Community Post Type: News

Tailored journeys, sustainable choices and once-in-a-lifetime experiences

As travellers look beyond the obvious and seek more meaningful, responsible and personalised experiences, Wirral-based Global Travel has unveiled its recommended destinations for 2026 – a carefully curated collection of the world’s most compelling places, selected for their uniqueness, sustainability initiatives and potential for truly bespoke travel.

From ancient desert civilisations to polar frontiers; island sanctuaries to remote wilderness, these destinations reflect a growing desire for travel with purpose, designed around the individual traveller rather than a one-size-fits-all itinerary.

A world of extraordinary experiences

AlUla & Abu Dhabi showcase the Middle East’s evolution into a cultural and ecological destination, blending world-class museums, protected landscapes and heritage conservation with refined luxury.

Hokkaido offers dramatic seasonal beauty, indigenous Ainu culture and nature-led experiences, while Chile spans deserts, glaciers and Patagonia’s iconic peaks – ideal for adventurous, slow-travel itineraries.

For those drawn to the planet’s edges, Antarctica and Arctic Canada represent the ultimate expedition journeys. These regions demand expert planning, strict environmental standards and responsible operators – areas where Global Travel’s knowledge is essential to ensuring ethical, low-impact exploration.

Island escapes such as the Maldives, French Polynesia, Antigua and Aruba remain timeless, but are increasingly defined by reef protection, renewable energy initiatives and community engagement. Meanwhile, Panama delivers biodiversity, culture and adventure in one compact destination and Western Australia’s The Kimberley stands as one of the world’s last true wildernesses, where Indigenous-led tourism and careful access are paramount.

Sustainability at the heart of every journey

With climate change, over-tourism and fragile ecosystems top of mind, sustainability is no longer optional – it’s integral. Global Travel prioritises:

• Carefully vetted hotels and operators with credible sustainability credentials
• Low-impact expedition cruising and small-group travel
• Community-based and Indigenous-led experiences
• Longer, more meaningful stays over rushed itineraries

“Our role isn’t just to book travel,” says Global Travel’s co-founder Sarah Meadowcroft. “It’s to design journeys that respect the places people visit, support local communities and deliver experiences that feel deeply personal.”

Bespoke travel, expertly tailored

What sets Global Travel apart is its tailored, consultative approach. Every destination on the 2026 list can be shaped around:
• Families seeking enriching, multi-generational experiences
• Couples looking for romance, privacy and authenticity
• Adventure travellers chasing wilderness, wildlife and challenge
• Luxury travellers wanting exclusivity with conscience

From selecting the right season and accommodation to managing logistics in remote regions and adding once-in-a-lifetime experiences, Global Travel’s expertise ensures each journey is seamless, responsible and unforgettable.

Travellers are invited to discover these destinations in depth at the Cheshire Luxury Travel Show, hosted by Global Travel and Cruise, on January 18, at The Neston Club – Parkgate Clubhouse. Expert advisors will be on hand to:

• Share destination insights and sustainability considerations
• Discuss emerging travel trends for 2026
• Create personalised travel plans tailored to individual interests

Whether you’re dreaming of polar ice, desert dunes, island serenity or untamed wilderness, your 2026 journey begins here.

For more information and to talk about any of these destinations, sustainable travel or bespoke holidays, please contact Sarah Meadowcroft on 07308 960 486 or sarah@flyawaytoday.co.uk.

A new year brings a brand new programme – and a renewed vigour for platforming some of the most innovative, inclusive and downright exciting theatre in the North West. Renowned for championing radical, pioneering and underrepresented productions, 2026 is shaping up to a be a huge year for Unity Theatre.

Following universal acclaim for the Unity’s December programme – including their own Christmas Cabaret and festive family show Sleep Can Wait – 2026 begins with a suitably abstemious start to the year. Reopening the theatre on Wednesday 21st January is Sober Scribbles: Scratch Night – a safe and supportive community for sober and sober-curious writers to come together in Liverpool and be able to create and share work in alcohol free spaces. Following a series of online courses, the next generation of emerging playwrights will present extracts of their developing work, giving audiences the chance to potentially see a new masterpiece in the making…

Unity’s first theatre presentation of the year comes in the form of KITTEL: Doktor Faustus of the Third Reich – a brave and caustic telling of the true story of renowned German theologian, Professor Gerhard Kittel, who sold his soul to Satan. Presented by Heirs of Banquo, this new production offers a shocking and uncompromising account of how reputation, personal honour and religion can be appropriated in the service of radical evil.

Showing from Wednesday 28th to Saturday 31st January, The Ghost of Graves End is perfect post-Christmas not-Panto entertainment. A parody of those classic Victorian ghost stories – think Woman in Black meets A Turn of the Screw, with the high-energy comedic silliness of The 39 Steps.

Charles is a penniless poet who takes a position as a tutor to a peculiar orphan boy. The previous tutor left in a hurry, and everyone is reluctant to say why. Afflicted by strange dreams, things that go bump in the night, and increasingly dire circumstance, Charles has to decide whether to stay or get the Hell out of there.

The Ghost of Graves End is a spooky Victorian comedy – inspired by classic ghost stories of the genre, with its tongue firmly in its’ cheek, but at the same time, genuinely scary. “A great night out with lots of jokes” – from the same team who brought you 2025’s acclaimed Stella.

February see’s a mesmerising and intensely moving play begin it’s first run in the UK, following a sold out 2024 tour across the North of Ireland, garnering both standing ovations and critical acclaim.

The Marian Hotel is based on Caitriona Cunningham’s lived experience of being in Marianvale Mother and Baby Home, Newry – a searing portrayal of a dark time in Irish history with a 70s/80s soundtrack. This play is a call to all impacted to come forward and raise their voices so that they may never again be silenced and shamed for being human.

For 2026, Unity Theatre are thrilled to be partnering with the Liverpool Doc Club to host premiere screenings of brand new documentary cinema. The first two events are proof of their intention to align with Unity’s ethos: ‘Motherboard’ and ‘Folktales’ are both films that engage with other offerings by the Unity and explore what it means to be human today.

Motherboard (Wednesday 11th February) is a smartphone feature exploring motherhood, filmed over 20 years by BAFTA award-winning director Victoria Mapplebeck. It charts the joy, pain and comedy of raising a child alone – navigating the highs and lows of unromanticized parenting, where chaos rules. Honest, funny and infinitely relatable, Motherboard is the antidote to the unrealistic expectations we have about motherhood, and a film for anyone who wants to see family life in all its unfiltered glory.

Folktales (Wednesday 11th March) tells the timely and emotional story of teenagers who choose to spend an unconventional “gap year” learning to dog sled and survive the Arctic wilderness, in hopes of finding connection and meaning in the modern world. Guided by patient teachers and a yard full of Alaskan huskies, they discover their own potential and develop deep relationships with the land, animals and humans around them. Through intimate verité storytelling and exhilarating cinematography, Academy Award®-nominated filmmakers Heidi Ewing and Rachel Grady examine humans on the cusp of adulthood, finding themselves at the edge of the world.

March heralds the beginning of festival season – well, at the Unity Theatre at least – as both the Unity Comedy Festival and their own Up Next Festival of new work take place towards the end of the month.

Launching on March 14th with an already sold out performance by Joe-Kent Walters – 2024’s Edinburgh Comedy Award Best Newcomer – Unity Comedy Festival begins in earnest on 19th March in the capable hands of Alex Stringer, who brings her new show Happy Hour to Liverpool for the first time. This is a show about what it’s like once you get sober, discovering who you really are without substances, and what if who you really are is actually also a dickhead? A Chortle Hotshot 2025, Alex Stringer has been lauded by Rolling Stone as one of the “12 Rising Stars of Comedy”.

The following night – Friday 20th March – sees “Master Clown” Dru Cripps present his phenomenally successful loopstation-based shenanigans in Juicy Bits – a show so good it earned five 5-star reviews, sold out Edinburgh completely, and added extra dates. This quadruple award-winner (British Comedy Guide, Malcolm Hardee, Comedy Store King Gong, Solo FX Sponsorship) and BBC New Comedian of the Year nominee transforms audience suggestions into improvised songs, spontaneous musical sketches, and “utterly winning” chaos in real-time.

Keeping the laughs ringing throughout the building, Dru’s show will be immediately followed by a performance from sign language user, seasoned traveller, and weary father of three, Gavin Lilley – sharing painfully funny stories of awkward moments, cultural mishaps, and the quirks of everyday life in Signs of The Times. Gavin has entertained audiences across the UK and Europe, performing everywhere from the London Palladium and the Edinburgh Fringe to the Helsinki Apollo — and even supporting John Bishop on tour. His comedy bridges deaf and hearing worlds, giving audiences a unique perspective on the habits we all share (but rarely admit!).

Bringing the Unity Comedy Festival to a close on Saturday 21st March is Motion Sickness – the latest show from Rachel Barry and Nina Levy. Join two men on a journey to escape the mediocrity of everyday life and themselves, and watch as it quickly unravels into a surreal, chaotic, and joyful exploration of the strange characters we encounter throughout our life and in our own heads.

There’s also a second show from Joe Kent Walters (still with tickets available!) as well as a showcase of the finest up and coming working class comedy talent in Best In Class. Hosted by award winning comedian Sian Davies (“Compelling and distinctive” The Scotsman), Best in Class features a mixed bill of the very best new comic voices, who just so happen to be from working class backgrounds. Graduates of the project have had nominations for Best Comedy Show at the Edinburgh Fringe Awards, created shows for BBC Radio 4, signed for agents, gained TV credits and toured sell out shows.

The following weekend see’s the return of Unity Theatre’s annual celebration of Merseyside creativity – Up Next Festival – featuring brand-new shows from the region’s most exciting artists and companies. Across three days expect to encounter newly commissioned works across a range of artforms including world premiere plays, poetry, cabaret, installations, drag and music. More details coming soon!

Liverpool’s burgeoning hip hop scene will be showcased at one of the city’s most iconic venues in the new year.

Africa Oyé and LIMF Academy have joined forces for TRiBE, a collaborative event at the Philharmonic Music Room exploring the eclecticism and depth of the hip hop genre.

A wealth of talent from Liverpool and wider city region will take the stage on Saturday 7th February 2026, including rapper KOJ.

With a unique fusion between the rawness of grime culture and the creativity and eclecticism of UK Rap, KOJ delivers authentic and personable lyrics full of character that resonates with his audience. From schoolyard rap battles to curating his own creative space with ‘Tribe’, Koj’s vision is to build a movement that fosters connection and leaves a legacy.

Philly D is an artist known for his drill, Afro-swing and Afro Beats sounds mixed with UK rap. Born in Ghana, he has been writing music from a young age, though it was only during the COVID-19 lockdown that he decided to share his talent with the world. Inspired massively by J Hus, Kokoroko and Santan Dave, Philly D’s other musical influences also include Old School Hip Hop and Ghana Highlife Music.

TEE has steadily risen to become a key figure in Liverpool’s thriving RnB and Neo-Soul scene. Firstly proving his credentials as a forward-thinking arranger, producer, and bass player for artists such as MIC Lowry, XamVolo, Sub Blue, and Little Grace, he has since embarked on a journey that sees him carry forward his signature emotionally-driven pop and RnB to form a project entirely of his own design.

Amber Rose is an electrifying Scouse DJ who’s taken the city’s club scene by storm. With a high-energy, multi-genre style, Amber’s sound pulses with the vibrant rhythm of reggae, dancehall, amapiano, UK funky, garage, and more. From already performing sets for Boiler Room and BBC 1xtra to her gigs at Liverpool’s iconic 24 Kitchen Street and across London and Manchester, Amber Rose is steadily carving out an exciting and dynamic name for herself in the DJ world.

Artistic Director of Africa Oyé, Paul Duhaney said: “We’ve had some fantastic young local talent on the Africa Oyé stage in recent years through programmes like the L100 Cypher and Positive Impact, so it’s great to be able to showcase more of that talent in such a prestigious Liverpool venue. LIMF Academy are supporting the careers of new and emerging music talent from across the region and we’re thrilled to be teaming up for this event.”

TRiBE feat. KOJ and Friends takes place on Saturday 7th February 2026 at the Philharmonic Music Room in Liverpool. Tickets are available now via the venue’s website.

 

Material dating back more than 200 years, from the time of George III and the Industrial Revolution, has been found during construction work in the quaysides of Liverpool’s Canning Dock.

National Museums Liverpool’s archaeologists have collected fragments of pottery discovered by workers digging small test pits around Canning Dock. The items found include pieces of porcelain, potentially brought to Liverpool from Staffordshire for export, and locally-made tiles and pottery, which represent the history of the site and its global connections.

Liverpool’s waterfront is largely reclaimed land with The Strand marking the original shoreline of the River Mersey. After the overwhelming success of the first dock, now known as the Old Dock, which opened in 1715, demand grew to expand the city’s maritime economy. From the 1750s onwards the large infrastructure of docks, for which Liverpool became well known globally, was built out into the river. Centuries later, this process of land reclamation makes for fascinating archaeological discoveries.

Liz Stewart, Head of Museum of Liverpool, said: “Construction work around the historic waterfront always piques the interest of archaeologists because we know there’s a chance it will uncover interesting material. The redevelopment of Canning Quaysides and Dry Docks is not only about protecting the heritage of the site but also better understanding the layers of its history, so it is very exciting to see what has been hidden in the ground for all these years and consider what stories they tell us.”

Today, the most common of the locally-made finds in Canning Quaysides is fragments of sugar moulds. This pottery was used in the processing of the raw sugar into sugar loaves which were ready for sale. The slave-produced sugar, processed in Liverpool, was imported from plantations in the Americas and the Caribbean. This type of find can be linked to known sites and people in Liverpool’s history – such as Jonas Bold, after whom Bold Street is named – a merchant, slave trader and sugar baker nearby on The Strand. Bold also invested in a factory making the sugar moulds.

As part of Canning Quaysides and Dry Docks’ redevelopment, community stakeholders and historians have been key to researching and interpreting the history of the site, as well as developing plans for its future. The stories being revealed through the research and the archaeological finds will form part of new interpretation at the site when it reopens.

Join the International Slavery Museum’s second Call and Response event in a series which explores key aspects of the history of racial slavery. The event includes a free opportunity to explore the Old Dock and a guided tour of key sites around Liverpool’s waterfront, including Museum of Liverpool’s Great Port gallery, with lunch provided. Book here.

A Liverpool world dance charity is celebrating their 16^th Lunar New Year 2026 with parades, performances and workshops in Liverpool city centre.

Liverpool is invited to dance with Movema for Lunar New Year and be a part of performances which celebrate East Asian & South East Asian culture on 14^th, 21^st and 22^nd February 2026.

This project will explore the cultural history of Lunar New Year and celebrate the year of the horse, welcoming new beginnings, success and opportunities for growth.

Movema are looking for performers from Liverpool’s community to get involved – ages 8 and above, and all abilities welcome.

They are particularly welcoming people from East and South East Asian background to participate and share their personal experiences, explore and create.

To learn the routine members of the public can join the World Dance Classes on Mondays 6-7pm starting 12^th January at 24 Hope Street studio, L1 9BX. Movema’s Lunar New Year performance package at £35 includes 6 classes where you can learn fun dance moves inspired by a variety of Chinese dance styles from experienced professionals and have the opportunity to perform in Liverpool city centre on 14^th and 22^nd February, as well as beautiful costumes and props on each of the performance days.

And for those who don’t fancy themselves as a dancer, everyone is still welcome to come and soak in the atmosphere on Saturday 14^th when the Lunar New Year parade scheduled to take place in the city centre and on Saturday 21^st-Sunday 22^nd when we’ll join other performers on stage at Great George Square.

Movema will also be delivering free family workshops on Saturday 21^st February at Victoria Gallery and Museum around Lunar New Year traditions with costumes, crafts and props.

Project Manager, Pei Tong says: “Lunar New Year provides an opportunity to be seen, celebrated, listened to, learn from each other and challenge perceptions of the world we live in.”
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For more information visit www.movema.co.uk contact info@movema.co.uk or call 07548 365 869. Find them on socials @movema.

An internationally celebrated music photographer from Liverpool will be exhibiting work in his home city this February.

William Ellis’ photographs of iconic artists have appeared in The Times, The Guardian, New Statesman and on the BBC, magazines and record covers and he is a co-author of the forthcoming book Rethinking Miles Davis published by Oxford University Press.

His work has been exhibited in the United States, Canada, Cuba, South Africa, Europe, China and the Far East. They are in numerous private collections and those of National Portrait Gallery, London, the Archive of Contemporary Music, New York, The American Jazz Museum, Kansas City MO, and on display at Birdland, New York.

His reggae project One Love, produced in his role as Visiting Research Fellow in Photographing Popular Music Culture at Birmingham City University is in the archives of the University of the West Indies, Kingston, Jamaica.

From 3rd February to 15th April 2026, Ellis’ images of musicians such as Herbie Hancock, Clark Terry and Dizzy Gillespie will be exhibited at The Capstone Theatre, coinciding with the Liverpool International Jazz Festival. Visitors will be able to see photographs of these music legends on stage, in rehearsal spaces, even in their own homes, revealing details about performance practices, instrumentation, fashion and interpersonal dynamics.

Creative Director of the Liverpool International Jazz Festival, Neil Campbell said: “Jazz is an art form rooted in improvisation and spontaneity – photography shares this instantaneous nature of creation in capturing for us an in-the-moment impression which provides a visual context that enriches our understanding and appreciation of the music’s cultural and social environment.”

There will be a Private View event on Thursday 26th February at 6pm with William Ellis in attendance. All are welcome to attend and pre-booking is not required. For more details please visit The Capstone Theatre website.

Reclaim The Frame have an upcoming preview screening this week of the film Hamnet, on Wednesday the 7th of January at FACT, Liverpool.

The film begins at 17:10pm and will be followed at 19:30pm by a lino printing workshop. Tickets for the film are available through the FACT website and more info about the workshop is below.

1580 England. Impoverished Latin tutor William Shakespeare meets free-spirited Agnes, and the pair, captivated by one another, strike up a torrid affair that leads to marriage and three children. Yet as Will pursues a budding theatre career in far-away London, Agnes anchors the domestic sphere alone. When tragedy strikes, the couple’s once-unshakable bond is tested, but their shared experience sets the stage for the creation of Shakespeare’s timeless masterpiece, Hamlet.

From Focus Features and Academy Award® winning filmmaker Chloé Zhao (Nomadland, The Rider) comes a sensitively observed, magnificently crafted tale about the complexities of love and the healing power of art and creativity. Based on Maggie O’Farrell’s award-winning novel Hamnet and adapted for the screen by Zhao and O’Farrell, the film stars Academy Award®-nominee Jessie Buckley (The Lost Daughter), Academy Award®-nominee Paul Mescal (All of Us Strangers), Academy Award®-nominee Emily Watson (Hilary and Jackie, Breaking the Waves) and Joe Alwyn (The Brutalist).

The lino printing workshop is going to be led by Rhonda of Liverpool Community Print Station, you will be able to go home with a themed bookplate.

Email mail@reclaimtheframe.org as there are only 20 tickets available for the workshop.

As part of St Helens Storyfest 2026, Wonder Arts and St Helens Arts in Libraries are staging Last Unicorn Airways.

Join two whimsical baggage handlers as they recreate a fantastical round-the-world adventure aboard the final flight of Last Unicorn Airways, opening suitcases brimming with trinkets, fine clothes, alluring smells and exciting tales.

Among these treasures lies a special case containing The Flying Trunk, a captivating Arabian Nights-inspired fable about a daring, globe-trotting storyteller with nothing but a magical flying suitcase!

Adapted from Hans Christian Andersen’s timeless story, the show uses playful storytelling to remind us to see everyday life as an adventure and to cherish our world and each other. It’s a heartwarming reflection on courage, connection and resilience – perfect for families and children, including those with complex needs and disabilities.

After the show, step into a sensory immersive installation, offering a unique, interactive experience for every audience member.

Last Unicorn Airways was co-created through working creatively with young people and was originally co-commissioned by Barnsley Civic and ARC Stockton-on-Tees.

Where: Newton-le-Willows Library WA12 9TU

When: 14th February 2026

Age: 4-9 year olds

Price: £3.10 Single | £10 Group of 4

St Helens StoryFest is programmed in partnership with Wonder Arts & St Helens Arts in Libraries

For tickets, visit here

FACT are excited to host current exhibiting artists Bassam Issa Al-Sabah and Nina Davies for a special in-conversation event, in the final weeks of their solo exhibitions.

Bassam’s THE MISSION IS THE END, THE END IS ALL I WANT! is presented alongside Nina’s MEET ME IN THE DIGITAL TWIN – a collaboration with participants Eve, Luke and Mel from The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre’s Teenager and Young Adults Unit. In these two new artworks, both artists reveal the tensions that emerge when digital representations start to replace real experiences.

For free tickets, visit here