With its romantic grounds, Sofiero Palace makes for a popular destination. The grounds are perhaps best known for their unparalleled rhododendrons, with an incredible 5,000 bushes bursting into flower in the spring. The fairytale of Sofiero began in 1864, when Crown Prince Oskar and his wife Sophia had their summer residence built here. In 1905, Oskar — by now King Oskar ll — gave the palace to his grandson Prince Gustav Adolf and his bride Princess Margareta as a wedding present. This is when the gardens literally flourished. Princess Margareta was a keen and creative gardener, and it was she who first laid out the grounds that we can enjoy to this day. She arranged flower beds and gardens, had paving laid and wasn’t afraid to get her hands dirty. Every summer, the Crown Prince couple travelled from Stockholm with their four young princes and Princess Ingrid, who eventually became Queen of Denmark. When Margareta died in 1920, Gustaf Adolf carried on the work in the garden, particularly with the rhododendrons. The palace was the summer residence of the Swedish royal family up until 1973, when it was given to the town of Helsingborg. This small palace, which lies like a jewel amid the extensive lawns, is home to a restaurant where the food is prepared by some of Sweden’s finest chefs. There’s also a café with views of the Öresund Sound and Denmark.

Producing four different variations of the local Turk's Head Beer, this brewery offers tours detailing how their signature ale is made, finishing off with a tasting course where you'll be able to try them all out. The gift shop here sells not only bottles that you can bring home, but also articles like t-shirts and other souvenirs.

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.

Plaza Mayor, the city's main square, is the heart of civic life in Ciudad Real, a lively open space surrounded by shops, restaurants, cafes and bars. When the weather is nice throngs of visitors and local residents flock to the square, making it the best place in town for people watching, as well as the best place to go for food, shopping and nightlife.