YORK This month:

Constantine the Great exhibition

While its more recent history boasts chocolate-making and horse racing, York's Roman heritage is compelling. The northern city was a major military base for the Romans and has extensive cemeteries, a re-erected column on Deansgate and an excavated bathhouse. It is also where Constantine was proclaimed emperor in AD306. He went on to adopt Christianity as the state religion - a pivotal moment in history that marked its emergence as the dominant creed of western civilisation.

To mark the event's 1700th anniversary, the Yorkshire Museum launches an exhibition on March 31.

Entitled Constantine the Great - York's Roman Emperor, the exhibition will include sculptures, preserved fabrics, furniture and paintings collated from dozens of museums and private collections around Europe, plus silver plates, gold jewellery and mosaics to demonstrate the richness of life at the time.

Look out for a marble sculpture of Constantine's head that was found in York and thought to be one of his earliest portraits, possibly carved shortly after he was proclaimed emperor. Other highlights include a sculpture of a hooded man found on Hadrian's Wall and a pair of highly embellished women's shoes made from leather and silk that were found in Egypt.

The exhibition has been designed by Ivor Heal, who was behind the successful Aztecs show at the Royal Academy in London.

To complete your step back in time, stroll through the gardens, which overlook the ruins of a Roman fortress.

The exhibition runs until October 29 and entry is GBP5.50.

Call 01904 687687 or see www.constantinethegreat. org. uk.

Glasgow to York with Virgin trains from GBP11 one way, call 08457 222 333

GERMANY This month:

beat the football fans If you're contemplating a relaxing trip to Germany this year, get there before the FIFA World Cup kicks off on June 9.

Rhineland-Pfalz, the westernmost state, has cup venues at Cologne and Kaiserslautern and is set to be a popular destination for football fans because of its proximity to Frankfurt-Hahn airport.

Arrive early, however, and enjoy the delights of Germany's main wine-producing region without the crowds. Explore historical towns such as Trier or visit romantic castles and beautiful countryside including the Middle Rhine valley, a Unesco World Heritage Site.

Prestwick to Frankfurt-Hahn with Ryanair from GBP28.72 return, www. ryanair. com SPAIN This month:

cheap flights Fringed with beautiful white-sand beaches, the region of Murcia, nestled between Valencia and Andalusia, is surprisingly free of mass tourism.

Further inland, the city of Murcia retains its distinctive Baroque character and is worth exploring.

While the summer heat can be fierce, spring is pleasantly warm and relatively cheap and direct flights make it ideal for a short sunshine break.

The people of Murcia pride themselves on their hospitality and, tellingly, one of the city's most renowned landmarks is a stone relief on the facade of the Almundi building of a mother feeding another child while her own looks on.

Call Murcia tourist office on 00 34 968 277 700.

Edinburgh to Murcia with Jet2 from GBP111.96 return, www. jet2. com

Why not try:

Traditionally a solitary pursuit, crossword puzzles have been catapulted to a whole new competitive level in, where else but, America.

For almost 30 years, the town of Stamford in Connecticut has hosted the American Crossword Puzzle tournament. This year's event is directed by none other than the puzzle editor of the New York Times, Will Shortz.

Competitors will race to complete eight crosswords specially created and edited for the event. Prizes, including the top award of dollars-4000, are awarded for speed and accuracy.

Although crosswords started in Britain in the nineteenth century, the first published crossword was in the New York World Newspaper on December 21, 1913.

Call 001 732 274 9848 or see www. crosswordtournament. com.

AMERICA Next month:

Easter in chocolateville

Where better to spend Easter than at the home of America's most famous chocolate factory, founded by Milton S Hershey?

Amere two-hour drive from Philadelphia lie the cocoa-infused delights of a town named Hershey.

Enjoy a free chocolate-making tour and thrill yourself witless at Hershey Park, which has more than 60 rides and attractions. For something a little more sedate, Hershey Gardens are made up of 23 acres of themed gardens and a butterfly house. For the icing on your chocolate experience, though, check into Hershey's Hotel and enjoy some of the signature spa treatments, including the whipped cocoa bath and the chocolate fondue wrap. See what all the fuss is about at www. hersheys. com.

Glasgow to Philadelphia with American Airlines from GBP274 return, www. cheapflights. co. uk

LONDON Next month:

Hay Fever

Dame Judi Dench stars in a revival of the Noel Coward farce at the Theatre Royal, Haymarket, from April 6.

Dame Judi plays Judith Bliss, a retired stage star attempting to spend time with her family. The story focuses on one weekend when each family member invites a guest and features characters continually hurtling through a series of doors.

According to Coward's autobiography, Hay Fever is based on a weekend he spent with Broadway star Laurette Taylor and her family in 1921.

The play, which also stars Peter Bowles and Belinda Lang, explores what happens when the world of the eccentric artist meets that of traditional society.

Hay Fever runs until August 5.

Tickets cost from GBP20 to GBP60;

call 0870 400 0858.

Glasgow to London King's Cross with GNER from GBP65 return, www. thetrainline. com

Travel details are given as guidance only and were correct at time of going to press