Butlins

Butlin’s are currently running a Black Friday deal which allows you to pick up a short break for the family for just a few pounds each, and best of all, lots of activities are included

Butlin’s have launched their Black Friday sale, with up to 40% off UK breaks at their three parks, meaning a family of four can get away in 2026 for just a few pounds each.

Breaks at their holiday parks start at just £38 for a family of four for a four-night midweek holiday. This works out at just £2.38 per person per night – less than a coffee in most big chains. This is based on a family sharing a comfort room, with sleeping areas for the kids and adults, or for £49 there’s a comfort apartment which comes with a kitchen and lounge area. Perfect for those who want to save money by bringing their own food.

For those who prefer not to cook, there’s also 10% off Butlin’s dining plans, and 10% off all inclusive drink packages, which come with unlimited soft drinks, a range of alcoholic drinks including cocktails, and Costa Coffee, tea, and hot chocolate.

While the breaks may be cheap, there’s a lot included in the price. You can choose midweek or weekend breaks with themes such as The Dinosaur That Pooped, Fireman Sam, or Peppa Pig.

The entertainment varies depending on the date you book, but the shows are described as ‘west-end quality’. During term-time, there are shows aimed at the under fives, including a brand new Peppa Pig show. Here, you’ll get the first look at her new baby sister Evie, and even get a photoshoot with the brand new piglet.

February Half Term will also see the launch of the new Maximum Pro Wrestling experience, where kids and adults can enjoy the thrill of watching wrestling live, and even meet some of their favourite wrestlers after the show.

The cost of your holiday also includes access to the Splash Waterworld pools, which have features such as slides, and unlimited fairground rides. There are also impressive playgrounds, such as the SKYPARK in Minehead and Skegness, while in Bognor Regis, you’ll find the four storey Skyline Gang Soft Play, with plenty of space for kids to play.

There are also a range of activities you can book at an extra cost, which vary from park to park. These include archery, mini golf, pool, and bowling. It’s safe to say, you won’t be sitting around bored.

If you’d rather enjoy a child-free break, Butlin’s has you covered with their iconic Big Weekenders. These breaks also have 40% off this weekend, and there are a range of themes from EDM to Mod culture, with breaks starting at £59 per person. This includes access to all music venues to see the acts and DJ sets, as well as daytime activities such as line dancing and pool parties.

There are three Butlin’s parks in Bognor Regis, Minehead and Skegness, all of which are classic seaside towns with lots to do nearby. All the parks are right on the seafront, with Minehead and Skegness offering sandy beaches, while Bognor Regis is on a pretty shingle beach with a long promenade.

Butlin’s Black Friday offers are available to book until December 2 with dates available throughout 2026.

IT’S never too early to book a holiday for next year – and with Butlin’s launching its Black Sale Friday, you might want to look now.

The holiday park is offering bargain breaks for families to adults-only weekends with up to 40 per cent off.

Butlin’s Black Friday sale, or as they like to call it, the Red Friday Event, hasplenty of great offers for breaks next year, including family-friendly holidays across its three resorts in Bognor Regis, Minehead and Skegness.

You can book now for up to 40 per cent off – and that includes getting to see their new headline acts for 2026 if you book before December 2, 2025.

From Maximum Pro Wrestling to The Masked Singer Live and Diversity, which will perform their brand-new, exclusive show ‘Time Capsule’.

Peppa Pig and her baby sister Evie Pig will trot into the spotlight in a brand-new live show for 2026 during school holidays and Showtime breaks.

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Another new addition is The Dinosaur that Pooped, a Rock Show that’s a high-energy live musical and will be at all resorts.

And Fireman Sam will be solving clues and saving the day in The Lost Pirate Treasure show.  

February Half Term breaks start from £67 based on a family of four staying in a two bedroom Comfort Room on February 23, 2026 in Bognor Regis for four nights.

The Showtime midweek breaks start from £39 which across four nights works out at just £2.44pppn.

It’s not just for kids though – adults can also book themselves onto a Big Weekender for 2026.

Big Weekenders, which are exclusively for adults, and also has savings of up to 40 per cent.

These start from £54 per person which includes three-nights’ accommodation, access to all music venues and plenty of daytime and evening activities. 

Performers include the likes of Peter Andre, Cascada and B*Witched; these are all included in the price.

During the day guests can check out the Saddle Up Line Dancing, Soul Stroll and pool parties to Club Classic Nights and silent discos in the evening.  

Next year, four brand-new Big Weekenders will begin across all three resorts.

My Generation Weekender, devoted to Mod culture, will kick off in Minehead in early 2026.

Meanwhile, Skegness resort will be immersed in the ‘neo-soul’ era at the Soul Power Weekender.

Bognor Regis will host the Don’t Tell Mama LGBTQ Weekender and Bugged Out! will return after 10 years with the biggest names in the EDM space.    

Soul Power Big Weekender starts from £54pp based on a two bedroom Comfort Room that sleeps four on January 16, 2026 in Skegness.

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One writer checked into Butlin’s for a Big Weekender…

“Clutching my bottle of Smirnoff Ice in the middle of a packed dancefloor wearing silver combat trousers and a bum bag, I felt like I had been transported back to my youth.

“And for a fleeting moment, I forgot I was a mother of three with a job, a mortgage and a pile of laundry to tackle when I got home.

“This is part of the joy of a Butlin’s ’90s Reloaded Weekender where garage legends DJ Luck and MC Neat were belting out the floor fillers from my teen disco days.

“Held across Butlin’s resorts in Bognor Regis, Minehead and Skegness, each “weekender” break celebrates a different era or genre, from the Ultimate ’80s to I Love Ibiza.

“I was at the Bognor Regis Resort with three old school friends, which only enhanced the nostalgia of the Nineties-themed weekend.

“The fancy dress aspect alone provided plenty of entertainment. Luckily, the Nineties are enjoying something of a fashion revival, which means it was easy to source some party gear.

“And the trends of the decade were out in force — from bucket hats and Kappa tracksuits to cycling shorts and, of course, shell suits.

“There were plenty of hilarious costumes celebrating Nineties icons, too. The winner had to be one ingenious reveller who dressed head-to-toe as a bottle of Nineties alcopop Hooch, an outfit she ran up on her own sewing machine.

“In true Nineties style, midnight felt too early to go to bed so we hit the silent disco at the resort’s sports bar venue Hotshots where we could flick between channels on our light-up headphones, blasting everything from Whigfield to Warren G.

“The brilliant thing about a Butlin’s Weekender break is you know exactly what you’ll be spending. All entertainment and accommodation is included in the price of your visit so it’s great value for groups like ours.

“If you do have a little extra cash to splash, you can book additional activities like the ’90s Bottomless Brunch in Butlin’s restaurant The Diner.

“The bottomless prosecco and cocktails, accompanied by a live DJ, were a great way to kick off our Saturday, and my delicious build-your-own burger perfectly set me up for another day of drinking and dancing.

“In the afternoon, Butlin’s huge swimming complex opens for pool parties, also complete with DJ.”

Hear from one reporter who tried out the Butlin’s new all-inclusive holidays where food and drink is free and said “it was better value than a Spanish resort”.

And Travel Reporter Helen Wright tested the Butlin’s all-inclusive drinks package to its limit – here’s everything she drank in one day for £30.

AFTER 26 years heading up The Sun’s travel team – while bringing up three children – there’s not a lot I don’t know about family holidays.

After hundreds of trips together, I’m sharing my guaranteed winners – from our favourite campsites to the best foreign cruises.

With three kids, I’ve had the same problems as anyone who doesn’t fit the ‘two adults, two kids’ rule that most traditional travel companies work within.

Finding ways around booking two separate rooms – or being in group rooms where us parents have to go to bed at 7pm with the babies – became a mission.

So here are my top tips for the best family holiday destinations where everyone gets to have a good time.

PORT AVENTURA

This fabulous theme park resort on Spain’s Costa Dorada offers up the best of all worlds for families.

You get the fun and excitement of thrill rides across six distinct worlds, plus great themed hotels and, of course, all that sizzling Mediterranean sunshine to enjoy.

There’s also a separate Ferrari World and a water park with 50,000sq metres of pools, lazy rivers, slides and rides, including King Khajuna, one of Europe’s tallest free-fall body slides.

The six on-site hotels are also themed and have a huge variety of rooms that sleep up to eight, ideal for big families.

And with a host of very well-priced restaurants in the park and at the hotels, it really is possible to have a traditional family summer holiday with the added benefit of all that theme park excitement.

GO: Seven nights’ room-only at the Mexican-themed Hotel El Paso, including unlimited access to PortAventura park and a day pass for Ferrari Land, is from £429pp, based on two adults and two children sharing.

Price includes flights from Southend Airport on April 21, 2026. See easyJet.com/en/holidays.

EUROPEAN CAMPING

WITH three kids and a limited budget when they were young, camping specialists like Eurocamp and Siblu were the answer to our prayers. 

With mobile homes, tents and even treehouses sleeping up to eight at campsites across Europe, we loaded the kids and as much luggage as we could squeeze into the car and drove south for guaranteed sunshine.

You can even break up the long journey with overnight camping stays en route.

A roof-box meant I could pack all the essentials from food and drinks, bedding and towels, to inflatables and toys, so we weren’t shelling out on holiday.

When we were young, having our own space was just perfect. We could wear the kids out by day in the park’s pools and on nearby beaches, and when they were tucked up in bed, we could relax with a glass of wine or beer on the verandah.

Favourites included Eurocamp’s La Baume on the French Riviera near Frejus with a huge pool complex and easy access to the glitzy towns of St Tropez and Cannes.

Also, a winner was Siblu’s Le Lac des Reves near Montpellier.

We always preferred heading south for the warmer weather, but other favourites for half-term holidays include Duinrell in South Holland, which comes with its own theme park and water park and La Croix de Vieux Pont, Berny Riviere, just an hour from Disneyland Paris and Park Asterix.

GO: Seven nights’ self-catering for up to six at Eurocamp’s La Baume is from £464 in total, arriving May 23, 2026. See eurocamp.co.uk. Seven nights’ self-catering at Siblu’s Lac des Reves is from £294 in total, arriving May 23, 2026. See siblu.co.uk

ALTON TOWERS

Of course, no list of fabulous family holidays would be complete without the UK’s number one theme park. I love the fact that Alton Towers has something for every age.

The little ones will adore CBeebies land – watch out for the UK’s first Bluey ride coming in 2026. 

All ages will love the fantastic water park between the Alton Towers and Splash Landings hotels, while tweens and teens will go straight for the thrill rides. 

And mum? Well, I just love a stroll through the stunning grounds with quiet, landscaped gardens and tranquil lakes – they make you forget you’re even in a theme park!

For families like mine, the huge variety of accommodation makes stays a breeze.

Rooms at the hotels – including CBeebies Land Hotel – can sleep up to five with a double bed, bunk beds and a pull-out truckle bed. All have great theming that will keep the kids entertained.

The Woodland lodges are also great for larger families or those who want to bring the grandparents or team up with friends. To really push the boat out, the whimsical Treehouses sleep up to eight and come with their own hot tub.

But my favourite probably remains the original Alton Towers Hotel, with its epic Explorers theme that sees a magical balloon ship anchor the bar and restaurant space, giving parents the chance to relax with a drink while the kids are entertained.

GO: Overnight breaks at Alton Towers start from £42pp and include room, breakfast, parking and evening entertainment. See altontowers.com.

DISNEY CRUISE LINES

IT’S fair to say no one does family cruises quite like Disney  – and Sun readers agree, voting them their favourite cruise line in our Sun Travel Awards.

I’ve sailed with my kids on Disney Wonder, one of the line’s original ships, and this was definitely a treat for both adults and children.

I loved the Art Deco vibes and the fact that the ship was first and foremost a beautiful, luxury ship with plenty of places to enjoy adult-only time.

The kids could not get enough of the fabulous kids’ facilities – it was hard to drag them away from the clubs – and endless opportunities to meet their favourite characters.

While cruising with Disney could never be seen as a cheap option, for those who want to experience the magic without the theme park slog, it is definitely worth every penny.

The latest Disney ship to set sail will be the Disney Destiny. As the cruise line has grown ever more popular, it has grown more confident in making its incredible entertainment legacy a bigger part of the ship. 

With Destiny, there’s a fabulous Heroes and Villains theme alongside the chance to enjoy some West End-style entertainment and even a water coaster across the top deck that pays tribute to some of its most feared baddies. 

Combining a three or four-night sailing on any of Disney’s ships with a stay in Orlando must surely be the ultimate family bucket list holiday.

And with the Disney Dream returning for multiple sailings from Southampton next year, there’s the chance to get on board for all the magic without the pricey flights.

GO: Three-night full-board sailings from Southampton from £881pp with iglucruise.com. Or sail from Fort Lauderdale to the Bahamas with three nights from £1,044pp. See https://disneycruise.disney.go.com/en-gb/

ROYAL CARIBBEAN

ROYAL Caribbean was the first cruise we did as a family when my youngest was just 18 months old, and from then on, we were hooked on life on the open sea.

As my kids have grown, so has Royal’s incredible roster of family-friendly ships. And with the launch of the world’s largest cruise ship, Icon of the Seas, last year, they reached peak family fun. 

The new Surfside neighbourhood is a game-changer for parents with small children, a stay-all-day area with Splashaway Bay aqua park, and Water’s Edge, a kid-friendly infinity pool.

And parents can relax while their kids play with casual family-friendly dining and places to grab a drink.

The area features a beach-themed carousel, arcade and playground and it’s close to the ship’s superb Adventure Ocean kids clubs.

Older kids will love Thrill Island, the largest water park at sea, with a host of slides as well as Crown’s Edge, the hybrid ropes course and thrill ride that dangles you 154ft above the ocean.

And Royal have spent just as much time designing cabins that work for families, including the Surfside Family Suites, with balconies overlooking the neighbourhood and a ‘kids’ nook’ with bunk beds and a split bathroom to make getting ready easier.

Topping it off with multiple family-friendly shows and activities as well as their family-friendly private island, Perfect Day at Coco Cay, Royal is the perfect starting point for family cruises.

GO: Seven nights’ full-board on Icon of the Seas is from £534pp, based on two adults and two children sharing. Departs Miami on September 19, 2026 and calls at St Maarten, St Thomas, Perfect Day at CocoCay. 

BUTLIN’S MINEHEAD & BOGNOR

I don’t believe there’s a kid in the country who wouldn’t love the heady mix of family fun on offer at Butlin’s.

With live shows, perfect pools and even a traditional fairground, youngsters will find a host of great activities for all ages from tots to teens.

 We loved our stay at the West Lakes chalets at Butlin’s Minehead. Great for multi-gen holidays or for families sharing, the light, bright chalets sleep up to eight.

Working with online parenting forum Mumsnet, they have a nod to the traditional Butlin’s chalet, but with all the modern touches for today’s families.

There’s an open-plan lounge and diner with a high-spec kitchen as well as an outdoor veranda or Juliet balcony.

Also, fantastic value are the term-time midweeks for tots.

Perfect for the pre-schoolers, breaks start from just £39, which works out to £2.50pp a night, and include live shows with Peppa Pig and her new baby sister, Mister Maker and Fireman Sam, splash zones and soft play areas as well as unlimited rides in the Little Stars Fairground.

There’s also another reason to visit in term time, the chance to enjoy all-inclusive breaks that include alcoholic drinks, coffee and three meals a day.

GO: Four-night all-inclusive midweek breaks are from £399 for two adults and two children. See bultins.com

DUBAI

It may be known as a mecca for reality TV stars and influencers, but Dubai is actually a brilliant destination to take the kids.

With theme parks, desert adventures and even a snow slope to keep them busy, you’re guaranteed to find something to delight every age.

 A great option for families is the Centara Mirage Beach Resort with its five restaurants, beachfront pool, water park and kids clubs.

But little ones are also spoiled with their own sweet-themed spa with edible treatments, gaming zone and an outdoor playground.

My kids adored the chance to visit the original Kidzania attraction where kids can role-play 40 different jobs from firefighters and pilots to doctors and dentists.

But most magical was the trip into the desert, where after a thrilling 4×4 dune ride, we watched an amazing falconry display and enjoyed dinner after dark. 

GO: Four nights’ B&B at the Centara Mirage Beach Resort is from £717pp including flights from Heathrow in June 2026. See onthebeach.co.uk

TUI VILLAGE TURKEY

A holiday where you don’t have to set foot outside the hotel – heaven or hell? In the case of  TUI’s flagship Holiday Village AQI hotel in Sarigerme, Turkey – pure bliss.

The huge resort on the country’s west coast has everything from  Stage Academy drama classes, Football Academies and a Go Ape-style high-ropes course, to overwater, inflatable obstacle courses, chocolate parties and archery. 

Then there’s the massive amphitheatre with a packed nighttime itinerary, video arcade, bowling alley and seven pools  – including a mini waterpark. 

Little wonder the hotel’s own sandy beach, with bath-warm sea water was empty most days. 

Breakfast was enormous, with every taste catered for and lunch by the pool was equally impressive, with a huge 40-dish mezze selection.

But the best meal was dinner, with themed nights, when the entire menu was changed — our favourites being the Turkish and Asian evenings. Plus a separate kitchen for kid-friendly (and often healthy) food. 

And finally, the almost guaranteed sun.

With prices from £673pp next May, including all-inclusive board, a family room and flights from London Gatwick. 

BILLUND, DENMARK

An action-packed weekend break just over an hour from the UK, with creativity, wildlife and thrill-seeking all wrapped in sounds like a unicorn of a holiday – but Billund in Denmark truly is the perfect family short break. 

The town Lego built, carpenter Ole Kirk Christiansen invented the famous building bricks in the 1940s from his workshop in the town, and many of the global company’s offices are still there.

Yes, the two million annual visitors usually go there for the awesome Legoland and Lego House – easily two full days of building and rollercoaster fun. 

But there’s also Aquadome, Scandinavia’s biggest waterpark, and Wow Park (tickets from £26.50), a huge treetop adventure in woodland spanning the size of 40 football pitches.

The town is so small that almost everything is walkable, it’s super clean and practically designed with families in mind. 

Plus the flights take just 1 hour and 35 minutes currently from London Gatwick, and 1hour and 41minutes from Edinburgh to Billund on the newest flight route launching next year. 

HUNTERS LODGES, CELTIC MANOR

IF it’s good enough for American presidents, it’s good enough for the kids!

My lot thought they had hit the big time when we stayed at the gorgeous Hunters Lodges at the Celtic Manor Resort in Wales.

This is top-tier self-catering accommodation with each lodge sleeping up to eight in four stylish en-suite bedrooms.

There’s a vast open-plan kitchen, living, and dining room with vaulted ceilings and a wall of glass looking out onto open countryside. The outdoor hot tub was used constantly by both adults and kids.

A great option for kids as they get a bit older, the resort itself has some fantastic outdoor adventure activities, including adventure golf, laser combat, ropes courses and archery as well as a large adventure playground.

Explore the 2,000-acre estate’s family-friendly woodland trails on a free, self-guided treasure hunt.

When rain stops play, there’s swimming in the resort’s two health clubs as well as a games room and indoor play area.

The resort can offer babysitting services and a day nursery as well as kids’ clubs in the peak summer holidays, allowing parents time to enjoy the championship golf courses or spas.

GO: Two-night stays in a Hunters Lodge start from £636per lodge, for up to eight adults plus two additional children, including a round of Adventure Golf and 25per cent off all indoor and outdoor activities. See hunter-lodges.com.

GIG GOERS at Butlins were left stunned when a Hollywood movie star came out onstage to DJ.

Playing some trance music at Fatboy Slim’s All Back to Minehead weekender this month, this movie star went viral on social media when fans realised who he was.

Tom Cruise’s movie co-star, Simon Pegg, was spotted DJing at holiday resort Butlins this month for the Fatboy Slim event.

Several holiday makers took to TikTok to share videos of the Mission Impossible star as he got his groove on behind the decks.

Simon could be seen DJing like a pro as he played some trance music to the crowd in front of him.

“Simon Pegg at f***ing Butlins,” one user penned over the video.

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In the caption, the TikToker added: “One of the best nights of my life, I’m a Butlins convert.”

Fans of Simon then went wild in the comments section when they realised he was DJ’ing at the holiday resort.

One person penned: “This is iconic.”

Another said: “It’s so random but loving it !!”

“Was a good gig! Just got back,” added a third.

“Everyone’s a DJ these days,” penned a fourth.

“So basically everyone’s a DJ,” wrote a fifth.

“His set is great, seen him at festivals,” said a seventh.

In May of this year, Simon opened up about his passion for DJing.

The actor has a music room at the end of the garden kitted out with CDJ-3000s and shelves of vinyl.

He regularly DJs at parties and festivals having self-taught himself three years ago.

Speaking to Hollywood Authentic, he said: “DJing reminds me of doing stand-up comedy, in that you have an audience, and they react immediately to what you’re doing.

“Stand-up is like, they either laugh or you die.

“With DJing, they either dance or you die!”

As well as his DJing stint at Butlins for the Fatboy Slim All Back to Minehead weekender, he played tunes at the Big Feastival in August 2025.

He also DJ’d in Kefalonia, Greece, at the Captain’s Bar in Skala in July 2025. 

Away from the decks, Simon is good pals with his Mission Impossible co-star Tom Cruise.

Speaking to the previously mentioned publication, Simon opened up about what he learned from Tom over the years.

He said: “I get asked about him all the time because he very rarely speaks about himself in public. You know, even in private, he’ll always switch the conversation back to you.

“But everyone’s so desperate for some kind of concrete information about him because he’s such an enigma.

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“But I think that’s part of his success, that he’s maintained that. He’s maintained the interest in himself simply by just taking a step back, because he can.

“His journey is extremely simple when you look at it. He’s just always given 100% to everything that he does. Everything,” he added.