BA - The Club - Bright and beautiful: five of the world’s most colourful corners

Jodhpur, India

The old city of Jodhpur is a marvel of forts and lakes and masala markets – the air sweet with the smell of frying onions and smoking incense. In the morning, clamber atop the black-stained ramparts of Mehrangarh Fort and gaze across the jumble of blue stone houses below. Slip into the shade of the city’s Krishna-blue walls and amble around as vendors shake out zari bedspreads and langur monkeys spring from the rooftops. The colourful Marwar Festival in October (12-13) is a perfect time to witness the city in all its glory.

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Portofino, Italy

A favourite haunt of Sophia Loren and Elizabeth Taylor, this beautiful fishing port on Italy’s Ligurian coast is still a year-round magnet for tourists looking to stroll between its pine trees and palazzos, enjoying creamy gelato as speedboats hum along the harbour. The skinny townhouses surrounding the cobbled Piazzetta are painted in ascending sunset hues, ranging from lemon and soft peach to flaming orange and dark red, with forest-green shutters buttoned down their fronts. Visit from late summer onwards when the yachts are setting sail, the beach is clearing and the fresh pesto won’t run out.

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Charleston, USA

With a deep-rooted history and unshakeable southern soul, Charleston is regularly ranked as a top destination for American travellers. And with British Airways having recently launched the first direct flights from Europe, it’s best to visit now before the rest of the world takes note. Once here, grab a corndog and stroll down to Rainbow Row, a string of 13 pastel-coloured houses tinged with mystery: locals are yet to fathom the true reason behind their unique shades. One theory is that drunk sailors couldn’t find their way home in the fog, another so that merchants could indicate what was sold from each one. Either way, the striking splash of colour is worth the trip.

Take me to Charleston

Notting Hill, London

Londoners will forever be divided over whether it’s better to live north or south of the river, but what can’t be disputed is that West London is home to the most vibrant houses in the city – Notting Hill in particular. As much now as when the eponymous film was released 20 years ago, its quiet mews are lined with doll-like houses painted in peppermint greens, cotton-candy pinks and sherbet yellows, with front doors doused in magenta, plum and purple. As the annual carnival approaches towards the end of August the area is set to turn into a kaleidoscope of colour as it throngs with party-goers dressed in flamingo-style headpieces and feather boas.

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Singapore

Marking its bicentennial, the island nation of Singapore is hosting lively celebrations throughout 2019, with regular sound and light shows scheduled in the harbour area. For a real visual treat, there’s the Singapore Night Festival in August, with interactive light installations and street-food festivals featuring the best of the city’s hawkers. During the day, wander through Little India, painted in stripes and huge blocks of reds, blues and yellows, and take in the flaming marigold garlands, lurid masks and hanging lampshades before following the soft ring of the temple bells calling worshippers to prayer.

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