We’re nearing the middle of August and the slightly colder months are becoming more and more visible through the temporary haze of sunshine. Those in the capital are first to despair: festival season will be over for another year, the thermometer will start to show abominably low figures, and then will begin the retreat inside for a long hibernation. But this bleak outlook really shouldn’t be adopted too early. In my opinion, we Brits are generally affected too much by the weather. There should be at least three inches of snow on the ground before any leisure activities, day trips or personal enjoyments are sacrificed.

The bursting metropolis of London can be enjoyed at any time of year, so diverse and full of life as it is. If you’re thinking of a weekend excursion, staying in the city in September may actually be a more enjoyable experience than squeezing yourself along Oxford Street in mid-July. Yes, summer might be sunnier, but you won’t find a space in Hyde Park to sunbathe until everyone’s back at school or the office. To help you out, here are a few ideas for what to do in London during this slightly less friendly season:

Explore leaf-littered paths…

Who says that the outdoors can’t be explored when it’s a little colder? All you need is a different attitude and a warm coat. Instead of picnics outside, embark on a bracing walk and pick up a well-deserved cup of tea on the way back to your London hotels. Kenwood House in North London is particularly good for this, with a friendly tea room next to the picturesque building and Hampstead Heath spread out around it. The amber shades of autumn leaves will have strewn the paths, creating a general aesthetic just as beautiful as that of any other season.

Take in some culture…

The many museums, art galleries and historical exhibitions collated in London can sometimes be neglected when everyone’s outside basking in the summer sunshine. So now it’s autumn, why not check out the edgy installations at the Tate Modern, where everything and anything counts as art. Or, you could peruse the many faces of the National Portrait Gallery near Charing Cross. All of these unique places, with their bounty of interesting artifacts, are ready and waiting to be explored.

Journey to the West End…

You may be mourning the end of the festival season, but aren’t you forgetting that London is home to the best venues in the country, which all produce year-round gigs and shows? The West End dazzles the area around Leicester Square with the bright lights of its multiple theaters. This exclusive section of the metropolis is definitely worth a visit, whether to attend a show, or just to soak up the exhilarating atmosphere. There are also many music venues in this area and all over London – and they don’t stop because of a change of weather.

So, with such a bounty of autumnal entertainment, an off-season excursion to London could be nearly as good as staying at an array of five-star hotels in Rome. Don’t let the change of season get you down. There’s plenty to be enjoyed all year round – all you need is optimism and a healthy imagination.

With the summer holidays rapidly approaching, it’s time to start thinking about where to go. The recession has hit my wallet more than I would have liked, however when it comes to summer holidays I really don’t want to compromise. Last summer, I spent a week and a half at a villa in the south of France, fairly near the coast, just inland from Nice.

There are plenty of villas France should be very proud of. Upon my arrival with the family, we were greeted by a spotless villa that I’m sure even a member of the Royal Family would have been impressed with. All the rooms were a good size and had quality fittings and some period features, which always go down well.

However, when on your summer holidays, you don’t want to be spending too much of your time indoors, especially in the South of France, with its perfect climate. Luckily, our villa had a large rectangular pool in the garden which provided hours and hours of fun for the whole family. We bought a couple of inflatable animals to keep things amusing. Villas with pool facilities are common in France so there should be one available if you’re looking to rent in a specific area.

Location is obviously important for most people – we had a hire car so driving down to the beach and nearby Nice was easy and fairly stress-free, getting a villa certainly doesn’t mean you have to be isolated in the French countryside. There was also a pretty village within walking distance providing classic French staples – for example the classic boulangerie and patisserie. The locals were really friendly and found it very amusing when my incomprehensible French accent was put to use. France is still a top holiday location and if you want a great holiday this summer, renting a villa is a good choice if you want to maintain your freedom and privacy as well as enjoy the French weather.

Turkey is a great country to visit. This new and upcoming power is growing more prestigious in the world and attracting more tourists each year. However, despite all the new people coming to the country, the country is still a great place to visit. Here is why:

1) Value. Holidays in Turkey represent some of the best value breaks in the Mediterranean. This includes not only package holiday deals but tailored holidays, be it lazing by the pool or a cultural tour of the many historic cities and an exploration of ancient Byzantine culture. Increasingly, tourists are requesting spots a little off the beaten track when booking Turkey holidays. And they are getting what they want. For example, you can explore the relatively unspoilt Datca Peninsula, rich with pine forests, olive groves and virtually empty beaches.

2) More value. There are a plethora of cheap flights. Increasingly, Istanbul is becoming a no-frills airline destination of choice for Turkey Holidays.OK, the compromise is that the airport – Sabina Gokcen – is about a 45 minute drive from the city. On the other hand, what you save on flights, you can spend on hotels.

3) Adventure. Keen walkers and trekkers will find St Paul’s missionary walk in Asia Minor a challenge. It’s a 310 mile route, starting from near Antalya, up to the Anatolian plateau and taking in the Lycean Way. This is arduous, hot walking and camping, but think of the fitness benefits and the bragging potential upon your return.

4) Eastern culture. Turkey Holidays now include destinations in eastern Turkey. Once off limits as a result of the Kurdish troubles, but now far safer, some argue that this is the “real” Turkey and a gateway to the East without the trouble of actually going to Asia. Here, for example, you will find Cappadocia, full of underground villages and cave based hotels.

5) Fantastic hotels. Having recognised the budget airline influx, the providers of holidays in Turkey have made sure that the hotel complexes have upgraded accordingly. There are outstanding beach front hotels in a themed Vegas style (think Kremlin, only hot) and the Queen Elizabeth in Goynuk, which is built as a facsimile of its maritime namesake.

If you are searching for a place to visit, consider going to Turkey. I really enjoy the country and find that it lived up to all the hype.

As soon as you enter the city of Amsterdam, you are fully aware that you have entered a surreal and hedonistic place. As beautiful and full of history as Amsterdam is, it is also known for its acceptance and tolerance of pretty much any behavior and social substance. Combined with an eclectic mix of people, it is easy to understand why Amsterdam has gained its notoriety and popularity with backpackers, travelers, and partiers alike.

During my two week stay in Amsterdam, I found it easy to lose myself within the city’s rich and colorful atmosphere. The city never sleeps, and I often found my days running into nights and nights running into days. As soon as I knew it, my time was up and I couldn’t clearly recollect any list of events without some haze. Amsterdam did not disappoint. I had come to the city expecting to have a great fun and wild time as that is what the city’s known for, and that is exactly what I got.

Knowing how wild and hedonistic the city was known to be, I was a bit hesitant about taking to the streets of Amsterdam for a full night of partying in a strange city. Although I started out a bit worried about my safety in a city whose reputation preceded it, I quickly came to realize that I had nothing to worry about. For a city with a night scene like Amsterdam, it is actually quite safe. That being said though, I didn’t wander off alone or head down any extremely sketchy looking side streets. The people I was surrounded by were very friendly and were just looking to have fun, so I found myself feeling quite safe as long as I proceeded with a bit of caution – much like I would in any city.

Although the wild nightlife is a large part of Amsterdam’s attraction, so too are its cultural heritage, world class museums, and historical sites. Amsterdam is one of the most beautiful cities I have ever visited so during the days, when I had somewhat recovered from the previous night, I made a point to visit as many attractions and see as much of the city as I possibly could. I discovered that the best way to travel the city was by bike. You can rent bikes for a day quite cheaply and they make great transportation as biking is a very popular mode of transportation in the city.

Amsterdam is known for its many great, world-renowned museums and so I made a point of visiting several of them. My favorite by far was the Ann Frank house. I loved the book as a child and so getting to see it in person was a very special experience. The house is situated right along the famous canals of the city, and the interior of the house is filled with information and interesting exhibits about the family and the war.

Although Amsterdam is now popular for its nightlife and partying reputation, it has so much to offer every type of traveler. My favorite part about Amsterdam was that it was essentially two cities wrapped into one. It was on one hand a party and fun-loving city, while on the other hand a beautiful, culturally and historically rich city that had much to offer the tourist in me.