1 PLEASURE BEACH
It doesn’t take much to be transported back to childhood during a visit to Blackpool, even if you have been drawn there for matters of business. Perhaps the most renowned attraction of the northwest coastal resort is the Pleasure Beach. The amusement park was created by William George Bean in 1896 “to make adults feel like children again and inspire gaiety of a primarily innocent character”. It’s home to the oldest ride in Europe, Sir Hiram Maxim’s Captive Flying Machines (created by the eponymous inventor of the world’s first portable machine gun), in operation since 1904. Other highlights include four wooden rollercoasters, the Big One (the tallest rollercoaster in the country) and the latest hair-raiser, the Icon, a wonderfully smooth ride that offers the same acceleration as that experienced by a Formula One driver. You could easily spend a day here, but if time is short, pay £10 for entry-only and purchase individual ride tickets. The upmarket Boulevard hotel, located on the edge of the park, has been newly built by the Pleasure Beach group. It’s reviewed at businesstraveller.com/tried-andtested. blackpoolpleasurebeach.com
2 NOTARIANNI ICE
Denne historien er fra April 2020-utgaven av Business Traveller UK.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra April 2020-utgaven av Business Traveller UK.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
The rail thing - Why airlines and train companies are partnering to increase options for travellers on short journeys
An intercity flight connection operated by train would have been almost unthinkable in the early 1990s, but in 2024 it will increasingly be the default experience at many European hub airports. European nations have been among the world's leaders in adopting high-speed rail for short-distance trips, along with Asian countries such as Japan and China.
Adventures in Albania - From paranoid dictatorship to dream travel destination, why the Balkan nation is ready for its moment in the sun
Over the past few years, tourism has shot up stratospherically; recent figures from the European Travel Commission show it's grown 86 per cent since 2019. Its GDP per capita has also been increasing, and last year stood at US$8,800, while the average monthly salary is now around 84,000 lek (£704). Foreign direct investment is also on the rise, with countries including Switzerland, Italy, and the Netherlands targeting sectors such as energy, mining, information and real estate to a value of around US$1.5 billion in 2022, according to UNCTAD's World Investment Report. Not bad for a country which used to depend on foreign food aid.
Sushi Kanesaka at 45 Park Lane, London
Watching Kanesaka work his magic is performance in itself
Scandic Spectrum, Copenhagen
An impressive corporate hotel just minutes from Copenhagen's centre
Kimpton Clocktower, Manchester
The perfect mix of gorgeous heritage design with cool, cosmopolitan attitude
Mandarin Oriental Mayfair, London
A stunning success another calming experience in the capital
Eurostar Business Premier LONDON-PARIS
It remains the superior service for those travelling from London to Paris
Qatar Airways Boeing 777-300ER first class DOHA-HONG KONG
There is a lot to like, but my experience was far from perfect
4 HOURS IN...Vienna
You'll be spoiled for choice when it comes to the Austrian capital's museums, galleries and historic cafes
SWITCHING OFF IN...THE LOIRE VALLEY
Escape to the secluded forests of the Loire Valley for a digital detox
