Planet Whitley

The Oslofjord from the Bygdoy Peninsula.

How to get to Oslo’s Bygdoy Peninsula when the ferry isn’t running

The Bygdoy Peninsula ferry in Oslo is seasonal and doesn’t run in the evening. The best alternative to reach the Fram Museum or Kon-Tiki Museum is the number 30 bus. Why visit Bygdoy in Oslo? The Bygdoy Peninsula is one of the highlights of Oslo.…

ferries, Norway, Oslo, public transport

Seeing takahe and Haast tokoeka at the Orokonui Ecosanctuary

The Orokonui Ecosanctuary near Dunedin is home to some of New Zealand’s rarest endangered birds. Here’s how to visit. Returning to pre-human New Zealand As tasks go, returning a 307 hectare valley to how it would have looked before humans would have arrived in New…

birds, Dunedin, New Zealand, South Island, wildlife

Sign at Slope Point on New Zealand's Catlins Coast.

Discover nature’s beauty on New Zealand’s Catlins Coast

Very few people need to drive along New Zealand’s Catlins Coast. And that’s what makes the road trip so enjoyable. Native birds at Kaka Point The noise along the muddy tracks near Kaka Point is extraordinary. Glimpses of wing and tail can be caught amongst…

driving, New Zealand, South Island, waterfalls, wildlife

The best place to shop in Manchester

Affleck’s in the Northern Quarter is often regarded as the best place to shop in Manchester. But there’s a strong argument for the Manchester Craft and Design Centre, too. Shopping in Manchester’s Northern Quarter Manchester’s Northern Quarter is renowned for its bars and restaurants, but…

England, Manchester, shopping, UK

The best free attraction in Manchester: The Science and Industry Museum

Inside a historic rail terminal, the Science and Industry Museum is Manchester’s best free attraction. Go for the Textiles Gallery and Revolution Manchester sections first. Free things to do in Manchester There are several free attractions in Manchester, including the Manchester Museum, the People’s History…

Inside the John Rylands Library, Manchester.

How to get into Manchester’s Rylands Library if you’re not a student

There’s no entrance fee to go inside Manchester’s John Rylands Library, but opening hours are limited for this Victorian wonder. Manchester’s most enjoyable heritage building? In Manchester, much of the history leans towards the industrial side of things. This is why the John Rylands Library…

England, Manchester, UK

Bison roaming in the road on Antelope Island, Utah.

Antelope Island – the surprising bison refuge of Utah’s Great Salt Lake

In the middle of Utah’s Great Salt Lake, Antelope Island is home to a thriving bison herd. Here’s why. The size of Utah’s Great Salt Lake There’s a magnificent starkness to Utah’s Great Salt Lake. A thin coating of water covers patches of it, but…

USA, Utah, wildlife

The National Maritime Museum in Greenwich, London.

Fascinating naval origins of common expressions in Greenwich

Pushing the boat out at the National Maritime Museum in Greenwich One of the unexpected delights of the National Maritime Museum in Greenwich, London, is learning where certain phrases come from. The Nelson, Navy, Nation gallery of the museum focuses a lot on Navy life…

England, Greenwich, language, London, museums, UK

Me, posing on a quad bike before things got scary.

Terror on a quad bike in Cappadocia

When the speed and stunts of a quad bike tour in Cappadocia, Turkey, get too much, it’s easy to feel old and cowardly. The view from the top of the hill It’s the hill that marks my passing from youth into middle age. Emre ploughs…

adrenalin, Cappadocia, Turkey

Crown Fountain in Millennium Park, Chicago.

Top Attractions in Millennium Park: Cloud Gate, Crown Fountain & Pritzker Pavilion

Millennium Park in Chicago features iconic artworks like Cloud Gate, Crown Fountain, and Pritzker Pavilion, showcasing stunning public art.

art, Chicago, Illinois, parks, USA

Planet Whitley

Türkiye vs Turkey: When do you start using a country’s new name?

Why Rome is a brilliant city for solo travellers

Why leaf-peeping is not just for old people

Some random observations about driving in the US

Revisiting Chicago – and why the third visit to a city is often the best

The day I decided to walk to France

Montreal is Canada’s best city: Here’s why…

Muri, Rarotonga: The perfect holiday town?

Why booking a family holiday is horrible – and how to improve it

The two things Rome’s piazzas sadly lack