From domestic leisure to international travel, these standout experiences promise memorable, meaningful and unique adventures to pencil into your 2026 calendar.
From London… Board the Britannic Explorer, a Belmond Train
As the first-ever luxury sleeper train in England and Wales, this hotel on tracks redefines the great British tradition of touring while in motion. Cabin options include private rooms with a sofa by day and a double- or twin-bed configuration by night, or a Grand Suite featuring a double bed, wardrobe, and sofa.
For dining, the luxury experience continues with meals designed to reflect Britain’s culinary heritage. Along the route, verdant landscapes, historic institutions, and memorable cities are matched with meals on and off board that span shellfish barbecues and curated picnics, to fine dining in the train’s two restaurant cars.
Starting from London Victoria Station, the three-night journeys feature Cornwall, Wales, and the Lake District, including the option of combining two routes into a six-night journey. A fourth route is scheduled during the course of 2026. At select stops along the trip, passengers can disembark to enjoy experiences including the Fowey Boat Tour in Cornwall, a stroll through the Tremenheere Sculpture Gardens, and a distillery tasting at Colwirth Farm.
In New York… Visit the City’s First Allergen-Free Bakery
Renowned baker Melissa Weller opened Bub’s Bakery in late 2025. The establishment’s desserts and treats do not contain the nine most common allergens, including gluten, dairy, eggs, nuts, soy, and sesame.
Having worked for a decade as an engineer before studying at the French Culinary Institute and then switching careers to baking, Melissa brings her scientific background to making allergy-free food. Committed to uncompromised flavour and texture, her baking is celebratory and inclusive.
Now, friends and families can enjoy dessert together without jeopardising health—or taste. The menu features classics like cinnamon rolls, cheesecake, banana bread, bagels, and sandwiches. Seasonal drops range from ginger-spiced cookies to brown sugar pumpkin pie.
In Cape Town… Savour Seafood at Amura by Michelin-Starred Chef Ángel León
The opening of the Amura restaurant in December 2025 marked the chef’s debut on the African continent and, at the same time, his first venture outside Spain. Offering an immersive marine dining experience inspired by the mysterious beauty and biodiversity of the sea, the establishment has piqued Chef León’s creativity.
“To cook in Cape Town is to feel the ocean from another angle, another culture, another heartbeat,” says Chef Ángel. “Here the sea speaks with a different salt, a different light. Amura is born from the desire to celebrate those nuances.”
Pioneering dishes on the menu include plankton risotto — an electric green, deeply savoury dish with the pure, tidal umami of the open sea; pickled West Coast mussels with seaweed-dusted chips; and Saldanha Bay oysters with Silverthorn “River Dragon” bubbly — a bright, celebratory pairing with Colombard, one of the Cape’s earliest grape varieties.
Working alongside his brother Carlos, the siblings have championed marine preservation by transforming undervalued ocean species such as phytoplankton, Zostera marina sea grain, bycatch, and even “marine honey” into haute cuisine marvels. These innovative interpretations have resulted in three Michelin stars and the first Michelin Green Star in Andalusia. On the foundation of this pedigree, Chef León now brings a renewed commitment to understanding and preserving the ocean’s ecosystems — a compelling culinary call for diners visiting one of the globe’s premier coastal destinations, Cape Town.
In Abu Dhabi… Step Back in Time at the Natural History Museum
Showcasing some of the world’s most important exhibits on the creation of the planet and the history of life on Earth, the Natural History Museum is the largest museum of its kind in the Middle East. Spanning more than 35,000 square metres, it annotates and celebrates over 12 billion years of science and discovery.
The building houses enormous skeletons of newly discovered dinosaur species, an installation highlighting Lucy—one of the oldest skeletons ever discovered—and an immersive exhibit in partnership with Naturalis Biodiversity Center in the Netherlands, featuring the first-ever herd of triceratops skeletons discovered together in North America.
Another highlight includes one of the best-preserved examples of a 66-million-year-old T. rex, known as ‘Stan’. The museum holds one of the most complete and superbly preserved fossils ever recovered, displayed in a battle scenario with another T. rex and a Triceratops.
In KZN… Stay at Africa’s First Club Med Resort
Club Med is officially open for bookings from July 2026 onwards at its new resort on KwaZulu-Natal’s North Coast, less than 20 minutes from King Shaka International Airport.
It is the first Club Med resort of its kind in South Africa, offering a dual experience that combines a beach holiday with a safari stay. Guests can also design a holiday that is as relaxing or adventurous as they prefer. A premium spa and zen spaces throughout the resort cater to long, leisurely days, while activities include surf school lessons, gravel biking, game drives at Mpilo Safari Lodge, and even testing flexibility and courage on the trapeze.
