hotel

If you’re checking into a hotel room, there’s one item I recommend you should always avoid, and I’m not talking about the kettle and mugs, but something else entirely

Tapping my keycard onto my hotel room door always leaves me filled with anticipation, excitiment and dread. Lurking behind that door, I know there will be an unwanted item waiting for me on arrival, and it’s something everyone should avoid.

Having previously worked as a hotel receptionist for several years, I gained a few useful insights into the hospitality industry and how it really unravels behind the scenes. From how upgrades really work and the hidden costs of the mini bar, to getting a cheaper rate and handling awkward guest requests, it was a very valuable experience.

Today, it helps me with my own trips, particularly after witnessing just how hotel rooms are cleaned. And let me tell you, those decorative pillows scattered on the bed and the perfectly placed bed throw are not what you want to see in your hotel room.

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From my years working in a hotel, I rarely, if ever, saw hotel decorative pillow covers, blankets, or bed throws washed. Perhaps they got a quick spritz of air freshener or a gentle dusting, but there they sat, still unwashed and covered in other guests’ germs and grime.

So now, without fail and on every room check-in, I will grab the decorative cushions and bedspread and toss them into a corner of the room, never to be handled again for the rest of my stay.

It’s not just in budget hotels that I take this course of action. Even if it’s a luxurious four-star hotel with rave reviews, I will avoid those pillows, throws and blankets like the plague. And if that wasn’t enough of a precaution, I will ensure I flip over the bed pillow that the decorative pillow was touching to avoid any cross-contamination.

While it might seem a little drastic and take me back to that time where anti-bac and toilet roll sold out in shops, I can’t shake the feeling of dirty pillows and throws in a hotel room that other people have used. Once you’ve worked at a hotel and witnessed the other side of hospitality, it opens your eyes for better, and for worse.

Yet, that’s not the only feature of a room I advised you to avoid. The mugs are also problematic. Now, I’m not saying this is the case at every hotel, but more often or not, the mugs are not thoroughly washed before the next guest’s arrival.

On more than one occasion, I’ve witnessed housekeepers rinsing the mugs out in the bathroom sink, wiping them with a cloth, and simply placing them back on the table. While it removes coffee or tea dregs, it doesn’t quite cut it for washing a mug used by guests repeatedly.

As part of my personal check-in routine, in addition to ditching pillows and throws, I’ll always boil the kettle to rinse the mugs and glassware out with hot water as a precaution. I’ll also use a little hand soap. I’m not going to be that guest who demands a fresh mug and glass just in case they haven’t been washed up; a simple home sterilisation is enough to put my mind at ease.

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The medieval town boasts cobbled streets, Tudor architecture and rich history – including the reportedly ‘haunted’ Inn that dates all the way back to 1420

Preserved precisely as it was during mediaeval times, this picture-perfect town boasts a rich history, which is vividly displayed through its stunning architecture.

Nestled in East Sussex, Rye is a hilltop town featuring cobbled streets, charming buildings and a deeply-rooted history. Many buildings remain untouched to preserve their original character, serving as key attractions for the town’s tourism and heritage.

Just two hours from London, this scenic destination isn’t quite a seaside location, but it’s near enough to provide the perfect stopping point between your journeys to the coast.

Indeed, over the years the town has shifted further inland, due to changing coastlines, and whilst no longer on the waterfront, it was once home to a bustling port, now reclaimed by nature.

During mediaeval times, when the town was firmly established with its layout and architecture, it served as a major seaport and ‘cinque port’, which helped to protect against French invasions.

Today it provides the ideal day trip with independent shops, boutique hotels, delicious food spots, and historical landmarks.

Mermaid Street

This charming high street in Rye is frequently described as one of the most attractive in the entire country, with beautifully constructed buildings positioned along a delightful cobbled lane.

One visitor said on TripAdvisor: “A very quaint cobblestone street from the early mediaeval times; some of the buildings were outstanding and well worth a visit and walk up the hill.”

Another visitor commented: “Mermaid Street was definitely one of the highlights of our trip to Rye, and I recommend you set aside at least half an hour to explore this stunning street and take some great photos.”

This charming lane features timber-framed houses from centuries past, many of which enjoy protected status to preserve their historical significance.

Several of the properties, for instance, display plaques bearing distinctive names, including The House with Two Front Doors and The House Opposite, and tourists frequently stop to take photographs outside them.

Whilst it remains a picturesque, Instagram-worthy spot today, it was previously quite the opposite, regarded as one of the town’s most deprived areas. An 1891 census showed it had a notorious reputation as a rat-infested street where more than 70 children crammed into cramped homes, generating a chaotic environment in the locale.

Situated at the very centre of the road, and believed to have given the street its name, is the Mermaid Inn, a hotel that’s been described as one of Britain’s most haunted.

Haunted Hotel

Spanning more than 600 years, this establishment, which offers bed and breakfast accommodation, is a genuine historical treasure, complete with spine-chilling tales to match.

The Mermaid Inn boasts cellars originating from 1156, whilst the structure itself dates to 1420, providing an authentic step back in time for guests and day-trippers alike.

With its sloping ceilings, creaking floorboards and labyrinth of staircases, the building is brimming with character and has been modernised to accommodate an excellent restaurant and two bars, alongside a spacious patio.

For visitors not planning an overnight stay, exploring indoors remains an option. Fortunately, on the final Sunday of each month the proprietor provides a guided tour through the historic rooms as you journey back through the centuries.

After visiting the hotel, one guest said: “We have stayed at the Mermaid Inn a few times before and have never been disappointed. If you go to Rye, you really have to stay at The Mermaid.

“As soon as you walk into this place, you feel the atmosphere of its history, a real step back in time, a time to leave the fast pace of life behind as you enjoy this wonderful place, a feeling of privilege of actually staying there.”

Yet it has a reputation of another kind entirely, thanks to its considerable age, having witnessed countless visitors pass through its doors, while others seemingly refuse to depart, as their spirits linger on.

Multiple rooms are believed to harbour various ghosts, each with their own unique tales, and some guests actively request these particular rooms for precisely that reason.

Take Room 19, the Hawkhurst room, where a guest once reported encountering a gentleman perched on her bed, dressed in period attire. Meanwhile, Room 1 is haunted by a lady in white, or grey, who prefers to sit in a chair beside the fireplace – her favoured haunting location.

In fact, their website catalogues every spectre said to inhabit its premises and the tales that have evolved over time as guests continue to report eerie encounters during their stay. One such instance is tied to room 10, with Fleur De Lys.

The website reveals: “Several years ago, a bank manager and his wife were awakened to find a man walking through their bathroom wall and across the centre of the room. They were so frightened that they spent the rest of the night downstairs in one of the lounges and made the porter bring all their luggage downstairs, plus their clothes.”

Alex Polizzi made a return to our TV screens and helped a family transform their budget bed and breakfast

The Hotel Inspector’s Alex Polizzi was quick to issue an ultimatum to some hotel owners as she spotted a big problem. During Thursday’s (March 19) episode of the Channel 5 hit show, Alex was in the sprawling commuter town of Horley, to check into Gatwick Turret.

The budget bed and breakfast is run by 62-year-old Ram, 61-year-old Anj and their 37-year-old son, Rai. The 10-bedroomed Victorian guest house is just a mile down the road from Gatwick Airport, where over 250,000 flights carry up to 46 million passengers every year.

It seems like a great location for a hotel as a lot of people will be needing somewhere to stay before or after their getaways. However there is a lot of competition as Gatwick Turret is one of over 100 hotels, including big chain brands, fiercely vying for their business.

As the hotel owners wrestle with high overheads in a highly competitive market, the family have no choice but to run the hotel almost single-handedly to keep staffing costs down.

And Rai has a lot on his hands as the running of the hotel has recently been passed down to him and it’s all on him to turn things around for Mum and Dad and find a way of making a profit.

Alex knew she had a lot to do to help transform the hotel as she found mismatched décor and too many running costs. And before she could even get stuck in she was quick to spot a problem as she discovered that despite their hard work, the business is barely breaking even and the family are struggling to pay themselves.

Alex asked: “Tell me about what it cost you to put on a room?” Rai explained: “Each room costs around £4.20 for the linen. The tea, coffee tray, a bottle of water…”

Before he could finish his sentence, Alex jumped in: “It’s expensive water. I wouldn’t put a very expensive bottle of water in the room. So what does it cost?” Rai continued: “£3.20.”

Alex explained: “Adding to cost per room are roughly £6 on housekeeping, £9 towards the £350,000 pound mortgage, £24 on utilities and taxes and £9 commission for those pesky online booking sites.”

She continued: “So, the grand total of that, my dears, is £56. Lucky lucky you, all this work and all this headache and you’re making a profit of about £4 a night per year – not quite enough for retirement.”

Alex admitted: “There is obviously a problem.” She then asked: “Do you pay yourselves? Rai revealed: “A £1,000 each.” It was clear Alex was stunned as she gasped: “A £1,000 each a month. Gosh darling, I mean, I’m surprised the government allows it, you’re not even making minimum wage.”

Alex gave the owners an ultimatum as she later added: “So we either need to make more money or sell it off.”

After an intense few days of renovations and small changes, Alex managed to help the family turn things around and business seems to be heading in the right direction as Rai revealed that they are now making an extra £140 a week with their breakfast room and they managed to get some positive press.

You can stream The Hotel Inspector on Channel 5

IN A new twist in the Beckham family feud, it has been revealed how Brooklyn “lay by an LA pool just metres from dad David’s hotel room”, as they avoided seeing each other in the US.

The Sun were first to reveal how the estranged father and son were staying near to each other in America earlier this week.

We revealed on Monday, how David, 51, was in LA to shoot a commercial, after spending time with middle son Romeo, 23, skiing in Canada.

On Sunday night he checked into the Beverly Hills Hotel, which wasn’t far from where son Brooklyn, 27, and his wife Nicola, 31, were spotted at Sir Elton John’s Aids Foundation Oscars viewing party.

But in a new twist that has just emerged, it has been revealed that both David and Brooklyn were “just metres from each other” on two occasions at the five-star hotel.

It came when Brooklyn was spotted at his dad’s five-star hotel on Monday morning for breakfast after Elton’s Oscars party, according to the Daily Mail.

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David, had reportedly only just left the hotel to film five miles away in Santa Monica to record an advertisement for Lays crisps.

Insiders then said, Brooklyn stayed at the hotel all day to enjoy a “chill day by the pool“, and was seen sunbathing at around 3pm. close to where his dad’s room was.

Just three hours later David arrived for dinner at the hotel’s famous Polo Lounge restaurant at 6pm.

This means there were two occasion where the estranged father and son could have seen each other.

A source told the Mail: “David was totally in the dark about where Brooklyn was and had no idea that he had just missed him, not just once, but twice.

“Brooklyn was with Elton when David arrived to check in on Sunday night, didn’t get there before David left on Monday morning and then had gone before he arrived back.

“There is absolutely no contact between Brooklyn and his parents and there hasn’t been for some time, it is desperately sad but that is how Brooklyn has chosen to live his life with Nicola.

“Brooklyn also probably had no idea that his father was staying in a room just yards away from where they were having their breakfast.”

The insider added: “David looked like he was having a great time when he was at dinner, you wonder if that would have been different if he had known he had missed his son.”

Meanwhile, a source told The Sun earlier this week: “David was in Los Angeles for a new ad campaign, but given Brooklyn’s decision to cut off his family, there was no meeting between them.

“David had just come back from a skiing trip with Romeo and friends in Canada when he flew to Los Angeles for work.

“Brooklyn would have just been miles away from him in the house he shares with Nicola.”

The Sun first revealed last year how Brooklyn had cut off his family.

In October, insiders confirmed that the eldest Beckham boy had no interest in making amends with his family.

By January, he was communicating with them through lawyers.

Days later, Brooklyn released a bombshell statement confirming the story.

He went on to make allegations against his family, including claiming fashion designer Victoria, 51, had “hijacked” his first dance with Nicola at their wedding in 2022.

As well as cutting off his famous parents, Brooklyn is no longer in contact with his brothers Romeo and Cruz, 21, and sister Harper, 14, after blocking them on social media.

No group has claimed responsibility for the attacks, which took place amid the escalating Israel-US war on Iran.

A prominent hotel in central Baghdad’s heavily fortified Green Zone was struck by a drone, amid reports that Iraqi air defences intercepted an attack over the United States Embassy.

The strike on Monday evening hit the top floor of Al-Rasheed Hotel, causing damage but no casualties, according to two Iraqi security officials cited by The Associated Press (AP) news agency.

No group has claimed responsibility for the attack.

Security sources told the Reuters news agency that two Katyusha rockets had been intercepted that evening near the US Embassy in the Green Zone, which houses diplomatic missions as well as international institutions and government offices.

Earlier Monday, the Iran-backed Kataib Hezbollah announced that Abu Ali Al-Askari, a prominent security official with the paramilitary group, had been killed, without giving details on the circumstances.

Kataib Hezbollah is one of the largest groups in the Popular Mobilisation Forces (PMF) operating in Iran, which was founded in 2014 to stop lightning advances by ISIL (ISIS).

On the same day, AP reported that six PMF fighters were killed in a strike on a checkpoint in western Iraq’s Anbar province, and two others were killed in a separate strike on the headquarters of a PMF brigade in the same area.

Two Iraqi security officials told AP that the Majnoon oilfield in Iraq’s southern Basra province was targeted by two drones. No casualties were reported, and it was not immediately clear if there was damage to the facilities.

Iraq’s oil industry has been severely impacted by the US and Israel’s war on Iran and Iran’s closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a vital oil trading corridor.

Iraqi Minister of Oil Hayan Abdul-Ghani said in a video statement on Monday that a pipeline from the northern city of Kirkuk to Turkiye would be operational within a week, allowing the country to resume its oil exports, which have been interrupted by the ongoing war.

Also on Monday, air defences intercepted and shot down a drone near Erbil airport in the semi-autonomous Kurdish region of northern Iraq, according to security sources.

KATIE Price’s new husband Lee Andrews has “ran up a HUGE bill” at the luxury hotel where they got married.

The self-confessed ‘millionaire’, 41, and the former glamour model, 47, tied the knot just two weeks after meeting each other, leaving her family in shock.

The Sun revealed that the pair had married in a very intimate ceremony at The One&Only Royal Mirage, a 5-star luxury beachfront resort.

Our exclusive photos showed Katie in a white cut-out gown saying ‘I do’ in a private gardens as they exchanged their vows while holding hands.

But now it has been claimed that Lee has not coughed up a penny, which is believed to run into the thousands of pounds.

Despite promising to return and pay the outstanding cost, he still hasn’t paid and it has reportedly left staff “frustrated”.

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“Lee Andrews has not yet paid the One&Only Royal Mirage hotel where he and Katie Price got married. He promised to settle the outstanding bills but still hasn’t, and it’s been over six weeks,” an insider told the Mail.

When the publication approached Lee for comment and he insisted it was “fully paid”, adding: “It was an SMS on my HSBC locally. I will ping it to you so you can see it.”

But they have still not been provided any proof of payment.

The Sun has reached out to Lee for comment.

It comes just The Sun revealed that Lee had been begging women for money just a week before be proposed to Katie.

Self-proclaimed millionaire Lee whinged about surviving on 20p ready meals weeks before he married Katie.

He even begged a former friend for $4,000 just mere days before proposing to the former glamour model.

Lee popped the question to Katie on January 23, and the couple tied the knot in Dubai just 48 hours later.

He recently boasted about his love for his new wife the The Sun, and Katie even showed us  “proof” he owned a £36million property in Dubai.

Katie also claimed Lee had paid for every single one of her first-class flights to and from Dubai.

She also said he had forked out for all the romantic dates they had been on since January, with her not spending a penny.

Katie recently gushed to The Sun: “I can reassure everyone at home that I haven’t gone for a con man.

“I haven’t gone for a scammer.

“There was no love bombing.

“I’ve gone for a beautiful human being who genuinely makes me happy, who I’m so in love with,” she gushed.

A TikToker shared his experience staying at a hotel in one of the UK’s most popular cities with tourists, and people were completely flabbergasted by how much it cost

Edinburgh attracts millions of visitors from across the globe annually, so it comes as little shock that even the most modest accommodation in Scotland’s capital can leave a sizeable dent in your wallet. A couple of nights’ stay can easily run into hundreds of pounds, with costs skyrocketing exponentially during major occasions like Hogmanay or the Festival Fringe.

That’s why one TikToker left viewers gobsmacked after discovering a hotel within walking distance of the city’s premier landmarks for a mere £49.50 per night. Spencer Lyon, who has 135,000 followers on TikTok, where he routinely dishes out bargain-hunting tips, booked a room at the Edinburgh House Hotel.

Kicking off the video, Spencer approaches the hotel on Pilrig Street before walking into reception. “Oh my goodness, this is like Fawlty Towers,” he remarks. “Amazing.”

Moving along, Spencer proceeds to check in and is asked for a £100 security deposit. Locating his room, Spencer steps inside to discover not one but two beds – a double alongside a single, reports Edinburgh Live. “I feel like the three little bears for some reason,” he says.

Inspecting the all-important tea and coffee facilities, he comments: “I’m liking how close it is to the pillow so I can boil the kettle with my ear. Loads of options. No shortbread biscuits, that’s a shame.”

Spencer gazes through the window at the view – predominantly overcast skies – before shifting his focus to the telly, remarking: “Teeniest TV in the game, but I’m not paying to sit and watch TV am I?” He then inspects the bathroom, noting the toilet is tucked away round a corner, before bouncing on one of the beds – after removing his shoes, naturally.

He also draws attention to a modest clothes rail mounted on the wall, observing: “There’s no wardrobe in here, it’s just hang it on the top just there.” Wrapping up, he notes: “This was a last little minute endeavour ‘cos I’ve not been booking them on the go. But yeah, this was £49.50.”

Viewers shared mixed opinions in the comments section. One wrote: “That’s better than I expected. The deposit is a little expensive. Could have stayed at easyHotel in centre for probably same price.”

Another commented: “£100 refundable deposit for a £50 hotel is mad to me. Literally just stayed in Edinburgh end of November in a modern hotel that was like £120 a night and was only a £50 refundable deposit. Like, what in that room is costing them £100 to get it fixed or replaced besides the TV and even then they can get it cheap enough in charity shops.”

However, another responded: “I mean.. you get the £100 back and you’d be shocked at the amount of damage that inconsiderate guests can cause. This just gives the owner some peace of mind and you get the money back anyway so I don’t see the issue.”

Others were taken aback by the price. One commented: “Very cheap for Edinburgh. Looks perfectly acceptable.” Another posted: “That’s ridiculously cheap for Edinburgh rates.” Whilst someone else remarked: “Looks absolutely fine, for £50 it’s decent.”

The Edinburgh House Hotel presently holds a rating of 2.5 out of five on Tripadvisor. A quick online search reveals rooms at the establishment begin at a mere £38. The hotel’s description on Tripadvisor states it “offers a budget-friendly setting with an array of amenities designed for travellers like you.” It notes the renowned Royal Mile sits within a 1.3-mile stroll, alongside other prominent attractions in close proximity.

True to its 2.5 rating, guest feedback proves divided. One branded it “run-down and poorly maintained”. “Room was in an awful state of disrepair,” they claimed. “Happy with basic accommodation but this fell well below that standard. Endless list of faults and damages in the room we stayed.”

However, another guest countered: “Clean and tidy place, beds very comfortable had a great night sleep. Bit dated but I would stay again.”

KIP with the kids in a two-bedroom lodge at The Mole Resort or try the boujee airport hotel alternative of a grand Italianate mansion.

In search of the perfect pit stop, Lifestyle Editor Catherine Bennion-Pedley found out all that both had to offer.

The Mole Resort

As I slam on the car brakes, my kids Poppy, seven, and Raffy, four, shout: “Woah!” In the middle of the road is a local walking her dog – which happens to be the size of a small pony.

Yep, it’s safe to say rural Devon is proving to be an eye-opener for us all.

We’re kipping at The Mole Resort, a country-house hotel that had a spruce-up a couple of years ago, set in 125 acres of rolling countryside.

Our two-bedroom, two-bathroom lodge in the grounds comes with floor-to-ceiling views of a verdant meadow and a hot tub, which proves particularly restorative after the long drive.

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Another huge win is the raft of activities on site – from pickleball to pétanque, disc golf to axe-throwing, and archery to pottery painting.

Talking of which, the kids adore painting egg cups, £14 each, and are thrilled to pick up their newly glazed souvenirs the next morning.

There’s also a restaurant, games room and health club with a pool – though this has seen better days.

The village it sits in, Chittlehamholt, is also home to excellent 16th-century pub The Exeter Inn.

Owners Hazel and Steve welcome visitors like family, as does their gorgeous cockapoo Frankie.

Flavour-packed dishes like Peking duck bon bons with hoisin, £9.50, and beef and ale pie topped with stilton, £17, are spot-on.

As are the proper puds – pick spiced sticky toffee, £8.50, for the win.

With more than 80 gins and local ales aplenty, you won’t go thirsty, either (Exeterinn.co.uk).

Just 20 minutes’ drive away is another absolute gem – Quince Honey Farm, which brings joy even on the drizzliest day.

Here, we roll our own beeswax candles, forage for wildflower seeds and taste five varieties of the golden stuff – the dandelion honey is crowned our fave.

Entry per adult and child over five costs £10.80 (Quincehoneyfarm. co.uk).

Leaving armed with brilliant bee facts, we all agree this pretty nook of Devon makes for a super stop-off en route to a beach break.

Stays in a two-bedroom lodge at The Mole Resort cost from £120 per night (Themoleresort.co.uk).

Down Hall Hotel

I’m not a huge fan of airport hotels, which is why the boujee alternative of a grand Italianate mansion in the Essex countryside instantly appeals.

Less than 20 minutes’ drive from London Stansted, its rural setting will help you to properly relax before take-off.

A giant chessboard, tennis courts and a mini football pitch in the expansive grounds keep the whole gang entertained.

Meanwhile, the newly opened Barn Spa offers mini-me treatments, including head and scalp massages, from £25 per child, and the recently refurbed family rooms come with a Nintendo Switch, so the kids are more than alright.

Tuck into dinner treats, such as crab with apple gel, cucumber and nasturtiums, £16.50, followed by venison loin with a dark-chocolate jus, £41, at The Garden Room, which holds two AA Rosettes.

And it would be rude not to try the moreish house cocktail – a Down Hall Bramble, made with the hotel’s own garden gin, £15.

When in Rome (or Essex) and all that. . .

Family rooms at Down Hall Hotel cost from £212 per night (Downhall.co.uk).

THE best hotels in the country have been revealed and one even has rooms for under £70 a night.

It has also been praised for being family-friendly and sits on the estate of a stately home that appeared in the film, Pride and Prejudice.

The Times has revealed its ’50 best places to stay in 2026′ and The Hide was declared the winner for ‘great-value’.

The cosy 19th century hotel was formerly a Premier Inn, before being converted and reopened in October 2025.

The Hide sits on the Chatsworth Estate in the rolling Peak District hills – so guests can enjoy magnificent views.

The Times praised it highly and said: “It’s laid-back and unpretentious while still offering Chatsworth hospitality including produce from the estate farm, curated art on the walls and bespoke textiles in the bedrooms plus hand-painted room numbers.”

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It was awarded the title of ‘Great-value winner’ with rooms starting from £69.

They added: “The idea is that all are welcome – dogs, children, walkers in muddy boots.”

The hotel has a mix of bright and spacious rooms from doubles to triple, quad, bunk rooms and accessible ones too.

Each come with a double or king size bed, power shower and free Wi-Fi.

Meanwhile the triple or bunk rooms are suited towards families of three or four.

Guests can eat in from the All Day Dining menu available, with options such as fish and chips and beef and ale pie, as well as stone baked pizzas, burgers, steak, salads and BBQ ribs.

During the summer months, The Hide opens up its patio for outdoor dining with a pizza oven and BBQ.

There’s even a fire pit for s’mores – guests can get a sharing board for two for £10.

The breakfast buffet option starts from £15.95, or there are cook to order options including The Full Hide (essentially a full English).

There’s also a veggie option, pancakes and waffles too.

Sunday lunch is from £18 per person with a choice of Chatsworth beef, roast chicken, lamb or butternut squash, spinach and chestnut wellington.

As The Hide sits on the Chatsworth Estate, it’s easy for staying guests to explore the house.

Chatsworth House was built in the 1600s and famously appeared in the 2005 adaptation of Pride and Prejudice as Mr Darcy’s house, Pemberley.

It has also appeared on screen in The Duchess and Peaky Blinders.

Guests can buy a multi-entry ticket to Chatsworth to use throughout their stay, for less than the cost of a single day ticket.

This can be added to your booking or bought while at the hotel.

Chatsworth House is around a 15 minute drive away from The Hide.

On the grounds of Chatsworth House there’s also a farmyard and adventure playground.

At the farm are small animals like pigs, horses, goats and guinea pigs.

The playground has ladders, a climbing wall, rope bridges and racing slides – there’s also a zip wire, swings, and a giant sand play area

Tickets can be bought from £10 for both adults and children.

The Hide is a 23-minute drive from Matlock Bath which is known for being a seaside-themed town that’s nowhere near the coast.

Visitors strolling along the River Derwent will feel like they’re by the seaside as it’s lined with fish and chip shops, ice cream parlours and arcades.

You can get beautiful cliff-top views over the water, and there are boat parades too – also known as the Matlock Bath Illuminations.

The nearest city is Sheffield and it’s a 17-minute walk to Chesterfield.

For more hotels near The Hide, this hotel was named the best in the UK has Peak District views and guests say is ‘worth every penny’.

And here are some very affordable hotels that are better than a five-star – by a holiday expert who’s visited more than 200.

NEW YORK — The WNBA and its players’ union met again Wednesday, hours after a marathon negotiating session over a new collective bargaining agreement.

The two sides ended a 12-hour negotiation at 5 a.m. EDT without reaching a deal. They started talking again Wednesday afternoon and discussions were ongoing at sundown.

Union executive director Terri Carmichael Jackson said Wednesday morning that there were “a lot of conversations going in the right direction.”

WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert came out of the hotel where negotiations took place to talk to reporters briefly.

“It’s complex, but we’re working towards a win-win deal like we’ve been saying, transformational deal for these players. That balances all the things we’ve been trying to balance with continued investment by our owners,” she said. “So, we’re working hard towards that and still have work to do.”

Executive committee members Nneka Ogwumike, Breanna Stewart, Alysha Clark and Brianna Turner once again were at the hotel with Jackson and the union staff. The league was represented by Engelbert, head of league operations Bethany Donaphin and New York Liberty owner Clara Wu Tsai. Connecticut Sun president Jen Rizzotti joined the negotiating team on Wednesday.

Neither side left the hotel during the marathon bargaining session. A day later, both sides were outside during breaks enjoying an unseasonably warm mid-March day in Manhattan.

The sides have been exchanging proposals during the bargaining sessions over the last two days, a person familiar with the negotiations told the Associated Press. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the discussions.

Revenue sharing and housing are key sticking points between the sides, as well as assigning a franchise tag to a player and benefits for retired players.

The league had said that at least a handshake agreement on a labor deal would need to be done by Tuesday to start the season as scheduled.

“We’ve got to get this deal done. We’ve got to get it done soon,” said Engelbert, who didn’t take questions from reporters.

When a deal is reached in principle, the league has said it would need a few weeks to finish off the CBA. After that work is done, the expansion draft for new franchises in Portland and Toronto would be held sometime between April 1-6, according to a timetable obtained by the AP.

Free agent qualifying offers, including franchise player tags, would be sent out April 7-8. Teams would then have three days to negotiate with the more than 80% of players who are free agents. The signing period would take place from April 12-18.

Training camps would open the next day and the season would be able to start on May 8.

But for any of that to happen, the two sides have to figure out a revenue sharing model. The union’s proposal from a week ago had asked for an average of 26% of the gross revenue — revenue before expenses — over the course of the CBA. That would include only 25% in the first year. The league has said that number was unrealistic.

The WNBA’s last few proposals have offered more than 70% of net revenue, with that number going up as the league continues to grow.

WHEN you look at the London skyline, you probably think of the London Eye, Big Ben, the Shard and the Gherkin – but for decades another iconic landmark as been part of that set.

While the BT Tower has been closed to the public for decades it could be turned into a hotel by as soon as 2030.

The Grade-II listed building opened in 1965, measuring 177metres tall and was originally known as the Post Office Tower.

Inside, the building was used to carry phone and TV signals, but also had a revolving restaurant – Top of the Tower – and viewing platforms.

The viewing platform closed to the public in 1971 after a bomb exploded but the restaurant remained open until the end of its lease in 1980.

To date, American hotel chain MCR – who bought the concrete structure clad in glass from BT for £275million – has revealed little plans about what the hotel will look like.

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However, recent reports have revealed that a Shoreditch-based architecture firm and the same team behind the immersive attraction Outernet on Tottenham Court Road, Orms, have been appointed to transform the landmark into a boutique hotel.

The initial ideas and plans for the needle-like building are expected to be revealed at the first public consultation, which is due to be held in May.

But to get a taste of Orms’ style, other projects the firm has worked on include the transformation of Camden Council’s brutalist headquarters into the famous Standard hotel back in 2019.

They are also the firm behind The Ribbon, which is a new nine-storey venue on Oxford Street, recently announced as the location of London’s flagship Harry Potter store – which will be one of five across the planet.

Previous reports also suggest that the rotating restaurant will reopen for the first time since 1980.

The restaurant, that was run by Butlin’s with Sir Billy Butlin himself opening the site, used to seat about 120 diners on an three metre-wide track, with the restaurant rotating a full 360 degrees once every 22 minutes.

Famous diners included The Beatles and Muhammed Ali.

Thanks to the building’s height and nothing in the surrounding area obstructing it (this was to not interrupt communication signals from the tower) it has amazing panoramic views of London.

It is hoped when MCR reopen the building, the viewing platforms will feature as a major part of the hotel, with potentially the best views of the city.

In 2024, tycoon Tyler Morse – the man behind the purchase of the landmark – spoke to The Times about what the hotel will be like and said: “It’s about telephony. It’s about the telegraph era. But with all the modern amenities.”

He added that the “billions of miles of telephone wire” would be woven into the hotel wallpaper and an infinity pool would be built to look over the city.

Originally, when MCR bought the tower, Heatherwick Studio in Camden were going to oversee the redevelopment – the same firm behind Coal Drops Yard in King’s Cross.

However, this week a spokesperson told Architect’s Journal: “Heatherwick Studio and MCR had been working together on the development of the BT Tower.

“We are no longer involved and wish MCR every success for the future of the project.”

Architect’s Journal added that Historic England are happy with the initial plans for the 177metre-tall building, with Tom Foxall, region director at Historic England commenting: “The emerging scheme will reinforce the significance of the Grade II-listed tower’s extraordinary architecture, ensuring its iconic presence remains on the London skyline, while also reconfiguring its internal spaces in ways that will bring both public enjoyment and economic growth.”

In other landmark news, an iconic London landmark is set to undergo a major change next month with an incredible upgrade.

Plus, here are Britain’s most iconic seaside landmarks mapped from historic theme park rollercoasters to Art Deco lidos.