Bag yourself a cheap flight to Cork the next time you need a short break. A sunny and cosmopolitan city, it’s the perfect place for a holiday. With lots of lovely buildings, some dating from as far back as the Medieval period, you’ll have a great time just walking slowly through the city.

Stay
Clarion Hotel – Located right beside the River Lee, you’ll be able to enjoy calming river views from your room. If your stomach’s grumbling and you feel like staying in, take your pick from the three in-house restaurants, all guaranteed to tantalise your tastebuds. The hotel is only a couple of minutes from the centre of town, so you won’t have fair to go when your feet get tired from exploring the city’s nooks and crannies. Room rates start from around £100.

See
The English Market – If you’d like to see what the people of Cork eat, then head for the English Market on Princes Street. The present building dates all the way back to 1786, although it’s origins can be traced back even further, to 1610. Besides offering a veritable cornucopia of produce from all over the world, you’ll be able to find local delicacies such as drisheen (a kind of black pudding) and crubeen (pigs trotters). Cheese lovers will be spoilt for choice with some of the best selections available.

Eat
Farmgate Café and Restaurant – Your food won’t come any fresher than this – situated in a gallery right above the English Market, the Farmgate purchases almost all their ingredients from the stalls below them. The dishes change daily, depending on the availability of ingredients from the market. Their chowder comes highly recommended, made with fresh fish from the fishmongers. If you’re the adventurous type, be sure to try their renditions of local delicacies such as tripe or drisheen.