afternoon

Nestled on the Norfolk coast, this village boasts a stunning dog-friendly beach, famous striped cliffs and the Old Town Beach Cafe serving afternoon tea by the sea

If a peaceful coastal retreat is on your wish list, this charming village delivers seaside serenity in spades, along with plenty of spots to grab a decent cuppa.

Nestled along the Norfolk coastline, this quiet gem boasts a breathtaking beach and dramatic clifftops, offering sweeping vistas and a welcome escape from the daily grind.

Old Hunstanton sits shoulder-to-shoulder with its bigger neighbour, the more well-known resort of Hunstanton – also called New Hunstanton – but it would be a mistake to overlook it. Its unhurried charm appeals to those who’d rather skip the hustle and bustle of a busy seaside town, with leisurely strolls and striking striped cliffs to admire.

The undisputed highlight of the village is Old Hunstanton Beach, a gorgeous sandy stretch that warmly welcomes families and four-legged friends alike, perfect for a paddle when the sun deigns to make an appearance.

Indeed, its dog-friendly reputation is a major draw for keen walkers and visitors eager to give their pooches a proper run around. One tripadvisor reviewer said: “Old Hunstanton Beach is a top pick for dog owners. Dogs are welcome year-round with no leash required on the spacious sands, offering true freedom.”

“This likely reflects the beach’s size and a culture of responsible dog ownership. Enjoy the beautiful cliffs and calm waters with your happy dog by your side!”

Forming part of this stunning landscape are the cliffs, famously banded with three distinct colour layers – red, brown and white. Their striking natural stripes make the beach particularly eye-catching and are believed to represent a geological site of special interest dating back to the Cretaceous Period.

Another notable feature of the area is the historic Old Hunstanton Lighthouse, originally constructed in 1844, perched atop the renowned cliffs. This provides a delightful walk on a pleasant day and delivers breathtaking views across the region.

Café on the beach

Located on picturesque Old Hunstanton Beach, directly opposite the RNLI, is Old Town Beach Cafe, which offers a diverse menu championing locally sourced produce. For those seeking a more traditional pit stop, they also happen to dish up a lovely afternoon tea.

An afternoon tea right beside the sea sounds idyllic, yet it’s entirely achievable, with diners choosing lunch and breakfast options too. You can settle outside in the sand and gaze out at the blue shades of the rolling waves while you sip away.

One diner commented on Tripadvisor: “I visited the old boathouse café twice this week, once for breakfast and again another day for afternoon tea. It’s in a great location just on Old Hunstanton Beach, and the food and service is excellent. A really great place to call into after a walk on the beach.”

Another hailed the venue as an “outstanding little café Hunstanton” while someone else highlighted the spotlessness of the establishment.

One customer gushed: “Spotlessly clean throughout, lovely friendly staff, excellent quality, cater for gluten-free, freshly cooked, served piping hot, mega breakfast excellent as were homemade sweet potato patties gluten-free. Would definitely recommend.”

Emirates carries hundreds of thousands of UK passengers every year, including from London Heathrow, Gatwick, Manchester, Birmingham and Glasgow

A major airline has issued an announcement to customers after an update to its service. Emirates carries hundreds of thousands of passengers on UK services every year going through airports including London Heathrow, Gatwick, Newcastle, Manchester, Birmingham and Glasgow.

Using its 615-seater A380s the route from London Heathrow to Dubai alone offers more than one million seats. Now those travelling on the aircraft will be able to access internet connections, which the airline hails as “better than at home” following the completion of the first installation of next-generation Starlink Wi-Fi onboard.

Making the announcement on Monday afternoon, the airline said: “Emirates A380 was one of the first commercial aircraft in the world to offer internet to its customers, with first generation systems offering a total aircraft bandwidth of less than 1 Mbps. Emirates’ installation of three Starlink antennas on each A380 will improve the Wi-Fi available onboard a thousand-fold – offering a ‘better than at home’ connectivity experience for customers, while flying at 40,000 feet.”

The first Emirates A380 aircraft equipped with Starlink made its return to Dubai this week, after its installation and certification were accomplished in Newquay. More A380s are scheduled for accelerated installation throughout 2026 allowing passengers to stream, game, browse, and work throughout their journey on personal devices.

The service will be complimentary for all customers. The airline has future plans to add Live TV streaming over Starlink, initially on personal devices and later integrated into seatback screens.

Making the announcement on X, the airline said: “Our A380 is entering a new era with next-gen @Starlink Wi-Fi onboard. Ultra-fast, complimentary connectivity across all cabins, customers can stream, browse and stay connected seamlessly at 40,000 feet. A fully connected journey, redefined.”

And passengers were delighted to hear the news. One said: “Let’s go. The old system was under 1 Mbps.” Another added: “Please don’t ever ground this airplane.”

The “double-decker” Emirates Airbus A380 is the world’s largest passenger airliner. It is known for its onboard luxury including shower spas, onboard bars and lounge.

Government spoke out to passengers booked with carriers like Ryanair, easyJet, Jet2 and Wizz Airs amid fears of fuel supply disruption and potential flight cancellations

The Government this afternoon issued a statement to passengers across the UK amid growing concerns over jet fuel shortages and the prospect of flight cancellations. The Department for Transport stepped in to respond following warnings from the European Union.

EU energy commissioner Dan Jorgensen said this week: “Unfortunately, it’s very likely that many people’s holidays will be affected, either by flight cancellations or very, very expensive tickets.”

He added: “Even if we do everything we can do, if the jet fuel is not there, then it’s not there. [Currently] it is primarily a crisis of prices and not yet a crisis of supply, but unfortunately we cannot be sure to prevent a crisis of supply, especially on jet fuel in the future, if the crisis continues.”

Earlier today, President Trump suggested the Iran situation could drag on for weeks, stating he ‘wouldn’t rush’ a deal. The DfT then issued direct guidance to passengers booked with carriers including Jet2, Ryanair, Wizz, easyJet and British Airways.

It said: “There is no current need for passengers to change their travel plans. UK airlines buy jet fuel in advance, and airports maintain stocks to support their resilience. The government is working closely with the aviation industry to monitor risks and minimise disruption to passengers.”

“If your flight is cancelled, you have clear legal rights, including the right to a full refund or re-routing. Read this factsheet for the full picture on the current situation and what it means for you.”

Is there a shortage of jet fuel in the UK?

DtT said: “UK airlines are clear that they are not currently seeing a shortage of jet fuel. It is typically bought in advance, with airports and their suppliers keeping stocks of bunkered fuel to support their resilience.”

Do you need to change your travel plans?

Officials explained: “There is no current need to change upcoming travel plans. Government regularly meets with industry to monitor risks, understand pressures and ensure clear communication with passengers, should circumstances change.

“We recognise that families may be concerned, and that aviation and tourism businesses are operating in challenging global conditions. We are working hand‑in‑hand with industry to help flights keep operating.

“We advise passengers to continue checking with their airlines before they travel, and to check the FCDO travel advice for the latest updates. You should also ensure you have appropriate travel insurance.”

How is the government protecting passengers?

Under UK law, if your flight is cancelled, you are entitled to either a full refund or to be booked onto an alternative flight if you:

• depart from an airport in the UK on any airline
• arrive at an airport in the UK on an EU or UK airline
• arrive at an airport in the EU on a UK airline

For more information about your rights, you can:

What is government doing?

The UK Government said: “Since the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, we have been closely monitoring UK jet fuel stocks and working with airlines, airports and fuel suppliers to ensure passengers keep moving and businesses are supported.

“We continue to plan for a range of contingencies, while focusing on securing a long lasting and workable solution to get shipping flowing freely again through the Strait of Hormuz.”

How are airlines being supported?

In terms of carriers the DfT said: “At some UK airports, airlines are given scheduled times known as ‘slots’ in which to take off or land.

“Under normal rules, airlines must use at least 80% of their allocated slots during a season to keep them for the following year. If they fall below this threshold, those slots can be reassigned to another airline. This is known as the ‘use it or lose it’ rule.

“Airport Coordination Limited, the independent body that manages slot allocation at UK airports, has updated its guidance so that airlines will not lose their slots if fuel shortages prevent them from flying. Airlines can now apply for an exemption from the ‘use it or lose it’ rule in these circumstances.

“This means airlines can focus on minimising disruption for passengers, rather than feeling pressure to operate flights purely to protect their slots.”