ONE destination in the Midlands known as the ‘City of Kings’ thanks to its links to the Crown.
It’s had connections to royalty throughout history, both fictional and in real-life – plus for visitors, it has some great attractions.
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Leicester has links to royalty throughout history – and it’s the resting place of King Richard IIICredit: AlamyThe Jewry Wall is one of the largest remaining Roman structures in BritainCredit: Alamy
The city of Leicester is the final resting place ofKing Richard IIIand the birthplace of the Shakespeare’s mythical King Leir.
Other attractions include the King Richard III Visitors Centre, and the King Power Stadium.
Another popular attraction is Jewry Wall Museum, which immerses visitors in the stories of Roman Leicester – and it reopened after renovations earlier this year.
It’s where you can see Jewry Wall which was once part of a public bathhouse and it’s one of the largest surviving Roman masonry structures in Britain.
Inside the museum are plenty of Roman artefacts from soldiers’ helmet pieces to brooches and rings.
Tickets for adults are £12.50, those for children between 5-15 are £6.25 – families can get group tickets for £32.
The city in the Midlands is known for many things – but one must-see is the National Space Centre.
Most read in Best of British
The museum is the number one attraction in Leicester followed by Tropical Birdland and the Retro Computer Museum.
The National Space Centre is not just top in Leicester, it’s the UK’s leading visitor attractions dedicated to space science and astronomy.
National Space Centre in Leicester is the top attraction on TripadvisorCredit: Osborne Hollis Ltd.You can see the space centre for miles thanks to its Rocket TowerCredit: Alamy
It has interactive exhibits throughout the year and the UK’s largest planetarium.
Heading into the city, you’ll be able to spot it thanks to Rocket Tower – which is 42 metres high.
It has Blue Streak and Thor Able rockets, as well as the Gagarin Experience, Apollo Lunar Lander and real Moon Rock.
For those who want even more, stay for Space Lates — exclusive evenings of talks, activities, and galleries.
Entry for adults starts from £20.95, tickets for children between 5-16 are £18.95.
This much-mocked UK city is set to be huge next year – according to National Geographic…
According toNational Geographic, one of ‘best places in the world to travel to in 2026’ isHull– all thanks to its lively bar scene, award-winning aquarium, and completion of a huge project costing millions.
National Geographic has named it as one of the best places in the entire world to visit next year, but it’s not always been so up and coming. For example in Hull took top spot in the book Crap Towns: The 50 Worst Places to Live in the UK back in 2003.
However, it’s set to become more popular in 2026, and National Geographic mentioned that one of the reasons why is Hull’s investment into conserving its rich maritime history.
Hull was a very important trade route during the 13th and 14th centuries. Thanks to this, you can see Dutch-influenced architecture buildings that line the streets of the quaint Old Town.
Since 2020, the Maritime Museum has been undergoing a huge revamp worth £11million, but it will finally reopen to the public next year. This has been part of a wider £27.5 million project to promote Hull’s maritime history which has gone into restoring the museum and ships.
Another reason is the city’s new leisure spots that have transformed warehouses and the old waterside Fruit Market to become bars, restaurants, and art galleries.
The publication added: “There’s also a spectacular performance amphitheater, called Stage@TheDok, overlooking River Hull where it meets the Humber Estuary.
“And a former shipyard has for over 20 years been the base for The Deep, one of the United Kingdom’s most highly respected aquariums and marine conservation centers.”
Just a 15–20 minutes transfer from the airport, Hundfjället is easy to get to and simple to navigate.
The resort is designed with families in mind.
This means features such as Valle the Snowman and Trollskogen, an enchanting forest filled with wooden trolls and storybook creatures as children make their way down the slopes.
And when having a break from skiing, children can enjoy tubing, mini snowmobiles, or relaxing at the hotel’s spa.
Seven nights at SkiStar Lodge Hundfjället with return flights, 20kg hold luggage and transfers from £1,233pp.
Best for Beginners
Soldeu, Andorra
Soldeu offers calm, family-friendly skiing, with the main gondola taking visitors straight to nursery slopes and the ski school.
Wide green and blue runs through the trees make progression easy.
And younger kids can build confidence in the playful Baba Boom Circus area, complete with obstacles and fun features.
Seven nights at Apartamentos Prat De Les Molleres with return flights, 23kg hold luggage and transfers from £1,615pp.
Rauris, Austria
A peaceful, compact resort, Rauris is perfect for first-time skiers.
Everything is within walking distance – from family-run accommodation to the gondola and ski school.
Children can learn on the nursery slopes, progress to gentle blue runs with panoramic views, or have fun on the mini racetrack.
Off-slope activities include sleigh rides, ice climbing, and snowshoeing under the stars.
Seven nights at Hotel Rauriserhof with return flights, 20kg hold luggage and transfers from £997pp.
Soldeu has lots of blue and green runsCredit: Getty
Best for Alpine Charm & Comfort
Obergurgl, Austria
High in the Austrian Alps, Obergurgl combines alpine charm with family convenience.
Quiet slopes and excellent ski schools help children gain confidence quickly, while parents enjoy high-quality hotels, hearty Tyrolean cuisine, and stunning mountain views.
Family-friendly facilities like pools and playrooms add extra appeal, and reliable snow cover keeps everyone happy all season.
Seven nights at Obergurgl, Austria with return flights, 20kg hold luggage and transfers from £1,967pp.
Flaine, France
Flaine has both sunny slopes and reliable snow, ideal for beginners and families.
Kids can enjoy Crystal Childcare while exploring beginner areas, and there’s plenty to keep everyone entertained off the slopes – from ice skating and bowling to magical dog sled rides.
And with accommodation near the lifts it ensures a smooth and comfortable stay.
Seven nights at Dormio Resort Les Portes du Grand Massif with return flights, 20kg hold luggage and transfers from £1,770pp.
Obergurgl has great ski schoolsCredit: AlamyAnd Flaine has lots of hotels near the slopes so you don’t have to go too farCredit: Getty
Best for Off-Slope Fun
Zell am See, Austria
Set beside a pretty lake, Zell am See combines scenic beauty with family-friendly adventures.
Kids can ski in Schmidolin’s Dragon Park, with themed fun runs and a dragon mascot.
Families can also enjoy sleigh rides, an alpine rollercoaster, and explore the lively lakeside town.
It even has one of Austria’s largest ski schools, so the resort caters to all abilities.
Seven nights Boutique Hotel Martha with return flights, 23kg hold luggage and transfers from £1,164pp.
La Plagne, France
La Plagne is perfect for families that want a more gentle terrain with beginner-friendly runs.
But there is lots to do off the slopes too including ice skating, igloo villages, and even an ice grotto on the glacier.
There is a huge variety of accommodation options and welcoming resorts ensure comfort for all ages.
Seven nights at Premium Residence Les Hauts Bois, Plagne Aime 2000 with return flights, 20kg hold luggage and transfers from £507pp.
Make sure to try the red cable car lift in Zell am SeeCredit: GettyLe Plagne is great for beginnersCredit: Getty
OUR Spotlight On column rounds up the best things to see and do in top holiday destinations – and shines a light on some lesser-known spots too.
This week we’re spotlighting Belfast – the Northern Irish capital bursting with charm, heritage and plenty of good craic!
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The Grand Central hotel has the best views over the city, including the grand City HallCredit: The Grand Central Hotel BelfastThe Cathedral Quarter is home to the colourful Commercial Court, or “Umbrella Street”Credit: Jenna Stevens
Travel Writer Jenna Stevens recently spent a weekend in the city centre, and is wondering why she didn’t visit sooner.
She said: “Belfast wasn’t on my bucket list, but after going I can’t believe I overlooked it. I’m convinced it’ll be the next go-to city for weekend breaks.
“Flights only cost £15 with Ryanair, and they’re so quick you barely have time to have a drink and stretch your legs before you’re landing again.
“The city’s got some amazing architecture, like the grand city hall and cathedral that watches over the city with its signature spire poking out.
“The food scene in Belfast is criminally underrated too – local pubs served up some of the best seafood I’ve ever had.
“The Afternoon Tea at the Grand Central Hotel was miles better than The Shard.
“It had loads of unique tea flavours such as lemon smoothie, and plenty of well-stuffed sandwiches to go round.
“Plus, the Causeway Coast is breath-taking and under an hour’s drive from Belfast.
“It’s worth extending your trip, hiring a car and driving up the entire coast to see dramatic cliffs and Game of Thronesfilming locations – not just a day trip to the Giant’s Causeway.
Must see and do
Head to McConnell’s Whiskey Distillery for a tour that blends history, culture and some fantastic local flavours.
The Cathedral is huge and even has its own spireCredit: Jenna StevensMcConnell’s has a new home in the former A-Wing of Crumlin Road GaolCredit: Jenna StevensThe McConnell’s distillery teaches you all about the making of Irish whiskeyCredit: Jenna Stevens
Housed in the former Crumlin Road Gaol, the £25 experience begins with a welcome drink and a guided tasting of three spirits.
You’ll get to walk over the eerie markings of old prison cells, whilst seeing how whiskey is crafted from grain to glass.
The most memorable part of my visit, however, was the black cab tour.
Our cab driver, Billy, gave us a comprehensive overview of the city’s history, and drove us through a series of murals and past the Peace Walls.
It’s an excellent way to learn more about the city through the eyes of a local.
The Black Cab Tour was a great way to both see the city and learn about its historyCredit: Jenna Stevens
Else, take a stroll through the Cathedral Quarter, where cobbled streets buzz with street art and live music.
Hidden gem
Belfast lies partly in County Antrim, home to the stunning Causeway Coast.
In an hour’s drive you can discover the breath-taking coastline: from the dramatic rope bridge at Carrick-a-Rede to the sweeping sands of White Park Bay.
Head to Glenariff Forest Park for panoramic landscapes and an enchanting waterfall walk.
The views of Glenariff Forest Park were worth the drive – and the wind!Credit: Jenna StevensThe waterfall walk is a great way to see the park in all its gloryCredit: Jenna Stevens
You can even book a tour with a forest guide, who will tell you all about the area and its wildlife.
And if hiking’s not your thing, you can simply sit in the park’s cafe with a cup of tea to soak up the emerald green landscape.
Best view
For a striking view that makes you think, visit Titanic Belfast.
From here, you can look out over the historic slipways and docks where the liner was built and launched – a backdrop that transports you back in time.
Titanic Belfast is an impressive and moving attractionCredit: Jenna StevensThe views over the slipways bring a sense of scale to the Titanic as you learn all about its launchCredit: Titanic Belfast
After taking in the sheer scale of the ship from the slipway markings, the attraction itself becomes even more meaningful.
Here you can even step aboard the SS Nomadic – the White Star Line ship that ferried passengers to the Titanic itself.
The walk through takes a couple of hours, and is fascinating, immersive and deeply moving.
Rated restaurant
Mourne Seafood Bar is renowned for its ultra-fresh, locally sourced fish.
From seafood casserole to creamy mussels with crusty bread, the menu champions seasonal flavours.
The seafood at Mourne is fresh and full of flavourCredit: Jenna StevensThe Afternoon Tea at The Grand Central is delicious and beats what I’ve had in EnglandCredit: Jenna StevensThe Observatory offers panoramic views over Belfast cityCredit: Jenna Stevens
Casual, welcoming and full of maritime charm, it’s the go-to spot for seafood lovers in Belfast.
If seafood’s not your thing, I recommend heading to Amelia Hall for delicious and generous portions of creamy pasta and freshly made pizza.
Best bar
Ask anyone in Belfast and they’ll say it’s hard to find a bad pint – and they’re right.
But the name that continually crops up the most amongst locals is Kelly’s Cellars.
After lots of Guinness, it was time for a refreshing ciderCredit: Jenna StevensKelly’s Cellars is a truly traditional pubCredit: Jenna Stevens
One of the oldest pubs in Belfast, the low-beamed interior is warm and welcoming, alive with chatter and perfectly-poured pints.
Once hosting icons from Churchill to the Beatles, today it continues to impress the modern guest with sleek rooms and city views.
The Grand Central Hotel oozes luxury – yet its an affordable stay when booked in advanceCredit: The Grand Central Hotel BelfastThe interior of the Grand Central is sleek, stylish and modernCredit: The Grand Central Hotel BelfastThe views from the rooms are second-to-noneCredit: The Grand Central Hotel Belfast
Head to The Observatory, Ireland’s tallest bar, for cocktails or afternoon tea with the skyline shimmering below.
RUFUS WAINWRIGHT has never been an artist to repeat himself.
With a diverse back catalogue, the Canadian singer’s latest project sees him dive into the world of Kurt Weill with the Pacific Jazz Orchestra, releasing an album following a string of concerts.
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I’m A Stranger Here Myself: Wainwright Does Weill is a richly dramatic and stylish collection that breathes new life into the German composer’s timeless songs from the 1920s-40s.
Rufus tells Jacqui Swift about finding new meaning in the music and why now felt like the right moment to record it . . .
WHEN did you first hear Kurt Weill songs, and which means the most? I first heard his songs after buying an album I saw in a record store when I was about 13 that looked super cool.
It was a funky lady, smoking a cigarette with a big smile. That was Kurt Weill’s wife Lotte Lenya [the album was called Lotte Lenya Sings American Theatre Songs Of Kurt Weill].
So it was really Lotte’s picture that got me going first.
Surabaya Johnny is my favourite Kurt Weill song. It’s a song I wish I’d written.
How did his songs influence your own writing and performance? He was a fan of drama and atmosphere – two elements which I definitely incorporate in my own work.
And I love how he’s willing to tackle the troubling subjects of the day, something I’ve never shied away from.
How do you approach a song like Mack The Knife and make it your own? My strategy was to combine the German version and the Bobby Darin version to have a kind of mid-Atlantic version.
I don’t usually have trouble with that, because my voice is so bizarre that everything I sing always ends up sounding like a Rufus Wainwright song.
Did any song surprise you once you started working on its arrangement? It Never Was You was a song I always overlooked and felt it just didn’t touch me.
But certainly, after my mother passed away I looked at it in a whole new light.
How are you balancing staying true to Weill while bringing your own personality and style? The thing about this whole project is that it’s great, but it’s also incredibly tragic.
Kurt Weill died at 50. I started doing these songs and performing them professionally when I was 50.
In a lot of ways, I feel like I’m transferring a lot of his spirit into his latter days, an age that he wasn’t able to really experience.
So I feel responsible for giving him a little bit more time on the earth.
When did you realise your live performance of these songs should be an album? Really, when we got there, after we heard the recordings.
None of this was ever intended to be a record.
We all just did it off the cuff and decided to record it last minute.
But once we listened to the tracks, we realised that there was something really special there, especially considering that the songs were written during a very troubling time politically.
This is a good moment to put that type of material out, since we are also in deep water at the moment.
How did the Pacific Jazz Orchestra come on board? They made the initial offer. I had sung some Kurt Weill songs at the Carlyle Hotel in New York for a small residency.
Then they came to me and said, ‘You know, we’d love to do something with you. Anything’.
And I put two and two together.
I’m A Stranger Here Myself: Wainwright Does Weill is a richly dramatic and stylish collection that breathes new life into the German composer’s timeless songsCredit: Miranda Penn Turin
Your back catalogue is diverse and varied. Where does this work fit in? I consider my catalogue, my career and my life, in many ways, to be a tree that has many, many branches.
I would say this is connected to it.
Let’s say this is a sprouting flower from a twig.
Was this one of your most challenging projects? It was, but mainly because I was doing so much around it.
I was producing a musical in the West End called Opening Night and also putting the finishing touches on my Dream Requiem, which was to be premiered in Paris after this concert.
So yeah, I was spread super, super thin, and it was incredibly challenging, but that adds a manic energy to the performance, which works well with his material.
You can’t be too rested when you sing Kurt Weill.
What’s next? I’m shutting down the shop. I’m 100 per cent working on a new pop record.
I need to go back to my bread and butter and see what the kids are up to and take one more swipe at it.
You played Want One and Want Two for BBC Proms, was that night as special for you as it was for the audience? Yeah, it’s always special doing those records.
They represent such a pivotal moment in my life and they really made me who I am today.
Any more special performances of these albums in the future? I’ll do one periodically, here and there, for sure.
“PAUL will say to me, ‘There’s only four of us – now sadly two of us – who know what it’s like to be in The Beatles’.”
So says Giles Martin, producer son of late producer, Sir George Martin, who some call “The Fifth Beatle”.
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Ringo Starr, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and John Lennon in artwork for Anthology CollectionThe newly expanded The Beatles Anthology music collection will bring more insight into the lives of the Fab FourRingo, Paul and George with producer George Martin in 1995Credit: AP:Associated Press
For the past 20 years, Giles has been one of the chief keepers of The Beatles flame, involved in myriad releases from the band’s archive.
The latest project to summon his skills is the one which, arguably, gets to the beating heart of The Fab Four more than any other — The Beatles Anthology.
We’ll hear much more from Giles later but, to set the scene, let’s wind back to 1995 and catch what drummer Ringo has to say with his usual cheery charm.
“Now you can hear it from us,” he affirms. “Paul, George and myself — and old footage of John, of course — telling what it felt like to be a Beatle.”
In 1995, it is 25 years after The Beatles split and 15 since the shocking assassination of John Lennon, and it is time for the world’s most famous band to tell their story.
Over the previous four years, Macca, Ringo and George Harrison have been busy masterminding Anthology, a wildly ambitious, groundbreaking (you wouldn’t expect anything less) multimedia project.
By using their own words, film and, of course, their immortal songs, they are in a unique position to reveal all — from the horse’s mouth.
Here’s their chance to revisit their humble origins in Liverpool, cutting their teeth at the city’s Cavern Club and in the music dives of Hamburg.
They can relive having a first hit single, Love Me Do, Beatlemania, leading the British Invasion of the US, making madcap films like Help! and their eventual retreat from the live arena.
They can share views on creating their psychedelic masterpiece, Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, the spiritual quest which leads them to India, their final studio hurrah, Abbey Road, and the various reasons behind them going their separate ways in 1970.
This all results in an eight-episode documentary series filled with archive footage and candid interviews, three double albums of demos, alternate takes and snatches of spoken word and, later, an illuminating book.
Now, in 2025 to mark the project’s 30th anniversary, we are being treated to an additional ninth episode of the series and a fourth volume of music.
For his part, Giles Martin has created new audio mixes for most of the music featured on film, remastered the original LPs and curated the new album of 36 songs (13 previously unreleased).
Episode 9 presents unseen glimpses of Paul, George and Ringo coming together in 1994 and ’95 to reflect on life as members of the Fab Four.
Time, they say, is a great healer and the atmosphere is relaxed and friendly, the three clearly enjoying each other’s company with some of the old banter returning.
We’ve heard from Ringo but what does Macca have to say about it?
“We decided we might try to do the definitive story of The Beatles, seeing as other people had had a go at it.
“We thought it might be good from the inside out rather than from the outside in.”
The good thing about Anthology is that it’s four of us, even though John’s not here, he is here. He’s represented, he talks — it’s old interviews and stuff.
Paul McCartney
“I think it’s been nice for us and the public just to forget about The Beatles for a while, let the dust settle, and now come back to it with a fresh point of view.”
And it’s up to the “quiet” Beatle, not so quiet in this setting, to sum up the band’s immortality.
“We’ll go on and on,” continues Harrison, “on those records and films and videos and books and in people’s memories and minds.
“The Beatles have just become their own thing now. The Beatles, I think, exist without us.”
Of course it was all done with a gaping Lennon-shaped hole but Paul, George and Ringo are hugely mindful of their fallen comrade who they clearly miss very much.
“The good thing about Anthology is that it’s four of us,” says McCartney. “Even though John’s not here, he is here. He’s represented, he talks — it’s old interviews and stuff.”
Harrison adds: “I feel sorry for John because the Beatles went through a lot of good times but also went through some turbulent times.
“And, as everybody knows, when we split up, everybody was a bit fed up with each other.
“But for Ringo, Paul and I, we’ve had the opportunity to have all that go down the river and under the bridge and to get together again in a new light. I feel sorry that John wasn’t able to do that.”
‘Unfinished business’
One of the key elements of Episode 9 is how the three Beatles make new music together under the watchful eye of the Electric Light Orchestra’s Jeff Lynne, a fellow member of the Traveling Wilburys supergroup with Harrison.
Using Lennon demos from the 1970s, given to them by his partner Yoko Ono, they finish Free As A Bird and Real Love, employing John’s vocals backed by their vibrant new arrangements.
Quite simply, it’s the nearest thing we’ll ever get to a full Beatles reunion.
Watching Paul, George and Ringo playing and singing along to John’s vocals is captivating, some of the old spark clearly etched on their faces.
The affable Giles Martin, who I meet in Leicester Square this week and not at his usual stomping ground, Abbey Road Studios, has this take on the Anthology footage.
“From talking to Paul and knowing him as much as I do, and from talking to Ringo, I know that the other Beatles were the favourite musicians that they ever played with.
George Martin’s son Giles, above, reveals intimate details of his father’s relationship with members of the iconic bandCredit: GettyThe Beatles Anthology CollectionCredit: Refer to source
“Forget personalities, it was purely about being in a band — the best band they’d ever been in.
“After they broke up, and I include my dad in this, they were looking for each other the whole time.
“That’s the truth of the matter. I know that Paul misses my dad, and I know that Paul misses John.”
So, in approaching Anthology, he clearly wanted to show how songs evolved. A bit of studio banter, all that kind of stuff
Giles Martin on his father George
This brings Giles to a significant moment during the completion of Now And Then, The Beatles’ final single.
“I remember doing the string parts, and being with Paul,” he recalls. “He said, ‘That’s George playing the guitar again. Let’s listen to that because I want to respect what he’s doing, because he’s got great ideas’.”
The original Anthology project wasn’t just a reunion for three Beatles but also for George Martin who came back into the fold to curate the double albums released on three separate dates between late ’95 and late ’96.
Giles says: “My dad loved The Beatles — and he loved spending more time with them.
“What I find interesting is the vulnerability on display, my dad included. Because no one else talked to them like that.”
Being a Beatle or even The Beatles’ revered producer means that, out of respect, us mere mortals are not given to taking the p*ss. Seeing Harrison’s quip to McCartney, “Hello mate, vegetarian leather jacket?”, is a laugh-out-loud moment.
Paul, with his famously meat-free diet, replies: “Yes it is. And my boots are vegetarian leather boots!”
There’s a great scene where the band describe putting “uppers” in a teapot to get George Martin and engineer Geoff Emerick to keep going and stay late into the evening for a session at Abbey Road.
“My dad always denied it but he wouldn’t have known,” says Giles. “It was probably some sort of amphetamine or caffeine.
“He used to say that, with each passing year, The Beatles started work an hour later.”
You might imagine that the producer, with his schoolmasterly image and close attention to detail, was a perfectionist.
But Giles says: “I don’t think he was a perfectionist — although he was upset at me once for not measuring out Pimm’s properly!
“The music wouldn’t have sounded like it did, fresh and alive, if he had been one.
“So, in approaching Anthology, he clearly wanted to show how songs evolved. A bit of studio banter, all that kind of stuff.”
Giles adds that The Beatles were on board with this, seeing it rather like “a trawl through the photographs that don’t make it into the family album”.
‘Close to John’
“A good example is [the early version of] Yellow Submarine with John originally coming up with the idea and singing, ‘In the town where I was born, no one cared, no one cared’.
“Obviously, that was not right for Ringo to sing so Paul got involved and they changed it, developing it into the Yellow Submarine that children sang in schoolyards.”
I ask Giles to describe his father’s relationship with each of the four Beatles and he begins with Lennon.
“He was very close to John to begin with, because John was perceived as leader of the band.
My dad and Ringo always loved each other. Ringo was an ardent fan and he was also the glue which kept things together.
Giles on his father’s relationship with Ringo Starr
“He was the older one out of Lennon and McCartney and they were like the two favourite children which George felt rather bitter about.”
On Anthology Vol. 4, you hear the producer calmly encouraging Lennon to sing rehearsals of the White Album song Julia, about his mother who died when he was just 17. Both agree that it’s a “very hard” song to sing.
Giles maintains that, as The Beatles’ journey progressed, his dad’s dealings with Lennon changed.
“John wanted things to be immediate, to be rock and roll, but my dad’s process was different. Then it annoyed him when John went with Phil Spector [for Let It Be] and all that multi-layered stuff.”
If Lennon made wayward comments after the band split up, an encounter just before he died helped heal the wounds.
Giles says: “In 1980, John contacted my dad, who went to see him at the Dakota Building in New York.
“Yoko went out, and John admitted he’d said loose-tongued things in the past, when he ‘was high’.
“John told my dad, ‘I wish we could record everything again, properly this time’. Dad goes, ‘How about Strawberry Fields?’. And he replies, ‘Especially Strawberry Fields!’.
But they talked about working together again. Then my dad flew back to England and John was shot, yet there was a weird kind of redemption to the whole thing.”
As for McCartney and George Martin, Giles says: “Paul always maintained a very close relationship with my dad.
“Towards the end of The Beatles, Paul was the one trying to keep the band going, but with his vision. Then, as we know, he went off to Scotland and decided to make it on his own.
“But he got back with my dad for Live And Let Die [in 1973] and they had an ongoing friendship.”
And what about Starr? “My dad and Ringo always loved each other. Ringo was an ardent fan and he was also the glue which kept things together.”
There’s a wonderful scene in Anthology’s Episode 9 when McCartney and Harrison joke about doing a stadium “mud-wrestling” contest and Ringo interjects with, “I’ll be the ref!”.
And finally, we arrive at George Martin’s association with George Harrison.
Giles says: “My dad always felt guilty that he didn’t give George the attention he deserved — but he couldn’t do it all.
“So George would go off and do his own thing, like Savoy Truffle. He could be quite stubborn and driven, like they all were.”
But Giles remembers the abiding affection Harrison had for his father, first encountering him at a Simon & Garfunkel concert in 1982 at Wembley Stadium “when I was very young”.
“I went to the loo and this man said, ‘Are you all right?’. I was a bit embarrassed but I said, ‘Yeah’.
“When I went back out, he was standing with my parents. It was George.
“My dad said, ‘This is my son, Giles’. And he said, ‘We just met having a p*ss’. I remember thinking that he was really nice.
“When my father became ill the first time around, with prostate cancer, George was the one who went to see him and sat by his bed.”
The band pictured in 1967Giles says: ‘Paul always maintained a very close relationship with my dad’Credit: Getty – Contributor
As we prepare to go our separate ways on this cold November day, I can’t help thinking how Giles Martin has inherited a deep affection for The Beatles from his illustrious father.
SINGER Louis Tomlinson has donated £4,000 to help fund life-saving surgery for a bodyguard who looked after One Direction.
The Lemonade singer, 33, pitched in hours after learning former minder Preston Mahon, 54, was staring down the barrel without urgent help.
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Preston with 1D palsCredit: Roland LeonClose protection officer Preston Mahon — who guarded Louis and bandmates Zayn Malik, Liam Payne, Harry Styles and Niall Horan — was forced to end his 27-year security career owing to illnessCredit: Roland LeonSinger Louis has donated £4,000 to help fund life-saving surgery for bodyguard Preston
Preston, who texted Louis his thanks, told The Sun: “I’m so appreciative. It means the world to me.”
Close protection officer Preston — who guarded Louis and bandmates Zayn Malik, Liam Payne, Harry Styles and Niall Horan — was forced to end his 27-year security career owing to deteriorating mobility.
Doctors discovered a clogged artery in his left thigh and he had angioplasty to clear it at Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham.
He was told he could have the procedure every two years but the rules changed after Covid, he said.
On his last visit, he says a doctor told him: “Both arteries are blocked in both legs and there’s nothing I can do.
“The next time I see you will be for bypass and amputation.”
Preston used all his savings and borrowed from relatives and friends to pay for a private op in Spain to have stents fitted and is now £16,000 in debt.
He hopes to raise £35,000 to pay for the same procedure on his troublesome right leg.
Preston, now a machine operator for Cadbury, said: “My dad organised for me to see an expert in Madrid who did his knees.
“He phoned my father after the op and told him, ‘We just did life-saving surgery on your son’.
“After the operation it felt like a weight had been lifted off my shoulders but now I desperately need this second operation to have a chance of living out my years without pain.
“I’ve never asked for money but I’ve got nothing left.
“My family finances have been exhausted.”
Grandad Preston, of Birmingham, who also looked after Simon Cowell, Westlife, Boyzone and Leona Lewis, is raising money through GoFundMe and, with the help of ID fans, already has more than £6,300.
On Louis’ donation on Wednesday, he said: “I can’t thank him enough.
“Wow. I wasn’t expecting that.
“I sent Louis a text personally saying thank you.
“All the boys from One Direction mean the world to me.
“I met up with all the lads again at Liam’s funeral exactly a year ago.
“It was the saddest time ever but a lovely reunion.”
THERE is nothing better than realising you are cool before it was actually cool, after my old road was named one of the world’s trendiest.
My learning I was a trendsetter comes from the latest revealing of the World’s Coolest Streets by Time Out.
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Northdown Road in Cliftonville has been named one of the world’s coolest streetsCredit: AlamyI lived in Northdown Road after leaving London during the pandemic
The new Time Out list named the top 31 streets that they deem the coolest in the world.
Taking the top spot was much further afield, with Rio’s Rua do Senado in no.1.
But just squeezing into the top 31 (at no.31) was Northdown Road in Margate.
Calling it the “one-time fashionable hotel quarter,” its credited with making a comeback that is “not unlike a street you’d find in East London“.
While the road is slightly out of the main Old Town which attracts most of the tourists, I rarely ventured into the centre – because I didn’t need to.
One of my favourite stops for coffee was Cliffs, a coffee-co-working-hair-dress-vinyl shop.
Cliffs was one of my favourite coffee shopsCredit: Alamy
I would often grab a flat white in the morning to go, or spend a few hours in the quieter upstairs with a book or my laptop.
New coffee shops are always cropping up too – there is Lowlife, which feels like a grown up teenage boy decorated it with graffiti art, skateboards and oversized tees for sale.
Or there is High Tide, more popular with families thanks to their kid-friendly menu and small play area, and the fun Doubloons for more unusual tasting lattes.
If you want the best pastries, you must go to Batchelor’s Pattisserie – open since 1967, its here you’ll find the best traditional sweet treats
It’s so easy to spend the entire day on Northdown – for dinner there is the Japanese Mori Mori; Picnic Deli, a wine bar that has live music and small menu options, or some casual pizza at Casa.
Even for shopping, you can grab a vinyl at Ghost Papa, or some handmade earrings at Reo Jewels, as well as some amazing vintage interiors at Lost Property and plants at The Potting Shed.
There is so much shopping to be done on the high street as wellCredit: AlamyGrab a vintage bargain at Lost Property before some pizza at CasaCredit: Alamy
And then into the night, the award-winning wine bar Sete is cosy but friendly, along with the newly opened The Last Light pub.
You’ll always spot a fun crowd outside LGBTQ+ bar CAMP which is a great night out too.
See what I mean? For such a small road that is barely a mile long, it ticks all the boxes.
Of course it isn’t without its problems – while Margate is often named an up-and-coming area, there are still issues with fly tipping and antisocialism.
And with the current climate, many of my favourite spots have already been forced to close in recent years, meaning many businesses struggle to stay open (I’ll forever miss the huge bagels of The Skinny Dip).
It’s also missing any good hotels, despite its claim to once be a hotel quarter.
There are a few good B&B options, including Doghouse Margate and Cliftonville Townhouse.
Instead, a short walk away are some of the more popular in town such as Fort Road Hotel and No.42 Guesthouse (or the Premier Inn by the station if you’re on a budget).
Farmer Adam Henson and British chef Matt Tebbutt will also make an appearance along with dozens of other farmers, musicians, and chefs from across the UK.
During the day, visitors can explore activities across the 300-acre country park.
There will be eight show arenas with livestock competitions, traditional skills, working animals, field-to-fork experiences and even a full-scale British Food Festival.
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During the day, Tractorama will show tractors old and new doing what they do driven by the experts who will partake in challenges, parades, drag strips and stunts.
During the evening, the All-Star Tractor Parade will light up and from 6PM each evening there will be live music and entertainment in the Hawkstone Music Arena.
It won’t be Jeremy Clarkson taking the wheel but experts will be performing stunts on tractorsCredit: Amazon Prime
Acts taking to the stage include Alex James’ Britpop Classical and DJ Chris Moyles – and there’s another 20 acts still yet to be announced.
For fans of Clarkson’s Farm, you’ll get the chance to visit The Diddly Squat Farm Shop Pop Up – The Piddly Diddly.
Inside will be everything from sweet and savoury treats to homeware and clothing.
One day admission tickets for adults aged 18+ start at £60, or £48 if you nab an early bird one.
For teens aged 13-17 it’s £30 (£24 early bird), children between 6-12 are £15 (£12 early bird). Children between 0-5 can enter for free.
Other tickets include the full three days without camping for £150 per adult (£120 early bird) and with camping tickets for adults are £200 (£160 early bird).
Tickets go on pre-sale on November 26, 2025 – here.
Diddly Squat Farm Shop and the Farmer’s Dog are both open to visitors. The exact location of the Farm Shop is 5-12 Chipping Norton Road, Chadlington, Chipping Norton, OX7 3PE.
Once there, fans will be able to experience some of the key locations featured on the Clarkson-fronted show.
While visiting the site, many will hope to catch a glimpse of the rising stars of the show, including fan favourite Kaleb Cooper, straight-man and farm management consultant Charlie Ireland, the humorous Gerald Cooper, plus farm shop front-woman and Jezza’s partner, Lisa Hogan.
The iconic shop has become a public attraction since it opened, with thousands flocking to it each year, much to the dislike of some of the community.
For visitors coming from outside the Cotswolds, the trip can take two hours from central London by car, or two and a half hours by public transport.
If fans are staying nearby there is the X9 bus from The Bell Hotel in Charlbury that will take them straight past the 1000 acres site and near the Farm Shop.
SOME like to jet off when the weather gets chilly here in the UK – but what about those who like to feel Christmassy in November?
Sun Travel has revealed our favourite destinations across both Britain and the world that make us feel the most festive, with cosy fireside pubs, snowy scenes, Christmas markets and Santa’s actual home.
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If you don’t fancy going far – head to the Cotswolds for a Christmassy tripCredit: Alamy Stock Photo
Cotswolds, UK
Sometimes you just can’t beat a festive staycation – Deputy Travel Editor, Kara Godfrey said: “One of my favourite things to do at Christmas is drive through pretty country villages and go on a free light show.
“And having grown up in the Cotswolds, I wasn’t short of huge beautiful manor houses and pubs wanting to show off their Christmas lights.
“I recommend driving from Burford to Broadway, with stops in Bourton-on-the-Water and Moreton-in-Marsh where you will see them a mile away because of the sheer volume of lights.
“Then if you need a cosy pub to warm up in, head over to the town of Witney where you have a huge amount of choice on the high street.
“My favourites are the Holly Bush, with low ceiling and delicious mulled cider, or The Plough, the town’s oldest pub dating back to the 17th century.”
Copenhagen, Denmark
After a recent trip to the Danish capital of Copenhagen, Travel Reporter Alice Penwill recommends heading there to embrace the cold.
She said: “Copenhagen thrives during autumn and winter – and another plus point is that the city is dressed up for Christmas from early November.
“Festive markets pop up with new stalls – they sell everything from Christmas decorations to tasty treats and my favourite, hot chocolate or spiced Gløgg.
“Make sure to grab a Danish pastry from one of the many bakeries in the city and then take a mooch around Strøget – the famous shopping street. Or head down to the famous colourful Nyhavn with plenty of outside bars underneath outdoor heaters so you won’t feel too chilly.
“For a bit of peace and quiet, head to the Botanical Gardens where the trees have bright yellow and orange leaves.”
The colourful Nyhavn is lined with outdoor bars and plenty of outdoor heatersCredit: AlamyDon’t forget to take a walk to Copenhagen’s Botanical GardensCredit: Unknown
Lapland, Finland
Head of Sun Travel (Digital), Caroline McGuire suggests heading to Finland: “This is an obvious one, but I took my child to Lapland with TUI last year and nothing can compare to being in Santa’s ACTUAL homeland at Christmas.
“Yes, it’s exhausting getting up before the crack of dawn to catch a flight, but the airline staff were a joy from check-in onwards, where they greeted travellers with festive headgear.
“On the plane, we enjoyed a cooked breakfast and sang Xmas songs, before landing and being immediately sized up for our Arctic snow gear.
“A coach transfer complete with its own elf guide takes you to the snow village, for a day of gingerbread decorating, snowmobiling, husky sleigh riding, ice hotel exploration and a visit to the big man himself.
“Then you’re flying home with a plane Christmas dinner. it’s a full-on itinerary, but having done 4 nights in Lapland before, the one-day trip makes sure to tick off all the big hitters every family dreams of.”
Caroline visited Lapland last year for a Christmas holiday
Edinburgh, Scotland
Travel Reporter Cyann Fielding said: “Harry Potter fans and festive fanatics must head to Edinburgh around the Christmas period.
“The Scottish capital is special all-year round, but at Christmas it comes alive with decorated shop fronts, dazzling lights and a vast market.
“For a refreshing hike with the wind in your hair and spectacular views, head up Arthur‘s Seat. If you prefer to wander, then head to W Bow – a 17th century cobbled street with endless independent businesses set behind the colourful facades of buildings.
“If you do like Harry Potter, make sure to nip into Museum Context, which sells wizardy merch. And for a hot drink make sure to head into Black MedicineCoffee Co, which is super cosy – so much so I didn’t want to leave.
“The Christmas Market transforms the city centre into a festive village and has a great mix of everything including traditional markets, rides and food and drink stalls.”
Wrap up warm if you’re heading for a hike up to Arthur’s SeatCredit: Cyann Fielding
She said: “The city’s historic Princes Street Gardens are awash with festive lights which brighten any gloomy night sky and you’ll find there are merry-go-rounds, a big wheel and other funfair rides for youngsters.
“There’s also the ‘try if you dare’ Around the World Starflyer – an 80m tall tower with swings that spin you around for views of the city which probably rival those Santa gets from his sleigh as he flies through the sky.
“In George Street (just behind iconic Princess Street) you’ll find an ice-rink, so grab some skates and go gliding and dancing (and falling if you’re anything like me!).
“And new for this year is glittering frozen world of The Ice Queen’s Castle, complete with ice carvings and intricate wall etchings – the perfect winter wonderland.”
Sophie suggests you head to New York city if you want to feel festiveCredit: Sophie SwietochowskiYou can watch the ice skating at Bryant Park and grab a hot chocolateCredit: Sophie Swietochowski
New York, USA
Assistant Travel Editor Sophie Swietochowski suggests heading to the Big Apple for festive cheer.
She said: “This may sound cliché, but there really is no better time to visit New York City than during the festive period. Perhaps I’ve attached some sentimental value to the city at Christmas as it was around this time of year that I visited for the first time ever.
“Woozy from jet-lag, I gazed in awe at neon lights beaming from the mighty skyscrapers of Times Square, while city-goers dashed past, wrapped in their woollen scarves, shielding from the bitter chill.
“The Rockefeller Tree, one of the city’s most prized festive traditions, dazzled in a blur of tiny, multi-coloured lights, while a queue formed outside Macy’s department store, whose windows were drenched in holly and splashes of red and white paint.
“It was everything I’d expected, my very own Big Apple rom-com. I’ve returned to the city around Christmas three times since – and it gets no less magical.
“My routine rarely changes: a visit to Bryant Park’s markets, laden with wooden stalls – grab a hot choccie while you’re here and watch the skaters twirl on an ice rink.
“I’ll always visit Bloomingdale’s, too, on Fifth Avenue to buy a tacky tree decoration, making sure to stroll past Saks, which puts on a Christmas light show every year.
“The bars of Manhattan often feel packed, but the atmosphere is electric as people pass back mulled wine through the crowd, full of festive enthusiasm.”
Iceland may be cold but you can warm up in the Blue LagoonCredit: Alamy
Reykjavik, Iceland
As its name suggests Iceland is a great spot for anyone seeking cooler weather, which is rare for Deputy Travel Editor, Kara Godfrey: “As someone who hates the cold, you will normally find me in warmer climates during Christmas, having spent Decembers in Morocco, St Kitts and Dubai.
“There’s nothing better than wrapping up in all the layers before heading out to see stunning geysers, dramatic waterfalls and icy landscapes, ending by warming up in the famous Blue Lagoon.
“I highly recommend staying at the Grandi by Center Hotel in Reykjavik. I spent the evenings with glasses of wine and board games in the lobby, overlooked by twinkling Christmas tree lights and a roaring fire.”
The Port-na-Craig Inn is where Scottish Sun’s Features Editor Lynn Kernan will be at ChristmasCredit: AlamyPitlochry is a wintry wonderland during the cooler monthsCredit: Alamy
Pitlochry, Scotland
Lynn Kernan, Features Editor at The Scottish Sun said: “To me there is nothing more festive than being curled up in front of a roaring fire with a twinkling tree and a warming dram.
“And that’s exactly what you get in Pitlochry’s Port-Na-Craig inn.
“The little guest house, right on the River Tummel and in the shadow of Perthshire’s snow-capped mountains, dates back to the 1600s and knows how to do an old school Christmas in style.
“Its dining room is transformed into a winter wonderland at this time of year, with glittering baubles hanging from the ceiling and festive trinkets adorning every surface.
“Inside, it’s breathtaking for a festive fan – while outside, the beer garden is an illuminated sanctuary.
“The inn is in Pitlochry, one of Scotland’s prettiest towns with cute cafes, independent shops and top notch restaurants which all make an effort at this time of year.
“It’s also where the Enchanted Forest is held in the run up to the festive season. The nearby Faskally Wood is brought to life with stunning light shows in October and November.
“If you’re looking for me in December I’ll be at the inn, with a single malt, marvelling at the decadent decorations and singing Jingle Bells.”
Luxembourg
Head of Sun Travel (Digital), Caroline McGuire added: “Luxembourg isn’t exactly must-visit destination among European capitals, but the city comes into its own at Christmas time.
“Best explored on foot (which allows for extra mulled wine), the old town of Luxembourg city is both grand and quaint – and perfect for exploring in chilly weather, when you can nip into the bars and bakeries for a warming drink.
“There are also Christmas markets spread throughout the city as part of the annual Winterlights festival, which also features festive concerts, exhibitions, performances and crafts for kids.
“Given how quick the flight is to Luxembourg (1 hour and 15 minutes) and the time it takes to get from the airport to the city centre (20 minutes by tram), this is a really easy trip to do in just 24 hours.”
Lisbon, Portugal
Travel Reporter Alice Penwill suggests a short trip over the one popular European spot. She said: “Yes, Portugal is beautiful in the summer, but the city of Lisbon is easy to explore at any time of year.
“I went to the city two years ago and weather-wise it was actually fairly mild but still very festive, especially as the shops had the lights on display.
“Major attractions includeWonderland LisboaandRossio Christmas Market plus you still have to take a ride on the tram and of course, take a walk on the famous Pink Street.“
You might be able to spot the Northern lights at the Cairngorms National Park
Cairngorms, Scotland
Scottish Sun’sTravel EditorHeather Lowrie said: “Situated in historic Royal Deeside – just a few miles from the Royal family’s private Balmoral Castle – the beautiful Cairngorms destination almost guarantees snow, transforming it into a true winter wonderland.
“The village celebrates Christmas with a traditional Christmas lights switch on, with carols and mulled wine and there’s even a reindeer parade on Christmas Eve.
“The Cranford Guesthouse is famed for its delicious home baking and will be adorned with decorations and lights to turn up that festive feeling.
“If money is no object then book into the award-winning Fife Arms Hotel, where they even put on a Fondue Hut from November where you can indulge in all things melted cheese or if you’d rather get back to nature then go glamping at the dog friendly Braemar Glamping Pods and go star-gazing.
“Skiers will be in Christmas heaven too, as the Glenshee & Lecht Ski Centres are nearby where Christmas on the slopes is a real thing.
“Head out at night with Mountain Skies Braemar where, if you’re lucky, you might catch a glimpse of the Northern lights!”
Cyann Fielding is visiting Tallinn in Estonia for some Christmas funCredit: Alamy
Tallinn, Estonia
Travel Reporter Cyann Fielding has got some pending Christmas plans to Eastern Europe. She said: “Next week, I will be heading off to Tallinn – the capital of Estonia – which is often dubbed a fairytale city.
“I’m super excited to head to the Christmas market in the medieval Old Town’s Town Hall Square, with a huge decorated tree – the first tree to ever be displayed in Europe – and carol performances.
“The market has also previously been named one of the best in Europe so I am keen to see whether it lives up to the title. For food and drink, the gingerbread cookies are meant to be a hit, as well as the hot mulled wine, known as glogi.
“Temperatures in November sit around zero degrees, so I am hoping there will be snow to make it feel even more Christmassy.”
St Albans, UK
Some like to head to the city for Christmas, but Assistant Travel Editor Sophie Swietochowski said she prefers to stick to the countryside.
She said: “What can beat a proper British pub at Christmas time? Several worn armchairs scattered around a crackling fire, a pile of board games on the shelf in the corner, and a heated vat of mulled wine propped on the bar.
“The city of St Albans is home to the kind of stereotypical cottage-style boozers you see in festive rom-coms like The Holiday. It’s also the pub capital of the UK, claiming to have more pubs per square mile than any other region in the country.
“Many of these drinking holes are listed properties, so they have that higgledy-piggledy feel to them with timber beams and low ceilings that enhance the cosy factor.
“Talking of cosy, the recently opened Cosy Club restaurant-cum-bar is a great spot for those looking to amp up the party, The menu features jam-packed burgers and pasta dishes, alongside heady cocktails, all of which are cracking value.
“During the festive season The Odyssey, a restored Art Deco cinema, shows classic Christmas movies, like It’s A Wonderful Life – book one of the table seats in the downstairs section and order yourself a glass of wine and cheese platter from the bar.
“Pop into one of the many local bakeries for a festive treat – Brad and Dills, a coffee and bagel joint founded by a local duo, does a cracking brew and often has fun spins on classic festive flavours crammed into their moreish bagels.”
Virgin Skate at Somerset House is now open
London, UK
Of course, how could you leave the country’s capital off the list? Head of Sun Travel (Digital), Caroline McGuire said: “Brits spend a fortune travelling to festive destinations abroad when we have one of the best places for celebrating Christmas on our doorstep – London.
“In my opinion, there are few places in the world that are more festive, starting with the traditional London pub.
“Paper hat on your head, pint in hand, everyone packed in like sardines as with condensation mists the drafty Victorian window panes and they sing along to Fairytale of New York – there’s nothing that signals December has arrived more.
“But of course, there is plenty to do other than pubs too. It has plenty of haters, but Winter Wonderland is one of the biggest Christmas attractions in the world and you can choose everything from market shopping to fancy grub, beer halls, fair grounds, Santa’s grotto and ice bars.
“Don’t fancy that one? How about the ice skating at Somerset House with the fancy Virgin Clubhouse for a drink afterwards, or Glide at Battersea – or even the new rink in Leicester Square.
“And then there’s all the Christmas theatre shows – The Snowman, Elf, The Nutcracker, Santa Needs a Wee, Jack And The Beanstalk… there are enough shows on and off London’s West End to see one every day now until December 25.
“The restaurants are all decked out in their festive best, the shops are the best in the country… so unless you’re looking for some peace and quiet, there’s no better place get in the festive mood.”
A staycation to the Cotswolds can be super Christmassy this time of yearCredit: Alamy Stock Photo
ONE of the most famous streets in London is going car-free for one very festive day.
Without the hassle of dodging cars and going up and down the pavements, it means you can shop and even dance on a party bus well into the evening.
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You’ll be able to stroll up and down the whole of Regent Street for one day in DecemberCredit: eightandfourThe famous street in London will be closed to cars for a Christmas event
On Saturday, December 6, Regent Street will close to traffic and will be turned into a winter wonderland.
All of the festive mile will be completely walkable between 2pm and 9pm and as well as exploring the shops, there will be plenty of other fun festive activities too.
Parked up on Regent Street will be three vintage red buses with a different surprise in each.
In one will be The Spirit of Christmas Selfie Station where there will be an ‘Instagrammable’ selfie spot on the top deck with the backdrop of the iconic angel light displays.
On another vintage bus will be a disco from ‘Choose Love’ where you can enjoy a boogie under flashing lights.
There will also be live music from choirs and DJs who bring the festive cheer.
Then make sure to check out The Gift Wrap and Festive Crafts Bus where you’ll find all sorts from wreath making or children’s Christmas crafting – you might have to book in advance for some so head here for more info.
If you’ve bought some gifts from the shops along Regent Street, take them onto the bus and take advantage of the free wrapping station.
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Just show the receipt from a Regent Street or St James’s store and leave with a perfectly wrapped present.
This is the first time since 2020 that the busy shopping street has closed for a Christmas shopping afternoon.
Some of your favourite shops are holding special offers too – at NEOM you can have a go on the spin-to-win wheel.
If you land on the right spot, you’ll get your hands on some goodies and enjoy a complimentary travel candle (with any £20 purchase).
Marc Jacobs are having an exclusive in their shop with a DJ set and drinks.
66°North are giving out drinks to customers and if you choose to dine at Ziggy Green – the Soho Saint Brass Band will be playing in the background.
Or head over to Bentley’s where there will be Christmas carols on the terrace which you can listen to while sipping on mulled wine or having oysters – which you can also take away.
The only vehicles will be three festive buses with disco and arts and craftsCredit: Getty
For Christmas, The Choose love Shop will return to Regent Street as part of the charity’s 10th birthday.
Free gift wrapping will also be available in-store on December 11, 14, 20 – all that’s needed is a valid receipt from a shop in Regent Street or St James’s.
Here’s what you’ll find at Winter Wonderland this year…
Winter Wonderland in London – which was recently named the UK’s best Christmas market – will launch on November 14 and run for six weeks until January 1.
Santa Land has been revamped this year with a new interactive Elves Workshop experience.
Visitors can play puzzles, spin giant cogs and help the elves bring Santa’s toys to life. Families can also uncover hidden treasures and get Santa’s autograph.
Part of the revamped Santa Land will also be a free Santa’s Grotto experience.
Visitors will head off on a journey through the new Elves Workshop and see Mrs Claus before meeting the big man himself.
Completely new for this year is the world’s first street food market just for kids.
Known as Jingle Bell Bistro, inside elves have collected the top foodie finds from across the globe for kids to enjoy.
Whilst the Magical Ice Kingdom is nothing new, it will have a new theme this year – ‘A Mystical, Mythical Fantasy World’.
Visitors will be able to adventure through the Four Realms of Earth, Fire, Air and Water, which will all be made from 500 tonnes of snow and ice by sculptors from the UK and Belgium.
The Magical Ice Kingdom is rather chilly at -10C and it is one of Europe‘s largest ice attractions.
Over in the much-loved Bavarian Village – where there is usually live music, traditional German food and mulled wine – there will be a new Apres-Ski themed village.
Here visitors will be able to grab a festive-themed drink, bratwursts and enjoy live DJ sets.
The iconic Luminarie light arches were introduced to Winter Wonderland back in 2015, but this year will feature a new extension with an additional 50,260 LED bulbs.
It will also feature a market selling unique and traditional festive gifts.
This year the award-winning Cirque Berserk will return with their “most thrilling exclusive show yet” called Ignite.
It will include a number of daredevil performers, including motorbike stunts and fire acts.
Regent Street will go car-free for one day in DecemberCredit: Getty
WHILE the Cotswolds is one of the most beautiful places in the UK, that also comes with expensive trips and lots of crowds.
But there are some villages in the north of the county that are rising in popularity thanks to their charming chocolate-box look and celebrity visitors.
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Villages in the north of Norfolk have been compared to the CotswoldsCredit: AlamyBlakeney village in particular has been said to be a seaside lookalikeCredit: Alamy
One coastal spot in particular that’s been dubbed an ‘alternative Cotswolds’ is Blakeney.
The village has pretty grey flint cottages that sit on the seafront and quaint colourful homes in the streets behind the quayside.
There are small bakeries, a delicatessen, little cafes, craft shops and like with the Cotswolds there are plenty of opportunities for pictures.
However Norfolk has its own powerhouse, specifically, the Royal Family.
For many years the Royal Family have been seen on Holkham Beach which is close to the family’s Sandringham estate.
Last spring, Prince William and Princess Kate paid a visit to the Bakers & Larners food hall in Holt – which is just 12 minutes away from Blakeney by car.
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The Cotswolds has award-winning hotels too like Lords of the Manor and The Slaughters Manor House. Well, Blakeney also has its own one.
Earlier this year, The Manor Coastal Hotel & Inn picked up a Travellers’ Choice Award on Tripadvisor for being one of the ‘Best of the Best Hotels’ in the country.
The Manor Coastal Hotel & Inn picked up a Traveller’s Choice Award earlier this yearCredit: Google mapsIn Blakeney are the classic flint covered buildings and colourful cottagesCredit: Alamy
It was also the only one in Norfolk to make the top 25 – on Tripadvisor it has a rating of 4.7 out of five and 466 reviews.
One visitor wrote: “This was our first time at the Manor and it certainly won’t be our last. We felt so relaxed staying at the Manor. We stayed in a garden room, perfect!”
Another simply wrote “truly coastal. A very relaxing stay.”
The luxury boutique hotel has relaxing bedrooms with calming coastal colours ranging from a Deluxe Suite to a Classic Single Room.
It also offers food from brunch and lunch to afternoon tea and cocktails – including a Blakeney Collins.
Another similarity between the two locations, while it won’t affect your holiday is the house prices.
The Cotswolds are known for having big price tags on properties – but north Norfolk isn’t too far behind with homes selling on average around £365,000 in the last year.
There is one glaringly obvious difference between the Cotswolds and Norfolk which is the location.
The Cotswolds is surrounded by rolling hills and countrysideYou don’t get countryside in Blakeney – but you might spot a seal pup on the beachCredit: Alamy
One is in the rolling countryside hills and the other is by the coast.
But one thing you’ll get in Blakeney, and not in the Cotswolds is the chance to do some seal spotting.
Blakeney Point is home to England‘s largest grey seal colony. If you want to see a sweet Grey Seal pup then you’re best chance is to visit between late October and mid-January.
For quiet havens that have less crowds than Sheringham and Cromer, visit Holme and the nearby Thornham Beach.
She added: “If you’re looking for a solid pub with great food where you can bring your pet along, theRose and Crownin Snettisham has a dog-friendly bar and restaurant, as well as a cosy, walledbeergarden.
“But perhaps my favourite corner of the coast is Old Hunstanton Beach Café.”
Sun Travel spoke to one local who said tourists should start visiting now to see what Bedfordshire has to offer – including pretty Cotswolds looking villages to it’s own “Little Italy”.
Lydia Pettethas lived in Bedford for almost all of her life, having a brief interlude inLondonandLeeds, but she promptly returned to her home county.
Bedfordshire is in the East of England, probably known mostly for the towns of Bedford, Luton, Dunstable, Leighton Buzzard – and the fact that it’s set to be the home of the UK’s first Universal.
There are a number of villages in Bedfordshire that have even been compared to the Cotswolds.
The Telegraph even said “Bedfordshire has a secret equivalent to the covetable villages of the Cotswolds” – so they’re worth a visit.
Lydia explained: “I am a North Bedfordshire girl at heart and we have plenty of beautiful villages from Harrold to, Carlton and Sharnbrook.”
Not only do they have the classic chocolate-box houses, but also great pubs too – Lydia suggested The Oakley Arms in Harrold.
Lydia added: “You can have a really nice weekend away at one of these villages – the Cotswolds has been a tourist spot forever, so the villages around here don’t have as much going on, but they all still have so much to offer.”
ONE tube station has just been awarded Grade II listed status just 25 years after opening.
The station has been described as “one of the most memorable and theatrical spaces on the London Underground network” – and has become a landmark in its own right.
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Southwark Underground Station is now Grade II listedCredit: AlamyIt opened in 1999 as part of the Jubilee Line Extension across LondonCredit: Alamy
On November 20, 1999, Southwark Underground Station opened to the public, and it’s now been added to the National Heritage List.
The underground station was one of six new stations built for the Jubilee Line Extension and was designed by engineers in 1994.
As regular commuters and London tourists will know, the underground station has a circular ticket hall, a towering blue glass screen and steel-panelled tunnel in the lower concourse.
During its design, the six stations were set to have their own unique identities with different looks but be linked by materials like steel and polished concrete.
A building usually has to be over 30 years old to be considered for listing.
But Southwark Underground Station became eligible for listing last year as the age of the building is calculated ‘from the point at which the ground was first broken’.
There are 72 London Underground stations on the National Heritage list – and Southwark Underground Station is the youngest.
Announcing the tube station’s listing was heritage minister Fiona Twycross, who said the station is a ‘stunning example’ of late 20th-century architecture.
She added: “I’m thrilled to celebrate and help protect this bold design, with its striking play on natural and artificial light.
“Used by thousands every day, this station is a great reminder of the extraordinary breadth of our country’s architectural heritage.”
The polished concrete wall is a recognisable trait across the Jubilee Line Extension stationsCredit: AlamySouthwark Underground Station sees millions of passengers pass through it each yearCredit: Alamy
Both locals and tourists are just as impressed with the train station.
One called it a “cosmic cruiseship” while another said it was a “space aged looking station”.
A third simply wrote: “This place is what I think the future looks like.”
Southwark was one of six new stations built for the Jubilee Line Extension in the 1990s, overseen by the architect Roland Paoletti.
The other stations built alongside it are Bermondsey, Canada Water, Canary Wharf, North Greenwich and Canning Town.
According to the C20 Society, the new stations on the Jubilee Line Extension were said to be the biggest architectural sensation of their kind since the Moscow Underground back in 1999.
Now, millions pass through Southwark Underground Station every day, with the most recent figure from 2023 recording 8.51 million passengers.
It was inspired by the Moscow Metro system, after Holden returned from the Russian city during WWII having been there as a consultant.
The barrel vault ceilings are similar to Elektrozavodskaya metro station in Moscow.
The central concourse even has the nickname “Moscow Hall”, and while it’s not a listed station, some believe it should be.
Joshua Abbott, author of the Modernism in Metroland blog, told local media that the underground “should be listed.”
He added: “It is unique among Holden’s stations due to the Moscow Metro influenced platform design and lack of surface buildings – Gants Hill should be very proud of its most secret building.”
A TROPICAL garden in Cornwall has been named a top attraction in the UK.
The history of the gardens spans at least 700 years although only opened to the public in the 1980s.
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Trebah Garden in Cornwall has scooped up an award at the Cornwall Tourism AwardsCredit: AlamyIt has dedicated floral gardens, a koi pond, holiday lodge and even a secret beachCredit: Alamy
South of Falmouth is Trebah Gardenwhich has won the Large Visitor Attraction category at the 24thCornwall Tourism Awards.
While Trebah Garden opened to the public in 1987, the earliest records of it dates back to the the early 1300s.
Trebah Garden itself was established by Charles Fox back in 1831 – that’s when he bought the estate and began creating the garden.
Now, the gardens are popular with Brits seeking a day out and inside the garden you’ll find the likes of ‘Bamboozle’ – a maze of paths made from 50 species of black, brown, yellow and green bamboo.
There’s also the water garden which is built over a natural spring and is surrounded by lush plants and flowers like brightly coloured lilies.
Alice’s Seat is an open-fronted summer house which was built for Alice Hext who owned Trebah Garden with her husband Charles from 1907 to 1939.
Other pretty spaces include the Hydrangea and Rhododendron Valley, Mallard Pond, the Chilean Coomb and the Koi Pool which is home to around 10 koi carp.
One beautiful spot that you can’t see at the entrance is Polgwidden Cove – the hidden beach.
Most read in Best of British
The sheltered pebbled cove is at the bottom of the garden and is a great place to relax in the summertime, or take a brisk walk in winter.
On the shore is the Boathouse beach café which serves hot and cold drinks, snacks and Roskilly’s ice cream, although it’s only open from spring to autumn.
There are lots of flower gardens to explore and koi carp to spot in the lakeCredit: Alamy
Visitors can take their own picnic too, and take a dip in the sea.
One wrote on Tripadvisor: “Gorgeous views, greenery, a small amphitheatre and blooms on our way down to the beach.
“Small sparkling beach with a cafe which sold the most tasty vegan ice-cream I’ve ever eaten.”
Another called it “the best garden I have EVER visited”.
Trebah Garden is open daily throughout the year and also hosts events, exhibitions, and even festive workshops.
Its next major event is Stories with Santa where, in the lead up to Christmas, families can listen to a festive story, write to Santa, and get a gift.
Otherwise, you can head there to enjoy yoga at Trebah House, go to a Christmas Decoration Casting Workshop and Wooden Wreath Painting.
They also hold musical performances, watercolour painting classes and nature spotting sessions in the gardens.
The secret white pebbled beach is at the very bottom of the gardenCredit: Trebah Gardens
There’s an amphitheatre in the gardens too which holds live events from theatre to music, comedy, even puppetry and dance shows.
As for food, Trebah Kitchen serves up roast dinners, Fish & Chip Fridays and seasonal Christmas lunch and New Year’s Day Brunch.
Admission prices for entry start from £16.50 for adults, £8.25 for children between 5-15. Children under five go free.
Any especially keen holidaymakers can even stay on site in Trebah Lodge, the pretty stone cottage, and guests can wander through the gardens after hours.
The lodge has two bedrooms, two bathrooms and sleeps up to four – you can bring your pet pooch inside too.
The lodge is almost booked out for the whole of 2026 with a few dates remaining in November and December.
A five-night stay in the lodge from December 14-19 in 2026 starts from £855 – which is £171 per night.
Overlooked by tall cliffs to the north – and the English channel to the south, thanks to it’s unique microclimate this garden in the Isle of Wight has an average of 5°C higher all year round. It’s a truly mild climate – with only 29 inches of average rainfall. We visited in January and you could actually feel the warmer air once you got into the gardens.
Outdoor Jungle, The Lost Gardens of Heligan, Cornwall
In the Outdoor Jungle you can wander along winding paths through bamboo and banana plantations marvelling at the exotic plants.
Bought back from across the world since Victorian times – it also features one of the longest Burmese Rope Bridges in Britain, stretching 100 feet above ancient tree ferns.
Abbotsbury Subtropical Gardens, Dorset
Home to tree frogs, and an unusual rough tree fern, Cyathea australis, exotic plants thrive in Abbotsbury’s sheltered coastal microclimate.
It boasts of brimming with exotic trees and perennials from the Mediterranean, New Zealand, South Africa, the Himalayas, and more. Found on Dorset’s Jurassic Coast – the subtropical gardens boast over 6000 species – and is open seven days a week all year round.
RHS Harlow Carr, Yorkshire
There’s a touch of the exotic in their Sub-Tropicana Garden.
It’s packed full of plants with a tropical nature – like hardy palms, soft tree ferns, and several bamboos providing a permanent framework – plus a heated glasshouse home to the most tender plants.
Yewbarrow House, Grange over Sands, Cumbria
Its warm microclimate and valley-location allows exotic and rare species to flourish here. Plus, there’s a Japanese-style infinity pool, orangery, restored Victorian kitchen garden, and views over Morecambe Bay.
Overbecks Garden, Salcombe, Devon
A subtropicalNational Trust garden, it’s bursting with colour and filled with exotic and rare plants. Not to mention, it has beautiful views over Salcombe estuary.
AFTER 26 years heading up The Sun’s travel team – while bringing up three children – there’s not a lot I don’t know about family holidays.
After hundreds of trips together, I’m sharing my guaranteed winners – from our favourite campsites to the best foreign cruises.
Lisa Minot has been The Sun’s Travel Editor for 26 years, during which time she’s taken her kids on hundreds of holidays across the worldCredit: SuppliedLisa says Port Aventura theme park resort on Spain’s Costa Dorada offers up the best of all worlds for familiesCredit: SUPPLIED
With three kids, I’ve had the same problems as anyone who doesn’t fit the ‘two adults, two kids’ rule that most traditional travel companies work within.
Finding ways around booking two separate rooms – or being in group rooms where us parents have to go to bed at 7pm with the babies – became a mission.
This fabulous theme park resort on Spain’s Costa Dorada offers up the best of all worlds for families.
You get the fun and excitement of thrill rides across six distinct worlds, plus great themed hotels and, of course, all that sizzling Mediterranean sunshine to enjoy.
There’s also a separate Ferrari World and a water park with 50,000sq metres of pools, lazy rivers, slides and rides, including King Khajuna, one of Europe’s tallest free-fall body slides.
The six on-site hotels are also themed and have a huge variety of rooms that sleep up to eight, ideal for big families.
And with a host of very well-priced restaurants in the park and at the hotels, it really is possible to have a traditional family summer holiday with the added benefit of all that theme park excitement.
GO: Seven nights’ room-only at the Mexican-themed Hotel El Paso, including unlimited access to PortAventura park and a day pass for Ferrari Land, is from £429pp, based on two adults and two children sharing.
Lisa’s son soaks up the rays on a beach in the south of FranceCredit: SuppliedEurocamp’s La Baume on the French Riviera near Frejus has a huge pool complex and easy access to the glitzy towns of St Tropez and CannesCredit: Eurocamp
EUROPEAN CAMPING
WITH three kids and a limited budget when they were young, camping specialists like Eurocamp and Siblu were the answer to our prayers.
With mobile homes, tents and even treehouses sleeping up to eight at campsites across Europe, we loaded the kids and as much luggage as we could squeeze into the car and drove south for guaranteed sunshine.
You can even break up the long journey with overnight camping stays en route.
A roof-box meant I could pack all the essentials from food and drinks, bedding and towels, to inflatables and toys, so we weren’t shelling out on holiday.
When we were young, having our own space was just perfect. We could wear the kids out by day in the park’s pools and on nearby beaches, and when they were tucked up in bed, we could relax with a glass of wine or beer on the verandah.
Favourites included Eurocamp’s La Baume on the French Riviera near Frejus with a huge pool complex and easy access to the glitzy towns of St Tropez and Cannes.
We always preferred heading south for the warmer weather, but other favourites for half-term holidays include Duinrell in South Holland, which comes with its own theme park and water park and La Croix de Vieux Pont, Berny Riviere, just an hour from Disneyland Paris and Park Asterix.
GO: Seven nights’ self-catering for up to six at Eurocamp’s La Baume is from £464 in total, arriving May 23, 2026. See eurocamp.co.uk. Seven nights’ self-catering at Siblu’s Lac des Reves is from £294 in total, arriving May 23, 2026. See siblu.co.uk
ALTON TOWERS
Lisa loves the fact that Alton Towers has something for every age, including its weatherproof waterparkCredit: Alamy
Of course, no list of fabulous family holidays would be complete without the UK’s number one theme park. I love the fact that Alton Towers has something for every age.
The little ones will adore CBeebies land – watch out for the UK’s first Bluey ride coming in 2026.
All ages will love the fantastic water park between the Alton Towers and Splash Landings hotels, while tweens and teens will go straight for the thrill rides.
And mum? Well, I just love a stroll through the stunning grounds with quiet, landscaped gardens and tranquil lakes – they make you forget you’re even in a theme park!
For families like mine, the huge variety of accommodation makes stays a breeze.
Rooms at the hotels – including CBeebies Land Hotel – can sleep up to five with a double bed, bunk beds and a pull-out truckle bed. All have great theming that will keep the kids entertained.
The Woodland lodges are also great for larger families or those who want to bring the grandparents or team up with friends. To really push the boat out, the whimsical Treehouses sleep up to eight and come with their own hot tub.
But my favourite probably remains the original Alton Towers Hotel, with its epic Explorers theme that sees a magical balloon ship anchor the bar and restaurant space, giving parents the chance to relax with a drink while the kids are entertained.
GO: Overnight breaks at Alton Towers start from £42pp and include room, breakfast, parking and evening entertainment. See altontowers.com.
Lisa sailed with her kids on Disney Wonder, one of the line’s original ships and it was a treat for both adults and childrenCredit: Supplied
DISNEY CRUISE LINES
IT’S fair to say no one does family cruises quite like Disney – and Sun readers agree, voting them their favourite cruise line in our Sun Travel Awards.
I’ve sailed with my kids on Disney Wonder, one of the line’s original ships, and this was definitely a treat for both adults and children.
I loved the Art Deco vibes and the fact that the ship was first and foremost a beautiful, luxury ship with plenty of places to enjoy adult-only time.
The kids could not get enough of the fabulous kids’ facilities – it was hard to drag them away from the clubs – and endless opportunities to meet their favourite characters.
While cruising with Disney could never be seen as a cheap option, for those who want to experience the magic without the theme park slog, it is definitely worth every penny.
The latest Disney ship to set sail will be the Disney Destiny. As the cruise line has grown ever more popular, it has grown more confident in making its incredible entertainment legacy a bigger part of the ship.
With Destiny, there’s a fabulous Heroes and Villains theme alongside the chance to enjoy some West End-style entertainment and even a water coaster across the top deck that pays tribute to some of its most feared baddies.
Combining a three or four-night sailing on any of Disney’s ships with a stay in Orlando must surely be the ultimate family bucket list holiday.
And with the Disney Dream returning for multiple sailings from Southampton next year, there’s the chance to get on board for all the magic without the pricey flights.
Royal Caribbean was the first cruise Lisa took her whole family on, when her youngest was just 18 months oldCredit: sbw-photo
ROYAL CARIBBEAN
ROYAL Caribbean was the first cruise we did as a family when my youngest was just 18 months old, and from then on, we were hooked on life on the open sea.
As my kids have grown, so has Royal’s incredible roster of family-friendly ships. And with the launch of the world’s largest cruise ship, Icon of the Seas, last year, they reached peak family fun.
The new Surfside neighbourhood is a game-changer for parents with small children, a stay-all-day area with Splashaway Bay aqua park, and Water’s Edge, a kid-friendly infinity pool.
And parents can relax while their kids play with casual family-friendly dining and places to grab a drink.
The area features a beach-themed carousel, arcade and playground and it’s close to the ship’s superb Adventure Ocean kids clubs.
Older kids will love Thrill Island, the largest water park at sea, with a host of slides as well as Crown’s Edge, the hybrid ropes course and thrill ride that dangles you 154ft above the ocean.
And Royal have spent just as much time designing cabins that work for families, including the Surfside Family Suites, with balconies overlooking the neighbourhood and a ‘kids’ nook’ with bunk beds and a split bathroom to make getting ready easier.
Topping it off with multiple family-friendly shows and activities as well as their family-friendly private island, Perfect Day at Coco Cay, Royal is the perfect starting point for family cruises.
GO: Seven nights’ full-board on Icon of the Seas is from £534pp, based on two adults and two children sharing. Departs Miami on September 19, 2026 and calls at St Maarten, St Thomas, Perfect Day at CocoCay.
Lisa’s children play on the beach during a trip to Butlin’sCredit: SuppliedLisa doesn’t believe there’s a kid in the country who wouldn’t love the heady mix of family fun on offer at Butlin’sCredit: BUTLIN’S
BUTLIN’S MINEHEAD & BOGNOR
I don’t believe there’s a kid in the country who wouldn’t love the heady mix of family fun on offer at Butlin’s.
With live shows, perfect pools and even a traditional fairground, youngsters will find a host of great activities for all ages from tots to teens.
We loved our stay at the West Lakes chalets at Butlin’s Minehead. Great for multi-gen holidays or for families sharing, the light, bright chalets sleep up to eight.
Working with online parenting forum Mumsnet, they have a nod to the traditional Butlin’s chalet, but with all the modern touches for today’s families.
There’s an open-plan lounge and diner with a high-spec kitchen as well as an outdoor veranda or Juliet balcony.
Perfect for the pre-schoolers, breaks start from just £39, which works out to £2.50pp a night, and include live shows with Peppa Pig and her new baby sister, Mister Maker and Fireman Sam, splash zones and soft play areas as well as unlimited rides in the Little Stars Fairground.
There’s also another reason to visit in term time, the chance to enjoy all-inclusive breaks that include alcoholic drinks, coffee and three meals a day.
GO: Four-night all-inclusive midweek breaks are from £399 for two adults and two children. See bultins.com
With theme parks, desert adventures and even a snow slope to keep them busy, you’re guaranteed to find something in Dubai to delight every ageCredit: Alamy
DUBAI
It may be known as a mecca for reality TV stars and influencers, but Dubai is actually a brilliant destination to take the kids.
With theme parks, desert adventures and even a snow slope to keep them busy, you’re guaranteed to find something to delight every age.
A great option for families is the Centara Mirage Beach Resort with its five restaurants, beachfront pool, water park and kids clubs.
But little ones are also spoiled with their own sweet-themed spa with edible treatments, gaming zone and an outdoor playground.
My kids adored the chance to visit the original Kidzania attraction where kids can role-play 40 different jobs from firefighters and pilots to doctors and dentists.
But most magical was the trip into the desert, where after a thrilling 4×4 dune ride, we watched an amazing falconry display and enjoyed dinner after dark.
GO: Four nights’ B&B at the Centara Mirage Beach Resort is from £717pp including flights from Heathrow in June 2026. See onthebeach.co.uk
TUI’s flagship Holiday Village AQI hotel in Sarigerme, TurkeyCredit: TUI
The huge resort on the country’s west coast has everything from Stage Academy drama classes, Football Academies and a Go Ape-style high-ropes course, to overwater, inflatable obstacle courses, chocolate parties and archery.
Then there’s the massive amphitheatre with a packed nighttime itinerary, video arcade, bowling alley and seven pools – including a mini waterpark.
Little wonder the hotel’s own sandy beach, with bath-warm sea water was empty most days.
Breakfast was enormous, with every taste catered for and lunch by the pool was equally impressive, with a huge 40-dish mezze selection.
But the best meal was dinner, with themed nights, when the entire menu was changed — our favourites being the Turkish and Asian evenings. Plus a separate kitchen for kid-friendly (and often healthy) food.
And finally, the almost guaranteed sun.
With prices from £673pp next May, including all-inclusive board, a family room and flights from London Gatwick.
Billund in Denmark, home to Lego House, truly is the perfect family short breakCredit: Alamy
BILLUND, DENMARK
An action-packed weekend break just over an hour from the UK, with creativity, wildlife and thrill-seeking all wrapped in sounds like a unicorn of a holiday – but Billund in Denmark truly is the perfect family short break.
The town Lego built, carpenter Ole Kirk Christiansen invented the famous building bricks in the 1940s from his workshop in the town, and many of the global company’s offices are still there.
Yes, the two million annual visitors usually go there for the awesome Legoland and Lego House – easily two full days of building and rollercoaster fun.
But there’s also Aquadome, Scandinavia’s biggest waterpark, and Wow Park (tickets from £26.50), a huge treetop adventure in woodland spanning the size of 40 football pitches.
The town is so small that almost everything is walkable, it’s super clean and practically designed with families in mind.
Plus the flights take just 1 hour and 35 minutes currently from London Gatwick, and 1hour and 41minutes from Edinburgh to Billund on the newest flight route launching next year.
Lisa’s lot thought they had hit the big time when we stayed at the gorgeous Hunters Lodges at the Celtic Manor Resort in Wales
HUNTERS LODGES, CELTIC MANOR
IF it’s good enough for American presidents, it’s good enough for the kids!
My lot thought they had hit the big time when we stayed at the gorgeous Hunters Lodges at the Celtic Manor Resort in Wales.
This is top-tier self-catering accommodation with each lodge sleeping up to eight in four stylish en-suite bedrooms.
There’s a vast open-plan kitchen, living, and dining room with vaulted ceilings and a wall of glass looking out onto open countryside. The outdoor hot tub was used constantly by both adults and kids.
A great option for kids as they get a bit older, the resort itself has some fantastic outdoor adventure activities, including adventure golf, laser combat, ropes courses and archery as well as a large adventure playground.
Explore the 2,000-acre estate’s family-friendly woodland trails on a free, self-guided treasure hunt.
When rain stops play, there’s swimming in the resort’s two health clubs as well as a games room and indoor play area.
The resort can offer babysitting services and a day nursery as well as kids’ clubs in the peak summer holidays, allowing parents time to enjoy the championship golf courses or spas.
GO: Two-night stays in a Hunters Lodge start from £636per lodge, for up to eight adults plus two additional children, including a round of Adventure Golf and 25per cent off all indoor and outdoor activities. See hunter-lodges.com.
WHEN her best friend and co-star Ariana Grande was ambushed on the red carpet, quick-thinking Cynthia Erivo rushed to the rescue.
A prankster grabbed Ariana at the Singapore premiere of their new film Wicked: For Good on Thursday, but Cynthia, 38, stepped in and strong-armed the invader away.
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Cynthia Erivo stuns in green at the LA premiere of first Wicked movie last yearCredit: SplashCynthia and Ariana at the first European screening of Wicked: For Good in LondonCredit: Getty
The British actress admits she feels protective over Ariana, saying: “I love her, she’s a bright spark but you just want to take care of her. And we really took care of each other.”
Luckily loyal pal Cynthia was already fighting fit thanks to the gruelling stunts she had to perform for the eagerly anticipated sequel.
“The flying in harnesses, chafing, we had it. Chafing was like a funny word to me until I realised what chafing actually looked like when you had it, repetitively.
“It took months for my hips to heal, scratched palms bleeding, bloody nose, like it was bad.
“We were willing to do whatever it took to do this, but this one was a big one for us.”
Meanwhile, Cynthia says she and Ariana prefer to go to bed early — like a pair of “grandmothers”.
The star revealed that because of the time difference and their schedules, they often struggle to catch up when she is in London and Ariana is at home in LA.
SHUNNED BY DAD
But while gearing up for the long-awaited sequel of the big-screen musical, 32-year-old Ariana, who plays Glinda, broke routine to make sure they could chat.
Cynthia, who plays Elphaba in the films, said of one recent late-night text exchange with Ariana: “She’s a sweetheart. I was like, ‘Why are you up so late?’ Because we’re like grandmothers, the two of us.
“We like to sleep early. For some reason I was up at 11 here, which meant she was up at two wherever she was. I said, ‘Why are you up so late?’ She was like, ‘I know, it’s new, isn’t it? I’m never up this late’.
“I said, ‘No you’re not, what’s going on?’. And she said, ‘I’m taking every second I can get right now because you’re usually asleep by now’.”
The first Wicked movie became the highest-grossing UK release of 2024, taking £59.6million at the box office.
It led to Cynthia being nominated for an Oscar, Bafta, Critics’ Choice, Golden Globe and SAG Award for Best Actress.
The sequel, Wicked: For Good, is expected to be just as big and hits UK cinemas on Friday, continuing the tale of the witches of Oz.
Adapted from the hit musical, Wicked follows Elphaba, a student sorceress shunned by her own father for her green skin, who becomes the Wicked Witch of the West, while her spoiled roommate Glinda ends up as the Good Witch of the North.
Cynthia tells how she endured similar heartache when her own dad walked out of her life for good when she was a teenager.
She and her sister Stephanie were very young when their Nigerian father left their mother Edith, a nurse, to bring up the girls alone.
Edith remarried when Cynthia was five and she continued to see her dad “two or three times a week”.
I think he just was not set up to be a dad. I don’t think it was his bag
Cynhtia
She told The Armchair Expert podcast: “My mum was really, I think, kind and gave him the space to come and visit if he wanted to.
“We would go over to him from time to time as well. She really made the space for us if he wanted to build a relationship.
“And he just didn’t. I think he was just not set up to be a dad. I don’t think it was his bag.”
Recalling how she became estranged from her father, Cynthia added: “I was 16 when my dad decided not to be a part of my life.”
The actress pictured at a 2021 awards bash alongside her mum EdithCredit: Getty
By then, she had already joined a local youth theatre group and was singing hymns at a Catholic church near her home in Stockwell, South West London.
She went on to start a degree in musical psychology at the University of East London, but quit after securing a place at top acting school Rada.
Her early bid to break into UK telly flopped with an appearance on Channel 4 reality show Trust Me, I’m A Teenager and a small part in ITV period drama Mr Selfridge. Hopes of a breakthrough in Simon Cowell and
Harry Hill’s £6million X Factor musical, I Can’t Sing, were dashed as the run closed after seven weeks.
But her singing voice impressed casting directors.
She made her West End debut in the stage musical The Umbrellas Of Cherbourg and, in 2013, won a place in a British stage adaptation of The Color Purple, the 1985 movie that starred Whoopi Goldberg.
Since then, her roles have included Harriet Tubman in the film Harriet and a part in Netflix thriller Luther: The Fallen Sun.
But the one person she always wanted to impress was her father.
She secretly hoped with her becoming famous, he would change his mind about being in her life. Cynthia said: “I think I was using, for a small amount of time, my career as a conduit to find a way to get him back.
‘Look what you gave up, you’re going to regret leaving this’. Yeah, that kind of thing.”
Cynthia has turned to therapy to help her deal with the trauma.
‘MAKE MISTAKES’
She said: “Until you get your head around it and get some control on what it is that you’re actually looking for, what you’re trying to fix in that, it will keep going.
“Thank goodness for a good therapist — that s**t really helped.”
Now, she has finally let go and learned to forgive. She told The Cruz Show podcast: “It took me ages to let go of parents. It’s like my father, I had to let that go and it’s taken me a long time to get there . . . to realise that it’s a human being who is also fallible and who will make mistakes.”
The co-stars attending the Critics’ Choice awards in California earlier this yearCredit: Getty
Cynthia admits that clinging on to that pain for such a long time held her back.
She said: “When you let go, you have to start living. What I keep doing is trying to find the things that challenge me the most, that force me to learn more, that keep me honest in my craft, that don’t let me get complacent and lazy.”
Wicked was a challenge. The movies were filmed in the UK in chronological order, back-to-back, between Dec- ember 2022 and January 2024, with a break in 2023 due to an actors’ strike.
Cynthia, who is dating Lena Waithe, an American actress, producer, and screenwriter, admits that even today she still gets crippled by anxiety.
She explained: “I think if I lose the nervousness, then I know something’s wrong. Because my nervousness tells me I care. The second that disappears, we’ve got a problem.
“So I relish the moments when my heart’s beating fast and I’m nervous. I always forget the first line. Whenever I’m about to go on, the first line will go out my head. That’s nerves.
“But when I stand in front of people, it always comes back. It means I care about being here, I care about the people watching.”
Thank goodness for a good therapist, that s**t really helped
Cynthia
When those jitters hit, she relies on strict pre-performance rituals. She said: “Breathing for me is always key.
“And I always say a prayer before I go on stage. Also, nervousness can sometimes be the mirror looking at yourself.
Not only that, but according to Tripadvisor, Sandbanks was the ‘world’s most sustainable beach’ for 2024.
The beaches were measured by a sustainable data partner along with Tripadvisor traveller reviews – winners stand out for their commitments to sustainability including transport options, waste disposal and water quality.
You might have seen their home on TV when the pair made an appearance on Celebrity Gogglebox.
Most read in Best of British
Their son, Jamie Redknapp even named his clothing brand ‘Sandbanks’ after the area.
Other famous residents who have lived, or live, in Sandbanks include Celia Sawyer, J.R.R Tolkien, John Lennon and Liam Gallagher.
Celebrities like Harry Redknapp and his wife Sandra live in SandbanksCredit: AlamyHarry Redknapp and wife Sandra live in SandbanksCredit: Dave Benett/Getty Images for Sky
MY fearless six-year-old son, Alex, giggled as a large Asian brown owl landed on his gloved arm, just inches away from his face.
Neeka is so used to mingling with guests who visit the birds of prey aviary that she happily sat there for a few seconds, slowly twisting her neck, taking in the view.
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Swinton Estate has an incredible 20,000 acres of sprawling landCredit: SuppliedJane’s son Alex with a large Asian brown owlCredit: suppliedAlex and Layla roaming the hallsCredit: supplied
And who can blame her, when the view is as stunning as this?
We were staying on the stunning Swinton Estate, set in the Yorkshire Dales within an incredible 20,000 acres of sprawling land made up of villages, farms and moorland.
At the centre of this is the Downton Abbey-style, ivy-clad ancestral stately home of Lord and Lady Masham which has been turned into a luxury hotel with 42 suites and bedrooms.
Despite its grandeur, I discovered it to be one of the most down to earth — and definitely the most child-friendly — places I’ve ever stayed in the UK.
What’s more, visitors are on the doorstep of explorable market towns, as well as just a 10-minute drive from historic Jervaulx Abbey (one of Yorkshire’s most beautiful historic sites) and 20 minutes from Lightwater Valley Family Adventure Park, home to mini rollercoasters, giant swings and a crazy golf course.
That’s if you can find the time to leave the estate.
Swinton has even more activities than overcrowded tourist traps such as Center Parcs — with comparable prices.
During our short stay, we enjoyed treasure hunts, children’s cookery courses, fishing, archery, escape rooms and cycling.
Most read in Best of British
There are complimentary meditation classes, tea tasting, clay pigeon shooting, history tours, movie nights and a birds of prey show.
Falconer Mandy explained that most of the owls, hawks and falcons on site were hand reared.
They even go on “walks” through the estate, high above your head.
And what a great place for a stroll, it is. Our dog Layla certainly agreed.
Unlike many hotels, Layla wasn’t just tolerated here, she was adored.
She walked alongside us as we explored some of the 63 miles of footpaths as well as the play area, wild swimming lake, shop and the Country Club.
She even plodded into the reception with me while I booked an amazing £50 back, neck and shoulder massage.
Although, I did leave her with the others when it came to enjoying my treatment.
This meant I could take full advantage of the amenities, which include thermal suites, a heavenly relaxation room and two pools, both of which have select adults-only times so the grown-ups can properly de-stress.
OLD-WORLD CHARM
Even those with kids can get their downtime thanks to the on-site babysitting service, available from £15 an hour.
The Estate itself is a charming mix of contemporary design blended with grand antiques and historical paintings of the family that once owned it.
This old-world charm continues into the bedrooms and suites too.
Our room featured high ceilings and large low windows where Alex and Layla sat together watching the deer roam freely in the fields.
Every tiny detail has been considered here.
There were coats and umbrellas to borrow, dog biscuits, a teddy bear on the bed and soft, squishy towels and dressing gowns.
While Alex was grateful for the bowl of apples and pile of shortbread biscuits left on the side, I was more appreciative of the smart coffee machine and the Estate’s home-made sloe whisky.
Enjoy rest and relaxation in the spaCredit: Supplied
Whisky is just one of many things that comes from the grounds.
Pretty much everything from vegetables and meat to herbs and fruit does, too.
I am a sucker for a good brekkie and thanks to the outstanding estate sausages, this was undoubtedly my favourite meal of the stay.
A freshly-cooked plate of breakfast goodies also helped to ease my slightly sore head after the excellent mixologists rustled me up one too many spicy margaritas the night before.
You don’t need to be an overnight guest to visit the Estate.
Those popping in during the winter months can experience a new winter light trail which will lead them through a sparkling woodland and around the pretty lakes — tickets are from £7.50 per child, while those under five go free.
If you do fancy checking in for the evening, however, now is the time to book.
On selected dates this winter, you can bag a suite with breakfast and a bottle of house wine for £275 in total.
I am from Yorkshire originally, but I don’t think I’ve ever actually received such a Yorkshire welcome as I did here.
Even Neeka the owl was happy to see us.
The hotel’s grand interiorCredit: Supplied
GO: SWINTON ESTATE
STAYING THERE: The Red Hot Autumn package costs from £275 per night, including breakfast, a bottle of house wine in the room, spa access from 3pm on day of arrival until 11am on day of check out.
Dogs cost an additional £30 per dog, per night and a child’s bed costs an additional £50 per child, per night.
WE might be heading into winter, but looking ahead to a summer getaway for 2026 doesn’t hurt.
One airline in particular is doing exactly that and has announced that it plans to add more flights from the UK to one very popular Turkish resort.
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Antalya is known for its pretty beaches and year-round warm weatherCredit: AlamyCorendon Airlines is upping its flights to Antalya for next summerCredit: Alamy
Corendon Airlines has announced that it plans to extend lots of its summer services next year.
One of these routes from the UK heads to the Turkish resort of Antalya which is known for its family-friendly hotels and waterparks.
During the next summer season there will be daily flights to Antalya from Stansted Airport.
Matthew Carpenter, Corendon Airlines UK Country Manager said: “For 2026 we’re doubling down on the routes that have performed well for us – for example, we’ve had two flights a week to Antalya from Stansted and this will be increasing to five flights a week in the shoulder seasons and daily flights in peak season.”
Antalya sits on the Mediterranean coast of Turkey and has been nicknamed as ‘paradise on Earth‘ thanks to its beautiful beaches, mountain scenery and great weather.
In the summer months, Antalya has average highs of 33C – and it still has daily highs of 23C in November this week.
Thanks to this, Antalya is incredibly popular with Brits, around 1.5 million British tourists visited Antalya between January and October 2024.
Most read in Beach holidays
To make it even better, the average flight time from the UK is around four and a half hours.
There are plenty of great beaches around the coast likeLara Beach, known for its fine sand and luxury resorts.
The Turkish resort is known for having plenty of family-friendly hotelsCredit: Alamy
Other popular beaches include Konyaaltı Beach, which has a long pebble and sand coastline.
Patara Beach is one of Turkey‘s longest beaches, and there’s also Kaputaş Beach which is small cove between the towns of Kaş and Kalkan.
Being such a family-friendly destination, there are plenty of huge hotels with on-site waterparks, kids clubs, activities, and beach access.
It’s found on a quiet sea valley, surrounded by mountains, crystal-clear waters and sandy beaches.
The village was called “one of Turkey‘s best-kept secrets” in an article in the Sunday Telegraph.
Despite not being far from Kemer and Antalya, only a few Brits seem to holiday in Cirali.
Because of its protected status as a nesting site for loggerhead turtles, the seaside village doesn’t have huge all-inclusive resorts or large hotel chains.
The beach, which is a mixture of shingle and sand, is its main attraction. While metal cages mark the turtle nests, there is still plenty of space for holidaymakers.
Other facilities at the beach include several restaurants that serve a range of grilled fish and rustic stews.
Away from the beach, other activities include yoga classes, cycling routes and walking routes.
GARDEN centres are one of the quaintest places to visit on a weekend, and the oldest one in the UK dates back 70 years.
But it isn’t all about plants and afternoon tea – as it even holds festivals and epic Christmas events.
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Stewarts has three garden centres around the UKCredit: InstagramThere will be huge Christmas displays and a new Winter WonderlandCredit: Instagram
Stewarts has three garden centres around the UK; Stewarts Christchurch, Stewarts Abbey in Fareham and Stewarts Broomhill in Wimborne which is its oldest.
The business‘s founder, Edward Stewart, was inspired to create the garden centre model after seeing them in America and is credited with bringing the concept to the UK.
The beginning of the business was in 1742 when the family began its plant nursery in Dundee.
It wasn’t until later on in 1859 that the family business moved down to Dorset.
Stewarts Broomhill, which is the oldest of the three sites, first opened in 1955.
It’s not just your basic plants; it sells outdoor garden furniture, homeware, gifts, gardening tools, grow your own materials, and the likes of bird baths and insect houses.
They hold seasonal events too, like the upcoming Santa’s Winter Wonderland, starting on Saturday, November 22.
Families can wander through the wintry scene, check out the elves’ workshops, and Rudolph’s stable.
For the very first time, after meeting Santa, kids can explore the secret toy store and pick out a gift.
There are photo opportunities too from taking a ride in a Christmas campervan, to becoming a gingerbread man, and and elf.
The chain holds events throughout the year about how to care for plantsCredit: Instagram
Tickets to meet Santa and his elves at the Broomhill Garden Centre are £19.50 for children between 7 months and 12 years old.
Tickets for babies (0-6 months old) and adults are £3.50 each.
Each garden centre is also offering Winter Wonderland tickets for SEN sessions which will have a calmer atmosphere.
On Tripadvisor, one parent wrote: “It’s always a pleasure to visit at any time of year but at Christmas the most amazing spectacular is on hand when Santa Claus arrives exciting the youngsters of our family.”
Another added: “We went to visit Father Christmas today. It was excellent for the whole family. The Grotto was beautiful, snow was brilliant and the lights were bright and pretty. My little girl loved it.”
Stewarts will open its Winter Wonderland in late NovemberCredit: instagram/@stewartsgardencentres
At certain garden centres, events are held throughout the year too.
Stewarts Broomhill Garden Centre has held events like the Primrose Festival Nursery Open Day – which demonstrates how to grow Primroses – and you got a cream tea included.
Meanwhile, the Stewarts garden centre in Christchurch, Dorset, held its own Grill Fest over the summer holiday.
Over a weekend it held barbecue demonstrations – with plenty to eat of course, live music and expert tips on how to do alfresco cooking.
There are other expert talks on how to grow trees, rewild your garden, wildlife gardening and planting bulbs properly.
Here’s one garden centre which is one of the fanciest in England…
Deputy Travel Editor Kara Godfrey spent her childhood at one of the biggest and fanciest garden centres in the UK…
It might not sound like the most thrilling destination for kids, but I spent my childhood exploring one of the UK’s fanciest garden centres.
Growing up in the Cotswolds, it meant my local one was the Burford Garden Centre.
It’s been open since 1975 and is still family-owned and run.
Across the 21,000sqm estate is more than just a garden centre (although that is also extremely extensive, selling everything from flowers to trees that cost as much as £7k).
There is also an on-site bookshop, as well as shops selling clothing, food and interiors, and even artwork. Expect some of the fancier brands, such as Barbour and Le Creuset on the shelves.
There are “Bulb Markets” to stock up on flowers in the spring time.
The onsite cafe and bakery is a must visit too.
The Glasshouse Cafe feels more like a chic European eatery, with wicker shades and palm trees.
Make sure to grab a giant scone – so delicious we even ordered a batch for my sister’s wedding. It even has events including stitching classes, rare book courses and fish mornings.
But my favourite time to visit is Christmas, as the exhibits are spectacular.
ONCE voted the greatest rock song of all time, Bohemian Rhapsody entered the charts 50 years ago this month – and became a huge No1.
The six-minute track — which has sold more than 6million copies worldwide — climbed to top spot in the charts and stayed there for nine weeks while Queen were on the road touring.
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The groundbreaking track’s video, filmed in November 1975, was based on the Queen 2 album cover shown here and credited with being a big part of its successCredit: Wales News ServiceFreddie Mercury, seen here playing with Queen at Wembley in 1984, was terrified of performing Bohemian Rhapsody live and almost caused a riot by once leaving it off their setlistCredit: AlamyThe incredible tale of one of the most famous singles in UK history is now told for the first time in an interview with Peter Freestone, above, one of Freddie’s closest friendsCredit: Peter Freestone
That meant its first Top Of The Pops airing in November 1975 was accompanied by a rushed video which had taken the band just four hours to make on a budget of £4,000.
In fact, singer Freddie Mercury was terrified of performing the fan favourite live, and almost caused a riot by once leaving it off their setlist.
The song even divided opinion over whether it was about his sexuality.
Peter was also his housemate and personal assistant of 12 years.
‘Genius move’
Today, he gives an intimate insight into Freddie’s life and the song that will forever be linked to him.
He tells The Sun: “For most people, if you mention Queen, the first thing they say is Bohemian Rhapsody.
“But the reality was that Bohemian Rhapsody was the one song that he hated playing on the piano.
“He was scared every single time.
“He didn’t enjoy it live because there is a section when it is just the piano, which you couldn’t hide among banging drums and thrashing guitars.
“Even some years after its release, he dreaded playing the piano solo in it.
“He was petrified of playing the wrong notes, and that everybody would laugh at him.”
Peter, 70 — who lived with Freddie at his Garden Lodge home in Kensington, West London — went on: “Just as iconic as the song is the video, but the truth is that it was filmed in a rush at Elstree Studios just so it could be given to Top Of The Pops while the band were away on tour.
“Freddie was very much a man of today and tomorrow.
“He likened his music to tissues — you pick them up, use them and throw them away.
“But I know he’d be proud of Bohemian Rhapsody’s relevance, 50 years on.”
The song topped the charts in November and December 1975 and had sold more than a million copies by the end of January the next year.
It peaked for another five weeks after Freddie’s death in 1991 and became the UK’s third best- selling single ever, also topping Greatest Hits Radio’s Top 500 songs of the 70s, 80s and 90s in 2020.
It was basically three songs in one going around in Freddie’s head, but he couldn’t finish anything off. In the end, they sort of pitched it all together. It was a genius move from the band.
Peter Freestone on how the iconic song came to be
Queen guitarist Sir Brian May and drummer Roger Taylor performed Bohemian Rhapsody with a full orchestra and chorus at the Last Night Of The Proms in September.
Brian — who stumbled over his guitar solo at the end — once said: “I think Bohemian Rhapsody is something you can never get bored with.”
But Peter reveals the mega-hit is actually a mash-up of tunes the band struggled to make work individually, so they were merged into a rock- opera epic.
He says: “It was basically three songs in one going around in Freddie’s head, but he couldn’t finish anything off.
“In the end, they sort of pitched it all together.
“It was a genius move from the band.”
The true meaning of the song has long remained a mystery.
“In the line ‘Mama, just killed a man’, he’s killed the old Freddie — his former image.”
‘Crowd went mad’
But Peter revealed he has his doubts that Freddie would have written a song being so frank about his sexuality amid fears over what his parents would think.
He said: “Being gay was illegal until the Sixties, so he was fighting against his background.
“His parents were very religious and I don’t think he would have thrown it in their face like that.
The original vinyl singleCredit: AlamyQueen bassist John Deacon, left, and Freddie hastily filming the song’s budget music video at Elstree Studios in 1975Credit: Getty
“Bohemian Rhapsody was about love, though.
“All his songs are either about finding it or losing it.”
He also revealed that the only time they left it out of a live show — on a 1980s tour date in Canada — it left the crowd fuming.
Peter says: “It was the start of the tour, and the only time in the 12 years I knew them that they left it out — and the crowd went mad.
“When the encore finished, the crowd started chanting for it.
“But the show had finished.
“It was back in the setlist the next night.”
Yet for many, it is the ground-breaking video — showing the band performing, featuring close-up shots of their faces and portraying them in silhouette — that made the song so memorable.
It was first aired on BBC One’s Top Of The Pops on November 20, 1975 — ten days after it was filmed.
Peter said: “It was pioneering for its time.
“It was a product of its time.
“It was influenced by Doctor Who, which at the time had used silhouettes moving like in the video.
“It was put together very quickly.
“The band were on tour at the time and needed to record a video for Top Of The Pops as they couldn’t be there in person.”
It was through a ballet performance to Bohemian Rhapsody that Peter, who was working in costume for the Royal Ballet at the time, became Freddie’s personal assistant.
He would watch Countdown every day, religiously. He loved playing Scrabble, too
Peter on Freddie
The pair met when the Queen frontman was performing a charity gala in 1979.
Peter said: “I never had a contract because they could never create a job description.
“My job was basically living Freddie’s life alongside him.
“I did normal, day-to-day things like answer the telephone, answer the door, go shopping, do some cooking, do cleaning, so that he could concentrate on creating the music.”
Peter also got to know the off-stage Freddie through sharing his home.
He recalled: “He loved laughing.
“He always enjoyed himself.
“He would wake at 9am every morning, even if he’d got into bed at 2am.
‘I’m white trash’
“He’d have a cup of tea and loved to go to the garden at look at the koi carp.
“The Sotheby’s and Christie’s catalogue and the Architectural Digest were always in the house.
But Peter revealed there were also fun nights out — including one when Freddie flung model Samantha Fox around on stage.
Peter said: “I will never forget it, and I don’t think she will either.
“It was at a party after the Wembley shows in 1986, on a roof garden in Kensington High Street.
“Freddie grabbed Samantha and was swinging her around.
“And they were singing, and howling with laughter.
“I was thinking, ‘Oh God, don’t drop her’.”
On another occasion, Peter had to pluck Freddie out of a bin following a 1980s booze session in a US bar with pop act The Village People after his drink was spiked.
He said: “They were having a great time in this big American bar.
“Freddie was enjoying himself.
“I went to the toilet then one of our friends came to get me and said, ‘You better come quick’.
“I headed back in and I could hear raucous laughter.
“There was Freddie in white singlet, jeans and trainers, jumping up and down in this big, netted bin, full of beer cans and plastic cups . . . jumping up and down, and shouting, ‘I’m white trash. I’m white trash’.
“We later found out his drink had been spiked, but he was okay.”
Bohemian Rhapsody won a Brit Award for the band in 1977Credit: Shutterstock EditorialBrian performed the famous track at the 2025 Proms in SeptemberCredit: BBC
Peter told how he misses Freddie “every day” and feels proud whenever he talks to others about him.
He now does tours and shares memories of the singer’s life.
Peter lives in the Czech Republic and runs an Aids foundation there.
He has talked to more than 70,000 people across the country about the illness, which Freddie had before his death from pneumonia in 1991.
