The royal wedding helped Britain have its best ever year for tourism in 2011, as a record number of foreigners took a holiday in the UK.

Despite a warning against all but essential travel to the Maldives capital, the unrest has not spread to where most holidaymakers arrive and stay.

A blanket of snow is forecast to spread across the Home Counties.

Europe battles the deep freeze that has killed hundreds of people.

With more snow and ice predicted - and half-term just days away - Nick Trend offers a holidaymaker's guide to avoiding the worst effects of the weather.

Holland prepares its frozen canals for the Eleven Cities ice skating race.

The recent civil unrest in the Maldives should not affect Britons on holiday, travel companies have insisted.

China celebrates the Lantern Festival, marking the end of the Lunar New Year festivities.

The Best of Russia 2011 photography competition winners.

Elements of Britain's discrimination laws do not apply once passengers board aircraft, paving way for tax for obese fliers.

The Milky Way photographed over America's national parks.

The lagoon and canals ice over as Europe's big freeze continues.

Southern Britain to be hit by more snow as the country faces a fresh battle with freezing temperatures and transport chaos.

Heathrow will always struggle to cope with snow because the airport is full, the airport operator has admitted.

More snow is forecast to hit Heathrow airport and many parts of Britain over weekend just as the half term getaway begins.

Frozen canals, ice-encrusted cars, winter swimmers, and icicles.

A weekend of snowmen, sledges and snowball fights - and travel chaos.

The European Commission said on Monday it will stand by a new law that imposes charges on airline carbon emissions after China banned its carriers from paying for such permits.

Authorities in China have banned the country's airlines from contributing to the European Union's controversial Emission Trading Scheme (ETS).

Travellers and passengers have told of their disrupted plans after widespread snow led to flight cancellations and dangerous driving conditions.

BAA admits Heathrow will always struggle to cope with snow because the airport is full, but remains unrepentant about decision to cancel flights before snow had started to fall.

Forecasters warn biting temperatures, snow showers and overnight frosts could last until end of February, as first spell of wintry weather forces Heathrow to cancel half of its flights.

Heathrow Airport has reopened all runways after a weekend of disruption but travel chaos is expected to last for at least another day as the backlog is cleared.

Travellers expect to face chaos on Sunday as a third of flights from Heathrow are cancelled.

A British passenger is feared to have fallen overboard from the world's biggest cruise ship in waters near Mexico.