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On The Beach’s Rob Brooks has highlighted a city he claims is the ‘Barcelona of Eastern Europe’ that boasts a stunning beach, vibrant streets and architecture, and restaurants that don’t require you to spend a fortune

If you’re yet a to book a trip abroad this summer, a holiday expert highly recommends the “best hidden gem beach holiday” in Europe, claiming it comes at a fraction of the price of the most popular resorts on the continent. Rob Brooks, who works for travel agent, On The Beach, took to TikTok with advice for those who’d appreciate all the perks of Barcelona, but without the cost.

“I’ve just found Eastern Europe’s Barcelona, and you’ve definitely never heard of it,” he began in a video. “So here’s some clues – it’s half the price, around a two-hour flight from the UK, it’s brilliant for families and it can even feel like proper luxury if you book smart.”

For anyone wondering where Rob could be referring to, he went on to tease that it’s not in Spain, Portugal, Turkey, Italy or France.

“One destination has suddenly landed on my desk after a sudden explosion in holiday searches,” he continued. “So I went away and did my research, crunched the numbers and dug through the data – and now I’m genuinely convinced this could be one of Europe’s biggest hotspots in a few years.”

Rob admitted that he had previosuly considered the destination a “rogue place” for a beach holiday, but that all changed when he saw the photos of it.

“It’s got a huge, golden sandy beach, it’s got loads of beachfront bars and restaurants… colourful streets, beautiful architecture and there’s loads of luxury hotels and a massive pier that stretches out right into the sea,” he enthused.

Rob said he then realised why comparisons are being made to Barcelona – only this location is “nowhere near as busy or expensive”, and hardly anyone is talking about it.

Direct flights from UK airports take as little as two hours and five minutes, with Rob finding one for as little as £36.

“It sounds much further away than it actually is, but what really caught my eye is how much variety there is there,” he explained. “You can spend the morning on the beach, wander around beautiful old streets in the afternoon, eat ridiculously well and eat gorgeous food without spending a fortune – and because spending money goes such a long way here, it feels way more luxury than it probably should.”

So where is Rob talking about? “Summer temperatures are sitting at up to 26 degrees… I really don’t think this place will stay a secret for much longer,” he said. “The more I looked into it, the more I realised that this location is only going to get bigger and bigger over the next few years.

“It’s Sopot – a gorgeous seaside town on Poland’s Baltic coast. I even found a deal here I genuinely might book myself.”

Rob closed by highlighting one particular deal – five nights at the Hotel Aqua beside the beach for just £265 per person – which includes flights from London Stansted Airport this September.

“You’re getting Barcelona’s beach culture, but for Poland’s prices,” he declared.

Sopot’s tourism website boasts online: “Sopot is one of the most charming places in Poland and a hugely popular Baltic resort. Here you’ll find not only abundant greenery, beautiful sandy beaches, and the soothing sound of waves, but also a rich history, spa architecture, and top-class hotels and restaurants.”

Writing in response to Rob’s video, one TikTok user exclaimed: “It’s a beautiful place, I was there in May. Gdansk is just along the way which is even better. Definitely worth a visit.”

A second person added: “Sopot is a beautiful town and so is neighbouring Gdynia. Both towns are within a short commute of the larger city of Gdansk, which is also a marvel. Very clean environment, moderate prices to eat out and drink and very well worth a visit.”

While a third wrote: “Sopot is stunning, we had a great time earlier this year. We stayed in Gdansk which is about 15 minutes by train. I couldn’t recommend both places enough.”

A savvy shopper has shared the travel essentials she found in Poundland, including 100ml travel-size suncreams and shampoos that are perfect for those travelling with only hand luggage

The prospect of travelling with only hand luggage can fill many holidaymakers with anxiety, prompting them to fork out for hold luggage when their liquids won’t fit in a carry-on bag. The reason, of course, is that when passing through airport security, liquids are restricted to 100ml — which can be a real headache, given that many suncreams come in 250ml bottles, or, even more frustratingly, 125ml — just over the limit.

However, a savvy traveller named Sham has flagged that Poundland stocks “100ml suncreams,” meaning you’ll have “no stress at security” as your liquids will be fully compliant with rules and regulations. Getting through airport security with hand luggage only can actually be a doddle with the right products in tow — and also spares you the nail-biting wait at the baggage carousel, desperately hoping your suitcase has made it to your destination in one piece.

She noted that the mini products are priced at £2, quipping: “We know Poundland’s not all a pound anymore.” Sham revealed that the store stocks suncream, sprays, and even travel-sized shampoos and conditioners — ideal for those heading away long enough to need a hair wash.

She also spotted towel clips for just £1, so you needn’t worry about your towel taking flight if your destination turns out to be a touch on the breezy side. Rounding things off, there was a Malibu fake tan that Sham said she was keen to try before her holiday, adding that she’d heard great things about it — and at just £2, it seemed well worth a go.

In the comments section, one user wrote: “Ah, I need to get to Poundland! Going away soon, so these would be perfect.”

A second chimed in: “Buying s**** to take on holiday is the most British thing ever. You don’t need half that s***, it will be left in the bag in the hotel the whole holiday.”

However, Sham hit back: “It saves a right packet taking the small ones, perfect amount for your hol.” And there’s no denying that SPF is absolutely essential.

NHS advice on keeping yourself safe in the sun

Sunburn increases your risk of skin cancer. And it does not just happen on holiday. You can burn in the UK, even when it’s cloudy.

There’s no safe or healthy way to get a tan. A tan does not protect your skin from the sun’s harmful effects. Aim to strike a balance between protecting yourself from the sun and getting enough vitamin D from sunlight.

Spend time in the shade when the sun is strongest. In the UK, this is between 11am and 3pm from March to October.

You can also check the UV index on a weather app or website. If it’s three or higher, consider protecting your skin.

Make sure you:

• spend time in the shade between 11am and 3pm
• never burn
• cover up with suitable clothing and sunglasses
• take extra care with children
• keep babies under six months out of direct sunlight
• use at least factor 30 sunscreen – make sure to use enough and re-apply frequently

Do not rely on sunscreen alone to protect yourself from the sun. Wear suitable clothing and spend time in the shade when the sun’s at its hottest.

When buying sunscreen, the label should have:

• a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 30 to protect against UVB
• at least four-star UVA protection

UVA protection can also be indicated by the letters “UVA” in a circle, which indicates that it meets the EU standard.

Make sure the sunscreen is not past its expiry date. This is marked by a symbol of an open jar, an M and a number, which shows how many months the sunscreen will last once it’s been opened. Do not spend any longer in the sun than you would without sunscreen.

An HBO miniseries has been hailed as the ‘best of the best’ by fans, who say no show or film compares – and it’s streaming on Amazon Prime and NOW

TV fans have lauded a gripping war drama, calling it “the best of the best” and insisting no other show or film matches it. The series proves perfect for admirers of the popular 2001 American war drama miniseries, Band of Brothers.

So, what’s the show? It’s the seven-part television miniseries Generation Kill, which was produced by HBO and originally broadcast from July 13 to August 24 2008.

It was adapted from Evan Wright’s 2004 book sharing of the same name, which documented his experiences as an embedded reporter accompanying the US Marine Corps’ 1st Reconnaissance Battalion throughout the 2003 invasion of Iraq.

The extensive ensemble cast includes Alexander Skarsgård, Jon Huertas, James Ransone, Lee Tergesen – playing Wright, though characters only address him using nicknames – alongside many others.

The series earned recognition for its authenticity and emphasis on the bizarre circumstances facing Marines navigating prolonged boredom and volatile combat while dealing with questionable administrative decisions from senior command.

These often incompetent decisions – coupled with inadequate communication – result in troops experiencing frustration and confusion, while simultaneously managing constant equipment shortages.

The miniseries additionally captures the camaraderie among Marines and the gallows humour they employed as a survival strategy during such challenging, intense and unpredictable circumstances.

Generation Kill was created by The Wire’s David Simon and Ed Burns and is renowned for its unflinching use of authentic military terminology, while depicting the Marines as genuine, imperfect people rather than the steadfastly patriotic heroes typically portrayed in war films.

Though it originally broadcast on HBO in 2008, the miniseries is now accessible to stream on platforms such as NOW and Amazon Prime, although subscription add-ons are necessary to view through Prime.

Generation Kill continues to receive regular praise from TV fans and holds an impressive 86% rating on popular review-aggregation site Rotten Tomatoes.

One viewer said: “Right up there with Band of Brothers, Peaky Blinders, and The Pacific. The best of the best. First watched this over 12 years ago when it was new, and it’s still the greatest to this day.”

Another agreed: “It’s Band of Brothers during the 2003 Iraq invasion. Great writing and remarkable acting make this one a must watch TV show.”

A third wrote: “The action is a little over-the-top, but the characters, the dialogue and the attitudes all pretty perfectly capture 21st century military life. This is one of HBO’s truly great pieces of art.”

While a fourth said: “The more you watch it, the better it gets. It’s difficult for me to put into words, but to this day I still have not watched any show or even movie as good as this.”

Another shared: “One of my favourite HBO offerings!”

Generation Kill is streaming on Amazon Prime and NOW.

The Lyrid meteor shower was first recorded almost 3,000 years ago by Chinese astronomers.

And they were named after the constellation of Lyra from where the meteors appear to originate and occurs every year from 16 to 25 April, but often peaking around 22 April.

Distinctive features of the Lyrids are their colours and brightness – along with exceptionally bright fireballs from time to time, outshining the planet Venus.

The colours are created by very small dust particles – no bigger than a grain of sand – interacting with the particles and ions in Earth’s atmosphere.

As the grains heat up and ionise, they produce the light we can see with the trail produced as the meteor cools and fades.

Fireballs are made when larger pieces of debris – more like the size of a grape or an acorn – pass though the atmosphere. As they are so much bigger when they heat up they create a flash and a line, often called a train, behind them.

While the Lyrid meteor shower is visible every year, Comet Thatcher takes 415 years to complete its orbit of the Sun and won’t be visible again until 2283.