Oxford

OXFORD Street is set to be pedestrianised in the run-up to the Christmas period – and it’s sooner than expected.

Once pedestrianisation is complete, all vehicles and bikes will be blocked from accessing the world-famous street.

The London Mayor has revealed the date which all cars, buses and taxis are set to disappear from one of the capital’s most recognisable streets.

On October 26, a one-kilometre stretch of the road will become vehicle-free as a “transition-phase” prior to being fully pedestrianised.

The entire section between Selfridges near the Marble Arch end and Great Portland Street (including Oxford Circus) will be the first to be impacted – with buses rerouted and cars set to be banned.

Transport for London (TFL) has also confirmed that e-bikes, pedal bikes, and e-scooters will no longer be allowed to go through the area.

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Sadiq Khan announced: “Following strong support from Londoners and businesses, I’m excited to see my bold vision for Oxford Street really coming to life next month as we start going traffic-free, just in time for the busy Christmas shopping period.”

The transition phase comes as works still need to be carried out to sort out any potential problems, including relocating bus stops and changing the direction of travel in some areas.

Sections of Oxford Street will also be transformed with new planters and seating areas to replace traffic lanes.

However, Westminster Council said there was still a “long list of unanswered questions about how it will work” and questioned whether traffic would be pushed to small streets nearby as a result.

Councillor Tim Barnes, deputy leader of Westminster City Council and cabinet member for growth and planning, added: “If this is going to be the ‘greener, better and more prosperous’ success that the Mayor has promised, then issues around access, air pollution, street cleaning and public safety, need answers urgently.”

The project to make part of Oxford Street traffic- free follows two public consultations in 2025 and 2026.

Following support, TFL has been working alongside the Oxford Street Development Corporation (OSDC) to regenerate London’s most famous street.

THERE’S lots of exciting things happening in 2027 across England, with plenty to interest all ages.

From the opening of the world’s first Minecraft land to a beautiful resort in Oxfordshire and the reopening of a funicular cliff lift in Kent – these spots should be on your radar.

Chessington, Surrey

If you’re a fan of the Minecraft video game, head to Chessington World of Adventures in Surrey for the opening of an immersive new land.

Minecraft World will cost £50million and will also have the first ever Minecraft coaster.

There will be other interactive features too like “epic block built playscapes” along with themed food and drink stores and a gift shop.”

It’s easy to make a day of it too by checking out the other 40 rides and attractions at the theme park.

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Paultons Park, Hampshire

Over at Paultons Park in Hampshire, the theme park will be opening its very first water coaster.

Called Serpent’s Curse, it will be an exciting new addition Valgard: Realm of the Vikings and it will be one of the biggest rides ever built in the theme park.

The watercoaster will be 471-metres long, with top speeds of 44mph and will open next spring.

For ride enthusiasts the details say that it will have ‘a lift hill, fast-flowing twists and curves, and a dramatic plunge into a final splashdown.’

The exact date of the opening of the ride is yet to be confirmed.

Blackpool, Lancashire

Blackpool Pleasure Beach is known for having it all, and it’s about to reopen a much- loved attraction, the River Caves.

The classic water ride first opened in 1905 before closing in 2024 due to technical complications – it will reopen next year after a period of “reimagination”.

It’s one of the oldest operating dark rides in the world and takes visitors through Ancient Egypt and lost jungles past dinosaurs and temples on a boat.

Amanda Jean Thompson OBE, the managing director of Pleasure Beach Resort teased some details, she said: “What I can tell you is what will remain – the Egyptian scene will remain but it and the Angkor Wat scene, which is so integral to Aviktas will remain, but rethemed and redone.”

She added: “I think the Blue Grotto may stay because I particularly like that area. The rest will be new and remains top secret for now, because I keep changing my mind.”

For anyone heading to Blackpool, another must-do is head to Sandcastle Waterpark which was recently voted the best waterpark in the country.

It’s kept at a toasty 29C and has more than 18 waterslides and attractions including a spa.

Don’t forget to pop into the seafront Wetherspoons either – called Velvet Coaster, it sits right on the front with views across the pleasure beach.

It’s across three floors, there’s a beer garden on the ground floor, a balcony on the first floor, and a roof garden on the pub’s highest level.

Morecambe, Lancashire

Work has officially started on the £100 million Eden Project in Morecambe and the majority will open in 2028.

But part of it will actually open next year – and it will be completely free to enter.

Called the Bring Me Sunshine Garden, it will have tall Austrian pine trees, grasses, a natural flower meadow as well as a solar-powered, shell-shaped outdoor pavilion and classroom that harvests rainwater.

The garden was shown off at the 2026 RHS Chelsea Flower Show and will open as a permanent part of the Eden Project in Morecambe in spring 2027.

The rest of the Eden Project Morecambe is scheduled to fully open in winter 2028.

There’s plenty to see in Morecambe like the Happy Mount Park, the Eric Morecambe Statue and The Smugglers Den pub all rated highly on TripAdvisor.

Folkestone, Kent

If you love the Kent coast, Folkestone might be the seaside town to visit next year as its funicular lift is set to open after being closed for 10 years.

Folkestone’s Leas Lift first opened in 1885 and was forced to close back in 2017.

But a long campaign has finally seen restoration works start – and it’s set to reopen in 2027.

The £6.6million works will restore the main systems, which connect the top of the cliff to the beach.

The cafe is also being restored, along with the waiting room and addition of an outdoor terrace.

It remains one of the oldest in the UK, and one of just three of its kind left, being a water-balance funicular.

Along with its beach, the town has its own art trail, including a 2014 Banksy, as well as the Antony Gormley cast iron statues and ‘Folkestone Mermaid,’ similar to the one in Copenhagen.

Pop by its Artist’s Quarter to see local artwork and coffee shops.

Oxfordshire

If a bit of R&R is part of your 2027 plans then perhaps a trip to Oxfordshire is on the cards.

CABÜ is set to open a new resort just outside of the Cotswolds – and it will be the third of its kind in the UK.

It will have beautiful luxury cabins, a relaxing nature spa as well as indoor and outdoor swimming pools.

There will be a new range of 51 “ultra- cool timber cabins” which will have either one, two or three bedrooms.

Guests will be able to use all of the facilities which include a nature spa, hot tubs, saunas and plunge bucket.

There will be an indoor swimming pool too surrounded by loungers and huge windows which will let in lots of natural light.

During the warmer months, guests can enjoy the outdoor pool – also on site will be a shop, restaurant, two bars and a studio events space.

The resort will open in Langley and will be a short distance from popular Cotswolds villages like Bourton-on-the-Water, Stow-on-the-Wold and Burford.

Isle of Wight and East Yorkshire

If you’re looking for a holiday park break next year, then two Parkdean Resorts are getting major makeovers for spring 2027.

The first is Thorness Bay on the north-west coast of the Isle of Wight.

Added to the site will be the new Hat-Tricks Sports Bar with pool and darts.

Joe’s American Grill is its new dining and there will be Minigolf & Adventure Activities which include high ropes, low ropes and climbing wall.

The second resort undergoing an upgrade is Skipsea Sands in East Riding of Yorkshire.

As part of a £5million makeover, it has recently added a Clip & Climb wall, Bear Grylls Escape Rooms and Fairground Golf.

Paignton, Devon

If you fancy a trip to the seaside this summer, one of the biggest hotels in Paignton is getting a huge refurb.

The Redcliffe Hotel is set to open in early 2027 and when it does, it will have been closed for a full year for the refurbishment.

The hotel has Indian-style architecture and sits right next to Paignton Beach and Preston Sands.

During the refurb, the 67-room hotel will be reduced to 55 rooms and the ground floor function room will be converted into guest rooms.

There will be a new restaurant and bar, and enhanced spa facilities.

Outside, there will be a restaurant patio with seating pods, planters and benches, terraced terraced gardens, guest patios and a refurbished outdoor pool area as well.

If you want to find a slice of Greece in Devon, then head to Elberry Cove which sits on the South West Coast Path between Paignton and Brixham and has crystal clear waters.

IF you’re looking forward to the dark autumn nights and epic firework displays – you’ll want to bag tickets to the biggest in the country.

The event also has a huge fairground, live entertainment and monster trucks – tickets go on sale today and are bound to sell out fast.

Held at Abingdon Airfield, the firework display is the biggest in the country and will take place on November 14.

It’s an incredible wraparound display with 270 degrees of fireworks across the airfield’s horizon with flashing lasers and lights all to music.

There’s also an earlier kids singalong fireworks show especially for youngsters – both fireworks displays are followed by the lighting of roaring bonfire.

Throughout the event, families can enjoy the rides at the largest fairground in the south of England.

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There are over 100 rides and attractions like the waltzers, ghost houses, mirror houses and bouncy castles – each ride costs £2.

There will also be enormous monster truck rides doing donuts and epic fireball explosions too.

Music and live entertainment will be held throughout the evening including Kerin & Perry which are an act where ‘comedy meets dance nostalgia’.

When it comes to food and drink, there’s a food village with plenty of snacks to pick up, sweet treats, drinks and craft bars.

One visitor who went last year said: “It was an absolutely amazing event! Fireworks were out of this world, the fairground had a huge choice of rides and prizes for all games, food – delicious and not overpriced.”

Another added: “The fireworks are on another level! Each year tops the last; bigger, brighter, and more breathtaking every time. Easily the best we’ve ever seen.”

Another simply said they were “The best fireworks we have seen to date!”

One change for this year is there is less capacity in order to make the event more exclusive and comfortable – but it does mean fewer tickets are on offer.

So if you want to get yourself some, head to their website, here.

Adult tickets start from £20, tickets for children (3-15) start from £15 – those under three go free.