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The pastel tones of Vichy in the Auvergne

Vichy is not on everyone’s radar as a must visit French town, but it really is a delight to spend a few days in. I discovered it while on a bicycle trip around central France, and its famous waters did wonders for my tired legs and muscles. Vichy is a historic spa town famous for its spring waters and its art nouveau and belle époque architecture. A thriving cultural scene means that, whenever you visit, you’ll find concerts, theatre, opera and exhibitions, especially at the town’s opera house and the iconic Grand Casino. Vichy is also a shopper’s paradise, with more than 500 boutique shops in the heart of the town. When all that shopping and walking has worked up a thirst, taste the famous Vichy waters for free at Hall des Sources (listed on the Accidentally Wes Anderson website). The city is easy to explore on foot or by bike, with riverside paths along the Allier River, pretty neighbourhoods with pastel-coloured villas, and plenty of outdoor cafes. Being there felt like witnessing a Renoir or Matisse painting coming to life before my eyes.
Nicoletta

Canals, lakes and flowers in Savoie

Chanaz on the north-western edge of the Savoie is a picturesque village I love to visit in summer. One the best little trips is to rent a canoe or electric boat and glide along the Canal de Savières to the Lac du Bourget. The village boasts colourful flowers, old narrow streets, cycling lanes, and some of the best ice-cream I’ve ever tasted. There are plenty of affordable accommodation options around the Lac du Bourget, and many more villages to explore in the area.
Juliette B

The ‘most beautiful kilometre in France’ is in Normandy

Avoid the crowds and see the wonder of Mont-Saint-Michel from another angle, the Falaises de Champeaux (Champeaux Cliffs), with a view much admired by General Dwight Eisenhower in the second world war after he had set up an allied HQ in nearby Jullouville. The half-hour car journey from Granville to medieval Genêts takes you through the old-fashioned and unspoilt seaside village resorts, cafes and restaurants of Saint-Pair-sur-Mer, Jullouville, Carolles, and before you reach the delightful village of Saint-Jean-le-Thomas, you can take in the panoramas of the “most beautiful kilometre in France”.
Dee

Modernism and glass in Provence

The Fernand Léger National Museum in Biot, near Antibes, is one of our favourite places to spend an afternoon. The temporary and permanent displays of Léger’s modernist works are interesting, but it’s the stunning exterior and calm surrounding grounds that are really special. To make the most of your time, La Verrerie de Biot is a two-minute drive away. Here you can watch free glass-blowing demonstrations and browse the glass creations in the shop.
Rowan De Saulles

Walking in the shadow of Robert Louis Stevenson, Massif Central

Last August I walked the southern half of the Chemin de Stevenson (designated the GR 70) – a 140-mile footpath in the Cévennes that follows the route taken by Robert Louis Stevenson in 1878 with his recalcitrant donkey, Modestine. I averaged 15 miles daily, hiking along rocky trails and woodland paths. Accommodation comprised basic hostels, each about €50 a night; one had lodged RLS 147 years previously. I ate dinner at local bistros; breakfast came from boulangeries. I met a few fellow hikers but was mostly accompanied only by the words from Stevenson’s account, Travels with a Donkey, as I tried to match his footsteps to my own. The full route crosses four departments: Haute-Loire, Ardèche, Lozère and Gard.
Jane

Leonardo’s resting place on the Loire

Amboise, a delightful small town on the Loire, boasts three chateaux. The most imposing is the Château Royal d’Amboise, home to Francis I, who lent a spare chateau, the Clos Lucé, to Leonardo da Vinci for the last three years of his life (1516–19). It is the Clos Lucé that delights the most, with its full-sized mock-ups of Leonardo’s designs dotted around the park, while models of other inventions are displayed in the cellars. Leonardo’s bedroom, kitchen and atelier are all reproduced in their original rooms. Leonardo’s last resting place is a dedicated chapel in the Château Royal – the Chapel of Saint-Hubert. The third chateau, Gaillard, is renowned for its Renaissance landscape architecture and gardens.
Pete Mitchell

Cycling between Normandy pools

I took my vintage Raleigh Chopper on the night ferry from Newhaven to Dieppe and cycled the Normandy coast with essentials packed in a small bag. I stopped at Honfleur, Deauville, Caen and Mont-Saint-Michel and enjoyed swims in Trouville’s art deco lido, Deauville’s beautiful seawater Olympic pool, the tidal sea pools at Saint-Pair-sur-Mer and Granville. The superb Les Bains de Dieppe has sadly had to permanently close since my visit because of structural problems. I used trains when the weather was bad and to get back to Dieppe.
Victorie

Provence in the frame

Base yourself in Arles during the long summer for Les Rencontres d’Arles (6 July-4 October), when cutting-edge photography fills an eclectic mix of venues: romanesque churches, cloisters, the town hall, shady parks and even a Monoprix warehouse, all within easy walking distance. There’s accommodation to suit all budgets, including many in old Arlésienne homes. Between exhibitions, trace Van Gogh at the Starry Night Café and along the canal towards the Bridge at Arles, or climb the Roman arena for wide Provençal views. In September Camargue rice festival with its tractor-pulled floats, music and rice flung like panto sweets is also great fun to visit.
Stephen Edwards

A dash of Tuscany in Pays de la Loire

I caught my first glimpse of Clisson while visiting nearby Gétigné. There is simply no mistaking you are south of the Loire here. It’s a delightfully surprising town in the muscadet wine region with a distinctly Mediterranean feel where terracotta roofs and ochre tones abound. On a hot summer’s day, be transported from Loire-Atlantique to Tuscany thanks to the Italianate-style architecture and sweeping views from the castle towards Domaine de la Garenne Lemot. Umbrella pines serve to accentuate the town’s characteristic ambience and tucked away on a charming sidestreet is one truly remarkable leaning specimen.
Richard Arnott

Winning tip: Canoeing in Nouvelle-Aquitaine

Corrèze, a rural department in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine, has lakes, gorges, sleepy farming hamlets and furry brown cows. It is a peaceful place even in the middle of August. We followed a switchback road to Smile Kayak, rented canoes, stuffed waterproof barrels with baguettes, beers and cheeses, and were delighted to find we had the gorge to ourselves. We paddled along the river where the Dordogne and Diège converge, watching red kites wheeling overhead and shattering the silence by shouting for echoes.
Cath Fischl

WITH new travel requirements in action at airports across Europe, EES is set to cause travel chaos this summer.

While you’re likely to be caught up in the chaos and lengthy queues, there are a few ways to make it more manageable.

With many Brits yet to register for EES, it’s predicted that those heading abroad for the summer holidays will be privy to delays.

Some destinations even out of season have reported queues of up to four hours.

These include airports at Brussels, Lisbon, Prague and Lanzarote.

So while you might not beat the queues – here are some tips from Sun Travel to make your next trip easier.

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Sit at the front

First off is quite simple, book a seat at the front of the plane.

If you want to get to border control before the rest of the passengers on your flight, then by being at the front, you’ll be able to get off first.

You might have to join the queue of passengers on other flights – but not your own.

Early flights

When you’re booking, it might ease wait times if you go head out on one of the first flights of the day.

There are generally fewer scheduled flights and they experience less disruption.

So if you get an early flight, there’s less likely to be a backlog.

Whereas if you’re travelling in the early evening, there could still be passengers being processed who are plenty ahead of you.

Anticipate delays

If you are taking a connecting flight, we’d advise to anticipate delays.

Of course this varies from airport to airport, but some travellers might find it will take longer to get through because of the EES requirements.

Similarly, if someone’s collecting you perhaps give them a bit more time – especially if they’re in one of the pick-up zones that costs money.

Go for a bigger airport

If you can go to a bigger airport and take a longer road transfer, it could be worth it.

At a larger airport there’s likely to be more EES machines than at one of the smaller ones.

For example, Assistant Travel Editor Sophie Swietochowski found there were plenty more of the machines in Spain‘s Alicante Airport than in Austria‘s Salzburg.

So if you can fly into to a main hub and then continue from there, it could make your journey through the airport quicker.

Bring entertainment

If you have children, or are generally just bored of queues (and who can blame you?) – think about entertainment.

It could be worth setting the kids up with an iPad or something that will keep them occupied.

Also, bring a reserve of snacks because standing in line means no access to the airport’s cafes and shops.

Get into the priority lane

For those who are disabled, make sure to let the airline know in advance as you would usually.

After landing, staff should escort you straight through to the front of border control queues.

Many major airports offer priority family lanes at passport control for families with young children (usually under 12 years old).

Use the plane facilities

Quite simply, if you are going to be waiting in line for yours, then you want to be comfortable.

So before landing, go to the toilet on the plane.

If you’re queueing along corridors before heading into border control, then the chances are there won’t be access to toilets.

For more on what to expect with EES, hear more from our travel experts.

And here’s the other new passport rules that could affect one million Brits.

2026 is shaping up to be an amazing year for theme park fans with a huge number of new rides and attractions set to launch in the coming months, from thrill rides to family-friendly lands

There is plenty for UK theme park fans to look forward to in the year ahead.

Many are preparing to reopen their doors for the spring season in the next couple of weeks, while some are launching new rides and even entirely new lands. From thrill rides to attractions based on kids’ shows, there are plenty of upcoming openings to get in the calendar.

Here’s a roundup of some of the UK’s biggest and most popular theme parks and what new attractions visitors can expect in 2026.

Paultons Park

Paultons Park is adding an entirely new themed land to its map. Valgard: Realm of the Vikings opens May 16, just in time for half term. It will include three Viking-themed rides: Drakon, the park’s first inverting rollercoaster with a dramatic vertical lift, Vild Swing, which will swing riders 39ft into the air, and Raven, a bobsled ride previously known as the Cobra coaster, which has been redesigned to match the theme.

The new land will also feature a Viking-themed playground and dining hall for a truly immersive experience. Theme park fans can book Paultons Park tickets online for the opening day.

Paultons Park is perhaps best known as home to Peppa Pig World, and its new land is aimed more at older kids and adults, adding new thrill rides to the park. However, if you are bringing little ones, be sure to stop by Peppa Pig World to meet the family’s newest member, Evie.

Chessington

Chessington’s new World of PAW Patrol will be here on the double, although no official opening date has been set. So far, the park has confirmed it’ll open in spring 2026 and will feature four rides. Chase’s Mountain Mission, a rollercoaster suitable for young kids, Skye’s Helicopter Heroes, which will take kids on a high-flying mission, and Marshall’s Firetruck Rescue, where kids can take a ride on a shiny red truck.

Zuma’s Hovercraft Adventure will be a ‘drifter’ ride, which promises to be the first of its kind in the UK. There will also be Rubble and Rocky’s Playzone, where kids can “climb, slide and explore”. Meet and greets will be available with the pups, and fans can even book a sleepover in one of the PAW Patrol-themed rooms at Chessington’s Azteca hotel. These colourful rooms sleep up to five and include themed bunk beds for the kids.

Alton Towers

Bluey the Ride: Here Come The Grannies! opens to Alton Towers’ guests on March 28, just in time for Easter. It’s the world’s first Bluey roller coaster and will be suitable for little fans of the show. Teaser images for the ride show Bluey and Bingo dressed as the iconic grannies Janet and Rita, and the ride is set in the Heelers’ back garden. More Bluey rooms are also being added to the CBeebies Land hotel and you can book online for spring dates and beyond.

Thrill ride fans can also enjoy the Toxicator, which opened last March. This neon-green coaster throws riders in the air and spins them around at high speed, creating an adrenaline-pumping experience.

Blackpool Pleasure Beach

In spring 2026, Blackpool Pleasure Beach will be opening a new £8.72 million gyro swing ride named Aviktas. At 138ft, it will be the tallest of its kind in the UK. While the exact opening date has not yet been confirmed, theme park enthusiasts can buy VIP tickets for the launch event, ensuring they are among the first to try the new ride.

Blackpool Pleasure Beach also celebrates its 130-year anniversary in 2026. In March, visitors can get half-price tickets if they book online in advance, with eTickets costing £30. Or if you’re going as a family, you can get four tickets for £100, giving you access to all the park’s rides for the day.

Crealy

Crealy will offer two new rides in 2026, and one might be familiar to theme park enthusiasts. Spring will see the arrival of Pirates’ Plummet, an 80ft tall drop tower which will be the South West’s tallest ride. It used to be situated in Paultons Park, where it was called Magma, and is now being rebuilt at the Devon theme park.

In the summer, Rotor, an inverting air race ride, will be open. The ride will spin punters around and upside-down for a thrilling experience. No date is confirmed for either ride’s opening yet, but you can book short breaks or tickets on the Crealy website.

Pleasurewood Hills

Pleasurewood Hills was sold to new owners last year, and there are plans for four new rides to revamp the family-friendly Suffolk park. According to BBC reports, the new rides would include Star Flyer (a 30-metre-tall thrill ride), Spinning Coaster, Apple Coaster, and the Big Wheel. Planning approval for the new rides is expected in April, with no date announced as to when they’d open if approved.

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