How the Berlin Wall still influences culture and commerce December 1, 2021 Nature is reclaiming the Death Strip. Pioneer birch trees have self-seeded, creating a winding, shady memorial that cuts through the heart of Berlin. There are cherry blossoms too, a gift from the Japanese government. But it is the slim, silvery trunks of the birches, and the dappled, dancing shadows they cast on the path, that [...]
Business travel is taking off, says Lufthansa CEO amid influx of flights at City Airport September 15, 2021 Lufthansa’s CEO says the airline is placing more flights over the next two months as demand for business travel picks up again, according to reports. “We are now seeing very clearly that business travellers are coming back,” chief executive Carsten Spohr told Reuters, who first reported the news, at a conference in Berlin. Spohr said in [...]
Let the train take the strain: The revival of sleeper services July 12, 2021 The opening of the Eurostar service between London and Paris revolutionised travel for Britons to the Continent. The first train from Waterloo to the Gare du Nord ran on 14 November 1994, and a full daily service was operating by the following May. The completion of High Speed 1 in 2003 shortened the journey time [...]
Visit the world’s biggest open-air bar, Sweden’s Drinkable Country June 15, 2021 Sweden yesterday celebrated the stoic defensive performance that earned them a Euros draw against highly fancied Spain almost as if it were a victory in the latter stages. Today any Swedes still in the party mood can let loose at Drinkable Country, which has been dubbed “the world’s largest open-air bar”. Comprised of pop-ups hosted [...]
Queen’s Birthday Honours: the full 2021 list June 12, 2021 Below the full list of names for this year ORDER OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE Knights Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire (GBE) The Rt. Hon. Frederick Richard Penn Curzon, The Earl Howe. For political and parliamentary service. (Amersham, Buckinghamshire) ORDER OF THE BATH Knights Commander of the Order of the Bath (KCB) [...]
London’s future prosperity depends on a sustainable future for TfL June 7, 2021 News of the latest financial support package for Transport for London (TfL) will have been met by sighs of relief across London. At the very least, buses, trains and tubes will continue running for the next few months. But fundamental questions about TfL’s future and how public transport is funded remain unanswered. Should a transport [...]
Lime looks to lessen London’s transport squeeze as e-scooter trial begins June 4, 2021 Tentatively, I step on to the slip-proof board with one nervous foot, kick away the stand with the other, and gently get going. Not having immediately crashed, I rather grandly decide I’m at the forefront of the e-scooter revolution as I begin to accelerate off into King’s Cross’ Granary Square. This, at a ‘safe ride [...]
Susie Wolff interview: Venturi Racing team principal on life aboard the Formula E rollercoaster and why the electric series is set for more growth May 5, 2021 Formula E is designed to have more thrills and spills than other motorsport competitions, but Susie Wolff could be forgiven for wishing her introduction to it had been less bumpy. The former driver’s three years in the electric series has involved learning the ropes as a team principal at Venturi Racing, a change in ownership [...]
Best of travel: A feast for the senses in Zanzibar February 18, 2021 To tide us over until we’re able to travel again, we’re republishing classic travel stories from our archives. Today we revisit Noo Saro-Wiwa’s extravagent journey to the island of Zanzibar. ••• Visiting tropical islands usually involves sacrificing the richness and depth of continental culture for the simplicity of ravishing sun, sea and sand. Zanzibar, however, [...]
Best of travel: Ko Samui is more than a backpackers’ paradise February 12, 2021 To tide us over until we’re able to travel again, we’re republishing classic travel stories from our archives. Today we revisit Laura Millar’s exploration of Thai island Ko Samui’s more luxurious side. ••• The taxi taking me on the ten-minute journey from Ko Samui’s tiny, open-air airport terminal to my hotel on Chaweng beach, one [...]