TRAVEL

Celebrities often fill their Instagram feeds with stunning sunny getaways, but their beach breaks might not be as expensive as you first thought – with some costing as little as £475 per person

Celebrities frequently showcase their glamorous sun-soaked escapes on Instagram as they jet off on lavish getaways. But their idyllic beach holidays might not cost as much as you’d imagine.

If you’re planning your summer break this year, you could follow in the footsteps of stars like Alison Hammond, Molly-Mae Hague and Harry Maguire. They’re all fans of European beach destinations where they unwind with family and friends – and you can too.

Travel expert @robonthebeach on TikTok has lifted the lid on exactly where celebrities choose to holiday and what it actually costs. While some famous faces spend more than others, many of the price tags are comparable to what ordinary holidaymakers fork out for their summer trips, reports the Express.

Rob confessed: “For the longest time, I’d see celebs tagged at these kinds of hotels and presume they’re just totally out of reach. But since I have started working in travel, I have realised that’s not the case.”

Alison Hammond

The This Morning presenter jetted off to Tunisia for a relaxing break with a friend, where she soaked up some well-deserved rest. Rob uncovered that she’d checked into the seafront Phenicia Hotel in the coastal resort of Hammamet.

He tracked down a package for seven nights this May costing just £475 per person – with both flights and accommodation included. Rob remarked: “The hotel’s beachfront, it has massive gardens, a pool area. This is exactly why Tunisia is such good value because this is a celeb hotel that is genuinely affordable.”

Laura Whitmore and Iain Sterling

Celebrity duo Laura and Iain opted for a laid-back yet enjoyable family getaway in Tenerife, choosing to stay at the Bahia Principe Fantasia, according to travel expert Rob. He found a deal for a seven-night stay in April this year, costing between £850 and £900 per person, including flights and accommodation at the five-star hotel, which is renowned for its castle and all-inclusive package.

Harry Maguire

England football star Harry Maguire chose a stress-free holiday with his family in Turkey, staying at the Maxx Royal Belek Golf and Spa resort, as per Rob’s findings. The travel guru discovered a package departing from London in April this year, priced around £1,200 per person.

Rob admitted: “It’s not cheap, but the reason why is because this is elite level all-inclusive.” The resort boasts its own private beach, an extensive selection of dining options, and large swimming pools.

Molly-Mae Hague and Tommy Fury

Social media influencer Molly-Mae Hague and her boxer boyfriend Tommy Fury indulged in pure opulence and Instagrammable surroundings during their stay at the Regnum Crown Hotel in Turkey. For a seven-night stay in late April, prices range from £1,250 to £1,300 per person.

Rob noted: “Bare in mind this is full-blown luxury so that price isn’t actually that bad. We’re talking huge pools, top-tier entertainment, incredible all-inclusive.

“It’s not cheap but this is what influencer-level holidays actually look like and actually cost.”

Visitors stop by for breakfast, banter and the large market.

“We are the friendliest people on earth. God’s own country.” That’s the bold claim from retired South Yorkshire miner Ralph Chaplin when asked why coachloads of day trippers flock to Barnsley town centre from across the North and even the Midlands.

The chatty 75-year-old, who spent his working life at Grimethorpe Colliery, was more than happy to speak about all things Barnsley to YorkshireLive reporter Andrew Robinson. “We talk to anybody,” he beams. “Even those from the South.” His sole complaint? Drug users, though he’s quick to point out they’re a problem everywhere, not just in Barnsley.

A major draw for the coach trips is the revamped indoor market, nestled within the £220m Glass Works development. Ralph raves about the quality of meat on offer, while upstairs on the second floor sits a bustling food court.

“You’ll get a nice breakfast up there,” he promises. “I visit the town centre once or twice a week,” he continues. “I come into town with my wife. We have a nice walk around. I would rather come here than Meadowhall.”

Upon learning Andrew is visiting from Huddersfield, Ralph reveals his mum’s maiden name was Gorner, and she could trace the family tree back to Huddersfield — though the reason for their departure remains a mystery. The two Yorkshire towns share plenty of similarities, from their coal mining roots to their love of traditional markets.

Folks from villages like Skelmanthorpe, Denby Dale and Shepley regularly bypass Huddersfield altogether, choosing Barnsley for their shopping trips instead.

Barnsley town centre has become a major draw for visitors from Huddersfield and beyond, with thousands arriving on packed coaches from locations as distant as Scarborough, Lincoln and Liverpool.

These day-trippers are set down next to the indoor market, where they’re handed a map and a Barnsley Markets bag to haul their haul back home. Meat and confectionery are apparently the big sellers.

While these excursions have always been well-attended, there’s been a notable boom over the last year, with more than 60 additional coaches now coming from across the country, including Wakefield, Sheffield, Hull, Leeds, Doncaster, Manchester and even Nottingham and Middlesbrough.

Spread across two floors, the market boasts dozens of stalls selling everything from fresh produce and butcher’s cuts to fish, deli goods, flowers, clothes, sweets and much more.

A market worker reveals that visitors can’t get enough of what’s on offer. “There’s lots of friendly banter with the traders, and it is good value for money. You can buy a Barnsley chop (a thick double-sided lamb chop). I see people buying sweets and even carrying rugs under their arms.

“When they are getting back on the coach, they always say they loved it and that they are coming back. We’ve had 65 more coaches in the last year. The coach drivers and the passengers are really looked after.”

Locals from Barnsley reckon the town centre has undergone a massive transformation in recent times. Visitors can now explore a museum charting the area’s history from Roman times through to the present day, browse an art gallery, potter around shops and cafés nestled within the Victorian Arcade, and enjoy a variety of boozers.

The town’s heritage lives on through public sculptures, including one honouring author Barry Hines, inspired by Billy Casper from the 1960s masterpiece Kes.

Derek, flogging Barnsley FC scarves in the town centre, remarked: “They have improved the whole lot. They have spent a lot of money on the market. There are some decent pubs as well — Chennels, The Corner Pin and Wetherspoons (The Joseph Bramah).”

The outdoor market operates five days weekly, with traders setting up at various spots around town. However, one vendor complained that Barnsley town centre had “too many druggies” creating headaches through theft.

Ian, who operates a market pitch, praised Barnsley for having “fantastic footfall” that could compete with many larger towns and cities.

He added: “People here are really positive and are happy to talk. They are nice to be around.”

THE coolest places in the country to live have been revealed and one is a beautiful Cornish village.

With a pretty harbour, riverside views and Michelin-approved pubs – it’s officially one of the best destinations for 2026.

The Times has revealed its ’11 coolest postcodes’ and Flushing in Cornwall has claimed one of the top spots.

Flushing, which is just across the water from Falmouth sits by the side of the Penryn River and is the perfect spot for ‘water babies‘ according to the publication.

The Times said: “On the banks of the Penryn River, it has a quieter beach, with everything here encouraging you to slip straight into life by the water, including a thriving sailing club.”

It’s not just riverside, but is also has a popular and secluded shingle beach which has views across to Falmouth.

Read More on Beach Staycations

GO SEA IT

£9.50 holiday spot with shipwrecks, seals offshore & horseshoe-shaped waterfalls

SHORE THING

‘It’s the best beach in England’ – Sun readers’ favourite Sussex seasides

The beach is a popular place for watersports and paddling during the summer months.

During low tide, the shingle beach has rockpools for exploring.

On Tripadvisor, one visitor described the beach as ‘charming’, with another calling it their ‘favourite beach near Falmouth’.

Afterwards, swimmers and paddleboarders can warm up in the community sauna.

Perched near Flushing Beach is Kiln Sauna, a community sauna where swimmers can pop in for a quick session before or after a sea swim.

A 30-minute session in the community sauna costs £8 – make sure to pre-book beforehand.

The village has just two, but popular pubs – one is Harbour House Flushing which is a waterside Cornish pub and it’s Michelin-approved.

You can enjoy a cold pint or their signature smoked negronis and there are nights which have live music and quiz nights.

As for food, dig into tasty meals like sirloin steak, beef short rib, sole and pumpkin tortellini.

The pub is also set to open rooms for the first time in February – so you can book to stay right on the waterfront.

The other pub in the village is The Royal Standard where you can enjoy seafood dishes from stews to mussels and salt and pepper squid.

Another popular spot in Flushing is the fish shack on Devon’s South Milton Sands – on Thursday nights you can pick up pints for £2.50.

To get to Flushing from Falmouth is just a ten-minute ferry ride.

If you fancy a visit and want somewhere to stay, you’re more likely to find quaint cottages on Airbnb or locally run bed and breakfasts.

Check out The ‘Boatwatch’ on Airbnb which has river views and beach access – it can sleep up to four people in two bedrooms.

In late January you can book the cottage for £578 for 7 nights – which works out at £41pppn.

Another guest favourite is this Luxury Cottage for two with sea views which is in the top one per cent of homes.

It has a large open living space, a luxurious bedroom and a private patio overlooking the water.

For a 7 night stay in January, it’s priced at £897 for two which is £64pppn.

These are the 11 coolest UK postcodes to move to in 2026…

Manningtree, Essex

Keswick, Cumbria

Eastside, Belfast

Flushing, Cornwall

West end, Dundee

Poplar, east London

Fishguard, Pembrokeshire

Rothley, Leicestershire

Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire

Liverpool city centre

Redland, Bristol

For more on seaside destinations, see the pretty twin beach villages in the ‘forgotten corner’ of Cornwall.

Plus, this is a fairytale town dubbed ‘Cornwall on the east coast’ with pretty fishing harbour and no loud arcades.

THIS year, the UK will welcome a major new attraction, which has now been named the best thing to see in the UK for 2026.

The Bayeux Tapestry, which depicts the Battle of Hastings, will be returning to the UK for the first time in nearly 1,000 years.

The tapestry will be on display at the British Museum in the Sainsbury Exhibitions Gallery from autumn 2026.

The tapestry measures 70 metres long and depicts the 1066 Norman invasion and Battle of Hastings.

Visitors will be able to see the embroidered tapestry, made with wool thread on linen cloth and explore the 58 scenes across the tapestry, with 626 characters and 202 horses.

It will be the first time that the tapestry has been shown in the UK since it was made, which was nearly 1,000 years ago.

Read more on travel inspo

CHEAP BREAKS

UK’s best 100 cheap stays – our pick of the top hotels, holiday parks and pubs

TAKING OFF

I’ve visited 50 countries & this much-loathed budget airline is the world’s best

In addition, the exhibition is expected to be one of the most popular ever at the British Museum.

Specific dates for the exhibition are yet to be revealed, but it is set to be between September 2026 and July 2027.

Tickets are also yet to be released, along with prices for the exhibition, but if tickets are in line with prices of other exhibitions at the museum, visitors can expect to pay between £20 and £28 per person.

It comes as The Bayeux Museum, where the tapestry has been since 1983, closed on September 1, 2025, for a two-year refurbishment.

In July last year, Nicholas Cullinan, director of the British Museum, said: “The Bayeux Tapestry is one of the most important and unique cultural artefacts in the world, which illustrates the deep ties between Britain and France and has fascinated people across geographies and generations.

“It is hard to overstate the significance of this extraordinary opportunity of displaying it at the British Museum and we are profoundly grateful to everyone involved.”

George Osborne, chair of the British Museum Trustees, said: “Once in a generation there’s a British Museum exhibition that eclipses all others.

“Think in previous ages of Tutankhamun and the Terracotta Warriors.

“The Bayeux Tapestry will be THE blockbuster show of our generation. I know it will capture the imagination of an entire nation.

“There is no other single item in British history that is so familiar, so studied in schools, so copied in art as the Bayeux Tapestry.”

A number of other new openings were named in Time Out’s top 10 things to see and do in the UK this year.

At number eight is the new historical theme park – Kynren – The Storied Lands – set to open in Bishop Auckland, County Durham, this summer.

The theme park will immerse visitors in multiple live shows and experiences that “span millennia” including a Medieval horse show, a viking show and a Victorian Adventure.

There will also be a lake that is transformed into a stage for The Legend of the Wear, where the Lambton Worm myth will be brought to life with visual effects and stunts.

In the future, the theme is slated to have even more shows, including themed experiences inspired by Robin Hood, Excalibur and the Tudors.

In other attraction news, there’s a new Harry Potter experience where you can go on a real Hogwarts Express train ride to launch this year.

Plus, here’s everything we know about the historical theme park with no rides reveals opening plans for UK site with four ‘villages’, live shows and three hotels.

A LONDON playground that is a regular fixture on lists of England’s best playparks for kids is set to reopen later this year.

The Princess Diana Memorial Playground in Kensington Gardens is set to reopen in summer 2026 with a brand new full-scale wooden ship set over three floors.

The popular attraction closed for refurbishment in November 2025 and is set to open in a few months with a brand new galleon.

The new ship costing £3million, will be set over three levels and will replace the existing pirate ship.

It will have an additional crow’s nest and a double-storey stern with a ship’s wheel, a telescope and accessible wheelchair spaces.

Other new additions to the playground will be its new treehouse, redesigned water play area and a new space for little ones aged three and under three.

GO SEA IT

£9.50 holiday spot with shipwrecks, seals offshore & horseshoe-shaped waterfalls

GRUBS UP

Best pubs, fish and chip shops and cafes in Sussex – by Sun readers & locals

Royal Parks said in order to improve “accessibility and inclusivity some of the paths in the playground will be resurfaced and a new accessible path will be created”.

It added that other additions will be wheelchair accessible picnic tables, sensory planting and an upgraded musical area.

The new ship was constructed by the same designers who made the original ship back in 2000.

The playground which is in Kensington Gardens, next to Princess Diana‘s former home, welcomes over one million visitors every year.

It was opened as a tribute to Princess Diana after her death in 1997 and is completely free to visitors.

The park’s pirate ship was inspired by the book Peter Pan, with author JM Barrie setting part of the story in Kensington Gardens.

The park is a popular spot for families thanks to its giant wooden pirate structure with its own beach, as well as a sensory trail and teepees to play in.

There are also a great variety of play sculptures set among the trees and plants, including a tree-house with walkways, ladders and slides.

There’s seating around the edges so that grownups can relax while their kids play.

The on-site Broad Walk Cafe serves tea, coffee, juices, pastries, sandwiches, salads and pizza.

It has over 550 5-star reviews on Tripadvisor with parents praising the playground with some calling it the ‘best playground in London‘.

One wrote: “Such a fun playground. Great use of space and different sections to play in. We could spend hours there.”

Another added: “My kids love this playground especially the pirate ship it keeps them busy for ages.”

The playground isn’t the only thing for kids to wonder at as the park is home to ring-necked parakeets.

Next to The Long Water in the park is a stretch of hedges which people frequently visit to see the little green birds.

This indoor playground has oak tree slides & castle play fort…

In Stafford is a play area set in amongst the Chillington Estate and has lots to entertain both children and adults whatever the weather…

Hockerhill opened just last year, but has already proved to be a hit with families, especially during the winter.

The playground has both indoor and outdoor areas so whether there’s rare winter sun, or what’s more likely, rain, kids can still play.

Inside, families will find a huge fake oak tree with a huge slide, and places to climb.

There’s also an indoor castle where kids can explore bridges, high-level walkways, tunnels, slides and ropes.

It’s no surprise that parents have made it their go-to spot for when the weather turns grey.

It’s not just play either, there are lots of places to eat and drink around it along with tables and chairs for parents to relax in.

There are places to grab snacks such as cakes and ice cream as well as hot food such as sourdough pizzas and sandwiches.

The children’s menu serves up an all day breakfast as well as pancakes, for lunch, kids can have pasta and toasties.

When there’s a clear winter’s day, outside is an area with zip lines, swings, slides and a designated area for toddlers.

For keen drivers, there’s a winding pedal go-kart track which starts outside and heads indoors.

For more on playgrounds, here’s the biggest park in the UK with an award-winning adventure attraction, huge playground and ‘roller slide’.

And here’s London’s best family attraction that ‘feels like it was created for kids’ to get huge new nature playground.

Cabin crew adopt a specific safety posture with hands on their thighs during critical flight phases – and there’s an important reason behind it

For most flyers, those brief minutes before takeoff and after landing pass by in a blur — heads buried in mobile phones, half-watching the safety demonstration, or simply killing time until the aircraft reaches cruising altitude. However, for cabin crew members, these seemingly routine moments represent the most dangerous stretches of any flight, demanding razor-sharp attention, rigorous protocols and a meticulously rehearsed physical stance that passengers often notice but seldom comprehend.

Throughout these critical periods, flight attendants are vigilantly scanning the cabin to guarantee everything is properly secured. Travellers must remain seated with seatbelts fastened, tray tables tucked away and seats in the upright position, enabling the crew to devote their complete attention to safety matters.

Aviation experts confirm this elevated level of alertness is crucial, as the vast majority of incidents take place during takeoff and landing.

In conversation with Travel + Leisure, Katherine Drossos, a qualified flight attendant and in-flight supervisor at Cirrus Aviation Services, outlined the importance of these crucial moments. “During the critical phases of flight, specifically takeoff and landing, cabin hosts ensure the cabin is fully secure and passengers are seated, briefed, and prepared. This allows full focus on safety during the most sensitive portions of the flight,” she says.

Part of that groundwork involves the safety briefing, which details seatbelt usage, oxygen masks and life jackets. However, once the demonstration wraps up and the plane starts climbing or descending, travellers might notice something else: cabin crew seated bolt upright in their jump seats with their hands positioned firmly on their thighs or tucked underneath their legs, reports the Express.

While many assume they are merely “sitting on their hands”, Drossos clarifies the stance is deliberate. “What passengers often interpret as cabin hosts ‘sitting on their hands’ is actually a deliberate brace-ready position. Cabin hosts sit upright in the jump seat with feet flat on the floor and hands secured on their thighs or beneath the legs,” she explains.

“This posture stabilises the body, minimises the risk of injury during sudden movement or turbulence, and ensures hands are immediately available to respond if an evacuation or safety action is required.”

While precise hand positioning may differ based on airline protocol or aircraft model, the objective stays the same. Drossos points out that the stance is engineered to maintain “stability, alertness, and immediate readiness during the most critical phases of flight”.

The physical stance is merely one element of the procedure. While seated, cabin crew simultaneously undertake a silent mental rehearsal of emergency protocols.

“While seated, cabin hosts also conduct a silent safety review, mentally walking through emergency procedures, identifying exits, and confirming evacuation commands and responsibilities,” Drossos explains. This guarantees they are entirely ready to respond immediately should anything go awry.

The technique shot to prominence after a flight attendant known as @_hennylim went viral on TikTok for demonstrating the routine. In her clip, she displayed two crew members boarding the plane, getting into their jump seats, securing their seatbelts and positioning their hands underneath their legs.

She characterised the stance as the “bracing position”, outlining that it requires sitting upright with palms facing upwards, thumbs tucked in, arms loose and feet planted firmly on the floor. The objective, she noted, is to limit movement and minimise injury should an unexpected impact occur.

Passengers are not obliged to adopt the identical brace position, but aviation professionals recommend staying alert during safety demonstrations, studying the safety card, keeping seatbelts secured and ensuring seats are in the upright position during takeoff and landing. While it might appear straightforward, the manner in which flight attendants sit demonstrates comprehensive training and continuous alertness — a discreet yet crucial aspect of keeping everyone on board secure.

The world’s largest spa is an attraction unlike any other, with a huge variety of thermal pools, as well as a waterpark for a thrilling edge to your day of relaxation and daytime accommodation to relax in

January is the perfect time of year to book a spa break. There’s nothing like relaxing in some thermal springs or a vigorous massage to melt away those post-Christmas blues.

Luckily, one of the world’s largest spas is just a couple of hours from the UK, and with areas for both adults and kids, even if you don’t have a babysitter, you can enjoy a spa day. Therme Erding in Munich is a vast indoor and outdoor complex, easily identifiable by its huge glass dome. The facility boasts 35 saunas and steam baths, 40 pools and baths, and 28 waterslides and virtual reality rides that will appeal to people of all ages.

Outside, you can bathe in the warm healing waters of the Ardeo spring, which is naturally heated between 26C and 38C. The waters are claimed to help soothe a variety of health conditions, and can ease muscle tensions and stress.

Indoors, there’s further relaxation to be had in the tropical spa pool, which has features such as bubbling loungers and massage jets to help you relax. A gentle river ride carries swimmers between the indoor and outdoor pools. Once you’re done with your swim, enjoy a cocktail or freshly-pressed juice in the swim-up bar without needing to leave the water.

There are also several healing tubs, such as a salt grotto and sulphur bath, all at different temperatures and with their own health benefits to offer. On dry land, you can also warm up in a sauna or steam room, or enjoy a Hydrojet massage bed without getting wet.

Things are a lot faster-paced in the Galaxy area, where there’s a choice of fun waterslides. Some are designed for thrill-seekers, but there are also smaller rides for younger visitors, as well as virtual reality experiences for those who are too nervous to go on a real slide. The spa is also home to the Magic Eye, the longest closed tube slide in the world at 360 metres.

If you’re heading down for the whole day, and think the experience is going to wear you out, consider booking a lounger or private lounge that you can escape to whenever you like during the day. From comfy loungers in the adults-only areas, to private chalets where you can have a lie down, read a book, or just chill out between spa treatments.

Therme Erding is open 10am to 11pm most days, and on Saturdays it opens its doors at 9am and doesn’t close until midnight, giving you plenty of time to enjoy its many facilities. While you can just buy a two-hour ticket for €25 (about £21), most people find it more cost-effective to buy a full-day pass for €54 (about £47), which includes the Therme, Wave Pool, and Galaxy areas. You can find out about ticket prices and book on the Therme Erding website.

READ MORE: ‘Incredibly grim’ seaside town now bustling hub of independent shopsREAD MORE: Abandoned UK village that was ‘lost underwater’ still reappears once in a while

Therme Erding is popular with international visitors due to its close proximity to Munich airport. It’s just a 15-minute taxi ride from arrivals to the spa. From the UK, there are flights available with airlines including easyJet, British Airways, and Lufthansa, with flights taking just under two hours from London Gatwick.

Flights on easyJet start from £17 one-way, meaning a day trip here could still work out cheaper than a spa in the UK.

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

With an abundance of seasonal fruit and vegetables available year-round, it’s no wonder Los Angeles is a destination for cold-pressed juices and produce-packed smoothies.

In 2007, Marjan Sarshar opened the first location of Kreation in Santa Monica, offering hand-pressed juices alongside healthy grab-and-go meals — the chain has since expanded with more than 25 stores across Southern California. Hayden Slater, Carly de Castro and Hedi Gores followed suit with the opening of Pressed Juicery in West L.A. in 2010. Now the brand has almost 100 locations across the U.S.

Left to right: Slim Shady, Green N Nutty, Glow and Vida at Roots of Life in Huntington Park.

(Myung J. Chun / Los Angeles Times)

The benefits of juicing are debated — some argue that fruit contains high natural sugar content, while others encourage juicing as an easy stepping stone to embracing a healthier lifestyle.

When Salud Juice founder Angela Yeen’s father suffered a heart attack and underwent quadruple bypass surgery in 2012, juicing was a gateway that helped shift his relationship with food.

“I was trying to figure out preventative measures for this to never happen again, and I’m like, OK, how am I going to convince my dad, this Mexican machismo man, that he needs to eat better when his friends make fun of him if he eats a salad?” Yeen said.

Yeen bought a juicer for $5 at a garage sale and began researching and experimenting with recipes, at first masking the flavor of vegetables that her father would normally shy away from with fruit he already loved. They’d drink the juice together, raising their glasses to cheers, “Salud!”

Word quickly spread of Yeen’s homemade juices, and soon she was delivering them to friends and coworkers out of her VW bus. After a year, she outgrew her home and moved into a commercial kitchen. In 2015, she opened the first location of Salud Juice on 4th Street and Cherry Avenue in her hometown of Long Beach.

Last year, Yeen opened the third location of Salud Juice in Bixby Knolls. A decade later, she says she still makes an effort to cater to blue-collar men like her father and others who might be resistant to dramatic lifestyle changes.

“You walk in, and it’s like, ‘What is cold pressed? What is turmeric? What is ashwagandha?’” said Yeen. “A lot of our onboarding with our staff is reminding them how intimidating it is to walk into [a juice bar] for the first time and putting themselves in their shoes.”

Today, L.A.’s juice and smoothie scene is more expansive than ever, encompassing mom-and-pop shops, neighborhood juguerías and sleek chains slinging protein powders and supplements alongside blended concoctions. Often treated as a meal replacement, a juice or smoothie can cost about the same as a fast-casual lunch, between $10 and $25. Here are 16 our favorite green juices and smoothies that actually taste good, from a food truck in Koreatown to a casual fruit stall in Inglewood. — Danielle Dorsey

This seaside town has been name as one of the best places to visit in the UK for 2026, with independent shops, art galleries and stunning beaches making it a must-visit destination

A fishing town with a high street packed with independent shops and an excellent arcade scene has been tipped as one of 2026’s places to go.

If, like myself, you grew up in the South East of England, then there is a fair chance that the large, plasticy, somewhat demonic face of the caterpillar ride at Hastings‘ Flamingo Park is etched into your mind. Many a day of my childhood was spent, arms aloft, aboard the trundling larva, which was sadly mothballed earlier this decade.

The ride may be a thing of the past, but Hastings – which has just been named Time Out’s second best place to go in the UK this year – is certainly not. The East Sussex seaside town of 90,000 now links up to London in one hour and 23 minutes via a new, speedier train service, making the commute to the Capital viable, particularly in the post-Covid world of flexible working.

Do you have a travel story to share? Email webtravel@reachplc.com

READ MORE: ‘Incredibly grim’ seaside town now bustling hub of independent shopsREAD MORE: I paid £106 for lunch at British music legend’s pub — I can sum it up in two words

But rather than getting fixated on leaving Hastings, there’s plenty to keep you entertained in the town itself. The Old Town is the place to go for some shopping, or just for a stroll through the rickety High Street and George Street that give York’s famous Shambles a run for its money in the sloping buildings stakes.

There are dozens of antique, interiors and brocante shops here. You can find everything from old typewriters in the Goods Depot and unusual pottery and pictures at Butler and George, to endless treasures at Hastings Antiques Warehouse and Roberts Rummage.

Hastings is one place where the high street is thriving and independent shops dominate. One particular treasure is Old Hastings Pottery, where all the items are handmade on site and the potter is on hand to chat. Perhaps the jewel in the crown is A.G. Hendy, an extraordinary three floors of beautifully displayed household essentials housed behind a 1920s-style shopfront. It is the work of famed food wrtier Alistair Hendy, who spent over three years restoring the late-Georgian building.

If shopping isn’t your thing, or you’ve simply hit your limit, then there’s plenty else to do in the town. Hastings is lucky enough to have a thriving independent cinema, the Electric Palace, which can be hired out for private screenings for £260. To mark a recent birthday in the family, we took over the Palace for a screening of Stanley Kubrick’s 2021, well accompanied by the Palace’s pick a mix and bar.

Wander down the hill to the seafront and you’ll find Hastings Contemporary, a brilliant independent art gallery that shows contemporary British artists. In 2024, Quentin Blake (best known for his work on the Roald Dahl books) displayed 100 portraits at the gallery.

Then there are, of course, the chips. Locals and regulars will have their favourite chippy, but for me, the active fishing village is best represented by the Blue Mermaid. After you’ve tucked into its delightful fried fare, it’s a short walk to the West Hill Lift, a funicular railway that first opened in 1891 and retains its original wooden Victorian coaches. The runs through a tunnel, which is both very exciting to experience and rare from a railway perspective.

If you’re lucky enough to visit when the weather is nice, the town’s beach is very dipable, but not a patch on the excellent Fairlight nudist beach a few miles down the coast.

Most visitors park at the top of the hill and then walk down, scrambling down the hillier parts, hopping over logs and taking time to appreciate streams that tumble into little waterfalls beneath the thick tree cover. The trees on the path down are densely packed and verdant, giving the place a slightly Jurassic feel on a hot summer’s day when the air mists up and the fern leaves begin to glisten.

After a mile-long walk in the relative gloom, beachgoers suddenly burst out of the trees into the light of the day and into Fairlight proper. To either side of the beach 30m cliffs form a bay, providing a sense of seclusion from the world and plenty of large flat stones at their base where you can lay down your towel and relax.

The sandstone and clay mix of the cliffs produces an almost gold colour in the evening sun, which gives Fairlight the feel of being somewhere much closer to the Mediterranean than it really is.

A soft breeze tickled the waters of Innominate Tarn, sending ripples dashing across the pool, bogbean and tussock grass dancing at its fringes. From my rocky perch atop Haystacks, I gazed down on Buttermere and Crummock Water glistening to the north, the round-shouldered hulks of Pillar and Great Gable looming to the south. A pair of ravens cronked indignantly, protesting against the intrusion on their eyrie; otherwise, stillness reigned.

Bless you, Alfred Wainwright, I murmured, picturing the hiking legend whose ashes are scattered around this lonely tarn. And then, surprising myself: you too, Rishi Sunak. In very different ways, both had brought me to this most spectacular of Lakeland crags.

It’s a little over half a century since Wainwright, patron saint of fell walkers, sketched a line on the map linking the Cumbria and Yorkshire shores. Not, of course, at random.

“The route follows an approximate beeline … from St Bees Head on the Irish Sea to Robin Hood’s Bay on the North Sea,” he wrote. “The grandest territory in the north of England is traversed by it; indeed, two-thirds of the route lies through the areas of three national parks.”

Today Wainwright’s Coast to Coast path is possibly Britain’s most popular multi-day trail, snaking more than 190 miles through the Lake District, Yorkshire Dales and North York Moors national parks. Curiously, though, it isn’t marked on OS Maps. Some stretches don’t even follow a public right of way. Yet.

“Rishi Sunak, whose constituency encompasses the central part of the route, campaigned for its designation as a national trail,” explains Angela Hobson, Yorkshire Dales Coast to Coast project manager. “Previously there were issues with signposting, trail maintenance, even sections that didn’t have access formally agreed.”

Natural England, which administers national trails, announced the project in 2022, backed by £5.6m funding, to be completed “early 2026”. It involved a host of work – resolving legal issues of land access; upgrading and repairing paths, bridges and other infrastructure; improving signposting and waymarking with the distinctive acorn symbol; appointment of dedicated trail officers, and other aspects. But what practical difference will this status make – to walkers, to the environment, to local communities and businesses?

To find out, I tackled the route – joined for some stretches by my partner Sarah – over 12 often exhilarating, sometimes exhausting days starting from St Bees, covering between 12 and 23 miles and bedding down in a different inn or B&B each night. The proof, after all, is in the plodding.

It soon became clear that upgrades will probably be least palpable in the Lake District. Although some 6,000 tramp the route annually, contributing perhaps £7m to local economies, that’s a drop in the ocean for one of Britain’s most visited national parks, which welcomes close to 18 million visitors a year. Signposts are conspicuously absent on fell tops here, preserving the sense of wildness – and that looks unlikely to change. So the addition of green diamonds to the OS Map, indicating a waymarked route, will be a boon to those, like me, who are navigationally challenged. And there are other tangible infrastructure improvements.

That became apparent on day one, as I descended the first real hill, Dent, down Raven Crag, where photogenically curly horned Herdwick sheep modelled obligingly. At the bottom I followed Nannycatch Beck, meandering through an elfin realm as magical as its name, beneath rowan and hawthorn, between sheer valley sides clad in bracken and coconut-scented gorse – and crossing pristine wooden footbridges to which subtle new Coast to Coast signs are affixed.

The following day, I was grateful for repairs to trails around limpid Ennerdale Water and Honister Pass. Likewise in Wainwright’s favourite vale: “The Lake District is the loveliest part of England,” he proclaimed, “and Borrowdale is the fairest of its valleys.” Along the Derwent, here a babbling baby stream shaded by venerable oaks, the splendidly christened Willygrass Bridge has been renewed.

Crossing into the Dales, I ambled through fractured limestone pavement erupting through the turf like so many broken molars. Once more, impacts of National Trail work were evident. “Many international guests have never experienced peat hag before,” notes Nick, who – with his partner Rachel – runs the fabulous Old Croft House B&B in Kirkby Stephen, where I stayed, dishing up local lore, advice and slabs of luscious chocolate cake. “Sections of the path were so muddy, and saw so many walkers each year, that it became a quagmire 30 or 40 metres wide. Now old flagstones reclaimed from the region’s mills have been laid up to and across White Mossy Hill, making it accessible in pretty much all weathers. Some say they spoil the sense of wilderness, but they protect that fragile environment as well as making navigation easier.”

Up towards the Brobdingnagian cairns on Nine Standards Rigg, I discovered a new long, snaking trail of heavy-duty stepping stones which protect precious peat and delicate moss ecosystems – and keep boots dry. Passing the route’s midway point, the postcard-pretty Swaledale village of Keld, and climbing on to the moor above Muker, past the ruins of gloriously named Crackpot Hall. Following the newly realigned path to the lead-mining relics around Swinner Gill and Gunnerside Gill, a concealed otherworld where the remains of pit buildings, channels and smelters only add to the enchantment.

Beyond Richmond’s bulky castle (built by Alan the Red, my new favourite Norman), and fuelled by tea loaf topped with a wedge of creamy local wensleydale, I left the Dales to cross the flat agricultural Vale of Mowbray. Past Ingleby Cross, at the gateway to the North York Moors national park, the ascent through the silver birches and ferns of Scarth Wood is a welcome return to hillwalking, tracing the northern scarp of the Cleveland Hills. Improvements, from new National Trail signs to replacing stiles with gates, will benefit local people, not just long-distance hikers, North York Moors Coast to Coast project officer Bernie McLinden told me.

Perhaps the loveliest example came in Little Beck Wood on my final day, following May Beck to the waterfall of Falling Foss. In this broadleaf Arcadia of mossy boulders and ferns, soaring shale cliffs, chiming birdsong and melodious brook, I joined laughing families on stone paths laboriously laid by Bernie and volunteers, replacing slippery boardwalks. A few miles out from Robin Hood’s Bay and journey’s end, I recalled Angela’s words.

“I took my daughter up to White Mossy Hill and said to her: ‘You’ll be able to walk over this with your children, and they’ll be able to walk over it with their grandchildren,’” she beamed. “‘And I helped build it.’” Wainwright’s legacy, refreshed.

The trip was provided by Macs Adventure, which offers various Coast to Coast holidays, including a 14-day itinerary (12 days’ walking) from £1,579 including B&B accommodation, luggage transfers and route info. More relaxed, slower options are also available.

With over 850 hours of winter sunshine and temperatures reaching 21C in February, this island offers the perfect escape from Britain’s cold weather

Winter has officially descended upon the UK, bringing with it a flurry of snow. However, if you’re not a fan of frosty mornings, there’s no need to fly halfway around the globe for some sunshine.

Sure, Caribbean islands are a safe bet for hot weather, but if you’re simply seeking a place where you don’t have to bundle up every time you step out, there’s a European hotspot that should be on your list.

Tenerife has earned the title of Europe’s sunniest winter destination, boasting over 850 hours of winter sunshine. The Canary Islands are already a hit with sun worshippers due to their consistently warm temperatures throughout the year, but Tenerife takes the cake with an average temperature of 20-21C in January and February.

Granted, it might not be warm enough for a dip in the sea, but it’s perfect for a leisurely stroll along the beach – and Tenerife is home to plenty of stunning beaches.

READ MORE: I paid £106 for lunch at British music legend’s pub — I can sum it up in two wordsREAD MORE: ‘Incredibly grim’ seaside town now bustling hub of independent shops

Popular spots like Playa de las Vistas and Playa de las Teresitas tend to be packed in the summer, but come winter they’re relatively peaceful, offering the perfect setting for a tranquil walk along the soft sands. For something a bit more unique, Playa Jardin with its black volcanic sands provides a striking backdrop for photos!, reports the Express.

Another advantage is that temperatures remain pleasant enough for sightseeing without becoming uncomfortably hot or forcing you to rise at dawn for activities like hiking. The mild climate is perfect for discovering attractions such as Teide National Park or the island’s stunning botanical gardens.

Nature enthusiasts will also find winter particularly rewarding for whale watching, as these magnificent sea mammals can be spotted from November through to May.

Despite being the quieter season, numerous hotels and eateries continue trading, meaning you’ll avoid the summer party crowds whilst still enjoying a lively atmosphere. That said, it’s important to remember that larger nightclubs and bars typically shut during this period, so winter visits to Tenerife offer a more relaxed ambience compared to the school holiday rush.

Little wonder, then, that Tenerife recently claimed the title of Europe’s sunniest winter destination in research conducted by travel specialists Luxury France Tours. The largest of the Canary Islands secured first place with more than 800 hours of sunshine, which researchers say “[make] it the brightest winter escape in Europe”.

For sun-seekers, Spain as a whole deserves serious consideration; remarkably, 8 of the top 10 destinations were Spanish. The complete rankings are available below for additional travel inspiration.

If you’re on the hunt for year-round sunshine, fret not, as we’ve compiled a list of hotspots for every month of the year.

Europe’s sunniest destinations

1. Tenerife, Spain
2. Almeria, Spain
3. Cartagena, Spain
4. Murcia, Spain
5. Tarragona, Spain
6. Valencia, Spain
7. Turin, Italy
8. Barcelona, Spain
9. Catania, Italy
10. Malaga, Spain

Got a travel tale to tell? Drop us an email at webtravel@reachplc. com.

FOR a spa getaway with serious Bridgerton vibes, look no further than Hintlesham Hall.

The Grade I listed hotel is set in beautiful Suffolk countryside, famous for its award-winning Carriers Restaurant – here’s everything you need to know about staying.

Where is Hintlesham Hall?

If you can bring yourself to leave the Grade I listed manor house hotel, it is a great base from which to potter around the Suffolk countryside.

A 15-minute drive from Ipswich, the hotel is best reached by car.

Pretty towns and villages like medieval Lavenham and stylish Aldeburgh (where you can get brilliant fish and chips) are all close enough for a day out. 

Staff are on hand to recommend walks along the varied landscape of the Suffolk coast. Think woodlands, meadows and shingle beaches.

Read more on hotel reviews

SWINTON SWOON

I stayed at the beautiful estate which is the UK’s most family friendly place

AND RELAX

The sprawling country resort with a £10million spa and award-winning restaurant

What is the hotel like?

In one word? Gorgeous. A 16th-century pale peach cake-topper of a hotel, with a crunchy gravel drive, chandeliers and beautiful grounds.

We’d love to go back the next time we have a special occasion and fancy a splurge.

The hotel’s peaceful atmosphere made it the perfect break for harried parents. 

What is there to do?

If you want to treat yourself, book a massage or manicure at the hotel’s spa.

And take a peek at Hintlesham’s grounds, you might just find a jacuzzi.

This is Constable country, so if you want to explore the local area, we did a lovely circular walk from Manningtree to Flatford Mill – a Grade I listed farm which features in several of his most famous paintings. 

Adnams Brewery is a short drive away. It may be famous for its beer, but visitors can try their hand at gin distilling too.

And if you’re a golf widow, you may want to keep it quiet that Hintlesham Golf Club borders the hotel grounds.

What is there to eat and drink?

The hotel is famous for its restaurant, Carriers, which uses produce from local fishermen and farms, and Hintlesham’s own kitchen garden.

We loved the truffle mash, beef tournedos and extensive wine list.

Head Chef Lee Cooper is a certified Master Chef of Great Britain and works with the gardeners to adapt his menus to the season.