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A FAMILY day out can easily set you back over £100 for a family of four.

And with it being the summer holidays, just a few days out can quickly add up to the cost of a holiday abroad.

Instead of watching your wallet empty of cash, there are actually a number of ways to get free and cheap attraction tickets.

Here’s our round-up of the best options and what days out you can get for less:

Sun Club promotions

As a Sun Club member, you have access to loads of free and discounted days out across the UK.

Currently, these include free tickets to the races, 50% off Horrible Histories Live, savings on theatre tickets and 2-for-1 tickets to Diggerland theme parks.

Find out more about what’s on offer here.

LatestFreeStuff.co.uk

LatestFreeStuff.co.uk always has different offers on attractions.

Some you might need to snap up quick, while others might have more availability.

Current offers on the website include a free National Trust pass and free bike hire.

Previous offers have included free Eden Project tickets as well as discounts on major UK attractions.

Promotional supermarket packs

If you are in the supermarket, look out for promotional packs.

On items such as Cadbury‘s multi-packs, Kellogg’s cereal, Heinz products, Carex soap and Robinsons squash, you’ll often find offers to attractions in the UK.

For example, Kellogg’s cereal boxes often have 25 per cent off online advance entry tickets for up to two people to Merlin attractions including the London Eye and Legoland.

Cadbury’s, on the other hand, often has instant 2-for-1 vouchers for top UK attractions.

National Rail

If you are heading out on a day out, taking the train could save you both hassle and money, because National Rail offers 2-for-1 deals, a third off savings, and other discounts for attractions when you travel via train.

Attractions include 2-for-1 tickets on City Cruises, 20 per cent off Frameless and 50 per cent off Thinktank at the Birmingham Science Museum.

Tesco Clubcard

Tesco Clubcard members can convert their Clubcard points into Reward Partner vouchers.

These vouchers cover major UK theme parks including Alton Towers and Thorpe Park as well as English Heritage sites and a number of museums.

Octopus Energy

If you are an Octopus customer and are signed up to Octoplus, you can redeem your points for a free National Trust pass.

02 Priority

If you happen to be an O2 customer, make sure you have the O2 Priority app as it is full of offers and giveaways.

Currently through the app, you can get discounted tickets to Grease: The Immersive Movie Musical, free kids tickets to Jurassic Oceans at the Natural History Museum (with one adult ticket) and 20 per cent off tickets to Up at The O2.

MoneySuperMarket

If you sign up to a MoneySuperMarket account and allow it to check your credit score, you can get a free days out annual pass worth £180.

The pass includes top attractions such as London Zoo, English Heritage Sites and Go Ape parks – you can redeem one ticket each time you visit an attraction, per account.

Vodafone

Via Vodafone‘s VeryMe Rewards, you can get a Kids Pass which offers between 10 and 56 per cent off entry to attractions across the UK, including Alton Towers and Go Ape.

To get this reward, you’ll need to be a Vodafone Pay Monthly mobile customer or a qualifying Pay As You Go customer.

Vitality Health Insurance

If you get moving, Vitality Health Insurance will reward you with discounts to top Merlin attractions, such as Thorpe Park and Alton Towers.

You are able to redeem four tickets at 30 per cent off each month.

Welcome Break

Welcome Break operates 31 hotels across the UK’s motorway network – such as Days Inn and Ramada hotels – making them ideal stops to split up a journey.

But more than just the hotels, Welcome Break has 62 service stations across the country.

If you stop off at one or stay in one of the hotels, make sure to set up an account when you use their Wi-Fi as you’ll get Road Trip Rewards.

Each time you log in to the Wi-Fi at either a hotel or service station, you’ll gain a point.

These points then go towards entering you into different prize draws.

For every three visits, you’ll go into a draw to bag a Merlin attraction discount, for every five visits a £50 Welcome Break voucher, and with 10 visits a Merlin Gold Pass. For every 15 or more visits, you’ll get a chance to win a family weekend away.

Blue Light Discount

If you work in the NHS, emergency services, or armed forces, you can get a Blue Light Membership, costing £4.99 for two years (so just under £2.50 a year).

This membership can then get you loads of discounts on days out and attractions, including 15 per cent off entry to Alton Towers, 20 per cent off English Heritage sites, and 10 per cent off Eden Project tickets.

There are loads of attractions with discounts as part of the membership, including local and regional attractions.

National Lottery Week

In March each year, the National Lottery hosts The National Lottery Open Week, with loads of free or low-cost days out.

These include castles, museums, sports venues, galleries and theatres across the UK.

Local resident/postcode discounts

It is worth looking up which attractions are in your area, and whether they offer discounted entry for you as a local.

For example, The Eden Project offers a discounted Cornish Residents Pass.

Similarly, Kew Gardens offers a reduced entry fee for local residents and young people, and Tower Bridge offers £1 entry to Southwark residents.

The best way to find this out is to search ‘attractions near me with resident offer’ online, and Google should pick up your location and find the attractions near you providing a discount.

Groupon and Wowcher

Groupon and Wowcher are both great sites for getting cheaper days out for the family.

You can search for things near you to do, and depending on your location, these can include things like the Ninja Warrior UK experience, bus tours and circus shows.

Some current offers on Groupon include a session at The Snow Centre Hemel Hempstead for £20.49 instead of £37 per person.

Or with Wowcher, you could head to the UK’s biggest inflatable obstacle course for £20, instead of £27.82 per person.

Universal Credit

Lots of UK attractions will offer heavily discounted tickets – usually £1 or £2 each – for people and families receiving Universal Credit.

For example, you could head to Royal Palaces such as Hampton Court Palace and Kensington Palace for just £1.

DO you need more ideas on how to keep the kids entertained over the summer holidays but want to keep it cheap?

Check out this full list of every single museum in England that offers free entry – from Victorian homes that are like stepping back in time, to boarding world-famous locomotives.

North East

Grace Darling Museum, Bamburgh 

Home to personal letters and family portraits of Grace Darling, who saved nine people from the wrecked SS Forfarshire in 1838.

Elsecar Heritage Centre, Barnsley 

A former hotspot for joiners, carpenters, blacksmiths, and repair shops in 1850, with insight into the history and culture of the village. 

Worsbrough Mill Museum, Barnsley

Learn about the milling industry in the region.

Oakwell Hall Country Park, Batley 

Step back to the 1690s and discover different Elizabethan period rooms and what life was like for the Batt family. 

Bolling Hall Museum, Bradford 

Learn about the lives of the families that lived in Bolling Hall over different time periods. 

Bradford Industrial Museum, Bradford 

Home to a range of exhibits related to textile machinery, engineering innovations and motor vehicles.

Cartwright Hall Art Gallery, Bradford 

Witness a range of artworks from Old Masters to 20th-century British paintings.

National Science and Media Museum, Bradford 

The most popular museum outside of London with seven floors of galleries and three cinemas including the UK’s first IMAX. 

The Bayle Museum, Bridlington 

Learn about Bridlington’s history through archaeological artefacts.

Killhope Lead Mining Museum, Cowshill 

Get a unique insight into a 19th-century lead mine. 

The Moors National Park Centre, Danby 

Learn about the people, places, and wildlife through an interesting collection put together by a group of artists.

Cusworth Hall Museum and Park, Doncaster 

A Grade I-listed building with insight into local lives from the 18th-century to the present day. 

Danum Gallery Library and Museum, Doncaster 

Learn about the city’s past as a Roman settlement and Doncaster’s status as an industrial powerhouse. 

Durham Cathedral, Durham 

Uncover the relics of St. Cuthbert, saint of the early Northumbrian church, such as his cross and coffin, manuscripts, and a colourful crucifix.

Bankfield Museum, Halifax 

A diverse range of displays including the Havercake regiment and a textiles gallery. 

Heugh Battery Museum, Hartlepool

Learn about British military history at this museum, home to the UK’s only First World War Battlefield.

Byland Abbey, Helmsley 

One of England’s biggest monasteries, with early gothic architecture which inspired the famous York Minster rose window. 

Tolson Museum, Huddersfield

See displays on natural sciences, technology, and archaeological artefacts dating back to prehistoric times. 

Arctic Corsair, Hull 

Dive into Hull’s deep-sea fishing industry at this museum that includes a historic deep-sea trawler built in 1960.

Ferens Art Gallery, Hull 

A fine art collection with everything from Viking swords and Roman mosaics to a full-sized Wooly Mammoth.

The Hull and East Riding Museum of Archaeology, Hull

Artefacts dating back 235 million years of ancient civilisations and natural history.

Streetlife Museum of Transport, Hull 

Explore this collection of horse-drawn carriages and vintage cars, or hop on Britain’s oldest tramcar.

Wilberforce House Museum, Hull 

The private collection of William Wilberforce, a British politician who helped to abolish the slave trade.

Cliffe Castle Museum, Keighley 

Home of Victorian millionaire and textile manufacturer, Henry Isaac Butterfield.

Royal Armouries, Leeds 

Historic weaponry and armour, from Japanese samurai swords to modern warfare including Henry VIII’s armour.

Dorman Museum, Middlesbrough

Discover the town’s history with dinosaur installations and a slice of meteorite from space.

Discovery Museum, Newcastle 

Collection of scientific and technical materials, including Joseph Swan’s lightbulb and the world’s first ship powered by steam turbines. 

Great North Museum Hancock, Newcastle upon Tyne 

Learn about natural history and archaeology with 800 objects from the Ancient Greeks, Roman Empire and Anglo-Saxons. 

Laing Art Gallery, Newcastle upon Tyne

Home to a collection of art and sculptures including Pre-Raphaelite masterpieces.

OuseBurn Farm, Newcastle upon Tyne 

Working city farm that includes a sensory trail. 

Pontefract Castle and Visitors Centre, Pontefract 

Medieval fortress built around 1086 where you can dress up as a lord, lady or soldier.

Zetland Lifeboat Museum and Redcar Heritage Centre, Redcar 

Home to the world’s oldest surviving lifeboat with maritime history dating back to the 1800s. 

Abbeydale Industrial Hamlet, Sheffield 

Discover steelworks dating back to the 1700s and learn what it was like to live and work onsite. 

Kelham Island Museum, Sheffield 

Learn about life in Victorian-era Sheffield, with artefacts including a 1760’s chocolate pot and Metrovick milk float.

Millennium Gallery, Sheffield 

All things art and design in Sheffield, including one of the finest collections of metalwork in the world. 

Sheffield Botanical Gardens, Sheffield 

Grade II-listed botanical gardens with 18 areas, including a warm Mediterranean Climate Garden and the Asia Garden.

Weston Park Museum, Sheffield 

Home to archaeological artefacts, zoological specimens and works of art.

Locomotion Museum, Shildon 

Hop aboard the Flying Scotsman and experience the power of steam travel. 

South Shields Museum and Art Gallery, South Shields 

Discover the history of South Tyneside inside this historic building with a Victorian tea room, served by costumed staff.

Sunderland Museum and Winter Gardens, Sunderland 

Home to 108,000 objects dating back to 1810, as well as more than 2,000 plants and trees.

National Coal Mining Museum for England, Wakefield

Discover the history of the British coal mining industry with guided underground tours.

Sandal Castle, Wakefield 

Wander through the grounds and learn about the Battle of Wakefield and the castle’s ties to Richard III. 

RNLI Whitby Lifeboat Museum, Whitby 

Custom-built double boathouse where you can learn about the lifeboat history in Whitby.

Robin Hood’s Bay Museum, Whitby 

Range of displays on Whitby’s shipwrecks, the last lifeboat stationed in Bay, and its smuggling history.

National Railway Museum, York 

Collection of iconic British railway vehicles, significant artefacts and historical locomotives in York.

North West

The Dock Museum, Barrow-in-Furness

Built over a 19th-century dry dock with displays on decorative and applied art, archeology, textiles, and fine art, plus a unique collection of ship models. 

Birkenhead Priory and St Mary’s Tower, Birkenhead 

Merseyside’s oldest building, with the remains of St Mary’s church.

Lady Lever Art Gallery, Birkenhead

30 rooms of paintings, sculptures and decorative art, from tapestries to vintage furniture and Chinese porcelain.

Wirral Transport Museum, Birkenhead 

Museum delving into the history of transport in Birkenhead.

Witton Country Park and Visitor Centre, Blackburn 

480 acres of mixed woodland and parkland with a collection of natural sciences and land transport.

Towneley Hall Art Gallery and Museum, Burnley 

Former home of Towneley family for over 600 years, with collections of fine art, local history, and ancient civilisations. 

Grosvenor Museum, Chester 

Museum housing everything from Roman tombstones to 400 years of Chester hallmarked silver, and prehistoric urns. 

Queen Victoria Monument, Liverpool 

Monument to Queen Victoria built in 1906 on the former site of Liverpool Castle.

Sudley House, Liverpool 

Former home of Victorian merchant George Holt.

Tate Liverpool + RIBA North, Liverpool 

Currently operating at a smaller location in Liverpool due to a refurbishment, this museum has two galleries exploring contemporary art. 

Victoria Gallery and Museum, Liverpool 

Uncover artworks across different eras, dig into archaeological items, and spot oceanography displays. 

Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool

National gallery of the North, with paintings and sculptures from Rembrandt, David Hockney and Rodin.

Lytham Windmill Museum, Lytham 

Five floors of exhibitions on milling processes, the importance of lifeboats, and the history of Grade II-listed buildings. 

Greater Manchester Police Museum, Manchester 

Learn about the history of policing with photographs and records pre-dating 1974.

Manchester Art Gallery, Manchester 

Browse artists and designers such as William Ratcliffe, Bernado Daddi and Coco Chanel.

Manchester Museum, Manchester 

After reopening in 2023, this was named Europe’s Museum of the Year, and has 4.5 million items across four floors.

Museum of Science and Industry, Manchester

Home to 250 years of innovations across science and technology, as well as UK’s oldest surviving train station.

Ordsall Hall Museum, Manchester 

Salford’s oldest building dating back to 1177, with over 10,000 artefacts.

People’s History Museum, Manchester 

Learn about the history of the working class in the UK, with displays on the Peterloo Massacre and the women’s suffrage movement. 

Portland Basin Museum, Manchester

A restored 19th-century warehouse showcasing local history, industry, and trade.

Salford Museum and Art Gallery, Manchester 

A reconstructed Victorian street with original shop fronts and a large collection of Pilkington Ceramics.

Whitworth Art Gallery, Manchester 

A collection of over 60,000 artworks including works from Turner, Picasso, and Peter Blake. 

Anderton Boat Lift, Northwich 

One of the UK’s only two working boat lifts. 

Harris Museum and Art Gallery, Preston 

Discover art, culture, and history, with displays on printed textiles, the remains of an elk, and glassblown scent bottles. 

The Whitaker, Rawtenstall 

A diverse collection of history, fine art and textiles, with displays on the Haslingden Coat of Arms and prisoner of war poems.

Samlesbury Hall, Samlesbury 

A stately home dating back to 1185 with cafe and shepherd huts and UK’s first wafflery.

Imperial War Museum North, Stretford 

A museum offering perspective on how war and conflict changes everyday lives.

The World of Glass, St Helens

Learn about the history of the glass industry with live glass blowing demonstrations. 

Warrington Museum & Art Gallery, Warrington 

Grade II-listed building with an art collection dating back to 1857.

East Midlands

Buxton Museum and Art Gallery, Buxton 

Marvel at archaeological and geological wonders of the Peak District.

Cromford Mills, Cromford 

A UNESCO site displaying how Sir Richard Arkwright changed the modern factory system and textile industry.

Canons Ashby, Daventry 

Grade I-listed Canons Ashby House, with a collection of Elizabethan and Jacobean artistry.

Derby Museum and Art Gallery, Derby 

An impressive collection of works by artist Joseph Wright as well as archaeological items, ceramics, decorative art, and objects from all over the world. 

Pickford’s House, Derby 

Georgian townhouse and gardens showcasing domestic life from the 18th to 20th centuries.

New Walk Museum and Art Gallery, Leicester 

Displays include a 15-metre Rutland Dinosaur and stories about Leicester’s achievements and obstacles.

Newarke Houses Museum, Leicester 

Built in 1511, with exhibits on the Leicestershire Regiment and Tudor objects.

University of Leicester Botanic Garden, Leicester 

A beautiful garden spanning 16 acres, featuring an arboretum and tropical plants.

Lincoln Museum and Usher Gallery, Lincolnshire 

Displays everything from artefacts from the Stone, Bronze and Iron Ages, to works by Turner, as well as forensic processes of the Anglo Saxons. 

Museum of Lincolnshire Life, Lincolnshire 

Home to 250,000 items dating back to 1750, including a World War I tank, as well as a museum trail and playground for kids.

Charnwood Museum, Loughborough 

Collection centered around geology, archaeology and local history, including one of the world’s oldest fossils.

Green’s Mill and Science Centre, Nottingham 

Former home of mathematical physicist George Green with displays related to science, technology, and social history.

Northampton Museum and Art Gallery, Northampton 

Impressive collection of 15,000 pairs of shoes, alongside history and art of shoemaking.

The Harley Foundation, Worksop, Northamptonshire

Includes artworks from Van Dyke, Michelangelo and Sir Thomas Lawrence. 

Wellingborough Museum, Wellingborough, Northamptonshire

Diverse display from pre-historic eras to the present day, including coins, medals and costumes.

Oakham Castle, Oakham 

Huge collection of horseshoes, alongside displays on Norman history and architecture. 

Rufford Abbey and Country Park, Ollerton 

Collection exploring architecture, decorative and applied art, and religion, as well as the Runnford Abbey Ruins. 

Ayscoughfee Hall Museum, Spalding 

15th-century, Grade I-listed building with five acres of public gardens and a war memorial. 

Stoke Bruerne Canal Museum, Stoke Bruerne

Grade II-listed corn mill that tells the stories of the people who worked on Britain’s waterways. 

West Midlands

National Memorial Arboretum, Alrewas 

British site of national remembrance with over 400 memorials and 25,000 trees. 

Bewdley Museum, Bewdley 

A riverside museum exploring the town’s local history.

Aston Hall, Birmingham 

Grade I-listed Jacobean house with a beautiful public park, as well as collections from the Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery. 

Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery, Birmingham

Collection of art and design from Pre-Raphaelite artists, including oil paintings, tapestries and ceramics.

Ikon Gallery, Birmingham 

Diverse media collection with displays on sound, photography, and paintings. 

Royal Air Force Museum, Cosford 

Learn about the heroes of the RAF and famous aircraft dating back to 1918. 

Himley Hall and Park, Himley 

Explore 180 acres of landscaped parkland with three galleries.

Samuel Johnson Birthplace Museum, Lichfield 

Learn about the first lexicographer Samuel Johnson, who created A Dictionary of the English Language.

Brampton Museum, Newcastle-under-Lyme

Award-winning museum where you can learn about 2,000 years of the local town.

Ancient High House, Stafford

The biggest timber-framed house in England open to the public

Stafford Castle, Stafford 

Step back to 1100 AD with archaeological artefacts and learn about the history of the castle.

Middleport Pottery, Stoke-on-Trent 

Tour around the last working Victorian potbank in a Grade II-listed building. 

Walsall Leather Museum, Walsall 

Learn about Walsall’s leather trade in a renovated Victorian factory building.

Bantock House Museum, Wolverhampton 

Step back into the Edwardian period and discover local history in Wolverhampton.

Wolverhampton Art Gallery, Wolverhampton 

Home to contemporary art from the likes of David Hockney and Andy Warhol.

East of England

The Higgins Bedford, Bedford 

Collection of watercolour, prints and decorative art – with displays on the works of William Burges and Edward Bawden.

Bury St Edmunds Abbey, Bury St Edmunds 

The wealthiest Benedictine monastery in medieval England includes the shrine of St Edmund and the 14th-century Great Gate. 

The Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge

Huge collection of artworks and objects formerly owned by Cambridge alumni Richard Fitzwilliam, from ancient Egyptian coffins to Renaissance masterpieces. 

Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, Cambridge

Collection of archaeology and anthropological items including Roman pottery and objects from predynastic Egypt. 

The Polar Museum, Cambridge 

Learn about the history and science of polar exploration, Arctic art and culture.

Sedgwick Museum of Earth Science, Cambridge 

Dig deeper into a collection of rocks, minerals, and fossils dating back two million years.

Peterborough Museum, Cambridgeshire 

Home to 227,000 items from the city’s history and artistic heritage, including ceramics from the Roman empire and Jurassic fossil remains.

Hollytrees Museum, Colchester 

Glimpse into life for both the rich and the poor in 18th-century Colchester, and get the chance to dress up as a servant. 

Henry Blogg Museum, Cromer 

Discover the life of hero Henry Blogg, who helped 387 rescues at sea and created a hull shape for a new lifeboat. 

Hylands House and Estate, Essex 

The Neo-Classical Hylands House is surrounded by 574 acres of parkland, and the popular Go Ape attraction.

Cromwell Museum, Huntingdon 

Collection of artefacts, paintings, and material relating to Oliver Cromwell’s Protectorate. 

Christchurch Mansion, Ipswich 

Tudor brick mansion featuring collection of items from the Tudor period including clothing, children’s toys, and musical instruments. 

Stockwood Discovery Centre, Luton 

Learn about Luton’s local history and see Europe’s biggest collection of horse-drawn carriages.

Bhaktivedanta Manor, Radlett

78 acres of land featuring an organic farm, monastery, and Hare Krishna temple in Hertfordshire.

Great London & Outer London

Myddelton House Gardens, Enfield 

Former home and gardens of the horticulturist, Edward Bowles. 

Bank of England Museum, London 

Deep dive into 1,500 years of monetary history with a famous 13kg gold bar you can hold, worth £380,000.

British Museum, London

The UK’s biggest museum, with the world’s largest collection of works – eight million pieces exploring human history, art, and culture. 

Geffrye Museum of the Home, London 

Step back into British homelife, from 1600 to the present day, with a series of period room displays. 

Grant Museum of Zoology, London 

One of the oldest natural history collections, dating back to 1828, including 68,000 zoological specimens.

Guildhall Art Gallery & London’s Roman Amphitheatre, London 

Home to City of London’s art collection dating back to the 1600s, as well as a famous Roman amphitheatre. 

Horniman Museum and Gardens, London

Collection with over 350,000 anthropological and historical items as well as musical instruments and taxidermied animals.

Kenwood House, London 

A 17th-century house in Hampstead Heath, used to film Notting Hill, Sense and Sensibility, and Mansfield Park.

Museum of London Docklands, London

A 200-year-old warehouse featuring the history of trade and how pirates transformed the capital in the 1600s. 

Museum of the Order of St John, London 

Learn about the history of St John Ambulance dating back 900 years.

National Army Museum, London . 

Wander through warfare across the ages, from English Civil War and Seven Years War to present day.

National Gallery, London 

2,600 pieces of art, from the Renaissance, Impressionism and Gothic periods.

National Portrait Gallery, London 

The world’s biggest portrait collection, with artworks of some of the most important and iconic British people. 

Natural History Museum, London 

One of the UK’s most popular museums with 80 million items, including the famous blue whale skeleton.

Petrie Museum, London 

One of the world’s biggest collections of Egyptian and Sudanese archaeology.

Priory Church of St Bartholomew the Great, London

UK’s oldest church, founded in 1123, and still a place of worship.

Royal Air Force Museum, London

Discover the history of aviation and the RAF with famous aircraft including the WWII bomber, Avro Lancaster.

Royal Hospital Chelsea, London

British Army soldier retirement home exploring the history of the residents and the building. 

Science Museum, London

Family-friendly museum where you can discover famous inventions from rockets and computers, to aviation and trains, across 50 exhibits and regular pop-up events.

Sir John Soane’s Museum, London

Former home of the English architect most famous for designing the Bank of England.

Tate Britain, London

Biggest collection of British art in the world, dating back to 1897.

Tate Modern, London

Britain’s national collection of contemporary and modern art, including Picasso and Matisse.

Victoria and Albert Museum, London 

World’s biggest museum of arts and design, with more than 2.8 million objects.

The Wallace Collection, London 

Former townhouse of the Seymour family, Marquesses of Hertford, with collection of fine and decorative arts.

William Morris Gallery, London 

Step inside the famous textile designer’s former home and learn about his influence on the design industry.

South East

Beaney House of Art & Knowledge, Canterbury 

Grade II-listed building with works from David Hockney, as well as an ancient Egyptian mummified cat, and the original Bagpuss. 

The Novium, Chichester 

Former Roman bathhouse exploring 500,000 years of Chichester.

Dover Museum, Dover 

Learn why Dover is England’s ‘Lock and Key’ having survived invasions from Julius Caesar, William the Conqueror and Napoleon. 

The White Cliffs of Dover, Dover 

Visit deep shelters built for soldiers in World War II.

Towner Art Gallery, Eastbourne 

Extensive collection of modern British and contemporary international artworks. 

Royal Holloway Art Collection, Egham 

Collection of paintings, drawings, and prints by artists including John Everett Millais, Edward Burne-Jones, and John Nash. 

Hastings Fisherman’s Museum, Hastings 

Dive into the fishing industry and maritime history of Hastings. 

Hastings Museum and Art Gallery, Hastings 

Collection of over 90,000 objects on everything from natural sciences and decorative arts, to world cultures and a dinosaur gallery. 

Shipwreck Museum, Hastings 

Learn about maritime disasters, and see shipwrecks including from the English Channel.

The New Forest Centre, Lyndhurst 

An independent charity dedicated to showcasing traditions, origins, and wildlife of the New Forest.

Maidstone Museum, Maidstone

Collection of more than 600,000 artefacts and specimens, exploring fine art, human history, and textiles.

Ashmolean Museum, Oxford 

UK’s oldest public museum, exploring the works of artists and archaeologists dating back to 8,000 BC.

Museum of the History of Science, Oxford

Home to the world’s best collection of early scientist instruments.

Pitt Rivers Museum, Oxford

Houses the Oxford University’s collection of over 500,000 archeological and anthropological objects.

Dorchester Abbey Museum, Oxfordshire 

Displays dating back 6,000 years, with artefacts such as prehistoric stone tools, Roman fortified settlements, and an Iron Age village. 

Hook Norton Brewer Museum, Oxfordshire 

Victorian brewery with guided tours and free beer samples.

The Oxfordshire Museum, Oxfordshire 

Learn the story of Oxfordshire, from the Jurassic period through to the Victorian era and modern day.

Boathouse 4, Portsmouth 

Discover the history of maritime craftsmanship including the development of boatbuilding.

Portsmouth Museum and Art Gallery, Portsmouth

Look into the local history and heritage of the city including special moments from Portsmouth FC.

Royal Armouries, Fort Nelson, Portsmouth 

A Victorian fortress, home to the national collection of artillery and historic cannon.

Southsea Castle, Portsmouth

An important landmark built by King Henry VIII, where he watched the sinking of The Mary Rose in 1545. 

The Museum of English Rural Life, Reading

Discover the traditions and daily routines of rural life dating back to 1750 in Reading.

Winchester City Mill, Winchester 

View the waterwheel and machinery of an ancient water-powered corn mill.

The Lightbox, Woking 

A museum housing contemporary art including the works of Elisabeth Frink, Eduardo Paolozzi, and Barbara Hepworth.

Worthing Museum and Art Gallery, Worthing

One of the UK’s biggest displays of costume and textiles. 

South West

Museum of Barnstaple and North Devon, Barnstaple 

Learn about North Devon’s local history across 12 galleries with annual events and a tearoom.

Avon Valley Railway, Bristol 

See tracks, locomotives, and carriages from the Avon Valley Railway, dating back to 1869.

Blaise Castle House Museum, Bristol 

Learn about Bristol homelife across the last 300 years with a costume collection of 10,000 items.

Bristol Museum and Art Gallery, Bristol 

Three floors of of art, costume and textiles, ceramics, archaeology and religion.

Clifton Suspension Bridge Museum, Bristol

Discover how and why the famous bridge was built.

The Georgian House Museum, Bristol 

An 18th-century townhouse that shows what life for the wealthy was like in Bristol.

M Shed, Bristol

Collection of 3,000 artefacts as well as a Banksy built into a 1950s transit shed by the docks.

The Red Lodge Museum, Bristol

Learn about 400 years of the historic house, once a party place for royals and a Victorian reform school.

Brixham Heritage Museum, Brixham 

Former police station that explores the town’s history with 10,000 objects.

Castle Bude, Bude 

Built into the sand, the 1830 castle is now home to a local museum, art gallery and cafe.

Charmouth Heritage Coast Centre, Charmouth 

Learn how to collect fossils with guided walks and rockpooling.

The Wilson, Cheltenham 

A collection of arts and crafts from World War I, and Chinese ceramics.

Red House Museum and Gardens, Christchurch 

A former Georgian workhouse turned into a museum displaying the local town’s history dating back to the Ice Age.

Tolpuddle Martyrs Museum, Dorchester 

Find out about a group of farm workers who became martyrs for forming a trade union, influencing modern day unions.

Royal Albert Memorial Museum and Art Gallery, Exeter 

Home to an impressive collection exploring zoology, anthropology, fine art, archeology and geology.

Gloucester Folk Museum, Gloucester

One of Gloucester’s oldest buildings with music and theatre events.

Museum of Cornish Life, Helston

One of the largest social and cultural history collections in South West Britain.

Otterton Mill Centre and Working Museum, Otterton 

See a historic water mill along with a gallery of arts and crafts.

Poole Museum, Poole 

Learn about Poole’s history from Ice Age to present day.

Barbara Hepworth Museum and Sculpture Garden, St Ives

Learn about the sculptor’s life and explore her studio and gardens.

The Museum in the Park, Stroud 

Unique 4,000-strong collection of items, from dinosaur bones to the world’s first lawnmower.

Durlston Castle, Swanage

Learn about the Victorian history of the folly with cafe and rooftop views

The Museum of Somerset, Taunton 

Explore 400 million years of Taunton’s history. 

Cockington Court, Torquay 

Watch artisans, like chocolate makers, painters and glassblowers, at work with seasonal gallery shows.

Longleat House, Warminster 

Explore an Elizabethan manor house with 900 acres of parkland.

IF you’ve ever wanted to live like a celebrity, your chance has finally arrived. 

A growing number of famous faces – from Hollywood A-listers to royalty – have opened up their lavish homes and cozy cottages to the public. 

Whether you fancy relaxing poolside in a pop star’s hideaway, or spending the night on a royal estate, these exclusive stays let you step right into their world. 

Here, we share some of the top celebrity-owned properties you can actually book this summer…

1. Alan Carr – Ayton Castle Estate Glamping (Scottish Borders)

Fresh off his victory on Celebrity Traitors, comedian Alan Carr snapped up the historic £3.3million Ayton Castle in Berwickshire, Scotland, earlier this year to convert into a luxury retreat. 

This summer, guests can stay in fully furnished luxury bell tents right on the 17-bedroom 160-acre castle grounds, just an hour’s drive from Edinburgh.

At a cost of between £140 and £160 a night, the luxury tents sleep up to four people, and are “fully furnished with comfy beds, warm bedding and pillows.”

Visitors have been promised ‘serene walks’ through the estate’s vast woodland and wellness offerings on site including sauna and cold water sessions.

2. George Michael – The Pool House at Mill Cottage (Goring-on-Thames)

Pop legend George Michael bought Mill Cottage in South Oxfordshire in 2001, where he spent 15 peaceful years living by the River Thames until his passing in 2016. 

The current owners transformed the superstar’s private pool house on the estate grounds into an exclusive one-bedroom guest hideaway, which costs around £720 a night over summer.

Sitting right on the riverbank, the retreat features exclusive access to a heated outdoor swimming pool, sun loungers, an outdoor BBQ, and a cozy fireplace. 

It has become a dream stay for music fans looking to sip a drink poolside and experience the peaceful surroundings George loved so dearly.

• How to book: Listed on Airbnb.

3. Kelvin Fletcher – Stag Cottage (Peak District)

Former Emmerdale star and Strictly Come Dancing winner Kelvin Fletcher traded showbiz for rural living on his 120-acre family farm. 

Featured on ITV‘s Fletchers’ Family Farm, the actor converted a stone building on the edge of the property into a luxury three-bedroom holiday home. 

The interior combines a cozy country aesthetic with modern comforts, including a traditional AGA stove, flagstone floors, and a wood-burning fireplace. 

Outside, guests can soak in their private outdoor hot tub while taking in sweeping views of the surrounding Cheshire countryside and Peak District.

4. Jules Hudson – Mole Hill Hut (Herefordshire)

As the longtime presenter of BBC’s Escape to the Country, Jules Hudson used his rural expertise to handcraft his very own bespoke shepherd’s hut. 

Tucked away in a private meadow on his own land near the scenic Wye Valley, the hut offers a secluded, off-grid retreat designed strictly for two. 

It features a cozy double bed, a functional kitchenette, and an adjoining timber lounge area affectionately dubbed “The Trough.” 

Guests can spend their evenings around the outdoor wood-burning stove enjoying panoramic views of Herefordshire’s rolling hills.

5. King Charles III – Balmoral cottages (Scottish highlands)

Fancy a stay fit for royalty? It may be easier than you think.

Tucked away on the Balmoral estate – which was the late Queen’s favourite residence – are some secret cottages that you can rent out.

If you want to earn ultimate bragging rights among your pals, these self-catered lodges could be the perfect opportunity.

And you’ve got a few to choose from, as the Balmoral estate has 10 cottages available: Connachat Cottage, Garbh Allt Shiel, Karim Cottage, Knocks Cottage, the three Milton of Braichlie properties (Farmhouse, Mill Cottage, and Stable Cottage), Rhebreck Lodge, Sterinbeg, and Tigh Na Garaidh. 

Unfortunately, if you dream of bumping into the likes of King Charles or Prince William and Kate Middleton, you may not be in luck, as you can’t book when the royal family is in residence.

6. Adam Henson – Cotswold Farm Park Lodges (Cotswolds)

Countryfile presenter and rare-breed conservationist Adam Henson grew up on the 650-acre working farm in the heart of the Cotswolds. 

Each year, thousands of visitors flock to his Cotswold Farm Park, a rare breeds centre and country play park in a picturesque corner of his land. 

To give visitors a true taste of country life, he also built a collection of wooden lodges, safari tents, and glamping pods on the grounds.

Each custom-built timber lodge comes with modern amenities, an outdoor deck with a private hot tub, and a fire pit for evening stargazing. 

Stays include complimentary admission to the farm park, where guests can meet rare livestock breeds and participate in daily farm activities.

7. Sting & Trudie Styler – Villa Il Palagio (Tuscany, Italy)

Music icon Sting and his film producer wife Trudie Styler bought this sprawling 16th-century Tuscan estate south of Florence back in 1997. 

When the couple isn’t residing there, they open up the grand nine-bedroom main villa and surrounding historic guest cottages to private rentals. 

The 860-acre organic estate boasts manicured Italian gardens, private swimming pools, a tennis court, and its own wine cellars. 

Guests can sample olive oil, honey, and biodynamic wines produced directly on the estate while taking in views of the Chianti hills.

8. Leonardo DiCaprio – 432 Hermosa Estate (Palm Springs)

If you want to get the full Hollywood experience, Oscar-winning actor Leonardo DiCaprio has provided a way.

The star purchased an iconic mid-century modern architectural masterpiece in Palm Springs back in 2014. 

Designed in 1964 by renowned architect Donald Wexler for entertainer Dinah Shore, the six-bedroom estate drips with vintage Hollywood glamour. 

The compound features floor-to-ceiling glass walls, sleek stone fireplaces, a cocktail bar, a heated pool, and a private lighted tennis court. 

Located in the prestigious Old Las Palmas neighborhood, it offers full luxury estate staffing and concierge services for short-term stays.

• How to Book: Book through the official estate manager at 432 Hermosa.

9. Kirstie Allsopp – Meadowgate (North Devon)

Property guru and Location, Location, Location host Kirstie Allsopp brought her passion for interior design to life by restoring a grand coastal home. 

Situated in the peaceful village of Welcombe in North Devon, the six-bedroom period cottage accommodates up to 14 guests.

The renovation process was even filmed as part of her Kirstie’s Homemade Home series.

The TV star personally decorated the interior with bold wallpapers, handcrafted details throughout every room, and upcycled vintage furniture. 

A short walk through country lanes near the home brings guests directly to the secluded Atlantic beach at Welcombe Mouth.

10. Wayne Rooney – Royal Westmooreland estate (Barbados)

If you have lots of cash to spare, you can holiday like Coleen and Wayne Rooney who have a mansion in Barbados. 

The £5million villa – located in the gorgeous Royal Westmoreland luxury estate in the Caribbean island – costs up to £25,000 a week to rent.

For that, you can expect a week of luxury at the five-bedroom pad that sleeps up to 14, which includes an infinity pool.

Sitting by idyllic palm trees, Wayne and Coleen’s white mansion opens up with a covered gated entrance.

Inside, the colour scheme is white and summery, with doors opening to the outside and fans situated above the beds to keep things cool.

IF you’re dreaming of a sun-soaked getaway without blowing through your savings, we’ve got good news.

While some popular hotspots, like Mykonos and Positano, often charge eye-watering prices, there are plenty of lesser-known, wallet-friendly spots in Europe and beyond for a sunny getaway.

And, with pints from £1.50, plus free attractions that the whole family will love, you don’t need a huge budget to enjoy your time abroad.

Whether you want White Lotus vibes in a cheap spot in Sicily, sun-drenched Spanish cities, or French countryside spots where local wines cost €2.50, we’ve got you covered.

Here are the Sun Travel team’s favourite cheap and sunny holiday destinations to book right now.

Fuengirola, Costa del Sol, Spain

Head of Travel, Lisa Minot

Yearning for the glitz and glam of the Spanish celeb magnet that is Marbella but don’t have the dosh?

Just half an hour along the coast, fabulous Fuengirola offers the same sun-soaked shores without the A-lister prices.

You’re guaranteed sizzling sunshine – more than 300 days a year – and the 7km stretch of wide, golden sands leading down to gently-shelving, family-friendly waters is the star of the show.

Los Boliches Beach is a Blue Flag-clean favourite and you’ll be paying far less than in other Mediterranean beach resorts for sunbeds, with prices from just £12 a day for two loungers and a sun shade.

All along the coast are chiringuitos – beachside bars – serving up cheap plates of grilled sardines on skewers for just a few euros, and a pint of chilled beer will set you back around £4.

Shopaholics should save their pennies for the sprawling Tuesday Street Market – one of the largest on the coast – with bargain leather bags, clothes and souvenirs.

Tirana, Albania

Travel Reporter, Cyann Fielding

When you think of a sunny destination, your first thought probably isn’t Albania, let alone its capital Tirana.

But in fact, the city can reach 35C in July and is one of the sunniest cities in Europe with more than 2,500 hours of sunshine each year.

So there really couldn’t be a better holiday spot to sit back and sink a refreshing pint. It won’t even set you back much either, costing as little as £1.50.

One thing I really love about the city is it still feels completely undiscovered by Brits, lacking crowds and the typical souvenir shops on each corner that tend to come with that.

In the heart of the city, visit Skanderbeg Square, where you’ll be able to get a clear view of the surrounding architecture – a mix of traditional Albanian villas and Soviet grey concrete buildings.

If you want to earn your pint, climb the city’s very own pyramid, which has spectacular views of the mountains that border the capital.

Make sure to also look out for ‘pillbox’ bunkers which are littered across the city – many of which have been turned into vibrant and quirky bars and cafes.

Occitanie, France

Assistant Travel Editor, Sophie Swietochowski

This jaw-dropping region in southern France is crammed with off-grid holiday spots, and petite villages that showcase authentic French history, cuisine and mannerisms… By that, I mean brush up on your linguistic skills before venturing into the rural parts.

Your efforts attempting to blend in with the locals will be rewarded with shockingly affordable food and drink of the highest quality – the French, after all, are the master innovators in the winemaking industry.

Head to the historic commune of Albi, where a glass of house wine will set you back around €2.50 – it’s good stuff, too.

The “Red City” has some of the most gorgeous medieval streets, with some immaculate palace gardens that are completely free to explore.

It’s best to fly into Toulouse so that you can pop over to some of the gorgeous villages nearby.

Saint Cirq Lapopie is frequently voted one of the most beautiful in France and it’s not hard to see why, with cobbled streets and wonky cafes that feel stereotypically French.

Seville, Spain

Deputy Travel Editor, Kara Godfrey

As one of Spain‘s most southern cities, you can always expect great weather in Seville (outside of summer of course – unless you like 40C days).

When it comes to wining and dining, you’re spoilt for choice, so I’d recommend trying a Secret Food Tour (from £65) which takes you around the local-loved spots. I had everything from churros and vermouth to pig cheeks and omelette along the way.

If you want a quick, cheap breakfast, go to Bar Alfalfa for a coffee and tomato toast for a few euros, or have a drink at El Rinconcillo, the city’s oldest bar.

The city is famed for its flamenco, but rather than forking out for a show, I simply headed to the parks where you can usually catch a live street performance for free.

Instead, save your money to see the city’s two top attractions – the moorish Royal Alcazar Palace and Cathedral de Sevilla, the world’s largest gothic church.

Cefalu, Sicily

Head of Travel, Lisa Minot

Want White Lotus vibes on a budget?

Sicily’s coastal seaside resort of Cefalu has the same stunning coastline that featured in the smash hit show.

While the hotel scenes were shot at the Four Seasons San Domenico Palace in Taormina, the opening beach scenes and swimming spots were filmed at Spiaggia di Cefalu in the town itself.

There’s a broad stretch of golden sands backed by a maze of cobbled streets and hidden lanes full of medieval architecture.

While meals in the restaurants in town are still great value, for a real bargain, do as the locals and pick up some street food to eat on the beach.

Arancini – deep fried risotto balls stuffed with ragu – or sfincione – thick slices of Sicilian pizza – will cost between £1 and £3.50.

Seeing the historic sites also won’t cost a lot. Head to the Piazza del Duomo to admire the twin-towered Norman cathedral – entry to admire its stunning mosaics is free.

And for just £4.30 you can hike up the craggy mountain of La Rocca that looms over the town and be rewarded for your efforts with jaw-dropping, picture-postcard views across the entire coastline.

Maspalomas, Gran Canaria

Assistant Travel Editor, Sophie Swietochowski

Seeking something cheap and cheerful with guaranteed sun? Few places fit the bill better than Gran Canaria.

The Spanish island’s proximity to the northwest coast of Africa (around 150 kilometers) means that balmy temperatures are practically guaranteed year round, especially in the south of the island, with the northern mountains acting as a protective barrier.

While it may not initially spring to mind as a budget destination, you can find some incredible value package offers.

Its popularity among Brits means that you’ll have your pick of deals with a huge variety of tour operators to pick from and some competitive prices.

A package holiday is exactly what you should book when heading here, too, as its resorts are completely geared up for fly and flop holidaymakers.

The last time I visited, I splashed out on an all-inclusive deal so that I could have pina coladas delivered to my sunlounger on a rotating basis, flopping between the pool and restaurants, barely lifting a finger. Talk about R&R.

Lake Garda, Italy

Travel Reporter, Cyann Fielding

Italy will always have a fond place in my heart and when it comes to Lake Garda it has everything you could wish for, for a sunny family holiday.

In the 28C July heat, the lake is the perfect place to head for a swim which you can do from a number of beautiful beaches dotted around the perimeter, including Jamaica Beach.

If I had to pick one spot in particular around the lake that is really special, it would be Limone – a small cliff side town known for its historic lemon houses, waterfront promenade looking out at the clear lake, tonnes of citrus trees and even lemon-themed shops.

Make sure to head to Spiaggia Tifu beach in the town, which has lots of nearby amenities and calm waters making it ideal for families.

You can also hop on a ferry ride to a number of other villages and towns that sit around the lake.

And thanks to the abundance of restaurants and cafes around the lake, it won’t be hard to find a pretty spot to enjoy a pint, which will cost you around £4.20.

Milan, Italy

Deputy Travel Editor, Kara Godfrey

The Italian city of Milan often gets a bad rap when compared to the likes of Rome, Florence and Venice – but you can still find some less-touristy gems if you know where to look.

Of course, you have to visit the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, which is free and one of the world’s oldest shopping arcades, as well as the famous Duomo.

But after this, leave the main city centre for Navigli, a canal-side neighbourhood lined with restaurants and cafes and crisscrossed by arched bridges.

Iter is a great bar with friendly staff and fantastic wine, while the nearby Pizza AM is cheap and cheerful (and comes with a free glass of fizz).

Film buffs should head to Bar Luce, a retro-style cafe designed by filmmaker Wes Anderson.

Prices correct at the time of publication.

ARE you a stinky food smuggler or perhaps a brazen barefooter? Because how you behave while on your flight this summer could reveal a lot about your personality. 

New research by Booking.com has found that two-thirds of Brits treat the aeroplane cabin as a home-from-home, with a tenth admitting they kick off their shoes and go barefoot. 

Major bugbears included passengers eating smelly food, watching films without headphones, leaning over fellow travellers to take photos of the sky, and doing manicures. 

With more than four million passengers set to fly from British airports this month, The Sun’s Lynsey Clarke asks psychologist Emma Kenny what the most common in-flight behaviours say about you.

Among the biggest pet peeves for people – whether it’s on a plane or on public transport – are space hoggers and ‘manspreaders’.

If your seat is in the middle and you take up both armrests, you may irritate your neighbours, but Emma says: “You probably have a strong sense of what you consider fairness. 

“Many people believe the middle seat has earned both armrests, so if you confidently claim them, you’re likely someone who values unwritten social rules. 

“Just remember there’s a difference between quietly claiming your space and elbowing your neighbours into submission.”

BAREFOOT BRIGADE

Reddit threads consistently cite this as one of the most disgusting cabin behaviours and some passengers have even uploaded photos of the so-called ‘barefooters’.

Speaking about those who did this, Emma says: “Comfort is clearly your priority.

“You probably become so relaxed in your surroundings that you momentarily forget you’re still sharing the space with hundreds of strangers. 

“It’s less about being deliberately inconsiderate and more about becoming so comfortable that your social awareness quietly checks out.”

BLACK COFFEE BORES  

If you shun the delights of the cabin crew’s trolley and prefer to order a simple black coffee, then this flight is not your first rodeo.

Emma says: “If you order black coffee you’re probably a seasoned traveller who sees flying as a practical part of the journey rather than the start of the holiday. 

“You tend to be organised, forward-thinking and focused on arriving feeling your best.

“Black coffee drinkers often give the impression of someone who’s done this many times before and has their travel routine down to a fine art.”

SEAT STICKLERS 

Do you always book the same seat every time you fly?

Emma says: “You’re probably someone who likes routine, predictability and being in control of your environment.

“Knowing exactly where you’ll be sitting removes one more decision from the journey, helping you feel organised and relaxed.

“It’s a habit often seen in people who like planning ahead and minimising unnecessary stress.”

MOVERS AND SHAKERS

However, if you tend to skip the seat reservation, and hope others will swap so you can sit with your party, it means you’re a glass half-full kind of person.

Emma says: “You’re probably optimistic and naturally spontaneous, with a tendency to believe everything will somehow fall into place.

“While that flexibility can be one of your strengths, it can also mean expecting other people to accommodate plans you didn’t make in advance.

“It’s a classic example of assuming everyone shares your relaxed approach, which is very rarely the case.”

CHATTY NEIGHBOUR 

If you are always up for a good chinwag with the person sitting next to you, it says a lot about you.

Emma adds: “You’re likely highly sociable and energised by conversation.

“For some people, talking also helps reduce anxiety and makes unfamiliar situations feel more comfortable.

“The trick is recognising when your neighbour is equally chatty, or when they’ve put their headphones on for a very obvious reason.”

SEATBELT TWITCHER 

It isn’t easy being constrained in the seat for long periods.

And if you’re someone who unbuckles before the seatbelt sign goes off and talks through the safety presentation, then you are probably optimistic by nature.

Emma says: “You’re probably experiencing what’s known as optimism bias, the belief that nothing is going to happen because nothing ever has before.

“Familiarity can make us complacent, but experienced travellers know that paying attention to the safety briefing and waiting for the seatbelt sign to switch off before unbuckling is a small habit that can make a big difference.” 

BACKPACK BASHER 

If you’re the passenger who keeps your backpack on right until you get to your seat, then you are very goal focussed.

Emma says: “You’re probably so focussed on reaching your seat that you lose awareness of what’s happening around you. 

“Psychologists call this attentional narrowing, we become so focussed on one goal that we overlook how our behaviour affects others.

“Unfortunately, the people you’ve accidentally whacked with your backpack are usually very aware of it.”

JUST ONE LAST CALL-ERS 

Some passengers find it difficult to switch off and insist on making one last Facetime call, or filming a TikTok video before take-off.

Emma says: “You probably enjoy sharing experiences as they happen.

“You’re someone who likes documenting life and bringing friends and followers along for the journey.

“The challenge is remembering that not everyone wants to be an extra in your travel content.”

AND…RELAX-ERS

A quarter of Brits drink alcohol in the airport and one tenth admit to ‘getting drunk’ mid-air, according to a survey for the Institute of Alcohol Studies. 

Emma says: “For many people, the holiday begins the moment they clear security, so ordering a beer, wine or G&T is all part of switching into holiday mode. 

“It often reflects someone who enjoys marking occasions with little rituals and embraces experiences rather than simply getting from A to B. 

“For nervous flyers, though, it can also be a way of taking the edge off pre-flight anxiety, although alcohol isn’t the best remedy for that.”

IT WAS must-see viewing for Britain’s teenagers slumped on the sofa on Saturday and Sunday mornings. The cool young cast of T4 delivered zany segments and upbeat links between popular programmes including Hollyoaks and Shipwrecked.

And now as a former teen telly icon is given a peer by Keir Starmer we reveal where some of the other popular TV presenters are now.

June Sarpong (2000-2007)

SHE was a working class immigrant kid who grew up on a council estate but now TV star June Sarpong is taking a seat in the House of Lords. 

The proud honour marks a meteoric rise for June, 49, who first appeared on our screens as a host of MTV before joining the iconic Noughties show T4 way back in 2000.

She was awarded an MBE for services to broadcasting and has made a name for herself as a high profile equality campaigner.

As she celebrated the political honour yesterday, June said: “Words cannot even begin to describe how truly honoured and humbled I feel to have been appointed to the House of Lords by Keir Starmer on his final Honours list.

“As a working class immigrant kid from a council estate in East London it is not lost on me what this means.

“As I embark on this next chapter, I look forward to being able to use this role to further champion the causes and issues that are dear to my heart.”

But June is not the only former member of the T4 gang who has gone on to bigger and better things. 

It was a hugely successful launchpad for many of the most familiar faces on TV today.

Dermot O’Leary (1998-2001)

A baby faced skinhead, Dermot was part of the original presenting line up when T4 first launched.

Before that he had been a DJ on Radio Essex but Dermot, now 53, proved  such a success with the viewers that Channel 4 swiftly selected him to front spin off show Big Brother’s Little Brother until 2008.

He has since landed a string of high profile presenting gigs including The X-Factor which he hosted for 11 years.

Now Dermot has a Radio 2 show and fronts This Morning on Fridays, as well as publishing a string of hugely successful children’s books about Toto The Ninja Cat. 

Margherita Taylor (1999-2001) 

She was a DJ at Birmingham based radio station BRMB when she took part in a radio contest and moved to Capital Radio. 

From there Margherita landed a spot on T4’s starting line-up alongside Dermot and Vernon Kay and never looked back.

Margherita, 53, went on to present BBC One’s Escape to the Country between 2016 and 2022.

Now she is a familiar guest presenter on  Good Morning Britain, Lorraine, Countryfile and This Morning, but her first love was always radio and she still hosts shows on Smooth Radio and Classic FM.

Ben Shephard (1999-2000)

Ben, 51, was a regular host of Channel 4’s spin-off morning show The Bigger Breakfast when bosses decided to put him on T4.

Just two years later he joined ITV’s GMTV as an entertainment host, then as a main presenter in 2005.

He quit the show in 2010, weeks before it was axed anyway, but returned to ITV in 2014 to front the newly-launched Good Morning Britain, where he remains as one of the country’s most recognisable presenters.

Now the much loved millionaire dad of two is rarely off the box, having swapped his seat at the Good Morning Britain newsdesk for the sofa at This Morning alongside Cat Deeley.

Ben has also hosted hit gameshows including The Summit, Tipping Point and Ninja Warrior UK.

Vernon Kay (2000-2005)

Hunky Bolton lad Vern was working as a model when he was scouted by TV bosses to front T4 and soared to stardom.

After quitting the show All Star Family Fortunes made him a household name.

His 23 year marriage to Strictly’s Tess Daly has crumbled but this week he was named as one of the BBC’s best paid presenters, raking in a staggering £450,000 a year for his Radio 2 mid-morning show, Alternative Dance Sounds of the 90s and other appearances.

Steve Jones (2003-2010)

Welsh lad Steve, 49, – who stripped off several times on the show, was one of T4’s best loved presenters when Simon Cowell chose him to present the American version of The X Factor.

But the show bombed and Steve was axed after just one series.

The former model went on to present a property show called Perfect House, Secret Location and appeared on This Morning before landing a full time gig in 2016 to lead the presenting team for Channel 4’s F1 coverage. 

Miquita Oliver (2006-2010)

While most of the original T4 crew were newbies, Miquita already had five years of telly experience under her belt having fronted Popworld with Simon Amstell. 

But she was suspended from T4 in 2010 after being overheard insulting singer Kesha.

She has also claimed she lost a job on Radio 1 for “saying silly things”.

Since then fashion favourite Miquita, 42, has been on a string of TV programmes, including Celebrity Gogglebox alongside her mum Andi, and has a hit podcast with her pal Lily Allen.

Rick Edwards (2007-2011)

Rick, 47, was performing stand-up comedy at Cambridge University when he was spotted by T4 producers who gave him his first TV job. 

Since then he went on to land a string of presenting gigs including Tool Academy, Made in Chelsea, Freshly Squeezed, E4 Music, and much of Channel 4‘s 2012 Paralympics coverage.

Rick has also hosted a BBC One quiz show called !mpossible and now he can be heard on BBC Radio 5 Live’s Breakfast Show every morning, as well as Fighting Talk on Saturdays and their Premier League review on Sundays.

Alexa Chung (2008-2009)

Fashion icon Alexa, 42, began working as a model after she was scouted at the Reading Festival at the age of 16. She joined Popworld alongside Alex Zane in 2006 before joining T4 two years later. 

She famously inspired the Alexa handbag by British designer Mulberry, and has dated big names like Arctic Monkey’s Alex Turner and actor Alexander Skarsgard.

She pivoted back to style and lifestyle content on TV for shows like Gok’s Fashion Fix, Next In Fashion and now runs her own lucrative fashion label.

Jameela Jamil (2009-2012)

London born Actress and activist Jameela, 40, was working as a school teacher when she was scouted by a TV producer in a bar.

She followed Alexa on to music show Freshly Squeezed alongside Nick Grimshaw and became a DJ on Radio 1 and the event circuit – with her first show being at Elton John’s birthday party.

In 2016 she moved to LA to become a screenwriter but ended up landing a role in American hit comedy The Good Place as Tahani Al-Jamil.

She’s also become an outspoken campaigner for equality and is dating pop star James Blake.

Nick Grimshaw (2010-2012)

Grimmy started out in student radio before landing a job on Radio 1’s Switch youth programme in 2007.

His career really kicked off the following year when he landed the station’s weekend breakfast show, before moving to a late-night presenting slot.

In 2010, Nick, 41, added T4 to his roster, fronting it until he was promoted to the Beeb’s breakfast show, replacing Chris Moyles.

On TV he’s been a judge on The X Factor, filmed cameos for soaps including EastEnders, Coronation Street and Emmerdale and has also starred on Celebrity Gogglebox.

Now he hosts BBC Radio 6 Music’s flagship breakfast show, Sidetracked with Annie Mac and foodie podcast Dish.

IT HAS been 30 years since the Spice Girls dropped their debut single Wannabe and kickstarted one of the most remarkable pop juggernauts of all time.

But while they once defined girl power for a generation, Geri Halliwell-Horner, Mel B, Victoria Beckham, Emma Bunton and Melanie C are now more divided than ever before – with their long-hoped-for reunion concert a distant dream.

With the bandmates at each other’s throats, this week’s anniversary celebrations have amounted to little more than a few posts on Instagram and a show from Emma Bunton on Heart Radio – despite promoters initially planning a tour for the group to mark the occasion.

And the reunion pleasantries didn’t last long, after Mel B appeared to have blocked Geri Horner on Instagram.

The pair clashed in 2022, after Mel B claimed Geri lied about her age, with the pair unfollowing each other on social media.

And now fans have claimed Scary Spice has blocked her former bandmate, after Geri was unable to properly tag her in a post marking the anniversary of their 1996 breakthrough track.

Geri shared a photograph of the band, also made up of Victoria Beckham, Mel C and Emma Bunton, with the caption: “30 years of Wannabe…Thank you to my beautiful Spice sisters.”

All of Geri’s tags for her bandmates registered, apart from Mel B’s – which happens when a user has been blocked.

The Sun can also reveal that dates were looked at for a global jaunt for 2026, although the plans never got off the ground.

And now it is looking increasingly likely that we may never see the Spice Girls on stage together again.

To make matters worse, Mel C confirmed this week that the group’s relationship with their former manager Simon Fuller is over, which puts paid to the ambitious plans he had for their legacy.

We revealed last April that Geri had flown to Miami to meet with Simon about exciting ideas for the group, in the hope he could persuade the reluctant star to return to the fold.

The following month it was revealed that he was shopping around the idea of a Spice Girls digital avatar show, much like ABBA Voyage, which could take place in London or Las Vegas.

However, that is now believed to have been put on ice as divisions over the direction of their legacy deepen.

And a Netflix drama about the group, which was to be scripted by Bad Boys writer Jack Rooke, has also been shelved.

The most reluctant to return has long been Victoria, having declined the opportunity to take part in their sold out, 13-date stadium tour in 2019.

They last performed as a five-piece at the 2012 Olympics Closing Ceremony.

Geri has said she is only prepared for a reunion if it includes all five girls. And now it is Ginger Spice who, like Posh, is reluctant for anything else.

She has retreated from public life and is said to be anxious at the prospect of returning to the stage. That isn’t helped by her strained relationship with Mel B, who has also washed her hands of future plans.

Mel, whose 50th birthday party last year was only attended by Emma and Mel C, said of a reunion tour: “I can tell you it’s not happening. If it does, it’ll be a shock to me, let’s put it that way.

“You can’t be nagging everyone to go on tour if they don’t want to. I laid that to rest when I turned 50.”

And on previously-discussed plans for a documentary, she pointedly added: “I think we’ve all been asked and were all thinking about it at some point.

“But it has to be done in the right way, and it has to be honest – and not everybody wants to be honest.”

In October, Geri, Mel C and Emma attended Victoria’s Netflix series launch, and in January, they were all at Emma’s 50th party, although Mel B was absent from both.

Geri and Mel B were once extremely close, but Ginger Spice said it was “hurtful” when Mel claimed in 2019, weeks before their reunion tour, that they had once had a sexual relationship.

Speaking on The Louis Theroux Podcast this week, Mel C admitted the pair’s friendship was often volatile and impacted the group – as it still seems to be doing, 30 years later.

She explained: “Like any group of people there’s a dynamic, and what was difficult for us was that Melanie [B] and Geri were really great mates, but if they had a fallout, it would affect everybody.

“I think because they were both so outspoken and, myself, Emma, and Victoria, I don’t know, we didn’t have as much airtime as the other two girls.

“I don’t mean that in a thingy [public] sense. I mean, like, just in the room. So that would cause issues sometimes.

“If it wasn’t for Geri and Melanie being the way that they are, we wouldn’t have been as successful as we were.”

While Victoria, Geri and Mel B look increasingly reticent, it is Sport Spice Mel C who has become the most loose-lipped of them all – taking over from Scary Spice.

In 2022, Emma said of Mel B: “If we want anything to be kept a secret we don’t tell her.”

But in the last year, it has been Mel C raising fans’ hopes, only for them to be dashed.

She gave several interviews where she teased a tour could happen, and said that exciting plans were in motion for their 30th anniversary.

Even this week, on the prospect of marking it, she teased: “We want to. Everything’s in discussion. But it’s a really positive time for us.”

She then conceded: “There’s nothing in the works, so it’s obviously not going to be anything in time for the anniversary. But we are discussing lots of great opportunities.”

She also claimed the group have won back the rights to their 1997 movie Spice World and that they are in talks to get it on streaming services.

However, sources close to the group insisted no talks are currently taking place.

So while fans may be streaming their hits, buying re-released vinyl or forking out for new merch from their online shop, the dream of seeing all five back together again is something of a pipe dream.

In 2024, Victoria said of their 30th anniversary: “It would be lovely for us to do something to celebrate [the 30th anniversary] – a dinner or a lunch – and reminisce. But yes, it will not be any more than that.”

Judging by the state of relations right now, even that would be a surprise.