The peabody ducks

The Australian city’s home-grown food scene is going from strength to strength, with in-water oyster experiences and garden bush-tucker tours on offer, plus a new-look Sydney Fish Market on the horizon

Jolly frock-coated robins, majestic geese and arboreal partridges make for both literal and symbolic centrepieces at Christmas, says Matthew Dennison, as he revels in the cultural history of the season’s feathered fowl and game

It’s more than 350 years since Marrakech last held the title of Morocco’s capital, but in many ways it still feels like the heart of the country. International designers and bohemians have been drawn to the city for decades. And though Marrakech’s fortunes have ebbed and flowed over the past millennium, tourism is booming right now. It’s the mix of old and new that tends to captivate: art galleries sit alongside ancient tombs, while crumbling, labyrinthine alleys lead to gilded coffeehouses and chic garden cafes — all framed by the Atlas Mountains. Luxury hotels have sprung up on the city’s outskirts like glittering palaces, but there’s nothing quite like staying within the amber-hued walls of the 11th-century medina, where riads (traditional townhouses) offer memorable retreats.

Superstar chef Heston Blumenthal reveals the one thing his Christmas can’t be without, in an exclusive chat. Discover what’s on his festive menu, his favourite wines and a Michelin-level recipe to try at home

With beehives and a garden on the roof, the countryside doesn’t seem so far away at this elegant London hotel that’s perfect for a festive stay

The power and glory of Parisian art