Free

Six years ago, the government rejected a House of Lords select committee proposal to add the Champions League final to the list of “crown jewels” events, which would have ensured it would always be free-to-air.

Highlights of the Champions League final will be available on the BBC Sport website and across social media channels 15 minutes after the trophy lift, and on BBC iPlayer and television later in the evening.

Live commentary will also be on BBC Radio 5 Live.

The Champions League final had been free on ITV each year from 1993 – with the exception of the 1994 final, which the BBC showed live – until BT Sport won the rights, starting from 2015-16.

BT Sport continued to make it available without a subscription through to 2023, simultaneously broadcasting the game on its YouTube channel.

This changed after BT Sport was bought by Warner Bros Discovery and rebranded as TNT Sports.

While the finals remained available without cost, fans needed to sign up for a discovery+ account to get access.

Discovery+ has been replaced by Warner Bros Discovery’s new streaming service, HBO Max, which has no free option.

Fans will not need a full TNT Sports subscription, and can instead sign up for HBO Max for one month.

The cheapest subscription starts at £4.99, which would include all three matches, though most Sky customers already get HBO Max at no extra cost.

From 2027-28, TNT Sports will lose its European rights.

Paramount+ has picked up the Champions League, while the Europa League and the Conference League will move to Sky Sports.

Warner Bros Discovery has been approached for comment.

Firefighters worked to free riders stranded 30.4 metres in the air after a rollercoaster malfunctioned and their car became stuck at Pleasure Pier amusement park in Galveston, Texas. No injuries were immediately reported.

WOULD you believe me if I told you that you could bag yourself a break for £1 just by doing your regular grocery shopping at Sainsbury’s or by filling up with petrol at BP – no strings attached?

You may roll your eyes at the term ‘loyalty scheme’, but you’re going to want to hear me out on this one, as Avios will make your Boots Advantage Card seem utterly pathetic.

And I’m sorry to have to tell you this, but what you think you know about Avios or air miles is completely wrong. You won’t need to hop on a single flight to earn points here.

In fact, I’m so confident about this scheme that if you follow my advice below for one year and don’t end up with enough points for a free flight or holiday, I’ll eat my hat (…that I bought with my points).

So, pay close attention. Here’s everything you need to know.

What actually is Avios?

It is essentially a rewards currency, some may call it an air-mile points scheme, although it’s so much more than that. 

Avios is linked to the IAG (International Airlines Group) loyalty scheme, meaning you can earn and (most importantly) spend with British Airways, Iberia, Aer Lingus, Vueling and LEVEL, as well as partner airlines Qatar Airways, Finnair, and Loganair.

It’s a very common mistake, however, to think that you can only earn Avios on direct spend with these airlines, by booking flights, for example. 

IAG Loyalty allows you to collect a generous number of points on over 2,000 brands, including major names like Deliveroo, Domino’s Pizza and Just Eat – and that’s only if you want a takeaway.

Clothing retail brands include River Island, H&M and Sports Direct, while department stores include Debenhams, John Lewis and Marks and Spencer, and wellness brands include Superdrug, Boots and Holland & Barrett.

You can earn points (Avios) on every penny you spend with these brands.

I won’t name every brand right now, but you can find the list here on the Avios website – chances are if it’s a well known name, it’ll be on there.

Do I need to spend big to earn big?

I was sceptical too, but rest assured you won’t have to pain-stakingly collect points for 10 years to reap the benefits.

A few months ago I gained 2,500 Avios simply by renewing my car insurance with Compare the Market – another brand on IAG Loyalty’s books.

I’ll explain what the number of points equates to below, but, in rough terms, that’s about a quarter of the points you’d need to pay for a one-way flight to Amsterdam.

If you’re serious about it, you can earn mega points quickly and easily (more on that below too).

What can I buy with Avios?

The most popular way to spend Avios is on “reward” flights with the IAG and Oneworld airlines. The big players will tell you that this gets you the most for your money, but you can also redeem your points against holiday packages (flights and hotel), as well as hotels, car hire and cases of wine.

There’s also the Avios shop which sells everything from perfumes and lotions to Apple products and coffee machines; plus you can convert Avios to Nectar points and spend in Sainsbury’s, Argos or Habitat; or feast at Pizza Express.

That’s why Avios is nothing like your Boots card – you’re not tied to one product or brand.

How many points will I earn?

It varies from retailer to retailer with many brands offering special deals throughout the year – keep your eyes peeled at Christmas time and in January.

But to give you some perspective, last month I earned 1,790 Avios, just through my regular, everyday shopping: I get 19 points for my train to work (booked through Uber), I earned 136 points for buying some protein powder and 14 points for some new socks from ASOS.

No, I’m not a big spender. I’m a frugal 33-year-old that’s currently living with her parents, in the process of buying her first home, meaning my key expenses are my commute to work, petrol for my car and the odd meal out with pals.

I – properly – started my Avios journey almost exactly two years ago and I now have 99,420 Avios.

Just shy of enough to fly me to the furthest-away destination possible, Sydney, Australia, and all the way back again.

But that is by following a few simple rules carved out at the end of this piece.

How many points do I need for a holiday or flight?

If you’re just looking for flights then 10,000 points can get you a one-way ticket to short haul destinations like Paris, Copenhagen or Munich, while 27,500 can get you to the far-flung cities of Chicago, Dubai and Toronto.

Sydney is of course the priciest spot, costing a minimum of 55,000 Avios each way.

The above figures are all based on travelling in an economy seat at off-peak times, although you can splash your points on premium economy flights and even business class, or use points to upgrade if you’ve already booked your flight.

Head for Points has a useful table on which destinations your points will get you to.

There is one thing you need to know, though.

You may have noticed that my opening sentence to this piece read: “bag a break for £1”. That is because you will have to pay a flat-fee, essentially a nominal charge that covers taxes, carrier charges and a fixed Avios amount.

For short-haul flights like Paris, this is just £1, but for destinations like Chicago this is £60 and this price increases if you decide to fly in an upper cabin or further afield. 

Points work differently on holidays and products, however, and you can pay partly in points and partly in cash – the split is entirely up to you. If, for example, I were to buy a fancy Dyson hairdryer worth £400, I could pay £200 in cash and the rest can be paid with 33,670 Avios.

How do I actually earn Avios points then?

This requires several minutes of faffing to set yourself up and link your cards and accounts, but once you’re done that’s everything sorted for good. 

Sign up for free to Avios here, or if you are already a member of the free British Airways Club you can sign in that way – or you can sign in via Iberia Club or Aer Club if you’d prefer. 

Those who like to shop on their phones should download the Avios app.

What comes next is the MOST important step. In general, every time you do any online shopping, you should check if you can earn points at that retailer by clicking on the ‘collect’ button on the Avios site or on the app.

Then select that retailer and the ‘shop now’ button. This will register your visit and then you can shop as normal and earn those points.

Sophie’s personal hacks

If you use Uber, link your account to your Avios account (Avios has a guide on this); if you buy your petrol at BP, link your Avios account to your BPme account; and if you shop at Sainsbury’s, link your Nectar account to your Avios account… you get the drift by now. 

If you have the ability to do so, get yourself a British Airways American Express credit card.

You don’t necessarily need one to earn Avios but simply using the Amex for the majority of your spending is the easiest way to accumulate points. Just remember to pay it off in full at the end of the month.

I have just two rules for earning big: Always(!) check if you can earn Avios before making any purchase (literally, any purchase) and only buy what you were going to in the first place – no willy-nilly spending, please.

Of course there are other airline loyalty schemes, I just don’t know enough about those yet.

Watch this space though…

If you’re looking for a family day out without breaking the bank, this hidden gem adventure park offers free entry for the whole family and most rides start from just £1.

With the Spring Bank Holiday fast approaching on May 25, families up and down Britain will be on the hunt for thrilling yet budget-friendly activities to enjoy with their little ones.

Sorting out plans for a bank holiday weekend can quickly become an expensive business, and parents are constantly seeking ways to keep costs down while still guaranteeing the whole family has a brilliant time.

A trip to a theme park is a fantastic way to mark the occasion, but these outings don’t come cheap.

Entry tickets typically start at upwards of £30 per person, meaning a family of four could be looking at around £120 minimum just to get through the gates – and that’s before you’ve even thought about food and drinks.

Tucked away in Stourport-on-Severn, Worcestershire – just an hour’s drive away – lies a little-known adventure park that could be the perfect day out for families with children. The best part? Admission is completely free for everyone, with rides starting from as little as £1, reports Gloucestershire Live.

Playland Fun Park is a hidden gem of a family-run theme park in the West Midlands, which regularly features on lists of the ‘most affordable adventure parks in the UK’. According to its official website, it boasts ’20 fantastic attractions’ for visitors to enjoy.

Open from March through to October, at weekends and throughout school holidays, this charming theme park is the ideal destination for those looking to keep the pennies in check while making sure the kids – and let’s face it, the grown-ups too – have an absolutely cracking time.

Perched on the banks of the River Severn, this riverside funfair boasts a fantastic array of attractions, including the Junior Pirate Ship, Go Karts, Moto GP Bikes, F1 Cars, Pony Ride, Safari Train, Bumper Boats, Trampolines, Quad Bikes, and Crazy Caves, as well as Bouncy Castles and the brand-new safari-themed Crazy Golf.

Visitors can also treat themselves to a river steamer ride, drifting gently past the hidden treasures of Stourport-on-Severn as they glide leisurely along the water.

The budget-friendly theme park operates without a standard entry fee, embracing a ‘pay as you play’ approach. Rather than charging a blanket admission price, guests can buy ‘tokens’ on the day and spend them only on the rides that take their fancy.

The theme park’s official Facebook page states: “The tokens are £1 each and rides vary from 1-4 tokens with the majority being 1 token. We also have petrol go karts which have a special £4 token.”

This oft-underrated attraction has recently given its fairgrounds a fresh update, introducing new rides such as the thrilling Dino Tours, where visitors can “drive your own explorer jeep through our dinosaur-themed track”.

A dedicated Farmyard area, complete with ride-on animals, tractors, Pony Adventure, and a Farmyard Bounce and Slide, adds even more fun to the mix.

Families can also hire one of the park’s self-drive boats, taking the helm and cruising at a relaxed pace along the River Severn entirely at their own leisure. Playland Fun Park sits right alongside the breathtaking riverside meadows of this picturesque town, where families can stop for a relaxing picnic or simply soak up the stunning scenery.

It’s equally perfect for a lively family kickabout, giving both children and adults the chance to burn off some energy in gorgeous open-air surroundings.

One glowing Tripadvisor review reads: “Went with our son and our 3 year old granddaughter . She loved it. Loads of electric cars and bikes for her to drive. She was very happy there and on way home.

“Queues very small even on a sunny Saturday, every ride 1 or 2 pounds. Only negative is you need cash. The pictures don’t do it justice. There’s more than crazy golf. Driving, bouncing on castles, plenty. 2 hours of great fun for a toddler.”

Another delighted visitor added: “We went to a birthday party here today. Not too crowded, excellent value for money as the rides are just one token each, and there’s plenty to do for all ages (adults included!) Definitely coming back soon!”

Opening hours may differ over bank holidays, so it’s worth ringing ahead to double-check before you set off.

SUNSHINE and hot weather in the UK has felt like a long time coming and finally this weekend it will reach highs of 30C – ideal for spending time at a lido.

And you are not short for choice when it comes to picking a lido – with over 100 across the country.

Follow The Sun’s award-winning travel team on Instagram and Tiktok for top holiday tips and inspiration @thesuntravel.

Even though most charge admission fees (unless you’re a toddler), there are some gems that are free and others that have ways to get around paying.

Free to all

Whether it be a tidal pool or open-air lido, there are a number of venues around the UK that are completely free for everyone to visit.

For example, Bude Sea Pool in Cornwall is a semi-natural tidal pool, found right on the beach.

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In Margate, Kent, you could head to Walpole Bay Tidal Pool for free – it is Grade II listed and is the UK’s largest tidal pool.

Over in Wales, you could visit Blackpill Lido in Swansea, which also has a children’s play area and climbing rock.

Embedded in the rock, Pittenweem Tidal Pool in Fife, Scotland is another free tidal pool.

Also in Fife, you can head to St Monans Tidal Pool, which is next to a historic windmill.

Another great option down in Devon is Mount Wise Pools, which is free for everyone and boasts three pools – a 25-metre main pool, a fun pool with fountains, a whirlpool and a bubble pool and a paddling pool for kids.

As for paddling pools, you could head to Stoke Park paddling pool in Guildford.

There are a number of free splash pads too across the country, such as Great Hollands in Wokingham – which has 13 water soakers, two bucket drenchers, fountain jets and water tunnels.

Free for certain age groups

Depending on your age, there might be some offers available to you at a lido or swimming spot near you.

For example, if you are under 16-years-old or over 60, you could head to Hamstead Heath Ponds in London, for free before 9:30am.

The same applies to Parliament Hill Lido in London.

It is worth checking whether any pools or lidos have age-related offers, with the most common being free entry for under 16s or 18s and for over 60s.

Free for local residents

Your local council might give out free swim passes or access to lidos near you.

For example, if you are a Wandsworth resident in London, under 18-years-old, a student or from a low income household – you can swim for free at Tooting Bec Lido.

Often you will need to bring proof of address and age to get free access, but it is worth looking into if your area offers such a scheme.

Other offers

There are some other lido offers across the UK that can get you free access.

For example, there are many pop-up lidos across the UK, which are usually free to visit.

For example, Summer Splash in East London is an outdoor lido that sits over the water at Royal Victoria Dock and will return between July 25 and August 17.

Another chance to get free entry is on open days, usually in September.

Across the UK, thousands of venues usually open their doors for free as part of England‘s largest festival of history and culture.

You will often find historic, Art Deco lidos participating.

Keep an eye out for lidos offering taster sessions too, which are usually free.

A BELOVED lido, boasting elephant slides and splash pads, is set to reopen this Bank Holiday weekend.

This beloved outdoor pool is the last riverside tidal lido in Britain.

The Strand Lido Pool in Gillingham, Medway, will welcome back visitors this Saturday.

Listed as the UK’s only riverside salt water pool, this Kent-based lido uses cleaned river water that is safe for public swimming.

Opened back in 1896, Medway’s only lido has been inviting families to swim for over 130 years.

This Victorian-era lido includes a host of swimming facilities for all ages, including an outdoor leisure pool and toddler paddling pool.

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Children will love the elephant slides into the paddling pool, and cruising along the 300-metre lazy river.

For more advanced swimmers, there is also a central swimming zone, fitted with six 25-metre lengths to get some exercise this summer.

In 2025, The Strand introduced a free-to-use splash pad designed for children aged three to 11.

The splash pad features 30 sensor-activated waterjets in a beach-themed play area, opening at the same time as the lido with no booking required.

Strand visitors can also enjoy refreshments from the cafe, a mini train ride, crazy golf, tennis, a children’s play area and more.

Around the lido, visitors can buy pool inflatables, enjoy a break at the pool-side cafe, and lounge on the seating and sunbeds provided.

To enjoy all this summer fun, entry to The Strand Lido costs £8.15 for adults, and £5.35 for children, with under threes going free.

The pool will be operating on weekends from May 23 with two bookable sessions between 10.30am to 1.30pm, and 2.30pm to 5.30pm.

It will then be open for seven days a week during the school summer holidays – starting from Tuesday, July 21.

YOU don’t have to spend hundreds on theme park tickets or overpriced attractions to have a great family day out this half term.

May half term is nearly here, and we’ve found plenty of days out that will cost you only a couple of pounds – and plenty more that are completely free.

Whether you’re a family of mini history buffs, budding astronauts or future artists, we’ve found hands-on activities to suit all interests.

From the north of Scotland down to the coast of Devon, here’s our pick of free and cheap family days out all across Britain for May half term.

North of England

Horrible Science: Cosmic Chaos at the Science and Industry Museum, Manchester – £10

Step into a world of Cosmic Chaos at Manchester’s Science and Industry Museum, where the cast of BBC’s Horrible Science lead you on a bizarre adventure through the planets.

Much like the hit children’s TV show, this experience is packed with weird facts and wacky experiments that make learning surprisingly fun.

Designed for families with children aged 7 and up, the exhibition lets you get hands-on with outer space – from inspecting space toilets, to programming your own rover and analysing moon rocks.

You’ll even get to journey through a wormhole before ending the trip with a dance on an alien disco planet.

The exhibition is open from now until January 2027, costing £10 per person with under 3’s going free. Make sure to book your tickets online in advance.

Room on the Broom trail at Hamsterley Forest, Durham – £4

This interactive woodland trail follows the theme of Julia Donaldson’s famous picture book through the trees of Hamsterley Forest.

Expect interactive activity points, forest facts and even a Dragon on your journey, which ends with a lovely photo op.

Purchase a trail pack from reception for just £4, which includes colouring, a lanyard, stickers and a pop-out magic wand.

National Railway Museum, York – free

Train geeks young and old will love a day out to the National Railway Museum in York.

You can stand face-to-face with Mallard (the world’s fastest steam locomotive) and climb aboard a Japanese Bullet Train, the only one of its kind outside Japan.

Plus their May half term event sees a free family trail, The Great Object Hunt, which will have you thoroughly searching each collection.

The museum is free to visit and open daily from 10am – 5pm. Make sure to book your free tickets in advance to secure your slot.

Interactive Big Art, Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool – free

Looking for a creative afternoon out in Liverpool? Head to the Walker Art Gallery to discover Big Art, a space specifically for mini artists aged 0–5.

Your little ones can dive into a huge selection of toys and games, explore the dress-up area, or get stuck in at the craft table, which features a brand-new theme every single week.

Session times vary between 11am – 3pm. Check their website for details.

Bolton Museum and Little Lever Library, Greater Manchester – free

Step into hands-on history and nature at Bolton Museum.

Here families can walk through a stunning Ancient Egypt gallery or visit Greater Manchester’s only public aquarium.

Head over to the Little Lever Library for weekly Toddler Tales storytelling sessions.

For older kids, the Create and Craft sessions offer the perfect chance to get hands-on with free arts and crafts activities.

The museum is open daily from 9am – 5pm, and open from 10am – 4pm on Sundays.

Central and East of England

Heroes of The Air at the RAF Museum: Midlands – £3

From 23 – 31 May, the Royal Air Force Museum are running an exciting Hero Trail.

Families can pick up an activity sheet and work their way through the attraction, looking for clues in the collections as you learn about historic aviation heroes.

There will also be a free screening of the BBC documentary series WWII: I Was There for older history fans running daily from 25 – 29 May.

The museum opens daily from 10am with last admission at 4:30pm.

Downs Banks, Staffordshire – free

Get out and about in nature this May half term and visit Down Banks in Staffordshire.

There’s plenty of trails to walk or cycle through as a family, plus you could plan to bring a picnic or else stop by in the cafe and farm shop.

Down Banks is a National Trust site that is free to enter.

Planet Parade city-wide trail, Leicester – free

From now until 31 May, families can take part in this free city-wide, space-themed fun trail in Leicester.

Set off on an adventure through space-themed art made by local children and artists at multiple venues throughout the city, including visiting the Sun at the National Space Centre.

Download the My Leicester app for access to the free trail, or find more information on their website.

Titanosaur at Peterborough Cathedral – £6

Until May 31, visitors to Peterborough Cathedral can meet the Titanosaur – a huge model of Patagotitan Mayorum, one of the largest dinosaurs ever discovered.

The model is a sight to behold, loaned from the Natural History Museum and displayed in the epic Peterborough Cathedral – perfect for any dinosaur fans in the family.

There’s also educational activities set up in the cathedral to complete your visit.

Entry costs £6 per person, and visiting slots can be pre-booked online.

Play outdoors at Great Notley Country Park, Essex – free

This outdoor space in Essex has a near mile-long trim trail for kids to tackle.

Children can take on tyre swings, a giant see-saw, slides, climbers and more in Essex’s longest play trail.

Here you’ll also find Sky Ropes, a family-friendly high ropes course which costs just £13.50 per person, a much cheaper alternative to other treetop adventure sites such as Go Ape.

South and West England

May half term activities at The Box, Plymouth – free

The Box in Plymouth is the ideal attraction for a budget-friendly morning.

You can hunt for hidden treasures with a family trail sheet, or meet the famous Mildred the Mammoth statue.

The museum are running family-friendly activities during the May half term, including a picnic-themed arts and crafts session where you can make fun foods from clay for ages 4 – 11.

The museum is open daily from 10am – 5pm.

The Gruffalo Orienteering Trail, Exeter – £1.50

Haldon Forest Park in Devon has endless walking and cycling trails that are perfect to explore as the weather warms up.

Head to the Info Pod in the forest park to grab a Gruffalo Orienteering Trail sheet for an interactive quest through the woods.

Your journey leads you through the forest and finishes at the park’s play area, where you can snap a photo with the giant Gruffalo sculpture.

The trail costs £1.50 and leads you through twelve interactive stations.

Explore the outdoors at Bristol Walk Fest – free

From 1 – 31 May, Bristol Walk Fest is taking over the city, providing the perfect way for families to explore the city’s parks, streets, and hidden corners on foot.

Over 7,500 attend the city-wide festival each year, and it features a huge range of self-guided and guided walks led by local experts.

You can choose from street art discovery tours and historical walks, to gentle strolls through nature or even dress-up costume events.

There’s options available to suit all ages and fitness levels.

Most of the walks are free – check the event website for details.

Spring Family Fun at London Southbank – free and low-cost activities

Until May 31, the Southbank Centre in London are hosting a Spring Family Fun festival. There are both free and paid events available.

Highlights include a huge 80th birthday bash for legendary children’s poet Michael Rosen on May 23, followed by the high-energy DanceDanceDiscoPartyFunShow on May 30.

Families can also dive into creative workshops like textile quilting or grab a map for the interactive Architecture Explorers trail.

Make sure to check the festival website for specific events, and to pre-book your place.

Uber Boat London Audio Guide – £2.50 (+ admission ticket)

The Thames Clippers Uber Boat audio guide is an underrated way to explore London as a family from the water.

Hop aboard the boat and you can buy a London audio guide for £2.50 each, where a tour narrated by Rory Bremner teaches you fun facts all about the River Thames.

You can choose from two guides: a historical tour about the River Thames, or a guide to all the famous film and TV locations.

Once you grab the guide, simply download onto your smartphone, and make sure to bring your own headphones to listen along.

Note that the audio guide is a £2.50 add-on to a standard Uber Boat ticket. Tickets start from £6.20 for a single adult journey, with child tickets at 50% off the full adult price. Children 4 and under go free.

Scotland

Adventure Planet and Imagine Zone, National Museum of Scotland, Edinburgh – free

The National Museum of Scotland houses two dedicated zones specifically designed for younger explorers.

Inside Adventure Planet, children can get hands-on with the museum‘s collections through digital challenges, puzzles, and a dress-up area.

The Imagine gallery features a giant musical floor, wobbly mirrors and a quiet reading corner, perfect for a chilled break with a book.

The National Museum of Scotland, including the Adventure and Imagine zones, are free to enter. The museum is open from 10am – 5pm daily.

The Wee Hub, Edinburgh

This unique attraction acts as a completely hands-on museum, where objects are displayed without glass casing, designed for families to pick up and interact with.

You can find the Wee Hub in the Ocean Terminal Shopping Centre, where there are also often crafts sessions and art exhibitions taking place.

The Wee Hub is open from 11am – 3pm, Wednesday – Sunday.

Riverside Museum, Glasgow – free

This museum in Glasgow will transport you to the early 20th century via walk-through exhibits.

The standout feature is Main Street, a recreation of Glasgow from 1895 – 1930.

You can walk through an old-fashion street, popping into traditional shops with authentic interiors that make you feel like you’re in the past century.

Elsewhere, the floor is packed with transport marvels including the towering South African Loco 3007, life-size vintage buses, and detailed boat models that celebrate the city’s shipbuilding heritage.

The museum is open from 10am – 5pm daily, opening at 11am on Wednesdays and Sundays.

Family fun craft workshops at Art Gallery, Aberdeen – free

Every Saturday, Aberdeen Art Gallery hosts free, themed craft workshops designed for families with children aged 5 – 12.

These creative sessions let kids experiment with different art styles, from building intricate paper sculptures, to decorating treasure boxes and sketching portraits.

The workshops are set up as relaxed drop-in sessions, so there’s no need to book ahead – simply show up and start creating.

The Art Gallery is free to visit and open from 10am – 5pm Monday to Saturday, and 11am – 4pm on Sunday.

Wales and Northern Ireland

St Fagans National Museum of History, Cardiff – free

Walk straight into scenes from the past at St Fagans National Museum of History in Cardiff.

Inside you’ll find live demonstrations from skilled craftsmen, interactive galleries, as well as farming displays and rare breed farm animals outdoors.

You can also visit St Fagans Castle whilst you’re there, a pretty Elizabethan mansion.

Admission is free, with the museum open from 10am – 5pm daily.

The National Waterfront Museum, Swansea – free

This free-admission museum in Swansea is full of nautical and industrial artefacts, perfect for any budding historians.

If you visit between the 26 – 28 May, you can join in a free drop-in Holiday Make and Take session, where kids can create their own crafts to take home.

The museum is open from 10am – 5pm daily.

Geocaching in Snowdonia – free

Did you know Snowdonia is one of the most popular parts of the UK for geocaching?

Geocaching is an exciting adventure activity for all ages – it is essentially a huge outdoors treasure hunt, and it’s totally free!

Tucked away in nooks of the National Park you’ll find stashes of hidden items and letters known as caches, left by previous participants.

Simply sign up for a geocaching website, and follow the clues to find your hidden item – signing your name once you find the hidden cache to prove that you were there.

Ulster Museum, Belfast – free

The Ulster Museum is a treasure chest of artefacts and activities, where you can come face-to-face with everything from Egyptian mummies and dinosaurs to Spanish Armada gold.

The galleries include deep dives into topics like Inclusive Global Histories and fascinating science in the Elements exhibition.

For kids, the real action is in the Discovery Centres (located on Levels 1, 3, and 5).

These are hands-on zones where they can design their own dinosaurs, crawl inside a massive sensory tree, or raid the costume trunks for a bit of dress-up.

The Ulster Museum and Discovery Centre are free-entry and open from 10am – 5pm, from Tuesday – Sunday.

Urban Farm, Carrickfergus – free

This community-run farm in Carrickfergus is a hidden gem where you can get up close with pigs, goats, chickens, and ponies without spending a penny on entry.

It’s an underrated spot where families can meet the resident small pets and enjoy the County Antrim fresh air.

The site is also home to the Dancing Goat, a non-profit café serving up hot soups, sandwiches, tea, coffee and more.

The best part is that all the proceeds from the café are reinvested directly into the local area.

The farm is open from 9:30am – 4pm daily however it closes on Sundays.

May 15 (Asia Today) — Leaders from 26 countries, including South Korea, issued a joint statement supporting the restoration of normal operations through the Strait of Hormuz, according to a CNN report.

The statement came as U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping met in Beijing.

The leaders of South Korea, Britain, France, Japan, Canada, Qatar and Bahrain were among those who reaffirmed support for freedom of navigation through the strait.

“We will use the full range of diplomatic, economic and military capabilities to support freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz,” the leaders said in the statement.

They said navigation must remain free under the U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea and international law.

The leaders also pledged support for an independent and strictly defensive multinational military mission, including mine-clearing operations, to achieve that goal.

They said any military mission would be carried out only in a permissible environment and would complement diplomatic efforts to reduce tensions.

Trump, who is visiting China, said in a Fox News interview after his summit with Xi that the Chinese leader also supports reopening the Strait of Hormuz.

“President Xi wants the Strait of Hormuz open,” Trump said, adding that Xi offered to help “if he can be of any help.”

— Reported by Asia Today; translated by UPI

© Asia Today. Unauthorized reproduction or redistribution prohibited.

Original Korean report: https://www.asiatoday.co.kr/kn/view.php?key=20260515010004172

WITH the UK heating up this month, it can be tempting to splash the cash and make the most of the sunshine.

During the May Bank Holiday, the UK could hit highs of 25C according to the BBC – compared to just 23C in Santorini that day.

BUT there are still lots of fun things you can do to make the most of the weather without having to spend a penny.

This includes everything from outdoor swimming pools and playgrounds to markets and hikes – so here are eight of the best ideas for how to make the most of the weather.

1. Hit up a lido

Lots of outdoor swimming pools are free across the UK – if you know where to find them.

In Swansea there is Blackpill Lido, while many seapools like Shoalstone Seawater Pool in Devon has no entry charges either, along with Bude Sea Pool.

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2. Go to a huge adventure playground

While most small playgrounds are free, there are some bigger adventure ones that don’t cost either – there’s the Lower Leas Coastal Park in Folkestone, which is the biggest in the southeast.

Or in London there is the Tumbling Bay Playground in the Queen Elizaeth Olympic Park.

3. Head to a seaside theme park

Did you know that a lot of theme parks on the coast are free to visit?

One’s like Dreamland in Margate or Adventure Island in Southend-on-Sea have free entry – instead you pay to go on the rides (so non riders can get all of the vibes without the cost).

4. Go to a museum

The UK is one of the best in the world for having free museums, so you’re spoilt for choice.

In London there is everything from the Natural History Museum and Science Museum to the Tate Modern and V&A Museum; in York there is the National Railways Museum while the Museum of Liverpool and the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford are all free too.

5. Explore some castle gardens

History buffs can explore some beautiful castle grounds without having to reach into their wallet.

Try Liverpool Castle (weirdly not in Liverpool but in Lancashire) or Cardiff Castle in Wales (although you will need a ticket go into the castle itself).

6. Try a garden centre

With everything from animals to playgrounds, why not take the kids to a garden centre?

There’s the celeb-popular Burford Garden Centre in the Cotswolds or Bridgemere Garden Centre in Cheshire, which is the biggest in the UK.

7. Plan a hike

If you love a good walk, the UK has lots of them.

There is the recently opened King Charles III Coastal Path, running along the Kent coast; a short option of Hadrian’s Wall that takes just a few hours; or part of the Thames Path from Windsor to Eton which is around four miles.

8. Explore some markets

If you can avoid wanting to spend, then a beautiful market is often the place for stunning architecture and even sometimes some live shows.

Grainger Market in Newcastle is known for its food, while Leadenhall Market in London is beautiful just to look at.

TUI is launching its first ever loyalty scheme for UK customers – and there are plenty of perks.

The Smiles Reward Club is set to be rolled out later this year and holidaymakers will be able to use it across flights, holidays and cruises.

Follow The Sun’s award-winning travel team on Instagram and Tiktok for top holiday tips and inspiration @thesuntravel.

TUI Group CEO Sebastian Ebel announced yesterday the TUI Smiles Rewards Club will be rolled out in the UK ‘this summer or autumn’.

This will be the first time ever that TUI will have a loyalty scheme for its customers.

The Smiles Rewards Club will be able to be used across all bookings including flights, hotels, packages, cruises, and experiences.

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As members make purchases, they will progress through three levels and each level increases the benefits like TUI treats, priority support and personalised rewards.

These rewards also include on-board and in-hotel added benefits.

For even more potential wins, there will also be a monthly game with ‘great prizes’ to be won.

For higher tier members, there will be better access to services like priority live chat and priority call support.

The scheme launched in Finland in March of this year and will be rolled out in the UK later this year.

Here’s another travel website which launched its own loyalty scheme this year.

Claim your free family day pass to English Heritage sites, valid until Sunday, 14 June 2026. Simply cut out your voucher from today’s paper and present it at the site of your choice.

Spring is in full swing at English Heritage sites around the UK, and you can discover them for FREE with this amazing offer in the paper starting from Tuesday.

Using the voucher in the Daily Mirror, you and your family can gain access to spectacular woodland castles, colourful country houses and Victorian gardens in full bloom.

The pass covers up to two adults and three children, or one adult and four children, or two adults. It is valid until Sunday, 14 June 2026, and is inclusive of the bank holiday.

There are hundreds of historic sites across the country just waiting to be discovered and each one has a fascinating story to tell. There is everything from Viking attacks and medieval mayhem to Georgian glamour and Second World War heroics.

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So whatever you and your family enjoy – whether it’s a stroll around striking gardens and castles, exploring hidden tunnels or learning about World War II, historic monarchs, and the Viking way of life – you’re bound to find something to keep every member of the family happy and entertained.

And you can make the most of the season with plenty of outdoor space, fun-packed playgrounds and cafes with outdoor seating serving up ice creams, delicious lunches and refreshing drinks.

Whether you explore a Roman fortress, a royal palace or a rambling ruined abbey there’s no better way to seize the season and head out into history with friends and family

How to claim

Cut out the voucher and present it at your chosen English Heritage site by Sunday June 14, 2026, inclusive.

Please check the English Heritage website for opening times.

These are just some of the English Heritage sites you could visit

Dover Castle — An English fortress atop the White Cliffs of Dover, where visitors can explore wartime tunnels and a medieval keep

Osborne — The seaside palace of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert on the Isle of Wight

Pendennis Castle — The Tudor fortress in Falmouth, Cornwall, built by Henry VIII where visitors now find hidden tunnels, sweeping views, and lawns for picnics

Hadrian’s Wall — The historical landmark in Northumberland which was built by the Romans to guard the north-west frontier of their empire

Kenilworth Castle and Elizabethan Garden — A medieval fortress turned beautiful garden in Warwickshire

Whitby Abbey — A striking 7th-century gothic monastery sitting in the historic fishing port of Whitby

Walmer House and Gardens — A Tudor fortress turned country house, which has been the official residence of the Lord Warden of the Cinque Port for three centuries

Down House — The home of Charles Darwin where he wrote On the Origin of Species, where you’ll find his “outdoor laboratory” and extensive gardens

At these sites, you can make the most of the temperate season with plenty of outdoor space and playgrounds for kids to run around in, as well as in- and outdoor cafés with serving ice creams, lunches and drinks.

Plus, you can get a scone for just £1 when bought with any hot drink in an English Heritage café.

Stonehenge and some other sites are not included in this offer.

For full terms and conditions visit the English Heritage website.

Phoenix Rose and his dad James intervened to calm a disruptive passenger whose behaviour threatened to divert the Jet2 plane, which was travelling from Izmir, Turkey to the UK

An eight-year-old boy praised for calming a disruptive passenger on a plane has been showered with gifts from around the country and even overseas.

Phoenix Rose and his dad James have even been rewarded with free flight vouchers after their actions on the Jet2 plane prevented it from being diverted. Since James, 42, insisted his son is the “real hero”, the little boy has received thank you cards and presents from strangers.

James, of Salford, Greater Manchester, has been gifted with a games console from a stranger in The Netherlands, a Lego set, football kits and vouchers for toys among other presents. He said he thought it “was like Christmas Day” when he saw the gifts.

When a woman began shouting on the flight from Izmir, Turkey, Phoenix leapt into action, speaking to her, sitting next to her and then spending hours showing her his football cards, singing and asking about her family. It calmed her and the holiday flight did not need to divert.

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Speaking about the reaction to his intervention, Phoenix said: “It has been brilliant.” His dad told BBC Radio Manchester Phoenix now intends to give the presents away to children less fortunate than him.

James added: “When the first gift came, we thought it was nice for someone to do that, but since then it’s been parcel after parcel.

“One of the things he wants to do is give the stuff away, so if people are in financial hardship or they know someone who might want one of these presents then they can get in touch. What Phoenix now would like is for people to stop sending things, and if you’ve got money just donate it to charity.”

Phoenix wants his story to help others. He encouraged others to be kind if they experience similar issues on aircrafts. His father said the woman was “almost trying to smack the stewardesses”. However, at James’ request, cabin staff moved the passenger to a seat between him and his son, where Phoenix “bounced into action”.

Phoenix, a Manchester United fan, was thanked personally by the pilot. Jet2 praised the boy’s actions. In a statement, the company, which flies 120 carriers to 80 destinations, said: “I want to say a massive thank you to you both on behalf of everybody at Jet2. What you did was absolutely fantastic.”

Trevor Bauer wants to pitch in the majors again — so much so that he’s willing to start over in the lowest levels of the minor leagues and work his way up.

And he’s willing to do it without being paid.

That’s the hypothetical Bauer proposed Friday on X: A talented former Cy Young Award winner signs a minor league deal with an MLB team for a “$0 salary” and can be cut at any time at no financial risk to the organization.

Since his last MLB start on June 28, 2021, as a member of the Dodgers with a $102-million, three-year contract, Bauer has been accused of sexual assault by four women. He served a 194-game suspension for violating the league’s sexual assault and domestic violence policy. He has denied all the allegations and has never been charged with a crime.

While some might think signing Bauer might be a risky move for an MLB organization, Bauer feels his plan is foolproof in that regard.

“Hypothetical: You’re the owner of an MLB team,” Bauer wrote. “I offer to take $0 salary and sign a minor league contract and go to Low A. If the ‘he sucks now’ crowd is right and I get lit up, you cut me, lose $0 and there’s no risk to the big league club.

“If the ‘clubhouse cancer’ crowd is right, you see it immediately at Low A and cut me. You lose $0 and there’s no risk to the big league club. If there’s massive negative PR, which we already know there won’t be, you just cut me and move on. The story is dead in a couple days, you lose $0, and there’s no risk to the big league club.”

In the comments on Bauer’s post, someone challenged him on the notion that “we already know there won’t be” any negative PR if he is signed. In response, Bauer pointed to his current stint with the Long Island Ducks of the independent Atlantic League to support his argument.

“Where has the negative PR been?” wrote Bauer, who is 3-1 this season and pitched a no-hitter for the Ducks late last month. “I’m playing in America. In New York of all places. Most ‘hostile’ media market in the United States. Stadiums are sold out when I pitch. There’s no boycotts. No media frenzy. Where is it?”

Bauer wrote in his proposal that if none of the negatives he laid out earlier happen, then the organization can promote their cost-free pitcher through the ranks, re-evaluating him every step of the way, until he reaches the big leagues — “if I earn it,” he wrote, “which you’d be 100% in control of deciding.”

“If you don’t think I’m good enough, you lose $0 and there’s no risk to the big league club,” Bauer wrote. “You could take away my ‘antics’. You could take away my social media. You could ask anything of me. If I don’t comply, you cut me, lose $0, and there’s no risk to the big league club.”

One X user asked why Bauer doesn’t just take away his “antics” on his own.

“Because no teams actually care about that,” Bauer responded. “They enjoy the content. And I’m not going to rob baseball fans of great baseball entertainment just to solve a problem that only exists in the minds of x bots.”

Informed that the MLB Players Assn. might have an issue with him playing for free, Bauer replied, “Who gives a crap about what mlbpa does or doesn’t want?”

This isn’t the first time Bauer has made what he considers to be a low-risk proposal for an organization to bring him back into the league. In 2024, Bauer spoke with The Times’ Bill Shaikin about an offer he made to play for the league minimum.

“The reason for that was, I want to go back to work, and I am trying to find any way that I possibly can to limit the risk and exposure for a team,” Bauer said. “I realize there are a lot of other things, outside of the on-field stuff, that go into whether to sign me. So I figured that, if I could limit the on-field risk as much as possible, perhaps that offsets some of the other perceived risks.”

It remains to be seen whether any club is willing to take up Bauer on his current offer.

“What logical reason is there to not do this?” Bauer wrote. “At worst, you cut me and there’s no risk to the big league club. At best, you get a Cy Young winner for $0 who you know can still pitch and could help the big league team if and when you see fit.”

Former Miami Marlins president David Samson weighed in on Bauer’s proposal in a post on X.

“This will never happen,” Samson wrote. “First of all, no team wants to sign him. Secondly, no player is allowed to play for $0. And finally, no team wants to sign him.”

Walt Disney Co.’s ABC is forcefully resisting Federal Communications Commission efforts to soften the network’s programming, accusing the federal agency of an overreach that violates 1st Amendment freedoms.

Last week, the FCC took the unusual step of calling in the licenses of eight Disney-owned television stations for early review. The move — widely interpreted as an effort to chill the network’s speech — came a day after President Trump demanded that ABC fire late-night talk show host Jimmy Kimmel over a joke about First Lady Melania Trump.

The FCC separately has taken aim at ABC’s daytime discussion show, “The View,” which delves deeply into politics.

The FCC has questioned whether the show, which prominently features Trump critics Whoopi Goldberg and Joy Behar, could continue toclaim an exemption to rules that require broadcasters to provide equal time for opponents of political candidates.

In its filing this week with the FCC, Disney’s Houston television station raised the stakes in the dispute over “The View,” calling the commission’s actions “unprecedented” and “beyond the Commission’s authority.” The ABC station’s petition for a declaratory ruling said “The View,” has long qualified as a “bona fide” news interview program with freedom to conduct interviews of legally qualified political candidates.

“The Commission’s actions threaten to upend decades of settled law and practice and chill critical protected speech, both with respect to The View and more broadly,” the Houston station KTRK-TV said in the filing.

The network’s firm stance sets up a clash with the Trump administration, including the president’s hand-picked FCC Chairman Brendan Carr, who has made no secret of his disdain for Kimmel and other ABC programming. Earlier this year, Carr announced that decades-old exemptions from the so-called “equal time rule” for news programs, including “The View,” were no longer valid.

ABC’s strenuous arguments mark a departure for the Disney-owned outlet.

In December 2024, a month after Trump was elected to a second term, the network quickly settled a lawsuit over statements made by news anchor George Stephanopoulos that Trump found offensive. ABC agreed to pay Trump $15 million to end his legal fight — sparking an outcry among free speech advocates, who accused the network of caving on a case it could have won.

“Some may dislike certain—or even most—of the viewpoints expressed on The View or similar shows,” the station said in its filing. “Such dislike, however, cannot justify using regulatory processes to restrict those views. The government does not get to decide ‘what shall be orthodox in politics, nationalism, religion, or other matters of opinion.’”

The station noted that, while the FCC has questioned the exemption for “The View,” which dates back to 2002, the FCC hasn’t showed interest in regulating programs on other networks, “including the many voices — conservative and liberal — on broadcast radio.”

“The danger is that the government will simply decide which perspectives to regulate and which to leave undisturbed,” ABC said.

On April 28, Carr called for a review of Disney’s broadcast licenses two years before any of them were set to expire, citing the agency’s year-old inquiry into Disney’s diversity, equity and inclusion policies and whether they violated federal anti-discrimination rules.

The fourth season of Beyond Paradise may have ended but fans can catch up with another detective duo

Beyond Paradise fans can enjoy another thrilling detective series after the BBC show recently ended.

On Friday evening (May 1), Beyond Paradise viewers were left distraught as the series concluded after a successful four seasons.

The popular crime drama, featuring Kris Marshall returning to his Death in Paradise character DI Humphrey Goodman alongside Sally Bretton as Martha Lloyd, debuted in 2023 and was an instant hit.

Audiences will be hoping the BBC will soon release more information on new episodes of Beyond Paradise, but in the meantime, crime drama fans are urged to watch Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries, which can be streamed on Channel4.com.

The detective period drama follows the personal and professional life of Phryne Fisher (Essie Davis), a private detective operating in Melbourne, Australia, in the 1920s.

Not only is the wealthy, sharp-witted Fisher incredibly glamorous, but she also has the talent to solve cases that police can’t crack. She is often paired with Detective Inspector Jack Robinson (Nathan Page), and the duo uses each other’s expertise to investigate crimes.

However, Fisher remains haunted by the tragedy surrounding her younger sister, often wrestling with the question of whether she could have done more to prevent it. The first series aired on ABC in 2012 and was followed by two more, concluding in 2015

The show is inspired by Kerry Greenwood’s historical mystery novels, which brought the iconic Phryne Fisher to life. The series began with the 1989 novel Cocaine Blues and spanned 23 books.

The first series aired on ABC in 2012 and was followed by two more, concluding in 2015. Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries was followed up by a feature film, Miss Fisher and the Crypt of Tears, released in 2020.

The show is rated 8.2/10 on IMDB with one fan calling the show “another excellent offering”, adding “The story lines, characters, writing, acting, sets, period ambiance… whatever else… are all superb.”

Another explained: “Sultry and stunning period mystery series. As a lifelong mystery buff, I find “Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries” to be a real treat.”

“Lots of fun, and looks gorgeous. I happened upon Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries quite by accident”, added another.

Who else stars in Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries? The cast of the crime drama includes:

• Essie Davis as Phryne Fisher
• Nathan Page as Detective Inspector Jack Robinson
• Ashleigh Cummings as Dorothy ‘Dot’ Williams
• Hugo Johnstone-Burt as Constable Hugh Collins
• Richard Bligh as Mr. Tobias Butler
• Travis McMahon as Bert Johnson
• Anthony Sharpe as Cecil ‘Cec’ Yates
• Tammy MacIntosh as Dr. Elizabeth ‘Mac’ Macmillan
• Miriam Margolyes as Prudence Elizabeth Stanley
• Ruby Rees-Wemyss as Jane Ross
• Nicholas Bell as Murdoch Foyle
• Pip Miller as The Baron of Richmond, Henry George Fisher

Beyond Paradise is available to stream on BBC iPlayer. Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries can be streamed on Channel 4.

May 4 (UPI) — The Iranian military threatened Monday to attack U.S. forces if they attempt to implement U.S. President Donald Trump‘s “Project Freedom” to bring ships trapped in the Persian Gulf out through the Strait of Hormuz.

In a statement carried by state-run broadcaster IRIB, the commander of Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, the Iranian military’s central command, warned the Americans not to approach the strait and that no vessels would be permitted to transit safely without Iran’s permission.

The statement also appeared to threaten Iran’s neighbors in the Gulf and other allies of the United States.

“Do not approach the Strait of Hormuz. Any foreign armed force, especially the aggressive American army, will be attacked if they intend to approach and enter the Strait of Hormuz. Supporters of the evil America should be careful and not do anything that will lead to irreparable regret, because America’s aggressive action to disrupt the current situation will have no result other than complicating the situation and jeopardizing the security of vessels in this area,” said central command chief, Maj. Gen. Ali Abdullahi.

“In any circumstances, any safe passage through this strait will be carried out in coordination with the Armed Forces,” added Abdullahi.

The warning came hours after Trump announced plans to use U.S. military assets deployed in the region, including guided-missile destroyers, over 100 land and sea-based aircraft, multi-domain unmanned platforms and 15,000 marines, to “guide” ships and crews “safely out of the Strait.”

U.S. Central Command confirmed in a news release posted on X that the operation to restore freedom of navigation for all commercial shipping, with the exception of vessels servicing Iran, would get underway on Monday.

“The mission, directed by the president, will support merchant vessels seeking to freely transit through the essential international trade corridor. A quarter of the world’s oil trade at sea and significant volumes of fuel and fertilizer products are transported through the strait. Our support for this defensive mission is essential to regional security and the global economy as we also maintain the naval blockade,” said U.S. CENTCOM Commander Adm. Brad Cooper.

The developments came as two ships, an oil tanker and a bulk carrier, were attacked near the strait on Sunday.

However, it was unclear how effective the operation might be with Copenhagen-headquartered BIMCO, the world’s largest international shipping association, with more than 2,000 members across 130 countries, telling the BBC that while much depended on the “risk appetite” of individual ship owners, it couldn’t see how an evacuation could work without agreement from Iran.

As many as 20,000 merchant sailors are languishing aboard 2,000 commercial ships marooned in the Persian Gulf by Iran’s effective closure of the Hormuz Strait, according to the U.N.’s International Maritime Organization, which Friday adopted a resolution condemning attacks on shipping that “threaten the welfare of seafarers, represented a grave danger to life and posed a serious risk to the marine environment.”

Tens of thousands of partygoers gathered for an illegal “free party” at a military firing range near Bourges, despite warnings about unexploded World War II ordnance. Authorities warned of serious risks, while organisers said the event was attended by 40,000 to protest against proposed laws targeting unregistered raves.

A FREE-to-visit wine festival is set to return to the UK this summer.

Battersea Power Station in London has confirmed The Wine Circuit will return from June 12 to 14 with everything from a markets to street food and bar pop ups.

Wine Merchant Stalls at the festival will be open from 11am to 8pm on June 13 and between 11am and 6pm on June 14 and include popular brands such as Vagabond Wines.

There’s also an Artisan Market on June 12 and 13 between 10am and 8pm and again on June 14 between 11am and 6pm where you can shop handmade wine glass and wine-themed gifts.

Alternatively, you could buy a ticket to one of the panel talks at the festival, or The Wine Cup, where you can try different tasters of wine.

The Wine Cup allows visitors to enjoy up to 10 wines from around the world and then vote for the ‘Best in Show’, as well as ‘Highly Commended’.

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Tickets are split into the different types of wine including red, white, rose and sparkling and range from £37.90 to £41.10 per person – and even includes a tote bag and cup.

Events already confirmed for this year include Drag Wine Tasting on June 13 between 7pm and 9pm.

While little details have been released about the wine festival this year, last year the festival hosted sessions about wine making, drinking trends and insider tips from experts.

There were also live music, talks on topics such as natural wine and alcohol-free wine, and for pub quiz lovers, even a wine quiz with blind tastings

As for the wine market, stalls sold wine-related gifts such as bottle stoppers and decanters while food pop-ups included Ashes BBQ and Masa Tacos.

The Power Station already has a number of wine destinations for visitors to explore including Vagabond Wines and Searcys Champagne Bar.

SHE went from a little known model to posing for Fendi almost overnight when she started dating Brooklyn Beckham.

Stunning Hana Cross, now 28, dated the nepo baby for just eight months but almost seven years on the Beckham family name still haunts her – and as insiders tell us she’s gained a reputation for being difficult to work with, the famous connection is doing more and more of the heavy lifting.

An industry source explained: “Hana can be hard work behind the scenes, especially when things don’t go her way, and that’s started to follow her.

“Brands are becoming more hesitant, not because of one specific issue, but because of a general unpredictability around how things might be received with her.

“Brands have mentioned how difficult she is to work with. She’s a stunning girl with so much potential but there’s a sense some partnerships have cooled as companies weigh up whether the attention she brings is the right kind.

“There’s a growing feeling in the industry that a lot of the attention around her still ties back to her past with Brooklyn, whether she likes it or not.”

We’re told she recently hired a new press team to help restore her reputation and shed the family name once and for all.

It became apparent just how far off that dream was earlier this year as she found herself dragged into the Beckham family drama surrounding Brooklyn falling out with his parents.

Our source continued: “The recent Beckham drama has definitely rattled her more than she’s letting on, she’s trying to stay composed but it’s clearly unsettled things behind the scenes

“She’s more cautious than ever now, particularly when it comes to anything linked to that circle

“She’s brought in a new PR team in an attempt to reset the narrative and give herself a fresh angle. There’s a sense that without her Brooklyn ties, there’s not much cutting through in terms of her own identity.”

The Leeds-born model started dating the eldest of the Beckham brood, 27, back in 2018, but it was a tumultuous time, overshadowed by a series of very public rows.

Hana was thrown into the spotlight – compared to Brooklyn she’s had a very modest upbringing, living in Huddersfield and then Chipping Campden, where she attended the local state school. 

From Leeds to LA

Born Hana Mahmood, her mum Sarah was working in a shop when she married Khalid Mahmood in November 1994. 

When she was 18 she was scouted while out shopping with her mum in Cotswolds. She had been planning to go to university to study business with equine studies, but her career took off pretty quickly.

Hana has worked for everyone from high street brands Topshop and New Look to designers Valentino and Missoni.

She was 21 when she first met Brooklyn, who was 19 at the time. It’s thought that Brooklyn’s cousin Libby Adams introduced them and they soon became inseparable.

The couple appeared to have their struggles at the time and they were pictured seemingly having a heated discussion outside a Los Angeles restaurant.

And not long after, another confrontation at the Agent Provocateur party, at Annabel’s members club in London in September 2019, left Hanna running to the bathroom in tears.

A fellow partygoer at the time told The Sun Online: “They were chatting together and it was very tense. By the end of it I could hear Brooklyn say, ‘it is what it is.’

“He walked off and she went back to her friends looking dejected, but she held it together while her pals comforted her”.

Brooklyn’s parents Victoria and David were said to be “seriously frustrated” by the negative attention the rows were creating and warned him to spend more time with the family.

Looking back at that time in a rare interview Hana admitted that dating the budding chef and being part of the famous family sparked her “anxiety” .

She told Hello! Magazine: “My time with the family caused me a lot of anxiety, in all honesty.

“There were a lot of warning signs and things that happened during the relationship that, in hindsight, should have made me think and maybe end the relationship or walk away a lot sooner than it did”.

In recent months Brooklyn’s current relationship – his marriage to Nicola Peltz – has come under scrutiny due to his very public family feud.

The famous family’s spat exploded when he launched a nuclear attack on his famous parents – blasting his Spice Girls star mother, 51, in a damning message posted on social media.

Hana admitted: “It’s hard not to be mentally drawn back into that part of my life, especially with all this feud stuff coming out. 

“It’s hard because I don’t look back on that as a fond time, on reflection.”

The couple finally called it quits in the summer of 2019, which was said to be a huge relief to Brooklyn’s parents. Little did they know Nicola Peltz was just around the corner. 

Hana had a brief foray into music and released a track that seemed to hint at Brooklyn. 

She sang: “I wish that someone told me you had a habit for dishonesty – though you break my heart, I want to stay.”

She went on to date Jude Law‘s son Rafferty, Jack Whitehall and Scott Disick. She’s now living in LA and was last linked to aristocrat Peregrine Pearson, following his split from Sophie Turner. 

Our insider added: “It’s a bit of a catch 22 situation because she knows that without Brooklyn she wouldn’t be where she is now and it’s still the thing people are most interested about with her.

“But she’s determined to push forward and prove she can stand on her own.”

The unique crime drama is perfect for Agatha Christie fans, and is now available to watch for free.

A “must-watch” murder mystery perfect for Agatha Christie fans is now available to watch for free.

This Is Not A Murder Mystery follows a group of young Surrealist artists in the 1930s.

The Belgian English-language crime drama is now available to watch on Channel 4, after first airing last year.

Set in England in a lavish country estate, it sees a collection of famous artists finding themselves trapped with a serial killer.

The cast features Pierre Gervais as Rene Magritte, Inaki Mur as Salvador Dali, Florence Hall as Lee Miller, Frank Rourke as Man Ray and Mike Hoffman as Max Ernst.

The synopsis for This Is Not A Murder Mystery, taken from Magritte’s The Treachery of Images painting, reads: “Crime drama set in the flamboyant 1930s, following a group of young Surrealist artists, including Dali and Magritte, who are trapped in a lavish mansion with a serial killer on the loose.”

Viewers were left gripped by the unique period drama, with one person writing: “This series is a delightful and stylish twist on the classic whodunit. Set in the opulent 1930s with a gathering of legendary surrealist artists, it plays masterfully with suspense and visual flair.” They added: “For anyone looking for an intelligent drama wrapped in atmosphere and intrigue, this series is a must-watch.”

Another person branded it “worth watching” while someone else called it “charming”. When the trailer dropped, fans rushed to share their excitement, with one writing: “This looks *rilly* good, as another said: “This looks fun!”

Someone else said: “I’m so glad Agatha Christie-ish stories has taken ahold of media for now. It’s such a fun genre.”

Another added: “I’ve been itching for another story like this ever since Knives Out came out years ago! And I’m also really excited to see a cast where I don’t recognize anyone I’m sick of Hollywood only casting the same “trendy” actors in roles they’re ill-suited for so this is a nice chance to see other talent shine!”

Producer Kristoffel Mertens and Elly Vervloet previously spoke to Variety about turning their surrealist idea into this drama, with Mertens saying: “It started as the typical cliché idea that goes around in production companies.

“Everyone is very enthusiastic about it, but at the same time we would never be able to make it. Yet for this one, it remained with us and we kept going back to it, so in the end, we thought we could try to at least get it into development. And it turns out that “This is Not a Murder Mystery’ became one of the biggest shows ever made in Flanders.”

It’s definitely the biggest series we have ever done”, Vervloet added.

“We usually commission Flemish series for our local audience, creating a mix of domestic series and high-end TV shows as well.

“But at that level, it becomes a matter of dreaming big, being bold, and daring to make this choice as a public broadcaster to bring this English-spoken series to our audience and beyond.”

This Is Not A Murder Mystery is available to watch on Channel 4.

A POPULAR lido is set to offer all day sessions this weekend – where kids will be able to swim for free.

The Grade II listed venue also offers a number of adult-friendly swim sessions and an adventure course.

The National Lido of Wales, in Pontypridd, is hosting all-day sessions from May 2 to 4, ahead of the pool’s official summer season on June 1.

Kids under 16 will be able to enjoy the lido for free all weekend, while adult entry is priced at just £4.

The pool currently offers weekday and weekend sessions from 6.30am until 8.45am for early-morning swimmers.

Family fun sessions are also hosted only on weekends and bank holidays until the start of June.

DIVE IN

‘Ultimate’ UK aquapark with beach bus and climbing towers is reopening this weekend

SPLASH OUT

UK’s biggest freshwater lido to reopen this week as temperatures to hit 26C

For an additional £3, visitors can purchase tickets for the inflatable obstacle course, Aqua Peddlerz and Water Walker, which includes floating zorbs – inflatable plastic balls that allow people to run on the water.

The area also contains an outdoor play section – a dedicated playpark with slides, seesaws, climbing and balancing equipment.

The historic venue, also known as Lido Ponty, has been nestled within Ynysangharad War Memorial Park since 1927.

Following its closure in 1991, the pool spent the intervening 24 years in a state of disrepair until its official re-opening in 2015.

Now it features a renovated main pool, an activity pool and a splash pool, which are all heated to 28 degrees.

The site is also considered the “earliest and best preserved lido” in South Wales.

IF you haven’t booked your summer holiday abroad yet, now’s the perfect time — you can bag yourself a HUGE bargain in this holiday sale.

Club Med has launched its massive Flash Summer Sale, where you can save up to a whopping £600 per person on all-inclusive summer holidays.

Save up to £600 per person in the Club Med Summer Sale

Not only can you bag massive savings, but if you’re going away as a family, you’ll be glad to know that kids under 6 stay free!

These holiday deals include your accommodation, meals, drinks activities and kids clubs all packaged neatly into one price, with no hidden costs.

These are some seriously premium holidays for bargain prices, with modern resorts in trendy destinations, gourmet dining and childcare all taken care of.

Read more on summer holidays

BARGAIN HOL

Travel companies reveal their CHEAPEST spots this summer, with hols from £189pp

JET OFF

The cheapest family summer holiday destination from every region of the UK

There’s a range of sun-soaked destinations to choose from, including long haul and short haul options, with travel dates stretching until November 2026.

But make sure to act fast – the flash sale ends on May 13.

Here’s a selection of top all-inclusive holiday deals you can snap up in the Club Med Summer Flash Sale.

Marbella, Spain

One option is the Club Med Magna Marbella, a Spanish sunshine resort set in twelve acres of lush green gardens.

This hidden slice of luxury sits at the base of a beautiful mountain, overlooking the sea and just a stone’s throw from the historic Old Town and glitzy Marbella.

This resort has its own lagoon pool with a beach club feel, plus grown-ups can enjoy the adults-only Zen Zone pool and juice bar whilst children up to age 17 are in the kids club.

Da Balaia, The Algarve, Portugal

This family-friendly resort is surrounded by gorgeous beaches and outstanding golf courses.

Adults can unwind at the eco-pool, whilst kids can take part in adventurous activities ranging from mini golf to a flying trapeze.

Unwind in the evenings with some fresh seafood at one of the resort’s sea view restaurants.

Cefalù, Sicily, Italy

What better than a luxury all-inclusive resort overlooking Cefalù Bay in Italy?

Lay back on a lounger to soak up the sea and mountain views and summer heat, or head out on excursions including paddle-boarding or beachfront yoga.

In the evenings, dine on a Sicilian menu of gourmet meals and sip local wine under the sun.

Punta Cana, Dominican Republic

This colourful resort in the Dominican Republic sits on the beach where crystal-clear waters meet fine white sands backed by coconut groves.

Whether it’s a couple’s retreat or a family getaway, you can fill your days with relaxing spa treatments or thrilling activities like water sports, sailing and tennis.

For something truly memorable, go horse riding along the beach at sunset.

Marrakech, Morocco

Club Med Marrakech is a luxurious Moroccan stay with colourful courtyards and relaxing gardens to wander, with the vibrant souks of the city close by.

Practice your swing at the driving range or get stuck into a good book by the palm tree-dotted poolside, plus there’s childcare for children ranging from infants to teens.

Tuck into tajine, grilled meats and mezze at the traditional restaurant, and enjoy a Moroccan mint tea or something stronger at the rooftop bar.

There’s plenty more holiday destinations to browse in the sale, such as luxurious all-inclusive resorts on the Turkish Riviera, quiet Greek islands and coastal retreats in France.

There’s even savings for dreamy long-haul destinations like Cancun, Mauritius, the Maldives and Seychelles.

Just make sure to act fast and bag your bargain break before the sale ends on May 13.