“Had we been aware, or had this been declared at any point before or during the competition, this athlete would not have been permitted to compete in the Woman’s Open category,” the statement added.
“It is our responsibility to ensure fairness and ensure athletes are assigned to men or women’s categories based on whether they are recorded as male or female at birth.”
Thompson, first crowned world’s strongest woman in 2018, said the manner she had won the title had taken the gloss off it, but praised Strongman for “investigating and rectifying the situation so quickly”.
“What should be a momentous occasion has sadly been overshadowed by scandal and dishonesty from someone who was welcomed into our crazy sport,” she said in a post on her Instagram, external account.
“I am not only frustrated with not being able to celebrate a win, but also for the ladies who had their time to shine on the podium or reach the final day, taken away from them.”
Thompson, from Suffolk, said she and fellow competitors were “mentally drained” having “received backlash and insults” since the decision, which “needs to stop”.
“This has been the most exhausting experience of my career,” she added.
“We, as a community are taking a stand. Protecting women’s sport as we have fought so hard for.”
IT’S the most wonderful time of the year, as Brits flock to Christmas markets to browse festive gifts and sip piping hot mulled wine.
Now, the country’s best eight spots for top-notch Christmas markets have been revealed, but notably missing one major city.
Sign up for the Travel newsletter
Thank you!
The UK’s best cities for Christmas markets in 2025 have been revealedChester Christmas market made the list, but some major cities missed outCredit: Getty
A survey of 4,000 people by consumer champion Which has revealed Brits’ favourite Christmas market destinations all over the country.
The top eight cities were: Bath, Chester, Durham, Winchester, Wells, Liverpool, Edinburgh, York and Belfast.
This means that Manchester was a glaring exception to the list, despite its markets offering 200 stalls across nine locations this year in the popular northern city.
The selection offers something for everyone, from quaint cobbled lanes to grand squares and gothic cathedrals.
Bath is already a tourist hotspot, a Regency gem which was voted the UK’s best medium-sized city this year.
It’s market offers 200 chalets where punters can peruse a massive selection of goods, with many of the stallholders based in the South West.
Expect everything from foraged jam to pet gifts.
In Northern Ireland, Belfast plays host to a market ideal for foodies, from crocodile burgers to local produce every weekend.
It also includes a funfair, and takes place at the steps of the grand Victorian City Hall building.
If you are looking to spot some WAGs doing a spot of Christmas browsing, Chester would be the city to head to.
With its 80 stalls spiralling out from it’s gothic town hall, customers will be delighted with the range of indie options like artisan liqueurs available in this footballer-favourite city.
It is also one of the better cities for accessibility like parking and lack of crowds.
Another historic northern city, Durham’s festive market is a handmade affair, with optional tickets to gain admission to the crafts and gift marquee of 120 stalls costing £4.50.
The free section of the market only has 30 stalls, so more minimalist than some of the others.
It lasts two days, between 5 and 7 December, so worth bearing in mind it could be extremely popular.
Scotland’s offering is found on the iconic East Princes Street in Edinburgh, where revellers can enjoy typical festive options like stocking fillers and gluhwein in the shadow of the city’s imposing castle.
The fair also has a Ferris wheel, and the market lasts into early January, offering the perfect place to celebrate Hogmanay.
Liverpool was crowned the best big city, and it’s Christmas market looks set to live up to the city’s top-rated culture and shopping.
St George’s Hall, with its statuesque columns and strings of twinkling lights, offers a beautiful backdrop to the festivities.
Down in Somerset, Wells has long been a hidden gem, with it’s 850 year old cathedral and moat filled with swans which was immortalised in the 2007 film Hot Fuzz.
In beautiful Wells, the Christmas market is a fleeting affairCredit: GettyIn the past, Wells Christmas market has included reindeer, to the delight of childrenCredit: Alamy
This is very much a market by and for locals, offering gifts crafted in the community, and some regional fare.
Another city most well-known for its stunning cathedral, Winchester is a classy pick for a refined market-goer.
The stalls are set out in front of the ancient landmark, and punters will peruse hand-painted buttons and horsehair brushes.
At the York Christmas Festival, traders operate out of alpine chalets decked with tinsel and wreaths.
Known for its winding lanes and generous Yorkshire hospitality, the city’s market is a staple, as it has been going for over 30 years.
It is a fantastic place to browse for gifts- anything from food and drink to art prints.
The list was created from Which’s best UK cities survey, which means every spot also boasts good-quality food and cultural activities as well as their markets.
Other cities which nearly made the cut included Newcastle, for its top-scoring food and drink offering, Glasgow for its cultural sites, and London, which boasts a plethora of markets.
Which also recommended the UK’s prettiest villages which might be worth a trip or stay this Christmas for their chocolate-box scenery.
These included Avebury in Wiltshire, with its thatched cottages and prehistoric circles.
Another good option would be Llangollen, a picturesque Welsh town with stunning views over the River Dee.
In Edinburgh, the market takes place in a spectacular settingCredit: Alamy Live NewsThe city’s historic streets are always a good option for Christmas shoppingCredit: Alamy
THE Good Hotel Guide has just announced its 2026 award winners – and we’ve got the inside track on the best places to stay across Britain.
Whether you’re after a cosy B&B, a cracking pub with rooms, or a proper hotel that won’t batter your bank balance, these are the spots that beat countless others to claim top honours.
Sign up for the Travel newsletter
Thank you!
We’ve got the inside track on the best places to stay across BritainCredit: Getty
We’ve picked six brilliant winners from three categories – time to start planning your next escape.
BEST BUDGET HOTELS (under £150)
Georgian House Hotel, Pimlico, London
THESE Grade II listed townhouses near Buckingham Palace are posher than a B&B but way more chill than a typical hotel.
Best bit? A hidden bookcase door leads to wizard-themed basement chambers with four-posters draped in red velvet and wooden bunks carved with protective runes. Proper magic.
A MOTORWAY services hotel? Tebay is nothing like typical rest stops — when the M6 was built across their land in 1970, hill farmers John and Barbara Dunning created a business celebrating local producers.
Still family-run, it has 51 rooms, some with views of the Fells and others dog-friendly. Dine on aged native-breed ribeye, venison suet pudding or haddock and chips before exploring the Lakes.
Brockencote Hall delivers country-house luxury for way less than you might expectCredit: Supplied
THIS Victorian mansion is styled like a Loire château. Brockencote sits in 70 acres with a lake and tenniscourt and delivers country-house luxury for way less than you might expect.
Bedrooms come with concierge service, fridges, fruit and Temple Spa toiletries. Take afternoon tea in the French-inspired drawing room or splash out in the fine-dining restaurant. Dogs welcome.
WHILE some Cotswolds hotels come with a high price tag, this golden-stone Victorian building keeps things real. Family-run, it has 22 country-chic bedrooms, with ten in the coach house.
Relax in the lounge or garden, eat at the L’Anatra restaurant, serving, tapas and Italian classics. Guest parking is free.
The Grange at Oborne mixes classic and contemporary stylingCredit: Supplied
KARENZA and Ken Mathews’s country-house hotel is trad-comfort heaven. Rooms range from standard doubles to a junior suite, mixing classic and contemporary styling.
The restaurant keeps things tried and tested — pan-fried chicken with smoked bourbon barbecue sauce, warm Dorsetapple cake with blackberry jam. It’s family-run, with real charm.
THE Martinez family’s foodie hotel occupies a 12th-century Cistercian monastery in secluded gardens by the River Usk. It has 27 super-chic rooms in the main house, stables and dog-friendly cottage.
There are strong Spanish vibes, with tapas in the bar, while the restaurant serves flame-grilled steaks, barbecued lamb leg with jalapeño chimichurri, and tomato crème brûlée.
Rumour has it there’s a resident ghost — a monk who looks serenely happy.
PERCHED above Clifton Down, this Georgian merchant’s house is the perfect base for exploring Bristol. Owner Adam Dorrien-Smith has created something seriously special — super-stylish rooms in calming blues and greys, with velvet armchairs and either park views or city panoramas.
Some rooms come with a copper rolltop bath. Breakfast is a proper spread with fresh juices, homemade compotes and a full English.
PEAK District perfection — a cosy longhouse where tea and cakes by the fire are part of the deal. Owner Vivienne Taylor has created four fab bedrooms, three of them suites with separate lounges.
But it’s the breakfast that shines — Aga-cooked with locally sourced ingredients, homemade bread, rare-breed sausages and Derbyshire oatcakes to fuel your walks that start right from the front door.
DON’T let the tongue-twister name put you off. Robert Smith and Arwel Hughes have transformed a wartime land girls’ hostel into something special.
The four smart bedrooms are for over-16s only, each with a fridge stocked with treats. The real star? Dinner by arrangement — home-cooked, locally sourced, and you can even bring your own wine.
CHRIS BROOKS and Carla Regler swapped Cornwall for the Outer Hebrides — and what a move.
Their adults-only B&B sits beside Askernish golf course, surrounded by white sands and bathed in star-filled skies. With four spacious rooms, this is the perfect base for walking and wildlife-watching.
There’s a warm lounge with an honesty bar stocked with whiskies, and chef Chris cooks up a storm most nights. Morning brings freshly baked bread, and eggs from their own ducks and hens.
Daisybank Cottage is brilliantly family-friendlyCredit: Supplied
RIGHT now the New Forest’s free-roaming pigs are hoovering up acorns — as magical as watching the famous ponies trot past Cheryl and Ciaran Maher’s fairytale Arts and Crafts cottage in the village of Brockenhurst.
This single-storey gem is brilliantly family-friendly, with beautifully presented rooms. Each comes with an espresso machine and mini-fridge.
Write your breakfast wishes on paper, pop them in a flowerpot, and — like magic — they appear in the morning.
The Inn at Whitewell has bags of characterCredit: Supplied
THERE’S something special about this rambling stone inn sitting in five acres on the River Hodder.
Third-generation owner Charles Bowman keeps it traditional — local ales, open fires, flagstone floors. The bedrooms (all dog-friendly) have bags of character with antiques and fireplaces.
The menu jumps from Thai green curry to bangers and mash, and the fish pie is legendary.
THE hills are actually Roman burial mounds — the biggest in Britain. Chris and Sarah Field’s dog-friendly gastropub is the other reason to visit.
This revamped 17th-century alehouse overlooks landscaped gardens by the River Granta. Rooms are serene in soft greys and blues, with Roberts radios and power showers.
The menu covers pub classics plus options like venison ragù or courgette and pea pappardelle. Room only, doubles from £135. thethreehills.co.uk.
The Cricket Inn, Beesands, Devon
The Cricket Inn has bay windows overlooking Start BayCredit: Supplied
SCOTT and Rachael Heath’s cosy gastropub sits in a South Hams village.
Refurbished New England-style bedrooms have walk-in showers and espresso machines. Two suites feature hand-built four-posters.
The Oval Room has bay windows overlooking Start Bay and the lighthouse. Fish is landed virtually on the doorstep and there’s a seafood pancake you should try.
B&B doubles cost from £135. Check out three-nights-for-two deal at thecricketinn.com.
The Stag on the River, Eashing, Surrey
DINING beside the River Wey as it flows past this gorgeously refurbished 17th-century local is pretty unbeatable. Inside are oak beams, brick floors, original fireplaces and vintage prints of river birds.
The bedrooms are stylish with original features, bright fabrics, Roberts radios and rain showers. The menu runs from small plates (bang bang cauliflower, nduja Scotch egg) to fish pie and Sunday roasts.
YOUR hosts, brothers Charles and Edmund Inkin, welcome families and dogs to their dining pub with rooms between the Black Mountains and Brecon Beacons, close to Hay-on-Wye.
Eight simple, stylish bedrooms feature Welsh blankets, vintage furniture and local artworks with field or mountain views.
TIRED of visiting the same old spots? Finding new places for a day out in your area can be difficult but now the UK’s best hidden gems have been revealed, great for discovering destinations.
Visit England recently announced the UK’s best hidden gems as part of its Visitor Attraction Accolades for 2024-2025.
Sign up for the Travel newsletter
Thank you!
Donington le Heath in the East Midlands is home to the 1620s House & Garden with 17th century furnishings insideCredit: Alamy
And there is something for everyone from museums to brewery tours – here are their best 15 across Britain, per region.
East Midlands
The first hidden gem can be found in Donington le Heath in the East Midlands – the 1620s House & Garden.
Formerly known as the Donington le Heath Manor House, visitors can explore the 13th century building which inside is decked out with 17th century furnishings.
There are also gardens to explore at the attraction, laid out in early 17th century style.
Also make sure to head to The Old Barn Tearoom for a quick drink, cake or warm bowl of soup.
A second site in the East Midlands that has been named a hidden gem is Melton Carnegie Museum at Melton Mowbray.
The museum is located inside Melton Mowbray’s former Carnegie Library, which was built back in 1905.
Inside, visitors can discover the local history of Melton from the Bronze Age right to the present day.
It is also free to visit.
And finally, Mrs Smith’s Cottage in Navenby was also named a hidden gem.
Mrs Smith’s Cottage Museum in Navenby, Lincolnshire, features the daily diaries of a woman who lived there through the 20th centuryCredit: Alamy
The heritage house belonged to Hilda Craven, who lived there throughout the 20th century.
Now as a museum and learning centre, visitors can explore the home and daily diaries kept by Hilda.
Admission costs £3.50 per adult and £2 per child.
East of England
Heading to the East of England and the Bushey Museum & Art Gallery in Hertfordshire was named a hidden gem.
The museum and gallery is entirely run by volunteers and inside visitors can explore the local history and heritage of Bushey.
It is free to visit.
Bushey Museum & Art Gallery in Hertfordshire is one of the hidden gems that is free to visitCredit: Alamy
Also recognised in the East of England was a hidden gem activity called the Celtic Harmony Camp, which can be found in Brickendon.
The camp is set in around 13 acres of ancient woodland and features life-sized, reconstructed Iron Age roundhouses, a Palaeolithic Cave and a Prehistory Centre.
The experience is also free to visit.
Then, the final one in the East of England is a tour of Ipswich TownFootball Club, in Suffolk.
The guided tour allows fans to explore key and iconic areas within the stadium such as the Directors Box or the Boardroom.
Celtic Harmony Camp, in Hertfordshire, features reconstructed Iron Age roundhousesCredit: pitchup.comYou could also go on a tour of the Ipswich football club groundsCredit: Alamy
North West
In the North West, Elizabeth Gaskell’s House in Manchester was named a hidden gem.
The attraction celebrates the life of Elizabeth Gaskell, one of the UK’s most important Victorian writers.
Visitors can explore the lavish interiors as well as pretty gardens.
Another spot in the North West made its way onto the list – moviESCAPE in Stockport.
This escape room has a movie theme and there are different rooms including the Haunted House II: Demon’s Curse and SAWtopsy.
For a more family-friendly option there is Merlin’s Magic Academy, where players solve puzzles and challenges.
Prices vary but the more players you have the cheaper it works out per player.
If you prefer an experience, head to MoviESCAPE for an escape roomCredit: Tripadvisor/moviESCAPEYou can also explore the inside of famous author, Elizabeth Gaskell’s houseCredit: Alamy
South East
In the South East, Shepherd Neame Visitor Centre tour in Faversham has been named a hidden gem.
Located at Shepherd Neame Brewery, visitors can head on a tour to learn more about their beers and brewing process.
Next up is St Barbe Museum & Art Gallery in Lymington – a historic coastal market town.
Inside, visitors can explore the history of Lymington and the New Forest Coast.
Another hidden gem in the South East is a tour of The Hook Norton Brewery Co Ltd.
Shepherd Neame Brewery visitor centre and shop in Kent does brewery toursCredit: Alamy
Costing £20 per person, on the tour you will wander around the five-storey Victorian Tower Brewery for an hour and a half.
The tour then ends in the cellar bar, where you of course get to try the beer.
The brewery rather unusually is also home to three shire horses.
If beer isn’t to your taste, then you can head on a tour of the Wildshark Vineyard in Harrietsham.
For £20 per person, you can head on a self-guided tour of the vineyard, thanks to a handy map that shows different walking routes.
Alternatively, you could head to Hook Norton Brewery for a tourCredit: Alamy
Alternatively, for £28 per person you could head on an hour and a half guided tour with a tasting.
South West
In the South West, one spot was named as a hidden gem – Sherborne Museum in Sherborne.
The local museum in Dorset features local history exhibits and a large archive of local records and photos.
It also is free to enter.
In the South West, Sherborne Museum features local history exhibits and a large archive of local records and photosCredit: Alamy
West Midlands
Over in the West Midlands, Stourbridge Glass Museum in Wordsley, visitors can explore the region’s history in glassmaking through interactive galleries.
There is even a live hot glass studio.
Last but not least, a tour of the Cotswolds Distillery in Stourton is also a hidden gem.
The tour costs £25 per person and includes tasting the spirits and liqueurs.
Alternatively for £37, you could do a tour and tasting with lunch included.
At Stourbridge Glass Museum, you can see a live hot glass studioCredit: AlamyAnd in the Cotswolds, you could head to a distillery and try spirits and liqueursCredit: Tripadvisor/Cotswolds Distillery
British Lord High Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice Shabana Mahmood arrives for a cabinet meeting at 10 Downing Street in London, Britain, in September. EPA/ANDY RAIN
Nov. 16 (UPI) — Britain’s home secretary Shabana Mahmood plans to unveil plans to overhaul the country’s asylum policy Monday after declaring that illegal immigration is “tearing the country apart.”
The new measures will include a two-decade long wait period after people who are granted asylum are allowed to settle in the country permanently, the BBC reported.
The new plans will also require that people who are granted asylum will have their refugee status reviewed regularly, and those whose countries are deemed safe will be required to return. Mahmood said Sunday that she sees reforming Britain’s immigration system as a “moral mission.”
Conservatives would deport undocumented migrants “within a week,” while Liberal Democratic Party leaders have called for asylum seekers to have the right to work.
Mahmood said the changes are designed to make the country less attractive to illegal immigrants, and lead to fewer dangerous small boat crossings across the often turbulent English Channel, and asylum claims.
She said the new plans will also end visas for people from Angola, Namibia and the Democratic Republic of Congo if those countries do not quickly improve their cooperation on removing people from Britain.
These countries have been selected “for their unacceptable low co-operation and obstructive return processes,” the BBC reported.
Enver Soloman, chief executive of the Refugee Council, said the 20-year wait period for permanent residency would “leave people in limbo for many, many years.
“We need a system that is controlled and fair, and the way you do that is you make decisions fairly, in a timely fashion, and if someone is found to be a refugee they go on and they contribute to our communities and they pay back,” he said Sunday on BBC Breakfast.
At least 109,343 people claimed asylum in Britain in the last 12 months, a 17% increase over the year before, according to government figures. At least 1,069 migrants have arrived in the country in the last 7 days, the data show.
Mahmood is set to unveil her plans in the House of Commons on Monday.
An August 2025 picture of a worker looking out from behind a gate outside Britain’s Bell Hotel in Epping, Essex. Asylum seekers will now be permitted to stay in the Essex hotel following Britain’s high court ruling against the local municipal council to remove them. Photo Provided by Tolga Akmen/EPA
Nov. 11 (UPI) — Asylum seekers will be permitted to stay at hotel in Essex following a British high court ruling against a local council to remove them.
The Bell Hotel in Epping Forest, less than 20 miles northeast of London, has housed roughly 140 migrants in the process of seeking British asylum. But the local Epping Forest District Council sought to block their temporarily living conditions after a 14-year-old girl was sexually assaulted and a man living in the hotel accused of the attack.
On Tuesday, Justice Tim Mould dismissed the council’s claims and ruled that an injunction was “not an appropriate means of enforcing planning control.”
Epping Forest’s councillors argued the Bell Hotel owner flouted local planning and zoning rules.
“What we saw in court was an unholy alliance of lawyers for government and big business intent on protecting huge profits and an indefensible asylum policy,”Ken Williamson, a member on Epping Forest District Council, told the BBC.
Protests near the hotel turned violent in July when hijacked by far-right supporters after Hadush Gerberslasie Kebatu, an Ethiopian national and resident of the hotel, was charged with the teen girl’s sexual assault.
But Mould on Tuesday rejected the prospect that hotel owner Somani Hotels demonstrated a “flagrant or persistent abuse” of planning control with a growing number of immigrants and other foreign asylum seekers.
“Taking a broad view, the degree of planning and environmental harm resulting from the current use of the Bell is limited,” he wrote in a 87-page ruling.
The judge acknowledged the “criminal behavior of a small number of individual asylum seekers” housed at the hotel had “raised the fear of crime” in the local community.
It was noted there was a “continuing need” to house asylum seekers with a looming asylum hearing. And so that Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood “can fulfill her statutory duties.”
Tuesday’s ruling continued that statutory procedures under British law provided for the “local planning authority, or on appeal the Secretary of State, to determine conclusively whether an existing use of land is lawful because it does not involve development.”
TODAY is Armistice Day, which marks the signing of the agreement to end the fighting of World War One. It came into force at 11am on November 11, 1918.
Along with Remembrance Sunday, the day honours those who have died in conflicts, with the nation falling silent at 11am.
Sign up for the Travel newsletter
Thank you!
Learn more about our wartime history on the home front, as The Sun’s Head of Travel, Lisa Minot, highlights some amazing places to visitCredit: Hulton Archive – Getty
This weekend the King led commemorations at the Cenotaph in tribute to the servicemen and women who defended our shores.
But there are plenty of other ways to learn more about our wartime history on the home front. Lisa Minot highlights some amazing places to visit.
REMEMBRANCE & COMMAND
The Map Room in the Churchill War Rooms museum, London, UKCredit: Alamy
ALL eyes were on the capital on Remembrance Sunday as the Cenotaph parade saw more than 10,000 veterans march past.
But you can pay tribute to the fallen year-round at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire.
Set in 150 acres of woodland, there are more than 400 memorials honouring those killed on duty or by terrorism since World War Two. Entry is free. See thenma.org.uk.
A visit to the Imperial War Museum’s Churchill War Rooms is a chilling yet powerful experience.
Hidden beneath Westminster, the underground bunker was where the Prime Minister and his government directed the war effort. The Map Room is exactly as it was in 1945.
Tickets are best booked in advance and cost from £33 per adult and £16.50 for children five to 15. See iwm.org.uk.
Also not to be missed is HMS Belfast, now moored on the Thames near London Bridge.
Explore the nine decks of the ship that fired some of the first shots on D-Day, supporting the landings at Gold and Juno beaches in Normandy.
Bletchley Park near Milton Keynes, Bucks, was where Alan Turing, below, and his team of codebreakers cracked the Enigma and Lorenz ciphersCredit: AlamyTour the historic country house and the rambling huts and discover the achievements of Alan Turing and others through immersive films, interactive displays and faithfully recreated roomsCredit: Alamy
AWAY from the traditional battlefield, explore the impact World War Two had on the homefront and the secret work of those who changed the conflict’s course.
Bletchley Park near Milton Keynes, Bucks, was where Alan Turing, inset, and his team of codebreakers cracked the Enigma and Lorenz ciphers.
Tour the historic country house and the rambling huts and discover the achievements of these brilliant minds through immersive films, interactive displays and faithfully recreated rooms.
Tickets cost from £28 for adults and £19.50 for children age 12 to 17. Under-12s go free. See bletchleypark.org.uk.
The Blitz brought the war to the lives of civilians living in our biggest cities.
Tour the eerie ruins of Coventry Cathedral, destroyed by Nazi bombs.
This year marks the 85th anniversary of the devastating night that left the city in rubble.
Dover Castle’s hidden tunnels were the secret HQ where the Dunkirk evacuation was planned and later used as a wartime hospitalCredit: Alamy
THE south coast of Britain was the UK’s front line in World War Two and the staging ground in 1944 for the liberation of Europe.
Medieval Dover Castle sits above a network of secret wartime tunnels where the 1940 evacuation of Dunkirk was masterminded and later served as a command centre and hospital.
You can join a guided tour of the tunnels before exploring the castle’s rooms and grounds.
Book castle tickets online in advance and save 15 per cent – from £27.20 for adults and £17.20 for children.
There’s also a Dover Bunker escape room that can be booked separately with prices from £30. See english-heritage.org.uk.
The D-Day Story in Portsmouth is the only museum in the UK dedicated to the Normandy landings.
The city was the main embarkation point and the attraction tells the story through personal accounts of those who were there.
It also features the incredible 83-metre Overlord Embroidery and a restored Landing Craft Tank.
Book online for savings, with tickets from £15.95 per adult and £8 per child. See theddaystory.com.
BATTLE BY SEA AND AIR
Discover how RAF heroes shaped history at IWM Duxford, now Britain’s biggest aviation museum packed with iconic aircraft from Spitfires to LancastersCredit: The Times
LEARN the critical role played by the Royal Air Force at IWM Duxford, Cambs – the former RAF base is now Britain’s largest aviation museum.
Its hangars and airfield played a key role in the Battle of Britain, and the base now houses a vast collection of aircraft, from Spitfires to Lancaster bombers, and tells the story of those who flew them.
In Lincoln, the International Bomber Command Centre is a striking memorial to those who lost their lives in the skies.
Its 102ft spire – the height of a Lancaster bomber’s wingspan – is inscribed with the names of the 55,573 men of Bomber Command who lost their lives.
For a World War One focus, Scapa Flow on Orkney is the vast natural harbour that was the Royal Navy’s main base and is most famous for the scuttling of the interned German High Seas fleet in 1919.
If traditional British cuisine is your thing, you might want to head to this pretty village in the north east
Explore the home of the legendary Captain Cook(Image: Getty)
Tucked away in the northeast of England lies one of Britain’s most picturesque villages.
Sitting high above the North Yorkshire Moors, the seaside treasure of Staithes was formerly a thriving fishing harbour in the North East.
Rich in heritage, Staithes is also home to one of the area’s best Sunday roasts, dished up at The Captain Cook Inn.
The Captain Cook Inn boasts an enviable location, set amongst the clifftops with sweeping views across the charming cobbled lanes and peaceful shoreline beneath.
Customers have flocked to Tripadvisor to sing the praises of the pub’s roast dinners, reports the Express.
One delighted customer declared: “Had a fabulous Sunday Roast, plenty of it and the beef was so tender and very moreish!”.
Sharing this view, another guest commented: “The meal was absolutely delicious. The meat was so tender and the vegetables were al dente. Just how we like them. Big fluffy Yorkshire and rich gravy. Could have eaten a whole plate of their roast potatoes.”
Alongside the celebrated roast, the establishment serves traditional favourites including steak pie, scampi and chips, and golden whitebait for starters.
Ale lovers can enjoy a range of brews, including the signature tipple, Northern Navigator, produced specially for the inn by the North Yorkshire Brewery, just 15 miles down the road.
Little wonder that The Captain Cook Inn received Tripadvisor’s Travellers’ Choice Award. Visitors to the village can delve into its rich history, which is dominated by its most famous historical figure – Captain James Cook.
The Staithes Heritage Centre and Captain Cook Museum offer a trip back in time, recreating the shop where the famed explorer once worked as a grocer’s apprentice.
This delightful centre is filled with a collection that includes books, letters, and medals, transporting visitors back to the era of Captain Cook.
Staithes, also known for its vibrant artistic heritage, was once home to a significant group of artists known as the “Staithes group” or the “Northern Impressionists”.
Today, the pride of the village, the Staithes Gallery, showcases an impressive range of contemporary artwork, including paintings, photographs, and sculptures, all inspired by the charming village and its scenic surroundings.
For those interested in prehistoric discoveries, Staithes sits on the renowned Dinosaur Coast, offering plenty of opportunities for uncovering the past.
Tucked away within the village’s harbour is the sheltered Staithes Beach; when the tide goes out, it reveals a captivating world of rockpools filled with fossils and tiny sea creatures, providing endless fascination for any keen fossil hunter.
Further escapades await along the Cleveland Way National Trail, a 109-mile stretch that offers breathtaking views, from dramatic moorlands to historic coastal castles and quaint fishing villages, running from Filey to Helmsley.
After your adventures, relax at the quayside at the Cod and Lobster pub, renowned for its extensive seafood menu including its signature dish: a delicious pan-fried Cod Fillet served with a rich Lobster Bisque, homemade Potato Rosti and spinach, topped with a juicy Lobster tail or Claw.
Not to be overlooked, the Cod and Lobster also serve up mouth-watering hot and cold sandwiches alongside traditional pub favourites.
Finally, end your day with a visit to Dotty’s Vintage Tearoom, where you can enjoy a taste of yesteryear with their delightful homemade cheese or fruit scones, hearty toasties, and a comforting brew.
Staithes, while being acknowledged as one of the most picturesque villages, also boasts a rich history, exciting adventures, and first-rate cuisine.
THE UK’s oldest lido could never reopen despite years of renovation works, costing millions.
Cleveland Poolsin Bath, which was built in 1815 and is the country’s oldest, may never reopen to the public again.
Sign up for the Travel newsletter
Thank you!
Cleveland Pools in Bath went through major restoration to open for 2023Credit: Cleveland PoolsJust four months later it was forced to close after flood damageCredit: Alamy
It was open for just four months in 2023 after receiving £9.3 million for a revamp. But it hasn’t reopened since, and it might never do so.
The trustees of the restored lido revealed in a report that it “might not be possible” to reopen the pool, according to the BBC.
The report stated: “The risk that the cost to repair the pools and the plantroom will be substantial and beyond the resources available to the trust.
“There is therefore a risk that the pools cannot be repaired and reopened.
“To mitigate against this risk the trust is exploring all potential avenues that would allow the pools to be repaired and reopened, including but not limited to legal recourse and external funding.”
The nextsteps for the trustees is to finalise the cost of repairs and work with the council and National Lottery Fund to secure money needed for the restoration.
Cleveland Pools is a Grade II listed lido, and is considered the oldest outdoor swimming pool in the UK.
It opened in the early 1800s and closed in 1984. It then took a huge campaign by the public, and almost £10million to reopen the lido in September 2023.
The money was raised by trustees from local donors, Bath and North East Somerset Council and the National Lottery Heritage Fund.
When it opened its doors for the very first time, tickets for the Sunday free swim were so popular that the system crashed.
Cleveland Pools is Britain’s oldest outdoor poolCredit: PA
The lido looked like it would have a very popular season, but it was forced to close months later due to flood damage.
Heavy rainfall during Storm Henk caused a huge amount of damage to the plantroom – where all the equipment to operate the lido is kept.
At the time, Cleveland Pools Trust apologised and Paul Simons, chair of the trust, said: “Once the river level has dropped the pools will be pumped out, jet washed down, re-filled and then the treatment circulation will recommence.
He added that the time frame for that “should take a number of days, not weeks.”
Great Britain’s Patrick Dever came an impressive fourth on his marathon debut in the men’s race in New York as Benson Kipruto beat Alexander Mutiso in a dramatic photo finish to claim victory.
Preston Harrier Dever, who finished in a time of two hours eight minutes and 58 seconds, was part of a four-man group before Kipruto and Mutiso broke clear in the latter stages.
Mutiso nearly overtook his fellow Kenyan on the line but Kipruto held him off to win as both were given a time of 2:08.09. Their compatriot Albert Korir was third in 2:08.57.
Hellen Obiri set a course record to win the women’s race in New York as the 35-year-old Kenyan claimed victory in 2:19.51.
The previous record of 2:22.31 had been set by Margaret Okaya in 2003.
Sharon Lokedi was second in 2:20.07 and fellow Kenyan Sheila Chepkirui was third in 2:20.24, while Great Britain’s Jessica Warner-Judd was seventh on her debut over the distance in 2:24.45.
Great Britain’s David Weir came second (1:34.09) behind Switzerland’s Marcel Hug (1:30.16) in the men’s wheelchair race.
Briton Eden Rainbow-Cooper (1:59.30) was seventh in the women’s wheelchair race, which was won by American Susannah Scaroni (1:42.10).
