Sweet smell of Somerset

Lavender is in full bloom in Somerset now. Tours are available until August 16 (Wednesday-Sunday, 11am)until August 16 in the village of Faulkland, near Frome (www.somersetlavender.com). Guides will take visitors on an extended tour among the 50,000 plants. Credit-crunch money-saving tip: Blindfold the kids en route, wear a beret and, when you arrive, tell them you're in Provence. Voilà, no need for expensive French holiday.

DEBRIEF

Ladies, who says your Just One Cornetto moments can't come true? The Hotel Cipriani (www.hotelcipriani.com) in Venice has launched an in-gondala spa service using coffee oil and peach milk. The treatment takes place in a “hidden corner” of the lagoon, so you won't be videoed by hordes of tourists. The 40-minute experience - open to non-guests, too - costs about £240.

HOT SPOT: BOMBAY

Is it a plane? Is it a beer? Actually, it's both. Kingfisher is India's premium lager, according to its website, but UK curry-lovers probably don't know that it is also an airline that is due to launch flights from Heathrow to Bombay and Bangalore in September. Both beer and airline are owned by United Breweries, in case you're wondering about the connection. Perhaps it's a sign of things to come, so listen out for Old Scrudthumpers' Winter Warmer daily departures to Spain coming to an airport near you soon.

Viggo's vision

He shoots, he stars. Viggo Mortensen, portrayer of all things dark and broody in films such as A History of Violence and The Lord of the Rings trilogy, is a dab hand with a camera. Anyone ambling through Reykjavik before the end of August can see an exhibition of his work at the Museum of Photography (www.ljosmyndasafnreykjavikur.is). “His acting,” says the accompanying blurb “is only a part of a larger whole, as he is recognised for his photography, which he has been doing for many years, together with painting, poetry and music.” But can Mr Multitask rub his tummy and pat his head at the same time?

Will Hide

GOLDEN GOAL

The Champions League trophy, the UEFA Cup and jerseys belonging to George Best and Bobby Moore will be among displays at a football exhibition opening at the World Museum in Liverpool this autumn. Steven Gerrard, the Liverpool captain, said: “There is no city in Europe where football means more.”

ACCESS ALL AREAS

European regulations that come into force today make airports responsible for enabling disabled passengers to board, disembark and transit between flights at all airports in the EU.

SWITCH OFF

A survey of 4,000 travellers by TripAdvisor.com found that 86 per cent would prefer airlines to remain mobile phone-free zones.

RED FACES

Benidorm is the most embarrassing place to admit to visiting on holiday, according to a study by the pharmacist Boots.

HOW TO GET AN ACE

Guests at the Vale do Lobo resort in Portugal's Algarve can see former Wimbledon champion Bjorn Borg play in a tournament on August 5-6. Tickets £20.

RIGHT STRIPES

Sunglasses may be in order at a hotel on Edinburgh's Royal Mile run by the Milan fashion house Missoni, known for its colourful zig-zag designs. Opens next spring.

HOW TO GET AN ACE

Guests at the Vale do Lobo resort in Portugal's Algarve can see former Wimbledon champion Bjorn Borg play in a tournament on August 5-6. Tickets £20.

RIGHT STRIPES

Sunglasses may be in order at a hotel on Edinburgh's Royal Mile run by the Milan fashion house Missoni, known for its colourful zig-zag designs. Opens next spring.

HERO'S RETURN

Soldiers returning from Iraq and Afghanistan are being offered “hero's welcome” half-price rooms - for £59 a night - at Malmaison's 11 hotels across Britain.

HURLY BURLY

Miss Kittie Klaw, a burlesque entertainer, was at this week's reopening of Jersey's Grand hotel, performing “bawdy antics, decadence and dance”. Previously the hotel was best known for having been commandeered by the Nazis, who burnt furniture as fuel.

AB FAB

Joanna Lumley, who played Patsy in Absolutely Fabulous, would approve of the world's first all- Bollinger champagne bar at the Stureplan, a new Stockholm hotel.

Tom Chesshyre

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