Idyllic

This small seaside town has had to install a park and ride due to the sheer number of visitors, and its narrow, winding streets are a difficult place to find a parking spot in the summer holidays

If you’ve ever taken the kids to a seaside town or popular attraction during the six week summer holidays, you’ll know the pain of driving around in circles looking for a spot.

A lot of tourist hotspots, such as beach towns, have old, narrow roads, and often, car parking is expensive and a long walk away from any attractions. It’s one of the most annoying things about trying to enjoy a day out in the summer.

A new study, which looked at parking across the UK’s seaside towns and tourist hotspots during the summer break claims it has found the worst place to find a parking space during this time.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, the worst place to park is in Cornwall, which, as a county, welcomes around four million overnight visitors and 14 million day trippers a year. The pretty fishing town of St Ives took the top spot, with a huge number of visitors heading to its beach or art galleries finding it tough to grab a parking spot.

The study, carried out by Indigo Car Hire, looked at average parking costs, the number of parking spots per 1,000 visitors, and the number of car parks within a mile of the town centre. It also looked at the number of Google reviews that mentioned tourists facing parking problems.

These factors were then scored out of 100, with St Ives easily topping the list with 92 out of 100. A recent TripAdvisor review said: “Felt we should visit as we’re in Cornwall for a week, but having failed to find any parking anywhere we were glad to get out.”

Another claimed: “We had to re-attempt visiting St Ives due to a lack of parking. In order to park we had to come between 8am-9am, just FYI. Locals are very friendly and try to help.” While one said it was a “Very nice place with lots of restaurants and shops, but totally crowded with tourists in July. You can hardly find a parking space which are very expensive!”

But the small town is tackling its parking issues. Visit St Ives has tips on where to park when visiting, and recommends either using a park and ride car park just outside the town, or parking at nearby St Erth station and taking the St Ives Bay Line, a 15-minute train ride that gives you incredible coastal views as you arrive at the town.

St Ives wasn’t the only Cornish spot to make the list. Padstow came in fourth, while Newquay came in tenth. In second place the seaside town of Whitby in North Yorkshire scored 89 out of 100 for poor parking, with some visitors parking at the neighbouring village of Sandsend and braving the 45-minute walk into town.

A recent review said: “We saw car parks, but they were totally full no matter what time of day it was, same with the on-street parking near the front.” While another claimed there was “plenty of parking. However very expensive. £2.60 for an hour.”

Cherie Carter, managing director at Indigo Car Hire, said: “According to an RAC survey earlier this year, a third of drivers struggle with parking anxiety. The aim from this study is not to discourage drivers from visiting hotspots like St Ives or Whitby, but to help travellers enjoy their summer break with fewer unexpected frustrations when they arrive.”

Top 10 worst places for parking in the six-week holidays

1. St Ives, Cornwall – 92/100
2. Whitby, North Yorkshire – 89/100
3. Tenby, Wales – 87/100
4. Padstow, Cornwall – 85/100
5. Salcombe, Devon – 82/100
6. Southwold, Suffolk – 80/100
7. Bournemouth, Dorset – 79/100
8. Brighton, East Sussex – 77/100
9. Robin Hood’s Bay, North Yorkshire – 76/100
10. Newquay, Cornwall – 75/100

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The island of 32,000 is not one on the British holidaymakers’ Greek trail, at least not when compared to the likes of Crete, Cyprus or Mykonos

Jet2 has just begun flying to a beautiful Greek island home to rugged mountains, cobblestone alleys and fresh waterfalls.

In May 2026, the budget airline launched a new flight route from the UK to Samos, becoming only the second airline to offer direct flights to the island, after TUI.

From May to the end of October, Jet2 will be flying twice weekly from Manchester Airport, London Stansted and Birmingham to Samos, with fares from £48.

The island of 32,000 is not one on the British holidaymakers’ Greek trail, at least not when compared to the likes of Crete, Cyprus or Mykonos. But there are plenty of reasons why a visit to Samos is a great idea.

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For one, it’s a place of serious historical pedigree, home as it is to two UNESCO World Heritage Sites of Pythagoreion and Heraion, and as the supposed birthplace of the Greek goddess Hera.

Zeus’s sister/wife is far from the only famous child Samos has to shout about. It is also the birthplace of the Greek philosopher and mathematician Pythagoras, the philosophers Melissus of Samos and Epicurus, and the astronomer Aristarchus of Samos, the first known person to suggest that the Earth revolves around the Sun.

Samos is one of the greenest Greek islands, and its nature is genuinely impressive. It is quite different from the more barren, sun-bleached look of many other Aegean islands.

Forests and mountains are a big part of that. Much of the island is covered in dense pine and cypress forests, and Mount Kerkis dominates the western end, rising to around 1,434 metres. It’s one of the highest peaks in the Aegean and is popular with serious hikers. The summit trail takes about 5–6 hours round trip.

Rivers and waterfalls are unusual for a Greek island, yet Samos has several. The most famous is the Potami waterfall near Karlovasi in the west, where a river flows through a gorge shaded by plane trees into a series of cascading pools you can swim in. It’s one of the most scenic spots on the island.

Beaches range from busy, sandy coves to wild, pebbly stretches backed by cliffs. Psili Ammos in the east has fine golden sand, while spots like Mikro Seitani and Megalo Seitani on the northwest coast are only reachable on foot or by boat.

Antasia Nalmpanti is the general manager of Casa Cook Samos, a hotel on the island with rooms from €243.

She told the Mirror: “Samos is one of those rare Greek islands that still feels genuinely undiscovered – and that’s a big part of what makes it so special. Unlike many Mediterranean destinations, it hasn’t been shaped by mass tourism; the pace is slower, the landscape is wilder, and the locals are incredibly welcoming.

“Our hotel, Casa Cook Samos, was designed to mirror exactly that spirit – inspired by the architecture of a traditional Samian village, nestled between lush hillsides and the Aegean, with private beach access and a restaurant that genuinely tastes of the island. Guests arrive looking for something real and unspoiled. Samos delivers that, every single time.

“At Casa Cook Samos, our goal is also to bring people together and revive the spirit of parea – the Greek tradition of sharing moments, stories, food, and connection, just as people once gathered around the village square. Guests can experience this feeling at our Parea Bar, where conversations flow naturally, and during our Samian Dinner, where a local yiayia joins us to prepare traditional dishes and share the island’s culinary heritage. It’s these authentic moments of togetherness that make a stay on Samos truly memorable.“

A picturesque walking route in the UK with award-winning gardens and views of a breathtaking castle has been praised as being just like a ‘fairytale’

A “real-life fairytale” destination in the South of England could be just what you need. We all crave an escape from the chaos of city living every now and then, and if you’re on the hunt for somewhere in the South of England to visit that is tranquil and peaceful, then a stroll through these breathtaking castle grounds could be exactly what the doctor ordered.

Getting out into nature can work wonders for both our physical and mental health, and the UK is brimming with stunning locations perfect for a leisurely walk. One particularly enchanting route, complete with magnificent gardens and awe-inspiring castle views, has recently been making waves on social media – and it’s located in the heart of West Sussex.

A Sussex-based couple, Cat and Nathan, shared the walk on their TikTok account, describing it as “a real-life fairytale” that they had no idea had been “on their doorstep” for years.

The destination in question is Arundel Castle, a beautifully restored and remodelled medieval fortress nestled in Arundel, West Sussex. It features spectacular gardens that visitors can explore at their own pace, and you can also venture inside the castle itself – or simply admire its magnificent exterior from the grounds.

Arundel Castle currently holds the Historic Houses Garden of the Year Award, having claimed the title back in November last year. Spanning an impressive 38 acres, the grounds are divided into a number of distinct areas, including a tropical garden, a rose garden, a wildflower garden, and a kitchen garden bursting with fresh fruits and vegetables.

It’s not solely about the blooms, however, as there are numerous striking landscape features, amongst them the Earl’s Garden, complete with Italianate terraces, pergolas, and the recently refurbished Antler’s Temple.

In the caption accompanying their video, Cat and Nathan wrote: “Can’t believe this has been on our doorstep for years. Honestly, this was the most beautiful day, seeing the castle up close and walking around the grounds, just wow. I’d definitely recommend bringing a picnic on a nice summer’s day, too!”

Viewers of the couple’s footage were left speechless by the breathtaking scenery captured in the clip, with many enquiring about how to visit. Those already familiar with the castle even jokingly urged the pair to take the video down, insisting they’d rather keep their tranquil retreat to themselves.

One viewer commented: “I went last week, and I try to go every year for the tulip festival. It’s just so beautifully stunning.”

Another added: “Absolutely amazing, just peace all the way through.”

A third posted: “Wow it looks so beautiful and peaceful! I have to add it to my list of places to visit.”

Getting to Arundel Castle will depend on where you live, but if you’re coming from London, it couldn’t be easier – and it only takes a little over an hour. Head to Victoria Station and board the Southern service towards Bognor Regis, getting off at Arundel. The journey takes approximately 1 hour and 20 minutes, with a leisurely 15-minute stroll from the station to the castle gates.

Admission to Arundel Castle comes at a cost, with pricing varying depending on what you’d like to experience. A combined ticket covering both the castle and its grounds will set you back £29 for adults and £13 for children. If you’d rather skip the castle itself, garden-only tickets are available at £17 for adults and £8 per child.

The castle gardens welcome visitors between 10am and 5pm, with last entry at 4pm. Do note that the gardens are shut on Mondays, with the exception of bank holidays and throughout August, when they remain open seven days a week.