Travel Desk

TOY stores can often be a place of pure happiness for children – and one of the most famous stores in the UK is making even more reasons to visit.

Hamleys in London is the world’s oldest toy shop, with its first site opening back in 1760 under the name Noah’s Ark.

Originally in High Holburn, the much-loved toy store is now on Regent Street, where it has stood since 1881.

Across seven floors there are thousands of toys to explore and each year the store welcomes around five million visitors.

And now there is even more of a reason to go as the giant toy store is launching lots of new events – and most of them are free.

Keane Herman, Business Head Hamleys UK, said: “As the finest and oldest toy shop in the world, Hamleys has been creating magical moments for
children and families for more than 266 years.

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“By keeping our eye on what’s current, trending and relevant, we continue to elevate the experiences we create in store.

“There is always something happening at our Regent Street flagship.

“From live toy demonstrations and interactive play experiences to dance parties and puppet shows, it is this sense of energy and theatre that makes Hamleys so special.

“We pay close attention to what resonates with children and parents, and to the trends shaping the world of play, so that we can continually offer fresh and memorable experiences.”

Last year, the store launched the Hamleys Bus and Lights Your at Christmas which proved to be such a success that the store is bringing it back for Easter this year.

And the store has already hosted a number of brand pop-ups including one with dessert brand Vnilla, who are well-known for creating banana pudding just like the famous Magnolia Bakery’s in New York.

Herman added: “These events and experiences are a natural extension of our daily in-store theatre, giving children the chance to be even more hands-on and to immerse themselves in the magic of play.

“Our heritage is incredibly important to us, but what keeps Hamleys thriving is our commitment to continually evolving.

“Families come to Hamleys not just to shop, but to make memories together, and that sense of wonder is something we are proud to deliver for every new generation.”

Coming up, there are lots of daily events at Hamleys to enjoy.

For example, every day at 10am (or 12pm on Sundays) when the store opens, there is an opening ceremony with Hamley Bear, who you can also meet at 1pm and 2:30pm each day.

At the weekends, the Hamleys Beary Grand Parade takes place at 4pm each day with dancing and singing.

This is followed by Mr Monkey’s Puppet Show at 4:30pm, where Mr Monkey is searching for his next big adventure.

And then at 5:30pm there is the Hamleys Dance Medley, where magical moments from the toy store’s history are brought back to life, including a princess’s first ball and a pirate’s first adventure.

Between March 28 and April 12 (the Easter school holidays), there are loads of events on as well.

For example, you could watch Chef Choco’s Chocolatiers Puppet Show, where you can learn about the secrets of sweet making and even become a sweet maker yourself.

The show will be on every day throughout the period, at 4:30pm.

On March 28, catch Midnight in the Toyshop come to life at Hamleys, with Ballerina and Rebel Racer giving a live performance.

Performances will be at 11am, 12pm, 1pm, 2pm, 3pm and 4pm.

If your kids love slime, then make sure to head to the Hamleys Regent Street Basement from March 24 to April 12 for a Gootopia Experience Zone, where kids can create their own slime and take home a ‘gooey masterpiece’.

The experience will cost £15.99 per person.

Every day at 4pm between March 28 and April 12 there will also be a Hamleys Rainbow Ribbons Parade across every floor of the store.

Also, over the Easter school holidays there will be Hamleys Storytime, with tales of Peter Rabbit and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory every day at 12pm, 1pm, 2pm and 3pm.

Towards the end of the Easter holidays on April 6, families can meet the Playmobil Pirates at 12pm, 1pm, 2pm, 3pm and 4pm.

And last but not least, each day at 1pm and 2:30pm there will be a Hamley and Hattie Easter meet and greet.

Officially launching on March 17, there will also be a new Pokémon destination on the Regent Street store’s fourth floor.

The new Pokémon area will feature interactive experiences such as character appearances, and on March 21, a launch event will be held with Pokémon-themed candy floss and activities for visitors.

Later in early April, a Tubbz zone will open inside the Regent Street store in the basement.

In the zone, visitors will be able to grab iconic pop culture characters that have been transformed into cosplaying ducks.

For more things to do with kids, these are London’s best free indoor attractions for families – perfect for rainy days.

Plus, the best UK family days out from £10 to completely free in the Easter holidays.

BRITISH AIRWAYS is launching two exciting new long-haul routes from the UK.

The airline is launching a route to Melbourne in Australia and Colombo in Sri Lanka.

The Melbourne route will be launching on January 9, 2027 in time for the Australian Open and the Melbourne Grand Prix.

The flights will operate year-round from London Heathrow, via Kuala Lumpur, on a daily basis.

It will take off from Heathrow at 9:10pm and land in Kuala Lumpur at 6:05pm the next day.

The flight will then take off again at 7:45pm and land in Melbourne the following morning at 6:40am.

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The return leg will start on January 11, taking off each day at 4:35pm and landing in Kuala Lumpur at 9:35pm.

The flight will then take off from Kuala Lumpur at 11:15pm and land back at Heathrow the following day at 5:20am.

Return flights will cost from £1,130 and go on sale on March 17.

Melbourne is the capital of Victoria and is Australia‘s second-largest city.

It was recently named the world’s best city by Time Out, with it scoring high among younger residents as well as for its food scene, art and culture scene nightlife.

The city is also often ranked among the world’s most liveable cities.

When you are there you can explore the city’s lively arts scene in Fitzroy, where there are a number of vintage shops, record stores and cosy cafes.

The city often hosts major sporting events as well, such as Formula One.

Melbourne also loves its coffee, with a large café culture including hidden bars and restaurants.

Flights to Colombo in Sri Lanka will launch sooner, on October 23, 2026.

The flights will operate three times per week on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from London Gatwick to Colombo.

The route will only operate during the winter though.

The flight will depart at 5:30pm each time, landing in Colombo the following day at 9am.

And the return leg – which starts on October 24 – will depart at 11am and land back at Gatwick at 5pm.

Return fares start from £620 and also go on sale on March 17.

Colombo is the capital of Sri Lanka and is known as a vibrant and bustling city.

Top things to do include heading to Pettah Market, which features different ‘zones’ for specific goods, including spices and textiles.

Make sure to explore the colonial-era buildings in the Fort area as well.

Tuk-tuks are popular in the city too and are an experience in themselves.

In addition to the two new routes, BA is also boosting capacity on several routes including Cape Town in South Africa; Tokyo in Japan; Bridgetown in Barbados; Kingston in Jamaica and San Jose in Costa Rica.

Neil Chernoff, British Airways’ Chief Planning and Strategy Officer, said: ”We’re delighted to announce sizeable growth to our flying schedule for winter 2026, including two notable new destinations that I’m confident will prove popular with our customers.

“We’re also increasing services across several high-demand routes around the world.

“Together, these changes represent a significant investment in our long-haul leisure network, adding even more options and choice for our customers.”

In other flight news, there are 37 new flights launching from a major UK airport this year including budget routes to Asia.

Plus, a UK airport is launching its biggest ever flight schedule with 19 new routes in major £60million expansion.

Spain is one of the most popular holiday destinations for Brits, but stricter rules have been introduced in hotspots including vaping bans, dress codes and driving restrictions – here’s what you need to know

Spain remains one of the most popular holiday destinations for Brits, but in recent years, problems associated with excessive drinking and overtourism have prompted numerous hotspots – including the Canary Islands and Balearic Islands – to introduce tougher regulations for tourists.

From new measures to prevent people hogging sunbeds for hours on end, fresh vaping restrictions to even a regulation nicknamed the ‘bikini ban’, British holidaymakers should pay attention before their next trip; in certain instances, breaking the rules could result in a substantial fine.

To help you out, we’ve compiled some of the most significant regulations and recent updates to be aware of before your next Spanish break.

Vaping fines

Spain continues its clampdown on vaping, and the penalties for vaping in prohibited areas are just as severe as those for smoking. In 2025, the country brought in an outdoor smoking ban, which covers all manner of public areas, from restaurant and bar terraces to beaches

The prohibition includes smoking, vaping, shisha, any heated tobacco products, and nicotine pouches, with fines ranging between €30 to €2,000 (approximately £26 and £1,700), though for a first offence, it’s more likely to be towards the lower end. Watch out for signage before you take a drag of your vape.

Footwear restrictions

Planning to hire a car in Spain?

Think carefully about your footwear choice in the morning. If temperatures soar and you’re contemplating a pleasant coastal drive, you might be inclined to slip on flip-flops or slides, but this decision could land you with a substantial fine.

Spanish driving regulations demand footwear that permits ‘free movement’ to operate the pedals correctly, which excludes items such as flip-flops and sandals, high heels, wedges, or even going barefoot. Police officers can impose fines ranging from €80 to €200 (approximately £69 to £172) if they believe you lack proper control of your vehicle.

Therefore, if you’re organising a Spanish road trip, remember to pack some practical shoes to switch into.

Dress codes and ‘bikini bans’

Whilst in a Spanish seaside resort, it’s fairly typical to spot men wandering about topless or women sporting bikinis travelling to and from the beach. Nevertheless, certain Spanish destinations have grown weary of such displays and have introduced stringent regulations compelling holidaymakers to cover up when away from a beach or poolside.

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office’s (FCDO) travel guidance for Spain notes: “In some parts of Spain, it’s illegal to be in the street wearing only a bikini or swimming shorts. Being bare-chested is also illegal in some areas in Spain. You could be fined if you’re caught wearing swimwear on the seafront promenade or adjacent streets.”

Penalties can reach up to €500 in certain areas, approximately £430. Spain isn’t the only country where you’ll encounter rules like these – certain parts of Italy have also brought in similar measures after residents grew tired of holidaymakers wandering around town or attempting to enter restaurants in their swimwear.

Alcohol crackdowns and bans

For countless holidaymakers, a trip to Spain wouldn’t be complete without a sangria or two. However, let’s be honest, Brits frequently take things too far when overseas, and in some regions, exhausted by intoxicated tourists, stringent crackdowns and prohibitions have been put in place.

In the Balearic Islands, particularly around Magaluf and Playa de Palma in Majorca, and San Antonio in Ibiza, there are now prohibitions on happy hours, all-you-can drink promotions, pub crawls, and party boat excursions. Some all-inclusive hotels in Majorca also cap daily drinks at six; three at lunchtime and three at dinner to prevent binge drinking and antisocial behaviour.

Particular resorts on both the mainland and the islands are taking action against people drinking on the street, as well as illegal parties being hosted in villas and private properties.

The FCDO also warns: “Hotels and other establishments will evict you if you behave dangerously on balconies. You could also get a fine.”

Reserving sunbeds

Bagging sunbeds with a towel remains a prevalent practice among British holidaymakers, despite its potential to irk other tourists, but some beaches are taking a stand against the habit by imposing fines. In a resort near Valencia, two retirees were slapped with a £250 fine for reserving sunbeds by laying down towels before 8am to secure a prime beachfront spot.

Whilst it’s unlikely to result in a fine, numerous Spanish hotels have taken action against sunbed monopolisers by confiscating their belongings or handing out warning cards if sunbeds are left unoccupied for a specified period.

Icelandic low‑cost airline PLAY entered administration and ceased operations on September 29, 2025, with all flights cancelled and around 400 staff affected

Hundreds of workers were made redundant after a low-cost carrier announced it had entered administration.

Icelandic airline PLAY, headquartered in Reykjavík, confirmed it had ceased operations and grounded all its flights last September. A statement on the carrier’s website at the time read: “Dear passenger, Fly PLAY hf. has ceased operations, and all flights have been cancelled.”

According to local media outlet RUV, the move resulted in 400 people facing redundancy, with the company “trying to pay staff their wages”. It is unclear whether the affected employees have received their full payments.

PLAY was established in July 2019, starting operations from its base at Keflavík International Airport, Reykjavik, in June 2021. The carrier initially served six European destinations: Alicante, Tenerife, London, Paris, Copenhagen and Berlin. PLAY also ran services between London and Reykjavik, although prior to the announcement there were no seats on sale after November 1.

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The board of PLAY said in a statement at the time: “The board of Fly Play hf. has decided to terminate operations, and all of the company’s flights have been cancelled. The company will work closely with authorities and employees to implement the necessary steps for winding down operations.

“There are many reasons behind this decision. The company’s performance has long fallen short of expectations, ticket sales have been poor in recent weeks and months following negative media coverage, and internal disagreements among some employees regarding strategic changes have further strained the situation.”

Information disclosed by the board concerned modifications that failed to produce the required outcomes. They added: “Last fall, Play introduced a new business model that initially inspired significant optimism.

“Unfortunately, it has now become clear that these changes cannot deliver the results needed to overcome the airline’s deep-seated financial troubles. In hindsight, these measures would have needed to be implemented much earlier.”

FOR some, upping sticks and moving to another country is just a pipe dream – for others, it becomes a reality.

In 2023, Rob and Lisa took the plunge and swapped life in the UK for one in south- western France – they got their new home for a bargain price and say it still feels like a holiday.

Rob and Lisa have starred in the latest episode of A Place in the Sun: What Happened Next? which showed their progress 10-months after moving to France.

But talking to Sun Travel, Rob revealed he and his family have been living there now for two and a half years after ditching their life in Hastings.

They now live in a rural hamlet in a three-bedroom barn conversion with two-acres of land.

Rob explained: “We bought our house in France for £137,000 – but back in the south of England, for a property this size, you’d be pushing north of £2million.

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“Our life now is completely different to the one we left behind – everyday feels like a holiday.”

The retired couple live in the French region of Charente with their two young children Robbie, 11, and Evangeline, 4.

Not to mention all their pets; three ponies, chickens, a dog and a cat.

One major difference that the family found when starting their new life is that the culture is very different, and it’s not a bad thing.

Rob said: “The French work to live rather than live to work.

“I found that they take two hour lunch breaks very seriously. You have to be careful if you go to the shops because they will be closed for a few hours from midday.”

Lisa added: “Everything moves a little slower and things take longer to go through than they do in the UK, but you need to embrace the lifestyle.”

Rob continued: “We’ve been having the time of our lives since we moved here, it still feels like a holiday – and we never set an alarm.

“You can be spoiled very quickly in France, and you can get used to life here – but I don’t want to get used to it.”

Lots of Brits move to find better weather than the UK offers, and Charente is generally much milder.

Summers can see highs of 30C, but can get even hotter – Rob said that the day the family moved in it was a scorching 39C.

In the winter, it rarely gets into the negatives but it does take a while to warm up the house when it’s chilly as there’s no central heating – their home has a log burner instead.

As for other costs, the couple said that the cost of living in Charente is cheaper than in the UK.

Rob said: “Our equivalent of council tax in France is called Taxe Foncière and I pay €1,500 (£1,296.07) a year.

“Whereas in the UK I’d be paying north of £2,000 – utilities are little cheaper too.”

When it comes to food, it’s generally like for like – unless as Rob says “you want to live off a diet of beer and whisky.”

But one upside is that you can pick up a quality bottle of wine for a couple of euros.

Rob revealed you can buy a bottle of J.P. Chenet for as little as €5 (£4.32).

While there aren’t necessarily bars in the surrounding French villages, there are plenty of local restaurants.

Rob said: “You can’t go wrong with French food, they don’t know how to do a bad meal.

“Everything is so exquisite and with real passion.”

The language barrier hasn’t been a problem either.

Rob said: “Well, I’m four years into Duolingo. I can go into a shop or a hairdressers and hold my own. My French isn’t perfect, but I can get by.”

“Our children speak the language, and they have such a great accent that even the French can’t believe they’re English.”

Speaking of the English, there’s a large expat community in the region with around 16,000 Brits living there.

Although in the hamlet where the family live they say their neighbours are split with around half being English, and half French.

The region is generally quiet off-season, but when summer arrives, it gets much busier with visiting British tourists.

Rob confessed that when that time arrives, he tries to avoid the holidaymakers.

He said: “If they hear my English accent in a shop they’ll come over and ask questions, so Lisa and I start speaking French to each other to avoid that.

“It’s sad as well, sometimes local restaurants can seem more like Wetherspoons because it’s full of loud English people.

“I think when tourists come over, they need to try and blend in more with the locals – the French are much more quiet, but very friendly.”

Thanks to their new life in France still feeling like a holiday, the family haven’t taken an official break yet, but plan on visiting Disneyland Paris later in the year.

The country’s capital and the theme park is a five hour drive north of Charente.

Or, if they fancy the beach, La Rochelle is less than two-hours away by car and the city of Limoges can be reached in an hour and a half.

As for leaving life in the UK firmly behind them, Rob and Lisa confess there’s nothing they miss, apart from family members.

But one-way flights to where they are in France can be very cheap, with the closest airport being in Limoges.

In May, you can get one-way tickets from London Stansted to Limoges for as little as £13 with Ryanair.

A Place in the Sun: What Happened Next? airs weekdays from March 16, 2026 on Channel 4.

You can catch up on Rob and Lisa’s episode on Channel4.com.

And if you want to keep up with Rob and Lisa’s home renovation and hear more about taking on the move from the UK to France, check out their YouTube channel Escape to France – Charente.

For more on A Place in the Sun success stories, one woman bought her dream home in Spain for £45k.

And here is a beautiful Spanish city that ‘has it all’ with cheap flights and is loved by A Place in the Sun presenters.

The popular Canary Islands holiday destination recorded 84 earthquakes over the weekend near Mount Teide, with officials starting work on a contingency plan in case of an eruption

Tenerife experienced 84 earthquakes over the weekend, prompting officials to initiate a “plan for disaster”. The National Geographic Institute (IGN) reported that the tremors were detected in the western part of Las Canadas on the island.

Approximately 59 of these seismic events were accurately located, which they claim occurred around Mount Teide. The most notable activity consisted of two low-frequency pulses around the Canary Island.

One happened between 1.30am and 5.30am on Saturday, with the second recorded between 7.30am and 10.30am on Sunday. It’s believed they both occurred at depths of roughly eight and 21km below Las Canadas, each registering low magnitudes.

However, the IGN has stated that these figures are provisional and could potentially rise. It stresses that this type of activity does not indicate an increased risk of a volcanic eruption in the forthcoming weeks or months, according to Canarias7.

This follows reports that the Santa Cruz de Tenerife Council has begun preparations on a contingency plan in the event of an eruption. Mount Teide, Spain’s tallest peak, last erupted in 1909, reports the Express.

A specialised technical department has now been set up to devise an action plan should it erupt again. The plan aims to bolster the city’s readiness and ensure it can provide shelter and essential services.

It’s believed the city could presently manage a “moderate emergency” but there are concerns a major eruption could pose more significant challenges. Santa Cruz Mayor Jose Manuel Bermudez stated: “We don’t know how it will happen, how it will develop, or when it might occur.

“But scientists have indicated that current volcanic developments on the island are not something normal.”

The IGN monitors seismic activity in Spain through a network of over 100 stations, equipment and sampling points which are deployed throughout Tenerife. This enables continuous surveillance.

Scientists can therefore conduct real-time monitoring to detect potential changes in seismic activity, ground deformations, or geochemistry. Tenerife, the largest of Spain’s Canary Islands, is encircled by volcanic activity.

Whilst the mayor has expressed concerns about preparedness to handle an eruption, the president of the island’s governing council, the Cabildo of Tenerife, Rosa Davila, has previously dismissed speculation.

Teide’s 1909 eruption resulted in “minor damage” on the island. Yet an earlier eruption in 1706 is reported to have destroyed a town along with Tenerife’s main port of Garachico.

“A month and a half ago this activity would not have attracted much attention,” a spokesperson for the local National Geographic Institute said. “However, given the current context we will continue to monitor the situation closely in case anything changes.”

A HUGE new £1.1million attraction is set to transform one of the world’s trendiest neighbourhoods – which is in the UK.

Margate’s Cliftonville was named the coolest street in the UK by Time Out last year.

And an abandoned area on the seafront is set to be transformed into a free-to-use skatepark,

Set to cost around £1.1million, it is being designed by Betongpark Limited who are behind a number of skateparks in the UK, including the converted Victorian bathhouse Manor Place.

Opening on Ethelbert Crescent, it will be free for all skill levels, with plans for workshops and events as well.

Along with the skating area, there will be new seating areas, a kiosk with toilets.

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It had hoped to open by this summer, although this hasn’t been confirmed.

Daryl Nobbs, Director of Betongpark, said: “As a team of lifelong skaters, we’re pleased to be building the new park on the site of the former DIY skatepark, working closely alongside a strong local scene.

“Once built, the new concrete skatepark will be one of the UK’s best, set in a beautiful location overlooking the waterfront.

“The concept design includes a range of street and transition-focused elements across a vast site, to provide something for everyone.”

The project is part of the £22.2million Margate Town Deal.

Other plans include improving Walpole Bay, home to one of the UK’s biggest tidal pools.

A new cafe, shower and toilet block and community spaces are part of the improvement plans.

Both Theatre Royal Margate and the Winter Gardens also hope to reopen.

I lived in Cliftonville for a few years after leaving London, and saw how quickly it was changing for the better.

New locally run restaurants and bars were opening, including wine bar Sete as well as the new pub The Local Light.

Margate House is one of the coolest new hotels with its new Willy’s restaurant serving ‘comfort food dishes’.

It still has a way to go – there are ongoing problems with fly tipping in the area and some of the high street still has shops that have been boarded up for years.

But the community is what makes it, from the weekend farmers markets to the huge number of pop up events.

In the mean time, here is everything new coming to Folkestone this year as part of a £20million expansion.

And we’ve rounded up our favourite places in Kent.

It’s the perfect place if you like a combination of adventures and chilling out, taking in the gorgeous scenery.

A historic market town in the UK is definitely worth a visit this spring, as there’s so much to see and do there. It’s ideal for adventure seekers, and those who just want to walk around, eat good food and chill out.

Tregaron is one of Wales’s oldest market towns. It’s home to independent retailers, coffee shops, and the elegant Y Talbot, a grade II-listed hotel, pub, and restaurant, positioned right in the town square’s centre.

From here, you can embark on an exhilarating road trip along a former drover’s track that showcases hairpin turns through wild terrain.

The Abergwesyn Pass is a 20-mile single-track route stretching from Llanwrtyd Wells to Tregaron. Along this isolated road, you’ll encounter a notorious stretch called “The Devil’s Staircase”, reports Wales Online.

This appropriately named portion of the Abergwesyn Pass features hairpin curves and sharp climbs that aren’t suited to anxious motorists.

For adventurous drivers, you’ll love tackling one of Wales’ most isolated countryside regions, encountering sheep, gnarled trees and rocky formations along the way. It’s extremely steep, reaching a maximum gradient of 20.1%, and cuts through thick woodland towards miles of expansive, barren valleys, providing a descent that will push your brakes to their absolute limits.

Drive carefully and enjoy the scenery as you meander through the wilderness of the Cambrian Mountains, where you could potentially encounter nobody throughout your entire journey. You can also tackle this route by bicycle if your legs are ready for the test.

As well as the Abergwesyn Pass, Soar y Mynydd, Wales’ most isolated chapel, is worth the detour. This modest, whitewashed church was constructed in 1822 to minister to an extremely dispersed community of farmers.

Wandering through this tranquil location, you could easily assume the chapel has been deserted for years. Actually, visiting preachers travel from across Wales to hold services in Welsh.

It’s a serene spot for a picnic, as there’s often nobody else there.

Llyn Brianne Reservoir also deserves a stop to witness an enormous dam. You might be surprised to learn that this striking stone-built dam is Britain’s tallest, rising 91 metres (300 ft) above the River Tywi.

Containing an incredible 64 million cubic metres of water at almost 300 metres (990 ft) above sea level is a remarkable engineering achievement. Building work began in October 1968, with the dam constructed from crushed rock, larger stone, and clay sourced from the surrounding area.

After dark, it becomes a stargazing hotspot in the Cambrian Mountains, making it an excellent location for astrophotography.

Further south, beyond Llyn Brianne reservoir, lies the amazing RSPB Gwenffrwd-Dinas reserve. The reserve encompasses vital habitats of oak woodland, wet alder woodland, and scrubland, all defined by heavy rainfall and swift-flowing rivers.

These conditions are ideal for woodland birds, whilst also offering the perfect environment for significant lichens and bryophytes. Whether you begin or finish the route at Tregaron, you should make time to discover this small Welsh-speaking town. Here, you’ll discover a livestock market, the Tregaron Red Kite Centre and Museum, and locally sourced food and cask ales in a beautifully converted 16th-century Welsh inn.

Y Talbot is an independently owned hotel and Michelin Guide-listed restaurant with 2 AA Rosettes. This charming boutique hotel radiates a ‘cosy country inn’ atmosphere with its slate floors and inglenooks.

The location is said to be the final resting place of a circus elephant which perished in 1848 and lies beneath what is currently Y Talbot’s beer garden.

The establishment, run by head chef Dafydd, who trained under Marco Pierre White, showcases regional ingredients, including lamb, beef, and cheeses sourced from the Teifi Valley, fish from Milford Haven, and shellfish from Cardigan Bay.

Close by, you’ll also discover a neglected Welsh abbey where princes lie buried. Strata Florida Abbey near Tregaron is a remarkable location in Wales where history, royalty, and spirituality meet.

Established in 1201 by white-robed Cistercian monks, this hallowed ground was formerly among medieval Wales’s most vital religious and cultural hubs.

It also serves as the burial site of numerous Welsh princes, including the renowned Llywelyn the Great, who famously convened a council here to guarantee his son Dafydd’s position as the legitimate successor to the Welsh throne.

The Abbey was established as a major institution serving the indigenous population of Wales and Western Christianity through its affiliation with the pan-European Cistercian Order of Monasteries.

The carved west doorway into the Abbey remains standing in isolation and provides an eternal vista down the nave towards where the high altar formerly stood.

You can still see some of the decorated tiles that would have adorned the church floors, along with elaborate carvings throughout the site.

ONE spot in the capital dubs itself ‘London’s quirkiest church’ because inside you’ll find a soft play – and a fully stocked bar for the parents.

Inside St James Church in West Hampstead, London, you will find the Sherriff Centre.

Rather unusually, the venue is a blend of different things including a post office, children’s soft play centre, cafe and even a stationery shop.

The soft play area – called Hullabaloo – spans one side of the church and features all you would expect of a soft play centre.

In the section for kids aged between two and 10-years-old, there are three levels featuring two slides, crawl tunnels and hidey holes.

The soft play also has separate sections for babies up to 23 months with a ball pit, puzzles and games and a sensory mirror.

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One person commented on social media: “Wow what a unique soft play!”

Another added: “What a fun idea and a great way to start the weekend.”

There are also SEN sessions available, and the venue is available for private party hire.

The Sanctuary Cafe and Bar serves cake, coffee and even wine.

Even though the venue doesn’t serve more than snacks, it has teamed up with Pizza Bun London in Hampstead for an exclusive offer for visitors heading to the soft play.

The soft play is open each day between 9am and 5pm, with the last booking at 4pm.

But there are Play Late sessions too, where kids can play as parents enjoy a glass of wine at the bar.

The next Play Late session is March 20, followed by April 10 and May 22.

Tickets cost £5.50 for babies or £7.50 for juniors and adults go free.

The centre also runs weekly baby and toddler classes such as Petite Performers, with ballet and dancing.

Sometimes there are Sofar Sounds live music events on at the church too.

Memberships are available for the soft play, with a babies membership costing £15 per month for four sessions.

A Bronze membership then costs £10 a month for two soft play sessions, Silver costs £20 a month for three sessions, a 10 per cent discount at the cafe and early access to book event tickets.

Finally, a Gold membership costing £40 per month, gets you six soft play sessions, a 10 per cent discount at the café, two Sofar Sounds tickets and early access to book event tickets.

The soft play is just a couple of minutes’ walking from West Hampstead underground and train stations.

It isn’t the only church to have something unusual inside…

In Redbridge, London, a swimming pool described as “magical” can be found in an old hospital church.

It is a Virgin Active gym now with a 24-metre pool as well as showers, hot tub and steam room.

For more places to take your kids, a travel expert shares the best free London attractions for kids.

Plus, the English counties with the most free family activities from pony sanctuaries and steam railways to soft plays.

This digital news excerpt provides a comprehensive overview of Laylat Al Qadr, commonly referred to as the Night of Destiny, which is considered the most sacred evening in the Islamic faith. The text explains that this occasion commemorates the initial revelation of the Qur’an and typically occurs during the final ten days of Ramadan. While specific dates vary between Sunni and Shiitetraditions, the night is universally celebrated as a period of divine mercy and the forgiveness of sins. Beyond religious history, the source includes contemporary context by displaying global exchange rates, local weather for London, and headlines concerning international political tensions. Ultimately, the material serves as a cult … 

Tourism consultant David Evans has warned that the cost of flying is likely to rise sharply

A travel expert has advised folks to snap up flights now in anticipation of a predicted ‘surge’ in airfare costs. Tourism consultant David Evans revealed that aviation fuel prices have rocketed by 70 per cent in the wake of the US-Israeli strikes on Iran.

Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live, he suggested that this could soon make flying considerably pricier. This situation is likely to be compounded by the financial strain many airlines are under due to the cancellation of numerous flights amid the unrest in the Middle East.

When asked by host Rachel Burden whether people should book now before flight prices soar, Mr Evans responded: “If you can get a flight that you feel is offering you a really good value-for-money price and it is via somewhere like Singapore (then yes).

“It’s also worth bearing in mind that, once all this blows over, which hopefully won’t be too far off, the Middle Eastern airlines will undoubtedly be introducing some attractive fares into the market to try and recoup the demand they’ve lost over the past few weeks.

“According to the data we’ve seen, the cost of jet fuel has risen by about 70 per cent. Fuel accounts for roughly a quarter of an airline’s operating cost, so the maths are pretty straightforward – if the fuel price is climbing that much, it won’t be long before air fares start to rise. If this carries on for many more weeks, travelling is likely to become more expensive.”

READ MORE: Simon Calder issues update for anyone flying with Emirates, Etihad or Qatar AirwaysREAD MORE: Foreign Office issues fresh travel guidance for anyone heading to the US

Mr Evans’ remarks follow revelations that holiday-goers are eschewing Easter trips to traditionally favoured destinations such as Cyprus, Turkey, and Dubai, opting instead for western locations like Spain, Italy, and Portugal, as well as the Caribbean and Mauritius. According to Thomas Cook, bookings to Portugal saw a 42 per cent surge in the fortnight leading up to 13 March.

British Airways has axed some Middle East flight routes until June due to ‘airspace instability’, whilst the UAE and Dubai have been compelled to repeatedly shut down both airports and airspace following retaliatory Iranian strikes. Iraqi officials reported that Iranian strikes over the country on Monday (March 16) were the most intense they had seen throughout the entire war.

“I think the announcement from BA is probably good news in that it gives those people who would otherwise have been in complete limbo thinking, ‘crikey, is this situation going to improve or not over the next few months’ – now they know their flight is cancelled, they can either rebook on a different route or they can get a refund and use the money to either holiday domestically or to go to a different destination, so at least it provides certainty,” Mr Evans added.

“I guess we could say that the 2020s have been a bingo card of doom and this is the square for 2026, but it is also worth saying that the tourism industry and indeed tourists are incredibly resilient.

“Yes, clearly many people are being disrupted if they had either to or from the UK to or via the Middle East, but there are lots of other destinations that are still open for business and lots of other visitors able to get to the UK very easily.”

A woman has shared how she managed to travel the world without spending a single penny – and she is sharing her favourite things about the life-changing experience

In an ideal world, everyone would be able to live out their dreams without worrying about the costs involved. But while most of us work to earn a living, one woman has revealed how she has managed to travel the world without spending a penny.

Sarah, known on social media as @sarahmonaco99, explained how she achieved this lifestyle – revealing that her “entire salary is 100 per cent disposable income. No rent. No food. No bills.” She shared that she lives and works on a yacht, where “everything onboard is covered”.

She said: “Accommodation, three meals a day, toiletries, travel to and from the boat – I have not paid a single living expense in two years. My first full season, I saved enough to put a deposit on an apartment. I was 24. My friends doing 9-5s are still saving. I’m not saying this to brag – I genuinely couldn’t believe it was real.”

Explaining how she got into the industry, she added: “Most people find their first season through Yotspot, Bluewater, or Saltwater Agency. No experience needed for entry-level roles. Just show up willing to work hard.”

Commenting on her post, one user said: “If I didn’t have a cat, I would so do this.”

Others were curious about the reality of the job, asking questions about working hours and expectations onboard, with one user writing: “Are you obligated to party with guests?”

In another post, Sarah shared some of the wild experiences she’s had while working on yachts, including gifts and behaviour from ultra-wealthy guests.

She said: “Rating the most unbelievable things billionaire guests did on our yacht…”

Giving the first example an 11/10, she said: “Moved the boat at midnight because the stars weren’t ‘visible enough’. Woke the captain at 12am. We sailed for two hours. The stars were the same.”

She rated another moment 10/10, adding: “Ordered £4,000 worth of groceries for a five-day charter – Wagyu beef, fresh truffles, three types of caviar. Ate none of it. Left it all on the boat when they disembarked. We ate like royalty for a week.”

She also revealed that the crew were tipped £11,000 by one millionaire because they “seemed like they needed it”.

Finally, she recalled one guest complaining that the Mediterranean Sea was “too blue” and asking if they could find somewhere with a “more interesting” water colour.

In the comments, users shared their amazement at the lifestyles of the ultra-rich, with many wishing they could experience that level of luxury.

One user said: “Those drinks look good.” Another added: “How do I get this job?”

Other money-saving tips include leaving jewellery and laptops in the UK

Specialists at travel insurance firm Staysure have revealed the key factors that determine insurance prices and provided guidance on cutting costs when arranging your travel cover this summer. Travel insurance premiums can vary considerably depending on numerous factors, including existing medical conditions, age and your chosen destination.

Luckily, holidaymakers can slash costs by avoiding travelling with expensive valuables. The travel specialists recommended always “leave expensive valuables such as laptops, watches and jewellery at home”.

This is because “adding protection for valuable items, such as cameras or precious watches and jewellery, will push premiums higher”.

“If you need to insure expensive gadgets like cameras or valuables like watches and jewellery, your premium will be higher as there are pricier sums involved.

“Travelling without these items can help to lower the cost of your travel insurance policy and means you are at less risk of losing them,” reports the Express.

Premiums increase with age due to higher illness risk, especially for those aged over 65. Existing medical conditions are equally important as they raise the probability of needing emergency medical care abroad.

The specialists emphasised it is vital to consistently “declare all of your pre-existing medical conditions to ensure your policy is valid, should you need to make a claim”. Trip length and location also affect insurance costs, as extended holidays raise the chances that travellers might need emergency medical care.

Cover works out cheaper for countries deemed low risk, such as Spain, whilst high-risk destinations such as Sri Lanka may attract higher premiums due to repatriation costs.

The experts recommended opting for a lower-risk destination to cut expenses. “A change of country could save you hundreds. For example, a holiday to Paris will usually cost you less in insurance premiums than a trip to New York.

“It’s also important to check the country you are travelling to will be covered by your travel insurer. Some places in the world are considered too high risk.”

Jamaica has seen a spike in demand from UK holidaymakers seeking sunshine destinations, with TUI offering direct flights from the UK and temperatures reaching 30C in April

Brits are trading Dubai for a sun-drenched island offering direct flights and balmy 30C temperatures in April. This shift comes as holidaymakers begin to seek out travel destinations that bypass the Middle East.

Travellers bound for the region have faced disruption due to ongoing instability and conflict in Iran. British Airways has already confirmed that flights to Dubai, Bahrain, Tel Aviv and Amman in Jordan have been suspended until at least 31 May. This has triggered a surge in bookings for locations such as Portugal, Spain, France and certain US states.

However, one Caribbean island has seen a notable increase in interest. Alongside destinations like the Dominican Republic, Phuket in Thailand and Goa in India, Jamaica has experienced a boom in demand, according to Neil Swanson, managing director of TUI UK and Ireland, who spoke to the BBC.

The airline provides direct flights from Manchester to this sunny isle. However, passengers should brace themselves for a journey expected to exceed 10 hours, reports the Express.

Once they’ve landed on this petite island, home to approximately 2.8 million inhabitants, Brits can bask in the sunshine and immerse themselves in the local culture. The average daytime temperature in Jamaica for April fluctuates between 25 to 30C, dipping to around 22 to 24C at night.

Travel expert Mark Wolters reckons visitors to Jamaica rarely need to pack a jacket. In a YouTube video on his Wolter’s World channel, he explained: “You’re going to be fine with shorts and a t-shirt all-year round, that’s not going to be a problem.

“The busy season here starts January, December and it goes through March. The time when you don’t want to come here is July/August because it is insanely hot.”

According to Visit Jamaica, tourists “feel the vibe” the moment they arrive on the island, becoming absorbed in the music, nightlife, and cuisine. It states: “Tasting your way through the island is a great way to connect with the history of Jamaica as you learn more about what makes our food so special with each dish you try.

“Savour every delicious bite and come back to ‘Mmmmm!’ Jamaicans celebrate life with food, so you know it is made with love.”

Jamaica features an impressive selection of stunning beaches that extend for miles. Negril’s Seven Mile Beach is celebrated for its spectacular sunsets and lively atmosphere whilst Montego Bay Marine Park is favoured by holidaymakers keen to discover the underwater realm showcasing vibrant wildlife.

The Blue Mountains rise majestically above Jamaica and consistently draw outdoor enthusiasts. Those visiting the mountains can even taste the world-famous Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee.

The island also boasts captivating waterfalls and verdant rainforests. In April, it plays host to a unique carnival that parades through the streets of Kingston.

The carnival season is accompanied by a week of breakfast parties, soca cruises, Jamaican music and extravagant costumes. Besides being reachable by plane, Jamaica is a favoured destination for cruise holidays.

Universal Orlando Volcano Bay in Orlando in Florida, Area 47 in Austria and Thermas dos Laranjais in Brazil made the rankings, but so did two UK excellent UK waterparks

Two of the best waterparks in the world are in the UK.

With most waterparks set to reopen for the year this month, AttractionTickets.com has compiled a ranking of the best across Europe and the Americas.

Leading the global ranking with a 23/30 score is Universal Orlando Volcano Bay in Orlando, Florida, earning top marks for its high adrenaline rides, and the variety of its attractions. Close behind in second place is Thermas dos Laranjais in Brazil, with a score of 21/30, home to some of the world’s most daring and record-breaking slides. Rounding out the top three is Area 47 in Austria, which is known for its unique blend of high-thrill slides and relaxation.

Alongside these world-renowned waterparks are some locally-loved spots. The pick of the UK bunch is Sandcastle Waterpark. The Blackpool aquazone is indoors, with 18 water slides, including real eye-catchers such as the world’s longest indoor roller coaster water slide, the Master Blaster, and the first vertical indoor drop slide, the Sidewinder.

The future looks intriguing for the UK’s largest waterpark. It is getting a £500,000 makeover, to be unveiled just in time for the Easter break. The waterpark celebrates its 40th anniversary this year, and this long-running attraction is popular with guests year-round since it’s consistently heated at 28C. So, even if you’re not heading off somewhere sunny this Easter, you can still enjoy a tropical atmosphere.

Sandcastle Waterpark is set on the seaside town’s iconic promenade, close to the Pleasure Beach and South Pier. It boasts 18 slides, including both white-knuckle rides and gentler options for the kids. One of its main attractions is the Master Blaster, famous for being the UK’s longest indoor water rollercoaster.

The waterpark’s improvement plans include refurbishing its changing village and adding lockers with digital PIN codes for enhanced security. The rides will be repainted, and a new audio system is being installed.

Sandcastle has a whole host of great reviews online. One happy customer recently wrote on Tripadvisor: “Visited for the first time at the weekend for my son’s 8th birthday. I initially thought it was expensive for a water park, however, it was well worth the money! It was rather busy but I didn’t queue for more than 10 minutes for some slides. The place was clean and lots of staff around.”

Another added: “What an amazing day. My grandson has additional needs, and Sandcastles went above and beyond to accommodate us. It really made our day, it was a second visit and both times they have been so considerate and I can’t rate them highly enough. 100 out 10 sandcastles! Thank you.”

Coming in just behind Sandcastle on the AttractionTickets rankings is Alton Towers Waterpark. Previously known as Cariba Creek, it has a tropical lagoon theme. The park has multiple slides to ride, with Master Blaster propelling riders at high speed.

Oliver Brendon, CEO of AttractionTickets.com, said: “With waterparks reopening and excitement building amongst aqua fanatics, we set out to compile a list of the best waterparks for all members of the family. By combining our expert insight with online review sentiment, we identified the top waterpark destinations around the world that deliver family-friendly fun and heart-dropping thrills.

The results show that the most successful waterparks are those that put innovation and the guest experience at the forefront. That’s why parks like Beach Park, Universal Orlando’s Volcano Bay and Area 47 remain at the very top of the list.”

1. Universal Orlando Volcano Bay
2. Thermas dos Laranjais
3. AREA 47 – Tirol
4. Beach Park and Aqualand
5. Siam Park
6. O’Gliss Park
7. Aquatica
8. Aqualandia
9. Slide & Splash
10. Caribe Bay
11. Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon
12. Rulantica
13. Aquafan
14. Sandcastle Waterpark
15. Alton Towers Waterpark

While the UK has plenty of unique places for a staycation, there’s one city that people go back to again and again. With so much to do for travellers of all ages it’s easy to see why it remains at number one.

It can be great fun to explore an exotic location several hours away and experience a new culture and scenery, but many of us don’t have the time or budget to take long-haul holidays.

That’s why it’s worth considering locations closer to home. Even if they are on your doorstep, visiting them as a tourist can give you a whole new perspective on a place.

That’s why Expedia has put together a list of the top UK holiday destinations for 2026. Although the city grabbing the number one spot may not come as a great surprise, there are some interesting locations in the top ten.

London topped the list for domestic destinations, and even if you already visit the capital a lot, it’s worth considering as a city break. While many visitors stay in the centre of London, it’s a huge, sprawling city full of colourful neighbourhoods, so simply staying a little further out can completely change your perspective.

Avoid the hotels in tourist central and consider staying in an area such as Hackney Wick or Ladbroke Grove, both of which made it onto The Telegraph’s list of London’s 10 coolest neighbourhoods. Not only will you save money on hotels, but you can also live like a Londoner while still enjoying easy transport links to tourist attractions.

A trip to London also doesn’t need to mean the usual visits to Big Ben and Buckingham Palace. If you enjoy those things, that’s great, but new attractions are being opened all the time. In late 2026, the London Museum in Smithfield will open in a former Victorian market, making the most of the grand building. It’ll include underground exhibition spaces and performance venues.

V&A East opens April 18 in Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, just a short walk from the popular V&A East Storehouse. It will include two free galleries showcasing “contemporary global culture” as well as temporary exhibition spaces. Its first temporary exhibition will be The Music Is Black: A British Story and the café will serve dishes inspired by East London’s diverse communities.

Even well-established landmarks such as the British Museum are always offering new exhibitions and things to do. In September, the much-anticipated Bayeux Tapestry Exhibition will arrive at the museum, allowing visitors to see the incredible 68-metre-long medieval masterpiece up close.

If you prefer attractions that are a little livelier, then the new Gameshow LIVE! might be one for you. Opening in spring, it bills itself as the “world’s first interactive gameshow”. Up to 200 players can join in, and the attraction will include all the elements you expect from a classic game show, from buzzers to dramatic lighting. It’ll certainly outshine your local pub quiz.

On Expedia’s list at second place was the classic tourist destination Edinburgh, while third and fourth place went to Manchester and Liverpool. Birmingham was perhaps a surprise addition at number five, and the West Midlands city managed to beat York and the Lake District in the rankings.

Expedia’s top ten UK destinations for 2026 – full list

1. London
2. Edinburgh
3. Manchester
4. Liverpool
5. Birmingham
6. York
7. Glasgow
8. Lake District
9. Devon
10. Cardiff

Have a story you want to share? Email us at webtravel@reachplc.com

The Bird Cage Theatre has stood inside Knott’s Berry Farm for 72 years — albeit not always soundly. Long framed by a tin roof and a tent, the theater had a reputation for discomfort, as it was a source of punishing heat and the occasional mouse sighting.

“It was hot, it stunk and it was dirty,” says Payden Adams, the park’s VP of entertainment.

Still, though it has long felt like an endangered species, the Bird Cage Theatre is one of Southern California’s most historic revival houses, a place for vaudeville-style, fourth-wall-breaking shows that deviate from the expected theme park fare. To quote the theater’s most recent production, its entertainment can be “flirtatious and a little bit saucy.”

Knott’s Berry Farm’s Bird Cage Theatre is modeled after a historic venue in Tombstone, Ariz.

(Kyusung Gong / For The Times)

Opened in 1954, the Bird Cage Theatre has specialized in vaudeville-style melodramas.

(Knott’s Berry Farm)

And now, against all odds, the Bird Cage is getting a second life. Knott’s Berry Farm recently completed a renovation designed to keep it thriving for another 72 years. Gone is the tarpaulin roof: The Bird Cage is now a fully enclosed, soundstage-like structure. And blessedly, it has modern air conditioning.

The theater reopened this past weekend with “The Great Bank Robbery,” a 30-minute-plus show in which audiences are encouraged to boo, hiss and swoon over the characters, a Bird Cage tradition since 1954. Characters are caricatures, be it a villain that feels plucked from a cartoon western, complete with a purring raccoon for a sidekick, to a greedy wannabe politician of a bank manager. Though set in Ghost Town with period garb, there are modern flourishes, such as tongue-in-cheek nods to the theme park’s attractions and a damsel in distress who ultimately proves to be anything but.

Though it once operated as a daily theater, the Bird Cage is today most active during holidays and seasonal events, such as the park’s annual Boysenberry Festival, which also began this weekend. Popular summer show “Miss Cameo Kate’s Western Burle-Q- Revue” is a 20-minute cabaret-style performance, complete with a torch song and a slightly risqué cancan finale.

When it’s running, the Bird Cage is a must-see attraction. Live theater in theme parks can feel like a moving target, as conventional wisdom often argues that today’s smartphone-addled guests are after thrills and more attention-grabbing, interactive experiences. But when it works, such as during the over-the-top silliness of “The Great Bank Robbery,” or at Universal Studios’ “Waterworld”-themed stunt show, it can offer guests some of the most memorable, personal moments at the parks.

The Bird Cage Theatre reopened this past weekend with the show “The Great Bank Robbery.”

(Kyusung Gong / For The Times)

“You’re not wrong, especially when it comes to attention spans. We experience that,” says Adams, who oversaw the theater’s restoration. “The way we’ve pivoted and navigated is just ensuring our shows are tight and clean. It might be a little over 30 minutes, but audiences are engaged. In melodramas, we ask the audience to participate, and we can train them how to participate beforehand. When you see characters, even when they’re heightened or over-the-top, people still connect with them.”

The Bird Cage Theatre first opened in the summer of 1954, its facade a near-replica of the original Bird Cage in Tombstone, Ariz. That the family-focused Knott’s would nod to the Arizona locale is an oddity in and of itself, as the actual theater had a bawdy reputation. Stories today speak of a place that initially opened with grand ambitions but eventually succumbed to gambling and prostitution.

At Knott’s, the theater was built around existing structures, although park founder Walter Knott, according to the book “Knott’s Preserved” by Chrstopher Merritt and J. Eric Lynxwiler, often talked about completing it as a full tribute to the Arizona space. That never really happened.

Knott’s re-created the original wallpaper of the Bird Cage Theatre for its remodeling.

(Kyusung Gong / For The Times)

And yet over the years the Bird Cage won over audiences thanks to programming from Vaudeville veterans. Early on, students from nearby colleges would appear at the space, including Steve Martin, whose signed photograph graces a celebrity wall in the Bird Cage’s introductory hall. Donna Mills and singer Rick Nelson have graced the Bird Cage’s horseshoe-shaped stage, as have Dean Jones and Skip Young.

It was, to say the least, a quirky place to perform. “Knott’s Preserved” tells of a show in which a mouse once sat at the base of the stage, and quotes Martin as reminiscing over performances affected by the weather. “When it rained, no one could hear each other because the rain was beating so hard on that tarp,” Martin said.

None of that should be a problem anymore, although returning guests will likely feel they’re in a familiar space. Though the Bird Cage has been outfitted with modern lighting capable of new theme park tricks and projections, the rig is hidden among curtains designed to re-create the look of the original tent. Lights, in bird cage enclosures, still hang above the audience seating area, which has room for about 250 guests.

The Bird Cage Theatre at Knott’s Berry Farm now has a properly enclosed roof and air conditioning.

(Kyusung Gong / For The Times)

And along the way a few discoveries were made. Adams says that when they began stripping away wooden walls added sometime in the 1970s, they found the Bird Cage’s original wallpaper, a scarlet-red strip that surrounds the space with flower-adorned bird cages. Not all of it could be salvaged, so Knott’s meticulously re-created the look. With the new-old wallpaper intact, Adams estimates that guests can count about 11,055 bird cages throughout the theater.

The original pieces will be preserved in the park and gifted to important Bird Cage players. Adams jokes, “If you have a mailing address for Mr. Steve Martin, I have a gift to send him.”

BRITISH Airways has cancelled all flights to Dubai until June as the ongoing crisis in Iran continues to affect travel.

The flag carrier confirmed yesterday that they have suspended operations until May 31.

This includes to the UAE city of Dubai, as well as Amman in Jordan and to Bahrain.

British Airways usually operates around 20 flights a week to Dubai so thousands of passengers are expected to be affected.

Flights to Doha have been suspended until the end of April.

And the airline has cancelled the rest of their Abu Dhabi flights for the season, meaning they won’t restart until October 25.

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An spokesman said: “Due to the continuing uncertainty of the situation in the Middle East and airspace instability, and to provide more clarity to our customers, we’ve extended the temporary reduction in our flying schedule in the region.

“We’re keeping the situation under constant review and are directly in touch with affected customers to offer them a range of options.

“Since the situation in the Middle East began, we’ve helped thousands of customers return home and operated eight relief flights from Muscat in Oman.”

British Airways confirmed that they are operating more flights via other international hubs in replacement of Dubai, which is one of the world’s busiest airports.

This includes four more flights via Singapore and three more flights via Bangkok.

Passengers affected will be able to rebook with another airline, or move their travel to a different date.

Otherwise full refunds are being given to anyone with bookings up to May 31.

The ongoing Iran crisis is still causing chaos for travellers, not just those in the Middle East.

Virgin Atlantic has already ended its Dubai flights for the season early, which were due to conclude on March 28.

Emirates and Qatar Airways have launched limited flights again from Dubai and Doha, respectively.

However, Dubai Airport as forced to suspend flights again yesterday after a drone strike hit a fuel tank.

A number of flights were cancelled in response, with some airlines forcing to turn back after take off.

The Sun’s Travel Expert has answered all of your holiday questions here.

And here are the European destinations seeing huge demand following the conflict.

The popular airline has made the big announcement to relaunch the daily flights as part of its winter expansion, serving travellers and residents of both countries

British Airways have made a huge announcement that they are relaunching daily flights to a popular city for UK passengers – ahead of a couple of huge worldwide sporting events.

The airline will be returning to Melbourne after a 20-year hiatus.

BA made the announcement on Tuesday, March 17 that flights will be starting in January 2027.

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The flights will commence flights to Melbourne from January 9, 2027, launching in time for the Australian Open and the Melbourne Grand Prix. Flights will operate year-round from London Heathrow, via Kuala Lumpur, on a daily basis.

Passengers will be able to choose from First, World Traveller (economy), World Traveller Plus (premium economy), and Club World (business class) in both directions.

Return fares start from £1,130 (including taxes and carrier fees) and are on sale from today.

The UK airline halted all services from Melbourne Airport in March 2006 with other companies being relied on for people to make the London-Melbourne journey.

Melbourne Airport Chief Executive Officer Lorie Argus said the announcement underscored Melbourne’s place as Australia’s largest and best connected 24-hour gateway.

“We are thrilled to welcome British Airways back to Melbourne Airport and we’re incredibly excited about what this extra choice means for travellers and exporters,” she said.

“British Airways is one of the world’s most recognisable airlines and in its more than 100 years of flying has earned a well-deserved reputation for excellence and reliability.

“With the largest choice of airlines flying to the UK and Europe, 24-hour operations and the shortest minimum connection time of any Australian airport, Melbourne Airport is now the clear choice for Europeans heading to Australia or Australians looking to travel abroad.

“London is one of the world’s great global cities and a critical hub for business, tourism and education, while Melbourne was last week voted Time Out’s “best city in the world” as well as being home to the largest British expat community in Australia, so there will be no shortage of two-way demand.”

The move is part of a significant planned expansion to BA’s network for winter 2026, with the addition of Colombo in Sri Lanka as well.

‘It’s not France, it’s not Italy, it’s Menton.” The seaside town on the French-Italian border has changed identities many times in its history. It was the only town in France completely annexed by the Italians during the second world war, but has also belonged to the Grimaldis of Monaco, was part of the kingdom of Sardinia, and only became French after a public vote in 1860. Today, ignoring the colours of Il Tricolore and Le Tricolore, almost everything is painted in various shades of yellow, a celebration of the town’s reliance on its beloved lemon.

Mauro Colagreco, the chef at the spectacular Mirazur restaurant, a few steps from the border, takes me up into the hills to visit one of his lemon and citrus fruit suppliers. “You can eat the peel of a Menton lemon; it has a thick, sweet rind. You can eat the whole thing; it’s totally organic and very juicy.” Menton’s microclimate, its warm winters, terraced hills and sandy soil make it perfect for growing citrus fruit. “What’s particular to the Menton lemon is that it has a smile, a small curvy fold at one end,” says Colagreco, who uses them in his restaurant alongside exploring the possibilities of Star Ruby grapefruits, yuzu confit and kumquats.

This time of the year, late February and March, is called “yellow time”, owing to the lemons, daffodils and the mimosa on the hillside. It’s also the time of the Fête du Citron, a two-week festival with parades, giant floats and, this year, huge models of a whale, 12-metre-high parrots and entwined storks – all covered in citrus fruit. It was the 92nd iteration of the festival, but the Menton lemon is too expensive and rare to use, so all 123 tonnes of oranges and lemons now come from Spain (mostly) and Portugal.

In a perfect location to appreciate Menton’s two personalities is Luciano Fondrieschi, who runs R Bike Menton, a cycling shop on the promenade between the old town and the Italian border. He believes there’s a lot of lively competition between Italy and France in the town. Fondrieschi was a successful runner and triathlete in Italy and his shop is always full of French and Italians, looking over the racks of shoes, pedals and bikes and asking for advice.

“Menton is a French town with an Italian regard,” he tells me. “All the boats in the harbour are Italian.” However, looking around, most of the cars are French. Fondrieschi switches languages seamlessly in his repair shop. While we are chatting, a British couple come in, breathless but exuberant in their Lycra, having just completed a 36-mile (58km) round trip to Sanremo. They are followed by an Italian pensioner who had cycled up to Dolceacqua, 13 miles away, for a pizza lunch, and a couple from Luxembourg who want a puncture repaired before they set off for Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat. “French people really just like speaking in French, but we [Italians] speak with our hands, so can talk to anyone!” says Fondrieschi. His in-store cafe offers a mix of brioches, rústico caprese, Italian aromatic cordials and café au lait.

Like every town in France, Menton’s streets are named after the country’s authors, politicians and war heroes. But in Menton, for every avenue Pasteur, Victor Hugo and Général de Gaulle, there’s an avenue Cernuschi and Laurenti, a rue Pietra Scritta, Isola, Urbana, Pieta and Mattoni. There’s also a Square Victoria (the British queen stayed in Menton in 1882), avenue Blasco Ibáñez (the Spanish writer lived in a huge villa here in the 1920s) and avenue Katherine Mansfield (who stayed in the villa Isola Bella) – the last two linked by the rue Webb-Ellis.

William Webb Ellis, the schoolboy who supposedly invented the game of rugby when he picked up the ball in a school football match in 1823, became an Anglican vicar and moved to Menton in the 1860s, spending the last years of his life there. He is buried in the hilltop Vieux Château cemetery, a steep walk up from the old town, where his grave overlooks the sea, forever covered in rugby balls and club ties.

The grave of the English illustrator Aubrey Beardsley is even higher up the hill, in Trabuquet cemetery. He died aged 25 and is buried alongside many other young artists, writers and aristocrats who flocked to Menton at the end of the 19th century to cure their respiratory disorders and lose themselves in the town’s many botanical gardens.

Half a century later, France’s own master of pen and ink, Jean Cocteau, also turned up in Menton. In 1955, the mayor asked him to decorate the interior of the Salle des Mariages – a depiction of the myth of Orpheus and Eurydice with centaurs and a Menton marriage. A key is available at the town hall for visitors.

A hundred metres away is Allo Robert, a warehouse-emporium of French and Italian bric-a-brac, the kind of things couples had on their wedding lists 100 years ago. I found a light-up Tabac sign, cabinets packed with 1930s soda siphons, candlesticks and champagne buckets, Italian crockery and blue chairs from Nice’s promenade. It’s a dusty snapshot of Menton from the early 20th century – as it says on the sign outside: “de curiosités … et tutti quanti” (“curiosities … and so on”).

Stay at the seafront Hôtel Napoléon, which has a solar-heated pool; doubles from €106, napoleon-menton.com. Eat pizzas, vitello tonnato and flavoured burrata at Mauro Colagreco’s La Pecoranegra, pecoranegra.fr

This stunning 17th century estate was home to the Jones family for centuries and is now a real-life time capsule open to visitors

Near Moreton-in-Marsh in Oxfordshire sits a magnificent estate, which once belonged to the very same family for centuries.

Originally constructed as an enormous display of wealth and influence in the early 17th century, it has since transformed into a public space where visitors can explore and immerse themselves in British history.

Chastleton House remained a constant fixture within the same family for hundreds upon hundreds of years, as the estate continued to stay in their possession, handed down through the generations.

Today, the property stands in Oxfordshire as a genuine time capsule, barely altered, featuring an impressive great hall, gallery room and numerous collections that once belonged to the distinguished family.

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Guests can wander the grounds and take a guided tour of the rooms that contain countless memories for the Jones family.

One visitor wrote on TripAdvisor: “Beautiful house and gardens with discrete but attentive guides. From the entrance to the exit, a fantastic visit. A huge family home with a fascinating past.”

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Early history

It’s thought that some form of settlement has stood in Chastleton for over 1,000 years, but by the 16th century, the site of the house as we recognise it today was owned by the Catesby family.

That was until Walter Jones bought the land and previous house from Robert Catesby, and it remained within his family for 400 years.

He demolished what remained of the original property and constructed a stunning building in its place, completed in 1612.

His acquisition was intended to mirror his illustrious legal career, and he sought to establish himself as a country gentleman, having now become a landowner.

Throughout the following century, the Jones family continued to form unions with several well-established gentry families, helping to cement this standing.

The final direct descendant of Walter Jones, however, was Arthur Jones, who inherited the estate in 1813 and carried out some structural enhancements to the residence.

Following his death, the property stayed within the family, though not with a direct descendant; rather, it was handed down to a distant cousin by marriage named John Henry-Whitmore Jones.

The final chapter of this family tree’s ownership concluded in 1991, when the National Heritage Memorial Fund purchased Chastleton and transferred it to the care of the National Trust.

Regrettably for the final occupants, the expense of maintaining the building was becoming far too substantial.

Preservation

The National Heritage Memorial Fund acquired Chastleton in 1991, and the majority of its original contents remained precisely as they were before it was transferred to the National Trust.

In an effort to maintain that mystical ambience that can only be attributed to centuries of tales and memories on the grounds, there was a plan to preserve the house, not restore it.

With this, they merely repaired parts that were damaged, which took a total of six years, to ensure the building was structurally sound and stable.

The stunning home was later reopened for the public to witness all its magic up close in 1998.

Visiting

It’s thought that one of the true treasures of the house is the Long Gallery, boasting the longest-surviving barrel-vaulted ceiling in the country. Due to neglect, the plasterwork required some refurbishment, which occurred in 1904.

Part of the room’s splendour is attributed to the mask heads located at the west end of the room, extremely rare survivals from the 1600s era, believed to have been used as a weapon to ward off evil spirits.

Beyond the confines of the house lies a vast, impeccably maintained garden, offering a sense of tranquillity and relaxation. Contributing to this glory is the Jacobean Pleasure Garden, also known as the Best Garden – a name that speaks volumes about its beauty.

To fully appreciate it all, visitors can embark on the Wilderness Walk, designed to provide not just a soothing stroll around the gardens but also the very best views of the house and the ever-changing gardens through the seasons.

One recent visitor said: “The house is amazing, a time capsule of a grand country house decaying over the years, with the fantastic result of being able to see how things really were without Victorian (or other) alterations. And top tip, do enjoy the Chastleton Teas at the church right next door.”

The property welcomes visitors from mid-March onwards with opening hours of 1pm until 5pm. Adult admission is priced at £15, while children’s tickets cost £7.50 and families can purchase a ticket for £37.50.

The 900ft Arctic Metagaz, a charred Russian ghost tanker, has drifted dangerously close to Malta, an archipelago in the central Mediterranean known for its history and culture

Malta — a popular holiday hotspot — is said to be under threat of a “major ecological disaster”.

A charred Russian ghost tanker is believed to be around 50 nautical miles southwest of the island, and is drifting crewless towards the archipelago. The vessel was blitzed two weeks ago by Ukranian drones and has since, the hole-ridden 900ft Arctic Metagaz has moved towards Malta.

And now multiple European countries have warned an ecological threat is imminent. In a letter to the European Commission, seven nations said the “precarious condition of the vessel, combined with the nature of its specialised cargo” posed a “serious risk”. These countries have described the situation as a “dual challenge” – upholding maritime safety and preventing an ecological disaster against the background of EU sanctions imposed on.

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Russia claimed that Ukraine used “uncrewed sea drones” to target the Metagaz in the Mediterranean Sea between Libya and Malta. The Security Service of Ukraine has not responded to the accusation.

According to Russia, the attack took place on March 4 and was launched from the Libyan coast. The vessel had previously been sanctioned by the United States and the European Union for being part of Moscow’s so-called “shadow fleet.”

Composed largely of ageing tankers, the fleet moves Russian oil and gas worldwide while bypassing Western restrictions. Authorities in Malta and Italy have been closely monitoring the wreck amid concerns about potential pollution. Rome said the vessel was carrying “significant quantities of gas, heavy oil, and diesel fuel.”

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WWF Italy warned in a statement: “A potential spill could cause fires, cryogenic clouds lethal to marine life, and widespread and long-lasting pollution of water and the atmosphere.”

It added: “The affected area is of exceptional ecological value, with fragile deep-sea ecosystems and some of the highest biodiversity in the Mediterranean basin.”

Salvage experts are already in Malta in preparation for the ship’s arrival in Maltese waters, while a specialist vessel is on its way, a maritime source told AFP on Sunday.

Initial reports indicated that the ship sank after explosions sparked a fire on board. Libyan authorities said the tanker went down about 130 nautical miles north of the port of Sirte. Around 30 Russians were on board the Arctic Metagaz, according to Russia’s transport ministry. They were all found “safe and sound in a lifeboat” by Malta’s armed forces, Maltese Home Affairs Minister Byron Camilleri said.

However, Malta’s transport authority said last week that the wreck was still afloat. Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation acknowledged that the vessel was drifting in the Mediterranean and said Russia’s further involvement in resolving the situation would depend on “concrete circumstances”. It added that efforts to address the situation — including surveillance, monitoring and other technical support — could risk “undermining the integrity, effectiveness and the deterrent value of the EU sanctions regime”.

Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said the ship had no crew and was carrying 700 metric tons of various types of fuel along with “a substantial amount of natural gas”.

“The international legal norms applicable to the current situation imply the responsibility of coastal countries … for resolving the situation with the drifting vessel and preventing an environmental disaster,” Zakharova wrote.

“Further involvement by the shipowner and Russia as the flag state will depend on the specific circumstances.”