For those who set eyes on Deansgate's John Rylands Library for the first time, 'library' might not be the first word that comes to mind. This masterpiece of Victorian Gothic architecture looks more like a castle or cathedral. When John Rylands died in 1888, he was one of Manchester's most successful industrialists with a personal fortune of £2.75 million. The library was commissioned in 1890 by his wife Enriqueta Rylands in memory of her late husband. This world-class collection includes the oldest known piece of the New Testament, the St John Fragment. Other treasures of the vast, varied collection include magnificent illuminated medieval manuscripts and a 1476 William Caxton edition of Chaucer's Canterbury Tales.

Ranked by Le Figaro as one of the most beautiful beaches in France, La Plage du Petit Spérone transports visitors to an entirely different world. With pure waters and fine golden sand, it's as if a tropical island has magically appeared in the Mediterranean. What sets this beach apart is its serenity, even during the peak summer months it remains remarkably uncrowded.

The Victoria Baths complex was designed by Manchester's first City Architect Henry Price, and opened in 1906. No expense was spared — the façade has multicoloured brickwork and terracotta decoration, the interior spaces are clad in glazed tiles and most of the windows have decorative stained glass. At the opening ceremony, the Lord Mayor described Victoria Baths as “a water palace of which every citizen of Manchester is proud”. For 86 years the baths provided both essential and leisure facilities. Private baths and a laundry were housed there alongside three swimming pools and Turkish Baths. In 1952 the first public Aeratone (Jacuzzi) was installed. Even though the baths were closed in 1993, the Grade II listed building is remarkably intact with most of the stained glass and original tiling remaining. Victoria Baths opens from March/April to October/November each year for weekly guided tours, public open days and special events.

The centrepiece of La Palma's incredible National Park is Caldera de Taburiente, a 10-kilometre wide crater, whose walls tower up to 2,000 metres over the caldera floor. An extended period of erosion caused the soil to sink, creating an enormous pit in place of a once-existing mountain. The park itself contains scenic hiking trails, waterfalls, forests, and is characterised by its breathtaking natural landscapes.