makeover

LIDOS are experiencing a resurgence of popularity across the UK and this one has been open since the 1800s.

For locals it’s been a peaceful spot for a morning swim, or a Full Moon dip, but now there’s talk of it becoming more like the busy resort town of Benidorm.

Havre des Pas Lido is open year-round for swimming and you’ll find it in Jersey, in the capital of St Helier.

The historic pool is tidal, meaning it fills with seawater at high tide and empties at low tide.

Currently, the lido also has a waterside beach kiosk and bar along with a rooftop bar, but it could all be about to change.

From 2026 First Point will take over as the lido’s operator, and one Constable Marcus Troy, senior partner at First Point, revealed he wants to make the bathing pool and surrounding area “a resort like Benidorm.”

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Talking to the BBC, he said: “So, we are going to be talking to all the catering and hospitality businesses in the area and creating our own map as if it’s a destination in its own right, like West Park and St Brelades. A resort like you would call Benidorm, for example.

“We aren’t the size of Benidorm, but we want more activity in general – whatever it is – volleyball, swimming competitions, galas, night time events, family amusements; we might like to put bouncy castles in the pool.”

First Point will take on the lease for nine years.

Plans to open the lido in St Helier began in 1860s when The Jersey Swimming Club was established and the group sought a safe swimming space on the British Isle.

Years later and the lido at Havre De Pas opened in May 1895 with a large pool and a circular tower, which had the changing rooms and club room.

It was very popular, especially between the 1920s and 30s which is why it saw lots more improvements and additions in the years that followed.

29 new cabins were built on the tower, and there was an extension to the club built called the Blue Terrace.

Now, inside the tower is a bar with an open kitchen, dance floor and stage as well as a balcony that overlooks the pool.

There’s a dining area too which has indoor tables or the choice to eat al fresco, plus there’s the rooftop which has live music and is an ideal location for a cocktail.

The venue at the lido can stay open until 1AM and has dubbed itself the ‘ultimate Private Party Island’.

Through the summer months, the Kiosk is open with lots of light bites, as well as pizzas, burgers, tacos, fish and chips and full English breakfast offerings.

The lido is just on the coast outside of the island’s capital of St Helier – and it’s a popular spot for locals and visitors too.

One visitor wrote in Tripadvisor: “What a fabulous place The Lido Havre de Pas is! Beautiful views over the bay and to watch the people swimming in the gorgeous Lido.

“Will definitely return when I go back on holiday there next year. Can’t recommend enough.”

Another simply branded it as a “good old fashioned historic Lido”.

Not everyone is happy after the announcement of the new operator.

After the news, LidoJersey took to social media to voice concerns about it and stated that the pool could and end up being a ‘bare shell‘

It said: “Unless this new entity wishes to negotiate with us, which hasn’t been done to date, the site will revert to a bare shell, just as it was when we took it over in 2015.”

It added that this would mean there would be no licence for alcohol, entertainment, marriage of infrastructure like the kiosk, commercial kitchen and bar area.

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Plus, check out the huge new Olympic-sized lido could open in UK city with sauna pods and ‘clubhouse’.

And here’s the UK’s biggest indoor tropical waterpark where it’s always 30C – and you can stay all day.

Britain’s oldest lido may never reopen despite £9.3million of repairs…

The UK’s oldest lido could never reopen despite years of renovation works, costing millions.

Cleveland Pools in Bath, which was built in 1815 and is the country’s oldest, may never reopen to the public again.

It was open for just four months in 2023 after receiving £9.3 million for a revamp. But it hasn’t reopened since, and it might never do so.

The trustees of the restored lido revealed in a report that it “might not be possible” to reopen the pool, according to the BBC.

The report stated: “The risk that the cost to repair the pools and the plantroom will be substantial and beyond the resources available to the trust.

“There is therefore a risk that the pools cannot be repaired and reopened.

“To mitigate against this risk the trust is exploring all potential avenues that would allow the pools to be repaired and reopened, including but not limited to legal recourse and external funding.”

Cleveland Pools is a Grade II listed lido, and is considered the oldest outdoor swimming pool in the UK.

It opened in the early 1800s and closed in 1984. It then took a huge campaign by the public, and almost £10million to reopen the lido in September 2023.

A SEASIDE train station dating back nearly 180 years has been returned to its former glory.

The train station in North Yorkshire has undergone a massive £3.6 million restoration project – and it’s just minutes away from the traditional seaside towns of Scarborough and Bridlington.

Sitting on the North Yorkshire coast, the town has been one of the most popular seaside destinations in England for decades.

In the 60s and 70s, it welcomed thousands of tourists every year to Billy Butlin’s campsite, one of the earliest holiday camps in the UK. 

Nestled between Scarborough and Bridlington, in its heyday Filey pulled in more than 150,000 guests every year.

Holidaymakers at the hugely popular resort enjoyed swimming, sunbathing, dancing and amusement arcades.

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In the evening, if they hadn’t retired to their chalets, they were treated to entertainment from the famous Red Coats.

The Butlin’s campsite was so popular that it had its own branch and station on the north east railway.

Despite its popularity, it was no match for the boom in affordable trips to the Spanish Costas in the 1970s.

It was shut in 1983 and by 2001 it resembled a ghost town with the shells of abandoned cabins and drained swimming pools filled with rubbish.

While the once-thriving Butlin’s resort has now been transformed into a £25 million coastal holiday village with pools, saunas, an arcade, and spa, there are still signs of nostalgia in the town for the casual visitor – none more so than at the recently revamped train station.

Main features such as the lantern roof at the station have been reinstated to what they would have looked like when it first opened in 1846.

This includes extensive glazing and tile work and adding safe walkways for easier maintenance.

The huge restoration project, which was backed by the Railway Heritage Trust, also includes improvements to the café, toilets, drainage, and in the train shed – including two ornate cast iron windows.

Network Rail has worked with partners on the refurbishment of the Grade II-listed building.

Jake Walton, Network Rail senior asset engineer, said: “Seaside stations like Filey hold a special place in the hearts of people from much further afield than their towns – being closely linked to generations of memories of days out.

“We’re delighted to have completed a wide-ranging suite of improvements here at Filey which protect the building as a piece of railway heritage while making the station fit for modern passenger use, and for generations to come.”

David Skaith, Mayor of York and North Yorkshire, said it was “great to see a building with such heritage be looked after to make sure that families and friends can come together on our beautiful coastline for another 180 years”.

The Railway Heritage Trust backed the project with contributions totalling £53,000 for restoration of the train shed windows and roofs of the ancillary buildings.

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Tim Hedley-Jones, Railway Heritage Trust executive director, said the station, built by renowned North-Eastern railway architect GT Andrews, “is still fulfilling the role for which it was built”.

He added: “It retains its original character as a railway station from the first half of the 19th century.”

A THEME park in France, often dubbed as a ‘Disney-alternative’ is set to undergo a huge makeover.

At a cost of £218million, it will get new thrilling attractions, restaurants, and a four-star hotel, and it’s all in the works to open by 2030.

Parc Astérix is the second largest theme park in France and yet it’s barely visited by Brits.

Instead, visitors from the UK tend to head to Disneyland Paris, but there Parc Astérix is worth the visit, and is about to get bigger.

The theme park is based on a comic book series that has over 50 attractions across six themed worlds like the Roman Empire, Greece, and the Vikings.

And there’s a new land being added to the portfolio which will make Brits feel like they’re right at home.

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In 2028, Parc Astérix is opening a new British-themed land called Londinium.

It will feature a major immersive roller coaster, an interactive family dark ride, a vertical playground, a pub and shops.

Some concept art has even revealed it to have a Helter Skelter and a queue themed to the UK’s own Camden Market.

Another themed area which will change is the Egypt area, its Oxygénarium attraction, which will become The Descent of the Nile.

The park will open its fourth hotel called The Odyssée Hotel, a new 300-room hotel that is set to open in 2027. 

The addition will mean that the total number of hotels at Parc Astérix will reach 750.

The park’s Les Chaises Volantes attraction will become the Flight of Ibis, and the Le Cirque Restaurant will be redesigned as Le Comptoir d’Epidemaïs.

In 2027, Parc Astérix will open a renovated Greek zone with a two new family attractions, a playground and a restaurant.

The park also revealed that the new development will create 20 per cent more capacity, and two thirds of it will be indoors so it won’t have to rely on good weather.

The theme park is 21 miles north of Paris, and in fact is just an hour’s drive away from Disneyland Paris.

Parc Astérix is significantly smaller than Disneyland Paris. Disneyland Paris is approximately 140 acres, while Parc Astérix is about 83 acres.

In terms of numbers, Parc Astérix welcomed a record 2.9million visitors in 2024, whereas Disneyland Paris averages 12million – so the French theme park will be much quieter.

It’s award-winning too, earlier this year, it’s attraction Cétautomatix  won the ‘Top European New Attraction’ prize at the Parksmania Awards 2025.

Cétautomatix is Europe’s first spinning family roller coaster.

Tickets to Parc Astérix cost €49 (£42.89) per person.

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Plus, here’s more on the massive European theme park less than three hours from the UK named the best in the world – beating Disney and Universal.

And here are the top six UK theme parks you can easily reach by train – and how to find the cheapest family fares.

One Sun Writer visited the theme park with her family, and here’s what she thought…

When EuroDisney — now Disneyland — arrived to take on France’s beloved Asterix theme park back in 1992, they had a huge battle on their hands. And, in all honesty, I couldn’t see how the French would win.

But unlike in many other countries, Parc Asterix might just have pipped Mickey Mouse to the post in France.

Disney certainly has the monopoly on world-renowned characters and a blow-out budget to create that real wow factor, all of which seems impossible to compete with — yet somehow Parc Asterix does.

he tickets are cheaper, the food is better, the shows are spectacular and the rides are a total revelation.

Add in a sprawling protected countryside backdrop just 30km outside Paris, with three separate hotels within the grounds at very reasonable prices, and you’ve got yourself a winner.

It’s pure escapism, based all around the cherished world of Asterix — the man who, in famous French comics, protected France from the Romans.

And what better way to embrace your inner Gaul than by screaming your head off on a super-fast ride?

At the last count, there were nine hardcore rides, as well as all the more child-friendly ones.

And with a guarantee that they will launch something new pretty much every year, you can return in the knowledge you will never be bored.

Our favourite rollercoaster here, reaching speeds of 110km per hour, is the fastest in France and apparently holds the record for the most “air time” — the amount of time your bum leaves the seat (a whopping 23 times apparently!).

CITY boy David Beckham has spent the best part of a decade becoming a country gent — and is now proudly sharing his new lifestyle in an iconic magazine.

He has turned a Cotswolds farmhouse into the perfect family home and is pictured wandering its idyllic sprawling grounds with his working Cocker Spaniels Sage and Olive.

The father of four, nicknamed Goldenballs in his playing days, has planted hundreds of trees, put up 27 bee hives and created a lake with duck house and wooden jetty.

In a special edition of Country Life, he tells how he keeps chickens and has a vegetable plot, where he tends onions, radishes, carrots and kale.

East London-born David tells how he counts fellow converts Vinnie Jones and Guy Ritchie among his country friends.

But he recalls: “My earliest memories of doing anything in the countryside are when I was a Cub, then a Scout, and we used to go camping in Epping Forest.”

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His kitchen fitter dad Ted and hairdresser mum Sandra did not have much time for gardening — though grandad Joe would tend to the roses, often damaged by the young David kicking a ball about.

The 50-year-old former Manchester United and Real Madrid star’s interest in country pursuits grew after meeting Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels director Guy, 57.

The ex-England skipper even made a cameo appearance in Ritchie’s 2017 flop King Arthur: Legend Of The Sword.

David says about Guy: “He’s a modern-day caveman, who has made me fall far deeper in love with the countryside and helped me to understand it even more than I did before.

“Sometimes, we sit for hours around a fire, just the two of us, and talk late into the night.”

Ritchie’s sweeping 1,100-acre estate Ashcombe House in Wiltshire is the inspiration for what David is trying to achieve.

And it was during late nights at the homely Georgian property that Becks got to know footballer-turned-actor Vinnie, who has appeared in a number of the director’s projects.

Guest editing 128-year-old Country Life, David admits: “When I was playing, he was one of those footballers you did not want to go near on the pitch.

“He would either grab you, throw you or kick you!

Sometimes, we sit for hours around a fire, just the two of us, and talk late into the night

David Beckham

“Back then, that was his thing and he made a successful career before becoming a pundit, when he did criticise me.

“I didn’t think he liked me. But when I met him later at Guy’s place, we didn’t stop talking.”

‘Solace in the country’

Former Wimbledon hardman Vinnie, 60, has a 147-acre farm in Petworth, West Sussex.

David adds: “He bought me a walking stick he’d made for me and he’s now a great friend, who, like me, has found solace in the country later in life.”

The three stars are now happiest in tweeds and welly boots, a world away from the glamorous lifestyles which made them famous.

Vinnie used to booze too much but tells how he prefers a teetotal life.

He comments: “You’ve got to commit. Do it on a Monday.

“Everyone who has done it says, ‘I wish I’d done it before’.

“You never hear anyone regret ­giving up booze.”

For the main article in the magazine — marking its 1,000th edition with a 288-page gold embossed issue — David, his tattooed hands ­poking from his cuffs, gives TV gardening expert Alan Titchmarsh a tour of the family estate

He and fashion designer wife Victoria, 51, bought the farm near Great Tew, in Oxfordshire, for £6million in 2016. It is now estimated to be worth twice that sum.

They have turned a 26-acre plot with one maple tree and a few derelict barns into a landscape of wildflower meadows, native trees and shrubland that form a home for insects and birds.

Proud David reveals: “I can still remember the morning when Victoria and the children were all due to arrive to see the refurbished barns for the first time.

The moment she walked in, she burst out crying

David Beckham

“It was still a complete mess. One of the guys, who was helping with the building work, and I were literally running around laying the rugs, sweeping up and getting all the dust out.

“Then I waited at the front door with a glass of wine for Victoria to arrive.

“And, the moment she walked in, she burst out crying because she couldn’t believe how perfect it was.”

Now the couple often serve their home-grown ingredients in meals served for friends and family.

And in the magazine, David gives the Queen’s son, Tom Parker Bowles, a taste of his culinary skills.

David, originally from Leytonstone, tells Tom: “There’s something so nostalgic about mashed potato, liver, bacon and lots of gravy.

“It’s one of those British comfort classics that my mum used to make for me and was also my grandad’s favourite dish.

“My gran was also a great cook, and it was always a treat going down to the pie and mash shop in Chapel Market.

“If I had to choose my last meal, it would be pie, mash, liquor and ­jellied eels.”

Previous guest editors of the Country Life have included King Charles, and the most featured face on the cover in the past was the late Queen Mother.

In his cover shot, David looks every bit the rural gent, leaning on a ram’s horn cane and dressed in a tweed jacket.

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American celebrities such as Beyonce, Jay-Z and Ellen DeGeneres have since followed the Beckhams to the Cotswolds — and it is easy to see why.

• David Beckham’s Guest Edit of Country Life is available now.

The Disneyland Resort will in 2026 be getting a little more patriotic.

Soarin’ Around the World at Disney California Adventure will in 2026 be converted to Soarin’ Across America, a move timed to the 250th anniversary of the United States of America. The makeover is planned for next summer at both California Adventure in Anaheim and in Florida at Walt Disney World’s Epcot.

Disney unveiled the news via a social media post with actor Patrick Warburton, who plays the chief flight attendant of Soarin’. In the clip, Warburton, as the fan favorite character of Patrick, promises “amber waves of grain” and “purple mountain majesties” while showcasing red, white and blue mouse ears fit for the Fourth of July. A post on the Disney Parks Blog hints that the new film will also capture various American cityscapes.

The Soarin’ makeover will coincide with a number of Disney initiatives designed to honor America’s 250th birthday. “Disney Celebrating America” will launch on Veterans Day, Nov. 11, and continue through July 4, 2026. Various Disney networks, from ABC to ESPN, will engage in America-themed programming. Disneyland and Walt Disney World will host a special, one-off fireworks show on the Fourth of July.

An attraction poster for Soarin’ Across America released via the Walt Disney Co.’s corporate media site.

(The Walt Disney Co.)

The celebration arrives at a divisive time in American history. A poster for the attraction showcases the Statue of Liberty juxtaposed with the American flag and bald eagle. It’s art that conveys a sense of nationalistic pride, and it’s perhaps representative of shifting an outward-facing, global ride with one that may suddenly be more inward-looking.

It coincides with a time when U.S. politics are pushing a so-called America First agenda (see President Trump’s tariffs) while the Walt Disney Co. itself has faced criticism for its handling of recent controversy surrounding late night comedian Jimmy Kimmel and pro-administration ICE-recruitment ads running on its various streaming services. Disney’s own social media posts announcing the move are filled with rampant debate as to whether this is an instance of propaganda as it runs the risk of feeling jingoistic.

That being said, it is not unprecedented for the Disney theme parks to lean into American exceptionalism, although in recent years the parks have been shifting away from some of its America-centric viewpoints to showcase a more global and diverse vision. In 2022 when the park resurrected the Electrical Parade it struck its giant American eagle and flag float from the procession, replacing it instead with a showcase of scenes from more recent Disney and Pixar animated films, including “Encanto,” “Coco” and “Frozen.”

Yet Disneyland, of course, is a place of tradition, and even today the park houses a robotic Abe Lincoln (temporarily displaced for a show honoring Walt Disney), stages flag retreats and tells the story of the first Christmas each December.

Soarin’ debuted with California Adventure in 2001 as Soarin’ Over California. The latter typically returns each spring as part of the park’s popular Food & Wine Festival.

A Disney representative described Soarin’ Across America as a “limited time” offering.

ONE of the busiest train stations in the world is set to receive a huge £5billion facelift – with the glow-up finally coming after decades of delays.

Construction for the long-awaited overhaul will begin in two years – transforming the iconic station into a more passenger-friendly hub with an eye-catching interior.

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America’s busiest railway station maekover will get rid of the maze-like design that has confused commuters for years – replacing it with a much simpler layout.

Penn Station will be fitted with a 250,000 square-foot single-level facility – which will boast brighter concourses, actual amenities, new retailers and even built-in housing above.

The iconic New York transport hub which welcomes over 650,000 riders daily will be given a dazzling new design – scrapping its outdated and confusing interior.

Penn Station Mark II has already kicked off – a £1.2billion renovation restored the Farley Building which sits opposite the station.

It came with a central atrium featuring a glass roof, as well as shopper-friendly retail space and a huge 320-seat waiting area.

The Penn Station revamp is also set to tear up the old low ceilings and labyrinth-like corridors.

The station’s current design seriously lacks enough coffee stands, retail space or commuter-friendly walkways.

Amtrak is leading the charge for the ambitious megaproject – with a £32million federal grant to kick-start permitting, design and the hunt for a developer.

Penn Station is in an ‘unacceptable’ state

US Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy said: “Crumbling infrastructure, bleak and dirty architecture, unnavigable hallways, and no inviting spaces for families with kids – the current state of Penn Station is unacceptable.

“Under President Trump’s direction, we will transform Penn Station into a world-class transit hub that is beautiful, safe, and clean.

“The aggressive schedule we’ve outlined will ensure we are back on track to deliver a gleaming monument worthy of New York City.”

Meanwhile, an Amtrak spokesperson said: “The transformation of New York Penn Station is underway, and USDOT and Amtrak are strongly committed to beginning construction by the end of 2027.”

The firm’s spokesperson thanked Trump for “bringing urgency and clarity” to the station’s renovation which has long been plagued by delays and cancellations.

Disruption expected…

The project is being billed as a long-overdue transformation of one of New York’s busiest transport hubs – but the construction will not come without disruption.

Travellers should expect re-routed journeys, temporary closures and fresh signage across the station.

While officials insist the impact will be “minimal,” many commuters remain sceptical.

Delays, cancellations and sudden changes to train schedules are likely during the works.

The overhaul is expected to take two years to complete, with major construction beginning in 2027.

For now, passengers will still have to contend with the crowded, outdated station until the long-awaited facelift finally arrives.

Penn Station revamp timeline

THE US Department of Transportation (USDOT) and Amtrak have revealed next steps for the long-awaited transformation of New York’s iconic Penn Station.

Here is the scheduled timeline the project is aiming to deliver by the end of 2027:

August 2025: Master developer solicitation advance notice

Fall 2025: Contracting industry stakeholder engagement

Late 2025: Master developer solicitation release

May 2026: Master developer selection

Summer 2026 to End of 2027: Preliminary design and National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) activities

End of 2027: Construction initiation

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MAURA Higgins has revealed her stunning living room makeover at her £1.15m mansion in Essex.

The Irish beauty, who bought the property in October, has been taking her time with the interior, waiting for the right furniture to put her stamp on it.

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She seemed right at home in a new video, making bolognese in her modern kitchen before enjoying it in the open plan sitting area.

Settling in to watch And Just Like That on her wall-mounted TV, Maura rested her bowl of food on a beige pouffe that also housed a diffuser and scented candle.

The space includes matching sofas, a fluffy bean bag, throws and a black marble floor.

Maura, who is reportedly worth £3.2m, wrote on her Instagram account dedicated to the property: “I finally have sofas!!!!!! @rowenhomes I can not thank you enough for these beautiful Boucle Sofas….

“My first weekend cooking in my new home & having my first piece of furniture has made it so perfect and cosy.”

She added that all of the furniture had been gifted to her.

Her followers were impressed with the stylish set up, with one commenting: “It’s really looking like a lovely home. Well done Maura they’re nothing like the feeling of owning your own home.”

Another said: “It’s starting to look really cosy.”

A third wrote: “Wow! It looks gorgeous!”

Maura has dubbed her five-bedroom detached home in a gated development, Casa A’Maura after the second villa on the show Love Island.

The TV star found fame on the series in 2019, alongside her best pal Molly-Mae Hague.

The 34-year-old’s new Instagram account has amassed over 70,000 followers and in her first post, Maura shared that she had finally moved into the new space.

The light-filled kitchen opens up seamlessly into the back garden with the help of bi-folding glass patio doors.

The large garden features both a patio and a lawn and is fenced all around with some guaranteed extra privacy guaranteed from the large bushes all around the properties.

It has two reception rooms and five “generously-sized” double bedrooms with one as a master bedroom that features an en-suite and custom-built wardrobes.

When she bought the property, Maura called it her “dream home” and also treated herself to a £60,000 Porsche too.

Her previous home was targeted by masked thieves, and the incident left Maura shaken.

A source said in 2023: “Neighbours caught it all on CCTV and it was chilling to see three masked men ram through the gates and start trying to break into cars.”

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A WOMAN who was left with a “turkey neck” after losing three stone on weight loss jabs is finally comfortable in her own skin after getting a £10,000 ‘mummy makeover’ abroad.

Victoria Vigors decided to have a tummy tuck, liposuction, breast lift, face lift and neck lift after using Mounjaro – a prescription injection used to treat type 2 diabetes and obesity – to slim down.

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The 40-year-old initially felt “misshapen” after losing so much weight.

But now she’s never been happier – and says she looks better today than she did aged 20.

“I was very self-conscious about my fupa,” the mum, who is a content creator with 270,000 followers, revealed.

“My tummy overhung because I had a caesarean with my daughter, so it left a scar that my stomach would fall over.

“It was really obvious – I would wear tight-fitting clothing, and you could just see I had a really unnatural-looking belly. I hated it.

“My boobs felt misshapen, and one was much bigger than the other.

“And where I had lost weight on Mounjaro – the skin around my neck was like a turkey.

“It was all saggy, and I hated my jowls.

“I just felt old and unattractive.”

Victoria, from Kent, said people used to stare at her stomach and even make comments.

She said: “I’ve been called ‘flabby belly’ online.

“People would say I looked more like 50.

“My side profile would show my sagging neck, and people would point it out.

“As much as my daughter would joke, she would also call me ‘jelly belly’ and poke my stomach.

“I’d been on Mounjaro for ages and eating really healthily, so I felt fantastic on the inside.

“But on the outside, my confidence was at an all-time low.”

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After speaking to friends and getting recommendations, Victoria found Revitalize in Turkey.

She spoke to the clinic and was told about a £10,000 ‘mummy makeover’.

The mum booked in for surgery and flew out just 10 days later.

She said: “Weirdly enough, I didn’t feel anxious at all about going in.

“I was just so excited.

“I was already staying at the villa with loads of people who’d already had surgery and were recovering.

“They were all looking great already, so I wasn’t nervous.

“I was a bit more stressed going into having my face done because obviously that’s my face, and if that goes wrong, then I’m stuck with it.

“But I’d seen other people’s results, which looked great.”

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DAY OF THE SURGERY

Victoria’s first surgery was for her tummy tuck, liposuction and breast lift.

She said: “I woke up feeling very groggy, and the pain in my stomach was unreal.

“It’d hurt even more when I moved or coughed.

“I was in and out of sleep for a while, so I was a bit confused at times, but the next day they encouraged me to get up and see if I could start walking.

“I didn’t feel any pain in my boobs whatsoever – it was all in my belly.

“I had drains in to collect any blood that was still coming out, and then they showed me a bit of my stomach that they cut away.

“It looked like a slab of fatty pork – I asked them to bin it!”

Five days later, she was taken in for the second surgery for her face and neck lift.

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She said: “Waking up, my face felt really painful and tight.

“I had massive quilting stitches all over my face and neck, which looked like bicycle tyre tracks.

“I was told they were to help direct the blood flow and drain any excess, but they were really uncomfortable and itchy.

“The first 24 hours were really painful, but then after that it eased off and just felt tight and numb.”

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SURGERY RECOVERY

Victoria had a check-up two days later and was allowed to go home five days later.

She said: “I was really nervous to see the results of my facelift as I had to keep the support on for four weeks, as well as the compression garments on my abdomen.

“I also had to keep my boobs strapped for six weeks.

“But once I could take them off, I was over the moon.

“My tummy had gone down and was so flat.

“My boobs looked great, and my face even better.

“I was like, wow, this is my body now!”

The mummy makeover would have cost £10,000 – but Tracy paid a discounted rate.

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BOOSTED CONFIDENCE

She is overjoyed with her new look, and her friends and family have been “super supportive”.

Victoria said: “They just can’t believe how great I look.

“I went to a baby shower a couple of weeks ago, where I hadn’t seen some of the girls there for a long time.

“And one of them walked straight past me, didn’t even realise it was me, and then she was like, ‘Oh my god, look at you now – the glow-up is real.’

“Now I can wear little belly tops, cocktail dresses, tight clothing, and not feel self-conscious anymore.

“I’m super happy.

“There is a lot of pressure for you to be perfect.

“Of course, nobody can be, but this is my idea of perfect to me.”

In May, Victoria re-visited the clinic to have laser eye surgery and turkey teeth fitted.

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She said: “I had 20 porcelain crowns and my eyes done.

“My vision is incredible, and my teeth are perfect.

“My face looks lovely.”

MORE SURGERY

Victoria plans on visiting for the final time in September to have breast implants and a labiaplasty.

She said: “I was supposed to have breast implants when I was there in March, but they said doing that, as well as a lift, was a no-go.

“My blood count was too low when I went for blood tests, so the surgeon said he couldn’t do my implants at the same time.

Now I can wear little belly tops, cocktail dresses, tight clothing, and not feel self-conscious anymore

Victoria Vigors

“Now I’ve given my boobs some time to rest – then I’ll be going back.

“I’m super excited for my labiaplasty.

“After having two children, one of my labia appears bigger than the other one.

“I want it to be more levelled out and neat.

“Now, my face is done, my body looks great, it is just those final things.”

ONE popular London swim spot is getting a huge makeover with new facilities and green spaces.

The West Reservoir Centre in Stoke Newington that’s been open to swimmers for 20 years is getting an upgrade.

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Found in north London the West Reservoir Centre sees thousands descend on the reservoir for open-water swimming, sailing and kayaking courses.

While the reservoir is about to undergo a transformation, the actual water isn’t – because it’s a reservoir.

Instead, the surrounding area will become much more accessible and greener, too.

The goal is to create “a more welcoming destination for both local residents and visitors.”

Designs reveal a new cafe, reception area, grass edge and two accessible entrances.

Other additions include modern changing rooms and cycle parking spaces to encourage biking to the reservoir.

There will be new accessible bridges built over the north and south parts of New River.

Plus, a new walkway on the east side of the reservoir will be created.

The website states that the centre will remain open throughout the project “for the thousands of people who visit the site each week for open water swimming and water sports.”

The work is expected to be completed by summer 2026 at a cost of close to £3.5 million.

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It’s all being funded by the Greater London Authority as an effort to improve community spaces and create a better space for the people of Stoke Newington.

Caroline Woodley, Hackney mayor, said that the changes are “about so much more than bricks and mortar”.

She continued to describe the centre as “one of Hackney’s hidden gems, a place where communities connect with nature, get active and enjoy some of the borough’s most stunning open-water views.”

The reservoir has a number of swim courses ranging from a 100m warm up lap to a 300m loop.

As it’s an outdoor course, they are dependent on weather conditions and water temperature.

At West Reservoir Centre, the cost for a single open water swim is £10 for non-members and £7.70 for Pay As You Go members.

Another popular lido is Brockwell which the AA revealed to be the best in the country.

The south-west London lido features a 1930s art deco, Grade II listed building, a large 50m pool and even it’s own cafe.

Anyone not keen on swimming can visit the sauna, and there are plenty of spots to sunbathe too.

Plus, I’ve found the little-known lidos in the UK to visit ahead of 33C weather – there are no queues and some are even free.

All the lidos in the UK mapped – with water slides, cocktail bars and some are even free to enter.

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