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The travel expert highlighted one spot as a stunning and affordable autumn city break destination

For many people mapping out an autumn escape, short-haul European city breaks promising late-season sunshine tend to top the wishlist. But as one of Britain’s most respected travel journalists, Simon Calder, suggests a more affordable and “very exciting” destination.

During an appearance on Holly Rubenstein’s podcast ‘The Travel Diaries,’ Simon shone a spotlight on everything from ancient cities in Algeria to Cape Verde and the Azores. Another unexpected destination on his radar was Tbilisi, the capital of Georgia. Tbilisi, the capital of Georgia, is becoming an increasingly popular choice for a city break, offering a mix of historic sights, delicious food, traditional wine, famous thermal baths and relatively affordable prices.

Why visit Tbilisi?

Tbilisi’s historic centre is packed with colourful wooden balconies, winding streets and beautiful churches, alongside architecture reflecting Georgian, Persian, Russian and European influences.

The city takes its name from its natural hot springs, and the Abanotubani district is home to traditional bathhouses where visitors can enjoy the famous sulphur-rich waters.

One of the must-visits in the city is a ride on the cable car towards Narikala Fortress offers impressive views across Tbilisi and the Mtkvari River. From the fortress, you can also glimpse the iconic “Mother of Georgia” statue.

Simon said: “It used to be the case that you couldn’t fly from Tbilisi in Georgia from the UK. And suddenly, within a couple of days, British Airways and easyJet launched flights to Tbilisi.”

The travel guru continued: “And that’s a very exciting part of the world. Central Asia, Uzbekistan, is very much getting back to being more mainstream as well. So much exciting stuff to do,” reports the Express.

What’s Tbilisi like in autumn?

Autumn can be an attractive time to visit Tbilisi. September is typically warm, while October brings cooler temperatures but can still offer pleasant days for exploring the city. Early autumn can also feel considerably warmer than the UK, making it an appealing option for travellers looking for a break from cooler weather.

Tbilisi comes into its own during autumn for a whole host of reasons. While temperatures back home in the UK begin to plummet, Georgia’s capital basks in a pleasant climate, with average highs of 19.5C in October.

This mild, sunny weather is perfectly suited to exploring on foot, and with very little rainfall to contend with, you can safely leave the waterproofs behind. Tbilisi has earned a reputation as a remarkably budget-friendly travel destination, especially for visitors from the UK and Western Europe.

While prices have risen slightly in recent years owing to increasing popularity, the city still offers exceptional value for money.

In the Georgian capital, a pint of local beer in a bar or pub will set you back around £1.75, while meals out typically cost between £8 and £15.

Tbilisi’s charm lies in its fusion of old and new. The city’s ancient heritage is prominently displayed in the delightful Old Town (Dzveli Tbilisi), where a maze of cobbled streets winds past traditional houses with characteristic wooden balconies.

You can explore this historic quarter and uncover the domed roofs of the renowned Sulfur Baths in the Abanotubani district.

For a modern architectural wonder, walk across the Bridge of Peace, a contemporary pedestrian crossing that illuminates with thousands of LED lights after nightfall.

Georgian cuisine is a standout feature of any visit, and Tbilisi is the ideal spot to sample it. From the warming comfort of khinkali (spiced meat or cheese dumplings) to the cheesy delight of khachapuri (bread with cheese), the local food is a hearty and flavoursome experience.

Wash it all down with a glass of locally produced wine from one of the oldest winemaking regions on the planet.

Travel Local reveals that Georgia is widely regarded as the birthplace of wine. Archaeological findings of winemaking activity stretch back more than 8,000 years, making it the oldest continuous winemaking tradition in the world.

Remarkably, the very word “wine” is thought to have originated from the Georgian term for it, ‘ghvino’.

Tbilisi boasts a fantastic selection of wine bars and tasting rooms throughout the city, but the most celebrated vineyards and wineries can be found in the Kakheti wine region, considered the heart of Georgian winemaking.

It’s a well-loved and straightforward day trip from Tbilisi, typically requiring around a 1.5 to two-hour drive to reach the region’s principal towns such as Sighnaghi or Telavi.

October is also a particularly vibrant time to visit the city, as it plays host to the Tbilisoba festival, a grand celebration of the city’s rich history and harvest season. The streets burst into life with music, folk dancing and food stalls, offering an unforgettable insight into Georgian culture.

Many favour a circular walk, but you can give a linear one new shape with the addition of a novel form of transport. My wife Helen, our friend Tom Cox and I take the water taxi – a rigid inflatable boat (Rib) – from West Bay on Dorset’s coast to Lyme Regis, with a plan to walk back to our starting point.

The rain stops as the boat leaves the harbour, the views open along Chesil Beach to low-lying Portland to the east, and west to Lyme Regis; on the far horizon, we can see Start Point on the Devon coast. Our skipper, Nick, is highly knowledgable and takes time to stop and point out the history of the shoreline and the treacherous waters of Lyme Bay. The seabed is studded with wrecks – fishing boats and smugglers’ ships, but some are from the two world wars.

On New Year’s Day 1915, the battleship HMS Formidable was torpedoed by a German submarine. Of its crew of 750, no more than 200 survived. In the second world war, the Dorset coast was a huge mustering station for the allied forces in preparation for D-day. During Exercise Tiger, a large-scale rehearsal for the Normandy landings, hundreds of American service personnel were killed in an attack by German boats later known as the Battle of Lyme Bay – the wreck sites are now designated war graves.

At Lyme Regis, we disembark on to the Cobb, the harbour wall that snakes unsteadily into the bay and was made famous by Jane Austen, who had Louisa jump from it in Persuasion, and by John Fowles, who lived in Lyme. The movie adaptation of his novel The French Lieutenant’s Woman starred Meryl Streep as Sarah Woodruff. Its famous trailer begins with the actor sweeping across the Cobb, the hood of her cloak covering her face. For the filming, many buildings in the town were given a 19th-century facade. For a film that plays with time, it seems appropriate that the town’s bookshop kept its temporary fascia for many years.

Our walk back to West Bay is 10 miles long and begins not along the coast but by heading inland. The west Dorset coast is friable – the cliffs keep falling on to the beaches, and the path to Charmouth takes a diversion through a golf course. It wasn’t always like this: once there was a coastal road, Long Entry, between the two settlements. In 1725, Henry Fielding, then aged 17, attempted to abduct his cousin Sarah, with whom he was infatuated, from Lyme. The future novelist made his escape along Long Entry before being stopped by her guardian.

Our walk back to the coast is interrupted by a sculpture on the path. The shape of a woman, angular and determined, a hammer in her outstretched right hand, the other holding above her head the skeleton of a prehistoric animal. There’s another recent sculpture of the same subject, Mary Anning, in Lyme Regis, recording her importance to palaeontology and to the town, but this upland creature, made by Greta Berlin, is wilder, perfectly suited to its woodland setting. The representation of the fossil held aloft is Anning’s discovery: Ichthyosaurus anningae. One cannot walk this section of Dorset’s coast without being aware of its ancient past and the fragile geology close to the surface. Our boat trip began on crumbly sandstone, which gave way to fossil-rich clay as we travelled west.

Charmouth is a pretty village with no harbour; its shallow waters make it popular with those learning to swim or paddleboard. This next section of the South West Coast Path, to West Bay, coincides with the Monarch’s Way, the route that Charles II took to flee to mainland Europe after the civil war. Our day is more peaceful but the path is steep. We’re grateful for Tom’s company – his latest novel, Everything Will Swallow You, is infused with the history and landscape of the Dorset coast and his knowledge enlivens our walk, as do the pasties he brings, baked by his wife, Ellie.

We pass the remains of St Gabriel’s Church, which fell into disuse in the 18th century, although smugglers found within its walls useful shelter for their contraband. Soon we’re on Golden Cap, the highest point on the south coast – 191 metres (627ft) above sea level, with extraordinary views over Lyme Bay. At Seatown, we stop at the Anchor Inn for refreshments, meeting friends who have opted for a shorter walk. From Thorncombe Beacon, we descend to Eype Mouth – in Old English Eype is “Steep Place”; the church in this secluded village was chosen by PJ Harvey to record Let England Shake, a Mercury prize-winning album rich with the echoes of war.

There are further reminders of the coast’s fragility on the final stretch to West Bay – one sign references a cliff fall in 2020, and the path is frequently redirected to safer routes. West Bay, a small stone town, was once the harbour from where Bridport exported its rope and was originally called Bridport Harbour, but had its name changed by the railway company hoping to attract tourists. The railway is long gone – its station now hosts a restaurant in railway carriages – but West Bay, with its stalls for chips and views back towards Lyme, is a fitting place to end, a town out of time.

OS Explorer 116 (Lyme Regis & Bridport) covers the entire walk from Lyme Regis to West Bay. The Lyme Bay Water Taxi operates during the summer months; there is a year-round bus service between West Bay and Lyme Regis. Jon Woolcott is the author of Real Dorset and The Tattooed Hills, Journeys to Chalk Figures

Here’s the equation that arrived in my mind:

Love of books + love of walking = Library Trail.

Could I walk to all the libraries in L.A.?

I asked myself this question and then one second later I asked Google, because my phone was in my hand as it is 50% of the time, and 75% of the time when I’m not being social. I spend a lot of time alone, writing books that I hope will end up in libraries.

I knew there were many public libraries in L.A., and that walking to all of them would probably result in a trail that looked like a snarled nest. This turned out to be correct. The city of Los Angeles has 73 libraries. The county has 86. And Santa Monica has five.

So, I decided to simplify. I would walk about 15 miles from the Central Library in downtown L.A. to the Ocean Park Library in Santa Monica, and, since every trail needs a name, I would call it … the phrase “booking it” arrived in my mind. I crossed that out, and then I crossed out some other bad options, and then I decided to let it go and name the trail after I was done, which is often what I do when writing a novel, because you don’t really know what a thing is until it exists. With books, and with trails, and with life, the only thing we can ever be sure of is that our plans will always turn out to be wrong.

An illustrated map of the 15-mile trek from the Central Library in downtown L.A. to Ocean Park Library in Santa Monica.

Case in point: The day before the trail, I planned to draw some lettuce on my sun hat with fabric pens. I envisioned that on one side, the lettuce would be beautiful and perfect, and on the other side, it would be goopy and rotting. What ended up happening was that I drew two lovely romaine leaves, and I liked them so much that I stopped there.

As I said, I spend a lot of time by myself, and I imagined that walking this trail would be a solitary adventure. I’m currently in the process of writing a new novel, and since walking is so conducive to writing, I thought the trail would give me a nice big swath of time to ponder the fictional world I’ve created.

I was told that a photographer named Scott Strazzante would meet me at the Central Library at 7 a.m. I assumed he’d take some shots and maybe walk with me for a little while, and then we’d part ways. What actually happened was that Scott stayed with me the entire time. This caused me to see the two romaine lettuce leaves on my hat as a foreshadowing. I was one leaf, and Scott was the other.

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1. L.A. Central Library. 2. The Lodrick M. Cook Rotunda inside the library. (Scott Strazzante / For The Times)

But back to the Central Library. It’s a masterpiece. Maybe you already know that. In case you don’t, I recommend a visit. Scott and I ended up in the rotunda, surrounded by murals, and it felt like taking a quick trip to Italy. Although really, it was a trip through California’s history. That’s what the murals depict.

An important part of the library’s history is that people (or one person?) tried to burn it down. Twice. In 1986, there were two arson attacks, spaced a few months apart. Who would want to burn down a library? It’s still unclear, although the main suspect for the first attempt was an out-of-work actor named Harry Peak.

The route from the Central Library to the Ocean Park Library is so easy that you could do it without your phone. You walk down four blocks to Olympic Boulevard, then head west. At some point, switch over to Pico Boulevard and keep heading west. Eventually, you’ll veer off at Gateway Boulevard, which turns into Ocean Park Boulevard, and boom! You’re there!

If you do this trail, I suggest you bring sunscreen, a hat and an external battery to charge your phone. I would also bring water and snacks, although, of course, there are many places to get those things along the way.

As Scott and I walked down Olympic, I said hi to a few people we passed, and Scott did too. After one of these interactions, Scott said, “People must think we’re missionaries or something, saying hi like that.”

A woman holds a religious sign at Olympic Boulevard and Alvarado Street.

I didn’t respond. But as we kept walking, I wondered about the implication of Scott’s statement, which is that if you’re going to be nice to a stranger, then it must be because you want something from them.

Scott and I stopped for beverages at Rok Coffee & Tea at Olympic and Ardmore Avenue, which I highly recommend. They have a free photo booth! Without the booth! It’s a modern, open-air version. Scott and I took a selfie. The people behind the counter were exceptionally friendly. When we walked out, Scott made a comment about it. “They were so nice,” he said, kind of in awe.

The arc of this story, I would say, is that Scott’s heart melted more and more as we walked, and so did mine.

At the start of the trail, Scott kept stopping to take photos. Which, you know, was his job. But I was annoyed about it. I was thinking, Damn, I was planning to dream about my novel and maybe call my sister and now I have to wait for this dawdling photographer?

Internally, I had a quick chat with myself. I could either choose to be irritated, or I could choose to love Scott. By the time we took the selfie at Rok, I loved Scott. Then he told me about his life and I loved him more. Scott’s new to L.A. He moved down here from Marin County, but he’s originally from Chicago. He hates shopping. When I complimented his shirt ( which said “Lucky Brand” on it) he said, “I didn’t even see that.” I noticed he was especially interested in signs about lost animals, which I thought was sweet. “Somebody lost a cockatiel!” he said, jogging to catch up, because I hadn’t waited for him.

Scott ended up jogging a fair amount. “We’re making this light!” I shouted a few times, and he sprang into action. He was a good sport about it. Running uses different leg muscles than walking, he pointed out, and his walking muscles were tired.

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1. A Chevrolet van parked on Sherbourne Drive. 2. Writer Swan Huntley walks along Olympic Boulevard. 3. A jogger passes Love Psychic on Olympic Boulevard and Citrus Avenue. (Scott Strazzante / For The Times)

In other moments, Scott took the lead. He wanted to cross the street to take a picture of the Koreatown sign, so we did that. He stopped to ask people if he could photograph them, which meant that we had more conversations with strangers than I would have had alone. Scott made my solo journey into a social one, and by the time we cut down to Pico, I couldn’t believe there had ever been a moment when I didn’t want this awesome man to walk with me.

Here’s another equation:

Being alone + reading news headlines = I think the world is bad.

When I’m by myself for too long, scrolling through articles about the worst things that have happened recently, I inevitably start to think that strangers suck and that kindness is an outlier. When Scott said that us chirpily saying hi to strangers must have made them think we were missionaries, I thought that was sad. As the day went on, I realized I spend more of my life than I want in that sad place.

Near the intersection of Pico and Robertson, Scott and I met a guy whose job it is to change out the batteries on Coco delivery bots. He told us that Cocos are not autonomous. They’re operated by people overseas, who might never come to Los Angeles. After our conversation with this guy, I said to Scott, “He was so nice!” Scott said, “I know!”

So, you can see how our hearts were totally melted. Strangers, as it turns out, often don’t suck.

By the time we got to the Ocean Park Library, my legs were noodles and Scott’s T-shirt was soaked in sweat. There were five people inside. One was on a computer, one was sitting at a table, one was napping in a small chair and two were in larger chairs, charging their phones, with a bunch of bags laid out by their feet.

Inside the community-centered Ocean Park Branch of Santa Monica Public Library.

Thomas Alexander, one of the librarians, told me that people come to the library for all sorts of reasons. Sometimes it’s for books. Sometimes it’s for events, like the zine workshop they put on recently in the basement, which was very well-attended. And sometimes it’s to charge a phone or use a computer or just be quiet for a little while.

I asked Thomas why he became a librarian. He said, “I like working with the community.”

On some other day, this statement might not have made that much of an impact on me. But on that day, it did. Scott and I had spent the last six hours communing with each other and with all the people we met along the trail. I thought about Harry, the out-of-work actor who had possibly lighted the Central Library on fire in 1986. I don’t know anything about him, but my guess is that he was someone who had forgotten that he was part of a community. I wish that Harry could have met Thomas, who has a calm, sincere demeanor and big, brown inviting eyes that seem to say, Hi, I just want to hang out.

Or I’m projecting. By the end of this walk, that’s what I was thinking. I’d gone from being a one-woman show to: Hi, I just want to hang out.

Swan Huntley arrives at Ocean Park Branch of Santa Monica Public Library.

So, my plans were wrong, as they always are, and I’m glad. The original goal of inventing (discovering?) the Scott Romaine Library Trail was to inspire you to care about books. I ended up inspiring myself to care about what libraries are actually about: community.

“It should be OK to say someone’s baby is ugly.”

“Being a pet is forced, unpaid emotional labor.”

“It’s OK to be attracted to your friend’s man.”

“Cartoon Network was better than Disney Channel and Nickelodeon.”

“Men should be required to get a vasectomy after a certain amount of baby mamas.”

These are just some of the bold, controversial statements that have come up at “Unpopular Opinion,” a live, interactive event where people share and defend their hot takes in front of a spirited audience. To support their claims, they present slide decks filled with graphics and memes on a giant screen. Those in the crowd gasp, cheer and laugh.

The crowd from a past “Unpopular Opinion” event. The viral series is coming to the Regent Theater in L.A.

(Quest Hollis / SideQuest Visuals)

The event was created by Chance Albury and Sarah Prince, founders of the Washington, D.C.-based experiential production company Something Different. People were already having these types of impassioned conversations online, Albury says, and they simply wanted to provide that space in real life.

They debuted the series in February, and after recaps of events went viral, they decided to take it on tour. “Unpopular Opinion” makes a stop in Los Angeles on Thursday at the Regent Theater.

“Who knew rage-baiting could be such a unifier?” Albury says.

“Everyone loves to argue,” Prince adds.

Albury says that the success of the show relies on having different perspectives and opinions in the room. The slide decks are also a major draw. Unpopular Opinion is one of several events that takes PowerPoint-style presentations out of their traditional setting — the office or the classroom — and puts them front and center in a social scene. Over the last few years, slide decks have shown up at house parties, matchmaking events and even in bars at gatherings like Lectures on Tap.

Anyone who wants to present can submit their hot take through an application form. Albury and Prince receive roughly 50 submissions for each event, but only about seven to nine are selected.

Presenters defend their hottest takes on stage using slides and passion.

(Quest Hollis / SideQuest Visuals)

“There’s just so many topics that you can talk about so it can’t get old,” says Prince, adding that a lot of the speakers are funny and present like stand-up comedians.

Typically hosted at a live music venue, the vibe of “Unpopular Opinion” feels like a boisterous late-night game show. Drinks are available for purchase at the bar. A live DJ plays a mix of hip-hop, pop and other high-energy genres as a host hypes up the crowd. As an icebreaker, audience members are asked to submit their own unpopular opinions to be displayed on the screen for everyone to see.

Then the main event begins. Presenters are given 10 minutes to make their case. Unlike a traditional debate tournament, audience members are encouraged to get involved and make their thoughts known.

“There’s just so many topics that you can talk about so it can’t get old,” says co-founder Sarah Prince.

(Quest Hollis / SideQuest Visuals)

After each pitch, the host asks audience members to hold up their paddle, which has a green thumbs up and a red thumbs down to indicate whether they agree or disagree. Then a mic is passed around so attendees can share their thoughts or rebuttals.

Though the event is called “Unpopular Opinion,” there are times when the majority of the crowd agrees with the presenter. There are also times when the audience strongly disagrees. In either case, Albury and Prince ask that attendees are respectful to one another.

The presentation topics range drastically, from lighthearted social media discourse (“Women standing behind the DJ booth is more embarrassing than men”) to hot-button dating debates (“Splitting the bill on the first date is fine”) to deeper societal issues (“People hate everything about slavery but Christianity”).

Albury and Prince say they are exploring ways to bring “Unpopular Opinion” “beyond the show doors” for those who can’t make it to a live event. They already post man-on-the-street-style interviews on social media, in which they ask people to weigh in on hot button questions.

Albury says the beauty of “Unpopular Opinion” is that it shows people it’s OK to disagree. “Just because we have different opinions doesn’t mean we can’t talk about it,” she says. “We may not even come to terms on agreeing or disagreeing, but we’ve got that space.”

AUTUMN definitely is here but the wet, wind and cold isn’t quite yet, which is great news as it means we can spend more time outside.

And with that in mind, the UK has tons of outdoor days out that are ideal for making the most of dry and warmer 22C autumn days.

From woodland activity trails to grand pumpkin patches, you don’t have to spend a penny to enjoy the autumn sun.

So here’s our top free autumn days out across the UK:

Richmond Park, London

National treasure David Attenborough recently said that Richmond Park is “both a refuge and a source of inspiration” and that he wouldn’t want to live anywhere else despite having travelled the globe.

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And with all there is to do in Richmond Park, it isn’t surprising.

Visitors can see ancient oaks and herds of deer as well as head off on autumnal walks.

For a change of scene, from the park you can head into the town too and explore independent shops or walk along the river spotting the swans and ducks.

The Wye Valley & Forest of Dean

Sitting across the English and Welsh border, the Wye Valley and Forest of Dean is known as one of the UK’s most enchanting regions.

The site is actually an ancient hunting ground with over 20 million trees.

For visitors there are woodland walks, historical ruins and river adventures.

If you want a challenging walk, head up to Symonds Yat Rock or the Devil’s Pulpit.

Mam Tor, The Peak District

Mam Tor in the Peak District boasts panoramic views of the Hope Valley, and in the autumn it is even more special to visit with the leaves turning brown and yellow.

For a calm walk, there is a three-mile circular route that takes around two hours to complete and includes heading to the summit as well as the Great Ridge and Windy Knoll.

The Scottish Borders

Up in the north, the Scottish Borders has numerous free walking trails to head off on with historic woodlands and ruined abbeys.

There are plenty of free places to explore across the Scottish Borders area, including St Abbs Head National Nature Reserve where there are numerous walking trails.

Or head to Kelso Town Centre with a historic cobblestone market square and loads of independent shops.

Moors Valley Country Park & Forest

Located in Dorset, Moors Valley Country Park & Forest has an interactive play trail with famous characters including the Gruffalo and Zog.

There are a number of different play areas too, including the Snake Pit with giant wooden snakes that kids can scramble through.

The park is home to a lot of paid-for activities too, including Go Ape.

But if you only want to spend a few quid, then there are activity trail sheets you can pick up or craft workshops.

Heartwood Forest, Hertfordshire

Heartwood Forest is a Woodland Trust site that is free to visit and also has free parking.

Wander through the ancient bluebell woods and see newly planted trees.

On October 10, there’s even a short guided walk at Heartwood Arboretum.

You’d see 60 species of trees on the free walk, but you will need to book in advance.

Dalby Forest, North York Moors

Dalby Forest is spread over 8,000 acres, so there is plenty to explore with several miles of easy walking trails.

Make sure to look out for the free Gruffalo orienteering markers hidden among the trees.

There’s currently a sculpture trail at the forest too, along the Adderstone Rigg Trail.

Dartmoor National Park, Devon

Want to feel as if you have stepped into the likes of Wuthering Heights or Sense and Sensibility? Then head to Dartmoor.

This sprawling 368-square-mile national park in Devon is home to the most beautiful walks in the county, in my opinion.

From rock formations that look more like mythical beasts to river spots with giant stepping stones, the park boasts tons of possible days out.

And if you are lucky, you’ll be able to spot some Dartmoor ponies.

Alice Holt Forest

Alice Holt Forest near Farnham is thought to be one of the best family woodlands to visit in the south, with trails ideal for buggies and little ones.

The park also has a small café ideal for grabbing a cuppa if there is a chill in the air.

Charleton Fruit Farm

In Angus, Scotland, Charleton Fruit Farm is home to a huge pumpkin patch from October 9 that is completely free to visit.

There’s lots of other stuff to do at the farm as well for free, including the play park with go- karts, trampolinesand sandpitt.

You can also pick seasonal fruit at the farm, but this isn’t free – you’ll be charged according to the weight of what you pick.

Doddington Hall and Gardens

Doddington Hall and Gardens is another spot with a free pumpkin patch, where there are more than 30 types of pumpkins, squashes and gourds to choose from.

If you do want to buy one though, you of course will need to pay for this, with prices usually starting from £4.

Throughout the patch though, there will be some pumpkins with golden bottoms – if you find one, it means you’ll win the pumpkin, as well asa family ticket to Christmas in the Hall as well as a homegrown Christmas tree.

Wings, Wonders & Wildlife Trail at Sandilands

At National Trust‘s Sandilands in Mablethorpe, Lincolnshire, you can head off on a free trail where families learn about six winter visitors.

Along the trail, visitors will test their knowledge with interactive challenges.

The trail is great for all ages and is self-led through the nature reserve.

The Grown-Up Getaways offer the chance to try jewellery making, pottery or painting, as well as explore some of the UK’s most beautiful beaches and countryside

There’s no time like the changing colours of autumn to explore what the rest of the UK has to offer before the biting winter weather sets in. And for those seeking a fuss-free getaway, one holiday park group is offering breaks from £99 for four nights with more than 40 picturesque locations to choose from.

Parkdean Resorts operates sites across Britain’s coast and countryside, from the beaches of Devon and Cornwall to quiet escapes in Northumberland and Scotland via the likes of the ever-popular Lake District and the Welsh seaside. While many may think of a holiday park break as being one for families with little ones in tow, Parkdean Resorts also offers Grown-Up Getaways – designed specifically for adults looking to enjoy a holiday at their own pace.

These breaks tailored to grown-ups offer a packed programme of activities outside of school holidays, so holidaymakers can start their day with yoga or swimming, while away the afternoon with board games, pool, darts or archery, and spend evenings enjoying a whodunnit murder mystery, karaoke, poker, bingo or a quiz. Other new activities at these Grown-Up Getaways include creative pursuits such as jewellery making, pottery, painting and mosaic art, while entertainment ranges from country nights to rock ‘n’ roll shows and performances full of hits from iconic musicals.

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There are various accommodation options to choose from too, from lodges and caravans to glamping pods, safari tents and cottages with hot tubs, while restaurants, bars, takeaway options and on-site supermarkets at each park provide plenty of places to eat and drink. Holidaymakers seeking a stress-free break can book all-inclusive packages at the majority of Parkdean Resorts sites across the UK too.

All-inclusive holidays are available on selected four-night Monday arrival stays at 45 parks, as well as on selected three-night weekend breaks at 14 parks across the UK, with packages starting from £100 per adult and £40 per child. These breaks include three restaurant meals a day, unlimited soft drinks and Costa Coffee, plus plenty of choice on dedicated kids’ menus.

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Grown-Up Getaways offer activities for adults outside of school holidays, while all-inclusive packages are also available.

Another choice for UK holiday parks is Haven, which is inviting visitors to its Haunted Haven season this Halloween when its holiday parks will be offering activities and entertainment with a spooky twist. With more than 30 locations to choose from, prices for a Halloween-themed break start from £65 for four nights.

A different option is Forest Holidays, which can be found in 13 UK forests stretching from Deerpark in Cornwall right up to Strathyre in Stirling. Each lodge at these sites comes with a hot tub, with one to five-bedroom options available for couples’ retreats or family holidays.

Back at Parkdean Resorts, for holidaymakers seeking inspiration on where to go this autumn, the top-rated choice of the group’s destinations on TripAdvisor based on nearly 2,000 reviews is Falbarrow Holiday Park in the Lake District. Situated on Lake Windermere with direct access to the water’s edge, this site offers ample opportunity for water sports such as sailing, kayaking, and paddleboarding on England’s largest lake, although it is also not one of the sites where the all-inclusive offer is available.

Meanwhile, one Parkdean Resorts regular wrote in a five-star review on Trustpilot: “Great holiday park, friendly staff especially in the bar and restaurant. Being pet-friendly made it for us.”

Another customer said: “This place was superb, caravan was lovely and the lakes are great. I have already booked for next year. Been coming to Cornwall now for the last 10 years and been all over in caravan parks for holidays, but this place was best by far.”

And a third praised: “Lovely site. Swimming pool absolutely brilliant as were the child aqua jets and water skis. Very good value for money and the site is very nicely maintained. We got a late deal and it was an absolute bargain!”

One holidaymaker thought their accommodation could have been improved, feeding back: “I booked a three-bedroom lodge but was up graded to a four-bedroom. I feel I should have been given the choice of upgrade because I found it very big for two of us.”

A different reviewer commented: “Parkdean is a great option holiday for relaxing and doing your own thing. Has all the facilities you require to make it a great holiday.”

An interactive, floor-to-ceiling walk-through “Dune” attraction is coming to Los Angeles in November, and it promises spectacle, as well as a bit of mystery. Step around, and potentially inside, awe-inspiring vehicles from the film, or come face-to-face with the Bene Gesserit, a group of priestesses who possess, among other things, the ability to bend the will of others.

In one centerpiece of the exhibit, guests will be asked to take their so-called “test of humanity,” an opportunity to place one’s hand in a box and, in the lore of the “Dune” franchise, experience a none-too-pleasant sensation. It’s a battle of will, and intellect, and at “Dune: The Experience,” the hope is it will be fun.

“Dune: The Experience” is an immersive, walk-through exhibit coming to downtown Los Angeles.

(Fever / Legendary Entertainment )

“I don’t want to spoil exactly what happens when you put your hand in the box, but it is intended to be somewhat shocking, participatory and to put people on edge,” says Rob Shalhoub, a team lead at Fever, which is producing the event in partnership with Legendary Entertainment. “It really immerses you into the intensity of these films, where you’re up close and personal with these characters.”

“Dune: The Experience” is planned to launch in November in support of the theatrical release of Denis Villeneuve’s “Dune: Part Three,” which is out on Dec. 18. The event doesn’t have an opening date or an end date yet, but it is intended to tour. It will be in Los Angeles at a location in downtown’s Art’s District at least through the end of December. Expect costumes, props and life-size vehicles from the film, as well as projection-based rooms designed to immerse guests in the desert planet of Arrakis.

Tickets will go on sale Oct. 7 via the official “Dune: The Experience” web page and range in price from $30-$45.

There will be about a dozen rooms to explore, says Shalhoub, each designed for guests to spend around five minutes in. Some will feature hidden messages within ancient carvings, while others will emphasize photo opportunities with Paul Atreides’ throne, allowing guests to attempt their best Timothée Chalamet impression. “Dune: The Experience” is also built for attendees to linger, as it will feature an area with themed food and cocktails.

“It will reward your curiosity,” says Amado Trevino, director of interactive media and experiences for Legendary Entertainment. “Walls will begin to whisper throughout. You get to take Paul’s throne and see the desert come alive around you. Guests may even find out if they have what it takes to ride a sandworm.”

Different rooms are said to explore contrasting sensations, with some emphasizing touch, sound or visuals.

“We have this amazing projection room where you’re going to get to experience what it’s like in the desert in Arrakis, to really feel the scale of the desert and some of the dangers that lurk within the desert, namely sandworms,” Shalhoub says. “We’ve re-created these environments in a very interactive and immersive way.”

Adds Trevino, “There are things to see, there are things to hear, there are things to do, and there are things to feel. We’re showing beautiful artifacts from the productions, but you’re doing it from within the world of ‘Dune.’ ”

EUROPE is home to a theme park you might not have heard of, but was named one of the best in the world – and it’s about to get some huge upgrades.

Futuroscope in France is often overlooked by its busier neighbour Disneyland Paris.

Yet earlier this year, it was named one of Europe’s best theme parks by Blooloop and was even dubbed the equivalent to Universal Studios in Europe”.

Celebrating its 40th birthday next year – it opened in 1987 – it has since announced huge new multi-million plans.

Called Vision 2025, the €304million (£260million) masterplan has already included the Aquascope waterpark, three rides and and two themed hotels.

One of the biggest upcoming investments will be a fourth hotel at the park, with a science fiction theme throughout.

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The four-star hotel is currently under construction, with 240 rooms randing from premium to suites.

A 400-seat restaurant, an 120-seat bar and a huge spa area are all part of the plans too.

Guests will be able to access the park directly via a pedestrian bridge when it opens.

An official opening date and prices are yet to be confirmed.

Olivier Héral, Creative Director, said it will be a “spectacular and immersive hotel, designed as a world unto itself, where architecture, scenography and services tell a true story”.

Also new next year will be ATHOS, a new IMAX film at the park’s Kinemax.

The new Dance with the Robots attraction will see 10 robots dancing to music, while others include the illusion show Imagine, Live Show.

But there are also some exciting new additions to the park this year too.

From December 5, the new Magical Nights parade will launch with five floats and 23 artists.

In the mean time, there is still loads of things to do with 40 rides and attractions.

This includes the Aquascope indoor waterpark, which have eight slides and a lazy river with four themed universes – and even an “aquatic cinema”.

One visitor previously said:  “Aquascope is a kind of aquatic nightclub crossed with a James Cameron film.“

THE UK might still be getting a last burst of heat but now is the time to lock in a winter sun holiday to get through the dark nights of December.

And new research has revealed which holiday destinations are much cheaper to go to this year compared to last year – and the ones to avoid which have jumped in price.

The study, conducted by TravelSupermarket, looked at holiday prices between December 1 and January 31, looking at seven-night breaks.

And the biggest drop in prices was Gambia in West Africa.

The average holiday price last year was £299 each a night, while this winter it has dropped to £219 – a fall of nearly 27 per cent.

This was followed by Ras Al-Khaimah in the UAE, which fell 19.41 per cent £64 to £52.

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Others that saw prices drop include Las Vegas (-13.05 per cent), Bali (-11.78 per cent), and Dominican Republic (8.82 per cent).

Chris Webber, Head of Holidays and Deals at TravelSupermarket, said: “This winter‘s package prices show that it pays to look beyond your usual destination.

“These are averages across different hotels and board bases, so individual holidays still need comparing carefully, but the picture is far more varied than winter sun simply becoming more expensive everywhere.

“There are savings further afield , with average package prices to the Dominican Republic down 8.8% and Jamaica down 6.1%.”

Sadly, it’s the destinations closer to home that have risen in price this year.

Tenerife, one of the hottest Spanish islands in winter, is up nearly 25 per cent compared to last year with average prices per person, per night going from £91 to £113.

The Algarve was close behind, with prices up from £81 to £99, a rise in 22.8 per cent.

The Bahamas (+18.67 per cent), Costa Blanca (+16.92 per cent) and Madeira and Porto Sando (+15.43 per cent) rounded up the top five.

Chris added: “Average prices for Tenerife are up 10.5% year on year and Gran Canaria 8.2%, while Cape Verde is down 6% and Gambia nearly 27%.

“Neither is a new destination, but those contrasting price movements give travellers a reason to widen their search.

“Egypt also stands out because its average package price has barely moved, rising just 0.3%.

“At around £117 per person per night, it remains below the averages for Tenerife, Gran Canaria and Lanzarote in our analysis.”

A content creator who returned to Majorca after spending over three years living in the Dominican Republic has taken to social media to express her sadness over what she found when visiting home

A woman who returned to Majorca after over three years living elsewhere expressed her sadness at what she found in the Spanish holiday hotspot.

Carol Vásquez, a native of the popular Balearic island in Spain, had been living in the Caribbean town of Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic for three and a half years, when she decided to come back for a visit.

However, upon her return this summer Ms Vásquez said she was saddened by what she discovered as she noted a massive influx of tourists. Majorca is a major travel hub for Brits during the spring and summer months due to the warm seas and hot climate.

So upset was Ms Vásquez that she took to TikTok to share her dismay admitting she was “a bit sad” over how peak tourist season had changed how she felt about her home island.

The content creator said: “I am feeling a bit sad because I am from Mallorca. I have actually lived in Punta Cana for three and a half years, and every time I come back to Mallorca, especially now in the summer, I don’t enjoy it.

“I get really overwhelmed because there are many tourists. There are so many tourists that the local people cannot enjoy the island.”

However, Ms Vásquez said that her criticism of Majorca was not just about the typical tourism hotspots such as the beaches, but parts of the island where locals who live there year round gather.

She added: “I’m not talking about the beaches anymore; I’m talking about the town centre, the places where we’ve always gone to eat.”

Ms Vásquez subsequently claimed that there was “no way to enjoy the island” and that the only way to do so was by “dodging people”.

Ms Vásquez’s comments come as Spain continues to try and find ways to manage an annual overtourism crisis that sees millions of people travel to its towns and cities, often affecting local people.

Majorca is often one of the hardest hit, welcoming around 13.6m last year alone. In fact, the problem has become so acute that Marga Prohens, President of the Balearic Government, has called for “limits” on tourism.

In a statement during the Forbes Economic Summit 2026, the politician declared the situation was not sustainable. She said: “We cannot continue growing at this pace and with this model.

“We can’t keep measuring the success of tourist seasons by the number of tourists coming each year; we need to talk about limits and manage them.”

This doesn’t mean Ms Prohens is against tourism, but she emphasised the need to think about it beyond things such as beaches and hotels to help the region best utilise its biggest economic driver without making the overtourism situation worse.

She added: “Tourism is much more than hotels, sun, and beaches, or managing visitor flows; it is innovation, artificial intelligence, digitalisation, and new technologies.”

A CLOSED Wetherspoons once labelled as the most beautiful in the UK is set to be turned into a huge indoor soft play attraction.

The pub closed down back in 2023 after more than two decades in business.

The Capitol Pub on London Road in Forest Hill was often regarded as the grandest or most beautiful in the range of budget pubs.

It was housed in a former 1920’s Art Deco building that used to serve as a cinema.

The picture house showed its last film in 1978 then opened as a bingo hall before JD Wetherspoons snapped it up in 1996.

But, new life is set to be breathed into the Grade II listed building as developers have revealed plans to transform it into a soft play, according to News Shopper.

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Planning permission was approved back in January, with developers now working through a series of conditions to ensure the original features in the building are protected.

A multi-level play structure, party rooms, café facilities and an on-site manager’s flat is set to feature in the building.

Meanwhile, accessible toilets, buggy parking and areas for staff are also set to be built.

However, fans of the building need not worry as its original cinema entrance and distinct features will be protected.

No opening date has been confirmed for the soft play area, but works continue to be underway.

IF you are thinking about where to go this winter, then you are in luck because Ryanair is adding 22 destinations to its flight schedule.

Routes include Europe as well as a much-loved winter sun spot in Africa.

Four of the new routes will be from London airports including from London Stansted to Glasgow in Scotland, Malmo in Sweden and Parma in Italy.

A new service to Venice, Italy will then also operate from London Luton Airport.

Five new routes will be added to both Liverpool and Birmingham airports.

From Liverpool, you’ll be able to head to Copenhagen, Gdansk, Porto, Tirana and Warsaw.

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Then from Birmingham you’ll be able to head to Copenhagen, Rome Fiumicino in Italy and Marrakech in Morocco which is perfect for winter sun – with some of these flights costing as little as £14.99 per person, per-way.

And there are other lesser-known destinations where you won’t find the crowds experienced elsewhere in Europe such as Tirana in Albania and Warsaw Modlin in Poland.

The airline has also announced that it is increasing the amount of flights departing Manchester Airport to 26 destinations including Malaga, Palma de Mallorca and Madrid in Spain.

It comes as the airline’s boss Michael O’Leary also warned of flight prices rising next year.

At a press conference last week, he said: “Fares for Ryanair passengers and every other passenger into the summer of 2027 are going to rise materially, I believe, because of significantly higher oil prices.

“I have no doubt fares are rising next year. The question is by how much.”

The airline also announced recently that it was axing even more seats that are equal to around 13,000 flights.

In 2025, France lost 25 routes and some 750,000 seats last winter and in Brussels, Ryanair axed 20 routes and cut one million seats across Brussels-Zaventem and Brussels South Charleroi airports.

IF YOU are due to head to or from Italy today you might want to check your flight as strikes across the country have seen huge cancellations.

Strike action is set to take place across Italy today between 1pm and 5pm with ENAV – the company that runs Italian air traffic control – walking out at all 33 Italian airports.

The main airports expected to be affected include Rome, Naples, Milan and Venice.

Flights cancelled today already include:

• 10:15am British Airways flight to Milan from London Heathrow
• 3:25pm British Airways flight to London Heathrow from Milan
• 11:50am British Airways flight to Venice from London Heathrow
• 5:20pm British Airways flight to London Heathrow from Venice
• 1:25pm British Airways flight to Milan from London City
• 2:25pm British Airways flight to London City from Florence
• 5:50pm British Airways flight to London City from Milan
• 3:50pm Ryanair flight to Bologna from London Luton

Currently, flights to Italy from London Heathrow and London Gatwick state they are scheduled as planned, though this may change.

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ITA Airways has already warned that 29 per cent of its scheduled flights are cancelled today.

Passengers are being advised to check their flight status with their airline and airport before travelling.

If you are due to fly this morning between 7am and 10am or this evening between 6pm and 9pm then your flight is guaranteed to go ahead as normal, under Italian law.

All connections to Italian islands also remain guaranteed.

If you are able to move your flight, then it might be worth doing this to avoid disruption.

Unfortunately though, if your flight is delayed or cancelled you won’t get any compensation as a strike is deemed to be outside of the airline’s control.

But airlines do have a duty of care so should provide you with food and water and if necessary, accommodation overnight.

There is also set to be a strike on October 16 in Italy, lasting 24 hours – but this time it will be easyJet flight crew walking out.

RAILWAY workers are set to stage two 24-hour strikes this October in a row over doors.

The staff are making a stand against plans for driver-only operation on new services.

Members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) at Chiltern Railways will walk out on October 10 and October 17.

The union said its members voted overwhelmingly in favour of industrial action over plans to introduce driver-only operation (DOO) on East West Rail services.

The dispute centres on the first stage of the new railway, which will run between Oxford and Milton Keynes.

RMT general secretary Eddie Dempsey said the proposed operation represented a “significant risk” to safety and to existing train manager roles.

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He said: “RMT will not accept the watering down of safety on the rail network.”

But Chiltern Railways has rejected the suggestion that the new services will compromise passenger safety.

Interim managing director Tony Baxter said: “We have run most of our trains with the driver in control of the doors for decades, safely and as approved by the independent rail regulator.

“It also means over 100 new permanent jobs at Chiltern, and no changes to the roles of existing colleagues.”

He added that the operator expected to run the “vast majority” of its services on both days, with the timetables for the strike dates confirmed shortly.

The operator also stressed that every East West Rail service will have two people on board.

This will include the driver and another member of staff responsible for looking after passengers, checking tickets and helping people who need assistance.

The company said it remains committed to working with the RMT to resolve the dispute.

PUBS, watersports, outdoor decks with hot tubs and saunas, who said holiday parks are just for kids?

And the even better part is going with a group of friends can mean the break is SO much cheaper than going with kids – some by as much as £887 and these are the best ones we’ve found.

Butlin’s Big Weekenders

Let’s start with the classic – a Butlin’s Big Weekender, they’re big, bold and made purely for adults.

You can forget the kids’s shows or character meet-and-greets and instead opt for bottomless brunches and pool parties.

Don’t miss Bingo Bango either. The adult twist on the game has competitors dancing to party anthems and competing in interactive games to win prizes like giant inflatable unicorns.

There are lots of themed weekenders too, with music ranging from the 60s up to the 2000s.

During October there are 14 Halloweenenders at all three locations (Minehead, Bognor Regis and Skegness) where the classic Big Weekender has a spooky twist.

There’s 80s thriller nights to 90s music-themed fright nights and – if you love all kinds of music – there’s the Replay Time Warp Terror which is a “monster mash-up of the 80s, 90s, 2000s.”

We all know Butlin’s for being cheap, cheerful and full of fun, but going as adults seriously has its perks.

Adults can stay in Butlin’s Minehead Resort for a Back to the 2000s Big Weekender for three nights from October 2 from £49pp.

Meanwhile, for a family of four to go away during October half-term this year in Minehead prices start from £374 or £93.50pp.

Parkdean Resort, Lizard Point

If a coastal break is on the cards, consider a Parkdean break to Lizard Point.

It has a large indoor and outdoor pool with adult-only swim sessions, so you won’t be splashed by kids all the time.

There’s also brunch club for holiday feasts and wine tasting.

Crafting is on the cards too from jewellery making to designing cards, creating mosaics, and sip and paint sessions.

During the evening, put your boots on for country and western evenings, go all Cluedo at murder mystery events, and get competitive during quiz nights or grab the mic at adult-karaoke.

It’s also a few minutes away from the beach.

A four-night break at Lizard Point for four adults from October 5-9 in a Bronze Two Bedroom Caravan starts from £99.

Meanwhile, for a family of four to stay in a Bronze Two Bedroom Caravan between October 26-30 starts from £215.

For almost the same price, four adults could upgrade to a Gold Premium 3 Bedroom Caravan which is the best in the caravan range.

It has three bedrooms, dedicated parking and even bring a pet for £119 (between October 5-9).

Away Resorts, Tattershall Lakes

Tattershall Lakes is ideal for an action-packed holiday full of watersports, and no, it’s not all for kids.

The holiday park in Lincolnshire has a lakeside lido, paddleboarding, kayaking, an aqua park with a huge inflatable, pedalo hire and make sure to try out the jet skis too.

There’s a chance to get up high on the high-ropes course or the zip wire.

When it comes to entertainment, there are silent discos, karaoke and crowdeoke (where everyone sings so no one goes solo).

Guest acts take to the stage from tribute acts to DJs, there’s an outdoor cinema and a cash bingo that’s specifically for over 18s.

After all the activities, head to the spa which offers facials, pedicures, manicures and massages which start from £39.

Pop into the Tattershall Park Pub & Kitchen for a drink, or head to the rooftop Bar 49 for a classic cocktail.

A family of up to six can stay in a value caravan for four nights during half-term from £384  – or £16pppn.

Meanwhile, across five nights in early October, a group of up to eight guests can stay in a Superior Caravan from £299.

Or for a more luxury stay, book The Shadow Wood Lodge with a hot tub which sleeps up to eight guests in early October from £677 – or £21.15pppn.

While it’s slightly more expensive, The Shadow Wood has an enclosed decking with outdoor furniture perfect for a drink in the evening.

The cosy lounge has a large flatscreen TV and there’s allocated parking too.

Haven, Primrose Valley Holiday Park

The Primrose Valley Holiday Park in Yorkshire is perfect for anyone looking for a beach break with friends.

It has direct and easy access to the large, award-winning sandy beach stretching along Filey Bay.

Back on-site, there are two heated swimming pools and a huge outdoor pool which will reopen for the summer season in 2027.

Haven’s first-ever J D Wetherspoon pub called The Five Stones is there too and open all-day, whether you’re after a fry-up breakfast or a pint.

If you’re after fried food, head to Slim Chickens for buttermilk chicken tenders, wings, and milkshakes.

There are chains as well if you want a familiar face from Burger King to Starbucks, Papa Johns and Millie’s Cookies.

When it comes to activities, test out the fear factor with ‘The Jump’ where you literally take a leap of faith off a raised platform.

It also has a lake where guests can rent out pedalos or try their hand at kayaking, plus a designated fishing lake too.

Afterwards, head to the LakeHouse Restaurant and Bar for a bite to eat with views across the water.

Evening shows include live music, and adult-friendly entertainment like Never Forget with all the boy band tunes, and 80s Electric Nights.

In October half-term, a family of four can stay in a Saver Caravan from £385.

For four adults, a four-night break from October 9-12 starts from £269 in a Silver Caravan.

Both stays include swimming pool access, access to activities, entry to arcade and entertainment venues, as well as access to restaurants and takeaways.

Center Parcs, Elveden Forest

Center Parcs has never been cheap – but there is a reason why it’s a top holiday park, and it costs much less to go during term-time, so grab your friends and head over.

And as an adult, there’s no reason to be bored because there are 132 activities.

For high-energy thrills, try out the treetop glider or get competitive with a game of sports like football, badminton, glow table tennis and golf (and crazy golf).

If you want to give karaoke a go, but want to avoid the crowds and just sing with your mates instead, book a SingPod which is a soundproof pod where you can pick your own tunes.

It has a Subtropical Swimming Paradise with multiple swimming pools including a wave pool, slides, and whirlpools.

For some privacy, book a Cabana Cove where food and drink from Canopy Café and Bar will be delivered direct to your cabana.

Each cabana comes with a large Sky HD TV, fluffy towels, a safe and cold drinks.

Of course, the Center Parcs has Aqua Sana Forest Spa which has steam rooms and saunas, a heated outdoor pool, an ice cave and relaxation rooms.

Elveden Forest has the largest watersports lake of all its villages, with electric boats or rowing boat hire, paddleboards and kayaks.

During October half-term, a Woodland Lodge for a family of four across four-nights costs £1,899.

Inside, it has a double bedroom, twin bedroom, terraced lodge and access from 4pm.

Four friends could book a Forest Lodge for four-night between October 5-9 from £1,339.

A lodge has three bedrooms, two with double beds, one twin – all of which have en-suites. The best part is that this Forest Lodge comes with its own sauna and hot tub.

Park Holidays, Sandhills

For a more sophisticated break, Sandhills in Christchurch is a great choice for those wanting to spend time quality together by the seaside.

Found in Dorset, Sandhills has direct access to Avon Beach which holds a Seaside Award (which is awarded to the best UK beaches for being clean, safe, and well-managed).

It also has a heated outdoor pool (open until October 31), as well as a gym fitted out with weights and elliptical machines.

During the evenings, head to the on-site bar and lounge which serves drinks and light snacks.

When there’s good weather, head outside to enjoy the sunshine on the terrace.

Nearby there’s more to explore like Chichester Watersports, Fruzey Gardens, Osborne House and the New Forest.

A three-night stay from October 26 in a Lymington Luxury Apartment starts from £432.

However a stay in the same apartment for three nights from October 11 costs £309.

You can even upgrade to a Lyndhurst Luxury Apartment which has two bedrooms from £354.

Landal Green Parks, Dylan Coastal Resort

Landal Green Parks was recently voted the fourth place best holiday park Which? – and one of its most impressive holiday parks is Dylan Coastal Resort in South Wales.

The holiday lodges sit high on a hilltop looking out over the Taf Estuary which make for incredible views.

The lodges range from one to four person to six-person stays – and some have hot tubs too.

Below the holiday lodges is Milk Wood House where guests will find all the facilities including an infinity pool, outdoor spa area, and lots of therapy treatments.

It’s also where guests will find the bar and restaurant which can be enjoyed on one of the three terraces.

Nearby, try out watersports and bouldering at Wild Lakes or explore the National Botanical Garden and the beautiful fishing village of Tenby.

For a family of four to book a four-night stay during half-term in a four-person lodge is £1,291.

The four-person lodge – Sonnet 2 Spa has two bedrooms, two bathrooms with a decking area and hot tub.

But for adults to book a holiday during the school holidays, it’s much cheaper.

A four-night stay in a Milk Wood four-person lodge from October 12 can be booked from £404.

On the same dates, a six-person lodge Sonnet 3 Roof Terrace Spa lodge which has three bedrooms, a hot tub and huge enclosed rooftop with deck chairs starts from £564.

Bluestone National Park Resort, Wales

Tucked away in Pembrokeshire woodland is the Bluestone National Park and with so much to do, it’s a hit with both children and adults.

Often considered the crown jewel of Bluestone is its Blue Lagoon Water Park.

It’s a huge heated, subtropical indoor pool complex and guests can use it at no extra cost.

The subtropical waterpark has a huge wave machine, four twisting, high-speed flumes, a lazy river.

Outside of the pool, try out the zipline, take an electric bike tour through the woods, or try and tackle a climbing wall.

The spa has lots of relaxing treatments from massages to manicures, pedicures, facials – and finish off the day with an afternoon tea.

A four-night stay during October half-term in a Caldey Lodge starts from £1,240.

It’s a single-storey, open-plan stay with a living area, dining room and kitchen, and spacious bathroom along with an outdoor patio.

However, for a stay outside of school holiday, the price significantly drops.

A stay for four adults across four nights from October 5 in the same Caldey Lodge is £320.

You can even upgrade to a Carningli Lodge, which sleeps up to eight people for £800.

Included in the stay with the Carningli Lodge is a six-seater buggy to navigate the park – the lodge has an open-plan living and dining, a sunroom with a Juliet balcony.

Each double room includes an en-suite with roll-top bath and shower, and there’s a separate bathroom for the twin rooms.

Brits looking for cheap Spain holidays where it’s still warm and sunny into late October may want to check out one particularly charming destination

Summer may officially be over, but there’s good news for those not quite ready to accept this fact, as Europe still offers a host of holiday options with hot and sunny weather.

In fact, there’s one Spanish destination that’s been tipped as one of the best holiday hotspots for October, thanks to its balmy temperatures, beautiful beaches and cheap flights.

Lanzarote, in the Canary Islands, still boasts daytime temperatures of 25-27C, with sea waters still warm enough for swimming if you fancy a beach day and a dip. (Just pack some light layers for the evenings when temperatures drop to about 18-19C). Temperatures stay warm well into the winter months – it’s why the Canaries are such popular destinations year-round.

As for Lanzarote, it offers a wide array of different stays from luxury resorts ideal for a romantic getaway, to family-friendly all-inclusive breaks with kids’ clubs, poolside entertainment and family-friendly rooms.

Playa de Papagayo is the highest-rated beach according to TripAdvisor, with holidaymakers praising the golden sands and turquoise waters, although be warned that you’ll need to face a slightly dusty and bumpy road to reach the beach, and cross over some sand dunes. In terms of popularity, Papagayo is closely followed by Playa Blanca, another shoreline made up of soft sands and azure waters with a nearby port and marina if you fancy a waterfront lunch.

The island is also full of brilliant accommodation options. Some of the more popular resorts include the likes of ILUNION Costa Sal Lanzarote, H10 Suite Lanzarote Gardens, Iberostar Selection Lanzarote Park, and Princesa Yaiza Suite Hotel Resort, while the likes of MAGMA Rooms Lanzarote and Apartments Agua Marina Lanzarote offer rooms under £100 a night, outside of half term dates.

As for getting there, when we took a look on Skyscanner, there were plenty of flight options from 12 UK airports with fares from under £30 each way, based on two adults travelling outside of the half term dates. For example we found one-way fares from £17 from Liverpool, £19 from London, £21 from Bristol and £24 from Manchester. (For a family of four travelling during half term, the cheapest flights appeared to be from Bristol with prices from £148pp each way).

Given the weather, cheap flight options and array of accommodation, it’s therefore no surprise that Lanzarote has been named one of Europe’s top 10 best holidays for October, in a recent study from the travel experts at Solmar Villas. The team ranked 105 holiday destinations looking at factors including weather and affordable flights, with Lanzarote coming out sixth in the overall rankings.

Cyprus was the top destination taking four spots in the top ten, while Greece had three destinations on the list and Spain two, followed by Malta – you can check out the full top 10 list below.

Top 10 best October holidays in Europe

1. Ayia Napa, Cyprus
2. Limassol, Cyprus
3. Larnaca, Cyprus
4. Paphos, Cyprus
5. Athens Riviera, Greece
6. Lanzarote, Spain
7. Fuerteventura, Spain
8. Rhodes, Greece
9. Kos, Greece
10. Malta

After a roasting hot summer during which a trip to the beach to escape the heat was top of everyone’s agenda, Rosaleen Fenton made an autumnal visit to one of the country’s most popular seaside towns

A summer trip to Cornwall can often feel like a battle against the crowds. With thousands of visitors packing into its narrow lanes, navigating St Ives during peak season can make you feel like you are trapped in an endless queue – albeit one with access to delicious Cornish pasties roughly every five feet.

But as the schools reopen their doors, the town quietens down and begins to feel like a place reclaimed by its residents. I had been told September is the best time to visit, so I gave it a go, my mum and I hopping on a Great Western Railway (GWR) train from London Paddington, hoping for a glorious, slightly calmer seaside weekend.

Our journey took on a mythical feeling as we headed further west. GWR has recently revived its Line to Legend Land storybook, a century-old set of promotional travel pamphlets and books that encourage passengers to explore the scenic regions by train. It is packed with South West folklore and retellings, and now a new tale by former Children’s Laureate Sir Michael Morpurgo.

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OPINION

The railway has installed five life-sized statues of these legendary figures across the network. Stepping onto the platform at St Ives, you were greeted by the famous mermaid of Zennor – which celebrates the legend of a local chorister lured beneath the waves. Reading about a coastline teeming with mythical creatures while watching Carbis Bay slide past your window felt like the perfect way to leave a busy working week behind.

Our home for the weekend was Tregenna Castle Resort, perched high on a hill and offering one of the most breathtaking views in the West Country – and not one I tire of looking at.

These stone walls have seen a lot of history. Built in 1774 as a grand private home, it was later purchased by GWR as an exclusive hotel. Today, the 72-acre estate is a dream for holidaymakers. Situated amidst lush ground, it boasts indoor and outdoor pools, woodland walks, a nine-hole golf course, and courts for tennis, badminton and pickleball.

Then there is the food, which deserves its own spotlight. We dined at the Godrevy View Restaurant, named after the distant lighthouse said to have inspired Virginia Woolf. The ever-changing menu is far superior to standard hotel fare. We begin with a beautifully arranged, nicely seasoned tomato salad served with Thai basil whipped ricotta, watermelon, ponzu and chervil (£11). For main, an 8oz fillet steak is generous, served alongside fondant potatoes, carrot puree, asparagus and baby beets.

On Sunday, we enjoyed roast beef, cooked to perfection, with all the trimmings, including Yorkshire puddings hiding a decadent treat within – a small dollop of braised beef swimming in rich jus. My daily routine quickly settled into gluttony – a delicious fry-up for breakfast, a rich chocolate brownie for dessert – an extremely pleasant way to start and finish every day.

While the town, which has a stand-out independent shopping scene and was named the UK’s prettiest seaside town just this week, is calmer in September than the summer holiday months, the streets still felt substantially fuller than you’d expect from a place of 11,000 people. A great energy, but the bustling made me yearn to return to the sublime peace of Tregenna Castle, just 15-minutes away.

With our visit coming just days after Prime Minister Andy Burnham said he was in favour of a ‘tourist tax’ for Cornwall, the topic of overtourism was top of my mind. It’s fair to say business owners in the area remain divided on the topic, but for me, the benefits are easy to see. St Ives records more than 220,000 overnight stays annually, meaning it could bring in over £1,000,000 a year – a lifeline for a town where social issues are pressing, despite its well-to-do reputation. There’s a foodbank here, and a lot of young people who can’t survive in a property market where 15% of homes are second ones.

Chatting with locals, many said they no longer live in St Ives itself, preferring nearby Penzance, where they have room to breathe, cheaper homes, and not every shop sells clotted cream fudge.

Yet as a visitor, I can see why those in the industry are wary of scaring anyone off. It’s clear how holidaymakers pour vital cash into the local economy through independent shops, galleries and restaurants. Last year Jon Hyatt, who chairs Visit Cornwall, said he was “against any charge that might put visitors off”.

It’d be a terrible shame if they were, given how much there is to enjoy, from frolicking in the waves of Porthmeor Beach and peering off the side of Smeaton’s Pier, to touring the Barbara Hepworth Museum and Sculpture Garden.

Unsure of what to take on next, my travel companion tried using an AI bot to plan a fun day out for us. Unsurprisingly, technology failed us with the app repeatedly instructing us to catch a bus route that hasn’t existed for over two years. Abandoning our future robot overlords, we turned to a friendly member of hotel staff instead, who pointed us straight toward Tate St Ives – a far superior mode of recommendation.

Opened in 1992 on a cliff overlooking Porthmeor Beach, the displays change regularly. We caught an exhibition by Halima Cassell, whose intricate geometric sculptures play beautifully with light and shadow. Outside, it feels as if her artwork was continuing, a rainbow appearing over the beach, ending atop the RNLI flag.

Afterward, we walked a stretch of the South West Coast Path and enjoyed the brutally beautiful landscape, with the rhythm of the waves calming our frazzled nerves. As a special treat, we returned to London on GWR’s overnight Night Riviera Sleeper service.

I slept blissfully after a trip to the glorious buffet bar, where you can enjoy a free hot chocolate, before heading to slumber in a carriage. Getting onto the top bunk is no trouble, with a smart fold-away ladder showing how cleverly designed this small cabin is.

We arrived back in London just after 5am, though passengers can stay on board until closer to 7am. Breakfast is delivered (for me, a bacon roll) alongside piping hot coffee – which gives me the strength to start my day back in London, where I mourn the glorious coastline I left behind.

Book it

Tregenna Castle Resort, Treloyan Avnue, St Ives. Rooms and luxury self-catering lodges available. Visit tregenna-castle.co.uk

GWR operates regular services from London Paddington. To travel in a sleeper cabin on the Night Riviera, you need to purchase a regular train ticket, plus a supplement for the cabin. For the best deals, book up to three months in advance. Book at GWR.com.

Timed entry tickets to Tate St Ives on Porthmeor Beach cost £14 (£1.50 extra with a voluntary donation), though locals can get unlimited all-year entry for £10. Book in advance at tate.org.uk/visit/tate-st-ives.

The EU’s new Entry and Exit System (EES) requires most UK travellers to register their biometric data before entering the Schengen area

UK travellers heading to Europe are now subject to a new Entry/Exit System (EES), which was introduced earlier this year.

This means the majority of non-EU citizens will be required to register their biometric data at one of 29 participating countries, including a host of popular holiday destinations such as Spain and Greece. Some UK travellers will need to have their photograph taken and their fingerprints scanned before they can pass through into Europe’s Schengen area.

Countries that are part of the EES are: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland.

As a result of the new system, travellers no longer need to have their passports stamped. Over the summer, the EES resulted in lengthy queues and significant delays at a number of airports.

Due to the disruption caused, Greece initially suspended EES checks for UK passport holders in April 2026, though this decision was subsequently reversed in order to comply with EU regulations. Earlier this month, however, Greece and eight other countries – France, Portugal, Germany, Italy, Malta, Switzerland, the Netherlands, and Belgium – have indicated they require additional time before fully implementing the EES.

EU sources say the system is regarded as a success, with approximately 200m registrations and 70,000 people prevented from entering the Schengen area, up from 43,700 in June. These include individuals without visas, those who have exceeded their 180-day allowance, or Britons who have overstayed their 90-day allowance.

People who do not have to register on EES

Some travellers may not be required to register their biometric data on the new system. According to the EU website, you do not need to use the system if the following apply:.

• You are a non-EU national who holds a residence card or permit and are immediately related to a non-EU national who can travel through Europe like an EU citizen.
• People exempt from border checks due to certain privileges e.g. a head of state.
• You are a non-EU national who holds a residence card and are immediately related to an EU national.
• You hold a residence permit or long-stay visa.
• You are a non-EU national travelling to Europe as part of an intra-corporate transfer for the purpose of research, studies, training, pupil exchange, voluntary services, educational projects, or au-pairing.
• You are a national of Andorra, Monaco and San Marino and hold a passport issued by the Vatican City State or the Holy See.
• You are a diplomat on a short stay (under certain conditions).
• You are a national of a European country using EES, such as Cyprus and Ireland.

No prizes for guessing what this pub used to be… The Old Ticket Office has high ceilings, walls painted shades of locomotive green and booths resembling train carriages; there are outdoor tables on Station Square. A live train departures board theoretically prevents passengers lingering too long, and a canning machine means any draught beer is also available to take away (the hatch on platform 4 also does takeaway orders). There are five handpulls plus Young’s usual spritz menu and other drinks, plus light bites and pizzas. The pub is currently closed for roof repairs and expected to reopen by the end of October.

London’s various railway stations have many fine pubs (shout out to the Euston Tap), but Kew Gardens is the only tube station that still has a pub directly attached. When the station opened in 1869, the building was the timber steaming hall, and later become the buffet rooms before becoming a pub. It was bought by Fuller’s in 2012 and reopened the following year after refurbishment. It has high oak beams, picture windows looking on to the platform, an arched glass atrium and a pretty paved outdoor area. It serves two Fuller’s ales and a guest ale, among other drinks, has a full food menu and shows live sport.

The pub on platform 4 at Stalybridge station, east of Manchester, is one of the few remaining Victorian buffet bars. Built in 1885, it features the original marble bar top, fireplace and fixed seating, plus lots of railway memorabilia. It serves up to 10 changing real ales, plus a cider or perry; bar snacks include hot pork scratchings, with more substantial food in autumn and winter, such as corned beef hash, pies and local black peas. There is a weekly quiz and folk singalong, regular live bands and food pop-ups in the beer garden, and periodic crisp butty pairing events and beer festivals. Camra awards it two stars for “a pub interior of very special national historic interest”. The buffet bar is now part of the Beerhouses group, which also runs the fantastic West Riding Reception Rooms at Dewsbury station, and the two pubs are on the TransPennine Real Ale Trail.

For a great night out in Sheffield, visitors don’t even need to leave the train station. The Grade II-listed Sheffield Tap opened in 2009 in the Edwardian former first-class refreshment room. The original 1904 fixtures and fittings have been repaired where possible – including the mahogany bar top, Minton tiles and terrazzo floors – and replicated if not, as with the ornate barrel plaster ceiling. In 2013, the pub expanded into the adjacent tiled and mirrored former first-class dining room, and added a microbrewery. Today it serves 11 cask and 14 keg beers, plus hundreds of bottles and cans; food is limited to locally made pork pies and sausage rolls. The Sheffield Tap has Camra’s highest rating of three stars, for “a pub interior of outstanding national importance”. It is now operated by a small group that also runs the excellent York Tap and Harrogate Tap station pubs.

Delays are always welcome in Doncaster, for the chance to visit the lovely little alehouse on platform 3b. The former Victorian buffet bar had been empty for 18 years when the pub opened in 2017. It is a family business, named after engineering draughtsman grandfather Barry and run by son Russ with help from grandson Nick. The decor features original wall tiles, old photographs and draughtsman’s drawings of steam locomotives; Camra has designated it an “outstanding conversion and restoration”. The Draughtsman serves real ale from Yorkshire breweries, gin distilled in Harrogate and coffee roasted in Sheffield.

Those lamenting the loss of the 301 Miles From London pub at Carlisle station, which closed in 2023, had reason to celebrate in February, when Scott & Brassey opened on the same site. This Grade II-listed former first-class waiting room dates from 1848, and became the station buffet in the 1950s. Now it has had a slick makeover, but still retains the original wooden entrance lobby on platform 4, the hammerbeam roof and Tudor-style stone fireplaces. There is a mahogany bar, a feature wall full of clocks (no excuse for missing your train) and some platform-side seating. As well as eight handpumps, it serves a host of keg beer, wine, spirits and soft drinks.

The Grade I-listed Centurion has a colourful history. It was designed by the architect John Dobson and opened in 1893 as a particularly luxurious first-class waiting lounge. By the 1960s, it had been turned into prison cells used by the British Transport Police. It then became a storage facility, but thankfully was restored and reopened as a pub in 2002. It has incredible tiling by Burmantofts Pottery said to be worth £3.8m. Columns, a marble fireplace and a high ceiling with a huge tiled skylight add to the air of opulence. The pub serves everything from real ale to cocktails, has an all-day food menu, shows sport on a gigantic screen and has live music every Friday.

Lucky passengers at Huddersfield have a choice of two great pubs, both accessible from platform 1, sitting on either side of the station’s grand neoclassical entrance (opened 1847). The independent King’s Head, in the former waiting room, has a mosaic floor, wood panelling and wood-burning stoves, and serves about a dozen cask ales. There is live music on Sunday afternoons. The Camerons brewery-owned Head of Steam, in the former ticket office, is now a four-room pub: a bar, a lounge, a family room and a buffet room. It serves up to 14 cask ales and Pieminister pies. Both pubs appear in Camra’s Good Beer Guide.

Steamworks, Seaford, East Sussex

This micropub opened in Seaford station’s former waiting room (built 1864) in 2017. Passengers can go straight from platform 2 (now the only platform!) into the pub, where there are Sussex real ales on rotation, ciders, sandwiches and other snacks, plus regular live music. After it proved a hit, the husband-and-wife owners opened a second Steamworks at nearby Glynde, where the station is even older (1846). They are just two of the micropubs that have opened in old station buildings in the past decade, including the Track & Sleeper in Knaresborough, North Yorkshire; the Little R’Alehouse in Wellingborough, Northamptonshire; the Waiting Room in Durham; and the Hexham Station Platform Bar in Northumberland.

Codsall is a village on the Shrewsbury to Wolverhampton line. In 1997, the station’s Grade II-listed waiting room, offices and stationmaster’s house were converted into a pub. It has a bar, lounge, conservatory and snug with a fireplace, and steps leading up to a patio area overlooking the platforms. The pub serves three regular beers and two changing ones from Dudley’s Holden’s brewery, while food comprises cobs and pork pies. There are occasional pizza pop-ups and live music, and Cask Club Tuesdays with beer at bargain prices. It is a Camra outstanding conversions and restorations pub.