Pena Palace. Sintra, Portugal. (Photo by: Lyle Johnson/Design Pics Editorial/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)
Lyle Johnson/Design Pics Editorial/Universal Images Group/Getty Images
World’s most beautiful castles
From the fairytale towers of Bavaria’s Neuschwanstein to the golden battlements of Jaipur’s Amber Fortress in India, these are some of the most beautiful castles around the world.
<p> A ride down the River Maipo, at the base of the Andes Mountains, is a splashing good time. </p>
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<p> Big, baked and full of flavor. A bite of this pastry provides a taste of Chilean tradition.</p>
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Chile’s colorful coastal city of Valparaiso is worth the day trip 4:49
<p> CNN’s Richard Quest steps into the rhythmic world of the Chinchineros, drumming up an appetite. But he isn’t prepared for the size of his lunch: giant sandwiches requiring a knife and fork!</p>
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<p> There’s much more to Chile’s capital than its reputation as a stopover city.</p>
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Dare to bare: 25 of the world’s best nude beaches
Tassili n´ Ajjer National Park sprawls across nearly 50,000 square miles of the Sahara Desert.
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This extraordinary desert country has long been difficult for tourists to visit. That’s all changing
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Video Why the Philippines is obsessed with beauty pageants 6:12
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Video The beauty of the Philippines: ‘I saw this place recover through time’ 5:49
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Video A true Filipino welcome 5:04
This huge underwater sinkhole is positioned off the coast of Belize.
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24 of the world’s most unusual landscapes
Mandatory Credit: Photo by Mike King/Shutterstock (1310548a) An Antonov 74 on the runway at Longyearbyen airport, Svalbard North Pole marathon 2011 - 9 Apr 2011 As if running a marathon wasn't difficult enough 27 hardy souls recently braved sub zero temperatures and polar bears to run one at the North Pole. One of the world's toughest races, the North Pole Marathon sees competitors from across the world race 26.2 mile (42.2km) across the ice and snow in temperatures of -32C. The endurance feat, which is known as the world's coolest marathon, is organised by Irishman Richard Donovan, who won the first ever South Pole Marathon in Antarctica in 2002. Before launching the North Pole contest he ran a solo marathon there himself to see if it could be done - becoming the first person to complete marathons at both poles. To complete the full distance competitors in the race run around a 5km circuit, pounding across six to 12 feet of ice covering the Arctic Ocean. Due to this, though they don't feel it, the ground is constantly moving beneath their feet with the ocean current. The 2011 marathon started at 10pm with competitors running through the Pole's 24-hr daylight.
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It’s the world’s northernmost airport. And its runway is melting
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Video Manila: The bustling, energetic capital city filled with warmth 23:13
PRODUCTION - 07 October 2023, Berlin: A DJane spins at the club Re:mise. Photo: Fabian Sommer/dpa (Photo by Fabian Sommer/picture alliance via Getty Images)
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It was the hedonistic party capital of Europe. Now Gen Z wants a different kind of fun
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A vast undersea tunnel is being built that will change the road and rail map of Europe
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These undersea tunnels connect remote islands halfway between Iceland and Scotland
<p>Richard Quest visits Morocco's unofficial cultural center</p>
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Tour of The London Tunnels site, Chancery Lane, London, February 2025.
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What it’s like inside the secret World War II tunnels set to become a huge new tourist attraction
Neon light illuminated buildings along Ocean Drive in Miami, Florida,
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Keys, gators and Latin flavors: Why Miami continues to captivate visitors
People walk in the Place Georges Pompidou next to the modernist Pompidou Centre in Paris, France. (Photo by: Andy Soloman/UCG/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)
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One of Paris’ most popular attractions is closing for 5 years. It’s about to be ‘reinvented’
Boston Harbor
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Exploring the city where modern America was born
<strong>1. Cape Town:</strong> The South African coastal metropolis has been named the best city in the world for 2025 by publishing giant Time Out.
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Time Out reveals world’s 50 best cities for 2025
Aerial view of the medieval village of Calcata with its volcanic cliff and the valley of the Treja river with Mount Soratte in the background.
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Italy’s hot spots are being overwhelmed with tourists. These hidden places offer an escape without the crowds
Mandatory Credit: Photo by Gianni Dagli Orti/Shutterstock (5850818ol)<br />Christ flanked by Saints John and Peter, from The Last Supper, 1618 (detail) (Frans II Pourbus)<br />Art (Paintings) - various<br />Artist: POURBUS, Frans II (1569-1622, Flemish)<br />Location: Musée du Louvre Paris
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They all say they’ve got the Holy Grail. So who’s right?
<p> CNN’s Richard Quest has an alligator encounter in the Florida Everglades.</p>
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<p> Key West is a must-do at least once in your life.</p>
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<p> Little Havana brings the bites, the beats and a whole lot of fun.</p>
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Video A perfect night out in Miami that’s not South Beach 6:07
<p> Villa Casa Casuarina is now a hotel and restaurant, but the designer’s opulent touches are everywhere.</p>
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<p>Step off the beach to find the funky, the flavorful, and a walk on the wild side.</p><p> </p>
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A man carries a Nepali flag as he stands outside his stall in Kathmandu, (AP Photo/Niranjan Shrestha)
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The mysterious, mathematical origins of the world’s most unusually shaped national flag
Headland of Hat Klong Chao Beach at Koh Kood (Ko Kut) island where the canal of Klong Chao conjuncts with the sea with clear turquoise water and white sand beach that flooded with water during high tide. High angle view. - stock photo
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It’s high season in Thailand. Avoid the crowds by visiting these lesser-known destinations
2HHFM42 Hallstatt, Austria - Christmas tree in Hallstatt Zentrum, iconic world landmark in Upper Austria, Austrian Alps.
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The European towns and cities that are magical at Christmas
<strong>10. Barcelona: </strong>The Catalan city is in 10th place in Euromonitor International's Top 100 City Destinations Index for 2024.
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World’s top 100 cities revealed – and London isn’t in the top 10
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The Australian city that became a global food and drink powerhouse
<p>Richard Quest travels to the Italian island of Sicily where he encounters volcanoes stays in iconic hotels and tries his hand at creating cannoli.</p>
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The Western tourists going to Iraq for vacation
A baker prepares bread in Srinagar, Kashmir, India on March 23, 2023.
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The disputed region of India that bakes bread to rival France
The Argo Wilis Panoramic carriage sits idle in Surabaya Gubeng Station.
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Few have heard of this scenic train journey through Indonesia (and it’s a bargain, too)
TIRANA, ALBANIA - SEPTEMBER 16: Entrance to Bunk'Art 2 Museum, located near the Ministry of Interior, dedicated to showcasing Albania's Cold War period, seen on September 16, 2024, in Tirana, Albania. (Photo by Artur Widak/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
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This country’s Cold War paranoia left it riddled with bunkers. Now they’re coming back to life
2RE2GMJ Kazakhstan, Almaty. Afternoon Activity in front of the Ascension Cathedral, Russian Orthodox.
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How a drab Soviet metropolis became Central Asia’s capital of cool
Gushi Cliff Coffee in Fuzhou, southeastern China.
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Cliffside café in China serves death-defying $56 coffee with a view of Taiwan
A Japanese attendant pours sake into a cup for visitors at the Koami Shinto shrine during the doburoku (sake) festival in Tokyo on November 28, 2016. Every year on November 28, Shinto shrines hold the festival to give out free sake, which is made from freshly harvested rice of the year, as part of a Shinto tradition to thank gods for the autumn harvest. / AFP / Behrouz MEHRI (Photo credit should read BEHROUZ MEHRI/AFP via Getty Images)
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Once illegal, this Japanese alcohol is making a comeback
<p> The Massachusetts town, infamously afraid of witches in the 1600s, now welcomes them.</p>
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<p> The midnight rider lived in downtown Boston, and if you follow the red brick trail, it’ll lead you to his centuries-old home.</p><p><br /></p>
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<p> This Massachusetts bay produces oysters that Michelin-starred restaurants want on their tables.</p><p><br /></p>
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<p> CNN’s Richard Quest is torn between tea and an “act of treason” (historically speaking, of course).</p><p> </p>
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Video What happens when a Brit revisits Boston’s Tea Party? 6:17
<p>The story of this state capital, and of a nation, starts with a walk in the park.</p><p> </p>
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Video In Boston, the beaten path is worth traveling 23:17
Chimborazo volcano is the highest mountain in Ecuador with 6300 mt. and is located at the Andes Mountain Range. Because is near the Equator line is the closest place on earth to the sun.
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Climbing the world’s other highest mountain – no sherpas required
Beautiful drone view photo of Saigon - Ho Chi Minh city at night
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In the commercial heart of Vietnam, embracing the chaos is part of the fun
Hiking on Ancient lycian Way.
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Muğla: A magical but overlooked corner of the Mediterranean
<p>CNN’s Richard Quest goes behind the scenes, and on set, of Australia’s longest-running soap opera. </p>
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<p> A day trip from Melbourne leads straight to Australian gold. Not the precious metal, but the kind that comes in a jar. </p>
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Video The small town in Australia that’s spreading the story of Vegemite 4:50
<p>Phillip Island is home to the world’s largest colony of little penguins. At sunset, they create a spectacle that is both comical and unforgettable.</p>
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<p> Australia’s second largest city ranks among the world’s best for coffee, but there’s something else Melburnians queue up for each morning. </p>
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Video A must-have to start the morning in Melbourne. And it’s not just coffee 6:24
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<p>Richard Quest visits Turkey's Muğla Province.</p>
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<p>Journalist Graham Greene may have said it best in his novel, “The Quiet American”: “You come to Vietnam and you understand a lot in a few minutes, but the rest has got to be lived.” CNN’s Richard Quest does just that in Saigon.</p>
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<p>One of the most popular past times in Ho Chi Minh City will take your straight back to your childhood. CNN’s Richard Quest shows off skills he hasn’t used for five decades.</p>
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<p>Welcome to the AO Show, a cultural performance in the heart of Ho Chi Minh City combining creative uses of bamboo, acrobatics and dance with traditional Vietnamese music. CNN’s Richard Quest steps onto the stage to learn what it takes to join the “bamboo circus.” </p>
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<p>A water puppet show fit for royalty, and an entire theme park dedicated to mythology and fun. CNN’s Richard Quest discovers some ways Saigon is preserving its heritage.</p>
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<p>There are around 8 million motorbikes in Saigon – so what better way to explore the city than on two wheels?</p>
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Video Navigating Ho Chi Minh City’s ‘organized chaos’ 6:04
View north over Lord Howe Island, New South Wales, Australia, from the summit of Mt Gower the highest point on the island.
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Why only 400 people at a time can visit this paradise island
People walk on street in Osaka's Dotonbori region in Japan on June 29, 2019. Osaka's most dynamic region Dotonbori with its neon illuminated signs, various foods, shopping passages, is known as the city's heart and one of tourist area of Osaka. Japanese people also prefer Dotonbori to blow off steam.
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The city where visitors are encouraged to ‘eat till they’re bankrupt’
Detail of human skulls and bones which are stacked in the ossuary room in the catacombs of Paris, France, March 29, 2017. REUTERS/Benoit Tessier
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Inside the city of the dead hidden under Paris
<p>Join CNN’s Richard Quest as he and his crew explore the city known for its colorful culture, delicious street food and passionate baseball fans.</p>
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<p>CNN’s Richard Quest travels by bullet train from Osaka to the city of Kobe to learn all about its famous namesake beef, considered one of the most prized and expensive in the world. Kobe beef, from farm to table – literally!</p>
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<p>Since the 1980s, the Japanese have been developing high tech toilets that have transformed the entire bathroom experience. In Osaka, CNN’s Richard Quest visits a TOTO showroom to figure out how it all works – before relaxing (or so he thought) at an onsen, or hot spring resort.</p>
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<p>There’s a saying in Osaka that roughly translates to “eat until you go bankrupt.” CNN’s Richard Quest takes on the challenge as he explores the popular district of Dotonbori, home to the iconic giant crab and Glico Man billboards.</p>
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Video Take an inside look at Notre Dame’s remarkable renovation 6:24
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Cancun: The Mexican fishing village that became one of the world’s hottest party destinations
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New Delhi's famed Iron Pillar sits inside the UNESCO-listed Qutb Minar complex.
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This mysterious iron pillar in India has been exposed to the elements for over 1,600 years. So why hasn’t it ever rusted?
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Inside the tiny corner of Spain that lies in the middle of North Africa
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Video Cancún’s cenotes: the enchanting underworld of the Maya 4:50
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Video This barefoot jungle walk in Tulum is like something out of a dream 6:35
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Video Sweat it out - and heal - the way the Mayans did 5:03
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Video This Mexican resort town is fun, full throttle! And not by chance 6:19
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Video Exploring Cancun’s delightfully unexpected side 23:02
SHIBUYA, TOKYO, JAPAN - 2022/12/11: Cafe Lion  - Its official name is Meikyoku Cafe Lion - "meikyoku" means masterpiece. The cafe has a unique and interesting concept - mixing classical music and coffee, smack dab in the hurly-burly of Shibuya, just down the street from sleazy bars, love hotels and sex shops. Despite its neighborhood, the interior has a gothic feeling like that of an old church. Lion Cafe is an oasis of calm. Massive speakers on the wall put out continuous classical music. All seats point towards this speaker wall, as though it were a stage. The coffee is good and the staff is friendly. The expectation is that you are quiet here, so keep that in mind; cellphones and photography are prohibited. It is Tokyo's best kept secret, all but unknown, and that is a good thing because The Lion is special, originally built in 1923 and then rebuilt in 1950. To enter its hushed interior is to step back in time. The customers sit in silence, many with eyes closed rapt in the classical music that fills the two story cafe. Customers are usually alone because of the no talking ban, so the music and the decor will transport you, solo, to another time and place making one forget that you are in Shibuya, or even that you are in Japan. (Photo by John S Lander/LightRocket via Getty Images)
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Nearly a century old, this ‘masterpiece cafe’ in Tokyo discourages socializing and forbids mobile phones
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What’s it like to dine at Asia’s ‘best’ restaurant?
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Video Discovering the beauty of Switzerland 23:01
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The genius Roman creations that still amaze us today
Sonamarg,India - August 15 2017 : Trekkers Hike along the beautiful Kishansar lake on the Kashmir Great Lakes trek in Sonamarg, India. Most serene trek in the Himalayas with glacial lakes & valleys
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India is a hiker’s dream destination. Here are a dozen of its most epic trails
Terra Madre, High Street
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‘World’s coolest’ street for 2024 named by Time Out
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18 of the world’s best metro systems
Baramulla, Feb 11 (ANI): Tourists enjoy skiing on the snow-covered area of the Gulmarg Ski resort after the snowfall, in Baramulla on Sunday. (ANI Photo via Hindustan Times/Sipa USA)
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After a slow start to the season, Asia’s highest ski resort is covered in snow. Here’s what awaits visitors
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Woman admiring tropical fish snorkeling on coral reef, Zanzibar, Tanzania
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The scented paradise islands off the coast of Africa
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Video This is island life: Discovering the charm of Zanzibar’s shores 23:06
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Video This is Stone Town: the heart of Zanzibar’s capital 8:00
New York City, NY, USA - August 15, 2013: View of Washington Square Park in Manhattan with landmark arch and visitors present on a summer evening. Washington Square Park is a 9.75 acre park located in Greenwich Village and is a popular meeting spot.
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Time Out reveals world’s best cities for 2024
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Video Why Putignano is known as the land of papier-mâché giants 5:29
Vestmannaeyjar Iceland sunset over the sea
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The best islands in Europe for getting away from almost everyone
T7WAND Navy Type 0 carrier fighter, Chiran Peace Museum for Kamikaze Pilots, Minami Kyushu City, Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan
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Last letters from young kamikaze pilots provide rare insights into Japan’s feared special attack unit
<strong>Powerful passports: </strong>France is one of six countries to top a 2024 index of the world's most "powerful passports." (Pictured: The Eiffel Tower in Paris.)
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The world’s most powerful passports for 2024
LONDON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 24: People gather to visit the Tower of London, on the north bank of the River Thames on October 24, 2023 in London, England. With an array of notable tourist attractions, London, the capital city of England, is one of the world's most visited cities attracting millions of visitors every year. (Photo by Matt Cardy/Getty Images)
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London’s most exclusive pub is hidden inside a 900-year-old fortress