Alton

THE England squad are no stranger to luxury breaks from Hawaii to Dubai and the Amalfi Coast – but some enjoy a humble staycation too.

Here are some of England’s Three Lions footballers past and present that have been spotted at UK theme parks, Haven resorts and even Butlin’s.

Alton Towers

Just a few days ago, Jude Bellingham enjoyed a day out at Alton Towers with his girlfriend, Ashlyn Castro.

The Three Lions midfielder was spotted in amongst the busy summer holiday crowds at the Staffordshire theme park.

He didn’t go unnoticed though…

One onlooker even recorded Jude while he was on the Toxicator – a spinning ride in the Forbidden Valley. which opened last year.

SUNNY STEALS

Sun-drenched European holidays with £1.50 pints and stays from under £9pp

PARK UP

Epic UK holiday parks with waterparks, theme parks & Spoons pubs from £3pp a night

Haven Holidays

Manchester United centre-back Harry Maguire has previously been spotted at a humble UK holiday park.

In 2024, the footballer left other holidaymakers ‘starstruck’ when he arrived at the bingo hall in Haven Presthaven Sands in Wales.

The footballer went on the break with his brother, Laurence, and wife, Fern.

Presthaven has everything from swimming pools and go-karting, to crazy golf, it has five restaurants including Burger King, Chopstix and Papa Johns. Thanks to its proximity to the coast, it’s easy to take a stroll down to the beach too.

Seaside towns

Former Three Lions defender and current Burnley player, Kyle Walker has revealed he loves a caravan holiday – saying he enjoys a stay in Abersoch, a seaside resort village on the south coast of the Llŷn Peninsula in Gwynedd.

Talking to NorthWales Live, on where he stays while he’s there, Kyle said: “I’d say it’s a posh caravan – like a chalet that we’ve got. I wouldn’t even call it a lodge, it’s a posh caravan.

“We just go down there, there’s just a really good vibe, good community, it’s like a posh council estate. The kids go off in the morning, leave you, and they come back at night, it’s fantastic.

“You go to these nice hotels and everything, and your kids are swinging off the chandeliers and I’m thinking ‘oh my gosh, get me out’ – that’s why I prefer to be down there.”

Lapland UK

Jordan Henderson, the midfielder who has just signed for Chelsea, has previously visited the popular LaplandUK.

The dad-of-three enjoyed the wintry experience alongside his family last year seeing reindeer and visiting Santa.

LaplandUK now two experiences in the country, with the original in Ascot and the site in Manchester which opened last year.

The attraction has revealed some big changes to the experience this year, including giving guests more time in the Elven Village.

Families will have more time to try out activities like ice skating and letter writing.

Tickets start from £60pp to the experience aren’t on sale yet, but you can sign up for updates on the 2026 release.

Winter Wonderland

Fairground rides, funhouses, ice skating and tasty Christmas treats – Winter Wonderland is the sign of the festive season.

And one footballer has been seen enjoying all it has to offer.

Last December, defensive midfielder for Arsenal and the England team Declan Rice was spotted at the festival.

He even took the time to pose for pictures with fans too.

Motorhome staycation

Back in 2021, Steven Gerrard who hails from Merseyside, came back from a luxe holiday in Dubai and went straight on a motorhome staycation.

In a post on Instagram, Gerrard shared pictures of the campervan and of him and his son Lio sitting at the table together.

While he captioned them: “Thanks to Barlow Trailers’ quality service for campervans.

“Great few days with the family.”

Butlin’s

No one can forget the moment I’m a Celebrity when Coleen Rooney, wife of footballer and pundit, Wayne Rooney announced she loves a holiday to Butlin’s.

The star revealed that she still loves a break to the seaside holiday park in Skegness, Lincolnshire with her family.

She said that her son, Kai, even called it “the best holiday I’ve ever been on” at the time.

Every break includes unlimited rides in their fairground, plus the new SKYPARK has lots of climbing towers and slides – including one that’s 14-metres high.

IF YOU love theme parks and often feel like you don’t get enough time in the day to see and do everything, then you might want to listen up.

Alton Towers is extending its opening hours from Friday, August 14 to Monday, August 31.

The park will stay open until 7pm each night, which gives guests an extra hour in the park.

Mina Fattahi at Alton Towers Resort said: “More time to experience thrills is always a good thing, but the classic mistake that people make is to head straight for the big rollercoaster they see from the entrance.

“Instead, head to the rides at the back of the park first.

“You’ll beat the crowds, spend less time queueing and fit in more rides throughout the day.”

Read more on travel inspo

ALL IN

I found the best value all inclusive London hotel… just £55pp with free food & booze

PARK UP

Epic UK holiday parks with waterparks, theme parks & Spoons pubs from £3pp a night

This summer Alton Towers also has “one of its biggest summer line-ups yet” with a Minecraft experience from July 18 until August 28.

And currently day tickets to the park cost less due to the Government’s Great British Summer Savings scheme.

Tickets cost £34.13 per person, instead of £39 per person when bought online in advance.

Guests under 90cm still visit for free.

Sometimes visiting for a day is just not enough though, even with the additional hour.

If this applies to you, you can also book to stay at Alton Towers Resort for short breaks from £87 per person.

The offer is available for stays between July 20 and September 1 and includes a day’s access to the theme park and free kids entry to the waterpark.

You can choose between either the Alton Towers Hotel, Splash Landings Hotel, CBeebies Land Hotel, the Woodland Lodges at the Enchanted Village, Luxury Treehouses or the Stargazing Pods.

If staying at the Alton Towers Hotel, you can book into a themed room including ones with beds that look like a bathtub, a hot air balloon or even a princess carriage.

Alternatively, if you have toddlers the CBeebies Land Hotel is a great option, with live shows, games and meet and greets with CBeebies characters.

After a day spent walking around Alton Towers, I was happy to be spending the night in their iconic hotel on the resort – here’s my honest review of a stay for our family of four

A day at a theme park is knackering, especially with two kids in tow who can seemingly have the best day of their lives while also complaining every single second. Nothing is worse than getting to the end of a day out and facing the drive home exhausted.

So, if you’ve got a day at a theme park planned, you may be considering staying in one of the park’s onsite hotels. Arguably, Alton Towers has one of the best selections of accommodation out of any UK theme park. It has hotels, woodland lodges, treehouses, and stargazing pods, so there’s all sorts of places to stay, and you’re right on the park’s doorstep so you’ve got somewhere to rest after a long day.

Recently, I stayed with my two kids at the Alton Towers Hotel, a three-star property that’s one of the park’s three hotels. Themed around a fictional Victorian explorer, Sir Algenon, the hotel has a sort of steampunk, historic look, although my kids thought it was pirate-y more than anything, but either way, the detail that has gone into it is impressive.

Stepping into the hotel, there’s a huge atrium with a large ship-shaped stage, and checking in late afternoon there was already entertainment and live music in full-swing. We went back later and the entertainers were playing some fun games with the kids, and it had a really joyful, slightly chaotic atmosphere around the bar.

We stayed in a Moon Voyage room, which had a similar theme to the hotel with lamps that looked like Victorian gaslights, lots of gears and levers, and explorer-themed murals. The room was clean and the beds comfy, and I liked that the kids sleeping area with bunk beds was slightly sectioned off and had their own TV. It meant we could lie in bed and watch some grown up TV while they could watch a bit of CBBC before dinner.

For dinner, we headed to the Splash Landings Hotel to try Flambo’s Jambo, an all-you-can eat buffet that had a bit of everything from peri peri to tacos, roast dinners, and Chinese dishes. The atmosphere was fun, with a giant waterwheel and the sounds of some very lively entertainment going on in the background, and the food was OK, with the kids more excited about the ice cream machine than anything else.

While we slept well and the room was comfortable, I woke up early to find the bathroom door had locked itself from the outside. I had to run down to use the loo in the lobby and find hotel staff, still in my pyjama bottoms and my hair looking even more dishevelled than usual. It did get fixed within an hour, but obviously that kind of thing is a pain when you’re up early with kids.

Breakfast was included and is served buffet style at the Secret Garden Restaurant. It had quite a basic selection of hot food, plus some cereal, pastries, and pancakes, which the kids were happy with. Again, the food wasn’t amazing, but it kept us going on the way home.

If you’re visiting Alton Towers and have a long drive, a stay at the hotel or its other accommodation is worth considering. For us, driving there and back would mean five hours in the car as well as the long day exploring the park, so it was nice to crash overnight and split the journey up.

I’ll admit, the hotel is expensive, and some parts felt more worth the price than the others. Packages include one day at the theme park, 9-hole golf, and breakfast, and there are deals on such as free child entry to the waterpark if you book an adult ticket. The hotel does have an incredibly fun style and is well-maintained, and kids are enchanted by the style.

But other things felt like they needed a little work. The themed rooms feel a little basic, and while they have nice décor it felt a little like they were missing something. I would have liked to have some bottled water in the rooms for example, as there were no refill points in the hotel and at £3 a pop, it’s expensive to rehydrate after a day in the sun. But I think most visitors know to expect theme park prices when they stay somewhere like this, and really, it’s the location that’s the main draw when you’ve spent all day on your feet in the summer.

Rooms start from £106pp for an Explorer Room at the Alton Towers Hotel this summer. You can currently book and take advantage of their Kids Swim Free offer. Find out more and book at altontowers.com.

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

SOMETIMES, one day at a theme park just isn’t enough.

So Alton Towers is offering a second ticket free this summer – and there are two ways you can redeem it.

This year is a great year to go, with new Bluey rollercoaster opening earlier this year.

Or if you want to go full throttle, hop onto Wicker Man, Nemesis Reborn, the Toxicator and The Smiler – so here is how to claim the deal.

Second Day-Ticket

Let’s start with claiming a second-day ticket with the Twice the Fun offer.

Families who book an Alton Towers Resort theme park ticket between June 25 and July 27 will receive a free second-day ticket.

TOP SEA-CRET

Locals’ guide to UK’s top seaside counties… best beaches & pubs and £15 stays

SHORE THING

Our best seaside towns that feel like stepping back in time – with £3pp stays

You can use it to return to Alton Towers, or check out one of the other three Merlin attractions; Thorpe Park, Chessington World of Adventures and LEGOLAND Windsor Resort.

The offer is valid on visits between June 25 and September 30.

Overnight Stays

The other way to get a second-day ticket is if you book consecutive-night stays on dates between June 25 to October 22 2026.

This includes stays during the school holidays too.

To claim the offer, you have to book an overnight stay at one of the on-site hotels between June 25 and July 29.

You’ll get an overnight stay at the resort, full entry to the theme park plus a completely free second day.

You can choose from four hotels. There’s the Alton Towers Hotel which has the Secret Garden Restaurant and Dragons Bar.

It has themed rooms so you can even choose to sleep in a bed that is like a bathtub, a hot air balloon or even a princess carriage.

A weekend stay between July 11 and July 12 in the Explorer Room for a family of four starts from £363 – or £90.75pppn.

Little ones will love the CBeebies Land Hotel which has live shows, games and exciting meet and greets with CBeebies characters.

A two-night stay in the Bugbies Room at the CBeebies Land Hotel from August 10 to August 12 for a family of four is £735 – or £91.87pppn.

The Caribbean-inspired Splash Landings Hotel is a tropical retreat with themed exotic family-friendly restaurants and entertainment.

There are the luxurious Enchanted Village Woodland Lodges which have come with private outdoor decking and a play area for children.

If you want to really indulge, check out the Luxury Treehouses which sleep up to eight people and have private hot tubs.

Or there are even Star Gazing pods which come with telescopes for admiring the night sky.

A three-night stay in a Star Gazing pod for July 10 to July 13 for a family of four works out at £458 – or £38.17pppn.

At the hotels are plenty of evening entertainment, 9 holes of crazy golf, free parking and breakfast is included too.

Minecraft fans can enjoy an immersive pop-up event during the school summer holidays that includes the chance to meet baby Mobs and other characters from the popular video game universe

Alton Towers will launch a pop-up event for the six-week summer holidays where guests can enjoy an immersive Minecraft experience, including meeting adorable all-new Baby Mobs.

Announcing the new arrivals with a Buckingham Palace-style sign, the theme park has promised fans the chance to “meet baby Minecraft Mobs in real life across the park” in a first-of-its-kind event. Minecraft Meet the Mobs will take place between July 18 and August 28, coinciding with the school holidays in England and Wales.

Character appearances will include the Iron Golem, Chicken Jockey and Creeper, plus baby Mob scenes featuring yellow axolotls, pandas, pigs, goats, chicks and wolf pups.

The baby Mobs will be positioned in six Minecraft-inspired scenes across Alton Towers, and as visitors find each one, they can stamp their game card. Those who complete the trail will unlock an exclusive downloadable in-game reward – only available to visitors who’ve been to the theme park.

According to Alton Towers, Mobs “are living creatures in the Minecraft videogames that move, interact with the environment and can be passive, neutral, or hostile.”

In addition to the Minecraft trails, visitors can enjoy themed snack stands featuring Minecraft-inspired TNT popcorn and ice lollies. There will also be a range of exclusive Minecraft merchandise to purchase in the park.

Minecraft fans can book tickets for Alton Towers online now for summer dates, and the Meet the Mobs experience is included with the regular price of admission for all visitors from July 18 to August 28.

Minecraft is one of the best-selling video games of all time, with 350 million copies sold, a number only beaten by the addictive puzzle game Tetris. Its first formal release was in 2011 for the PC, and since then, it has been released on a number of consoles and mobile platforms. A version for the Nintendo Switch 2 was recently announced, with many fans speculating it could be released by the end of 2026.

Howard Ebison, vice president at Alton Towers Resort, said in a statement: “Minecraft is loved by families around the world, and this summer we’re bringing that sense of play and discovery into our park. ‘Minecraft Meet the Mobs’ is set to delight our guests with interactive moments across the park, an opportunity to unlock exclusive in-game rewards, enjoy themed treats and plenty of surprises along the way.

“We are proud to offer this unique Minecraft event for our guests joining us over the summer, all within the price of admission to Alton Towers Resort.”

Recently, the Staffordshire-based theme park opened brand new Bluey the Ride: Here Come the Grannies!, the world’s first rollercoaster based on the much-loved cartoon pup and her family. It’s also home to CBeebies Land, where kids can enjoy rides and experiences based on Hey Duggee, JoJo and Gran Gran, Go Jetters, and the Octonauts.

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

Alton Towers has opened the world’s first Bluey ride and I went along with my kids to test out the new addition to CBeebies Land – but one thing saw disappointed parents turned away

Alton Towers opened its brand new Bluey ride earlier this year, and I was lucky enough to be one of the first into CBeebies Land to ride the exciting new rollercoaster.

Bluey the Ride: Here Comes the Grannies, which is based on Bluey and Bingo’s granny alter-egos Janet and Rita, is arguably one of the biggest attractions to open this year, and we even met fans from overseas who had travelled just to have a go.

The Bluey family is no stranger to the park, with a daily show also featuring mum, dad and bingo, and is performed multiple times a day. This allows young fans to dance along to some of the show’s hits, including Dance Mode and the infectiously catchy theme.

But now CBeebies has its very own ride, but does it live up to all the hype?

The queue

Before we get to the ride, please remember to check the height requirement for the rollercoaster. There were so many people literally panicking as it came to height measurement on the entrance (and yes, the queue was backed up to before the ride’s entrance). You must be 0.9m to ride, and those who are between 0.9m and 1.1m must be accompanied by an adult.

I saw people looking at 60 to 90-minute wait times for the ride, which is expected on opening day. But to the credit of the Alton Towers design team, they have this usual dreaded wait with kids sorted.

Two play areas and some Bluey and Bingo photo opportunities have been placed within the queue to help pass the time while waiting for the ride. Which, honestly, is a fantastic idea after being sat with a little one multiple times, bored of waiting and wanting to go off and do something.

I can tell you now that if your child loves Bluey or even rollercoasters in general, even if you are waiting over 100 minutes, Bluey The Ride is still worth it for their priceless reaction.

The ride itself

I had seen clips of it going round a test run on social media, and from those I thought it was going to be the same old slow coaster for kids. Where you are forced to have a fake scream of excitement for the kids.

But the clips did not do this ride justice. For starters, some parts are much higher than they looked, and the turns on corners really bring some momentum. At one point, I clung to my child even though they were secure and laughing and smiling all the way through. It just really caught me by surprise especially on the second way round. I was worried it was a one time around but the fact you experience the track twice really does make that wait time much better.

OPINION

It sort of hit me after the ride that this may be the best kids’ rollercoaster, and I think even adults would appreciate this as a ride with some thrill about it.

My son has special needs and learning disabilities, and he can’t walk for long. Staff even helped my wife push the buggy as close as possible and helped escort him round so he was not left out of being one of the first people to ride Here Come the Grannies. So thank you to all those staff who helped make his day. He liked the ride so much that he tried getting straight back on.

The extras

As with most rides around CBeebies Land, you get the theme tune of the show the ride is dedicated to, plus some other classics such as Telebubbies. But Bluey being here with its iconic theme feels like it has given the area a huge boost.

Visitors were smiling even in huge lines, and trust me, they battled the elements that day. We were hit with a frosty morning, then sunny, to hail, to rain and pretty much the repeat of that over the course of the day. But all with smiles on their faces, young and old.

The arrival of Bluey the Ride feels really significant in bringing a new era to CBeebies Land, and with how fast the ride is, it feels like it’s trying to cater for a growing audience as well as keep younger fans happy.

The Bluey family is no stranger to the park with a daily show, which is performed multiple times a day, allowing young fans to dance along to some of the show’s hits, including Dance Mode and the infectiously catchy theme.

Bluey is a worldwide phenomenon, and the fact that the UK is now home to the world’s first coaster dedicated to everyone’s favourite Australian dog is a huge coup for Alton Towers and CBeebies Land.

Alton Towers offers short breaks from £42pp. Find out more and book at altontowers.com.