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IT might be coming to the end of the year, so now is a great time to book a holiday – and here are the best places to visit.

One On the Beach expert named his ‘best kept underrated secret hotels’ with aquaparks, private beaches and panoramic sea views.

Luna Vista Belek, Turkey

In the very popular Turkish resort of Belek in Antalya is this new 5-star hotel that opened earlier this year in May 2025.

The Luna Vista Belek is a 5-star resort on the coast of Belek and even has its very own private beach and reviews at 4.9 out of 5.

Despite this, On the Beach revealed there are still plenty of spaces with a low booking rate.

On the Beach expert Rob Brooks said: “This place barely gets booked compared to the big Belek names – but the people who do absolutely rave about it”.

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The hotel has six pools, an aquapark and entertainment from festivals to karaoke, and even cinema nights.

It also has ultra all-inclusive options with gourmet meals all day and night.

A seven-night stay at the Luna Vista Belek starts from £770pp including flights from London Gatwick.

3HB Faro, Portugal

The five-star luxury 3HB hotel is in downtown Faro but is still quiet enough that it won’t feel like its in the heart of the city.

Rob said: “If you want a city break that feels like a beach resort, this is it”.

Common mentions in the reviews are the modern rooftop pool area and ‘ridiculously good breakfasts’.

The hotel has two restaurants as well as a rooftop bar that looks over the city and is a five-minute walk from the centre of Faro.

A seven-night stay at the 3HB Faro starts from £830pp (room only) with flights from London Gatwick.

Eagles Nest Studios, Kefalonia

The Eagles Nest Studios is in the tiny village of Lourdas in Kefalonia at the foot of Mount Ainos – which means you get amazing mountain and sea views.

Rob calls it the “definition of an underrated Greek gem” and reviews compliment the “unbelievably kind owners”, “panoramic hillside views” and “simple but spotless rooms”.

It’s even been lauded as a ‘four star experience at a two star price’.

The Eagles Nest Studios is a perfect stay for anyone looking for simplicity – it has an onsite pool and local tavernas.

A four-night stay at the Eagles Nest Studios starts from £420pp (on a self-catering basis) with flights from London Gatwick.

Basar Hotel, Turkey

The three-star Basar Hotel is tucked slightly inland from Dalaman in Turkey very near to Marmaris.

Rob reveals that the reviews compliment its “family-run vibe with homecooked meals” .

The hotel has twin, double and triple rooms – each has an ensuite and balcony.

There’s a main restaurant with both indoor and outdoor seating – and both breakfast and dinner are buffet service.

Outside is a swimming pool surrounded by sunbeds and inside is even a TV lounge.

A seven-night stay at the Basar Hotel starts from £345pp (for a B&B) with flights from London Gatwick.

La Concha Boutique, Lanzarote

La Concha Boutique is a three-star adult only apartment complex on the beach in Lanzarote.

The white-washed peaceful complex has an outdoor pool, guests can stay in one of the roomy apartments that’s equipped with speedy Wi-Fi.

Reviews have described the place as a “luxury Airbnb” and Rob reveals the reason that it isn’t as booked up because it’s slightly tucked away.

A seven-night stay at La Concha Boutique starts from £565pp (on a self-catering basis) with flights from London Gatwick.

Hotel Iliana Panormos, Crete

The Hotel Iliana Panormos is a two-star hotel on the island of Crete with a central courtyard and swimming pool.

Reviews say it’s a “proper Greek family run gem” in the village of Panormos near pretty tavernas.

The hotel looks classically Greek with white walls with terracotta rooftop tiles and bright blue doors.

It’s only 150m from pretty sandy beaches as well as watersport spots, and it’s within walking distance of local tavernas and shops.

A seven-night stay at Hotel Iliana Panormos starts from £370pp (on a self-catering basis) with flights from London Gatwick.

A Suite Side, Turkey

A Suite Side is a three-star complex in Side, Antalya that has self-contained apartments with a shared pool.

Rob reveals that guest reviews say it feels a “boutique design hotel but with Turkish value for money“.

The hotel is missed because it doesn’t have sea views – but it’s a very short walk away from the beach front.

There are plenty of rooms up for grabs including those with garden and pool views, others come with Jacuzzis – but all come with a furnished balcony or terrace, an open-plan living room and kitchen.

At the hotel are multiple pool areas, one for adults and a smaller one for children.

A seven-night stay at A Suite Side starts from £455pp (on a self-catering basis).

Idyll Suites, Gran Canaria

The adults only Idyll Suites is found in sunny Gran Canaria which has sunny terraces and incredible ocean views.

In fact, the 24 deluxe suites and 23 superior suites, all face the sea and have beautiful panoramic views.

Reviews say it feels like a “luxury suite at a mid-range price” with many guests stating they return year after year.

It’s self-catering, but nearby is the Delicias restaurant and a place to enjoy Mediterranean specialities – and hotel guests get an exclusive discount.

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It’s in the quieter part of Gran Canaria near to Puerto de Mogan’s pretty harbour, and 4km from lively Puerto Rico.

A seven-night stay at the Idyll Suites starts from £435pp (on a self-catering basis) with flights from London Gatwick.

I’M a Travel Editor who also happens to be a London mum of a six-year -old – and while we spend plenty of time travelling the world, one of my favourite places to explore is my home city.

Because London is one of the best cities in the world for families, with stacks of free attractions, great parks, child-friendly restaurants and pubs.

In fact, I have spent whole days out with my son in London at museums, galleries and theatre shows, without spending more than £50.

So if you’re planning a family trip to London, here are some of my favourite places to go with kids in the city.

Free attractions

There are so many free attractions in London that you could fill a week’s worth of activities without spending a penny on tickets.

Of course, three of the biggest are always worth a visit – the British Museum, Natural History Museum and the Science Museum.

I’d say the earliest your child is like to be interested in the British Museum, near Russell Square, is around six years old.

The exhibits are better suited to older children and adults, but they have gone to great lengths to make things interesting to young children too, like museum explorer trail guides and the Gallery backpacks.

Inside the bags are a number of items and activities, including hieroglyphs, toy animals, amulets and even fancy dress.

Be sure not to miss the mummies in the Ancient Egyptian section, hugely popular with anyone aged 6 to 96. Although it does get very busy.

The Science Museum in South Kensington is perfect for kids of all ages, I’ve been taking my child there since he was a one-year-old, as the interactive ‘Garden’ in the basement is perfect for toddlers and pre-schoolers.

There are plenty of excellent free exhibitions around the museum – one of our favourites being the Space section – but the most popular (and deservedly so) is the Wonderlab, an interactive gallery featuring numerous experiments that will fascinate children aged 3-14. Tickets cost from £15 for this area.

The neighbouring Natural History Museum is another one with some excellent paying exhibits, but the dinosaur gallery is free and perfect for kids, as is the creepy crawlies gallery and the Earth Hall.

For more of an arty trip, try the Tate Modern – my son loves the Pop Art and the huge installations in the Turbine Hall.

But his favourite is Tate Draw, where kids can make their own creations on a bank of screens, an activity that kept him busy for over an hour.

Further down the South Bank is the Southbank centre, which offers some of my favourite free activities on weekends and in school holidays.

My son has been to Lego-building, screen printing and even helped to build a Moomin House with real saws, wood and hammers at the venue, all completely free.

It’s worth checking if you need to book in advance though, as tickets for the free events go very fast.

For an event they’re sure to remember forever – I still have a hazy recollection of my first Changing Of The Guard at Buckingham Palace when I was just seven years old, and my son went last year and loved it too.

The ceremony takes place at 11am on Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays and it’s worth getting there early for a good spot.

For something considerably more modern, try the Outernet – the huge multi-screened space on Tottenham Court Road that claims to be the most visited cultural attraction in the UK.

The space shows a series of artist-made short films, some of which invite audience participation, and it’s so entertaining that my son and I are happy to sit there for an hour.

Pubs And Restaurants

Taking a child to a pub or restaurant can strike fear into the heart of any parent – will they sit still? Will they eat? It’s a culinary minefield.

Here are some of my favourite places that welcome children.

Brewdog Waterloo is easily my favourite pub in London for families.

It has an indoor slide, a duckpin bowling alley, scavenger hunts and face painting during school holidays, an ice cream van, ping pong tables and an extensive kids’ menu.

It gets quite busy after 5pm with post-work drinkers, but any time before that and you feel like it’s perfectly acceptable that your kid is doing their 20th lap of the pub to reach the two-storey slide.

Much like Brewdog, Sixes cricket bars have excellent activities for kids – their high-tech batting cages mean children can burn off some serious energy while you sip on a pint

They also have tasty food to suit everyone – my personal favourite is the flaming candy floss pudding in the giant martini glass.

As a Travel Editor who has taken my child to many restaurants over the years, I’ve recently hit upon a surprising winner – ramen.

Introduce a child to chopsticks and noodles in a bowl, and they’ll stay entertained for at least half an hour.

Tonkotsu has a chain of ramen restaurants across London, with both bento boxes for kids and non-spicy ramen bowls.

Particularly adventurous child who doesn’t mind a queue? Try Borough Market on a Monday or Tuesday, when it’s less crowded.

They’ll love the bowls of free bite-sized food the traders leave out to tempt you and the hot stations round the back really do have something for everyone.

You can indulge your love of Thai or Indian, while they chow down on pizza or fish and chips.

Then you can share some of those ludicrous strawberries in chocolate or a giant brownie for afters.

If you’re looking for a fancy restaurant, I can’t speak highly enough of the Rosewood Hotel’s Holborn Dining Room.

They have the most beautiful Rosewood-themed activity books for kids to fill in and the huge bowl of sausage and mash went down a treat, as did the chance to pet the very cute Labradors who stand on duty at the entrance.

Parks

London’s parks are second to none – I’ve never been to a city in the world that has so many, with such a variation.

Perfect if you’re paying a visit to Battersea Power Station, Battersea Park playground is excellent for many reasons.

Firstly, it has a Go Ape next door, so you can easily kill at least four hours in a 100-metre radius.

Secondly, the playground itself is excellent with two different areas for older and younger kids that feature huge slides, trapezes, massive climbing frames and plenty more.

It is particularly great for parents because the park cafe serves beer and pizzas, and you can grab a table with a perfect view of the playground – great for keeping an eye on your kid AND people watching, as I’ve never visited this playground without spotting a celebrity.

One of my favourite parks if you’re in the centre of town is Coram’s Fields, a seven-acre walled playground in the heart of Bloomsbury.

It feels particularly safe in the centre of busy London because they have a rule that ‘no adult can enter without a child.’

If you’re exploring the many attractions the South Bank has to offer, then it’s well worth stopping by the Jubilee Gardens playground, next to the London Eye.

Smaller than the others I’ve mentioned, it’s very well designed and perfect for those kids who need to run off some steam in between organised fun.

A little bit further out, Greenwich Park playground is possibly my favourite in London (while the Princess Diana Memorial Playground is closed for renovations).

It has all the usual suspects, as well as an excellent sand and water play area – so remember to bring some plastic cups and spades.

Plus afterwards, you can walk to the top of the hill in the park, for great views of the capital.

Paid for attractions

OK, there are many that I could have shared here, but these are some of the paid-for attractions that have been the biggest hits with my child from the ages of 3-6.

As every parent knows, attractions with lots of ‘look don’t touch’ rules are a nightmare for those with inquisitive kids which is why HMS Belfast is such a winner (adult tickets £26.35 and kids £13.15).

Built to last at sea in wartime, this Royal Navy ship moored on the Thames near London Bridge is not in the least bothered about curious little hands.

They have audioguides for older kids and activity packs for younger children.

My son spent three hours exploring every level of this battle ship and would easily have stayed for a further three.

Speaking of ships, the Golden Hinde further along the South Bank near the Globe Theatre is another hit.

A seaworthy reconstruction of the ship captained by Francis Drake when he sailed around the world in the 16th century, the attraction has particularly great value activities on during school holidays.

For just £8, my son took part in a 1.5-hour session onboard where they went on a scavenger hunt, learnt how to fire cannons, had a tour of the ship and practised (foam) sword fighting.

When it comes to the pricier attractions, one of our most memorable days out has been a ride on the Thames Rockets – the speedboat tours of the River Thames.

We went on their new 26-seater boat The Rocket Rebel, for a hair-raising trip accompanied by some of London’s best pop and rock music.

Then on the way back, the hilarious tour guide filled us in on some very interesting titbits about the capital as we passed the many famous landmarks.

With adults from £59.95 and kids from £49.95 it’s not cheap, but it is an absolutely brilliant way to sight see the city that guarantees the kids won’t moan about being bored.

Theatre Shows and Culture

This is a tricky one, because if you’re aiming for theatre that young kids will love then shows tend to be limited to school holidays.

But of the big budget ones that I’ve seen which will not disappoint – The Lion King and Starlight Express are perfect for all ages from 6 to 96.

Other than that, take a gamble by signing up to discount ticket websites like Show Film First and The Audience Club several weeks ahead of your visit.

They operate as seatfiller sites and I have found Band A and B tickets for £15 to huge shows on both websites.

Also, check out what the Southbank Centre has on offer. They have so many free cultural events aimed at families, from art to dancing, building and live music.

Plus, in the summertime your kid can play in the Jeppe Hein Appearing Rooms fountains, with views of the Thames.

ON top of our brilliant Hols from £9.50, you can now bag a bargain break all year round with The Sun Club’s Breakfree Holidays partnership.

Join Sun Club for just £1.99 a month and you can also get an exclusive discount just for members on selected breaks.

Take your pick from thousands of great breaks across the UK and Europe. We have the widest selection of exclusive holidays and deals from all your favourite brands, such as Parkdean Resorts, Eurocamp and Away Resorts.

Choose from holiday parks, cottages, lodges, hotels, ferries and boating holidays. So whether you are after a peaceful countryside getaway or an action-packed adventure, we have something for everyone.

Sun Club offers readers access to more of our award-winning articles from showbiz exclusives, real-life stories, and unrivalled investigations.

Along with being able to unlock extra articles and unlimited access to the Sun website and app, there are big perks including competitions and offers.

How to book with Breakfree Holidays and get an exclusive Sun Club discount

Sun Club Membership Programme

Step 1: To book a bargain break with Breakfree Holidays and get an exclusive Sun Club discount, join Sun Club now for just £1.99 a month for your first year. Or £12 for an annual subscription unless you cancel at least 7 days before your next billing date.

Step 2: Then head to the ‘Offers Hub,’ select the ‘Breakfree Holidays’ page and click ‘Book’ to be taken to the membership site.

Step 3: Choose from thousands of great breaks across the UK and Europe and book your holiday and apply your exclusive Sun Club discount at the checkout.*

*Discount codes apply on selected breaks at checkout only. Excludes external sites. Discounts vary by location/date.

18+ Terms & Conditions apply, see thesun.co.uk/club for full details.

Other fantastic Sun Club offers

There are other fantastic Sun Club offers waiting for members in our Offers Hub.

We also have amazing discounts on theatre shows which are exclusively for Sun Club members.

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