Simon Calder's Independent Travel Podcast

I'm at Highways UK at Birmingham NEC, but I'm dreaming of my favourite UK A-roads – one in each of the four nations. All better driven than cycled! Of course, this podcast is free, as is my weekly newsletter. Subscribe here for it to be delivered every Friday to your inbox. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today's travel podcast is an exclusive report about the busiest airport  terminals  in the UK – if you agree with Jean-Paul Sartre that "Hell is other people" you might want to use Heathrow T4 rather than T5. The inside story is all laid out in today's podcast and here . Of course, this podcast is free, as is my weekly newsletter. Subscribe here for it to be delivered every Friday to you...

Judging from my inbox, there are growing concern about visits to Jordan, Egypt and other locations in the Arab and wider Islamic world. My view: if the Foreign Office says it is safe enough to go there, then there is no reason to cancel. This podcast is free, as is my weekly newsletter. Subscribe here to have it delivered to your inbox every Friday. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more...

Join me, Simon Calder, from the old Eurostar terminal at London Waterloo. We explore Eurostar's storied past and discuss exciting prospects of fresh competition on the London-Paris route. Will this be the rail revolution we've been waiting for? Tune in to get the latest scoop from the heart of Britain's busiest station. This podcast is free, as is my weekly newsletter. Subscribe here to have it de...

I'm joined by Matt Gatenby from TravLaw, and together we dissect the potential changes to the Package Travel Regulations. What does this mean for travelers and businesses alike? And just what is 'Covid-24'? This podcast is free, as is my weekly newsletter. Subscribe here to have it delivered to your inbox every Friday. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

At around 9pm on the 10th October, a car catching fire in a car park at London Luton Airport quickly engulfed the car park, subsuming other cars parked nearby. The fire has caused structural damage to the car park and led to the grounding of all flights from the busy airport until later today. I give you the lowdown on what's happened and what's going to happen next. This podcast is free, as is my...

Today, I, Simon Calder, discuss airlines' decisions to continue flying to Tel Aviv amidst regional tensions. How do major carriers weigh safety against service in such situations? Join me as we dive in. This podcast is free, as is my weekly newsletter, which you can get every week. Subscribe here to have it delivered to your inbox every Friday. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more infor...

In the midst of the escalating events between Hamas and Israel, I discuss the unfolding repercussions for travellers. From recent travel advisories to how airlines are adapting, join me as I shed light on the shifting travel landscape against this backdrop. This podcast is free, as is my weekly newsletter, which you can get every week. Subscribe here to have it delivered to your inbox every Friday...

My final podcast of the week is about the travel itch. And not in a good way. I tackle the apparent infestation of bedbugs in Paris, and what your rights may be if you are booked to travel there. This podcast is free, as is my weekly newsletter, which you can get every week. Subscribe here to have it delivered to your inbox every Friday. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, I unpack the government's bold move to redirect £36bn from HS2 to other transport projects across the North and Midlands. From new rail lines to road upgrades, I explore what this means for UK travellers. This podcast is free, as is my weekly newsletter, which you can get every week. Subscribe here to have it delivered to your inbox every Friday. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/pri...

Yes, it’s another rail strike day in England. I’m at London Waterloo, normally the busiest rail station in the UK. Train drivers belonging to the Aslef union are walking out for the 15th day in a long and bitter dispute over pay and working arrangement. Meanwhile in Manchester, the prime minister is set to announce cancellations from Manchester to Birmingham – not just of all trains today, but of...

In this episode, Simon Calder shares his observations and insights on the High-Speed 2 (HS2) project from his usual spot at Euston station. Reflecting on the project's 14-year history and recent developments, Calder discusses the impacts, both realised and potential, of this major transport endeavour. As he unpacks the decisions, delays, and deviations of HS2, the episode also touches on impending...

In this episode, Simon Calder takes listeners on a journey from the Atlantic to the Mediterranean. Along the way, he encounters trail markers, rustic refuges, and navigates occasional misdirections. From tales of majestic mountains to moments of uncertainty, explore the wonders and challenges of the Pyrenees with him. This podcast is free, as is my weekly newsletter, which you can get every week....

Join me, Simon Calder, as I navigate the rail disruptions causing upheaval across England. Dive deep into the ongoing tussle between the Aslef union and the government over pay cuts. It's more than just train delays; grasp the underlying politics, frustrations, and aspirations for a resolution. This podcast is free, as is my weekly newsletter, which you can get every week. Subscribe here to have i...

Another day, another spectacular library. This one is the hulk at the heart of Le Havre, the French port just 100 miles south of Portsmouth. It is part of a cultural centre known as Le Volcan – The Volcano – designed by the Brazilian architect Oscar Niemeyer, who also built the UN HQ in New York and largely designed the city of Brasilia. This podcast is free, as is my weekly newsletter, which you...

Join me, Simon Goer, as I wander through Helsinki's Central Library, a modern marvel blending culture and innovation. It's more than just books; imagine playing a Fender Stratocaster, diving into 3D printing, and embracing creativity. Step inside with me and see a library in a whole new light. This podcast is free, as is my weekly newsletter, which you can get every week. Subscribe here to have it...

With 30% of Gatwick's air-traffic controllers falling ill, we're seeing unprecedented disruptions. In this episode, I'll walk you through the emerging cancellations, unexpected diversions, and what you as a passenger need to know. This podcast is free, as is my weekly newsletter. Subscribe here to get it delivered every Friday. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I’ve been given a preview of the Scottish Galleries at the National in Edinburgh, Scotland’s leading art museum. From Saturday 30 September, you will be able to enjoy a wealth of Scottish art in spectacular new surroundings, as I heard from Dr Tricia Allerston, co-director of the Scottish National Gallery project. This podcast is free, as is my weekly newsletter, which you can get every week. Subs...

Compulsory car-sharing has been officially scrapped by the prime minister. The announcement took many in transport circles by surprise, since the only place in the known world where the practice has ever been mandatory is communist Cuba; there were no proposals to adopt it in the UK. But at least a practice that is environmentally and economically advantageous is now being talked about. Speaking o...

Rishi Sunak told the public on Wednesday. “The proposal to create new taxes to discourage flying – I’ve scrapped that.” I was unaware of any government proposal to create new aviation taxes. But just in case anyone was in doubt about the government’s attitude to aviation: deputy prime minister Oliver Dowden has used the RAF Airbus A330 to fly to New York JFK. At a time when many other commercial f...

In today's chat, I tackle the Tube and National Rail strikes. Whilst the right to strike is clear, what about the traveller's right to reliable transport? I'll discuss whether unions are treading on thin ice. This podcast is free, as is my weekly newsletter, which you can get every week. Subscribe here to have it delivered to your inbox every Friday. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more...

Ryanair are back in the news with the airline’s no-compromise attitude to online check-in. This concerns Damian Lloyd and his family, who were told their pre-printed boarding passes were not valid and that they would have to pay £165 if they wanted to fly to Gran Canaria. Ryanair says they had “unchecked” themselves the day before travel; Mr Lloyd says he has no such recollection. My thoughts ahea...

I’m exploring the technological future of travel with brainbox Kate Doodson, joint chief executive of Cosmic UK – a social enterprise that works with destinations on travel tech. This podcast is free, as is my weekly newsletter, which I can hand-on-heart say is purely human-made. Subscribe here to have it delivered to your inbox every Friday. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more informa...

Gatwick: Another night of chaos for thousands of passengers after an air-traffic controller went sick. It was the third bout of air-traffic control disruption in 18 days. What went wrong – and could it happen again next week? This podcast is free, as is my weekly newsletter. Sign up to it here to receive every Friday. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Scotland is to abolish peak-time rail fares for a six-month trial. The only “walk-up” fare for immediate purchase and travel will be the cheaper off-peak ticket. Savings for rush-hour commuters will range from 20 to 48 per cent, with passengers between Edinburgh and Glasgow seeing the price almost halve, falling by £14 to £14.90.  Could it happen in the rest of the UK? This podcast is free, m...