Orla Thomas
- Writer and Editor, Freelance
- Associate Editor, National Geographic Traveler
- Freelance Editor, The Times
- Freelance Editor, The Sunday Times
London
Associate editor of @NatGeoTravel, also freelance writing and editing for @TheTimes @Telegraph @lonelyplanet @Independent among others
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Articles by Orla Thomas
Kypr, jak ho neznáte: vinice, vodopády a horské vesnice pohoří Troodos
Ostrovní stát Kypr leží na východním okraji Středomoří, na křižovatce tří kontinentů, a tahle poloha hluboce poznamenala jeho dějiny. Ostrov si postupně podmanila nekonečná řada říší, mimo jiné Řekové, Římané, Byzantinci a Osmané, až se v roce 1878 stal britským protektorátem. Právě tito poslední vládci si za letní hlavní město, kde by unikli vedru na pobřeží, vybrali vysoko položené zalesněné pohoří Troodos. Místní sem od jara do podzimu jezdí dodnes.
Kde bývaly doly, dnes roste les: Objevte zelené srdce Anglie i 1200 let starý dub
Za 35 let se krajina zjizvená těžkým průmyslem v hrabstvích Leicestershire, Derbyshire a Staffordshire proměnila v les pokrývající zhruba 520 kilometrů čtverečních. Oblast propojuje zbytky prastarých hvozdů Needwood a Charnwood; roste tu deset milionů stromů – od statných lísek a habrů po břízu bělokorou. A spolu s nimi vyrůstají kavárny, hospody a malé pivovary. Sídlo Calke Abbey v hrabství Derbyshire z 18.
How to Plan a Trip to Cyprus's Vine-Clad Troodos Mountains Original
This article was produced by National Geographic Traveller(UK). An island nation in the Mediterranean’s eastern fringes, Cyprus sits at the intersection of three continents — a geographical position that’s profoundly shaped its history. Annexed by an endless parade of empires — including the Greeks, Romans, Byzantines and Ottomans — in 1878, Cyprus became a British protectorate.
Visit England's Ambitious Woodland Restoration Project Original
This article was produced by National Geographic Traveller(UK). Over the past 35 years, an ambitious environmental project has been doing something remarkable in Leicestershire, Derbyshire and Staffordshire — transforming an industry-scarred patch of the landscape into a forest that covers some 200 square miles. Linking what remains of the ancient woodlands of Needwood and Charnwood, the area is home to 10 million trees, from stately hazels and hornbeams to the fast-growing silver birch.
Data centres, oil, and independence: Pressure mounts on the SNP
As the Scottish government returns from its summer recess with its ‘Programme for Government’ announced, SNP leader John Swinney is facing heat from both his opponents and his own supporters. One of the most anticipated parts of the Programme was the SNP’s plans for AI data centres. However, all Swinney could proclaim from atop his fencepost was that there will be an announcement of a plan… at some point.
AI and the state: how big tech bought the data centre boom
East Havering, Epping, Elsham, Brick Lane, Blyth, Beaconsfield, Blackpool. All are set to see the building of new data centres. Ever wonder where they are all suddenly coming from? The UK is planning a massive expansion of data centers across the country, with nearly 100 new facilities expected by 2030. Two of these are expected to have higher UK carbon emissions than ExxonMobil! The British state is greasing the wheels of big tech.
The Best Hotels in Majorca, From Rural Escapes to City Hideaways Original
This article was produced by National Geographic Traveller (UK). The largest of Spain’s Balearics, Majorca has a hotel scene as diverse as the island itself. In the capital city of Palma, you’ll find stylish crash pads and converted palaces, while the peaceful interior — home to charming hilltop villages and the Serra de Tramuntana mountain range — is the place to experience hospitality rooted in the land.
Where next for the anti-racist movement in Scotland?
Scotland’s First Minister and Scottish National Party (SNP) leader John Swinney has called yet another “anti-far right summit” in the wake of the racist violence which has ripped through Scotland this summer. The summit follows an almost identical meet-up of the great and good of Scottish politics in 2025, which was unceremoniously (but not incorrectly) dubbed by the media as the SNP’s “unpopular front”. Based on this summer’s events, clearly these summits achieve very little.
Jen sedět a sledovat, jak se stmívá. Zapomenutý zvyk z Nizozemska je skvělým lékem na dnešní spěch
‚Rage, rage against the dying of the light (Zuř, zuř proti umírání světla),‘ napsal v roce 1947 velšský básník Dylan Thomas. Jistě, byla to metafora, ale střih do roku 2026 a jiná oceňovaná autorka doporučuje zcela odlišný přístup. Rodáčka z Amsterdamu, spisovatelka Marjolijn van Heemstra, se stala tváří oživení zapomenutého nizozemského umění zvaného schemeren (zažívat stmívání).
Pláže jako z Karibiku i antické ruiny: Poznejte tajemný a divoký jih Sardinie
Sardinie leží přibližně stejně daleko od Afriky jako od Itálie – od obou pobřeží ji dělí zhruba 200 km. Teplé vody, spolehlivé počasí a nádherné pobřeží z ní dělají oblíbený cíl rodin. Méně se ví o historických pokladech ostrova – a přitom je jich tu tolik, že klidně soupeří s těmi římskými. Jih ostrova je nejlepším výchozím bodem pro výpravy do jeho dějin.
Why Amsterdam locals are reviving the art of 'dusking' Original
This article was produced by National Geographic Traveller (UK). ‘Rage, rage against the dying of the light,’ wrote Welsh poet Dylan Thomas in 1947. A metaphor, admittedly, but cut to 2026 and another poet laureate advises an altogether different approach. Amsterdam-born writer Marjolijn van Heemstra has become the flag-bearer for a revival of the lost Dutch art of schemeren (dusking).
This overlooked corner of Sardinia is made for family holidays
Celebrity 1 day ago Erling Haaland & Girlfriend Isabel Haugseng Johansen Show Off Their Hot Bods on Yacht Vacation justjared.com - By Tommy Pisani • 1d Erling Haaland is enjoying another day out at sea! The 25-year-old Norwegian soccer star soaked up the sun as he went shirtless while aboard a yacht … Wine & Spirits 15 hours ago How Silvio Carta Turns Sardinian Botanicals Into A Spirits Portfolio Forbes - Layne Randolph • 15h Sardinia’s Landscape Carved by Sea Winds On Sardinia’s western...
This overlooked corner of Sardinia is made for family holidays Original
This article was produced by National Geographic Traveller (UK). Closer to Africa than Italy, Sardinia’s warm waters, reliable weather and knockout coastline have long made it a hit with families. Lesser known are its historical treasures — and there are enough here to rival those of Rome. The island’s south makes the best base for adventures into its historical landscape.
15 chutí světa: Tip jedenáctý - Somerset, Anglie. Kraj cideru, čedaru a nové gastronomické scény
15 nejlepších gastronomických destinací světa Pro mnoho cestovatelů je jídlo neoddělitelnou součástí toho, co dělá danou destinaci „tou nejlepší“. Nemůžeme než souhlasit. Proto jsme požádali naše autory a editory z celého světa, aby se nechali vést svými chutěmi do těch nejlahodnějších – a nejzajímavějších – míst. Výsledek? 15 nejlepších světových gastronomických zážitků (Best of the World), kolem kterých si můžete naplánovat svou příští cestu.
Scottish elections: SNP cling to power as voters’ enthusiasm wanes
On the surface, the results of the recent elections in Scotland suggest a certain degree of political and social tranquility north of the border. The SNP (Scottish National Party) have won their fifth Holyrood election in a row. But with 58 of the 123 seats available, John Swinney’s party has not won an outright majority. Due to Scotland’s proportional electoral system, this has only ever been achieved once, in 2011. This victory is in spite of the SNP’s widespread unpopularity.
Místo, které si zamiloval i Freddie Mercury: Poznejte Švýcarsko, kde hrají hlavní roli jezera a řeky
Místo, které si zamiloval i Freddie Mercury: Poznejte Švýcarsko, kde hrají hlavní roli jezera a řeky
Z jezera Lac Léman (Ženevské jezero) se jako surrealistický Excalibur tyčí osmimetrová vidlička. Hrdě spočívá v mělčinách nedaleko městečka Vevey – její hroty jsou částečně ponořeny v perleťových vodách a zahnutá rukojeť míří k nebi, po kterém se honí mraky. Za tímto naddimenzovaným kusem příboru se otevírají neméně gigantické výhledy. Na protějším břehu vidím St. Gingolph na francouzsko-švýcarské hranici a za ním skalnaté podalpské masivy s čepicemi sněhu.
Středomořské ráje bez davů: Objevte 7 ostrovů, kde děti potkají želvy a uvidí obry starší než pyramidy
Přibližně 3 000 ostrovů zdobí Středozemní moře jako drahokamy vsazené do modré vody. Umě tvoří vstupenky do světa, kde čas zpomaluje a život plyne rytmem, který z dovolené dělá skutečný odpočinek. Toto zářivě modré moře, dotýkající se Evropy, Asie i Afriky, skrývá jedny z nejkrásnějších pláží na světě. Přesto to není jen písek a voda, co dělá jednotlivé ostrovy ideálními rodinnými destinacemi, je to jejich osobitý charakter, díky němuž mohou děti poznávat nové jazyky, kuchyni, historii i kulturu.
Here's how water shapes the Swiss rhythm of life in summer Original
This article was produced by National Geographic Traveller (UK). Rising from Lac Léman like a surrealist Excalibur is a 26ft fork. It sits proudly in the shallows near the small town of Vevey — tines partially submerged in pearlescent waters, curved handle pointing skywards towards scudding clouds. Behind the oversized piece of cutlery are similarly gargantuan views. On the opposite shore, I can see St Gingolph on the Franco-Swiss border; beyond are craggy sub-Alpine mountains topped with snow.
The Mediterranean’s most family-friendly islands to visit now Original
This article was produced by National Geographic Traveller (UK). Some 3,000 islands sprinkle the Mediterranean like stepping stones to a world where time slows and life moves to the type of beat that makes for relaxing family holidays. Touching Europe, Asia and Africa, this brilliant blue sea has some of the most ravishing beaches on earth, yet it’s the personality of each island that makes them ideal family escapes, allowing kids to dive into new languages and food, alongside history and culture.
Anti-establishment anger builds in Scotland – but where will it go?
On the streets of Scotland, you would be forgiven for not realising there is an election going on at all. The usual party stalls and leafleters are missing, and parties are reporting difficulties getting volunteers to go out campaigning. Instead, there is a general mood of despondency. Despite their lead in the polls, there is a notable lack of enthusiasm for the SNP. One recent survey showed that only five percent of Scots think the party has done a very good job in government since 2007.
7 reading retreats to book now Original
This article was produced by National Geographic Traveller (UK). A good story acts as a portal to another world — but travellers are increasingly interested in visiting the real-life locations that have inspired their favourite books, with ‘readaways’ likely to be one of the defining trends of 2026.
A guide to Cambridge, the historic UK university city
1 hour ago They drew with crayons, possibly fed on maggots and maybe even kissed us: Forty millenniums later, our ancient human cousins continued to make news. Neanderthals, who flourished across Eurasia for hundreds of thousands of years before vanishing around 40,000 years ago, had a notable return to the …
A guide to Cambridge, the historic UK university city Original
This article was produced by National Geographic Traveller(UK). Compact Cambridge has an inordinately high concentration of beauty. Though only an hour north east of London, the fenland city seems to belong to another age entirely — its gloriously unmodernised centre chock-a-block with soaring spires, historic colleges and cycling students trailing long scarves.
Taste the season—Europe's best Christmas market foods and where to eat them | Flipboard
15 Anti-Inflammatory Foods That Help You Get Clearer, Healthier, More Radiant Skin I used to think skincare was all about what I put *on* my face, but the real game-changer came from what I put on my plate. Once I started eating …
Taste the season—Europe's top Christmas market treats await | Flipboard
2 hours ago By Kaori Kaneko and Eduardo Baptista TOKYO/BEIJING (Reuters) -China informed Japan on Wednesday that it will ban all imports of Japanese seafood, media outlets reported - a decision which comes amid an escalating diplomatic dispute between Asia's top two economies. Tensions between the two countries …
Taste the season-Europe's best Christmas market foods and where to eat them Original
This article was produced byNational Geographic Traveller(UK). As soon as the first door of advent is flung open, a multitude of pop-up wonderlands start to spring up all over the continent. With their twinkling lights, colourful carousels and towering spruces and firs, Europe's Christmas markets are more than just a visual spectacle — their smells and tastes tend to linger longest in visitors’ memories.
Why Norway should be your next family destination
The overall category winners of the 16th annual panoramic photo competition hail from Italy, Germany, and the United States. The winners of the 2025 Epson International Pano awards have been announced, showcasing photographs of our great, big, beautiful world in ultra-wide glory. Italy’s Alex Wides …
Why Norway should be your next family destination Original
This article was produced by National Geographic Traveller (UK). With an abundance of fjords and mountains reachable by train, boat and on foot, outdoorsy families will find much to enjoy in this Nordic country’s western region — billed as ‘Norway in a nutshell’. Its superlative landscapes are ultra-accessible year-round and completely transformed by the seasons — visit in winter for snow and the Northern Lights, or summer for wild swims and glacier hikes. 1.
Britain's bonfire night events worth travelling for
This article was produced by National Geographic Traveller(UK). ‘Remember, remember, the fifth of November’, goes the old nursery rhyme, ‘gunpowder, treason and plot.’ It’s a memorably succinct summary of the events of that very night in 1605, when Catholic rebel Guy Fawkes tried to blow up the Houses of Parliament and assassinate England’s Protestant king, James I. The monarch’s survival has been marked ever since and celebrations have evolved over the centuries.
Is a nature retreat in Scotland the tech detox your family needs this summer?
Scotland’s Instagram Highway became an overtourism nightmare. It could be worse This past spring, when I pointed my car out of Inverness to begin a loop around Scotland’s craggy northern shoreline, I was expecting trouble ahead. A decade ago, when the North Highland Initiative — a development charity set up under then-Prince Charles — renamed the circuit the North Coast 500 …
Is a nature retreat in Scotland the tech detox your family needs this summer? Original
This article was produced by National Geographic Traveller (UK). Just a half-hour drive east of Cairngorms National Park, this forgotten corner of Aberdeenshire in northeast Scotland is memorable terrain for a family holiday. Its heather-strewn moors and cairn-topped hills have seen mercifully little development, while the patchy mobile signal helps visitors of all ages reconnect with the rhythms of nature.
10 of the best hotels on the Amalfi Coast Original
This article was produced by National Geographic Traveller (UK). Life on the Amalfi Coast moves to its own rhythm, inviting long lunches, lazy swims and evening aperitivos overlooking some of the most spectacular coastline on Earth. It’s lined with sheer cliffs and pastel-hued villages: Positano, with its steep streets; Amalfi, once the seat of a maritime republic; Ravello, known for its sweeping views over the Tyrrhenian Sea.
7 of the best things to do on the Amalfi Coast Original
This article was produced by National Geographic Traveller (UK). A landscape of extreme verticality, where gelato-hued houses and terraced gardens cling to sea-facing cliffs, this strip of Southern Italy is justly famed for its beauty. Long a source of inspiration for writers and artists — from 19th-century composer Richard Wagner to Patricia Highsmith, who set her novel The Talented Mr Ripley here — the entire area is a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site.
How to experience northern Somerset without a Glastonbury ticket
This article was produced by National Geographic Traveller (UK). For decades, Somerset was chiefly famous for three things — cider, cheddar cheese and ‘scrumpy and western’ band The Wurzels, whose musical homage to the combine harvester landed them a 1976 number one. Glastonbury Festival’s rise to prominence gradually shifted the dial on the county’s profile — taking it from agricultural to alternative and, latterly, decidedly cool. Those who visit today will find it a delightful mix of all three.
How to experience northern Somerset without a Glastonbury ticket
16 hours ago UK: Thousands hold demonstration in support of Iran and Palestine in London ...LONDON, UK - JUNE 14, 2025: Thousands of people held a demonstration in solidarity with Iran and Palestine at Parliament Square in London, UK, on Saturday (June 13). Demonstrators chanted slogans condemning Israeli attacks on Palestine and Iran while waving flags and carrying banners denouncing the violence.
Why Zakynthos is perfect for families Original
This article was produced by National Geographic Traveller (UK). A Greek island holiday will feature on many travellers’ wish lists, but families may find themselves bewildered by choice — there are more than 6,000 of them, with 227 being inhabited.
Here's how to plan a train trip from Paris to Milan with Europe's style express
This article was produced by National Geographic Traveller (UK). April sees the return of Trenitalia’s Frecciarossa service between Paris and Milan, suspended since 2023 due to a landslide in the French Alps. The ‘red arrow’ engines whisk passengers between the two fashion capitals in as little as six-and-a-half hours.
Here's how to plan a train trip from Paris to Milan with Europe's style express
This article was produced by National Geographic Traveller (UK). April sees the return of Trenitalia’s Frecciarossa service between Paris and Milan, suspended since 2023 due to a landslide in the French Alps. The ‘red arrow’ engines whisk passengers between the two fashion capitals in as little as six-and-a-half hours.
How to experience London like Bridget Jones
This article was produced by National Geographic Traveller (UK). Shot in the capital over the course of two decades, the four Bridget Jones films chart both the evolving relationships of their titular heroine and the changing face of London itself.
How to experience London like Bridget Jones Original
This article was produced by National Geographic Traveller (UK). Shot in the capital over the course of two decades, the four Bridget Jones films chart both the evolving relationships of their titular heroine and the changing face of London itself.
Scotland: Working-class kids criminalised – who is really guilty? | The Communist
This winter, the streets of Scotland’s capital were witness to pitched battles between local youths and an army of Police officers. Exchanging barrages of fireworks, bricks, and bottles, the contending forces excitedly chased each other around poor neighbourhoods of Glasgow like Niddrie and Sighthill throughout the holiday season.
How to plan a family trip in the footsteps of Paddington Bear, from London to Peru Original
This article was produced by National Geographic Traveller(UK). With Paddington in Peru in cinemas from 8 November, Latin America travel specialists are predicting a surge of interest in family holidays to the country in 2025. The franchise’s third film sees the emigre bear and his adopted family, the Browns, set out from London to visit Great Aunt Lucy — a journey that takes them through the Amazon rainforest and to the peaks of Peru.
6 of the best Italian hill towns
This article was produced by National Geographic Traveller (UK). 1. Brisighella, Emilia-Romagna Best for: hilltop castles The region that brought Parma ham and Parmigiano Reggiano to the world has another, lesser-known draw — its hilltop castles. Chief among them is Brisighella’s medieval fortress, which occupies one of three rocky pinnacles looming over the town.
How to plan a slow tour of Valencia region in Spain
Albufera Natural Park lies just half an hour's drive from Valencia. Photograph by Anna Huix This article was produced by National Geographic Traveller (UK). Some call it Valencia’s green lung, others its heart — but all locals agree that the Turia Gardens is one of the city’s essential organs. People come to this meandering 7.5-mile ribbon of riverbed-turned-parkland to do the things that make life worth living.
How to spend a day in Philadelphia, USA
How to spend a day in Philadelphia, USA With a burgeoning food and art scene, and diverse neighbourhoods to explore, there’s plenty to fill a day in Philly. The East Coast city of Philadelphia is often overlooked in favour of its big-hitting neighbours – New York to the north and Washington, DC to the south. But visitors here are rewarded …
How to spend a day in Philadelphia, USA
This article was produced by National Geographic Traveller (UK). The East Coast city of Philadelphia is often overlooked in favour of its big-hitting neighbours – New York to the north and Washington, DC to the south. But visitors here are rewarded with fantastic food, whether at a market stall or high-end restaurant; strollable, mural-lined streets; and a lively cultural scene, from art galleries to jazz bars. Here’s how to make the most of your time in the city.
A guide to Philadelphia, the US city stepping out of NYC's shadow
A guide to Philadelphia, the US city stepping out of NYC's shadow With a growing reputation for its diverse food scene, this US city offers nourishment for both body and soul in its patchwork of muralled neighbourhoods. Philadelphia is used to sharing the limelight. The birthplace of American independence, it was the United States’ first capital until Washington, …
A guide to Philadelphia, the US city stepping out of NYC's shadow
This article was produced by National Geographic Traveller (UK). Philadelphia is used to sharing the limelight. The birthplace of American independence, it was the United States’ first capital until Washington, DC claimed the honour in 1800. Then there’s the Big Apple, a hundred miles up the northeast coast, which has been stealing its thunder since, well, forever. But Philly is now taking centre stage.
A guide to Brighton, Britain's most progressive seaside resort
An early morning swim at Brighton Beach, among the UK’s most well-known beaches, is a should when checking out Britain’s initial location for a filthy weekend. Photo by Mark Parren Taylor Please be considerate of copyright. Unapproved usage is forbidden. Travel Queen of enjoyment parlours and bastion of beach raves, Britain’s many progressive seaside resort integrates seaside laissez-faire with a dedication to imagination and sustainability.
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