Britain's islands celebrated, new Star Wars Jedi Training Academy, and a Sky Garden: Travel agenda

Where to go and what to know

At the top of the 'walkie-talkie' skyscraper in the City of London - officially 20 Fenchurch Street - a Sky Garden gives spectacular capital views

London live

At the top of the "walkie-talkie" skyscraper in the City of London – officially 20 Fenchurch Street – a Sky Garden gives spectacular capital views. Unlike the nearby Shard, access to it is free; you must, though, book in advance online, and bring identification.

skygardentickets.com

Weed lead

The Barbados authorities have organised a clean-up to help clear the drifting seaweed that is blighting many of the island's beaches. The NationNews reports that the algae, which comes from the Sargasso Sea, has been piling up in much bigger quantities than usual. Other Caribbean islands are, so far, unaffected.

nationnews.com

Economy plus

A new vessel, Baie de Seine, has joined the Brittany Ferries fleet, adding extra économie sailings to France and Spain. Along with sister ship Etretat, the line offers cheap, no-frills ferries from Portsmouth to Santander and Bilbao in Spain, and Le Havre in France.

brittanyferries.com

Mex checks

Following last weekend's downing of an army helicopter by a drugs cartel in the Mexican state of Jalisco, the Foreign Office is warning of disturbances at locations including Guadalajara and Puerto Vallarta. "Stay in the tourist areas if possible and follow local advice," says the new bulletin.

bit.ly/MexAdvice

Plenty of isles

Lundy, Rocker, Dogger, Fair Isle is a new book celebrating Britain's islands – and one that was never really there. From abandoned St Kilda to Hy Brasil – a non-existent isle that for centuries appeared on maps – the entries include illustrations and quotes.

eburypublishing.co.uk

Knight riders

Disneyland Paris is the location for a new Star Wars Jedi Training Academy, scheduled to open on 11 July. Children aged seven to 12 will be able to wield a lightsaber to fend off Darth Vader and his Stormtroopers as they master the art of using the Force in their bid to become a Jedi Knight.

disneylandparis.co.uk

Brutal Paris

Paris's Centre Pompidou is currently showing a retrospective of the work of Charles-Edouard Jeanneret, aka Le Corbusier. The exhibition runs until 3 August and features more than 300 drawings, paintings, models and more by the controversial Brutalist architect.

centrepompidou.fr

West by NW

Manchester gets reconnected with Los Angeles and Boston from next summer. Thomas Cook Airlines, which is becoming the leading transatlantic carrier from Britain's busiest airport outside London, will fly twice a week to LAX and the Massachusetts state capital from early May to late October 2016.

thomascookairlines.com