Benedict Cumberbatch on the Country He's 'Utterly in Love With' and Other 'Extraordinary' Destinations He's Visited

"It turned out many of his classmates had holiday homes around the world and would invite him to visit. Soon, the schoolboy found himself going beyond his family's regular vacations to the Greek town of Galaxidi south of Delphi, scoring invites to destinations in Spain and eventually Hong Kong-a trip he took as an unaccompanied minor, venturing further than he ever had from his UK home."

"A recent Paris trip was "all about my middle boy Hal's love of [painter] Bridget Riley." But usually, the Cumberbatch clan is happiest immersing themselves in nature. "It's about gaining a better understanding of how the natural world works and how to cohabit with it and respect it, whether that's in Costa Rica or just down the road in the countryside where we have a house," he said."

Benedict Cumberbatch grew up in London where parents invested in elite schooling, which exposed him to classmates with holiday homes and sparked international travel. School friendships led to visits to Galaxidi, Spain, and an unaccompanied trip to Hong Kong at age 13 that expanded his sense of scale and culture. He passes early travel exposure to his sons—Christopher, 10; Hal, 8; and Finn, 6—balancing cultural trips like Paris with nature-focused journeys. The family prioritizes learning about natural systems and respectful cohabitation, whether in Costa Rica or local countryside. After filming To The Ends of the Earth in 2005, he undertook solo travel in South Africa and Namibia to reclaim fearlessness and adventure following a difficult collaboration.

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