Stories

Zanzibar may be known as “Spice Island” but it’s the seaweed industry that’s shaking up its shores, tilting the balance of power in favour of women. We wade out in Paje to meet some of its seaweed mamas, who discuss empowerment, climate change and why the ocean has become their haven.

Festivals are incubators for societal change. With hopes on the horizon that music festivals will go ahead in 2021, one writer commemorates the celebrations that changed the world.

Workations are making getaways guilt-free. As hotels and members' clubs join forces to help us work from anywhere, and the boundaries between "in" and "out" of office continue to blur, one writer ponders whether this could be the end of holidays as we know them.

Taking you from snow-capped mountains to hiking trails between waterfalls, through morning markets and rural enclaves, the Mitsuboshi-Kaidou: Three-Star Route Option Ticket (one-way) is the perfect Japanese travelling companion. More than just a way to get from A to B, it's a chance to immerse yourself in the real Japan. Trust us, there's a whole lot to see.

In an era of hashtag activism, craftivism and culture jamming, is “booktivism” still an effective form of protest?

We’re ditching Japan’s headline destinations of Tokyo and Kyoto for under-the-radar prefectures ideal for the slower-paced explorer. Bringing together timeless traditions with modern artisan techniques, rugged coastlines and alpine villages, we’ve planned an itinerary to whisk you from Ishikawa to Gifu.

One writer and photographer celebrates London's diverse food culture and heritage by shining a light on chefs, bakers and shop owners personal stories.

Mina Holland, the Editor of Guardian Cook, pays a visit to the chef and food writer Rachel Roddy in the Sicilian town of Gela.

Liverpool’s restaurants, clubs and cultural venues may have closed their doors during the pandemic, but behind the scenes its tight-knit community of scouse artists, chefs and creatives are busy adapting and, in some cases, thriving.

For Vol. 30: Health, one writer seeks a sense of peace born of nature and moonlight in Japan’s Nagano Prefecture.

For Vol. 24: Slow, one writer embarks on a modern-day pilgrimage to Canterbury which opens up a spiritual path.

For Vol. 26: Nostalgia, one writer is rediscovering salty childhood pleasures in an old beach shack on Australia’s Great Mackerel Beach.

Folklore, fantasy and life on the margins as one Shropshire lass rediscovers devil’s county for Vol. 32: Homegrown.

Over the course of two pilgrimages to Uganda – travelling between Kampala, Gulu and the rural corners of the northern region – one Londoner embraces her African heritage and treads on strangely familiar territory.

Work and holiday – two words that needn’t be contradictory. Speaking to a new generation of multi-hyphenates, slashies and side-hustlers, we find that bringing the day job along for your trip may actually enhance your experience…