cool

The people queueing for the Eurostar at London St Pancras station, rushing in from the rain in hoodies, look noticeably less enthusiastic than the usual holiday crowds. But then, we aren’t heading to the usual hot, heady holiday destinations of Spain or the south of France, but boarding a train to north-east Europe. For me, it will be a journey of more than 1,000 miles – via Amsterdam, Berlin and Warsaw to Vilnius – visiting some of the coolest capitals in the north. At least in terms of temperature.

As England sweltered this summer, and Spain reached a hellish 46C, it made sense to head away from the heat on what is now fashionably being called a “coolcation”. I left in August, with a suitcase full of jumpers.

There is something irresistibly romantic about long train trips, watching the geography unfold outside the window. I leave London for Amsterdam on the Eurostar, eating a pain au chocolat as we speed through rural French flatlands and glide past red-roofed Belgian farmhouses, and then the distinctive, tall art nouveau buildings of the Netherlands. In Amsterdam, I switch trains to the Deutsche Bahn, grabbing a packet of Stroopwafel and jumping on board alongside cool Dutch kids with asymmetric hair. I know we have entered Germany when I spot a VW factory, and the graffiti becomes better – and more profuse.

As for my coolcation, it feels burning hot when I arrive in Berlin, emerging from the glass and steel Hauptbahnhof into a summer evening where hipsters on deckchairs are drinking cocktails at Capital Beach on the Spree River.

The next morning, I stroll through the lush Tiergarten past men in black leathers chugging in the Biergarten; through the shadowy blocks of the Holocaust memorial; under the intimidating Brandenburg Gate. I’m heading to Alexanderplatz – where teenagers congregate under the TV tower – and I’m ruminating on how eastern European cities have a harsher aesthetic than those in the soft south. The remnants of the Soviet era echo in the hardness of the culture, in the brutalist architecture I’m passing, and then suddenly as pounding techno surrounds me. Marching down Unter Den Linden, I find myself caught in a procession of floats surrounded by people wearing all black, looking like they’re heading to Berghain nightclub.

My next train, from Berlin to Warsaw, is the IC Intercity link. It’s a Polish train, on which the carriages are split into comfortable six-person compartments. In one of these I sit opposite a boy with a mohawk eating paprika crisps, and I watch the city turn to pine forests of pale thin trees.

Train journeys mimic cruises – you hop on and off in different cities (ideal for my ADHD) and, in between, lounge around eating too much. It’s a five-hour journey from Berlin to Warsaw, and when gazing at farmland becomes monotonous, the restaurant carriage offers distraction. I order Kotlet schabowy (€10.50), and a delicious plate of breaded pork chop, cucumber salad and floury boiled potatoes appears, which I eat surrounded by men with blond buzzcuts drinking Żywiec beers.

It’s startling to emerge from the bunker of Warsaw Central station to a horizon of glass skyscrapers reflecting the deep red sky.

The next day, I discover Warsaw – a captivating juxtaposition of history and modernity. In the Old Town, I eat pierogi beside Marie Curie’s house, then explore cobbled streets with bright rows of coloured medieval buildings, which were bombed during the second world war but have been so faithfully reconstructed they have earned Unesco status. Their Disneyland-esque quality is only lessened by the artillery pockmarks.

Elsewhere, austere Soviet buildings have morphed into hipster cafes with oak counters and earthenware cups. BarStudio, below the Stalin-era Palace of Culture and Science – now reclaimed as a tourist attraction with an observation deck – runs silent-disco nights and serves matcha crepes from a menu decorated ironically with communist-era cartoons.

Taking a train is far easier than flying – there’s no negotiating airport security or check-in – and soon I become dangerously casual, running and hopping onboard with a picnic of local foods.

We roll out of Warsaw and I sit munching Kopernik iced gingerbread biscuits as we pass endless farmland, the occasional dilapidated dacha, factories and small towns of Identikit modern houses in grids. Today’s journey to Vilnius will take nine hours, so it’s a relief when at Mockava, on the Lithuanian border, we are ejected on to a remote platform in a sunny forest. I stand sweltering in 26C heat, wondering why I packed so many jumpers.

The black, double-height Lithuanian train is open-plan, modern, slick and packed full of heaving bike racks, but the dining options are disappointingly limited. I eat a sad toasted-cheese sandwich as we glide through more farmland and forests.

Vilnius, although the most eastern city I’m travelling to, feels the most western in style. Its baroque buildings – including cathedrals that survived the Soviets and have earned it Unesco status – blend into art nouveau architecture. Even former communist blocks here are painted in soft pastels, and wide boulevards (a USSR endeavour) open up a lush city. Elsewhere, meandering cobbled streets offer up cafes and pretty boutiques.

The further east you go, the cheaper things get: coffees that cost €5 in Berlin and €3 in Warsaw are €2 here. But the enthusiasm for capitalism is evident in the number of luxury Lithuanian boutiques and western brands such as H&M and Mango, and a growing tech industry: Vinted is based here. Užupis, the bohemian quarter – where art exhibitions and Banksy-style graffiti adorn the streets – has its own logo: a blue hand with a hole in the middle. My guide says it shows that money falls through in an enticement to spend, spend, spend, but Užupis’s own tourism minister, Kestas Lukoskinas, has said: “The main thing is we have nothing to hide in our hands.”

Still, the heart and backbone of Vilnius is creative, a scene both historic and constantly reinvented. On Literatų gatvė (Literature Street) in Vilnius Old Town, individual wall plaques celebrate writers associated with the city, including Adam Mickiewicz, who lived on the street, Joseph Brodsky and Romain Gary.

The Lithuanian National Opera and Ballet Theatre, where tickets start at a very reasonable £15, is matched as a cultural attraction by Lukiškės Prison 2.0 – a Soviet jail shut in 2019 and now reinvented as a creative space, with cells turned into studios and stages hosting trendy bands such as Aurora and Fontaines DC. At Mo Museum, a modern Lithuanian art gallery established by scientists and philanthropists Danguolė and Viktoras Butkus – and one of the first large-scale private collections of its kind since independence – the current exhibition, GamePlay, explores the creative impact of video games.

Although I try classic Lithuanian cuisine – cepelinai (stodgy potato dumplings filled with ground meat), and pink soup (borscht with kefir) – I’m excited to find a burgeoning Michelin restaurant scene. At Ertlio Namas, a nine-course tasting menu is an affordable €70, with traditional dishes reinterpreted with modern spin: salted ide fish with jelly, bread soup with beer-braised beef, and buckwheat babka come as delicious exquisite morsels.

Vilnius repeats Soviet motifs now familiar on my journey: brutalist architecture; cool young people in all black and boots; and the compulsory revamped TV tower, where you can climb to the 67th floor and take a horrifyingly scary walk on a handrail-free ledge, attached only by a rope.

The journey home feels faster; the west softer, even though the train is delayed by five hours (so much for German efficiency). I wander Amsterdam hazily, the harsh and uniform brutalism replaced by the uniquely elegant canal houses and oily Van Goghs – yet I’m surprised, among the clatter and chaos, to miss the calm, clean order of the eastern European cities. I arrive back from my hot coolcation, in England – where it is raining.

The trip was provided by Go Vilnius and the Polish National Tourist . In Berlin, Hotel Zoo has doubles from £110 a nigh. . Rail journey: London-Amsterdam-London on Eurostar €339; Amsterdam-Berlin on NS International €108.99; Berlin-Warsaw on Deutsche Bahn €53.99; Warsaw-Vilnius-Warsaw LTG Link Train €50; Warsaw- Amsterdam Deutsche Bahn €165.49

Cruise lines including Royal Caribbean, MSC Cruises, Disney Cruise Line and Celebrity Cruises all offer up some very cool activities and attractions onboard their cruise ships

Long gone are the days when entertainment on cruise ships consisted of lounging around by the pool all day before heading over to the buffet.

Yes, those experiences are still absolutely available for those who want them, but nowadays cruises have seriously upped the ante when it comes to their onboard entertainment. Cruise lines including Royal Caribbean, MSC Cruises and Celebrity Cruises have pulled out all of the stops with onboard rollercoasters, go-kart tracks and thrill attractions for guests who are after an adrenaline rush during their holidays.

That’s not even including the epic water parks that often boast high speed slides and fun for the whole family (although make sure you’re aware of a little-known pool rule before getting in, or you could face having to leave the pool area!).

We take a look at some of the ridiculously cool attractions you can find on cruises – check out our top picks below!

1. Crown’s Edge, Royal Caribbean

Usually a stroll around a cruise ship involves a dedicated track, or just wandering through the decks; but Royal Caribbean has added a major thrill factor for those who dare to brave Crown’s Edge. Described as a “part skywalk, part ropes course, part thrill ride”, it’s definitely not one for the faint-hearted as you step onto the walkway that takes you right above the water below! The attraction is available on the cruise line’s newest ships, Icon of the Seas and Star of the Seas, which also happen to be sharing the title of world’s biggest cruise ship!

Find out more on royalcaribbean.com.

2. Robotron, MSC Cruises

If you love a fairground ride, then you’re going to want to check out Robotron onboard MSC Seascape. This terrifying ride involves a giant robotic arm that’s attached with a gondola to seat three guests, and sends them soaring 53 metres above the sea, with 360 degree views of the horizon (just be prepared to be flipped upside down and in all sorts of directions!).

Find out more on msccruises.com.

3. Go-karting, Norwegian Cruise Line

Get ready to show off your competitive side on board Norwegian Joy and Norwegian Bliss, where you can find some of the world’s longest race tracks at sea. Passengers can race their electric karts at speeds of up to 30 miles per hour, with highlights including a pit lane, viewing spaces for spectators, and engine sounds through the headrest so you feel like you could be joining the F1 line-up.

Find out more on ncl.com.

4. BOLT, Carnival Cruise Lines

Riders who brave the world’s first rollercoaster at sea will not only be treated to epic sea views, but they’ll get to control the speed at which they ride on the motorcycle-style car, with the ability to reach up to 40 miles per hour. The ride is available on ships including Mardi Gras, Carnival Celebration, and Carnival Jubilee.

Find out more on carnival.com.

5. AquaDuck, Disney Cruise Line

Thrill attractions don’t always have to be for adults and big kids; on Disney’s Cruise Line, the Aquaduck water ride can be ideal for smaller adrenaline-seekers. Families can get propelled along the water tunnels in a dinghy around the ship, across a four-deck drop.

The cruise line’s newest ships including the Disney Wish, Disney Treasure and Disney Destiny will feature a similar water ride, although this one is the AquaMouse and features cool features including screens as you join Mickey and Minnie Mouse on their adventures.

Find out more on disneycruise.disney.go.com.

6. Magic Carpet, Celebrity Cruises

Before you get visions of joining Aladdin for a quick-stop flight around the world, this one’s actually a bar! Celebrity’s cantilevered platform is a firm favourite with holidaymakers as you can enjoy a tipple or two while moving up and down the ship. Plus, as it’s on the edge of the ship, you can get unrivalled views of the ocean! You’ll find this very cool feature on Celebrity Edge, Celebrity Apex, Celebrity Beyond, and Celebrity Ascent.

Find out more on celebritycruises.com/gb.

7. Zip line, Royal Caribbean

If you’re not afraid of heights, then this suspended zip line that zooms over the Boardwalk, offering you brilliant views of the ship (if you dare keep your eyes open that is). You’ll typically find this attraction on the cruise line’s Oasis Class ships, including Oasis of the Seas, Allure of the Seas, Harmony of the Seas, Symphony of the Seas, Wonder of the Seas, and Utopia of the Seas.

Find out more on royalcaribbean.com.

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Many people have a fond memory of playing catch with someone special — a parent, a grandparent, a sibling, a lifelong friend.

A fan who sat 485 feet from home plate at Coors Field on Saturday probably never dreamed he’d be doing so with a future Hall of Famer.

But thanks to his quick thinking, the fan, whose first name reportedly is Alberto, boldly asked Mike Trout for the favor after the Angels defeated the Colorado Rockies 3-0.

What a cool request! Trout had already agreed to give Alberto — who attended the game with his wife and two children — three signed bats and two signed baseballs in exchange for the ball he crushed.

While Trout signed the balls and bats in the dugout long after the game had ended, Alberto politely asked him while making a throwing motion with his right arm, “You mind if we play catch with a ball on the field?” the three-time American League Most Valuable Player didn’t hesitate, saying, “Yeah, you want to do it?” Alberto grabbed his glove.

A post on the MLB.com X account shows Alberto tossing the ball back and forth to Trout, who catches it with his bare hands while wearing his cap backwards. At one point, Trout says something to Alberto’s young son, who is watching in awe.

And no wonder. Shortly before Trout hit No. 400, Alberto told Trout he’d turned to his son and said, “He’s got a lot of power.” No kidding, enough to drive the ball deep into the left-center field stands. Alberto caught the blast with his bare hands.

It was Trout’s third home run of at least 485 feet since Statcast began tracking long balls in 2015, the most of any player. The 34-year old outfielder in his 15th season became the 59th MLB player to reach 400 homers and the 20th to hit them all with one franchise.

The No. 400 ball clearly had more monetary value than the signed balls and bats, but nowhere near the value of a career 500 home run ball or, say, the home run the Dodgers’ Freddie Freeman hit to win Game 1 of the 2024 World Series — which was sold at auction for $1.56 million.

The home run was meaningful to Trout, who admitted to feeling pressure as he approached the milestone. It was only his second long ball since Aug. 7.

He also recognized that catching the ball and returning it to the player who belted it was meaningful to Alberto, who likely has already done what dads do — play catch with his children.

“Once they get older and realize, that’ll be an awesome memory for the dad to tell the kids, to experience that,” Trout told reporters. “I know how I felt when I went to a ballgame with my dad.”

A few years ago, camping with friends, I watched in awe as Becky set up her pitch. While the rest of us were stringing out guy ropes on tents as glamorous as giant cagoules, she arrived with a bell tent, duvets instead of sleeping bags, sheepskin rugs and vintage folding chairs. For all the talk of breathability, practicality and “high performance” gear, it was Becky’s tent we all wanted to sleep in. In the years since, I have never quite achieved her level of camping chic – until this summer, when I discovered the innovative Spanish camping brand Kampaoh.

It all began back in 2016, when Kampaoh CEO Salvador Lora and his partner were backpacking in the Dominican Republic. One night they came across a campsite with pre-erected tents within which were mattresses and blankets. “We were in the middle of nature, surrounded by peace, and lacked nothing,” he tells me.

Back home in Spain, Salvador wondered if something like that could work there – and decided to experiment setting up a handful of tents in Tarifa. Today the company has 90 sites across Europe, most of them in Spain, but also in Portugal and Italy. Coming across the brand by chance when looking for somewhere to stay in Andalucía, I booked into Camping Los Villares, one of its showcase sites, in the hills above Córdoba.

Arriving in the golden hour, after travelling overland by train, Los Villares looks like a dreamy backdrop to a Sofia Coppola film. From the entrance, the land drops gently away to reveal avenues of cream-coloured canvas tents, the sun filtering through tall Aleppo pines.

Los Villares has a wide range of accommodation, from bell tents to vast, safari-style Bali tents, cute triangular Buka tents (with private, rustic-chic washrooms outside), Tiny Love cabins (with private baths with views), and Tiny Play family cabins (with a slide from their mezzanine bunks down to the living areas). My mid-range Anza is a lofty, triangular tent with a shower and toilet tucked behind the sleeping area and a raised, decked porch. The site is open year-round and the tents have air-conditioning and a small heater. There’s space for basic tent campers and a small campervan area, too.

Outside the school holidays, with the campsite’s restaurant closed midweek, dinner that first night is sliced tomatoes, olives and tortilla foraged from a nearby village shop. As I eat on the terrace, all is deeply peaceful – the wind twisting through pines, blue-tailed Iberian magpies resting on branches overhead.

Inside, my white, cream and wood tent is decorated with fairy lights and faux pot plants; the low platform bed (with proper mattress and pillows!) made up with white bedlinen. Plates, cups and cutlery are provided – and if I’d brought a pet, a mini version of the tent would provide a shady dog bed. An information sheet encourages me to tag @kampaoh on social media; arrival details had been sent via WhatsApp.

It’s perfectly designed to appeal to gen Z travellers, the experience-seeking, social media-canny cohort that are becoming the dominant demographic in travel. While aesthetics are important, blingy, performative luxury is not; conscious of overtourism and the need to prioritise wellbeing, they look for off-the-beaten-track outdoor stays where they can run, swim, surf and cycle, as well as social connection. If Kampaoh’s campsites ticked any more of the demographic’s boxes it would break TikTok.

“We wanted to bring back the magic of connecting with nature and outdoor adventures without giving up comfort or style,” says Lora. “The new generation love experiences like camping but they also have high expectations for design, comfort and aesthetics. Visual appeal isn’t superficial; it’s part of how we live and share our experiences.”

Kampaoh isn’t the only camping brand tapping into this market. In France, the Parisian hotel brand Touriste recently launched three stylishly revamped holiday parks under its Campings Liberté brand, while Huttopia, which began in 2000 with a small, nature-based campsite in the French Alps and a devotion to wood and canvas structures, now offers 152 sites in eight countries. Unlike other glamping providers, the aim is not to add on hotel-style frills, but to increase basic comfort. Setting themselves apart from big, pre-erected tent and cabin operators such as Eurocamp, operators like Kampaoh keep sites relatively small and, crucially, stylish.

As I sit on the restaurant’s terrace sipping coffee the next morning, shielded by fig trees, I watch a steady trickle of campers heading out for the day in hiking or cycling gear. It was 37C in Córdoba when I collected my hire car, but up here it’s a pleasant 26C. With the smell of hot pine needles in the air, I follow them out to explore.

The campsite is in the Parque Periurbano Los Villares, a protected area of 484 hectares (2 sq miles) that’s peppered with bird hides, signposted botanical trails and picnic areas. The GR48 long-distance footpath goes through it, and a network of cycling routes around it. After hiking up to a viewpoint behind the park’s visitor centre to get my bearings, I drive to the small town of Santa María de Trassierra to walk the 20-minute path to the Baños de Popea.

Remote and jungly, this river pool was a favourite spot with Córdoba’s Cántico group of poets and artists in the late 1940s. The tumble of small waterfalls and pools – full from unusual spring rain – form a magical spot, reached through glades of bear’s breech (Acanthus mollis), and paths edged with beams of gorse-like French broom.I could easily spend all day here, but there’s still Córdoba to see, with its parks of orange trees, the shady gardens of the Alcázar de los Reyes Cristianos and the famous mosque-cathedral of Mezquita.

The highlight, for me, however, is the Medina Azahara archaeological site, just out of town. Its construction was started in 936 by the first caliph of Al-Andalus, Abd al-Rahman III. This palace-city saw service for only 70 years but its evocative ruins and richly decorated archways are a powerful reminder of its opulence. Walking the Medina’s ancient stones as grasshoppers hop and jasmine scents the hot air, it’s easy to see the appeal of this strategic location, between the mountains and the Guadalquivir River.

Driving into the campsite afterwards, off a road flushed with hot pink oleanders, the landscape is washed in pale gold. Momentarily distracted by the view, I double-take as four hoopoes suddenly appear in front of me, their black and white stripes backlit by the sun. I probably ought to have taken a photo and posted it with the hashtag #kampaohvibes. Instead, I keep very still and watch. Some experiences are still tailormade for us analogue Gen Xers.

The trip was provided by the Spanish Tourist Office, with support from Andalucía and Kampaoh, which is open all year. Anza tents at Kampaoh Córdoba cost from €63 a night for two people, or from €76 a night for four; both minimum two nights

The area of Notting Hill is known for streets lined with tall townhouses that are splashed with a vibrant selection of paint, lending the London borough a cheerful and upbeat look

Notting Hill is probably one of London’s most popular and well-known neighbourhoods. And for good reason. Not only is the West London spot home to the three-day street carnival every August bank holiday, but it also helped catapult Julia Roberts and Hugh Grant to even greater levels of stardom than they had previously managed with the iconic 90s romcom.

Unlike many of London’s best-known attractions (the lastminute.com London Eye certainly being among the culprits), Notting Hill does live up to the cinematic hype. The whole West London neighborhood has a great energy, which is no doubt fostered in part by the neighborhood’s iconic painted houses that leave it considered one of the prettiest in the country.

The area is known for streets lined with tall townhouses that are splashed with a vibrant selection of paint, lending the London borough a cheerful and upbeat look. The most famous of those streets is Portobello Road, which has been highlighted by Emperor Paint as one of the most colourful areas in the UK.

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Portobello Road is definitely Notting Hill’s busiest street. On Fridays and Saturdays, much of the road transforms into a vibrant and eclectic street market. If you’re hunting for bric-a-brac and unpolished diamonds on market day, begin on the Golborne Road end of the street.

There, you will find some very cheap pavement sellers who dump boxes of china, pictures, trinkets, and all sorts of other bits and bobs that are broken in transit on the pavements. It may take a little while, but amongst the tat, you’ll be able to find some treasure.

When the market isn’t on and the stalls have been cleared away, Portobello Road remains a bustling place replete with plenty of independent shops, cozy cafés, and, of course, famously colorful painted houses.

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If your goal is to admire and photograph the houses, avoid market days—they tend to get too crowded. Instead, visit around sunset for some truly breathtaking shots. Don’t hesitate to wander off the main street, as some of Notting Hill’s most charming and colorful spots are tucked away along the small cobbled mews streets.

St Lukes Mews has some lovely painted homes, including one painted pink that has become a hotspot of Instagrammers on photoshoots. If you recognise the street, it may be because St Lukes starred in Love Actually.

While most of Notting Hill’s houses are painted in pretty pastel shades, if you’re after something brighter, head east on Lancaster Road, right where it intersects with Portobello Road. There, things get loud. The houses here are splashed with primary coloured paint that can light up even the grayest of autumn days.

LIDL is selling a range of budget-friendly camping gadgets as Brits soak up the sunny weather.

The discount supermarket chain is stocking kids’ sleeping bags and chairs, cool boxes and even an air mattress.

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The new range will be perfect for camping during the end of summer and autumn and getting outdoors to make the last of the year’s light.

There are 30 items Crivit Camping range that range from air mattresses to cool boxes.

And some even have a discount attached to them.

For example, the camping cutlery set selling for £9.99 now has 20 per cent with Lidl Plus and is selling for £7.99.

The Crivit Aluminium Camping Table normally sells for £24.99, but with the Lidl Plus card is currently selling for £19.99.

The air mattress in a double size is selling for £14.99, while sleeping bags are selling for £12.99.

A range of four cool bags are selling for £3.99 while backpacks are selling for £14.99.

It comes after Crivit released a number of tents and festival gear for summer at Lidl several months ago.

The incredible Crivit camping range has everything festival-goers need to set themselves up in the Wilderness, including the 4-Person Blackout Tent – popping up in stores for just £99.00 with Lidl Plus.

Crivit was even selling stand up paddleboards at supermarkets.

The Crivit All-Round Inflatable SUP is priced at just £99.99, and was available at Lidl stores from Thursday May 29.

This bargain bed comes after Lidl have begun selling ice cool gel pillows that are easy to use and would be perfect for keeping cool on those hot car trips.

For just £7.99 on the Lidl plus app, shoppers can get their hands on the Silentnight Cooling Gel Pillow Pad.

That’s more than £12 cheaper than a similar product on Argos, with the low price available until June 7.

Described as perfect for restless sleepers and over heaters, the pillow give you instant cooling comfort, so you don’t need to flip your pillow during the night.

At 60x40cm it covers your entire pillow and simply needs to be slid inside your pillowcase on top of your normal pillow.

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FASHION fans are racing to snap up a £15 summer dress that will keep you cool and comfortable in the heat.

With temperatures soaring over 30C today, Brits will be doing everything they can to cool down.

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And although purchasing a fan or making your own air conditioner may be your first thought, treating yourself to a weather-appropriate frock can make a huge difference.

Tesco’s F&F is one of the best-loved brands on the high street, and is constantly wowing us with its stylish but affordable fashion.

From cute dresses to on-trend work attire, the supermarket fast-fashion range always hits the mark, and its new summer collection is no exception.

‘Timeless’ dress

One dress in particular that has caught the attention of fashion fans is the The F&F Edit Ruffle Trim Tie Neck Mini Dress in Multi Green which has been slashed from £32.50 to £15, a saving of over 50%.

The mint green frock features a loose fitting flowy skirt, perfect for hiding bloated bellies, and designed to keep you cool on sweltering days.

It also has elegant long sleeves and a dainty tie neckline, which create an air of sophistication.

The gown is perfect for pairing with wedges for fancy holiday dinners, and can be dressed down with chunky sandals for strolls along the beach.

Tesco said: “Bring a romantic edge to your summer outfits with this mini dress, complete with a pretty tie neckline and ruffle accents.

“Featuring long sleeves with elasticated cuffs, the flowing silhouette creates a flattering fit.

“Pair with wedge heels or flat sandals for a timeless outfit on warm days.”

The dress comes in a wide range of sizes from size six to size 22.

However, it has proved so popular with shoppers that it has already sold out in some sizes – so you better be quick to snap up the deal.

More Tesco dresses

Another dress that has caught the eye of fashion fans is the F&F Leopard Print Midi Dress in Multi Brown, which has been slashed from £22.50 to £11, saving of almost 50%.

The statement frock features puff sleeves, for a flattering look around the arms, and has a slit up the hem, for a feminine touch.

The leopard print gown would look perfect paired with sandals for a summer look, and can easily be transitioned into your winter wardrobe if paired with boots.

Shoppers are also loving the F&F Edit Palm Print Bardot Midi Dress in Multi Red, which has been slashed from £25 to just £12.

The stylish frock features an exotic tropical pattern and a belt that will help to hide your tummy.

The long-sleeves and elasticated neckline provide a flattering and comfortable look, which can be dressed up with heels, or dressed down with sandals.

Tesco fans are also loving the F&F Cotton Rich Sleeveless Ribbed Racer Midi Dress in Mink which has been slashed from £16 to just £9, a saving of almost 60%.

The simple dress can easily be chucked on in hot weather, and the sleeveless design will help to cool down sweaty armpits.

It was 68 degrees and overcast, a cool coastal breeze wafting across the practice fields, when UCLA commenced its first off-campus football training camp in nearly a decade.

San Bernardino, this was not.

With 55 newcomers dotting a roster of 105, not to mention eight new assistant coaches, the Bruins’ camp that started in Costa Mesa on Wednesday morning was more about togetherness than toughness in the triple-digit temperatures of the Inland Empire.

Every offensive player was matched with a roommate from the defense or special teams. A series of bonding exercises was planned inside and outside the nearby team hotel. Everything the Bruins do over the next 2 ½ weeks will be of the get-to-know-you variety.

UCLA linebacker JonJon Vaughns lines up with his hands on his hips and looks across the field during the first day of the Bruins’ preseason camp in Costa Mesa on Wednesday.

(Nate Donlevy / UCLA Athletics)

“I have a lot of tough guys, but it’s more of the connection,” coach DeShaun Foster said. “There’s a lot of new coaches and players, so I just wanted to find a way to make us be able to connect a little bit more, you know? To be able to eat three meals with each other and just get close.”

Foster said the football facilities at Cal State San Bernardino that the Bruins had last used in 2016 weren’t available, forcing the move to his native Orange County.

After going through the initial two-hour practice, temperatures topping out at 75 degrees, the consensus was that the Jack R. Hammett Sports Complex felt more like a day at the beach than one inside a sauna.

“In the beginning, it was a little humid,” linebacker Isaiah Chisom said, “but the sun came out, it was beautiful out here.”

The facilities included three grass fields, a makeshift locker room under one tent and a makeshift weight room under another. Trainers set up near the field, unfurling folding tables next to carts of supplies. Fences lining the field were adorned with signage reflecting the Bruins mantras — “Discipline, Respect and Enthusiasm” and “Do More.”

There was the usual training-camp cadence. Whistles blew and on cue, players wrapped up foam pads and dragged them to the ground. After another whistle signaled the start of stretching, a roar rang out. Players dropped to their knees to commence a series of body bends, twisting their arms and shoulders one way and then the other.

After a series of leg stretches, new defensive line coach Jethro Franklin offered an opening salvo to a group of nearby players.

“Bruin football,” Franklin said, “should not be for the timid or the weak.”

UCLA quarterback Nico Iamaleava warms up during the first day of the Bruins’ preseason camp in Costa Mesa on Wednesday.

(Nate Donlevy / UCLA Athletics)

During the 25-minute media viewing period, new quarterback Nico Iamaleava made a couple of handoffs to running backs, including one to Anthony Woods for a short touchdown, and threw one pass into the end zone that fell incomplete.

“He slings it,” tight end Jack Pedersen said of Iamaleava’s throwing style. “It’s a nice, firm spiral, man, and the guy doesn’t miss. Literally, can’t say enough great things.”

Before the training session, Foster said he was confident Iamaleava had sufficiently mastered the offense after enrolling in June.

“He’s pretty much grasped the playbook already,” Foster said of the transfer from Tennessee. “We haven’t had to hold back on anything. And I know at least he has these first two installs down pretty well. So just looking forward to getting out there and just watching him.”

The practice was staged in relative secrecy. Other than a handful of donors and a few city officials from Costa Mesa, fans were not allowed to attend like they had been in San Bernardino, where they sometimes lined multiple practice fields. The six reporters on hand Wednesday were barred from taking photos or videos of even the warmup periods.

Foster said training camp was about preparation, not publicity.

“We’re here to work,” he said. “We’ve got 16 days to come out and really be able to put a good product out there on the field.”

This is a business trip complete with bed checks and a curfew. Chisom is rooming with running back Anthony Frias II and has a connecting door attached to the room of linebacker Ben Perry and running back Troy Leigber, providing ample opportunities to learn about new teammates.

“I think it makes us build brotherhood,” Chisom said. “You’re staying with some people that you may have never talked to before … it kind of forces us to be close.”

The schedule called for an off day Thursday to accommodate players’ final exam schedules, one of four breaks interspersed among the 14 practices before the team breaks camp on Aug. 16. The Bruins hope that by the time they return to campus, the installation of a new 100-yard grass practice field alongside two smaller artificial turf fields will be complete.

If not, they’ll have new friends to commiserate with as they shift practices elsewhere on campus.

“This is a great opportunity to spend 2 1/2 weeks with a guy you don’t really know, right?” said Pedersen, who is rooming with defensive back Croix Stewart. “Being able to branch out, I think it’s really cool that they do this, and this is now getting an opportunity to meet other guys on the team and branch out and make those lifelong connections.”

Etc.

Although a judge denied wide receiver Kaedin Robinson’s request for a temporary restraining order that would have granted him immediate eligibility, Foster said his confidence level remained in the “90s percent” that Robinson could play for the Bruins this season. Robinson, a transfer from Appalachian State, has a preliminary injunction hearing set for Aug. 18 that will decide whether he’ll be cleared to play. … Freshman defensive lineman Robert James III maneuvered the area on a scooter, his lower right leg encased in a protective boot. … Luke Duncan took the snaps as the top backup quarterback. … Foster said linebacker Weston Port had commenced a Mormon mission and was expected to return by the spring of 2027.

A YOUNG woman has shared all on her “cool” side hustle that sees her make thousands of pounds in just a few days.

Chifae, a 23-year-old woman from London, explained that with her job, not only does she make cash quickly, but she even gets to meet loads of celebrities too.

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And that’s not even the best part – with this line of work, anyone can do it and no qualifications are needed.

Eager to reveal more about how she earns a living, Chifae took to social media and explained that instead of a 9 to 5 job, she works as a film extra.

In film and television, a film extra, also known as a background actor, is a performer who often appears in a non-speaking role, typically in the background of a scene. 

Film extras help create a sense of realism by populating scenes, whilst providing context for the main action.

As Chifae filmed herself in the street, she beamed: “If you live in London, this is your sign to start working as a film extra.

“I made almost £2,000 for just seven days of shooting and got to meet Tom Cruise and Rosamund Pike.” 

While Chifae is a film extra in London, and has even met Harry Styles whilst out and about in the city, many other major cities in the UK and around the world will also be looking for people to star in the background of scenes. 

For those in London, Chifae recommended the following casting agencies – Rachel’s People, Key Castings, Universal Extras, Extra People, Entertainment Partners and Slick Casting.

Chifae’s TikTok clip, which was posted under the username @chifou02, has clearly left many open-mouthed, as it has quickly racked up 179,700 views in just seven days. 

Not only this, but it’s also amassed 18,300 likes, 212 comments and 2,952 saves.

Social media users were stunned by Chifae’s unique side hustle and many were eager to “learn” more about it and would “love to know more.” 

One person said: “I need to learn from you girl.” 

Another added: “This is true, I miss being an extra.” 

A third commented: “That’s so cool!!” 

Meanwhile, someone else beamed: “I do the same and it’s the best thing ever. They feed you good food like three times on shift as well. I once got paid the full date rate for three hours of work too.” 

Whilst another chimed in and claimed: “I did this for years and even a body double role, was fun and was on set with many big names.” 

At the same time, one user begged: “Can you send the agencies please.”

You have to sign NDAs – you’re not allowed to post pictures of sets or anything, they’re very strict on that

Chifae

And another asked: “Do you need professional pictures taken to apply?”

In response, Chifae wrote back and confirmed: “I have professional photos but a lot of people don’t. You don’t need them.” 

In a follow-up clip, Chifae then shared more on her job as an extra, as she claimed that it is often “very long hours” and shifts usually start from 4am or 5am and can go on until 8pm.

Although the hours are long, Chifae claimed that working as an extra is a great way to make “a lot of money” as extras are paid “very good extra money for the overtime.”

She then added: “You don’t have access to your phone, so it’s a good way also to make friends and meet people.

“You have to sign NDAs – you’re not allowed to post pictures of sets or anything, they’re very strict on that.

“But if you don’t have a 9 to 5 and you wanna do this for fun or extra money, or just to gain some experience in film, it’s a very good way to start because you meet a lot of people and you get to meet very famous actors, film directors and it’s just a good experience.”

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