Jonathan Thompson
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Award-winning travel journalist. Host of #AdventureCities on @Discovery @PBS. Brit in the US 🇬🇧🇺🇸 #EFC
Articles by Jonathan Thompson
What Frank Lloyd Wright’s desert home taught me about happiness
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Just How English Is the Newest English Pub in Dallas?
I imagine we all have our own vision of the perfect drinking spot. For me, as an Englishman, it’s the local pub. Not a slick cocktail temple, a rowdy sports bar, or a swanky speakeasy, but a good old-fashioned boozer: creaky and cozy in all the right places. The kind of beer-soaked sanctuary where your troubles melt away in front of the fire, after your second pint of Old Speckled Hen. As an expat living in Dallas for a decade, I was overjoyed to discover a tavern of this ilk opening in Deep Ellum.
The World Cup Is About to Take Over the Summer—Here’s Your A-to-Z Guide to Soccer’s Biggest Event
Silhouette of soccer fans cheering. Credit: Melinda Nagy/Adobe Stock It’s not just soccer’s biggest event—it's the biggest event in sports. When the World Cup kicks off in North America this week, it’ll dwarf the Olympic Games, the World Series, and the Super Bowl combined, with an expected global audience of six billion; that’s around three-quarters of the Earth’s population, all glued to their screens.
Dallas' Must See List
An ex-pat’s guide to the city done right When I first moved to Dallas from London, I expected to find three things: BBQ, Tex-Mex and cowboy culture. After a decade of living happily in this modern, metropolitan metroplex, those stereotypes are, frankly, rarities in daily life. But whenever I host guests from home, they invariably arrive with the same three items on their grocery lists.
World Cup Etiquette
Pictured FIFA Fan Festival™ Dallas 1. RESPECT THE MORNING PINT There are two occasions when beers before lunch are acceptable: an early flight and FIFA World Cup 2026™. If you’re flying in to watch a game, that’s double validation. (It’s not “day drinking;” it’s global citizenship). Pictured The Morning Pint 2. ARRIVE EARLY Obviously at the stadium. But everywhere else too. Pubs and bars in Dallas will be packed throughout the tournament, so arrive at least an hour before kick-off to secure a spot.
Is Football Finally Coming Home?
This story is part of , which explores the figures who brought nine games to North Texas, where locals can join in (or escape) the fun, and the history of the World Cup in Dallas. Everybody remembers their first time. For me it was a man named Gary on a balmy night in Naples, during the long, hot summer of 1990. The man in question, Gary Lineker, had just scored his second goal of the game to send England through to the World Cup semifinals, and I was in love.
The Yank’s Guide to Proper Dallas Footie Pubs
They say an Englishman’s home is his castle. But that, to be frank, is bollocks. An Englishman’s true home is his local pub: a beer-bound bond that intensifies every other summer, when an international football tournament appears, glittering on the horizon.
Dan Hunt Shoots His Shot
This story is part of , which explores the figures who brought nine games to North Texas, where locals can join in (or escape) the fun, and the history of the World Cup in Dallas. Dan Hunt’s shoes are shocking. He might be president of FC Dallas, co-owner of the Kansas City Chiefs, and scion of a sports dynasty worth an estimated $25 billion, but nobody seems to have informed his footwear.
Where To Watch the World Cup for the Nations Coming to Dallas
This story is part of , which explores the figures who brought nine games to North Texas, where locals can join in (or escape) the fun, and the history of the World Cup in Dallas. Whether you like it or not, a summer of soccer is coming to Dallas, drawing some 3.8 million fans from across the world. That’s an invading army the size of the population of Los Angeles, with added flags, face paints, and party attitude.
The Men With Big Sticker Energy
“Got, got, need.” Say those three words in that order to any adult British male, and he will know exactly what you mean: football stickers. The global soccer equivalent of Topps baseball cards, World Cup stickers arrive before every tournament, with millions of collectors around the globe scrambling to complete their books as quickly as possible. Like baseball cards, soccer stickers are associated with boys aged 6 to 12.
This U.S. City Will Host the Most World Cup Matches—Here's How to Plan a FIFA-focused Trip Original
The World Cup trophy on display at Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge in Dallas in 2024. Credit: Omar Vega/FIFA via Getty Images Forget Friday night lights. This summer, Dallas will bask in a far more brilliant spotlight when it takes center stage for the world’s biggest sporting event.
This U.S. City Will Host the Most World Cup Matches—Here's How to Plan a FIFA-focused Trip
The World Cup trophy on display at Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge in Dallas in 2024.<br>Credit: Omar Vega/FIFA via Getty Images Forget Friday night lights. This summer, Dallas will bask in a far more brilliant spotlight when it takes center stage for the world’s biggest sporting event.
New Order
FEW CITIES TAKE music as seriously as Manchester. An epic roster of artists—the Smiths, the Stone Roses, Joy Division—emerged from England’s northern capital. And just as the city’s most prodigious musical sons, Oasis, recently staged a comeback, so, too, did Manchester. The new headline act is Co-op Live, which bills itself as Britain’s largest entertainment arena, hosting not only concerts but sporting events, comedy shows, and more.
Hyatt Ziva Los Cabos
Photos Book Now Multiple Buying Options Available Amenities Bar Beach Family Free Wifi Kids Program Pool Spa Rooms 607 Why book? For glorious oceanfront downtime and amazing value in Mexico’s most luxurious resort town—and some of the best food you’ll ever eat at an all-inclusive property. Set the scene Jaws routinely drop on arrival at the Hyatt Ziva Los Cabos, thanks to its showstopping opening view.
To infinity and beyond in Rocket City
“Houston, we have a problem. Our shuttle is on a fiery collision course with the Earth, and there’s absolutely nothing we can do about it.” This astronauting business is way harder than it looks. It’s day one of Space Camp, and things are not going well. We—a crew of dreamers and misfits in blue NASA jumpsuits—manage to survive the simulation by crash-landing into a Floridian swamp, but the computer pulls no punches.
4 Days in Dallas: Stetsons, Samurai Armor, and Seriously Good Tex-Mex
In Dallas, sun-drenched days tend to revolve around two questions: What are we eating, and who are we watching? The Texan city is home to the Dallas Cowboys, the world’s most valuable sports franchise, and this summer will host more soccer matches than any other U.S. city during the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Meanwhile, its restaurant scene is enjoying a major renaissance, devouring national accolades, trophies, and Michelin stars with a Texas-size appetite.
The Best Ski Socks We’ve Ever Tested on the Slopes
Credit: Travel + Leisure I’ve been skiing for more than 30 years: a passion that’s taken me from Alaska’s steeps-and-deeps to the virgin slopes of Antarctica, via the well-carved curves and couloirs of France, Switzerland, Austria, Japan, the U.S., and Canada. Early in my career as an avid skier and travel writer, I began appreciating that the gear that makes a big difference, like ski socks.
This U.K. City Is Making a Cultural Comeback—How to Plan a Perfect a Trip Now Original
The crowd at the last Oasis show in Manchester's Heaton Park on Sunday July 20, 2025. Credit: Antoine Jaussaud/Getty Images Few cities take music as seriously as Manchester. An epic chorus of artists and sounds have emerged from the streets of England’s northern capital, from the soaring guitars of The Smiths and The Stone Roses to the upbeat synth-pop of New Order and Joy Division.
Tennis Star Novak Djokovic on His Favorite Hotel in the World, His Major Travel Weakness, and the Weirdest Item He Packs Original
Novak Djokovic on the beach at the Amanpuri resort in Thailand. Credit: Aman Novak Djokovic laughs in the face of jet lag. For more than two decades, the world’s most successful male tennis player has traveled the world to compete, collecting 24 Grand Slam titles and an Olympic gold medal along the way. During that time, he’s perfected his form when it comes to smashing travel fatigue as well as tennis balls.
The A to Z of FIFA World Cup 2026™ in Dallas
V is for Vanta Downtown Dallas’ rooftop soccer pitch, on top of the Plaza of the Americas, has partnered with Nike for a six-week soccer activation. Think daily match viewings, free rooftop pickup games, new product launches – and up to $60,000 in winnable prizes. W is for Women’s World Cup Great news: the US is also hosting the Women’s World Cup in 2031, and Dallas is among the favorites for the final.
London’s original fast food is making a comeback. Bring on the jellied eels.
London’s original fast food is making a comeback. Bring on the jellied eels. (washingtonpost.com) London’s original fast food is making a comeback. Bring on the jellied eels. By Jonathan Thompson 2025121010000000 LONDON — As a light drizzle starts outside, the river of people flowing through the famous doors at M.Manze becomes a flood. It's noon on a Tuesday, and they are all here for the same thing: hot pie, mash and liquor. Like the pastry, the place is stuffed to the brim.
Hyatt Ziva Puerto Vallarta Hotel Review
Photos Hyatt Ziva Puerto Vallarta Multiple Buying Options Available Amenities Beach Family Gym Kids Program Pool Spa Wifi Rooms 335 Why book? For exceptional all-inclusive value in a little pocket of paradise—and the kind of deep relaxation that feels like sorcery. Set the scene Perched on a peaceful bay within a bay, the Hyatt Ziva is sandwiched between sharp jungle peaks and the soft buttery sand of its own private beach.
America’s domestic airlines – ranked from worst to best
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America’s domestic airlines – ranked from worst to best
Microsoft Cares About Your Privacy Microsoft and our third-party vendors use cookies to store and access information such as unique IDs to deliver, maintain and improve our services and ads. If you agree, MSN and Microsoft Bing will personalise the content and ads that you see. You can select ‘I Accept’ to consent to these uses or click on ‘Manage preferences’ to review your options and exercise your right to object to Legitimate Interest where used.
How to experience the 2026 FIFA World Cup like a pro fan
The 2026 FIFA World Cup will include 104 matches over 39 days. Photograph By Thomas Linkel/laif,Redux For a sense of how truly enormous the FIFA World Cup is, consider this statistic. The last Super Bowl was watched by 128 million people, while the last World Cup Final was watched by 1.5 billion people—more than 10 times as many.
How to experience the 2026 FIFA World Cup like a pro fan Original
For a sense of how truly enormous the FIFA World Cup is, consider this statistic. The last Super Bowl was watched by 128 million people, while the last World Cup Final was watched by 1.5 billion people—more than 10 times as many. The World Cup is not just the biggest soccer event on the planet, it’s a bona fide cultural phenomenon, sparking everything from wars (between Honduras and El Salvador in 1969) to seismic activity (Mexico’s 2018 defeat of Germany).
7 Grown-Up Getaways For Guys Who Don’t Want A Boys’ Trip
It’s appropriate that the most famous Gen X film about stag parties is called The Hangover. Back then, an entire generation of gentlemen expected to jet off to foreign climes and test the limits of their livers whenever their peers popped the question. Now it seems, the party is over.
This Unassuming Neighborhood Cafe Was Just Named the Best Coffee Shop in the World—and No, It's Not in Italy Original
A cup of pour over being made. Photo: Courtesy of Toby’s Estate Coffee Roasters The line snaked down the sidewalk behind a velour rope as if it belonged to a nightclub. But it was noon on a sunny Tuesday afternoon in Sydney, and these patrons were seeking an entirely different buzz. The eager anticipation was for a hot spot that’s steaming all day.
Whistler in the Summer: Adventure Cities TV Show
As an outsider, you’d be forgiven for thinking that winter sports are Whistler’s raison d’être. This is, after all, the largest ski resort in North America. But these epic mountains are put to good use over the summer months too – as I discovered on an action-packed shoot for my TV show, Adventure Cities.
The 21 Best Things to Do in Austin
34,691 people played the daily Crossword recently. Can you solve it faster than others? 34,691 people played the daily Crossword recently. Can you solve it faster than others?
The Ancient Irish Spirit That's Making a Comeback After 350 Years Original
“I was drunk from the feet up,” said Colm Oates, laughing. We were sitting in the corner of his Belfast pub, The Garrick, as he recalled his first taste of poitín. “I tried to stand, but my legs didn’t get the message.” Speak to any Belfast native about poitín — an ancient, potent, and notoriously illegal Irish spirit — and you’ll hear tales of drinkers going blind, suffering memory loss, or waking up in unseemly places.
OODLES OF NOODLES
I HEARD THE MUSIC before I smelled the food: the full-flavored riffs of AC/DC. Then, as I ducked to enter the tiny restaurant, I got a waft of something even heavier—a perfect harmony of miso and broth. A handful of diners were clustered around a wooden counter, their rapt expressions mimicking the song coming out of the speakers: “Thunderstruck.” The city of Sapporo, Japan’s northernmost metropolis, is renowned for seafood, skiing, and a snow festival.
A cultural guide to Nashville
Nashville is a nirvana for country music lovers, with more than 180 live venues of all shapes and sizes scattered across town like rhinestones. But beyond this musical mosaic of honky-tonks, dance halls and auditoriums, Nashville has plenty of other faces too. A charming Tennessee city frequently topping polls of the best places to live in the U.S., it has evolved into a vibrant hub for tech, the visual arts and soul-galvanizing Southern cooking.
A cultural guide to Houston
To those who’ve never been, Houston has a reputation as a gargantuan city of “black gold” and cowboy boots, eternally fixed in pop-culture space lore through Apollo 13’s famed report that “… we have a problem.” But beneath the oil city’s 10-gallon hat and boot scootin’ clichés, you’ll find a spirited international metropolis that is officially the most diverse city in the U.S. Nearly one in four of H-Town’s 2.3 million inhabitants is foreign-born, with 145 different languages spoken, and an...
Antarctica: why the bottom of the Earth should be top of your bucket list
Antarctica is the ultimate adventure travel destination – and the competition’s not even close. As a working travel writer, without fail, I’m asked the same question at least once a month: “Where’s the best place you’ve ever been?” And for the past 15 years, my answer has always been the same: Antarctica.
This Buzzy London Neighborhood Has Long Been a Favorite Among Locals and Travelers - and Has Some Must-visit New Spots
Soho steps back into the spotlight — here's what's new. There’s a line in Edgar Wright’s 2021 movie "Last Night in Soho" that neatly captures the spirit of London’s liveliest neighborhood. “Being here among all these lights,” says Matt Smith’s character. “It’s the closest most people will ever get to being on stage.” That bright, Bohemian stage welcomes a new headline act recently: the Broadwick Soho, a 57-room boutique hotel on peppy Broadwick Street.
This Buzzy London Neighborhood Has Long Been a Favorite Among Locals and Travelers - and Has Some Must-visit New Spots Original
Trending Videos Photo: Visit London There’s a line in Edgar Wright’s 2021 movie "Last Night in Soho" that neatly captures the spirit of London’s liveliest neighborhood. “Being here among all these lights,” says Matt Smith’s character. “It’s the closest most people will ever get to being on stage.” That bright, Bohemian stage welcomes a new headline act recently: the Broadwick Soho, a 57-room boutique hotel on peppy Broadwick Street.
This Buzzy London Neighborhood Has Long Been a Favorite Among Locals and Travelers - and Has Some Must-visit New Spots
Soho steps back into the spotlight — here's what's new. There’s a line in Edgar Wright’s 2021 movie "Last Night in Soho" that neatly captures the spirit of London’s liveliest neighborhood. “Being here among all these lights,” says Matt Smith’s character. “It’s the closest most people will ever get to being on stage.” That bright, Bohemian stage welcomes a new headline act recently: the Broadwick Soho, a 57-room boutique hotel on peppy Broadwick Street.
This Japanese City Is The Birthplace Of Miso Ramen - And Its Best Spot Is In A Tiny Alley
India, Jan. 23 -- I hear the music before I smell the food; the full-flavoured riffs of ACDC. Then, as I duck to enter the tiny restaurant, I get a waft of something even heavier: a perfect, sizzling harmony of umami. A handful of diners are clustered around a wooden counter, their rapt expressions mimicking the song, Thunderstruck. The city of Sapporo, Japan's northernmost metropolis, is renowned for seafood, skiing, and its international snow festival.
This Japanese City Is the Birthplace of Miso Ramen — and Its Best Spot Is in a Tiny Lantern-lit Alley
I hear the music before I smell the food; the full-flavored riffs of ACDC. Then, as I duck to enter the tiny restaurant, I get a waft of something even heavier: a perfect, sizzling harmony of umami. A handful of diners are clustered around a wooden counter, their rapt expressions mimicking the song, Thunderstruck. The city of Sapporo, Japan’s northernmost metropolis, is renowned for seafood, skiing, and its international snow festival.
10 of the best hotels in Boston, from a glamorous five-star property to budget-friendly options
In the 19th century, Boston was nicknamed 'The Hub of the Solar System' such was its importance at the heart of the young American nation. Ask any of the passionate locals - especially Red Sox baseball fans - and they'll say it's still an accurate description. The star at the centre of this particular galaxy is a compact 400-year-old downtown, home to a collection of historic sites that form the core of the Freedom Trail, and the harbour where the Boston Tea Party protest took place 250 years ago.
Birdie's - Restaurant Review
What were your first impressions when you arrived? Quaint on an East Austin corner in a 1949 white brick building with cerulean-framed doors and windows, Birdie’s lived many lives before becoming the high-low counter service spot it is now. A former grocery-laundromat-warehouse hub, it’s now a fine-casual restaurant that’s dog- and kid-friendly.
SOHO STEPS OUT
1. ALMA BAR A subterranean 1970s lounge with the décor and soundtrack to match—sink into a rust-gold velvet banquette and catch a Saturday-night DJ set, with a mix of disco, R&B, and house. 2. BROADWICK SOHO Opening in November, this 57-room boutique hotel will be one of the year’s biggest debuts, with interiors by Martin Brudnizki.
A cultural guide to Austin
Overview Named for its main thoroughfare, South Congress is just across the river (and the famous " Bat Bridge") from downtown Austin. Here, you'll find an eclectic mix of hip artisan stores, coffee shops and boutique hotels, as well as Austin's famously Instagram-friendly "I Love You" mural. Grab a burger from Hopdoddy, chic leather gifts from Noah Marion and rare first editions from South Congress Books before catching a gig at the iconic Continental Club.
"You're My Butter Half" Mural - Mural Review
So, what’s this place about? Insta-famous East Austin outdoor mural created in 2012 by local designer John Rockwell and the Creative Suitcase team as a love letter to Austin.
The 10 Commandments of Solo Travel
Solo travel is nothing new. Individuals have been traversing the globe since before records began. What is new is the number of us venturing to foreign shores alone. According to travel search engine Kayak, hunts for single-person flights in 2023 are up a whopping 36% on 2022, while Google Trends show a post-pandemic surge in searches for “solo travel” hitting an all-time high. The benefits of traveling alone are well documented, from maximum flexibility to zero need to compromise.
Group travel was the tonic I needed after a breast cancer diagnosis
Megan Barry 11th Aug 2023 6 min read 890 Facing your own mortality aged 33 is something most people don’t have to go through. It was an experience that reframed how I live my life. When I first felt a lump in my breast, I was working as a paediatric neurologist at a hospital in Denver, Colorado. We were mid-pandemic, too, so things were pretty intense. I was diagnosed with breast cancer soon after, beginning months of chemotherapy, radiotherapy and immunotherapy.
Maintaining long-distance friendships: lessons from solo travel
Long-distance friendships require a mutual commitment from both sides with solid communication and a good understanding of each other. But how do you make them last? You don’t need to be in contact every day but when you do speak, be it via text, phone or email, it should feel like no time has passed, and the friendship easily picks up where it left off. These friendships don’t have to have been formed from years of knowing each other, either.
10 expert tips for solo travel
Solo travel is nothing new. Individuals have been traversing the globe since before records began. What is new is the number of us venturing to foreign shores alone. According to travel search engine Kayak, hunts for single-person flights in 2023 are up a whopping 36% on 2022, while Google Trends show a post-pandemic surge in searches for “solo travel” hitting an all-time high. The benefits of traveling alone are well documented, from maximum flexibility to zero need to compromise.
Friend or UFO? The growing trend of alien tourism
5 The Roswell UFO Festival is of one of a handful of live events now cashing in on 'the grey dollar' - Alamy The United States government waited more than 50 years before officially acknowledging the existence of Area 51 – the top-secret facility that has become a focal point for generations of extra-terrestrial enthusiasts. And last week, Congress heard they were possibly concealing a lot more.
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