Cannes Holidays

A sunny enclave on France’s Côte d’Azur, Cannes wasn’t always such a honeypot for the well-heeled and fabulous. Up until 1834, it was a humble fishing village, but then English statesman and philosopher Lord Henry Brougham built a grand house there. This inspired other well-to-do types to regard Cannes, with its clear waters and sublime climate, as a revitalising Victorian health destination. On Cannes city breaks nowadays, you’ll find it still draws a jet-set crowd, who visit upscale boutiques before returning to their super yachts and flashy sports cars. Moreover, since Brougham’s day, Cannes has become a magnet for Hollywood stars – the best and brightest of which arrive each May for the city’s now world-famous film festival.

City breaks to Cannes aren’t all about celebrity-spotting, though, as there are beautiful sandy public beaches and a cluster of bijou offshore islands to explore. There’s also the cutesy rustic architecture of the old quarter, Le Suquet, where you can shop for handmade crafts and jewellery, and watch street artists perform along its narrow, cobbled lanes. It has come a very long way from its origins as a sleepy fisherman’s village, and after your first city break to Cannes, you’re sure to be hooked.