Lifestyle

The morning commute deserves better than traffic reports and the same old playlist. From the surreal comedy of Comedy Bang! Bang! and the extraordinary discoveries of No Such Thing As A Fish to the outrageous conversations of Toni and Ryan and the culinary chaos of Off Menu, these seven podcasts bring together some of the funniest voices from around the world. Whether you enjoy improvised nonsense, clever observations, celebrity encounters or wonderfully strange stories, there's a show here to make the journey go a little faster — and put you in a better mood before work.

Your morning commute doesn't have to be the least enjoyable part of your day. A few small changes can make the journey calmer, more energising and even something to look forward to. From walking a little further and finding the perfect soundtrack to taking a different route and making time for human connection, discover seven simple ways to transform the journey between home and work — and start the day in a better frame of mind.

Being alone doesn't have to mean being lonely. In fact, choosing to spend time in your own company can bring some surprising benefits, from reducing stress and unlocking creativity to building confidence and appreciating the people around you. Whether it's finding a little peace in a busy world, enjoying the freedom to do exactly what you want or rediscovering the pleasure of doing things just for yourself, discover seven ways that a little solitude can make life happier.

School holidays are supposed to be fun. But when the rain is relentless, the children are restless and another expensive day out is difficult to justify, keeping everyone entertained can feel like a full-time job. The answer isn't necessarily another soft-play centre, cinema trip or costly attraction. Some of the best rainy-day activities involve turning familiar places into adventures, giving children a genuine challenge or letting them create something themselves. A free museum becomes a treasure hunt. A library visit produces an afternoon of discoveries. A family dinner becomes a miniature restaurant business. Even an ordinary living room can be transformed into an escape room designed by the children. These seven ideas balance indoor outings with activities at home, including options that cost absolutely nothing. Each includes a realistic budget, suggested ages, an estimated duration and practical advice for making the experience work. Whether you're surviving October half-term, the Easter holidays or a particularly miserable summer afternoon, the aim is the same: fewer hours wondering what to do, and more time doing something worth remembering.

The nights are getting longer. Your excuses are getting better. From pubs glowing against November rain to slow-cooked dinners, bleak films and walks that feel faintly supernatural, these are seven reasons the darker months might have something going for them after all. Winter isn’t wonderful. But it does have its moments.

Motherhood isn’t always picture-perfect. From hilarious parenting chaos to the tender, messy and completely relatable moments of family life, these seven creators tell it like it is. Spanning countries and cultures, they bring honesty, humour and heart to the realities of raising children. Follow them for the unfiltered side of motherhood — and decide who deserves your number one.

Seven useful Swedish phrases for meeting people and making conversation in Gothenburg.

Seven cultural institutions and attractions that showcase Launceston's artistic and cultural character.

Lafayette knows how to celebrate. At the heart of Louisiana’s Acadiana region, its festival calendar brings together Cajun and Creole traditions, international music, Mardi Gras pageantry, crawfish feasts and homegrown creativity. These seven events offer different ways to experience the area: some draw crowds from far beyond Louisiana, while others feel rooted in the rhythms and rituals of local life. From downtown stages filled with music from around the world to celebrations of the food and culture that define Cajun country, this is a ranking of the festivals that make Lafayette and its surroundings worth visiting.

Seven festivals and annual events that bring Hattiesburg's cultural life into the open.

Seven designs associated with one of Waterford's most internationally recognised creative traditions.

RANKD Team Sheffield edition.

RANKD Team Sheffield edition.

RANKD Team Sheffield edition.

RANKD Team Sheffield edition.

RANKD Team Sheffield edition.

Seven small rules that keep the British pub working the way it should.

Seven pub names that sound like the beginning of a story — and often are.

Seven places around Islington where a good night out can turn into a very good laugh.

Seven Holloway pubs with character, history, atmosphere or simply a very good reason to pull up a chair.

Seven small rules that keep the British pub working the way it should.

Seven pub names that sound like the beginning of a story — and often are.

Seven places around Islington where a good night out can turn into a very good laugh.

Seven Holloway pubs with character, history, atmosphere or simply a very good reason to pull up a chair.

Derry~Londonderry knows how to turn a calendar date into a reason to visit. Around Halloween, the Walled City becomes a spectacular celebration of Samhain folklore; later in the year, jazz musicians, international choirs and traditional Irish performers bring music into venues across the city. The programme stretches beyond the arts, too, with the Foyle Cup drawing youth football teams from around the world and the Foyle Maritime Festival celebrating the River Foyle and the city’s seafaring connections. Even television fans have a reason to make the trip, thanks to the places and experiences associated with Derry Girls. This ranking brings together seven very different reasons to plan a visit, from major annual celebrations to distinctive cultural experiences. Check dates before travelling: some events run every year, others are biennial, and programmes can change.

RANKD Team Britishness edition.

RANKD Team Americana edition.

RANKD Team Britishness edition.

RANKD Team Britishness edition.

RANKD Team Britishness edition.

RANKD Team Britishness edition.

RANKD Team Britishness edition.

RANKD Team Britishness edition.

British compliments rarely arrive with a marching band. Instead, approval is rationed, enthusiasm is treated with suspicion, and the highest praise can sound suspiciously like a complaint. “Not bad” might mean you’ve done brilliantly; “that’ll do” might be a standing ovation in disguise. These seven expressions capture the national talent for making admiration sound faintly reluctant, as though giving someone too much credit might go to their head. Some are genuine compliments wrapped in understatement. Others are backhanded enough to leave a mark. The real skill is knowing which you’ve received — and whether you’re supposed to say thank you. Which phrase deserves the top spot in Britain’s unofficial league of praise that sounds like criticism?

RANKD Team Britishness edition.

RANKD Team Britishness edition.

RANKD Team Britishness edition.

I am tired of people thinking I am the FBI and can source information that does not exist.

i like doing these things

Sausages and chicken

RANKD Team Poblacion edition.

Poblacion, Makati, is known for its bars and late nights, but the neighbourhood offers much more than a standard night out. This guide picks seven specific places worth seeking out: a creative social club, a vinyl listening bar, Filipino-inspired cocktails, a specialist spirits selection, Philippine coffee, a greenery-filled urban retreat and a restaurant reworking Filipino ingredients through French technique. Some are better suited to a daytime wander; others come into their own after dark. Together, they show different sides of Poblacion, from its independent creative spaces to its distinctive food and drink scene. These are identifiable venues with their own character, not vague categories or invented secret spots. Check current opening hours before visiting, and use the map links to plan your route.

RANKD Team Poblacion edition.

RANKD Team Poblacion edition.

RANKD Team Poblacion edition.

RANKD Team Williamsburg edition.

RANKD Team Williamsburg edition.

RANKD Team Williamsburg edition.

RANKD Team Williamsburg edition.

RANKD Team Williamsburg edition.

Islington is more than nice Georgian houses and expensive dinners. It is a north London neighbourhood where Arsenal devotion runs deep, fringe theatre shares streets with serious restaurants, antique hunters rummage through Camden Passage and the canal offers an escape from the noise. Upper Street can feel gloriously self-satisfied; Angel is its restless southern gateway; Highbury Fields reminds you that this is a place people actually live, not just somewhere to spend money. These are seven ingredients that give Islington its particular character — and make it distinctly itself.

RANKD Team Islington edition.

RANKD Team Islington edition.

Forget the predictable dinner-and-drinks routine. From creating your own signature perfume and breaking into Sherlock Holmes’ flat to paint-splattering, interactive gaming and exploring an extraordinary industrial nightclub, these are seven unusual ways to spend time together in Islington.

RANKD Team Islington edition.

Because A* is the best one and U is the worst one

A new community RANKD.

A community remix of another RANKD.

A community remix of another RANKD.

A new community RANKD.