Reform U.K. leader Nigel Farage (L) and his Home Affairs spokesman Zia Yusuf (R) at the launch Monday of the party’s “Operation Fortress” policy to stop the influx of migrants to the country arriving on small boats by deploying the Royal Navy. Photo by Tolga Akmen/EPA
Aug. 3 (UPI) — Britain’s Reform U.K. party vowed Monday that if elected it would use the Royal Navy to turn back small boats bringing migrants across from France and Belgium, in what it said would be the largest military operation in the English Channel since World War II.
The policy launched at a news conference in London calls for the military to “intercept” the boats and return them to France or Belgium, with the party claiming “Operation Fortress” had the backing of former senior military brass and that it was in line with international law because its purpose was humanitarian.
Reform U.K. Home Affairs spokesman Zia Yusuf told the BBC that it would be possible for Britain to return the migrants without agreement from France, arguing that international law required they dealt with migrants on their territory and not let them continue onto Britain.
States are permitted to pull people from the sea but can only bring them to another country with the agreement of that country.
Yusuf acknowledged the move could spark a “diplomatic argument” between Paris and London.
Under agreements with the United Kingdom, authorities on the continent prevent thousands of migrants from setting sail for England, but those that do manage it are met by U.K. Border Force and Coast Guard vessels which take the migrants aboard and bring them ashore to ports in the south of England.
The announcement came hours after new Labour Prime Minister Andy Burnham vowed he would be “relentless” in combatting small boat crossings after some 60,000 migrants overwhelmed the border of the Spanish territory of Ceuta on the north African coast on Thursday and Friday.
Britain is separated from Ceuta by the channel, several European countries and more than a thousand miles, but Burnham said his concern was with “the broader issue of the Schengen [free travel] Area and our relationship with it,” saying he would seek regular dialogue with the European Union on the matter.
The Schengen Convention of 1990 abolished border controls across 29 mostly EU member European countries. Migrants arriving in Europe are supposed to be processed in the first safe country they reach but in practice they’re often allowed to move on, via several countries, to their desired destination. Migrants wanting to get to Britain end up in northern France, or the Belgian coast.
Burnham stressed that in order to defeat people trafficking gangs organizing the boat crossings refugees needed “safe routes” of reaching Britain. Currently, people must get to Britain before they can claim asylum, an almost impossible hurdle for nationals of countries from which most migrants hail without resorting to traffickers.
The number of people crossing the English Channel in small boats fell 43% in the first seven months of this year, compared with the same period in 2025, according to Home Office data. However, numbers have fallen in all of the past four years after peaking in 2022.
If we take it as read that the better the view, the worse the cooking, then by rights south Wales’s Gower peninsula should be a culinary desert. The first time I visited almost 15 years ago, I was unprepared for its loveliness – back in 1956, Gower (never the Gower, as locals were quick to correct me) was the first place in the UK to be designated an area of outstanding natural beauty, and though the peninsula abuts the country’s second city, Swansea, it still feels profoundly rural. Crisscrossed by narrow lanes flanked by towering hedges and ancient churches, it’s a great place to cycle, to drive, and above all to walk up an appetite.
Indeed, it’s been a long-held ambition of mine to hike the 43 miles of the Welsh Coast Path from Mumbles to Loughor. Sadly, it remains just that because on this latest trip I spent considerably more time chomping than yomping … though in fairness I was on a research mission for a walking trip with a friend here later in the summer, because as a food writer and semi-professional glutton, I never like to head anywhere unprepared.
With this in mind, and another friend on hand as a chauffeur, Wilf the dog and I began our investigations in Mumbles, where Swansea thins into a pretty seaside village of colourful Victorian villas culminating in a magnificent, privately owned pier. (A few years ago, a visiting Prince William observed to owner Bert Bollom, the third generation of his family to run it, that this was an unusual career choice. Bert shrugged that he’d inherited the job from his dad. “Tell me about it,” he recalls the prince sighing.)
Though the pier is undergoing restoration work, there’s a good view of the “crown of the Bristol Channel” from another Bollom enterprise, On the Rocks, a steak restaurant with a terrace jutting over the foreshore that’s no doubt a terrific place for a sundowner. But, I tell myself sternly, when you’re starting a walk you need to put one foot in front of the other, not sit around drinking, especially as the friend I plan to come back with later in the summer is happily, if rather inconveniently, pregnant.
Crab sandwich at the Gower Seafood Hut in Mumbles.
There’s thus not much point in returning to the Gower Brewery Taproom, despite the warm welcome and dog biscuits we receive on this occasion – I’ll probably suggest we stop instead at Joe’s, the local cult masquerading as an ice-cream parlour. (Vanilla, freshly churned in-house daily, is the only move here. Unless you’re under the age of 10, do not waste your time on other flavours.) Thankfully, the expectant one is past the nauseous stage, so I can also steer her in the direction of the crab sandwiches (local sourdough and deliciously salty Shirgar butter) at the Gower Seafood Hut with a clear conscience – depending on the time of day, it might also feel appropriate to fortify ourselves with a helping of fried whitebait or cockle popcorn before joining the coast path, particularly as Chris Price, who mans the stoves, has, according to co-owner Sarah Kift, already walked much of it himself.
That said, I reckon I’ve got the fuelling part of the route covered; for a start, there’s another ice-cream parlour, Fortes, just round the headland in Limeslade Bay. From the neat beach huts of Langland to the golden sands of Three Cliffs Bay, however, the sites are more prehistoric than edible (tasty as the Bacon Hole cave sounds, the nearest it gets to cured meat is its hoard of ancient narrow-nosed rhinoceros and straight-tusked elephant bones, now 200 miles away in the British Museum). Take a brief detour into the village of Southgate though, and you’ll happen upon a brilliant Greek cafe – I didn’t anticipate tucking into a sugar-dusted bougatsa custard pie and a punchy little coffee in The Gower Deli, but this place is full of surprises.
Sometimes they come too thick and fast even for my boundless appetite: just 20 minutes inland from Three Cliffs, if you follow the lazy meandering waters of the Pennard Pill past the ruins of a Norman castle, sits the Gower Heritage Centre. Clustered around a 12th-century water mill, it boasts a cider press, organic community agriculture project, sauerkraut producer, jewellery designer and bike shop plus – and the jewel in its crown as far as I’m concerned – the superb Little Valley bakery, whose traditional Gower loaf is produced using the mill’s barley flour. They also make ridiculously flaky pasties, focaccia sandwiches, huge cookies and excellent viennoiserie – in short, a rambler’s dream.
The Beach House restaurant in Oxwich on the Gower.
From Three Cliffs, it’s about another five miles along the coast to Oxwich. If you make one reservation for your Gower trip, make it at the Beach House there. Admittedly, given its Michelin star, one might not want to wander in directly from the path in quick-dry hiking sandals, but our welcome couldn’t be warmer, despite Wilf’s rather over-effusive manner (the terrace is dog-friendly, as is one table inside, which you can bet your boots I will be booking well in advance).
A Michelin-star dish at the Beach House restaurant in Oxwich.
From our seats, we can see the two boats that supply the restaurant with lobster. “They belong to Paul and Jim,” says chef Hywel Griffith. “Every morning, I text them what we need that day.” The lamb is from the North Gower salt marsh; the seaweed in the laverbread rolls (a clever play on the traditional puree) from Selwyn’s in Pen-clawdd; and the dessert, a malted mousse with wood sorrel and fermented pine syrup, is the single most delicious thing I’ve eaten since Sarah Kift’s crab sandwich.
Five more miles brings us to Port Eynon, whose chief attraction on this visit is the tiny, genuinely artisan Gower Gin Company – having enjoyed one solo guided tasting with my designated driver and the teetotal terrier, I’ll pass on another with a reluctant abstainer. It’s six more miles to Rhossili, once, somewhat absurdly, declared the “ninth best beach in the world” by TripAdvisor. What’s not up for debate is that it’s 3 miles long and stunning.
Sunrise over Mumbles lighthouse and privately owned pier. Photograph: leighcol/Getty Images
Thanks to the National Trust, it’s also untouched by the grubby hand of commercialism, so should you be peckish, pause at the aptly named View cafe before you descend the cliff. Offering colourful vegan “power bowls” (popular with the surfing crowd apparently) and homemade falafel alongside the rarebit and bara brith, the only packaged food in sight is a bag of locally produced dog treats I’m bullied into buying for my elderly companion who, despite a brisk trot down to the Worms Head Coastwatch station beforehand, is in no mood to obey the house rule that “shouting is not permitted”.
Turn the corner on to the north coast, and you’re faced with Whiteford Sands, yet another broad expanse of golden gorgeousness with great cooking attached in the form of the Britannia Inn in Llanmadoc, where the salt marsh lamb croquettes at the bar drive the tiny diner under the table to distraction.
Fortunately, I don’t have to test Wilf’s restraint on the living, bleating thing on this occasion, as the remaining seven miles of the route – through the marshes to Pen-clawdd, – will have to wait till next month. When we finally get there, however, I will insist on stopping at the Gower Brewery to toast our achievement. I’ve even road-tested their Zero beer in preparation. As I said, I like to plan ahead.
“Yesterday, using multiple one-way attack surface drones, CENTCOM forces successfully struck a submarine and ship maintenance facility in Iran,” the command stated on X Monday morning. “Three Corsair unmanned surface vessels hit the port at Bandar Abbas Naval Base, marking the first time American forces have employed sea drones in combat operations. Last night’s strikes degraded Iran’s ability to continue attacking commercial shipping.”
Yesterday, using multiple one-way attack surface drones, CENTCOM forces successfully struck a submarine and ship maintenance facility in Iran. Three Corsair unmanned surface vessels hit the port at Bandar Abbas Naval Base, marking the first time American forces have employed sea… pic.twitter.com/bOM2kmgRxz
This attack is the latest iteration of the U.S. Navy’s use of drone boats in combat. Last month, a Saronic Corsair USV rescued the crew of a U.S. Army AH-64 Apache that crashed in the Gulf of Oman after it was downed by Iran. That was the first known instance of a drone boat being used to recover personnel as part of a search and rescue mission, and has major implications for these operations going forward.
“The surface drone that assisted in last night’s rescue of the Apache crew off the coast of Oman was a U.S. Navy Corsair unmanned surface vessel operated by U.S. 5th Fleet’s Task Force 59,” U.S. Navy Capt. Tim Hawkins, a CENTCOM spokesman, told TWZ at the time. “The task force began fielding these drones in theater in late March.”
Historic sea drone rescue near Strait of Hormuz for Apache helicopter crew members
Established in 2021, Task Force 59 is a testbed unit that is tasked with experimenting with the integration of new uncrewed and artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities into day-to-day naval operations across the Middle East. It appears that the task force is starting to operationalize those technologies more broadly. Using USVs in an attack role could help reduce the burden on aircraft and crews for strikes, at least against certain targets out to sea and along the coast. Above all else, it creates another vector for kinetic operations against the enemy, which complicates their defensive plans.
In a recent interview with TWZ, Saronic co-founder Rob Lehman declined to provide any details about this mission set or any others Corsair was conducting in the region. However, he did say its success will reverberate across the USV industry.
“I think the tangible impact to the industry is that autonomous systems are now perceived as real credible capabilities rather than a science and technology kind of sideshow where we’re desperately trying to prove that the tech can play a role in these types of operations,” Lehman told us. “So my hope is that not just for Saronic, but all of our partners on the commercial side, that it’s an accelerant to getting more of these capabilities in the war fighters’ hands.”
Many successful attacks have been recorded against Black Sea Fleet vessels and facilities, forcing the general evacuation of Russian naval assets from occupied Crimea to bases in Russia proper.
You can see the January 2017 attack in the video below.
فيديو يؤكد الهجوم الانتحاري على الفرقاطة السعودية
As we have frequently noted, the U.S. and Iran signed a 14-point Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on June 17. The MoU provided a 60-day extension of the ceasefire to iron out an agreement to end fighting throughout the region, including Lebanon, prevent Iran from seeking nuclear weapons, end U.S. sanctions and resume the flow of traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, among other points.
Control over the Strait has proven to be the biggest flashpoint, as evidenced by the aforementioned flare-up of fighting.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has continued to claim it controls the Strait.
⚡️BREAKING
Iran’s Armed Forces on Trump owning the Strait of Hormuz:
“The United States interference in the Management of the Strait of Hormuz have seriously Jeopardized Regional Security and International Trade
As we noted earlier in this piece, Trump just proclaimed that the U.S. would take over the Strait.
“We hit them very hard last night,” Trump told Fox News. “Every time they send a drone, we hit them very hard. But we had a deal. What nobody knows, we had a deal. It was a done deal, and then they broke it. They always break it. We’ve had 10 deals with these people, and so we’re just going to hit them very hard, and we’re going to keep the Strait, and we’ll probably run it.”
“We’ll become the guardian of the Strait,” the American leader added. “Maybe we’ll call it the guardian angel of the Strait.”
Trump suggested that the U.S. be paid for this effort.
“And we should be reimbursed for that,” he posited. “When we do that, we’re going to be reimbursed because the other nations are very wealthy.”
HAPPENING NOW: President Trump issues a scathing warning to Iran following a broken military agreement, revealing that the U.S. hammered their equipment overnight and may permanently take over security operations in the Middle East.
Trump also took to his Truth Social network to say that he is reinstating the naval blockade on Iranian ports that was removed when the MoU was signed last month. He added that the U.S. will impose a toll on shipping.
“The U.S.A. will be, from this point forward, known as “THE GUARDIAN OF THE HORMUZ STRAIT,” but as such, and as a matter of FAIRNESS, will be reimbursed, at the rate of 20% on all cargo shipped, for any and all costs necessary to do the job of providing safety and security to this very volatile section of the World,” the president proffered. “The process and formation will begin immediately.”
BREAKING: Trump:
The Hormuz Strait is OPEN, and will remain OPEN, with or without Iran. We are reinstating the THE IRANIAN BLOCKADE, so named because it is only stopping Iran’s ships or customers from entering or leaving. All other countries will have fair and open use of the… pic.twitter.com/4WNwrKdzs8
The U.S. military using drone boats in a kinetic strike role sets a new precedent not just for operations in the CENTCOM region, but also those in other flashpoints, including the Pacific. It comes as the Pentagon has adopted a number of other capabilities that have been ‘borrowed’ from other conflicts, including the first use of one-way attack drones loosely based on Iran’s Shahed-136, for instance. But it is interesting that these kamikaze drone boats were not deployed at the start of the war, when sea and shore targets were plentiful. That points to the Pentagon still racing to catch-up with some weapons developments from conflict zones overseas or at least at opening the aperture for how and when those technologies are used operationally.
Given the frequency of U.S. airstrikes on Iran’s key naval base at Bandar Abbas during this conflict, it is unclear how Iran still had any of these vessels left.
As we previously reported, U.S. forces apparently sunk another Ghadir class boat in March. It was struck by an AGM-114 Hellfire missile, a U.S. official told TWZ. At the time, we questioned how many Ghadir class submarines were in Iran’s inventory before the current conflict. However, prior estimates had generally put the size of that fleet at between 16 and 20 hulls.
The Ghadir class boat in the new CENTCOM video was sitting on the dock, so it is possible Iran pulled it out after the ceasefire went into effect.
A Corsair drone boat is seen approaching what appears to be an Iranian Ghadir class submarine. (CENTCOM screencap)
UPDATE: 1:01 PM EDT –
Saronic released a statement.
“The U.S. military has confirmed that Saronic Corsairs were used by U.S. Central Command in operations against Iran. According to CENTCOM, three military variant Corsair unmanned surface vessels (USVs) struck a submarine and ship maintenance facility at Bandar Abbas Naval Base — the first time American forces have employed sea drones in combat operations,” the company stated. “We are proud that our technology supported this mission and helped degrade threats to commercial shipping. Saronic remains committed to delivering autonomous maritime systems that strengthen the security of the United States and its allies.”
UPDATE 2:38 PM EDT –
CENTCOM provided an update on the blockade.
“At the Commander in Chief’s direction, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) forces will resume blockading maritime traffic entering and exiting Iranian ports on July 14 at 4 p.m. ET,” the command stated on X. “CENTCOM forces will enforce the blockade against vessels transiting to or from Iranian ports and coastal areas. The U.S. military continues to support traffic flow through regional waters for all vessels not violating the blockade.”
“The resumption of the U.S. blockade against Iran follows the initial implementation from April 13 to June 18,” the command added. “CENTCOM forces redirected more than 140 compliant vessels, disabled nine non-compliant ships, and allowed over 50 commercial vessels supporting humanitarian aid to pass through the blockade during the two-month period.”
“All mariners are advised to monitor Notice to Mariners broadcasts and contact U.S. naval forces on bridge-to-bridge channel 16 when operating in the Gulf of Oman and Strait of Hormuz approaches,” CENTCOM noted. “Additional information will be provided to commercial mariners through a formal notice.”
THINK Spain, think tapas. A little taste of everything that comes together perfectly.
And Empuriabrava on the Costa Brava is the tapas of Spain.
Empuriabrava is on 24km of waterways for a vibe of Venice meets MiamiCredit: SuppliedTake a dip in the hotel pool and enjoy the boats sailing pastCredit: Pierre et Vacances
This beautiful town built on a network of canals just 90 miles north of Barcelona and 25 miles from the French border is a mixture of many flavours.
Throw in a pinch of Venice, a spoonful of France’s Port Grimaud and a generous dollop of Florida all with the unmistakable taste of Spain in the background and you’ve got yourself a feast.
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The 24km of inland waterways give the Venice vibe, glass-fronted luxury villas on the canal bank nod to the Cote d’Azur and the moored Miami Vice-style powerboats lend the Florida feel.
This didn’t all happen by accident. Until the 1960s, this area was all rice fields and swamps. Some well-off locals decided to create a purpose-built luxury holiday resort bringing all these influences together.
Now officially the biggest residential marina in Europe, it’s fair to say they got it bang on.
We flew from Gatwick to Girona. The flight time was only two hours and the transfer was around 45 minutes — so it’s perfect for a long weekend.
Arriving in the morning, a little early for check-in, we dropped off our bags at the hotel and headed straight out to hire an electric boat for an hour to explore the canals.
No licence or experience is required — the boat barely gets above a gentle walking pace, so it’s like driving a very slow dodgem car.
The town is the largest residential marina in EuropeCredit: SuppliedGarry Ollason and wife Gail on their tripCredit: Supplied
And it’s a perfect way to get a feel for the town and enjoy a bit of lifestyle envy looking at the luxury homes and boats.
But you don’t need to be a millionaire to enjoy the same views. The 4H Port Salins hotel by Pierre & Vacances sits on Salins canal a five-minute walk from the beach, giving you the best of both worlds.
The hotel has its own pool built out over the canal, perfect for lying on your sunbed and watching the boats come and go, as well as a lovely rooftop terrace.
Opt for one of the renovated canal-side rooms and you’ll be rewarded with a spacious, tastefully decorated space. Most of these also have large balconies overlooking the canal. The hotel even has four moorings reserved for guests’ boats.
In the evening we sat on the hotel’s rooftop terrace sipping a cocktail or two watching the nautical world go by six floors below.
Dinner is served in the Noray restaurant overlooking the pool. The Mediterranean menu is packed with fresh, local produce. The prawn and monkfish risotto to share for two was a real highlight — as was the excellent service.
There are plenty of other dining options in town and on the beach. We loved Oliveri, where we had fantastic locally caught grilled prawns. Yeti beach bar is perfect for chilling with its amazing tapas after a morning dip in the Med.
At the front of the town is a huge beach which stretches all the way from Gulf of Roses in the north to L’Escala to the South. This continues the Florida vibe with colourful lifeguard huts dotted along the sand and, like the town, is immaculately clean. It feels like the locals are very proud of their Costa Brava gem.
Tuck into fine fare at the hotel’s Noray restaurantCredit: Pierre et Vacances
GO: EMPURIABRAVA
GETTING THERE: Fly to Girona from a host of regional airports with Ryanair, Jet2 and Tui.
Return flights in September from £82 return with Jet2.
For a slightly more active holiday there are plenty of options. It’s easy to hire a speedboat or jet ski and just a short canal trip to get to the open sea, where you can open the throttle and bounce across the waves.
If you’re seeking even more daring thrills, Empuriabrava is home to Europe’s largest skydiving school, offering group or solo lessons. You don’t even have to leave the ground to experience the thrill of the jump with a go in its simulator.
Even that seemed a bit too much for me so I settled for watching skydivers dropping down to earth, as I sat in the bar with a cold beer in hand.
The marina is the place to go if you enjoy gazing at luxury power boats, as it’s crammed fender to fender with the most stunning collection of them.
If you’ve got a spare £800k you could even grab yourself a bargain at the local ship shop. Unfortunately it was closed while we were walking around so we settled for just looking and dreaming.
For a taste of culture, travel to nearby Figueres to visit the Salvador Dali museum. The artist was born here in 1904 and he designed and conceived the museum himself. It houses the most extensive collection of his work.
Figueres is also the birthplace of Narcís Monturiol, the inventor of the first machine-powered submarine. But unfortunately he is slightly overshadowed by the more famous moustachioed surrealist.
Back in Empuriabrava it was time for another great meal, tapas, obviously. After sampling all the flavours this hidden gem in the north of Spain has to offer, I’ll definitely be back for second helpings.
FEW pics of celebs make me green with envy like their holiday snaps.
The likes of Beyonce, Victoria Beckham and Kate Moss lounging on a cool boat in the Med while I sweat off my suncream on a sandy beach towel onshore, really make me question my career choices in life.
The Sun’s Head Of Travel, Digital, Caroline McGuire tests out ‘the AirBnB of boats’Victoria Beckham is a big fan of boating on the Med during her summer holidaysCredit: Instagram
But it turns out, you don’t need to be an A-Lister to get a taste of the high-life.
On my recent trip to the South of France I discovered Samboat, a website that’s essentially the AirBnB of boats, which lets you hire people’s personal luxury speedboats and yachts for the day.
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What it means in practice is that rich people can lease out their boats when they’re not using them, for some extra cash.
Samboat does have locations in the UK with boats on offer, but it really comes into its own in places like the French Riviera, where there are loads of millionaires with boats lying idle in the marina.
After scouring the website for the best boat for my mum friend and I, plus our three seven-year-old boys, I decided upon a Jeanneau Merry Fisher 900 Cruiser motorboat – massive at 9m long – that could fit up to 12 people.
It was HUGE. With a large shaded area for lunches, an enormous bow that was bigger than my living room at home, and even an indoor living room downstairs.
Because they have so many boats in the region, we were able to pick one that was just 10 minutes drive from our campsite, in Port Grimaud.
The plan had originally been to moor somewhere around midday and grab lunch at a beachfront restaurant, much like Kate Moss and co. do when they disembark their yachts for magnums or rose and seafood towers at Club 55.
But our skipper suggested our time would be much better spent picnicking on the water in a secluded bay, so we stocked up on supplies at the marina supermarket (turns out marina supermarkets that service posh boat owners are LOVELY – we got freshly-baked pastries, perfectly ripe brie, some very nice rose wine and plenty more goodies before setting out).
And thank goodness he had put his foot down, because there was no way we would have got our boys off that boat with the promise of a boring restaurant meal.
Instead, they loaded up on madeleine cakes and cheetos, while intermittently jumping off the side to ‘wash their hands’ of the cheesy crisps.
There was one hair-raising moment where we discovered there wasn’t a bottle opener onboard for our wine, which meant a swim to one of the other posh boats in the bay to beg for a bottle opener – but hey, it’s all part of the fun, right?
And our amenable neighbours had been curious who the people on the big boat blasting ‘Crazy Frog’ three times in a row were anyway.
I’ve always considered boat day to be the best day on holiday – seeing the shoreline from the sea, getting some proper breeze and jumping into crystal-clear, deep water is always the perfect way to spend several hours.
But when you join a group boat trip, that inevitably means a lot of waiting around and limited space to kick back and relax.
With our own boat, we could set the pace. Which meant snail’s pace.
We spent six hours in that cute little bay, floating on inflatables, practising our diving and snorkeling over the marine forests.
Then on the way back, our skipper took us into St Tropez’s marina, to ogle the enormous billionaire’s yachts and grab an ice cream from the famous Barbarac on the marina promenade.
Enjoying the inflatables while out at sea along the French RivieraSamboat does have locations in the UK with boats on offer, but it really comes into its own in places like the French Riviera, where there are loads of millionaires with boats lying idle in the marina
Watching my son take in the beauty of the famous seaside town as we cruised into the port on the bow of the boat was a perfect holiday moment.
Then we were dropped back to our local port, in time for a fish and chip supper.
Hiring your own boat isn’t cheap.
The prices for our particular boat start at 913 euros (£776) for the day, including the skipper, plus you have to pay for fuel, which worked out around 300 euros (£255).
But if you filled the boat, that would work out at around 100 euros (£85) per person for the whole day, and there are plenty of boats on the website that work out much cheaper.
And when we arrived back in the UK after our holiday, the one memory we’ve not stopped talking about was boat day.
I’d swap out several pricey attractions on land for eight hours of bliss at sea, where I can pretend I’m VB on her summer break (minus the designer holiday wardrobe) .
There’s more than meets the eye with this picture-perfect market town, jam packed with independent shops and an idyllic river meandering through, as rowing boats pass by
Many are opting to move out of the city to this picture-perfect town (Image: Getty)
Away from the hustle and bustle of London life, just a little further down the Thames, is a much quieter tow where people are flocking for an escape into independent shops and riverside walks.
With a real sense of vibrancy about it, this Buckinghamshire town is being put on the map as it continues to evolve into a cool and quirky hotspot for the capital’s commuters. Not just that, but for people wanting a day trip that feels a lot more wholesome and doesn’t cost quite as much.
Marlow is one to watch, especially for those looking to relocate out of the city. Its location along the River Thames makes for a peaceful spot, which could compare to the likes of Richmond or Cambridge, where people can hire both rowing boats and self-driving boats to explore the town from the water.
What makes it most recognisable to passers-by or those travelling through is its eye-catching suspension bridge which spans the River Thames, joining Buckinghamshire with Berkshire. It first opened in 1832 and has been somewhat of a landmark for the area ever since, as a distinctive feature that helped the town to grow as an inland port.
High Street
The charming town is made up of historic streets with listed buildings and an abundance of independent boutiques, cafes and bistros, adding to the atmosphere of the place. But above all, it’s Marlow’s High Street that has received the most considerable amount of attention. Recently, when it was dubbed the best in the UK.
Estate agent Knight Frank named the UK’s best high streets after the property experts took a look at some of the streets that offer the most charm, and this was their favourite. Their focus was on the areas that home buyers were flocking to, and Marlow came out as a seriously desirable spot that they described as both “charming and lively”.
Matt Davies, partner at Knight Frank, said: “We tend to see a slightly younger buyer base in Marlow, driven in large part by its outstanding educational institutions, including grammar schools such as Sir William Borlase’s.”
There’s an endless amount of unique little shops selling clothing, gifts, homeware, stationery and more. Some of the standout stalls include the gift shop Twenty Three Living, The Marlow Bookshop, URU Home and Saddle Safari, all joined by an array of local pubs, cafes, galleries and salons.
Marlow has also made a name for itself in the realm of food, with high-end chefs operating out of the area and it being home to Michelin-star cuisine. Celeb chef Tom Kerridge runs a pub in the heart of the town named The Hand of Flowers, a short walk off of the high street, which stands as the only UK pub to hold an impressive two Michelin stars.
A customer described their experience at the highly acclaimed pub on TripAdvisor. They said: “Service was excellent from the minute we arrived, and the atmosphere in the restaurant was great. We’d highly recommend!”
And of course, like any higher-end high street, it’s home to The Ivy and other high street chains such as Zizi, as well as having smaller bistros and traditional pubs to choose from.
For Arteta, building a legacy of sustained success is the ambition. Winning once is impressive, but repeating it is the mark of a truly great team.
With the Spaniard’s contract up at the end of the next season, the immediate priority for all parties is to agree an extension.
That process is under way and will accelerate after the Champions League final, with a will from all parties to have the new contract tied up before next season.
The expectation is Arteta will sign a new contract that will earn him a sharp increase on his current financial package of a basic £10m per season plus a further £5m for Champions League qualification.
There has been some internal talk, too, about Berta possibly engaging in conversations to extend his contract having been linked with potential moves to Saudi Arabia.
Arsenal are a club now moulded in Arteta’s image, with his job title changing from head coach to manager in September 2020.
The manager sits on the football leadership team with Kroenke, Garlick, James King and Berta. It is that five-man group that makes decisions on the direction of football at the club.
Arteta’s coaching staff are like him – passionate and intense, with even the analysts shouting from the stands.
And the manager was joined last summer by long-term friend and former team-mate Gabriel Heinze, who is an assistant coach. The Argentine has had a big impact this season, and has introduced a motivational huddle for defenders before each game.
Arteta is very hands-on and knows when to make an impact on his players with a strong telling-off and when he should coach.
But he has become good at delegating, too, with all of the backroom team delivering sessions so the squad don’t get tired of hearing one voice.
And now Arteta has guided this group to silverware, the focus can shift to the next campaign.
Arsenal are keen to recruit a midfielder, left-winger and striker, but we should expect a sharper focus on outgoings after last year’s £250m splurge.
The only senior player to depart last summer was Albert Lokonga.
This time, Arsenal have already agreed to sell defender Jakub Kiwior to Porto for an initial £14.7m. It is understood Christian Norgaard, who arrived in a deal worth up to £15m, will be allowed to leave, and the club are expected to listen to offers for Ben White, Gabriel Martinelli, Gabriel Jesus and Fabio Vieira.
Arsenal are also giving consideration to a significant homegrown sale that would represent ‘pure profit’ on their balance sheet.
There have been internal discussions about selling Nwaneri, who is on loan at Marseille, or Lewis-Skelly though the latter’s emergence as a genuine central-midfield option for Arteta in recent weeks has been noted.
There is also a desire to keep the wage bill manageable. That is easier said than done, though, with defender Jurrien Timber and midfielder Declan Rice both in line for new deals in the not-too-distant future and Gabriel Magalhaes, William Saliba, Lewis-Skelly, Saka and Nwaneri having recently renewed their contracts.
With lucrative bonuses to be paid to players in light of this season’s success – not to mention the expectation Arteta’s salary will move closer to the £20m mark – keeping a rein on the club’s overheads will not be easy.
There is a growing sense behind the scenes the club must start planning a squad rebuild given a number of key players are in their late 20s.
This summer, they have a keen interest in Leicester teenager Jeremy Monga, and with Dowman, Marli Salmon, Edwin and Holger Quintero and Lewis-Skelly all in their teens, there is hope the rebuild may not prompt a noticeable drop in levels.
