Huw Oliver

Large-scale art beamed from a big screen is an insult to intelligence ‘Immersive’ experiences have become little more than a flashy photo opportunity rather than transporting us somewhere genuinely new and exciting

I keep thinking we’ve reached Peak Immersive Art but then along comes another supposedly ‘mind-bending’ experience …

Europe’s biggest is set to open in west London this year.

My latest Sunday Times column:

www.thetimes.com/travel/advic...

Look, I love Robbie Williams. But no one will stay in his hotels The pop star has said that he wants to set up a chain of hotels. My advice? Stick to music, Robbie

Hollywood. Art. And now hotels? It’s hard to keep up with Robbie’s midlife experiments.

Here’s why he should rethink his latest big idea, with a guest appearance from the Libertines:

www.thetimes.com/travel/inspi...

From raclette to regret — the world has too many soulless food halls These hard-to-swallow identikit indoor theme parks are no place to get under the skin of a city’s culture, says Huw Oliver

The neon and the lack of natural light. The trays and the buzzers. The prices and seriously mid vibes. Identikit food halls are everywhere and they’re not good for our cities.

My latest column:

www.thetimes.com/travel/inspi...

Foreigners should pay more to visit the Louvre Why should residents pay the same entry fee at top attractions as visitors from abroad, asks Huw Oliver

From Wednesday Brits and Americans will have to pay 45% more to visit the Louvre, while prices for locals stay the same.

Here are three reasons you should be happy to pay that extra tenner

www.thetimes.com/travel/inspi...

New year, old classics: it’s time to revisit the world’s great cities Don’t let overtourism put you off the famous spots — obscure destinations can attract crowds too. Instead, says our writer, aim to be a smart tourist

Are you a travel niche-seeker? I am.

But increasingly I’ve found that the more obscure the destination, the more concentrated (and overwhelming) the crowds.

So here’s why I’m returning to the more obvious hotspots in 2026 …

www.thetimes.com/travel/inspi...

‘Museum theory’: my three-point plan to improve a cultural city break Forget the stress-inducing internet trend ‘airport theory’. Enhance your holiday with my back-to-basics tips, by honing in on the masterpieces and prioritising lunch

Visiting a museum is often the most obvious thing to do in any city. But how you can make sure you don’t lose your mind when faced with galleries upon galleries of OK art (plus all the tourist crowds)?

Here is my solution – ‘museum theory’

www.thetimes.com/travel/inspi...

The simple travel hack that makes every city break better Hotel hopping is the one trend you should actually follow, says Huw Oliver, allowing you to save money and see different sides of a destination

I’ve waded through all the 2026 travel trend reports so you don’t have to. There’s one idea that really stood out …

www.thetimes.com/travel/inspi...

I thought group holidays were a nightmare until I tried this hack One friend likes lie-ins, another is out the door by 7am … the secret to a smooth trip with pals is to plan a day or two each — Come Dine with Me style

My latest Sunday Times column, with thanks to my pals for letting me roll with the idea …

www.thetimes.com/travel/inspi...

Harry Potter tourism is ruining our cities… and it’s about to get worse It’s not just the tours — it’s also the tacky shops taking over our high streets in London, Cambridge and Bath. Huw Oliver has a solution

Come at me, Big Potter. Introducing my three-pronged strategy to battle the cursed proliferation of wizardry-related stores and tours ...

www.thetimes.com/travel/inspi...

I’ve found the secret to a happy relationship: an ‘airport divorce’ My fiancée likes browsing, I like to be first in the boarding queue — so this is the most amenable way to start a trip and make for a harmonious holiday, says Huw Oliver

Yep, that’s it for Morwenna and I. We’ve given the whole engagement thing a go but now we are, in a sense, divorced. Already. And it feels great!

www.thetimes.com/travel/inspi...

Why I find the latest travel trend so horrifying Super-last-minute booking is on the up — with thousands of Britons deciding where to stay on the day — but that removes all the fun from holidays, argues our columnist

The nonchalance! The financial recklessness! The generosity of annual-leave-granting bosses! 

My latest column on the rise of spontaneous getaways:

www.thetimes.com/travel/inspi...

I’ve found the simple, tried-and-tested solution to overtourism It takes a little more planning, but stay in the suburbs and you’ll help reduce the impact of visitors — and have a more authentic and affordable experience, too

Thousands of anti-mass tourism protesters marched across Europe last weekend. Here’s one small thing tourists can do to help (which cities could also look to promote)

www.thetimes.com/article/f384...

The new fines for plane passengers don’t go far enough Those flying to Turkey who stand up before the seatbelt sign turns off will be charged £50. But so should those who commit these other in-air offences, says Huw Oliver

£50 for standing up too early on a plane? Here’s why I’m in favour …

www.thetimes.com/article/aaef...

My first sleeper train? Like trying to nap on the Central Line Sure, the idea of chugging through the night in a cosy cabin is alluring. But the reality for our writer on a dusk to dawn trip from Tbilisi to Yerevan was less pleasant

Honestly, I really wanted to love my first sleeper… My latest column:

www.thetimes.com/article/dcb6...

The best place to propose? Keep it close to home It can feel like everybody is flying off to an exotic location to pop the question. For me, Wales, with its romantic landscapes and my family connections, made more sense

An emergency column in tomorrow’s Sunday Times. No big deal.

www.thetimes.com/travel/inspi...

This is easily the best way to spend an evening on holiday Forget a night on the sauce touring the city’s bars. Going to a show is your ticket if you want to experience a genuine local vibe — here’s how to choose well

As with many things in life, the answer is jazz. And chicken strips. My latest column on a trip to Yerevan:

www.thetimes.com/article/d383...

The historic Italian coastal city that most tourists forget about Underrated Genoa is often seen as a pitstop — but visit and you’ll find its fascinating past, local produce and art-filled hotels are worth staying put for

The historic Italian coastal city that most tourists forget about

www.thetimes.com/article/d988...

The underrated German city that’s full of fairytales A gothic town hall, a connection to the Brothers Grimm and a hotel in a former grain silo — expect tales of the unexpected on a break in Bremen

Loved my recent trip to Bremen…

www.thetimes.com/article/2943...

This White Lotus wellness trend isn’t a gimmick — it’s life-changing Sound baths may not be for everyone. But ditching my mobile phone? That’s something I can get behind

My latest column, on the White Lotus wellness trend I can really get behind

www.thetimes.com/travel/inspi...

I’ve found the best time of day to fly — and transformed my travel Sick of early morning departures and late-night arrivals, our writer’s revelation led him to discover the middle ground and improve his future trips

New column just dropped, on my new favourite time to fly – smack bang in the middle of the day. I guess this is what 30 looks like?

www.thetimes.com/travel/inspi...

Stop ignoring the UK’s second cities — they’re the perfect mini break Forget Bruges, Paris and even London. Walkable, manageable ‘non-destination’ Norwich is easily the place to go for your next weekend away

I’ve started writing a fortnightly column in the Sunday Times travel section. Here’s my first - in praise of the UK’s second-tier cities

www.thetimes.com/travel/inspi...

Great to see more of the @thetimes.com travel desk moving over to Bluesky. A warm welcome to:
@irvatlarge.bsky.social
@claudiarowan.bsky.social
@hannahgravett.bsky.social
@huwoliver.bsky.social
@benclatworthy.bsky.social

🗞️ More and more Times and Sunday Times journalists and staff are joining BlueSky.

We’ll be updating this starter kit as they do so, you should give them a follow

👇