Monkeys

The sun-soaked British Overseas Territory is a slice of the UK on the southern coast of Spain – and has been a popular holiday hotspot for Brits looking for a break closer to home

With its iconic red phone boxes, traditional full English breakfasts, and a vintage-style M&S, it’s like stepping into a 1970s British high street. But this isn’t a charming village in the English countryside – it’s Gibraltar.

Nestled on Spain’s southern coast, this British Overseas Territory offers all the home comforts of the UK, with just a few hints – such as scorching sunshine and a wandering monkey population – to remind visitors they’re over 1,000 miles from Blighty.

Gibraltar is home to familiar brands like Morrisons, Costa Coffee and Card Factory, while locals enjoy hearty roasts, afternoon tea and other British favourites, according to MailOnline.

Earlier this week, the UK reached a landmark agreement with the EU, securing a ‘fluid’ border with Spain – meaning travellers can cross the land border without checks, paving the way for a long-awaited post-Brexit deal.

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However, those entering via land will enjoy seamless travel, anyone flying into Gibraltar from the UK will face two checks – one by local Gibraltarian authorities and a second by the Spanish acting on behalf of the EU, as the land border provides direct access to Europe’s Schengen area, reports the Express.

Despite the updated arrangement, the UK and Gibraltar have been quick to emphasise it does not affect the territory’s sovereignty. Locals still use the British pound and hold UK passports, even though they’re closer to Morocco than Manchester.

Gibraltar could soon be a rising star in holiday destinations, with airlines considering new international routes to the British overseas territory. It promises visitors a unique blend of British charm and Mediterranean flair, as evidenced by countless TikTok expat and local creators.

Meg Leigh, a Yorkshire lass turned Gibraltarian, has been documenting her sun-kissed adventures on TikTok for four years, giving followers a peek into her idyllic life that includes seaside strolls and monkey meet-ups.

In a viral TikTok video, Meg reveals her love for her adopted home: “I wouldn’t move back to the UK. Four years on and I own my house, have a job for life and better quality of life. Three years later and as much as I miss my family & friends, I love my life in Gib,” while cautioning that Gibraltar can be “super expensive” and recommending job security before relocating.

With Rightmove noting an average housing price at a steep £491,867 due to high demand and import costs, residents are feeling the financial impact, albeit tourists remain cushioned from this with no currency exchange worries and duty free shopping for luxuries like jewellery and perfume.

Another popular TikToker, Hannah (@lidbetterlidbetter) from the south of England, is racking up millions of views with snippets revealing her daily existence in this sunny sliver of Britain.

“It’s like the UK but actually in the sun,” she joked in one viral video, showcasing marching bands, traditional phone boxes, and familiar high street brands – not to mention sandy beaches, dolphin-watching excursions, and Gibraltar’s notorious monkeys.

“Welcome to living in the UK but in the sunshine,” she declared in another snippet.

She pointed out that while you’ll come across a McDonald’s, Burger King and Costa, the menus might vary – and that most locals are bilingual, blending English and Spanish in their daily chat.

“It’s small! But a real sense of community and excellent school and health systems,” she continued.

Perhaps the most peculiar feature?

The airport.

Hannah captured the moment cars paused to cross the runway, which oddly cuts through a main road. Traffic is stopped until planes have taken off or landed, before vehicles are given the green light to drive over.

“One of the craziest things about Gibraltar is probably the whole runway, airport scenario. It’s honestly so bizarre,” she remarked.

Batu Caves, located just outside of Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia, are sacred for Hindus across the world, but also have issues with cheeky monkeys and piles of rubbish

A sacred tourist spot has become overrun by monkeys and plagued by litter.

Batu Caves, located just outside of Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia, took first place in a recent study of the world’s most littered tourist attraction, with 1.67% of reviews mentioning rubbish out of a total 13,950 reviews.

The huge cave complex is one of Malaysia’s most iconic tourist destinations and has particular religious significance due to its Hindu temple complex dedicated to Lord Murugan, the Hindu God of war. The limestone caves themselves are more than 400 million years old, while the temple at their heart was built in 1920.

Hindus from all over have come together during festivals to celebrate and pray as a community in the Batu Caves, where magnificently built shrines and statues are strikingly set against a captivating background of limestone hills.

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Unfortunately, several factors have chipped away at the beauty of the unique attraction.

The site’s litter issue has often been attributed to its popularity with milions of annual visitors, many of whom discard rubbish and often feed the resident monkeys. The large size and complex nature of the site also make it difficult to maintain.

Following a recent visit to the Caves, a man from Burnley wrote: “The whole area surrounding the shrine was filthy and covered with litter, discarded food, refuse bins overflowing with plastics etc, used face masks and litter in general.

“If this is a sacred shrine, I find it difficult to understand why those responsible for its upkeep allow it to be abused in this way. Entry to the sacred shrines requires visitors to remove shoes, but having seen the filthy state the floors were surrounding these areas, there was no way my wife nor I would risk doing so.

“I appreciate that the matter was exacerbated by the presence of monkeys at the caves that scavenge for food, but surely those responsible for health and safety should introduce a programme of cleaning throughout the day to ensure all litter etc is removed.”

A holidaymaker from Essex added: “The area is strewn with rubbish and very stinky. It needs a good clean-up.”

Mark Hall, general waste expert at BusinessWaste.co.uk which conducted the study, said: “It is concerning to see so many reviews mentioning litter at iconic tourist attractions around the world. Many of these sites have religious, spiritual, or historic importance, so it’s vital that travellers treat them with respect. Sadly, overtourism is now a huge issue in many countries and this often brings the issue of litter.

“When tourists visit in such vast numbers, it can be difficult for the operators of tourist attractions to manage waste. Therefore, it’s vital that travellers are mindful of the impact of their own waste. You should never litter, and if a bin isn’t available or is full, always take litter home with you to dispose of properly. That way, we can ensure that these sites remain preserved and enjoyable for years to come.”