Kevin Doyle

One ancient town dubbed ‘the Pearl of the Black Sea’ has beautiful cobblestone streets, and affordable food and drinks

An ancient Bulgarian town has been crowned the cheapest beach destination for Brits – boasting white sandy beaches, UNESCO listing and pints costing less than £2.

Nessebar, on a small peninsula in Bulgaria, has been named the best-value beach in the new easyJet ‘Cheap Beach Index’ thanks to its dependable ‘shoulder-season’ deals on flights and hotels and affordable hospitality.

Dubbed the “Pearl of the Black Sea”, Nessebar blends together rich history, culture and seaside charm. It delights visitors each year with its charming cobblestone streets in its UNESCO-listed old town and a famous seafood scene.

Nipping at its heels is the Budva Riviera in Montenegro, which boasts a range of idyllic beaches along a 35 kilometre stretch of the Adriatic coast in western Montenegro.

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Cruising into third place is the Costa de Almería in Spain that’s known for Europe’s only desert Tabernas Desert and its golden beaches.

Further down the table, value keeps rolling in destinations like Zadar and Nin in Croatia, Costa Blanca and Costa del Sol in Spain and Halkidiki in Greece.

These sun-soaked destinations pair clear seas with competitive apartment and hotel prices, meaning a seven-night stay rarely breaks the bank.

Kevin Doyle, easyJet’s UK Country Manager, said: “With summer behind us, there’s plenty of opportunities to still find great weather in early autumn across Europe.

“With thousands of flights across hundreds of routes from the UK throughout September, it means great value beach breaks are still available across Europe.

“Our unrivalled network of flights across the continent provides direct links from many UK airports to a whole host of great value, sun-friendly beach breaks on a budget.

“Our Cheap Beach Index offers a great variety of value choices for passengers looking for one last dose of summer sun and fun.”

The top 20 table was compiled by analysing areas within easy reach of airports that offer affordable direct routes to the UK. Each destination is priced on the basis of a typical holiday ‘basket’ that includes criteria such as the price of beer, an ice cream and a family meal out.

The index comes ahead of the start of ‘shoulder season’, from mid-September through to October. With many European destinations still offering warm conditions and airline schedules still operating at near-peak summer levels, the ‘shoulder’ is proving a popular option for many who aren’t ready to see the summer go.

For more information, please visit easyJet – Book Cheap Flights and Holidays

Downton Abbey is back for one final movie – with the likes of Hugh Bonneville, Michelle Dockery, Jim Carter, Phyllis Logan and Joanne Froggatt all returning for the movie sequel

Downton Abbey has given fans a first look at the final movie trailer. The cast of the hit ITV show, which was turned into a movie franchise, is back for one last time – with many of the famous faces gracing out screens again.

Hugh Bonneville, Michelle Dockery, Elizabeth McGovern and Paul Giamatti are all back for the movie alongside Penelope Wilton, Jim Carter, Phyllis Logan, Laura Carmichael and Harry Hadden-Pato.

Joanne Froggatt, Allen Leech, Robert James-Collier, Lesley Nicol and Sophie McShera complete the cast alongside Raquel Cassidy, Kevin Doyle, Michael Fox, Dominic West, Arty Froushan, Joely Richardson and Douglass Reith.

The grand finale of Downton Abbey will see the Crawley family and their staff navigate the 1930s. Mary is front and centre as she navigates a public scandal whilst the family face financial issues.

Elsewhere, the whole household struggles with the fall out as the family must face change as they prepare for a new chapter – but what does the family face and how will it all end for the Crawleys and their staff?

Simon Curtis has directed the movie, whilst creator Julian Fellowes has done the screenplay. He will also produce alongside Gareth Neame and Liz Trubridge and Nigel Marchant is executive producer.

Joanne – who plays Anna Bates – previously admitted it was going to be hard to say goodbye to her character for good.

“Oh my goodness, it’s going to be hard! We’ve said goodbye a few times, thinking, ‘This is the end’, at the end of the seasons. Then we did one movie and we wondered if we’d get a second movie.

“This really is, the third and final, so this really is goodbye. It’s going to be emotional, but all good things must come to an end, I suppose,” she said.

Joanne also teased a “full circle” moment in the final film. She said: “We come to the core of the family and the servants, what the future will be and looking back at where the family have got to now. It’s a beautiful full-circle moment that it comes to at the end.

“There was a stage where reality TV came in and it was all the rage. There wasn’t much drama being made in the UK.

“That was sad but then eventually it came good again and Downton Abbey was one of the first shows to sort of bring back the eagerness for good drama. It’s been amazing to ride it all out and still be around to tell the tale.”

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