Holidays

While the climate isn’t very Christmassy, that doesn’t stop the island from getting in the festive mood, with its Christmas Market running from the 10th December all the way to New Years Eve.

Brits looking for winter sun getaways don’t need to jet off to exotic long-haul destinations. The Canary Islands may be at their most popular during the summer months, but come winter they still offer balmy weather – and some surprising festive fun.

Tenerife, the largest of the Canaries, is about a four-hour flight from the UK, and boasts December temperatures ranging from 20 to 24 degrees, making it an ideal location if you want to escape the dreary British weather. It won’t be warm enough to lay out on a beach, but it will be ideal if you want to explore the scenic walks or just stop off and enjoy a pint outside.

The climate may not feel very Christmassy, but that doesn’t stop the island from getting in the festive mood, with its San Cristobal de La Laguna Christmas Market running from the 10th December all the way to New Year’s Eve.

The market has everything you’d expect, including a a myriad of artisan stalls that feature local crafts made of volcanic stone, banana fibre, and traditional Canarian embroidery. It’s the perfect spot for picking up a souvenir or two, or giving your Christmas decorations back home a unique twist.

In fact, if you’re looking for the perfect Christmas trinket to take home, keep your eyes peeled for belenes, which are nativity scenes that feature elements of the island’s spectacular landscape.

The market takes place within the island’s UNESCO recognised town-centre, made up of picturesque winding streets and featuring plenty of budget-friendly eateries where you can sample local fare. For foodies, the Christmas market itself serves up a variety of classic Canarian specialties, including bienmesabe (a sweet almond dessert), papas arrugadas with mojo sauce, and festive waffle ice cream. (Or of course you can opt for a cheeky mulled wine in the sunshine).

Plenty of airlines offer direct flights to Tenerife including Ryanair, easyJet, Jet2 and British Airways, but if you’re after something a little different for the festive season, you can find a number of cruises with the likes of Marella Cruises that include a stop in the Canaries.

Chris Hackney, CEO of Marella Cruises, says that Tenerife is quietly becoming one of the most sought after destinations for those looking for a spot of sunshine during the winter.

“Tenerife is known to be the ultimate winter escape, especially near Christmas,” he explained. “As our most popular Cruise & Stay destination, Tenerife has seen a remarkable 29% year-on-year rise, with longer stays booming as 10-night holidays up by 69%, 11-night by 34%, and 14-night by 7%. Even back-to-back cruises in the Canaries are up 17%, proving that more guests than ever are choosing to celebrate the season in the Canarian sun.”

There is one warning for any travellers staying on the island in the wake of Christmas. 28th December is treated a bit like April Fools Day on the Island, with newspapers joining in with locals to prank each other and any gullible tourists, so don’t believe everything you hear and read!

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WHO doesn’t love a Christmas film? They’re cosy, uplifting and of course, full of festivities.

If you want to take your viewing a step further, Trainline has given us the lowdown on journeys to make this season from chocolate-box style village to spots in the capital where famous faces created some of your favourite festive movies.

Love Actually

Telling epic, and sometimes brutal, love stories is the Christmas classic, Love Actually.

Most fans will know that lots of this film starring Emma Thompson, Hugh Grant and Keira Knightley was shot largely in London.

Some iconic spots from the film include Borough Market, and finding the spot where Liam Neeson’s character Daniel has a heart-to-heart with his son Sam (played by Thomas Brodie-Sangster).

The bench is at at Queen’s Walk on Gabriel’s Wharf which looks over the Thames and has independent boutiques, galleries, street food, and restaurants.

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City Hall is where Bill Nighy’s record label was founded, and don’t forget to visit Somerset House.

If you head to Oxford Street you’ll spy Selfridges – the department store where Harry attempts to buy Mia a necklace only to be thwarted by Rowan Atkinson.

You only get a glimpse of it during the film, but it’s a fab festive visit.

At the moment, visitors can step onto the ice with Virgin Skate with tickets from £27.50.

How to get there: Take a train into Waterloo or Blackfriars station and Gabriel’s Wharf is a 10-minute walk.

For City Hall, head to London Bridge station and from there it’s a 10-minute walk. Somerset House is about 15 minutes’ walk from Waterloo station. 

Nativity!

Back in 2009 Nativity! was released and the cast and crew made a big impact in Coventry.

Most notably, the grand finale of the film takes place in the huge Coventry Cathedral.

You can visit the old Coventry Cathedral for free – although they do ask for donations for the upkeep of the historical site.

Also in the city you can visit the Blitz Museum, New Cathedral and incredible Tower Climb up 180 steps.

How to get there: Take a train direct to Coventry station where the ruins are just 15 minutes’ walk away.

The Snowman

It might be an illustrated film, but The Snowman is a classic and there’s some obvious locations throughout the film – particularly in the south.

James and The Snowman fly over the very recognisable Royal Pavilion and Palace Pier.

As most Brits know, Brighton is absolutely thriving with restaurants, cafes, independent shops and plenty to do like visiting Sea Life, LaserZone and the Upside Down House.

How to get tehre: Nearest station: Brighton which has direct trains from London Victoria, Blackfriars and London Bridge.

The Palace Pier is just over 15 minutes’ walk (or a short bus ride) and the Royal Pavilion is just 11 minutes’ walk.

The Holiday

Kate Winslet’s cosy English cottage is a Christmas dream staycation for most of us – but sadly, it doesn’t exist.

However, there are places in the film that you can actually visit if you head to Shere, a village in Surrey.

The picture perfect spot has one church, two pubs, a café – with The White Horse pub which was where Graham (played by Jude Law) and Amanda (Cameron Diaz) had their cosy date.

Guests have raved about the pub, praising both the staff and the food.

One person called it a “quaint old pub full of character” another said they had their “best meal all year”.

You’ll feel the inspiration of Iris’ cottage in the chocolate-box village too and there are plenty of cute places to stop in like the Dabbling Duck tearoom, and sweetshop called Shere Delights.

You can also stop by the town of Godalming which has pretty cobbled lanes and narrow road where Amanda attempts to drive around.

How to get there: The nearest station for Shere is Gomshall, and from there it’s a 15 minute walk to Shere village.

Strolling back to Gomshall, you can take another train onwards to Godalming, which is connected on the London Waterloo line.

Jingle, Jangle: A Christmas Journey

Called a ‘Christmas underdog’ Jingle, Jangle: A Christmas Journey only came out five years ago – but has some great spots to visit in the UK.

The musical adventure follows legendary toymaker Jeronicus Jangle and many of the key scenes were shot in Norwich.

The fictional town of Cobbleton had the backdrop of Elm Hill – a historic, cobbled street known for its medieval half-timbered buildings.

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For a double whammy, and fans of the 2007 film Stardust should known that this film was also filmed in Elm Hill.

How to get there: Take a train to Norwich station, and the picturesque street of Elm Hill is just 14 minutes’ walk away.

There are some well-known Christmas markets dotted across Europe, but there’s one fairytale location that boasts more than 200 stalls and is just two hours from the UK

It’s that time of the year when many of us are turning our attention to booking that famed Christmas market trip for the ultimate yuletide to wander around charming chalets while hugging a warming cup of mulled wine. With thousands dotted across Europe, there’s a catalogue to choose from, but there’s one that offers something rather unique for some festive merriment.

Italy might not spring to mind when you think of Christmas markets, but in fact, it has one of the most magical, nestled in Verona. While the Italian city is famed as the setting for Shakespeare’s play Romeo and Juliet, with its Roman ruins and Renaissance buildings, it welcomes just as much jollity as any other European city, if not more.

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From November 21 to December 28, the Verona Christmas market, located in Piazza dei Signori, graces and dazzles the city with festive charm. More than 200 stalls adorn the square offering traditional gift inspiration, artisan products and seasonal treats in one of Italy’s most beautiful cities.

Christmas trees and glittering lights decorate the market, while the aromas of gingerbread and mulled wine fill the air. Unlike many other European Christmas markets, in Verona, you can even ride a horse-drawn carriage in a truly magnificent experience as you pass illuminated palaces.

Expected to return this year is the incredible star installation at Piazza Bra, which has previously been one of the most iconic sights in the city, and is perfect for a festive snap! The Verona Christmas market takes inspiration from one of the oldest and most famous German markets in Nuremberg, which is said to be the “birthplace of this cherished tradition”.

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It’s the ideal spot for some Christmas shopping, with the charming cabins filled with handmade souvenirs, ceramics, jewellery, soaps, liqueurs, and wooden and wool items. There’s also plenty of flavours to taste, from steaming-hot pearà, creamy sauce served with pork sausage and rustic bread, to sausage sandwiches and German-style bretzels and bratwurst.

There is also an abundance of sweet treats from luxury chocolate, a warming cup of mulled wine, known as vin brulè in Italy, or a refreshing boccale of a craft ale. And a visit here isn’t complete without sampling Verona’s famous Christmas cake, pandoro – a fluffy sweet bread similar to panettone, known as ‘golden bread’, that was created in 1894 by patissier Domenico Melegatti.

In addition to the market, festive celebrations will be spread far and wide in the city with Christmas concerts, theatre and ballet shows, along with an International Exhibition called ‘Nativities from the World’ taking place. There will also be Verona’s Christmas run, New Year’s Eve celebrations in Piazza Bra, and a New Year’s concert, along with fun-packed activities for children, including the House of Santa Claus, the Enchanted Forest, and ice-skating rinks in Piazza Sacco e Vanzetti.

Visitors have praised the Verona Christmas market, as one wrote on TripAdvisor: “I say well hidden because all the tourist maps say it’s there but I eventually found it, and there was a Christmas market going on, and the buildings around it are beautiful – well worth a visit.”

Direct flights from London to Verona start from £20, with the flight duration just under two hours for a festive winter getaway.

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When it comes to European Christmas markets, Germany is famous for their annual holiday tradition as streets are transformed into festive winter wonderlands – but there’s one that is perhaps one of the country’s most famous

Christmas markets have been a long-standing and beloved tradition in Germany, with the country famous for its spectacular festivities that festoon the streets. Berlin alone is said to have more than 60 Christmas markets, but there’s one outside the capital that has often been overlooked, and it’s less than two hours from the UK.

The Nuremberg Christmas market, also known as Christkindlesmarkt, is one of the oldest and most renowned in the world. Each year, traditional wooden chalets, known as “the little city of wood and cloth”, decorate the German city with colourful sparkling lights, and the aroma of gingerbread and Spekulatius almond cookies fills the air.

This Christmas market features around 180 wooden stalls, adorned with red and white tablecloths, offering a diverse range of traditional gifts, from Christmas decorations, handmade wooden figures, glass globes, miniature buildings, alpaca wool socks, jewellery, plant-based body care, homemade honey, and spiced candles.

Furthermore, there’s plenty to choose from for a festive treat, from the famed Nuremberg bratwurst to roast sausages, potato fritters, or a ‘Feuerzangenbowle’, along with red wine and rum punch. Not to mention, the city’s famous sweet treats, including gingerbread, blueberry mulled wine, chocolate gold coins, stollen, and cherry cobbler in a jar.

In addition to the market, numerous events are taking place in the city during the festivities, including live music, Christmas exhibitions, and church services. Next to the Christkindlesmarkt, there’s even a special ‘Christmas City’ specifically tailored for children to enjoy, boasting a two-tiered merry-go-round, a mini Ferris wheel and a steam railway.

There are also mini houses decorated for the yuletide event, where kids can participate in various activities, such as baking and decorating teddy bears or hearts from honey cake dough. The little ones can also write a letter to Santa Claus and send it at the mini post office, or try their hand at candle-making

In its yearly tradition, the opening of the Nuremberg Christmas Market takes place on the Friday before the first day of Advent, as people line the Main Market Square with the sound of trumpets and choir singers filling the air. The Christmas lights will be turned on during the opening, and then, amid the spotlight, the Nuremberg Christkind will recite a famous prologue.

The Nuremberg Christmas Market will run from November 29 to December 24. The opening ceremony will take place at 5.30pm on November 28.

Nuremberg, located in the southwestern part of Germany, is the largest city in Franconia and the second-largest city in the German state of Bavaria, so there’s plenty to explore away from the Christmas market. You can wander through the Old Town, visit the medieval Imperial Castle, and take a guided tour of the city’s underground passages, or soak up the bustling city nightlife.

Direct flights from London to Nuremberg start from £15, with a duration of just 1 hour and 45 minutes. Additionally, you can stay at the Park Plaza Nuremberg hotel, which is conveniently located near the Christmas market, starting from approximately £58 per night.

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Christmas markets are not exactly known for being a budget day out. However, research has pinpointed the cheapest Christmas market in Europe, and it’s in a little-known city not many tourists visit

A day at a Christmas market in the UK can be a pricey undertaking. With reports coming out of traders charging £9.50 for hot chocolate and £8 for bratwurst at Manchester Christmas market, it’s no surprise that people are looking to the continent for more affordable alternatives.

Card terminal provider SumUp has put together a list of Europe’s cheapest Christmas markets, and taking the number one slot is a little-known city in Poland which doesn’t tend to be on most tourist’s radar.

Poznan, the fifth-largest city in Poland, is often overlooked by visitors who flock to Warsaw or Krakow, but its beautiful Renaissance-era old town is the perfect backdrop for a Christmas market, and in the winter it has serious cosy, festive vibes.

Best of all, flights to Poznan take just over two hours from London, and just a few minutes more from regional airports, so you can choose to fly from Birmingham, Bristol, Manchester, or Edinburgh. Flights in December cost as little as £30 each way from London Stansted on Ryanair, and budget airlines such as Wizz Air also cover this route.

According to the data, a one-night stay in Poznan will set you back as little as £30.40, while enjoying a beer at the Christmas market will cost as little as £2.50.

The market, known locally as Betlejem Poznańskie, takes place in Stary Rynek – the Old Town Square, famous for its ornate Renaissance and Baroque-era buildings. It’s particularly beautiful when lit with thousands of Christmas lights, with cosy wooden stalls selling Christmas gifts dotted along the square. There’s also a twinkling Ferris wheel and ice rink to add to the festive atmosphere.

It runs from November 15 to January 6, and in addition to the market stalls and rides, there’s a program of entertainment, including carolers, Christmas shows, silent discos, and opportunities to meet Santa.

From December 12 to 14, the city hosts its annual ice festival, featuring numerous ice sculptures throughout the square. There are also ice carving events, and even workshops where kids can give it a try themselves.

While visiting the city, take a trip to the 10th-century Poznan Cathedral, one of the oldest churches in Poland. This grand cathedral has a unique underground crypt you can visit, which is the resting place of many of the country’s earliest leaders. An unusual attraction in Poznan is the Croissant Museum, which offers interactive shows and exhibitions about the history and process of making St Marin Croissants. Filled with nuts and fruit, these Polish pastries are different to the French delicacies. And don’t worry, there’s a tasting at the end.

It’s also worth visiting the Muzeum Narodowe w Poznaniu, a national museum which includes works from European and Polish artists including Monet and Delaroche.

Poznan has many unique and boutique hotels to choose from. Perhaps the most unusual is Blow Up Hall 5050, a mixture of an art project, stylish hotel, and sci-fi movie. This design hotel has an impressive array of art on display, and If you wander into the public spaces, your face may end up in one of its video installations. The rooms have no numbers or keys, you use an interactive screen to get into your room. But if you enjoy an unconventional hotel experience, it’s a place you might enjoy.

For a more traditional experience, stay at the Hotel Palazzo Rosso Old Town, which is just a few minutes’ walk from the market. This boutique hotel is situated in a historic tenement building and features an on-site cafe and bar, an Italian restaurant, and comfortable rooms with rustic, exposed brickwork that adds to the cosy feel.

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The Spanish island of La Graciosa has no roads or cars, boasts the largest marine reserve in Europe, and is perfect for hiking. Best of all, it’s basking in balmy 22C temperatures this week

If you’re looking for a holiday destination that will let you escape the winter chill, traffic noise and festive stress, then Spanish island La Graciosa, is your ideal getaway. With no cars, Europe’s largest marine reserve, and perfect hiking conditions, it’s a paradise.

Even as we brace ourselves against frosty mornings, La Graciosa enjoys a balmy 22C this week, with its coldest days rarely falling below 16C. Rain is also a rarity, making any time of year perfect for a visit.

One of the unique features of La Graciosa is its lack of traffic, owing to the absence of paved roads. In fact, it’s the only European island without a road, making it the most untouched of all the Canary Islands.

With just a few hundred permanent residents and no mass tourism, the locals travel by bicycle along sandy paths.

From atop the Risco de Famara, La Graciosa appears like a golden mirage amidst the Atlantic: a strip of golden sand, silent and luminous. Its sandy paths and tranquil atmosphere make it the most secluded and serene of the Canary Islands.

In line with its minimalistic approach to tourism, the island offers a small but well-maintained range of accommodation options. These are mainly located in Caleta de Sebo, where guesthouses, apartments and a fully-equipped camping area can be found.

With the limited availability of holiday accommodation, it’s recommended to book well ahead, particularly for summer, Easter, Christmas or during July’s Carmen festivities when the island is buzzing with an unusual festive spirit.

La Graciosa is conveniently located near Europe’s largest marine reserve. Excursions from La Graciosa take you to the islets of the Chinijo Archipelago Marine Reserve, a 70,700-hectare natural sanctuary.

Here, the crystal-clear waters offer a glimpse of the seabed and remote beaches where you can escape from reality. The Marine Reserve is a biological treasure chest, home to a variety of seabirds nesting in its cliffs.

On the nearby islets, a small population of monk seals, largely hunted to extinction elsewhere in the world, still clings on.

Roque del Este houses the Integral Reserve, an area accessible only to scientists where nature continues undisturbed by human interference.

To reach the stunning island of La Graciosa, Brits will need to fly to Lanzarote first, with flights from London as cheap as £39 in December. From there, a 45-minute taxi ride will take you to the port of Orzola, where a short 25-minute ferry ride will transport you to this secluded paradise.

RAIL passengers travelling on a major route can expect delays as planned engineering work gets underway.

Commuters are being advised to plan ahead of the partial line closure, which will affect a busy UK airport.

Essential engineering work is due to be carried out on the Brighton Main Line south of Gatwick Airport on Sunday, November 30.

The scheduled maintenance means no trains will be running between Gatwick, Brighton, Hove, Lewes or Horsham.

Passengers are advised to plan ahead, with buses set to replace services on the closed part of the route.

Planned works

All four tracks in this section are due to be closed as major work gets underway.

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Among Network Rail’s major package of works is the replacement of sections of the track.

This will take place at Tinsley Green Junction near Crawley, at Three Bridges, and between Copyhold Junction and the Ouse Valley viaduct.

Meanwhile, drainage systems at Wivelsfield station will also be renewed and maintenance will also take place at Keymer level crossing and other locations.

According to Network Rail, these improvements are vital to keep services safe and reliable.

Lucy McAuliffe, Network Rail’s Sussex route director spoke to Sussex Express about the planned works.

“We know closing the railway is frustrating, and we are sorry for the disruption this causes,” she said.

“This work is essential for us as we try and prevent speed restrictions or emergency closures occurring in the future, which would cause even bigger delays at these locations and on the wider rail network.”

She went on to thank passengers for their understanding, and advised them to “plan ahead and check before you travel if you are travelling on Sunday, November 30, as your journey will take longer”.

Alternative routes

As well as replacement buses, a diverted Southern train service will run between Brighton and London Victoria calling at Hove, Shoreham-by-Sea, Worthing, Angmering, Littlehampton, Horsham, and Clapham Junction.

Anyone travelling between Brighton and London on the affected date is strongly advised to use this train service rather than the limited replacement bus service.

Passengers are also reminded that travelling by replacement buses on routes between Brighton, Lewes, Haywards Heath, or and Gatwick Airport, they will require a transfer.

Commuters will need to change buses at Three Bridges for a separate shuttle bus service between Three Bridges and Gatwick Airport.

This is due to insufficient space at Gatwick Airport for the required temporary queuing systems.

The Three Bridges station car park will be converted into a temporary bus hub with different queues for buses serving various destinations.

To facilitate this bus hub, the station car park at Three Bridges will be closed from the evening of Saturday, November 29 until early morning Monday, December 1.

Jenny Saunders, customer services director for Govia Thameslink Railway, advised passengers to plan ahead.

“Any of our customers travelling between the coast and Gatwick this Sunday should please take note that this essential work is going to extend their journeys considerably,” she said.

“Please plan ahead at nationalrail.co.uk and check live running information online before you leave for the station.”

Further major works will also take place on the Brighton Main Line over three weekends in January, between Gatwick Airport and Purley and East Croydon.

Branch lines between Reigate and Redhill and Redhill to Tonbridge will also be affected by this work.

And there will be a closure between Three Bridges and Brighton on Sunday, February 1.

Replacement buses will run where trains are not operating, and detailed travel advice about those closures will be shared in December.

More on travel disruptions

Meanwhile, Christmas chaos is expected as train workers announce wave of strikes on four key dates.

British Airways and Ryanair have been forced to cancel flights to two major airports.

And Ryanair is also set to axe all flights to European islands often compared to Hawaii.

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A massive UK train station is shutting for nine days as part of an £8 million “once-in-a-generation” overhaul.

Plus, the UK’s busiest train station will shut for a week over Christmas causing chaos for millions.

The crunch of frost underfoot, lungfuls of crisp fresh air, landscapes sparkling in shafts of sunlight; a good winter walk is one of life’s simple pleasures. We want to hear about where you love to walk at this time of year in the UK. Perhaps it’s a bracing coastal path, a meandering woodland hike or a riverside trail. If there’s a lovely pub or cafe on the route so much the better!

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.

The competition closes on Friday 5 December at 10am GMT

Have a look at our past winners and other tips

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Music fans at Stockholm airport couldn’t believe their eyes when the popstar they were travelling to see boarded the same flight to Helsinki, and she wasn’t even flying first class

Music enthusiasts in Stockholm, Sweden, were left stunned whilst awaiting their flight to Finland after discovering a very special passenger was also waiting to board the same flight.

It’s hardly uncommon for music lovers to journey far and wide to catch their beloved bands and artists performing live. Whether it’s a trip to a neighbouring city, across the country, or to an entirely different country, no distance appears too far for devoted fans, who frequently use concerts as an opportunity to explore new destinations. What they certainly wouldn’t anticipate, though, is bumping into the very artist they’re travelling to see aboard their aircraft.

However this extraordinary scenario unfolded for a group of admirers who were preparing to board their flight from Stockholm, Sweden, travelling across the Baltic Sea to Helsinki in Finland to see Zara Larsson at her upcoming concert.

Sharing on TikTok, one fan posted the clip which captured the incredible moment she was lingering by the departure gate at Arlanda airport in Sweden, only to glance up and spot the pop sensation approaching the very same gate, instantly drawing the focus of numerous fans present, all travelling to attend her performance the next evening.

“Pov you’re flying from Sweden to Finland to see Zara Larsson and Zara Larsson shows up,” the fan wrote in the video’s caption.

The brief footage showed Zara chatting casually with several supporters at the gate, including one fan who spun around in amazement upon hearing the superstar’s distinctive voice behind her.

The TikTok creator then posted some snaps with Zara, who looked stylish in a black fur coat and vibrant pink nails. She chose to travel makeup-free as she was en route to her Helsinki gig scheduled for 26 November.

The video quickly attracted comments from other fans and has been viewed over 478,000 times within the first day of being uploaded on the platform.

“Crazy how she just flies in economy,” one fan commented, while another exclaimed: “Imagine sitting next to Zara on a plane omggg.”

A third fan chimed in: “Personally i wouldve started dancing lush life to get my lush life girl moment.

“How does it feel… to live our dream?” another asked.

Zara Larsson is currently wrapping up the European leg of her Midnight Sun tour, which kicked off in Munich on 28 October, before hitting London on 5 November, followed by Dublin and Manchester. She will then take the tour to the USA and Canada in February 2026.

If you’re planning a Christmas break abroad or visiting family, Ryanair has released helpful tips for transporting your gifts safely to your destination, and you may want to hold off on wrapping them up

Christmas is one of the busiest travel times, and in addition to the surge in traveller numbers, one thing that can hold up security lines and cause issues at airports is the amount of Christmas gifts packed into suitcases.

That’s why Ryanair has put together a guide on how to pack your presents, and included a stark warning about wrapping your gifts before you put them in your suitcase. If you’re planning a Christmas trip and are looking to get your gifts organised, then you might want to heed the budget airline’s advice and avoid wrapping them before you go.

“Don’t spend hours intricately wrapping gifts to carry in your hand luggage. Wrapped gifts may be opened, searched and screened by airport security staff,” a statement from Ryanair read.

Even with technology such as scanners available, airport staff may need to open your suitcase and check certain items, which means your beautiful wrapping paper could be torn off your gifts before you even get them under the tree. Ryanair’s advice, as an alternative, is to pack the unwrapped gifts and bringing a gift bag folded flat in your suitcase, which you can then use when you arrive.

The budget airline also gave advice to festive travellers about carrying valuables, advising them to place expensive or sentimental items in their smaller hand luggage bag, which goes under the seat in front of them. Avoid placing them in checked baggage or your larger cabin bag, as they may end up in the hold if the overhead lockers are full.

There was also a reminder not to carry items that look like weapons in your hand luggage. Avoid buying toy guns or slingshots for the kids in your family, as they can cause issues at security.

Passengers should also wait until they reach their destination to buy Christmas crackers. While they only give a small bang, these items are considered explosives. Party items, including sparklers, party poppers, and fireworks, should also be left at home.

Many people will be buying liquid gifts for loved ones, whether it’s a bottle of perfume, toiletries, or alcohol, so it’s worth checking the liquid rules for your arrival and departure airports. If you’re looking to buy a bottle of whiskey or a posh perfume, it may be worth waiting and getting them in duty-free, as you can then take your shopping bag on the plane with you.

While most UK airports still have the standard 100ml volume limits in place for hand luggage, some destinations, such as Dublin Airport, have relaxed their liquid rules, allowing containers of up to two litres to be carried through.

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And finally, if you’re taking Christmas food with you, remember that items such as jam, preserves, soups, and custard count as liquid, so should be packed into your checked luggage. Check your departure airport’s official website for information and the latest updates to liquid rules.

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HOLIDAYS are set to get more expensive both in the UK and abroad with new tourist tax rules and a rise in Air Passenger Duty.

Regional mayors will be given powers to introduce the levy on overnight stays at hotels, holiday lets and B&Bs, it was announced in today’s budget.

Measures announced in today’s Budget include…

London mayor Sadiq Khan, Liverpool‘s Steve Rotherham and Manchester‘s Andy Burnham have all backed the tourism levy.

But the Tory mayor of Teesside Ben Houchen vowed to shield visitors to his North East region and blasted the idea.

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He told The Sun: “If Labour hands me these powers, I won’t use them.

“People in Teesside and our local businesses are already feeling the squeeze from Labour’s last budget.

“Piling another tax on working people isn’t the answer and won’t drive growth.

“This is yet another cash grab that will hammer the fantastic hospitality businesses we have across Teesside, Darlington and Hartlepool.”

It comes just two months after Tourism Minister Chris Bryant told MPs the government “had no plans to introduce a tourism tax”.

Luke Petherbridge, the Association of British Travel Agent’s (ABTA) Director of Public Affairs said: “ABTA has consistently raised concerns about the cumulative impact of increasing taxes and charges on tourists and tourism businesses, with the UK already applying much higher rates of VAT than many countries and levying the highest air departure tax in the world.

“Against that backdrop, it’s hard to see how a further tax will not simply worsen the UK’s situation when it comes to competitiveness.

“We will be engaging with industry partners to respond to the consultation in the coming weeks.”

Kate Nicholls, Chair of UKHospitality, slammed the move as “another shocking U-turn”.

She added: “I know the Government is worried about the cost of living, but a holiday tax is little more than a higher VAT rate for holidaymakers.”

Yesterday, EasyJet boss Kenton Jarvis warned the Chancellor against imposing a tourist tax across cities in the UK.

The airline chief said it might encourage tourists to go to rival European cities instead, such as Paris or Berlin.

Mr Jarvis said: “Any increase in tax that impacts the competitiveness of the UK visitor economy would not be a good thing.

“Last year, easyJet flew 15 million tourists into the UK and they spent just under £10 billion across the UK economy… so it’s very important to the visitor economy.”

And the cost of holidays abroad is set to go up as well.

The government will increase all rates of Air Passenger Duty (ADP) in line with the rate of inflation from April 1, 2027.

APD is a ‘tax’ on passengers flying from UK airports, built into the price of a flight ticket.

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Ryanair boss Michael O’Leary previously slammed some of the plans to increase the cost of flights.

He warned he would axe hundreds of flights from the UK if APD is increased.

Adventurers listed the freedom to make their own decisions as the top motivation for travelling solo (35%), followed by the peace and relaxation a solo trip offers (33%), ease of planning (21%) and not having to consider the opinions of companions (18%)

Two thirds of British travellers find planning and booking holidays overwhelming, with “decision fatigue” one of the biggest sources of stress – and 56% exhausted by the trip before it even begins.

New research found that much of the tension comes from holiday group chats, with 59% admitting trip planning has caused problems in the past.

Around 25% have given up on a break altogether after a deluge of messages but no decisions.

Causes of arguments included scheduling, budgets, finding and booking hotels and researching destinations and activities, according to the research by Moxy Hotels .

The rise of decision fatigue has helped fuel a growing desire to holiday solo, with 53% ditching travelling companions to travel alone

Adventurers listed the freedom to make their own decisions as the top motivation for travelling solo (35%), followed by the peace and relaxation a solo trip offers (33%), ease of planning (21%) and not having to consider the opinions of companions (18%).

Sandra Schulze-Potgieter, vice president, premium, select & midscale brands, Europe, Middle East & Africa at Marriott International, said: “At Moxy Hotels, we understand that decision-making can be exhausting – especially when planning with a group.

“That’s why we’re championing the joy of solo travel: giving guests the freedom to do what they want, when they want, without compromise. With our playful design, social spaces, and hassle-free experience, Moxy makes me-time feel anything but lonely.

The global hotel brand has developed spaces specifically designed to encourage solo travel, including social public areas, lounges and libraries and its “small but smart” bedrooms.

Britain’s favourite solo travel destinations

From buzzy breaks to cultural classics, we’re embracing solo travel and going it alone. These are the top ten cities we love to explore without family or friends in tow.

1. Paris (25%)
2. London (21%)
3. Barcelona (21%)
4. Amsterdam (17%)
5. Dublin (15%)
6. Athens (12%)
7. Vienna (11%)
8. Copenhagen (10%)
9. Berlin (10%)
10. Lisbon (10%)

THERE are many vibrant seaside towns across the UK – but these ones have got some huge upgrades for next year.

VisitEngland has revealed what we can expect from big events to reopened hotels and brand new thrilling attractions.

Hull

Hull is set to be popular next year after the city was named one of ‘best places in the world to travel to in 2026’ by National Geographic.

This is mostly thanks to its ongoing project to conserve its maritime history.

Since 2020, the Maritime Museum has been undergoing a huge revamp worth £11million, but it will finally reopen to the public next year.

This has been part of a wider £27.5 million project to promote Hull’s maritime history which has gone into restoring the museum and ships.

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The Hull Maritime Museum will reopen in spring 2026 with new exhibits which explore its 800 year history.

When it reopens, you can expect to see a ship model of maritime art and a 40-foot whale skeleton.

The city also has its own showbiz trail for tourists, a famous and very big minster as well as an interactive dinosaur museum.

Morecambe

The seaside town of Morecambe will be celebrating in 2026 as it will mark the 100th birthday of Eric Morecambe.

The comedian grew up in the town and he took his stage name from it and celebrations with a comedy extravaganza in his honour will start in May next year.

Meanwhile in January, Morecambe will host The Bay International Film Festival with live cinema screenings and awards.

One of the major focuses of the festival will be ‘Stories Beyond Borders’ – a competition to choose the best ‘visually captivating and thought-provoking short films from around the world’.

The festival will run from January 23 to February 1, 2026.

Blackpool

Of course Blackpool is renowned for its Pleasure Beach theme park and this year marks its 130th birthday.

Next year, the attraction is set to open its new Aviktas “gyro swing” ride: a giant spinning pendulum.

It will be first of its kind in the UK and will stand at 138 feet.

The ride will feature a giant spinning pendulum that will swing 120 degrees and seat 40 riders at a time.

Riders’ legs will dangle giving them the feeling of flying.

There are other swinging pendulum rides in the UK already, but Blackpool‘s will tower higher.

The town’s Royal Carlton Hotel will also be restored to its former glory in a multi-million pound refurbishment.

It sits on the beachfront and has been closed since last year for the upgrades which will be to all 40 rooms, as well as the bar and restaurant.

Folkestone

In the Kent coastal town of Folkestone, the heritage Leas Lift cliff railway will reopen in spring of 2026.

The Grade II listed funicular railway first opened in 1885 and is one of the only three remaining water-balanced cliff lifts in the UK.

It has been closed since 2017, but will reopen next year so locals and tourists will be able to ride between the seafront and promenade.

There will also be a new café and community space in the Lower Station, and experience fresh exhibitions telling the story of this unique piece of seaside heritage.

Southport

Southport is having a year of entertainment as the historic seaside town is hosting a year-long programme of circus, theatre, art and music performances.

In February the town will hold Lightport – an immersive light and sound installation which will cast rainbows across the town.

At the beginning of April will be Cristal Palace where the world-renowned French street theatre company Transe Express will bring its spectacular show Cristal Palace to Lord Street .

There’s a 15-metre-wide flying chandelier – and the street will transform into an open air ballroom with live music, aerial performances and dance.

The Big Top Festival will see the circus take over Southport and you can watch this happen in May 2026.

There will be juggling performances, performances on open-air stages, live music and workshops.

In October will be Books Alive! a literature festival with a twist as storytelling comes to life with live performances and author-led workshops.

It’s during half-term so children can go along and enjoy their favourite novels in real-time.

All events are completely free for locals and tourists to visit.

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For more seaside towns – find out the favourites of the Sun Travel team that are less than 90 minutes from London with Banksy art and award-winning beaches.

And discover the English seaside town that’s better in autumn with London-worthy restaurants and new hotels.

Make sure to pack some patience in your carry-on.

This Thanksgiving holiday travel period is expected to be the busiest in 15 years, federal officials said, as Americans brush off the recent government shutdown that snarled air travel across the country.

All told, more than 360,000 flights will take to the skies this week through Dec. 1, according to the Federal Aviation Administration.

Traffic was expected to have peaked Tuesday, with more than 52,000 flights set to ferry flyers to their feasts.

The number of flights was expected to drop to only 25,611 on Thanksgiving Day before ticking back up for post-holiday travel. In a chart posted on X, the U.S. Department of Transportation estimated that 16.9 million people would fly throughout this holiday week.

Los Angeles International Airport officials estimated that 2.5 million travelers would come through the airport from Nov. 20 through Monday. Sunday is expected to be the single busiest travel day, with more than 230,000 people making their way through the terminals.

“Thanksgiving is one of LAX’s most important travel periods with so many of our guests connecting with loved ones or setting out on holiday trips,” said Courtney Moore, deputy executive director of strategy, innovation and experience at Los Angeles World Airports. “We’ve spent the year preparing to welcome our guests with smoother experiences throughout the airport.”

The uptick in travel comes just weeks after the federal government shutdown, which forced the FAA to cut air traffic across the country to relieve air traffic controllers.

While travelers might still feel on edge over possible delays, FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford said in a news conference on Monday that they should “travel with confidence.”

“Thanks to the dedication of our air traffic controllers and every FAA employee, we are ready for the holiday rush and take pride in helping travelers reach their friends and families during this important time of year,” Bedford said in a statement. “I am deeply grateful to our entire FAA team. Even through a period of record-high traffic, their unwavering commitment keeps the system running safely.”

Travelers are encouraged to pack light to get through security and arrive early to the airport to avoid travel stress.

While California will largely be warm and sunny through the holiday, weather delays could still impact airports in certain parts of the country, including the New York area, JFK/LGA/EWR; Philadelphia, PHL; Houston, IAH/HOU; Memphis, Tenn., MEM; and Dallas, DFW/DAL.

A Southeast Asian nation has leapt from 33rd place in 2018 to become the world’s most populous city, surpassing Tokyo and Dhaka with a staggering population of almost 42 million in 2025

Jakarta, the capital of Indonesia, has soared 32 places to become the world’s most populous city, with more than 40 million residents. The Southeast Asian metropolis has jumped from 33rd place in 2018 to the top spot in a new United Nations report ranking the world’s most populous cities.

Overtaking Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh (in second place with nearly 37 million people) and Tokyo, Japan (third with 33 million), Jakarta boasts an impressive population of almost 42 million in 2025. Intriguingly, all but one of the top ten cities are in Asia, with Cairo, the capital of Egypt, being the exception at seventh place.

The report also emphasises that more than half of the world’s 33 megacities (defined as having 10 million or more inhabitants) are located in Asia. The other cities making up the top ten include New Delhi, the capital of India (with 30.2 million), Shanghai, China (29.6m), Guangzhou, China (27.6m), Manila, Philippines (24.7m), Kolkata, India (22.5m), and Seoul, South Korea (22.5m), according to NBC News.

So where exactly is Jakarta?

Jakarta is the capital of Indonesia, a sprawling Southeast Asian nation nestled between the Indian and Pacific Oceans, made up of thousands of unique islands – reportedly more than 17,000 in total.

Indeed, Indonesia boasts so many islands that authorities have never managed to count them all or assign names to each one, according to the BBC. The capital, Jakarta, sits on Java, the world’s most populous island with an extraordinary 150 million inhabitants.

The Ring of Fire

Located between Sumatra to the east and the tourist hotspot of Bali to the west, Java is dotted with 129 active volcanoes across the Indonesian archipelago, according to Sky News.

Indonesia sits within the Pacific Ring of Fire, a series of volcanoes and areas of seismic activity that line the Pacific Ocean. Java’s Mount Semeru actually erupted just this month.

Life in the capital

A bustling metropolis in Java’s west, Jakarta is “sometimes overlooked” by visitors exploring the island’s stunning historical sites, according to Lonely Planet, but they’re “missing out”.

The travel guide praised the capital’s food scene and coffee, its museums, art galleries and historic quarter, describing it as offering “exciting” nightlife and some of the “best shopping” across Southeast Asia.

Highlights include Old Jakarta, featuring the cobblestone square of Taman Fatahillah, Merdeka Square, the Museum Nasional, Glodok (the city’s Chinatown), and more than 150 shopping malls.

What’s the weather like?

It also noted that the city suffers from congested roads and smog and is both hot and humid throughout the year. Average temperatures reportedly range from 23°C to 33°C.

What type of food can I expect?

The menu boasts traditional Indonesian dishes, such as the fried rice dish nasi goreng, alongside more localised meals — perhaps babi guling (a roast pig dish from Bali) or seafood inspired by the island of Sulawesi.

Migrationology notes two common types of street food: Warung (small restaurants) and Pedagang kaki lima (street vendors).

Other culinary delights spotlighted by the website include Nasi uduk (rice cooked in coconut milk), a soup called Soto Betawi, Woku, Sop kaki kambing (a soup made with goat), and the grilled fish dish Ikan bakar.

IF you’re looking for a winter getaway that really won’t break the bank, then look no further than this Bulgarian town.

The experts at hoppa analysed dozens of European locations to find the most budget-friendly depending on factors like cost of a hotel and possibly what matters most to Brits – the average price of a pint.

Coming in second place, but having the cheapest price of pints of all of them was Bansko in Bulgaria.

The town is two hours away from the capital of Sofia and is known for its ski resorts and a beautiful mountain landscape.

In the pretty Bulgarian destination, hoppa found the average cost of a pint to be just 90p.

Some of the highest rated bars include Pirin 75 which has been praised for its cocktails, and the Happy End Bar which one visitor described as a “cracking apres ski bar”.

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Other affordable aspects include a stay in a 3-star hotel which averages out at £57.

Sun Travel found a five-night stay between December 15-20 at the Hotel Tanne in Bansko works out at just £47.60 per person per night.

The four-star hotel is found at the foot of the Pirin Mountains and is perfect for skiers as it’s 300 metres from the gondola lift.

Rooms have mountain views and guests can relax at the on-site spa centre which has a hot mineral water pool, salt room, herb sauna, an outdoor Japanese bath and a pool with hydro beds and water cannons.

There’s also a gym, café, Viennese lounge and piano bar.

If skiing is the type of holiday you’re after, then Bansko is a great option as it came in third in the Post Office Travel Money Ski Report 2025.

It’s even become cheaper and moved from sixth to third place after a 2.8 per cent drop in costs.

In the study, the average cost of a six-day ski pass and ski/boot hire for one person plus ski school (five-six half days), a range of drinks and lunch on the slopes cost £572.14 in Bansko.

Whereas in the likes of Cervinia, La Thuile and Sestriere in Italy all costs came in at over £700.

The most expensive was in Zermatt in Switzerland which came in at £1,345.76pp.

Away from the slopes, other popular activities in Bansko include trekking up Vihren, exploring Pirin Street, visiting the Neofit Rilski Museum and Velyanova House.

The one downside to Bansko is that it doesn’t have an airport.

However, the closest one is in Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria where flights in December are as little as £16.

Certain places like Hotel Tanne will supply airport shuttles with journeys taking around two hours.

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For more European breaks on a budget, check out these five holidays that are cheaper than a UK train fare – with £2 prosecco and stunning beaches.

And find out our travel team’s favourite affordable Europe holidays including hidden islands, quiet beach towns and cheap cities.

Here are the best budget getaways in Europe…

Here’s the full list of the cheapest breaks in Europe from hoppa

1. Prague, Czech Republic
2. Bansko, Bulgaria
3. Sofia, Bulgaria
4. Budapest, Hungary
5. Tallinn, Estonia
6. Krakow, Poland
7. Tirana, Albania
8. Belgrade, Serbia
9. Bratislava, Slovakia
10. Vilnius, Lithuania

In 1958, the Christmas on Euclid Avenue Committee, sponsored by the Assn. of Commerce and Industry (later renamed the Ontario Chamber of Commerce), embarked on holiday programs “that would bring back a traditional respect, and meaning for the celebration of Christmas,” including the construction of 12 illuminated scenes depicting the nativity and life of Jesus with life-sized wood figures carved by Mexican immigrant sculptor Rudolph Vargas.

Today, the holiday celebration includes a blend of old and the new, with the 12 historic nativity scenes, which visitors can experience through an online history, and more modern light shows such as the annual Holiday Light Parade, tree lighting ceremony and drone show at Ontario Town Square on Dec. 6, which includes cookie decorating and visits with Santa.

Date: The historic nativity scenes are on display from Nov. 27 through Jan. 1 along Euclid Avenue. The Holiday Light Parade & Tree Lighting is Dec. 6 from 6:30 to 9 p.m. A menorah procession is scheduled for Dec. 21 at 6:30 p.m. at Ontario Town Square.

Admission: Free.

TUI is launching holidays to a beach city that was once the capital.

Zadar, in Croatia, was the former capital of Dalmatia, and is now a popular seaside city break.

And TUI has added Zadar to its city break programme, which will mean Brits can book hotel and flight packages with the tour operator.

The packages will include flights with easyJet and Ryanair, flying from nine airports.

This includes London Gatwick and Manchester as well as Birmingham and Edinburgh.

Trips on offer can range from three nights to 14 nights.

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While Split and Dubrovnik are some of Croatia‘s busiest cities, Zadar is also worth a visit.

Not only does it often have highs of 28C in summer, but it is cheap too – beers can be found for around £2.30.

There is also the famous Sea Organ, which plays music powers by waves as well as light shows at night.

TUI has excursions such as waking tours or trips to the nearby National Parks.

TUI’s Commercial Director Chris Logan said: “We’re excited to introduce Zadar to our growing city break programme.

“It’s a destination that truly has it all, with a stunning coastline, rich history, and authentic Croatian culture around two and a half hours from the UK.

“Whether you’re exploring the Old Town, relaxing on nearby beaches or enjoying a sunset boat tour, Zadar is the perfect choice for customers looking for an alternative spot on the Adriatic Coastline.”

Some of the holidays on offer include five night and return flights from £520.

The Sun’s Alex Goss recently visited Zadar.

He said; “For our final meal, we headed to restaurant Kornat in Zadar, one of the best in the town that offers seafront Croatian dining at its finest, with black tie service and an impeccable local wine list.

“We had seabass roll stuffed with shrimp cream, tuna steak with a spinach and wasabi sauce and beef carpaccio with homemade dough cones stuffed with cottage cheese from the island of Pag.

Just make sure you’re not too hungover to tackle Zadar’s mind-bending Museum of Illusion the next day.”

Zadar is also a great spot for island hopping across Croatia.

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There is Silba, home to just 150 people were cars are banned.

It takes three hours by ferry to reach Silba from Zadar, with tickets costing £4.

MORE flights have been cancelled today amid a nationwide strike abroad.

The walk out across Belgium is following the new plans introduced by the country’s prime minister to reduce the debt.

Brussels Airport confirmed they have cancelled 110 of the 203 incoming flights today.

This is in addition to the departing flights already axed due to the strike.

The remaining 93 incoming flights will still go ahead.

In a statement yesterday, Brussels Airport confirmed: “Due to the national industrial action on Wednesday 26 November in which the staff of the security and handling service provider is participating, we unfortunately expect major disruptions to our airport operations on that day.”   

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Major airports axe ALL flights tomorrow affecting hundreds of Brit passengers

Hundreds of Brits will be affected by the cancellations as airlines including BA and Ryanair operate flights.

British Airways has cancelled all of its London Heathrow to Brussels flights.

And Ryanair has cancelled all of their flights to Brussels Charleroi which affects routes from Manchester and Edinburgh.

Flights between Manchester and Brussels that are operated by Brussels Airlines have also been cancelled.

Brussels Charleroi Airport also said in a statement: “Due to the national day of action planned for Wednesday 26 November by a united front of trade unions and the lack of staff available to ensure safe operations, Charleroi Airport will not be able to operate scheduled departures and arrivals.

“Passengers scheduled to fly via Charleroi on November 26 will be contacted in the coming days by their airline for a rebooking or refund.”

Antwerp and Ostend-Bruges airports are fully operating stick.

It’s not just flights affected, as Eurostar travel has also been affected.

A number of trains between Paris and Belgium have been cancelled or delayed this week.

They told passengers: “Please keep an eye on our live train info page which we’ll update as soon as we know the strike impacts our timetable.

“Public transport and domestic train traffic could be disrupted. If you have a connecting journey, please check for travel updates with the relevant carrier ahead of your trip.

“You may need to allow extra time for your journey.”

Ferries and domestic trains are also being affected and cancelled.

Milo Boyd went to check out if £55 for a room at one of the 55 Spoons hotels that are dotted across the UK is good value, or if the price point really is too good to be true

Love it or loathe it, Spoons is a British institution.

The mega-chain has around 800 joints across the UK and raked in £2 billion last year. Everything from its unique-to-the-venue 70s-inspired carpets to its weirdly cheap drinks, from its very outspoken CEO Tim Martin to its ability to buy up grand Victorian buildings and turn them into drinking dens, is etched into the British psyche.

But what you might not know, and what I didn’t, is that Spoons not only runs hotels, but has been doing so since 1998. Its first venue, in Shrewsbury, had 22 rooms for customers as well as the better-known drinking side of the business. Since then, 54 other Spoons Hotels have opened.

Put off by Mr. Martin’s intervention in British politics and the idea that it’s out-competing independent boozers with its mass buying power, in recent years, my trips to Spoons have been limited to bouts of airport necessity and, occasionally, using its bathrooms without buying anything. However, after its hotel was judged to be the most affordable in the country by Which? earlier this month, I decided to put past gripes behind me and give it a go.

On a cold Wednesday in November, I turned up at Thomas Ingoldsby in Canterbury, freezing and bedraggled following a long bike ride from Broadstairs. What I experienced warmed my chilly cockles and turned my view of Spoons on its head.

The offering is, quite simply, incredible. Here is the breakdown:

Price

Clearly price is a strong point in Spoons pubs, and the same is true in its hotels. In the Which? survey it was one of only two hotels to score 4* for value for money, the other being the overall winner, Coaching Inn Group. While Coaching’s average room rate is £128 a night, Spoons charges just £70 on average. A double room at the Thomas Ingoldsby, booked for next Wednesday, is just £55.

I tucked into a £2.99 veggie breakfast in the morning after an evening of £1.89 pints of ale. Both were pretty good. Maybe it’s been too long since I ventured outside the M25, but those prices just seemed absurdly low. In 2025, when stepping outside alone seems to rob you of at least £20, the budget friendliness of this experience was by far the most significant factor.

Vibe

Before my hotel stay, the last time I ventured into a Spoons had me wander into the cavernous and eerily quiet Coronet on London’s Holloway Road. The difference in vibe could not have been more stark on this particular frosty Wednesday night in Canterbury. The drinkers were out in full force in East Kent. University students, groups of jolly OAPs, lone men reading books and eating onion rings. All of life was there.

The hotel rooms are a short flight of stairs from the pub, which means you can easily stumble up at the end of it all or treat yourself to a deli wrap and chips in the bath. A member of staff told me it is possible to rent out a room spur of the moment, although overly drunk guests may be refused.

The room

The room itself was pretty faultless. I’ve been to a lot of budget hotels in my time, and this one was up there with the best of them. The (likely) worst-case scenario when staying at the lower price-range establishments is furniture that’s falling apart, a room that feels dirty and bedbug traces. The best case is a room in which everything feels well looked after, new or new enough, clean and well considered. The Ingoldsby delivered all of that, while having double rooms that were comfortably big enough for an impromptu last-orders party (although I imagine such things aren’t encouraged or allowed).

The room also had a large desk with a well-stocked tea tray, a sizeable TV and a view of Canterbury Cathedral I suspect few hotels in the city could compete with. Only two of the Ingoldsby’s rooms have that view. Not only do those on the other side of the hotel not look out onto the seat of Anglicanism, they’re a little disturbed by morning lorry movements, I was told. If you can bag it, room 110 is the one to get.

After a long, cold day of cycling across Kent, I was happy to discover the thermostat could be turned all the way up to 25 C, and delivered on that promise. It was like being on holiday.

What’s included

Sadly, Spoons hotel does not have an all-inclusive package. Who knows what mania would break loose after that many bottles of Hooch and triple-cooked chips. But the actual offering is not meagre.

Decent Wi-Fi, a couple of packets of biscuits, fresh towels, two bottles of water and enough tea, coffee and hot chocolate sachets to keep you going before check-out at 11. A morning bite is not included, but with breakfasts that cheap, it didn’t seem worth complaining about.

In conclusion

A friend’s wise dad once told me that Spoons is the closest thing to a real social institution that this country has left. As nightclubs go under and members’ societies close, there are fewer and fewer places for people to meet. Spoons might be one of the last remaining true third spaces we have left in the UK, where all sorts from all demographics want to go. And now that it’s delivering rooms this good and cheap as well, it’s even harder to deny its pull.