Where tourists seldom tread, part 2: five great UK towns left out of the guidebooks

From Cumbernauld to Guildford, we celebrate more unheralded but revelatory areas

12 destinations marking the arrival of modernist Britain

In the centennial year of modernism, we visit visionary places where artists, engineers and architects imagined the future

With its glacial lakes, silky beaches and verdant hills, it’s a wonder this brilliant county for walking is often overlooked

As conventional campsites fill up, more holidaymakers are discovering the joys of ‘champing’ – and silent nights

The Observer’s architecture critic discovers a fascinating collision of industry, historic churches, waterfront and wildlife

Mughal palaces, Egyptian tombs and modernist masterpieces can be experienced in VR tours that depart from your sofa

After decades of off-the-shelf design, Australian playgrounds are becoming more sophisticated, more nature-based and more appealing to adults

An urban stroll can become a journey into the past for those alert to the faded beauty of hand-painted adverts on old buildings

Tourist attraction BridgeClimb has been reimagined from a First Nations perspective as part of Sydney festival

Already a hit on social-media, an infrastructure project linking the two largest islands is set to become a big draw for foreign visitors

This eclectic pick from the Outer Hebrides to East Sussex celebrates unsung buildings spanning the centuries, simple and ornate

A new book portrays striking locations from Lisbon to Alaska brimming with the great director’s aesthetic appeal

Away from its roundabouts and 1970s shopping centre, the new town’s pagan sun temple is the place to witness the longest day

Meant to be a dove, but looking more like a hen, one man’s vision of a temple for all faiths has enjoyed an unlikely resurrection

All change! For train stations and factories that are now hotels and museums, and a flour mill serving as a roost for art lovers – and sea birds