makeover

A HOLIDAY park right on the coast has undergone a huge makeover – and has a ‘three-resorts-for-one’ offer.

Woolacombe Bay Holiday Parks has revealed a £10million makeover of one of its North Devon holiday parks.

Since 2024, Twitchen House Holiday Park has been working on new facilities that are now open.

The new features include a 28C outdoor pool, stretching 18 metres long with a splashpad and a multi-lane waterslide.

The pool itself even has a lifting floor, which allows it to become a “water playground for aqua aerobics and games”.

At the splashpad, kids can enjoy running through spraying hoops and water jets.

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There’s an outdoor water flume too, and the new three-lane waterslide is ideal for races.

There’s also a new Wavesurfer surfing simulator, which guests can test out their surfing skills on thanks to a constant wave flow.

The park already has an indoor pool, where families can enjoy two waterslides, as well as a toddler pool.

The all-day cafe and bar has been extended too and now has a new outdoor terrace and dog-friendly dining areas.

Woolacombe Bay Holiday Parks has three holiday parks in Woolacombe, North Devon – Woolacombe Bay, Easewell Farm and Twitchen House.

And last year, new Emerald caravans were introduced at the front rows of Woolacombe Bay and Twitchen House sites.

Inside, the caravans feature full-sized baths, TVs in every bedroom and barbecues overlooking the sea on the outdoor decks.

For this year, 131 new caravans have already arrived.

At Woolacombe Bay, every caravan in the Surf Village has been replaced too.

There are also five new caravans with private, outdoor hot tubs.

The four-bedroom sea view Farmhouse on the Easewell Farm site has also had a major revamp to make it the ideal accommodation for multi-generational families.

Inside, it has new furniture throughout as well as a patio that overlooks the sea and boasts a hot tub.

For those visiting any of the three holiday parks, there are a number of different activities they can book including Segway Safaris, watersports on the lake and even bushcraft classes.

For adults wanting a little R&R, there is also a spa to indulge in.

Kevin Darvill, Sales & Marketing Director for Woolacombe Bay Holiday Parks said: “Demand for UK coastal holidays remains strong, especially in the West Country, and our continued investment reflects both our confidence in the market and our commitment to giving guests the very best holiday experience.

“Seeing bookings already significantly ahead for 2026 shows that customers are really responding to the improvements we’re making across our holiday parks.”

To make things even better, there is currently an offer on where visitors can access the three parks for the price of one.

When staying at Woolacombe Bay Holiday Parks, visitors will be able to explore all three parks – Woolacombe Bay, Twitchen House and Easewell Farm.

This means three times the attractions and activities to explore.

At Woolacombe Bay Holiday Park, for example, there is a splashpad with geysers, water jets and a spraying tree.

As well as a slide from the indoor pool to the outdoor pool and a twisting waterslide, there is also a three-lane waterslide ideal for racing family members.

The Easewell Farm site just has an indoor swimming pool, which is calmer and great for learning swimmers.

Prices for the holiday parks vary depending on which site you choose, but typically cost from £50 per night.

And all three parks are located close to Woolacombe Beach, which is often named one of the best beaches in the UK and Europe.

It also gained a TripAdvisor Travellers‘ Choice award for 2025.

Spread over three miles, the beach is loved for its golden sand and thriving surf scene – it is even a recognised World Surfing Reserve and the only one in the UK.

Part of the beach is dog-friendly year-round too, and there are many facilities for families to head to including surf and gift shops as well as a variety of pubs, cafes, bars and restaurants.

One recent visitor said on TripAdvisor: “Woolacombe is a very striking, long, long sandy beach with decent surf.

“If you want a day at the beach, it’s hard to beat.”

In other UK holiday park news, here are 14 of the best holiday parks in the UK from £19 a night – including beach resorts and huge waterparks.

Plus, our favourite beautiful British seaside towns with holiday parks you can book with £9.50 Hols.

A HOLIDAY park that used to be owned by Parkdean has had a huge renovation – and its right by the coast.

Ruda Holiday Park in Croyde, Devon, spans 300-acres and was bought by John Fowler Holidays from Parkdean Resorts last year.

As part of a major revamp, the park has new luxury caravans and lodges, to replace older accommodation.

In total, £1million has been spent on adding new lodges and caravans.

Caravans and lodges that were already on the site have been revamped inside too.

One of the new stays available is the three-bedroom Diamond Hot Tub Lodge.

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Guests can pick between the Country Classic style, which has neutral tones or the Urban Chique style, which features a more industrial style.

There are a range of other caravans and lodges as well from three-beds that are pet friendly, to four-beds with hot tubs on an outdoor deck.

Inside most of the lodges guests will find everything they need for a great stay including a kitchen with a dishwasher, USB sockets, a flatscreen TV and private parking.

In total, the holiday park has 817 pitches for lodges and caravans, touring and tents.

Elsewhere in the park, the shower blocks have also been upgraded and there is a new reception building where guests arrive at when heading to the holiday park.

For electric car owners, there’s also a number of new electric vehicle charging (EV) charging points.

Onsite, guests can also make the most of the Boardwalk Bar and Restaurant, which has also undergone a full makeover.

New features of the bar and restaurant include an outdoor terrace, ideal for having drinks in the summer.

Great for visiting families, the park also has two mascots – racoons Rudi and Rosie – who have returned after a 20-year hiatus.

According to North Devon Gazette, Cathie Higgs, sales director at John Fowler Holidays, said: “Our goal has always been to preserve the park’s unique charm while introducing modern amenities that elevate the holiday experience for our guests.

“This investment reflects our long-term vision for Ruda as a premier destination in North Devon.

“The feedback from our guests has already been overwhelmingly positive and we can’t wait to welcome even more families to enjoy everything Ruda has to offer this season.”

Last year, the park’s Cascades tropical pool, which also has a 200-metre waterslide, had a full makeover.

Those wanting more of a chill in the water, can hop in the hot tub or gently bob along the lazy river.

But if a bit of fun is what you are after, pick up one of the water jet skis…

For kids needing to burn off steam, there is an adventure playground and during the peak season, dining sessions will be joined by famous characters.

Little ones can enjoy an indoor soft play area too, perfect for rainy days.

In the evenings, adults can enjoy bingo, quizzes just like those on TV and cabaret.

Of course, guests can also head down to Croyde Bay Beach which is well-known for being a good surfing spot.

According to the holiday park, the beach is just one minute away.

When John Fowler took over the holiday park from Parkdean Resorts, they also took over ownership of Croyde’s blue flag beach.

At the time, Property Director Ollie Fowler said: “We know just how important Croyde beach is to everyone in North Devon, with its UNESCO designated dunes and golden sands.

“To be custodians of Croyde beach is an honour for us.”

The beach is located in Croyde village as well, which is full of shops to explore.

The John Fowler Group operates 13 parks in total across the South West of England and South Wales.

To stay at the holiday park, it costs from £36 per night.

In other holiday park news, here are our 10 favourite £9.50 holiday parks in the UK – with new breaks added this weekend.

Plus, our favourite beautiful British seaside towns with holiday parks you can book with £9.50 Hols.

A MAJOR holiday park has reopened after a huge £5million revamp with loads of brand new attractions, and what’s even better – you can stay there with The Sun’s new Hols from £9.50 campaign.

The refreshed resort has been unveiled at one of the UK’s top British beach destinations.

Vauxhall Holiday Park in Great Yarmouth has opened its doors to the public once more, boasting a new sports bar, darts and indoor adventure golf.

After a £5million cash injection, the holiday park has also been upgraded to include more kids’ play zones and high rope courses.

This means there is even more to tempt the whole family, from Bear Grylls escape rooms and a bingo hall, to the large indoor pool plus waterslides.

The freshly updated park will be included in the Hols from £9.50 restock TONIGHT, alongside thousands of other new holidays AND new holiday parks.

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You can access these offers early by signing up to Sun Club for just £1.99 a month, where members gain automatic access onto the website one day earlier than everyone else, at just past midnight.

Once you’re a member, go to the Sun Club Offers hub and find the Hols From £9.50 page. Follow the link from the offers page, and you can book your break from midnight on Tuesday, March 31.

That’s a whole 24 hours headstart, as the Sun newspaper readers who are collecting tokens get access to the holidays on April 1.

Vauxhall Holiday park’s two to three room caravans sleep up to eight people, while the park also offers apartments and luxury lodges.

Great Yarmouth on Norfolk‘s east coast has long been one of the UK’s top beach resorts for holidaymakers seeking sand and sun.

The town boasts a soft sand beach known as ‘the golden mile’, with plenty of shops, cafes and restaurants within a short walking distance.

Smack-bang on the beachfront is Joyland, a historic amusement park with plenty of classic rides that are sure to fill you with nostalgia.

This colourful family theme park is perfect for little ones, home to mini rollercoasters and the award-winning Super Snails. The attraction is free to enter, with ride tokens costing £3 each.

For older kids, Great Yarmouth Pleasure Beach is sure to go down a treat with an exciting mix of white-knuckle thrills, child friendly rides and even a 4D cinema.

Undoubtedly the star of the show is a traditional wooden roller coaster, which first opened in 1932 and one of only two still standing in the UK.

ONE of the UK’s most popular seaside towns is undergoing a £750,000 revamp to its historic promenade.

Brighton has long been a popular destination for holidaymakers but its famous Victorian promenade has been partially closed to the public since 2012 following safety concerns.

Now, the promenade is expected to reopen this winter after an extensive restoration project.

Known as the Madeira Terrace, the historic promenade structure stretches 865metres-long with 151 large arches and was built between 1890 and 1897.

Parts of the cast iron railing decorations depict Poseidon – the Greek god of the sea – and Aphrodite – the goddess of love – as well.

The structure is also Grade II listed and thought to be the longest continuous cast-iron structure in the UK.

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The first phase of the project includes restoring 28 of the arches between the Royal Crescent steps and Concorde 2, as well as installing a new lift.

The new lift will create step-free access to and from Madeira Drive.

Work on the lift has already begun with the next stage involving 20,000 bricks being placed around a frame that has been built.

Parts of the cast iron structure of Madeira Terrace have already been returned to the promenade after being sent to a specialist foundry for repairs.

The structure was originally built to create a sheltered promenade for Victorian tourists and was designed by Philip Lockwood – the same man behind the Bandstand, also known as the Birdcage, on Brighton seafront.

As wealthy visitors arrived by train, the terrace would allow them to promenade along the beach no matter the weather.

Over the decades it has become a key part of Brighton’s image as well as appearing in a number of productions such as films Wimbledon (2004) and TV series Dr Who.

Councillor Julie Cattell said: “We’re moving forward with very visible and eye-catching elements of the restoration, and I know residents and visitors are enjoying seeing the structure take shape.

“There has been huge interest in the work being done to create the lift and residents will continue to see real progress being made over the coming months.

“It is great that so many people are really captivated and engaged in this project – and have such goodwill towards the work being done.

“We know Madeira Terrace is a vital part of our city’s architectural heritage and is something people really care about.

“That is partly why we are taking a firm, heritage-led approach.

“Restoring the existing structure does take more time than simply replacing it – particularly with the testing required – but it is the correct approach.

“We’re determined to get this restoration right – and see Madeira Terrace once again become a thriving and important part of our iconic seafront.”

The renovations to the terrace are also part of a wider multi-million-pound project that will develop the area around the Brighton Centre – a conference and exhibition space where previously The Who, Queen and Bob Marley have performed.

Dubbed the Waterfront Project, work will expand Churchill Square shopping centre as well as establish a new conference centre and entertainment venue.

In 2024, plans were also submitted to widen the beach in Brighton’s neighbour – Hove.

The plans were later approved for the coastal defense works, which includes widening and adding new pebbles and groynes to the beach.

In other seaside news, here are seven great UK seaside towns with beachfront theme parks – and you can stay with Hols from £9.50.

Plus, our favourite beautiful British seaside towns with holiday parks you can book with £9.50 Hols.

THE UK’S biggest indoor waterpark has revealed what to expect from its revamp in time for the Easter holidays

Sandcastle Waterpark in Blackpool is getting a £500,000 renovation.

The main upgrades will include some basic improvements, such as a new changing room village.

Images show a much more modern look for the cubicles, with the waterpark now 40 years old.

The slides are also being repainted, while new sound systems are being installed.

The waterpark, which opened in 1986, will be ready to show off the new look by the Easter holidays.

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General manager Kyle Woodcock said: “This is a landmark year for us, and we wanted to mark our 40th birthday with improvements that our guests will really feel.”

In the mean time, there are 18 slides to choose from, as well as wave pools and river rapids.

One of the most popular slides is the Master Blaster which is also the longest indoor watercoaster in the UK.

Another record-breaker is Sidewinder, which is the first indoor half-pipe waterslide in the world.

Kids will love splashing their mates with the country’s biggest water cannon too.

It’s the perfect time to visit the waterpark too – the tropical climate means it is 30C all year round.

Splash out on a private Tiki Cabana, and you get unlimited alcohol and lunch for around £60 each.

The waterpark also has an adult only spa with saunas and steam rooms, which costs an extra £7 on top of a standard ticket.

There are two cafes for food and drink, as well as a shop for anything you’ve forgotten.

We’ve rounded up some other indoor waterparks you can find across the UK.

And there are plans for a new indoor water attraction as well in the UK- here’s everything you need to know.

A SEAFRONT attraction has taken a major step closer to being restored to its former glory.

The seaside town of Worthing is looking to save its lido – but it could come at a cost of £4.5million.

Worthing Lido sits right on the front of the town’s beach minutes from its popular art deco pier.

It was once a popular seawater swimming pool between 1957 and 1988.

And it might be making a comeback as the local council has said it will commit £1.29million towards the first step of its redevelopment.

Councillor Sophie Cox, leader of the council, said: “The community has made it clear how much the lido means to them and that they want us to invest in it for the decades to come.

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“We’re determined to make that a reality.

“Using more than £1m from the Community Infrastructure Levy shows our commitment to turning plans into action, but we know that more is needed to cover even the least expensive substructure solution.”

The funding marks the first time ever that a cash sum has been set aside for the former lido.

While the £1.29million will cover initial works, there are predictions that the work will cost at least £4.5 million.

The lido on Worthing Beach was originally built as a bandstand in 1925 and was used as a performing space for 30 years.

In 1957, the space was converted into an unheated swimming pool.

It was a popular spot for swimmers up through into the 1980s.

In 1988, Worthing Lido was even used as a temporary home to dolphins from Brighton Sealife Centre.

The dolphins were relocated to the lido while their permanent enclosure at the Sealife Centre was undergoing renovations.

In 1989 the pool was covered over and the site transformed into an entertainment centre.

It’s now home to a cafe, arcade, and is occasionally used as an event space.

For more on lidos, here are all of the new ones set to open across the UK from seafront pools to city swimming spots.

And here’s one English seaside town’s beachfront lido which will reopen this summer despite fears of closure.

A POPULAR water attraction that’s the largest of its kind in the UK is getting upgrades in time for the Easter holidays.

Sandcastle Waterpark in Blackpool is the largest indoor waterpark in the country and it is getting a £500,000 refresh.

The water attraction that sits on Blackpool’s promenade has a tropical climate and 18 slides inside.

It’s set to undergo a the huge refurbishment to coincide with it’s 40th birthday, having first opened back in 1986.

The improvements will be to the waterpark’s changing village rooms.

The slides will be refreshed too with a lick of paint, and a new audio system being installed.

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The upgrades are due to be finished before Easter and will be completed in time for the school holidays.

General manager Kyle Woodcock said: “This is a landmark year for us, and we wanted to mark our 40th birthday with improvements that our guests will really feel.”

One of the most popular slides is the Master Blaster which is the UK’s longest indoor water rollercoaster.

Another is Sidewinder – the world’s first indoor half-pipe water slide which has been called a “white knuckle” experience.

Another thrilling slide is the very fast Montazooma which has tight hairpin bends.

There’s also the Treetops Water Chutes racing slides, the slower moving Ushi Gushi River Creek lazy river and Typhoon Lagoon is the waterpark’s huge wave pool.

Even if the weather isn’t playing ball outside, the attraction is always warm as it sits around 30C.

On the outskirts of the pool, visitors can enjoy the warmth in their own private Tiki Cabanas which can be hired out for the day.

Here, visitors can enjoy beer, wine, lunch, and even watch TV while lounging in a hot tub for £60 per person.

It’s not all thrilling slides and splashing about in swimming pools either – there’s also a quieter spa area for adults only.

The Sea Breeze Spa is for those 18 and over to ‘renew, re-energise and feel refreshed’.

It has a sauna, steam room, heated loungers, foot spas, aromatherapy and even a salt inhalation room.

Access to the spa is an additional £7 alongside an admission ticket.

There’s food available on-site too at the Waterfalls Cafe and Waters Edge kitchen where you can pick up drinks, sandwiches and even hot food.

There’s an option for dessert too at the Cool Waves stand, which serves ice cream and sweet treats.

On Tripadvisor, the attraction has a rating of 4.0 out of 5 with over five thousand reviews.

One visitor wrote: “Great family day out at one of Blackpool’s best attractions.”

And another said: “The kids absolutely loved it here with lots to keep them entertained.”

The waterpark is currently open during the weekends – and will reopen on weekdays in the Easter holidays.

General admission tickets into Sandcastle Waterpark start from £24.95 for those age eight and over.

Those between three and seven can get in for £15.95 and under twos go free.

Plus, here are all of the waterparks in the UK mapped – with lazy rivers and wave pools to cool off during the hot weather.

And here’s a massive waterpark hotel that is still warm in winter with 26 slides and even its own theme park.