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Looking for a staycation spot, pub for Sunday lunch, or just a day out? The VisitEngland Awards for Excellence 2026 have picked some of the best of English hospitality up and down the country – see who won awards near you

A new interactive map will let you search for some of England’s best pubs and days out near you – as well as those in different parts of the country and the best hotels in the regions if you’re planning a staycation.

The VisitEngland Awards for Excellence 2026 took place earlier this month, showcasing the best of what England has to offer whether that’s family-friendly attractions, brilliant days out, or even just the best restaurants and pubs not to be missed.

We’ve put together an interactive map showcasing the big winners, so you can discover some of the best of English hospitality on your own doorstep. Simply use the map and zoom in on your local region to find the best of the best.

England’s tourism industry is worth around £127 billion a year, and employs around two million people in a huge variety of jobs. At VisitEngland’s awards, winners included both small and large hotels, B&Bs, glamping operators, tourist attractions, restaurants, and pubs.

Among the winners of the awards were MonkBridge House in York, who scooped Gold in the coveted BandB and Guest House of the Year. This property has just eight individually designed rooms, some with four-poster beds, and is full of historic elegance.

Larger properties that won awards included Bovey Castle in Devon, which is set on 275 acres of countryside including a golf course, spa, and restaurant. While those who enjoy the great outdoors may want to head to nearby Clawford Lakes Resort and Spa which won Gold in the Camping, Glamping and Holiday Park of the Year category.

Visit England’s Large Visitor Attraction of the Year went to Jimmy’s Farm & Wildlife Park in Suffolk. The wildlife park is owned by TV star and conservationist Jimmy Doherty, who has presented programmes on both Channel 4 and the BBC.

Bletchley Park in Buckinghamshire, came in second place, where visitors can learn about the code-breaking geniuses who were instrumental in helping the Allied Forces win WWII.

The Morgan Experience Centre in Worcestershire won Small Visitor Attraction of the Year. Set on the historic site of Morgan Motor Company, you can see the extraordinary skill put into making these classic cars with a factory tour. The Ad Gefrin Anglo-Saxon Museum & Whisky Distillery won Silver in this category, promising an “immersive journey into Northumbria’s Golden Age”. It has a fascinating interactive museum where you can see how the Anglo-Saxons really lived.

Other businesses who won awards include Butlin’s. The holiday park operator, that just celebrated its 90th anniversary, picked up an Outstanding Contribution to Tourism award.

VisitEngland Director Andrew Stokes said: “The awards are a celebration of England’s outstanding tourism industry and an opportunity to highlight the excellence that makes it world leading.

“From a hands-on, traditional blacksmith’s visitor experience in the Midlands and a castle hotel and spa set in one of our national parks to accessible and inclusive holidays, these awards showcase the exceptional quality, unparalleled customer service and innovation that drive our industry.”

Have a story you want to share? Email us at webtravel@reachplc.com

Passengers wanting to fly with easyJet could get some pretty cheap deals

Booking flights can be expensive, with many people clicking on random days of the week to find the best deal. But did you know two days of the week are likely to be better than the rest?

Travel experts at easyJet say that while the ‘cheapest day to fly’ often depends on factors like destination and flight availability, there are two days of the week you really want to look out for. The airline says: “The cheapest day of the week to fly can vary depending on the destination, flights available, and time of year.

“However, we’d recommend being flexible with your dates and considering flying outside of peak weekend flight times. By booking to fly on Wednesday or Thursday rather than Friday, you can find bargain flights (and get more time at your destination!).”

What is the cheapest month to fly in?

The low-cost airline also noted that the start and end of the year are key periods to look for if you want a trip that won’t break the bank. It adds: “The cheapest month to fly often depends on the destination and the type of trip you’re planning.

“For traditional warm-weather destinations in Spain or Italy, you can often find the cheapest plane tickets in the winter months of January and February. If you’re booking a trip to the mountains or traditional winter destinations like Finland, you’ll often find cheaper flights in November or March.”

As one of the world’s largest airlines, it operates a fleet of 355 aircraft, connecting 164 airports in 38 countries through 1,207 routes. While booking flights during these specific days and months is not a guarantee of the best deal, it urges people to use its Low Fare Finder when searching for the cheapest flight dates to secure the best deals.

Mum blocked from easyJet flight and left £700 out of pocket

In other easyJet news, a mother was prevented from boarding an easyJet flight with her family and lost £700 after being caught out by a crucial passport rule.

Bolaji Omisade was looking forward to a family trip to Greece and arrived at London Gatwick Airport with her husband and three sons. However, after checking in at the airport, easyJet staff informed her that she was not permitted to board the flight.

Confused by the situation, she was informed at check-in that, although her passport had not yet expired, it was no longer valid for travel due to passport regulations. You can read the full story here to make sure that you don’t fall foul of the same rule.

Walt Disney World has a reputation for being for older kids if you want to get the most out of the parks – but it turns out there’s a whole other side to Mickey Mouse’s Florida home

Walt Disney World needs no introduction; it’s already on most UK families’ wishlists. However, with the travel and costs involved, it’s got a reputation for being a destination to visit ‘when the kids are older’. There are obvious reasons for this, but what about someone impatient like me who wanted to share that Disney magic as soon as my toddler could say, ‘Mickey Mouse’?

Well, I decided to brave a 10-hour flight to Orlando with a two-year-old, and find out what you can do with a toddler – and whether it’s actually enjoyable for parents too. (In the meantime, ignoring everyone’s warnings that it wouldn’t be as magical because he was too young).

I’m not going to lie and say it was all pixie dust and rainbows – any trip with a toddler is a challenge – but I was genuinely taken aback at just how much fun we all had.

Here’s everything I learned about doing Walt Disney World with a toddler (including the mistakes I made so you don’t have to)…

The rides you can do with a toddler

There was an impressive amount to do with our toddler – a load of rides don’t have height restrictions.

In Magic Kingdom we rode the likes of Peter Pan’s Flight, It’s A Small World, Aladdin’s Flying Carpets. Jungle Cruise is also great for sitting in the shade and spotting ‘animals’! Our toddler isn’t familiar with all of the Disney films yet, but he had the best time with all of the stimulation, music and colours. Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin has had a revamp and is a lot of fun for adults as it’s interactive and competitive, while the noise and colours were an easy attraction for our little space ranger.

Over in EPCOT, the Remy’s Ratatouille ride and Frozen Ever After were two easy options with a toddler, and there’s an interactive space after the ‘Journey Into the Imagination’ where kids can run free. The Butterfly Garden is also a quiet space that proved a big hit. However, the highlight had to be the walk-through ‘Journey of Water, Inspired by Moana’. It’s all water play and a nice place to cool off in the Florida heat.

Meanwhile, Animal Kingdom with its Kilimanjaro Safaris jeep ride, walking trails and the gentle Avatar Na’vi River Journey boat ride made for a laidback day. Our little boy was obsessed with looking out for animals, and taking in all of the flowers and plants. Oh, and Bluey’s Wild World at Conservation Station is a fun interactive option for fans of the Heelers!

As for Disney’s Hollywood Studios? Its reputation for being the park full of thrill rides made me a little hesitant, but it’s actually got plenty for little ones too. The Toy Story themed land for a start is a dream; Toy Story Mania and the Alien Swirling Saucers were both immensely fun for both mum and baby! The park also has a new Disney Jr. Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Live! show which involved plenty of dancing, bubbles and character appearances.

However, take note that you can’t take prams into the queues. So either be prepared to take a baby carrier/toddler carrier, or have a bag crammed with snacks and toys to keep them entertained. My advice is to pick one or two ‘big’ rides you’re willing to queue for – or look at investing in Lightning Lanes (aka fast passes) to make your day as easy as possible.

Best Walt Disney World theme park for toddlers

While Magic Kingdom is the go-to classic as it has some of the iconic rides, parades and Cinderella Castle, for me it was actually EPCOT and Animal Kingdom that came out as my favourites with a two-year old.

EPCOT is made up of different pavilions inspired by countries around the world, which meant that when the toddler was napping, I could still walk around and soak up the atmosphere, try snacks and have a cheeky avocado margarita, so I didn’t feel like I was ‘missing out’ on loads of big rides.

Meanwhile Animal Kingdom hasn’t got too many big rides because of the animals onsite, so again it had a very laidback vibe. A big plus for me were some of the walk-through attractions such as Maharajah Jungle Trek which were pram-friendly, and a little quieter meaning our toddler wasn’t too overstimulated, but there was plenty to still keep him entertained.

Logistics – prams, naps and snacks

Disney is unsurprisingly very pram-friendly. There’s the monorail and plenty of walkable paths if you need them, while the Disney buses allow prams which are folded down. You can also get Lyfts around the resort – or for something a bit more magical, you can use the app to book a ‘Minnie Van’, where drivers always carry at least two car seats, and have screens with cartoons for the kids.

As for food, the good news is that you can bring your own snacks and drink into the parks. Still, we never struggled to find something for our two-year-old to eat. Every stall has kids’ menus and options, and all the restaurants had high chairs, baby-friendly dishes and off-menu options like a mashed potato side for fussy eaters.

If you’re in need of cow’s milk, you can buy cartons or pints of it in the coffee shops – we ran out one evening and staff were happy to give us a large glass of milk so we could fill up our toddler’s bottle to stretch out the evening a little longer!

Then of course, the big one; naps. Our toddler can nap in the pram so on some days we just used that downtime to wander around, hunt down some of those must-try snacks, or do some walk-through attractions we probably would have ignored in those pre-toddler years. It meant our days were a bit more chilled too. On some days, we opted to head back to our resort for a couple of hours and recharge while he slept – those days where when we were able to stretch to a longer evening and even make it to a dinner or two!

Extra tips

Manage your expectations: you’re likely going to miss out on evening shows and fireworks, unless you get lucky with a sleeping baby who doesn’t get woken up by loud noises. However, make the most of the day magic; the parades and shows are brilliant, and you still feel like you’re getting the ‘full’ Disney experience.

Don’t stress yourself out trying to fit in loads of ‘fun’. The Disney parks have heaps to do that aren’t rides and attractions. Think butterfly gardens, golden statues of characters, live music, themed trails and plenty going on. It’s all quality time to your little one, so enjoy it together.

Time zones; it was surprisingly easy to adjust when out in Florida because you’re doing so much, your kids are kept busy and stimulated, and our toddler crashed out easily most nights. It’s the return home that’s a bit trickier!

Book the holiday

Stay two weeks on a Hotel and Ticket package at Disney’s All-Star Sports Resort for 2 adults & 2 kids, arriving August 15, 2027, from £3,923 (total). Includes Free Disney Dining and Drinks on selected meals if booked before November 4, 2026. Find out more at disneypackages.co.uk. Virgin Atlantic offers direct flights from the UK to Orlando. Find out more at virginatlantic.com.

SIR Ranulph Fiennes and Bear Grylls most likely pop into your head when you think of adventurers. But now, you can add Wizz Air customers to that list.

And me. Last month, I was invited to join some competition winners on a flight to . . . who knows where?

As part of the Hungarian airline’s Let’s Get Lost promotion, 22 lucky travellers and their plus-ones were going on an all-expenses-paid trip, to a secret destination.

We were given five possible locations for our three-night adventure — Moldova, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Lithuania, Armenia and Albania.

Even after boarding the plane we were still none the wiser, all we had was a pre-provided packing list and a rough idea of the climate.

It was only once the flight had exceeded three and a half hours that we could guess it was Armenia. A tannoy announcement confirmed it, prompting a round of applause.

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I’ll be honest, Armenia was never on my radar as a holiday destination, but that’s exactly what made this trip so special.

Arriving in Republic Square, the heart of the capital city Yerevan, the Saturday evening atmosphere was electric with hordes of people enjoying live music alfresco.

We stayed in the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel, perfectly located in the city centre of Yerevan.

A walking tour was the best way to get our bearings. We wandered the main streets past buildings made from pink volcanic stone, before reaching the Cascade Yerevan.

Made up of 572 steps (we took the interior escalator), this mighty landmark is a must-visit. From its peak, we had stunning views of the snow-capped Mount Ararat, now in modern-day Turkey.

A 30-minute drive away is Charents’ Arch, a monument dedicated to a much-loved poet in this region. The curved brick structure provides the perfect natural frame for the landscape and is a great photo spot.

The architectural highlight for me was the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin — the Mother Cathedral of the Armenian Church.

Remnants of it date back to the 4th century (Armenia was the first nation to adopt Christianity in 301AD), and it is the most ornate church I’ve ever seen.

The ruins of the 7th-century Zvartnots Cathedral are also worth a visit.

The whole place has an otherwordly feel, and with the hot sun beating down on us, it felt spiritual.

In just two days, we ticked off key landmarks, including Garni Temple and the Geghard Monastery, with lunches and dinners in between, accompanied by Armenian wine, which I would highly recommend.

With such a short time on the ground, this trip didn’t allow for loafing, but that’s the brilliance of a Wizz Air mystery getaway — cramming in all the best bits.

Our final evening was spent at Tavern Yerevan Riverside. The setting, grub and entertainment were truly amazing. Armenian wine was flowing while we tucked into khorovats, traditional Armenian barbecued meats scorched over an open flame.

While we had a curated itinerary, Yerevan can be navigated independently and you can tailor-make a cultural and/or foodie break.

After attempting, and failing, to say ‘shnorhakalutyun’ — Armenian for ‘thank you’ — throughout, I was advised that the French equivalent would also be appreciated.

So, merci Armenia — a destination I’d never planned to visit, but am so glad I did.

After reportedly losing dozens of MQ-9 Reaper drones while battling Iran, the Air Force on Friday confirmed to TWZ that it is planning to purchase an undisclosed number of unused ones from General Atomics, who made the aircraft. The company, however, said it has less than 10 of these drones to offer, and it remains unclear where else the Air Force can find more.

All of this continues to raise serious questions about the Air Force’s near-term ability to plug gaps left by the losses fighting against Iran and in other recent operations in and around the Middle East. The downed Reapers have a reported combined value of about $1 billion.

Furthermore, despite the top Air Force officer recently praising Reaper as “perhaps the most valuable player” in the air war against Iran, the aircraft have been in the crosshairs of service officials. They have openly questioned the drone’s survivability and, by extension, general value in future operations. The Air Force has made several half-hearted efforts, without success, to find a successor. It is now in the early stages of a new attempt at acquiring an “MQ-9 Next.” You can read more about that effort in our story here.

It will be years, if ever, before “MQ-9 Next” comes online. Meanwhile, the search is on for existing replacements.

“The USAF intends to purchase several unused MQ-9A Block 5 from GA-ASI [General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc.],” a spokesperson for the service told TWZ today. “A number of MQ-9A Block 5 aircraft were manufactured based on forecasted purchases for other customers but are no longer needed. The available aircraft are currently GA-ASI owned aircraft.”

“The USAF has received funds to begin the acquisition process,” they added.

The Air Force was responding to our questions about congressional testimony from a top officer highlighting the service’s plans to backfill the combat losses. 

“We’re looking at options to buy back as many of the MQ-9As as we possibly can right now,” Air Force Lt. Gen. David Tabor, Deputy Chief of Staff for Plans and Programs, had told members of Congress at a hearing back on May 13. “So there’s a bit of a short-term effort to buy back things immediately, in this fiscal year.”

Tabor also said at that time that the Air Force’s total MQ-9A fleet had shrunk to 135 aircraft. Official budget documents say the Air Force had 165 Reapers in inventory as of the start of Fiscal Year 2026, which began on October 1 of last year. This had already marked a significant year-over-year decrease, down from 231 MQ-9As at the beginning of Fiscal Year 2025.

Despite Air Force needs, General Atomics told us the number of available Reapers is in short supply.

“Between parts in stock for new builds, and company-owned Reapers with some number of flight hours on them, there are less than 10 total ‘new’ MQ-9As available to any customers anywhere in the world,” General Atomics spokesperson C. Mark Brinkley told TWZ earlier this week. “There are some number of decommissioned Reapers out there, and some number of those could potentially be brought back into service.”

One place the Air Force won’t be able to find any Reapers is in storage. 

“The 309th Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group (The Boneyard) has zero MQ-9s in storage nor have they ever regenerated a MQ-9 back into service,” the spokesperson told us.

The MQ-9A is out of production. General Atomics has moved on to the MQ-9B, and currently offers those drones in multiple configurations. Though an evolution of the original Reaper, the core B model design differs in significant ways from its predecessor. Any new Air Force purchases of drones in this broader family would have to be of the B model and worked into the existing production schedule.

How many MQ-9As the Air Force has lost in operations in and around the Middle East since January 2025 is unclear, but is understood to be substantial. As of May, “nearly 30 MQ-9 Reapers have been lost in the course” of Operation Epic Fury against Iran, Air & Space Forces Magazine reported, citing “people familiar with the matter.” This is on top of dozens of Reapers reportedly downed while conducting operations targeting Iranian-backed Houthi militants in Yemen in the past year or so.

At the hearing last month, Tabor did not provide any official accounting of Reaper losses, but did acknowledge that “we are concerned about how they’ve attrited.”

In another effort to bolster the supply of operational Reapers, the Air Force told us that while it never regenerated MQ-1 Predator drones back into service, it was repurposing parts from these aircraft that the service stopped using in 2020. There were dozens on hand after they were retired.

More than 50 were sent to the 309th Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group (AMARG) “and heavily cannibalized for spare parts for the MQ-9 aircraft,” the spokesperson told us.

Questions about the status of the MQ-1 fleet arose last week after U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) acknowledged the loss of an “MQ-1” drone to Iranian fire. This has led many to question whether American forces are flying the venerable Predator again as a result of the Reaper losses.

At the time, the Air Force declined to say if it lost any of theirs and referred us to CENTCOM, which declined comment. However, on Friday, the Air Force told us that in addition to the Predators being used for parts, 20 had been transferred to the Navy. We reached out to them for comment. 

As we previously noted, it is also very possible, if not likely, that the uncrewed aircraft in question was an MQ-1C Gray Eagle, a related but different design still in active U.S. Army service. You can read more about this event in our original story here.

At the time of the incident, CENTCOM declined to tell us which variant of the MQ-1 was lost.

Regardless, the Air Force’s mad scramble to find additional Reapers highlights the value of having a high-flying, long-loitering drone that can gather intelligence and fire off munitions, no matter how slow it flies.

Contact the author: howard@twz.com

WASHINGTON — It was perhaps a surprising private overture from OpenAI Chief Executive Sam Altman to Sen. Bernie Sanders.

The meeting between the two had come just after the Vermont senator announced a plan for the public to take a 50% ownership stake in artificial intelligence companies such as OpenAI, using their stock to create a public wealth fund that would spread the fortune generated by AI behemoths.

Altman told Sanders that he, too, wants the public to have equity in AI companies. Though the CEO said he couldn’t support Sanders’ threshold of 50%, he nonetheless wanted to work with him to advocate for the general idea, according to people with knowledge of the conversation.

The nearly hourlong meeting in Sanders’ Senate office this week, held at Altman’s request, highlighted the inherent tension between AI powerhouses and policymakers as Americans are increasingly asked to accept the costs of the AI boom even as many remain unconvinced of its direct benefits. Yet it’s also creating odd political bedfellows fueled by populism as politicians from Sanders to President Trump embrace giving the public a stake in AI’s growth.

Speaking to reporters Friday on Air Force One, Trump described a potential partnership “where the American people can benefit from the success of AI” and said executives from leading AI companies will visit the White House, perhaps in the coming week, to discuss the idea.

“There’s something very interesting about it, where it almost becomes a partnership with the American public,” Trump said.

When reporters noted to the Republican president that Sanders, a democratic socialist and political independent, had proposed public ownership in AI companies, he pointed to similarities in their coalitions. The economic views of Trump voters and those who have supported Sanders for president, Trump said, “aren’t that far apart.”

Trump has embraced government investment in private companies in his second term, scrambling his party’s politics. His administration last year secured a 10% stake in the struggling Silicon Valley company Intel, and it considered a government takeover of Spirit Airlines earlier this year, although the airline couldn’t reach a deal and ultimately closed.

Public backlash

The positioning of leading figures such as Trump and Sanders comes as concerns about AI are emerging far beyond Washington.

In Michigan, Democrats recently clashed over Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s appearance with Altman at the site of a major data center. Candidates such as New York Democratic House candidate Alex Bores have also made AI regulation a campaign issue by tapping into voters’ unease about the technology.

“This is a real change to society,” Altman told reporters this week. “I think it’s possible both that people can use AI a lot and like using it and also have anxiety about what it’s going to do for the future.”

Data center projects across the country have drawn opposition from residents concerned about electricity demand, water consumption and environmental impacts. Some states once eager to attract the facilities, including Ohio and Virginia, have moved to reconsider tax incentives.

“We need to pass legislation right now that says there’s not going to be any further data center development until they agree to pay for their own electricity, build their own grids and pay for their own water supply,” Sen. Josh Hawley of Missouri, a leading Republican skeptic of Big Tech, told the Associated Press.

Before arriving in Washington, Altman stopped in Michigan on Monday to appear alongside Whitmer, a Democrat, at the site of a 1.65 million-square-foot data center project. Whitmer’s team said the project will create more than 2,500 union construction jobs.

But it also drew criticism from local activists and some fellow Democrats, including Rep. Rashida Tlaib of Michigan, who called the project “disgusting.” She said she was “so disappointed” in Whitmer.

“It’s a very controversial topic right now and it’s coming from the ground up,” Sen. Elissa Slotkin, another Michigan Democrat, said about the grassroots resistance. “People feel very strongly about it.”

Whitmer defended her appearance, telling reporters afterward that “one thing’s very clear: Everyone has a cellphone in our pocket.”

“We are all, more and more, consuming technology and data, and these data centers are going to get built. So, my thought is if we can hold them to a high standard and do it in Michigan, that’s the best way to do it,” she said.

The tensions extend beyond data centers. On college campuses, commencement speakers have been interrupted by boos when discussing artificial intelligence. About 70% of college students see AI as a threat to their job prospects, according to a 2025 poll by the Institute of Politics at the Harvard Kennedy School.

Altman acknowledged those concerns. He said that while “the impact on jobs has been less than many people in our field expected,” he understands “that college students have a lot of anxiety about the future.”

Washington seeks an AI bargain

The idea that AI’s expansion is inevitable is increasingly shared by leaders across the political spectrum, even as they disagree sharply about how to manage it.

That reality was at the center of Altman’s conversations in Washington. In addition to Sanders, Altman met with Trump administration officials such as Michael Kratsios, the White House’s chief science and technology advisor, and congressional leaders from both parties.

Sanders’ team emphasized that the two did not reach an agreement on the main points that the senator made to Altman, including the 50% figure to ensure that the public has decision-making power. The senator also expressed opposition to the growing spending on elections by the AI industry.

“Unfortunately, Sam Altman did not commit to any of those,” Sanders spokesperson Jeremy Slevin said.

Altman, emerging from the conversation, described it as “great,” though noting that the two “obviously don’t agree on everything.”

How AI should be governed

Congress this week released a bipartisan framework that would establish the first broad federal approach to AI regulation while temporarily preempting many state laws.

Anthropic, one of OpenAI’s top competitors, has proposed mechanisms for coordinating pauses on advanced AI development if systems become too powerful.

The Trump administration has also begun constructing its own oversight structure, signing an executive order to establish a process for reviewing national security risks posed by advanced AI systems before their public release.

Sanders said he found the administration’s move notable after years of warnings that regulation could slow American innovation.

“Even these guys are beginning to catch on that there are legitimate concerns that have to be dealt with,” Sanders said.

Cappelletti and Kim write for the Associated Press.

IF you fancy visiting to Lake Como but can’t face the long airport queues, how about going in the opposite direction?

In the Finger Lakes region of New York State is the quiet village of Hammondsport – and it has been compared to the famous Italian lake.

Both lakes are a Y-shape, but Keuka Lake is smaller than its Italian alternate – it’s just under 20 miles long with over 60 miles of shoreline.

Meanwhile, Lake Como has a maximum length of 29 miles; however, the shoreline length is a whopping 105 miles.

Keuka Lake is much shallower too at 187 feet at its deepest, while Lake Como has a maximum depth of 1,394 feet.

You can swim in both, as well, but Keuka Lake is considered one of the cleanest and warmest of the Finger Lakes too so it’s ideal if you want to take a dip.

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It might even be a better option as visitors can swim in Lake Como, but the water quality differs depending on where you enter the water.

Keuka Lake is surrounded by vineyards, much like Italy and is so pretty that one visitor called it “one of the most beautiful lakes in upstate New York“.

The Finger Lakes itself has around 140 wineries, and near Keuka Lake there’s Bully Hill Vineyards, Heron Hill Winery and Divided Sky Vineyard.

For those who really want to learn more about the wine scene, there’s even a dedicated Keuka Lake Wine Trail.

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If you head to the official website, you can pay $45 (£33) and redeem tasting flights at six of the included wineries.

At the very south of Keuka Lake is the small and charming village of Hammondsport.

There’s not too much see with it being a village, but visitors have raved about Verns Bakery, Burgers & Beers, Park Inn restaurant, Crooked Lake Ice Cream Company which is also a 50s-style diner.

A 30-minute drive down the road is Watkins Glen, a charming ‘Hallmark-like’ village.

It’s home to the ­Watkins Glen International track, where ­Formula 1 raced for 20 consecutive years from 1961 to 1980 before Nascar took over.

Head to Depot Park for views across the water – and this is the spot if you want to hire out your own boat.

With multiple boats, you can hire them out for the day from $535 (£398) – split between eight (which is the maximum passengers), that’s just under £50per person.

If you want to stay in Hammondsport, check out Park Inn which has just five suites above its restaurant.

Rates start from $150 (£111) per night (with a two-night minimum stay).

Or there’s the Vine Inn & Carriage Houses which is described as a ‘serene retreat’ and is a 10-minute walk from the lake.

If the heat of Italy during the summer is what you’re afraid of missing out on, then rest assured, it will still be just as hot.

In the summertime, the Finger Lakes region can reach temperatures of 28C with it cooling down in the following months.

TUI has introduced a new policy where customers will be guaranteed the lowest price possible for package holidays.

For Brits going abroad, it means that if you find and book a TUI break but then find it cheaper somewhere else TUI will refund the price difference.

TUI has called it the ‘Price-Match Promise‘ and it applies to package holidays booked through TUI, as well as online and through travel agents.

If customers have booked a TUI break but find the same deal cheaper on another website, simply fill in the online form to request a price check.

If all the criteria are met, TUI will then either discount the package holiday booking or, if full balance has been paid in full, refund the price difference within 14 days.

There are lots of details that have to be met, however.

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Firstly, the package holiday must be publicly available to book with another company at the same time – or within 72 hours of booking with TUI.

It must depart from the same airport on the same day with the same TUI flight and flight number.

The accommodation must be at the same resort or hotel with the same board basis and room type.

It has to be for the same amount of time, include transfers and at least the same baggage allowance.

TUI said: “We know that value for money is front of mind for many customers right now, and this new promise is about ensuring customers can book with confidence, knowing they won’t miss out if the same TUI package is available for less elsewhere.

“Under the new promise, customers can request a price match if they find the same Tui package holiday available at a lower price with another operator within 72 hours of booking their holiday – available in all channels – online, via our own retail stores or independent travel agents.”

It continued: “Where the criteria are met, we’ll either discount the booking or refund the price difference if the final balance has already been paid, helping ensure customers genuinely get the most for their money, without needing to shop around again after they’ve booked.”

Package holidays booked through a third-party are excluded.

Marella Cruises, Crystal Ski, TUI River Cruise bookings are also not included.

Quotes, prices and bookings available from TUI UK Ltd, including First Choice and holidayhypermarket.co.uk are not included either.

Egg tarts are the only food obsession I held as a child that never waned in adulthood. They served as a primary motivator as a toddler. Clean my room? Finish my homework? Dan tat, the egg tarts found on dim sum carts, were always the answer.

I grew up eating Hong Kong-style egg tarts, with pale, glossy tops and nests of either crumbly, cookie-adjacent shortcrust or flaky pastry. They were usually cold, and the filling more like firm Jell-O than custard. Still, I was hooked. When someone brought a box of warm Macau tarts to a mahjong gathering at my grandmother’s house in the early ‘90s, I crushed out on the palm-sized pastry like it was the latest single from Boyz II Men.

While the Hong Kong tarts can be traced to custard tarts from the United Kingdom, Macau tarts are descendants of Portuguese pastéis de nata (until 1999, Macau was a Portuguese colony). Dozens of layers of crisp pastry cradle a crème brûlée-adjacent filling with a glistening top blistered in a scorching hot oven. The shell crackles and the custard trembles, for a confluence of textures that’s addictive and almost maddening. If I’m going to eat a tart, it might as well be three.

When Nata’s Pastries opened in a Sherman Oaks strip mall more than 20 years ago, it was the only Portuguese bakery in the city. Now, you can find Macau tarts and pastéis de nata at restaurants and bakeries all over Los Angeles. The following are seven places that should jump-start your own egg tart obsession.