From mindful waking in the Yorkshire Dales to a Buddhist retreat in Japan, our tipsters have found inner peace and rejuvenation all over the world

With Eryri national park (Snowdonia) on the doorstep and guided wild swims available, north Wales’ Tawelu Retreats offers options to explore the outdoors or go full hibernation with the retreat’s yoga classes and meditations, plus a sauna and hot tub. The chef cooked up filling, comforting veggie food and gorgeous chai and hot chocolate. Even getting lost running up the Welsh fells and nearly missing my hot shells massage didn’t trouble my stress levels. It’s women only, four days from £650.
Laura King

Hugh Grant’s quirky creep, a real prisoner playing himself and Kate Winslet’s war photographer missed out in a contentious year for Academy Award nominations

• Oscar nominations: the full list

Monkey Man! I’ve heard very little of this thriller in reviewers’ top films of 2024, or lists of films snubbed by the Oscars. I think people are doing Patel a disservice by forgetting this film. He is incredible as both a director and actor in this movie. For his violent and beautifully coordinated fight scenes alone I think this film deserves more recognition. But it’s so much more than that; the storyline encompasses an origin story, a hero arc, and a dystopian setting that closely emulates the world we live in. The inclusion of underrepresented voices also reflects what we should value cinema for, presenting the hijra community in such an openly positive way was refreshing and enlightening to see. Eleanor, 22, Buckinghamshire