Beneath one of St Petersburg's most gilded palaces lies a cold, vaulted cellar where, one December night in 1916, aristocrats poisoned, shot and finally drowned Grigori Rasputin — the monk who would not die. Kevin descends the staircase, stands among the wax figures at the fatal supper table, and discovers a room that is so disturbing it leaves some people in a cold sweat. It also later inspired his novel, The Secret of the Sacred Spear. Travel, it seems, can be fertile ground for a soaring imagination.

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Vienna: schnitzel, Sachertorte, coffee-house afternoons — and, hidden in the Hofburg's Imperial Treasury, an iron spearhead legend calls the Spear of Destiny: the lance of Longinus, coveted by emperors and stolen by Hitler himself. Kevin follows it from Vienna to a claustrophobic Nuremberg bunker — and reveals how standing before this relic inspired his novel, The Secret of the Sacred Spear.

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Instagram: ⁠@thetoptraveldestinations⁠

X: ⁠@becreativekev

French graves have been iconic tourist attractions ever since Père Lachaise Cemetery opened in 1804.

In this episode, Kevin recounts an emotional visit to one of France's lesser-known but equally remarkable cemeteries, Sainte-Geneviève-des-Bois, the final resting place of many Russian émigrés who fled the October Revolution — including perhaps the greatest Russian ballet dancer of his, or any, generation: the legendary Rudolf Nureyev, whom Kevin danced alongside with the London Festival Ballet.

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Instagram: ⁠@thetoptraveldestinations⁠

X: ⁠@becreativekev

Venice should not exist — yet thirteen centuries on, it's still fighting the sea. In this episode, Kevin tells the story of MOSE, the colossal, controversial and staggeringly expensive flood barrier holding back the Adriatic, and what every traveller should know before visiting the city it protects.

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Instagram: ⁠@thetoptraveldestinations⁠

X: ⁠@becreativekev

Travelling to the most dangerous airport in the world at Katmandu, under the shadow of Mount Everest, the day after a plane crashed. That was a trip that certainly took me out of my routine!

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Instagram: ⁠@thetoptraveldestinations⁠

X: ⁠@becreativekev

Kevin says, “As I've grown older, I've come to think that travel is one of the best medicines we have. It gives us something to look forward to, keeps the mind active, and reminds us that wonder doesn't retire when we do. In fact, studies show that older adults who stay socially active and engaged in experiences such as travel have lower rates of depression and greater life satisfaction. I've certainly found that to be true in my own life, and in this episode I share some of the reasons why.”

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Instagram: ⁠@thetoptraveldestinations⁠

X: ⁠@becreativekev

When Kuba discovered a long piece of abandoned wood and christened it ‘Bob’, no one could imagine the relationship that would develop as Kevin, Maya and Kuba took Bob on the oldest pilgrims' walk in the world!

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X: ⁠@becreativekev

Kevin Flanagan finds the answer on a recent pilgrimage to Santiago di Compostela, walking the Camino with Kuba (11) and Maya (9).

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X: ⁠@becreativekev

On a sun drenched Bank Holiday Kevin & family are given  a guided tour  by one of his oldest friends Paul. They take in the sights and sounds that only this unique city can  give, and make memories for life.

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Kevin joins his son Ciaran, a lifelong Arsenal fan, and his grandkids Maya & Kuba to celebrate North London’s greatest football team winning the Premier Legaue! It’s a day out in London never to be forgotten!

You can also follow The Top Travel Destinations on social media for updates: 

Instagram: ⁠@thetoptraveldestinations⁠

X: ⁠@becreativekev