A Bit of Winter Sun Let’s be honest, here: January sucks. If you’re anything like me, you know that there’s no month quite as sad and sorry as January (well, February isn’t much better but, hey, at least it’s shorter!). The presents are all open, we’ve de-decked the halls with bounds of holly and the New Years’ hangover is still (yes, still!) lingering slightly – we’re a bit fragile in the Anytour office, ok! Imagine if New Year was less about ‘new you!’ and more about ‘new trips!’ There are so many reasons to abandon the office and the dreariness of January and treat yourself to a bit of wint ..read more

What to do this weekend in the UK’s capital? 17th – 19th January. Get your diaries out, folks: January in London has just got a whole lot better! Ok, the longest, darkest, gloomiest month of the year is hardly a belter all-round. But let’s not mope around and get all dreary. Those darker, shorter, colder days are about to be filled with a whole lot more fun. FRIDAY London’s January Blues Festival: Are the January blues getting you down? Nope; the only kind of blues we want in this city are the musical kind. Well, you’re in luck, because London’s very own Blues Festival is kicking off in the tr ..read more

IF YOU’RE ALL ABOUT CHRISTMAS WITH A TWIST… Before I start, you aren’t about to face a violent attack in the UK’s friendliest city! You aren’t about to get mugged – unless, of course, you state that you’re loyal to the blues on red territory…that might be a little bit dangerous! Yeah, maybe you’re best avoiding football banter. Save it for the pitch. Anyway, the whole ‘mugging’ thing at Manchester Markets is a relatively new yet much-loved tradition. It’s funky, it’s cool, it’s everything Manchester is known to be. It’s a unique little quirk that is so specific to the city, I doubt it could r ..read more

IF YOU’RE ALL ABOUT THE CAROLS… “It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas” on the edge of the Alps. Hidden under a great clifftop fortress, you’ll find one of Europe’s most picturesque cities. Salzburg, one of Austria’s largest cities, is a dream destination this time of year. It’s something of a whimsical winter wonderland, really coming into its own during the holiday season. Famous for its Baroque architecture, Salzburg has one of the best-preserved city centres you will find north of the Alps. It also happens to be, in case you didn’t know, the setting of the greatest Julie Andrews fil ..read more

IF YOU’RE ALL ABOUT THE “TRUE MEANING OF CHRISTMAS…” For anyone dreaming of a white Christmas, Krakow most definitely delivers. The city's Christmas market, held in the mammoth central square, Rynek Glowny, typically gets a heavy dusting of snow during December, making a visit here even more magical. Makes a change from windy Edinburgh or rainy London, right? Is it worth the hype? Yes! Really? Fa-la-la-la-la-absolutely! Because what is so special about Krakow at Christmas, as opposed to any of the other festive markets across the world, is its focus on historical tradition over blind consumer ..read more

IF YOU’RE ALL ABOUT THE FESTIVE FOOD… Things the Germans like, in order: 1) Winning all the sports ever. Ever! 2) White Asparagus. 3) Festive Markets. Dresden is certainly no stranger to a Christmas market. In fact, it has the largest number of them in the eastern part of the country and is one of the few cities that are able to claim the title of being one of the OG hosts of such seasonal events. You aren’t going to be disappointed by any of the markets in the Baroque city of Dresden, but one that you might want to pay a bit of extra attention to is Striezelmarkt. The blaze of lights, the sm ..read more

IF YOU’RE ALL ABOUT RELIGIOUS TRADITION… No city lends itself to Christmas better than Prague. If we are turning back to the religious aspect of the Christmas period, it seems only fitting that the birthplace of the Czech patron saint, ‘Good King Wenceslaus,’ would be teeming with yuletide cheer. We like a king, especially a good one. Especially a good one who was renowned for braving a harsh winter journey to help the poor on the Feast of Stephen (aka Boxing Day: this is also known as Saint Stephen’s Day – he was the first Christian martyr.) And what better way to celebrate the legacy of thi ..read more

IF YOU’RE ALL ABOUT DOING IT FOR THE ‘GRAM If you’re in need of some fresh Insta content fit for the festive season, then fa-la-la-la-leg it on over to Leipzig. This German town will offer you some snap-worthy shots you’ll bank for life in your photo album. The whimsically wonderful festive celebrations that take place in the market are something to marvel at. The colours, the lights, the music…it all amounts to a truly authentic experience at the German market. Grab a mug of piping hot mulled wine and get your camera angle perfect, all you amateur photographers out there – this isn’t one you ..read more

IF YOU WANT A QUAINT, QUIET CHRISTMAS… The overwhelmingly tantalising scent of roasted pecans and warm cinnamon will be the first thing to hit you as you meander across to Bath Christmas Market. Made up of 170 wooden chalets which line the streets around the city’s abbey, Bath’s Christmas Market is one of the most beloved in the whole of the UK due to its simple authenticity and classic nature. For almost three weeks, the city is taken over by local artisans, festive food stalls, twinkling lights and Christmas music in a celebration that draws visitors from far and wide to enjoy the picturesq ..read more

IF YOU’RE ALL ABOUT THE MAGIC… Every year, the Distillery Historic District transforms into something of a whimsical winter wonderland complete with twinkling lights overhead, the sound of carollers bouncing off the old Victorian industrial buildings and outdoor stands which sell the stuff of a Late Christmas Shopper’s dream. When it comes to the Toronto Christmas Market, there is no other way to describe it but magic. Part of it stems from its setting; the site was once home to the Gooderham & Worts Distillery, which represents the largest and best-preserved collection of Victorian Indus ..read more