Kusal Mendis produces a captain’s innings at Headingley as he scores 121 off 100 balls to put Sri Lanka on course for a big score as they bat first against England in the second One Day International.
FOLLOW LIVE: England v Sri Lanka – Second ODI
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Daley Cross, manager of the England team, said of Lucy’s role: “She was just trying to do her best for him and trying to find a way to motivate him.
“His wife did drop in the conversation that he used to play at Manchester United as a schoolboy. So that got our ears twitched instantly.
“You could tell from him being on the pitch, even though he was so fresh into his journey, that he knew the football game and he would be such an incredible asset to us.
“You can be in a dark place, at the time of diagnosis, through your treatment or even post-transplant. So to have us exist to help and inspire people means that we are getting some incredible footballers.
“And that really is the power of it: to that transplant community or to the world, showing people that when you’ve had organ failure, your life isn’t over. There is a chance for you, and you can go and resume and live your life.”
As the recipient of a donor heart, Jackson has to manage his exercise workload more carefully than his team-mates, many of whom have had kidney transplants, the most common transplant in the UK.
His role in the side tends to involve 10-minute bursts, rather than playing for the duration of matches.
Jacks’ match in the north east also included an important 46 not out with the bat.
Though he was eventually left stranded, he batted responsibly, hitting only one four in his first 43 deliveries, to make sure England’s innings was extended from 211-7 in the 39th over to 265 in the penultimate.
“I came in and found it really difficult to start off,” he said.
“I just re-evaluated what I thought was a good score and obviously what then happened with wickets falling around me a change of the role, just try and bat out the overs.”
For so long “batting out the overs” has not been the England way, but Jacks is a player growing in maturity.
He is also vice-captain to Harry Brook for these Sri Lanka series in the absence of Jacob Bethell and has become an increasingly vocal member of the group.
It was telling that when England’s T20 World Cup campaign began earlier this year amid the cloud of Brook’s Wellington episode, Jacks was first put up to speak to the media.
“He’s just a good leader,” Brook said, plainly.
Reliable off the field, Jacks is becoming increasingly so on it.
It is 18 months since he moved from the top of the order to the middle as England’s finisher in T20 and 50-over cricket.
After obvious success as England’s player of the tournament at the T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka, this was another sign of his growing confidence and ability to do what is needed. Finishers rarely arrive in ideal situations, but their impact can often be match-defining.
“I feel very comfortable going out there on the day and any situation can arise which I really enjoy,” Jacks said.
“It is not the same every day which you get opening so it keeps that fresh element to the game.
“At the beginning of my career it felt like you are just fighting to play in the next game, which is not the best place to be.
“It is a luxury to know, say when we go to Headingley [for the second ODI], that I will be in the team. You can’t take that for granted and appreciate the hard work you have done to get there.”
It is also easy to forget Jacks began the year in England’s Test side, as their spinning all-rounder during the Ashes – a role now filled by Dan Lawrence.
Jacks, who met new Test coach Stephen Fleming when the New Zealander joined the white-ball squad at Old Trafford last weekend, has is signed up for a stint with MI Cape Town in the SA20 this winter.
There would no clash there with Fleming’s first tour in charge in South Africa over Christmas, but the later part of the T20 competition overlaps with England’s two Tests in Bangladesh, where English spinners will be needed.
“I don’t know about what would happen or even if they would want me,” he said.
“We will finish the summer before getting into the winter.”
For now, Jacks will focus on white-ball trips to Pakistan, Australia and South Africa as England build towards the 50-over World Cup next autumn.
One downside of a Test recall would be losing more time to rearrange that Edinburgh trip.
“It didn’t go how we planned but we will have to find time to redo it,” Jacks smiled.
Will Jacks produces a match-winning performance to help England to a comfortable 89-run victory over Sri Lanka at Chester-le-Street in the first one-day international of the three-match series.
READ MORE: Jacks stars as England grind out win over Sri Lanka
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England maintained their excellent one-day form as they eased to a comfortable victory against Sri Lanka, as Will Jacks’ stars with bat and ball to help the home side to an 89-run win at Chester-le-Street in the first ODI.
READ MORE: Jacks stars as England grind out win over Sri Lanka
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Henry Pollock has brought an end to his contract stand-off with Northampton, saying it was ultimately “a very easy decision” to sign an extension with the defending Prem champions.
“I am very, very happy to sign here,” Pollock told BBC Radio Northampton.
“I have been here my whole career so it made sense for me to stay on the journey with such a young group of players, who are so ambitious.
“It was a very easy decision in the end.”
The 21-year-old, whose profile has exploded over the past two seasons after appearing for England and the British and Irish Lions, had been talked up as a “seven-figure player” during negotiations by his advisor Eddie Hearn.
However, the boxing promoter’s valuation was never likely to be met at Northampton or elsewhere in the Prem, given Saints’ star-studded line-up, the league’s £6.4m squad salary cap and rules over players moving between clubs.
The exact level of Pollock’s pay increase is unclear. While some sources have valued his new contract at £400,000 a year, others involved in the deal say the figure is higher.
It is certainly short of Scotland playmaker Finn Russell, who, as Bath’s marquee player, is on the league’s most lucrative package, worth about £1m a year.
Pollock’s pay puts him well ahead of most of his contemporaries in the Prem however.
His new deal is comfortably ahead of the average annual salary in the league (£191,000), the average earned by someone in his 20-22 age bracket (£106,000) and with his level of international experience (£224,000), as revealed by the latest league payroll data, covering the 2024-25 campaign., external
Only 4% of Prem players that season were paid in excess of £400,000 a year.
Pollock’s previous contract, signed in December 2024, is understood to have been worth about £150,000.
Prof Aidan Fowler, national director of patient safety at NHS England, said the expansion of Martha’s Rule would give families and NHS staff “a critical new lifeline” to help improve care and save more lives.
Staff can themselves ask for a review from a different team if they are concerned the appropriate action is not being taken.
During the eight-month pilot at the seven trusts, 69 calls were made to dedicated Martha’s Rule phone numbers, including some calls relating to acute deterioration following an urgent clinical review. In some cases, it led to a patient having immediate surgery or being transferred to intensive care.
Prof Fowler said: “Early testing has shown that Martha’s Rule can work well in busy A&Es and builds on the evidence from our adult and children’s wards, where thousands of calls have been made by patients, families and staff to date, with many leading to changes in treatment and potentially life-saving interventions.”
Health minister Baroness Merron said the initiative was part of “wider efforts to put patient safety at the heart of the NHS.”
Actor Jason Watkins, whose two-and-a-half-year-old daughter Maude died from sepsis in 2011, praised the rollout, saying Martha’s rule “is making a difference on the wards”.
“It enables a parent to have a voice and if there is an issue, that is addressed,” he told BBC Breakfast, and urged parents: “if you’re at all worried when you go into A&E, ask for a second opinion.”
Watkins said the rollout of Martha’s law could benefit medical professionals too, explaining: “Those extremely dedicated medical practitioners, nurses, doctors and consultants, it gives them a pause and a thought ‘am I doing everything I can to assess this child accurately?'”.
Patients and their families can check with their local hospital or NHS trust where Martha’s Rule is available by visiting the trust’s website or asking hospital staff.
Scotland is beginning to use Martha’s Rule and Northern Ireland is considering using it, while Wales has a similar scheme called Call4Concern.
Tino Livramento, Kobbie Mainoo, Cole Palmer, Marcus Rashford and Declan Rice have all pulled out of England’s squad for forthcoming Nations League matches.
Nottingham Forest midfielder Morgan Gibbs-White and Everton‘s James Garner have been called into the squad by manager Thomas Tuchel and will join the squad on Tuesday.
Tuchel said on Friday that 26-year-old Gibbs-White, who has six international caps, was close to being included in the initial squad.
Palmer, 24, had been recalled by Tuchel after being controversially left out of England’s World Cup squad but has withdrawn with a minor injury.
Tuchel previously said Palmer had a “point to prove” and needed “to step up” to “keep his shirt and justify the nomination”.
The Three Lions face World Cup winners Spain at Wembley on Saturday, 26 September, then travel to the Czech Republic (29 September) and Croatia (3 October) before hosting the Czechs on 6 October in an extended international break.
Manchester United duo Rashford and Mainoo were assessed by their club after being taken off in the closing stages of Sunday’s 1-1 draw at Fulham.
Rice, who played the full game for Arsenal in their 3-0 defeat by Brighton, will also be unavailable to Tuchel, along with Livramento, who has been limited to three substitute appearances for Newcastle United this season.
The England medical department and all their counterparts at each of the clubs have agreed the five players can withdraw. No specific details have been released to the media on the nature of the injuries.
Former England forward Andros Townsend avoided serious injury after being run over by a pitch roller as he warmed up at half-time in a Thailand league match.
Published On 20 Sep 202620 Sep 2026
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Derbyshire Police said they were investigating an alleged assault but have now decided no further action will be taken.
Published On 18 Sep 202618 Sep 2026
England fast bowler Brydon Carse will face no charges after an investigation into an alleged assault was closed by Derbyshire Police, the force has said.
But the 31-year-old remains subject to a separate probe by the Cricket Regulator, the disciplinary arm of the English game, who will assess if he has a case to answer under their regulations.
Carse was handcuffed by officers after a celebratory night out with Durham teammates on August 23 in Derby, central England, and it was later confirmed he had been arrested on suspicion of being drunk and disorderly, before being “de-arrested” after agreeing to depart.
Derbyshire Police said they were investigating an alleged assault in connection with the incident but have now decided no further action will be taken.
In a statement on Friday, the force said: “An investigation into reports of an assault in Derby city centre has been closed.
“Officers attended Molly Malones in the Wardwick, Derby, in the early hours of Sunday 23 August. A man was arrested on suspicion of being drunk and disorderly and was then de-arrested after his details were taken by officers.”
Subsequent enquiries were made pursuing the allegations of an assault but, after the alleged victim was identified and spoken to, no further action was taken, police said.
Videos of Carse’s arrest were released on social media, with Carse seen talking to Durham teammate Matthew Potts, while former England captain Ben Stokes – who also plays for northeast county Durham – was pictured in the background.
Carse, who has taken 58 wickets in 14 Tests at a shade more than 30 apiece, has continued playing for Durham since the episode took place, helping the side win the Second Division title in the first-class County Championship.
But he has been overlooked by England.
Carse was immediately removed from the squad before the second Test against Pakistan, then left out of the final match too, having not been selected on cricketing grounds for the opening encounter of a series where England whitewashed the tourists 3-0.
While officially available for selection for the ongoing white-ball series against Sri Lanka, he was again omitted.
England’s limited-overs head coach Brendon McCullum, speaking earlier this week, reminded his side of their off-field responsibilities, adding: “I’ve spoken to Carsey a lot and it’s the same message – you need to make good decisions off the field that allow you to be able to be the best version of yourself.
“As far as Carsey is concerned, it’s a good chance for him now to get his house in order and then push for selection for the next opportunity that arises.”
Carse’s arrest was the latest in a series of alcohol-fuelled controversies that have dogged England since their disastrous tour of New Zealand and Australia at the end of last year.
Test captain Joe Root, speaking before the Lord’s Test, said he was “hacked off” by the growing list of drink-related incidents involving England cricketers.
Turning to Carse, he said, “I don’t think I’m speaking out of turn in saying he’s very upset, very apologetic and understands his actions. I’m sure when he gets his chance, he will say that himself.”
England’s impressive T20 form continues as they thrash Sri Lanka by six wickets in Cardiff to seal the series with a match to spare.
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Sami Mokbel: Rio Ngumoha and Lewis Hall are among the players to have been named in England manager Thomas Tuchel’s provisional squad for the forthcoming Nations League internationals, though it remains to be seen whether they make the final cut.
Liverpool winger Ngumoha was part of a contingent of young players that flew with the England senior squad for their pre-World Cup training camp in Palm Beach.
He was unexpectedly handed his debut in the warm-up game against New Zealand, impressing in a second-half cameo.
But the 18-year-old is yet to be picked in a full senior England squad – although he is in with a chance of being selected by Tuchel for the forthcoming games against Spain, the Czech Republic and Croatia.
Hall’s World Cup omission raised eyebrows given England entered the tournament without a natural left-back.
Before naming his full squad on Friday, Tuchel is required to submit a preliminary squad of players from which he will name his final party.
It is understood Bournemouth midfielder Alex Scott, Arsenal’s Myles Lewis-Skelly and Everton’s Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall are also among the names selected in Tuchel’s extended list.
Attacking duo Cole Palmer and Phil Foden are on there too, after being two of the biggest omissions from Tuchel’s squad for the World Cup.
That decision was deemed a mistake from certain circles, given they are two of English football’s most creative players.
Meanwhile, Tuchel is expected to omit Jordan Henderson, Dean Henderson and John Stones because of injury.
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The ‘Old Lady of Threadneedle Street’ has chosen to wait, though not unanimously.
The Monetary Policy Committee voted by a majority of six to three on Thursday to leave borrowing costs unchanged, with the dissenting trio pushing for a quarter-point increase to 4%.
The decision puts the Bank of England at odds with the Federal Reserve and the European Central Bank, both of which have tightened within the past week.
Despite holding, the central bank expects the situation to worsen before it improves.
Inflation “is likely to rise further over coming quarters,” the committee said, pointing to crude and refined energy prices that have climbed again since its last meeting and remain “more volatile and higher than pre-conflict.”
The case for holding rests on what has not yet happened.
“There has been little evidence so far of material second-round effects in price and wage-setting,” the statement read, meaning expensive energy is not yet feeding into broader wages and prices.
However, that reprieve may be temporary.
The risk of such effects “is greater the longer higher energy prices persist or are more volatile,” the committee warned, adding that risks to the inflation outlook are “tilted to the upside, and more so than at the time of the July Monetary Policy Report.”
Brent crude and UK wholesale gas prices have risen 36% and 78% respectively since July, with Brent at $106 a barrel and gas at 207 pence per therm on 14 September.
Refinery pressures have kept crack spreads, the gap between refined fuel prices and crude, well above pre-conflict levels.
Economic activity has held up slightly better than expected, while a soft labour market and the higher borrowing costs households and businesses have faced since the conflict began should bring inflation down over time.
The Fed raised its benchmark on Wednesday to a range of 3.75% to 4%, its first increase since 2023 and a unanimous decision, while signalling more to come.
The ECB lifted its deposit rate to 2.5% last week.
The sequence concludes on Friday with the Bank of Japan, where markets expect a hike.
That would leave the Bank of England as the only major central bank to have stood still this week, though on Thursday’s evidence not by much.
Additional sources • AP
THERE’S lots of exciting things happening in 2027 across England, with plenty to interest all ages.
From the opening of the world’s first Minecraft land to a beautiful resort in Oxfordshire and the reopening of a funicular cliff lift in Kent – these spots should be on your radar.
If you’re a fan of the Minecraft video game, head to Chessington World of Adventures in Surrey for the opening of an immersive new land.
Minecraft World will cost £50million and will also have the first ever Minecraft coaster.
There will be other interactive features too like “epic block built playscapes” along with themed food and drink stores and a gift shop.”
It’s easy to make a day of it too by checking out the other 40 rides and attractions at the theme park.
Over at Paultons Park in Hampshire, the theme park will be opening its very first water coaster.
Called Serpent’s Curse, it will be an exciting new addition Valgard: Realm of the Vikings and it will be one of the biggest rides ever built in the theme park.
The watercoaster will be 471-metres long, with top speeds of 44mph and will open next spring.
For ride enthusiasts the details say that it will have ‘a lift hill, fast-flowing twists and curves, and a dramatic plunge into a final splashdown.’
The exact date of the opening of the ride is yet to be confirmed.
Blackpool Pleasure Beach is known for having it all, and it’s about to reopen a much- loved attraction, the River Caves.
The classic water ride first opened in 1905 before closing in 2024 due to technical complications – it will reopen next year after a period of “reimagination”.
It’s one of the oldest operating dark rides in the world and takes visitors through Ancient Egypt and lost jungles past dinosaurs and temples on a boat.
Amanda Jean Thompson OBE, the managing director of Pleasure Beach Resort teased some details, she said: “What I can tell you is what will remain – the Egyptian scene will remain but it and the Angkor Wat scene, which is so integral to Aviktas will remain, but rethemed and redone.”
She added: “I think the Blue Grotto may stay because I particularly like that area. The rest will be new and remains top secret for now, because I keep changing my mind.”
For anyone heading to Blackpool, another must-do is head to Sandcastle Waterpark which was recently voted the best waterpark in the country.
It’s kept at a toasty 29C and has more than 18 waterslides and attractions including a spa.
Don’t forget to pop into the seafront Wetherspoons either – called Velvet Coaster, it sits right on the front with views across the pleasure beach.
It’s across three floors, there’s a beer garden on the ground floor, a balcony on the first floor, and a roof garden on the pub’s highest level.
Work has officially started on the £100 million Eden Project in Morecambe and the majority will open in 2028.
But part of it will actually open next year – and it will be completely free to enter.
Called the Bring Me Sunshine Garden, it will have tall Austrian pine trees, grasses, a natural flower meadow as well as a solar-powered, shell-shaped outdoor pavilion and classroom that harvests rainwater.
The garden was shown off at the 2026 RHS Chelsea Flower Show and will open as a permanent part of the Eden Project in Morecambe in spring 2027.
The rest of the Eden Project Morecambe is scheduled to fully open in winter 2028.
There’s plenty to see in Morecambe like the Happy Mount Park, the Eric Morecambe Statue and The Smugglers Den pub all rated highly on TripAdvisor.
If you love the Kent coast, Folkestone might be the seaside town to visit next year as its funicular lift is set to open after being closed for 10 years.
Folkestone’s Leas Lift first opened in 1885 and was forced to close back in 2017.
But a long campaign has finally seen restoration works start – and it’s set to reopen in 2027.
The £6.6million works will restore the main systems, which connect the top of the cliff to the beach.
The cafe is also being restored, along with the waiting room and addition of an outdoor terrace.
It remains one of the oldest in the UK, and one of just three of its kind left, being a water-balance funicular.
Along with its beach, the town has its own art trail, including a 2014 Banksy, as well as the Antony Gormley cast iron statues and ‘Folkestone Mermaid,’ similar to the one in Copenhagen.
Pop by its Artist’s Quarter to see local artwork and coffee shops.
If a bit of R&R is part of your 2027 plans then perhaps a trip to Oxfordshire is on the cards.
CABÜ is set to open a new resort just outside of the Cotswolds – and it will be the third of its kind in the UK.
It will have beautiful luxury cabins, a relaxing nature spa as well as indoor and outdoor swimming pools.
There will be a new range of 51 “ultra- cool timber cabins” which will have either one, two or three bedrooms.
Guests will be able to use all of the facilities which include a nature spa, hot tubs, saunas and plunge bucket.
There will be an indoor swimming pool too surrounded by loungers and huge windows which will let in lots of natural light.
During the warmer months, guests can enjoy the outdoor pool – also on site will be a shop, restaurant, two bars and a studio events space.
The resort will open in Langley and will be a short distance from popular Cotswolds villages like Bourton-on-the-Water, Stow-on-the-Wold and Burford.
If you’re looking for a holiday park break next year, then two Parkdean Resorts are getting major makeovers for spring 2027.
The first is Thorness Bay on the north-west coast of the Isle of Wight.
Added to the site will be the new Hat-Tricks Sports Bar with pool and darts.
Joe’s American Grill is its new dining and there will be Minigolf & Adventure Activities which include high ropes, low ropes and climbing wall.
The second resort undergoing an upgrade is Skipsea Sands in East Riding of Yorkshire.
As part of a £5million makeover, it has recently added a Clip & Climb wall, Bear Grylls Escape Rooms and Fairground Golf.
If you fancy a trip to the seaside this summer, one of the biggest hotels in Paignton is getting a huge refurb.
The Redcliffe Hotel is set to open in early 2027 and when it does, it will have been closed for a full year for the refurbishment.
The hotel has Indian-style architecture and sits right next to Paignton Beach and Preston Sands.
During the refurb, the 67-room hotel will be reduced to 55 rooms and the ground floor function room will be converted into guest rooms.
There will be a new restaurant and bar, and enhanced spa facilities.
Outside, there will be a restaurant patio with seating pods, planters and benches, terraced terraced gardens, guest patios and a refurbished outdoor pool area as well.
If you want to find a slice of Greece in Devon, then head to Elberry Cove which sits on the South West Coast Path between Paignton and Brixham and has crystal clear waters.
Schools in England are to get around £500 million in extra funding towards the teachers’ pay award this school year, reducing the risk of a strike ballot by the largest education union.
Schools had been expected to fund some of the 3.5% teachers pay increase for the current school year out of their existing budgets, which National Education Union (NEU) leaders had strongly objected to.
Daniel Kebede, the General Secretary of the NEU, said the offer of more funding was a “significant” step in negotiations.
In a letter to the union on Wednesday, which has been seen by the BBC, the government said the increase would be funded by savings in employers’ contributions to the local government pension scheme.
The letter said the 4.9 percentage point drop in what employers are expected to contribute will deliver “significant savings” on the pay bill for support staff, which will not be clawed back by central government.
The National Education Union said it expected the extra money to be around £500m, which schools can now use towards teachers pay this year.
In July, ministers accepted the recommendation of the independent pay review body for teachers and agreed a 3.5% increase from September 2026 would be followed by 3% the following year.
The pay increase had been partly funded by an additional £700m for 2026-27 and £1.1bn for the following year.
Independent economists at the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) said that left schools facing a shortfall of around 1% between rising costs and funding this year.
Luke Sibieta, IFS research fellow, said the extra money would mean the pay increase this year was fully funded – and on top of other funding increases, schools would be £1.6bn better off by next year than they had expected this summer.
The additional money could potentially bring the uplift for this year into line with next year.
Kebede said schools has been “running on empty” and the funding signalled “a welcome return to reality, and a message of hope for the entire school community”.
Paul Whiteman, General Secretary of the National Association of Headteachers, said the decision is “certainly welcome”, putting schools in a “better position”.
He said his union would look carefully at the detail “to determine whether this means the pay uplift is genuinely fully funded” for schools.
Pepe Di’Iasio, General Secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, said he was “pleased” at the announcement of additional funding but “the wider pressure on school and college budgets remains intense”.
Similarly, the NASUWT union welcomed the news. General Secretary Matt Wrack added schools needed “a sustainable, long-term injection of extra funding” to meet the needs of young people.
In an indicative ballot by the NEU in April, 90% of teachers who voted said they would be prepared to take industrial action over funding and pay, on a turnout of 48%.
A formal ballot was due to begin on 3 October and close 15 December, raising the prospects of teachers pay strikes early in 2027.
The national executive of the NEU will meet on 24 September to consider whether to call that off following the additional funding on offer from the government.
A spokesperson for Education Secretary Lucy Powell said the government was “confident schools can now meet the costs of the award at a national level”.
“The Secretary of State has been clear from day one that supporting teacher recruitment, retention and wellbeing, and rebuilding the relationship with the profession, are among her top priorities.”
THE 40 most trendy spots in the world have been announced, and three neighbourhoods in the UK have made it onto the list.
The locations were chosen by Time Out’s on-the-ground experts based on criteria like food and drink, nightlife and liveability – so which ones came out on top?
According to Time Out, one of the best neighbourhoods is Govanhill in Glasgow – it came in fifth place.
Just beating it to the punch were Jongno 3-ga in Seoul, the L’Ocean District in Rabat, Neos Kosmos in Athens and Chinatown in Los Angeles.
Talking about Govanhill, the publication described it as for years being “Shawlands‘ rougher little sibling”.
But over the past few years it has been transformed with trendy new bars, bookshops and brunch spots.
It added: “Gen Z are migrating from West End bars and brunch spots to trendy new spots in Govanhill, injecting this once-overlooked sandstone suburb with quirkiness and energy.”
When it comes to pubs, Time Out suggests popping into the Bell Jar or the Rose Reilly.
Reporter for the Scottish Sun Oliver Norton gave us the inside track on the neighbourhood, he said: “The Govanhill district of Glasgow has just been voted the fifth coolest neighbourhood in the world.
I’m not surprised.
“I don’t live there, but I spend a lot of time in the area as it’s home to some of my favourite people and places.
“There’s always something going on, and the multicultural vibe has totally transformed what some once considered a deprived dump.
“The area in the south side of the city is home to around 17,000 people and has experienced a visible wave of gentrification over recent years.”
Oliver continued: “It is now home to people from at least 52 different nationalities speaking over 88 different languages, also making it Scotland’s most culturally diverse neighbourhood.
“As a regular visitor, I’ve experienced how dedication from local activists, entrepreneurs and creatives has helped raise the profile of the area and made it a welcoming home to many.
“Time Out, which tipped Govanhill among its top five cool neighbourhoods, hailed it for it for the ‘vibrant community spirit, independent shops, and creative culture’.
“And that’s a fair assessment.
“When visiting, I like to swing by Cibo, an Italian kitchen and deli, or one of the trendy cafes before browsing through local book and record shops.
“Later in the day, the area comes alive thanks to some of Glasgow’s best pubs – far away from the stress of the city centre.
“Personal favourites include McNeill’s Bar or Ryan’s Bar where some of the city’s finest DJs and selectors have provided the soundtrack to many a night.
“Pubs like The Rose Reilly or the The Bell Jar, both name-checked by Time Out, are great for relaxed drinks with friends.
“Govanhill also hosts regular arts and music festivals, concerts and exhibitions which draw people from across the city and beyond, especially during the summer.
“My personal highlights this year include the Sub Club Southside Weekender with house pioneer Kerri Chandler and Detroit techno legend Robert Hood’s Floorplan project.
“Queen’s Park, which is great for a walk or a picnic with friends, also hosts regular events, including concerts, film screenings and entertainment for kids.
“In July, Libertines front man Pete Doherty headlined the annual Recovery Connects festival which is alcohol-free and aimed at supporting people in recovery.”
“The Govanhill Street Music Festival and the Govanhill International Festival and Carnival are also hot tips for music and art lovers planning to visit.”
Two other UK spots made the list – and coming in 24th position is the Cathedral Quarter in Belfast.
It was described as having “cobbled lanes and old warehouses house galleries, gig spaces, restaurants, yoga studios and enduring cultural institutions.”
Travel Reporter Jenna Stevens said: “Whether you’re wanting a pint in a pretty setting, the city’s coolest souvenir shopping or a backdrop for your Instagram pictures, the Cathedral Quarter is the place to be in Belfast.
“The area is anchored by St Anne’s Cathedral, where cobbled streets branch out to reveal buzzy bars, pubs and independent shops.
“Once an old warehouse district, this trendy quarter is now the city’s creative heart. Victorian warehouses that used to store linen and rope now house art galleries and indie coffee shops.
“Red brick walls are plastered with impressive murals of hyper-realistic portraits and landscapes.
“It also hosts many of the city’s festivals, including the yearly Cathedral Quarter Arts Festival packed with comedy, street theatre and arts, and a hilarious Improv Festival in September.
“The Metropolitan Arts Centre is always switching up with the latest theatre and art exhibitions, while the Golden Thread Gallery and Oh Yeah Music Centre are a shrine to the city’s musical heritage, celebrating artists from Van Morrison to Snow Patrol.
“When it comes to shopping, here you’re trading bland malls for independent gems. Hill Street and Commercial Court house vintage clothing, boutiques and specialist shops.
“One must-visit is The Friend in Hand, a whiskey shop and museum that feels like a Harry Potter wand shop, with warm orange lighting filling the small wooden space.
“Inside you’ll find a plethora of Irish whiskeys, including the Writers’ Tears collection celebrating the city’s best authors. King Charles and Queen Camilla even visited in 2025, and you’ll see a framed photo of them propped up at the till.
“Then there’s the food and drink scene, which is one of the quarter’s biggest draws.”
Jenna added: “The Dirty Onion and Yardbird is a popular pub housed in Belfast’s oldest building, which puts on traditional music seven nights a week and has a massive beer garden. You can grab a crispy fried chicken burger for £13.50, or a rack of ribs smothered in sauce for £25.50.
“The Muddlers Club is a more modern spot, serving Michelin small plates in an eight-course tasting menu for £80pp – which is great if you have a special occasion to celebrate.
“As for cheap eats, Common Market is a giant food hall where you can grab dirty loaded fries, gyros, wings and more to sink down with a perfectly-poured pint. Lunch here will cost around £8 – £15.
“For something sweet, Established Coffee does a banging banoffee french toast and lemon meringue pie, plus unique drinks like an apple pie latte (£4.80).
“Whether you’re after a cosy traditional pub, a vintage clothes shop or industrial cocktail bar, the Cathedral Quarter offers them all – often on the same street.
“Oh, and make sure to visit Commercial Court when it gets dark to get that classic picture underneath the neon-lit hanging umbrellas.”
The last spot in the UK to make the list is the neighbourhood of Newington Green in London which came in at number 33.
Time Out describes Newington Green as a mix of old and new London.
The publication said: “These days it’s brimming with brilliance. From newly forged, hipstery gastropub Golden Tooth and small-herd butcher-cum-nightclub Stella’s to legendary Turkish seafood joint Sariyer Balik and the old Mildmay Club, Newington Green successfully combines both new and old London.”
Some of the top spots are Jolene, a trendy bakery and restaurant that is constantly popping up on Instagram thanks to its daily rotating menu, pastries, and natural wines.
There’s a trendy pizzeria called Bar Etna, Stella’s restaurant and the Army & Navy pub.
YOU’VE probably strolled past the Tower of London at least once – but did you know it’s the city’s oldest tourist attraction?
Parts of it have been open to the public since 1661, and it’s just started a new tour to meet eight of its feathery residents.
Called the Ravens Experience, the new early morning tour gives visitors a chance to meet all eight permanent residents, and early access to the tower itself.
The ravens are very important to the Tower of London as the legend is that if the birds ever leave, the country will fall to ruin.
Dubbed a ‘truly unique early mornings experience’, the new tour starts at 8.15am.
It begins with a 45-minute talk from a Yeoman Warder (a guardian of the Tower of London) about the ravens – before the cage is opened.
Visitors can learn more about the ravens named Harris, Jubilee, Poppy, Edgar, Georgie, Chaos, Henry and Poe.
There’s a chance to take pictures and see them being released into the tower too.
The ticket also includes early entry to the Tower which means you skip the admission queue and are first in line as the Crown Jewels exhibition opens
And ticket holders get access to all public areas of the Tower of London.
Tickets for adults are £90, children between 5-16 are £50.00, concession tickets are £70 and under 5s go free – you have to book the tour in advance.
Building work first started work in 1078, so the historical attraction has been standing for almost 950 years.
Parts of it were first accessible since 1661 when the Crown Jewels were first put on display.
Other events at the Tower of London include Halloween special when the past will ‘creep back to life’.
There will be special visits from the ghostly past residents including a poet, pirate a queen, an astronomer – even a bear.
The Halloween trail is more family-friendly than scary and will take place between October 24 and November 1.
For those on Universal Credit, general admission tickets cost £1 each.
It was recently announced that the Tower of London will undergo a £70million project as it opens community spaces and learning centres.
England overcome early tremors to win third Test against Pakistan by eight wickets, clinching a series whitewash.
Published On 12 Sep 202612 Sep 2026
Joe Root led from the front as England survived a major wobble to beat Pakistan by eight wickets in the third Test at Edgbaston on Saturday, sealing a 3-0 series whitewash.
The home team, chasing just 130 to win, were in deep trouble when openers Ben Duckett and Emilio Gay were dismissed in the first over, bowled by Mohammad Abbas.
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Root, England’s record runscorer, edged his first ball, bowled by Razaullah, through the slips for four in a nervy start but settled and scored quickly to take the sting out of the situation.
The skipper was given a huge reprieve when he chopped onto the stumps off Mohammad Ali, only for the umpire to signal a no-ball, leaving the bowler distraught.
Root, with Jordan Cox at the other end, had another let-off when he edged an Abbas delivery between first and second slip, with neither fielder moving.
But he reached his half-century off 57 balls with a cut for four, and Cox matched him shortly afterwards.
England reached their target in the 25th over, with Root unbeaten on 62 and Cox 59 not out.
Root, in his second spell as England skipper after the departure of Ben Stokes, admitted his team were not the finished article but said he was delighted with their series win.
“The amount of uncertainty, noise and I guess chaos there was coming into the series, the way the guys have dealt with that – being so clinical with what we’ve had in front of us – and be stood here with a 3-0 win is really pleasing,” Root told Sky Sports.
“It sets us up nicely looking ahead to the start of a new era with (new head coach) Stephen Fleming coming in.”
It is England’s first Test series win since 2024, while Pakistan have now lost 16 of their last 21 games and are bottom of the World Test Championship table.
Root’s men had appeared set for a quickfire win inside three days on Friday before debutant fast bowler Razaullah launched an audacious assault with the bat, clubbing nine sixes as he raced to 81 off 63 balls.
The 21-year-old number nine, who also took four wickets in England’s first innings, put on 121 for the ninth wicket with fellow paceman Abbas (42) as England floundered.
“We had a little bit of pushback yesterday which, in a strange way, was quite a good thing for the group,” said Root.
“Fair play to Razaullah; he made things difficult for us. He played some wonderful shots and made it very difficult to set fields to. He struck the ball nicely – I don’t know how he didn’t pull a muscle, swinging the bat that hard.”
Razaullah’s heroics have changed the mood music, but they came too little, too late for Pakistan, who have endured a miserable series, losing the first Test by an innings and 103 runs and the second by 194 runs.
The tourists sent seven players home after their crushing defeat in the second Test at Lord’s and brought in seven replacements, with Razaullah among them.
They also sacked head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed and assistant Umar Gul as their tour plunged into chaos.
Pakistan made four changes to their side for the third Test, and they put up a fight despite being dismissed for a paltry 133 in their first innings.
Captain Babar Azam admitted his team would have to take stock after a one-sided series.
“Before we came here, we had to think about different things and to decide our team,” he said.
“We had a couple of changes after losing two matches. Playing in England is very difficult. We were trying to do our best in the third match.
“We need to sit down and look hard at our mistakes, decide our playing XI.”
The 3-0 whitewash is a huge tonic for England, who were in turmoil just weeks ago following a series loss to New Zealand and the exits of head coach Brendon McCullum and captain Stokes.
But tougher challenges lie ahead, starting with a Test series in South Africa in December and January, while a home Ashes looms next year.
Captain Joe Root and Jordan Cox helped England fight back from an early scare as the hosts recovered from 2-2, to successfully chase down 130 and wrap up an eight-wicket win and a 3-0 series clean sweep against Pakistan at Edgbaston.
READ MORE: England survive scare to sweep Pakistan series
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FOURTEEN British cities are eyeing up a new “tourist tax” meaning tourists and Brits heading on staycations will face paying hundreds more for their trip.
This comes as Andy Burnham approved the plans yesterday (September 10) to add five per cent to overnight stays.
Yesterday, the prime minister announced plans to allow mayors to impose an uncapped charge on overnight stays, although Labour mayors have pledged to cap the new fee at 5 per cent or below.
The additional fee would be added to hotel bills, and apply to those staying overnight in hotels and holiday lets including Airbnb and guesthouses.
All visitors, regardless of nationality and reason for visit, will have to pay it. It will be uncapped, meaning mayors can choose how much to charge.
The money would then be used to fund local amenities such as public transport and infrastructure.
Cities and regions that may soon introduce the additional charge include London, Liverpool, Bristol and Bath.
As well as cultural hubs such as Durham, Manchester, York and Newcastle.
Earlier, the government had promised to protect budget holidays “by making sure low-cost accommodation always pays lowest levy” and said the extra cash would be invested in high streets.
However, the chief executive of UKHospitality, Allen Simpson, warned the BBC that the new charge could add nearly £100 to £120 to the average cost of a UK family holiday.
This also comes at a time where the hospitality industry has already suffered from rises to Employer National Insurance and the minimum wage, costing the sector billions.
However, these would not be the first regions in the UK to implement the new charge – which could come as early as 2028.
In Manchester, a “city visitor charge” of £1 per room per night already applies to some hotels, however the new tourist charge would replace it.
BIRMINGHAM, England: Rain prevented England from putting Pakistan in a deeper hole than 52-2 and 268 runs behind on day two of the Edgbaston cricket test on Thursday.
Pakistan walked out after tea 320 runs behind to begin its second innings in gloomy, lights-on conditions perfectly suited for England’s four-man pace attack which has dominated the series.
Pakistan has yet to crack a 200 total, and Ollie Robinson was the man of the moment again.
Robinson got Saim Ayub to nick to the slips off the first ball and became only the fifth bowler in test history to twice take a wicket with the first ball of an innings in a series. The last person was Zaheer Khan for India against Bangladesh in 2007. Bill Voce was the only previous Englishman in 1937 against Australia.
Ayub was playing Twenty20s in the Caribbean 10 days ago but was summoned in mid-series in a panic call by the Pakistan Cricket Board to play his first test in 20 months. He bagged a pair.
Robinson struck again with his fourth ball, nicking off Abdullah Shafique.
That made Pakistan start 0-2 for the sixth time ever in tests and the second time against England. The other was at the same ground in 1982. The bowler was Ian Botham.
From 0-2, Azan Awais and Shan Masood dug out Pakistan to 52-2 in 12 overs. Awais had 29 and Masood 21 after being dropped on 13 by Ben Duckett off the luckless Gus Atkinson.
Wet weather came sooner than forecast and guaranteed Pakistan lived to fight at least one more day in a three-test series already lost. England, up 2-0, should complete the sweep on Saturday with no test going the distance.
Fifties and no hundreds again
England began the day already in front with a lead of 23 at 156-4.
In two sessions, 50 overs, they added 297 runs at a pacy 5.9, its fastest rate on any day all summer. Three more batters scored fifties to add to Emilio Gay’s gritty 60 and Harry Brook’s unbeaten 52 on Wednesday but the effort looked nothing like Bazball.
However, Brook, Dan Lawrence, Jamie Smith and less so Robinson would have thought a century was at their mercy.
The former trio spent more than two hours at the crease, three hours in Brook’s case, but all fell tamely and showed obvious frustration to miss out on a century on a fair pitch against a popgun attack.
Brook ran himself out on 75, Lawrence dragged on on 65, and Smith chipped back to fast bowler Razaullah Khan on 69.
Robinson’s breezy 50 from 47 balls highlighted the merciless contribution from the tailenders of 116 runs and 15 boundaries.
Brook resumed on a restrained 52 and Dan Lawrence on 5, and in sunny conditions they plundered seven runs per over in the first hour.
Brook then mistakenly took on Shan Masood at midwicket and has now been involved in five run outs in tests — only Virat Kohli (6) has been in more. Brook has gone 11 tests without a century but was still averaging more than 40.
Lawrence, filling Ben Stokes’ old spot, had in hand his third fifty in three tests when he chopped on. He gave up an agonizing “No” and Mohammad Imran’s first test wicket.
“Bitterly disappointed to get out in the 60s,” Lawrence said. “Something I’ve prided myself on this season is kicking on. I really wanted a big hundred today.
Pakistan still went to lunch with an air of resignation as Smith collected an unbeaten 47 of the 143 runs in the session.
Smith got his third 50 of the summer straight after lunch by crashing Razaullah through the covers, but Razaullah got him caught and bowled on 69.
No. 9 batter Robinson greeted the new ball by lofting Mohammad Abbas for six over cow corner and got his second 50 of the season from 46 balls. The entertainment was ended by a good catch from Masood in the covers.
Demoralised tourists reach 52-2 before rain ends play early on day two, needing 268 runs to make England bat again.
Published On 10 Sep 202610 Sep 2026
Ollie Robinson continued his outstanding summer with two wickets in his opening over as England pushed Pakistan towards defeat in the third Test at Edgbaston.
Robinson, man of the match in the first two Tests, struck with the first ball of Pakistan’s second innings on Thursday and again three deliveries later to leave England closing in on a 3-0 series whitewash.
The demoralised tourists reached 52-2 before rain ended play early on day two, needing 268 runs to make England bat again.
Robinson, 32, has been almost unplayable in this series, taking 21 wickets at an average of under seven runs each.
He continued in the same vein in Birmingham, removing Saim Ayub, who was dismissed for a duck in both innings, and then Abdullah Shafique to finish the day with figures of 2-10 from his six overs.
“He’s probably one of the most consistent bowlers in world cricket. He knows what he’s doing with the ball, and he wears you down a bit so it’s a challenge,” said Pakistan batting coach Mike Smith.
“He has bowled exceptionally well, and he’s in a little purple patch as a player. We need to find a way to combat that as well as we can.”
Shan Masood, who was dropped at slip by Ben Duckett off Gus Atkinson, was still there on 21 at the close, alongside opener Azan Awais on 29, but Pakistan’s position appears hopeless.
England, who led by 23 overnight, had earlier pressed the accelerator to extend their first-innings advantage to a daunting 320.
They made 453 with Harry Brook and Dan Lawrence extending their fifth-wicket partnership to 86 until Brook set off for an impossible single and was run out by Masood for 75 from 97 balls.
Lawrence went on to make 65 from 82 balls before dragging a wide ball onto his stumps to give Mohammad Imran his first Test wicket. It was a third Test half-century in a row for Lawrence, who was recalled after a two-year absence for this series.
“I’m really happy with how I’ve contributed,” said Lawrence. “I was feeling really good today, got on a bit of a roll with Brooky and went with it.
“I thought I was going to make a really big score, to be honest. It wasn’t to be, but I think if I’d been offered 65 at the start of the day, I’d have taken it.”
There was also a welcome half-century from the out-of-form Jamie Smith, who overcame an uncertain start and a finger injury, which caused him to hand over the wicketkeeping gloves to Jordan Cox, to strike 69 off 84 balls including one six and nine fours.
It was his highest Test score since a second-innings 88 against India on the same ground 14 months ago.
Robinson chimed in with a 50 of his own, which included a huge six into the Hollies Stand off Mohammad Abbas, before becoming Razaullah’s fourth victim.
The blooding of the 21-year-old, who had only played eight first-class games prior to his call-up, was one of the few positives for Pakistan.
While he was expensive – he conceded 148 runs off his 23 overs – he posed a threat with his pace and aggression.
Razaullah may represent a brighter future for Pakistan, but the present remains bleak for a team that has lost 15 of its last 20 Tests.
