“The Slovenian capital Ljubljana, a collage of baroque, medieval, art nouveau and modernist architecture, may have a population of less than 270,000, but it comes wrapped with swathes of vibrant bars, cafes and restaurants, and English-speaking citizens who actually justify the ‘friendly locals’ cliches,” says Robin McKelvie who, with his wife Jenny, has written the new Bradt Travel Guide to the city, which is well served by budget flights (direct by EasyJet or by Ryanair to nearby Klagenfurt in Austria or Trieste in Italy).

“For me,” adds Jenny, formerly a teacher at Belmont primary school in the London borough of Hounslow, “the life of the romantic Slovenian poet France Preseren sums up the spirit of Ljubljana and a country dominated by failed romance. There is even a national holiday dedicated to the poet, inspiring the city’s student population to wander the willow-strewn banks of the Ljubljanica river, dreaming up poems.” Their pocket-sized Bradt Travel Guide to Ljubljana (pound;6.99, www.bradtguides.com) comes out at the end of March, and includes city maps in colour and a walking tour. We have 10 copies to give away to TES readers. To enter our draw, email friday@tes.co.uk or send a postcard marked Bradt Guide Offer to the address on page 3 by March 18. We will send the winners their copies as soon as they are published.