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A new Which? reader ranking of the Canary Islands’ 15 biggest resorts placed Playa de las Américas in Tenerife at the bottom, with visitors criticising its value for money, tourist attractions, shopping and atmosphere

The worst resort in the Canary Islands has been slammed as unattractive, chaotic and overpriced, with some calling it the ‘new Benidorm’.

One person’s tropical haven is another’s nightmare. Plenty adore Benidorm with its budget Sunday dinners, towering hotels and lively entertainment district, while others would sooner stay home with the curtains drawn than venture to Alicante.

The same applies to Spain’s Canary Islands. A fresh Which? reader survey of the archipelago’s 15 largest resorts positioned a chic, upscale destination at the summit, and a spot notorious for all-night revelry and cut-price pints at the very bottom.

Playa de las Américas in Tenerife has landed at the foot of a Which? reader survey. Visitors criticised the resort’s value for money, tourist attractions, shopping and atmosphere.

Its accommodation performed more favourably, securing four out of five stars. At the opposite end of the rankings, Puerto de Mogán in Gran Canaria seized first place, with acclaim for its food, accommodation and scenery. Which? readers aren’t the first tourists to slate Playa de las Américas. One Mumsnet contributor remembered: “One of the overriding memories was the amount of cockroaches – they were EVERYWHERE.”

Travel guide Wikivoyage also cautions about overcrowding, noting: “The beaches are crowded during all hours of the day.”

Last year, Swedish content creator @amberleigh.travels attracted attention in the Spanish media after drawing comparisons between Tenerife and another well-loved Spanish holiday hotspot.

“I fear that Tenerife is slowly becoming like Benidorm,” she said in a TikTok video that has attracted more than 1.5 million views. She pointed out the abundance of mobility scooters in the resort and the large number of British tourists she came across.

It’s not difficult to understand why so many Brits flock there. EasyJet, Jet2 and Ryanair all operate direct flights from Liverpool John Lennon Airport to Tenerife, with fares starting from as little as £30 this December.

In a recent piece titled ‘the brutal truth behind the Tenerife tourism trap’, journalist Ava Hughes suggested that the issues stretch beyond Playa de las Américas to other areas along the island’s southern coastline.

“For decades, the southern coast of Tenerife-specifically Los Cristianos and Playa de las Américas-operated on a simple promise of sun, sand, and cheap beer. That model required constant expansion to remain profitable. Developers took every available inch of coastline, building upward and outward until the natural charm of the volcanic landscape was buried under layers of asphalt and breeze blocks,” Hughes wrote.

Yet other travel writers maintain that Playa de las Américas delivers precisely what it advertises. Nomad Traveller characterises it as a purpose-built destination created for mass tourism, rather than a peaceful getaway.

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“It does that job well, and on its own terms it delivers hard-to-beat value for sun, sea, and nightlife. But it is not trying to be anywhere else, and understanding that is the key to deciding whether it belongs on your itinerary,” the publication notes.

Which? takes a comparable stance, advising tourists to assess the resort based on its true nature.

“At the risk of sounding like a contrarian, can we suggest that the complaints are misplaced? To moan about budget tourism’s excesses in Playa de las Américas is like complaining that Las Vegas is brash. It’s in the place’s DNA. The resort has never pretended to be anything else since it appeared practically overnight in the late 1960s,” it says.

The consumer group also highlights more peaceful accommodation options and numerous attractions beyond the drinking establishments.

“Avoid Playa de las Américas beach unless you want to watch surfers. There are five other options for a beach towel, including calm Playa del Camisón. Hundreds of rental outfits, tour operators and Siam Park waterpark mean you’re as likely to run out of activities as bar options. It’s not even rowdy if you stay around Camisón beach. The trick to Playa de las Américas is to visit with your eyes open. Who knows, you may have a blast.”

The complete list of the 15 resorts can be found on the Which? website.

A NUMBER of major train services that head to the country’s biggest airport are currently suspended due to an incident.

Emergency services are dealing with an incident resulting in several rail lines that head to Heathrow Airport being closed.

The disruption is currently impacting the Elizabeth line, Heathrow Express, and Great Western Railway services, with all lines between London Paddington and Heathrow Terminals and Reading closed.

Elizabeth Line customers are being advised to use bus connections between Hanwell and West Ealing, towards Ealing Broadway or Southall.

National Rail is also advising passengers that the disruptions could continue until at least 12pm.

It comes as a casualty was reported on the tracks shortly before 8am.

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Tickets are currently being accepted on London Underground, London Buses, Southwestern, Thameslink, DLR, South Western Railways and Chiltern Railway services.

If travelling from central London, the Piccadilly Line is still running so the London Underground is an option.

Though, to be on the safe side, travellers should allow extra time to get to the airport.

National Rail’s website currently states: “The emergency services are currently dealing with an incident between London Paddington and Heathrow Terminals / Reading.

“So that they can safely carry out their work, some lines have been closed.

“Trains operating between these stations may be cancelled, delayed by up to 60 minutes or revised as a result.

“Major disruption is expected until 12:00.”

Meanwhile, there are also disruptions between Weybridge and Surbiton.

South Western Railway has stated on X: “A speed restriction over defective track is affecting the railway between Weybridge and Surbiton.

“Trains may be cancelled, delayed or revised because of this problem.”

Polo Lam and his girlfriend Laura Matos say they only spent minutes on the phone to check Google Maps and the internet but were stunned at the final cost

A British traveller has warned holidaymakers about the risk of unexpected charges after spending just two hours in Monaco left him and his girlfriend with a £109 (€128.88) phone bill. Polo Lam, 30, from Whitby, North Yorkshire, was travelling across Europe with his girlfriend Laura Matos, 29, in September when the couple made a brief stop in Monaco.

Despite using just 18.66MB of mobile data between them, the pair were left picking up almost £85 (€99.79) in roaming charges, sending their monthly bill soaring to £109 (€128.88), compared with just £25 (€29.18) the previous month. Experts say 18.66MB is roughly the amount of data someone might use scrolling through Instagram for just three to 10 minutes, depending on the content being viewed.

The couple were enjoying a budget-friendly interrail holiday from Barcelona to Vienna, travelling through France, Italy, Slovenia, Croatia and Hungary. While staying in Nice, they decided to visit nearby Menton and make a short stop in Monaco, which hadn’t originally been part of their plans.

Laura, a psychologist and founder of La CoolMente, said: “It was actually my idea to visit Monaco. I’d heard so much about the luxury and the famous casino, and I wanted to see what it was like for myself.”

But it was only when they continued their journey into Italy that Polo checked their mobile account and discovered the their trip had cost more than they bargained for. Speaking to Nomad eSIM, Polo said: “I couldn’t believe it when I saw the bill. We’d only been in Monaco for a few hours, and somehow our phone bill had jumped to £109 (€128.88).

“We’d barely used our phones. We only checked Google Maps and opened Instagram, but that was about it.

“What really scares me is thinking about what could have happened if we’d stayed overnight. If we’d spent a whole day or two there, we could potentially have been looking at a bill running into the hundreds, or even thousands of pounds.

“I’m pretty stingy when it comes to money, so you can imagine how I felt. We’d gone interrailing to have a relatively inexpensive holiday, and suddenly we had this huge phone bill.”

Laura added: “We were both confused about where the charges had come from. We’d only used our phones briefly to find our location, so we felt the bill was completely unreasonable. We kept talking about it for days afterwards because we’d been trying so hard to save money throughout the trip.”

Polo said the unexpected expense put a dampener on their holiday. “The worst part was thinking about what else we could have spent that money on. We were trying to keep costs down, and it would have paid for three or four meals out in some of the places we visited.”

Laura agreed that the money could have been put to much better use. She said: “We’d been avoiding expensive experiences to save money, so it was frustrating to see that money disappear on a phone bill without getting anything enjoyable in return.

“I’d much rather have spent it on a nice meal at a restaurant with a view, visiting a museum or even a more comfortable hotel. When you’re travelling around Europe by interrail, a bit of extra comfort can make a big difference.”

The experience left the couple more cautious about using their phones abroad, particularly when travelling between countries. Polo said: “I’d tell anyone travelling around Europe to check exactly which countries are covered by their mobile plan. Just because somewhere is in Europe doesn’t mean your normal roaming allowance applies. We found that out the expensive way.”

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Tim Page, Marketing Lead at Nomad eSIM, said: “One of the biggest misconceptions about mobile roaming is that travelling within Europe automatically means you’re covered by your usual mobile plan.

“Monaco is a perfect example. Despite being surrounded by France on three sides, it’s not part of the European Union and isn’t automatically covered by the EU’s Roam Like at Home rules. Introduced in June 2017, these rules generally allow customers of EU mobile operators to use their calls, texts and data across EU countries without paying additional roaming charges.

“This means travellers could be using their phones in Nice without additional roaming charges, then cross into Monaco and face significantly higher rates for exactly the same usage. Before travelling, always check which countries are included in your mobile plan, particularly destinations such as Monaco, Andorra and Switzerland.

“Even small amounts of data can result in surprisingly expensive bills, so consider switching off data roaming or using a travel eSIM that specifically covers your destination. If you do receive an unexpected roaming charge, contact your mobile provider as soon as possible. While there’s no guarantee, some providers may be willing to reduce or waive the charges as a goodwill gesture.”

On the gable walls of the tough, working-class streets of east Belfast, the mystical beasts of Narnia vie for brick space with balaclava-wearing loyalists. The murals of the city have long projected the power of paramilitaries, but in recent years they have also begun to reflect the more positive contributions made by other local people, including the author CS Lewis.

Lewis was born in Dundela in 1898 in an attractive terrace house that has sadly since been demolished to be replaced by rather unattractive flats. But elsewhere in this part of the city, the Lewis connection is being built on and celebrated. CS Lewis Square is in the Holywood Arches neighbourhood and has a short walking trail featuring metal sculptures of Mr and Mrs Beaver, Mr Tumnus and other beloved characters from The Chronicles of Narnia. The centrepiece is a gigantic Aslan, towering over all from atop a circular mound.

About 15 minutes’ walk away, St Mark’s church on the Holywood Road is the proud custodian of a much smaller lion that may have inspired Lewis’s creation of Aslan. His grandfather, the Rev Thomas Hamilton, ministered here, living in the rectory for 13 years, and his front door was decorated with a beautiful brass lion’s head doorknob. The original has been removed for safekeeping, but an exact replica attracts thousands of Lewis pilgrims each year.

Leafy Circular Road, half a mile away, is where the Lewis family moved in 1905 to a large, redbrick house that, back then, was on the outskirts of the city. The road has since been subsumed by the growth of the town, but remains the realm of the prosperous. The house, called Little Lea, is privately owned, but can be seen from the iron gates at the end of the drive.

“To a child, it seemed less like a house than a city,” Lewis wrote of the family home in his autobiography, Surprised By Joy. “I am a product of long corridors, empty sunlit rooms, upstairs indoor silences, attics explored in solitude.”

Little Lea appears in the opening two Narnia books, first when a boy exploring a large attic in The Magician’s Nephew finds a way into another world, and then in The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe when a game of hide and seek leads a group of inquisitive children to that same magical world a generation later.

Although it was close to east Belfast’s industrial heartland, it was also just a fence clamber away from the fields, hills and woodland glens that fringed the city like a vast adventure playground. As children, Lewis and his elder brother Warnie seem to have had a freedom to wander that would terrify modern parents. They would trek for hours up into the hills between Belfast and Strangford Lough, and travelling that way today still evokes a sense of romantic escapism.

The Belmont Road takes you up, climbing dramatically out of the city and into the expansive high ground that towers over Belfast, Bangor and Newtownards. There are many viewpoints up here. Lewis didn’t record the exact spot that inspired the following ethereal description of the views he loved, but for this writer, the crags of the Whitespots country park on the hill above Newtownards are a pretty good bet, especially as this place also chimes loudly with his descriptions of the stone table on which Aslan was sacrificed in The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.

“Looking south with a little east in it, a different world,” he writes in Surprised By Joy. “And having seen it, blame me if you can for being a romantic. For here is the thing itself, utterly irresistible, the way to the world’s end, the land of longing, the breaking and blessing of hearts. You are looking across … the plain of Down, and seeing beyond it the Mourne Mountains.”

Lewis once told Warnie that the view from the Mournes above Rostrevor looking down over Carlingford Lough was his idea of Narnia. The statement is now stencilled on a bench at a viewpoint in the town’s Kilbroney forest park. Sitting there, in the majesty of this area, it is easy to imagine, as Lewis later wrote in an essay, that a “giant might raise his head over the next ridge”.

Rostrevor is an hour’s drive south of Belfast, and an hour’s drive in the other direction will take you to the equally spectacular north coast, where Lewis holidayed with his mother as a young child. There’s an ongoing debate among Lewis scholars and his many passionate fans about whether it was Dunluce Castle or Downhill Demesne that inspired Cair Paravel, the castle capital of Narnia.

The ruins of Dunluce perch precipitously on the coast east of Portrush, while Downhill Demesne, near Castlerock, contains what remains of the old Downhill House but also the iconic Mussenden Temple, which much better fits the description of Cair Paravel looking “like a great star resting on the seashore”.

Lewis was writing his autobiography at the same time he was producing the seven Chronicles of Narnia. The experiences and landscapes he was remembering for his memoir very likely bled into the creation of his magical kingdom. And so the heavenly, pastoral landscapes of Narnia on the murals of east Belfast might feel familiar even to those locals who haven’t read the books or watched the screen adaptations. The wholesome images of his imagination being sandwiched between paintings glorifying terrorism is an unusual setting for a tribute to the world’s most famous Christian apologist, but perhaps in Belfast, as in Narnia, good will win in the end.

The first of Netflix’s new The Chronicles Of Narnia adaptations, Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew, will be released in cinemas on 12 February 2027 and on Netflix on 2 April. Surprised by Joy by CS Lewis © 1955 CS Lewis Pte Ltd, The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe by CS Lewis © 1950 CS Lewis Pte Ltd

HOLIDAYMAKERS are swapping Spanish escapes for bargain breaks to North Africa, where glamour comes without the premium price tag.

Tour operator TUI has seen a rise in British passenger numbers for this winter, with particular interest in all-inclusive, luxury holidays to Egypt as well as Tunisia.

Meanwhile, easyJet recorded a growth of 14 per cent year on year to North Africa.

Garry Wilson, boss of easyJet holidays, said: “Tunisia, Egypt and Morocco offer huge potential, with high-quality hotels, brilliant value, warm hospitality and great connectivity from airports across the UK.”

Sophie Sweitochowski shares her pick of premium North African getaways for 2027 that won’t break the bank.

Grab them while they are hot.

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TAGHAZOUT, MOROCCO

THE Hilton Hilton Taghazout Bay Beach Resort & Spa is an absolute steal at under £700pp for seven nights with flights.

It’s chic and contemporary in style, with five swimming pools — one adults-only and a few overlooking the sea where you will spot surfers riding Taghazout’s notorious waves.

Bedrooms are generously sized and come with balconies, perfect for soaking up those 22C highs, plus there is a lavish spa dishing out local treatments like

Don’t skip brekkie. The extensive feast features freshly baked pastries, yoghurts, fresh fruits and live cooking stations as well as local honeys and traditional flatbreads.

GO: Seven nights’ B&B at the 5H Hilton Taghazout Bay Beach Resort & Spa is from £656pp including flights from Gatwick on December 3, plus luggage and transfers. See jet2holidays.com.

SHARM EL SHEIKH, EGYPT

IT is impossible to feel bored at the Jaz Mirabel Beach Hotel.

The sprawling resort is home to an on-site waterpark with whirling slides, a water sports centre where you can try windsurfing, parasailing and water-skiing, plus an open-air amphitheatre for regular shows and entertainment.

The highlight is the location, bordering the Red Sea. Guests can use the hotel’s private jetty to plunge into one of the best snorkelling spots in the area.

Scenic boat trips and desert safaris to traditional bedouin camps are some of the bucket list excursions on offer from the hotel.

GO: Seven nights’ all-inclusive at the 5H Jaz Mirabel Beach Hotel is from £762pp including flights from East Midlands on December 14. See tui.co.uk.

SOUSSE, TUNISIA

A CHAMPAGNE lifestyle on a lemonade budget is achievable in Tunisia, especially at the Sousse Palace Hotel & Spa.

Right in the centre of town, there are glam restaurants and bars right on the doorstep — not that you will need them with this all-inclusive package, however.

The main buffet restaurant operates around a theme of international dishes every night with live cooking and meat carving stations.

If you are willing to shell out a little extra, though, you should visit the hotel’s Le 12ème which serves elegant plates such as freshly-caught fish carpaccio and slow-cooked lamb shank.

Outside of the food, there’s a sandy beach, wellness centre with a traditional Tunisian hammam, steam rooms and massage suites, and several swimming pools.

GO: Seven nights’ all-inclusive at the 5H Sousse Palace Hotel & Spa is from £360pp including flights from Gatwick on November 25. See easyjet.com/en/holidays.

MARRAKECH, MOROCCO

ON the hunt for a relaxing couples break? The Be Live Collection Marrakech is an adults-only haven, set back from the chaos of the city centre but with a free daily shuttle bus direct to Jemaa el-Fnaa square.

There is a quiet pool if you are after complete relaxation, while the activity pool has a livelier atmosphere.

If you have never experienced a traditional Moroccan hammam, this is the place to do it.

The wellness area is equipped with two authentic traditional Moroccan hammams where therapists use authentic black soap to remove dead skin cells.

Come night time, indulge in a drink at one of the four sleek bars.

GO: Seven nights’ all-inclusive at the 5H Be Live Collection Marrakech is from £479pp including flights from Manchester on December 12. See loveholidays.com.

HAMMAMET, TUNISIA

ON a private beach and surrounded by greenery, The Sindbad offers pure luxury escapism in the heart of the town.

Its infinity pool looks a little like the sort you would get in a fancy Ibiza or Mykonos resort, only this place is a fraction of the price.

In to golf? The resort offers discounted green fees to Yasmine Golf Club and Citrus Golf Club, two of Tunisia’s top 18-hole courses, with free shuttle buses.

The buffet restaurant is excellent and a great opportunity to sample the local cuisine such as couscous and brik, a mashed potato dish usually served with fish.

GO: Seven nights’ B&B at the 5H The Sindbad is from £370pp including flights from Newcastle on December 10. See travelsupermarket.com.

THE UK could soon get a direct link via ferry to a new destination in Europe.

Plans have been submitted for a ferry route between Aberdeen in Scotland and Iceland, often dubbed ‘Snow Land’.

The passenger and freight ferry would head to Seydisfjordur – a town on Iceland’s east coast.

Bob Sanguinetti, chief executive of the Port of Aberdeen, said: “A regular service between Aberdeen and Iceland would certainly be of interest to the port.”

So far, one ferry operator has shown interest in the route.

In the future, there could also be a stop in Orkney.

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Currently, there are no direct international passenger ferry services from Scotland, so if this route were to go ahead it would be the first.

It is unclear how long the ferry journey would take.

The picturesque town of Seydisfjordur sits in the innermost point of a fjord that has the same name.

To get to the town, visitors drive along Route 93 which heads over the Fjarðarheiði mountain pass.

The town is known for its wooden buildings dating back to the 19th and early 20th century as well.

Currently, the easiest way to visit Iceland from the UK is by flying, which takes around three hours and costs from £42 return.

A NEW attraction with an enormous lagoon and bright white sands is set to open a few hours from the UK.

Called Alovera Beach, it’s set to open in summer 2028 and the catch is that it’s nowhere near the coast.

Instead, the company called Crystal Lagoons is hoping to open Europe’s largest man-made beach just outside of Spain’s capital, Madrid.

The project itself that’s 104,000 square metres is being built at the cost of €29million (£24.3million).

At its centre will be a 21,000-square-metre artificial lagoon which will be surrounded by 16,000 square metres of white sand which makes for the perfect sunbathing spot.

The lagoon will be suitable for swimming as well as watersports like kayaking, paddleboarding and aqua fitness classes.

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There will also be children’s attractions, relaxation spaces, food outlets and cafes.

On the sand will be an adults-only beach club with separate lounges to relax in as well as restaurants.

During the summer it’s hoping to hold seasonal events too including concerts, guest celebrations and even business events.

Looking at the details on its website, it looks like entry will be through memberships and daily passes.

Plans for Alovera Beach started back in 2017 and it has just taken a huge step forward with developers signing a formal construction-start document on October 21, 2026.

If all goes to plan, work is set to complete in March 2028 with it opening to the public a few months later in the summer months.

When it does open, the inland beach will be easy for Brits to reach as Alovera is a 45-minute drive from Madrid.

One-way flights are as little as £20 and Brits can get there in less than two and a half hours.

The company has made 1,000 projects across 60 countries including the Evermore Orlando Resort.

It has a range of accommodation including guest rooms and suites to Walt Disney World around two enormous beach areas where visitors can try out kayaking and paddleboarding.

The lagoon here is larger than 25 Olympic-size swimming pools and has has two beach areas.

LOOKING to celebrate Bonfire Night with some incredible firework displays but without the price tag? Luckily there are plenty of free ones across the country.

The average November outing can cost UK families up to £30 and that’s without the hot chocolates, so here’s a handy list of the biggest celebrations that are completely free to enter.

Cambridge

For anyone near Cambridge, Midsummer Common is one of the largest free fireworks displays in the East of England.

On November 5, the evening will begin with a live DJ at 6pm – then to keep everyone entertained, there will be theatrical walkabout acts through the crowds.

These include giant caribou puppets and stilt walking jellyfish.

There will be food vendors on-site as well from 6pm until late.

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The firework ‘extravaganza’ will begin at 7pm. The event is completely free, but donations are encouraged.

Manchester

In Manchester, there are three free fireworks night celebrations hosted by the City Council all taking place on November 7 this year.

These will be at Heaton Park, Wythenshawe Park and Platt Fields Park.

Each event will open at 3pm followed by interactive storytelling sessions for children.

At all the sites will be two lots of fireworks, the first will be reduced noise fireworks at 5pm.

There will be a lantern parade at 7pm and around the site is a food and drink village, family-friendly entertainment and activities as well as funfair rides.

The second firework display will be at 8pm set to music.

Watford

Hertfordshire’s biggest display is the Cassiobury Park Fireworks in Watford on November 7.

It kicks off at 6pm with entertainment on the main stage by Vibe 107.6FM followed by a local band.

Dotted about will be food and drink outlets along with activities for kids including bungee trampolines and a bouncy slide.

The fireworks display will start at 7.30pm.

Plymouth

For anyone in the south west, Plymouth will hold a large Bonfire Night celebration on November 5.

It’s popular with around 20,000 people flocking to The Hoe for its huge bonfire next to Smeaton’s Tower and 15-minute firework display over the Citadel.

Food stalls will open on Plymouth Hoe from 4pm until late.

The bonfire will start at 7pm in the evening with the fireworks starting at 7.30pm.

These are completely free to attend, but for anyone who heads up to the promenade for the rides – there will be a small fee to go on them.

Norfolk

Fawkes in the Walks is one of the biggest firework displays in Norfolk.

This year it will take place on November 6 at The Walks in King’s Lynn.

Kicking off at 6pm it will have live music, food and drink stalls and a funfair which will keep everyone occupied before the main event.

The fireworks kick off at 8pm alongside live music from DJ Mark Purdy and Vex.

The event is completely free but donations are encouraged.

London

In London anyone on a budget can usually get a good view of fireworks for free from vantage points like Primrose or Parliament Hill.

However, if you want to go to an actual event, Coram’s Fields is one of London’s free community displays.

Gates open at 3.30pm with performances by local youth groups beginning at 4.15pm – this is also when the fun fair rides and food stalls will first open.

The 18-minute long firework display will begin at 6pm.

General entry to the display is on a first-come, first-served basis and is subject to the park’s capacity.

It’s also worth noting that as Coram’s Fields is a children’s park, adults may can only attend the event when accompanied by a child.

East Sussex

For a slightly unusual Bonfire Night, Lewes in East Sussex holds the biggest celebration in the country.

Every year on November 5, six different bonfire societies each hold their own procession and firework displays through the town.

The majority of the event is completely free, like the bonfire at Commercial Square and the torchlit parades.

Entry to the individual society firework and bonfire sites requires a paid ticket – but they will be free to watch from the public-accessible areas along the routes.

This year, the processions start at around 5pm and will arrive at the individual bonfire at around 9.45pm with fireworks displays finishing around 11pm.

EVERY traveller knows the main airport terminal is essentially a giant, chaotic waiting room where a sad sandwich and a pre-flight pint can set you back a small fortune.

But tucked away from the crowds is a world of plush sofas, Prosecco refills, buffet spreads and hot showers – and getting past the velvet rope is cheaper than you might think.

Claim 20% off Priority Pass membership

The trick to bypassing the terminal madness is a Priority Pass membership.

Once you’re signed up, you’ll get access to more than 1,900 premium airport lounges across the globe.

And right now, savvy Sun readers can bag 20 per cent off their first year by clicking here.

This includes major UK airports like London Heathrow, Gatwick, East Midlands, Manchester, and Birmingham. In fact, Priority Pass covers 85 per cent of the world’s top 100 airports.

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Instead of battling for a plug socket in a busy terminal, the smart holidaymakers are hiding out in spaces like the Aspire, No. 1, Skylife, and Escape lounges.

Inside these lounges you get access to food as well as alcoholic drinks, comfy seating, fast Wi-Fi and plenty of places to charge your devices.

But it’s far more than just filling your boots at the buffet. Depending on where you’re flying from, these spaces are kitted out with hot showers, exercise zones even nap pods to counter that gruelling early morning start.

And for even more pampering, at airports with Be Relax spas you can squeeze in a pre-flight massage or a fresh manicure, ready to show off on holiday.

And if that’s not enough, Priority Pass members also get free access to the WithU Fitness app.

The app normally costs £79.99 a year, and includes personalised audio coaching and workout programmes that you can take home with you.

Claim 20% off Priority Pass membership

A standard plan usually costs £69 a year, but drops to just £55 with our 20 per cent discount.

That works out to less than a fiver a month, coming in a £4.60.

After that, with a standard pass you pay a flat £24 entry fee each time you visit a lounge – giving you access to those all-you-can-eat buffets and free-flowing drinks.

Priority Pass members get access to:

• Complimentary food and drinks (including alcohol)
• Sleep pods to catch up on rest at selected locations
• Be Relax spa treatments (at participating airports)
• Bring along a guest (£24 Guest visit fee)
• Discounts on further airport dining and spa treatments
• The option to re-book selected lounges for a supplementary fee
• Free membership to the WithU Fitness app (worth £79.99 per year)

Claim 20% off Priority Pass membership

Prices correct at the time of publication.

EASYJET has announced a major new perk on its flights – WiFi.

The budget airline is installing high-speed internet onboard its planes in collaboration with Starlink.

The move means that easyJet is the first budget airline in the UK to get Starlink WiFi alongside Wizz Air, who are also launching WiFI next year.

Starlink will be rolled out across the airline’s A320 and A321 fleet from the first half of 2027 and expected to be completed by early 2028.

With the new WiFi, passengers can stream, game and browse, although it isn’t clear yet how much it will cost.

Kenton Jarvis, CEO at easyJet, said: “In an increasingly digital world, staying connected matters more than ever to many of our customers, whether that’s holidaymakers looking to unwind with inflight entertainment, or our business customers keeping up to speed with what’s happening on the ground.

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“Innovation is in easyJet’s DNA and partnering with SpaceX to bring Starlink’s high-speed internet connectivity onboard for the first time will not only further enhance the experience we provide millions of customers, but means we are offering more of the options both business and leisure travellers want when they choose who they fly with.

“Giving customers the opportunity to get online in the air will mean even greater choice and convenience when you fly with easyJet.

“Ultimately, it’s yet another way we’re making travel easy.”

Gwynne Shotwell, President and Chief Operating Officer of SpaceX, said: “We’re proud to bring Starlink onboard easyJet and transform the way their customers stay connected throughout their travels.

“Fast, reliable connectivity from take-off to landing means people can work, stream, or stay in touch without interruption.”

Other airlines that have already installed Starlink in the UK include British Airways and Virgin Atlantic.

With dramatic wild landscapes of mountains and lochs, rugged coastlines and remote islands, Scotland is the perfect place to really get away from it all. We want to hear about your favourite wild escapes, whether it was a stay in an off-grid cabin or bothy, a solo hike on a less-visited trail or mountain, or a romantic break on a windswept isle.

The best tip of the week, chosen by Tom Hall of Lonely Planet wins a £200 voucher to stay at a Coolstays property – the company has more than 3,000 worldwide. The best tips will appear in the Guardian Travel section and website.

Keep your tip to about 100 words

If you have a relevant photo, do send it in – but it’s your words we will be judging for the competition.

We’re sorry, but for legal reasons you must be a UK resident to enter this competition.

FORGOT Halloween is this week and the kids are nagging to do something?

Well, fortunately there are still tickets available to Halloween events at the UK’s biggest and best theme parks.

Whether you have little ones and want something more tame, or older kids desperate to head on thrill rides in the dark, there are plenty of Halloween events with availability still for this week.

Here’s a roundup of the best theme park Halloween events with tickets still available:

Legoland

Legoland Windsor Resort’s Brick or Treat event still has tickets available, where you will be able to see different Lego models as well as Lego Monsters.

There’s a huge party for visitors to enjoy as well as live entertainment and of course, visitors can head to the 55 rides and attractions across the park as well.

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Returning this year is also the Lord Vampyre’s House Party show, where everyone can have a boogie.

Tickets cost from £37 per person.

Thorpe Park

This year Thorpe Park is marking ’25 Years of Fear’ and is known for its award-winning theme park scare event with a new maze for this year called Tenement.

There’s a 4D cinema experience and a number of shows as well.

Guests will also be able to head on the different rides at the park in the dark.

A day ticket including Fright Nights costs from £39 per person or a Fright Nights ticket including the Scare Mazes costs from £71 per person.

Gulliver’s

Across Gulliver’s Theme Park Resorts you can still snap up tickets to Fright Fiesta.

There will be a festival-style atmosphere with costumes, music and meet and greets.

And at both Gulliver’s Valley in Rotherham and Gulliver’s Land in Milton Keynes, visitors can step onto the ‘Ghouliver’s Travelator’ for an immersive journey across a Halloween landscape before arriving at the Midnight Manor Hotel (Gulliver’s Valley) or the Wicked Woods (Gulliver’s Land).

Tickets cost from just £19 per person.

Alton Towers

Alton Towers Scarefest still has tickets available, with scare mazes, family spook attractions and rides open in the dark until 9pm.

There are six scare mazes in total including Compound and Dark Hollow, which is new for 2026.

Little ones can enjoy Amigos in the Afterlife with Dia de los Muertos celebrations and Trick O’ Treat Town.

Tickets cost from £37 per person for daytime Halloween events and entry to the park, or £80 per person for a day ticket as well as evening thrills.

Paultons Park

For families with younger children, Paultons Park still has tickets available to its Halloween Spooktacular with spooky characters and late-night openings.

Visitors can enjoy the Little Monsters Ball as well as the Great Halloween Mystery/Spirit Squad Ghoul School shows.

There’s also the Ghostly Manor – an interactive dark ride.

Tickets cost from £46.75 per person.

Drayton Manor

Over at Drayton Manor, visitors can enjoy rides, two fireworks nights and a new Trick or Treat Trail ideal for little kids.

There’s loads of themed locations to snap a pic at too.

If you are feeling a little braver, you can head on the Revenge of the Haunted Express and catch a lake show at the end of the day.

Tickets cost from £39 per person, or £16 per child between the age of two and three-years-old. The Revenge of the Haunted Express is an additional £5 per person.

ONE of the UK’s largest indoor waterparks is set to close next week until next year.

Despite usually remaining open year-round, Aqua Park in Stoke-on-Trent will close for renovations next week.

The park is part of Waterworld and will be closed from November 2 until early next year.

The park is hosting a ‘Last Splash’ party on November 1 before the closure with a DJ between 12pm and 4pm.

Few details have been revealed about the renovation, but the park currently has 30 rides and attractions.

The website simply states that it cannot wait to welcome back visitors with “exciting upgrades”.

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Wayne Goodall, Managing Director of Waterworld Leisure Resort, said: “Our closing party is the perfect chance for visitors to make a last splash with us before we close for a short time to make exciting changes across the Aqua Park.

“At its heart, Waterworld offers families a place to spend time together, escape from everyday life and enjoy that holiday feeling, whatever the weather.

“The upgrades we have planned are set to build on that sense of fun and enhance the way we tell our story, creating a more immersive experience for our guests.

“We can’t wait to reveal more about the upcoming investment soon.”

Adventure Mini Golf and Adventure Mini Village will remain open while the Aqua Park undergoes renovation.

Waterworld first opened in 1989 and is heated to a toasty 30C year-round, with numerous different slides such as Cyclone, Hurricane and Stormchaser.

There are racing slides as well and even a water rollercoaster.

If thrill rides aren’t your thing though, you can relax in the wave pool or bubble pools.

There’s also a rapids area, hot tubs and a children’s splash area.

KEEPING the kids entertained when the weather turns miserable doesn’t have to be expensive.

While play centres and indoor attractions can easily burn a hole in your wallet, there’s a whole host of free indoor options across the UK.

That’s why we’ve scoured the web to find the top indoor, family-friendly attractions near you that cost nothing to enter.

From seeing real rockets and steam trains up-close, to dressing up as knights or wandering indoor tropical jungles, here’s our top indoor attractions for families that are absolutely free to visit.

North of England

National Railway Museum, York

This is the world’s largest railway museum, and it’s totally free to enter.

Grab family photos in front of famous locomotives like the Flying Scotsman and the Mallard, plus hop on the miniature railway and marvel at the model railway.

Science and Industry Museum, Manchester

This high-tech museum is packed with interactive kids activities, such as the hands-on Experiment gallery where you can build mini bridges, towers and create glow-in-the-dark artwork.

There’s also working machinery to watch and fascinating exhibits on Manchester’s industrial and computing history.

Manchester Central Library

Offering far more than just books, this library is laid out like an enchanting secret garden, complete with wildlife-themed reading nooks and interactive digital screens.

The jungle-themed children’s library is a particularly cosy space for a rainy day, where you can curl up with your little one and take your pick from plenty of colourful picture books.

BALTIC Centre for Contemporary Art, Gateshead

Housed in a massive former flour mill, this contemporary art gallery has brilliant indoor viewing platforms and ‘Learning Lounge’ areas packed with toys and crafts.

There’s also a Sensory Room with free drop-in sessions, which contains a colourful light table with gentle moving projections as well as large soft shapes to rest on.

Discovery Museum, Newcastle

Dedicated to Tyneside’s maritime and industrial history, this free attraction is complete with a massive 34-metre ship (called The Turbina) right at the entrance.

Inside there’s a brilliant hands-on ‘Science Maze’ play area, with interactive screens, experiments and more.

Hull Minster

This historic church is alive with regular free family events, interactive discovery trails, plus a cosy cafe to warm up in.

There’s a weekly baby and toddler group, and past events have included teddy bear picnics. Look out for upcoming events on their What’s On page.

Royal Armouries Museum, Leeds

This free-entry museum is stocked with unique armour including that of Henry VIII, samurai swords and even the world’s only remaining suit of elephant armour from India.

There are even historical live demonstrations, including knights duelling in medieval long sword fighting, as well as time for the kids to handle special objects and dress up.

Sheffield Winter Garden

This giant indoor jungle is the perfect pick for a rainy day in Sheffield. Stay sheltered with warm temperatures inside a giant glass dome, with plenty of lovely plants to look at.

The building is 70 metres long and 22 metres tall, which is large enough to contain 5,000 regular-sized greenhouses. You can also pop into the Millennium Gallery gift shop to browse its trinkets or the Ambulo cafe for a cuppa.

Sunderland Winter Gardens

This tropical glasshouse is complete with a canopy walkway and pretty water features, making for a relaxing indoor stroll away from the cold.

There are also free events and activities hosted weekly, including Wild Thursdays forest school for ages 12-16 and Autumn Garden Adventures with hedgehog-themed crafts and more. Check their See & Do page for seasonal events.

Central and east of England

The MAC – Midlands Arts Centre, Birmingham

This brilliant indoor community hub is home to free art exhibitions, a dedicated indoor family play area, and cheap drop-in creative workshops.

There’s a programme of free events for every season, with past events including music performances, markets and pizza nights. Make sure to check the free events page.

Ikon Gallery, Birmingham

This art gallery offers free Family Explorer bags for kids, packed with activities to keep the kids engaged as you walk around.

There are also regular events including guided gallery tours, as well as regularly-changing art exhibitions from around the world.

Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge

While Cambridge’s Fitzwilliam Museum has brilliant Renaissance paintings and galleries for grown-ups, there’s plenty for kids, too.

There are free ‘Baby Bags’ and ‘Story Starter’ bags for older kids available at reception, which contain drawing materials, a picture book and props. Check the What’s On page for events like family fun days and ‘Toddlers in the Galleries’ sessions.

Firstsite, Colchester

Firstsite is a creative centre of exhibitions, workshops and activities. They even run a Holiday Fun programme where kids can claim a free art pack, play games and enjoy a free hot meal.

There’s also an on-site cinema showing a range of films including animated options for kids.

Nottingham Natural History Museum

Nottingham’s Natural History Museum is found inside Wollaton Hall, which you might recognise as Wayne Manor in Batman film The Dark Knight Rises.

Inside you’ll find a whopping 750,000 objects including fossils, shells, insects and more that are sure to excite any budding historians in the family.

The Forum, Norwich

This massive, glass public amphitheatre is rammed full of free things for families to do, and it also houses the Milennium Library.

Pick a random day to stroll around inside and you’ll find anything from science fairs, to craft markets, to family fun days – or look ahead at what’s coming up on their website.

Leicester Museum & Art Gallery

This museum contains an amazing dinosaur gallery with incredible skeletons and fossils of rare dinosaurs and marine reptiles.

There’s also print-at-home activity packs to bring with you like a butterfly-spotting trail and dinosaur-themed activity sheets, which you can print out here.

South and west of England

Arnolfini, Bristol

This arts centre on Bristol’s harbourside has a big family zone indoors with reading areas and colouring-in materials.

There are treasure hunt trails to take around the galleries, as well as half-term workshops – which you can check out here.

The Box, Plymouth

This award-winning attraction explores the history of Plymouth through its ports and famous voyages.

The centrepiece of the attraction is Mildred the Mammoth, a life-sized furry sculpture with striking giant tusks.

Science Museum, London

This famous museum features incredible space capsules, rockets and plenty of items that have made it to the moon and back.

Outside of the paid Wonderlab activity zone, there are loads more hands-on activities across the galleries where kids can become mini engineers and astronauts.

Natural History Museum, London

If in London, it’s always worth popping in to visit the Natural History Museum to take in its world-class displays – from the huge Hintze’s Hall where you’ll meet Hope the whale, to strolling through its plant and animal galleries.

Meet a moving T. rex in the Dinosaurs Gallery or discover what the extinct dodos looked like up-close in the Birds Gallery.

Tate Modern, London

The Tate Modern isn’t a walk around quietly kind of gallery – there is simply loads for kids to do in the giant Turbine Hall.

The Tate Draw section has digital sketch pads where you can watch your tablet drawings come to life on the big screen, plus there’s a whole host of family-friendly events which you can plan ahead for online.

Scotland

Riverside Museum, Glasgow

This free museum captures the Glasgow of the past – inside kids can climb aboard vintage trams, trains and buses, or stroll down Victorian ‘Main Street’.

The exterior of this museum is worth seeing in and of itself, with a giant, jagged building facing a historic cargo ship: The Tall Ship Glenlee.

Kibble Palace & Glasgow Botanic Gardens, Glasgow

This stunning 19th-century wrought-iron glasshouse is toasty warm all year round.

Kids can explore the giant indoor tree ferns and the carnivorous plant section, as well as learn all about famous astronomer John Kibble.

National Museum of Scotland, Edinburgh

The National Museum of Scotland has two dedicated zones specifically designed for kids.

In Adventure Planet, kids can get hands-on with the museum’s collections through digital challenges, puzzles, and a dress-up area. While the Imagine gallery has a giant musical floor, wobbly mirrors and a quiet reading corner.

Museum of Childhood, Edinburgh

This was the first museum in the world dedicated to the history of childhood, opening in 1957 with toys dating back to the 1800’s.

The museum is packed with vintage toys, dolls, games that both kids and their parents will love, plus interactive play areas.

The Wee Hub, Edinburgh

This unique attraction acts as a completely hands-on museum, where objects are displayed without glass casing, designed for families to pick up and interact with.

You can find the Wee Hub in the Ocean Terminal Shopping Centre, where there are also often crafts sessions and art exhibitions taking place.

Aberdeen Maritime Museum

Overlooking Aberdeen‘s pretty harbour, here kids can explore multiple floors of ship models, touchscreens, and a massive scale model of a North Sea oil rig.

Kids can pick up a free activity and trail sheet, plus meet the pirate mascots around the site.

DCA – Dundee Contemporary Arts

This modern arts hub features colourful art and music exhibitions, plus unique crafts workshops like bookbinding and wood engraving.

There’s also a dedicated ‘Create Space’ where kids can enjoy messy play with free art supplies.

Northern Ireland

The MAC – Metropolitan Arts Centre, Belfast

This giant arts venue has a permanent playroom for children to build, play and draw indoors.

There are also events like Baby Time sensory sessions, doodle workshops, theatre productions and a cinema showing films for both kids and grown-ups.

Ulster Museum, Belfast

Located in the beautiful Botanic Gardens, this museum offers a fantastic dinosaur section, real Egyptian mummies, and interactive discovery zones.

The Learning Zone is an early-years play area with a giant interactive arts wall where kids can stick up their artwork.

Tower Museum, Derry

This museum offers brilliant interactive exhibits on the Derry’s history and the fascinating story of the Spanish Armada shipwreck.

There are four floors of history to explore, plus changing exhibitions throughout the year, which you can check here.

Armagh County Museum

The oldest county museum in Ireland offers a quirky collection of local natural history, railway memorabilia, and vintage toys.

The collections span everything from natural history to transport, plus there’s lots of changing exhibitions throughout the year.

Wales

St Fagans National Museum of History, Cardiff

While St Fagans is known for its farm and springtime lambing, its massive modern indoor galleries are a treat, with fully interactive and child-friendly zones.

You can also step back in time and watch traditional makers at work, including a blacksmith, clog-maker and miller.

Chapter Arts Centre, Cardiff

Containing three theatres, two cinemas, a gallery, a cafe and more, the Chapter Arts Centre is a fantastic rainy day boredom-buster.

Make sure to check the What’s On page to book into events like pub quizzes and movie showings.

National Waterfront Museum, Swansea

Sitting smack-bang on Swansea Marina, this museum brings Wales‘ industrial history to life through over 100 audio-visual exhibits and interactive displays.

Check the What’s On page to book into unique events like the Retro Computer Playground and one-hour engineering design challenge.

National Roman Legion Museum, Caerleon

Visit the National Roman Legion Museum to explore real barracks and see a massive collection of weapons and artefacts from Roman Britain.

Kids can even try on replica Roman soldier armour to become fully immersed.

Glynn Vivian Art Gallery, Swansea

This welcoming gallery offers fantastic weekend art clubs for kids, family trails, and specific sensory areas for younger children to play indoors.

Check the What’s On page to book onto mosaics, textiles, and screen-printing creative workshops.

A Jet2 passenger plane was filmed veering off the runway onto the grass at Birmingham Airport on Sunday, as Storm Boelo winds whipped across the Midlands travel hub

The terrifying moment a Jet2 passenger plane veered off the runway in strong Storm Boelo winds has been captured on video

In the clip, the passenger jet is seen approaching the runway. As it touches down on the tarmac, the plane bucks up a little, causing the aircraft to move around on its axis in the air. When the plane next touches down, its nose is directed off the runway.

The plane’s speed causes it to run off the tarmac and onto the grass, with dust and mud from the wheels billowing into the air. The plane’s pilots managed to correct its course, veering it back onto the tarmac and straightening it up.

No one was injured in the landing.

Were you on the flight? Email webtravel@reachplc.com

A spokesperson for Jet2 told the Mirror: “Flight LS1310 from Venice to Birmingham temporarily moved off the runway after landing at Birmingham Airport, due to exceptional weather conditions caused by Storm Boelo. The aircraft immediately returned to the runway and taxied to the stand. We can confirm that everyone disembarked as normal.”

The landing was one of the dicier moments on a weekend in which gusts reached 80 miles per hour in parts of the country, causing dozens of cancellations and lengthy delays. There were also fatalities caused by the storm.

A 60-year-old man died after being struck by a falling tree in Dumfries and Galloway during Storm Boelo. Police Scotland said the man was on a road at Mid Kelton, near Castle Douglas, when the tree fell on him at around 10.30am on Sunday.

A spokesperson said: “We were made aware of a 60-year-old man having been struck by a falling tree on a minor road at Mid Kelton near Castle Douglas around 10.30am on Sunday October 25 2026. The man was pronounced dead at the scene. There are no suspicious circumstances and a report will be submitted to the procurator fiscal in due course.”

The Met Office has warned of possible injuries and danger to life from flying debris, alongside the risk of damage to buildings, power cuts and travel disruption. An amber wind warning came into force at 9pm on Saturday and remained in place until 9pm on Sunday. Only Orkney remained under a yellow warning.

Network Rail said most train services were expected to return to normal on Monday, but advised passengers to check their journeys online before travelling. On Sunday, nine of the rail operators suffered from severe disruptions, with Scotrail forced to suspend journeys on entire sections of its network.

Teams have cleared fallen trees and debris from tracks and carried out repairs to overhead lines and flooding-related damage that disrupted the network.

Gary Hopkirk, route director at Network Rail Scotland, said: “It’s been a really challenging weekend for Scotland’s railway and particularly for the teams who’ve been out in some very difficult conditions responding to whatever the weather has thrown at us. Our focus throughout has been on keeping people safe and trains moving wherever possible.

“Now the worst of the weather has passed, our attention is on getting the railway back to normal. We’ll be working as quickly as we can, but we won’t compromise on safety. We know disruption is frustrating and we really appreciate the patience people have shown this weekend while our teams do everything they can to get everyone moving again.”

Several roads and bridges across Scotland and Northern Ireland have been forced to close in the weather, while many of the ferry services between the Scottish mainland and the islands, as well as the island of Ireland and Britain, were cancelled.

Of CalMac’s 30 ferry services scheduled for Sunday, 27 were cancelled, with some suspensions expected to continue until Monday.

A man dedicates U2’s “With or Without You” to the ex-boyfriend who ghosted him. A woman sings “I’m Coming Home” from “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” for the late Tim Curry. The room pounds their fists on the tables to the bridge of Metallica’s “One,” a harrowing anthem about the horrors of war.

This is Blue Mondays, a karaoke night dedicated to sad songs that’s become a ritual of catharsis for its regulars. It happens the first Monday of every month at the Fable, where singers compete for what KJ (karaoke jockey) Teri Gamble calls, “the most coveted shirt in all of Eagle Rock”: a blue T-shirt featuring a pajama-clad Garfield (the cat, not the president) with the caption “I hate Mondays.”

Gamble, an actor, musician and podcaster, has sung karaoke since childhood with their babysitter. They host several karaoke events, including a Broadway night at Akbar in Silver Lake, and have helmed Blue Mondays for about two years.

Singers gather at the Fable on the first Monday of the month to belt out their saddest songs.

Gamble doesn’t always choose the best singer to win the Garfield shirt. They consider performers who make a song their own, get everyone singing along, or seem like they need a win.

“There was a girl who … had a cast on her arm. She cried her whole song. I said, ‘you don’t have to tell me what happened, but I love you and I hope everything gets better.’ And then I definitely gave her the shirt that night,” Gamble said.

Thom Sigsby, who owns the Fable with his wife, Monica Katzenell Sigsby, enjoys the low-key performances. “Someone did [Sara Bareilles’ “She Used to Be Mine”] and it was just devastating. There wasn’t a single moment of feeling like she realized there was anyone else in the room,” he said.

You’d expect long faces nursing their drinks, but it’s often the opposite. There’s something freeing about exorcising negativity through song that keeps people coming back. There’s community here, across the dedicated regulars and the staff — Gamble’s an incredible singer, and bartender Megha Wescombe absolutely crushes “Maybe This Time” from “Cabaret.” As Nicole Kidman might say, “Heartbreak feels good in a place like this.”

Patrons cheer after a performance during Blue Mondays. Regulars tell stories of forging new friendships at the event.

Mel Minghelli can perform both parts in “Phantom of the Oprah” thanks to her wide vocal range.

“I think I end up feeling less sad about my own personal sads because we are sharing them together,” Gamble said. “So it feels like the burden is lessened by the end of the night every time.”

Akhil Indurti, a software engineer who also performs musical improv at the Upright Citizens Brigade, won October’s shirt. He sang System of a Down’s “Chop Suey” (frontman Serj Tankian owns Kavat Cafe, two doors down), though his go-to is Chris Isaak’s “Wicked Game.”

“I think oftentimes [people] listen to sad songs because they’re sometimes more musically interesting,” he said. “They’re not just a major chord progression. It’s not usually just sadness. There’s nuance and subtlety. There’s some storytelling.”

Soraya Sebghati won September’s shirt with Linda Ronstadt’s “Long Long Time.” She fronts the band Night Talks, and said sometimes people tell her she shouldn’t be allowed to do karaoke because she’s a professional. She still loves it, both as a performer and a spectator, and — despite her seemingly upbeat demeanor — enjoys Blue Mondays as a “safe space for the freaks and the goths and people who want to sing sad stuff.”

Fable owner Thom Sigsby says his karaoke book, with more than 12,000 songs, may feel antiquated compared with digital karaoke platforms, but that’s the point.

“I’m the kind of person, when I’m sad, I like to listen to more sad music. I’m also a big cinephile. Bleak Week at Cinematheque’s [Bleak Week: Cinema of Despair] is my favorite week of programming of the year,” she said.

Fable owner Thom Sigsby says his karaoke book, with more than 12,000 songs, may feel antiquated compared to digital karaoke platforms, but that’s the point.

Dave Child lays it all out on the karaoke stage.

The Fable’s crowd and the songs they choose are eclectic, spanning generations and musical tastes. Some songs you’re guaranteed to hear every time — Radiohead’s “Creep” and Johnny Cash’s cover of “Hurt” are staples — but some performers choose more subversive tracks.

For example, OutKast’s “Hey Ya” sounds happy, but it’s about loveless relationships. Barry Manilow’s high-energy “Copacabana” describes a woman who drank her life away following her lover’s murder. Gamble recalled a performer who writhed on the floor while sob-singing Lou Bega’s “Mambo No. 5,” which could be sad considering the protagonist’s inability to maintain a steady relationship.

Blue Mondays didn’t start at the Fable. Sigsby was already a karaoke enthusiast when he began KJing at Bigfoot Lodge in Atwater Village about 14 years ago. By his own admission, he “got way too into it,” spending his own money to add songs to his book. A former theater kid and commercial actor, karaoke gave Sigsby a new way to express himself on stage and make friends. He and his wife even bonded over karaoke before they married.

Lyrics for “Solitaire,” a Neil Sedaka ballad, plays during a karaoke performance.

Given that Mondays are usually slow, Sigsby and his co-workers began adding shticks: single-artist blocks, nights where KJs chose singers’ songs, and Blue Mondays, which offered a free “Prozac” shot for each depressing tune (a mystery blend with an on-theme hue). Free booze — which singers still receive today — was a motivator, but so was the theme, which seemed to “resonate” more than the others.

Sigsby later founded his own karaoke company, HiHo Karaoke. It operates at bars including Ye Rustic Inn, Glendale’s the Gold Rail and Bigfoot Lodge, whose own Blue Mondays, Sigsby said, draws a younger crowd. Compared with some karaoke outfits, Sigsby admits HiHo may appear “antiquated,” but that’s intentional. “There’s no app, there [are] no [paper] slips. You literally just come talk to us because we want to meet you and talk to you and have a relationship with the singer[s],” he said.

The same goes for HiHo’s book. Streaming services may offer 50,000-song catalogs, but HiHo’s 12,000-plus book is curated by its hosts and clientele. Licensing each song ensures musicians and rights holders are paid, and lets people request the songs they’ve been dying to sing, from emo deep cuts to Puccini operas.

Brian Collins performs during Blue Mondays.

In 2019, Sigsby and his wife purchased the Fable (formerly the Old Chalet and before that, the Black Boar) less than six months before the pandemic. It was after stay-at-home orders lifted that Blue Mondays really took off. “I think it really was just this need for everyone to reconnect coming out of COVID and also have a safe space … where they really could emote,” he said.

Through the Eaton fire in nearby Altadena and today’s economic uncertainty — Sigsby notes the first Monday means everyone’s just paid rent — the Fable has continued to offer that space.

Regular Mel Minghelli, whose impressive four-octave range let her nail both the Phantom and Christine in “The Phantom of the Opera,” said, “I think in the way that sad music has helped people as a comfort, it’s really nice to be able to perform it and have other people … hear it or also feel comforted.” Minghelli used to treat her unique talent as a “party trick,” but now wants to record her own music with singer-songwriter Johnny Mace, another regular she met at the Fable.

Mace chose Calum Scott’s cover of Robyn’s “Dancing on My Own” that evening, though he said he often does Black Sabbath’s “War Pigs.” He described the Fable as a “magical” place where he’s found numerous friends and opportunities. “I was in the deepest depression and coming out here got my confidence back and I found my voice again. I [had given up] on my music career. I was really hurting and this place gave me life again so I owe this place a lot,” he said.

He won the shirt once singing the Goo Goo Dolls’ “Iris” but has since given it away, to whom he can’t remember. Why? Unlike Garfield, he likes Mondays.

The next Blue Monday is Nov. 2, 8:30 p.m.-12:30 a.m., at the Fable, 1630 Colorado Blvd. in Eagle Rock.

ONE airline is returning to the UK after more than a decade with a direct route from London.

Cyprus Airways is relaunching daily direct flights to Larnaca on April 23, 2027.

The airline last regularly served London until 2015, also flying to Stansted – although it was a different company at the time under government ownership.

It will be a year-round service and according to its website, return trips start from €423 (£355) in Economy Basic.

With this option, holidaymakers get one 10kg cabin bag included and a personal item.

Another is Economy Flex which includes one 10kg cabin baggage and a personal item as well as one checked bag at 23kg included – there’s also free seat selection.

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Cyprus Airways also has Business Class which has in-flight service, lounge access and priority check-in.

The ticket includes 15kg cabin baggage, two 32kg checked bags, seat selection, fast track, meals included and priority boarding.

Thanos Pascalis, chief executive of Cyprus Airways, said: “By adding London Stansted to our network from April 2027, we are providing our customers with greater choice and flexibility while further strengthening our presence in one of Cyprus’ most significant international markets.

“We look forward to welcoming passengers on board and offering them the convenience, reliability and authentic Cypriot hospitality that define Cyprus Airways.”

For those Brits who arrive in Larnaca in April, they can expect average highs of around 18C.

It’s a popular spot for the cooler months as well as in October it still has highs of 22C and it remains as high as 14C in December.

There shouldn’t be a long wait in the airport either as Cyprus doesn’t require EES checks.

Brits with a valid passport can visit the country for up to 90 days without the need for a visa.

The island itself gets over 300 days of sunshine each year and is known for having beautiful beaches – including one of the best in the world.

In the Europe list of ‘World’s Best Beaches‘, Golden Beach found on the Karpaz Peninsula in the north of the island comes in at number 30 out of 50.

The beach has 2.4 miles of sand and is known for its wild beauty and sand dunes – it’s a place where you’ll find sea turtle nesting grounds.

Larnaca is a favourite destination of singer Peter Andre’s who has his own villa there – and he knows lots of great restaurants in the area.

Talking to Sun Travel he said: “For anyone going to Larnaca, I have three recommendations. One is a new restaurants called Theta in Perivolia which is very near the airport.”

Peter also loves to go to a Japanese restaurant called Nippon.

He also added: “There’s another one called Opa Souvlaki Kiti, it’s not fancy, but if you want a proper Greek kebab done the Cypriot way, go there.”

THE thespians who frequent the Garrick Theatre in London’s West End are more used to seeing the likes of Richard E. Grant and Christine Baranski tread the boards than a dwarf bouncing around inside a giant balloon. 

That’s their loss though, because the families packing the venue off Leicester Square were hooting with laughter at the launch of Cirque Bererk last week – a theatre-circus spectacular with more than 30 performers that is running throughout October half term. 

And Sun Club members can get an extra 10 per cent off if they book their tickets through London Theatre Direct, when booking via our Sun Club Promo page. 

To get your tickets, sign up to Sun Club for for £1.99 a month then head to the Sun Club Offers hub and London Theatre Direct page or click here.

It was quite something to see a group of acts usually found in big tops showcasing their talents in a old-fashioned London theatre. 

Despite the smaller stage, we witnessed acrobats spinning from their mouths, men doing the limbo under poles of burning fire, motorbikes racing round a metal cage and a mesmerising quad of dancers in LED armour. 

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While there was a lack of a thread between most of the acts that left it feeling slightly disjointed, you can be sure the children in the audience didn’t notice it. 

Despite the age of the kids ranging from around three years old upwards (although age guidance is age five-plus), their concentration was held throughout the show – even though it was long enough to merit an interval. 

Of course they were – who doesn’t want to see performers juggling fire and shooting arrows through objects onstage? 

This was also in no small part thanks to the man from the aforementioned balloon, who took on the role of a modern ringmaster. 

Fans of Zippos Circus, who produce Cirque Beserk, may recognise him from Zippos travelling shows. 

With a grin wide enough to light up any stage, he tied all of the acts together alongside a comedy robot, in a style akin to an entry-level Cirque De Soleil. 

Which is essentially what this show is, a great starter show for families that is a wonderful way to introduce kids to the magic of both the circus and London’s West End.

Cirque Beserk runs every day until October 31, with tickets from £28.

CYCLISTS have been seen brazenly ignoring Sadiq Khan’s ‘pedestrian-only’ zone on Oxford Street just hours after the ban came into force.

As of today a one-kilometre stretch of the world-famous London street is now free from cars and buses prior to being fully pedestrianised.

The entire section between Selfridges near the Marble Arch end and Great Portland Street (including Oxford Circus) is the first to be impacted – with the festive period just around the corner.

Transport for London (TFL) has confirmed that e-bikes, pedal bikes, and e-scooters will no longer be allowed to go through the area but instead will be funnelled to surrounding routes.

However, cyclists were filmed whizzing through the green bollards installed just last night and designed to stop traffic.

A team of security guards was seen trying to wave down commuters, delivery drivers and e-bike renters and get them to dismount.

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One member of the public said it was “absolutely pandemonium” last night as buses kept coming up to the new obstructive bollards.

The road will be closed to all traffic between 7am and midnight every day of the week.

Exceptions have been made for deliveries, which can be made from midnight to 7am, and for emergency vehicles – which retain access at all times. 

But many Londoners have bemoaned the fact that the surrounding area will be gridlocked due to the changes.

As the busy festive period gets underway, others have voiced their concerns over how shoppers will carry their hauls in the lead up to Christmas.

One local councillor described the plan as a “disaster for local people” – and accused London Mayor Sadiq Khan of pushing it through to meet an “arbitrary deadline”.

Cllr Tim Barnes, Westminster City Council Deputy Leader, said: “We’re extremely disappointed that MHCLG have ignored legitimate concerns about the impact this scheme will have on central London.

“London deserves a world class shopping district but I’m worried we’re heading for an unmanaged mess.”

He added: “It’s going to be very difficult for people with accessibility issues to get to the street. There is no step free access from Oxford Circus Tube.”

It comes after it was revealed that Christmas shoppers heading down Britain’s busiest high street will now be scanned with facial recognition.

The technology is expected to be installed in December, just in time for the busy festive shopping period.

Today’s pedestrianisation of this stretch of road has repeatedly been described as the “first phase” – but it has faced criticism.

Sean Lane, 43, a cabbie for ten years driving down Oxford Street, said he was particularly concerned about disabled passengers and parents with prams.

He told The Times: “It’s gonna create gridlock. I just can’t understand it. You can see how wide the pavements are.

“There’s more than enough room for everybody. Even if you made it one lane, a one-way road, at least we can come along.”

Paul Fisher, a Conservative Westminster councillor, fears for the postcard view of the high street during the Christmas period but also on a year-round basis.

He said: “Why do people go to Oxford Street? They don’t just go to shop, they go for the experience, for the iconic buses and taxis.

“Many tourists shop on Oxford Street because of the iconic view you get … that vision will be lost forever.”

Traffic can still flow north and south along Regent Street at the Oxford Circus junction.

Pedestrians can cross at the junction and the plan is for traffic signals to be re-phased for the changes.

Traffic can also cross the pedestrianised zone on these four other routes: Duke Street (northbound), Davies Street/Stratford Place (both directions for local access), Vere Street/New Bond Street (southbound only) and Holles Street (northbound only).

Private cars have been barred for years but now all motorised traffic, including buses and black cabs, as well as bicycles, will be kept away.

London Mayor Khan has hailed the move as “a truly momentous occasion for the capital“.

The pedestrianisation of Oxford Street has been tried for years but remains controversial.

And although the traffic may have been stopped, the initial works scheme is not expected to be completed until spring next year.

The closure is part of a £150m phased plan to revive the area with “mini parks” and more than 50 trees, benches, lighting and public art.

It is hoped the plans will encourage bars and restaurants to move in alongside the shops to create a feel similar to the Rue de Rivoli in Paris or La Rambla in Barcelona.

Everyone had their reasons for joining the trip. Louisa from south London was putting her life back together after a split from her partner; first-timer Tim was strapping on ski boots following years of hesitation; and Lexi from Bristol had a classic case of the non-skiing boyfriend.

I was there because I needed a ski gang. None of my friends ski, and my brother was out of action with an injury. Not only that, I needed a good night’s sleep. I love my two-year-old son dearly, but I have somehow spawned an insomniac – still waking four times a night. Weary from bedtime battles, Holly, my partner, bluntly pointed out we could both benefit from “a temporary break from family life”. In other words: separate holidays.

Holly arranged a walking trip with friends; I opted for a week’s skiing in the French ski resort of Les Deux Alpes with Friendship Travel, a specialist operator in solo travel for more than 20 years. They find a chalet, fill it with solo skiers, provide travel, most meals and group ski lessons – that’s the basic service.

We were staying in a comfortable, largeish chalet just back from the resort’s mile-long drag. Entering a group holiday with strangers is a leap into the unknown. I was greeted by Sam and Mike, our (thankfully) low-key hosts, shown to my private room (you can save by bunking up with a same sex stranger), then introduced to my fellow holidaymakers. It turned out that there were 17 of us – nine women, eight men – and we were whisked into the lounge for a briefing and welcome drink. The atmosphere was upbeat and easy, and we gathered round one large table for an excellent three-course dinner.

Most Friendship Travel guests are aged between 35 and 65, and our group was at the top end of that range. There was Vivienne, a retired nurse from Cumbria who had just lost her partner, and Adriana, a “silver splitter” relishing retirement. For a few – myself included – it was the first such holiday, but many were inveterate solo travellers, with Ivyon, a former production operator from Bridgend, clocking up more than 90 trips.

The first morning, we set off to our ski lockers at the bottom of the slopes (tip: I booked my equipment hire in advance, saving €40). The group naturally fragmented, allowing small cliques to form – people relaxed as they started to identify potential après buddies.

I skied with Elaine, Clemmie, James and our guide, Luke, in the “level 4 advanced” group (we were asked to rate our ability beforehand). The backbone of Les Deux Alpes, the new Jandri 3S cable car, whisked us up to an altitude of 3,200 metres in 17 minutes – instead of the previous 40. Above broken clouds, we paused to admire the astonishing jagged peaks of the Écrins national park.

We blasted down a mixture of broad blue and red runs, plus some not overly challenging blacks. Although none of us had met before, we quickly settled into a rhythm, looking out for one another as the snow fell softly. There’s safety in numbers, especially on the off-piste sections. “I’d never have tried that alone,” said Clemmie.

Afternoons brought more skiing, followed by hands-in-the-air après at Skandal – reopened in 2025 following an extension – with a DJ on a packed terrace. Around sundown, the chalet WhatsApp group would start to ping. “Polar Bear Pub, anyone?” would be a typical message, often sent by Mícheál from Armagh, a dependable partner for a pint.

Solo travel has undergone a perception shift in recent decades, according to Colum McLornan, who founded Friendship Travel in 1999. “Travelling alone was often seen as unconventional, and for many it carried a stigma. But travellers are increasingly seeking independence, flexibility and personal growth. What was once viewed with hesitation is now celebrated, and solo holidays have become one of the fastest-growing segments in the industry,” he said.

At times, group etiquette could be a minefield: nobody likes waiting for latecomers (me); is it rude to always sit in the same seat at breakfast? (probably); is it OK to peel away from the group and ski by oneself? (up to a point); will I look like a skinflint if I buy my own wine? (absolutely, but life’s too short for plonk).

Honourable mention to Steve, a jolly retired doctor from north London. I enjoyed his vivid stories of cruising the Yangtze River, and skiing with his father in Austria during the late 1950s. Despite our age gap, we struck up a bond that lasted all week. Naturally, not all guests are interesting and fun. One seemingly endless dinner conversation about printer cartridges had me dreaming of Netflix in my room.

Then, suddenly, I found myself hugging my ski gang goodbye, bound for the train. Would I go solo again? Yes. Our hosts were helpful without being intrusive, the skiing superb (especially the high-altitude stuff on Glacier de Mont-de-Lans) and I met people I will stay in touch with. Best of all, I finally got some sleep.

The trip was provided by Friendship Travel. A seven-night package with a private room in a shared chalet, daily breakfast and afternoon tea, dinner with wine on five evenings, and six days of group ski lessons in Les Deux Alpes, costs from £1,820pp. Return rail travel from London to Grenoble was provided by Eurostar

YOU’LL find this majestic manor hotel tucked away in the Hertfordshire countryside with beautiful gardens and cosy rooms.

Read on to find out more about Fanhams Hall and everything you can do there from exploring the beautiful Japanese garden to table tennis and even karaoke.

Where is Fanhams Hall?

One mile outside of the pretty town of Ware in East Hertfordshire is the sprawling Fanhams Hall which is set on a 27-acre estate.

The former manor house that dates back to the 14th century has since been built upon and as enormous as it is, if you didn’t know if it was there, you’d never stumble upon it by chance.

After driving through winding country roads you’re welcomed in with the grand driveway that leads towards the beautiful hotel.

It’s a true countryside spot with manicured grounds where you’ll see wildflowers, ducks, ornate Japanese gardens with its own tea house, a wisteria canopy, croquet lawn, and water features – along with the occasional dog walker too.

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What is the hotel like?

Fanhams Hall is a Jacobean mansion which oozes charm, history and luxury. Inside are wooden panelled walls and formal dinners take place in the elegant Drawing Room.

For drinks, there’s the grand conservatory which has its own outdoor terrace and patio.

There are some rooms reserved for events, but you can poke your head in to admire them if nobody’s there and you’ll want a glimpse of the Long Gallery.

It was formerly a picture gallery inside the main house and has oak panelling and a vaulted ceiling with impressive, sparkling chandeliers.

The hotel itself is enormous, as are the grounds, so don’t be surprised if you lose your bearings at first.

What is there to do there?

Of course exploring the gardens is a must. But on a rainy day, head upstairs where you’ll discover the Energy Zone which has a foosball table, table tennis as well as a pick n mix sweet station, soft drinks, and refillable tea and coffee.

If you’re staying in a larger group, you may want to hire out the Karaoke Klub which has disco balls, a private bar, popcorn and even a slushie machine.

Outside is a small fitness room with free weights, running and rowing machines and bikes.

Fanhams Hall is a five-minute drive away from the centre of Ware. Here, take a stroll down the high street and pop into its shops like Noire, Sparkles of Ware and The Sage Garden along with plenty of pubs and coffee shops.

In the springtime check out the local lido, or take a walk along the River Lea to see the barges, boats and swans.

Ware is also a 20-minute drive away from Hertfordshire Zoo where you can see big cats, lemurs, meerkats and reptiles.

What is there to eat and drink there?

For dining, head to the Drawing Room for an intimate setting and tasty food.

The menus change seasonally, and while we were there, we indulged in juicy steak that came with a side of salad and fries, as well as a creamy mushroom pasta with crispy pieces of parmesan cheese.

At the bar, you can choose anything from a refreshing glass of white wine, to sweet rosé, a gin and tonic and a choice of beers on draught.

In the morning, head to the pavilion for breakfast where there are both hot and cold options with all the classics like fried eggs, toast, beans, mushrooms, sausages and bacon along with croissants with jam.

For those who are a fan of tea, you’ll be thrilled that there are Teapigs which come in a choice of flavours and you get your own tea pot – there are various milks on offer too. Feel free to refill your juice, tea and coffee as often as you’d like.

A traditional afternoon tea is popular here where guests can sample a selection of sandwiches from dill and salmon to egg mayonnaise, fresh cakes and gateaux.

Don’t forget the scones which come in flavours like vanilla and lavender and enjoy a cup of tea on the side- this starts from £40 per adult.

What are the rooms like?

There are rooms and suites both in the main building and in the courtyard of the hotel.

Each vary in size and design from the smaller Shoebox room aimed at solo travellers to the large Chestnut Suite which has a four-poster bed. 

I stayed in the luxurious Bonsai Room which has cosy mustard accents, a comfy king-size bed. Its two windows make it light, airy and provide sweeping views across the lawn.

There’s also a mini SMEG kettle and fridge with a few complimentary cans, there was also a coffee machine, snacks and the room has free WiFi and air con too.

The most lavish part was the ensuite where that you can watch TV from the bath, then there’s the huge shower which has side jets and Molton Brown toiletries.

For those who want to bring their furry friends, you can. There is a £40 per stay extra charge, which includes room access and a special welcome pack for dogs.

Room rates start from £126. See https://www.exclusive.co.uk/fanhams-hall/ for more.

Is Fanhams Hall family-friendly?

Yes. The Family Rooms come with two double beds and sleep two adults and two children – making them an ideal choice if you’re travelling with the kids.

The rooms are in the main mansion house and have a large bathroom too, some have a shower, some come with both a shower and bath.

Is there access for guests with disabilities?

Some parts of the courtyard building are accessible, with one fully accessible room which has been adapted with a wet room and handrails.

You can request this room when making your booking and for more information, call the hotel directly.

The lift inside the main building is a lift next to the Conservatory Bar – from there guests can reach the Energy Zone and some third-floor bedrooms.

OUR Spotlight On column gives you the lowdown on what to see and do in popular holiday spots and off-the-beaten-track destinations.

This week we’re shining a light on Limassol in Cyprus, home to gorgeous beaches and luxury marinas littered with quality restaurants.

Cyprus is one of the best Med destinations for some late winter sun, with it remaining one of the warmest European destinations in winter.

By that, I mean expect temperatures of 23C – not hot, but definitely t-shirt weather.

British Airways, Wizz Air and Ryanair all have direct flights to both airports which are around an jour from Limassol (with Ryanair offering them for as little as £14.99)

Here are some of our other top tips for a visit to the island city.

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Limassol is so much more than a fly-and-flop destination – the second-largest city in Cyprus is rich in culture and fascinating history.

And you can unearth some of its magic at the Limassol Castle & Medieval Museum, which dates back to around 1590 (although it was demolished and has been rebuilt with several additions throughout the years).

Here you can take a detailed look at medieval pottery, old weapons and plates from the Byzantine era.

HIDDEN GEM

While most holidaymakers will spend their trip flopped on the beach, those with a more adventurous streak can take advantage of some gorgeous hiking trails, leading them to a couple of hidden waterfalls.

A little off the beaten track, at the foot of the Troodos Mountain, the tumbling Kaledonia and Millomeris falls are a magnificent sight – and great spot for a photo.

The stroll takes around an hour and is just shy of 3km from Pano Platres – you can reward your efforts with a refreshing dip in the waters.

BEST VIEW

Perched on a mighty hill, the ancient theatre of Kourion offers the most breathtaking view, with the Mediterranean ocean laid out below.

The horse-show-shaped archaeological site is pretty spectacular anyway, regardless of the sea views.

It was constructed at the end of the 2nd century BC, from local limestone and has seen many renovations over the years.

It’s no longer used for wild animal fights, understandably.

Instead, visitors today can expect regular theatre performances during the summer months.

RATED RESTAURANT

There’s no end to excellent restaurants in Limassol, but if you’re a meat-eater you can’t go wrong with a slap-up dinner at Prime Steakhouse.

Located within the City of Dreams resort, close to Limassol Bay and Salt Lake, the sophisticated restaurant has been nominated in the Hotel/Resort Luxury Dining category for this year’s Cyprus Eating Awards.

Properly juicy steaks are cooked inside a Mibrasa charcoal oven and can be paired with stilton, chimichurri or morel mushroom sauces.

Make sure to wash it down with one of the whisky-based cocktails.

For dinner with a view, right on the marina is Pyxida (another nominee in the Cyprus Eating Awards) which cooks up top notch, fresh seafood.

BEST BAR

Few bars serve better cocktails than stylish Catrinas Cyprus, a Mexican-restaurant-cum-bar close to the marina.

The classic menu features all the favourites from the zesty pornstar martini to aperol spritz

Travellers come for the fruity drinks in a laidback atmosphere, but stay for the lively music – sometimes as late as 2am.

HOTEL PICK

The sprawling City of Dreams Mediterranean sits right on the coast and is bursting with fun for families and adults alike, from its grand casino and late-night shows, to tennis coaching sessions and an adventure park with a zipline coaster and climbing wall.

The five-star setting is a great place to relax with several outdoor and indoor pools, a spa and even a hair salon for those wanting a holiday zhuzh.

Rooms cost from €340 in winter, on bed and breakfast basis. See cityofdreamsmed.com.cy.