Sarah James

1 month ago | cntraveller.com | Sarah James

Birmingham holds no grand illusions of its standing in the pecking order of British cities. Even in the cabin-feverish pandemic era of rediscovering home soil, England’s second city remained left behind. Manchester has its music and Bristol its street art. Birmingham? Off the top of most people’s heads, and in no particular order: Ozzy Osbourne, Peaky Blinders and an accent that’s “worse than staying silent”, according to one study a few years ago.

1 month ago | cntravellerme.com | Sarah James

There's not a lot left unsaid about the South of France. Its allure is well-documented, its paths – from the sleepy villages and light-bathed vineyards of Provence to the glittering, glitzy coastline of the French Riviera – well-trodden. So when we heard that Louis Vuitton was hosting its 2026 Cruise Show in an often-overlooked corner of the region, our ears pricked up.

1 month ago | flipboard.com | Sarah James

NowTwo years ago, a circuit breaker in my home’s electrical panel randomly failed and shorted out—and it began to melt and smoke. I called emergency services, and according to the firefighters who inspected the panel, the circuit was a few minutes away from turning into a full-blown fire. Had my …

1 month ago | cntravellerme.com | Sarah James

It’s 2.30pm on a spring afternoon in Paris, the sun bathing the streets in golden light that makes it easy to fall in love with the French capital all over again. Or maybe that’s just how I feel – because on this particular Sunday in May, I’m winding my way to Gare d'Austerlitz to take a trip I’ve been dreaming about since I became a travel journalist. I’m here to board the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, A Belmond Train. Arriving at the station feels surreal.

1 month ago | cntraveller.in | Sarah James

Picture a field of lavender, and you'll likely conjure up an image of Provence's rolling hills, braided with rows upon rows of the purple flower. But you can also find these fields in the UK. Throughout the summer months (June through to September, specifically), you can find breathtaking swathes of lavender across the UK – if you know where to look.