Everyone’s going to… sicily

A JOURNEY ACROSS SICILY REVEALS THE ESSENCE OF AN ISLAND SHAPED BY OUTSIDERS, WHERE SUCCESSIVE WAVES OF IMMIGRATION OVER THE CENTURIES HAVE CREATED A UNIQUE CULTURAL IDENTITY

Self-catering has all the benefits of staying at home, but the joys of being away. For a shortcut to the best places to stay, here are some we’ve tried and tested

The insiders’ guide

Stretching across two continents separated by the Bosphorus Strait, this ancient Silk Road city was once the capital of both the Christian Byzantine and Islamic Ottoman empires. Crumbling hammams rub shoulders with striking contemporary buildings, while the call to prayer from Hagia Sophia mosque can be heard from the 15th-century Grand Bazaar, as well as Michelin-starred restaurants. Istanbul is sewn together by a series of storied districts, which results in a varied hotel scene. Relive the Ottoman heyday in a Sultanahmet townhouse; book a boutique stay fuelled by cafes and galleries in Karaköy; or check in among the designer stores of Nişantaşı.

I’ve just returned from three magical days in the Lake District. Craggy mountains, mist over the fells, and the gentle hum of a Herdwick sheep or two. I stayed near Hill Top, once home to Beatrix Pott

A small eco-village owned and run by a British family is the perfect base to explore the surprising beauty of Lanzarote, says Helena Lang