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MAYA Jama has spoken out about her return to the small screen after signing a huge deal with streaming giant Netflix.

The former Love Island host, who this week stepped down from the ITV dating show, revealed on Monday that she had signed an impressive seven-figure multi-project deal.

Now, Maya has hinted that her first role isn’t far away at all.

Taking to X, Maya re-shared a story about her Netflix deal and wrote: “won’t be off your screens for too long..@netflix”.

She also shared a selfie to Instagram from a dressing room which showed her holding a Netflix mug – proving she has already been filming for something.

Fans already know that Maya is set to appear in the third season of The Gentleman, which could be what she is referring to.

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Following the news of Maya’s new career path, a source told the The Sun: “Maya has signed a deal with Netflix, with a number of exciting new projects in the works.

“She’s become a huge pull for them on The Gentleman and she is excited to throw herself into something new with the leap.

“It’s a huge 7 figure global deal.

“Further details of the specific projects are being kept under wraps for now.”

Maya has also bagged herself a deal with one of the States’ biggest talent agencies, William Morris Endeavour.

She signed with the powerhouse of a management company which is best known for representing stars including Idris Elba, Olivia Rodrigo and the entire Kardashian family to name just a few.

Coronation Street star Jodie Prenger has addressed that her character Glenda Shuttleworth is in for romance on the cobbles next year but that a huge twist is in store

Coronation Street star Jodie Prenger has revealed that her character Glenda Shuttleworth is in for romance on the cobbles – but there’s a twist.

The actress, 49, has played the Rovers barmaid on the long-running ITV soap since 2022 and on Monday night, a special episode involving Debbie Webster and her girlfriends ended with Glenda on the phone to a mystery man after talking about how she had been so unlucky in love.

The episode was full of tension as Christina Boyd (Amy Robbins) came to terms with the fact her daughter Rachel, whom she gave up for adoption more than 30 years ago, had been murdered.

Since then, Christina’s long-lost granddaughter Lucy has been placed in the care of Sally and Tim Metcalfe and Sally has forbidden Christina to see her. In the episode, Glenda made it quite clear that she was siding with Sally, and Christina argued with her that she would never understand because she doesn’t have any children.

Jodie, whose character was introduced as the sister of George Shuttleworth (Tony Maudsley), has teased that whilst there will be love on the cards for her alter-ego, a lot of it will fill in her backstory and it will explain a lot.

Speaking about the new storyline Jodie told The Mirror: “It’s good. Do you know, it’s funny, it’s one of the things, if you’re out, a lot of people do say, and it really warms your heart, going, “When are you going to get a fella?” And I go, “I don’t know!” But yeah, this—it is on the horizon, so looking forward to that.

“I think a lot of it explains why Glenda is how she is. I think that’s great. I think it’s—you come and you bed a character in, and then you really get to find out the nitty-gritty of why they are how they are, because we’re not just all put here, are we?

“We’re made here, and we’re made by the situations in life. And I think it’s going to be really cool telling Glenda’s backstory.”

Viewers won’t get to see exactly what happens until early next year, but in terms of the festive period, Jodie, who has also had a huge career in musical theatre, said that ex-cruise ship singer Glenda will be keeping the Weatherfield residents entertained with her singing and that there is more coming up on-screen for her local drama group.

She added: “I think it’ll all kick off after [Christmas]. But there is a bit—there is a bit of singing! There is a bit of singing around the festive period, let’s put it that way.

“There’s some stuff with Little Big Shots as well. I forget! I forget when I film so much, but there’s quite a lot coming up for Glenda.”

Coronation Street airs weeknights at 8:30pm on ITV1 and ITV X.

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WE blindly trust pilots to get us from A to B – but how hard do they have to work to earn their seat at the front of the plane?

British Airways trains its pilots in a huge 1950s aircraft hangar at Heathrow Airport, which felt more like you’re on the set of Star Wars.

There’s no Luke Skywalker here, but it is impressively large, as one of the biggest dedicated airline training centres in Europe.

The huge building houses numerous giant pods on stilts, some moving around like an alien out of a sci-fi film.

These are the simulators – sims for short – where pilots spend hours taking off, flying and landing across different routes to gain experience.

Narrow bridges led to each white pod and inside, it looks just like a cockpit of the plane – replicated down to every single button.

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The only difference is there’s a third seat for an instructor, who controls the scenarios played out on a 200-degree screen that displays different airports, routes and weather conditions.

Every active BA pilot returns to the simulator hall twice a year to refresher training – and they invited me down to test how difficult it could possibly be.

Although faced with a million buttons, levers and switches, for takeoff I didn’t use nearly as many as I thought – I had to line up a circle with the centre line and adjust the control column with fractional movements.

Lifting off the pedal beneath my toes and nudging the throttles, I felt the seat rumble beneath me as eyes remained glued to the runway markings whizzing past, waiting for the magic words from the instructor, beside me.

“Rotate,” the instructor Chris Holden, Head of Flight Crew at British Airways and a Training Captain on the airline’s Boeing 787 and Boeing 777 fleets, yelled. That was my cue.

I gently pulled back on the control column and held it, and suddenly the plane was pulling up into the air, with the tarmac runway below quickly disappearing.

And we were in the air – complete with the grumble of tucking in the landing gear and the regular tremble of turbulence.

Once we levelled off above the clouds, I used the time cruising through the sky to grill the instructor and pilot about what really happens at 36,000 feet…

The truth about turbulence

First on my list was a thing all passengers hate – turbulence.

James Bushe, First Officer said: “A few bumps is completely normal – it’s no different to being in a boat on a slightly choppy sea – the boat rocks, but it’s safe.”

But what about dramatic mid-air storms? Especially ones we have seen in the news this year causing passengers to become injured during turbulence.

James added: “There isn’t any weather that scares us because we’re trained to avoid it, not react to it.”

Pilots will use real-time radar and live weather charts to see storms ahead of reaching them.

They will then adjust the course appropriately, sometimes even steering hundreds of miles around a storm.

What if an engine fails?

And when it comes to other nightmare scenarios, such as losing an engine over the ocean, there is an answer.

James explained: “Every commercial aircraft is certified to safely fly on one engine at all times.”

“They are designed to withstand huge forces, huge pressures that are beyond which anything, any beyond any level of turbulence that you would ever ordinarily encounter.”

There are also strict safety corridors across the Atlantic, which means planes are within safe gliding or diversion distance of an emergency runway.

He added: “From a passenger perspective, there’s absolutely nothing to worry about.

“We discuss our diversion plan on every single flight during cruise.”

Flying secrets

Perhaps naively, I thought pilots kick back once at altitude with a cuppa and the newspaper.

Wrong – instead they monitor everything from fuel burn to how hot or cold the cabin is.

James said: “Most of the physical flying is takeoff and landing.

“The work in between is constantly planning for what we would do if something went wrong.

“Even on a crystal-clear, sunny day, we are constantly working to ensure we have a safe plan of where to go.”

Now comfortably at 36,000 feet and set to cruise all the way to Melbourne, Australia – British Airways’ new route launching in January – I was starting to think, how do I remain comfortable during hours of flying?

James said: “I think for a passenger, you’ve got to do whatever makes you feel best and stick to your routine.

“So for passengers who are travelling through the night, have dinner and go to bed as normal.”

And there is even something you can do to avoid jet lag.

“I just drink a load of water. That’s the secret to feeling good when you get off the plane,” he shared.

Making the most of flying

Having travelled all over the globe, James knows a thing or two about making the most of your experience.

James revealed: “Always do a little search for whatever you want to buy to see if you can get a better deal in the local area.

“Because nine times out of ten you can’t in duty free.

“But if you do end up in duty free, always find something that is really specific to the local area and you can either sort of eat, drink or share with your friends.”

Just because your holiday is finished doesn’t mean you can’t have anymore fun.

James said: “Contrary to belief, you can still visit the flight deck.

“Make sure to come at the end of a flight after landing, as we usually have more time and ask the cabin crew first.

“Pilots love aeroplanes and love talking about aeroplanes – so ask us anything because there’s nothing that makes me feel more excited about the job than somebody else asking me about the job.

“Look at all the controls and all the displays and ask away – there is no such thing as a silly question.

“Oh and don’t leave without getting a picture in the pilot’s seat.”

Make sure to look at a pilot’s uniform as well – the captain will have four stripes and everything else varies by airline.

Don’t discredit UK airports either, instead explore them, James recommends.

He shared: “Having experienced airports all over the world now, I would say that the standard of Heathrow is one of the best in the world.

“From the air traffic control in the air, from the moment you reach the channel and get back into UK airspace to the second you reach the gates, it is like a well-oiled machine.

“And once you’re in the air always look out the window – you never know what you might see, such as the Northern Lights or the snowcapped Rockies.”

ROBBIE WILLIAMS has come under fire after he ‘threw shade’ at popstar Olivia Rodrigo. 

The singer, 52, received backlash from fans who branded him as ‘pathetic’, following the online buzz from his hit track being compared to her new Christmas song.

Olivia, 23, sent fans into a frenzy after releasing a brand new Christmas track titled Take Me Home 4 Christmas.

The single was written by the star herself and is her first holiday song ever.

Alongside it she posted a music video inspired by The Family Stone featuring Cynthia Nixon and Ben Marshall. 

The track has been a big hit with fans with the video sitting at over three million views online. 

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But some listeners have now compared the song to the hit Robbie Williams single Candy. 

There have been many videos uploaded of the tracks overlapping to what some people think are similar notes and melodies. 

The videos caught the attention of Robbie himself who has taken to X to have his say on the discourse. 

In a post he simply wrote: “Happy Christmas @oliviarodrigo x”

Fans rushed to the comments convinced the Angels hitmaker was throwing shade at Olivia. 

One user commented: “You’re grown a** man shading a 23yo on twitter, aren’t you pathetic.”

Another added: “No shade because I love candy, but I doubt Olivia has ever even heard it?”

“You didn’t have to step so low. Shading a 23 years old girl is embarrassing as hell,” penned a third. 

Others agreed that the song was in fact copied, with one fan commenting: “Could be a great Christmas for you Rob, get those copyright lawyers on speed dial! 

“I love you @robbiewilliams !! Ask for sampling rights,” said another.

“How’s this shade ? am I missing something,”replied a third.

GARDEN centres are no longer just a place to pick up some plants – they’re a whole day out for the family.

This only ramps up when Christmas rolls around, and one has been named the best for a festive visit.

Garsons Garden Centre in Esher was named The Best Christmas Garden Centre in the UK 2025, having won it for a number of years before as well.

The garden centre has a new themed area every year, with last year seeing a huge The Wonderful World of Oz event, complete with massive hot air balloon display and green decorations throughout.

This year, themed areas at the garden centre include Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, The Queen of Hearts, Sing a Song of Sixpence, Little Miss Muffet, Down at The Station, Jingle Bells, We Went to the Animal Fair and Sing a Rainbow.

You can expect fully decked out scenes with fake snow and twinkling lights.

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In previous years, scenes have included the tin man from the Wizard of Oz as well as a multicoloured igloo.

Of course, you can meet Father Christmas and his elves as well, inside a cabin decked out with colourful lights.

Each child who visits Santa will get a gift as well as a chance to snap a photo.

The experience costs £15.50 per child.

Across the festive period, there are a load of workshops visitors can attend as well including wreath making sessions and calligraphy classes.

After exploring the garden centre and all the Christmas attractions make sure to visit the farm shop with Christmas food, gifts and seasonal products.

For a bite to eat, you can visit The Orangery restaurant which is inspired by Garsons 150-year farming history as a supplier to Borough Market in London.

The restaurant is inside a huge glass conservatory and serves up full-English breakfasts as well as Sunday roast dinners.

The popular market is back for 2026

A hugely popular Christmas market has returned with over 200 stalls. Christmas is almost upon us, with towns and cities across the UK set to be transformed for the festive season.

For one UK city, Christmas has already begun as its markets open today (Friday, November 6). Manchester Christmas Markets is bringing festive shopping, food and drink to the streets of the city.

Wooden chalets line parts of Manchester, where visitors can shop for handmade gifts, artisan products, and international food and drink, as well as take part in family-friendly festive experiences.

Albert Square will be at the heart of the festivities, hosting the 50-metre-high Ferris wheel and a pop-up pub. Manchester’s Giant Santa will also make a comeback alongside a vintage Helter-Skelter.

This year marks the first for a new tree installation with a life-sized selfie sleigh. Over at Cathedral Gardens sits Skate MCR, an undercover ice-skating rink with additional stalls.

In a month’s time, the Manchester Christmas Parade will take place, with more details about the event to come on Sunday, December 6. Overall, the markets will be home to 210 stalls across 10 different city centre sites.

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Where is the Manchester Christmas Market?

The market is spread across the city centre as hundreds of stalls make up the festive atmosphere. This year, locations include Albert Square, Lincoln Square, King Street, St Ann’s Square, Exchange Street, New Cathedral Street, Exchange Square, Corn Exchange, Cathedral Gardens, and Market Street.

When does the market open?

Manchester Christmas Markets will open on Friday, November 6 and run until Tuesday, December 22. The festivities at Albert Square and Cathedral Gardens will remain open throughout the Christmas period until Sunday, January 3.

Meanwhile, Skate MCR ice rink will be open from Friday, November 6 to Sunday, January 3. The market is open seven days a week from 10am until 9pm.

How much is Manchester Christmas Market?

It is free to visit Manchester Christmas Market and you do not need a ticket to enter.

How to get to Manchester Christmas Market

Manchester Christmas Market is best accessed by public transport as Manchester city centre is served by trains, trams and buses. Manchester’s Victoria and Piccadilly Stations are an easy walk to the markets.

Trams and buses on the Bee Network run every 12 minutes, and are said to be the “easiest, cheapest and fastest” way to get to the markets.

Roads and car parks are said to be very busy, with the option of using Greater Manchester’s Park & Ride locations instead. There are multiple car parks within a walking distance of the markets, with Piccadilly Plaza and Chorlton Street being the closest.

For the past 30 years, Mark Gregory’s Air Salvage International (ASI) has been assessing, chopping up, disassembling, and recycling planes at the private airfield, which sits two miles from Kemble in Gloucestershire

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08:51, 06 Nov 2026

Where do planes go when they die? For the past 30 years, Mark Gregory’s Air Salvage International (ASI) has been assessing, chopping up, disassembling, and recycling planes at the ends of their lives at the private airfield, which sits two miles from Kemble in Gloucestershire.

Armed with redundancy money in the early ’90s, Mark bought his first plane and spent six months breaking it down into sellable bits. More than 1,400 aircraft later, the business is thriving and employs dozens of people to meet the growing demand of the ever-expanding aviation industry.

And there are big bucks at stake. The equivalent of a commercial jet’s MOT costs around £1 million, which is why many plane owners decide to send their ageing aircraft to Mark instead. Sometimes, as much as £12 million can be salvaged from them, either as reusable parts or as recyclable materials.

There are a few other strings to the business’s bow, Mark explained as he took me on a tour around the facility. ASI puts on dramatic training scenarios for organisations including the SAS, helping them practise plane-related emergencies. One mock-up situation had Mark and his team crush a van with a plane fuselage, creating a tricky day out for the special forces, who also had to deal with hijackers and “injured” passengers on board.

One particularly interesting aircraft that ended up with Mark is a VIP-fitted Boeing 727 that was once part of Saddam Hussein’s fleet, after he instructed Iraqi Airways to steal all of Kuwait Airways’ planes during its 1990 invasion of the country.

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SOUTHAMPTON Airport is set to undergo a massive expansion and it is good news for travellers.

The airport has announced plans to expand its passenger terminal by 800 square metres, to handle nearly three times as many passengers per flight.

The expanded terminal would allow the airport to host larger aircrafts, capable of carrying around 200 passengers.

Planes at the airport currently, have around 70 seats.

The bigger planes would include Airbus A320s and Boeing 737s and could lead to new routes from the airport in the future.

Currently, inside the terminal up to 200 passengers may need to wait in a pre-controlled boarding area while other passengers get off the plane.

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The expansion would also help with this, creating more space for passengers to move around.

The extension would be built in the area next to the existing terminal building.

Previously plans suggested that a passenger walkway would also be added to the airport, as well as a new domestic baggage reclaim.

The airport already underwent a runway expansion of 164 metres in 2023.

The airport currently serves between 800,000 to 900,000 passengers a year and heads to 15 destinations including Paris, Mallorca and Barcelona.

Airlines that operate from the airport include Aer Lingus, Easyjet, KLM and Loganair.

A HOLIDAY park left abandoned for two decades on the Isle of Wight is set to be transformed into the ultimate luxury coastal escape.

Previously known as Atherfield Bay Holiday Camp and abandoned since 2007, the site is now being redeveloped by Evergreen Escapes as the Isle of Wight Resort.

Overlooking Atherfield Bay, the new multi-million holiday park is set to open in April 2027.

According to the resort’s website, it will be a “peaceful haven, where sweeping sea views and star-filled skies go hand-in-hand with exceptional accommodation and five-star facilities”.

The multi-million pound project includes building 63 luxury lodges with sea views.

There will be two options – Elite and Signature.

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Elite lodges will feature either two or three bedrooms sleeping up to six people, with an open plan living and dining space, as well as a private outdoor decking.

On the other hand, Signature lodges will be slightly more luxury, sleeping up to eight people across four bedrooms.

The living and dining space will be open plan like the Elite lodges, but guests can also expect pops of colour or feature walls.

All the lodges are dog friendly and if you do bring you beloved pooch, they will get their very own welcome pack.

There will be a welcome pack for the humans too though, with Isle of Wight goodies.

Each lodge will have Rituals smellies and luxury robes and slippers too.

All of the lodges will be be self-catered accommodation.

Also on-site will be an indoor swimming pool, – perfect for the colder winters months – as well as a sauna, steam room and a gym.

At the centre of the resort, The Wight Isle Lounge will serve hot drinks, alcoholic drinks, snacks and fresh pizzas.

Local residents will also be able to use the entire holiday park.

And discounted ferry tickets will be available to staying guests.

Bookings are currently open for stays from April 2027, with 38 out of the 63 lodges available to rent (the rest will be for sale).

Geoff Cowley, CEO of Evergreen Escapes Group, said: “The Isle of Wight Resort will be a fantastic addition to the Island’s already thriving hospitality scene when it opens.

“Not just because we’re investing in high-end accommodation and facilities, but also because we’ll be investing in the resort team.

“We’ve already filled a number of senior roles but are actively looking for others to join us and showcase the best the Island has to offer for guests and owners alike.”

Evergreen Escapes also has plans for another 15 to 20 resorts over the next five years.

The Isle of Wight Resort will follow Evergreen Escapes acquiring Manor and Ashbury Resorts in Devon and Doublebois Lodge Escape and St Mabyn Lodge Escape, in Cornwall.

ASK most kids if they fancy a trip to an art exhibition and you’re unlikely to get an overly-enthusiastic answer. 

But what if that art exhibition included a ball pit, an enormous bouncy castle and flying balloons? You might suddenly have a mini art critic on your hands. 

Step in the Balloon Museum, which last graced the UK in 2023 with its EmotionAir: Art you can feel exhibition at Old Billingsgate in 2023. 

It’s now back, this time at Immerse London on Excel Waterfront with its latest offering EUPHOЯIA – Art is in the Air. 

The concept of the Balloon Museum is that it’s a new way to experience contemporary art, with large-scale installations created by international artists including Turner Prize winner Martin Creed. 

EUPHOЯIA in particular, invites those artists to use air and inflatable materials “as a contemporary artistic language” that “invites visitors to explore, interact and see the familiar in unexpected ways.” 

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It’s fair to say all of this went entirely over my seven year old’s head on our visit, both literally and figuratively speaking. 

Because while it might be about art, it’s also A LOT of fun. 

Our first stop was a giant glass-walled room filled with enormous balloons that you have to push your way through to reach the end. 

There was also a room filled with large inflatable cubes that we used to build an enormous fort, one with an enormous bed that could fit 20 people and a giant Covid virus-style inflatable, among others. 

But our favourites were the huge ball pit bigger than a ballroom, the most enormous bouncy castle I’ve ever seen – at least 25m in length and filled with inflatables, a balloon whirlwind and a very clever mechanical tree that dropped bubbles filled with smoke. 

Of course, all of this also made for some incredible photo opportunities too. 

We’ve got about a gazillion grinning selfies from our visit – the hallmark of every great Millennial day out.  

So will my son now be requesting a membership to the Tate Modern on his Santa List? Probably not. 

But he will definitely be far more open to my next suggestion of a trip to a gallery… how to explain there won’t be any inflatables to play with once there is another matter altogether. 

Tickets for EUPHOЯIA – Art is in the Air at ExCeL London, Royal Victoria Dock, from £20 for children and £26 for adults, with family tickets from £59.

WINTER is coming – and it’s bringing a whole host of scenic travel destinations with it. 

France’s Strasbourg is top of holidaymakers’ hotlists, according to the latest Tripadvisor Travel Index, while Tromsø in Norway is creeping up the popularity scale. 

The travel report revealed the most up-and-coming holiday spots for this season, based on search data for breaks between November 1 this year and February 28, 2027. 

Here Sophie Swietochowski shares her pick of the most popular holiday packages this winter. 

STRASBOURG, FRANCE 

SO much for Paris — the Notre Dame Cathedral in Strasbourg is just as glorious.

It was named among the top experiences in France in the 2026 Tripadvisor’s Travellers’ Choice awards.

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The city’s Christmas market is one of the oldest in Europe, founded in 1570, and is home to more than 300 traditional wooden stalls.  

Strasbourg’s Franco-German cuisine is just what you would fancy during the colder months — hearty and comforting.

Think casseroles and lots of potatoes. 

GO: Five nights’ room-only at the 4* Okko Hotels Strasbourg Centre is from £559pp including flights from Luton on December 27.

Save £100 now with code BLKFRIDAY. See easyjet.com/en/holidays. 

TROMSØ, NORWAY 

THIS area, AKA the Gateway to the Arctic, was crowned second most popular spot for this winter.

While its location means that during winter, the sun never rises above the horizon, that doesn’t mean you need to hunker down inside — far from it. 

Among popular activities to try are dog or reindeer sledding, whale watching, snowmobiling, ski touring and fishing in the icy fjords.  

It’s also one of the best spots in the world to catch the Northern Lights in all their colourful glory. 

GO: Five nights’ room-only at the 4* Moxy Tromsø is from £909pp including flights from Gatwick on January 17.

See loveholidays.com. 

GHENT, BELGIUM 

THE nearby hotspots of Bruges and Brussels typically steal the limelight when it comes to winter getaways. 

And that’s just why Ghent should be top of your list.

The fact it is less crowded means you can explore its Gothic and medieval architecture at leisure, although it’s best to do so at night when the intricate alleyways and twisted spires are illuminated by spotlights, giving the spires an even more dramatic appearance against the night sky. 

Ghent’s winter festival, which operates throughout December and into early January, is magical, with a mini ice rink, ferris wheel and rows of stalls that lead from the canal to the central square. 

GO: Seven nights’ room-only at the 3* Hotel Gravensteen is from £489pp including flights from Heathrow on November 26.

See loveholidays.com. 

SAARISELKA, FINLAND 

IF Tromsø’s coastal location doesn’t tickle your fancy, then Saariselka, where earthy pine woodlands are buried in deep powdery snow, just might.  

Make sure to stay in a glass igloo — after all, this is the place where they were popularised. And what a spot for them.  

From your bed, you have high chances of spotting the aurora borealis painted across the night sky.  

Make sure to test out the longest toboggan track in Europe, which stretches 1.8km from the summit of Kaunispaa mountain.

Then warm up those chilled bones in a traditional Finnish sauna. 

GO: Three nights’ B&B at the 3* Holiday Club Saariselka is from £914pp including flights from Gatwick on November 29.

See tui.co.uk. 

CHAMONIX, FRANCE 

A COSY and typically French resort town, Chamonix has maintained its traditional charm, despite having sparked the big ski boom. 

And unlike the purpose-built ski resorts, this town is vast and sprawling, with lots of wooden chalets dotted around.  

While it is a destination that is known for its skiing, there is still plenty else to do in winter.  

Le Pas Dans Le Vide is an awesome glass skywalk, suspended at an altitude of metres, at the summit of Aiguille du Midi.

It gives visitors the thrilling sensation of floating above the spectacular Bossons Glacier.  

There are also ice caves and ice sculptures and you can dig in to some of the best cheesy raclette in the country. 

GO: Seven nights’ self-catering at the 3* Residence Pierre & Vacances La Riviere is from £551pp, including flights from Gatwick on January 2, plus 20kg luggage per person.

See crystalski.co.uk. 

A HUGE new attraction with six immersive zones including a ride and even a waterpark is set to open in Europe.

Called Dracula Land, the theme park has been dubbed Transylvanian Disneyland and is set to be built at the cost of €1billion (£835million).

Plans are still in early stages to build Dracula Land in Bucharest which is one of the cheapest cities in Romania.

It hopes to one day be “the largest entertainment, retail, and technology destination on the continent, transforming the country into a new global entertainment hub“.

It will have everything from a theme park and waterpark to spa, shops, arena, hotels and a tech hub – all of which will be within six themed zones.

The first is the Moonlit District which will be the point of entry for guests where they’ll step through onto the main street.

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Rides include a Flying Theatre and a Transylvanian Railway, as well as carousels, drone shows and a Legend of Vlad walkthrough experience

The main street which will have shops and dining will remain open into the evening.

The Family Kingdom will have an immersive zone where visitors can meet ‘legendary figures’ from vampires to ghouls.

It will also have a dark ride, 4D cinema, bat ride, toddler play zone and live entertainment.

The Transylvania area will ‘bring the legendary land of Dracula to life’.

Here there are plans for a water ride, dark ride set in a forest, a mountain coaster as well as a village playground and market.

Dracula’s Castle will be at the very centre of the theme park. Surrounded by a lake, it will have a maze, ancient ruins and dining in the Great Hall.

The Port of New Orleans is inspired by Mardi Gras and will be French-inspired.

There will be dining on a riverboat, as well as rides, shops and a werewolf coaster.

London Town will be familiar to Brits as it will transform into a busy street with red telephone boxes.

There will be plenty of shopping for souvenirs, with Victorian London inspirations as well as a theatre, horse and carriage ride and “vampire hunter training”.

Outside of the theme park will also be a waterpark and thermal spa, which will have 30 water attractions including what it claims will be one of Europe‘s biggest wave pools.

On-site are set to be three hotels, the four-star Dracula Grand Hotel, a three-star plus Dracula Family Hotel and the three-star Dracula Hotel.

Together, there will be space for 1,200 rooms.

Other facilities include an artificial ski slope for winter sports, a racing track, motor park and tech hub.

There’s also plans for an arena which will be the ‘most immersive’ in southeastern Europe.

It will have 22,500 seats for concerts, festivals and sporting competitions.

Dracula Land will also have its own “metaverse” with DraculaCoin native tokens which can be used across the digital and physical ‘metaverse’ world.

Dragoș Dobrescu, founder of Dracula Land, said: “Dracula Land brings together everything I’ve learned in real estate: discipline, rigor, vision, and the ability to keep complex teams with very different specializations together. 

“But more importantly, it adds a story that gives meaning to every square meter built. 

“For me, Dracula Land is a national project—a symbol that Romania can and must build landmarks, not just buildings or simple real estate projects.”

Currently, the master plan for the first phase is being finalised, and negotiations with investors are ongoing, so there are no details on when it could open.

Although when it does, the good news for Brits is that flights to Bucharest are cheap with return flights for as little as £45.

WHILE Guy Fawkes prepared to blow up King James I and his government with a deadly haul of explosives under the Houses of Parliament, a sprawling country estate 100 miles away was poised to become a crucial yet little-known part of the Gunpowder Plot.

James’ nine-year-old daughter Elizabeth lived at magnificent Coombe Abbey near Coventry and Fawkes’s co-conspirators had planned to kidnap her and install her on the throne as a puppet queen.

An anonymous letter rumbled the London end of the plan while, in Warwickshire, the plotters – led by Robert Catesby – abandoned the kidnapping on hearing about the failure.

To this day, the foiled plot is commemorated with fireworks and bonfires on November 5.

And Coombe Abbey is now a magnificent hotel worthy of its regal connections.

Built by Cistercian monks in 1150, it became the biggest abbey in Warwickshire before being seized during Henry VIII’s dissolution of the monasteries.

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Later it was sold to nobleman John Harington, who agreed to act as Elizabeth’s guardian, raising and educating her at his home.

In a rather peculiar twist four centuries later, Game Of Thrones star Kit Harington, a descendant of Catesby, played his ancestor in BBC One drama Gunpowder.

Guests arriving at the hotel nowadays pass over its ancient moat then enter through the original stone cloisters, where a pulpit still stands.

You can take a pew on an ornately carved throne-like chair, admire the hanging wall tapestries and marble busts or examine the tomb of murdered monk Abbot Geoffrey, whose cloaked figure is said to still roam.

Fittingly, our room for our night’s stay was The Princess Elizabeth, decked out in deep mulberries and glimmering golds and with an oak four-poster bed set upon a plinth.

Luxurious floor-to-ceiling curtains embossed with the same heraldic design as the wallpaper enhance the royal feel, while the bathroom with roll-top bath and golden taps also adds to the drama.

The hotel lies in 500 acres of parkland, set to host a mile-long light festive trail throughout December.

Little ones will love the Hermit’s Hollow play area and families can enjoy Go Ape adventures.

Nearby Coventry is full of medieval buildings and cobbled lanes.

The ruins of its 14th-century cathedral – bombed during World War Two – are preserved alongside a modern replacement, as a symbol of peace and reconciliation.

Coventry Transport Museum is brimming with bikes and vehicles that have helped shape the world including ThrustSSC, the fastest-ever car.

Lesser known but eye-wateringly beautiful is St Mary’s Guildhall.

Built in the 1340s for traders and crafts people, it’s re-opened after a £6.2million refurbishment.

The Great Hall has hosted monarchs and its intricate stained glass windows and painted wood carvings in the roof are breathtaking.

There’s also a rare nine-metre tapestry from the early 1500s depicting Henry VI, who moved his royal court to Coventry, effectively making it England’s capital.

Uncovering another secret gem was the perfect end to a historic stay.

HELEN Flanagan revealed a telling mark on her neck while celebrating Halloween with friends on Thursday evening.

The former Coronation Street star was in attendance as lingerie brand Ann Summers hosted an elaborate party in honour of the spooky season at raunchy London nightspot The Box.

Drawing inspiration from lovelorn Wuthering Heights character Catherine Earnshaw, Helen, 36, commanded attention in a cleave-enhancing corset and red skirt as she let her hair down at the Soho venue.

But it was a decorative vampire bite that caught the eye, with social media followers speculating that Helen – who is believed to be single – may well be brandishing a love bite.

Commenting on the costume detail, one follower wrote: “What u done to your neck?” [sic]

While a second added: “Who bit your neck?” Elsewhere, a third posted: “Ooft, the neck lol.” [sic]

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Helen’s night out comes after former fiancé Scott Sinclair revealed son Charlie, five – the youngest of their three children – has needed hospital treatment.

The ex-footballer, who also shares daughters Matilda, 11, and Delilah, eight with the actress, posted a photo of their son in his hospital bed on Wednesday.

“My little soldier,” captioned Scott over the snap, which saw Charlie giving a thumbs up as he used an oxygen mask.

The father-of-three did not share what had happened to his son or if they were to remain in hospital.

Helen and Scott were together for 13-years and engaged for four before ending their relationship in October 2022.

They have since had a strained relationship whilst co-parenting their family – often taking swipes at one another online.

Helen was forced to move out of their family home earlier this year, which was solely owned by Scott, as the footballer decided to sell it.

She spoke openly about not wanting to move and about the ‘stress’ downsizing had caused.

IT’S now easier than ever to get to the world’s largest non-continental island.

Greenland has opened a new airport in Ilulissat – the country’s third largest town.

The country is one of the least visited in the world, only welcoming 180,000 tourists a year (for comparison, the US welcomes that many tourists per day, on average).

The airport aims to connect Greenland to the rest of the world, costing an estimated 1.77billion DKK (£197million).

It is the third new airport to open in the country since 2024 as part of a huge project costing around £700million.

The new airport has a 2,200 metre runway which can host larger aircraft, allowing for international flights and as a result, making Greenland easier to get to.

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There’s also a passenger terminal that sprawls across 5,000 square metres for departures and arrivals.

One of the airlines that operates at the airport is Air Greenland, with domestic flights between Ilulissat Airport and destinations including Nuuk, Aasiaat, Qaarsut and Upernavik.

Air Greenland also launched a direct route between Ilulissat and Denmark’s capital, Copenhagen this week, which takes around six hours.

And Icelandair will operate a seasonal service between Keflavík and Ilulissat from June 3 to October 16, 2027.

The airport is currently ramping up its operations gradually but is set to be fully operation by summer 2027.

Jens Lauridsen, CEO of Greenland Airports said: “The opening is a historic milestone for Ilulissat, for North Greenland, and for all of Greenland.

“The three new airports in Ilulissat, Nuuk, and Qaqortoq fundamentally change how the country is connected internally and how Greenland is connected to the rest of the world.”

Near to the airport is the Ilulissat Icefjord UNESCO World Heritage Site, where you can see enormous icebergs as well as the local wildlife.

You could even head off on a whale watching excursion.

To get to Ilulissat from the UK, you will need to fly to Copenhagen, taking less than two hours, and then fly onto Iluissat.

A BUSY UK train station is set to CLOSE for seven months for a major upgrade.

City Thameslink station in London has confirmed the next year closure, for a multi-million pound project to replace ten escalators.

The closure will take place from May 17, 2027 until late December 2027.

Thameslink trains will continue to run as normal but will not stop at the station.

Network Rail is recommending travellers to use Blackfriars as an alternative, which is around a six- minute walk away.

Lucy McAuliffe, Sussex Route Director for Network Rail, said: “We know closing City Thameslink is a significant change and we’re sorry for the disruption it will cause.

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“This is not a decision we have taken lightly. We have looked long and hard at every possible option and, although none of them are without impact, a single closure is the least disruptive and most efficient way to carry out this vital work.

“City Thameslink’s escalators are at the end of their operational life. By replacing them now we’re tackling the root causes of access disruption for passengers in one go.

“This means that when City Thameslink reopens in December 2027, customers will benefit from completely renewed escalators, designed to provide safer, more dependable and accessible journeys through this important station on our network.”

The current escalators have been at the station for around 35 years, but recent flooding damaged them.

The station, which opened in 1990, welcomes around 7.6 million people a year, as it is near popular attractions like St Paul’s Cathedral.

A full closure of the station was decided on instead of a partial closure for safety reasons.

A MAJOR UK trainline has launched a huge Black Friday sale – and over 50,000 Brits can travel for half price.

Tickets are available to purchase now with discounted journeys starting from next week.

Passengers looking to journey through Wales, the South West and the West of England can snap up a major deal this month, as Great Western Railway has launched a huge 50 per cent off train fares.

The Black Friday sale covers trips across the South West, Thames Valley, Cotswolds and South Wales with offers on 60,000 tickets.

Discounted tickets will be available on travel from November 6 to December 17, 2026.

Head of marketing at GWR, Helen da Costa, said: “Black Friday is a great opportunity to grab a bargain and give yourself something exciting to look forward to before Christmas.

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“Whether you’re planning a festive day out, visiting friends and family or simply fancy a change of scenery, our sale offers savings of up to 50% on selected Standard and First-Class Advance tickets.

“With 60,000 discounted tickets available, there are plenty of opportunities to make plans without spending a fortune.”

The sale only applies to Advance Single fares and is non-refundable.

Ticket prices are as low as £22 for a standard fare from Bristol Temple Meads to London Paddington, or from £32 for journeys to Exeter St Davids.

Travellers will need to act fast if they want to nab cheaper tickets as they must be booked by Monday, November 2.

Customers have also been advised to book early, as discounts are limited and only available on selected routes and services.

Orders can be placed through either the GWR website at gwr.com/blackfriday or via the GWR app.

EXCLUSIVE: The Celebrity Traitors is heating up with the semi-final airing tonight, but a former star believes that one of the Traitors will have to turn on another, in a huge twist

A former star of The Traitors has predicted a major twist. Tonight’s episode will see at least one Faithful banished from the castle, in yet another devastating blow for the Faithful.

So far, only two Traitors have been banished from Ardross Castle, leaving the team of Faithful shrinking by the day. In yet another twist, the Faithful unknowingly branded the three Traitors – Maya Jama, James Acaster and King Kenny the most trustworthy stars.

But what they didn’t know was that Kenny was later given a chilling double vote for the roundtable, after he and his fellow Traitors worked out who their next victims would be. This series has seen Maya come out on top, with many of her banished and murdered co-stars believing that she could potentially win the programme.

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Former contestant Andrew Jenkins, who appeared on series two of the BBC show, also believes that Maya could go all the way. “Maya Jama has 100 per cent got what it takes, and all of them, to be honest,” he said. He went on to add: “The three traitors have all got a good case because they’ve all been voted the most trustworthy, so they’re all doing really well.”

However, Andrew believes the Traitors will turn on one another before tomorrow night’s final. He commented: “I think the biggest obstacle is going to be that they turn against each other. I think one of them will have to turn against the other one. But they’ve got no heat on them from any of the faithful. So I think Maya Jama is playing a really good game.”

But after James A refused to take part in a task which would benefit the Traitors last week, Andrew says he empathises with the comedian. Both James and Andrew started off on the show as Faithful, before being recruited by The Traitors. “You’re trying to play so many games,” he said.

Speaking in connection with Buzz Bingo, Andrew went on to add: “You’re trying to take the heat off you, you’re trying to be part of a team, and it’s hard trying to juggle it all. So I do understand. I can see it from both sides of the fence. And yeah, he probably has put a bit of a target on his back now. Do Maya and King Kenny trust him now? So he could be hung out to dry now.”

This year has also seen increased paranoia in the castle, with EastEnders hardman Ross Kemp initially fearing he’d been murdered after a co-star merely touched him. However, he was later murdered in plain sight by James A and Maya, who bored him so much he yawned.

“It’s hard,” Andrew said of the paranoia inside the castle, adding: “It is really hard. You get paranoid because you’ve seen previous series. You know how other people have been murdered, so you’re going to suspect things. Nobody wants to drink from any cups; nobody wants to do anything. You get really paranoid.”

Tonight will disclose whether the brutal roundtable voted in favour of Joanne McNally or Sharon Rooney being banished from the castle, as the Faithful and Traitors once again go head to head ahead of tomorrow’s final.

The Traitors airs on BBC One and BBC iPlayer at 8pm.

Like this story? For more of the latest showbiz news and gossip, follow Mirror Celebs on TikTok, Snapchat, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and Threads.

Blue Badge holders travelling in Europe can now park in a major holiday hotspot, thanks to an agreement between the Department for Transport and Ministry of Disabilities

British holidaymakers with Blue Badges can now use it in a major holiday hotspot. The disabled parking permit assists people with severe mobility issues or hidden disabilities to park nearer to their destinations. It covers both drivers and passengers.

Now the Department of Transport has struck a deal with Italian authorities so the paperwork can be used in the boot-shaped country.

It builds on a similar arrangement agreed with France, where Brits have been using their permits since August last year. Work is ongoing with Spain to explore similar arrangements for Blue badge holders. Italian visitors travelling to the UK will also benefit, with Italy’s disabled parking permits to be recognised here.

Roads Minister Justin Madders said: “Disabled people shouldn’t have to worry about whether their parking permit will be recognised when travelling abroad. These new arrangements with Italy mean Blue Badge holders can relax and enjoy their trip, with easier access to reserved parking and exemptions from charges, whether they’re travelling for a holiday, visiting family or for work.”

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The definitive status of Blue Badge recognition across European Union nations – together with key neighbouring non-EU countries – falls into several distinct categories.

The Blue Badge is fully or partially recognised in the following countries:

• Austria — Fully
• Belgium —Fully
• Croatia — Fully
• Cyprus — Fully
• Czech Republic — Fully
• Denmark — Fully
• Estonia — Fully
• Finland — Fully
• France — Fully
• Germany —Fully
• Greece — Accepts non-EU parking cards
• Hungary — Fully
• Iceland — Accepts non-EU parking cards
• Ireland — Fully
• Italy —Fully
• Latvia — Fully
• Liechtenstein — Fully
• Lithuania —Fully
• Luxembourg — Accepts non-EU parking cards
• Malta — Fully
• Netherlands — Fully
• Norway — Fully
• Poland — Fully
• Portugal —Fully
• Romania —Fully
• Slovakia — Fully
• Slovenia — May not recognise non-EU-issued parking cards
• Spain (including Balearic and Canary Isles) — UK Blue Badge recognition decided by local administrations
• Sweden — Fully
• Switzerland — Fully

The DfT cautions that even in nations where the badge is recognised, disabled parking regulations can shift quickly or differ between towns. To steer clear of hefty penalties or vehicle removal, travellers should consult local tourist information centres or local authorities before departing.

Certain countries demand a local parking notice or clock disc be shown alongside the Blue Badge. The DfT also suggests carrying a doctor’s letter or a translated version of your Blue Badge, particularly when entering countries with stricter enforcement policies.

When parking you should always:

• look for any signage indicating disabled parking spaces
• make sure that your Blue Badge is displayed correctly and that you comply with any additional requirements, such as displaying a parking disc in countries such as Denmark

The new route gives Brits the chance to visit two Christmas markets this historic city which run from November to January and boast free entry, featuring classic winter scenes of chalets, Christmas trees, and an open-air ice rink

Ryanair has announced a brand new route in time for cheap getaways this winter and this Christmas.

The budget airline has revealed its new winter 2026 route from Manchester to Warsaw Modlin in Poland. Ryanair bosses shared yesterday (October 27) how the first of the Manchester-Warsaw Modlin flights took of this week.

Ryanair says it will operate six weekly flights on this “exciting new winter 2026 route, providing UK customers with even more choice at Europe’s lowest fares”. Ryanair’s full winter 2026 schedule is available to book now via the Ryanair app and website in time for cheap winter and Christmas breaks.

The new route gives Brits the chance to enjoy Warsaw’s two Christmas markets, including the huge Jarmark Warszawski at Plac Defilad, by the Palace of Culture and Science, and the traditional, historic market in the Old Town along the city walls.

Both markets run from November to January and boast free entry, featuring classic winter scenes of chalets, Christmas trees, and an open-air ice rink.

The first flight comes after Ryanair unveiled its newly expanded winter schedule last month, with 22 new routes from UK airports with Birmingham, Edinburgh, Liverpool, and London airports benefiting the most. Ryanair also announced that it was adding nineteenth-based aircraft at Manchester Airport this winter, helping it to run one extra route from the North West hub.

Ryanair is increasing its flight frequencies on another 26 routes from Manchester, including holiday hotspots like Malaga, Palma de Mallorca and Madrid, as well as city break destinations like Barcelona, Belfast, Venice, Porto, Prague and Krakow.

Eye-catching flights among the list included the new winter sunshine route from Birmingham to Marrakech, which regularly enjoys mild winter temperatures. The bulk of the other routes are to northern and western European destinations where more festive pleasures are on the itinerary.

The new route announcement followed the boss of Ryanair warning that air fares would “no doubt” rise next year for summer holidaymakers amid the surging price of oil and the Iran war.

Earlier this month, oil prices rose above 100 dollars a barrel for the first time since July after the latest round of strikes in the conflict.

Ryanair’s Director of Communications, Jade Kirwan, said: “ It was great to see the first flight of our new winter 2026 route from Manchester to Warsaw Modlin take off this week, bringing the first of many happy Ryanair passengers on their winter 2026 getaways.

“Our Manchester to Warsaw Modlin route will operate six times per week, offering our UK customers even more choice at the lowest fares in Europe. Ryanair’s full winter 2026 schedule is available to book now on the Ryanair app/website.”

TWO major stars have been ruled out as the mystery fourth actor currently vying to be the next James Bond.

The coveted role has been up for grabs following the release of 007 blockbuster No Time To Die in 2021, Craig’s fifth and final outing as the Martini-swilling secret agent.

Final screen tests were held with four remaining hopefuls at London’s Bray Studios over the weekend, but an official announcement is yet to be made by new franchise owners Amazon MGM Studios.

It’s understood that three of those actors – understood to be Jack Lowden, Callum Turner and Josh O’Connor – were joined by a fourth, currently unnamed star, as decisive auditions got underway.

But two British actors, both previously linked with the role, have been ruled out as the final candidate – widely thought to be Jack Barton.

“We’ve heard, reliably so, that Harris Dickinson and Nicholas Hoult are not the 4th person. Testing is said to be occurring today and going into the weekend,” read an article shared by The Hollywood Reporter on Friday.

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Dickinson, 30, is currently in the midst of back-to-back shooting schedules for director Sam Mendes’ ambitious four-film Beatles project, in which he will play John Lennon.

Meanwhile, Hoult, 36, has four major films in post-production – among them the eagerly anticipated DC adventure Man Of Tomorrow, which sees him reprise his role as Superman nemesis Lex Luthor.

Australian star Jacob Elordi is also out the running, while the much-fancied Idris Elba, Theo James and James Norton are believed to be out of contention.

Instead, Amazon MGM Studios are said to be keen on the lesser known Barton, 31, whose past screen credits include the popular Netflix drama Heartstopper.

Other than a handful of other minor TV roles, little else is known about the young actor, but he reportedly impressed producers enough to earn critical screen tests alongside his three Bond rivals.

Despite Barton’s emergence, fans remain convinced they have already worked out who the final star in the James Bond race is – and Taylor Swift fans will be very familiar with him.

The latest Bond theory suggests that the singer’s ex-boyfriend Joe Alwyn, 35, who she dated for six years until 2023, is the secret actor.

Fans believe the link to the actor and the 007 role is Bond casting director Nina Gold, 59.

Taking to Reddit to discuss, a fan wrote: “Nina Gold was one of the casting directors for Thor, too, and cast Joe in his first movie role. She knows him as far back as drama school”

Agreeing this person penned: “Nina Gold is doing the casting and knows Joe and cast him in the brutalist and Hamnet so he’s known by the department and may be on the radar of the casting team”

A third added: “Yeah, and he is supposed to be filming in NYC for a Rom com. but was in London this week for a friend’s wedding and potentially this audition.”

A fourth agreed: “Never thought about him as a contender before, but it makes sense.”

Daniel Craig’s fifth and final outing as James Bond was five years ago, and since then a whole host of high-profile actors have been linked to the famous franchise.

But Amazon MGM Studios, who paid $20million for full creative control of the franchise, is said to be picking a more “alternative” actor, rather than a mainstream Hollywood star.

YOU might be setting off on that bucket list family trip to Florida sooner than you think…

AttractionTickets.com are about to launch a HUGE Black Friday sale where you can save big on that dream Florida holiday – just make sure to sign up.

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

Why? Those signed up to the sale can save EXTRA on top of the discounts that will become available on Black Friday.

The sale will include popular theme park tickets, combo tickets for multiple attractions plus holiday packages with hotel or villa stays.

There will be discounts on popular Orlando attractions like Walt Disney World and Universal Resort, as well as hotels and villas on-site.

After last year’s Black Friday sale knocked 20 per cent off hotels and attractions, holidaymakers are prepared for another round of big savings this year.

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In fact, Attraction Tickets has revealed that the savings this year will be just as big, if not bigger – with the typical customer saving hundreds on their booking.

The deals will be for holidays taken in 2027. The biggest savings are set to be for breaks during the school summer holidays.

If you’ve always dreamed of a Disney holiday, you’ll be able to save on trips to Walt Disney World in Florida as well as Disneyland Resort in California.

2027 is also a great time to visit Universal Orlando Resort, with thrilling new rollercoaster Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift set to open.

Both Disney and Universal resorts in Florida offer on-site accommodation.

At Disney, you can stay in the Hawaii-themed Polynesian resort with its own beach, or wake up to giraffes strolling past your window in an Animal Kingdom Lodge.

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

At Universal, Cabana Bay Beach has a retro 1950’s feel with its own bowling alley, pool and lazy river, while Endless Summer offers surf-themed suites sleeping up to six.

Both Disney and Universal resorts have waterparks, too, perfect for cooling off from the Florida heat. The most popular include Typhoon Lagoon and Volcano Bay.

If you fancy an LA trip, you can tick off the world-famous Universal Studios Tour on a discounted visit to Universal Studios Hollywood.

There will even be savings on Spanish attractions like PortAventura World as well as Siam Park and Loro Parque in Tenerife.

So if you’ve been craving that once in a lifetime holiday feeling, now’s the time to get it booked.

AttractionTickets.com even allow you to split up your payments without any fees or interest, so you can avoid a major dent in the wallet.

To make things even easier, you can also secure your holiday with deposits from as little as £50.

The travel website is an official partner of Disney and Universal, and have sold over 15 million tickets to over five million customers worldwide.

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

Prices correct at the time of publication.