Situated along the UK coast is a county brimming with quintessential British villages and an array of scenic walking routes, and the most hygienic soft play centre for little ones
This UK county is brimming with pretty villages and scenic vistas (Image: Getty Images/iStockphoto)
A beautiful UK county with ample walking routes and picturesque villages has the ‘cleanest soft play’ centre.
Soft play centres, with their cushioned equipment, ball pits, mats, slides and climbing frames, are not only a great way to keep young children entertained, but they also support their development. Children can improve their social skills, enhance their coordination, and develop physical movement while stimulating imagination and creativity in a fun, safe and secure environment.
So it’s no wonder that soft play is popular among parents and their little ones. Yet parents not only want to ensure the soft play is suitable for their child, but also want to know it’s hygienic before planning a visit.
Luckily, the outdoor play specialists at Outdoor Toys have uncovered the cleanest soft play centres across 20 of the most popular UK counties, and there’s one that stood out from them all. Somerset ranked as the most hygienic soft play, according to the toy experts’ analysis of Tripadvisor reviews.
The experts revealed that fewer than 4 in 100 reviews mentioned hygiene issues at Somerset’s soft plays. Instead, unsanitary reviews made up just a mere 3.9% of all feedback on TripAdvisor, and parents praised the “clean and airy” environment at Space Adventurers Indoor Play in Taunton.
Other highly rated centres in Somerset include Play Haven SoftPlay, Ocean Adventurers Soft Play, and Safari Tots. But it’s not just the children’s play centres that warrant a visit to the county.
Somerset is packed with picture-perfect villages and picture-postcard landscapes, set against rolling hills, patchwork fields, dramatic gorges, coastal shores and ancient woodlands. Thanks to its acres of lush landscapes, the county is famously home to Glastonbury Festival at Worthy Farm in Pilton, and when the festival isn’t on, it offers ample walking opportunities, including to the summit of Glastonbury Tor.
Dunster is considered one of the prettiest villages in Somerset, with its preserved medieval architecture, more than 200 listed buildings and 17th-century Yarn Market, nestled within Exmoor National Park. There’s also the picturesque village of Selworthy, with its array of thatched cottages, All Saints Church, and scenic walking routes to Selworthy Beacon, a hill and Marilyn of Exmoor, which offer panoramic views across the coast.
There’s also the small village of Allerford, with its whitewashed thatched cottages and 15th-century packhorse bridge, located on the edge of Exmoor National Park. As well as the historic village of Mells, which has often been dubbed one of the prettiest in the UK, thanks to its ‘chocolate-box’ charm, with honey-coloured houses and walks along the Wadbury Valley and Mells River.
So why not combine a trip to the cleanest soft play centre with exploring the stunning vistas of Somerset? And with its position along the coast, you could even spend a day at the seaside during the warmer months.
Top 10 regions with the cleanest play areas
1.Somerset
Total reviews: 908
Unsanitary reviews: 35
Unsanitary reviews (%): 3.9%
2. South Yorkshire
Total reviews: 1,040
Unsanitary reviews: 57
Unsanitary reviews (%): 5.5%
3. Lancashire
Total reviews: 1,106
Unsanitary reviews: 65
Unsanitary reviews (%): 5.9%
4. Greater Manchester
Total reviews: 1,344
Unsanitary reviews: 87
Unsanitary reviews (%): 6.5%
5. Nottinghamshire
Total reviews: 401
Unsanitary reviews: 33
Unsanitary reviews (%): 8.2%
6. Essex
Total reviews: 1019
Unsanitary reviews: 87
Unsanitary reviews (%): 8.5%
7. Hampshire
Total reviews: 1,020
Unsanitary reviews: 96
Unsanitary reviews (%): 9.4%
8. Lincolnshire
Total reviews: 564
Unsanitary reviews: 55
Unsanitary reviews (%): 9.8%
9. North Yorkshire
Total reviews: 457
Unsanitary reviews: 50
Unsanitary reviews (%): 10.9%
10. West Midlands
Total reviews: 447
Unsanitary reviews: 49
Unsanitary reviews (%): 11.0%
Kim May, Creative Arts Therapist at ISP Fostering, revealed the benefits of soft play centres for young children. She told the Outdoor Toys team: “Spending time in play centres helps children to embrace the play and imagination stages of their development and is beneficial for socialisation and the development of physical and cognitive skills.
“When children are in their most infant years, development is about harnessing imagination and mobility skills, and lots of what they learn is through sensory experiences – soft play can positively contribute to this. For children under four years old in particular, they rely on their sensory memory a lot (taste, touch, sound, feel, and sight). Even if a child is too small to physically move or interact with toys or a play area, they are still learning and developing through their senses.”
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Far less well-known or visited than many other cities in the UK, but a real gem.
I live in beautiful seaside city that tourists overlook — it ticks every box(Image: Getty/Steffan Rhys)
It’s the 12th most-visited city in Britain for overnight stays, according to official tourism data — below Brighton, Oxford, Bristol and Bath. To me, this means a lot of people are missing out on what is one of the finest places in the UK to live and spend time.
This has my home city for nearly 30 years and I can’t think of another I’d rather live in. London has its eye-popping palaces, Manchester has its world-famous football stadiums, Oxford and Cambridge have their iconic universities. But what Cardiff lacks in headline-grabbing tourist sites it makes up for in culture and pretty, atmospheric suburbs where you can live like a local regardless of where you’re from. It is also one of the greenest cities in the UK – and one of the most walkable. This is why I think Cardiff is a match for any city in the UK and a totally unique experience.
One of Europe’s greenest cities
Cardiff is consistently ranked among the greenest cities in the UK and Europe and has also topped a Europe-wide poll on the best cities for families with young children to live.
In spring, the blossom trees here are alive with whites and pinks, while in autumn they’ll pop with rusty reds and oranges. In summer, you can sit down and watch a game of cricket taking place, or even have a game of padel or tennis yourself in excellently-maintained courts.
Other gems are Cefn Onn Park, a grade 2-listed historic park on the city’s northern fringes which is an oasis of calm full of native and exotic trees set within an intimate valley. Or there’s Forest Farm on the banks of the Taff, where habitats include woodland, scrub, hay meadow, ponds and marshland and you can still see sections of the historic former Glamorganshire Canal and the restored Melingriffith waterpump, both relics of the city’s industrial past.
On the city’s western edge is one of the world’s most unique museums: St Fagans National Museum of History is like a walk through a rural village in which one or two buildings from recent centuries have survived. The buildings here have all been dismantled from their original locations across Wales and painstakingly rebuilt here. You can have a pint in the rebuilt Vulcan pub.
There’s a 17th century farmhouse from mid Wales, an 18th century chapel from rural west Wales and a terrace of six workers’ homes, each dated to a different year between 1805 and 1985. It’s a stunning place, free to enter and easily reachable by bus.
Walkable
Given its abundance of green space, it’s no surprise that Cardiff is also a very walkable city. But it’s not just the parks and nature reserves that are a joy to walk in and around. From the city centre, it will take you about half an hour along a very simple route to walk to the seafront Cardiff Bay and you could easily spend a day exploring that area on foot. What is today known as Cardiff Bay was previously known as the Docks or Tiger Bay and is the reason the city exists in its current form. Cardiff was a small town before the industrial revolution, when it exploded in size and population to become not just the biggest town in Wales but the biggest coal port in the world.
But by the 1980s it had become a neglected wasteland of derelict docks, mudflats and poor housing. A decade on and Europe’s largest waterfront development in the 1990s created a barrage, a huge freshwater lake and complex of restaurants, shops and bars which now make it a major draw.
Historic buildings from Cardiff’s industrial era like the pilotage office, pierhead building, coal exchange and Norwegian church still exist amid the more modern developments and walking the entire length of the barrage, with the city skyline on one side and the Bristol Channel on the other is a lovely way to spend time in the open air.
Half an hour on foot in the other direction from the city centre is the sought-after suburb of Pontcanna, where you’ll find a concentration of welcoming pubs and restaurants, including a handful of the best you’ll find in Wales all within a 10-minute walk of each other. The well-heeled Cathedral Road is a lovely street to stroll down, where the large three-storey houses remind you of the city’s historic wealth.
Food and drink
Speaking of food and drink, Cardiff has seen a revolution in this area in recent years. Lamented as recently as 10 years ago by a leading food critic as a city with a desolate food scene (he even said the best place to go for food was Cardiff Central so you could catch a train to Bristol), that is a hot take not even the most cynical of critics could claim today. There are superb places to eat in the city centre and every suburb, ranging from Michelin-starred to street food.
It’s impossible to mention them all here but here are a few stand-outs (go here for a full list of the 40 best places to eat in the city). In Pontcanna, Gorse won a Michelin star within a few months of opening, becoming the city’s first restaurant to ever get a star. Practically next door is Thomas, also comfortably one of the best restaurants in the city. And a few doors down you’ll get a great and affordable lunch at Milkwood. A stone’s throw from here is Heaney’s, another extremely accomplished restaurant serving impeccable food, and Sonder, a friendly, neighbourhood restaurant with a fine lunch and dinner menu.
In the Rhiwbina area of Cardiff (like Pontcanna, also a place with a small town within a city vibe) you’ll find Mesen, a small plates restaurant specialising in sharing dishes cooked over charcoal where I was served the best-tasting dish I’d eaten in years.
Or head to the Victoria Park area, where you’ll find unbelievable cakes at Let Them See Cake, delicious small plates at Hiraeth, cheese platters at The Welsh Cheese Company, tremendous burgers at Burger Boyz, Pakistani breakfasts and lunches at Maasi’s and exquisite breads and pastries at Pettigrew, all next door to one another.
Cardiff’s got a strong Italian restaurant culture. Casanova, Cafe Citta and Bacareto in the city centre are all excellent choices, as is the more informal Calabrisella in Canton. Its Indian restaurants are great too, with Purple Poppadom and Cinnamon Tree among the pick of the bunch.
In the city centre, Pasture serves the best steak in the city, while sister venue Parallel is also brilliant. Asador 44 and its sister restaurant Bar 44, both Spanish-influenced restaurants, are also among the best in the centre. The best food pub is The Heathcock in Llandaff. Speaking of pubs, the best in the city centre are The City Arms and The Old Arcade. You’re also spoilt for choice for trendier bars, like The Dead Canary and secret underground bar Nightshade.
Lastly, Cardiff Market is a brilliant place to try a wide variety of delicious street food, from deep fried gnocchi at Dirty Gnocchi to Keralan fried chicken at Tukka Tuk, pizza at Ffwrnes and Greek wraps at Ya Souvlaki. But don’t miss the Welshcakes, a Welsh classic, at Cardiff Bakestones.
Things to see
While it may not have tourist attractions at the level of London’s Buckingham Palace, Edinburgh’s Castle or Bath’s Roman baths, there are still plenty of attractions well worth a look. Top of the list is Cardiff Castle in the heart of the city. This site has been in use for 2,000 years from Roman soldiers to Norman conquerors and Victorian visionaries – and today you’ll see rock and pop stars performing there. Today it’s a fascinating mix of the Norman keep at its heart (with great views over the city from the top) and the lavishly decorated Gothic revival residence. Its huge, walled outdoor space hosts concerts and festivals.
Across the road from the castle, you’ll find the Principality Stadium, often hailed the best sporting stadium in the world despite being well over 20 years old. The 74,500-seater stadium is where the Wales men’s national rugby team play their home games and there are few experiences on Earth like hearing that crowd sing the Welsh national anthem.
Its position right in the heart of the city makes it a favourite among visiting fans too, who don’t have to find their way to the outskirts of cities as is the case with so many major stadiums. It also hosts concerts from megastars like Taylor Swift, Bruce Springsteen and Oasis.
Cardiff has its fair share of chain stores but its Victorian arcades are a shopping experience not to be missed. Ditch the chains and head into these six beautiful arcades packed with independent shops and places to eat.
On the outskirts of the city, but accessible by bike along the riverside path, the Taff Trail, is Castell Coch (Red Castle) perched among forest on a hill. It’s often called a “fairy tale castle” for its looks, having been built by the third Marquess of Bute, then the world’s richest man. And you shouldn’t miss St Fagans National Museum of History, mentioned above. Just outside the museum, now a field, was the site of the Battle of St Fagans, the last big battle of the long-running English Civil War. Between 300 and 700 people died in the battle.
If you’re willing to travel around 45 minutes out of the city, you’ll find some of the most beautiful scenery Wales has to offer, from the country’s second highest mountain at Pen-y-Fan in the Bannau Brycheiniog (Brecon Beacons) National Park to the Jurassic coast at beaches like Southerndown and Monknash.
Culture and history
First things first: Cardiff is the capital of Wales so you are in a country with a culture and language that is distinct from the rest of the UK. You’ll hear plenty of Welsh being spoken and lots of signs are bilingual. It’s also a very friendly city – in 2023, Cardiff was ranked the UK’s friendliest city in a reader survey by popular travel magazine Condé Nast.
The city’s history is fascinating. If you arrive by train into the city’s central train station, you won’t see the sea at all. But, incredibly, this is where the sea used to reach at high tide and buildings here were once swept away by a storm (and possibly even a tsunami) in the 17th century. If you find yourself walking along the city centre Westgate Street, you might be staggered to learn that this street was once the River Taff before its direction was forcibly changed by the engineer Isambard Kingdom Brunel. Large ships would dock here and there is a mid-19th century record of a fisherman catching a salmon near where the Royal Hotel is today.
If you do happen to call into Cardiff Market for a bite to eat, bear in mind that where you’re enjoying your slice of pizza is where people were hanged and burned at the stake. And if you walk the path that runs from the back entrance of Cardiff Market to Working Street, look down and you’ll see numbers on the paving slabs. The numbers refer to burial vaults underneath the ground. The path was built right through the church graveyard so people could access the market easily, gaining the nickname ‘Dead Man’s Alley’. For more on Cardiff’s history, go here.
Places to stay
As a large city, you’re not short of places to stay in Cardiff so this is just a short selection of hotels. Voco St David’s Cardiff is a luxury hotel and spa located right on the waterfront of Cardiff Bay and within walking distance of the Wales Millennium Centre.
The city’s newest luxury hotel is the Parkgate Hotel, right in the city centre, has a range of opulent rooms and suites and a sophisticated restaurant and bar. The Angel Hotel is a classic Victorian building in the city centre. And there are plenty of popular and reliable chains like Marriott, Leonardo and Hilton.
EasyJet, has launched nine new routes to some major holiday hotspots that will take off this year from airports across the UK – and some fares are incredible affordable
The budget airline has nine new routes set to take off this year to stunning destinations (Image: Getty Images)
EasyJet has launched nine new routes from airports across the UK, and fares start from as little as £24.
In an exciting update for holidaymakers, easyJet is introducing new flights to the Canary Islands, Egypt, France, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Poland and Slovenia. The new routes will launch in winter this year, and will see easyJet be the only airline to offer some of these holiday hotspots from three UK airports.
The new routes and package holidays released by easyJet are:
In an exciting update for Birmingham, the route to Agadir, the coastal resort city in Morocco, will start on 27 October, 2026. They will depart twice a week on Tuesdays and Saturdays, and are ideal for those looking for a sun-soaked getaway in one of their sprawling resorts dotted along the sand beaches with crystal clear turquoise waters.
The flights from Belfast International to Sharm El Sheikh and Rome will launch on 25 and 26 October, respectively. The Sharm El Sheikh service will fly twice a week on Wednesdays and Sundays, while the Rome service will depart twice a week on Mondays and Fridays.
The route from London Luton to Ljubljana, the capital of Slovenia, will start on 26 October and depart three times a week on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. Ljubljana offers a largely pedestrianised area in Slovenia’s largest city, with a scenic river, the iconic Dragon Bridge, vibrant café culture and striking architecture.
Meanwhile, flights from London Southend to Budapest will also begin on 26 October, departing twice a week on Mondays and Fridays. This is a welcome connection for Essex and London residents who want to easily explore the ‘city of spas’ situated on the stunning Danube riverfront, alongside its famed ruin bars.
Expanding its Newcastle links even further, the flights to Fuerteventura, Reykjavik, and Krakow will start their departures on 25, 26, and 27 October, respectively. The route to Fuerteventura will depart twice a week on Thursdays and Sundays, the Krakow route will depart twice a week on Mondays and Fridays, and the Reykjavik flights will depart twice a week on Tuesdays and Saturdays.
Elsewhere, the new route from Southampton to Paris Charles de Gaulle will start on 25 October, and will operate twice a week on Thursdays and Sundays. This is ideal for those looking for a romantic weekend escape in the city of love, or to simply explore its iconic landmarks.
Following the launch of its new mega routes, offering fares from £23.99, easyJet will be the only airline operating from Belfast International to Sharm El Sheikh, and the only airline offering a regular route from Belfast International to Rome. Additionally, the budget-friendly airline will be the only air service connecting London Southend to Budapest and London Luton to Ljubljana.
Holiday packages are available with easyJet to all of these new destinations, including flights and hotels, plus 23kg luggage and transfers. The airline noted that all holidays can be booked with a deposit of just £60 per person, making it even more convenient for Brits to book their winter escape.
Kevin Doyle, easyJet’s UK Country Manager, said: “We are excited to be launching nine new routes and packages from across the UK for this winter, providing customers with even more choice and connectivity. Whether they’re looking for winter sun, or a weekend away in some of Europe’s most iconic capitals, this new batch of routes further expands the range of exciting destinations available for our customers to choose from at affordable prices.”
For more information or to book your next getaway, visit the easyJet website.
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A beautiful UK beach that’s perfect to visit in May has been compared to the Caribbean, thanks to its crystal-clear turquoise waters and unspoiled sand – and even locals agree
This stunning beach might just be the UK’s answer to the Caribbean (Image: Getty Images)
You don’t have to hop on a long-haul flight to lap up the pristine shores and azure waters of the Caribbean, as there’s a stunning beach right on our doorstep that starkly compares.
The coastline of the UK is perhaps one of the most diverse and striking. There are dramatic whitewashed cliffs in Devon, stretches of golden sand beaches in Dorset, azure waters in Scotland, and traditional Victorian piers stretching out to sea in Somerset.
Yet among these picturesque shores is Porthcurno Beach in Cornwall, which has been compared to Caribbean vistas, thanks to its sugar-white sand and sensational, crystal-clear turquoise waters. It’s a sheltered oasis with rugged cliffs encircling the sandy shores, and thanks to its south-facing position, it offers a natural shelter from coastal winds, alongside warming temperatures.
It’s often been dubbed one of the UK’s most beautiful beaches, and the experts at GO Outdoors ranked the Cornish beach, near Land’s End, among its top 10 for the ‘best UK beaches to visit this Spring’. It’s ideal for a day spent at the beach, whether you’re building sand castles, having a picnic, playing games, or simply reading a book against its scenic backdrop.
Dubbed a UK paradise, one fan shared on TripAdvisor: “I am Cornish born and bred, and can recommend lots of lovely beaches to visit in Cornwall. But Porthcurno beach wins hands down every time! It is truly stunning! We visit as often as we can – you could well be in the Caribbean!”
Another wrote: “The most amazing beach, beautiful white sand and turquoise sea. Breathtaking views and definitely one of the best beaches you will ever find.” A third also noted: “An absolutely beautiful beach in Cornwall with really clear water and white glorious sand and some stunning scenery, a very special beach, one of the most beautiful I’ve seen in the UK.”
With notoriously clear waters, it’s ideal for a paddle or swim, and has often been a popular spot for bodyboarding. There’s also a small stream that runs down one side of the beach, ideal for young children and families as a safe place to play in the water.
For those looking to explore the coast on foot, there are ample coastal paths that wind around Porthcurno. The South West Coast Path is situated just behind the beach, where ramblers can stroll west to Porthgwarra, “a reclusive cove”, or walk east to discover Treryn Dinas, “the iconic headland that features a promontory fort that dates back to the Iron Age”, as Visit Cornwall notes.
Yet visitors to Porthcurno Beach may also find themselves transported to Greece, thanks to its renowned open-air theatre overlooking the breathtaking coast. Minack Theatre, which dates back to the early 1930s and still runs performances from May to September, sits atop the rugged cliffs with its magnificent architecture echoing that of the famous Theatre of Dionysus.
Aside from its picture-postcard scenes, that is enough to warrant a visit, the experts at GO Outdoors found that Porthcurno Beach has an average spring temperature of around 10C and an average of 7.3 hours of sunshine per day. While it may feel a little brisk along the coast at times, it’s well worth exploring one of the ‘best beaches in the UK’ to feel as though you’ve stepped onto the sandy shores of the Caribbean, minus the scorching heat.
Calum Jones, author and outdoor enthusiast at GO Outdoors, offered advice for anyone looking to enjoy a beach day trip. “As the days get longer and the weather warms up, spring is the perfect time to explore the stunning coastlines across the UK. From Druridge Bay Beach in the North East to Immeridge Bay in the South West, there are breathtaking beaches to discover all around the country,” he said.
“When planning your spring beach trip, keep in mind that British weather can still be unpredictable. Bring a waterproof jacket to stay dry in case of sudden showers, choose supportive, waterproof footwear for any slippery sand or rocks, and layer your clothing so you can easily adjust to changing temperatures.
“Sun protection is also important, even in spring. Apply a generous layer of suncream before you head out, and don’t forget a cap and sunglasses to shield yourself from harmful UV rays.”
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The movie is beloved by viewers and critics with a 97% score on Rotten Tomatoes
Historical WW2 drama is ‘one of the most beautiful movies ever made’ (Image: IMDb/internet grab)
A historical post-war film has been hailed as “one of the most beautiful movies ever made.” This film follows a young Irish woman who is torn between two worlds in the 1950s. Critics and audiences alike have praised its emotional precision and timeless appeal.
Boasting an impressive 97% on Rotten Tomatoes, Brooklyn (2015) is the perfect weekend watch. It is now available to stream for free on BBCiPlayer. However, viewers only have 19 days left to catch the film.
In the 1950s, young Irishwoman Eilis Lace (played by Saoirse Ronan) leaves her small hometown for a new life in Brooklyn, drawn by the promise of opportunity in America.
Though she initially struggles with homesickness, she gradually adapts. Eilis eventually falls in love in Brooklyn, and embraces her independence.
However, a sudden family emergency calls her back to Ireland, where she becomes entangled once again in the life she left behind.
Caught between her past and her future, Eilis must choose between two countries and the very different lives each offers.
Reviews
“In short, Brooklyn is one of the very best films of the past decade and worth looking back on,” wrote Dave Giannini for InSession Film.
Giving the film a five out of five, Don Shanahan from Film Obsessive shared: “Brooklyn is a forthright, approachable, and esteemed historical drama where the dignity and honesty soar to heavenly heights to shine on the plights of love and independence.”
Audience members also raved about this film. One said: “Beautiful story. One of the best movies. Moving.” Another added: “Beautiful classic in every sense of the word. Outstanding performances. Atmospheric joy. Don’t miss it.”
A third wrote: “It’s a masterpiece, and profoundly moving, especially if you’re an immigrant yourself. The closing is one of the most beautiful romantic scenes ever. In my opinion.”
Lastly, someone said: ” One of the most beautiful movies ever made. Colours, music, and reticence punctuate throughout. I have watched the scene in the dining room of the church 7,351,212 times.
“The man sings, the actress recognises brilliance amidst shuffles and anonymity, and then the director cuts to her chaperone listening to a radio. So god**** brilliant.”
The movie Pillion only hit cinemas last year, but it has already been released on at least two platforms. Not only is it available to those with a standalone subscription to the latest service, HBO Max, but it can also be accessed by those with Sky Cinema or a Movies Pass on the NOW platform.
According to its synopsis, the film follows Colin, a timid man who meets Ray, an enigmatic, impossibly handsome biker who sweeps him off his feet. He soon initiates him into a submissive relationship.
This challenges Colin’s mundane existence and prompts personal growth through their unconventional dynamic. Harry Melling, best known for playing Dudley Dursley in the original Harry Potter films, takes on the role of Colin, while True Blood, Succession, and Murderbot actor Alexander Skarsgård plays Ray.
Upon its initial release, the film was a big hit with critics, earning a near-perfect 99% on Rotten Tomatoes. One review claimed: “Pillion is a bold, bawdy film told through small looks and big feelings. It broke my heart and put it back together again.”
Although another warned, “Pillion isn’t a film for everyone. But those who know what it means to grovel for their beloved…will find in a subject for analysis in Pillion’s erratic relationship and outlandish romance.”
Another agreed but also highlighted how it handles its subject matter. The reviewer penned: “While the cringe is strong (and deliberate) in many scenes of Pillion, Lighton makes it clear that kink isn’t an embarrassing detour for Colin — it’s how he comes to know himself. For him, in a very real sense, submission becomes empowering.”
Get HBO Max free with Sky
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Sky is giving away free subscriptions to HBO Max with its £22 Ultimate TV bundle, which also includes Netflix, Disney+, discovery+, Hayu, and around 135 channels at no extra cost.
Fans who have already seen the film have been left just as impressed. One person shared their views online, saying: “Unforgettable film in so many ways. Yes, it’s explicit, but that isn’t the lasting footprint of this film. I left the cinema having been enlightened, embarrassed, happy, and so very sad.
“It’s a masterclass in the subtlety of truly great acting where so few words are needed to elicit such emotion from an audience. There won’t be Oscar nominations as it’s a small, independent film with a small budget, but there really, really should be.”
While someone else commented, “A beautiful, unflinching look at queer BDSM life. While it might not be for some (the faint-hearted), it is soulful enough to warrant consideration of anyone capable of empathetic, non-discriminatory understanding of joy in all relationships, and ultimately how fleeting and precious it is.”
One person added their verdict and posted: “It is a rare film, dealing with a theme seldom explored in cinema and, above all, very raw. I have seen some opinions suggesting that the ending was unpleasant. For me, the ending was one of the best parts.”
Pillion is streaming on HBO Max, Sky Cinema and NOW for those with a movies pass.
IF you want a taste of Central America without the long-haul flight, then there is somewhere a bit closer to home that is compared to it.
La Palma is a great alternative for anyone who wants the experience of Costa Rica without the 15hour flight, according to TUI.
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La Palma in the Canary Islands has black sand beaches and colourful buildingsCredit: AlamyThere’s plenty of wildlife to spot too – like the short-finned pilot whalesCredit: Alamy
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In fact, heading to La Palma from the UK takes just four hours and 40minutes.
La Palma is nicknamed “La Isla Bonita”, which translates to ‘the beautiful island’ – and during peak summer months it experiences delightful highs of 31C.
Its capital isSanta Cruz de La Palma on the eastern coast, where streets are lined with colourful homes.
Heading further inland, the landscape of the island can be compared to Costa Rica with lush forests and even volcanoes.
Tajogaite Volcano on the Canary Island was formed just five years ago after the eruption of Cumbre Vieja.
One popular activity on the island is to take on the four-mile hike.
La Palma is littered with walking trails too – one of the top recommended is through the island’s natural park, Caldera Taburiente.
This is where you’ll see Cascada de Colores, a waterfall that’s rich in iron so it creates a rainbow effect.
Another popular spot for hiking is to the island’s highest point Roque de Los Muchachos which is 2,426 metres high – so it is quite the trek.
Around the coastline on La Palma are volcanic black sand beaches – some of the most popular include Playa Nogales which is described as being “remote” and “quiet”.
Another is Playa de Los Cancajos where one visitor went snorkelling and saw cucumberfish and octopus.
While Costa Rica tends to have ones with golden sand, it does have a number of black sand beaches too.
What Costa Rica has in abundance is National Parks filled with wildlife, but you can see lots in La Palma too.
There are plenty of lizards like the Canary Gecko, various bird species, and beautiful butterflies.
As for marine life, around the island are bottlenose dolphins and short-finned pilot whales.
TUI offers a ‘flipper whale watching‘ boat tour around the west coast of the island to Cueva Bonita which is a natural grotto carved into the cliff-face from £49.
Cascada de Los Colores is iron-rich and looks like a rainbowCredit: Alamy
For more TUI holidays, here are our favourites…
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Globales Montemar, Ibiza
This hotel sits on a quieter side of Ibiza, so you can soak up the island’s natural beauty away from the party crowds. This family-friendly option has a large pool that curves around the resort, surrounded by plenty of sunbeds, plus a kids zone. Here you’re just a 10-minute stroll from a horseshoe-shaped bay with clear waters.
This resort is set up like a small village, with low-rise buildings set among palm trees and six different swimming pools. Entertainment spans from DJ nights to bingo and live sports screenings, plus sports on offer include water polo, rifle shooting and shuffleboard.
This hotel sits on Majorca‘s Cala Gran Beach, a beautiful cove just a short drive away from the coastal town centre, with its trinket shops and relaxed bars. The hotel itself has all the activities and entertainment you’d expect, including bingo and live music – as well as some unique extras like mini golf and archery. Week-long breaks start from £478pp.
The Riu Baobab is the only TUI hotel in the country, sat on the Pointe Sarane coastline. There are the four huge pools overlooking the beach, swim up pool bars and a copious amount of sunloungers to choose from. The sushi at the Asian Dorayaki and the pasta dishes at Veneto are the highlight meals of this standout hotel. Week-long breaks start from £883pp.
You can stay at Palma Princess with TUICredit: TUI
One great thing about La Palma is that it’s affordable too – you can grab a beer from as little as €1.50 (£1.31).
Meanwhile, in Costa Rica, these cost on average £2.41, according to Wise.
You can stay on the island with TUI and seven- night all-inclusive holidays start from £567 per person.
TUI also seven-night holidays to Fuencaliente, La Palma staying at La Palma Princess on an all inclusive basis from £567per person.
It has six swimming pools, multiple restaurants and entertainment through the day and into the evening.
Price is based on two adults sharing a Twin Room with Balcony or Terrace flying direct with TUI Airways from London Gatwick on April 23, 2026 with 20kg hold luggage.
TUI offers seven-night holidays here at Los Cancajos on a self-catering basis from £545per person.
It has bright apartments with little kitchenettes, an outside pool, a separate one for kids, and gardens.
Price is based on two adults sharing a one Bedroom Apartment with balcony or terrace flying direct with TUI Airways from London Gatwick on June 11, 2026 with 20kg hold luggage.
This destination is a ‘like for like’ alternative to pricey Italian hotspots with beer under £2
Isobel Pankhurst Audience Writer
02:10, 12 Apr 2026
This stunning region is a perfect ‘dupe’ for the Amalfi Coast(Image: Getty)
While a trip to the Amalfi Coast might seem like the ideal getaway, it’s one that can prove rather pricey, particularly once you account for spending money while you’re there. Yet elsewhere across Europe, there’s another breathtaking coastal spot that serves as an excellent alternative.
Laura Evans-Fisk, head of digital and engagement at Eurochange, has noted a substantial rise in British tourists visiting Bulgaria, with Sozopol emerging as a fantastic alternative to the Amalfi Coast.
Laura says: “Although Bulgaria has joined the euro, prices for things like food, accommodation and drinks are still particularly low compared to other popular holiday destinations like Greece, Spain and Italy.”
For example, you can expect to pay less than €2 (£1.7) for a beer and around €10 (£8.7) for a meal.
“And, Brits don’t need to compromise on the beautiful scenery and beaches these popular hotspots offer. In fact, there are plenty of destinations in Bulgaria that are almost a ‘like for like’ but at a fraction of the cost.”
Championing Sozopol specifically, she added: “This gorgeous coastal town has a really similar feel to the likes of Positano and Cinque Terre, in Italy’s famous Riviera.
“Sozopol’s old town is dotted with quaint wooden houses and cobbled streets that overlook the stunning coastline and bright blue waters.” Stunning Sozopol ranks among Bulgaria’s most ancient coastal towns and remains far less crowded than many other European hotspots.
Sozopol boasts Kavastie and Harmani beaches, along with several beach bars, ensuring that whether you’re after a family outing or an evening of drinks, you’ll find exactly what you need.
And if you fancy a change from lounging on the sandy coastline, there’s no shortage of alternative activities, from discovering the town’s historic churches, to soaking up some culture at Ravadinovo Castle or Sozopol Archaeological Museum, or enjoying a fun-packed day at Aquapark Neptun.
A recent visitor to Kavastie Beach posted on Tripadvisor: “Fantastic beach, one of the very best that I’ve ever been to. Extremely clean, wonderful sand and safe sea ideal for children. Decent bars and restaurants. We’ll definitely be back next year.”
Meanwhile, a tourist who explored Ravadinovo Castle wrote: “A very eclectic castle, but a marvel to behold. A place of wonder. Around every corner was an amazing sight and a surprise. The floors inside the chapel and the ceiling were incredible. A stunning day out.”
And a visitor to the Sozopol Archaeological Museum added: “We spent a few hours at the museum this summer. Although it’s not a huge museum, they have interesting exhibitions. The lady who was in charge of the museum was very nice and told us some peculiar facts about the history of Apolonia. Recommend taking a look at the second floor, where you can find an ancient ‘vampire’ skeleton.”
THE UK basked in sky high temperatures on Wednesday and if you want more heat, you can head to another nearby city.
Marrakech, in western Morocco is set to hit highs of 35C next week, and flights there are still a bargain.
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Marrakech is basking in highs of 35C next weekCredit: AlamyYou can explore the main square which is filled with shops, cafes and restaurantsCredit: Alamy
It’s nicknamed the ‘Red City’ because it’s been built from red clay and sandstone – in the sunlight, and especially at sunset Marrakech seems to glow an orange-red colour.
One of its biggest landmarks is Bahia Palace, a 19th-century building decorated with stunning paintings and mosaics.
It’s the largest and best-preserved 19th-century palace in the city with 160 decorated rooms, courtyards, and pretty gardens.
Another must-see is El Badi Palace – commissioned by the then-sultan Ahmad al-Mansur after his accession in 1578, it eventually fell into ruin after his death.
You can still explore its huge courtyard, sunken orange gardens and reflecting pools.
When it comes to souvenirs, head to Jemaa el-Fnaa squarewhich is filled with vibrant cafes and colourful stalls.
It has lots of restaurants too where visitors can pick delicacies like tagine, brochettes (skewered kebabs), fried fish and couscous.
Lisa Minot, Head of Sun Travel, filled us in on her recent trip to the Moroccan city. She said: “I’ve just returned from a wonderful long weekend in Marrakech and the city is as exciting as ever.
“We were sunbathing on the roof of our riad in the Medina in glorious 22 degree temperatures – and I loved the amazing desert landscapes just 40 minutes from the hustle and bustle of the souks.
“Tourism is booming in the city and while the streets are as colourful and chaotic as ever, the influx of visitors has brought some gorgeous new bars, restaurants and stunning hotels.”
Behind the 20th-century palace walls is intricate tilework and a courtyard with orange trees that you wouldn’t know is there from the outside – and is ideal for pictures.
For more holidays to Morocco – check out some of our favourites…
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Riu Palace Tikida Taghazout
This hotel in laid-back surf capital Taghazout has seven giant pools to pick from, as well as six bars and four restaurants. The on-site spa offers massage treatments, facials and even a hair salon, should you fancy a pampering. Take a stroll outdoors to find colourful souks and a five and a half mile-long beach.
El Pueblo Tamelt in Agadir sees year-round sunshine and is just steps away from the beach. The huge resort has 363 rooms, each with a balcony or terrace overlooking the sea or gardens. Food here includes three daily meals in the main buffet restaurant, as well as snacks like pizza, hot dogs and burgers at the snack bar.
Smack-bang in the centre of Marrakech, this hotel is a private paradise with its own giant pool and sun deck hidden within. Kids will love dancing and singing along to the live entertainment, whilst parents can unwind in the sauna and spa. Here, you’re only 10 minutes’ drive from both Jemaa El-Fnaa square and the medina.
Riad Meski Enjoy a stay in a traditional riad in Fes, know as Morocco’s capital of culture. Soak up the sun from the rooftop terrace, enjoy the artistic interiors, and wander through the famous blue gates into the oldest medina in the world, just a 15-minute walk away.
Dar El Bacha has incredible tilework – and a sought out coffee spotCredit: Alamy
It’s also home to Bacha Coffeecafé, a luxurious spot that serves over 200 types of Arabica coffee.
Marrakech is a very affordable spot too – you can fly from Birmingham to Marrakech from £15.99 with Ryanair.
Flights are short, taking on average three and a half hours.
Once you’ve landed, you can pick up a local beer for as little as 25MAD (£2), and a meal at an inexpensive restaurant can cost as little as 35MAD (£2.81).
Coffee can cost as little as 21MAD (£1.68), according to Wise.
Hotels can be inexpensive too. A seven-night stay for two at the Grand Mogador Agdal & Spa in April is £677 – or £48pppn.
The hotel has five-stars on Booking.com and has a sun terrace, garden, and a year-round outdoor swimmingpool with slides.
Another great deal is at the Le Palais Averroes Adults Only hotel.
It’s dubbed as having a “5-star riad experience with adults-only access”.
It also has a year-round outdoor swimming pool, spa and wellness centre, massage services, a steam room, a hammam and restaurant.
With Booking.com, you can book a five-night stay in May for two for £564 – or £56.40pppn.
Moving a town down the road requires a huge amount of money and incredible engineering expertise, but not losing the community in the process might be even more complex
The moving of the church was watched by huge crowds(Image: TT NEWS AGENCY/AFP via Getty Ima)
One sunny day last August, a 713-tonne, 113-year-old church was lifted off the ground and placed onto a specialised 224-wheel transporter to begin its journey five kilometres down the road.
The Gothic revival Kiruna Church is a beloved building, once named the most beautiful in Sweden. It would’ve stood where it did to the west of the Arctic town for many decades more, had the ground not threatened to swallow it up.
A great cheer went up as the church arrived at its new home, traffic lights, lamp posts and even a bridge having been demolished to make way for the timber structure. Among the spectators was Sweden’s King Carl XVI Gustaf and children who clambered onto roofs for a better look. The widely publicised event made headlines across the world and the typically capable Swedish engineering team earned many metaphorical slaps on the back.
“They smashed us in the head,” says Kjell Törmä, a local journalist and lifelong resident. The 67-year-old has chronicled the town’s move since 2004, when mining company Luossavaara Kiirunavaara Aktiebolag, (LKAB) first told the population what its digging had done.
A century of going down into the 2km iron ore deposit had caused fissures to spread from the mine to the town centre, roughly 2km away.
It was decided that the town must be moved, or else its foundations would collapse. At first, 4,700 residents would be moved to the safer east of the town – their homes bought and then demolished by LKAB, which is legally required to fund the estimated £737m relocation effort. Twenty buildings, including the church and iconic town hall, would be driven to safety.
“Almost everyone in Kiruna accepts this change, but many of us don’t like it. It is tragic in many ways. We have to accept it or accept that we will lose our jobs,” Kjell told the Mirror.
“In my family, my mother and father worked for LKAB for 75 years together, one of my brothers worked there for 20 years. I have done a lot of jobs for the mine as a freelancer. Almost every family depends on LKAB.”
As reluctantly accepting of the town’s move as locals may have been before, what came after the church relocation has caused far more disquiet. Eight days later, once the world’s press had left the town, 6,000 more locals were told their homes would be demolished.
“The mining company is the enemy. A lot of people are taking the money and leaving,” former Kiruna resident Hannes told me on the night train to the town.
The young dad was returning north, having swapped his hometown for Malmo in the far south several years ago. “I find it depressing to go back now,” he said, in between marshalling his sociable toddler as she made her way down the carriage.
Hannes’ parents have also left and soon, so will his cousin Kjell. “When they told us we had to move, I was in shock and sad for a week. Then my wife and I decided we would turn a page in our lives,” Kjell explained.
As technically remarkable as the great shift east is, and as deep as LKAB’s pockets seem to be when it comes to paying over the odds to homeowners, moving a town is complex.
Kjell is losing a home he’s spent 35 years building. Each day, he can hear machines working away in the distance.
“Many people who have moved from Kiruna and come back say it’s not my town anymore. I have always answered, ‘no it’s not the town for us elders, but for the kids. They grew up with this, it will be their town.’ But, a lot of memories are disappearing all the time.”
Exploring the old and new sides of town, their distinct personalities are immediately obvious. When city planner Per Olof Hallman drew up the blueprint a century ago, he selected the best location in terms of climate, placing the traditional Swedish timber home on a south-facing slope, close to the mines and with a favourable aspect and microclimate. Streets followed the terrain to avoid wind tunnelling and to maintain beautiful views for the residents.
In the new town, tall modern blocks of flats have been built in a dip, which blocks the view south and, according to a University of Gothenburg study, can be 10C colder than the old town.
The slightly ramshackle feeling of a community that has grown organically over the years is replaced with something a little more familiar.
“It looks like anywhere else in Sweden now,” Hannes says.
This is not to say that the move has not been attempted with great care, attention or love by those in charge. Indeed, Kjell says LKAB have managed it “very well” on the whole.
But it is undeniably difficult to transport a place that isn’t just physical buildings, but memories.
Göran Cars, the current urban planner for the Kiruna municipality, acknowledges the challenge. “I was stupid coming up here, because I assumed that the way to maintain identity and preserve history was to move physical buildings,” he told Dezeen.
“We are moving the church. When I speak to people they say: ‘Yes I know that, but what about a grave? How about the birches?’ I didn’t understand that. They are small trees! But they are 100 years old – as old as the church. I get the question time and time again: ‘What about the birches?’ So now we are moving the birches.”
The complexity of the challenge is sobering. This is, after all, Sweden, where the structures of local democracy are strong, the engineering sector is world-leading, and the concerns of nomadic reindeer herding Sami are increasingly heard. It’s also a project backed by one of the world’s biggest iron ore mines.
These are advantages other places won’t enjoy. And there will be many more such places.
The United Nations’ Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report warns that the predicted 1.5 centigrade increase in global temperatures will lead to an average sea-level rise of between 26 and 77 centimetres by the end of the century. With 2C of warming – which looks increasingly likely – the Greenland ice shelf could melt, triggering a rise of up to seven metres.
The world’s largest cities Miami and Mumbai are under threat and the Maldives will likely be uninhabitable by 2100. Not just 10,500 as in Kiruna’s case, but millions of people will have to move.
LKAB and Kiruna Council were approached for comment.
A five-star Haven holiday park is packed with family-friendly activities, and best of all it has direct beach access with a long stretch of sand to enjoy
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Enjoy the outdoor pool in summer(Image: Haven )
The UK has loads of great holiday parks to choose from, and they’re a practical option for families who’d like cost-effective accommodation, plenty of activities, and a lively atmosphere.
If you’re looking for a staycation for May half-term or the summer holidays, then this may be the perfect option for families with school aged kids. Set on a beautiful sandy beach, this holiday park has a 5-star rating from the AA, who called it “a very popular park with many guests returning every year”.
Perran Sands Holiday Park in Cornwall sits on 500-acres of grassland and sand dunes, and if you walk through the grassy paths you’ll reach the vast sandy beach that stretches over three-miles. The sand is soft and fine, and when the tide is out rockpools full of tiny sea creatures are uncovered. The park even offers surfing lessons for those who’ve always wanted to try catching a wave.
The sea can be quite choppy at Perran Sands, and although there is a lifeguard on duty at peak times, you may prefer to take a dip in the pool instead. On chilly days holidaymakers can enjoy the indoor pool with its own flume ride, while in the summer months, the outdoor pool is a great place to cool off. There’s also an outdoor lazy river where swimmers can float around and enjoy the sunshine.
Back on dry land, guests can book a round of crazy golf, enjoy the NERF Training Camp, hire go-karts, or take part in fun outdoor activities such as den building. In the evenings, entertainment includes appearances from Haven’s seaside squad. There are also lots of options for dinner, including the Surf Bay Café which has a Cornwall-style interior including its own campervan, and a brand new branch of popular US-chain Slim Chickens.
Like most Haven parks, Perran Sands has a number of accommodation options. You can book a 4-night break in a saver caravan from £49, and other budget-friendly options include yurts and geo-domes, some of which are right on the seafront. The park also has lodges, chalets, and three-bedroom beach houses which offer sea views and sun decks.
Walk along the seafront for about half and hour and you can visit nearby Perranporth. This charming seaside town is full of souvenir and surf shops, relaxed pubs, fish and chip shops, and tearooms. About a 20-minute drive away is Newquay, famous for its beautiful beaches and for being a surfers paradise.
Visit Newquay Zoo, a compact but fun zoo in the gardens of Trenance Park, or explore the 16th-century Trerice manor house. The Blue Reef Aquarium is also popular with families thanks to its wide range of colourful sea creatures on display, while the Oasis Fun Pools offer indoor and outdoor slides, rapids, and more.
Find out more about Perran Sands and book your break here. Of course it’s not the only tempting offering in Cornwall; there are a wealth of different sites where families can find bargain breaks too. Away Resorts for example has a St Ives Bay site with private access to a three-mile-long sandy beach, while Parkdean Resorts has budget-friendly midweek breaks as well as new all-inclusive packages for families wanting to stretch their holiday budget that little bit further.
Have a story you want to share? Email us at webtravel@reachplc.com
Even if you don’t want to commit to island-life fulltime, it’s perfect for a weekend away
Steffan Rhys Deputy Content Hub Director and Liv Clarke
16:12, 07 Apr 2026Updated 16:12, 07 Apr 2026
Less well-known than many UK islands, this one has beautiful beaches, impressive castles and has been named in UK’s best places to live(Image: Getty Images)
Picture your dream place to live. You may have conjured up images of an island with sandy beaches, clear waters and palm trees swaying in the breeze. If so, there is a slice of this island life closer to home than you might think (minus the palm trees).
Anglesey is the seventh largest island in the British Isles, covering an area of around 275 square miles. It’s known for its amazing beaches, which range from picturesque coves to vast sandy stretches. The island and many of its locations are frequently at the top of best-of travel lists and guides. Earlier this year, Time Out named Anglesey one of the best places to visit in the UK in 2026 and last year it was named the UK’s ‘best island’ by The Telegraph. Most recently, it was named one of the best places to live in the UK in 2026 by The Sunday Times, which described it as “a landscape of rolling greenery set against the cinematic, jagged backdrop of Snowdonia and the Llyn Peninsula”.
It goes on to mention that the town of Menai Bridge is home to the island’s best shops and restaurants with views that are a “delight”, while Beaumaris is the island’s “artistic anchor”. And it adds: “Aberffraw, Benllech and Trearddur Bay are lively seaside villages, and there’s wildness and warm community spirit to be found in more remote corners of the island.”
The Sunday Times guide is designed to showcase places to live and highlights the average house price on the island is £270,500 but for those who just fancy a taste of island life, then a holiday in Anglesey — or even a day or weekend trip — does the job. And the aforementioned Menai Bridge is a great place to stay if you fancy the hustle and bustle of town life.
In fact, this year the Menai Suspension Bridge celebrates its 200th anniversary so there’s no better time to visit. Designed by Thomas Telford, the bridge reaches 1,265ft long with a central span of 579ft and is an impressive sight to behold.
In Beaumaris you’ll find pastel-coloured buildings and the impressive Beaumaris Castle, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Built by Edward I with his architect James of St George, it followed on from the castles of Conwy, Caernarfon and Harlech. The fortress was huge with near-perfect symmetry but a lack of money and trouble in Scotland meant the castle was abandoned. But its magnificent walls still stand.
Anglesey’s beaches are a must for any visitor. In fact, given the coastline stretches for 125 miles, it’s pretty hard to avoid them. Close to the village of Aberffraw in the south west, you’ll find Traeth Mawr, a vast sandy beach backed by powdery dunes with gorgeous views over the mainland.
The beach connects to the Anglesey Coastal Path, a long distance coastal path which, as you’ve guessed, follows much of the island’s coastline. It takes around 12 days to complete, but obviously you can select shorter sections to do.
Of course, The Sunday Times does shine a light on one of Anglesey’s most scenic locations: Newborough Beach and the tidal Llanddwyn Island with its rolling sand dunes and rock outcrops. This “stunning spot” is a place steeped in legend and home to the remains of St Dwynwen’s Church, named after the Welsh patron saint of lovers, who fled to the island after she was forbidden to marry the man she loved.
Newborough Forest is a spectacular site in itself with towering corian pines growing beside the sand dunes of Newborough Warren. It’s also the perfect spot to see red squirrels, after they were introduced in 2004.
The island town is known for its vibrant town centre, long history and stunning waterside setting nestled between the two sides of a glistening freshwater lake
“It’s a heavenly place to live,” says Barry Flanagan as we bob along on the sparkling water.
Barry is a water taxi tour guide in Enskillen, where he spends his days enthusing about the town. He combines his unique talent for talking, honed during ten years on local radio, with boating skills learned on the waterways of his hometown.
“Enniskillen is Ireland’s only island town. It is completely surrounded by water. We’re so lucky we live here,” he adds in a borderlands brogue.
If you’re from the centre of Ireland, then you’ll have heard of the town of 14,000. Enniskillen is known for its vibrant town centre, long history and stunning waterside setting nestled between Upper and Lower Lough Erne in County Fermanagh.
The first place to start when discovering its delights is on the water. Lough Erne is the third largest freshwater lake in the UK and stretches across the south-western border. There is a brightness and cleanliness about the place. Flooded drumlin landscape stretches away from the loch past reedswamps, islets, and devilish-looking cormorants drying their wings in the sunshine.
With the water taxis chugging by, it’s easy to mistake its waterways for rural Netherlands or the Croatian delta of Vid. At least, in the brief moments when sleet showers are replaced by sunshine.
It’s also got a lot of history.
A short boat ride out of town takes you to Devenish Island. “There are 254 islands on Lough Erne, and Devenish Island is the jewel. It is a 6th-century monastic sight,” Barry explains.
Henry VIII’s dissolution of the monasteries cleared Devenish of its once bustling 1,000-person population, but the remains of the buildings have stayed, including a perfectly preserved tower.
Rising up on a nearby hill is the imposing Enneskillen Royal Grammar School, where Oscar Wilde and Samuel Beckett were pupils at a similar time as two truanting young lads who managed to blow up the nearby 1613 Portora Castle using explosive skills honed in the chemistry lab.
Made of sturdier stuff is the 600-year-old Enskillen Castle. Guarding one of the few passes into Ulster, it has remained strategically important since the charmingly named Hugh the Hospitable swung open its drawbridge.
The British took it over in the 17th century, turning it into a plantation stronghold for English and Scottish settler ‘undertakers’ tasked with controlling confiscated Gaelic land.
Despite such dicey moves, it remains remarkably intact today and serves as an enjoyable low-key museum.
“Fermanagh is a small county, but it packs a huge punch,” Barry enthuses as our tour comes to a close with a quick sail past Erne Water Taxi’s newest vessel, a completely solar-powered party boat.
“Would you believe in Fermanagh we have 14 plantation castles, three National Trust properties, a geopark that runs across the border, the Stairway to Heaven, and the Marble Arch Caves. It’s a heavenly place to live and we’re so lucky we live here.”
Any local who has spent an evening in Blakes of the Hollow will certainly agree. The Victorian pub is one of the most famous in Ireland and was packed to the rafters when I visited. The vibe inside is excellent and oiled by £5 pints of Guinness and live music on the weekends.
Wander several flights down from the pub, and you’ll get to 28 at the Hollow, an award-winning restaurant run by husband and wife team, Glen Wheeler and Zara McHugh. The food and service is as exceptional as I had expected, given no fewer than three people at my hotel had suggested I check it out.
The hotel in question is the Lough Erne Resort, a curious place that’s part 5* hotel, part timeshare estate made up of crenelated mansions that run along the lakefront. OAP bellboys greet you at the door as you walk into the grand foyer, where wood fires crackle in the grates. The rooms are enormous and comfortable, designed as they are for golfers to relax after a hard day’s thwacking on the 36-hole course.
Once you’re up and at them the next day, a coffee and a croissant at FOLK will fuel you up enough for a proper rummage at Lougherne Vintage.
Sitting in the quaint Butter Market part of town, the shop is packed full of goodies plundered by Katie Murphy and her husband from bootfairs across Europe. Unlike most vintage shop proprietors, Katie does not get her goods from eBay and Vintage, instead putting in the hard yards early on Sunday mornings. The result is a shop brimming with genuine treasures, including a Vivienne Westwood dress for a very reasonable price.
Like Enniskillen as a whole, drop by and you’re sure to unearth a hidden gem or two.
A scenic train journey from London to Geneva via Paris offers some of Europe’s best views – and can cost half the price of a plane ticket at around £135 return
The service trundles through charming towns including Dijon(Image: Aliaksandr Antanovich via Getty Images)
A rail journey linking three capital cities boasts some of Europe’s most breathtaking scenery—and could set you back half the price of a flight.
The Eurostar and France’s TGV whisk passengers from London to Geneva, making the very most of a trip that spans three nations. The train departs from St Pancras with a change in Paris before heading onwards to the Swiss capital.
It’s a nearly six-hour journey in total, passing through Montbard, Dijon and Bourg-en-Bresse, offering stunning vistas of national parks and rolling countryside. Passengers can hop off in Paris to discover the city—with landmarks including the Eiffel Tower, Notre-Dame, the Champs-Élysées, Sacré-Cœur and the Louvre.
Once the train pulls into Geneva, visitors can take in Lake Geneva, Cathédrale de Saint-Pierre, the Palais des Nations, the botanical gardens and the Brunswick Monument.
From there, it’s also a brief trip to the nearby Alps, with day excursions available from the city to ski or snowboard on the slopes and savour the local restaurants. The train can be half the price of a plane ticket. According to Skyscanner, return flights this month cost up to £394.
During the same period, return train tickets cost around £135, half the price of a flight, according to Trainline.
Families can also cut costs by purchasing Interrail passes—£482 for a family of four to travel on four days within one month, plus seat reservation charges. And expense isn’t the sole advantage.
According to the Times, four passengers journeying from London to Geneva and back by rail produce approximately 44kg of carbon emissions, compared with 108kg by car and 1,608kg by plane. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change states that, to maintain climate change within sustainable limits, each person has a carbon “budget” of 1,500kg of carbon emissions per year.
Although there are a number of factors that determine how polluting different forms of travel are, such as the type of electricity production used to power trains, riding the rails is typically greener than flying.
Back in 2023, carbon calculations made by the Rail Delivery Group found that travelling by rail from London to Edinburgh creates 10 times fewer carbon emissions than by car and 13 times fewer than by plane.
One of the tricky considerations for passengers is generally cost, with budget airlines such as Ryanair, easyJet and Wizz Air typically offering cheaper plane tickets than the equivalent train tickets.
The route from London to Geneva shows that it is not always the case. The price gap between the two forms of transport may also be getting smaller.
Travellers are facing rising airfare costs and reductions in flight schedules as the conflict in the Middle East causes oil prices to soar, with concerns that ticket prices could remain elevated for months even if the war de-escalates. Cathay Pacific, AirAsia and Thai Airways are among a growing number of airlines increasing fares to offset the hikes.
While train services are also impacted by rising oil prices, fuel tends to be a much smaller proportion of their operating margins than with airlines.
While Sinead McIntyre and her family found bliss on the Turkish Riviera.
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En-Joia the view from your hotelCredit: Supplied by hotel.
Tenerife
Senior Writer Donna Smiley discovered foodie heaven in the Canary Islands.
As three pilot whales playfully leap in and out of the sea, everybody on our boat is grinning.
Have a whale of a time on a boat tripCredit: Getty Images/iStockphoto
We’re only 30 minutes into our two-hour boat trip from Puerto Colón, so there’s still plenty of time to have a dip in the crystal waters ourselves, before we sip wine and eat tropical fruit as the sun sets on our journey back to shore.
A two-hour boat trip costs £51 per person for up to nine people (Bluejacksail.com).
We’re staying at Joia El Mirador by Iberostar in Costa Adeje, 10 minutes’ drive away, where all rooms are suites with four-poster beds.
With its lagoon-style pool dotted with palm trees and setting right on one of Tenerife’s best golden-sand beaches, this five-star adults-only hotel makes quite the impression.
So too does the family-run artisanal goat’s cheese farm, Quesería Montesdeoca in Adeje, 15 minutes’ drive away.
With lush green fields and a glimpse of neighbouring islands La Palma and La Gomera from its rooftop, we learn all about the cheese-making process, which is done by hand, and meet the goats and sheep who love being stroked, before the all-important tasting.
Back at the hotel’s gourmet restaurant El Cenador, we tuck into a 10-course tasting menu, £72 per person.
The Japanese menu at Kensei is not to be mist!Credit: Kensei Japanese / Instagram
Every course is delicious and crafted with local produce, and it ends in style with a passion fruit cake served under a cloud of candy floss, which dramatically dissolves when the sauce is poured over.
Come morning, cooked-to-order eggs benedict, pastries and cappuccinos made with coffee beans from a local farm don’t disappoint, either.
The bus to the island’s capital of Santa Cruz takes 50 minutes, where we find a branch of Zara with prices cheaper than at home, plus more foodie gems.
We wander the charming streets of the old town and grab a barraquito – a local-speciality coffee of condensed milk, Licor 43 (a Spanish vanilla liqueur), espresso and frothed milk, at rooftop cafe La Escala (@Laescala tenerife).
Then we make our way to Colmado 1917, a tiny Michelin-flagged restaurant offering delights such as salted fish with black potatoes and anchovies, £6, and beef tartare, hand-chopped before each serving, £11, with a red from northern Tenerife, £5 a glass (Colmado1917.com).
Finishing our getaway in style, we hit Japanese restaurant Kensei, a short stroll along the beach from our beds (Kenseijapanesetenerife.com).
Its low-temperature wagyu with teriyaki sauce, celeriac purée and lotus root chips, £40, is a delicious end to an equally delicious mini-break.
FYI
Seven-night B&B stays at Joia El Mirador by Iberostar cost from £1,210 per person, with flights and transfers (Easyjet.com/en/holidays).
Tourist travel cards cost £8 a day for unlimited buses and trams (Titsa.com).
Turkey
Editor-in-Chief Sinead McIntyre, husband Alistair and twins Riley and Harris found bliss on the Turkish Riviera.
Diving into the clear-blue sea, my 14-year-old twins are in holiday heaven.
Playa on the beach right outside your hotelCredit: Supplied by hotelGet all decked out at Corendon Playa KemerCredit: Supplied by hotel
After trying to outdo each other holding their breath underwater, they emerge to slump in our cabana and have their fill of the nuts and fresh fruit on offer.
As I have learned over the past year or so, keeping two teenagers happy on holiday can be a challenge.
But Corendon Playa Kemer on the Turkish Riviera, close to Antalya, has risen to the challenge – and then some.
We arrive at our five-star hotel, a 45-minute drive from Antalya airport, in the early hours of the morning after flight delays, so don’t really take in our surroundings as we wearily check in.
It’s only when we wake and head to breakfast at the main Zephyranthes restaurant that we marvel at the view – outside is a terrace with two sparkling swimming pools and, just beyond, the pristine sandy beach.
The hotel is all-inclusive and the food is excellent.
For breakfast, we feast on eggs, pastries, yoghurt and mountains of fruit, while lunch and dinner consist of grilled fish and meat, salads and desserts, including melt-in-the-mouth chocolate mousse and sticky-sweet baklava.
Playa Kemer beach has a series of wooden jetties jutting out to the sea, lined with luxe four-poster sunloungers and cabanas.
We decide to splash out and book a cabana, from £18 per day, and it proves a winner with Riley and Harris.
Turkish Rivier-aah vibes are guaranteedCredit: Getty Images/iStockphoto
They especially enjoy taking selfies with the view behind them to send to friends, as well as seeing who can jump the furthest into the sea off the jetty.
Every afternoon, chilled music plays and there are also live performances, all contributing to a feeling of total relaxation.
As does the on-site spa, where I have a Turkish hammam massage, leaving me feeling completely rejuvenated.
Treatments cost from £61 for 90 minutes.
One evening, we indulge in fresh prawns, mussels and calamari, with Turkish bread, dips and salads at the alfresco Pier Seafood A La Carte restaurant, surrounded by twinkling lights.
The day after is spent parasailing around the bay, £157 for two people.
Riley and I head high into the air on a tandem pulled behind a speedboat and can see for miles – a scary, but exhilarating experience.
And no trip to Antalya is complete without a visit to 40m-high Karpuzkaldiran Waterfall, where the Düden River plunges over a cliff into the Mediterranean.
We look in awe at the men fishing far below on the rocks as the spray from the waterfall covers them.
From there, we head to the old town and browse the bustling bazaar for amazing spices and Turkish Delight, before heading back to our hotel with two delighted teens in tow.
FYI
Seven-night ultra all-inclusive stays at Corendon Playa Kemer for a family of four cost from £1,500 (Corendonhotels.com).
Visit this beautiful seaside which is a wonderful place to spend time by the coast, with the countryside nearby. There are beaches, forests and so many cultural activities to do
Christine Younan Deputy Editor Social Newsdesk
04:10, 04 Apr 2026
If you’re coming from London, it’s less than an hour by train(Image: Getty Images)
Fancy a little adventure where you can enjoy the sights and smell of the coast? Whether you’re up for a walk in the forest or to visit the village named the “prettiest in England”, it’s nice to venture outside of the borough at times.
Now with spring in full swing, there’s no better way to spend your long bank holiday weekend than by heading to the seaside. This location has been named the “most beautiful in the UK” with beaches, forests and so much more to enjoy. Not only can you spend time by the coast, it’s also close to the countryside. And the place people are raving on about is Folkestone, Kent.
This is a wonderful place to spend time by the beach where you can visit gorgeous little cafes along the cobbled streets, tuck into some fish and chips by the sea, and take in the views.
Folkestone is a coastal town on the English Channel, it lies on the southern edge of the North Downs at a valley between two cliffs.
A travel account on TikTok recently named the location as the “most beautiful seaside in the UK”.
In the caption, the user added: “Is this the cutest seaside town in the UK?” Meanwhile a lot of people in the comments section claimed to “love Folkestone”, while another added: “How beautiful.”
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How to get to Folkestone:
If you’re travelling by car from London, it’s around 75 miles (about a 1 hour and 40 minute drive). It’s along the M20 which includes tolls.
Meanwhile, the fastest journey would be a train from London St Pancras to Folkestone Central, which takes about 56 minutes. A return ticket could cost around £30-£40 depending on times.
London Charing Cross is also another option to take the train from, although this adds nearly an hour onto the travel time.
What to do in Folkestone:
The seaside town offers a mix of sandy beaches, creative art and pure coastal charm.
There are many attractions for all members of the family, from the bustling Harbour Arm for food and drinks to the scenic Lower Leas Coastal Park.
Also the Creative Quarter’s has the Old Street for cafes, independent boutiques and coffee stops.
And don’t forget the Zig Zag Path where you can walk the restored Victorian path which offers dramatic views through the shady, landscaped greenery.
You can also check out the Folkestone Artworks where there’s over 70 contemporary artworks dispersed across towns, beaches and cliffs.
The island is said to have more pubs per capita than anywhere in Ireland, and perhaps the British Isles. It also has a nightclub run by two OAPs that opens on demand
Every June, hundreds of teenagers descend on Pub Island.
The youth of Donegal leave their hilltop farms, hop on a ferry and head to this mythical land of pints and pork scratchings.
On the busiest days, when Coláiste Árainn Mhóir’s summer Irish course is in full, céilí-practising swing, hundreds of teenagers fill the island’s youth hostels, B&Bs and campsites. In the evenings, once lessons end, they head for the pubs.
The island, actually called Arranmore, is said to have more pubs per capita than anywhere in Ireland, and perhaps the British Isles.
Alongside the hordes of youngsters, the island’s 480 permanent residents, mostly sheep farmers and fishermen, sustain six pubs and an iconic nightclub that opens at midnight if the boozers close.
Smugglers is an institution on Arranmore, introducing generations of islanders and visitors to disco at its late-night parties. Opening hours are irregular.
Partygoers either check Facebook for a “disco this Friday” post or knock on the door at the witching hour and hope. The OAP pals who run it have been known to give in and open up.
An unusual quirk of the island is its lack of police. That leaves plenty of scope for debauchery and no need to call last orders until everyone is done.
“The morning after is like D-Day,” one mainland resident told me, recalling teenage nights on the island before her group caught the ferry home, trying to hide seasick hangovers from parents waiting at the other end.
In the UK, the miserable state of the pub industry is well known. Rising costs and falling demand mean hundreds close each year. The Republic is faring little better. More than 2,100 pubs have shut since 2005, about a quarter of the total. An average of 112 close annually, rising to 128 a year between 2019 and 2024, leaving 6,498 licensed pubs.
Against this backdrop, I travelled to Arranmore to see why this Atlantic community is bucking the trend.
Before arriving, the ferry weaved through an archipelago of islands that narrowed the channel to a handful of meters, providing a view of the derelict Rutland. The once-booming island of over 1,000 was deserted when the herring fisheries collapsed, leaving a crumbly but intact high street. Although officially population-less, it is possible to rent a holiday home on the abandoned island.
Aaranmore hoved into view a minute later, a patchwork of fields dotted with sheep rising up on the hill above Leadgarrow port. The island’s main attraction is the lighthouse, which stands on the western cliffs above sea whipped into a deadly froth. It’s a striking scene, but one that requires a fair tolerance for cold and wind.
Unlike the main strip over in the east, which is protected from the worst of the weather. Here you will find the pubs.
My crawl began up the hill at the charming pods at Aaranmore Glamping, my home for the weekend, which came complete with an incredible sea view and a hot tub. From there, a short walk took me to Neilys.
The only inland pub, it has two sides. In winter, it serves locals dropping in for a quick drink after work. In summer, it caters to tourists with cocktails, craft beer and a pizza van.
Next was Early’s, closest to the ferry and opening onto the beach. A three-generation family business spanning 60 years, it is now run by sisters Kayla and Aisling, who recently took over from Jerry. It is the place for generous plates of food and a chat with the owners, whatever the weather. On quiet evenings, the refurbished band and darts hall sits empty while punters gather around the fire.
At 9.30pm, I made my way to Phil Bans, roughly 10m down the road. It was packed to the rafters with well over 100 people of all ages, many of them wearing football jerseys in support of the national team. Even Ireland’s eventual penalty heartbreak wasn’t enough to kill the good vibes in the cheery room.
Sadly, that was all the pubs I was getting for the night. Smugglers wasn’t opening, and the other pubs have given way to Phil Ban’s superior big-screen setup.
So how does a place support so many pubs?
Being a beautiful island with a lot of weather means many visitors come and are then pushed inside for a warming tipple.
But more than that, Aaranmore is just a very friendly place. In 2017, the community council wrote an open letter to the world, urging people to move there to stop the dwindling population from falling even further. Many, from across Ireland’s 80 million diaspora and beyond, answered the call.
It’s a place that’s used to people from all over coming and staying for more than a quick drink.
This European city has been crowned the world’s best destination for food lovers
Isobel Pankhurst Audience Writer
08:26, 03 Apr 2026
This city has been named the best destination for foodies(Image: Getty)
One European city has been crowned the ultimate travel destination for food lovers. A new study by Titan Travel examined cooking class availability, ratings, pricing, and worldwide search demand, concluding that the Italian city of Florence reigns supreme for gastronomically-inspired getaways.
Florence wasn’t the only Italian gem to feature on the list either, with Italy dominating all three top spots: Palermo claiming second place and Bologna taking third. Rome then tied for fourth alongside Portuguese capital Lisbon, with Venice, Brussels and Barcelona all sharing fifth place.
Researchers discovered that Florence boasts a staggering 213,300 culinary experiences, encompassing 231 cooking classes, 74.5% of which hold a four-star rating or above.
And depending on when you book, Skyscanner has flights to Florence starting from just £31.
Weighing in on the growing trend of foodtourism, and how it has become an increasingly significant factor for holidaymakers when planning their trips, Cassie Stickland, Product Manager at Titan Travel, said: “Today, travellers want to do more than just see the sights.
“They want to really experience a destination. Food is such a fantastic way to do that, because it connects you directly to local life and tradition. Taking a cooking class abroad allows you to do something, learn something, and return with a valuable skill.
“When planning your 2026 travels, look for tours that include a hands-on cooking experience. The best ones start with a market visit to get ingredients and end with you sitting down to enjoy what you’ve created.
“The most rewarding experiences tend to come from local chefs and family-run kitchens, where you’ll not only learn recipes but hear the stories behind them.”
World’s best cities for food
1. Florence, Italy
2. Palermo, Italy
3. Bologna, Italy
4. Lisbon, Portugal and Rome, Italy
5. Brussels, Belgium, Barcelona, Spain, and Venice, Italy
The city could be an affordable option for those who want to work from home or start a remote business, as it’s more affordable than some of the surrounding areas, and offers access to beautiful countryside
Remote workers looking for a new home should consider this city(Image: Mike Kemp/In Pictures via Getty Images)
A city in the south west that offers affordable housing, a pretty centre, and easy access to the countryside for lunchtime walks has been named the UK’s best place to start a remote business.
A study that looked at factors including rent prices, number of post offices, business survival rates, and other information useful for remote workers identified Gloucester as the top place to work from your laptop.
The Roman city topped the list, compiled by payment provider Dojo, narrowly beating Norwich and Southampton. Carlisle and Swansea.
The average private rent in Gloucester came in at £1,069 in January 2026, and three-bedroom homes can be bought for under £200k according to Rightmove listings. The city has a five-year start-up survival rate of 43% thanks to local support networks, meaning entrepreneurs have a better chance of their business succeeding in this area.
Gloucester’s Forum in the Kings Quarter is one example of projects being run by the council to support local businesses. A multi-million-pound regeneration scheme has seen co-working spaces and offices open in the area, so if you get bored with homeworking, you can rent a desk.
Best Cotswolds holiday cottage deals
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The Cotswolds is famous for its rolling hills, honey-coloured villages and quintessential English charm. Sykes Cottages has a wide range of places to stay, starting from £38 per night.
Just a short walk away is Gloucester Quays, another area of the city that has been given a complete makeover. Once an industrial wasteland, it has been turned into a pleasant waterfront promenade full of shops, restaurants and cafés, perfect for a lunchtime walk.
Around 88% of the Gloucester area also has access to ultrafast broadband – over 100 Mbps – a practical consideration that many homeworkers need to take into account.
If you’re just passing through the city, there’s plenty to see. Visit Gloucester Cathedral, a grand, imposing building that dates back to the 11th century and is the resting place of King Edward II. History buffs will also love the National Waterways Museum on the docks, where they can see vintage narrowboats up close and a replica lock.
Nature in Art is also worth a visit. Set in the grounds of a 17th-century mansion, this unique art trail includes paintings, sculptures, and many unique works.
Perhaps best of all, Gloucester is set within the Cotswolds, an area of outstanding natural beauty made up of rolling green hills, meadows, and charming traditional villages. You’re just a short drive away from country walks and cosy pubs to explore after work or at weekends.
Visit Haresfield Beacon just south of the city, a walk that combines woodland and grassland, with a one-mile circular walk that enjoys beautiful views. WWT Slimbridge is nearby on the banks of the River Severn. This wetland wildlife reserve includes flocks of flamingos, pretty swans, and mischievous otters, which can be seen in their natural habitat. The best way to see it is on a canoe safari. Grab a paddle and follow the trails to see wetland creatures up close.
Have a story you want to share? Email us at webtravel@reachplc.com
This stunning Cornish village is a must-visit destination with breathtaking views, award-winning Michelin Guide dining, and a vibrant community spirit
This stunning Cornish village is a must-visit destination with breath-taking views, award-winning Michelin Guide dining, and a vibrant community spirit(Image: GordonBellPhotography via Getty Images)
We won’t describe this village as a ‘hidden gem’ because its gloriously stylish existence is hardly a secret – in fact, its appeal among the wealthy and well-known only adds to its elusive allure. Nestled snugly at the very tip of a breathtaking peninsula, when we say the vistas stretching out from this hamlet are unrivalled – we mean every word.
If the promise of extraordinary views isn’t sufficient to tempt you into paying a visit, there’s a wealth of further attractions to consider: fresh locally-sourced produce, Michelin guide restaurants serving world-class cuisine, a spectacular waterfront setting and a vibrant community spirit in abundance. All of this and more make the fishing village of St Mawes in Cornwall a certified must-visit destination.
Situated at the furthest point of the Roseland Peninsula, this jewel in South Cornwall ranks among Britain’s most coveted holiday spots, frequently earning the nickname ‘the St Tropez of England ‘. It has everything you could possibly desire in a short break – a crystal-clear cove with waters reminiscent of the Caribbean, charming and colourful cottages brimming with seaside character, eateries impressive enough to leave you in a food coma, and the ribbon topping off an already remarkable package – a castle.
It comes as little shock, then, that The Times recently named it among the ‘most beautiful places to visit’ in England. What is shocking is that it hasn’t yet been completely swamped with tourists – unlike St Ives or Padstow – and that’s likely due to its remote location, which takes time to reach.
Getting to this Cornish village isn’t impossible by any stretch, though – a picturesque car ferry or 40-minute journey from St Austell or Truro will transport you there with ease, reports the Express.
What makes the seaside village special
St Mawes boasts a rich maritime history, having been constructed around a beautiful sheltered harbour on the eastern side of the Fal Estuary – undoubtedly one of Britain’s finest sailing locations.
Upmarket waterfront eateries enhance this hamlet’s irresistible charm, with one of the hotels (Hotel Tresanton) even providing its own yacht, Pinuccia, for charter.
If you need convincing, look to the royals. St Mawes has become a certified Royal Family favourite, with King Charles and Queen Camilla regularly visiting the village during their yearly trips to the area as the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall.
St Mawes appeared to have won over the previous generation of royals, too, with the village described as one of Queen Elizabeth II and the Queen Mother’s preferred destinations during their journeys aboard the Royal Yacht Britannia. The appeal is universal (and spans the generations), it seems, as in recent years, Prince William and Princess Kate have also been spotted bringing their family to this coastal gem.
Foodie heaven
For a village with a population of roughly 700 people, give or take, St Mawes punches well above its weight when it comes to dining options, enough to make even the most food-obsessed cities envious.
Dishing up gloriously fresh seafood using locally sourced Cornish produce alongside stunning harbour views, The Idle Rocks is a Michelin Guide restaurant that’s guaranteed to leave a lasting impression if you pay it a visit.
Another waterfront treasure, Hotel Tresanton, was awarded one of the inaugural Michelin Keys in 2024, celebrating extraordinary hotels worldwide. The cocktails and ambience of the venue are frequently described by guests as ‘top-tier,’ and the spectacular view of St. Anthony’s Lighthouse is the cherry on top.
St Mawes Bakery is another essential stop, particularly for lunch, while the neighbouring St Mawes Seafood Bar serves… well, unrivalled seafood. Evening drinks can be savoured at The Rising Sun or the more traditional Victory Inn, while the St Mawes Hotel is equally brilliant for a sit-down meal. Cafe Chandlers is a fantastic spot for coffee and delectable, freshly baked goodies. Harbourside dining at The Watch House in St Mawes is, quite simply, a no-brainer.
Things to do in the seaside haven
Top of the agenda is exploring St Mawes’ distinctive, clover leaf-shaped St Mawes Castle – a magnificent example of Tudor craftsmanship and engineering. Nearly circular in design, this stunning historical landmark was constructed by Henry VIII.
Children, in particular, will be captivated by the numerous cannons positioned across the castle’s terraced lawns, which command views over the beautiful bay. Boutiques and galleries add an artistic flair that any prosperous village needs to truly distinguish itself, and the Waterside Gallery is an excellent destination.
Summers Beach offers a wonderful sheltered location for swimming (not always guaranteed in Cornwall), while Tavern Beach, nearer to the castle, is ideal for some traditional rock-pooling.
Harbour Beach, situated right in the heart and only reachable at low tide, is the spot to visit with your four-legged friends. It’s worth noting that there are no lifeguards on duty in St Mawes. Be sure to visit Lamorran House Gardens, featuring its charming bridges and cascading waterways.
There’s no shortage of activities in this Cornish village, making it the perfect choice for your next UK break.
A QUAINT English village that feels “like stepping into a postcard” has been named among the most beautiful in the world.
With no new houses since the 1600s, Castle Combe at the southern edge of the Cotswolds is already one of the most stunning in the UK.
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Castle Combe has been named one of the most beautiful small towns in the world, by Conde Nast TravellerCredit: GettyThe small village is on the southern edge of the Cotswolds and features honey-coloured stone buildingsCredit: Getty
And now the southwest Wiltshire village has been named by Conde Nast Traveller as one of the most beautiful small towns in the world, and out of 53 destinations on the list, was the only UK spot to feature.
Conde Nast Traveller stated: “[T]he town is a well-preserved stretch of Cotswold stone cottages and old pubs and churches.”
The village has even played a star role as a set in some films, including Stardust, Steven Spielberg‘s War Horse and the original Dr Doolittle film.
One of the best ways to experience the village is to set off on a walk.
Key points to stop by include Water Lane, where you can see a good example of the local architecture using Cotswolds stone.
One recent visitor even said it was “like stepping into a postcard”.
In the centre of the town, drop by The Market Cross – a four-column stone structure that used to act as the focal point for the village’s weekly wool markets.
Perhaps the most popular spot in town with tourists is the historic stone bridge that crosses the River Bybrook.
The bridge is Grade II listed and can be found in the lower village.
If you fancy something sweet but don’t want to sit inside, then visit Ellen’s Cottage where you will find a small cake stand in front of a charming brown cottage door.
Visitors can help themselves to cake from the stand and pop payment through the letterbox.
There’s usually a bucket full of cold drinks as well, though if you want a hot drink you can knock the door and ask for one, with a cappuccino costing £2 and a latte costing £2.50.
If you want somewhere where you can sit inside and drink your coffee, then head to The Old Stables Coffee Shop which serves a variety of cakes for £4 a slice.
The best walk to explore the village is by walking, and on the way you can grab a cake from Ellen’s CottageCredit: Google mapsThere are also a couple of pubs where you can grab a tipple, such as The White HartCredit: Getty
If you are more in the mood for an alcoholic beverage with a side of pub grub, then you can head to The White Hart or The Castle Inn – both of which are just a few steps from the Market Cross.
You can also stay at The Castle Inn if you want to spend a night in the idyllic village.
Rooms cost from £145 a night and you can expect period features in each room, such as original beams.
For another option of where to stay, Conde Nast Traveller recommends booking into The Manor House.
Dating back to the 14th century, The Manor House boasts quiet gardens, a Michelin restaurant and an 18-hole golf course.
Rooms in The Manor House feature dark, wood panelling and ornate wallpaper and a one-night stay in April costs from £276.
If you want to enjoy a night in the village you can by staying at The Castle Inn from £145 per nightCredit: Alamy
Our favourite UK hotels
*If you click on a link in this box, we will earn affiliate revenue.
Margate House, Kent
This stylish boutique hotel is in a seaside townhouse, a short walk from Margate’s coolest bars and restaurants. Decked out with plush velvet sofas, candles flickering and striking independent art, inside feels like a warm welcome home. Rooms are stunning, especially the ones that give you a glimpse of the sea.
The Alan looks extremely grand, being built into a beautiful Grade II listed building. Spread across six floors, with 137 rooms, each one looks like a fancy design magazine. From the concrete coffee tables to the pink plastered walls, the industrial-inspired designs perfectly replicate the history of the city.
This historic hotel has welcomed the likes of Charles Dickens and Lillie Langtry through its doors. Rooms have richly-patterned carpets with super soft bed linen and premium toiletries in the bathroom. Go for a superior room for extra goodies including bathrobes and snack boxes.
This Cambridge hotel is in the ideal spot, within walking distance to bars, shops and hotspots like the university colleges and Parker’s Piece. The inside couldn’t be prettier, with huge stained glass windows, grand chandeliers, and rooms with enormous clawfoot bath tubs.
There are a number of things you can do in the surrounding area as well.
For example, you could use the village as a base for a Cotswolds walk, through Bybrook Valley and the North Wiltshire hills.
Just four minutes down the road, you will find Castle Combe Racing Circuit where you can watch karting races for as little as £10 per person.
Like adrenaline? Well, the race circuit also offers a number of experiences where you can drive a car of your choice from movie cars, classics and supercars from £84.
The market town of Chippenham is a 14-minute drive away as well, where you can browse independent shops, have a walk through Monkton Park next to the River Avon and learn about the town’s history at Chippenham Museum.
To include a city in your trip, you could head to Bath, just half-an-hour away.
Alternatively, you could stay at The Manor House from £276 per nightCredit: Alamy
The UNESCO World Heritage city is famous for its Roman baths and honey-coloured architecture, using the same stone found in Castle Combe.
Chippenham is just over an hour on the train from London, with a single ticket usually costing £25 per person.
To then get to Castle Combe, you can either jump in a taxi for 20 minutes or hop on one of the regular local Faresaver buses that take about 24 minutes to reach the village and cost a maximum of £3 per way.
Or if you want to keep exploring the Cotswolds, there is a tiny village with a popular garden centre and ‘dinosaur’ tree that welcomed a very famous A-lister this week.
Castle Combe is around 30 minutes from Bath or around an hour and a half on the train, then bus, from LondonCredit: Getty
IF YOU are looking for your next holiday spot, then you could head to a European city two hours from the UK that has just got new flights from a major airport.
Budget airline easyJet has launched flights from Manchester Airport to Montpellier in France.
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easyJet has launched new flights to Montpellier in FranceCredit: GettyThe flights to the French city will operate twice a week on Mondays and FridaysCredit: Getty – Contributor
The flights will operate twice a week on Mondays and Fridays, throughout the summer season and cost as little as £26.99 per way.
The historic city of Montpellier is found in southern France, around six miles from the Mediterranean Sea.
The city is often dubbed one of the sunniest in France thanks to boasting an average of 300 days of sunshine per year.
The city’s Mediterranean climate means that it has mild winters and hot, dry summers.
Because the city has a lot of sunshine, there is a lot to do outdoors in Montpellier including heading to the medieval Old Town where you will find narrow, winding streets with historic townhouses and a number of independent boutiques.
Another highlight of the Old Town is heading to Place de la Comédie, which is a lively square with the Three Graces fountain.
You can also head to Saint-Pierre Cathedral which dates back to the 14th century and has a fortress-like appearance.
In the Antigone district, which is mostly pedestrianised, has lots of fascinating architecture to explore, including copies of famous Greco-Roman sculptures.
For a mix of nature and history, venture to the Botanical Garden, which is the oldest one in France, founded back in 1593.
The garden features a bamboo forest, orange trees, a lotus pond where you might spot some carp and a greenhouse with a myriad of cacti.
You can even make a wish in the wishing tree called Phallaire.
If you fancy a nice walk, head to the Saint-Clément aqueduct.
Built in the 18th century, the dual-level aqueduct is responsible for the fountains littered across the city.
The city benefits from over 300 days of sunshine a yearCredit: Getty
Each Tuesday and Saturday, you will also be able to catch a market at the foot of the aqueduct.
If you don’t mind heading slightly out of the city, then there are a number of chateaux you can explore, including Château De Flaugergues – a 19th-century chateau with Flemish tapestries and pretty gardens.
It costs £9.98 per person to visit.
The city has a number of hotels to choose from, including Pullman La Pléiade Montpellier Centre, which costs from £166 per night.
The hotel can be found in the centre of the city and features a panoramic rooftop pool and restaurant.
Alternatively, you could head to the Radisson Blu Hotel for £107 per night, which also boasts an outdoor pool as well.
When out and about in the city, you can expect to spend about €55 (£47.75) on a mid-range three course meal for two and between €4 (£3.47) and €5 (£4.34) for a beer.
The flights cost from just £26.99 per wayCredit: Getty
Kevin Doyle, easyJet’s UK Country Manager, said: “We are really pleased to be celebrating our inaugural flights to the fantastic city of Montpellier, just a stone’s throw from the Mediterranean coast.
“By introducing new connections from Manchester on our unrivalled leisure network, customers from across the northwest can now enjoy even more choice this summer to book and travel with ease.”
Stephen Turner, Chief Commercial Officer at Manchester Airport, said: “Montpellier is not currently served by any other airline so passengers planning a holiday to the south of France this summer will have even more choice of destinations when flying from Manchester.
“We’re sure this new route will prove extremely popular.”
