Shropshire thrills! Lose yourself in the wonders of a county named one of the top destinations in the WORLD
'Oscars for airports' names Doha's Hamad International best airport in the world for 2024, Newark Liberty snares the gong for best new terminal... and the UK (yet again) fails to win a single award in any category
Idyllic beach breaks: Discover the best of the Mediterranean with this month's top hotel picks… from an Algarve beauty to a Turkish hideaway
The hotel with something to shout about: Lake District property offers guests the chance to release pent-up emotions - through SCREAM therapy
How you CAN go on safari on a budget: From gorillas in Uganda to South African elephants - and some creatures you may not expect to see - our experts pick the wildest options for as little as £335 a week
Scottish family who flew to Legoland in Denmark for 24 hours after bagging £30 return flights say it was more than £180 cheaper than a trip to Windsor
Inside Britain's poshest B&B: It makes Buckingham Palace look small and has a history filled with scandal, class war and tragedy. Now you will be able to enjoy sumptuous luxury at Wentworth House, writes MARK PALMER
The world's BUSIEST airports revealed: Inside the 10 most packed aviation centers across the globe - with HALF based in the US - as travelers prepare for a very jet-set summer
Travel fanatic who spent $530 for a ONE-NIGHT stay at Hawaii's iconic Pink Palace hotel reveals why she'd NEVER go back to luxury resort
Ooh la lovely! Inside one of Paris's hottest new hotels - with the chic interiors of the property, near the Champs-Elysees, inspired by an acclaimed American designer
Dubai airport pleads with travellers 'Don't come!' as floods continue to cause chaos and families including Brits try to flee trashed luxury resorts after a year-and-a-half's rain fell in one day
'This place will DESTROY you': Traveler issues severe warning to any 'morning people' who want to visit Argentina
'Holy mackerel... searing pain': Wildlife expert Coyote Peterson live-streams being bitten by a lethal giant centipede (as an ER doctor keeps a careful eye on him)
Revealed: Top travel hacks for keeping 'Delhi belly' at bay on holiday, from the risks of RICE to the dangers of ice cubes
Fancy a tour of the Acropolis? That will be £4,300 please! Fury as Greece plans to bring in 'elitist' tour prices as the famous site is swamped by 22,000 tourists a day
The top 100 most BORING tourist attractions in the world revealed: A railway trip in Missouri is No.1 while Shrek's Adventure London and FOUR Legoland parks make the top 25
Airplane passenger sparks furious debate about PETS flying in-cabin after disgusting dog poop incident forced United Airlines flight to DIVERT
Experience the bustling cities of Thailand, spot lions in the wild in South Africa and experience pure escapism in Mauritius: These are the trips trending right now that you NEED to take
From amazing food to swanky hotels and electrifying sport - discovering that you don't HAVE to be into country music to enjoy a visit to Nashville (but it helps!)
Revealed: The best 100 cities in the world for exploring by foot, with Rome No.1, London ninth - and only ONE city in the U.S making the ranking
Britain's forgotten sunken lands: Incredible interactive map reveals the ancient islands swallowed by the sea - from 'Yorkshire's Atlantis' to Doggerland
The Mail checks in to Glasgow's poshest hotel, which boasts a labyrinthine luxury spa, gloriously stately rooms and 'staff that actually care about the guests... '
Frequent flyer provokes furious backlash after boasting she was 'winning' for receiving air miles for reporting Delta flight attendants she saw using their cellphones mid-flight
Revealed: Why you should always take your own sandwiches to the airport

Heads up: Statue of Liberty's crown reopens after a year (but it's sold out until 2013)

Published: 09:58 EDT, 26 October 2012 | Updated: 12:11 EDT, 26 October 2012

e-mail

The Statue of Liberty is set to reopen to the public on Sunday after a $30 million (£18.6 million) one-year renovation.

Although don't expect to scale its 393 steps to the newly-restored crown and a killer view any time soon.

In a nod to its enduring popularity as a sightseeing highlight of the Big Apple, tickets are sold out until the end of the year.

Crowning glory: The Statue of Liberty has been closed since last October for renovation to its interior

The iconic New York landmark's reopening takes place on its 126th anniversary, following 12 months of work to its interior. It was also closed in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks.

While the structure, including the museum, was shut, the public was allowed to visit its grounds on Liberty Island, in New York Harbour.

Improvements have included replacing the stairs to the crown and making them less steep - there are now 393 steps to climb - the equivalent of a 27-storey building - instead of 354.

Some work remains to be done, limiting access to 'sections of the pedestal and the museum exhibit inside the monument', according to officials.

Lady Liberty: A sightseer and his daughter admire the view from the top in 2009

But for the first time, visitors using wheelchairs will be able to access one of the observation decks at the top of the pedestal via a lift.

Officials say this is as high as it's possible for wheelchair users to go while preserving the historic structure. Guests must then walk to the crown platform from the statue's feet to her head.

Advance tickets to the crown have been booked until the end of 2012 and a New York City spokeswoman warned visitors to book well in advance, rather than just turning up on the day.

David Luchsinger, superintendent of Statue of Liberty National Monument and Ellis Island, said: 'We are delighted to once again open Lady Liberty's doors to the public.

Tight fit: Only ten guests are allowed in the crown at once (left) - the Statue of Liberty is synonymous with New York City's famous skyline

'Providing better access, safer conditions and accommodating more visitors make this even more special.'

A gift from France, the 305-foot icon was dedicated on October 28, 1886, conceived to symbolise the friendship between the two countries and their shared love of liberty.

It became a National Monument in 1924 and was restored for the centennial celebrations on July 4, 1986.

From 1892 to 1954, nearby Ellis Island was the first stop for more than 12 million immigrants hoping to make a new life in the U.S.

Now, some 3.5 million people visit the the statue every year and the renovations are projected to allow an additional 26,000 people to visit the interior annually.

Tickets, only available by reservation and released at intervals, can be purchased online at www.statuecruises.com or by calling 001 (201) 604-2800.