BRITS love an all-inclusive from the packed buffets to drinks offerings and having everything at your fingertips.
The tough part is actually exactly which all-inclusive you want to try and if it’s worth the money, well if that’s what you’re after, then this one on the Costa del Sol is top notch.
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Inside the Ikos Andalusia are 9 restaurants and 8 barsCredit: Ouzo is the hotel’s Greek restaurant with shell decor on the ceilingCredit:
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Called Ikos Andalusia, the hotel has claimed number one spot on Time Out’s 2026 list of Europe’s top all-inclusive stays.
The resort has a whopping 451 rooms with nine swimming pools.
Expect great grub at the hotel’s nine restaurants, some of which even have Michelin-starred menus.
Each serves up dishes from around the world, like traditional Spanish to Greek, French, Italian and Japanese food.
There’s also a classic all-inclusive buffet style restaurant, so you can’t go wrong.
They’re beautifully decorated too. Ouzo, which is its Greek restaurant, has little white pots on the ceiling and prints on the walls with views across the pool to the sea.
Chiringuito is another restaurant right on the beach and serves up traditional tapas and lots of seafood.
As for bars, there are eight including a cocktail bar and one at the side of the pool – it has an extensive wine list with over 100 local labels.
The hotel is even sat on a 420-metre beach with an adults-only section.
Other facilities include a splash pad area for younger children, football, basketball, volleyball, cycling, tennis courts and watersports.
There’s plenty for children to do at the kids’ club which is catered for children between 4-17.
The complimentary Heroes Crèche for children 6 months to three years old holds activities like games, face painting, art and dance.
There’s also Heroes Kids Club (4-11 years) and Just4Teens (12-17 years) which has lots of activities on offer from arts and crafts to sports.
There’s even a complimentary 30-minute beach childcare service for kids from four years old.
Activities for adults include wellness sessions and various fitness activities from yoga to Pilates and Zumba.
For more holidays, here are some of our favourites in Spain…
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Hotel Best Punta Dorada, Salou
The Spanish resort is a popular destination near PortAventura World, a theme park with over 40 attractions and huge rollercoasters. It’s also close to sandy beaches like Platja de Llevant, and the scenic Camí de Ronda coastal walk.The hotel itself has an outdoor swimming pool to enjoy, as well as two bars along with evening entertainment and shows.
With its palm tree-lined pool and Mediterranean backdrop, it’s a miracle this Majorca resort is so affordable. Expect a classic family holiday feel – where days revolve around soaking up the Spanish sunshine, chilling by the spacious pool and sipping on frozen cocktails. Set away from the busier resorts, it’s a good option if you’re after a more out-of-the-way escape.
The Magic Aqua Rock Gardens Hotel is African-themed and less than a mile from the beach. It has two outdoor pools, including a children’s freshwater pool with a waterfall and a tipping water bucket for the little ones. There’s also an aquapark with slides, and a kids club for both younger children and teens.
For a calmer side of Ibiza, this hillside resort has two pools, a kids’ splash zone, and an all-inclusive buffet with a poolside bar. It’s a 10-minute walk from Cala Llonga’s shallow turquoise bay, offering a scenic, family-friendly base away from the island’s main party zone.
Holiday companies have predicted a surge in bookings for UK summer breaks after a jump in interest from Britons fearful of flight cancellations linked to the Iran war.
Summer bookings are expected to rise in the coming weeks amid warnings of possible jet fuel shortages and resulting cancellations by airlines across Europe.
Raoul Fraser, the chief executive of Lovat, a holiday park operator with sites across south-west England, said traffic to its website had increased after reports of jet fuel warnings last week. “It is definitely having a positive impact for us,” he said.
“Our holidays bookings are up over 30% this year. It is a little bit like Covid, when people couldn’t get away and now they just want the certainty of a nice holiday in the UK.”
The holiday resort company Butlin’s, which has sites at Bognor Regis, Minehead and Skegness, said it was seeing “strong growth for the summer school holidays”.
However, its chief executive, Jon Hendry Pickup, said many families were still booking their holidays closer to the time, due to travel uncertainty and cost pressures.
“Normally we get somewhere in the region of 15% to 20% of people booking a holiday in the last four weeks before they come. Now it is roughly double that,” he said.
Jeremy Hipkiss, the managing director of the holiday parks company Landal UK, said: “Increasingly guests are choosing destinations closer to home that are easy to reach by car or public transport, giving them greater control over their plans.”
Hipkiss said that Landal’s parks in Cornwall, Scotland and Lincolnshire were “particularly popular”.
Peter Munk, the chief executive of Willerby, a specialist caravan manufacturer based in Hull, added that the cost of living pressure was also putting people off overseas travel. Inflation, which was steady at 3% in February, is expected to increase after the Iran war drove up global energy costs.
“It’s about the reality of inflation kicking off again,” he said. “Most people still want a holiday, so it might be that they have fewer days or move closer to home and not have that dream holiday.”
Travel spending fell in March for the first time since the pandemic travel restrictions lifted in 2021, dropping by 3.3%, according to data from Barclays. Spending on travel agents fell by 4.6%, airlines by 4.1%, and public transport by 2.9%.
However, Sinead O’Connor, a travel analyst at the research company Mintel, said even with the cost of living pressures, appetite for holidays remained strong.
She said its research showed 52% of Britons surveyed planned to holiday in the UK, with 49% heading overseas.
“We expect the value of the domestic holiday market to grow by about 7% this year, reaching close to £14bn and to outpace growth in overseas travel,” she said.
The overseas travel market is forecast to grow by 4.8% this year to £64.3bn, Mintel said.
Fears are rising that the oil crisis triggered by the conflict in the Middle East could lead to fuel shortages in Europe this summer.
Fatih Birol, the head of the International Energy Agency, said there would be flight cancellations if oil supplies were not restored within the coming weeks.
On Friday, the International Air Transport Association’s director general, Willie Walsh, said flights in Europe could be cancelled because of a lack of jet fuel starting from the end of May.
“Along with doing everything possible to secure alternative supply lines, it’s important that authorities have well-communicated and well-coordinated plans in place in case rationing becomes necessary, including for slot relief,” he added.
This month, Michael O’Leary, the chief executive of Ryanair, warned that Britain would be the most exposed to jet fuel shortages because it relies on Kuwait for about 25% of its supply.
Airlines around the world have already been forced to cancel some flights.
Last week, jet fuel averaged at $197.83 a barrel, according to the International Airport Transport Association, more than double the average last year.
The airport industry has told the European Commission that the system, which requires people from the UK and other non-EU countries to submit biometric data before entering the bloc, was causing delays of up to three hours for passengers.
Last week, more than 100 passengers missed an easyJet flight from Milan to Manchester because of delays triggered by EES checks.
A content creator known as Just Deano arrived to Tenerife after his EasyJet flight from Manchester Airport but said passengers caused chaos over disruption fears
Liam McInerney Content Editor
07:58, 19 Apr 2026Updated 08:00, 19 Apr 2026
It all started smoothly for Just Deano (Image: Just Deano/YouTube)
A content creator said “panicked” passengers started to shove each other over fears that new travel rules would leave them queuing up for hours.
The new Entry/Exit System (TTS) travel requirement has caused chaos across several European airports — and some Brits have even missed flights because of long waiting times in countries like Spain, Portugal and Poland.
These rules require non-EU nationals, including Brits, to register their biometrics, as opposed to having their passports stamped at border control, but it has led to major disruption.
However, Just Deano, who touched down in Tenerife this week, said there was a lot of carnage from flustered travellers, despite him getting through immigration within minutes.
The Yorkshireman, who hails from Huddersfield, travelled to the popular Spanish Island from Manchester Airport via EasyJet.
And before touching down, he told his subscribers: “What you’re really interested in is probably how long it’s going to take me to get through to immigration because I’ve seen reals and posts and videos about this — and apparently it is a nightmare.
“So, this is the best flight ever video, but hopefully it don’t go wrong at the immigration.”
However, after landing, it wasn’t the queues that caused trouble, it was the passengers themselves, according to Deano.
He said: “Ok, so it’s quarter to nine now, let’s see how long it takes. Everyone is panicking over this issue. So everyone is pushing and shoving past each other. It’s chaos. Absolute chaos. But we will see how long it takes.”
The camera then cut to the next scene where Deano said: “All that fuss for nothing! It’s 20.52. That took me seven minutes from getting off the bus from the plane to getting through.
“I didn’t have to fingerprint. I don’t know if that’s because I’ve done it before. I’m not really sure but all that fuss for nothing. Seven minutes, that’s all it took. People panicking, pushing and shoving. Crazy. Absolutely crazy. We’re out and we’re good to go.
“We went to the e-gate machine. It didn’t ask for my fingerprints, probably because I have already done that in different countries. And then you went past and did the whole look at the photo, another automatic e-gate.”
EES was introduced to replace the passport stamp and it automatically checks when a person enters and exits a country in the EU.
This means Brits need to register details including fingerprints, facial images and to scan their passports on their first visit in the Schengen area.
However, after it was recently rolled out, many passengers at Tenerife South Airport claimed some of the machines failed to work with fingerprints being rejected. Others said they missed their flights because of the delays.
One disgruntled Brit wrote: “The key is to arrive three hours early so at least you are in the front of the queue when problems start.”
Another said: “Love Tenerife but HATE the airport.”
Police have even had to come in to control the chaos but Deano said he encountered no such problems during his trip to Tenerife where he is staying for one week.
After posting his video, which you can watch in full here, one person replied: “I would hate to be a Brit traveller now.”
Another said: “You did well getting through new border gates. Took me 4 hours last week getting through Barcelona. 3 non EU planes landed at similar times so had 500 people getting angry and impatient to get through.”
A third said: “You were extremely lucky to get through so quickly probably yours was the only flight landing around that time.”
Destinations loved by Brits are actually paying people to move there. If you fancy a life in the sun, you could make some extra cash while topping up your tan in Spain or Italy
07:16, 19 Apr 2026Updated 09:55, 19 Apr 2026
Spain and Italy will pay people to move abroad (stock image)(Image: Getty Images/iStockphoto)
Many people may dream of moving abroad, but you might not realise that some countries will actually pay you to do so. If you fancy living in the glorious sunshine, and making some money in the process, you could actually embark on the travel adventure of a lifetime by packing your bags for good.
Countries like Spain, Italy and Greece will actually pay Brits “thousands” to relocate and start a new life abroad. If you’re fed up of the weather, fancy starting a fresh chapter or simply want to move to somewhere totally different, it may be something worth considering to liven things up.
Italy is one country that pays people to relocate. If you fancy tucking into pasta, enjoying gorgeous wine and immersing yourself in history a little more, you can actually be paid to move here. It explained: “Regions like Calabria, Molise and Sardinia are suffering from massive depopulation.
“To revive these ghost towns, the local governments are offering between €10,000 (£8,705.50) to €30,000 (£26,116.50) to people under 40 who are willing to settle there.”
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It turns out Italian regions such as Calabria, Molise and Sardinia offer financial incentives to boost declining populations in rural areas. There are reported to be schemes that offer up to €30,000 to people willing to move to towns with fewer than 2,000 to 3,000 residents.
Usually, to benefit from the scheme, applicants need to be under 40, start a business or renovate a home. There are some guidelines people need to follow to be able to benefit.
Spain
Again, towns in rural areas are looking for people to move there, such as Ponga in Asturias. The video detailed: “As part of the empty Spain initiative, the town of Ponga is offering €3,100 per person just to move there.”
According to reports, this figure is actually claimed to be between €2,971 and €3,000 per person (often reported as roughly £2,600) to new residents. However, there are additional incentives for couples and families to boost its dwindling population.
If you fancy taking the leap, the scheme requires a five-year commitment to live in the area. In other words, you need to be sure before you apply to move.
Greece
You can also move to the tiny island of Antikythera in Greece. It’s said people can be paid up to €500 per month for the first three years.
The relocation package aims to repopulate the area, providing new residents with a house, a plot of land and the monthly payments. The initiative primarily targets families and skilled professionals such as bakers, builders and farmers to support the local community.
Other options
The video also highlights that people can be paid to move to Japan. The amounts people can be paid differ, as every scheme has its own set of guidelines, and may not be as much as detailed in the video.
While people can’t be paid for simply moving to Ireland, grants are available for people who move to renovate properties on its remote offshore islands. There are all sorts of schemes people can benefit from, but it’s not as easy as packing your bags.
There are rules people need to follow to benefit, and they vary depending on where you want to apply to move. Do your research to find out more.
Ruben Chorlton-Owen, 24, from North Wales, booked an Airbnb abroad hoping for a great holiday. However, as soon as he arrived, things soon started to go downhill
Ruben Chorlton-Owen booked an Airbnb abroad(Image: Ruben Chorlton-Owen)
We all enjoy escaping abroad for a spell in a different country, but sometimes holidays don’t quite unfold as we’d hoped. One traveller who recently learnt this is Ruben Chorlton-Owen, 24, from North Wales, who claimed he had an unexpected experience while staying at an Airbnb this year.
Ruben shared his travel ordeal as he struggled to comprehend how events unravelled. He jetted off in March for a break and to immerse himself in a different culture, but things took an unexpected turn when he encountered drama from the moment he touched down for his holiday.
Describing his recent Icelandic getaway, Ruben explained: “We landed late and arrived at our Airbnb just before midnight, expecting to warm up after travelling. However, when we opened the door, the entire property was completely pitch black with no electricity.
“It was around -5°C outside, and there was no heating in the apartment. The only heating available was two plug-in heaters, which couldn’t be used without power.
“We had to rely on our phone torches just to see inside, while our batteries were slowly draining. We tried contacting the host immediately but received no response.
“We were unable to get help that night and had to stay there without power or heating. Airbnb initially advised us to find our own hotel at that time of night and offered a 20% reimbursement, which was difficult given how late it was. We were eventually relocated the following day.”
Despite this, he acknowledged the property itself was clean upon arrival and access was simple via the key box, but he said that was where the positive experience ended. He also alleged what made matters worse was that, after this occurred, he looked at the reviews and noticed other guests had flagged similar power problems.
Ruben said he had reserved the stay roughly two months beforehand, so they had no means of knowing at the time, as the complaints were more recent. He continued: “It wasn’t how we imagined starting the trip – arriving somewhere new in the middle of the night expecting somewhere warm and safe, only to find no power in freezing conditions.
“To add to the chaos, when we were relocated to the new accommodation, we accidentally entered the wrong property as the house next door had the exact same lockbox and code. We ended up briefly walking into someone’s home by mistake before realising, which, in hindsight, was quite surreal (and luckily no one was in).
“Throughout the situation, the host remained unresponsive and most replies appeared automated. While Airbnb did eventually provide full compensation, the first 24 hours were stressful and difficult to resolve.”
If you’ve never come across Airbnb before, it’s incredibly popular. Airbnb is a worldwide online platform and app that links travellers with hosts to facilitate the rental of distinctive accommodation – from spare bedrooms to complete properties.
Established in 2008 as a peer-to-peer, short-term rental marketplace, it enables holidaymakers to discover authentic, locally-based accommodation in more than 220 countries and territories, while simultaneously allowing hosts to earn income from their properties. It provides visitors with an alternative to traditional hotel stays.
When questioned about the matter, an Airbnb spokesperson said: “We were disappointed to hear about this experience, and we’ve provided the guest with a full refund and the host has been removed from the platform. All bookings come with AirCover, meaning in the rare event something isn’t as expected on arrival for a stay, we’ll help the guest find a similar place or give them a refund.”
With its cheery, cherry-red tin roof, you can’t miss the sturdy stone bothy on the Ben Damphestate. The family-owned 5,868-hectare (14,500-acre) estate nudges up to Loch Torridon, and the bothy, constructed from the ruins of an old black house (a traditional thatched home), has views over the loch to the mountains beyond. Restored by a team of stonemasons, it has two rooms (each sleeping two) warmed by log burners. The furniture has been made from the estate’s timber by a local cabinet maker. Between the two rooms is a “sitooterie” with picture windows framing views over to Ben Alligin. There’s no electricity, but there is running water and a gas-powered hot shower next to the bothy; a compost loo is in the garden. Sleeps 4, from £342.50 for two nights, bendamph.com
Gastropub and bunkhouse, Cairngorms national park
The Old Bridge Inn has a dogs-under-the-table vibe and roaring fire. Photograph: Rupert Shanks
Squirrelled away among the trees on the banks of the River Spey and on the edge of Aviemore, the Cairngorms’ outdoor activity capital, the Old Bridge Inn is a gastropub with a handful of hip hostel rooms. The dogs-under-the-table inn has a roaring fire and is famous for its folk music sessions. By the riverside beer garden, paddle boarders, canoeists, wild swimmers and anglers make their way on to and into the river; while for climbers, hikers and mountain bikers, the forests and hills of the Rothiemurchus estate are on the doorstep. The bunkhouse has a vintage chic vibe, with seven en suite rooms and dorms and a kitchen – although if you don’t fancy cooking, head next door to the pub and tuck into Strathspey venison samosas with carrot and cumin sauce and roast hispi cabbage. Dorm beds from £30, double rooms from £85, family rooms from £95, oldbridgeinn.co.uk
Hotel and bunkhouse perfect for exploring Glen Coe
Kingshouse Hotel, a smart hostel with panoramic views from its restaurant. Photograph: Fencewood Studio/Alamy
Not much can match Glen Coe for jaw-dropping grandeur. This majestic glen is hemmed in on one side by the jagged peaks of the challenging Aonach Eagach ridge, and to the south, the buttresses of Bidean nam Bian. In 1692, one of the most infamous massacres in history took place here, government forces slaying the MacDonald clan as they slept. Today, it’s a giant outdoor playground, its bleak beauty drawing Munro-baggers, hikers and mountain-bikers. The West Highland Way also passes through the glen, with walkers bedding down in Kingshousehotel and bunkhouse, a smart wooden hostel with charcoal-grey tin roof. The hotel’s glass-fronted restaurant gives panoramic views of the valley. From £44 for a bunk, £54 for a bunk and breakfast, kingshousehotel.co.uk
Remote cottage on the car-free island of Ulva
Bearnus bothy is off grid but thoughtfully kitted out. Photograph: Andy Primrose
Anyone who binge-watched Banjo and Ro’s Grand Island Hotel will know how picturesque the little community-owned, car-free Hebridean island-off-an-island of Ulva is. A short boat ride from Mull, it’s just 7½ miles long by 2½ miles wide. A 5-mile tramp from the pier (next to the excellent Boathouse restaurant) through dappled woodland and along a coastal track, brings you to Bearnus bothy. Perched above a beach where you can go swimming, this little off-grid cottage has been thoughtfully kitted out by Andy and Yvette Primrose, who also run the island’s hostel. Battery-operated fairy lights are strung around the bathroom – fill the old tin bath with water heated on the wood-burning stove. There are games, stacks of novels, guidebooks and maps, and Crocs and wellies to borrow for island yomps. Sleeps 2, from £121 for a two-night stay, airbnb.co.uk
An inn with rooms and fresh seafood on the Isle of Skye
The village of Stein on the Isle of Skye. Photograph: Ruth Craine/Alamy
Charlie Haddock fell in love with the Stein Inn on her way to the Outer Hebrides years ago. In 2019, she packed up her life in London and moved her family to the remote Waternish peninsula to run this whitewashed waterfront hostelry dating from 1790, the oldest inn on Skye. Charlie works front of house and in the kitchen, preparing the langoustine, lobster and crab landed just a few feet from the door (her son and daughter help out in the holidays). The five rooms, all with sea views, were spruced up in 2024 with dove grey tongue and groove, burnt orange headboards and modern artworks. From about £80 B&B, thesteininn.co.uk
Eco-hostel on Rannoch Moor
Loch Ossian hostel is powered by a wind turbine and solar panels. Photograph: John Bracegirdle/Alamy
Originally a timber-clad boathouse and stables, the old-school Loch Ossianhostel was built around 1895 on the eponymous loch’s shores by Sir John Stirling Maxwell, the owner of the Corrour estate. A passionate environmentalist, in 1931 he handed the building over to the Scottish Youth Hostels Association. Today, the ivy-green and white-trimmed award-winning eco-hostel, hunkered into the windswept wilderness of Rannoch Moor, is powered by a wind turbine and solar panels. It has compost toilets, a reed bed grey-water drainage system and non-toxic, bat-friendly paint. There is no access by car; catch the train to Corrour station then hike (20 minutes) or bike in. Beds from £25 a night, hostellingscotland.org.uk
Hotel with panoramic loch views
Kylesku hotel, a gourmet bolthole right on the water’s edge
Sipping your morning coffee in the sleek wooden extension of the Kylesku hotel, a 19th-century coaching inn in the north-west Highlands, you can watch the fishers unload their catch on the slipway through picture windows. Right on the water’s edge, overlooking Loch Glendhu, this gourmet bolthole on the North Coast 500 route has 11 rooms – four in the modern annexe, Willie’s Hoose, next door; two with a sea loch-facing balcony. The rugged Assynt landscape is a Unesco-designated geopark, and the hotel offers a range of activities, from guided storytelling walks to sea kayaking and photography workshops. From about £109 B&B, highlandcoasthotels.com
New architect-designed bothies in Argyll
Dreamy sea views from the Croft Collective’s new boltholes.
A derelict croft was the first property to be turned into an off-grid, hillside hideaway on the Lochnell estate. It is lit by hurricane lamps, and outside there’s a wood-fired, sycamore-shaded, hose-filled vintage bath with views over the bay. Now, the Croft Collective’s next batch of bothies is about to be completed. Three architect-designed boltholes, named after birds you can spot along the shoreline – oystercatcher, curlew, kittiwake – will open in June. Just a pebble’s throw from the beach, wide-angled views over the Lynn of Lorne to the Isle of Mull in the west, and the Ardnamurchan hills and the mountains of Morvern, are framed by vast windows. Each bothy has a Japanese-style sunken bath, also with dreamy sea views, hammocks, and binoculars to scour the bay for seals, otters and eagles wheeling above. From about £220 a night, thecroftcollective.com
Lochside conservation village, Wester Ross
The Plockton Inn has had a jaunty revamp.
On the shore of Loch Carron, Plockton is a 19th-century conservation village that’s picture-postcard pretty, with yachts bobbing in the bay and palm trees fringing the waterfront. The Plockton Inn has recently had a jaunty revamp – blowsily colourful rooms with floral feature walls, crimson chairs and navy paintwork are split between the old inn, Sorley’s House over the road and The Haven next door. After a day spent visiting nearby attractions such as Eilean Donan Castle, one of the most photographed in Scotland, tuck into creel-caught langoustine or “Plockton prawns” landed on the pier. From about £170 B&B, highlandcoasthotels.com
Cabin with brilliant sunset views on the Isle of Lewis
A cabin at Croft 10 smallholding on Lewis. Photograph: PR
Watch the sunset from your bed in this cute cabin by working coastal croft Croft 10. The smallholding is grazed by a flock of Hebridean sheep, the ground scratched by hens (farm-fresh eggs for breakfast). The wooden cabin faces west for spectacular sunsets and an ever-shifting seascape. Scour the water for whales and dolphins, and the sky for birds of prey soaring above Broad Bay. Just under 8 miles from Stornoway on the remote Hebridean isle of Lewis, it’s walking distance to the restored Shulishader Steps. Clamber down to the cove, a wild swimming spot, for a dip. Or head out along the recently completed coastal path, the Point and Sandwick Trail. Sleeps 2, from £120 a night, hostunusual.com
A British holidaymaker has shared his experience of a trip to Benidorm, saying it was ‘everything you expect and more’ after spotting one sight out of his hotel window
Samantha Bartlett Assistant Editor, Social News
06:02, 19 Apr 2026
Benidorm is a beloved holiday destination for many Brits
(Image: JESUSDEFUENSANTA via Getty Images)
Benidorm is recognised as a beloved holiday destination among Brits. In fact, roughly 800,000 to 900,000 Britons flock to the Spanish resort annually, establishing them as the largest international tourist group in the city. The coastal city on Spain’s Costa Blanca is known as the “Spanish Las Vegas” for its countless bars, clubs, and cabaret venues, especially clustered around the Levante district and Calle Gerona.
Benidorm attracts an incredibly varied clientele that changes considerably depending on the season and the particular area of the city. While it is famously a magnet for British “sun and sea” tourists, it is equally a prime destination for Spanish nationals and pensioners.
Holidaymaker Mattie Powell, from North Wales, recently detailed his experience of a Benidorm getaway, describing it as ‘everything you expect and more’ when he glanced out of his hotel window.
Mattie posted to his Instagram page a video showing a “traffic jam of mobility scooters” along a Benidorm path.
He captioned it: “Traffic jam of mobility scooters was not on my 2026 bingo card.”
Those who use mobility scooters are known to regularly head to Benidorm because the resort is remarkably flat and accessible, especially along its extensive beachfront promenades. This renders it an unusual holiday destination where people with limited mobility can move about independently for miles.
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Numerous people were loving by the video, as it accumulated over 105,000 likes.
One person joked: “City’s safe in their hands.”
While another user quipped: “Might go there and do some British spotting.”
Travel enthusiast Kalani, from the US, revealed he was repeatedly quizzed about someone called ‘Charlie’ during his stay.
“I need someone to tell me about who Charlie is,” Kalani said, recounting how numerous people had approached him offering ‘Charlie’ after a night out on the Strip. It didn’t take long for his followers to set him straight, explaining that Charlie is a widely-used slang term for cocaine.
After eight years of living in London, I made the move back to Ireland shortly after turning 30 when I had to weigh up where was better to raise a family, and below is a glimpse into my experience
Liam McInerney Content Editor
06:00, 19 Apr 2026
Believe it or not, this picture was not taken in Ireland, where a clear blue sky is rare(Image: Liam McInerney/Reach PLC)
The year was 2017, my college (universiaty) exams in Dublin were complete and I had two ambitions — move to London and put my degree to some use by making a living as a journalist.
Part one was straightforward, given my girlfriend had already made the plunge a few months before, and the second part was achieved after I got a job at a local newspaper not too long after touching down in Gatwick.
As for why living in London was so high on my to-do list, I had been going on trips across the Irish Sea since I was a kid, predominantly to watch my childhood heroes like Robbie Keane score at the old White Hart Lane before rushing back to catch a flight to Dublin Airport hours after the final whistle.
So, the dream had been fulfilled and over the years I got a season ticket which took me to Wembley and the plush new Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. When I wasn’t watching Mauricio Pochettino’s men take us agonisingly close to glory, I had become a national reporter.
However, fast forward to 2023, and suddenly the dream wasn’t what it once was.
My partner and I had had our first child — and we were living in a tiny one-bedroom flat in Greenwich, south-east London.
We loved the apartment, it was small, but we had been there for a few years. However, add a baby girl into the mix, and things were suddenly much more challenging.
Our families were both based in Ireland, so we had to make a choice — either pay more to rent somewhere bigger, while also forking out fortunes for childcare in London, or move back to Ireland.
After a memorable few years in London, where we hold so many great memories including one year of raising our daughter there, we had to move home, as so many Irish eventually do after exploring different countries in their youth.
We have now been back for a couple of years, and below are three things that I miss about the UK.
1) Public Transport
My parents live in County Meath and my partner’s parents live in County Cavan — and we now live between both of our childhood homes.
Although having free childcare on hand is a game changer (we have since had kid number two), the main thing we miss about London is the public transport.
Whatever I was doing in London, there were numerous ways I could get home again, be it the underground, the DLR, the bus, the trains or simply walking.
In Ireland, particularly if you are not living in Dublin, driving is essential.
There is no train station near me, and if I didn’t want to get stuck in traffic driving into Dublin City Centre, I would have to rely on Bus Eireann.
I have used the service three times since I’ve been back, on each occasion the bus was over 30 minutes late, and twice there was overcrowding, with some passengers being forced to stand, which was far from safe or comfortable.
Even once you get to Dublin, the public transport is incomparable to London. Frankly, any Londoners who find themselves overly complaining about things like delays or strikes, you have no idea how good you have it.
2) Sporting Events
Another miss is going to sporting events, and I now have to settle with watching Spurs on the TV, although given we now struggle to draw matches let alone win, perhaps that’s not a bad thing.
But it wasn’t just the football, it was the old pubs on Tottenham High Road, and meeting up with pals before and after the games.
Football aside, there was also Wimbledon, where you could just go and enjoy the sunshine and tennis on Henman Hill.
Another big one was martial arts. I remember seeing George Groves in Wembley Arena and also UFC London events at The O2 which was within walking distance of my flat. For years, professional boxing bouts in Ireland didn’t happen, and you may want to read about my experience at the Regency Hotel shooting to understand why.
There is plenty of sport to enjoy in Ireland, and although I’m a casual GAA and rugby fan, there’s still nothing like having Premier League action at your doorstep, and some of my favourite adventures were the away days, be it Arsenal, Fulham or Manchester United.
3) Weather
This isn’t something that can be helped, so there is little point moaning about it for long, but the weather in London compared to home is much different.
London was generally warmer and it rained less, and any rare bit of sun we get in Ireland, you will hear people firing up their lawn mowers, because everyone knows the opportunity to cut the grass is limited.
No regrets
Having said all that, you may be thinking that I regret moving back home, and still pine for my old life in London.
However, this isn’t the case, and the switch has given my family a better quality of life.
My daughter turns three next month and she is thriving — and is close to all of her grandparents who get to see her and her baby brother often. This also gives us a chance to get a break, something that wasn’t possible without family support in London.
We’ve also managed to buy our first home, something that would have been impossible for us in the English capital, where getting on the property ladder wasn’t even worth dreaming about. Having said that, there is also a huge housing crisis in Ireland, and we were one of the lucky ones.
And although I don’t have White Hart Lane on my doorstep, raising a family in Ireland is hard to beat for several reasons which I can get into another day. If we had stayed, we wouldn’t have been able to welcome a second child, who is already being brainwashed into supporting a certain London club like his sister.
Despite my concerns about the public transport and the live sport, life is now calmer. I now do Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu classes three times a week, which has been far better for my mental and physical health than watching the club I love which is destined for the Championship.
And one thing England will never beat Ireland on is a pint of Guinness down the local.
A flight attendant has revealed the best way to save money ahead of a holiday abroad, and it could cost just £4.99 and save travellers £100 if they are ‘proactive’
There’s a handy way to save money on getting to the airport, and it’s about being ‘proactive’(Image: Getty Images/Stock Image)
A flight attendant has revealed a savvy £4.99 hack for holidaymakers that could help them cut costs on their next getaway.
We’re always on the lookout for ways to save some extra cash, whether that’s a packing tip to avoid paying for luggage, being flexible with our travel dates to secure the best price, or flying from a different airport. One sure way to save money is how you get to the airport, with parking prices astronomical at some airport hubs, which can reach as much as £132 for a week’s stay or £8 for every five minutes at a drop-off area.
In a bid to avoid these unwanted charges, some travellers opt to be dropped off at the airport, while others book their parking months in advance or a car park farther from the airport to secure a lower price. However, Wizz Air cabin crew member Adam Hodge, 35, has outlined a vital hack for getting to the airport, and it could cost just £4.99.
Speaking exclusively to the Mirror, Adam, who is based at Luton Airport, revealed: “You can get some really cheap deals on the trains and the bus.
“In Luton, for example, there’s now going to be two coach operators,National Express and FlixBus, so it means there’s going to be even more affordable options to get from the centre of London or the surrounding area, such as Cambridge, Milton Keynes and as far as Gatwick.
“If you book in advance, you can get a ticket, with FlixBus for example, for as little as £4.99.
“For National Express, if you have a coach pass, you can get fares from as little as £10 one-way, to and from the centre of London, Gatwick or one of the connecting airports.”
But that’s not the only affordable option. Adam highlighted: “At Luton Airport, there are also two train operators, Thames Link and East Midlands Railway.
“On East Midlands Railway, you can get a fare to St Pancras from Luton Airport Parkway or Luton for as little as £4.95, if you book and plan in advance. It has to be the specified train at the specified time, but if you’re flexible and want to save some money, you can get some really cheap fares if you book ahead.”
He added: “It’s about being proactive and saving a bit of money, especially with the cost of living crisis. And I think it’s actually very savvy and fashionable to be seen saving money, and being more money-conscious.”
While Adam mentioned Luton Airport, most UK airports also offer similar bus and coach services, so it’s well worth checking in advance to plan your route and secure the best price. And with some prices starting as low as £4.99, it’s a no-brainer.
Having travelled to around 30 countries, with Prague and Tirana being his personal favourites,
Away from airport travel, Adam has a wealth of other knowledge and advice, having visited around 30 countries, with Prague and Tirana being his personal favourites. One piece of advice is about what he packs, and there’s one item he never travels without.
“I had been looking at this item for a while, and I wasn’t sure at first, but now I have them, I’ve got them in all my suitcases, my crew bag and cabin bag,” Adam told the Mirror.
He revealed: “They are suitcase packing cubes, and are like little pouches. The worst thing is when you open a suitcase, and everything falls out, but with the packing cubes, everything is organised.
“For example, you have your electricals, your tops, trousers and shoes, they fit everything in organised cases, and you can actually fit more in, so it’s a really good hack. They don’t take up any space, so when they’re empty, they just lie flat, and they’re not bulky.”
To check out Adam’s public transport recommendations to the airport, visit the National Express or FlixBus websites. Or for more information about Wizz Air flights or to book your next trip, visit their website.
Do you have a travel story to share? Email webtravel@reachplc.com
Ryanair was established in 1985 and has gone onto become one of the most popular airlines in the world, thanks to its budget-friendly flights. Now, the airline has shared the one mistake passengers always make
Jess Flaherty Senior News Reporter
03:31, 19 Apr 2026
Ryanair has revealed the number one mistake passengers continue to make (stock image)(Image: Getty Images)
Ryanair has detailed the one mistake the average passenger continues to make and it’s caused quite a stir. The budget-friendly airline is famed for its reasonably priced flights, boldly declaring on its website that it offers “Europe’s lowest fares”.
Founded in 1985 by Irish aviation executive Christopher Ryan and Irish billionaire businessman and philanthropist Tony Ryan, the company was named after its founders. Today, it boasts a fleet of more than 600 planes.
Like many companies, Ryanair maintains a consistent presence on social media. In a recent video posted on TikTok, the airline humorously poked fun at a common travel blunder many people are guilty of making – packing suitcases which are too large.
All Ryanair fares “include one small personal bag (40cm x 30cm x 20cm) that must fit under the seat”, which may be a handbag or a laptop bag.
Ryanair’s baggage policy states: “Additional options include Priority boarding with a second 10kg cabin bag, checked bags of 10kg, 20kg (up to 3), or 23kg (1 allowed).
“Infants have no cabin allowance but may bring a 5kg baby bag and two baby equipment items free.”
But it seems some passengers fail to check the size of their bags. In the TikTok clip, an animated image of a man holding a comically oversized bag could be seen moving across the screen towards the check-in desk.
Text written over the top of the footage branded the man an “average Ryanair passenger”. In a voiceover, he is told: “Your bag is too big, sir.”
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The voiceover then detailed a string of excuses and responses Ryanair staff often hear, including “it fit at home”, “this is unfair”, “how could you do this?” and “I’m never flying Ryanair again”.
The lighthearted video has, so far, gained 245,900 views and hundreds of comments. One TikTok user said: “It is like their first time every time! Never ceases to amaze me. It is not as if you don’t get enough reminders either as to what you have booked and paid for…”
Another jokingly asked: “What bag should I bring then?????????” A third shared: “My uncle does that.” To which, Ryanair replied: “He will be charged.”
But someone else quipped: “Does paying extra at the gate magically make the bag smaller/lighter?”
One person said: “At the gate they say that you can carry 2 bags a person though.” Another quipped: “I’ll just travel by unicorn instead.”
The low-cost Irish airline is headquartered in Swords, County Dublin, Ireland. Based on the annual number of international passengers carried, the fleet size and the number of flights, Ryanair is the largest airline in the world. It’s the second-largest airline worldwide based on market capitalisation after Delta Air Lines.
It boasts a fleet of 613 planes, including 26 leased aircraft.
Approximately 95% of aircrafts used by Ryanair are single-aisle Boeing 737s. The 737-8-200 was designed by Boeing specifically for Ryanair in order to help the company carry more people at a lower cost per passenger.
A mum has shared the ‘best’ European City break to take kids on, with amazing attractions such as zoos and museums – and it’s only a two and a half hour flight away
Abigail Nicholson Content Editor
03:00, 19 Apr 2026
Stockholm in Sweden is a great place to take children
A mum has shared the ‘best’ European City break she has ever taken with her child, and it’s not where you would expect. When it comes to parents taking children away on holiday with them, there are many things they need to think about before booking.
From how the family will travel to the destination, if they can be kept occupied while travelling and if attractions will keep them entertained for long enough, there is a lot to think about. But one woman who shares content on social media has shared the “best’ destination she has visited with her child, which kept her occupied every day.
Claire and Laura are identical twin mum’s who post UK based travel content on social media under the username @twinperspectives.
The family explained how they went to Stockholm in Sweden and were surprised at home good it was for children.
The mum said: “The best city break in the world for kids, hands down, is Stockholm. It’s pure wholesome loveliness and there is so much to do.
“Let’s start off with the Open Air Museum of Skansen, which is basically Sweden hundreds of years ago, but it is also so good for kids.
“There is a zoo. We were at the park 10 till 4pm so there is so much to do. It is so incredibly wholesome and of course plenty of sweets.
“Next up is the Vasa Museum, home to the world’s only preserved 17th century ship. There’s a great children’s trail to keep them entertained.
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“This is a pretty mind-blowing museum and you have to go .Next up is the Unibacken Museum, tis is a world of immersive stories dedicated to Astrid Lindgren who wrote Pippi Longstocking.
“Make sure you take the train through the story lands, it is so detailed, my daughter loved this”
The mum then explained that families should keep an eye out for the different metro stations in Stockholm, with the city being known for its art in the metros.
The mum added that there were plenty of free things to do in the city, alongside paid for attractions.
She said: “Aside from paid activities, Stockholm’s playgrounds are another level compared to the UK. Vasa Park is the largest in the city, even comes with bikes and play accessories as well.
“Activities aside, the food is great for kids in Sweden. Obviously there’s meatballs and mashed potato and the famous fika.
“Getting around the city is super easy. All in all one of the easiest yet most exciting city breaks you can do with kids. Obviously it’s not budget friendly but I’d say the activities that are there are well worth the price tag.”
Other parents commented on the video to agree with the twins, with many sharing their own experiences of visiting Sweden.
One person said: “We have family in Sweden but I didn’t even think about revisiting Stockholm with our little ones! I know they’d love the Vasa museum and these are some great other suggestions too.”
A second said: “Ahhh, yes totally agree. The nature and play parks and museums make Sweden a great place for children and families. I’m often asked to put together itineraries for families visiting.”
FORGET boring beige hotels and predictable pillows.
Whether you’re lounging on a luxe boutique ship, sipping cocktails in a quirky hub, or waking up in a treehouse — these unique escapes are redefining city stays.
These super-cool stays in two of the UK’s capital cities are perfect weekenders, says Sub-Editor Milcah Fajardo.
Fingal, Edinburgh
THE PAD
Anchor down for the night on luxe FingalCredit: Jeremy RataLuxury cabins feature super-king beds, tartan textiles and a balcony with dock viewsCredit: Supplied by Hotel
Roll your suitcase along the Port of Leith, and you’ll soon find yourself at the red carpet to this five-star floating hotel.
From the art deco finishings to the grand ballroom, it exudes glamour.
But even after a £5million glow-up, the former Northern Lighthouse Board ship retains its history, preserved in the Engine Room and nautical details.
Luxury cabins feature super-king beds, tartan textiles and a balcony with dock views.
Plus, the jade-green bathroom with brass taps and rain shower is like something from my Pinterest board.
Meanwhile, The Lighthouse restaurant is award-winning for good reason.
Beneath the hammered gold ceiling, we dine on truffle scrambled eggs on toast, £15, and porridge brûlée, £9.50, for breakfast.
Dinner is superb, too, as we tuck into delicate duck ravioli with wild mushrooms, sage and parmesan foam, £15, beef cheek in a périgourdine sauce, £38, and creamy Basque cheesecake with honey ice cream, £11.
EXPLORE
The jade-green bathroom with brass taps and rain shower is like something from my Pinterest boardCredit: Supplied by Hotel
For handmade souvenirs and local eats, Stockbridge Market is open every Sunday.
We defy you to resist the hog-roast buns with apple sauce, £10, or the haggis sausage rolls, £4 (Stockbridgemarket.com).
REFUEL
Sea food and eat it at Badger & CoCredit: Badger & Co/Instagram
Leith eatery Barry Fish does seafood so well that it landed them a spot in the Michelin Guide.
The addictive fish pastrami, £14, and flaky sea trout in a buttery shrimp sauce, £25, won’t disappoint (Barryfish.co.uk).
Also nearby is Alby’s, where hot focaccia sarnies filled with gooey ‘nduja cauliflower cheese, £12.50, and succulent chicken pakora, spiced onions and lettuce, £13.50, are to die for (Albysleith.co.uk).
Tucked away in the centre is games bar Mortal Kocktail – sink a pint with a few rounds on the vintage pinball machines (@Mortalkocktail).
Or experience Scottish cuisine like no other at Badger & Co – sample exquisite Scotsman scallops topped with haggis, neeps and samphire, £14, juicy Highland wagyu burger, £22, and rich blackberry jam teacake, £9.50 (Badgerandco.com).
DON’T MISS
The Johnnie Walker Signature Experience, from £30, is as fascinating as it is boozy.
Learn about the founder and your own whisky palate, then head to the rooftop for a wee dram while gazing at the gorgeous skyline (Johnniewalker.com).
BOOK IT
Double cabins at Fingal cost from £317 B&B (Fingal.co.uk).
Water view of Belfast over the river LaganCredit: Getty Images
Written across the mirror in pink are the words: “Welcome, Milcah. A good story starts here!”
And they’re not wrong.
Rooms at this central spot are minimalist, but come with huge waterfall showers, Lily O’Brien’s chocs and very handy rain macs.
Refreshing welcome cocktails of gin, elderflower and cranberry set the tone, as does the vibrant lobby, where industrial chic meets playful pop art.
Later, the Wake-Up Call, £11 – a poitín-spiked espresso martini – pairs well with loaded nachos, £10.50, and saucy barbecue wings, £9, in the bar.
Come morning, we find a buzzing breakfast service with a handful of fry-up options and a continental spread.
EXPLORE
Rooms at Moxy Belfast City are minimalist, but come with huge waterfall showers, Lily O’Brien’s chocs and very handy rain macsCredit: Supplied by Moxy Belfast City
Nearby, St George’s Market is home to stalls selling everything from vinyl and vintage wares to Cuban street food – make a beeline for Belfast Bap Co’s humongous bacon rolls, £9.
Next, ride the hop-on-hop-off bus, £19, to stop by the peaceful Botanic Gardens, learn all about the Troubles at Ulster Museum (Ulstermuseum.org), spot incredible street murals and take in the poignant Peace Walls (City-sightseeing.com).
Finally, at Thompson Dock you’ll find Titanic Distillers – the city’s first whisky distillery since Prohibition. Discover the craft and sample it on a one-hour tour, £25 (Titanicdistillers.com).
REFUEL
The Morning Star does treats including stout-and-treacle-braised beefCredit: Morning Star /Instagram
Hit the bustling Cathedral Quarter for excellent pubs.
Don’t miss Kelly’s Cellars – built in 1720, it is Belfast’s oldest pub, and you can expect lively traditional performances alongside your Guinness, £5.80 (Kellyscellars.co.uk).
Head upstairs at The Morning Star, a short stroll away, for treats including stout-and-treacle-braised beef with hispi cabbage, champ and bordelaise sauce, £24, in the classy dining room (Themorningstarbar.co.uk/the-lounge).
Finish your night in opulent townhouse bar Margot, sipping an indulgent Four Storeys cocktail – a mix of bourbon, amaro, cola syrup and chocolate bitters, £13 – in the snazzy leopard-print snug (Margotbelfast.com).
DON’T MISS
Finish your night in opulent townhouse bar Margot, sipping an indulgent Four Storeys cocktailCredit: Margot Belfast/Instagram
At Titanic Belfast, travel back in time to the ship’s construction and even listen to the last SOS messages from its crew – it’s both immersive and compelling.
Double rooms at Moxy Belfast City cost from £109 B&B (Marriott.com).
Meanwhile, Lifestyle Editor Catherine Bennion-Pedley found a tree-mendous family break in the capital of the north.
Treehouse Hotel, Manchester
THE PAD
Climb into bed at Treehouse ManchesterCredit: Simon BrownTreehouse is all stained-glass features, cascading foliage and cute birdhouses in the heart of the cityCredit: Simon Brown
This place is all stained-glass features, cascading foliage and cute birdhouses in the heart of the city.
Kids are given wooden tiles to illustrate, then add to the decor, while screening room Flix plays family films in the school hols.
At eatery Pip, Old Winchester gougères, £5, and Lancashire hotpot, £26, steal the show, as do the sherry-based cobblers, £11, while children will be suitably chuffed with home-made fish and chips, £9.
Come morning, roll out of bed for Derbyshire oatcakes with ham and eggs, before hitting shopping heaven on Market Street.
EXPLORE
Have a ball at Bubble PlanetCredit: SuppliedDive into a giant ballpit, crack the dazzling light maze and stand inside an actual bubbleCredit: Supplied
From Squid Game to Paw Patrol, Immersive Gamebox in the Arndale Centre offers challenges to conquer as a team, and it’s quite a workout!
One-hour games cost from £28 per adult and £18 per child (Immersivegamebox.com).
Equally close is the Museum of Illusions, with its mind-bending displays and photo opps aplenty.
Entry costs £25.50 for adults, £21.50 for over-fives (Moimanchester.com).
Elsewhere, dive into a giant ballpit, crack the dazzling light maze and stand inside an actual bubble at Bubble Planet.
Tickets cost £16.90 per adult, £12.90 for over-threes (Bubble-planet.com).
REFUEL
Buzzy foodhall Mackie Mayor will please the whole crew – the barbecue burger at Mumma’s Fried Chicken, £12.50, and Pico’s Tacos’ frozen margaritas, £17 for two, are standouts (Mackie-mayor.co.uk).
Need a post-shop sugar hit?
Head to Haute Dolci Deansgate for pistachio-cream-smothered pancakes with raspberries and gelato, £12.50 (Hautedolci.co.uk).
Or scoff top-notch paccheri Genovese – large pasta tubes tossed in beef ragu – £16.90, and pizzas at Vincenzo Trattoria (Vincenzomanchester.co.uk).
DON’T MISS
Feel a piece of the moon, program an interplanetary rover and discover what the planets smell like at the Science And Industry Museum’s new Horrible Science: Cosmic Chaos exhibition, £10 for over-fours (Scienceandindustrymuseum.org.uk).
This article from the Occasional Digest outlines the historical progression of Zimbabwe from its initial colonization by the British South Africa Company in the late 19th century to its official independence in 1980. The text details the transition from a private company holding to a British colony, the eventual rise of the white-minority government under Ian Smith, and the subsequent guerilla warfare that led to multiracial elections. It highlights April 18th as the significant date when Robert Mugabe took office and the nation achieved international recognition. Additionally, the source provides current global data such as currency exchange rates and weather updates for April 1 …
Save stress and time if your holiday is due to start in the early hours of the morning
It’s one less thing you have to stress about when getting to the airport at 4am(Image: Joan Valls/Urbanandsport/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
People can start their holiday quicker than others when flying with Jet2 and taking advantage of a little-known service that lets families skip the queues. Planning this ahead of time can make early morning flights feel “a whole lot easier”.
On its website, Jet2 claims the Twilight Check-in service can be used by any passengers booked to fly on a service due to leave the airport before midday. Later flights in the afternoon or evening cannot benefit from this perk.
A spokesperson said: “Your morning flight is about to get a whole lot easier. With our free Twilight Check-in service, you can drop your bags off at your UK departure airport between 4.30pm and 9pm the evening before your morning flight.
“Thanks to Twilight Check-in, when you arrive at departures the next day, your luggage is already sorted. If you live near the airport or are staying at a nearby hotel, it’ll make your morning a little easier.”
Flights leaving before midday are extremely common at UK airports. People tend to opt for these early departures to make the most of their holiday time rather than leaving the UK later.
The following UK airports offer the free Jet2 Twilight Service:
Birmingham
Bristol
East Midlands
Edinburgh
Glasgow International
Leeds Bradford
Liverpool
London Gatwick
London Luton
London Stansted
Manchester
Newcastle
The process of pre-checking luggage the night before can save time and hassle on the morning of the trip. Jet2 claims that people don’t need to book this service specifically in advance, but people do need to check in online “no later than 24 hours before their flight”.
Some UK airports offer discounted or free limited-time parking to customers who use Twilight Check-in. The Jet2 website lists 10 that offer this for customers, but stresses that travellers should check for themselves using the Airport Information page on its website.
People who want to use this service will need to remember to bring their boarding passes and passports along with bags (excluding hand luggage). After completing everything, get some rest and, on the day of the flight, Jet2 claims people can simply “bypass check-in and head to security”.
It only takes one person from your group to check in and drop off bags for up to six people travelling on the same booking reference. For full details of how the free service works, click here.
2026 is looking like the year of the staycation – and luckily, you’ve got plenty of revamped resorts along the coast to choose from.
Many of the UK’s favourite seaside towns are unveiling major, multi-million-pound makeovers. Luckily, while the upgrades are first-class, the holiday prices remain refreshingly retro.
Blackpool is one of many UK seaside resorts seeing multi-million-pound upgrades this yearCredit: Alamy
We’ve scoured the coast to find the biggest transformations alongside the best-value places to stay, with budget-friendly deals starting from just £35 a night.
From record-breaking theme park rides to Victorian promenades polished back to their former glory, here are the hottest UK seaside spots that have been revamped for 2026.
Blackpool
The huge new gyro swing ride, Aviktas, will be a new addition to Blackpool’s Pleasure BeachCredit: Supplied
If you thought you knew Blackpool, think again. This family entertainment hotspot is undergoing a glow-up.
The popular theme park Blackpool Pleasure Beach is unveiling a massive new ride to keep thrill-seekers on their toes: Aviktas.
The giant gyro swing ride is set to be the tallest of its kind at 138 feet, changing the skyline of Blackpool pier. The ride is set to open on May 21.
As well as this, the seaside town is unveiling a brand-new £3million indoor attraction.
Set to open this summer, Tenpin Blackpool will host 24 bowling lanes as well as a laser tag arena, soft play, escape rooms and even karaoke rooms.
Plus, there’s a cocktail bar and live sports lounge for the grown-ups, too. The attraction is set to open on June 5.
There’s plenty more to look forward to in time for summer as well.
The Southbeach Streetfood dining venue will serve a selection of food from 19 revamped shipping containers, and is set to open by the end of spring.
There’s also the 100th Anniversary of the Blackpool Dance Festival, with ballroom and Latin dance events held at the Winter Gardens from May 16-29.
To enjoy all the new thrills coming to the seaside resort this summer, we’ve scoured the internet for the cheapest staycation deals.
Book Your Stay In Blackpool
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Haven Marton Mere holiday village is just a 12-minute drive from Blackpool, where you can book a holiday from just £49.
The Haven Hideaway deal includes a four-night stay for two in a saver caravan.
Brighton
Brighton’s Victorian Promenade is getting a new lift for step-free access to the beachCredit: GettyA Travelodge is just a two-minute walk from Brighton Beach, with prices starting from £34.99 a nightCredit: Alamy
If you fancy a seaside escape with a touch of Victorian glamour, Brighton is currently polishing its crown.
The city’s famous Victorian promenade has been undergoing a massive £750,000 revamp, with the historic terraces set to fully reopen to the public this year.
It’s the perfect excuse to book a staycation, stroll the seafront and soak up the bohemian atmosphere that makes this city famous.
For a totally free afternoon, head to the Rampion Visitor Centre on the seafront to try out their virtual reality experience, or go street art spotting through the North Laine, where the walls are a giant open-air gallery.
The Brighton Fishing Museum is a great free stop-in to see traditional Sussex boats, while the world-famous Brighton Palace Pier costs just £1 entry for adults (kids go free) and is a must-do when visiting.
Book Your Stay In Brighton
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Despite its “London-by-the-sea” reputation, you can still find a bargain stay right in the thick of the action.
A night at the Travelodge Brighton Seafront is just a two-minute walk from the beach, and can be bagged from just £34.99 a night – leaving you with plenty of spare change for a bag of doughnuts on the pier.
Folkestone
Folkestone’s upgrades just keep coming, with the restoration of the Leas Lift and new dining spotsCredit: AlamyFolkestone has even opened up a sauna on the beach, which is the UK’s largestCredit: Sea Scrub Sauna
Folkestone is all the rage as the artsy seaside town continues to benefit from a massive £20 million makeover.
The town has been transformed into an open-air art gallery, with the Creative Quarter’s neon-lit streets leading down to a revamped Harbour Arm.
The Harbour Arm has now become a trendy dining destination, with nearly 70 food and drink outlets available.
Some of the top-rated include the champagne bar The Lighthouse and its sister restaurant Tasting Rooms – visit on Fridays for three courses, complimentary fizz and Jazz music for £29.
Plus, spring 2026 brings the long-awaited return of the historic Leas Lift, a Victorian water-balanced funicular that’s been restored to its former glory.
When visiting, you can spend a totally free afternoon wandering the Folkestone Artworks trail to see sculptures by famous artists, or head to the Lower Leas Coastal Park to make use of the largest free adventure play area in the South East.
For some unique self-care, visit the brand new Sea Scrub Sauna right on the beach for a sweat with a sea view.
Book Your Stay In Folkestone
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You can bag a stay at the Burstin Hotel overlooking the harbour from just £49 a night.
Southampton
The Town Quay in Southampton is soon to receive a £200million upgradeCredit: AlamyHythe Pier stretches 700 yards and is accessible via the world’s oldest pier railwayCredit: Alamy
Southampton is one year into the major makeover of its waterfront and city centre, in a grand revamp described by the council as “The Renaissance Vision”.
Plus, the newly-approved £200million upgrade to Town Quay will soon see the addition of a new hotel complex, bringing a spa and even a helipad to the waterfront.
While the planning for the big builds is underway, one heritage seafront attraction has reopened to the public.
If you visit this summer, you’ll be able to walk the newly reopened Hythe Pier – a 145-year-old seaside pier that is sparkling new again after six months of extensive restoration.
To get there, board the world’s oldest pier train at Hythe Pier Railway. The pier stretches a whopping 700 yards from the centre of Hythe to Southampton Water, and costs £1 to enter.
To explore Southampton’s history, you can spend a totally free afternoon walking the Titanic Trail, which leads you through the city centre to historic memorials.
Or see the exciting new displays at Southampton City Art Gallery, which has just reopened its doors in March 2026 following a year of upgrades.
Book Your Stay In Southampton
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For a budget-friendly base right in the heart of the action, you can bag a room at the Ibis Budget Southampton from just £40 a night.
Margate
Trendy Cliftonville will be receiving a beachfront skate park as part of Margate’s major upgradesCredit: AlamyHead for a swim in Walpole Bay, a giant tidal pool spanning four acres in sizeCredit: Getty
Margate is undergoing continued transformations set to further transform the seaside town into one of the UK’s trendiest coastal hubs.
Local neighbourhood Cliftonville was named thecoolest street in the UK by Time Outlast year, and the area’s only getting more stylish with the addition of a brand new attraction.
Abandoned gardens overlooking the sea will be transformed into a beachfront skatepark in Cliftonville, a trendy area known as “Shoreditch-on-sea”.
The skatepark is predicted to open in the late summer of 2026, and set to cost £1.1million to build.
As well as this, Margate’s Winter Gardens are set to reopen after an £8million upgrade. The historic seaside venue has seen bands like The Beatles and The Rolling Stones take the stage, first opening in 1910.
Now the charming venue will see the addition of a snazzy rooftop bar and restaurant, as well as a nursery and drama school. The Main Hall of the Winter Gardens is set to reopen to the public in late 2026, with other new additions opening in stages throughout 2027.
Plus, the upgrades aren’t slowing down anytime soon, with proposed plans to build a new £95,000 accessible boardwalk on Margate Sands.
To see the best of this trendy resort on your trip, stroll along the beachfront to soak up sea views, before stopping in at the free-to-enter Turner Contemporary gallery to see the latest exhibition.
Elsewhere, take a dip in what’s believed to be the UK’s largest tidal pool, Walpole Bay, or take the family along to the free Crab Museum in the Old Town for a quirky, hands-on experience of science and marine life.
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For a budget-friendly stay, Premier Inn Margate offers sea views and is close to Dreamland amusement park, with rooms from £78 per night.
Hull
Hull was named one of National Geographic’s best places to travel in the world in 2026Credit: GettyThe Spurn Lightship opened up on Hull Marina in March 2026, for the first time since 2018Credit: Alamy
Named one of National Geographic’s best places in the world to travel to in 2026, Hull has plenty to offer holidaymakers.
A massive £27.5m makeover has seen the area invest in its maritime history, with the money poured into the city’s historic museum and ships.
The Maritime Museum, which received an £11million makeover beginning in 2020, is finally set to reopen in summer 2026.
New additions to the museum include a 40-foot whale skeleton, miniature ship models and maritime artwork.
As well as this, the new and improved Spurn Lightship opened in early March of 2026, having been closed to the public since 2018.
The floating museum is free to visit, with slots reserved online. You can also book a place for a free maritime guided tour, running on Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays.
Hull also boasts plenty of totally free attractions, such as the Streetlife Museum, where you can hop aboard a vintage tram and stroll down a 1940s high street.
Alternatively, head to Hull‘s revamped Queen’s Gardens. Set to reopen in April 2026, the gardens’ three ponds have been refreshed, plus there are redesigned Peace Gardens and plenty of new maritime-themed activities.
Book Your Stay In Hull
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Bag a stay in this coastal hotspot at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hull, where rooms start from £69 a night.
Littlehampton
Littlehampton received a £7.2million investment to build family attractions on the West GreenCredit: AlamyThe West Green in Littlehampton now has a waterfront splash park with shade spots to rest inCredit: Experience Sussex
Littlehampton is quickly becoming a firm family favourite for 2026, thanks to the massive £7.2million transformation of the West Green seafront.
With the revamp reaching completion late last year, the seaside resort is ready to welcome visitors for the 2026 spring and summer season.
The West Green seafront now has a water play area, with jets, splash pads and shaded areas to make use of in the hotter months.
As well as this, families can make use of the barbecue zones, mini basketball court and beach volleyball court. Plus, there’s also a climbing wall and petanque setup for even more fun and games.
And when you get hungry, there’s your pick of food and drink kiosks, from the Soul Kitchen and Bar to delicious Jim’s Ice Cream.
To extend your free family day out in Littlehampton, stroll the promenade past the colourful and quirky longest bench in Britain, which winds along the coast.
Or for an indoor option, pop into the Littlehampton Museum, which offers free entry and a look at the town’s history, from the Anglo-Saxon era to WWII.
There’s so much to do in the surrounding area, too. Just a few miles west is the town of Bognor Regis, where you could get day passes to Butlin’s.
There’s also the Bognor Pier, Hotham Park Miniature Railway and Blake’s Cottage, the former home of the poet William Blake, which is now a museum.
There’s also the South Downs National Park, the Goodwood Estate and Racecourse, Petworth House and Amberley Museum.
Book Your Stay In Littlehampton
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You can stay just a mile from the new seafront action at the Travelodge Littlehampton Rustington from just £39.99 a night.
There for a special Peaky Blinders night, I enter a replica village featuring streets any fan will recognise – as this is a filming location for the hit series.
The show’s creator, Steven Knight, has gone as far as describing the museum as “home”.
The event costs £21 and instructions are enticingly vague: “Arrive in 1920s attire and expect mayhem.”
Judging by the fire dancers at the entrance, I’m in for one hell of a night.
Wobbling across the cobbles in heels, I’m wrapped warmly in a thick trenchcoat. If someone had told me I’d accidentally wandered back in time to the actual 1920s, I could have believed them.
Visitors drift between functional stores, from a post office to a barber shop, where one teen exchanged £15 for a Shelby-inspired undercut while their girlfriend laughed from the sidelines.
At the bottom, past a WWI memorial, sits a ruckus of flashing gold fairground rides.
It is so authentic, the only indication that I’m standing on a film set and not a real street corner is the vintage signage and outfits.
I’m jolted to attention by a 1920s car rumbling towards me, open-topped and overflowing with cackling passengers.
“I swear that was Ada,” someone remarks, in a nod to Arthur Shelby’s daughter in the show.
In dim lighting, strangers do have a habit of morphing into familiar faces.
Down a flight of steps sits Canal Street Bridge, a secret meeting place for Ada and Freddie. From there, I can see queues forming for the village pubs, as jaunty piano tunes drift from their doorways.
Having snagged a £4.50 bottle of Cobra, my attention is drawn towards two storefronts: a bakery and a traditional sweet shop. For £10, I secure a bag of lemon sherbets, lemon bonbons and cinder toffee.
Clutching my treats, I teeter down the steps of Canal Street Bridge to enter Charlie’s Yard. This sits on the banks of a canal, where Charlie Strong smuggles illicit goods for the Shelbys.
“Welcome to 1910,” a chainmaker yells, wielding a hammer over a glowing link.
This event is strictly 16+ , and judging by the three street brawls I’ve witnessed already, that’s probably for the best. All incidents involved actors and the colourful language sparked waves of giggles.
My final hurrah is horse racing at St James’ School.
Shuttled into wooden rows, the atmosphere is electric and, after picking their horses, everybody is on the edge of their seats.
Celebrating the flutter with a portion of fish and chips “to go”, it’s time for the steady walk to the exit. By 10.30pm, it feels like I’ve just scratched the surface.
Straddling 29 acres, the site has events exploding on a spitfire schedule. Catching it all seems impossible.
Ticket included, I’ve spent around £50, so this evening has been a steal.
HAMPTON Court Palace has everything families need for a fun day out and it’s all within the grounds of an enormous former royal home.
From seeing inside the historic building itself to the pretty gardens, a kids’ playground and there’s even a comic-book themed takeover this summer.
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The playground and trail is on the grounds of Hampton Court PalaceCredit: AlamyDuring the summer kids will be able to have a go at the Beano trailCredit: Hampton Court Palace
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When you’re at a loss with how to keep the kids entertained over the weekend, or the next warm day during the week – head to Hampton Court Palace in London.
Kids in particular will love its enormous playground called the Magic Garden.
It’s aimed at children under 12 and has so much to keep them entertained from climbing up the huge towers to even facing a ‘dragon’.
There’s a secret grotto with hidden pathways, plenty of slides and a sandpit, while a nearby cafe is the best spot to stop for hot drinks and snacks.
Another popular spot is the maze – which is the oldest surviving hedge maze in the country.
It covers a third of an acre on the grounds of Hampton Court Palace with plenty of twists and turns throughout.
And this summer, a new Beano-themed trail is set to launch.
From July 25 to August 23, kids will be able to see some of their favourite characters like Dennis the Menace and Gnasher.
More information about the trail says “Dennis, Minnie, Harsha, Rubi and Gnasher were late for their Bash Street School trip to Henry VIII’s palace.
“To save the day, Dennis has turned his go-kart into a time machine with Rubi’s flux capacitor – but “whoops”! it has malfunctioned and crash-landed in Hampton Court Palace.
“Now the timeline’s in a right royal muddle and Henry VIII is not amused. It’s utter chaos! It’s up to YOU to help the Beano friends fix their busted time machine.
“Grab your special Hampton Court Palace Beano comic strip story on arrival, packed with clues to track down the missing pieces scattered around the palace.”
There will even be some historic residents like Henry VIII and Elizabeth I dressed in the classic Beano red and black stripes.
During May half-term kids can enjoy The Big Bahooey which has cabaret performances, world-class street theatre and circus workshops.
To step back in time, head back in July to watch knights take on a jousting tournament – families can pick a favourite and cheer them on until the winner is crowned.
The jousting is on during on the weekends of July 11-12 and July 18-19.
The palace has pruned gardens with pretty flower beds and pondsCredit: Getty
For more family fun, check out our favourite UK holiday parks…
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Park Holidays UK Sand le Mere, Yorkshire
This holiday park in Yorkshire is a thriving family resort, just steps from Tunstall Beach. Entertainment is what this resort does best, with costume character performances, Link-up Bingo and cabaret shows. Accommodation ranges from fully-equipped Gold Caravans to Platinum Lodges with sun decks and luxury bedding.
This beachfront resort in St Ives, Cornwall is a true beach bum’s paradise – whether you want to laze out on the sand, or take to the waves for some surfing. Activities include disc golf, a Nerf challenge and an outdoor cinema, as well as indoor activities for the colder months like karaoke, bingo and DJ sets.
This holiday park has loads of unique activities on offer, including TikTok dance classes, alpaca feeding, a pump track for BMX riding, and taking a ride on the resort’s very own miniature railway. Throw in bug hotel and den building, pond dipping, survival skills workshops and a lake for paddleboard and pedalo hire, and you’ve got yourself an action-packed park.
Parkdean Resorts Camber Sands, Sussex This beachfront resort is a classic family favourite. If you’re not up to swimming in the sea, there’s four fantastic pools here, as well as water flumes, underwater jets, inflatable jet skis and kayak races. Plus if you’ve got any little fans of Paw Patrol or Milkshake!, you’ll be glad to know there’s Milkshake! Mornings and Paw Patrol Mighty Missions to keep your tots entertained.
If you want to steer clear of chaotic cartoons, head to the Hampton Court Gardens for a more relaxing stroll.
The formal gardens are pruned to perfection with neat hedges, immaculate lawns, ponds and pretty flower beds – especially in the Rose Garden.
During particular days of the year, the gardens are open free of charge with no pre-booking required.
This year these are May 9-10, September 12-13, October 10-11, November 21-22, December 26 (Wilderness garden only).
Then of course there’s the palace itself, which was famously the home of Henry VIII and his six wives.
The former royal residence has appeared most recently on BridgertonCredit: Getty
For those who want to learn even more about Hampton Court Palace, a free audio guide is included in the price of admission.
The tour explores the highlights when it was lived in by Henry VIII and even how the palace has appeared on the back-drop of TV and film since the 1920s.
More recently it was used in Bridgerton as the home of Queen Charlotte, and the gardens are frequently used when characters are strolling around London.
It’s also appeared in Wolf Hall: The Mirror and the Light, My Lady Jane, The Favourite starring Olivia Coleman, and Lily James‘ Cinderella.
SUNDAY may be a day of rest in Europe, but that’s not the case for Puerto Rico.
The shops were shut, but the city of Ponce was very much awake.
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St Thomas, one of the US Virgin Islands, where you can snorkel in the crystal-clear water of Magens BayCredit: GettyIn the city of Ponce men play a leisurely game of dominoes in the main squareCredit: Jenny GreenPonce is an Art Deco delightCredit: Getty
As I wandered the streets, locals cruised past in their vintage cars, music blasted from lively bars and groups of youngsters burst into spontaneous dance on the streets.
In the main square, families strolled past colourful murals and beautiful yet crumbling Art Deco buildings, while old men put the world to rights over a leisurely game of dominoes in the main square.
Ponce (pronounced Pon-say) was the last stop on my Tropical Isles cruise onboard the recently refurbished Marella Discovery.
It’s a new port for Marella so, like Christopher Columbus — who discovered the Caribbean island of Puerto Rico back in 1493 — I was excited to be one of the first people to explore.
Week-long sailings start and finish in La Romana, in the Dominican Republic, calling at the nearby nature reserve of Isla Catalina, the Puerto Rican capital of San Juan and the US Virgin Islands of St Thomas and St Croix.
Now I’ve been lucky enough to visit the Caribbean a few times before, but I was still surprised by how green these islands were.
The Marella DiscoveryCredit: SuppliedPuerto Rico’s El Yunque National ForestCredit: GettyDominican Republic’s Isla CatalinaCredit: Supplied
And while this itinerary gave me plenty of opportunity to sunbathe on white-sand beaches and sample local rum (I recommend Ron del Barrilito), I was still able to go hiking in the rainforest and kayak through beautiful coves.
Staying active is something I would definitely recommend on a Marella cruise — not just because you’ll miss out on amazing experiences if you don’t, but because you’ll need to burn off all the extra calories you’re bound to consume on board.
With nine restaurants and seven bars spread over 11 decks, you certainly won’t go hungry or thirsty — especially as Marella cruises are all-inclusive as standard.
This means your flights, cabin, transfers to and from the ship, drinks, food and entertainment are all included in the price.
Even your bags go straight from your home airport to your cabin door so you don’t have to worry about collecting them from a carousel or lugging them around.
Compared to other cruise ships, Marella Discovery is quite small, accommodating up to 1,800 passengers.
It’s really set up for British tourists, though, with Yorkshire Tea on tap and dishes such as steak and ale pie readily available in the excellent Islands buffet.
Passengers can find their way out of an escape room on the shipCredit: SuppliedJenny pictured at Magens BayCredit: Jenny GreenCatch a West End style-show at the Broadway Show LoungeCredit: Unknown
Entertainment-wise, passengers can find their way out of an escape room, play a round of mini-golf or enjoy a musical afternoon tea. Plus there are West End-style shows, quizzes and gameshows galore.
For better-quality booze and speciality coffees, you can upgrade to a Premium All Inclusive package, while speciality restaurants, including the Surf & Turf Steakhouse and Sushi Bar, come at an extra charge.
But be sure to leave room for some traditional Caribbean delicacies when you leave the ship. At Café Manolin, in San Juan, I joined locals queuing to tuck into giant plates of mofongo, a much-loved Puerto Rican dish of fried green plantain stuffed with meat or veggies.
Coffee is also big business here — and almost as popular as rapper Bad Bunny, who hails from the island.
Many coffee plantations welcome visitors to sample their wares but I got my caffeine fix at Hacienda Jacana, in the mountainous region of Adjuntas, where owner Jonathan and his ex-cop father proudly showed off their farm while explaining details of the coffee-making process.
I was buzzing after a few cups of their delicious Latitude 18° coffee — but it couldn’t possibly compare to the buzz I got in St Thomas after snorkelling with a group of green turtles in the crystal-clear water of Magens Bay.
Granted, I had to keep reminding myself that I wouldn’t die if I tried to breathe normally underwater, but I forgot all about breathing when a metre-long turtle paddled right past my face. Just wow.
As an animal lover, and a keen traveller missing my two dogs back home, I was also thrilled to stumble across the Ruff Night — Hair Of The Dog Bar in St Croix (pronounced Croy), just steps from where Marella Discovery docked in Frederiksted.
The lively bar, in the courtyard of the Victoria House Inn, is run by volunteers from the Ruff Start STX animal charity who love nothing more than mixing super-strong cocktails and bringing in puppies for punters to cuddle.
And if that’s not reason enough to visit, all money raised from the bar goes directly to local dogs in need, so go armed with plenty of cash in your pocket!
I’d certainly worked up a thirst after a morning kayaking in the nearby Salt River Bay, and I enjoyed getting back to nature there almost as much as I did at El Yunque National Forest — the jewel in the crown of Puerto Rico.
The 28,000-acre site is the only tropical rainforest in the US and it has more than 100 miles of walking trails just waiting to be explored. With enormous trees providing canopies of greenery and exotic birds and frogs creating a cacophony of noise, it was just how I imagined a rainforest to be.
While mosquitoes are rife here after dark, I managed to avoid being savaged by the pesky wee beasties during the daytime.
One thing was for sure, though — I had definitely been bitten by the Caribbean cruise bug.
GO: TROPICAL ISLES CRUISE
SAILING THERE: A seven-night Tropical Isles round-trip on board Marella Discovery is from £1,573pp, departing from La Romana, Dominican Republic.
Price is based on two adults sharing a Deck 2/3 inside cabin on an all-inclusive basis and includes flights from Gatwick on November 24, 20kg of luggage per person, transfers, tips and service charges.
I KNEW Efteling theme park had a fairytale garden, but I didn’t realise a stay there would give me such a royal welcome, too.
The lobby of the newly opened Efteling Grand Hotel at this Netherlands attraction feels like its straight out of the classic storybooks my nan used to read me when I was a child.
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The lobby of the newly opened Efteling Grand Hotel at Efteling theme park feels like it’s straight out of the classic storybooksCredit: Supplied
A sweeping staircase circles an intricate, cascading chandelier made from tiny gold keys, candles flicker in the alcove and a 1920s bellhop — a mime-artist in full character — performs a slapstick routine pretending to dust off everyone’s suitcases.
It’s a welcome distraction for the kids, who were itching to bust through the back door and on to the rides. And even as a grown adult, I’m mesmerised.
Efteling first opened in 1952 and its mix of traditional fairground attractions, modern thrill rides and whimsical storytelling now attracts more than five million visitors every year.
Perched dominantly on the edge of the theme park, the Grand Hotel is a a castle-esque chateau that began welcoming guests last summer.
It’s the first time in Efteling’s history that visitors have been able to stay the night within the park gates.
Unlike its other accommodation options — Efteling Wonder Hotel and the holiday villages Bosrijk and Loonsche Land — the Grand Hotel is slightly more premium for those who want some proper R&R — that’s rest and rollercoasters.
It doesn’t feel like a twee theme- park hotel, though.
The arty design was inspired by the park’s history and leans in to the visual style of film director Wes Anderson’s Grand Budapest Hotel.
The 140 plush, modern, yet cosy rooms and suites look more like they belong in a stylish boutique hotel, although there are subtle nods to a princess theme.
Delicate vintage-style decor has been paired with ice-blue walls and brushed gold fittings. Elsewhere, there’s a great swimming pool, spa facilities and two fantastic restaurants.
The quirky and family-friendly Symbolica makes for a fun rideCredit: efteling.com
Guests are also given unlimited, free access to the theme park throughout their stay, including on arrival and departure days and free private parking.
For those who don’t fancy driving, it’s incredibly easy to travel by train. Eurostar operates direct services from London to Amsterdam, then it’s an easy change on to a local train that will have you at Efteling in less than an hour.
After a very early start, the fluffy linens in my room could have easily tempted me to have a duvet day, but the views of the park from my window were too much to resist.
Within minutes, I was out of the door and approaching my first ride of the day — the quirky and family- friendly Symbolica.
Revered as one of the best attractions at the park, it’s an absolute must-do.
The immersive experience sees visitors sit in floating cars on a modern, magnetic track, journeying through a Gothic palace that features some curious inhabitants.
It’s packed with optical illusions and special effects, perfectly pairing Efteling’s reputation for storytelling with enough excitement to appease the TikTok generation.
There’s plenty for adrenaline junkies too, and for children of all ages.
If you’re travelling with kids, keep your eyes peeled for Hooghmoed.
The Sun’s Helen at The Grand Hotel at EftelingCredit: Supplied
Set to open on May 1, it features three drop towers and is aimed at younger guests who don’t yet want to take on the white-knuckle rides.
And if you’re not a fan of rides full stop, there’s plenty more to enjoy at Efteling.
The theme park is set around stunning gardens and enchanting woodland, which is used to full effect to play out the fairytale theme.
Granted, parents don’t tend to leave a theme park feeling well rested, but somehow the Efteling Grand Hotel changes that.
The atmosphere feels serene, despite being literally next-door to six roaring rollercoasters and a donkey that poops gold coins (one of the park’s quirkier attractions).
At the end of each tiring day, I was made to feel like a sleeping beauty snuggled in that ridiculously comfy bed.
Although having endured upside-down loops, sudden drops and water rides, I’m not convinced I looked like one.
Elsewhere there are two fantastic restaurantsCredit: SuppliedInside the stylish hotel, where premium deluxe rooms cost from £127ppCredit: Supplied
GO: Efteling
GETTING THERE: The Eurostar from London St Pancras International to Amsterdam Centraal is from £35pp. See eurostar.com.
Tickets for local trains to Efteling, from around £12, can be bought at the station.
STAYING THERE: Premium deluxe rooms at the Efteling Grand Hotel cost from £127pp, based on a family of four (two adults and two kids, aged 4-12, sharing) including parking and theme park entry. See efteling.com/en/grand-hotel.
A COASTAL town near London is becoming the trendy new place to be – and not just because of all the celebs you might spot there.
Leigh-on-Sea, in Essex, is now a popular commuting town due to being as quick as 41 minutes to the capital.
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Leigh-on-Sea has had a huge number of celebrity visitorsCredit: AlamyActress Helen Mirren grew up in the Essex townCredit: Alamy
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And locals have said you can easily spot some very famous celebs and politicians visiting too.
Local Karen, who works at Osborne Cafe and Seafood merchant on the seafront, previously told The Sun: “We’ve had Boris Johnson, Priti Patel, Prime minister Rishi – oh and Bridget Jones’ dad – Jim Broadbent.
The town was once the stomping ground of one of Britain’s most-famous actresses Helen Mirren, who moved their as a child.
Speaking to Culture Essex, she said: “I was raised in Leigh-on-Sea and am proud of my Essex roots.
“I gained my love of acting during my early performances on the stages of Essex.”
The town still draws in film stars to this day as it’s often used as a film set.
In February of this year, it was used for filming the new ITV drama The Lady, starring BAFTA-winning Mia McKenna‑Bruce.
Leigh-on-Sea was once famous for being a fishing hub and still has cockle sheds there todayCredit: Alamy
Aside from spotting celebrities, Leigh-on-Sea has lots to explore like its high street filled with pubs, tearooms and cafes.
Some of the most popular spots include Ye Olde Smack, which overlooks the Thames Estuary, as well as the neighbouring The Boatyard.
Head up to Broadway for independent shops, antique stores and plenty of boutiques like Just Fox, Heatherbie of Leigh and The Magic Wardrobe.
After splashing the cash, relax on the shore of Bell Wharf Beachwhich is shingle and shell with calm waters that are popular with swimmers in the summertime.
Bell Wharf Beach is part of Leigh-on-Sea’s Old Town, which was once a thriving fishing hub.
It’s near to where you’ll find little fishermen’s cottages, pubs and its famous cockle sheds.
Once the centre of the fishing industry during the 19th century, theyhave since been modernised since then with some even being turned into seafood restaurants.
1 Cockle Shed is a popular spot along the front with a huge outdoor terrace where you can enjoy the likes of fish and chips, and of course, Leigh cockles.
Leigh-on-Sea isn’t the only spot in Southend that draws in a celebrity crowd.
The hotel recently underwent a £10million makeover adding more rooms, a new spa and outdoor restaurant.
TOWIE celebs like Jess Wright, and actress Michelle Keegan are often in SouthendCredit: Instagram/@jesswright77
For another seaside stay – check out one of our favourites in nearby Norfolk…
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Old Hunstanton, Norfolk This town has some of the best beach walks beside striped limestone cliffs, a Victorian lighthouse and 13th century ruins. The beach has golden sands with rolling dunes and colourful beach huts, backed by a pretty pinewood forest. Stay at a beachfront hotel from £100 per room.
Lanzarote tourists claim they are “done” with the popular holiday destination due to an unlikely aspect. It seems something in particular is putting them off visiting
07:17, 18 Apr 2026Updated 07:21, 18 Apr 2026
Tourists claim to be “done” with Lanzarote (stock image)(Image: Getty Images)
Holidaymakers in the Canary Islands have been raising issues lately as a certain aspect seems to be catching them off guard. For weeks, people have been saying they’ve faced problems in Tenerife, but now attention has been placed on Lanzarote too.
Videos have gone viral online showing people opening up about how they think the popular holiday destination is “done” due to an unlikely issue. One video, shared on TikTok by Biggie Bills, got a lot of people talking, as many were in agreement that an unexpected aspect is “putting them off” visiting again as they made some pretty big travel confessions about the Canary Islands.
Biggie said: “This is why people are done with Lanzarote. The wind is constant. Face full of sand with your drink, but not everyone agrees.
“Some areas are calm. Dealbreaker or not?”
The video got a lot of people talking, with hundreds commenting. It seems as though they have very specific thoughts on the holiday destination, as some say they “won’t go back”.
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One person said: “It’s like being stranded on the moon, but with a very small town on there, with hardly anything to do.” Another added: “Gone too expensive.”
A third replied: “Too expensive now, the airport is a joke, the wind was insane in Costa Teguise when I was last there, and I feel the place is feeling run down.”
Meanwhile, a fourth commented: “Weather unpredictable. After years of coming, we won’t be returning after three holidays of s*** weather.” One more also noted: “Went last week.
“Between the new system at the airport, terrible weather [and] prices are so high. Puts me off going back.”
Not everyone agreed though, as other holidaymakers admitted they love visiting the destination. Someone wrote: “I was there last year. The best Canary Island. Will be going back.”
Another noted: “Done? We’re getting busier by the year, as is all of our businesses.” A third said: “Best place ever. Clean, friendly and stunning. Going back in July. Can’t wait.”
One more also stated: “If you don’t like it, don’t go. Lanzarote is our favourite holiday destination. The wind does not put us off.”
What people need to know
Lanzarote is generally considered a very popular year-round tourist destination, especially for Europeans seeking warm weather. It’s considered one of top Canary Islands, known for its unique volcanic landscapes, beaches and artistic, stylish vibe.
However, the weather there is also quite windy, and this has been widely documented. Lanzarote is generally a very windy island, with a near-constant breeze.
Trade winds are common, making it popular for water sports. Usually, the wind is strongest from late May to early September, and this seems to be putting some people off visiting lately.
When it comes to cost, the destination is generally considered affordable compared to the UK and Northern Europe; however, costs have risen recently. Even though it still offers good value, tourists should expect higher prices for eating out and accommodation than pre-2020. Areas like Playa Blanca and Puerto del Carmen in particular have claimed to become more expensive.
Some 8,000 years ago, behind the retreating glaciers, a remarkable environment was born on the western fringes of Scotland’s Outer Hebridean islands, forged by the wind and waves. It began with rising sea levels and sweeping Atlantic gales depositing crushed shell-sand inland; this settled over glacial sediment to form a coastal belt of lime-rich soil. Buffered from the sea by mounting sand dunes, this winter-wet and summer-sunned substrate produced one of Europe’s rarest habitats: the “machair”, Gaelic for “fertile grassy plain”. Abounding in diverse, colourful wildflowers and an array of associated wildlife, coastal machair is a precious, globally important outpost of biodiversity, supporting everything from purple orchids and nodding blue campanulas to endangered birdlife, otters and rare bumblebees.
As a wildflower fanatic, visiting the Outer Hebrides in peak machair bloom has long been an aspiration. Over the years, I’d read accounts of its arresting, vibrant seasonality – its shifting blankets of red and white clover, yellow trefoil and creamy eyebright, bold against the sky. Although remnant machair is also found in north-west Ireland, its greatest extent lies on this Scottish archipelago, notably the islands of Barra, Uist and Harris.
Moreover, here it has a fascinating symbiotic relationship with crofting, the traditional, small-scale agriculture unique to Scotland’s Highlands and Islands. For generations, crofters have managed areas of machair as low-intensity pastureland, improving its fertility, grazing livestock and growing crops on sustainable cycles sympathetic to wildlife regeneration. With crofting undergoing a quiet resurgence on the islands, and many crofters exploring new ways of sustaining an old way of life, experiencing the Outer Hebrides appealed to me all the more. Last summer, I finally made the trip, travelling from Barra in the south right up to Lewis – and it was everything I had hoped for.
Now a parent of two young boys, and with the machair’s flowering season falling squarely within the school holidays, it was clear this trip would need to be a family affair. I pitched it to my wife: “Fancy a holiday of white sands, turquoise waters and local food?”
“Sicily? Sardinia? Greece?” came the expectant reply.
The Isle of Barra, ‘unquestionably one of the prettiest islands’. Photograph: Ian Rutherford/Alamy
Thankfully, she was won round with the promise of fresher-than-fresh salmon, unrestricted space to exhaust the boys and, appealing to her interests in history and design, the islands’ heritage of traditional crafts. But there was one other necessary sell: in order to cover all islands in one go, and to allow for surprise and discovery, we’d need to travel by motorhome. Having spent last summer negotiating the confines of a family tent, this, too, was agreed. With swivelling car seats, a three-hob stove and a sky bed deemed certifiable upgrades, we were off.
Collecting our motorhome from Just Go outside Edinburgh and driving the mountainous, lochside road towards the west coast, we spent two nights at pleasant North Ledaig caravan park, outside Oban, the primary port for the Western Isles. Perched beside the placid waters of Ardmucknish Bay, we underwent some necessary pre-island preparations: namely, getting to grips with motorhoming essentials (wastewater disposal, tethering breakables, navigating single lanes), and refamiliarising ourselves with the inescapably chaotic nature of travelling with small children. Thus decompressed, we were borne across the Sea of the Hebrides on a CalMac ferry to Barra, the second most southerly of this spectacular island chain.
As I had read multiple times when researching this trip, the Isle of Barra is not to be overlooked. At a mere 9 by 7 miles, it is among the smaller islands, but unquestionably one of the prettiest. A short, easy drive from the landing at Castlebay village – marked by medieval Kisimul Castle, protruding from the water – brought us to Borve Camping & Caravan Site, where we pitched in view of waves crashing upon blackened gneiss boulders.
Over the next two days, we explored the quiet, colourful island and that of smaller Vatersay (connected via a causeway), hiring bikes, taking coffee mugs on to the marram grass dunes, and making sand tunnels at stunning beaches Traigh a Bhaigh and Tangasdale. Approaching the latter, I got my first taste of machair, my heart singing when suddenly surrounded by yellow bedstraw and kidney vetch, red bartsia and scattered orchids. A magical quality of machair, I quickly learned, is that its detail can appear disguised at a distance, owing to the complexity of species. Once up close, thousands upon thousands of low-lying flowers are revealed in an effect akin to pointillism.
The writer’s wife and youngest son on Traigh a Bhaigh beach on the Isle of Barra. Photograph: Matt Collins
Machair has hosted crofts for centuries, its light, workable soil contrasting with therocky peatland often prevalent across the islands. Considered a semi-natural habitat, it is sustained by the low-intensity agriculture practised by crofters: locally harvested seaweed (kelp) is spread as an organic fertiliser, enriching and preserving the sandy soil and providing sustenance for migrant birdlife. Similarly, cycles of crop and fallow benefit wildflower regeneration and support ground-nesting birds, while silage harvesting is carefully timed to protect endangered species such as the corncrake.
Some of the most impressive machair is found at the RSPB reserve of Balranald on North Uist, where the mixture of fallow wildflower fields and areas under cultivation (for cereals such as barley, black oats and hebridean rye) shows as a subtle patchwork over the landscape. Camped on the reserve itself – our highlight campsite – my eldest and I spent a memorable evening wandering back from the beach through the engulfing blooms.
While on South Uist, we visited crofters DJ and Lindsay of Long Island Retreats & Larder, who subsidise their livestock crofting by hosting island experiences, from island and machair tours to sheep shearing demonstrations.
“Our love of the land and the livestock is what drives us,” Lindsay told me, meeting at the smart “larder” shop that she and DJ – a sixth-generation crofter – run from their home at Loch Skipport. “But we wouldn’t be doing what we’re doing if it weren’t for all the people that came before us.”
Lindsay said it is common for crofters to have second jobs, but having started a family, they sought new avenues to make their crofting more viable. In recent years, the Scottish government’s crofting agricultural grant scheme has made money available for agricultural improvements, business development and croft house refurbishments, encouraging many crofting families to diversify their income streams.
Machair has hosted the small-scale agriculture of crofts for centuries. Photograph: Matt Collins
Farther north on Harris, we stopped by Croft 36, a crofting enterprise that’s part of the growing Outer Hebridean culinary scene. Operating from an unmanned honesty-box kiosk, Croft 36 offers homemade soups, pastries and other baked produce made with machair-grown ingredients.
Our journey was punctuated by memorable meals, almost all of them found at a pop-up of one kind or another, often out in the wilds: the scallop and black pudding bun devoured at The Wee Cottage Kitchen food van on the North Uist coast; the salmon at Namara Seafood Cafe. On Lewis, the Crust Like That takeaway pizzeria – a shipping container isolated in dramatic moorland – offered haggis-topped pizza. And don’t get me started on the cake-packed honesty boxes dotted around like treasure chests.
The freedom of the motorhome meant that these and so many other discoveries could be enjoyed along the road. Travelling the islands this way gave a great sense, too, of their shifting character – of Barra and Eriskay’s pristine coves, Uist’s freshwater lochs, and the hilly, moorland drama of Harris and Lewis.
By the time we were heading back to Edinburgh from Ullapool, I was losing count of the special moments. We’d seen peregrines, hen harriers, basking seals and diving gannets, and spent evenings off-grid on breathtaking remote beaches. We’d swum sunlit coves (none more sparkling than at Eriskay and west Berneray) and made hot chocolate for the boys on the pebbles. When it rained, there were heritage museums, charming cafes and woollen mills; Stornoway’s An Lanntair arts centre and the poignancy of Geàrrannan Blackhouse Village in Lewis, its restored 19th-century drystone houses conveying the challenging life of a once prominent crofting community.
And the machair left an impression not easily forgotten: a rare floral spectacle I now understand as a lifeblood of these islands.
