attraction

It’s one of the largest surviving examples from the Roman occupation of Britain, and —hiding in plain sight — it is completely free to visit all year round.

History buffs are in for a treat as a massive Roman amphitheatre is hiding in plain sight right here in the UK.

Nestled next to Cirencester — the largest town in the Cotswolds — lie the earthwork remains of a gigantic amphitheatre, which at its height, was one of the biggest Roman amphitheatres in Britain.

History of the amphitheatre

Constructed in the early 2nd century AD – when Cirencester was known as the Roman city of Corinium and was second only to London in size and population – this amphitheatre could accommodate up to 8,000 spectators. The Cirencester Amphitheatre began life as a simple quarry, with the majority of the stone used to build the town believed to have come from it.

By the time most of the town had been built, its layout already closely resembled that of an amphitheatre, complete with tiered seating.

In modern-day Britain, the Cirencester Amphitheatre is considered one of the largest surviving examples from the Roman occupation of the island. After the Roman army departed Britain in AD 408, life in Cirencester quickly declined without their pay, which was a key support for the local economy and helped maintain order.

With no central authority to take the reins, the town’s urban heart was left lifeless. Private benefactors who had promised to fund public games were conspicuously absent. This led to the amphitheatre being abandoned as a place of entertainment, and in a brave bid to keep their community alive, the town leaders transformed the renowned structure into a fortress.

A trench was carved along the southern side of the building, and its entrances were made narrower. However, these efforts seemed futile, as by AD 577, a stronghold thought to be Cirencester was reported to have succumbed to the advancing Saxons. The amphitheatre then lay deserted for several centuries.

Archaeologists have since unearthed remnants of timber buildings from the 5th century at the once-celebrated site. During the Middle Ages, it is said that the Abbot of Cirencester enclosed the area to use it as a rabbit warren. Its local moniker, ‘the Bull Ring’, suggests that it may have later been used for bull-baiting – a potential nod to its original Roman-era purpose.

Architecture and Structure

Unlike the circular designs of the amphitheatres at Silchester and Dorchester, the Cirencester Amphitheatre was oval-shaped, with an entrance at each end of the structure’s longer axis.

The vast earth banks, the only remnants of the once towering structure, held rows of wooden seats built on terraced drystone walls. It’s thought that there was also a standing area for spectators within the building, reports Gloucestershire Live. The amphitheatre’s seating area alone could accommodate around 8,000 people — a figure not far off from the entire population of Corinium at the time (approximately 10,000).

A wall separated the audience from the arena, which was covered with sand and fine gravel. During a later renovation, two small chambers were built on either side of the entrance’s inner end. Indications suggest that one of them was dedicated to Nemesis, the goddess often honoured in amphitheatres from the Roman Empire.

Getting there

Cirencester Amphitheatre is free to explore as it’s not a ticketed site. However, visitors should be aware that some parts of the site are uneven, making them unsuitable for wheelchair users. There’s also a small flight of stairs at the entrance of the structure which may pose an accessibility challenge.

Dog owners are welcome to bring their pets to Cirencester Amphitheatre, provided they are kept on leads. Free parking is available in the car park at the eastern end of Cotswold Avenue, and shops, toilets, and food outlets can be found in the nearby Cirencester town centre.

While the UK has many iconic attractions from the London Eye to Edinburgh Castle, the one that comes out on top with the most five-star reviews on TripAdvisor is one you’ve likely never heard of

The UK has a wealth of places to visit, and if you’re planning a staycation, you certainly won’t be short of ideas. When it comes to visiting a new place, many of us use TripAdvisor to look at reviews and work out what the top attractions are locally.

Now, research from Iglu Cruises has used TripAdvisor data to determine the ultimate day out across 108 countries. Using this information, the cruise line identified which attractions had the highest number of five-star reviews, and a surprising winner emerged at the top.

With 98.1% of reviews giving it five stars, the top spot went to Ascent Aviation, based in the west central lowlands of Scotland. If you know someone interested in planes, this could be the ultimate day out for them, as it hosts a flight simulator and pilot training centre. Visitors can experience flying to over 26,000 airports on a 220-degree wrap-around, which makes you feel like you’re right in the cockpit.

Both children and adults can fly the simulator, although those under 14 will need an adult with them and may require assistance with some of the controls.

One TripAdvisor reviewer said: “I bought this experience for myself and a friend who loves all things aircraft and our experience could not have been better. Our pilot, Chris, was excellent and made us feel instantly comfortable and answered all our (many) questions patiently. A fascinating experience that was really good fun!”

Another commented: “Booked as a present for my son’s 12th birthday, he had an amazing time. The Pilot provided the tuition, treated him as an adult, and provided excellent instruction and patiently answered all his questions. Highly recommend for all flying enthusiasts out there.”

And in a double victory for Scotland, number two on the list is Glenkinchie Distillery in East Lothian. 91.1% of its reviews gave a glowing five stars to the iconic distillery, which is renowned for producing the Edinburgh Malt.

Whiskey fans can tour the distillery and learn how their single malt is made, before visiting the bar for a tasting, and picking up a bottle to take home with them. One visitor said: “Willie gave us the tour and did an amazing job. He told everything with passion, humor and involved everybody in the tour. It’s the best whisky experience near Edinburgh.”

In third place, the Victoria Tunnel in Tyne and Wear boasts 90.5% five-star reviews. This historic underground wagonway was built in the 1840s and originally transported coal, before being used in World War II as an air raid shelter. Guests can take a private tour of the tunnel and learn about its fascinating history and what it was like for the people sheltering there.

Wales gets its first mention in fourth place for the Big Pit National Coal Museum in Torfaen, for which 89.8% of reviews were five-star. This one has an experience that’s best avoided by the claustrophobic; you can go 300 feet underground on a guided tour which is led by a miner. Deep underground, you’ll see the original mine workings and machinery from its days as a working mine.

If you prefer to stay in daylight, there are also surface tours, which take you around various colliery buildings and allow you to learn about the rich history of the mine.

Have a story you want to share? Email us at [email protected].

A HISTORIC Victorian bathhouse is getting a new lease of life after closing nearly 50 years ago.

Manor Place Baths in South London is a 19th century bathhouse that was once a huge swimming pool complex.

It later became a boxing venue before closing in the 1970s.

However, a new attraction is set to open inside the bathhouse, as part of a collaboration with Nike and Palace Skateboards.

Inside will be a thee ‘zones’ –  The Park and The Cage, The Front Room, and The Residency. 

A free to use skatepark is in the area where the men’s swimming pool use to be (having since been paved over).

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The ‘world-class’ skatepark will be made of concrete, with ramps, ledges and benches.

There will also be an underground football cage which can be used for three-a-side.

The Front Room will be an art venue with workshops and pop ups, as well as having Nike clothing on sale.

And The Residency will be creative studio spaces, which will be on rotation every nine months.

Events will include “skate jams,” women-only sessions and a number of others.

Opening from November 11, it will be free to visit and open six days a week.

Palace co-founder Lev Tanju said: “We had an idea of creating a large space for the community that would be about skateboarding and sport, and a space you could generally hang out in.”

Gareth Skewis, also co-founder of Palace, said: “I want Manor Place to be somewhere safe and friendly where people can skate, play football and discover new things.”

It has even been backed by English footballer Lenna Gunning-Williams.

She said: “Manor Place is important for the next generation because it’s so accessible.

“It’s going to be a place where people can connect — and it’s not just for footballers, it’s for skaters and creatives too.” 

Another Victorian bathhouse in the UK is being turned into a new attraction as well.

Kings Hall in Clapton, previously called Hackney Public Bath is undergoing a £71million upgrade.

With a new swimming pool and sauna, it hopes to reopen by 2028.

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A SEASIDE train station dating back nearly 180 years has been returned to its former glory.

The train station in North Yorkshire has undergone a massive £3.6 million restoration project – and it’s just minutes away from the traditional seaside towns of Scarborough and Bridlington.

Sitting on the North Yorkshire coast, the town has been one of the most popular seaside destinations in England for decades.

In the 60s and 70s, it welcomed thousands of tourists every year to Billy Butlin’s campsite, one of the earliest holiday camps in the UK. 

Nestled between Scarborough and Bridlington, in its heyday Filey pulled in more than 150,000 guests every year.

Holidaymakers at the hugely popular resort enjoyed swimming, sunbathing, dancing and amusement arcades.

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In the evening, if they hadn’t retired to their chalets, they were treated to entertainment from the famous Red Coats.

The Butlin’s campsite was so popular that it had its own branch and station on the north east railway.

Despite its popularity, it was no match for the boom in affordable trips to the Spanish Costas in the 1970s.

It was shut in 1983 and by 2001 it resembled a ghost town with the shells of abandoned cabins and drained swimming pools filled with rubbish.

While the once-thriving Butlin’s resort has now been transformed into a £25 million coastal holiday village with pools, saunas, an arcade, and spa, there are still signs of nostalgia in the town for the casual visitor – none more so than at the recently revamped train station.

Main features such as the lantern roof at the station have been reinstated to what they would have looked like when it first opened in 1846.

This includes extensive glazing and tile work and adding safe walkways for easier maintenance.

The huge restoration project, which was backed by the Railway Heritage Trust, also includes improvements to the café, toilets, drainage, and in the train shed – including two ornate cast iron windows.

Network Rail has worked with partners on the refurbishment of the Grade II-listed building.

Jake Walton, Network Rail senior asset engineer, said: “Seaside stations like Filey hold a special place in the hearts of people from much further afield than their towns – being closely linked to generations of memories of days out.

“We’re delighted to have completed a wide-ranging suite of improvements here at Filey which protect the building as a piece of railway heritage while making the station fit for modern passenger use, and for generations to come.”

David Skaith, Mayor of York and North Yorkshire, said it was “great to see a building with such heritage be looked after to make sure that families and friends can come together on our beautiful coastline for another 180 years”.

The Railway Heritage Trust backed the project with contributions totalling £53,000 for restoration of the train shed windows and roofs of the ancillary buildings.

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Tim Hedley-Jones, Railway Heritage Trust executive director, said the station, built by renowned North-Eastern railway architect GT Andrews, “is still fulfilling the role for which it was built”.

He added: “It retains its original character as a railway station from the first half of the 19th century.”

When Xavier “X” Atencio was plucked by Walt Disney in 1965 to be one of his early theme park designers, he was slotted on a number of projects that placed him out of his comfort zone.

Atencio, for instance, never would have envisioned himself a songwriter.

One of Atencio’s first major projects with Walt Disney Imagineering — WED Enterprises (for Walter Elias Disney), as it was known at the time — was Pirates of the Caribbean. In the mid-’60s when Atencio joined the Pirates team, the attraction was well underway, with the likes of fellow animators-turned-theme park designers Marc Davis and Claude Coats crafting many of its exaggerated characters and enveloping environments. Atencio’s job? Make it all make sense by giving it a cohesive story. While Atencio had once dreamed of being a journalist, his work as an animator had led him astray of a writer’s path.

Atencio would not only figure it out but end up as the draftman of one of Disneyland’s most recognizable songs, “Yo Ho (A Pirate’s Life for Me).” In the process, he was key in creating the template for the modern theme park dark ride, a term often applied to slow-moving indoor attractions. Such career twists and turns are detailed in a new book about Atencio, who died in 2017. “Xavier ‘X’ Atencio: The Legacy of an Artist, Imagineer, and Disney Legend” (Disney Editions), written by three of his family members, follows Atencio’s unexpected trajectory, starting from his roots in animation (his resume includes “Fantasia,” the Oscar-winning short “Toot, Whistle, Plunk and Boom” and even stop-motion work in “Mary Poppins”).

For Pirates of the Caribbean, Atencio is said to have received little direction from Disney, only that the park’s patriarch was unhappy with previous stabs at a narration and dialogue, finding them leaning a bit stodgy. So he knew, essentially, what not to do. Atencio, according to the book, immersed himself in films like Disney’s own “Treasure Island” and pop-cultural interpretations of pirates, striving for something that felt borderline caricature rather than ripped from the history books.

Xavier “X” Atencio got his start in animation. Here, he is seen drawing dinosaurs for a sequence in “Fantasia.”

(Reprinted from “Xavier ‘X’ Atencio: The Legacy of An Artist, Imagineer, and Disney Legend” / Disney Enterprises Inc. / Disney Editions)

Indeed, Atencio’s words — some of those quoted in the book, such as “Avast there! Ye come seeking adventure and salty old pirates, aye?” — have become shorthand for how to speak like a pirate. The first scene written for the attraction was the mid-point auction sequence, a section of the ride that was changed in 2017 due to its outdated cultural implications. In the original, a proud redheaded pirate is the lead prisoner in a bridal auction, but today the “wench” has graduated to pirate status of her own and is helping to auction off stolen goods.

At first, Atencio thought he had over-written the scene, noticing that dialogue overlapped with one another. In a now-famous theme park moment, and one retold in the book, Atencio apologized to Disney, who shrugged off Atencio’s insecurity.

“Hey, X, when you go to a cocktail party, you pick up a little conversation here, another conversation there,” Disney told the animator. “Each time people will go through, they’ll find something new.”

This was the green light that Atencio, Davis and Coats needed to continue developing their attraction as one that would be a tableau of scenes rather than a strict plot.

Tying it all together, Atencio thought, should be a song. Not a songwriter himself, of course, Atencio sketched out a few lyrics and a simple melody. As the authors write, he turned to the thesaurus and made lists of traditional “pirating” words. He presented it to Disney and, to Atencio’s surprise, the company founder promptly gave him the sign off.

“Yo Ho (A Pirate’s Life for Me),” Atencio would relay, was a challenge as the ride doesn’t have a typical beginning and ending, meaning the tune needed to work with whatever pirate vignette we were sailing by. Ultimately, the song, with music by George Bruns, underlines the ride’s humorous feel, allowing the looting, the pillaging and the chasing of women, another scene that has been altered over the years, to be delivered with a playful bent.

The song “altered the trajectory” of Atencio’s career. While Atencio was not considered a musical person — “No, not at all,” says his daughter Tori Atencio McCullough, one of the book’s co-authors — the biography reveals how music became a signature aspect of his work. The short “Toot, Whistle, Plunk and Boom,” for instance, is a humorous tale about the discovery of music. And elsewhere in Atencio’s career he worked on the band-focused opening animations for “Mickey Mouse Club.”

“That one has a pretty cool kind of modern instrument medley in the middle,” Kelsey McCullough, Atencio’s granddaughter and another one of the book’s authors, says of “Mickey Mouse Club.” “It was interesting, because when we lined everything up, it was like, ‘Of course he felt like the ride needed a song.’ Everything he had been doing up to that point had a song in it. Once we looked it at from that perspective, it was sort of unsurprising to us. He was doing a lot around music.”

Xavier “X” Atencio contributed concepts to Disneyland’s Haunted Mansion, including its famous one-eyed cat.

(Reprinted from “Xavier ‘X’ Atencio: The Legacy of An Artist, Imagineer, and Disney Legend” / Disney Enterprises Inc. / Disney Editions)

Atencio would go on to write lyrics for the Country Bear Jamboree and the Haunted Mansion. While the Haunted Mansion vacillates between spooky and lighthearted imagery, it’s Atencio’s “Grim Grinning Ghosts” that telegraphs the ride’s tone and makes it clear it’s a celebratory attraction, one in which many of those in the afterlife prefer to live it up rather than haunt.

Despite his newfound music career, Atencio never gave up drawing and contributing concepts to Disney theme park attractions. Two of my favorites are captured in the book — his abstract flights through molecular lights for the defunct Adventure Thru Inner Space and his one-eyed black cat for the Haunted Mansion. The latter has become a fabled Mansion character over the years. Atencio’s fiendish feline would have followed guests throughout the ride, a creature said to despise living humans and with predatory, possessive instincts.

In Atencio’s concept art, the cat featured elongated, vampire-like fangs and a piercing red eye. In a nod to Edgar Allan Poe’s story “The Black Cat,” it had just one eyeball, which sat in its socket with all the subtlety of a fire alarm. Discarded eventually — a raven essentially fills a similar role — the cat today has been resurrected for the Mansion, most notably in a revised attic scene where the kitty is spotted near a mournful bride.

Xavier “X” Atencio retired from Disney in 1984 after four-plus decades with the company. He drew his own retirement announcement.

(Reprinted from “Xavier ‘X’ Atencio: The Legacy of An Artist, Imagineer, and Disney Legend” / Disney Enterprises Inc. / Disney Editions)

Co-author Bobbie Lucas, a relative of Atencio’s colloquially referred to by the family as his “grandchild-in-law,” was asked what ties all of Atencio’s work together.

“No matter the different style or no matter the era, there’s such a sense of life and humanity,” Lucas says. “There’s a sense of play.”

Play is a fitting way to describe Atencio’s contributions to two of Disneyland’s most beloved attractions, where pirates and ghosts are captured at their most frivolous and jovial.

“I like that,” Lucas adds. “I like someone who will put their heart on their sleeve and show you that in their art.”

Sitting on the border of England and Wales, this quaint town has open bookshelves in the streets and independent bookshops lining the roads, drawing in readers from across the UK

Nestled beneath the ruins of a picturesque castle, with open bookshelves lining the streets and independent bookshops at every turn, Hay-on-Wye is an avid reader’s dream come true.

This quaint town, largely dedicated to the joy of reading, has been a haven for book lovers since 1961 when Richard Booth opened his first shop. It quickly transformed into a literary hotspot.

Today, it boasts over 20 bookshops and hosts an annual festival that attracts some of the world’s most esteemed authors and thinkers. The Hay Festival spans ten days from May to June each year.

The inception of the Hay Festival in 1988 put the town firmly on the global map as a literary sanctuary. Past guest speakers have included renowned actors such as Judi Dench and Jude Law, and even former US president Bill Clinton.

Among the castle ruins lies a unique book spot where visitors can browse open-air shelves brimming with books. Operating on an honesty system, tourists are expected to leave money in a payment box after selecting their books, which typically range from £1 to £6.

A TripAdvisor review says: “This is a very interesting place to visit with fabulous guides who have so much knowledge of the castle and it’s history…. there is also a very good gift shop with an amazing array of history books and gifts of all kinds. I would definitely encourage you to visit.”

Book lovers will find plenty to explore amongst the town’s beloved independent shops. The original Richard Booth Bookshop remains one of Hay’s largest, offering both new and second-hand titles alongside welcoming nooks where visitors can settle in with a good read.

For something different, the Hay Cinema Bookshop occupies a former picture house spread across two storeys. Its extensive collection is made easier to browse thanks to helpful signage throughout the sprawling sections.

Castle Bookshop earns high praise from bibliophiles and ranks amongst TripAdvisor’s must-visit destinations in the town. One review notes: “Best place in Hay for all types of books, with many bargains to be had. Has a lovely selection of old as well as new books.

“The only bad mark is it is not good for the disabled, as everything is up and down steps and tight walkways. But if you are a book fan, you must give it a visit.”

These days, a night at one of SoCal’s most popular haunted attractions usually begins with attendants scanning digital tickets at a clearly marked entrance.

At Coffin Creek, things were a little different.

Those who made the journey to Corona’s annual haunt entered an eerie scene the moment they veered off the 71 Freeway and down the desolate roads to Riverview Recreation Park, where Coffin Creek made its home. In the parking area, the dust kicked up by the vehicles created its own layer of fog, and sounds could be heard in the darkness — faint screams, the echo of chain saws and the nervous chatter of the hauntgoers. There was always a sense of mystery and excitement: With its independent, grassroots vibe, Coffin Creek — one of the longest-running Halloween attractions in Southern California — was the little haunt that could.

Coffin Creek has had its final run. Its founder and operator, Gary Shireman, passed away last month at the age of 74. But its legend lives on in the community of Halloween enthusiasts.

Coffin Creek, situated at Riverview Recreation Park, had a rustic feel, which added to the spookiness.

(Warren So)

While Coffin Creek, which at times went by the name Crossroads Haunted Village, was essentially a destination populated by several independently owned and operated haunted mazes, Shireman was the head of the operation. An electrician by trade and a longtime horror fan, Shireman launched the enterprise in 2007 after spending years searching for a location. He landed upon 180 acres of a park in Corona near the Santa Ana River. And as he soon discovered, it was already haunted, perhaps.

The backstory of the Coffin Creek locale — at least as it’s told through a newspaper story on the haunt’s website — is that in 1938, a massive flood hit Southern California, unearthing 13 coffins in Corona from an abandoned cemetery. Only some of the human remains from those coffins were recovered, and soon people in the area began seeing and hearing strange things at night.

Local artists and volunteers worked all year to open Coffin Creek, which was never a production as flashy or refined as Universal’s Halloween Horror Nights, Knott’s Scary Farm or any of SoCal’s well-established haunted maze destinations — but that was part of the allure. The darkness of the woods and muddy terrain was just as effective scenery as any of the bedsheet drapery or wooden flats that had been set up. While a discerning guest may have noticed that some of the haunted set pieces were missing a little paint or not lighted all that well, the cackling heard from the dark spaces in between reminded folks that it was all about the final thrill. One could never tell when a chain-saw-wielding madman was about to jump out from behind a wall.

The sign for the Coffin Creek Manor maze.

(Scott Feinblatt)

“Gary’s mazes were very old-school and very low-tech, and he was a big proponent of that,” said Warren So, a contributor for Hollywood Gothique, an online guide to all things horror in L.A. “He felt that all we need is a good old-school scare. As long as people scream, then it’s successful.”

In one 2011 interview, Shireman said he would work all year for that “first scream of the season.” Some attendees would take one step through the front door and come right back out.

The mazes at Coffin Creek had names like Chambers of the Mausoleum, Labyrinth of Lost Relics, Bog of the Abyss, the Dark Realm and Coffin Creek Manor, the legend’s namesake. One of the most endearing aspects of the destination was that several of the mazes took residence in the permanent structures that composed the medieval-inspired village of the Koroneburg Renaissance Festival on the park’s grounds.

A scare actor ready for his next victim.

(Scott Feinblatt)

Actors played all types of ghoulish creatures, including orcs and vampires. Uncle Zed’s Zombie Safari, which was one of several haunted hayride-style attractions that appeared over the years, even featured something of a community-sourced collection of monsters, all of which originated from independent contributions to the Secure, Contain, Protect (SCP) horror subgenre. Guests of this Coffin Creek attraction were carted along from one breached containment scenario to the next, with roving monsters periodically surprising them in the darkness between the scantily lighted vignettes.

Steve Biodrowski, the owner and operator of Hollywood Gothique, said Shireman worked tirelessly behind the scenes, dealing not only with the haunt’s creation but also with all the red tape that came with operating at the Corona park. Biodrowski recalled Shireman telling him about the complex nature of its ownership. “There were like four different owners,” Biodrowsky explained. “One was federal, and I believe it had something to do with the Army; then there were state and local departments involved. Getting everybody to sign on to a deal or agree to allow the haunted village to operate was just near impossible.”

Clowns haunted the premises — and visitors’ dreams.

(Scott Feinblatt)

Over the years of Coffin Creek’s various incarnations, a number of ancillary attractions complemented the mazes: a magic show, horror merchandise vendors and food stands. Some of the haunts included higher production value effects — Chambers of the Mausoleum, for instance, featured inventive animatronics from its principal operator, Figment Foundry. Even by the mid-2010s during a proliferation of local haunted attractions, the village downsized but the mazes never lost their charm. By continually utilizing veneers and components from past maze builds, the distinctive landscape and the talents of passionate, volunteers, Shireman continued to conjure an entertaining enterprise.

His passion for haunted attractions did not end at Coffin Creek. In 2022, Shireman partnered with haunt producer Jason Thompson to host the Haunt X convention at the Fairplex in Pomona. The event provided independent haunt owners and artisans an opportunity to network, learn trade techniques and showcase their enterprises and goods with one another and with their fans.

“He wasn’t just into haunted houses,” So said of Shireman. “He was always bouncing ideas about other Halloween stuff that was family-friendly — not scary — for the kids.” Additionally, So said that Shireman was generous with the community. “He loved talking to you about your haunt and his haunt and sharing ideas. I think everybody would agree that he was always willing to help. Another buddy of mine was building his haunted house, and even though it had nothing to do with Gary, he was down to help out and build out in the heat, in the desert. And Gary did not benefit one single cent. That’s just the guy he was — he doesn’t ask for anything and just wants to make a friend and help make a good haunt.”

The legend of the Coffin Creek location is that a flood hit Southern California, unearthing 13 coffins from an abandoned cemetery.

(Scott Feinblatt)

Shortly before his death, Shireman expressed enthusiasm about Coffin Creek’s future. He had announced that the haunt would be moving to a new Riverside location, the Lake Perris Fairgrounds, where it would operate in tandem with the Perris Pumpkin Patch. That couldn’t happen, but the Perris Pumpkin Patch has been operational this season and remains a family-friendly destination.

And while the haunt may have ended, like with any good maze, there may always be something more lurking ahead.

A BRAND new visitor attraction is coming to a UK city – and it is opening tomorrow.

Zip World – a UK outdoor adventure giant – is opening its first ever city-centre site in Wales.

The new destination will be located on top of the Principality Stadium in Cardiff.

The attraction will open tomorrow and will have three experiences.

The first experience is a Stadium Walk, where visitors can step across the rooftop of the Principality Stadium and gain panoramic views of the city.

At Stadium Drop, visitors can abseil down the side of the stadium.

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Finally, at Stadium Flyer, visitors can head on a zip line across a 60 metre high canopy.

Unlike other Zip World attractions, the Cardiff site will sell tickets to each experience individually – so visitors can chose one experience, two or all three.

Tickets will start from £25 per person.

The opening of Zip World Cardiff at Principality Stadium will be Zip World’s second city-centric location, following the opening of Helix and ArcelorMittal Orbit 360 in London last year.

The attraction is opening in partnership with the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU).

The attraction was previously branded under the name Scale and was operated by Wire & Sky.

Zip World will now be the new operator of the Principality Stadium roof top attraction after securing a deal with the WRU.

Andrew Hudson, CEO of Zip World, commented: “Bringing Zip World to Cardiff is a proud moment for us.

“It’s our first stadium location and our first city-centre location in Wales.

“It’s chance to bring something new to the capital, in a place that means a lot to our team and to the wider Welsh public.

“Taking on the rooftop operations at Principality Stadium marks the start of an exciting new chapter – one where Zip World will act as a strategic partner to help shape the stadium’s next phase.

“This is just the beginning.

“Our team is working hard behind the scenes, and we can’t wait to introduce even more adventures to the stadium and bring a bit of Zip World magic to Cardiff – watch this space!”

Sean Taylor, founder and president of Zip World added: “As a lifelong rugby fan, I’ve got fond memories of watching Wales play as a young lad.

“The atmosphere was electric and the Andy Haden dive in 1978 is something I’ll never forget.

“To now be taking on the rooftop adventures at Principality Stadium marks a significant step forward for Zip World.”

Zip World also recently announced a new adventure attraction in one of the UK’s best loved beauty spots – with a huge underground zip wire.

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One UK tourist attraction has been named the spookiest tourist attraction in Europe

For those keen to inject some spine-chilling thrills into their next holiday, Europe offers countless eerie destinations to explore. Yet the most bone-chilling spot of all might be right on our doorstep.

Norwegian Air has declared the Edinburgh Vaults in Scotland as Europe’s most terrifying tourist attraction. These underground chambers were carved out within the nineteen arches of Edinburgh’s South Bridge.

Initially serving as storage facilities for South Bridge businesses from 1788, this purpose proved short-lived. During the Industrial Revolution, they transformed into overcrowded slum dwellings, with cramped rooms sheltering families of up to ten people.

The vaults eventually earned notoriety as one of the city’s most perilous areas, becoming a breeding ground for criminal enterprises.

Underground spaces were converted into illicit gambling establishments and bootleg whisky operations. Sinister tales even suggested that body snatchers would temporarily store cadavers in certain vaults overnight.

Given this grim and shadowy past, it comes as little surprise that the Edinburgh Vaults are reportedly haunted. Spectral encounters include phantom children who grasp visitors’ hands during tours, and the infamous ‘Mr. Boots’, whose thunderous footsteps occasionally reverberate throughout the chambers.

One TripAdvisor reviewer shared their experience: “Had a wonderful time exploring. Worth booking in advance. Very interesting to learn new things. Unfortunately I can’t remember the young ladies name who lead us but she was amazing and very knowledgeable.”

Another added: “We had the most amazing tour thanks to our guide, Kieran. It was just myself and my partner on our tour, but that didn’t phase our guide! He struck the right balance between scary/paranormal stories and the dark historical past of the vaults. If you’re coming to Edinburgh, carve out an hour to go on this tour, it was my favourite thing we’d done on this holiday!”

Meanwhile, a third wrote: “Great tour with a fantastic tour guide Aimee who was very informative & comical. Really interesting to learn about the history of the underground vaults.”

Coming in second place amongst Europe’s most spine-chilling destinations was Portugal’s Capela dos Ossos, or Chapel of Bones, whilst third place was claimed by Lithuania’s haunting Hill of Crosses.

The Edinburgh Vaults weren’t the sole UK location to feature on the list, with the Tower of London, another notoriously ghostly site, securing fifth position.

Europe’s 10 spookiest places

1. Edinburgh Vaults, Scotland
2. Capela dos Ossos, Portugal
3. The Hill of Crosses, Lithuania
4. Catacombs of Paris, France
5. The Tower of London, England
6. Dracula’s birthplace, Dublin
7. The Church of Ghosts, Prague
8. Nidaros Cathedral, Trondheim
9. Pfaueninsel, Berlin
10. Moosham Castle, Austria

A HEART-SHAPED lake in one of the UK’s most loved beauty spots is set to become an underground attraction.

Located in the Lake District, Elterwater Quarry will be getting a new ‘Cavern Explorer’ experience.

As part of the attraction, several steel staircases and platforms will be installed across the quarry’s cavern.

The ziplines will then take visitors from one platform to another.

The experience is said to allow visitors to see parts of the cavern that were previously inaccessible.

Other plans for the attraction include ‘The Quarryman’s Viewpoint’, which will offer visitors a place to look out across the Lake District.

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There will be a natural history trail, venturing through parts of the nearby countryside as well, and a visitor centre with information boards.

Proposals were first submitted two years ago by Burlington Slate, which owns Elterwater slate mine and Zip World.

In the application, the mine said: “The proposed experience at Elterwater will provide a blend of heritage-based adventure through the caverns and offer a unique immersive experience within an underground mine that dates back to the middle of the 19th century.”

However, the first proposals were rejected.

A year later they were resubmitted and approved.

The proposed park isn’t without its controversy though as campaign group Friends of the Lake District has attempted to stop the project.

The group claimed that the planning permission has been wrongly granted and that the new experience would “take us a step closer to a Lake District of noise, chaos and degraded landscapes”.

However, this month, judgement from a judicial review was published and ruled in favour of the Lake District National Authority – meaning that the zipline was still allowed to go ahead.

Michael Hill, CEO of Friends of the Lake District said: “This ruling is a setback for the Cumbrian landscape, but in our 90 years’ history Friends of the Lake District has seen many of those.

“We remain unbowed in our determination to campaign for a Lake District that is tranquil, rich in cultural heritage and environmentally healthy and for protections in law for this and other National Parks to be maintained and strengthened.”

The International Council on Monuments and Sites – which is an advisory board to UNESCO – has also commented that they are opposed to the planned zipline.

The council explained that the zipline “would transform the quarry or part of it into a theme park and would trivialise the experience of an important aspect of the Lake District’s heritage”.

The ultimate worry is that the attraction could lead the Lake District losing its UNESCO World Heritage Site status, which is what happened to the Liverpool Docks in 2021.

The lake itself reveals a heart shape when the water levels drop, also exposing the 500million-year-old rock.

The site of the new attraction is a 40-minute drive from Windermere and an opening date is yet to be revealed.

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Frinton-on-Sea in Essex is a charming seaside town that has been frozen in time, with a population of just 4,837 and a relaxed pace of life that has seen people move there from the capital and other major cities across the UK

A delightful coastal town is being praised by residents as a nostalgic glimpse into 1950s and 60s Britain.

Renowned for its charming, traditional atmosphere, Frinton-on-Sea in Essex provides a peaceful retreat from the heaving masses who descend upon neighbouring seaside resorts Clacton-on-Sea and Walton-on-the-Naze.

Home to merely 4,837 residents, it also enjoys a leisurely rhythm of life and close-knit community spirit that has recently attracted newcomers from London and other major urban centres nationwide.

Pet enthusiasts will be delighted to discover that its broad, sweeping sandy shores welcome dogs from September 30 until May.

The heart of the settlement is the Esplanade, housing The Rock, Frinton’s sole remaining operational hotel.

During the stroll towards the shore, visitors encounter a row of colourful beach huts overlooking the North Sea waves, which crash against the sea wall during high tide.

Becky Dance, 44, accompanied by her mother Linda Hartnoll and grandchildren Hugo and Greyson, ventured down for a day trip from Colchester, discovering the location picture-perfect.

She said: “It’s just lovely. It’s nice and quiet. The kids just love playing here.”

Linda also expressed her appreciation for the area’s topography, adding: “It’s safe here because it’s very flat.” Peter Wade, alongside his wife Pat, moved to Frinton following their retirement from local government roles in Enfield, North London.

Looking back on their former life, Mr Wade, 72, explained how he felt threatened after dark due to escalating crime in his previous neighbourhood.

He told the Express: “The area changed the last seven years we were there. There were two murders. The house next door was converted into a drugs den. We came here because this is England as we knew it as children. We can walk down this road and say hello to so many people. The community spirit we have here, in my mind, is second to none. It’s a spirit I grew up with in the 1950s and early 60s.”

Frinton is also home to numerous societies, including the fondly nicknamed Frinton War Memorial Club or “the Mem”, where locals congregate for pleasant conversation over beverages.

On the periphery, the Frinton Golf Club serves as another popular destination amongst residents.

The seaside town was recently branded as the country’s NIMBY capital by a Telegraph investigation, which highlighted the protracted procedure it required for Frinton to embrace the new Lock and Barrel gastropub.

However, Rob Morgan, a councillor on Frinton and Walton Town Council, maintained that the existing clubs adequately serve the social and drinking requirements of the community, clarifying why there aren’t numerous pubs in Frinton. Having resided in Frinton for nearly two decades, he admitted that the town has transformed, with the High Street now teeming with restaurants and cafes rather than the varied shops of old.

The automation of the level crossing gates, a unique feature of the town, sparked controversy as it led to the job loss of the manual operator. However, Mr Morgan is convinced that the town has retained its charm and is an ideal spot for those seeking a community-oriented lifestyle in their twilight years, adding: “It’s a really delightful town. I love living here… When you talk about older people being isolated, it doesn’t happen in Frinton.”

Sedlec Ossuary, or as it’s more commonly known, the Church of Bones, is an hour away from the capital of Czechia, Prague, and contains eight million individual bones

One of the most disturbing and dark tourist attractions is just three hours from the UK.

While Transylvania and Edinburgh may be go to’s for a gothic aesthetic among travellers looking for a spooky break, the travel experts at First Choice have found something a little darker and more grisly. Nestled in a rural Czech town just an hour from Prague, you’ll find the Sedlec Ossuary, or as it’s more commonly known, the Church of Bones.

The Roman Catholic chapel is decorated with the skeletal remains of between 40,000 – 70,000 individuals. In total, there are more than eight million individual bones in the cathedral of death.

The first Cistercian monastery in Bohemia, founded in 1142, is rich in history. In the 13th century, the spot became a popular burial ground after a monastery abbot consecrated the land with soil from the spot of Jesus’ crucifixion.

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By the 15th century, a new Gothic church had been built at the location, with the lower chapel re-assigned to house the tens of thousands of victims of the Black Plague and Hussite wars. But it was in the 19th century that the ossuary transformed into the creepy hotspot it is today.

Up until this point, the bones had been haphazardly stored in the various crypts, but in 1870 the monastery’s owners hired a local woodcarver named František Rint to artistically arrange the bones and give them a new sense of purpose.

Rint bleached the bones and used them to create the unique decorations visitors can see today, including:

The Chandelier of bones. This is a massive chandelier that hangs from the centre of the nave and is said to contain at least one of every bone in the human body.

Schwarzenberg coat of arms: A coat of arms made entirely of human bones, including a raven pecking the eye of a Turkish soldier’s skull.

Garlands of skulls that are strung from the ceiling.

Bone pyramids, which are four large, bell-shaped pyramids of stacked bones that occupy the corners of the chapel.

While Sedlec Ossuary makes for a perfect spooky Halloween day out, visitors are welcome all year round. In fact, the summer months make for a great time to visit as the chapel offers late-night, candle-lit tours hosted by monks and an organ performance.

Fans of Danny Boyle’s 2025 apocalyptic horror film 28 Years Later might find the spot particularly appealing – with various visual similarities to the film. And with part 2: The Bone Temple set to release in cinemas in Jan 2026, the spot is set to increase in popularity.

Situated in the town of Kutná Hora, a UNESCO World Heritage spot with a tonne of other historical sites to explore, the Ossuary is just over an hour from the capital of Prague making it a great option for a day trip out of the city.

Tours from Prague centre can be organised with travel companies like First Choice, which offers a day-long guided experience of Kutná Hora and the Sedlec Ossuary from just £63 per person, including transfers.

In Prague itself, dark tourists can try everything from ghost walks to concentration camp and abandoned psychiatric hospital tours. Visiting the capital can be very affordable, with stays including flights and accommodation starting at £188pp with First Choice, and food and drink famously on the lower end compared to similar historical capitals like Berlin and Paris.

Pick a stay at the Royal Court Hotel a 19th century royal residence building, now a modern day 4-star in the heart of the city. Prices start from £188pp, based on two adults sharing a double standard room, on a room-only basis for 2 nights, flights departing from London Stansted on 22 January 2026. Hand luggage only and transfers not included.

Under the new regime, those entering the British Museum from Great Russell Street will still need to go through the security tent that is there now, but rather than queuing up to enter, they’ll get in via a free-for-all throng

The British Museum will ban queues and welcome free-for-all scrums later this month in a move jokingly criticised as “extremely un-British”.

This week the London museum has unveiled plans to change the way that visitors get inside. The new entry procedures will be from Wednesday, 17 September to Tuesday, 23 September.

Under the new regime, those entering from Great Russell Street will still need to go through the security tent that is there now, but rather than queuing up to enter, they’ll get in via a free-for-all throng.

The museum’s spokesperson explained that “visitors will be able to move freely in the area adjacent to the lawns.” However, those with BM membership will still retain a fast-track entry lane going into the security tent, as they currently do.

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The British Museum spokesperson said: “As part of the planning for the Visitor Welcome Pavilions, we will be running a trial of new entry procedures at the Great Russell Street entrance in September to help deliver the best experience for everyone coming on site.”

Ian Visits, who broke the news, jokingly referred to the plans as “extremely un-British”, adding “Goodness me, it’s almost continental!”

New Visitor Welcome Pavilions are expected to be opening in Spring 2026, which is part of the institution’s longer-term Masterplan which is intended to make the British Museum the most welcoming and accessible museum in the world.

The trial this month is part of the museum’s plan to finally replace its temporary security sheds with a more permanent, architecturally suitable structure. The plastic sheds have been there since 2016. The new pavilions have been designed by architectural firm Studio Weave after it won a competition run by the British Museum last year.

When Studio Weave was announced as the winner last December, Nicholas Cullinan, the museum’s director, said: “We were very impressed by Studio Weave’s initial proposals. They perfectly balance a thoughtful visitor experience while remaining true to the British Museum’s historic building. I’m delighted to be working with them, and I look forward to leading the development of the designs in consultation with the London Borough of Camden and other key stakeholders to create something very special for everyone.”

St David’s is the UK’s smallest city, but don’t let that fool your

The UK’s tiniest city, nestled in the heart of Pembrokeshire on the Welsh coast, is actually a charming village brimming with history and natural beauty.

St David’s, a cathedral city named after Wales’s patron saint, Saint David, is where his final resting place is located. Its city status was traditionally granted due to its grand cathedral, believed to have been constructed between 1180 and 1182.

It remains a lesser-known coastal treasure amongst UK holidaymakers.

However, those willing to embark on a few hours’ drive through Wales’s rolling green hills to the edge of the west coast will be pleasantly surprised by what this small town has to offer. St Davids’ allure lies in its rich history, being home to one of Wales’ most iconic religious sites and a pilgrimage destination for centuries.

Tourists can freely explore the cathedral, and its grounds provide an idyllic setting for a leisurely stroll on a sunny day. Despite attracting numerous visitors throughout the year, the area maintains much of its understated charm, remaining surprisingly quiet and compact, reports the Express.

Beyond the historical landmarks of the cathedral and the original gothic ruins of Bishop’s Palace, St Davids boasts a plethora of scenic walks and swimming spots for nature enthusiasts. This quaint, cobbled town is not only home to a stunning stretch of beach but also offers cliff-side walks and hikes.

Whitesands Beach stands as the principal expanse of pristine white sand in the region, sweeping northward towards St Davids headland and serving as one of the nation’s renowned surfing destinations.

It’s ideal for days spent constructing sandcastles, basking in the sunshine, or taking a refreshing dip.

For those seeking more thrilling pursuits, windsurfing and kayaking prove particularly popular pastimes.

One delighted TripAdvisor reviewer said: “What an absolutely phenomenal beach. The beach itself is so clean; the water was crystal clear, and there was no seaweed. You can go out for quite a way, and it was just unbelievable.

“The family loved it and couldn’t believe how quiet it was, and even when it got a little busier later in the day, it was still so pleasant, and this is all before the walks. The mountain walks around the beach were quite simply breathtaking. Some lovely places tucked away; we even found a cove we had all to ourselves.”

For those wanting to venture even deeper into Pembrokeshire’s stunning landscape, there’s a concealed gem called Porthmelgan Beach, merely a 20-minute stroll from Whitesands Bay.

This rather more isolated location boasts equally brilliant white sands but tends to be considerably quieter, with no parking facilities, eateries or wave riders to be found. Another gem is the Blue Lagoon, a 20-minute drive from the city centre, boasting turquoise waters and rocky landscapes.

It’s the perfect spot for a peaceful swim, a relaxing kayak ride or even a daring cliff dive, all while enjoying stunning coastal views.

Venturing back into the city’s charming cobbled streets, you’ll find a handful of pubs that quickly fill up in the summer with patrons enjoying their post-walk pints. These establishments often feature live music in the evenings, creating a lively atmosphere, and serve traditional pub food.

However, it’s worth noting that without a reservation, you might struggle to secure a cosy spot.

As with any seaside town, St Davids boasts numerous ice cream parlours and a mix of independent shops and larger brands in the city centre. So when you’ve had your fill of coastal walks, a stroll through the city streets and a browse through the shops can provide a refreshing change of pace.

UK seaside towns are usually a hit with tourists for their beautiful beaches, cosy pubs and fish and chip shops, but one town has become famous for a Sainsbury’s car park

When planning a seaside staycation, most people will look at a town’s proximity to beautiful beaches, the choice of pubs and chippies on offer, and whether there are many attractions to keep the whole family busy.

While Bude in Cornwall may be right by some gorgeous coastal walks and offer plenty of seaside charm, there’s a quirky reason why Brits are flocking to the town to snap photos.

In what is an example of British humour at its best, a Sainsbury’s car park has become the town’s top-rated attraction on Tripadvisor, with a rating of 4.7 stars.

It’s not entirely clear when it started, but UK tourists started leaving hilariously generous reviews of the Bude Tunnel, describing it as “magnificent” and “magical”, and comparing it to the likes of Lapland or London.

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It’s gained such a cult following that Tripadvisor reportedly briefly switched off comments at one point because the reviews weren’t truthfully reflecting what it actually is; a perspex tunnel, in a car park.

“A life-changing stroll through plastic grandeur – loses half a star because our epic trek lacked a soundtrack,” one jokester wrote on the review site. “Maybe it would’ve been better at night when it’s lit up.”

Another added: “Forget Harry Potter. If you want a magical experience, this is it. This is our second visit to the tunnel in as many years. You will NOT be disappointed.”

It could also turn out to be quite the romantic hotspot. One holidaymaker and their partner survived what must have been a rough time for them both as they wrote: “Doesn’t disappoint, it brought me and my partner closer together after a disagreement over Sainsbury’s opening times. Stronger than ever, thank you Bude tunnel.”

Locals have also been getting in on the joke, with one resident saying that “this South Western Wonder is a wonderful landmark which we are all sure to be proud to have in Cornwall”, quipping that they felt “so inspired and motivated” while they walked through the tunnel. Meanwhile Sainsbury’s has embraced the attention, and has even decorated the tunnel with some Christmas lights during festive seasons.

Luckily for tourists (and to be honest, locals), there’s a lot more that Bude has to offer. Other highly-rated attractions on Tripadvisor include the town’s natural sea pool, as well as some of the picturesque beaches such as Summerleaze Beach with its pirate ship model and Sandy Mouth Beach. Water sports fans won’t be disappointed either with a host of offerings from kayaking and bodyboarding to surfing. Meanwhile back on land, hikers can lace up their boots and take on a stretch of the South West Coast Path.

You can find out more on visitbude.info.

Is there an unexpected tourist attraction where you live? Email us at [email protected].

If you’re planning a trip to Spain, one travel influencer has shared a must-see attraction in the country that looks like it belongs in a fairytale – and it’s located just 20 minutes from Malaga

With destinations like Benidorm, Mallorca and the Canary Islands, Spain continues to be amongst the top holiday spots for Brits seeking sunshine, as the nation offers something for every traveller. In 2023, Brits made over 17.8 million visits to Spain, making it the most popular holiday spots that year.

Whether you’re after a peaceful seaside break or somewhere to party until dawn every evening, this varied country boasts destinations to match all preferences. Yet what numerous holidaymakers frequently overlook is discovering the nation’s more obscure cities that are equally stunning as the well-known attractions. However, one travel enthusiast Kristina Cors, who regularly uses social media to reveal her travel tips, has now unveiled a ‘secret treasure’ in Spain that’s located 20 minutes from Malaga and looks to be straight from a fairytale.

Posting on TikTok, where she boasts more than 751,300 followers, she highlighted one destination she believed every tourist in Spain should experience.

“When people go to Malaga, Spain and miss places like this 20 minutes away,” she wrote on top of the video.

She proceeded to show footage from her trip to Colomares Castle, situated in the town of Benalmádena in southern Spain. Whilst the fortress appears ancient, it was constructed between 1987 to 1994, and was devoted to the life and expeditions of Christopher Columbus.

Spanning 1,500 metres, it stands as the world’s largest tribute to the explorer, whilst also housing the globe’s tiniest church, occupying merely 1.96 square metres. In her video, Kristina provides glimpses of the castles from various angles, with blooming flowers enhancing the picturesque scenes.

She’s also seen strolling around the castle grounds and standing on a balcony, soaking in views straight out of a fairytale.

“Don’t go to Spain without visiting THIS incredible castle,” she write again in the video caption.

The comment section quickly filled up, with many likening the castle to ‘The Spring Court’ from Sarah J Maas’ fantasy book series A Court of Thorns and Roses.

“Wow,” one person simply commented, while another added: ” Been there once, really worth a visit!”.

“I live 5 minutes away from this castle and it’s stunning,” shared another viewer.

“Omg… I feel like I’m in a fairytale,” a fourth person exclaimed.

For those visiting Malaga who don’t fancy the 20-minute drive to Colomares Castle, one person suggested: “[Take] the train from Malaga to Arroyo de la Miel, then bus to the village of Benalmadena pueblo. Its a 2€ entrance fee, go early morning and explore the church grounds nearby too.”

However, not everyone was as enchanted, with one viewer branding it a ‘tourist trap’ due to its relatively recent construction in the 1980s.

Polya Palazova, 21, went to the Italian capital to see the new Pope and take in the sights – but she was left stunned by how busy it was compared to her last trip in 2018

A woman visited Rome and went to desperate measures to escape the throngs of tourists, but still found the city to be “too crowded” and “horrible”.

Polya Palazova, 21, travelled to the Italian capital in early June to see the new Pope and explore the sights. Having been once before in 2018, Polya never doubted whether she’d manage to see all the landmarks – but this time she was shocked by how packed the Eternal City was.

The University of Vienna media and communications student spent four days in the city and branded it as “far too hectic”. Polya and her mates managed to visit many of the headline tourist hotspots including Piazza Navona, the Colosseum, Spanish Steps and Trevi Fountain.

However, she said it was “too packed” to even attempt visiting the Vatican – meaning she couldn’t tick that off her bucket list. Yet even the places she did manage to see were rammed with people – and there were still hordes when she visited Trevi Fountain at 2am.

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Polya said: “I’m from the crowded city of Burgas, Bulgaria – which is right near the busy Sunny Beach resort. So I’m OK with crowds – but Rome was too much. We had a really good plan and managed to see most of the sights but the Vatican was too hard.

“There were so many people and it was more than 35 degrees, we couldn’t do it. It was just too busy. I wanted to see the new Pope but I couldn’t. It was so hot, and there were so many people that you couldn’t enjoy it.”

Polya revealed she had watched TikTok videos suggesting people visit Trevi Fountain at night for a more peaceful experience and better photos in the darkness. She stayed awake until 2am to make the trip, but discovered it remained heaving with tourists.

She explained: “Because of the TikToks, it wasn’t really quiet. But it was still good to go at night. We went to bed at 3am but we didn’t mind.”

Whilst she relished the getaway, she believes destinations like Italy and Spain have become particularly “trendy” to visit this year. Several pals from her Austrian hometown are also making similar journeys over the coming months.

Polya remarked: “I went in 2018 and it was for sure more busy now.”

The fact Trevi remains busy and, according to some people, overcrowded, may be of some concern to the authorities in Rome.

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Last year, the fountain was closed for a three-month restoration, during which time the masterpiece of 18th-century Italian architect Nicola Salvi was spruced up. When it reopened at the end of 2024, a new queueing system was introduced in an attempt to control the large crowds that built up around it.

At its peak last summer, 12,000 tourists would visit it each day. When the new system was introduced, Mayor of Rome Roberto Gualtieri said imposing the limit will “allow everyone to better enjoy the fountain, without crowds or confusion”. Gualtieri also said city authorities were considering charging a modest entry price to finance the fountain’s upkeep, although that is yet to be introduced.

A couple shared their experience visiting a popular tourist attraction in Capri, Italy, that’s great for thrill-seekers – but is panic-inducing for those looking for a more tranquil getaway

A holidaymaker has filmed the exhilarating moment they visited the Blue Grotto, a sea cave in Capri in southern Italy. A TikTok clip by The Rojos, a couple who frequently document their travel escapades, captures a boatman navigating a tiny rowing boat through the cavern’s cramped, low-arched opening.

The first-person footage shows the tourists lying flat as they confront the claustrophobic passage, with the tour guide crying out: “Oh my God, mamma mia.” After entering the grotto, the vessel’s front tip almost grazes the craggy ceiling overhead. The boatman carefully uses a metal chain to manoeuvre the craft through the cave, forced to crouch beneath a massive boulder alongside him.

After this, he tells The Rojos to sit up to take in shimmering azure waters set against the cavern’s shadowy walls.

According to Capri.com, the vivid blue colour of the water is caused by sunlight passing through an underwater opening located directly beneath the entrance to the cave.

The TikTok post’s caption reads: “Getting into the Blue Grotto is not for the faint hearted!!” At the time of writing, the clip has racked up a staggering 23.2 million views, 1.4million likes and 12,300 comments.

Several viewers admitted the video left them feeling ‘panicked’, with one declaring: “My claustrophobic self had a panic attack through the screen.”

Another chimed in: “Absolute panic rising inside me.” A third confessed: “Ok I might be too claustrophobic even for this video let alone the real experience.”

However, others were more intrigued by the cave. One person said: “My claustrophobia could never but this is lowkey cool.” Another simply called it “beautiful but scary.”

The Blue Grotto, a stunning natural sea cavern spanning 60m in length and 25m across, can only be visited when the sea is calm enough.

The entrance to the cave is a mere two metres wide and just about a metre high.

Visitors are ferried in by small rowboats that carry no more than four people at a time, who must lie flat as the boatmen navigate them into the grotto.

Adverse weather conditions like choppy waters and gusty winds often mean the grotto is off-limits.

The spectacle of light reflecting from the water, casting an electric blue illumination, is a major draw for tourists.

The cave’s famous silver reflections seen in the water are created by tiny bubbles that cling to the surfaces of objects beneath the surface.

Entry to the Blue Grotto will set you back 18EUR (£15.60), with tickets available at the ticket booth.

Capri.com suggests that the cavern’s renowned glow is most vivid between noon and 2pm.

The site also notes that after 3pm, there may be shorter queues, though the risk of rough seas increases, potentially leading to closure.

Visitors are advised to check the sea conditions before purchasing tickets.

Brits worry a popular seaside town will meet its demise following the announcement that its biggest attraction is slated to be bulldozed down due to a new council development

Fears a beloved seaside resort will turn into a ‘ghost town’ have emerged, following the closure of a century-old attraction.

Situated on the stunning Welsh coastline, some 25 miles west of Cardiff, lies the coastal gem of Porthcawl. Neighbouring the Kenfig National Nature Reserve, and home to miles of soft golden sand, it is an ideal base to explore the country’s rich wildlife and pristine beaches. But, Porthcawl’s biggest claim to fame is its Coney Beach Pleasure Park.

Opening up back in 1920, the fun fair enthralled thousands of tourists back in its heyday, thanks to its eclectic range of stomach-churning rides and food vendors. But in a move that has been described as the ‘end of an era’, Coney Park is slated to shut its doors for good – giving Brits just three months to experience the dodgems, go karts, flying cars and tea cups for one last time.

The announcement follows a consultation back in February, where Bridgend council and the Welsh government unveiled plans to redevelop the waterfront. The transformation will see up to 1,1000 new homes replace the theme park, along with shops, restaurants, and the extension of boardwalks and green spaces.

“It is with heavy hearts we would like to share with you personally that this season at Coney Beach will be our last,” the owners of the pleasure park wrote on Facebook. “We will be closing our gates for the final time this October.

“It’s the end of an era, for over one hundred years we and other showmen and their families have lived and worked in Porthcawl, helping to make it a busy seaside destination. Bringing fun, laughter, and fond memories to so many. We will miss it greatly, and while we are sad to see our time here come to an end, we are forever grateful to have had the opportunity to have been part of so many generations of families’ lives, young and old.”

Thousands of Brits flocked to the comments section to share their fond memories of the park, with many saying they’ll miss the ‘doughnut man’. Others argued the theme park’s closure will have a negative impact on Porthcawl, with one user stating: “It will not be the same without the fairground.

“Porthcawl will have nothing to go down there for, only the beach, shop, and pub. The fairground made the attraction.” Another agreed, commenting: “I think there will be a negative impact on tourism for Porthcawl. The fairground has been integral to its success,” while a third added: “It really needs to stay otherwise Porthcawl will be a ghost town.”

However, others welcomed change, with one user arguing: “Times change and things move on, and Porthcawl has to. It’s been coming for years, so it shouldn’t be a surprise to anyone. The days of fairgrounds are long gone; people want different things today. Porthcawl will survive; there is a lot more here than just a funfair.

Responding to the backlash, a spokesperson for the Welsh Government said: “Porthcawl is a popular tourist destination for numerous reasons, including its beautiful Blue Flag beaches and vibrant seafront attractions. The acquisition of the land represents a significant investment in the area’s future, creating new opportunities for residents, businesses and visitors whilst respecting the town’s heritage as a cherished seaside destination.”

The Mirror has also approached Bridgend County Borough Council for comment.

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