Tomato Fight in Spain

Q: I will be in London with a group of friends during the European summer this year and we would like to attend the tomato fight festival in Valencia, Spain. Can you help us with information on when the festival takes place, as well as transport and accommodation options. How long should we spend there? - Jamie Bertell

A: Known as La Tomatina and billed as the world's biggest food fight, the festival takes place on August 31 this year. It is held in the town of Bunol, which is around 40kms from Valencia. Up to 40,000 people converge on the town every year, so accommodation is at a premium and most people choose to stay in Valencia. You can travel from Valencia to Bunol by bus or train. There are plenty of flights from London to Valencia. Easyjet fly to the city from Stansted and Gatwick, while Ryanair operates out of Stansted. Clickair and Iberia fly from Heathrow. For discounted accommodation, you can try www.booking.com. If you are looking for hostel-style rooms, then check out www.hostelbookers.com and www.hostelworld.com. How long you stay depends on how much time you have available, but it's probably worth a week's visit. Events take place all week with music performances, parades, dancing and fireworks. On the night before the big fight, there is a popular paella cooking competition. Finally, during the one-hour street brawl more than one hundred metric tons of over-ripe tomatoes are thrown in the streets. While you are in Valencia you can check out the city's many attractions, which include the awe-inspiring City of Arts and Sciences complex. (27/3/11)