Bella Gomes

Ah, September. In the northern hemisphere, summer is drawing to a close, but in the south, spring is only just beginning. It’s a time between the mid-year travel peak and the busy festive season, and that means it’s a solid time to get away.  It’s also cheaper, the weather is more temperate and there’s a cracking roster of festivals and local traditions scheduled for this time of year, from region-wide book fairs and rock music festivals to scenic annual wine tours and massive flea markets. So, no matter the vibe you’re after this September, our list of the best places to travel will have something for you. RECOMMENDED:✈️The best places to travel in October🗺️Full guide to the best places to travel🛍️The world’s coolest neighbourhoods🎭The best cities for culture right now At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines and check out our latest travel guides written by local experts. This guide includes affiliate links, which have no influence on our editorial content. For more information, see our affiliate guidelines. 

What is the most beautiful place in the world? Well, beauty is subjective – it’s in the eye of the beholder, so they say – so that’s really up to your own definition. To some, there’s nowhere more beautiful than Bolivia’s otherworldly mirrored salt flats; to others, California’s rugged coast takes the crown.  Luckily, the world isn’t held to the same rigid beauty standards as humans are. We asked our network of globetrotting travel writers to tell us the most beautiful place they’ve ever been to. The resulting list is a definitive, but by no means exhaustive, guide to the most stunning spots our planet has to offer. We update this list regularly, ensuring we’re including the big-hitters while considering the impact of overtourism and spotlighting lesser-known beauty spots. From gigantic glaciers and shape-shifting beaches to ancient woodland and lantern-lit cities, here’s what we reckon are the most beautiful places on Earth – chosen by travel writers who’ve seen them all IRL. Grace Beard is Time Out’s travel editor, based in London. At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines and check out our latest travel guides written by local experts.RECOMMENDED:⛰️ The most beautiful UNESCO World Heritage Sites🗺 The most underrated travel destinations in the world🧭 The best places to travel solo🏝 The best beaches in the world

There isn’t really a bad time of year to go on holiday, but if, like the majority of us, you plan on packing a bag and heading off on a jaunt in August, we’re here to help. Why? Well, go-to summer destinations can mean copping a sunbed feels more like a military drill, and flights and accommodation teeter at the more expensive end of the scale – hardly relaxing, is it? Fear not, weary traveller. There are in fact plenty of spots across the planet which show their quieter side in August, making it the best time of year to go and appreciate them, from the plains of East Africa to the streets of South America. So, without further ado, these are the best places in the world to travel in August.  RECOMMENDED:✈️The best places to travel in September🗺️Full guide to the best places to travel🛍️The world’s coolest neighbourhoods🎭The best cities for culture right now At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines and check out our latest travel guides written by local experts. This guide includes affiliate links, which have no influence on our editorial content. For more information, see our affiliate guidelines. 

Been yomping around the National Gallery and not quite up to the swankiness of Richard Corrigan’s Portrait? Cue Ochre, its younger, more relaxed cousin. The National Gallery’s tranquil in-house brasserie serves up modern English fare alongside an impressive array of art-inspired cocktails; a rare oasis of calm in the heart of hectic central London.  Nestled in the William Wilkins building (the one with the whopping great big columns out front), Ochre benefits from the footfall of both gallery goers and theatre attendees. However, the restaurant resists the temptation to rest on the laurels of prime location and a captive audience. Instead, Ochre stands firmly on its own merits, with tasteful interiors and a creatively curated menu that riffs on adjacent artworks without milking it for clout. A rare oasis of calm in the heart of hectic central London Let’s talk about those interiors. Everything radiates a warm light, and zig-zag booths run parallel to a grand marble bar while cane-backed chairs inject an appropriately contemporary touch into the early 19th century space. When it comes to music, there’s an eclectic mix of light jazz, 1950s chanson, and homegrown R&B. The menu is fairly predictable, but can be forgiven for leaning on the familiar. Amongst the ‘Ochre cheeseburger’ and ‘Ochre caesar salad’ are flashes of real originality, such as an attractively plated burrata, served with fennel and orange - very Bubala. The usual suspects of brasserie dining are well executed,

Look from west to east along the banks of Royal Victoria Dock and you’ll observe a real time history lesson. Fourteen preserved 20th century cranes signify London’s transition from industrial to corporate powerhouse, as they stand in the shadow of Canary Wharf’s glittering skyscrapers. At the heart of it all floats the Sunborn London Yacht Hotel.  The 420-foot superyacht offers 138 rooms spread across five decks. With plenty of brass features, wooden cladding and anchor-print carpets, you’re not at risk of forgetting you’re on a ship. But that’s not to its detriment. A stay on the Sunborn is a novel and enjoyable experience; tasteful spacious cabins and a restaurant with great views across to sparkling Isle of Dogs mark the hotel’s distinct charm. And, although the double curved-staircase and giant chandelier in the foyer feel a bit dated, the brilliant staff more than make up for it with their friendly and attentive service.   Sure, it’s a little kitsch here and there, but this is a totally pleasant and unique hotel to stay in – and minutes from the ExCel, the Sunborn would make a great choice for couples or families planning to attend any of the hundreds of events hosted there every year. Plus, the multiple external decks will make for some seriously good sunbathing on a summer’s day (fingers crossed), perfected only by a dip at the nearby Royal Docks lido.  Neighbourhood The area isn’t exactly bustling, so a stay on the Sunborn is really about the novelty of sleeping on a