holidays

NEXT MONTH the capital is set to get a HUGE new multi-million attraction with never- seen-before areas.

Opening on November 28, the £427million London Museum will be in Smithfield in the General Market.

And the best thing about the new attraction is that it will be completely free to visit.

It will be the world’s largest city museum with three different spaces documenting the past 10,000 years of the capital with over seven million objects on display.

One area will be called ‘Real Time’ and feature a covered street where visitors can explore real time data about different parts of London.

In the second space, ‘Our Time’, will be the centre of the museum with events and activities including immersive theatre.

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Around ‘Our Time’ there will also be 13 installations about London, a restaurant and a bookshop, with festivals and markets planned for the future too.

For extra fun, after-hours DJ sessions are also planned for Fridays and Saturdays.

The main gallery will then be known as ‘Past Time’ and can be found underground.

The gallery will take visitors through London’s history with exhibits including the recent ‘Piranhas’ artwork by Banksy as well as older pieces such as Charles I’s execution vest.

Notable other objects that will be on show at the museum will include the swimming trunks worn by Tom Daley for the 2012 London Olympics and Paul Simon from The Clash’s bass guitar, which he smashed on stage.

On the lower level of the museum there will also be a giant six-metre tall window that will let visitors look through to a tunnel where the Thameslink trains pass.

In 2028, the museum will open even more areas inside the Poultry Market building with galleries including ‘Temporary Time’, ‘Imagined Time’ and ‘Deep Time’.

This building will house the museum’s temporary exhibitions, collection stores and learning centre.

In ‘Imagined Time’, there will be a platform hanging beneath the ceiling with different installations reflecting London’s past, present and imagined future.

The General Market first opened in 1883 as a meat market but has remained abandoned for the past 30 years.

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, previously said: “The opening of the new London Museum will be a hugely significant moment both for London and internationally.

“Backed by one of the largest ever cultural investments in our capital, London Museum will attract millions of visitors and Londoners and reinforce our status as the cultural capital of the world.

“London Museum celebrates the past, creates opportunities in the present and will inspire future generations, as we continue to build a better London for everyone.”

NOVEMBER in Britain: dark before you’ve left work, washing draped over every available radiator and a coat that hasn’t had a dry week since August.

Meanwhile, somewhere else in the world it’s 30C with someone cooking and every drink on the house for you… I know where I’d rather be.

So, I dug through the November holiday data and picked out ten resorts that are up to 34 per cent cheaper than the average price of a hotel stay that month.

Not only that, but I’ve found a fantastic deal for each at some underrated resorts, overlooked by bigger names nearby.

Some are familiar spots, while others you typically might scroll straight past if you’re not in the know.

But they all deserve a look before you write off a week away – here’s where I’d be booking this November.

1. Naama Bay, Egypt (34% below average)

Naama Bay is my pick for anyone who wants to enjoy Egypt beyond the hotel resorts.

You’ve got a big beach, plenty of restaurants and somewhere to head after dinner, so there’s no need to spend seven days orbiting the buffet.

With November temperatures typically around 27C, you can spend the afternoon on the beach and head out for a slap-up meal in the evening.

This is where I rate bed & breakfast: your morning food is sorted, then lunch and dinner are yours to choose.

Falcon Naama Star gives you a cheap base around ten minutes’ walk from the beach.

I found seven nights with breakfast and direct return flights from Belfast for £280pp – that leaves more of your budget for enjoying the place you’ve flown all that way to see.

2. Om El Sid, Egypt (29% below average)

Another Egypt find, Om El Sid suits a week of beach days and evenings spent having a wander and finding somewhere good for dinner.

You’re on Sharm’s southern side, with the Old Market to explore when you’ve had enough of lying horizontal.

November daytime temperatures typically reach around 27C.

That’s proper beach weather, with the added pleasure of knowing someone at home is scraping the car windscreen, so try to be modest with the photos… or don’t.

My hotel pick is Old Vic Sharm Resort & Spa.

It’s inland, but there’s a free beach shuttle, so you can get your beach fix without paying for a beachfront stay.

I found seven nights all inclusive with direct return flights from Liverpool for £350pp.

And because your meals are covered, you can still get out for a nosey around Sharm without having to spend much extra.

3. Patong, Thailand (28% below average)

Thailand can spend years on the “maybe one day” list.

But this Patong deal is a decent reason to move it along: seven nights at Club Bamboo Boutique Resort & Spa for £765pp, with connecting return flights from Manchester and checked luggage included.

Patong gives you Phuket’s tropical heat, a busy beach and plenty going on after dark.

November daytime temperatures are around 31C as the island heads towards its drier season, and this is somewhere I’d opt for room only.

With so much food to try outside the hotel, picking a different place for dinner is part of the holiday.

Club Bamboo’s greener hillside setting gives you somewhere quieter to retreat to after Patong’s bustle.

There are hills and steps to factor in, so it won’t suit everyone.

But for someone who wants to get out and enjoy Phuket, I’d put the money towards the trip rather than a flashier hotel.

4. Agadir, Morocco (19% below average)

Seven nights, breakfast and direct return flights from Manchester for £230pp?

Safe to say Agadir is doing a very convincing job of getting me out of Britain this November.

Typical daytime highs are around 25C, with a big beachfront for lazy afternoons and the souk for a proper browse when you fancy moving.

You can spend a morning exploring, stop for proper Moroccan food and still have time to spend the rest of your day by the sea.

Tulip Inn Oasis is my pick for a handy bed & breakfast base near the beach and within reach of the marina.

You’re paying for somewhere to sleep and something to eat first-thing, with plenty of holiday budget left for getting out and about.

Agadir was even named one of the most affordable holiday destinations earlier this year, so it’s a great bargain option.

5. Nabq Bay, Egypt (18% below average)

Some holidays need a plan, while others just need a sun lounger, a cold drink and your hardest choice of the day being how many plates to get at the buffet for dinner.

Nabq Bay suits the second kind.

This part of Sharm is spread out and centred around the hotels, so the hotel itself matters here.

Typical November daytime temperatures are around 27C so it is another great hot winter destination.

Parrotel Aqua Park Resort gives you all inclusive ease with waterslides thrown in.

And I found seven nights all inclusive with return flights from London Luton for £395pp.

Meals covered, drinks included and no nightly negotiation over where everyone wants to eat.

That’s a week with considerably fewer decisions. My kind of week.

6. Caleta de Fuste, Fuerteventura (14% below average)

Caleta de Fuste makes an easy week away feel exactly that.

There’s a sheltered beach, a flat waterfront for a wander and plenty of places to stop for lunch.

So you can arrive, unpack and get on with enjoying yourself.

Fuerteventura’s November daytime highs average around 24C and a long beach walk here definitely beats standing outside a soft-play centre in sideways rain.

Fuertesol’s bungalow accommodation is my pick for a simple self catering base, so you can sort breakfast in your own time, then head out for the day.

I found seven nights with direct return flights from London Stansted for £235pp.

And if you get restless after a few beach days, Caleta’s position makes exploring north and south really easy.

Just hire a car for a day or two and spend some of the money you’ve saved on seeing the island.

7. Bahia Feliz, Gran Canaria (14% below average)

A separate living area is an underrated holiday luxury – somewhere in your hotel room to sit that isn’t the bed, with space to spread out and breakfast without getting dressed for a buffet.

That’s what I like about the apartments at BlueBay Beach Club.

Its quieter beach-side setting in Bahia Feliz suits people who want room to relax in Gran Canaria, with the busier south-coast resorts there when they fancy a change.

This is one to book for the space and the setting rather than nightlife outside reception.

November temperatures around this part of the island are typically about 24C.

This means plenty of opportunity for a long lunch outside and another chapter in the sun.

I found seven nights self catering with direct return flights from Newcastle for £445pp.

This is my pick for someone who really values a bit of breathing room on holiday.

8. Costa del Silencio, Tenerife (13% below average)

Costa del Silencio gives regular Tenerife holidaymakers a change of scene from Playa de las Americas.

You’ve got volcanic coastline to explore and nearby Las Galletas for a wander around a town.

Southern Tenerife’s November daytime highs average roughly 25C.

That’s still warm for a long day by the pool working on your tan.

Hotel Palia Don Pedro keeps the stay simple, with studios and apartments spread across small two-storey buildings.

I found seven nights all inclusive with return flights from London Stansted for £350pp.

That covers your meals and drinks while you spend a week enjoying a different corner of Tenerife.

9. Nuevo Horizonte, Fuerteventura (13% below average)

A free beach shuttle can make a cheaper hotel location a much better deal.

And that’s the exact detail I love at Elba Lucía Sport & Suite Hotel in Nuevo Horizonte.

The resort sits just north of Caleta de Fuste, but here you get an even quieter base to come back to.

Fuerteventura’s November highs average around 24C, so there’s still plenty of reason to pack the sunglasses.

You won’t have the beach and all of Caleta’s restaurants immediately outside the door here.

BUT the hotel’s free shuttle heads directly to Caleta and the beach area, which can save you paying for taxis every day.

I found seven nights self catering with direct flights from London Stansted for £295pp.

A good fit for someone happy to trade a central location for a quieter stay, with an easy way to reach the beach.

10. Puerto de la Cruz, Tenerife (12% below average)

Puerto de la Cruz is my pick for a Tenerife holiday with a proper town to get stuck into.

An old harbour, loads of restaurants and greener scenery give you plenty to enjoy in between cheap beers.

November’s nice and warm in Tenerife, and for a trip built around sunbathing, exploring, tapas and lunch outside when the sun appears, Puerto’s well worth a look.

Coral Teide Mar sits in the residential La Paz area, with shops and restaurants all around you.

That makes self catering a good money-saving choice: breakfast supplies nearby and somewhere different to head for dinner every night.

I found seven nights with direct return flights from Liverpool for £310pp, giving you a cheap week of sunshine and getting out to enjoy the town.

AUTUMN is theme park season in my house, as the time between summer season and October half-term is quiet with no queues – and I know how to get great deals.

The key to keeping costs down is using a technique I call ‘hack stacking’, and it’s really easy for everyone to do.

The way it works it to combine different deals to get entry for the individuals in your party and maximise the benefits that come with each.

We’ve already enjoyed cheap trips to Warwick Castle and have already lined up visits to Drayton Manor, Alton Towers and Legoland Discovery Centre.

One deal to take advantage of is with Merlin which is currently running an annual pass deal that includes the rest of this year if you pay for 2027.

A gold pass includes car parking, so the £239 cost of one pass could be well worth it just for that if you go once a month plus a couple of extra visits in the summer as lots of the theme parks charge £13 a day for parking.

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The key to hack stacking is that not everyone uses the same deal to get in.

So someone else could use Tesco Clubcard vouchers or Nectar points to pay for individual entry and others could get parent and toddler tickets if you’ve got children the right age. 

It’s also important to keep an eye out for deals over the course of the year and work out how they could be combined to get the most bang for your buck.

In the spring, Merlin ran a stay and play deal that included annual passes if you booked an overnight stay at one of its parks.

That’s an amazing base for building your hack stacking on. I took two of my sons to stay overnight at Legoland Windsor in June for £270 and now the three of us can get free entry into multiple Merlin attractions until next summer.

If I add on a gold pass for my husband under the current 15 months for the price of 12 deal, I only have to find a final hack to get my third son a ticket to whichever attraction we plan to visit.

So for £510, split over two payments made six months apart, not only have I got annual passes plus car parking for four people, I’ve also enjoyed an overnight theme park stay and even got a little bit of cashback through Quidco.

I did much the same at Drayton Manor, starting with the tickets I claimed through the Sun Club earlier in the year and then using a Blue Light Card discount to buy more.

I could prebook two free tickets through my Sun Club membership over the summer and then buy two more for £20 each.

My final ticket to cover my family of five was £26 using our Blue Light Card and what’s great about this offer is that you can even book it on the day, saving almost £20 on the gate price.

Normally, Drayton Manor pricing is dynamic so it goes up the closer you get to the day of your visit, even if you’re booking online, whereas the Blue Light price is a flat rate.

We paid £66 for the five of us to visit Drayton Manor on a September weekend instead of £200 if we’d turned up and paid on the day.

You can even shave a couple of quid off the parking by prebooking that online too.

And if you visit during September, you get a return visit until the end of October included.

Teachers can get in free on October 3-4, so that’s something to consider if you work in a school.

My hack-stacking trick works at most theme parks as long as you take a bit of time to look at who you’re buying entry for and then work out how to combine deals.

We visited Pleasurewood Hills near Lowestoft, which has just been named theme park of the year, in April and there’s some great deals to be had for tickets there.

You can get a Blue Light discount, but it actually makes better financial sense to use a family ticket for four people for £70 or to buy early bird tickets at £16 each a month in advance.

People with local postcodes could get a reduced price ticket at the start of the season, so it’s worth keeping an eye out to see if that pops up again.

My final tip if you fancy giving hack stacking a go is to keep an eye on discount sites like Planet Offers, Groupon or Wowcher as you can make some great savings, as long as you read the small print to make sure what you’re buying is valid on the date you want to visit.

A family ticket on the Flamingo Land website costs £168 for four people, whereas it’s £98 for the same ticket on one of the discount sites.

And make sure you check rival sites too as there can be a big difference in what they are offering.

Tuscany is often sold on Florence and Pisa, but a walled city I visited in late September stood out for its piazzas, rooftop views and brilliant food. With averages of 15°C in November and 12°C in December — and far fewer crowds — it’s ideal for a winter break.

Nestled in the heart of Italy, Tuscany is celebrated for its gently rolling hills, charming medieval villages, vast vineyards and iconic Renaissance masterpieces. Boasting mouth-watering local food and a relaxed pace of life, the region has something for every holidaymaker seeking the very best of Italian culture.

Tourists can spend their mornings strolling through ancient towns, savour unhurried lunches with vineyard views, and watch the sun dip below the horizon with a glass of locally produced wine in hand. Having visited the region in late September, I find it equally worthwhile to head there in November and December as a winter getaway.

Average temperatures in the city are around 15°C in November and 12°C in December.

Tuscany is made up of 10 provinces, with its capital, Florence, celebrated for its extraordinary Renaissance heritage, iconic artwork and breathtaking architecture.

Other provinces include: Arezzo, Grosseto, Livorno, Massa-Carrara, Pistoia, Prato and Siena.

Florence and Pisa tend to be the first places that spring to mind when Tuscany is mentioned, yet one destination I discovered on my travels left a lasting impression — Lucca.

What is Lucca famous for?

The historic city walls

Among Lucca’s most treasured landmarks is its four-kilometre circuit of Renaissance walls, built between the 16th and 17th centuries. Originally constructed for defensive purposes, the walls today serve as a tree-lined public walkway, giving visitors the opportunity to stroll or cycle while soaking up sweeping views of the ancient city below.

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Piazza dell’Anfiteatro

Piazza dell’Anfiteatro stands as one of Lucca’s most striking landmarks. Constructed on the foundations of an ancient Roman amphitheatre, the oval-shaped piazza is surrounded by vibrant buildings, cafés and eateries, creating an idyllic spot to unwind and absorb the city’s ambience.

I stopped for lunch and took in the delightful views across the square. Prices here are typically a touch steeper, though that’s hardly surprising.

I opted for boar ravioli at €9.60 (£8.07). It might not seem expensive, but the serving was modest, leaving me rather peckish afterwards. Worth remembering when dining in a popular tourist area.

Torre Guinigi

The medieval Torre Guinigi ranks among Lucca’s most peculiar attractions, instantly recognisable for the oak trees flourishing in its rooftop garden. Visitors can ascend to the top for panoramic views over the city’s terracotta rooftops and the surrounding Tuscan countryside.

Lucca Cathedral

The Cathedral of San Martino is celebrated for its ornate Romanesque design, beautifully decorated marble frontage and impressive collection of sacred artworks.

Other significant religious sites include the Basilica of San Frediano, distinguished by its eye-catching mosaic exterior, and the Church of San Michele in Foro, positioned in a historic piazza at the city’s centre. When is the best time to visit Tuscany?

Lucca tends to be far less crowded during the winter months, making it an ideal period to discover its museums, historic churches and traditional eateries.

The city is perfectly suited to those who prefer to explore on foot. We covered the whole place in just half a day without relying on public transport, though a full day or longer is recommended if your schedule allows. That said, visitors should be ready for chillier temperatures and a higher likelihood of rain.

How to get to Lucca?

The most straightforward route from the UK to Lucca is to fly into Pisa, then continue onwards by train, taxi, or hire car.

By car, the trip typically takes around 30 to 45 minutes, depending on traffic.

By train, passengers can hop on a service from Pisa Centrale to Lucca railway station, with the journey usually taking around 25 to 30 minutes. Extra time should be factored in to travel from the airport to Pisa Centrale.

Direct return flights from London to Pisa are priced at around £31 in November and £32 in December (at the time of writing).

A SMALL station in Manchester that first opened in the 1800s has been crowned the best in the country at the ‘World Cup of Stations’.

It has trackside seating, an Airbnb upstairs and beat 150 stations across the country for the title.

‘The World Cup Of Stations’ was launched in honour of 200 years of railways in Britain and brings attention to the stories behind the stations and how much they’ve changed and brought communities together.

This year there was 150 nominations from across the country, but Irlam in Salford took the title with 4786 votes.

Irlam Station first opened in 1873 and was used for many years although its station building fell into disrepair in the 1980s.

The station itself remained opened to passengers and now sees as many as 350,000 passengers each year.

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11 years ago, the station house was restored as part of a £2million project and reopened in March 2015.

It’s much more than a simple station now, as inside is a railway-themed café-bar with train carriage booths.

The 142-year-old signal box has been restored and reopened.

There’s a heritage hub too which has railway artefacts including formerly used locomotives.

In The Station garden is an homage to Harry Potter‘s Platform 9 and three quarters, as well as James the Tank Engine.

Also outside in the Station Art Park are 3D sculptures which ‘reflect the area’s history‘ including a seating area and Hobbit-style cottage.

Back inside the station house is Irlam Café Bar which serves up breakfast, main meals from burgers to toasted sandwiches, salads and even Sunday roasts.

Afternoon tea can be booked from £18.95 and train enthusiasts will love that you can enjoy this in the Signal Box.

It’s also a bar so there are plenty of drinks to try too and seats outside for trainspotting.

Above the train station is an Airbnb – the apartment can sleep up to four people across two bedrooms and guests enter through the Station Master’s Door.

One guest wrote in their review: “The apartment is located in a train station which makes this very special place.”

Another called it a “unique space perfect for train enthusiasts.”

A three-night stay for four in November can be booked for £404 – or £33.67pppn.

Tricia Williams, Managing Director of Northern, said: “The station has a unique charm and is well worth a visit. You can enjoy a meal in the café, take a tour of the gardens to see some amazing 3D artwork and visit the heritage hub.”

The other final four stations in the running were Cardoss in Argyll & Bute, Brookwood in Surrey, Yatton in Somerset and Berney Arms in Norfolk.

Last year’s winner was Ashington in Northumberland which closed in the 1960s and then reopened in 2024.

Genres Book Society, a new bookshop coming to L.A., is hiding a few secrets. The first indication that something a bit fantastical is going on here is the fact that the boutique store has a mascot.

Look up upon entering the space, and you’ll meet Lore. Lore is a dragon, and this dragon is made of books. The striking sculpture will hover over a cozy space with modular bookshelves that are arranged on a floor covered in book quotes. Peer closely and you’ll see the quotes are designed in the shape of a tree.

A story is being built, a narrative that signifies that Genres aims to be not just a bookshop, but a place that feels like a real-life fairy tale. For this bookstore is also concealing a speakeasy of sorts, a secluded cafe and bar with multiple themed spaces and a two-story tree with glowing books growing out of its branches.

Stories, Genres is telling us, are life.

“This is for people who want to enter into story worlds,” says Ann Morrow Johnson of design firm Gensler. Johnson, a former creative with Walt Disney Imagineering, leads Gensler’s entertainment and experiences division, which is designing the bookshop.

She wants guests to feel transported into a fantasy universe, and understands how to make that happen. For instance? “Adding just a little bit of theatricality and sparkle helps create an invitation of suspension of disbelief,” she says.

The centerpiece of Genre’s bookstore, shown in an artist’s rendering, will be a dragon named Lore.

(Gensler)

Genres, on track to open in mid-2027 near the intersection of Melrose and Fairfax avenues, is tapping into a local trend of heavily designed thematic spaces with a penchant for fantasy. Think, for instance, of the Witch’s Cottage in North Hollywood, or the Last Canteen in the shadow of Universal Studios Hollywood. Consider it the latest evolution of the themed restaurant, and a way to bring the heavily theatrical worlds of theme parks closer to home. Johnson, for instance, says the firm’s research with the the Immersive Experience Institute has shown a hunger in younger generations to embrace spaces such as the Rainforest Cafe.

“People are seeking out a moment,” Johnson says. “Those more theatrical, highly scenic spaces are more likely to get you off your phone. Little moments of delight center you.”

Genres was dreamed up Clare Grant and Karissa Marston, who brought the project to Gensler and tapped them to lead its design. Grant, an actor/producer, says the idea came to her while experiencing the regret of missing a retreat hosted by her girlfriends, who had rented a cabin to read the latest edition in the fantasy “Crescent City” series.

“Just having a newborn, I was like, ‘Why can’t I go read this book in a fantasy-themed cabin?’ That’s literally my dream,” Grant says. “Then I started thinking about it. Why don’t I have something like this in Los Angeles, where I can pop in for an afternoon or evening where someone is handing me drinks and food in an immersive space?”

Marston, it turns out, who has experience in hospitality and marketing with an emphasis on fandom, was already dreaming of such a space. The two of them crafted a business plan for a bookstore, one that wouldn’t look out of place in a sword and sorcery fantasy novel, with a hidden speakeasy.

“I was in Paris, and I went to the Shakespeare bookstore, and it was truly the most magical experience I have ever had,” Marston says. “I walked in and felt so immersed in the books and the history and I went up to the second floor and sat up there and wept. I was like, ‘I never want to leave this place. I only ever want to feel this way and be surrounded by books and people who love books.’”

Their vision is grand. The bookstore, they hope, will become a gathering spot for authors in the fantasy and sci-fi realms. And they talk of the speakeasy as not just being a safe eatery to sit and read all day, but also a future venue for, say, immersive theater. The two-story space will house multiple themed rooms, either for hanging out and hiding, or for potential events.

“I think it’s safe to say that if you wanted to be transported to outer space, you would be pleasantly surprised,” Marston says. “Or if you wanted to escape to Dracula’s castle or some of these other really big genres that you have, readers will be pleasantly surprised at the worlds that we are building.”

Johnson says Genres will be flexible enough to welcome introverts who want to dream away the day with a book, but can also be a home for a baby shower in addition to an author signing or a theatrical event. That’s in part why the shop and ground floor of the speakeasy have a familiar fantasy vibe, one not out of place in, say, the fairy tales of the Brothers Grimm, albeit with the welcoming tone of Disney.

Genres’ founders cited “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” as an inspiration for the bookshop’s bar, depicted in an artist’s rendering.

(Gensler)

“The focal point of the space is this sort of epic woodland fantasy,” Marston says. “When we first brought this to Gensler, and showed them our inspo deck, we kept saying ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream.’”

That’s key, as everything in the space will spring from the written word. Genres, in that sense, also feels refreshing, emphasizing actual books and tactile media at a cultural moment when AI is often dominating conversations. Grant and Marston speak of being influenced by passionate social media creators who celebrate books, wanting to build a community as much as an event space. A prerequisite to be a bartender, says Marston, will need to be a love of books.

“We’re calling all our bartenders book-tenders,” Marston says. “Not only will they be well-versed in all things spirits and cocktails, but they are also someone who can give you the next book recommendation. These are very specialized employees. They can curate cocktails and books for you.”

Consider Genres a place for dinner and drinks, but one where story is always on the menu.

“People are craving more than dinner,” Grant says. “They want experience. They want magical memories that can get them through harder moments because nothing is easy right now. People want to spend money on something that is more than just dinner or going to a bar. Like whimsy.”

National treasure and musical icon “Weird Al” Yankovic may have once titled an album “Straight Outta Lynwood” to pay homage to the Los Angeles suburb where he was raised, but he’s lived in the same Hollywood Hills home since 2001, the year he married his wife Suzanne.

Though he says the two are “homebodies,” they do enjoy getting out and exploring L.A. When he was bored during the pandemic, Yankovic made it his mission to find the city’s best culinary offerings for categories like doughnuts and chocolate chip cookies. What else would you expect from the guy who made “Eat It”?

In Sunday Funday, L.A. people give us a play-by-play of their ideal Sunday around town. Find ideas and inspiration on where to go, what to eat and how to enjoy life on the weekends.

Yankovic gets most of his food recommendations by either word of mouth or scrolling Instagram reels. “I’ll see something that looks delicious and I’ll go, ‘Oh, where’s that?’” he says. “Sometimes it’s in Tokyo, but if it’s in L.A., I’ll make a note and maybe check it out sometime.”

When Yankovic spoke to us, he was wrapping up his Bigger & Weirder tour, which spanned two years and included 165 concerts. His last appearance of the year takes place on Halloween at the Greek Theatre. The one-time event will feature a showing of “UHF,” the 1989 cult classic film that he co-wrote and starred in, along with a live orchestral performance of its score conducted by John Du Prez, a Q&A session and surprise guests.

This interview has been lightly edited and condensed for length and clarity.

8 a.m.: Planning ahead for breakfast

I wake up, fall out of bed, drag a comb across my head. Then I find my way to the kitchen for a little breakfast.

My favorite breakfast treat is Courage Bagels. I wouldn’t actually go to Courage Bagels on a Sunday morning, so the standard protocol is every six to eight weeks I drive out there and just get a big bag full of assorted loosies, as we call them. Then I immediately go home and slice them in half and wrap them in cling wrap and put them in an airtight Ziploc baggie and throw them in the freezer.

Then whenever I want one, I just take it out, I sprinkle a little water on it, toast it, cover it with Violife vegan cream cheese, a little slice of tomato, a little onion, some fresh ground pepper, some Maldon salt, a little Graza drizzle and maybe a little lemon twist.

A lot of New Yorkers might say, ‘Oh, that’s not a real bagel’ — because it’s not a real New York bagel, they call it a Montreal-style bagel — but it’s what I like.

10 a.m.: Sunday service

I go to church. I don’t manage to go to church when I’m on the road, but when I’m at home, I do.

Noon: Old and newer favorites

After church, since I’m already out and about, I pick up a little lunch to go. If I’m in the mood for Indian, I’d probably go with Curry Kingdom on Santa Monica. It’s a really small hole-in-the-wall place with great food.

If I want Thai, I’d probably do Toi on Sunset, which is one of my old standbys. I’ve been going there for decades. I love the food. I love the funky rock ‘n’ roll vibe. We probably eat in more than we take out there. If I’m dining with the family, we try to get the low table in the back where you can sit on the floor. You’re not allowed to take off your shoes, they make that very clear.

1 p.m.: Members only

There’s honestly nothing better than a Sunday afternoon nap, so that would be a big attraction for me. But if there’s something cool playing at the Directors Guild or the Writers Guild, my wife and I love doing that. The DGA is maybe the best place in L.A. to actually watch a movie. I’ve had both of the movies that I’ve done in my life screened at the DGA and I’ve never seen them look better or sound better.

I am a member of the Directors Guild and the Writers Guild. I pay my dues, so I want to take advantage of that and see as many movies there as possible. And honestly, my wife and I will go there even if it’s a bad movie because we’re just entertained by seeing the illusion of motion created by a rapidly projected series of still images.

3 p.m.: All who wander

We might do a little of what we call tumbleweeding. That’s what we call rolling around town with no set destination in mind, just going wherever the wind blows us. We just get in the car and see where we wind up.

A lot of times we’ll wind up in Silver Lake or Little Tokyo. We love to stop there and grab a little mochi candy or matcha ice cream to keep us awake.

6 p.m.: Pizza or Postmates

By that point, we’re probably ready for dinner. I hesitate to plug them because it’s already virtually impossible to get reservations there, but Pizzeria Sei has absolutely the best pizza you can get west of New York City. Their Special Margherita’s my go-to. It’s Neopolitan-style with a bit of Japanese flair. My wife and I always comment after dinner that you can eat there until you’re absolutely stuffed and you never feel gross afterwards.

But again, reservations are hard to come by, so another good option is our favorite Mexican food place, which is the Gardens of Taxco. It was off of Santa Monica Boulevard for forever. Sadly it closed down a few years ago, but you can still order their food from Postmates. The only difference is now Jaime won’t be serenading you with “Bésame Mucho” while you’re eating your quesadilla.

8 p.m.: Choose your own post-dinner adventure

My wife and I just love staying home. We celebrate whenever plans get canceled, that kind of thing. So if we’re staying at home, sometimes we’ll just grab a blanket and go into the den and get cozy on the couch and binge something on our big TV. I’ve seen a lot of shows on the road and my wife will get jealous that I watched without her, so I’ll watch the whole series again at home with her.

If we feel more energetic, because I’m not really a gym guy, I do like to walk. My wife and I are trying to stay healthy together. We never really feel like exercising, but we force ourselves, so we will drive to Beverly Hills and do the walking path along Santa Monica Boulevard, which is quite lovely. It goes through a cactus garden. It’s also fun to FaceTime our daughter while we’re walking. She’s living on the Lower East Side in New York, but we talk to her pretty much every day, and that’s a nice time to touch base with her.

We’ll walk for a couple hours, and if we’re in the mood for a drink or a treat, we’ll head across the street to heytea or Go Greek. Go Greek is a big favorite of ours, and it’s crazy busy in the evenings, but it’s definitely worth waiting for.

And if we’re feeling social, something we absolutely love is doing a ding dong. Maybe that only makes sense to a small handful of people, but it’s basically a musical dinner party, and the one that we go to is full of really cool and talented people like Eric Idle, Peter Asher, Mike Geier (who’s Puddle’s Pity Party, who I’m touring with currently), and a bunch of other amazingly talented musicians. We all just bring our instruments and have a potluck dinner, and then we’ll just sit around in someone’s living room singing old Beatles songs all night long. It’s the absolute best. It’s one of those things I can’t believe I get to do.

Late night: Rock ‘n’ roll hours

Right now, I’m sort of on my rock ‘n’ roll schedule, I tend to stay up pretty late at night anyway, and my wife has got a more normal schedule. If we can go to bed at the same time, that’s great, but if not, my wife will head to the bedroom and I’ll stay in the den with my headphones on and I’ll play video games until the wee morning hours. When I finally get tired of shooting people in the face, then I’ll snuggle in next to her and fall asleep.

ONE UK airport which closed in 2022 is taking another step closer to welcoming passengers back.

Doncaster Sheffield Airport closed after becoming “commercially unviable” and has been left empty since, but it has now announced it’s set to come under public ownership.

South Yorkshire Mayor Oliver Coppard called the deal a “major milestone” towards reopening the airport.

According to reports, South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA) will buy the airport becoming the freehold owner and landlord to the City of Doncaster Council lease.

Oliver Coppard said that the airport being bought by SYMCA would also “provide long-term control, certainty and flexibility” and attract private investment too.

The proposals are subject to approval next week.

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Doncaster Sheffield Airport is preparing to reopen to passengers in 2028 as part of a £193million project.

Before it closed, the regional airport acted as a gateway to Europe for those living in the north of England.

It had airlines like TUI and Wizz Air and flew to the likes of Spain and Portugal.

When it reopens, it’s possible certain routes could be reinstated, as well as longer ones too.

The airport is home to one of the longest runways in Europe, measuring 2,893 metres, which means it could host big jets for long-haul journeys.

As of yet, no airlines have been confirmed for when the airport reopens.

Christian Foster, Director of FlyDoncaster – the company set up to manage the airport – told Sun Travel: “It does feel like the world has changed post-Covid, whereas people were focused on two weeks in Spain or Greece, nowadays we’re seeing a lot of people keen to take city breaks.”

“We’d love to fly to places like Croatia, and other destinations that are a bit more quirky like Azerbaijan.

“We’re keen to look at emerging places to visit as well, like India.“

Another plan for the airport is that when it opens, it will have local businesses rather than chains like Costa or Starbucks.

There would be a mixture of restaurants, bars and shops as well as seating.

The Foreign Office has issued a travel warning for France amid the country’s worst civil unrest in years, with partial curfews now imposed in cities including Paris, Nice and Lyon after rioters clashed with police, torched cars and looted thousands of businesses.

The Foreign Office has warned British travellers heading to France that local curfews could be introduced at short notice following some of the country’s worst civil unrest in years.

Rioters clashed with police, set cars alight and stormed public buildings, while a historic city hall was engulfed in flames. Around 2,400 people were detained over the weekend, and authorities said thousands of businesses had been damaged or looted.

The violence overshadowed peaceful demonstrations over rising living costs and poor school conditions, during which hundreds of thousands of people marched without incident.

By Monday evening, several French cities had introduced partial curfews after Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu gave some local mayors the power to impose restrictions.

In advice issued last night, the Foreign Office told British travellers: “In response to recent events, the French government has announced that local curfews may be introduced at short notice. To find out if you are in an affected area, check local media. Follow the instructions of local authorities.”

Have you had your travel disrupted by the protests? Email webtravel@reachplc.com

The reported restrictions were:

• Paris: Movement in parts of the capital was banned from 11pm local time on Monday until 6am on Tuesday.
• Nice: A curfew for young people ran from 9pm to 6am local time (8pm to 5am BST) each night until next Sunday.
• Lyon: A curfew ran from 9pm local time on Monday until 6am on Tuesday (8pm to 5am BST).
• Coulaines: Young people were banned from being out after 11pm local time (10pm BST).
• Lille, Douai, Wattignies and Denain: Partial curfews were reported from 8pm to 6am local time (7pm to 5am BST).

President Emmanuel Macron condemned “unrestrained violence” by “insurrectionist elements from radical far-left groups, joined by numerous criminals.” Further demonstrations could follow, with high school and university student organisations calling for protests on Thursday and Saturday.

The National High School Student Coordination group urged young people to “take to the streets” and backed continued blockades and demonstrations.

Activists seeking to revive the 2018 yellow vest movement against perceived social injustices also announced nationwide protests for Saturday under the slogan “Macron must go.”

Sebastian Roché, a research professor at the Sciences Po Grenoble political institute who specialises in policing, said the damage was comparable to the yellow vest protests at their height.

“In terms of destruction and damage, it is probably close to the first two weekends of December 2018,” Roché said.

The yellow vest movement began in opposition to fuel tax rises and led to repeated demonstrations against Macron’s government. Some descended into violence, with cars burned, shops ransacked and the Arc de Triomphe vandalised during clashes in Paris.

France also experienced days of nationwide disorder in June 2023 after police killed a 17-year-old outside Paris. Rioters looted shops and set public buildings alight, with thousands detained and hundreds injured.

In 2005, three weeks of rioting prompted the government to declare a state of emergency.

Roché, who has spent more than 30 years studying policing and violence, said injuries caused by police weapons distinguished the latest unrest from previous episodes.

“We have a toll that has not been seen in the past 40 years,” he said.

He said six people, including minors, had lost hands or eyes during three weeks of protests. Officers have faced intense scrutiny over their use of grenades and other riot-control weapons during recent demonstrations.

Authorities have repeatedly blamed some of the violence on groups of “far-left radicals,” followed by criminals exploiting the unrest to loot. Lecornu described “disorder organized in an unprecedented way.”

But Roché questioned whether the far-left fringe was large or well coordinated enough to be solely responsible for violence on this scale.

He said French intelligence services estimated the movement at around 3,000 people across various factions, which lacked formal structures.

Passengers were not happy after airline Ryanair poked fun at one type of passenger onboard their planes – encouraging them the ‘stop’ making a key mistake onboard

Ryanair has hit out at passengers who make one key mistake when traveling on one of their planes for a short haul flight. This follows the airline previously advising passengers to ‘please stop wearing’ jeans during flights.

When flying many people have three basic priorities, having a good seat, being as comfortable as possible while onboard, and spending as little money as possible. And while remaining seated in the same spot for extended periods can be decidedly uncomfortable, particularly when you’re short on legroom, people have started to take further steps to help pass time while onboard aeroplanes.

With cabin humidity on many commercial flights dropping below 20%, which is drier than a desert, many people opt to take facemasks, moisturiser and eye cream onboard in their hand luggage.

The thought behind the process it to prevent passenger’s skin from feeling tight, dull, or irritated upon arrival. Ryanair has established a reputation on social media, where they frequently poke fun at their own passengers, and jokingly threaten to introduce even more regulations and charges than they currently impose – such as extra legroom seats or late check-in fees.

What shouldn’t passengers do when on a short haul flight with Ryanair?

Nevertheless, Ryanair has now criticised travellers who insist on keeping their skin moisturised while onboard one of their aircrafts. Posting on their Facebook page, the airline issued a statement to their passengers.

They wrote: “Stop doing skincare onboard, it’s a 2-hour flight.” However, many passengers were furious with the airline and quickly flocked to the comment section to express their own views.

One person said: “Stop measuring my bag with a ruler like it’s national security, it’s a 2-hour flight.”

A second person added: “Please tell the cabin crew to put a smile on their face – It’s just a 2-hour flight.”

A third added: “Carry on like this and I’ll allow my husband to bring his foot file and use it on our trip over to UK on the November 5.”

A fourth said: “What are these bizarre Ryanair posts about?! You’d think their marketing team would manage social media in a more sophisticated way?!”

Others, however, commented on the post to express their own bugbears on short haul flights.

One person said: “Travel pillows for 1-2 hour flights still intrigue me more than skincare.”

A second added: “Skincare? I’ve actually seen a man clipping his nails! This should be strictly prohibited under financial sanctions!”

A third said: “Don’t start clapping before the plane has even landed!”

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Mobina Atashi’s £550 package holiday to Bulgaria was meant to be a time to relax, but turned into a nightmare after one “painful” night

A student who says she was left too scared to sleep after finding something crawling in her hotel bed has described how she first thought she had “chickenpox”. A dirty room is enough to ruin a holiday, but discovering you may be sharing your bed with blood-sucking insects is the stuff of nightmares.

Law student Mobina Atashi, 22, claims that’s what happened when she flew out on July 12 for a seven-night Jet2 break near Bulgaria’s Black Sea coast — and ended up leaving early.

Mobina says she didn’t want to kick up a fuss when she first noticed the room was dirty, as she’d arrived late and planned to report it later. But she claims she was soon woken up by intense itching.

In shock, she claims she spotted bed bugs in her bedding and soon noticed angry red welts spreading across her skin — which she documented. Mobina says she was moved to a different room, but claims that one was also grubby.

Mobina claims staff downplayed what happened, insisting the bites looked like an allergic reaction rather than bed bugs.

She says she was left with no choice but to leave early, ending her holiday after two nights and paying an extra £40 to get back to the UK. On her return, Mobina says she complained to Jet2 and asked for a refund, but claims she was told there wasn’t enough evidence to link the bites to the accommodation.

Jet2 said they take concerns such as these “very seriously” and are looking into the matter further. Mobina, from Manchester, said: “I arrived after midnight. The room was very dirty but I decided to sort it out in the morning, it had hair everywhere. After a few hours of sleeping, my body was itching and I was confused. I turned the lights on and there were so many bugs.

“My whole body had red bumps and it got worse after a few days. They were on my breast area, neck, chin, behind my ears, legs and arms. There were at least 20 on my arms, probably 100 in total. It was like I had chickenpox, it was painful and mostly itchy. I made a mistake not to check properly before getting in bed but I was so tired.

“I ran downstairs at 5am and told them to please clean my room as soon as possible. I showed them videos. One of the ladies said they would change my room and gave me a new key. The new room was also dirty. There was hair and yellow stains on the bed.

“There were no bed bugs but I was so scared to sleep that night, after that, I decided I could not stay at the hotel.

She says she reached out to Jet2 on live chat in a bid to get support, only to be directed back to the hotel to resolve it. Mobina said: “I tried to talk to Jet2 through the live chat and they told me I had to talk to the resort.

“The receptionist said it looked like an allergy and that she didn’t think it was bed bugs, but it is. When I got home, I made several complaints for a refund and I didn’t get a response. They replied after three months and called me, they said all they can do is apologise.

“They said they can’t prove the bugs were caused by the accommodation and that my bites could have been caused by something else. I wanted to go on a relaxing holiday because I have anxiety and wanted to relax by myself. I never expected this. I’m traumatised because I’m scared of insects and spiders. If I see a spider, I cry, it’s my worst fear.”

Now claiming the ordeal has left her “scared at night”, Mobina has sworn off booking holidays through Jet2 in future. Mobina said: “I said they need to at least compensate me, but they said there is no evidence. I am so scared of travelling, I will never go solo travelling again.

“I’m scared at night. If my body itches, I think it is a bug. It is so traumatic. I’m never using Jet2 in the future, especially not package holidays.”

A Jet2 spokesperson said: “We’re very sorry to hear about Ms Atashi’s experience. We take concerns like these very seriously and we are investigating in further detail. We will contact Ms Atashi directly once this investigation is complete.”

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Bracken and heather ripple across the plateau. I exhale into the chill autumn air and my breath mists a view that reaches all the way to Gower and the ochre peaks of Bannau Brycheiniog (formerly the Brecon Beacons). Far below, the Ogmore valley’s terrace houses look like tiny constellations but up here on Tarren y Fforch, it’s just me and a few sheep taking springy steps between tufts of bilberries. If this corner of the south Wales valleys feels a long way from its coal mining past, that is, partly, the point.

I’m hiking the new Llwybr Coedwig Cymru Trail, or Wales Forest Trail. Running from Porthkerry Park, near Barry, to Pont Walby, close to Glynneath, this 50-mile (80km) pilot route is the first section of what the National Forest for Wales hopes will eventually be a trail linking woodlands across the length and breadth of Wales: a sylvan counterpart to the Wales Coast Path.

My father grew up in one of the valleys’ mining villages and, when I visited relatives there as a child, the disconnection of those post-industrial communities from the wild hills that loomed above them was striking. Mountain bikers have long discovered the region’s potential, but walkers still tend to head for the more obvious trails that wind through the national parks or along the coast. This pilot trail seems a good excuse to explore untapped footpaths.

With the sea behind me, I set off from the oak leaf sculpture that marks the trail’s start. The viaduct ahead once carried coal to Barry docks, but today it stands over Caffe Matteo, busy with dog walkers sipping cappuccinos. Leaving them behind, I cross the park between the soft greens of birch and oak trees.

I swerve on to a fern-fringed path and follow a stream to the outskirts of Barry. The next section is less lovely – a long stretch of roadside pavement until I enter Hensol Forest. The sunshine splinters through ancient pine trees and their needles cushion the ground. Weaving in and out of forest and fields, I soak up all the calm this long-distance forest-bathing exercise can offer until the Vale Resort comes into sight.

This vast hotel is popular with golfers, but also holds two trump cards for walkers: a spa where weary hikers can swim, sauna and steam their muscles limber again, and a bar serving energy-boosting Welsh rarebit spiked with ale mustard, Dragon cheddar and charred leeks.

Restored, I rejoin the trail the next morning, dipping along leafy lanes and footpaths as the roar of the M4 gets louder. I cross beneath it to enter Coedwig Gellihir, a small broadleaf woodland, then continue north into Pontyclun, before clambering down to the river at Ynysmaerdy Forest to pick up an old railway path to Coedely.

The trail has been designed to offer stretches for cyclists, pushchair users and horse riders, with more pavement-pounding and, in Thomastown, a reminder of the challenges faced by post-industrial communities. Leaving the village behind, the trail opens out again on to a little rocky path with soaring views of Ogwr Fach Valley.

One of the National Forest for Wales’s aims is to help communities connect with nearby woodlands. In Blackmill, the next village I come to, the trail passes Coed Bach Dimbath, a small community woodland where local groups have come together to build an otter hide, outdoor classroom and accessible paths.

“The woodland there had been inaccessible for decades, and now people can access it,” says Rhodri Hewitt of Natural Resources Wales, the trail’s project lead. “The valleys can feel desperately poor in places, but the River Ogmore is another world entirely.”

Continuing north to Nant-y-Moel, I come to Blaenogwr Farm, a Georgian farmstead marooned in the village, where I’m staying in a homely holiday cottage. I drop off my backpack and head across the road for fish with buttery potatoes and laverbread (made from edible seaweed) and cockle sauce at the Blaenogwr Hotel.

My final day’s walking starts with a climb up to that extraordinary plateau on Tarren y Fforch. Hewitt tells me that parts of the trail follow the paths miners took across these hills to work in pits in neighbouring valleys. I’m glad they had this antidote to the darkness and danger underground. Today’s route feels uplifting. I slip through an ancient gate on to open moorland and pick my way up the escarpment, meadow pipits chirruping around me.

Crossing the plateau, I enter Afan Forest park, a large commercial woodland that’s also home to a forest of wind turbines, a peat restoration project and a network of mountain-biking trails. I have an urge to be inside the forest rather than tracing its edges and detour on to a footpath leading up to the trig point at Craig y Llyn, the highest point of the valleys at 600m.

Continuing beneath branches dripping velvety lichen, I come to another spectacular viewpoint, as the land drops away to the waters of Llyn Fach and Llyn Fawr, with the peaks of Corn Du and Pen y Fan shrouded in soft-focus drizzle behind them. Soon I dip into the loveliest stretch of forest along the whole trail.

The valley of Cwm Gwrelych is a designated geological site of special scientific interest because of the near complete 300m-year-old strata exposed here. But it’s also rainforest-like, cut through with waterfalls, a dark, glossy river and dense, broadleaf woodland. I feel completely enveloped in green as I hike the last couple of miles to the trail’s current end, the Isambard Kingdom Brunel-designed viaduct at Pont Walby. As I continue to Sgwd Gwladys pub with rooms in nearby Pontneddfechan, I remind myself that this is not a finished trail but the beginning of one.

The next morning, I pull on my boots one last time and set out in search of the waterfall the pub is named after. Mist rises from the river, shafts of sunlight turn the leaves amber and a heron glides past in cinematic slow-mo. When we spoke about the trail, Hewitt mentioned an old Welsh proverb: Dod yn ôl at fy nghoed, meaning “To return to my trees”, or finding your way back to a balanced state of mind. As I sit and admire Sgwd Gwladys’ thundering cascade, I realise this leafy trail has delivered exactly that.

The trip was provided by the National Forest for Wales and Natural Resources Wales. Vale Resort has doubles from £104 room-only. The Airbnb cottage costs from £87 a night. Sgwd Gwladys has doubles from £65.55, room only. For trail information, visit gov.wales/llwybr-coedwig-cymru-trail and for region information Visitwales.com

A British Airways flight from a tourist hotspot was forced to divert in the early hours to land at Gatwick rather than Heathrow

A British Airways flight has been forced to divert from Heathrow to Gatwick after falling foul of strict rules over its landing time.

The BA707 flight from holiday hotspot Larnaca was diverted to the London airport after the four hour journey, according to AirNav Radar.

The flight had to be diverted to Gatwick after missing the curfew at Heathrow.

The plane left the Cyprus airport at 9.32pm, over three hours after scheduled take off.

It then landed at Gatwick at 12.12am on Tuesday.

Flights heading to Heathrow are often diverted to Gatwick or other regional hubs if they miss Heathrow’s strict nighttime curfew.

Heathrow enforces rigorous restrictions on movements late at night in order to reduce noice pollution for the millions of residents that live under its flight paths.

The core curfew means that scheduled flights are heavily restricted to land and take off between 11pm and 6am.

The airport operates under a strict ‘night quota’ system between 11pm and 6am which limits both the absolute number of flights allowed to land and the total amount of aircraft noise allowed.

Unless an official emergency is declared then air traffic control will deny landing rights past the curfew, forcing a diversion.

LEAVE it to the Americans to come up with a name for gawping at trees.

Leaf peeping was a phrase coined in the Sixties in Vermont and it’s now caught on here.

And no wonder, as Britain puts on a dazzling show every autumn, though this year it will be harder to time.

After the hot, dry summer, the National Trust predicts vibrant but patchy colour, with some gardens running late and others early.

Jacob Lewis reveals the best spots to head to in the next few weeks.

SHEFFIELD PARK & GARDEN, EAST SUSSEX

FOUR lakes double the colour at this Grade I-listed garden, which was planted for autumn.

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The tupelo trees turn bright red, and one variety changes colour around ten days ahead of the rest.

By the water, swamp cypresses glow amber.

You can even arrive by steam on the Bluebell Railway, whose station is a 15-minute walk away.

Cost: £19 adults, £9.50 children — National Trust members free.

RICHMOND PARK, LONDON

BELLOWING stags are the soundtrack in October, when the red deer rut reaches its peak.

Head for the Isabella Plantation, a woodland garden where Japanese maples flare crimson and winged spindle bushes turn rosy scarlet.

Entry is free, but keep one eye on the leaves and the other on the stags, keeping at least 50m away.

Cost: Free entry and parking.

WESTONBIRT, THE NATIONAL ARBORETUM, GLOUCS

NEARLY 300 varieties of Japanese maple grow here, setting the Acer Glade ablaze.

A new trail through Silk Wood this year is themed around nine Japanese ideas about the seasons. Book ahead.

Cost: £19 weekdays or £22 weekends, children £5.

BLICKLING ESTATE, NORFOLK

BEECH, oak, lime and sweet chestnut are mirrored in the lake in front of this Jacobean mansion.

Follow the two-mile Lake Walk, then head into the Great Wood, where the beeches glow amber and a pyramid-shaped mausoleum stands among the trees.

Cost: Free entry to parkland — parking £5, NT members free.

CANNOCK CHASE, STAFFS

NOT every tree that turns gold is a broadleaf.

Larches are conifers that drop their needles in winter, and here they blaze yellow against the dark pines.

Follow the Sherbrook Valley trail to the stepping stones, with beeches adding copper along the way.

Cost: Free entry — parking from £1.20.

SHERWOOD FOREST, NOTTS

ROBIN Hood’s old stomping ground is at its best when the oaks turn russet.

Pay your respects to the Major Oak, the giant at its heart thought to be up to 1,200 years old.

Sadly, the ailing tree died this year after suffering drought and heatwaves, but it still stands as a monument.

Oaks turn late, so there’s still plenty of time.

Cost: Free entry — parking £7, RSPB members free.

HARDCASTLE CRAGS, WEST YORKS

BEECH, oak and birch cling to the sides of this steep valley, near Hebden Bridge, above the tumbling Hebden Water.

Follow the riverside path to Gibson Mill, a cotton mill built around 1800, then grab a drink from its Weaving Shed Cafe and sit out by the millpond, hemmed in by trees.

Cost: Free entry — parking £5–£8, NT members free.

LOUGHRIGG TARN AND ELTERWATER, CUMBRIA

FOR the classic Lake District postcard view, walk the easy four-mile loop from Elterwater village via Skelwith Bridge to Loughrigg Tarn.

On a still day, the Langdale Pikes, the craggy peaks at the head of the valley, are reflected in the water, framed by turning woodland.

Cost: Free entry — paid parking, NT members free.

ALLEN BANKS AND STAWARD GORGE, NORTHUMBERLAND

KEEP an eye out for elusive red squirrels in this deep gorge carved by the River Allen.

Most of its beeches were planted in the 19th century, and they spill copper and gold colours down the valley sides.

The riverside path then leads to medieval ruins and a Victorian summer house.

Cost: Free entry — parking £3–£5, NT members free.

COED Y BRENIN, SNOWDONIA

PISTYLL Cain plunges into a dark pool deep within the 9.000-acre King’s Forest.

You can reach it via a 2.2-mile walk beside the River Mawddach, leaving conifers behind for broadleaf woods and the ruins of old gold mines.

Cost: Free entry and parking at Tyddyn Gwladys.

LOCH AN EILEIN, CAIRNGORMS

A RUINED 13th-century castle on an island steals the show here.

In autumn, the birch, rowan and aspen of the ancient Rothiemurchus Forest flare gold against the dark Scots pines.

The flat 3.5-mile loop is easy for kids. Scotland turns first, so don’t hang about.

Cost: Free entry — parking £5 per car.

TOLLYMORE FOREST PARK, CO DOWN

GAME Of Thrones fans will recognise this forest at the foot of the Mourne Mountains, which was used as a filming location.

Walk the River Trail along the River Shimna, crossing stepping stones and some of its 16 bridges beneath beech and oak.

Cost: Free on foot — £5 per car.

THE highly anticipated Therme attraction coming to Manchester has just announced some big changes.

The first-of-its-kind resort in the UK, has altered its £500million design – but it will still have indoor beaches, waterslides and relaxation zones.

According to reports, Therme has tweaked its layout to create a “more striking design”.

One of the new additions will be a public plaza which will link the resort and the Bridgewater Canal – and it’s adding a 53,000sq ft wellbeing garden.

In the updated plans, the two multi-storey car parks have also been removed to “create more open views”.

There will still be parking, but this has been relocated and the number of spaces has been reduced by around 100.

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The new plan’s aim is to have better connections with local transport which includes the Metrolink station at the Trafford Centre.

Everything else about £500million Therme Manchester resort remains the same.

Inside the resort, visitors can expect a large-scale waterpark with more than 25 waterslides as well as a wave pool.

It will be heated to 33C and will have lots of spa and wellness facilities that will be split into three different zones these will eb called Play, Relax and Restore.

In the Play zone will be ‘next-generation’ water fun, a warm water pool, steam rooms, saunas as well as lounging and family dining experiences.

This zone will also have an outdoor beach.

The Relax zone which will be adults-only with a focus on “premium wellbeing experiences”.

It will also have well as indoor and outdoor pools, waterfall showers, mineral baths, steam rooms, saunas and casual dining.

Finally, in the Restore Zone – the second adults-only area – there will be “industry leading health, nutrition and wellbeing therapies”, “sauna rituals”, experience showers, wellbeing consultations and dining.

In August of this year, the Therme Group announced it had reached a milestone of 12 tower cranes being built.

It said the progress marked “the start of an exciting new phase of construction for Therme Manchester.”

The Therme Group also recently announced it would be teaming up with Marriott International.

In terms of booking, Marriott Bonvoy members will be offered exclusive travel and lodging packages linked directly to Therme destinations – which when it opens will include Manchester.

Eight areas in Spain remain under lockdown as Storm Adam continues to wreak havoc

Eight areas in Spain remain under lockdown after restrictions were lifted for some 137 municipalities earlier on Monday, October 19.

Large swathes of the country were ordered to stay indoors as Storm Adam wreaked catastrophic havoc across eastern Spain. Initially, the emergency lockdown covered 78 municipalities in Valencia province and 67 in Alicante. However, according to the Olive Press: “Restrictions have ended for 137 of 145 municipalities, but eight towns in La Safor and La Marina Alta remain under lockdown.

“Please be aware that the following areas are still confined: Bellreguard, Daimús, Oliva, Xàbia, Pego, Miramar, Piles, and Els Poblets. Stay safe and always check local guidelines before travelling through these areas.”

Two fatalities have been confirmed, with a third potential victim of the storm discovered on Monday afternoon when Military Emergency Unit (UME) personnel uncovered the body of an elderly woman in her flood-ravaged home in Oliva, Valencia province. Authorities are yet to officially confirm whether the death was a direct result of drowning or natural causes.

According to the Majorca Daily Bulletin, rainfall totals surpassed 600 litres per square metre, rivers burst their banks and residents were left stranded on rooftops. Helicopters were deployed to rescue those trapped as torrential downpours swept through eastern Spain on Monday, triggering devastating floods that claimed at least two lives and prompted authorities to issue shelter-in-place orders for more than 800,000 residents.

DO you love the theatre, gigs and stand-up but the prices make you wince?

You don’t need to spend a fortune though – as there are bags of secret loopholes and clever hacks to experience all sorts of culture, from Shakespearean plays to comedy gigs and arena concerts for virtually nothing.

Before you know it, you could be gushing to your mates about the “must-see” West End musical or cool band you saw – and you don’t even have to bankrupt yourself. Here’s how to get the best deals…

TodayTix

This app lets people book highly discounted last-minute tickets to West End and off-West End shows.

It operates worldwide, so if you are on holiday in New York you could pick up a Broadway bargain, too.

Our reporter saw the hit play The Book of Mormon for a knockdown price in the Big Apple, booking in the morning, and it was problem-free. But we’ve also taken advantage of their “rush tickets” and “digital lotteries”.

Rush tickets go on sale inside the app on the day, usually at 10am, and get you seats for a fraction of the price – typically £25 to £30.

Shows including The Devil Wears Prada and Harry Potter and the Cursed Child are included among the options.

Lottery tickets are picked from a pool – the most famous example is Hamilton, which usually sells out months in advance. People can “win” them for as little as £10.

Our reporter won £10 lottery tickets to see Orlando Bloom get his kit off in Killer Joe in the West End in 2018 via TodayTix – so it really works!

SeatFillers UK

This connects slow-filling productions and gigs with eager audience members… it’s win-win.

Called ‘papering’, it’s a technique theatre producers use to fill empty seats and create buzz.

However, while the app is free and used nationwide – you submit your county and where else you might like to watch things – we can’t actually tell you what could come up for grabs.

Because some audience members will have paid full price for tickets, you’re strictly forbidden from shouting out: “I’ve got a freebie!” so discretion is a must.

Central Tickets

If you can be discreet, then Central Tickets will be perfect for you. Like SeatFillers UK, it’s free to join and it works on the same principle.

You get tickets to gigs, the opera, dance, shows and comedy shows for between £4 and £15. It’s got a 4.9 out of 5 Trustpilot rating with more than 3,000 reviews.

The cash goes towards an admin fee – but they also raise money for NHS Charities Together.

The Audience Club

This costs £5 a year – or is free if you’re a Blue Light Card or Defence Privilege Card holder.

It’s largely London-based, but is perfect if you live in or near the capital or regularly visit and love the arts.

You can browse hundreds of shows, including West End ones. But it also offers quirky, niche plays – great if you love branching out a bit!

ShowFilmFirst

Founded in 2001, don’t let the name fool you – this isn’t just a movie seat-filler platform; they also offer theatre, comedy, music and days out.

Happily, it’s free to join and it’s not just London. You can find offers as far afield as Manchester, Birmingham, Bath, Cardiff, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Liverpool, Leeds, Bristol, Belfast, Nottingham, Brighton, Southampton and even more.

There’s only one catch – afterwards you have to fill out a quick survey… but that’s nothing for a free experience!

My Box Office

You can either choose a lifetime membership for £12.99 or an annual membership for £5. Once signed up, you’re offered seats through papering – usually paying an admin fee of around £1 to £5 per show.

They deliver access to more than 42,000 events, from burlesque to cabaret and even sports.

Tickets For Good

This initiative requires a small booking fee but gives free tickets to major events for NHS staff, contractors, students, teachers, education staff and charity staff.

It also gives tickets to volunteers and people associated with The Ticket Bank – those who might face barriers that make it trickier to access live events, for example, unpaid carers.

It operates across the UK, so people might see anything from West End musicals to stand-up comedy, and UK music festivals to live sporting events.

National Theatre Concessions

London’s National Theatre offers £10 tickets to 16–25-year-olds – and you don’t have to live in the capital. You can book online.

Additionally, every Friday the theatre issues a limited number of “friday rush” tickets for the subsequent week – even for sold-out shows!

With actors like Jodie Comer, Andrew Garfield, Benedict Cumberbatch, Jonny Lee Miller, Judi Dench, Ian McKellen, Andrew Scott and Hugh Jackman having trod the boards there, bargain tickets are a win.

Royal Shakespeare Company

If you’re Midlands-based, then a trip to Shakespeare’s birthplace, Stratford-upon-Avon, might be in order.

The RSC offers £10 tickets for 14–25-year-olds for shows performed there.

The discount is available on its website here. Not Bard going!

Festival ballots and free tickets

Live near a major UK festival? Then check if they run residents’ lotteries for free shows or heavily discounted tickets.

Our reporter snagged free tickets to see Skepta and The Streets thanks to a lotto win in Crystal Palace, London, and bagged cheap tickets to see Blondie, Iggy Pop and Noel Gallagher for the same reason.

But similar schemes exist if you live close in other parts of London, Sheffield, Winchester, Oxon, Dorset and Bucks.

You can similarly volunteer at many festivals and receive free tickets.

Occasionally this offer is emailed directly to local residents, as with above, but bigger charities also offer it for events like Glastonbury.

Writer Becky Pemberton told how her friend watched Glastonbury in 2022 for free, having volunteered.

Meanwhile, she enjoyed the event too as she helped out at a toasted cheese sandwich stand which she found out about through “word of mouth”.

She said: “I worked on a cheese toasty stand and got a free ticket for Glastonbury in 2022 (plus fed during shifts!).

“I did it by Pyramid Stage and saw Billie Eilish and Diana Ross. My friend also volunteered for the charity WaterAid and got in for free too. We’d meet up after our shifts and danced the night away into the early hours without having paid a penny!”

Visit WaterAid here and Oxfam here.

Sit in the audience at massive BBC shows like Strictly

This is all done by a random draw – but you might get lucky!

From Strictly to Bookclub, there are loads on offer and they come up all the time. Crucially, they take place all over the UK, with shows being filmed in Glasgow, Edinburgh, Cardiff, Leeds, London and Margate.

If you fancy your luck visit the Beeb’s site here.

A five-star establishment has closed for good

A popular Scottish seaside town has been dealt a devastating blow following the sudden closure of a prominent hotel. The firm behind the establishment recently collapsed into liquidation, forcing its immediate shutdown, with all members of staff confirmed to have lost their jobs.

The Kinnettles Hotel, a five-star boutique property nestled in the heart of St Andrews, Scotland, shut its doors for good in September after its parent company, Kinnettles Hotel Limited, went into liquidation.

The hotel’s on-site restaurant partner, Gidi Grill, was locked out of the building on September 23, with owner Mo Adeniyi claiming “the building was taken over by someone else, but we hadn’t been told”. He confirmed he was now on the hunt for new premises to relocate his West African and Afro-Caribbean restaurant.

The closure of the Kinnettles Hotel, situated just a 10-minute walk from the iconic West Sands Beach and the historic St Andrews Old Course golf links, left all 12 members of staff without work.

The broader Kinnettles portfolio, which includes Kinnettles Mansion in Guardbridge and Kinnettles Castle near Forfar, had previously been put up for sale for £15 million.

Callum Carmichael, a partner at FRP Advisory, has been appointed as liquidator of the company. He confirmed that the challenges facing the business had become “insurmountable”, reports the Express.

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Mr Carmichael told The Courier: “Kinnettles Hotel has been a well-established part of St Andrews’ hospitality sector, offering boutique accommodation in the heart of the town for many years.

“Despite its established presence, the challenges facing the business and many like it in Scotland’s hospitality sector ultimately proved insurmountable. Our focus is now on safeguarding the assets of the three companies and supporting those affected.”

Nestled at 127 North Street in the heart of St Andrews town centre, the Kinnettles Hotel featured 15 spacious bedrooms, a bar, spa, and an on-site restaurant.

The hotel had garnered a string of glowing reviews on TripAdvisor, with guests heaping praise on the accommodation, spa and facilities alike.

One wrote in July: “I genuinely don’t think I’ve ever had a better spa experience in my life. From the moment I arrived until the moment I left, every single detail was absolutely perfect.”

A second reviewer wrote in May: “I had an amazing experience at Kinnettles Hotel & Spa, truly one of the best I’ve had.”

A third posted in March: “My husband and I stayed for one night and used spa facilities and got a treatment each. First of all we were made to feel very welcomed when we entered the building , staff couldn’t do enough for us.

“The breakfast next morning was lovely but the best part was the spa facilities and the treatment it was absolutely fantastic and cant wait to go back again.”

Another visitor commented in March: “I can’t praise highly enough the Kinnettles Hotel and Spa, St Andrews. We arrived as guests and departed five days later as friends.”

Tourism can be a force for good when done well – and we want to hear about places and projects you’ve discovered that help conserve local ecosystems and cultures. Whether it was a volunteering holiday planting trees in Scotland, a stay at an eco-hotel that helps protect local flora and fauna, or a project breathing life back into abandoned villages, tell about us your experience for the chance to win a holiday voucher.

The best tip of the week, chosen by Tom Hall of Lonely Planet wins a £200 voucher to stay at a Coolstays property – the company has more than 3,000 worldwide. The best tips will appear in the Guardian Travel section and website.

Keep your tip to about 100 words

If you have a relevant photo, do send it in – but it’s your words we will be judging for the competition.

We’re sorry, but for legal reasons you must be a UK resident to enter this competition.

TUI is launching a new route from London Gatwick to Athens, recently named the top winter destination by Time Out, where temperatures can occasionally reach the low 20s on particularly sunny winter days.

TUI is launching a new route from London Gatwick to Athens, offering travellers a city break in a European capital that stays mild for much of the winter.

The Greek capital joins an expanded Gatwick network of 59 destinations. The German holiday company is also adding services to Palermo, Santiago de Compostela, Seville, Valencia, Tangier, Djerba and Mytilene.

Athens was recently named the top winter destination by Time Out. Writer John Ovans, who spent last winter there, said “the city never goes into full hibernation mode”.

He also suggested Athens could challenge Lisbon as Europe’s leading city for digital nomads, thanks to “cheap living, a warm lifestyle, and a gritty-glamorous vibe”.

While visitors should not expect summer heat, particularly sunny winter days can bring surprisingly mild temperatures. Ovans wrote: “On a good winter day you might get up to the high teens, or even low‐20s on rare extra sunny occasions.”

He recommended eating outdoors in the city’s squares, with awnings and gas heaters helping diners enjoy neighbourhoods such as Psirri, Plaka and Exarchia even on sunny days in January and February.

A spring visit also revealed a vibrant and exciting city, reports MyLondon. Although its iced freddo coffees and open-air cinemas are best enjoyed in warmer weather, many of Athens’ biggest attractions appeal throughout the year.

The Acropolis is worth the climb in any season, offering breathtaking views of the Parthenon and the city below.

Another highlight is the National Archaeological Museum, where exhibits include the Artemision Bronze and the Mask of Agamemnon. An extensive refurbishment is on the horizon.

For affordable lunches, Athens’ traditional workers’ canteens, historically known as inomagireia or simply magireia, serve hearty, home-style food.

These unpretentious venues dish up stews, soups and casseroles straight from heated trays or pans, making them a good option for budget-conscious visitors.

In the evenings, the city’s tavernas come alive whatever the season. Home-style dishes can be enjoyed alongside rakomelo, a warming spirit served as a digestif.

Across TUI’s wider network, the new routes will add 640,000 seats and open up previously unconnected destinations in Spain, Greece, Italy, Slovenia, Tanzania, Cape Verde and Morocco. Most services will operate two to three times a week.

TUI Airline chief commercial officer Peter Glade said: “Gatwick has played a central role in the development of Tui’s airline business in the UK for more than six decades. For generations of customers across London, the south and southwest of England, it has been the gateway to their holidays.

“Expanding our portfolio to 59 destinations is a natural next step as we continue to invest in one of the most important markets. The additional flying creates more opportunities for customers, supports continued growth in both package holiday and flight-only demand, and reinforces our long-term commitment to Gatwick.”

HAVE you been dreaming of that bucket-list Orlando holiday? Well, it’s about to get a whole lot cheaper.

AttractionTickets.com are launching a massive Black Friday sale, where you can save up to hundreds of pounds on visits to Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando Resort and more.

Sign up to the AttractionTickets.com Black Friday sale and receive an EXTRA discount

The sale will include theme park and attraction tickets, as well as combo tickets and holiday packages with hotel or villa stays.

And you’ll want in on these Black Friday deals, as this is the website’s biggest sale of the year.

If you pre-register for the sale ahead of time, you’ll score yourself an EXTRA discount, which will land in your inbox on November 5.

This means that those pre-registered for Black Friday will have access to the absolute cheapest holidays and attraction tickets available on the website all year long.

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Click here to sign up to the Black Friday sale so you’ll be among the first to know as soon as these deals drop.

Last year’s mega Black Friday sale saw 20% off all Orlando tickets, so theme park fans are already expecting big discounts again this year.

The deals will be for 2027 holidays, with major savings to be had during the school summer holidays.

While the exact offers are tightly under wraps until the big day, Attraction Tickets have revealed that the average customer will save hundreds of pounds on their holiday, based on the website’s typical orders.

So where could you go and what could you do with a holiday booked through AttractionTickets.com?

If you’re looking for a Florida holiday, you will be able to bag discounts on Disney, Universal, the Kennedy Space Centre and more, plus hotels and villas if you want to extend the magic by staying on-site.

Sign up to the AttractionTickets.com Black Friday sale and receive an EXTRA discount

The site also offers handy combo ticket deals – which are great if you want to tick off Walt Disney World and Universal Orlando Resort in one trip, for example.

2027 is the ideal time to visit Disney World, with new upgrades including a Muppet takeover of the former Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster as well as the brand new Magic of Disney Animation zone in the Hollywood Studios park.

At Universal Orlando Resort, new coaster Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift is set to launch in 2027, and the previews of this coaster have excited theme park fanatics around the world.

And if you’re wanting to visit California, now’s the time to get planning. You’ll also be able to save on tickets for Disneyland Resort California and Universal Studios Hollywood in this sale.

Disneyland Resort California is home to Cars Land, which you won’t find in Orlando, plus you can tick off the world-famous studio tour at Universal Studios Hollywood.

If you prefer a Spain or Tenerife holiday, you’ll be able to bag discounts at PortAventura World, Siam Park and Loro Parque.

Just make sure to pre-register ahead of the Black Friday deal to bag an extra discount to make your trip even cheaper.

Sign up to the AttractionTickets.com Black Friday sale and receive an EXTRA discount

BONFIRE Night is on the horizon, and the biggest celebration in the WORLD is right here in the UK.

Lewes will hold its annual event in a matter of weeks and not only is it free to visit but it will be busier than ever.

Thousands of Brits descend on the town in East Sussex which has been holding bonfire events since 1795.

However, it isn’t the usual firework display followed by hot chocolates – this one is the world’s biggest with torchlit processions and giant effigies.

The event marks both Guy Fawkes Night and the memory of 17 martyrs from the town who were burnt at the stake.

Every year, six different bonfire societies each hold their own procession and firework displays.

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In 2024, it was recorded that 40,000 people were in attendance.

The event is predicted to be even busier this year because it falls nearer the weekend on Thursday, November 5.

The majority of the event is completely free, like the bonfire at Commercial Square – but visitors will need to pay to watch at others.

This year, the processions start at around 5pm and will arrive at the individual bonfire at around 9.45pm with fireworks displays finishing around 11pm.

Travel Writer, Hope Brotherton, who has previously attended told visitors to “be prepared”.

She said: “In the last few years, I’ve been lucky enough to attend Lewes Bonfire because a handful of my friends are from the Sussex town.”

“Because the town’s streets and alleyways are rather narrow, the High Street in Lewes is one of the best, and safest, places to watch the torch-lit procession.

“The processions can often be very loud because of the drums that accompany each of the societies. But the noise is all part of the electric atmosphere, as are the effigies.

“If you do want a drink in a pub, be sure to head there in the early afternoon. Several of the bonfire societies base themselves in local pubs too, which means they can be busier than usual.”

On the day of the event there will be limited rail services – trains will not stop at Lewes from 5pm until the start of the service the next day.

There will also be road closures around and in the town due to the procession and predicted number of attendees.

It’s so popular that those wanting to visit are encouraged to book hotels a year in advance.

On Booking.com there’s a one-night stay available from November 5-6, 2027 from £75 per night (for two people).

Unlike many other firework and bonfire events around the UK, the one in Lewes is not suitable for children or young families as officials warn it can be ‘overwhelming’.

Despite this, lots of visitors often rave about the event calling it an “amazing experience”.

One wrote on Tripadvisor: “The energy is superb, the friendliness of everyone involved, and a feeling of excitement throughout makes this such a memorable night out.

“Everyone should come to Lewes on November 5th at least once, you will never find a night like this anywhere else in the world.”