10million

A NEW multi-million attraction with a karting experiences is planned for the UK.

A new £10.2million attraction for Kilvey Hill in Swansea, Wales, is currently being discussed by Swansea Council.

Called the Swansea Skyline project, the attraction would have a gondola-style lift stretching over one-mile long from the Hafod-Morfa Copperworks to the top of the hill.

There would also be a downhill karting experience from the top of the hill via three winding tracks.

A promotional video for the new attraction also showed that the tracks could be used at night too, lit with neon lights.

There would then also be a sky swing and a number of walking and cycling trails.

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For when you get hungry, there would also be a restaurant onsite with a separate bar overlooking the bay.

And for kids needing to let off some steam, a children’s playground is planned for outside as well.

In an update this week, work has started on the base station for the gondola as well as on Kilvey Hill, where the groundworks for the ‘luge’ tracks has started.

The company behind the project is based in New Zealand and Swansea Skyline would be their first site in the UK, as well as Europe.

According to the projects website, the company said: “We are here because we believe Kilvey Hill is an extraordinary place, and we’re committed to benefiting the Swansea community for the long term.”

Kilvey Hill sits just outside the city of Swansea and is known for being a 193 metre hill with panoramic views of the city centre, Swansea Bay and the coastline.

Currently, the spot is popular for woodland walks and mountain biking.

The attraction hopes to open in 2028.

A HISTORIC pier in Blackpool is set for a huge upgrade after being put up for sale last year.

Blackpool’s Grade II-listed North Pier has revealed plans for a £10million restoration while under new ownership.

The historic pier that stretches out 1,140 feet from the beach first opened in 1863 – which makes it one of the oldest in the country.

It even pre-dates Blackpool Tower which opened in May 1894.

Out of Blackpool’s three piers, North Pier is often described as the one that’s more “traditional” and “peaceful”.

While it does have a theatre, amusement arcade, electric train and little eating stalls, it’s much less busy than the two neighbouring attractions.

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The pier was put up for sale last summer by the Sedgwick family, which owns the town’s other two piers; Central Pier and South Pier.

It has been bought by Okken Limited which has said it plans on making £10million worth of improvements.

This will include repairs to its theatre as well as the creation of event spaces and it will add a bar at the entrance.

Paul Cooper from Okken said: “North Pier is a piece of living history, and it is a privilege to take on its care.

“Our commitment is simple: to invest, to restore, and to bring this wonderful pier back to its very best.”

Phases of investment are set to be announced in the next few months.

Just down the coast from Blackpool’s North Pier is Central Pier which is right beside Madame Tussauds.

The pier is free-entry and has the huge Ferris Wheel, fairground rides , arcades, street food, and cabaret shows.

South Pier Blackpool is another amusement pier which is sometimes even described as a “mini theme park above the sea” .

This is where the seaside town has its most action rides – like dodgems, waltzers, Cliffhanger and Crazy Coaster.

It does also have the traditional arcades and bars too.

Unity Holidays has three holiday parks in the UK that have undergone huge transformations – including outdoor lidos, boardwalks and heaps of activities

When it comes to staycations, there’s no shortage of holiday parks to enjoy – but there are some underrated gems that have just had a huge transformation and well worth having on your radar.

Unity Holidays has three parks – Skirlington Coast in Yorkshire, Unity Beach in Somerset and Seven Lakes in Lincolnshire – and when we took a look we found breaks from £299 for a family of four, including the peak school holiday dates.

The three parks have each undergone a multi-million pound makeover too, with heaps of new restaurants, menus and entertainment, bandstands and boardwalks, as well as trampoline parks, and bookable activities ranging from axe throwing to archery.

The huge makeovers also include outdoor lidos, watersports, and aqua parks which will no doubt be a very welcome offering during those brutal UK heatwaves.

Some of the new highlights include:

• Unity Beach: a lido and splash park, a trampoline park, a dog agility park and a boardwalk
• Skirlington Coast: an outdoor lido, a splash park, a dog agility park, a new playground, and a boardwalk
• Seven Lakes: a refurbed bar and restaurant, as well as outdoor seating with firepits

The holiday parks also boast the likes of soft plays (a lifesaver for any parent), and are dog-friendly, including dog agility parks if you want to let your beloved pet run off some energy before flopping down for a well-deserved meal (and a cheeky drink or two for owners).

In fact, Unity Holidays are currently offering a £100 food and drink voucher with every summer break booked between July 3 and September 28, 2026, to be redeemed at any of the venues on site (excluding the grocery stores). You can book at unityholidays.co.uk and use the code UNITY100 at checkout to claim the voucher.

When we took a look, we found plenty of family breaks under £400 on offer, including the peak travel seasons.

For those who aren’t tied to school holiday dates, there are plenty of cheap breaks to be found. For example, Parkdean Resorts has three-night stays from £129 towards the end of June, while Haven has breaks from £79 in early July (before the school holiday dates). Meanwhile Away Resorts offer four-night stays from £259 outside of the school breaks.

We’ve also got plenty more staycation inspiration whether you’re after a new destination to explore, want to find more last-minute deals, or want to read our reviews of the UK’s best holiday parks and hotels, so you can start planning your next trip!

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