The Know Daily - Wednesday 30 September 2026

_{Read in 4m 25s ∙ Listening to Hayley Jensen ∙}

Batman actor Christian Bale has opened a foster care village in California, designed to give siblings in the foster system a chance to grow up together. The 12-home community is the result of a dream he's worked towards for years, after learning how often brothers and sisters are separated when they enter care. We love ❤️ 

✈️ Overtourism: travelling without adding to the crowds

More and more popular destinations are grappling with huge visitor numbers – so how can you still keep your dream hols without becoming part of the problem?  We’ve teamed up with Intrepid Travel (a.k.a the experts!) to find out.

So, what is overtourism?
Overtourism happens when a destination gets more visitors than it can comfortably handle. That might mean packed streets and long queues, but the effects can go much further – it can put pressure on public transport, housing and local infrastructure, while also affecting wildlife and natural landscapes. For residents, a constant influx of visitors can mean rising rents, noise and overcrowding; for travellers, it can make the experience less enjoyable too. The tricky bit is that there’s no magic number of tourists that makes somewhere “overtouristed” – it depends on the place, the time of year and how visitors are spread out.

Why are some places struggling?
Recent data has shown that 80% of travellers visit just 10% of the world’s tourist destinations, while social media can turn a previously quiet beach or viewpoint into a must-see destination almost overnight. In some cities, short-term holiday lets have also become part of the debate around housing. Lots of cities like Amsterdam and Barcelona have introduced tourist taxes to tackle the problem. And it isn't just famous cities: smaller coastal and rural destinations can face huge seasonal surges that put pressure on roads, waste collection and local services.

OK, how do I avoid the crowds?
You don't necessarily need to avoid the destination altogether. Timing is your friend: travelling outside peak season, going midweek or visiting popular attractions early in the morning can make a surprisingly big difference. Look beyond the obvious: instead of following the exact same TikTok itinerary as everyone else, explore neighbouring towns, lesser-known museums, local markets or quieter walking routes. You might even find that the “second-best” viewpoint is actually better when you don't have to queue for it. Enter: Intrepid Travel’s Not Hot List, the 10 destinations selected based on three key criteria: being less-visited, demonstrating tourism readiness in 2027, with new initiatives, launches or openings in the region.

So how can I be a better tourist?
Think about where your money goes as well as where you go. Staying in locally owned accommodation, eating at independent restaurants and using local guides can help more of your spending reach the community you're visiting. Public transport and walking can also reduce pressure on busy roads, while following local rules around beaches, wildlife, hiking trails and photography helps protect the places you're there to enjoy. You can also explore some of Intrepid’s fab Uncommon Day Trips designed to take you off the beaten track and into real communities. Our Partnerships Manager, Lily, wrote a dreamy review of the Paris one and honestly? Major FOMO.

Before you book, ask yourself these questions…
🗓️ When am I going? Try travelling outside the busiest weeks.
🗺️ Where am I going? Check out Intrepid’s Not Hot List for the less-trodden paths.
🏠 Where am I staying? Consider locally owned accommodation where possible.
🚆 How am I getting around? Use trains, buses or walk once you're there if you can.
🌿 What am I leaving behind? Stick to marked trails, take your rubbish with you and respect wildlife.

We put so much heart into making The Know a space that brightens your day and keeps you in the loop. If our little daily check-in means something to you, we’d be so grateful for any support you can spare 🫶 It will help us to keep showing up for you in 2026 and beyond.

💷 Andy Burnham’s first Labour conference speech as Prime Minister covered plans for a new national social care service, changes to the state pension and a bigger role for the public sector.

• The bigger story: Burnham announced plans for a social care service that’s free at the point of use, funded partly through changes to the pensions triple lock from 2030. He also pledged new powers for councils over empty homes, legislation to make public ownership of water companies possible, a publicly owned Great British Grid and a new commission on electoral reform. He also said Brexit had done more harm than good and called for closer cooperation with European partners.

🌊 The UN has adopted its first-ever declaration on rising sea levels, setting out plans to protect vulnerable coastal communities and small island nations from the effects of climate change.

🩸 Menstrual cycles can affect more than you might expect, with a new study revealing changes in sleep, heart rate, breathing and body temperature throughout the month.

🎩 Paris ​Fashion Week closed on Monday with Celine Dion bringing the curtain down on L’Oreal Paris’ runway show.

💰 A $5.7bn legal payout by Apple has been ordered after a US jury found it had used another firm's tech without permission.

🐦‍⬛ Birdwatching is giving stroke survivors a relaxed way to practise communicating, with everything from owls to nesting hawks sparking conversation and helping people with aphasia find their voice.

🎟️ Tickets for Glasto 2027 go on sale this Sunday – here are 10 tips to give yourself the best chance of getting your welly boots on next summer!

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Trivia answer: A) The country’s government has started a 5-year scheme that turns reading into a game where people win small rewards to curb time spent on mobiles.

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