Park

A POPULAR theme park hailed as the ‘best in the UK’ will unveil an exciting new ride in 2026.

Every year, Paultons Park in Hampshire attracts revellers in their droves with its over 70 rides and attractions.

The attraction even scooped the gong for the Theme Park of the Year at the UK Theme Park Awards 2025.

And now, thrill-seekers have another reason to flock to the beloved spot as a brand new ride will open up in May next year.

Revellers can get a taste of what is to come after Paultons released a POV animation of what the new Drakon ride will offer up punters.

The inverted rollercoaster will be the latest addition to the Valgard, Realm of the Vikings section.

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The Valgard area is aimed at families with older children and teenagers, the theme park previously said. 

Drakon will comes complete with a vertical lift hill and will cost around £12million to build.

There will also be a restaurant for visitors who work up an appetite after a few rounds on the new ride, as well as a themed playground.

Those brave enough to take their seat on the Drakon will need to wait until May 16, 2026 before doing so.

Earlier this year, Paultons Park nabbed an incredible 10 trophies at the at the UK Theme Park Awards this year.

“We are delighted to have been awarded 10 awards this year at the annual UK Theme Park Awards, including the prestigious Theme Park of the Year Award,” Lawrence Mancey, marketing and technology director at Paultons Park, said.

“These accolades are a true reflection of the hard work, creativity and dedication shown by every team member at Paultons Park, many of whom have been part of our family for over twenty years.”

It comes after news that the UK will be getting a brand new theme park in 2026.

Kynren – An Epic Tale of England, is the UK’s largest live action outdoor theatre production and next year it will launch Kynren – The Storied Lands, a new daytime historical theme park.

Set to open in summer 2026 in County Durham, the theme park will immerse visitors in multiple live shows and experiences that “span millennia”.

Phase One of Kynren – The Storied Lands will reveal The Lost Feather and four other live-action shows and immersive experiences, including Fina, a Medieval horse show, a viking show and a Victorian Adventure with characters from the past.

In other theme park news, the UK’s best value theme park has been named.

Plus, the UK theme parks with the best Black Friday discounts – from extra park tickets to free waterpark entry.

IF THERE is one thing the world’s biggest YouTuber loves more than giving away money, it is taking on a challenge. And now Mr Beast is doing exactly that.

The YouTube giant, who has a staggering 450million subscribers on YouTube, is entering the attraction world by opening a theme park based on the challenges and games seen on his channel.

Named Beast Land, the new theme park will open on November 13, in Saudi Arabia.

Jimmy Donaldson (Mr Beast’s real name) said via X: “We built custom games modelled after our videos that don’t exist ANYWHERE else and will have the world’s largest prize wall.”

At one of the games called ‘Tower Siege’, visitors must load balls into catapults, which then have to land in giant 18 metre tubes for points.

In an attraction called ‘Drop Zone’, six people stand on trap doors – a button then lights up in front of all the players, but the person who presses it last gets dropped. The last player remaining gets the most points.

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Another of the main game-style attractions is ‘Airmail’, where visitors head off on a zip line with a weighted bag, which they must then drop on target below.

Little information has been revealed about the other attractions available at the theme park, but when visitors book tickets, others mentioned include Endeavour, Energize, Sling Shot and Coco Beach Coaster.

Mr Beast, 27 said: “I didn’t want this to be like a typical theme park.

“Thought of things from first principles and created games I would love to play.

“Tons of original games created plus of course we have rollercoasters and rides.”

When asked why he chose Saudi Arabia, the YouTuber responded that it is because the majority of his audience is outside of America and that he has a big Middle Eastern fan base.

He added: “Wanted to give them a chance to participate.”

There are four different ticket types including admission only for £5.12 per person – that’s just 3p more than the price of a Big Mac – and includes zone entry but none of the rides, experiences or games.

Junior entry, which is for kids aged between six and eight, then costs £10.03 per visitor and includes the challenges, experiences, games and access up to two rides.

A Beast Mode ticket costing £20.27 is for kids over eight-years-old, and allows visitors to have access to all the same elements as the Junior entry ticket, but with up to three rides.

Finally, Beast Mode + tickets allows all the same as the Beast Mode entry ticket, but includes all of the rides.

This ticket costs £50.99 per person.

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In other theme park news, plans for the world’s first retro theme park have been revealed with lands that take you back to the 1950s, 60s, 70s, 80s, and 90s.

Plus, one travel writer shares how she has been visiting the UK’s best value theme park since she was a kid – here are her six tips for doing it on a budget.

The AA has named the UK’s Holiday Park of the Year, and it’s in a beautiful coastal location with a sandy beach, plenty of entertainment, and lots to do in the area

The UK’s Holiday Park of the Year has been announced, and it’s nestled on a stunning stretch of Norfolk coast, sandwiched between two popular seaside resorts.

Haven’s Hopton Holiday Village, located between Lowestoft and Great Yarmouth and near the Suffolk border, has been awarded a five-star rating by the AA, with the inspector praising its: “Excellent leisure and entertainment facilities for all ages.”

The AA Caravan and Camping Awards 2025-26 judged parks across the UK, covering a variety of award categories, from Small Campsite of the Year to Glamping Site of the Year. Hopton scooped up the coveted AA Holiday Park of the Year award, with inspectors praising its picturesque coastal location, natural countryside setting, and superb range of on-site amenities.

Home to 775 static caravans, the park is situated in the village of Hopton, known for its long sandy beach that becomes a hotspot during the summer months. Visitors can take advantage of direct beach access, allowing them to spend their days lounging on the golden sands or strolling along the low grassy cliffs.

Hopton village itself has classic seaside charm, complete with fish and chip shops, amusements, and a handful of convenient stores. There’s also plenty to do in Great Yarmouth, just a ten-minute drive away, offering family-friendly rides at the Pleasure Beach, the chance to discover marine life at the SEA LIFE Centre, or enjoy traditional seaside fun on the pier.

A mere 40-minute drive north from Hopton, you’ll find Horsey Gap, a beach known for its large grey seal colony. The best time to see them is during the pupping season, which runs from late October to February, reports the Express.

Visitors can use the viewing platforms to spot these adorable creatures without disturbing them.

Another fantastic day out is Pleasurewood Hills Theme Park, situated about 15 miles from the park. This popular attraction has something for everyone, from a Kiddie Zone for the little ones to thrilling rollercoasters for the adrenaline junkies.

There are also wildlife areas where you can spot colourful birds and sea lions, and a soft play area is included in the ticket price.

If you’d rather stay close to home, there’s plenty to do on site at Hopton Holiday Village. It boasts an indoor pool with flumes, as well as a covered outdoor pool that opens during the warmer months.

Families can enjoy a round of 6-hole golf or a game of tennis, hire bikes or karts, or have fun in the inflatable arena during the summer months.

As a Haven park, there are also loads of bookable activities such as a climbing wall, archery, and arts and crafts.

The park features a large entertainment complex, complete with a family-friendly restaurant, fish and chip shop, amusements, fast food takeaways, and The Marina Bar and Stage where Haven’s entertainment team put on shows. Evening entertainment kicks off with The Seaside Squad with games that keep the kids entertained, followed by activities such as bingo and all-ages shows.

You can nab a three-night stay at Hopton Holiday Village for as little as £59, based on a family of four sharing a saver caravan. Discover more and make your booking here.

A sleek, modern hostel has opened, offering affordable rooms with unlimited access to its on-site spa and a kid-friendly water park. Is this the way to enjoy a spa break without breaking the bank?

Think of spa breaks and you will likely picture country hotels, plush white robes, and copious amounts of Champagne. It’s safe to say, they’re not exactly associated with travelling on a budget.

But a hostel in the popular European city break destination of Tallinn in Estonia now offers a way to enjoy a spa break for less than the price of a cheap hotel room. From just £70 a night for two adults sharing a double or twin, guests enjoy unlimited access to the on-site spa and saunas, which are open seven days a week from 11am until 10.30 PM. The rate even includes a light breakfast in the café.

The Ring SPA Hostel is about as far away from the average hostel experience as you can get. There are no rickety beds or random roommates turning up in the middle of the night. Guests can book a private room for one or two people with a private bathroom, or they can opt for a quadruple room, which offers excellent value for money if four of you are travelling together.

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Rooms are basic, with neutral décor, a TV, and modern bathrooms. One reviewer said: “We booked a double room for one night. The price/quality ratio was excellent. The room was spacious, clean, and everything was new. Towels and linens were provided. There was a kettle and a mini fridge. The bathroom had a great shower.”

And there’s no need to worry that the spa will be cheap or basic. The pool features hydromassage options, and you’ll also find jacuzzis to ease tired muscles. Hostel guests can also enjoy a choice of ten modern saunas of varying temperatures, and there’s a kids’ area with a splash park for those who are bringing the whole family along.

The spa also offers a range of massages, including sports massage and treatments with hot stones, which can be booked for an additional fee. A classic 40-minute massage costs €48 (about £42.46).

Chelsea, who is well-known on TikTok as @cheapholidayexpert, recently visited the spa and shared her experience. Checking into her room, she was surprised at how nice it was for the price, quipping, “This is not a hostel!” She noted that the room included features like a kettle and fridge, which aren’t typically found in budget rooms.

Heading to the spa area, she said: “So the spa is made up of one big pool which has fountains, a hydro massage bed, and this circular rapid style area which I had far too much fun in. There’s also this warm pool which is like a big bath and a couple of jacuzzies plus lots of space to sit out and chill.”

After enjoying the water, Chelsea also tried the on-site café, reporting that a beer had set her back £3.52, while a pizza cost her £7.05, which she described as “b****y good”.

One slight downside to the hotel, as reported in some reviews, is its location, which is outside the centre of Tallinn. In her video, Chelsea said the bus had only cost her £1.74 for a single ticket, but some visitors may prefer to stay closer to the city.

A comment on her TikTok revealed more about the location: “As the creator said, around 20-25 mins [from the centre], but there’s a zoo in the neighbourhood, a decent mall and behind the mall there’s a scenic promenade by the sea that leads to one of the popular city beaches if you’re thinking of coming summer. The hotel itself is in a residential area, so there won’t be that much noise either!”

If you can tear yourself away from the spa, there’s plenty to explore in Tallinn. Famous for its gothic architecture, some popular places to visit include the Tallinn Town Hall in the medieval old town square. St. Olaf’s Church features a 124-metre spire, which is visible in the city’s skyline. During the summer, you can climb the tower and enjoy spectacular views.

There’s also Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, a colourful, Eastern Orthodox cathedral with onion domes. You can visit the amusingly named Kiek in de Kök Fortification Museum, which is probably better known for its name than its 15th-century tower. For those who are curious, Kiek in de Kök was a German nickname for towers that didn’t translate well.

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THEME park fans heading to Universal’s Orlando resorts should take note as some attractions will be closed depending on when they plan to head to the tourist hotspot.

Some rides will be off-limits for a short period of time, while others will be out of action for longer.

Popular attractions set to be impacted include Revenge of the Mummy, and Jurassic Park River Adventure.

On Revenge of the Mummy, thrillseekers are plunged into darkness.

The ride will be closed between January 15 and 21, according to Inside the Magic. 

The Hogwarts Express will fall silent between February 9-26 next year.

Universal’s Jurassic Park River Adventure sees riders plunge 85 feet in a thrilling drop.

But the ride will be closed from January 5, 2026 until November 20, as per the Orlando Informer.

Universal’s Volcano Bay water park will close temporarily from October 26, 2026. 

It’s likely the attraction will reopen by the end of March 2027. 

When visiting Volcano Bay, thrillseekers can enjoy a five-person attraction, Puihi of the Maku Puihi Round Raft Rides.

Or, those wanting a more relaxing experience can enjoy the winding river.

Volcano Bay is also home to shops, bars and restaurants.

Earlier this year, Universal’s Epic Universe opened, sparking an influx of tourists.

The park opened its doors on May 21 and is home to five themed lands.

Guests can immerse themselves in the Super Nintendo World and enjoy Mario Kart-themed attractions.

Epic Universe is home to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter and Dark Universe.

Harry Potter fans can enjoy a Butterbeer when visiting the Wizarding World.

Guests can immerse themselves in the Viking-themed village, which is inspired by How to Train Your Dragon.

Disneyland is going to “Fortnite.”

Launching Thursday, “Disneyland Game Rush” is a new island that will bring some of the Happiest Place on Earth’s most popular rides into the “Fortnite” sandbox for the first time. A part of Disneyland’s 70th anniversary celebration, the limited-time experience includes mini-games inspired by attractions such as Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance, Web Slingers: A Spider-Man Adventure, Space Mountain, Indiana Jones Adventure, Matterhorn Bobsleds, Guardians of the Galaxy — Mission: Breakout! and Haunted Mansion.

The in-game island will also feature a replica of the 70th anniversary sculpture inspired by Sleeping Beauty Castle as well as glimpses of the theme park’s familiar landmarks including the Incredicoaster and Pixar Pal-a-Round across the virtual skyline. Players who complete the island’s mini-games will collect keys that can be used to unlock Disneyland 70th-themed island-exclusive cosmetics so players will be able to show their Disney spirit.

“Fortnite” players can access the island by searching for Disneyland Game Rush or using island code 4617-4819-8826.

“Disneyland Game Rush” marks the latest Disney-affiliated “Fortnite” crossover since Walt Disney Co. acquired a stake in Epic Games in 2024. Earlier this year “Fortnite” launched “Galactic Battle,” which was billed as its biggest Star Wars-themed tie-in, as well as a “Simpsons”-themed battle royale mini-season that kicked off earlier this month.

Still to come is Disney and Epic Games’ interconnected “games and entertainment universe,” which will include brands such as Star Wars, Marvel, Pixar and Avatar. This “new persistent universe” was announced last year.

THE UK will be getting a brand new theme park in 2026 – but it won’t have your typical thrill rides.

Kynren – An Epic Tale of England, is the UK’s largest live action outdoor theatre production and next year it will launch Kynren – The Storied Lands, a new daytime historical theme park.

Set to open in summer 2026 in County Durham, the theme park will immerse visitors in multiple live shows and experiences that “span millennia”.

Phase One of Kynren – The Storied Lands will reveal The Lost Feather and four other live-action shows and immersive experiences, including Fina, a Medieval horse show, a viking show and a Victorian Adventure with characters from the past.

There will also be The Legend of the Wear which will transform a lake into a stage, where the Lambton Worm myth will be brought to life with water stunts and special effects.

In the future, the theme park will have even more shows, as well as educational content and themed experiences inspired by Robin Hood, Excalibur and the Tudors.

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As a whole, the attractions will form the UK’s first live-action historical theme park.

Anna Warnecke, CEO of Kynren – The Storied Lands, said: “2026 is going to be an unforgettable year.

“Not only will our award-winning night show return, but we’ll also open Kynren – The Storied Lands a unique new experience that brings history, heritage and myth to life on a scale not seen anywhere else in the UK.”

The news follows the announcement that Kynren – An Epic Tale of England is set to return next summer, with tickets now on sale.

Located in Bishop Auckland, the show involves more than 1,000 cast and crew members and mass choreography, combat, horsemanship, stunts and fireworks – all on a seven-and-a-half acre stage.

The show takes spectators on a journey of 2,000 years of history from Boudicca’s rebellion to Viking invasions, Norman conquests, Tudor drama and even Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee.

The show lasts 90 minutes, beginning at sunset and ending when the stars are out.

It will run every Saturday evening between July 18 and September 12, 2026.

Tickets cost from £30 per adult and £20 per child.

Children under the age of three, are free.

If visitors book their tickets now, they will also unlock an ‘Insider Pass’, which gives them priority access for tickets to the new Kynren – The Storied Lands when it opens next summer.

Travel writer Catherine Lofthouse, who visited this year’s show, said: “If you’ve never heard of Kynren in Bishop Auckland, Durham, you’re not alone.

“Over an hour and a half, scenes that tell the tale of our homeland, history and heritage come to life across the 7.5-acre outdoor stage.

“The 1,000 professionally trained volunteers might be amateurs, but this incredible cast put on one of the best shows I’ve seen, one that really has to be seen to be believed.

“My boys aged 12 and 10 were absolutely enthralled by the evening’s entertainment from start to finish.

“The whole event is epic – from Viking ships rising from the water to the recreation of a magnificent stained glass window in the spray of a fountain.

“Battle scenes, stunts, celebrations, historic moments, lines from Shakespeare – it’s sometimes difficult to know where to look at there’s so much to take in from one moment to the next.

“It was such a high-quality performance, I’d say it rivaled a live Disney show too.”

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IN A lesser-known corner of Europe is an amusement park with its own mini Colosseum, a nightclub on a plane… and a helicopter observation tower.

The park has no traditional rides, replacing thrilling rollercoasters and carousels with giant building bricks, a farming village and 18-metre high slides.

Irrland in Kevelaer, Germany is a huge hit with families – with one parent who goes by thestrongmamaphysio on Instagram describing it as a “kids’ dream” and one of the “best days out we’ve ever done”.

At the park, her kids helped to build an enormous mountain with over-sized Lego-style bricks, and had a rave in a disused plane.

They also enjoyed enormous slides, sand and water play, mazes and a go-karting track.

Plenty of other parents agreed, with one saying: “Best place we have ever been to – we managed to go in the summer and spend two full days at the park.

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“I genuinely think you’ll struggle to find anywhere as good as this and for £10 per head is ridiculously cheap.”

Irrland i park is split into three parts – Irrland-West, North and South, with more than 90 different attractions.

In the West part of the park is where you’ll find the Disco Plane, it also has a huge Trojan Horse climbing frame and jumping pillows.

There’s also a waterslide and an Airport Tower with 18-metre tall slides.

Irrland North has a helicopter observation tower, a toddler play barn, and a huge treehouse.

It’s also home to the world’s largest building construction site – with enormous Lego-style bricks.

In the South is a toddlers’ farming village with pedal tractors and petting zoo, bamboo mazes, even a mini-colosseum, and a small splash park called ‘South Sea’.

The cut off in the park is for children who are 12 years old.

An online day ticket is €12 (£10.53) per person, children under two years old won’t need a ticket.

Any child’s whose birthday it is on the day of their visit can also enter for free – but they will need a form of ID to prove this.

If you’re in a large group and want to spend time together during the day, there are on-site villas which have lockable rooms and fenced areas – perfect for outdoor picnics.

These are available for the day only as the park doesn’t offer overnight stays – you can enter from 10am with the key needs to be handed in by 5.30pm.

During the summer, barbecue areas are available to book too – the cheapest spot being €25 (£21.94).

Before you look at booking a ticket, the park is closed for the winter season.

Currently, it looks like it will reopen on Saturday March 14, 2026. But check back nearer the time as it’s likely to be weather dependent.

The closest airport to Irrland is Weeze, but you can’t get direct flights to there.

For direct flights, head to Eindhoven in the Netherlands and from there it’s just an hour away by car.

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MIAMI BEACH — South Florida is seeing a wave of new cars, but they won’t add to traffic or lengthen anyone’s commute. That’s because the cars are made of marine-grade concrete and were installed underwater.

Over several days late last month, crews lowered 22 life-size cars into the ocean, several hundred feet off South Beach. The project was organized by a group that pioneers underwater sculpture parks as a way to create human-made coral reefs.

“Concrete Coral,” commissioned by the nonprofit REEFLINE, will soon be seeded with 2,200 native corals that have been grown in a nearby Miami lab. The project is partially funded by a $5-million bond from the city of Miami Beach. The group is also trying to raise $40 million to extend the potentially 11-phase project along an underwater corridor just off the city’s 7-mile-long coastline.

“I think we are making history here,” Ximena Caminos, the group’s founder, said. “It’s one of a kind, it’s a pioneering, underwater reef that’s teaming up with science, teaming up with art.”

She conceived the overall plan with architect Shohei Shigematsu, and the artist Leandro Erlich designed the car sculptures for the first phase.

Colin Foord, who runs REEFLINE’s Miami coral lab, said they’ll soon start the planting process and create a forest of soft corals over the car sculptures, which will serve as a habitat teeming with marine life.

“I think it really lends to the depth of the artistic message itself of having a traffic jam of cars underwater,” Foord said. “So nature’s gonna take back over, and we’re helping by growing the soft corals.”

Foord said he’s confident the native gorgonian corals will thrive because they were grown from survivors of the 2023 bleaching event, during which a marine heat wave killed massive amounts of Florida corals.

Plans for future deployments include Petroc Sesti’s “Heart of Okeanos,” modeled after a giant blue whale heart, and Carlos Betancourt and Alberto Latorre’s “The Miami Reef Star,” a group of starfish shapes arranged in a larger star pattern.

“What that’s going to do is accelerate the formation of a coral reef ecosystem,” Foord said. “It’s going to attract a lot more life and add biodiversity and really kind of push the envelope of artificial reef-building here in Florida.”

Besides the project being a testing ground for new coral transplantation and hybrid reef design and development, Miami Beach Mayor Steven Meiner expects it to generate local jobs with ecotourism experiences such as snorkeling, diving, kayaking and paddleboard tours.

The reefs will be located about 20 feet below the surface of the water and about 800 feet from the shore.

“Miami Beach is a global model for so many different issues, and now we’re doing it for REEFLINE,” Meiner said during a beachside ceremony last month. “I’m so proud to be working together with the private market to make sure that this continues right here in Miami Beach to be the blueprint for other cities to utilize.”

The nonprofit also offers community education programs, where volunteers can plant corals alongside scientists, and a floating marine learning center, where participants can gain firsthand experience in coral conservation every month.

Caminos, the group’s founder, acknowledges that the installation won’t fix all of the problems — which are as big as climate change and sea level rise — but she said it can serve as a catalyst for dialogue about the value of coastal ecosystems.

“We can show how creatively, collaboratively and interdisciplinarily we can all tackle a man-made problem with man-made solutions,” Caminos said.

Fischer writes for the Associated Press. Associated Press videojournalist Cody Jackson contributed to this report.

ABU DHABI has been named the happiest city in the world by Time Out.

Scoring a near perfect mark, 99 per cent of locals agreed that Abu Dhabi makes them happy, with 96 per cent saying that people in the city seem positive.

In addition, 93 per cent said that they feel happier in the city than anywhere else.

The city was ranked against five statements: My city makes me happy; I feel happier in my city than other places I’ve visited or lived; The people in my city seem happy; I find joy in the everyday experiences my city offers; The sense of happiness in my city has grown a lot recently.

The city gained top marks for walkability as well, and has been named one of the best cities for culture and green space and nature.

If you are heading to the city, then explore Yas Island – a purpose built island with theme parks and a waterworld.

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The island is home to a number of theme parks including Ferrari World Yas Island and Warner Bros World Yas Island.

Ferrari World is the first Ferrari-branded theme park, which is also home to Formula Rossa – the world’s fastest rollercoaster.

Then at Warner Bros. World, visitors can explore one of the world’s largest indoor theme parks, with six immersive lands.

Across each land, visitors will find rides, shows and attractions themed on classic Warner Bros. characters such as Superman.

For those who prefer to splash about in the water, head to Yas Waterworld Yas Island – a massive water park with over 40 rides, slides and attractions.

For something more thrilling, head to Clymb, which boasts the world’s largest indoor skydiving flight chamber and the region’s tallest indoor climbing wall.

The island also hosts the Formula 1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix at the Yas Marina Circuit.

Visitors can wander along Yas Bay Waterfront as well, where they can find a number of cafes, restaurants and bars.

Yas Beach is good for relaxing too, with golden sands and crystal waters in addition to different water spots such as kayaking.

And for a bit of retail therapy, make sure to visit Yas Mall, which is one of the city’s biggest shopping centres.

Elsewhere in Abu Dhabi visitors can head to other cultural destinations such as the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque and the Louvre Abu Dhabi – a large museum with art from different cultures.

There is also Qasr Al Hosn – the oldest stone building in Abu Dhabi.

If you prefer to see nature, then explore the Jubail Mangrove Park via its boardwalks or kayak.

The desert is another place to see, where you can take part in a number of activities such as dune bashing (venturing across the dunes in buggies), camel riding and sandboarding.

When it comes to food, a mid-range three-course meal at a restaurant will set you back £50.91 for two people.

One top spot (but that costs a bit more) is Café del Mar, which is located near the beach and often hosts pool parties and Ladies’ Days.

Options include a truffles wagyu beef burger, with cheese, beef prosciutto, truffle and mushroom sauce and fries for £35.65.

Alternatively you could share a salt-baked sea bass, with tomato vinaigrette and fries for £29.54 per person.

Alcohol in Abu Dhabi isn’t cheap either with a beer costing around £8.15.

When it comes to places to stay you won’t be short for choice, with the city also being home to some famous hotels such as the Emirates Palace, which costs hundreds per night.

Though more affordable options include the Royal M Hotel by Gewan Abu Dhabi for around £130 per night.

Direct flights in November, from London to Abu Dhabi cost from £474 or £513 from Manchester.

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Abu Dhabi is the ideal alternative to Dubai, with new British Airways flights and affordable holiday packages.

Plus, Disney is also planning to open a brand new theme park and resort on Yas Island.