Under the EU’s new Entry/Exit System (EES), fully operational since April 10, all travellers from the UK and other non-EU countries must now undergo biometric checks — including facial imaging and fingerprinting — at airports and border crossings across the bloc.
Bucking that trend, Greece, a popular holiday destination for Brits, has chosen to do its own thing to avoid the sorts of airport chaos at various European locations for the past week, including flights taking off without the majority of passengers due to EES queues.
Greece has confirmed that British passport holders will be exempt from new EU biometric border checks, in a move designed to streamline arrivals and reduce airport congestion ahead of the busy travel season.
Eleni Skarveli, director of the Greek National Tourism Organisation in the UK, said the decision reflects Greece’s commitment to maintaining a smooth visitor experience for UK travellers.
The exemption applies to the EU’s forthcoming Entry/Exit System (EES), which is set to introduce fingerprint and facial recognition checks for non-EU visitors entering the Schengen Area.
Speaking about the change, Skarveli said the move is intended to ensure “a smoother and more efficient arrival experience in Greece” and is “expected to significantly reduce waiting times and ease congestion at airports”.
Instead of implementing the new biometric procedures for British visitors, Greece will retain its existing entry process. “Practically, this means that the entry process in place before the implementation of the EES will remain unchanged,” she explained.
The decision effectively sets Greece apart from other Schengen destinations expected to roll out the biometric system, offering UK travellers a faster and more familiar arrival experience at Greek border points this year.
Lausanne is more than just a beautiful city, it’s perfectly placed for day trips around Switzerland. Within an hour or two, the landscape transforms dramatically: vineyards give way to medieval hill towns, and gentle lakeshores rise up to glaciated Alpine peaks. It’s all made dead easy by Switzerland’s seamless transport system,
Lausanne
Lausanne
Lausanne
Coming from London, I get off the plane at Geneva airport and the train takes me to Lausanne in less than an hour. And then there’s the spectacular steep driverless metro which is built on the old funicular track, taking me up to my hotel in the old town. This is Swiss precision at its best.
Lausanne
Lausanne
Lausanne
The trouble is that the city is spread over three hills, each perched precipitously on the hillside, so you lose all sense of direction as you wander around. Fortunately all roads seem to lead to the Flon – an area that used to be deserted industrial warehouses but is now home to vibrant restaurants and bars.
Lausanne
Lausanne
Lausanne
Above it is the old town, stretching all the way up to the cathedral, and it’s this mixture of the old and new that makes the city unique. Below the lake shore beckons and, even in early April, people are sunbathing on its banks and taking chilly dips in the water. There’s also the Olympic Museum, well worth a visit.
Château de Chillon
Chillon Castle
Chillon Castle
Few day trips from Lausanne are as effortlessly scenic as a journey across Lake Geneva to Château de Chillon. The castle sits dramatically on the water’s edge near Montreux, its stone walls rising directly from the lake in one of Europe’s most stunning settings. It was famously immortalized by Lord Byron in his 1816 poem, The Prisoner of Chillon.
Lausanne
Lausanne
Regular boat services depart from Ouchy, the city’s port, gliding along the lake past vineyard-covered hills and charming lakeside towns. This leisurely cruise is not just transportation, it’s an experience in itself, offering constantly shifting views of the Alps and shoreline. It even makes a quick stop on the other side of the lake.
Chillon Castle
Chillon Castle
Chillon Castle
As you approach, the castle reveals its full medieval grandeur. Dating back to the 9th century, it has served as a fortress, residence, and prison. Inside, visitors can explore more than 20 buildings, including grand halls, vaulted cellars, and historic chambers and even taste the Chateau’s famed wines.
Gruyères
Gruyères
Gruyères
Gruyères
Around 90 minutes by train from Lausanne, the hilltop town of Gruyères is surrounded by rolling green pastures and framed by distant Alpine peaks. Of course, this small medieval settlement is famous worldwide for its cheese, but there’s far more here than culinary appeal.
Gruyères
Gruyères
Gruyères
Food lovers will naturally gravitate toward La Maison du Gruyère, where the production of the famous Gruyère AOP cheese can be observed first-hand. The experience is immersive – visitors can watch the process, learn about traditional methods, and, of course, sample the finished product.
Gruyères
The town itself is largely pedestrianised, its cobbled streets leading visitors toward Gruyères Castle, which dominates the skyline. Inside, you’ll find vaulted halls, their walls covered by tapestries and artwork that reveal the region’s aristocratic past. Just outside, the HR Giger Museum dedicated to the surreal artist behind Alien adds an unexpected twist.
Gruyères
Gruyères
Gruyères
You can easily spend the whole day here – spend the morning exploring the castle and museum, enjoy a long lunch of fondue or raclette, and wander the village before returning to Lausanne by the GoldenPass Panoramic train. And don’t forget to buy some cheese.
Glacier 3000
Glacier 3000
Glacier 3000
If Gruyères offers nostalgia and tradition, Glacier 3000 delivers pure Alpine drama. Located near the village of Les Diablerets, this high-mountain destination is reachable from Lausanne in about two hours and rewards visitors with a completely different world – find snow, ice and staggering elevation.
GoldenPass Belle Epoque
Montreux
Montreux
The train journey itself is part of the experience. At Montreux, you board the GoldenPass Belle Époque to Gstaad, whose period carriages evoke the luxury of the Orient Express. Here you take a bus to Col-du-Pillom and then transfer to cable car. It climbs steeply up the side of the mountain to the top of Scex Rouge at 2971m, home to Gstaad’s glacier.
Glacier 3000
Glacier 3000 Peak Walk
Glacier 3000 Peak Walk
The big attraction here is the Peak Walk by Tissot, the first and only suspension bridge in the world to connect two peaks. It’s not for the faint hearted as you walk the 107m bridge, hanging in mid-air between the small peak and the main Scex Rouge. Don’t look down but take in the breath-taking view of the Alps, including the Matterhorn, Mont Blanc, Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau.
Glacier 3000
Glacier 3000
Glacier 3000
There’s also the world’s highest rail toboggan run, the Alpine Coaster, twisting for a kilometre down the mountain but not in operation this early in the season. Better to enjoy the fine food in Restaurant Botta, its huge windows perfect for admiring the majestic mountain scenery.
Glacier 3000
Geneva
Often overlooked by travellers as just a place of arrival and departure, Switzerland’s second largest city has plenty to offer. Set on the southwestern tip of Lake Geneva, the most iconic symbol is the Jet d’Eau, a powerful fountain that shoots water 140 m into the air from the lake.
Geneva
Geneva
Geneva
Wandering through the Old Town, known locally as Vieille Ville, feels like stepping into another era. Narrow cobblestone streets wind uphill toward St. Pierre Cathedral, which dates from the 12th century. Climb the tower, and you’re rewarded with sweeping views of red rooftops, the lake, and the surrounding mountains.
Geneva
Geneva
The city has long been a centre of watchmaking and the Patek Philippe Museum offers an in-depth look at centuries of craftsmanship. You can even learn how to make your own watch or assemble a Swiza army knife at Initium in the old town. For something sweeter, the ChocoPass allow you to taste the finest chocolate at the best boutiques around the city.
Geneva
Geneva
Geneva
Factfile
GO:SWISS connects Switzerland with the world, offering more than 160 weekly flights from London Heathrow, London City, Manchester, Birmingham and Edinburgh to Zurich or Geneva. One way fares start from £76 to Zurich and £54 to Geneva including all taxes, fees and surcharges, one piece of checked luggage up to 23kg and hand luggage.
Travel Switzerland’s Swiss Travel Pass offers international visitors to Switzerland unlimited travel on consecutive days across the rail, bus and boat network, plus scenic routes (seat reservation fees apply) and local trams and buses in around 90 towns and cities. It also includes the Swiss Museum Pass, which grants free entry to 500 museums and exhibitions. Prices start from £229 for a three-day second-class ticket.
INFO:Switzerland has information about the country.
Cruise operator Celestyal has confirmed the safe and successful transit of both its vessels, Celestyal Discovery and Celestyal Journey, through the Strait of Hormuz, marking a notable operational milestone during a period of heightened regional sensitivity.
On 17 April, Celestyal Discovery, under the command of Captain Nikolaos Vasileiou, became the first cruise vessel to depart the Arabian Gulf, following a carefully coordinated voyage plan developed in collaboration with regional authorities and maritime security teams. The transit established a safe and viable route through the Strait, paving the way for other cruise operators.
The following day, 18 April, Celestyal Journey, led by Captain Angelos Vasilakos, successfully navigated the same passage, heading a wider convoy of cruise vessels departing the region along the established corridor.
According to the company, the voyage plans were the result of extensive coordination with key authorities and security stakeholders, ensuring all movements were carried out with a high degree of safety, precision and situational awareness.
Celestyal highlighted that safety remained the overriding priority throughout, with both captains and their onboard and shoreside teams demonstrating strong leadership and expertise in managing complex operating conditions. The company also acknowledged the support of regional authorities and partners in enabling a coordinated and responsible approach for the wider cruise industry.
Following the successful transits, both Celestyal Discovery and Celestyal Journey are now repositioning to the Mediterranean ahead of the summer season, where they are expected to operate as scheduled.
Celestyal added that all future sailings currently on sale will proceed as planned, providing reassurance and continuity for guests and travel partners as the line transitions to its Mediterranean deployment.
It takes a lot for me to venture to the wilds of South London as I’m a committed Northerner through and through. But I’ve been wanting to catch guitarist Clive Carroll for a long time, so I decide it’s well worth the trek. I first saw him way back in the early 2000’s in Los Angeles when Tommy Emmanuel brought him onstage for a few numbers. I was suitably impressed.
Mycenae House
Mycenae House is a community centre occupying a historic building in the leafy suburb of Blackheath. It’s an intimate space with good acoustics, the bar prices are reasonable and, on a Friday night, I find it’s fairly packed. As I’m arriving, I bump into Clive, clutching two guitars, and say hello. He tells me he’s going to be playing a lot of new material and trusting it all goes well.
He needn’t worry as he’s a virtuoso whose playing bridges centuries and styles. His reputation is for technical brilliance with a musical imagination that resists easy categorisation. He gained a first-class honours degree in composition and guitar from Trinity College of Music and then went on to team up with legendary guitarist John Renbourn of Pentangle fame.
Clive Carroll
Clive Carroll
This mentorship left a lasting imprint and his music often echoes Renbourn’s blending of early music forms with contemporary sensibilities. He also pushes further, incorporating jazz harmonies, blues phrasing, and even modern classical influences. John Renbourn sadly passed in 2015 but Clive has recently released a double CD of the master’s compositions.
Clive Carroll
Clive Carroll
So I’m not sure what to expect when he takes the stage. The opener is The Lincolnshire Ramble, an original inspired by walking around the county, beautifully melodic. He then switches to his baritone guitar, the instrument for the bulk of the new material. He jokes that his four year old son, when he first hears these tunes, asks why he doesn’t just play the good stuff.
Clive Carroll
Clive Carroll
Clive Carroll
In fact it’s very good stuff indeed, the resonance of the baritone and the open tunings, giving extra depth and texture to the material. The audience laps it up and are incredibly attentive throughout. His virtuosity never seems to overwhelm the music, weaving complex arrangements into cohesive, emotionally engaging pieces. He ends the first set with a series of Irish traditional reels, leaving us wanting more.
Clive Carroll
Clive Carroll
Clive Carroll
The second half starts with the Mountains of Illinois, a Chet Atkins tune, before another new piece, Maybe I Will (Maybe I Won’t), on the baritone. Then we move into familiar territory with Renbourn’s The Young Man Who Couldn’t Hoe Corn. Now he’s joined on stage by the young Italian guitarist Fabrizio Bianco for duets on Red’s Favourite and Lady Nothynges’s New Toye Puffe.
Clive Carroll
Later blues harpist Stephen Brayne plays on the Cannonball Adderley tune, Sermonette, before Fabrizio comes back. They all join in for a rousing Mississippi Blues, each taking turns to solo. It’s a fitting end to a great concert, although of course there are encores. Another original, In the Deep, then a spirited rendering of Buffalo. Written by jazz trumpeter Kenny Dorham, adapted by Davey Graham, John Renbourn and now Clive Carroll, it’s a great tune to go out into the night, still feeling the groove.
