Bournemouth Pier stands as a historic testament to the town’s Victorian-era origins as a seaside resort. While there has been a pier at Bournemouth since 1856, the structure that graces the shoreline today, stretching over 304 metres, was completed in the early 20th century. It remains the central focus of the beachfront, a grand and enduring symbol of traditional British coastal leisure. Today, the pier is all about action and great views. You can fuel up with a coffee and a pasty at the entrance before heading straight for the award-winning RockReef, an indoor adventure playground where you can tackle climbing walls or take a leap of faith. For the biggest rush, launch off the tower on the PierZip, the world's first pier-to-shore zip wire, soaring right over the waves. After all that, settle in at the Key West Bar & Restaurant at the pier's end. It’s the perfect spot to unwind with fantastic food, live music, and those unbeatable panoramic sea views.

This folk festival is held in late August, early September, when the grape harvest begins. In Funchal and Estreito de Câmara de Lobos, this occasion is celebrated with decorations, music, and dancing. It will be hard to refuse a glass of one of the many wines flowing in celebration.

Shinjuku's Kabukicho red-light district transforms after dark into a spectacle of neon-lit alleyways. The experience is defined by its visual energy, from the looming Godzilla head to the blinking signs of robot-themed restaurants. While not officially part of the district, the nearby lanes of Golden Gai and Omoide Yokocho offer a contrasting, intimate atmosphere with their tiny, traditional bars and eateries. A relatively new addition to the neighbourhood, Thermae-Yu is a six-storey onsen. The complex uses natural hot spring water sourced daily from Shizuoka. With facilities open for 22 hours every day, it functions as a popular overnight refuge for those who have missed the last train, offering a place to rest until the city stirs again at dawn.