Essex

FORGET Mykonos, Saint Tropez and Dubai – if you want to holiday like a celebrity, there are plenty of spots loved by A-listers in the UK.

From English seaside towns to tiny Welsh village, all of these places are loved by celebrities – and you’re likely to see them there too.

Mawgan Porth

Cornwall is sprinkled with beautiful beaches and pretty fishing villages, but there’s one spot in particular that has become a favourite hideaway for A-listers.

The small coastal village of Mawgan Porth is quite often less busy than other towns which is another reason why it’s drawn in celebrity names – it’s even been nicknamed Hollywood-on-Sea.

The likes of Cate Blanchett, Stanley Tucci and Jason Statham have properties in the area, while other big names have also been spotted.

Aquaman star Jason Momoa has been reportedly eyeing up a property in the town.

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Other stars including Jamie Dornan and Chris Martin also reportedly have homes in the area.

The small hamlet has a pretty beach and eating spots like the Ship Inn, the New Yard Restaurant and Fat Apples Cafe.

It’s also equal distance between Newquay and Padstow – so it’s very easy to get to both seaside towns.

Cotswolds ‘Golden Triangle’

The Cotswolds is known as being an idyllic place with classic English-looking villages – some of which are the most beautiful in the world.

It attracts visitors from all over the world and is even home to celebrities, especially in three villages considered the ‘Golden Triangle‘.

One of the towns is Chipping Norton, which is where a number of famous celebs live including the Beckhams, Jeremy Clarkson and Kate Moss.

Jeremy Clarkson’s Diddly Squat Farm Shop is also found here.

It’s even been said that at The Chequers, which is the local pub, you might even see David Beckham enjoying a pint.

Another town in the Golden Circle is Stow-on-the-Wold which is close to where Kate Winslet reportedly owns a countryside retreat.

The third place that makes up the Golden Triangle is Burford and it’s been rumoured that Hugh Grant owns a rustic country cottage nearby.

Surprisingly, celebrities have been spotted at Burford Garden Centre, which is considered one of the fanciest in the country.

Beyonce and Jay Z were rumoured to have been spotted there before.

Southend-on-Sea

In recent years, the Essex town of Southend-on-Sea has become an unlikely hotspot for some of the UK’s best-known TV personalities.

Actress Michelle Keegan has been spotted in the area and last year, spent her first Mother’s Day as a mum at the Roslin Beach Hotel on Thorpe Bay.

The Roslin Beach Hotel has also been open to guests like Gary Barlow, Tyson Fury, Denise van Outen. Some TOWIE stars have visited too, including Frankie Essex.

Another spot in Southend that has had celebrity visitors is Leigh-on-Sea.

One local called Karen who works at the Osborne Cafe and Seafood merchant on the seafront, previously told The Sun: “We’ve had Boris Johnson, Priti Patel, Prime minister Rishi – oh and Bridget Jones’ dad – Jim Broadbent.

“Jedward were down with Gemma Collins, The Hairy Bikers, Denise Welch.”

Leigh-on-Sea is the hometown of Helen Mirren, who moved there as a child.

The trendy seaside town has lots to explore like its high street filled with pubs, tearooms and cafes.

Some of the most popular spots include Ye Olde Smack, which overlooks the Thames Estuary, as well as the neighbouring The Boatyard.

Broadway is the spot for independent shops, antique stores and plenty of boutiques like Just Fox, Heatherbie of Leigh and The Magic Wardrobe.

Mumbles, Wales

This popular coastal village in Swansea is considered the gateway to the Gower Peninsula.

It’s also considered an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty where you’ll find the ruins of an old castle, a lighthouse, a promenade, and the Swansea Bay Rider Land Train.

The village is a great shopping spot, with a number of high-end shops, independent boutiques, and galleries.

The Times called the Gower Peninsula the best place to live in Wales in 2025.

So it’s no wonder that it’s drawn in some well-known celebrity faces like Bonnie Tyler and Catherine Zeta Jones.

WHEN Joey Essex was pictured getting close with newly single Love Island star Priya Jaswal earlier this month, many hoped it was the start of the latest reality TV romance. 

But The Sun can reveal that despite their late-night flirtation things have not been heating up between the Towie icon and the Surrey-born beauty for one very surprising reason. 

Even though Joey has acquired something of a lothario reputation – dating a bevvy of beauties including Jesy Potts and Sam Faiers, since rising to fame on the ITV reality show in 2011 – he’s got his eyes on a very different sort of prize, I’m told. 

A source tells me: “Priya and Joey spent the evening laughing and joking away so many assumed it could turn into something more serious.

“But Joey is taking a break from women and sex at the moment. In fact, he’s taken a vow of chastity.

“He’s got this big boxing match next month and he’s taking it very seriously.

“He is determined to win and has been sweating it out in the gym and is going to give it everything he has got.

“So Joey is on a strict sex ban until after the fight.”

The 36-year-old TV star is scheduled for a Misfits Boxing match on October 10 against comedian Dapper Laughs – real name Daniel O’Reilly – at the Copper Box Arena, London. 

Misfits was launched in 2022 by YouTube star KSI and his manager Mams Taylor as the home for celebrity-style crossover bouts.

The effectiveness of sex bans before big sporting bouts is contested, but it is thought that Muhammad Ali abstained for six weeks prior to matches, as he believed avoiding sex preserved testosterone, focus and leg strength.

Joey is not the only modern day boxer to take a pre-match vow of chastity.

Tyson Fury has also switched to no-sex preparations, instead of his previous method of masturbating furiously before matches. 

In 2022, ahead of his fight against Derek Chisora, Fury told Barstool Sports: “You know how I used to masturbate seven times per day to give me power?

“This time I’m celibate. I’m celibate for seven weeks until the fight. It’s a new method, I’m trying something out.

“I’m going in there with a loaded gun, someone’s getting in severe trouble.

“I’m gonna be testosteroned out of my head completely. Seven weeks’ worth.”

Joey’s stringent new regime will be a bitter blow for gorgeous Priya, 25, who is newly single after splitting from Love Island villa beau Aidan Murphy hours before the NTAs. 

Joey and Priya were inseparable at the after party at London’s O2 arena, looking cosy as they chatted for hours and then left the bash together.

They then carried on partying at the after-after party in the Skybar at the nearby Intercontinental Hotel.

A source said at the time: “Joey and Priya really hit it off and got close. We’ll have to see what happens.

“Obviously Priya is very fresh to showbiz and just out of her connection with Aidan so we’ll see.”

However, according to sources, the pair swapped numbers and exchanged messages since their fun night out together. 

It is not the first time that Joey has been linked to a Love Island beauty. 

The London-born star even did his own stint in the villa in 2024, entering on the evening of Day 1 as the first “bombshell” of the series. Essex was the first celebrity to appear on the revived version of the show.

Joey was linked to model Grace Jackson, with whom he reportedly enjoyed a whirlwind romance for around six weeks in early 2024 after meeting in Dubai.

However, their relationship ended abruptly, leaving Grace feeling “hurt and confused” by Joey’s decision to break up.

The situation took an unexpected turn when Grace entered the Love Island villa on June 13, 2024, much to Joey’s shock.

It certainly called fireworks and became the drama of the season.

He was initially coupled up with Samantha Kenny, but later swayed toward bombshell Grace, leading to explosive arguments and mixed signals.

Joey then later turned his attention to another bombshell, Jessy Potts. This transition caused massive fallout with Grace, resulting in explosive arguments that dominated the screen time.

But it was not meant to be. Joey Essex and Jessy Potts confirmed their split on September 18, 2024.

The break up came just seven weeks after they left the Love Island villa together.

Despite their initial connection, both Joey and Jessy cited their busy schedules as a significant factor contributing to their breakup.

Jessy said that they “tried to make it work”, but the demands of their post-villa lives made it challenging to maintain their relationship.

More recently Joey confirmed on The Sun’s Showbiz Fix that he is a single man, and if his boxing career continues to thrive, it might just stay that way.