Between passports, boarding passes and the eternal scramble for snacks, family travel is already a juggling act - but it turns out one small stowaway is often the biggest source of drama.

There are cities that feel like they’re in a hurry - and then there’s Lisbon.Perched on seven hills, its rhythm is unhurried, its streets bathed in sunlight that seems to linger just for you. Here, mornings begin with the scent of espresso and pastel de nata, and evenings end with the clink of glasses against a backdrop of fado music drifting up narrow alleys.

With October half term now in full swing, and more than 7 million predicted passengers travelling through Heathrow during the month – driven by the usual half-term surge - families across the UK are already setting off on their next big adventure.

There’s a particular kind of magic to the English countryside in winter - the stillness of frosted fields, the warmth that greets you when you step inside a candlelit inn, the soft rhythm of days that ask for nothing more than good food and time to breathe.