multimillion

THERE are many vibrant seaside towns across the UK – but these ones have got some huge upgrades for next year.

VisitEngland has revealed what we can expect from big events to reopened hotels and brand new thrilling attractions.

Hull

Hull is set to be popular next year after the city was named one of ‘best places in the world to travel to in 2026’ by National Geographic.

This is mostly thanks to its ongoing project to conserve its maritime history.

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.

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The Hull Maritime Museum will reopen in spring 2026 with new exhibits which explore its 800 year history.

When it reopens, you can expect to see a ship model of maritime art and a 40-foot whale skeleton.

The city also has its own showbiz trail for tourists, a famous and very big minster as well as an interactive dinosaur museum.

Morecambe

The seaside town of Morecambe will be celebrating in 2026 as it will mark the 100th birthday of Eric Morecambe.

The comedian grew up in the town and he took his stage name from it and celebrations with a comedy extravaganza in his honour will start in May next year.

Meanwhile in January, Morecambe will host The Bay International Film Festival with live cinema screenings and awards.

One of the major focuses of the festival will be ‘Stories Beyond Borders’ – a competition to choose the best ‘visually captivating and thought-provoking short films from around the world’.

The festival will run from January 23 to February 1, 2026.

Blackpool

Of course Blackpool is renowned for its Pleasure Beach theme park and this year marks its 130th birthday.

Next year, the attraction is set to open its new Aviktas “gyro swing” ride: a giant spinning pendulum.

It will be first of its kind in the UK and will stand at 138 feet.

The ride will feature a giant spinning pendulum that will swing 120 degrees and seat 40 riders at a time.

Riders’ legs will dangle giving them the feeling of flying.

There are other swinging pendulum rides in the UK already, but Blackpool‘s will tower higher.

The town’s Royal Carlton Hotel will also be restored to its former glory in a multi-million pound refurbishment.

It sits on the beachfront and has been closed since last year for the upgrades which will be to all 40 rooms, as well as the bar and restaurant.

Folkestone

In the Kent coastal town of Folkestone, the heritage Leas Lift cliff railway will reopen in spring of 2026.

The Grade II listed funicular railway first opened in 1885 and is one of the only three remaining water-balanced cliff lifts in the UK.

It has been closed since 2017, but will reopen next year so locals and tourists will be able to ride between the seafront and promenade.

There will also be a new café and community space in the Lower Station, and experience fresh exhibitions telling the story of this unique piece of seaside heritage.

Southport

Southport is having a year of entertainment as the historic seaside town is hosting a year-long programme of circus, theatre, art and music performances.

In February the town will hold Lightport – an immersive light and sound installation which will cast rainbows across the town.

At the beginning of April will be Cristal Palace where the world-renowned French street theatre company Transe Express will bring its spectacular show Cristal Palace to Lord Street .

There’s a 15-metre-wide flying chandelier – and the street will transform into an open air ballroom with live music, aerial performances and dance.

The Big Top Festival will see the circus take over Southport and you can watch this happen in May 2026.

There will be juggling performances, performances on open-air stages, live music and workshops.

In October will be Books Alive! a literature festival with a twist as storytelling comes to life with live performances and author-led workshops.

It’s during half-term so children can go along and enjoy their favourite novels in real-time.

All events are completely free for locals and tourists to visit.

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For more seaside towns – find out the favourites of the Sun Travel team that are less than 90 minutes from London with Banksy art and award-winning beaches.

And discover the English seaside town that’s better in autumn with London-worthy restaurants and new hotels.

ZOE Ball has moved a new man into her home – a mystery “lodger” who has “won more awards” than she has.

The Radio 2 presenter hinted at a new romance on her Dig It podcast, two years after her split from construction worker Michael Reed.

Zoe, 53, revealed her new living arrangements to co-host Jo Whiley when discussing Christmas gifts.

She said: “I’ve got this thing that I bought online, which is sort of like you hold the handle and it’s loads and loads of different bits of wood and you whack your legs and your underarms with it.

“It really helps circulation. I think it’s quite good for lymphatic drainage.

“I bought loads of them for people for Christmas …”

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Zoe continued: “I remember the first time the lodger walked in and saw me doing it, and just sort of turned on his heels.”

When Jo asked if the lodger was “still around,” Zoe replied: “He’s still here at the moment. He’s still lodging.”

Zoe did not reveal the man’s identity, but said he has “won loads of awards.”

Speaking about her own accolades, she said: “I did get a Sony and it was given to me by Marianne Faithfull. I was well chuffed.

“And I think Caner of the Year for something I can’t remember. 

“We won a BAFTA for the last ever Live and Kicking, which was amazing. But I don’t even have a copy of it …

“Yeah, the lodger has won loads of awards…”

The Sun has reached out to Zoe’s reps for clarification on whether the relationship is romantic or platonic.

Zoe’s ex-husband, DJ Norman Cook – better known as Fatboy Slim – recently spoke about their continued close friendship. 

The pair were married for 18 years before splitting in 2016 and share two children, Woody, 24, and Nelly, 15.

The DJ, 62, recently described Zoe as his “soulmate” while promoting his new photo book reflecting on his music career. 

“Zoe is a very kind, thoughtful person and she just had this way of checking my ego, like ‘We are still human beings. 

“We are still nice to people,’” he told The Sun.

He said Zoe helped him navigate fame in the 1990s: “In the 90s, I was having too much fun to think about the next day. 

“It became a whirlwind, but Zoe helped me through it as she knew that level of fame before. 

“It was nice to have a soulmate in there with you.”

Zoe’s last public relationship was with construction worker Michael Reed. 

The pair dated for five years before splitting in 2023. 

At the time, The Sun reported she had asked him to move out of her £2 million Sussex home after the relationship began to break down.

A source said: “Zoe is gutted but she’s better off without Michael. This is a relief to many of her friends, who think she has done the right thing.”

Before Michael, Zoe dated cameraman Billy Yates, who tragically died by suicide in 2017 after a battle with depression.

BALLSY MOVE

Zoe sold her countryside pile and moved closer to her ex Fatboy Slim last year.

The fan-favourite broadcaster previously lived there with her ex Michael yet it appeared she was eager for a fresh start.

Zoe called time on her relationship with the model in May 2023 after five and a half years together – with pals at the time saying they had “run their course”.

A source revealed she then traded in life in her rural Sussex home – complete with a swimming pool and tennis courts – for the more “lively” surroundings of Brighton and Hove.

Zoe sold up after the sad death of her beloved mum.

Also in her podcast with fellow BBC Radio 2 anchor Jo, Zoe revealed the heartbreaking impact of her loss.

She told her pal on the podcast last month: “I couldn’t work.

“I was on the floor in the kitchen. I couldn’t, I couldn’t move

“I had a proper emotional breakdown, you know, I haven’t really talked about it actually.

“But it was, yeah, it was brutal.

“I had an amazing doctor who turned up at my door with coffee and bagels and said, ‘so, we need to get you some help’, and he was wonderful.”

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She admitted the process of grief was ongoing.

Zoe told how she struggled particularly on the anniversary of her mum’s death and said there was “a lot of crying and pain” that “still has to come out.”