Vivarium, 2019

Jesse Eisenberg and Imogen Poots star as a “conflicted couple” who settle down in the suburbs only to find their new home is a “source of sinister stasis”, said Dread Central. Trapped in a disturbing development where “unlimited versions of the same house” line “roads that lead to nowhere”, they soon find themselves in a living nightmare with a baby boy to raise.

Skinamarink, 2022

Based “almost entirely” around “liminal horror scares”, this chilling film follows two young children who wake up in the night to find their father has gone and “the doors and windows of their house have disappeared”, said ScreenRant. As the hours unfold without him, they “encounter frightening visions in the dark recesses of their home”. Director Kyle Edward Ball brings this nightmare vividly to life, plunging viewers into the “unknowable terror” of murky, unlit spaces.

Exit 8, 2025

Genki Kawamura’s liminal horror is based on a Japanese video game of the same name, said Dread Central. Taking the Tokyo subway as its sinister setting, the busy commuter hub is transformed into an “endless purgatory for the film’s perilous protagonist”. Brilliantly immersive and filled with a gnawing sense of dread, Kawamura expertly makes the “innocuous subway tunnel feel like a layer of hell”.

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Some dads like receiving practical gifts for Father’s Day, while others want to be surprised with a present they’ve never heard of or wouldn’t buy for themselves. Whatever your dad, grandfather, father-in-law or father figure prefers, there’s a gift for him on this list of fun — and functional — presents.

Bite Society Snack Magic

Sweet, salty, savory — each taste is represented in Bite Society’s Snack Magic gift basket. This robust kit includes deliciously crunchy Kennebec potato chips, furikake snack mix, Bob’s Dilly Peanuts and Jalapeño Peanuts, plus a selection of cookies, chocolates and candies. Bonus: The whimsical tins and packaging feature original tattoo-themed artwork. ($155, Bite Society)

Camp Snap 2 screen-free digital camera

A screen-free digital camera is perfect for the dad who wants to cut down on their phone use “without sacrificing on capturing memories,” said CNN. The Camp Snap 2 offers a traditional point-and-shoot experience and can take 500 shots on one charge. It also comes with six built-in filters and can easily transfer images to smartphones and computers. ($70, Camp Snap)

Chamelo Dusk Classic smart sunglasses

These lightweight sunglasses are perfect for techie dads who love gadgets and gizmos. A button on the side of the frames lets him adjust the polarized lens tint to his exact liking (this can be done on the smartphone app too). There are also hidden speakers, so he can chat on the phone or listen to music while paying attention to what’s going on around him. ($260, Chamelo)

Cozy Earth bamboo stretch-knit short sleeve pajama set

He’ll stay cool and comfortable all night in these breathable pajamas. The soft and “silky” fabric “regulates your temperature” while feeling “just as cozy as cotton,” said Men’s Health. Both the top and shorts have a relaxed fit, great for lounging around the house. ($108, Cozy Earth)

Filson rugged twill zipper tote bag

This durable, water-resistant bag is the “toughest, most versatile tote there is,” said GQ. The reinforced base makes the tote strong enough to carry “everything from firewood to your laptop,” and the brass zipper keeps it all secure. The bridle leather handles are also on the longer side, so the bag can be slung over the shoulder. Choose from three classic colors: tan, black and otter green. ($299, Filson)

Ooni Koda 16 gas-powered pizza oven

Pizza on demand is the gift that keeps on giving. The Ooni Koda 16 “strikes the ideal balance between ease of use and portability,” baking dozens of 16-inch pies on a single tank of gas, said Wirecutter. It fires up quickly and has a “consistent” flame, cooking pizza “just as beautifully as other propane ovens that cost much more.” ($499, Lowes)

Powerup 4.0 paper airplane kit

Paper airplanes have come a long way since he was a kid. With this kit, he can fold up his plane, attach it to a motor and propeller controlled by a smartphone, then watch as it does loops, barrel rolls and hammerheads. It’s an “ingenious” present that combines “childhood pleasure with modern technology,” said Good Housekeeping. ($60, Amazon)

Rovr RollR 30 wheeled cooler

Dad will be the hero of any beach day, lake trip, picnic or desert campout when he rolls up with this wheeled cooler. Its inflatable rubber tires can “handle any and all terrain,” and the “sturdy and lengthy” telescoping handle make it a “joy to pull,” said Outdoor Life. The compact RollR 30 has “great insulation,” holds up to 40 cans with 10 pounds of ice and comes with a dry bin for food and snacks you don’t want to get wet. ($225, Rovr)

Tinkr mini car vacuum

Messy and immaculate dads alike will “appreciate how easy it is to clean up” with this rechargeable, hand-held vacuum, said Good Housekeeping. The vacuum and its attachments — a brush nozzle and a narrow hose nozzle — come in a case compact enough to keep in the glove compartment. It’s a small device but “big on suction” and able to get “crumbs, dust and other debris” from under seats, vents and cup holders. ($60, Amazon)

Have bread; breadcrumbs are inevitable. You would think then, with boundless English-speaking cultures using bread, there would be endless words for breadcrumbs. Terms that are mere descriptors for the bread pieces, like “fine,” “medium” and “large.” Would that we have 50 words to express a range of kinds of breadcrumbs, in the way Tamil has more than four dozen words for love.

In “All That Crumbs Allow,” authors Michelle Marek and Camilla Wynne creep toward that goal. Across 45 recipes — each its own kind of breadcrumb-naming treatise — the duo proclaims how versatile the kitchen staple both is and can be.

A prayer to pulverization

There is much bread-on-bread action in this text. Marek and Wynne, who both have backgrounds in pastry, cannot help themselves. Wynne, in a recipe for bread and jam twice-baked croissants, eschews the nut filling and crafts a breadcrumb frangipane, which is then slathered on bisected day-old croissants along with the jam of your choosing and baked until crackly.

Marek reminisces about the sweet cheese dumplings of her childhood visits to the Czech Republic. Soft bread cubes are beaten with butter, sugar, flour, egg and farmers cheese before a poaching turn in sweetened boiling water. The pillowy dumplings are then added to hot crisped breadcrumbs and served with roasted or fresh fruit.

Other recipes for sweets include such zingers as breadcrumb-glazed doughnuts, rhubarb cardamom breadcrumb cake and witches’ froth, a fluffy cloud of whipped apple served with clattering toasted breadcrumbs.

Savory-heads, fret not: Marek and Wynne have not abandoned you. A three-page blueprint for schnitzel ensures the finest you might ever cook. Roasted potatoes are shellacked with buttery crumbs. From the annals of cooking past, sauce jouvert, spunky with marjoram, red wine vinegar, both walnuts and hazelnuts, and breadcrumbs, is raised from the annals of recipe history to be draped over pretty much any kind of vegetable.

In the beginning, there was bread

The book’s centerpiece chapters on starters, mains and sweets are bookended on one side by a treatise on how to make and store breadcrumbs of various sizes, with an under-duress sub-section about how to buy breadcrumbs. “There is, it must be said, something perverse about paying for breadcrumbs,” Marek and Wynne write. “Buying breadcrumbs is one of life’s cosmic jokes, and it makes us laugh every time.”

A pantry chapter closes “All That Crumbs Allow.” It is a terse collection of six recipes that swerves from the book’s much-used, dead-simple Crunchy Topping to Fairy Rocks, with their sparkling blend of freeze-dried raspberries, sesame seeds, ground rose petals, sugar and, yes, breadcrumbs.

The book’s coda is a collection of exciting recipes from pals. In Marek and Wynne’s world, breadcrumbs are not for gatekeeping. They are meant to be spread wide and far. You can almost hear the authors chattering, “May you forever follow a trail of gluten nubbins to immeasurable deliciousness.”

Instead of reaching for biscuits or chocolate to “combat the 4pm slump”, people are turning to a “more natural sweet alternative: dates”, said The Guardian.

The wrinkled fruit has been “thrust into the snacking spotlight” thanks to a slew of viral online recipes and a growing demand for alternatives to ultra-processed foods. Ocado reports that sales of Medjool dates have soared by 100% year-on-year and searches for date butter have shot up by 458% over the same period.

Some fitness experts are suggesting their followers swap “additive-laden” protein bars for energy balls made with a mix of dates, nuts and oats. And TikTok is bursting with ideas for comforting yet nutrient-dense snacks like “sticky fried dates drizzled with olive oil and served with tangy yoghurt”.

First cultivated in the hot, arid climates of the Middle East and North Africa, “dates have had a place in culinary culture for millenniums”, said The New York Times. Traditionally used to break the fast during Ramadan, they are a staple ingredient in everything from tagines to sticky toffee pudding.

With more consumers interested in adding fibre to their diet, dates are “emerging as a simple vehicle for the macronutrient”. One serving of dates (around two to three large Medjools) contains about 5g of fibre – “a helpful step towards the daily recommendation of 25g per day for women and 38g for men”.

Brands like Date Better are opting for “bold flavour choices” to stand out in the crowded market. Varieties include dates stuffed with cashew butter, coated in chocolate infused with lime and dotted with toasted quinoa “for texture”.

But it’s important to “manage your health-related expectations” if you’re reaching for a jazzed-up version of the fruit. “If it’s stuffed with peanut butter and covered in chocolate, enjoy it!” said nutritionist Maya Feller. “But don’t think it’s going to support gut health. Right? That’s a dessert.”

If you don’t want to splash out on pricey on-the-go packaged snacks, consider adding the fruit when baking cakes, said The Times. Dates can be “chopped or blended” and “stirred through the batter instead of sugar, substituting the weights like-for-like”. They also make a delicious caramel sauce: simply soak them in boiling water before “blending them with butter” and “adding enough hot water until you have a smooth sauce”.

Dates aren’t only suitable for sweet treats, though. “I do a simple but brilliant lemon, chickpea, feta and date traybake,” said author and cook Melissa Hemsley. “The sweetness of the roasted dates with the salty feta is amazing. I’ll have that in a wrap or toss it into a warm salad. It’s perfect.”

I remember southern Africa’s old-fashioned sleeper trains, with their wooden carriages and “grand” dining cars, from my childhood in what was then Rhodesia in the 1950s and 1960s, said Matthew Parris in The Times.

They fell out of use long ago, and few of the region’s railways now carry passengers at all. You can, however, relive their glory days – with added luxury – thanks to Rovos Rail.

This tour operator was founded in 1989 by Rohan Vos, a South African businessman with a “passion” for restoring old railway carriages. The company’s trains now ply routes across the region, from Cape Town to as far afield as Dar es Salaam, going at a slow pace for comfort (the tracks are narrow gauge and sometimes poorly maintained) and making many stops for excursions to nearby “wonders” and occasional nights in “lovely” lodges.

I took an 11-night trip from Pretoria to the “massive sand dunes and mysterious desert coast” of Namibia – an expedition that combined “adventure” with “amenity and elegance of a high order”. Our train had 19 carriages from the old Rhodesia Railways, but carried just 60 passengers: my compartment occupied a third of a carriage and had mahogany panelling, brass fittings and an en suite shower.

The meals served in the two “magnificent” dining cars were “splendid” and varied. The staff were charming. A South African historian gave “sparkling” lectures. And I never tired of the observation car, where I spent chilly mornings and warm evenings sipping coffee or post-prandial negronis and watching the “ever-changing” landscape slip by.

In South Africa, we went for a cruise on the Orange River and took a trip to the Augrabies Falls, where the river plunges into an “immense” granite gorge. In Namibia, we gazed over the vast Fish River Canyon and saw lions and elephants in the Etosha Pan game reserve. The most fun I had, though, was sliding down a huge sand dune at Sossusvlei. “I felt like a boy again.”

Distant Journeys (distantjourneys.co.uk) has a 16-night trip from £9,696pp, including flights.

The Olympic gold medal-winning cyclist picks her favourite books. Her own book, “The Fear Opportunity: How Feeling your Fear Builds Strength and Confidence”, is available for purchase.

Invisible Women

Caroline Criado-Perez, 2019

This book explores the under-representation of women in the way the world is designed. It is tragically enlightening about the gender bias in everyday life.

The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse

Charlie Mackesy, 2019

I love this beautifully illustrated book in so many ways; it’s comforting and reassuring and filled with the kind of phrases that should be ingrained in your soul for all the hard moments in life. I wish I had read it as a child.

The Chimp Paradox

Steve Peters, 2012

I lovingly call Steve Peters “Uncle Peters”, because I worked with him on the Olympic team and he had such a huge influence on my life. This book helped me understand my behaviour better and allowed me to access my fullest potential. I would not have won gold without Steve.

Circe

Madeline Miller, 2018

I’m obsessed with mythology and I loved this reimagining of the sorceress from “The Odyssey”. I find it intriguing the way that Miller looks at ancient myths from the point of view of the characters. I couldn’t put it down.

Milk and Honey

Rupi Kaur, 2014

This poetry collection made me go, “Wow!” I’d never come across anything like it, and I found it very reassuring because it reflects the struggles and anxieties of the female experience in a way that is very relatable. It doesn’t pull any punches.

Dancing with Elephants

Jarem Sawatsky, 2017

In Western society we’re not very good at navigating death, and this book helped me through the loss of my brother and father. Sawatsky describes his journey through terminal illness and shows us how to celebrate the experience, rather than mourning the person it’s happening to. Beautiful.

With more people looking to unplug from the digital world, analog “grandma hobbies” are making a comeback. Crafting activities like crocheting, baking, painting and knitting are especially popular among young people looking for a way to slow down. And they have been shown to help with mental health issues such as depression and anxiety. Here’s how to get your granny on.

Start with a gateway hobby

The list of so-called grandma hobbies is long, with some being more complicated than others. There’s no need to start an advanced project immediately, and the right task could keep you more engaged in the long run. Many people “jump straight into punch needling or crochet and are put off when they don’t get it right,” said Andie Reeves, a writer and fiber artist, to Verywell Mind. Try a more accessible endeavor, such as “cross-stitch, coloring books or simple beading kits.”

Match your “activity levels to the hobby that you choose,” said Susan Albers, a psychologist at Cleveland Clinic. If you are tired, ” choose an activity that has slow, repetitive movements, such as crocheting or knitting.” If you are feeling more alert, a “brain puzzle or putting together a puzzle can help to tap into your focus and concentration.”

Let go of perfectionism

Grandma hobbies are therapeutic because they allow us to make mistakes and focus on the joy of creating. Amid the pressure to “constantly hustle and be productive,” grandma hobbies offer a “refreshing pressure-free way to achieve fulfillment and well-being,” said Forbes. They remind you that “time spent doing something slow, quiet and meaningful is not wasted.” Rather, it’s “restorative" and a way of “choosing presence over pressure and imagination over efficiency.”

Embrace taking a break from the digital world

It’s hard to “doomscroll while embroidering,” said Verywell Mind. Crafts offer an “immersive experience that pulls us out of the (often addictive) digital world.” Picking up a “crochet hook, a paint brush or a recipe for bread reconnects you with simple, sensory pleasures,” said Emily Sharp, an art therapist, to Verywell Mind. While you are “using your hands and letting your mind wander,” you are “getting in touch with a part of yourself beyond the phone screen.” That’s a practice “we should all actively nurture.”

Take your time

The most valuable aspect of incorporating grandma hobbies into your life “lies in embracing the freedom of slowing down and savoring the process,” said Forbes. When you set aside time for mindful activities, you “reconnect with a softer pace of life.” To make this a consistent part of your routine, “start by dedicating small, nonnegotiable time slots each week for your chosen hobby.” Remember not to do them for “social media, for likes or for others’ approval.” The magic lies in indulging in these activities “purely for your own satisfaction, without any expectation of a perfect outcome.”

Don’t forget community

You can obviously do these hobbies alone, but there’s a lot to be gained from doing them with other like-minded people. If possible, “learn from someone who already does it,” said Shelly Dar, a mental health and well-being specialist, to The Good Trade. “Ask your grandmother, your neighbor, someone at a community garden.” These hobbies are “always meant to be passed hand to hand, and that exchange is part of the healing.”

Engaging with other hobbyists “fosters a sense of connection based on shared interests,” which is “especially valuable in today’s technology-driven world that often leaves people feeling isolated,” said Patricia Dixon, a licensed clinical psychologist, to Good Housekeeping. It can motivate you to “improve and deepen your skills, creating an environment of mutual growth.”

Listening lounges, recording studios, secret venues and vinyl lending libraries are a few of the perks guests can tap into at these seven hotels made for music lovers. You may not run into your favorite artist, but you sure might discover a new one.

Aria Hotel Budapest, Hungary

Music inspired every design element at Aria Hotel Budapest, starting with the piano-keyboard marble inlay that stretches across the indoor courtyard. Rooms come in four styles — Classical, Opera, Contemporary and Jazz — and feature elegant touches like Murano glass chandeliers, coffered ceilings and custom area rugs.

In the afternoon, guests are invited to a wine and cheese reception with live music, and they can end the night on the rooftop High Note SkyBar. Aria even has a musical director, who arranges performances and special events and compiles soundtracks for individual stays.

D Maris Bay, Marmaris, Turkey

Once the sun goes down, the energy level at D Maris Bay goes way up, as guests prepare to spend the night dancing to DJ sets and live musical performances. Situated in a “stunning bay” on the Turquoise Coast, the resort’s “fabulous setting” and “extensive facilities” make it “one of the best” luxury beach properties in Turkey, said The Telegraph.

The property’s nightlife is second to none, with DJs coming from around the globe to play. The resort also hosts a summer gala series that blends gourmet dining with musical performances; previous artists included Seal and Sophie Ellis-Bextor.

Hotel El Ganzo, San José del Cabo, Mexico

The soundtrack of Hotel El Ganzo includes musicians jamming in the Underground Studio and bands performing on the private marina. Creatives love staying at this boutique property, where murals cover the walls, the rooms feature one-of-a-kind paintings and the Musicians in Residence program brings artists like Thievery Corporation, Rufus du Sol and Khruangbin to the hotel. When you’re ready to chill, head to the beach and swim club Playa El Ganzo, the rooftop pool, or the spa and wellness center.

Hotel Saint Cecilia, Austin, Texas

Named in honor of the patron saint of music, Hotel Saint Cecilia is an “ultraprivate” spot where “record label execs, artists, musicians and writers” go for a getaway, said Condé Nast Traveler. The rooms and suites inside this Victorian-era mansion have their own “distinct decor and personality” and come with Rega turntables and Geneva sound systems. When you feel like listening to tunes, head to the hotel’s lending library and borrow a vintage vinyl; while you are there, check out one of the many rock biographies available to borrow.

Okupa Athens, Greece

The centerpiece of Okupa is the Kitchen & Listening Bar, an “all-day space that combines brunch, dinner and a listening bar moment,” said Vogue Adria. Okupa is a place where “food, music and atmosphere” all “function as one and the same mood.” Here, you can enjoy an on-property jazz session, DJ set and concert in one day. The 32 modern, comfortable rooms come with portable speakers and, in some cases, record players. The music never need stop.

The Verb Hotel, Boston

The Verb Hotel “proudly” celebrates its hometown musical heroes, with local artists “commemorated through posters and pictures” across the hotel, said Rolling Stone. Other big acts who visited the city are “immortalized with autographs and coffee table books,” and this memorabilia makes the property feel like a “retro-chic museum” that “happens to offer plush beds.” For an over-the-top experience, stay in one of the Backstage trailers complete with Bose sound systems, custom art and “unique pieces of tour life.”

W Nashville, Tennessee

Music surrounds you at W Nashville. Both established and up-and-coming artists perform inside the intimate Living Room Bar & Lounge, and guests have a chance to attend listening sessions and songwriting collaborations in the Sound Room, a small venue hidden behind a wall of speakers.

The party continues poolside, where local DJs keep the tunes going at the Wet Deck. It’s a “stylish” property with excellent service — head to the friendly concierge with requests for “tickets to the Grand Ole Opry or whoever is playing at the Ryman,” said Condé Nast Traveler.

Most people don’t leave Ibiza feeling healthier. Sun, sea, sand and sangria have reigned supreme here for decades, from the hedonistic super clubs that provide its late-night soundtrack, to the beach bars overlooking its famous Balearic sunset.

Now, however, one of the White Isle’s most established hotels is hoping to turn that on its head, with a programme intended not only to make you feel better, but actually make you live longer. The Atzaró Agroturismo Hotel has long been known for the quality of its spa, but the team has pivoted to a novel approach, creating personalised longevity pathways using new technologies alongside long-standing organic and nature-focused treatments. And after a tough winter I arrive feeling like this is exactly what I need.

Personalised programme

The experience begins with a session on the 3D body scanner, which analyses your body’s composition, takes 14 measurements, assesses your flexibility and calculates your metabolic age. It’s slightly daunting, and my readings aren’t exactly ideal, but nonetheless the information is not only useful to have, it informs your personalised programme and is used to track your progress as well.

An individual programme is developed for each person based on this data, their health history and personal goals, using traditional treatments, nutrient IV therapies, and innovative technology-led sessions.

My own pathway uses several of these, and I begin with the hypoxia oxygen therapy, a guided breath and conditioning session using controlled low-oxygen intervals to boost efficiency, stamina and recovery. As I lie back with a mask strapped to my face, I settle in, uncertain what the treatment will feel like. But as the oxygen flows at different rates and I am treated to a reflexology session, I feel myself drift off into a dozy state. It’s designed to enhance cellular function, and while I can’t speak for this, I come back into the world feeling fresh and de-stressed

Next, I spend 20 minutes in the high-frequency infrared bed. Infrared is a trend that has swept social media, but it has strong evidence behind it, and this version is much stronger than the average mask you can use at home. The frequency can hit 900-plus, which, the team explains, can penetrate to the cellular level to energise and activate the mitochondria. It reduces inflammation and supports tissue recovery, and the warm bed immediately relaxes. It feels like a cocoon and my muscles feel supple afterwards.

This is followed quickly by a four-minute session in the cryotherapy chamber. I’m in my swimming costume but am given mittens and booties to keep the extremities warm. Overall, it’s cold but not cold like wild swimming in a British lake, so I am revitalised but not in pain. My programme ends with a massage by experienced technician Marina, who works the remaining knots out of my back and shoulders, and I leave the spa feeling like a different woman.

Nutrient-rich dining and a stand-out spa

Wellness is a recurring theme across the property, and during the rest of my stay I explore the estate. Atzaró Agroturismo Hotel opened in 2004, and is spread across 14 hectares of orange groves surrounded by lush hills. Life is slower here. It was originally a working farm and has been in the same family for more than 300 years. This heritage can be felt everywhere, from the original kitchen (now reception) where the current owners’ grandmother used to sit, to the enormous vegetable garden that supplies the kitchen each day.

When I take an early morning stroll one day I stumble across the staff selecting the veg for that night’s menu, as food plays a vital role in longevity too. To reinforce the spa’s work, the kitchen has designed a selection of nutrient-dense options, including anti-inflammatory salads and juices rich in polyphenols and amino acids. Of course, there is also a menu of indulgent treats like irresistible Iberico ham croquetas, and fresh locally caught corvina cooked on a Josper grill.

I spend the rest of my time doing lengths in the stunning 43-metre spa pool, relaxing in giant day beds among the herb gardens, and reading books in the outdoor hot tub. My room overlooks one of the nine pools, and I can watch the sunset from a cute Juliet balcony. The entire complex smells of lavender and orange blossom, creating a sensory experience that transports you to another world, and it feels like the whole place is designed with recovery in mind. The décor is local and rustic, with bathroom products made on site from the aforementioned herbs. Even the toothpaste is organic and sourced from the island.

The hotel is part of the Atzaró Collection, which includes Aubergine by Atzaró, a popular destination restaurant, and Atzaró Beach, an informal bar and restaurant in Cala Nova where you can swim in crystal water and enjoy views over Ibiza’s leafy cliffs. The family encourages visitors to get out and explore the island’s beauty. Soaking in its energy is all part of the package.

I end my stay feeling calm, refreshed and ready to go back to my ordinary life with a new vitality, a far cry from previous visits to the island. It’s important to remember that longevity isn’t just about living for ever, but living well, and if life feels this good then why wouldn’t you want more of it?

Jaymi McCann was a guest of Atzaró Agroturismo Hotel

With many parts of the world bracing for a scorching summer driven by the Super El Niño climate pattern, people might be spending more time indoors than they had expected. If so, they’ll have an impressive array of new and returning shows to help pass the time.

“Not Suitable for Work”

Last year brought two buzzy comedies aimed at the under-30 set, HBO Max’s “I Love LA” and FX/Hulu’s “Adults.” Now comes Hulu’s “Not Suitable for Work,” from the mind of creator Mindy Kaling (“The Mindy Project”).

AJ (Ella Hunt) and Abby (Avantika) are fresh-out-of-college Manhattan roommates embarking on their careers — AJ in finance, and Abby in fashion. They happen to live across the hall from a group of young men including Davis (Will Angus), who also works at AJ’s firm. If this kind of classic Kaling-esque plot conceit bothers you, this might not be the show for you because it’s full of them. The series is a “lightweight, frothy romp through a glossy, fictional Manhattan” whose “nimble pace, quick-enough wits and aspirational aesthetic” are enough to make up for its lack of realism, said Rachel Leibrock at The Wrap. (now on Hulu)

‘The Witness’

A two-timeline potboiler, “The Witness” stars Jordan Bolger (“This Town”) as André Hanscombe, whose 2-year-old son, Alex (Jahsaiah Williams as a child, Max Fincham as an adult), is the lone witness to the brutal 1992 murder of his mother, Rachel Nickell (Eleanor Williams). The arrest and successful prosecution of the alleged killer seemingly allows the family to move on, but years later the investigation is reopened, as are the emotional wounds. The “gripping but distressing” three-part series, based on a true story, shows a family working through “unimaginable trauma” while dealing with the long-term aftermath, said Phil Harrison at The Guardian. (June 4 on Netflix)

‘The Listeners’

A five-part limited series, “The Listeners” stars Rebecca Hall (“The Night House”) as Claire, a teacher who begins to hear a humming sound that no one else can. When doctors, friends and family can find no reason or meaning behind her ordeal, she turns to a student, Kyle (Ollie West), who says he can hear it too. A riveting exploration of how “people can fall off the map when it seems as if they have nowhere to turn,” director Janicza Bravo (“Zola”) “captures this sinking feeling” while staying “attuned to character in a way that feels deeply, disquietingly alive,” said Chase Hutchinson at The Wrap. (June 12 on Starz)

‘The Bear,’ season 5

FX’s Chicago-set restaurant drama, “The Bear,” returns for its fifth and final season. Syd (Ayo Edebiri), Richie (Ebon Moss-Bachrach) and Natalie (Abby Elliott) are left to pick up the pieces after Carmy (Jeremy Allen White) abruptly walks away following a tense baring of souls in the season 4 finale.

The group plans to pour everything into one final evening, with a massive storm bearing down on the city, in an effort to snag the Michelin star they need to survive. The fourth season told viewers that “if you’re tired, it’s OK to take a break” because “you can’t save someone else until you save yourself,” said Whitney Friedlander at Paste Magazine. The final season of creator Christopher Storer’s show is a slam dunk for fans and destined to be the subject of a thousand think pieces. (June 25 on Hulu)

‘Life, Larry and the Pursuit of Unhappiness’

Though this may not have been the original intent, Larry David’s HBO Max sketch comedy series will function as a kind of counterprogramming to the White House’s celebration plans for the Declaration of Independence’s 250th anniversary. Details are scarce, but the series is produced by Barack and Michelle Obama’s Higher Ground Productions, features the 44th president in the trailer and will comprise vignettes about America’s long history, as filtered through David’s distinct comedic aesthetic. David is “gearing up to take his ‘world’s most yelled-at man’ bona fides back into history,” said William Hughes at The A.V. Club, to squeeze more content out of the “very simple premise” that “Larry David is, largely, to be loathed.” (June 26 on HBO Max)