parks

PAULTONS Park has revealed when their huge new Viking-themed land will be opening and you won’t have to wait long.

The theme park – named the best in the UK by Tripadvisor and eighth best in the world – has splashed out a huge £12million on the new themed area.

Called Valgard: Realm of the Vikings, it will have the theme park’s first inverting rollercoaster.

Drakon will not only be the most thrilling ride at Paultons Park, but will see riders climb a huge vertical hill before they twist and fly through the air upside down.

There will also be the swinging ride Vild Swing, going 12metres in the air, while the bobsled Cobra coaster is being reinvented as Raven.

The parks biggest investment to date, it will open to the public on May 16.

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Also in the park will be a themed Feasting Hall restaurant as well as Viking inspired playground.

Back in 2024 they even teased another ride could open in Valgard next year, which would be water-themed – although little else is known about it at the moment.

And last year, Paultons Park won 10 awards at the UK Theme Park Awards, including Theme Park of the year.

It is also known for being home to the famous Peppa Pig World, as well as the Ghostly Manor ride which opened last year.

The Sun’s Head of Travel (Digital) Caroline McGuire recently raved about the park.

She said: “On the kids’ favourite rides, such as the Velociraptor and Cat-O-Pillar coasters, we were able to fit in about three rounds in 15 minutes.

“Ghostly Manor even won Best New Attraction at this year’s UK Theme Park awards, one of ten gongs Paultons bagged that I’ve have to agree with thanks to a number of key factors.

“These include the short queues, incredible customer service (employees all cheerful), the cleanliness (bathrooms spotless) and the attention to detail and the fact that they don’t charge for parking, unlike several other big theme parks.

“we spent the entire weekend outside, grinning from ear to ear. And we were blown away, in the good sense.”

The new Viking land isn’t the only exciting new opening in the UK.

Chessington is opening its new £15million PAW Patrol Land this spring.

And a £50million Minecraft land is also set to open at Chessington, and will be the first of its kind in the world.

Alton Towers has opened its new Bluey The Ride: Here Come The Grannies! at CBeebies Land already as well.

Here are some other openings to be excited about both in the UK and Europe this year.

Aubrey Plaza is pregnant!

Plaza and “Girls” star Christopher Abbott are expecting their first child together. Representatives for Plaza confirmed to People that the pair are set to become parents in the fall. The couple, who have kept their romance under wraps, were spotted together at the Khaite Fall/Winter 2026 fashion show during New York Fashion Week in February.

Plaza, who’s become Hollywood’s favorite weirdo since splashing onto the scene as April Ludgate in the mockumentary sitcom “Parks and Recreation,” met Abbott when they worked together in 2020. The two starred in the psychological thriller “Black Bear,” and then joined forces once more in 2023 for the off-Broadway revival of “Danny and the Deep Blue Sea.” Abbott may be best known for stealing the hearts of “Girls” fans when he portrayed Charlie Dattolo on the HBO megahit.

In “Danny,” the pair portrayed volatile lovers, and they raved about working with each other while chatting with the New York Times ahead of the production’s premiere. “He cares but he also doesn’t care; it’s the best recipe for me for a scene partner,” Plaza said.

“It’s fun and it’s also good and it’s also safe. I like to just throw things out the window also and laugh and mess around and not take it so seriously. It’s a hard combo to come by.”

“We’re both unafraid to be ugly and weird and strange,” Abbott added. The two also agreed that although they aim to entertain the audience, they both hoped to entertain each other.

Plaza — who is known for her deadpan delivery not only on screen but also while giving interviews on red carpets and the late-night circuit — has become known for dropping lines tailor-made for internet culture. In 2011, she notoriously told Jay Leno that she was too awkward for dating. “I’m kind of like all or nothing,” she said. “Either put a baby inside of me or leave me alone.”

The big baby news arrives for the “White Lotus” star a year after the death of husband Jeff Baena, an independent filmmaker who directed Plaza in “The Little Hours.” Baena, who died at 47 in January 2025, had been separated from Plaza for a few months before his death.

ARLO PARKS’ third album is a reset, inspired by the nightlife, freedom and spontaneity she missed out on when she broke through as a teenager. 

For Ambiguous Desire, the London-born singer-songwriter wanted to escape from way she had created songs in the past.  

Arlo, 25, says: “I wanted this to be from ground zero and exactly how I feel now, while I’m really living. 

“When I got to the end of the cycle for my second record, My Soft Machine, I was like, ‘OK, I want to see what it’s like when I DECIDE the path of my days’.  

“I wanted to spend more time in nocturnal spaces, making friends with DJs, club organisers and people in different collectives, and getting inspired by exploring the subcultures and the history and the architecture of those spaces. That’s what was fascinating.” 

Using voicenotes, journal entries and memories from nights out, the Mercury Prize winner’s intimate album is rooted in storytelling.  

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She says: “For this record, my mantra was to write it exactly how it felt.  

“In the past, I was focused on making things as beautiful and poetic as possible, but this time I stripped it right back to the lean truth of it, and that felt more authentic.  

“I also wanted to bring in those references exactly as I heard them, without softening the edges or maybe adding guitars to bring it into the indie world. 

“I wanted it to be inspired by house and garage, the music I’ve been loving. It was just about being true to myself.” 

This raw approach to songwriting runs through 12-track Ambiguous Desire. 

Arlo, real name Anais Marinho, says: “I wanted to make the music feel exciting and dynamic, so the song Jetta is just a voicenote in an Uber with my friends from one of those nights. 

“It’s the sound and the stories of people. Even the vinyl cover and the inserts are photos I took of my friends on nights out.” 

I chat to Arlo at her London record label office the day before she flies back to LA, which has been her home for the past four years. 

Arlo, who won the Brit Breakthrough Artist Award in 2021, following the success of her debut album Collapsed In Sunbeams, says: “LA does feel like home, but London will always BE home.  

“When I moved to LA, I was coming into myself as an artist, so I see it as the place where I built my community and grew into my confidence. But London is where I grew up, where my roots are, where I wrote my first word and heard my first song.”  

While London holds emotional ties — Arlo has been staying with friends and family while in the capital — LA has provided the creative community and space to push her sound. 

She says: “It’s the place where I met a lot of the people that I make music with. And there’s something about the pace of life there, the nature and the sunshine that gives me this sense of peace, where I can just sit and write.  

“My main collaborator, Baird, lives there and we made the whole record in the space he shares with his brother. 

“It’s like a living-room studio with pianos, acrylic paints, sewing machines — it’s an amazing creative hub. The place has been really inspiring for me and given me the peace to experiment.” 

Club culture became both creative research and a release from everyday worries.  

She says: “In New York, we were going to clubs like Nowadays and Basement, which is more in the techno world, and then in LA there are nights like Midnight Lovers. 

“The scene there feels much more DIY, more warehouses than big institutions like London’s Fabric.  

“It was nice to have that as part of our week, like knowing on a Saturday we’d go out and experience it. 

“And I love living in LA because so many artists pass through, so you can catch shows all the time. People like Jamie xx in those spaces were amazing.” 

The euphoric dancefloor-inspired Heaven was the first song that Parks wrote and knew she was on to something special.  

She recalls: “I’d been out with my friend Kelly [DJ Kelly Lee Owens], who was supporting Caribou and, the night after, I’d written all of these little fragments in my journal, like my friend wearing pink Adidas shoes. That’s in the song, which came together exactly like the night had felt.  

“I was able to distil that experience into a song. It felt very cinematic.” 

Clubbing helped Arlo reconsider how songwriting can be a collective experience rather than just a personal one.  

That instinct carries into the brilliant 2Sided, the first track released from the album, which describes the heat and chaos of a night out with friends at a club. 

She says: “It felt like the right song to start this era, and it came about really naturally.  

“I felt it when I made it, and also a lot of my friends — my partner, everyone in my life — were like, ‘That’s the one’.” 

Her other standout tracks explore different themes.  

The dreamy Beams includes the line “I know it’s not a way to treat people you love”, and Parks says: “I think that sentiment is really simple.  

“There’s a moment where you’re in a situation or a relationship and you’ve become used to being treated a certain way and then you realise, ‘Wait, that’s not actually how you treat people. You should be softer, kinder’.  

“It’s about that realisation of what you actually deserve.” 

Luck Of Life is another brilliant track, which explores grief. Arlo says: “That started just me on my computer at the kitch­en table.  

“It’s about loss, something we’ve all experienced whether it’s someone passing away or a break-up, but the impact those people had on our lives and, hopefully, bringing comfort to people who are hurting.” 

On Senses, a collaboration with Sampha, she says: “It’s soothing. I think a lot of that comes from Sampha, as he’s just such a soulful person. 

“He’s always tried out lots of different genres in his career, which is really inspiring to me.” 

For her forthcoming live shows in the UK, US and Europe, Arlo has made some changes. 

She says: “It makes sense to shift the set-up as well for these shows. For a long time, it’s been kind of indie — I had a guitar band — but I want to bring the samplers and the drum machines in.  

“I’ve been inspired by how Massive Attack are touring now and bringing those Nineties sounds into more contemporary spaces. 

“With the smaller shows we did at the end of last year, I had this idea of a light box above with a blue wash, and the stage being in the round with all my samplers and equipment in the middle.  

“I wanted to feel like those nights. Even the imagery came from that.  

“We went back to some of those clubs and did this kind of guerilla-style photography with my friends.  

“It was about staying true to what really happened and trying to recapture that.”  

In 2022, Arlo cancelled some US tour dates due to “debilitating” mental health issues. She has since learned to slow down to avoid another burnout. 

She says: “Music is what I love most in the world, so if I ever feel anything negative, I know it’s because I’m feeling overworked, not because of the music itself.  

“It’s my passion, it’s very much at the centre of who I am.” It is why she also took her time making Ambiguous Desire.  

She says: “I didn’t really want it to be this sprint where I would then have a crash, I want to do this for the rest of my life.”  

Arlo, who became a Unicef UK Ambassador in 2024, to advocate for child mental health, adds: “I’ve always wanted to be a career artist and be making music forever. I knew that I had to pace myself a bit. And, looking back, I’ve had some amazing times. 

“Thinking back to Glastonbury and winning the Mercury Album Of The Year [for Collapsed In Sunbeams] as well, I couldn’t believe it.  

“There’s something really specific about the Mercury because it’s just one winner and it was at the Hammersmith Apollo, which I used to cycle past on the way to school, which made it surreal.” 

Parks has previously been hailed a “voice of her generation”, but that must come with pressure.

She says: “I felt like I was speaking to collective experiences we were going through, rather than being some kind of spokesperson. I never really saw myself as that, so I didn’t feel pressure to be a certain way.  

“I was just telling stories about what I was seeing and living, and that happened to connect with teenagers at that time. 

“But, anyway, my fan base is broad — I love it when I see whole families at a gig and I’ve seen grandparents with grandkids as well as groups of friends. It really is a bit of everything. And I love that. That makes me feel really happy.” 

Ambiguous Desire concludes with track Floette, which she describes as “a note of hope”. 

Arlo says: “I wanted to embrace the fact that change is inevitable and part of life, and we’re all growing and trying our best.  

“ ‘We’re blossoming’ as it says in that song.  

“Looking at myself, I’m more confident and I feel happier than ever.  

“I’ve made something I’m really proud of, which colours the lens that I’m looking at things through.  

“It’s the start of something new, and in the future, I’d love to write a book and a screenplay and be part of a soundtrack for a film.  

“It’s like I’m coming of age. Maybe it’s just growing up. 

“While I’m proud of the music that I made before, this feels a little bit more different.  

“I feel like I’ve finally arrived, after years of making music. I’ve found the confidence to step away and do things my way, take a risk and witness it pay off. 

“I trust myself and my intuition more than ever.” 

• Ambiguous Desire is out today. 

ARLO PARKS
Ambiguous Desire

★★★★☆

FAMILIES have been left gutted after Center Parcs confirmed they were scrapping a popular service at the resorts.

The company previously offered a creche service for kids between three months and three years, for up to three hours.

Costing around £30 a session, it has since confirmed that this will no longer be offered at any of the resorts by the end of next month.

Customers with upcoming bookings have discovered they can no longer book their kids in if their holiday is after the end of May, with the option removed across all of Center Parcs’ UK sites.

One frustrated parent said on a Facebook Center Parcs group: “I had planned to book a much needed child free trip to the spa with my husband and planned to put the children in the kids clubs and our 2 year old in the crèche so we could go together. 

“However the crèche is unavailable for booking? I could cry.”

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Others explained why they had found the creche so helpful.

One said: “We used the crèche for my youngest who wasn’t old enough for any activities so us parents and the older two could do the treetop adventure together.”

Another added: ” We used the crèche whilst my husband and I did a couples hour in the spa.

“If we have the money for the holiday, we can choose to spend it on the crèche and have an hour to ourselves.”

A third said: “It’s only three hours and provides the adults of the holiday with maybe just a lunch of hot uninterrupted food together as it’s their holiday too. 

“We all need a break sometimes.”

The creche was the only activity where parents could leave children aged under three, although they had to stay on-site.

Activities for older children that do not require a parent to accompany them are still on offer, such as Wizard Academy (3+) and Chocolate Chef’s Academy (3+).

Center Parcs said it is developing new activities for children of all ages to be enjoyed by families together.

A spokesperson told The Sun: “At Center Parcs, we’re always looking to review and evolve the guest experience. 

“We have made the decision to remove the crèche activity from our breaks, to reflect guest feedback and limited demand for this particular activity. 

“Crèche sessions are one of more than 20 activities available within our Activity Den and our other activities will continue to run as normal. 

“We’re developing new activities for children of all ages, with the aim of creating even more engaging experiences for families to enjoy together at Center Parcs.”

It’s not the only changes at the parks in recent years.

Last summer, changes to the pools revealed opening times were 9am instead of 10am, as well as new Quiet hours on select days.

However, it also confirmed that the pools would be closing at 8pm rather than 10pm.

And in September 2025, they introduced new staggered check in times.

Treehouse access guests can check in from 1pm, while Forest Lodges, Hotels and Apartments check in is from 3pm.

Exclusive Lodges check in times stay at 2pm, as well as Woodland Lodges from 4pm.

And here is everything to know about the new £450million Center Parcs resort opening in the UK.

OUR Queen of the £9.50 Holiday is back to answer your burning questions – ahead of the launch of THOUSANDS more cheap breaks going on sale.

This time, she’s giving her tips for holidaying with teenagers, top things to do, and how to go away for cheap during the school holidays.

Tracy Kennedy is an expert on Hols from £9.50, having taken Sun holidays for the past 30 years.

This week, Sun reader Julie Dale has been awarded best question of the week, which means she’s been selected to win a £100 Amazon voucher. Congratulations, Julie!

Hols from £9.50 are set to be restocked this Tuesday, with thousands of new holidays AND new holiday parks – and you can get priority access with Sun Club.

If you fancy signing up to Sun Club to access the £9.50 Hols deals early, head to thesun.co.uk/club and join for £1.99 a month or £12 for a year.

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Once you’re a member, go to the Sun Club Offers hub and find the Hols From £9.50 page.

Follow the link from the offers page, and you can book your break from midnight on Tuesday, March 31.

What are some great UK parks that can even keep teenagers entertained?

Glenn Jones

Going away with teenagers, you’ll want something with plenty of activities to keep them entertained.

I’d say Billing Aquadrome is perfect for families of all ages, there’s especially loads to do for the older kids, too.

There’s outside entertainment in the evenings, and they have outdoor cinema screenings.

There’s also a giant inflatable course on the water that teens love to jump off to burn off some energy, and pool and snooker tables to hang out around.

Plus you can take the younger ones to the ball pit or slime making when the teenagers are busy exploring.

Seal Bay is another great choice, there’s loads there for the older teenagers.

They’ve got a really cool machine called a Wave Rider, which is like a surf simulator. It looks like a big bouncy slide with water gushing down it, very good for teenagers!

But if your teenagers are anything like mine, they won’t always want loads of sporty things to do.

My teenage daughter has had enough of arcades these days, she really likes going out on walks and exploring – she’s getting a bit like me now!

We love visiting castles and cathedrals, Hastings is great for that.

Teenagers do like dining out, though! So make sure to research the food options.

Parkdean have a good selection of foods, like Papa John’s pizza and fried chicken shacks.

And Seal Bay has a lovely outdoor seating area where you can have Greek gyros, burritos and ice cream. Teenagers love takeaways!

Would you opt for a £9.50 holiday over booking through the company direct?

Jamie Tebboth

You are often going to get your holiday for a cheaper price booking through £9.50 holidays.

Especially if you’re visiting as a family of four, as you can get a family holiday for only £38.

Looking at direct company sites on the same dates, it can be almost twice the price.

If you book through £9.50 holidays, that same holiday can be miles cheaper – even if you add on entertainment passes.

I always check on the actual company website to see how much I’m saving. I’ve saved £51 on a stay at Unity Beach, £112 at Solway and £211 on a trip to Bognor Regis.

For a family of four, the cheapest break you can get is a £38 holiday out of season (£9.50 each). If you add passes on, for say £10 a person, that’s still under £100!

My stay at Riverside in Bognor Regis and Parkdean Ty Mawr were both only £38. We’re not bothered about the extra entertainment passes, and its free linen there as well. If you’re not fussed in adding on the extras, it’s not going to get cheaper than that.

What are your top tips to get the best deals in the school holidays?

Julie Dale

The Midnight Service – be online as soon as that code comes! Just make sure you’ve joined Sun Club to get instant access after midnight. They go like wildfire!

There’s going to be new availability with this holiday restock, so if you haven’t booked yet, you can still get a holiday this year booked.

It can also definitely be cheaper to go away during school holidays and half term breaks that aren’t in the six-week summer holiday.

I’ve been away in the October holidays and it was much cheaper than the prices in the hotter months.

And if you want a really good deal, you should check if the school half term dates are different in the places you want to go to.

Quite a few people I know plan their holidays around the kids breaking up earlier in the destination they want to go to.

You then get a holiday that’s technically in the school holidays, for a really cheap price. I know someone who got a holiday for £14.50 per person during her children’s half term dates, and she had a great time.

What is a town in the UK you think that everybody should visit?

Elisabete Fortes

I’d say Glastonbury. It’s more than just the music festival. In fact, they have lots of other mini festivals and events throughout the year. We visited during the Medieval Fayre.

When I first went to Glastonbury, I was wowed. The streets are like a real life Diagon Alley from Harry Potter.

There’s Glastonbury Tor, Chalice Well and loads of other things to do. And Glastonbury has plenty of history, too, with Glastonbury Abbey and the links to King Arthur.

The nearest £9.50 holiday site will be Unity in Brean. It’s actually one of the most popular holiday parks I know of.

It’s got its own fair, a massive swimming pool, indoor and outdoor entertainment, plus a fantastic beach. And it’s close to Brean Down, with nature walks and a historical fort.

Can you pay extra to upgrade your accommodation?

Emma Wright

Yes you can! Sometimes when you book, you can upgrade and choose the grade of your caravan.

The upgrade options tend to have really good amenities. When we stayed at The Lakes in Rookley, we stayed in a three-bedroom cottage with its own back garden and washing line. It was absolutely stunning.

It makes for a really luxurious experience, especially if you’re going as a big group or for a special occassion.

But I’ve never had a bad experience in any of the caravans, even staying in the cheap ones.

THERE’S no better way to make the most of the sun coming out than heading off on a beach holiday.

2026 is shaping up to be a record year for staycations, with Brits keen to stay close to home and explore the coastal gems across the UK.

Plus with thousands more breaks being added to the Hols from £9.50 website, including dates in the spring and summer, its not too late to bag that last-minute holiday.

Hols from £9.50 are set to be restocked this Tuesday, with thousands of new holidays AND new holiday parks – and you can get priority access with Sun Club.

If you fancy signing up to Sun Club to access the £9.50 Hols deals early, head to thesun.co.uk/club and join for £1.99 a month or £12 for a year.

Once you’re a member, go to the Sun Club Offers hub and find the Hols From £9.50 page.

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Follow the link from the offers page, and you can book your break from midnight on Tuesday, March 31.

If you’re looking for some inspiration on where to book, here’s some of our favourite beach resorts across the UK, plus our pick of £9.50 holiday parks nearby…

Combe Martin, Devon

Combe Martin is a small seaside resort in North Devon, home to Combe Martin Bay.

Combe Martin Bay is split into two main beaches: the sandy beach by the harbour, and the stony Newberry beach. Both are beautiful, with calm shallow waters protected by the cove.

As an Access for All beach, Combe Martin Bay is fully accessible. There’s plenty of parking, loos and even beach wheelchairs to rent with easy access down to the shore if needed.

This village also sits on the edge of Exmoor National Park, where wild horses roam the rolling hills and moorland.

Bring your bikes and cycle one of the many paths, go fishing in the rivers, or rent a canoe at Wimbleball Lake.

In the village itself, take your pick of cosy pubs like The Dolphin and The Pack O’Cards – pub culture is very big here, and you’ll be welcomed in to enjoy a local pint.

Stay at a nearby resort with Hols from £9.50 at Combe Martin Beach or Sandaway Beach.

Looe, Cornwall

If you’re looking for a classic Cornish escape, Looe is the ultimate catch.

This traditional fishing town is split into two by a large arched bridge. The east side full of shops and pubs, and the west has a quieter feel with rockpools and beach walks.

Over in East Looe you can walk the Banjo Pier (named after its shape) and laze out on East Looe Beach, the main and largest beach in the area.

Or for somewhere quieter, head towards Hannafore Point in West Looe.

On the way you will come across a small stretch of sand which is also home to Nelson, the bronze seal statue that overlooks the village.

Popular pubs include The Jolly Sailor Inn and The Fishermans Arms, both of which serve local pints and food with a home-cooked feel.

Stay at a nearby holiday park with Hols from £9.50 at Looe Bay, Tencreek Holiday Park, Trelawne Manor, Polperro or Killigarth Manor.

Shanklin, Isle of Wight

Shanklin in the Isle of Wight is popular for its pretty Old Village with thatched roof houses, as well as picturesque beach with dramatic cliffs.

Shanklin Beach sits on the south east coast of the Isle of Wight, and has a bustling seafront with arcades, fish and chip shops and an ice cream parlour.

Here you can have a go at the colourful Caddyshack 18-hole mini golf, which costs £8.50 per adult, £7.50 per child or £30 for a family of four.

The beach is just as colourful as the village behind it, lined with colourful beach huts and blooming flowers.

You can get up to the Old Village from the beach via a giant lift. Here you can wander its famous old-fashioned streets – plus the famous pink thatched-roof cottage which you’ll see on postcards.

The pink cottage is a tearoom called the Old Thatch Teashop, where inside you can sit down to traditional afternoon tea or cream tea starting at £7.95. Plus there’s even a fairy garden inside.

Stay at a nearby resort with Hols from £9.50 at Parkdean Resorts Lower Hyde or Parkdean Resorts Landguard.

Tenby, South Wales

Tenby is a walled Welsh seaside town, famous for its rows of pastel-coloured houses and three soft sand beaches.

There’s several beaches to pick from at Tenby, from the two-mile long golden stretch of the South Beach to the smaller Castle Beach, which is popular for watersports.

There’s lots of family attractions here too, like the Folly Farm Adventure Park with its vintage fairground, and go-karting or bumper boating at Heatherton World of Activities.

For something more relaxing, you can wander the historic harbour, which runs regular boat trips to Caldey Island from April through to October.

It’s well worth taking a day trip to the island, where you’ll find forests with red squirrels and the magnificent Caldey Abbey.

Food and drink in Tenby is both budget-friendly and tasty. Tuck into a Neopolitan pie at Top Joe’s Pizza, or listen to live music with sea views at Salty’s Beach Bar and Restaurant.

Stay at a nearby resort with Hols from £9.50 at Moreton Farm, Manorbier Bay or Manorbier Country Park.

Dumfries, Scotland

In south west Scotland, Dumfries is a Scottish seaside town with plenty of activities for kids and fascinating history for grown-ups.

Southerness beach is a vast stretch of sand overlooked by a striking white lighthouse, which is one of the oldest in Scotland.

The shallow waters are ideal for paddling or swimming, and at low tide plenty of rockpools are revealed, which make for fun family explorations.

Another option in Sandyhills Bay, a quiet, sheltered cove surrounded by greenery. The giant rock arch here, called the Needle’s Eye, makes for a great photo spot.

For families, Dumfries is a total playground.

Dalscone Farm Fun (admission £10) and (£12) offer soft play and animal feeding, while the nearby Dino Park (adults £6, kids £12) lets kids hunt for fossils among life-sized dinosaurs.

If you want to take in the history of the town, you can wander down the River Nith past the 15th-century Devorgilla Bridge, or explore the Robert Burns House to see where the famous writer penned his last works.

Stay at a nearby resort with Hols from £9.50 at Lighthouse Leisure or Parkdean Resorts Southerness.

Whitley Bay, North Tyneside

Whitley Bay is a traditional North East seaside town, with an unspoilt Blue Flag beach where you can paddle, swim or surf.

The beach is the star of the show here, and runs from the main promenade north to St Mary’s Lighthouse, which sits on a tiny island.

You can visit the lighthouse by walking across a causeway – just make sure to check the tide times so you don’t get stranded!

For a bit of local history, head into Spanish City. Once a fairground, it’s now a beautiful building full of restaurants and tea rooms.

Inside you can grab try award-winning fish and chips at Trenchers, or enjoy an ice cream looking out over the sea.

Families will love the dinosaur-themed Lost World Adventure Golf, which is £5 per adult and £6 for children. There are also plenty of traditional arcades along the seafront to dip into.

If you like a coastal walk, follow the coastal path south to the trendy coastal village of Tynemouth to see the historic Priory and Castle.

Stay at a nearby resort with Hols from £9.50 at Parkdean Resorts Whitley Bay or Parkdean Resorts Sandy Bay.

BUCKETS and spades, ice creams on the promenade, whizzing around on the dodgems… family trips to the seaside are where the best memories are made.

And seaside staycations are made even better when there’s a thrilling theme park nearby.

With tens of thousands of new dates and breaks being added to Sun Hols from £9.50, you’ll have plenty of cool coastal spots to choose from.

Hols from £9.50 are set to be restocked this Tuesday, with thousands of new holidays AND new holiday parks – and you can get priority access with Sun Club.

If you fancy signing up to Sun Club to access the £9.50 Hols deals early, head to thesun.co.uk/club and join for £1.99 a month or £12 for a year.

Once you’re a member, go to the Sun Club Offers hub and find the Hols From £9.50 page.

Read more on £9.50 holidays

BEACHFRONT BLISS

Inside the most popular UK holiday park from £9.50 Hols

HOL YES

40 of us take over a £9.50 Holiday park each year – it’s my kids favourite vacation

Follow the link from the offers page, and you can book your break from midnight on Tuesday, March 31.

If you’re looking for some inspiration, these are some of our top seaside towns across the UK with theme parks and fairgrounds… plus the nearby holiday parks you can book with Hols from £9.50.

Great Yarmouth, Norfolk

Great Yarmouth on Norfolk‘s east coast has been welcoming holidaymakers as a seaside resort since 1760.

The town boasts a soft sand beach known as ‘the golden mile’, with plenty of shops, cafes and restaurants within a short walking distance.

Smack-bang on the beachfront is Joyland, a historic amusement park with plenty of classic rides that are sure to fill you with nostalgia.

This colourful family theme park is perfect for little ones, home to mini rollercoasters and the award-winning Super Snails. The attraction is free to enter, with ride tokens costing £3 each.

For the older kids, Great Yarmouth Pleasure Beach is sure to go down a treat with an exciting mix of white-knuckle thrills, child friendly rides and even a 4D cinema.

Undoubtedly the star of the show is a traditional wooden roller coaster, which first opened in 1932 and one of only two still standing in the UK.

You can enter Pleasure Beach with either a wristband or fun card. Wristbands give you unlimited rides, starting at £20 for younger children and £27 for ages 7+.

Fun Cards can be purchased for just £5 per person and come pre-loaded with 5 credits that can be used on rides, food or drinks, and they even come with unlimited park entry for the 2026 season.

Keep the good times rolling with a stroll down Britannia Pier to take in the coastal views from the Victorian promenade, or try your luck in the arcades.

The mix of sun, fresh sea air and entertainment will be sure to leave you feeling delightfully exhausted!

Stay with Hols from £9.50 at Cherry Tree, Breydon Water, California Cliffs or Vauxhall.

Skegness, Lincolnshire

The seaside resort of Skegness is a huge hit with families, with a seemingly-endless amount of exciting activities and things to do.

Find the fun of fairground rides and more at Pleasure Beach Skegness, with classic bumper cars all the way up to the swinging heights of Freakout.

Get competitive at the Pebble Beach 9-hole adventure golf course, or make a splash at the Wild River Log Flume.

The theme park is free-to-enter, with rides costing credits. You can purchase an all-day access wristband online (from £17.50) or make the most of the Token Savers scheme if you want to only visit particular rides.

There’s plenty of tickets to be won at the classic amusement arcades on Skegness Pier which can be exchanged for prizes, but the entertainment doesn’t stop there.

With ten pin bowling, Captain Kids Soft Play, escape rooms and Laser Quest, there really is something for everyone in the family. 

And after a busy day, there’s no better place to unwind than Playa at the Pier, a seaside bar that’s perfect for watching the sun go down.

You can even enjoy your drink in one of the bar’s stylish pool pods, perfect for cooling down after a day of sun.

Stay with Hols from £9.50 at Southview, The Chase, Golden Anchor or Golden Palm Resort.

Clacton-on-Sea, Essex

As the largest town on Essex‘s aptly-named Sunshine Coast, Clacton-on-Sea delivers on the classic British seaside holiday experience.

The main attraction at Clacton-on-Sea is Clacton Pier, Europe‘s biggest pleasure pier with its own fairground.

The pier is packed with activities like bowling, mini golf, arcades, a soft play, thrill rides and more – not to mention plenty of cafes and restaurants to retreat into for a sit down once you’ve burned off all of your energy.

When it comes to rides, there’s plenty of crowd-pleasing classics like a helter skelter, dodgems and loop-the-loop coasters.

However there’s plenty for the little ones too, like the gentle Wild Mouse Coaster and Dumbo ride.

Rides cost between 2-7 credits, which you can load onto a fun card from a ticket box or online. £1 = 1 credit.

Just next door you’ll find Clacton Pavillion and Fun Park where another 20 rides await, including a swinging pirate ship, high ropes course and even a waterpark.

An unlimited-ride wristband here costs £15 and includes a ticket to the soft play – not too shabby for a full day out!

Stay with Hols from £9.50 at Highfield Grange, Valley Farm or St Osyth Beach.

Scarborough, North Yorkshire

With its sweeping golden beaches, spectacular castle ruins plus your pick of family attractions, Scarborough is a top seaside holiday destination.

The seafront is dotted with colourful beach huts, sweet shops selling rock and ice cream, and plenty of coastal walking paths.

There are two main bays, North and South, both of which have wide beaches with flat sands and calm waters that are perfect for paddling.

You could easily spend a day walking along the seafront, stopping to build sandcastles and dipping into the arcades, but there’s also amusement parks and rides for the thrill-seekers.

Luna Park is an amusement park with plenty for kids of all ages. There’s traditional activities like a carousel and hook-a-duck, plus more thrilling rides like the twisting Cyclone and jump ride King Frog.

Rides are paid for in credits, which are loaded onto fun cards with 1 credit costing £1. Fun cards are purchased on-site.

There’s also waterpark Alpamare Scarborough, with four adrenaline-fuelling waterslides and its own spa.

And if you don’t mind a 30-40 minute drive, Flamingo Land is renowned for its 33 rides and attractions.

There’s plenty for the whole family here, from a CBeebies Peter Rabbit experience to the terrifying cliff hanger ride Pterodactyl. Admission starts at £29 online, with under 3’s going free.

Stay with Hols from £9.50 at Cayton Bay

Lowestoft, Suffolk

Lowestoft is a seaside town on the coast of East Suffolk, with its beaches such as South Beach winning awards for its cleanliness, safety and beauty.

South Beach is also an RNLI lifeguarded beach, and has its own Children’s Corner with activities such as crazy golf, making it the perfect pick for families.

The North Beach sits between Claremont and South Pier, with a bustling seafront with plenty of snack kiosks and souvenir shops.

Lowestoft’s family theme park, Pleasurewood Hills, is home to the biggest roller coaster in East Anglia: Wipeout.

Plus there’s plenty of other thrill rides, like the ultra-fast Cannonball Express and seaside-themed Jolly Roger.

There’s also a miniature train called the Pleasurewood Hills Express, and you may want to bring a change of clothes for water rides like the Wavebreaker.

Admission tickets to Pleasurewood Hills start from £18.75 online, which includes access to all of the rides.

Stay with Hols from £9.50 at Broadland Sands.

Towyn, North Wales

Towyn in Conwy is a seaside resort with plenty of activities to keep families entertained, plus plenty of spectacular scenery for nature lovers.

The secluded shores of Towyn Beach are backed by sloping green cliffs, and you can even see the mountains of Snowdonia on the horizon.

Further along the seafront, Knightly’s Fun Park is a free-to-enter amusement park with day-to-night entertainment including kids discos, bingo and karaoke.

There’s also 20 rides and attractions at the funfair, including Waltzers, go karts and a fun house.

Rides cost credits, and if you stock up on ride credits online you can get up to 120 extra .

There’s plenty of jaw-dropping sights a short drive away, too. The Grade-II llisted Gwyrch Castle is a 12-minute drive away, and looks like something straight out of a fairytale.

History lovers will enjoy strolling through its Gothic ruins with sea views, which looks especially fantastic at sunset. Plus you can enter the castle for £11.50 per adult and £7 per child.

Eight minutes away in Rhyl you’ll find Britain’s oldest miniature railway line, which first opened in 1911. The railway fare is £4 per adult and £3 per child.

Stay with Hols from £9.50 at Winkups.

Brean, Somerset

Home to a seven-mile stretch of sand, Brean in Somerset is an ideal seaside holiday spot for families.

When you’re not taking your bucket and spade down to the beach, there’s plenty of things to see and do.

Brean Down is a free-to-visit National Trust site described as a “natural pier”, with dramatic limestone cliffs jutting out over the sea.

Plus there’s Brean Golf Club, Brean Splash Waterpark and even a traditional cider farm that are each worth a day’s visit.

If the weather turns, head to Brean Play, an indoor soft play and climbing centre with activities for kids up to age 11.

As for rides and amusements, Brean Theme Park is the largest free-admission theme park in the UK.

Here you’ll find rides that range from bumper boats and fun houses up to adrenaline-fuelling coasters.

Take younger kids onto the spinning teacups and trampolines whilst teens and thrill-seekers brave the Bulldog Coaster and Sky Diver.

You can schedule your visit online ahead of time, and fun cards can be purchased online or in person, with 1 credit costing £1.

Stay with Hols from £9.50 at Unity Beach.

If I had a nickel for every time an editor has sent me an SFGate story and asked me to match it, I’d be at least a couple dollars richer. The San Francisco-based news website provides solid coverage of California public lands, especially our national parks.

So when my colleague Jaclyn Cosgrove told me the National Park Service had reportedly blacklisted SFGate, I wasn’t exactly shocked.

Recent SFGate stories have revealed efforts to limit which public lands employees can share information with the public, quoted critics of the Department of the Interior’s decision to end reservation systems at popular parks and detailed a litany of items that were previously offered at the parks but are now being reviewed for possible removal, thanks to an executive order to “restore truth and sanity” to American history, including books about Indigenous culture and educational materials for children.

But over the past month, the National Park Service essentially stopped responding to inquiries sent by SFGate reporters on dozens of subjects, national parks bureau chief Ashley Harrell wrote last week. The outlet spoke with sources, reviewed internal communications and learned that an Interior Department spokesperson had instructed the National Park Service to ignore SFGate reporters, Harrell wrote. The blacklisting was apparently prompted by a Feb. 10 article on the Interior Department’s efforts to centralize control of park service communications.

I emailed the National Park Service to learn more. “Unfortunately, SFGate has distorted the facts and has caused confusion with their reporting with the mainstream media,” a spokesperson replied. “This has caused the Department to spend countless hours correcting their false narrative with other media outlets.”

Although the statement came from a park service email address, the wording is identical to a statement provided to SFGate by an Interior Department spokesperson.

I’ve also noticed changes in how the park service handles media requests over the past year or so. Some L.A. Times inquiries — about a coyote swimming to Alcatraz and a man charged with BASE jumping in Yosemite, for instance — received prompt replies.

But others — like questions about whether the park service is relying more heavily on seasonal employees amid a decline in permanent staff — went unreturned. And some — like an inquiry for a previous edition of a Boiling Point newsletter about an interpretive exhibit under scrutiny at Death Valley National Park — were fielded by a spokesperson for the Interior Department , rather than the park itself.

I’m not alone. When our wildlife and outdoors reporter Lila Seidman wrote about a wildfire that ripped through Joshua Tree National Park during last year’s government shutdown, she received responses from the Interior Department, but emails to the park service went unreturned.

Jack Dolan, an investigative reporter who often covers public lands, said he hasn’t received meaningful responses from the National Park Service since early last year.

And Cosgrove, who writes The Wild newsletter, said that park rangers remain friendly and helpful, but any communication involves a demand for all questions in writing.

Park service sources and advocates describe all this as part of a broader effort to centralize communications from sub-agencies to the Department of the Interior. Since last year, roughly 230 communications employees have been moved from the National Park Service to the Department of the Interior — part of a broader push in which more than 5,700 employees at the 11 agencies the Interior Department oversees were shifted from the agencies to the department, according to figures provided by the National Parks Conservation Assn., a nonprofit that advocates for the park system.

What’s more, the Interior Department must now approve many park service communications that were once left up to the parks themselves, said John Garder, senior director of budget and appropriations for the National Parks Conservation Assn. That includes exhibits, news releases, website updates and even social media posts, said a source within the park service who asked to remain anonymous over fears of retaliation.

The consolidation “creates significant inefficiencies and removes a layer of accountability to the parks themselves,” Garder said. “It makes it difficult for parks to act nimbly using their professional discretion to make decisions about informing the public about developments in the park,” like a closed road, wildlife hazard or natural disaster.

In an email to The Times, the park service accused National Parks Conservation Assn. employees of donating to Democratic political campaigns and pointed out the nonprofit’s X account follows progressive politicians and groups. “Our parks are nonpartisan, but the NPCA isn’t and they are using you to further raise money off of our parks while never giving those funds to our parks,” a spokesperson wrote in an emailed statement.

National Parks Conservation Assn.’s X account follows over 55,000 users of the platform, including both Democratic and Republican lawmakers and organizations. Garder also noted that the association’s longstanding role has been to advocate for national parks, rather than to raise money directly for them.

The park service email confirmed that officials are “modernizing” the Department of the Interior so that it “will share one voice when communicating the priorities of the Department.”

“The unification of the communication functions will allow for a more collaborative, creative and hands-on approach to Department communications,” the statement said, “and will modernize the federal government by providing a product that is not only better for the American taxpayer but also showcases the state-of-the-art communications capabilities of the United States of America.”

I asked whether I should attribute the statement to a spokesperson for the park service or the Interior Department. The spokesperson replied that I could attribute it to either.

A quick announcement

If you’re a Southern California local, you are probably familiar with PBS SoCal. On April 22, the public media organization is premiering the seventh season of the award-winning program “Earth Focus,” which will be followed by the eighth season in May. We’re excited for the eighth season in particular, because we collaborated with the PBS SoCal team on a few stories about the complexities of rebuilding Los Angeles. You can stream the show for free at pbssocal.org/earthfocus.

More recent land news

Karen Budd-Falen, the third highest-ranking official at the Department of the Interior, has been granted an ethics waiver to work on grazing issues despite potential conflicts of interests that prompted her to recuse herself from such matters during the first Trump presidency, according to Chris D’Angelo of Public Domain.

A pair of Republican senators have officially moved to overturn the management plan for Utah’s Grand Staircase–Escalante National Monument, casting uncertainty on its future and raising new questions about the future of public lands management, Caroline Llanes of Rocky Mountain Community Radio reports.

The Trump administration is aggressively expanding the border wall through ecologically sensitive public lands, with a portion planned for Big Bend National Park emerging as a political flash point, Arelis R. Hernández, Jake Spring, John Muyskens and Thomas Simonetti write in this Washington Post deep dive.

The Interior Department has officially pulled back more than 80% of its regulations tied to implementing the National Environmental Policy Act in a bid to streamline the environmental review process for major projects on federal public lands. Conservation groups say the changes will block public input and violate federal law, according to Hannah Northey and Scott Streater of E&E News by Politico.

The Trump administration is taking the final steps to undo the Public Lands Rule, which elevated conservation to an official use of Bureau of Land Management lands, Streater also reports. The rule allowed conservation groups to obtain leases for restoration work, similar to how the Bureau of Land Management awards leases to private contractors for extraction and development, points out Sage Marshall of Field & Stream.

Meanwhile, the U.S. Forest Service is expected to soon release an updated proposal for the rescission of the Roadless Rule, which blocked new road building and commercial logging on some 58 million acres of backcountry. The rollback would strike a big blow to hunting and fishing opportunities, according to a report from Trout Unlimited.

A few last things in climate news

Amid a global energy crisis that’s seen oil prices skyrocket, California has been particularly hard-hit due to a dearth of refineries and higher taxes and fees, all of which have left politicians, consumer groups and business interests arguing over who’s to blame, write Ivan Penn and Kurtis Lee for the New York Times.

In the latest maneuver in its campaign against renewable energy, the Trump administration will pay a French company $1 billion to walk away from two U.S. offshore wind leases, according to Jennifer McDermott of the Associated Press.

Southern California’s most destructive wildfires, wettest holiday season and hottest March heat wave have all taken place in the last 15 months, and there’s one clear through line connecting them all, scientists told my colleague Clara Harter.

Mosquitoes have gone year-round in Los Angeles, but business owners have indicated they’re not willing to pay to expand a promising effort to help control their numbers, my buddy Lila Seidman reports.

This is the latest edition of Boiling Point, a newsletter about climate change and the environment in the American West. Sign up here to get it in your inbox. And listen to our Boiling Point podcast here.

For more land news, follow @phila_lex on X and alex-wigglesworth.bsky.social on Bluesky.

GET ready to rock ’n’ roll – there are more thrills and spills at our favourite theme parks.

The new season has launched and families are guaranteed exhilarating new rides, amazing attractions and sensational shows.

Disneyland Paris’s World Of Frozen is making headlines but other favourite kids’ TV characters are being celebrated with coasters, heart-stopping swing rides and even a new historical theme park.

Trisha Harbord picks top parks with something new for 2026, at home and abroad.

CHESSINGTON WORLD OF ADVENTURES

PAW Patrol is on a roll, with a new £15million PAW Patrol Land opening at Chessington this spring.

The immersive experience, based on the children’s TV series, will be the first to open in the UK.

WAIL OF A TIME

I drove Irish Route 66 with deserted golden beaches and pirate-like islands

TEMPTED?

Tiny ‘Bali of Europe’ town with stunning beaches, €3 cocktails and £20 flights

A replica of the show’s Lookout Tower will form part of Chase’s Mountain Mission coaster.

And families can join a rescue mission while flying high on Skye’s Helicopter Heroes.

Other rides include Zuma’s hovercraft, which will slide, drift and skid, and Marshall’s rolling and rocking fire truck.

There will be pup meet-and-greets and themed play areas, along with PAW Patrol rooms at the park’s hotel.

GO: New season started on Friday. Tickets from £37. B&B for a family of four from £155. See chessington.com.

PAULTONS PARK

A THRILLING rollercoaster and swing ride are the highlights of Paultons Park’s new £12million themed world.

Valgard: Realm Of The Vikings features Drakon, the park’s first inverted coaster, which has a vertical lift hill and two twists taking riders upside down.

It will intertwine with the coaster known as Cobra, reborn as Raven, which is an exciting bobsled adventure.

Nearby stands the massive Vild Swing — the first wild swing of its kind in the UK — which will swirl riders 40ft in the air.

Valgard, opening at the Hampshire park on May 16, will also have a Feasting Hall restaurant and Viking-inspired playground.

There will now be more than 80 rides and attractions in six themed worlds, including Peppa Pig World.

GO: New season starts Wednesday. Tickets from £46.75. Those under one metre go free. See paultonspark.co.uk.

ALTON TOWERS

IN another first, the UK’s most popular theme park launches Bluey The Ride: Here Come The Grannies! on Saturday.

Bluey and her sister Bingo, dressed as mischievous grannies Janet and Rita, take families on an adventure through the TV characters’ back yard.

Fans can also meet the lovable pup at showtime and the CBeebies Land Hotel has Bluey-themed rooms — as well as Hey Duggee themed ones, which are new for 2026.

The Staffordshire park celebrated Bluey’s arrival by creating a giant portrait on the lawn.

It’s made from 11,000 cans of beans because they feature in the TV Grannies episode.

Alton Towers Resort has more than 40 rides and attractions, including thrilling roller coasters and a waterpark.

GO: Now open, with After Dark extended openings today and on March 27 and 28. Tickets from £32. See altontowers.com.

FUTUROSCOPE

A MAJOR new immersive experience that this park based on the marvels of science and nature will allow visitors to walk among the flora and fauna of the world.

After investing nearly 300million euros in new attractions, Futuroscope has again used amazing technology to create The Greenhouse Of Worlds, a colourful visual experience.

You wander through a massive dome to discover a professor’s collection of plants from all around the globe, which you can touch and smell as they are projected around you.

Also new at the French park, just north of Poitiers, is T.Rex — where a laser projection of images takes you back 67million years to get close to the legendary monster.

The park has also partnered with EDF to open an energy theatre with workshops and activities next month.

GO: Tickets from around £40. B&B and two-day tickets for a family of four from £250. See futuroscope.com.

KYNREN

AWARD-WINNING live-action night experience Kynren is becoming the UK’s first historic show park.

There will be no roller coasters at Kynren — The Storied Lands.

Instead, it will offer immersive live performances and large-scale shows depicting historical periods and legends.

Set within County Durham’s Kynren Park, it combines storytelling with cinematic music and breathtaking stunts.

The first phase, opening on July 18, features five attractions, including The Lost Feather, with 250 birds filling the sky above you.

Medieval knights charge into combat on horseback, a vast lake is turned into a stage, Vikings clash while fires rage, and a maze is full of surprise characters.

The night show Kynren — An Epic Tale of England continues on Saturday nights from July 18 to September 12.

GO: Tickets on sale next month. Night show tickets are £30 for adults and £20 for children. See kynren.com.

WALT DISNEY WORLD

FROZEN characters Anna and Elsa aren’t just in Disneyland Paris ­— they have sailed back to sunny Orlando in Florida.

The Frozen Ever After boat ride, closed for super technology changes, has reopened at Epcot — with the famous sisters looking even more life-like as they appear to the soundtrack of the hit movie song, Let It Go.

Big Thunder Mountain Railroad has had a makeover and opens at Magic Kingdom this spring, along with Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin.

In the summer, Hollywood Studios launches two new live shows, where you will be able to dance along with Mickey and Minnie, while Animal Kingdom welcomes two new creatures to play with — Bluey and Bingo.

GO: Seven nights’ room-only at the Disney All-Star Movies Resort, including seven-day park tickets and flights from Heathrow to Tampa on September 2, costs from £1,250 per person. Check out virginatlantic.com.

BLACKPOOL PLEASURE BEACH

THE buzzing resort has a giant new ride costing nearly £9million.

Aviktas, a 138ft gyro swing — the UK’s tallest — opens at the town’s Pleasure Beach this summer as the attraction celebrates its 130th birthday.

The ride can seat 40 people at a time on a spinning circle at the end of a pendulum, which then swings to arc 120 degrees over Blackpool’s seafront.

It’s not for the faint-hearted, but there should be some great views from up there.

Aviktas joins other thrill rides including ten roller coasters, such as the Big One, which drops 235ft, and ICON, where you can feel the G-force of an F1 driver.

There’s also Nickelodeon rides for younger children, featuring favourite characters, plus water rides and shows.

GO: The Pleasure Beach is now open, tickets from £30. See blackpoolpleasurebeach.com.

LEGOLAND FLORIDA

NEW space adventure Lego Galaxy has blasted off, featuring the indoor Galacticoaster, with speeds of up to 40mph, and spectacular lighting and sound effects.

Rookie cadets are briefed by a moving, talking Lego engineer before designing their own digital spacecrafts, linked to the ride-by wristbands.

With up to 625 ride combinations, the coaster navigates twists, turns and dynamic launches.

Throughout Lego Galaxy — also open in Legoland California — there’s brick-building opportunities and galactic-themed food.

The park in Winter Haven has more than 60 rides, shows and attractions.

GO: Seven nights’ B&B at the Legoland Florida Hotel, including flights from Gatwick and two-day park tickets, is from £1,065 per person. See travelplanners.co.uk.

LIGHTWATER VALLEY

YOU’LL get an idea about this new ride from its name, Spinning Racer.

The roller coaster opens at the park, near Ripon in North Yorkshire, for the start of the new season on March 28.

Climb aboard and speed up to 45mph on the colourful track as the carriages whirl, twist and turn.

Lightwater, in 175 acres of countryside, prides itself on being a family-friendly park and has more than 35 rides and attractions including a swinging pirate ship, beautifully decorated chair swings, waterslides and an express train.

Easter events, including meet-and-greets with Ebor the resident dragon, are also planned, from the opening day.

GO: Tickets from £22, children under 90cm free. Special offer for opening weekend from £17. See lightwatervalley.co.uk.

THORPE PARK

THE legendary home of big-thrill rides, Thorpe Park is unveiling its very first recharge zone, The Launch Pad.

The dedicated space, in the heart of the Surrey theme park, is designed for guests to relax, refuel and rest before their next adrenalin hit.

Set on the site’s former Amity Beach, the new zone will be a vibrant space where you can take a breath before diving back into the action.

And there’s plenty of that, with the Big Six coasters to experience — led by Hyperia, the UK’s tallest, fastest, most weightless coaster.

Standing 236ft tall, it can reach up to 81mph.

Add to that Stealth, The Swarm, SAW — The Ride, Nemesis Inferno and Colossus, and you’ve got a thrilling half dozen.

GO: The season starts on March 27. Tickets from £32pp, see thorpepark.com.

Before we enter the clouds on snow-capped Helvellyn, I glance back down at Ullswater. The early morning sun is bursting around the dark corners of High Dodd and Sleet Fell, sending a flush of light across the golden bracken and on to the hammered silver of the lake.

Further away to the south, ragged patches of snow cling to the high gullies. The nearest village, Glenridding, can barely be seen behind the leafless trees and all I can hear is the gurgle of the stream. It is the quintessential Lakeland scene: the steep slopes above the water, the soft colours and hard rock, all combining into something inimitable. And judging by the photographic and artistic record, it is one that has hardly changed since the Cumbrian wind first ruffled a Romantic poet’s curls.

Our best loved national parks – the Lake District, Peak District, Eryri (Snowdonia) and Dartmoor – all officially opened 75 years ago, in 1951. It was the result of a long campaign, arguably begun by one of those Romantics, William Wordsworth, a poet whose particular love for the Lakes led him to observe that the area should be “a sort of national property, in which every man has a right and an interest who has an eye to perceive and a heart to enjoy”. The resident of Dove Cottage at Grasmere fought, successfully, against railway building, noting the stupidity of destroying something precious in the pretence of increasing its influence.

That niggling dilemma has dogged the national parks ever since, but if Wordsworth were here now, I think he might approve, at least at first glance. The fate of some Alpine beauty spots has been avoided: no high-rise buildings break through the trees, no sports infrastructure litters the summits, and engineers have not blasted tunnels for bigger, faster, road and rail connections.

The planning process is tortuous, and woe betide anyone who likes a colour not in the Farrow & Ball catalogue, but our national parks survive, without sacrificing too much of their original charm.

Back in the 1970s my dad began taking me on his hiking trips. In those days, I didn’t share his excitement at “the views”, but I instantly grasped the magic of swimming under waterfalls, scrambling along ridges and sitting on mountain tops to eat hard-boiled eggs dipped in salt. He took us to all the national parks, and introduced us to their highlights. It was the start of a lifetime of exploration.

Dartmoor

The only area in England and Wales that has legal wild camping, Dartmoor is also the most threatened. A recent report detailed the sorry decline in biodiversity on its sites of special scientific interest (SSSI), but the truth is it remains in a better state than many other places. What makes Dartmoor special is the sheer extent of heathland: over 11,000 hectares of heather, gorse, bilberry and moor grasses, inhabited by birds, lizards, snakes and some rare butterflies. The top bird here is the red grouse, recently recognised as a distinct species, making it only the second reliably identifiable endemic British bird species.

Dartmoor’s reputation for other, more controversial species, is firmly established. On my first visit as a boy, I was reading The Hound of the Baskervilles and also glued to reports of escaped large cats. When we hiked past the infamous prison, and dad told us about “the Mad Axeman” inside, Dartmoor was firmly established in my head as the single most exciting area of Britain. I’ve never had reason to change that view.

Arguably the most evocative place is Wistman’s Wood, which is accessed from Two Bridges hotel, but popularity tends to destroy mystery and this is now an Instagrammed honeypot. Other excellent woodlands can be found down the Lydford Gorge near Tavistock or the Bovey Valley near Lustleigh, a village of thatched roofs where a cream tea is the acme of snackery. Try the Primrose Tearooms.

Nearby is Haytor Rocks, a magnet for climbers, and everyone else. It’s beautiful but popular. For tranquillity, try the military firing ranges: there’s nothing like an M115 Howitzer to deter most hikers, or perhaps it’s simply the need to check live firing times. It does seem to put visitors off, and there are wonderful viewpoints to be found, such as Yes Tor and High Willhays.

Eryri

In Eryri, the hunt for peace and tranquillity has one rule: avoid Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon). Any other peak will be quiet in comparison. If you must go up Wales’s highest mountain, I suggest taking a less-frequented path, like the Watkin or Rhyd Ddu and go early – and I mean headtorch early. Another good option is the Ranger Path (Cwellyn), where the wind blew me off my feet as a nine-year-old. You might escape the crowds, but you can’t escape the weather.

Yr Wyddfa’s Crib Goch, one of Britain’s greatest ridge scrambles, can be a bit of a trial when oversubscribed, but there are many fine alternatives. Try Crib Lem on Carnedd Dafydd, accessible from Bethesda, or the Idwal Staircase, a tougher challenge that some might prefer to do roped up. Steve Ashton’s book Scrambles in Snowdonia is the essential guide.

One feature I love about Eryri is the way its industrial heritage has been repurposed to contemporary needs: the various slate mine attractions and the steam railways go from strength to strength. Bala Lake Railway has started work on extending its line into Bala town, a significant addition.

Lake District

The opening of the first parks triggered a wave of interest in hiking and a demand for route information. Like many others, my dad discovered Alfred Wainwright, whose hand-drawn pictorial guides are still a good way to find routes. Wainwright’s own favourite was Haystacks Fell, with an ascent from Buttermere via Scarth Gap. My own initiation into the joys of scrambling started with Wainwright routes up Lord’s Rake on Scafell Pike and Jack’s Rake on Pavey Ark, both serious undertakings.

Scrambling and its sister sports, fell-running and scree-racing, have a proud history in Lakeland. Over in Wasdale, sheep farmer Joss Naylor was an inspiration. As a teenager, I witnessed his hell-for-leather approach to scree slopes, transforming them from places to be avoided into a new challenge.

Wasdale, with its historic inn, remains a favourite. If the trail to Scafell Pike is often busy, look out for classic treks like the Mosedale Horseshoe, taking in Pillar, a stiff challenge when torn shreds of cloud are whistling around your ears. For the sure-footed, the climbers’ trail passing beneath Napes Needle is another gem. The Needle is a satisfying climb with historic importance. Photos of early pioneers the Abraham brothers, standing on top in their 1890s hobnail boots, fuelled interest in the new sport of rock climbing.

Across to the east, the 17½-mile trek from Pooley Bridge to Troutbeck over High Street is an absolute gem, with sustained panoramas on a clear day. Another classic is theKentmere Round, which normally starts at St Cuthbert’s church, near Staveley. For sheer delight in Cumbrian topographical names, the Kentmere Round is a must: Yoke Fell is followed by Wander Scar, Toadhowe Well and Shipman Knotts, among others. The best advice is to find a fell with an unfamiliar name, get the OS map and devise a route. Asking a local also usually pays off.

After an epic day of snow and ice on Helvellyn, I take my own advice. I am staying at Another Place hotel along the Ullswater north shore. The lakeside panorama tells the tale of changing times: there are paddleboards and kayaks on the water; groups heading off on wild swims; and a mobile sauna by the shore. Hotel director and local man David Vaughan tips me off about a favourite walk, on nearby Gowbarrow Fell.

The path starts at Aira Force waterfall, a well-known attraction, and the car park is busy. Beyond the falls, however, things are quieter. At 481 metres, the Gowbarrow summit is not high, but the panorama is superb. Further on comes the real climax: a balcony walk around the contours and above the lake.

A kestrel swoops past, close enough to see the wind ruffle its chestnut feathers. At the end, the path drops down to the woods and there’s a young woman, hesitating. Her kit looks fresh from the packet.

“Is there any scrambling up there?” she asks nervously.

“No,” I say, noticing her immaculate nails. “But there’s lots of mud.”

She takes a deep breath and grins. “OK.” Then sets off. Joss Naylor, my dad and the Romantic poets would all be proud. Our parks are still doing their best for us.

Accommodation was provided by Another Place, The Lake, in Ullswater, which has double rooms from £125 B&B. Further information, visit nationalparks.uk

“OH, the kids would just love that,” I gasp as I watch the Aqua Slidecoaster rocket up and around the top deck of the new Norwegian Luna.

Following its progress around the pinnacle of this sparkling new cruise ship, I spot ten-deck slide The Drop, the multi-level tangle of Moon Climb’s obstacle nets, high-tech Glow Court with its interactive LED floor for virtual sporting challenges and the wacky technicolour holes of the Tee Time mini golf course.

Four more must-dos for any thrill-seeking kiddo.

Alongside indoor and outdoor arcades with carnival games, pools and splash parks and, of course, kids’ clubs, this ship is a paradise for little ones.

But the joy of this 3,565 passenger liner is the way it can keep all ages happy.

I was the first UK journalist to get a sneak peek of the ship last week as it made its way from Italy across to its new home port in Miami.

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And while the kids will be delighted, there’s so much more for all ages onboard.

Luna has a shimmering, celestial theme to its decor ­— think modern luxury with an almost art deco feel, opulent fabrics and glistening metals that are understated and ooze sophisticated calm.

For a little more luxury, at the rear of the ship the Vibe Beach Club with its cushioned loungers, comfy cabanas and hot tubs is an adults-only zone.

It may come at an extra cost but you are guaranteed your own lounger and there are no splashing kids to avoid.

And what mum wouldn’t want to enjoy a pamper in the vast Mandara spa with its indoor pools sitting beneath a sparkling two-deck high wall of waterfalls.

With multiple saunas, steam, ice and salt rooms, it’s the epitome of zen.

Treatment prices are on the steep side, though.

While the main pool has even more loungers than its Prima class sister ships, one of the features I loved about this ship’s design is the generously wide spaces on deck eight where some restaurants and bars spill outside with al-fresco tables and there’s still plenty of space for loungers, infinity pools and in-pool layouts.

Dubbed the Ocean Boulevard, this 46,000sq ft walkway wraps around the entire ship and also features a vertigo-inducing glass bridge and Luna sculpture that comes with a button you can press for a personal video.

Look up at the camera and within seconds it will take a video of you, panning out so you can take centre stage.

A download of the resulting video costs £3.75 — great for adding to your social media!

Talking of restaurants, the choice is dizzying with 17 dining options and 18 bars and lounges.

Norwegian were among the first to challenge the idea that cruise ship dining had to be formal and at set times.

The latest ship shows just how far they have taken their freestyle concept.

There are five venues included in your fare.

I loved the Indulge food hall where you can grab a tablet to make your choice from nine different stations featuring tapas and noodles to curries and barbecue.

Tap away and dishes are then delivered to your table.

Also stunning was Hudson’s – one of the two very chic main dining rooms with floor-to-ceiling sloping windows, offering fabulous views of the ocean.

For quick bites, there’s the Surfside Bar and Grill, The Local serving classic pub fare 24/7 and on-deck ice cream stands with soft whip treats.

But the ship comes into its own with the choice of speciality restaurants.

I sampled the freshest, tastiest sushi at Nama and a sublime filet mignon at Mediterranean-inspired Palomar.

Also new on Luna is authentic Thai cuisine at Sukothai as well as a vast teppanyaki restaurant, Nuki.

These do come at an extra cost, from £38pp for the sushi to £45pp for Palomar and Nuki.

When it comes to a tipple, there’s so much choice, but my favourites were the outdoor Soleil Bar for sunset sips and the Metropolitan for evening cocktails.

And when the sun goes down, there’s plenty of entertainment to keep the grown-ups happy with new shows Elton: A Celebration of Elton John and Revolution: A Celebration of Prince.

But the smaller venues are also sure to be popular with a new Eagles tribute in Syd Norman’s Pour House, an intimate rock-club venue inspired by the Los Angeles Sunset Strip rock scene.

And for a risque pop-circus song and dance experience, the new adults-only LunaTique show comes with an extra charge of £34, but does come with four (very sweet) themed cocktails.

At the end of the night, I was very happy to head back to my spacious balcony cabin, which has a huge bed plus a sofa bed and roomy bathroom with a rainfall shower.

Homeporting in Miami, the ship will offer three and four-day Bahamas voyages as well as seven-night Caribbean itineraries including calls at the Dominican Republic, Cozumel and St Thomas as well as the cruise line’s private island Great Stirrup Cay in the Bahamas.

THE Sun’s travel team are sharing the holiday destinations they’ll be heading to this summer to help you find the best deals to get away for less.

To do this, we have rounded up our absolute favourite spots for summer 2026, including family-friendly holiday parks, sunny Spanish resorts and the very best in cruises.

Whether you’re hunting for a cheap UK break or a dreamy island retreat, we’ve got your travel inspiration for 2026 sorted.

From Skegness to Seoul, here’s where the Sun Travel team recommend – and are actually heading to – as the weather hots up.

Caroline McGuire, Head of Travel – Digital

UK holiday – Butlin’s, Skegness

I am ashamed to say that in my nine years as a travel editor at The Sun, I’ve not yet made it to Butlin’s.

Well, not after this summer. I’m heading to their Skegness resort with a school mum and our kids, in the seaside holiday park’s 90th birthday year.

I’m not sure who is more excited – the adults or the kids.

My parents were camping-in-France-type people, so I never did any of the UK holiday parks growing up.

But now I have a kid of my own, the idea of free fairground rides, water slides and TV-quality evening entertainment is deeply appealing.  

I’m particularly looking forward to the Masked Singer Live, and my son is very excited about the Maximum Pro Wrestling.

Plus, we’ve got the all-inclusive drinks package, which means we can sip on a cold wine and natter while the children tire themselves out with all the activities.

Given we’ve got the dining package too, it’ll be interesting to see quite how much we can see, do and eat in a 3-night break, without spending any extra money.

They’ve got 3-night breaks in May half term from £188 and the school summer holidays from £207.

Medium haul break – Bodrum, Turkey

I’ve managed to visit a new part of Turkey each year since Covid ended, ranging from Istanbul and Izmir to the Turquoise Coast, and this year I’m ticking Bodrum off the list.

Turkey is one of my favourite countries to visit with my seven-year-old.

For a start, the food is so kid-friendly that eating out is a dream. Halloumi, olives, flatbreads, hummus, baklava… what’s not to love?

Plus, they’ve really nailed the all-inclusive hotel experience.

This year, we’re staying at the Titanic Luxury Collection Bodrum – a five-star property on the Pina Peninsula with 11 restaurants and its own white-sand beach.

Week-long, all-inclusive stays at this five-star resort start from £910pp with On the Beach.

Short haul break – Eurocamp: Les Prairies De La Mer Resort, France

Kate Moss, Elton John, Beyonce and Leonardo DiCaprio all love St Tropez, and it’s about to become even better-known soon, as the next White Lotus TV show is being filmed there.

But just 15 minutes down the road is Les Prairies De La Mer Resort  – one of Eurocamp’s top holiday parks that they rate as five stars. 

But when we fancy a bit of the A-List lifestyle, it’s super easy and cheap to get to either St Tropez or St Maxime

Forget Club 55 and superyachts, here it’s all about the park’s own beachfront cafe, mini golf and the two pools.

Oh, and an early morning walk to the on-site supermarket for freshly baked croissants. 

But when we fancy a bit of the A-List lifestyle, it’s super easy and cheap to get to either St Tropez or St Maxime.

They’ve got 7-night breaks in May half term from £1,707 and school summer holidays from £2,349.

Alice Penwill, Travel Reporter

British seaside – Suffolk, UK

As much as I love going abroad, sometimes you can’t beat a British summer.

I’ll be visiting Suffolk later this year to explore its seaside towns and hopefully enjoy some sunshine along the way too.

I’ll head to Aldeburgh first to see its colourful homes and stretching shingle beach.

I’ll try a Noon Tart too – it’s a local delicacy, essentially it’s a savoury pastry made from smoked haddock, smoked cheddar cheese, cream, eggs, and mustard in a flaky pastry.

Half an hour away from Aldeburgh is Framlingham Castle, which was Ed Sheeran’s inspiration for his song ‘Castle on the Hill’.

Neighbouring seaside towns include Thopeness and I might even stop by my favourite place along the Suffolk coast, Southwold.

I’ve been going to Southwold for years, playing games at the arcades, crabbing off the pier and popping into its independent shops along the high street.

I’ll be staying at The Brudenell Hotel, which sits on the seafront of Aldeburgh, and offers rooms from £137 per night.

Short haul sunshine – Menorca, Spain

Lots of Brits head to the Spanish islands during the summer – and I hope to be one of them, although I’m going to one that has fewer crowds.

The island of Menorca, next to the well-known Majorca, welcomes much fewer tourists each year, making it an ideal place to relax – it’s even been called “Ibiza’s chilled-out sister”.

It’s easy to navigate too, as it’s much smaller, so it has short airport transfers, and is generally cheaper.

I’ve got my eye on Cala Macarella, a beach on the south of the island with white cliffs and turquoise waters.

Another spot that I’ve been told about is Cova d’en Xoroi, which is a bar that’s built into caves on the cliffs.

During the day, it’s a chilled bar, and in the evening, it holds sunset sessions with live music.

To make it easier, the likes of TUI and Jet2 organise package holidays.

You can book a 7-night room-only break at Menorca’s Colina Village from £262.26pp with TUI.

English adventure – Jurassic Coast, UK

In my 28 years of living in the UK, I’ve never taken a stroll along the Jurassic Coast, which is why I intend to head there this summer for a weekend away (at least).

Chesil Beach near Weymouth is the longest in the UK, stretching for 18 miles from West Bay to the Isle of Portland.

And I hope to walk the beach and stop by The Cove House Inn on the north of the Isle of Portland, which was named as one of the best beachside boozers last year by Big 7 Travel.

Lots of visitors compliment the views from the pub, which sits on the promenade, and some have even spotted dolphins and whales in the water there too.

Of course, the famous Durdle Door is another stop high up on my list, as is Kimmeridge Bay.

Premier Inn’s Weymouth hotel offers spacious, comfy rooms from just £57 per night.

Lisa Minot – Head of Travel

Short haul success – Malaga, Spain

I’m heading to the southern Spanish gem of Malaga in early June for a long weekend.

The city ticks all the boxes when it comes to an easy-to-reach, reliably sunny destination that can combine a quick cultural hit with fabulous food and a captivating coastline. 

And travelling in early June, hopefully, will mean fewer crowds while still benefiting from warm sunshine.

I’ll be ticking off big hitters like the Picasso Museum and the 11th-century Alcazaba palace, but also on the agenda will be some serious relaxation.

I’m staying 20 minutes from the city centre at the Higueron Hotel, Curio Collection by Hilton, set between the Mediterranean and the Mijas mountains.

Its rooftop pool and terraces will be perfect for sunbathing and cocktail sipping, and there’s a spa and superb sports facilities for some proper me-time too.

The glamorous hotel offers breaks from £184 per night, but its budget-friendly little sister, the Hilton Garden Inn Malaga, also makes for a fantastic stay from £95 per night.

French fancy – Bormes Les Mimosas, Cote d’Azur

It will come as no surprise to those who know me that, yet again, my priority this summer will be spending time with family and friends at my own caravan in the South of France. 

I’ve visited Camp du Domaine in Bormes les Mimosas almost every year for the last 50 years, and this summer will be no different.

The site tumbles down pine-clad hills to its own gorgeous sandy beach, and days will be spent relaxing on those soft sands, swimming in the warm waters and cooking up a storm with the purchases bought in local markets, from fresh fish to ripe Provencale tomatoes and of course, the odd rose!

Set between Toulon and St Tropez, it’s a great site for those who have their own van or camper, but there are bungalows for rent too.

Another good bet nearby is the Eurocamp sites in Grimaldi and Frejus.

A basic pitch at Camp du Domaine starts from £28.50 per night, with options for one-bedroom bungalows starting from £60 per night. See campdudomaine.com.

Long haul leave – Seoul, South Korea

I’m making my first trip to the current global capital of cool, Seoul, as Virgin Atlantic launch new direct services.

With all things K-culture from the massive success of K-pop to the likes of Squid Game and BTS, the city promises an irresistible blend of ancient palaces, surprising green spaces and intoxicating 24/7 high-tech culture.

Of course, top of the list will be visiting Olive Young, Korea’s biggest beauty store for skincare essentials.

But I’ll also find time to wander and window-shop in the wealthy neighbourhood of Gangnam, famously mocked in original K-pop star PSY’s signature tune.

And then there’s the exciting food scene – from spicy street food to Korean barbecue, I can’t wait to indulge!

Virgin Atlantic flights to Seoul start from £757 return.

Once you’re in Seoul, there are plenty of budget-friendly accommodation options.

A night at the glitzy Moxy Seoul Insadong starts from £100 per room, whilst backpackers love the H HOSTEL Itaewon (from £23) with its social rooftop bar.

Jenna Stevens – Travel Reporter

British break – Cley next the Sea, Norfolk

I’m lucky enough to say that heading back home for me is like going on holiday.

North Norfolk is brimming with picturesque seaside towns and quaint fishing villages, so many that I’m yet to set foot in them all, despite growing up there.

This summer I’ll be heading east along the coastline to Cley next the Sea, a charming coastal village known for its seal trips, pretty marshland and its Grade II-listed windmill facing the sea.

Overnight stays are best taken in cosy pubs with rooms, which are abundant in the area

I’m looking forward to getting stuck into harvesting fresh samphire from the shores, then washing off my wellies and heading out to local restaurants to sample the seafood.

Cley is also home to quaint pottery shops and art galleries with work from local artists. Plus, the coastal walking routes are perfect for twitchers who want to spot species like marsh harriers and bitterns.

Overnight stays are best taken in cosy pubs with rooms, which are abundant in the area.

This makes evenings effortlessly easy, as you only have to head upstairs to retire after spending the night sipping Norfolk ales and chatting with locals.

Although if you want something truly special, you can choose to stay inside Cley Windmill itself.

Inside the mill, there’s a unique circular sitting room, decorated with antique furniture and an open fire, plus a dining room dating back to 1713.

Pair this with upper-floor bedrooms looking over the marshes, and you’ve got yourself a truly unforgettable staycation.

B&B stays at Cley Windmill start from £184 per night.

Or if you prefer a more rustic stay, you can go lakeside glamping close to Cley Marshes Visitor Centre from just £40 per night.

Euro city-break – Barcelona, Spain

Despite being one of Spain’s number one fans, I’ve somehow never made it to buzzy Barcelona.

I’m looking forward to heading there this summer to soak up the coastal city’s high-energy feel, whether its by boat trip, bicycle or bar-hopping.

This year marks Gaudi’s centenary: the anniversary of 100 years since the death of the famous architect.

To celebrate, the streets of Barcelona will be alive with various street celebrations, concerts and exhibitions taking place throughout the year.

Plus, the construction on the Sagrada Familia is set to wrap up in 2026, and with the completion of a spire back in February, the church building officially became the tallest in the world.

To add to the celebrations, Barcelona has been named the World Capital of Architecture this year.

Not only is there the impressive Sagrada Familia to admire, but I’m looking forward to ticking off Casa Milà and Casa Batlló, too.

Throw in some Spanish wine tasting and plans to eat my body weight in jamon and patatas bravas, and it’s fair to say I’m excited to finally experience Barcelona this summer.

City breaks to Barcelona are a very affordable option if you’re looking for a weekend away in Europe. TUI offer a 2-night stay in June at Hotel Acta Voraport hotel from just £266pp, and that’s with return flights included!

Southern Europe scorcher – Quinta do Lago, The Algarve, Portugal

The Algarve has long been a popular destination for Brits seeking sunshine, and I’m excited to head to the sporty resort of Quinta do Lago to catch some rays myself.

If you’re a fan of golfing with gorgeous coastal views, it doesn’t get much better than Quinta do Lago.

The North, South and Laranjal golf courses are renowned for their manicured, championship-grade greens.

In fact, the South golf course at Quinta do Lago has hosted the Portuguese Open no fewer than eight times.

Plus, the sporty adults’ playground offers more than just golf, too.

Whether you’re into pilates, padel or Portuguese cuisine, there’s something for everyone.

I’m very much looking forward to rewarding myself for the workouts with a frozen cocktail and lazing out on the golden sands of Quinta do Lago beach.

A top hotel on the resort that balances stylishness and affordability is The Magnolia Hotel, which offers rooms from £138 per night.

Jenna Stevens, Travel Reporter

Cyann Fielding, Travel Reporter

Train trip – Disneyland Paris

A theme park is a great option for a weekend away, and that is exactly what I am planning with Disneyland Paris.

By the end of March, Disneyland Paris will have opened its newest land: World of Frozen.

Now, I may be 25, but nothing excites me more than seeing Olaf come to life, waddling around and making his cute chuckles.

The new land is meant to look just like the Arendelle Kingdom as well, so I am excited to feel as if I am stepping into the movie itself.

One of Disneyland Paris’ biggest appeals is its proximity to the UK and the ease of travel there.

I will take the Eurostar from London St Pancras, which alleviates the stress often felt when travelling through an airport.

By making this trip a weekend break, I don’t have to take any annual leave, so it is a win-win.

You can book a 3-night stay at the Staycity Aparthotels Marne La Vallee from just £229pp on Loveholidays – it’s only seven minutes from the attraction, and it has its own outdoor pool to cool off in, too.

Atlantic adventure – The Bay Area, California, USA

I’m no newbie when it comes to California, having visited San Francisco twice, Yosemite and Los Angeles.

But I stand by the fact that the American state is one of the most exciting and diverse places to explore.

This summer, I will focus on the Bay Area, which comprises regions bordering San Francisco Bay, San Pablo Bay and Suisun Bay.

The different regions include Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Napa, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Solano, Sonoma, and San Francisco.

For this trip, I will focus on Marin — home to one of America’s 10 National Seashores — and Santa Clara, where you will find Silicon Valley and San Jose.

When people think of California, they often imagine LA and San Francisco, perhaps with chic surfer dudes.

However, this trip will focus on exploring the hidden parts of the Bay Area, including the location where George Lucas created Star Wars and Indiana Jones.

You can bag return flights to San Francisco from just £444 on Skyscanner, the cheapest deals are often found flying with SWISS airline.

Scottish summer – Glasgow, Scotland

Over the past few years, I have visited several destinations in Scotland and have to admit, they are to date some of the best places I have travelled to across the entire globe.

Scotland’s landscape is like nowhere else, and its cities are full of fascinating history and architecture.

That’s why this summer I will be heading to Glasgow. I haven’t visited before, so I am super excited to see how it compares to Edinburgh.

Glasgow Cathedral and Botanic Gardens are definitely at the top of my list of places to check out.

What is even better about this trip is that train operator Lumo has just launched a route from London to Glasgow – so no extra luggage costs for me!

Glasgow is full of affordable accommodation options, such as the ever-reliable easyHotel Glasgow City Centre from just £43 per night.

Kara Godfrey, Deputy Travel Editor

Medium haul trip – Marrakech, Morocco

Despite being known for its affordable flights, easyJet has recently launched its new Luxury Collection holiday offerings.

So I’ll be trying it out for myself on a trip to Morocco, spending a few days in Marrakech. 

I haven’t been to the city since 2018, and even then, it was on a budget, so I am excited to see the fancier side of it with a stay at the famous La Mamounia.

However, that won’t stop me from trying to hunt out a bargain in the souks, in the form of pretty kitchen bowls and candle holders.

And with 3 hr 40-minute flights and 25C weather in April? Sign me up!

You can fly to Marrakech from London from just £19.99 each way with easyJet.

Long haul adventure – East coast of Thailand

Twenty-one-year-old Kara’s biggest adventure was travelling to Asia, her first stop being a month exploring the popular Thai islands.

I’m as surprised as you are that, 12 years later, I have yet to return to the beautiful country.

So this summer, I have made it my mission to explore the parts that I forgot about as a budget traveller.

This time, I will be heading to the east coast, forgoing Bangkok and Chiang Mai for the nightlife of Pattaya.

Not only that, but my trip will also take me to Koh Chang, right by the Cambodia border.

Said to be less crowded and like going back to Thailand decades ago – I’ll be gorging on £1 Pad Thai and cheap Singha beers.

There’s plenty of luxurious hotels for affordable prices in Thailand, especially in Pattaya. Easy Planet Pattaya offers rooms from just £15 per night!

Eurotrip – Bilbao, Spain

My love of a Spanish city was only further proven last year, after falling for both Seville and Madrid after spending a long weekend in each.

So this year I’m taking myself to Bilbao for a long weekend.

It is one of the closest Spanish cities to the UK – flights are just 1hr45 – and TUI has recently launched new city break packages too.

Great tapas will be on the menu, with some of the finest in Spain, as well as soaking up some culture at the famous Guggenheim Museum.

You can visit Bilbao with TUI for a 3-night city break staying at the Occidental Bilbao from just £280pp, including return flights.

Kara Godfrey, Deputy Travel Editor

Sophie Swietochowski, Assistant Travel Editor

Holiday at sea – Oceania Allura Cruise

I experienced Oceania’s glamorous Allura when she first debuted in the Med last year.

I loved her sleek cocktail bars and quality restaurants so much that I’m considering returning for a voyage in the coming months – only this time it’ll be for longer.

This summer, the 1,200-passenger vessel will be cruising between the Greek isles, sun-drenched shores of Croatia and bustling port cities in Turkey.

And with the temperatures likely to sizzle in the low 30s, there’ll be plenty of opportunity to take advantage of its sun decks.

Either flopped on one of the huge daybeds with an icy margarita, by the main pool or – my personal favourite spot – in the mellow spa at the back of the ship where you can watch the engines carve a foamy path in the sea.

In the evening, I’ll be making a beeline for Jacques, Oceania’s famous French restaurant that dishes up classics of beef tartare and wobbly cheese souffles.

I’ll be washing it down with a good bottle of red, obviously – just as the French would – before following it up with a dirty martini in Martinis.

I’ll take mine with Grey Goose, please.

A Greek island tour on Oceania’s Allura starts from £1,979 per guest for a 7-day voyage.

The most affordable Oceania cruise currently is a 7-day voyage from Rome to Barcelona, from £942 per guest.

American adventure – New York, USA

I could never tire of New York City. The Big Apple is a destination that will welcome you with open arms, whatever the weather – and one that feels endlessly full of possibilities.

I’ve returned almost every year for the past five years, and each time, I’ve experienced something new.

Things move at a fast pace, and museums, restaurants and attractions are opening on a weekly basis, making this city a revolving door of fun.

Sadly, many experiences here will burn a hole in your wallet, but there are ways of cutting back on spending.

Oyster happy hours are top on my list for summer, where participating restaurants serve up the fishy, and normally rather pricey, snack for around $1 a pop.

I’ll be scouring discount site Today Tix (todaytix.com) for bargain, last-minute tickets to Broadway shows.

And as for exploring? Some of the best activities in NYC are free.

Who can resist a stroll around Central Park? This lush, green space is so vast that it took me an hour to find my way out and back onto the urban streets on my first visit.

There are also free museum days, while trips to famous department stores like Macy’s needn’t cost you a penny.

That is, unless you fall in love with a stylish handbag or pair of shoes…

On the Beach offer week-long trips to New York, including return flights and a stay at a hotel in in Times Square, from £1,085pp.

British break – Salcombe, Devon, UK

I’m already counting down the days until I return to the South West coast of England.

Cornwall is my usual haunt, and I know its windswept coastlines, sandy bays and rugged walking trails like the back of my hand.

So, I’m mixing things up a little this summer and moving a fraction to the east, where a gorgeous holiday home in Devon’s Salcombe is awaiting my arrival.

The scenery will be familiar, but – note to self – it’s cream first, then jam, on this side of the border.

On top of jaw-dropping views, Salcombe promises scenic adventures on the water.

The destination is a renowned sailing hotspot, hosting various dinghy races throughout the summer.

Boats can be hired for private excursions with or without a skipper, depending on your experience and knowledge.

The harbour town is also home to a rather charming gin distillery, which hosts tours and tasting sessions from £50pp.

Don’t fancy gin? There’s rum, too.

You can book a stay at The Sloop Inn, a charming 14th-century seaside pub with rooms, from just £88 per night.

Winning tip: Whitebeams and roe deer in Bristol

I always take friends on an afternoon walk when they visit Bristol, to experience the swift changes in scenery: starting at the tobacco warehouses of Cumberland Basin before ascending from the muddy banks of the River Avon up into Leigh Woods, a national nature reserve. As well as possible animal sightings like peregrine falcons and roe deer, the woods are an important site for whitebeam trees, with several species only growing here. It’s easy to spend a full afternoon crisscrossing the trails before walking over Brunel’s famous suspension bridge for a well-deserved coffee at the Primrose Café in Clifton village.
Tor Hands

A seal colony on a Cumbrian island

South Walney nature reserve (£3 adults, £1 children) has an end-of-the-world feel. You drive through industrial Barrow-in-Furness to reach a windswept island that’s home to Cumbria’s only seal colony and a multitude of migrating seabirds. Curious seals surface as you gaze across the water towards Piel Castle, which can be reached by foot at low tide. More seals can be observed from the immaculately kept hides, full of hand-drawn illustrations, local history and specimens of skeletons and shells. There is even a livestream seal cam for a closer look.
Rebecca Alper Grant

Dartmoor’s way of the dead

Across Dartmoor’s torn spine, the Lych Way drags its long memory westward. Moor folk once hauled their dead like felled trunks, boots sinking in peat’s cold hunger. Wind gnawed faces raw; streams stitched ice through bone. Wheel ruts scarred earth, a ledger of grief. Farms emptied into distance, toward stone prayers waiting. Ravens watched slow processions darken the moor. Ten miles north, Ted Hughes’s memorial stone listens, weather-drunk, to their passing weight, and silence rooting deeper than time beneath heather, where footsteps fade yet pulse on, buried but breathing in Dartmoor’s black remembering heart that never loosens them.
John Chrimes

A cemetery now full of life in London’s East End

Tower Hamlets Cemetery Park is a truly magical place. Not your typical local nature reserve, and not your typical Victorian-era cemetery, this now deconsecrated space is truly a haven for human and non-human visitors. The site attracts an impressive array of flora and fauna thanks to its carefully “managed wildness”– an essential respite in London’s East End. Wander at your own pace or join the Friends (the charity which has carefully defended and managed the space since the 1990s) for a tour covering topics ranging from foraging and fungi to women’s history and grave symbolism.
LR

Coastal birding and a castle in Dumfries

The Dumfries and Galloway coast is a beautiful but often overlooked gem among Scotland’s natural offerings. Caerlaverock national nature reserve on the Solway Firth is a highlight, with its protected wetlands serving as a seasonal home for thousands of migrating birds, including geese, plovers and waders. It lends the place a year-round charm, even in the cold winter months. And if birdwatching isn’t your thing, you can still enjoy the excellent walks and cycle paths, stunning views and a rare sense of peace. Make sure to check out the nearby Caerlaverock Castle (from £6.50 adults, £3.90 children), with its picturesque setting – and unique triangle shape!
Allan Berry

Historic sailing on the Norfolk Broads

We were holidaying in the Broads national park when my husband told me that my birthday present was a day out on a historic wherry yacht. At the boatyard in Wroxham, an enthusiastic crew showed us round the boat, and within a few minutes we were watching the huge gaff-rigged sail rise up the mast. We sipped our tea, gliding silently past the reeds, and stopped for a guided tour of Bure Marshes national nature reserve. Lunch was a picnic on Salhouse Broad, and a treat was a cornet from the ice-cream boat. A perfect day on the water for £60 each.
Allison Armstrong

London’s hidden wetlands

Not many Londoners know that there is a real treasure of a nature reserve just 20 minutes from the city centre by tube. The Walthamstow Wetlands is a protected area, easily reached via Tottenham Hale railway/tube station. I often spend a day there with a picnic, a bird guidebook, a flask of coffee and a pair of binoculars. Birds come to the site to feed around the 10 areas of open water and marshland. Swifts and little ringed plovers arrive in spring. Much-travelled black-tailed godwits can also be seen and there’s even the chance of spotting a peregrine falcon. Enjoy the circular bird walk, viewing platforms and hiding areas. There are also weekly guided bird walks starting from the tube station from early spring. It’s free to enter and wander around the nature reserve. Trees and wild fauna abound everywhere you go – a brilliant oxygen overload after the traffic fumes of central London.
Joe

Hampshire’s alluring lagoons

I only meant to stop briefly at Titchfield Haven national nature reserve (£6.50 adults, £3.50 children), but it drew me in for the entire afternoon. Tucked between river and sea, it feels a world away from the busier south coast. I wandered slow, winding paths through reed beds and lagoons, pausing in a hide where a sudden flash of electric blue revealed a kingfisher. As the tide shifted, the landscape subtly changed and the light softened across the water. Nothing here shouts for attention, and that’s the magic of it – a place where doing nothing feels completely absorbing.
Diane

Lakeside magic in Eryri (Snowdonia)

Near Trefriw in the Eryri national park, there is a scenic walk around Llyn Crafnant reservoir. You can also walk over to Llyn Geirionydd from Llyn Crafnant to swim in the lake or paddleboard; it can get a little busy in the summer but it still feels like a little bit of a secret spot. For a big hike, you can walk down from here, past Crimpiau mountain, to Capel Curig, taking you from the Conwy valley to the Ogwen valley.
Bethan Patfield

On safari in Kent

The approach to Elmley national nature reserve (£10 adults, free for up to two accompanying children) is thrilling: precious saltmarsh habitat sandwiched between the elegant Isle of Sheppey road bridge and the looming hulk of a paper factory across the Swale estuary. The reserve’s safari-like access drive is surrounded by bubbling curlews, darting hares and patrolling marsh harriers, while lapwings cavort just feet from the car. As well as being the UK’s only privately owned national nature reserve, Elmley is also the only one you can stay overnight, so you can sip a drink outside your cosy hut or yurt while short-eared owls hunt for small mammals and barn owls glide silently past. Watching the wildlife action unfold on your own personal savannah is magical.
Cathy Robinson

Despite morale-sapping staff layoffs, bizarre executive orders and a 43-day federal government shutdown last fall, the grandeur and serenity of national parks in California remain irresistible to outdoors lovers looking to unwind.

The nine national parks in the Golden State — including Yosemite, Death Valley and Joshua Tree — attracted nearly 12 million recreational visits in 2025, according to statistics from the National Park Service.

That’s up more than 800,000 visits from 2024 and up more than 300,000 from the previous record set in 2019, according to the data, which stretches back to 1979.

Nationally, visits were high, at 323 million, but down a couple of percentage points from the record set in 2024, according to a park service press release.

“America’s national parks continue to be places where people come to experience our country’s history, landscapes and shared heritage,” said Jessica Bowron, acting director of the NPS.

“We are committed to keeping parks open, accessible and well-managed so visitors can safely enjoy these extraordinary places today and for generations to come,” Bowron added.

President Trump’s critics beg to differ.

Since Trump resumed office in January 2025, his administration has slashed the NPS workforce by nearly a quarter, buying out or laying off hundreds of rangers, maintenance workers, scientists and administrative staff across the country.

And last year, as part of his war on “woke,” Trump instructed the park service to scrub all signs and presentations of language he would deem negative, unpatriotic or smacking of “improper partisan ideology.”

He also ordered administrators to remove any content that “inappropriately disparages Americans” living or dead, and replace it with language that celebrates the nation’s greatness.

That gets tricky at places such as Manzanar National Historic Site in the high desert of eastern California — one of 10 camps where the U.S. government imprisoned more than 120,000 Japanese American civilians during World War II.

It’s also hard to dance around disparaging details at Fort Sumter National Monument, where Confederates fired the first shots of the Civil War; Ford’s Theater National Historic Site in Washington, D.C., where Abraham Lincoln was assassinated; and Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Park, which commemorates the assassination of the country’s best known civil rights leader.

“This administration is actively erasing the history, science and culture that our national parks protect,” said Emily Douce, deputy vice president for government affairs for the nonprofit National Parks Conservation Assn.

Douce argued that morale among staff at the parks — a string of 63 federally protected natural wonders often described as “America’s best idea” — has never been lower.

But the fact that employees still showed up, including without pay during last year’s federal government shutdown, demonstrates their commitment to keeping the beloved parks flourishing.

“The enduring popularity of America’s national parks is not surprising,” Douce added. “What’s shocking is this administration’s relentless attacks on these places and their caretakers, which threatens their future.”

The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The National Park Service is routinely ranked among the most admired branches of the large and sprawling federal government. Even Americans who have never watched a minute of C-SPAN, or get a little lost in the alphabet soup of other agencies, will probably never forget standing in Yosemite Valley and admiring a towering waterfall.

There were 4.3 million visits to Yosemite in 2025, 2.9 million to Joshua Tree and 1.3 million to Death Valley, according to the data.

The 323 million visits to America’s national parks in 2025 are more than twice the attendance — 135 million — at professional football, baseball, basketball and hockey games combined.

Of course, it’s a lot cheaper to get into a park. U.S. residents pay between $20 and $35 per vehicle for a day pass, or $80 for an annual pass. The Trump administration recently raised the annual fee to $250 for foreign visitors.

National Park Service officials did not respond to emails requesting comment on California’s 2025 attendance.

2026 is shaping up to be an amazing year for theme park fans with a huge number of new rides and attractions set to launch in the coming months, from thrill rides to family-friendly lands

There is plenty for UK theme park fans to look forward to in the year ahead.

Many are preparing to reopen their doors for the spring season in the next couple of weeks, while some are launching new rides and even entirely new lands. From thrill rides to attractions based on kids’ shows, there are plenty of upcoming openings to get in the calendar.

Here’s a roundup of some of the UK’s biggest and most popular theme parks and what new attractions visitors can expect in 2026.

Paultons Park

Paultons Park is adding an entirely new themed land to its map. Valgard: Realm of the Vikings opens May 16, just in time for half term. It will include three Viking-themed rides: Drakon, the park’s first inverting rollercoaster with a dramatic vertical lift, Vild Swing, which will swing riders 39ft into the air, and Raven, a bobsled ride previously known as the Cobra coaster, which has been redesigned to match the theme.

The new land will also feature a Viking-themed playground and dining hall for a truly immersive experience. Theme park fans can book Paultons Park tickets online for the opening day.

Paultons Park is perhaps best known as home to Peppa Pig World, and its new land is aimed more at older kids and adults, adding new thrill rides to the park. However, if you are bringing little ones, be sure to stop by Peppa Pig World to meet the family’s newest member, Evie.

Chessington

Chessington’s new World of PAW Patrol will be here on the double, although no official opening date has been set. So far, the park has confirmed it’ll open in spring 2026 and will feature four rides. Chase’s Mountain Mission, a rollercoaster suitable for young kids, Skye’s Helicopter Heroes, which will take kids on a high-flying mission, and Marshall’s Firetruck Rescue, where kids can take a ride on a shiny red truck.

Zuma’s Hovercraft Adventure will be a ‘drifter’ ride, which promises to be the first of its kind in the UK. There will also be Rubble and Rocky’s Playzone, where kids can “climb, slide and explore”. Meet and greets will be available with the pups, and fans can even book a sleepover in one of the PAW Patrol-themed rooms at Chessington’s Azteca hotel. These colourful rooms sleep up to five and include themed bunk beds for the kids.

Alton Towers

Bluey the Ride: Here Come The Grannies! opens to Alton Towers’ guests on March 28, just in time for Easter. It’s the world’s first Bluey roller coaster and will be suitable for little fans of the show. Teaser images for the ride show Bluey and Bingo dressed as the iconic grannies Janet and Rita, and the ride is set in the Heelers’ back garden. More Bluey rooms are also being added to the CBeebies Land hotel and you can book online for spring dates and beyond.

Thrill ride fans can also enjoy the Toxicator, which opened last March. This neon-green coaster throws riders in the air and spins them around at high speed, creating an adrenaline-pumping experience.

Blackpool Pleasure Beach

In spring 2026, Blackpool Pleasure Beach will be opening a new £8.72 million gyro swing ride named Aviktas. At 138ft, it will be the tallest of its kind in the UK. While the exact opening date has not yet been confirmed, theme park enthusiasts can buy VIP tickets for the launch event, ensuring they are among the first to try the new ride.

Blackpool Pleasure Beach also celebrates its 130-year anniversary in 2026. In March, visitors can get half-price tickets if they book online in advance, with eTickets costing £30. Or if you’re going as a family, you can get four tickets for £100, giving you access to all the park’s rides for the day.

Crealy

Crealy will offer two new rides in 2026, and one might be familiar to theme park enthusiasts. Spring will see the arrival of Pirates’ Plummet, an 80ft tall drop tower which will be the South West’s tallest ride. It used to be situated in Paultons Park, where it was called Magma, and is now being rebuilt at the Devon theme park.

In the summer, Rotor, an inverting air race ride, will be open. The ride will spin punters around and upside-down for a thrilling experience. No date is confirmed for either ride’s opening yet, but you can book short breaks or tickets on the Crealy website.

Pleasurewood Hills

Pleasurewood Hills was sold to new owners last year, and there are plans for four new rides to revamp the family-friendly Suffolk park. According to BBC reports, the new rides would include Star Flyer (a 30-metre-tall thrill ride), Spinning Coaster, Apple Coaster, and the Big Wheel. Planning approval for the new rides is expected in April, with no date announced as to when they’d open if approved.

Have a story you want to share? Email us at webtravel@reachplc.com

THERE’S still time to book a cheap Easter break for all the family from just £6.20 per person per night.

Unity Holidays has a new offer for families across all three of its sites in Somerset, the Skirlington Coast in Yorkshire and Seven Lakes in Lincolnshire.

Unity Holidays which has three parks across the country is offering families a three or four-night break during the school holidays at Easter time from £149.

The price of £149 is based upon a family of up to six people staying in a Bronze caravan across four-nights which works out as £6.20pppn.

A Bronze caravan has two to four bedrooms and is open plan with a large living area.

It has central heating, Wi-Fi, fully equipped kitchen for self-catering and free parking.

GO SEA IT

£9.50 holiday spot with shipwrecks, seals offshore & horseshoe-shaped waterfalls

SIGHT SEA

£9.50 holidaymakers’ favourite Skegness activities… away from the beach

There is also a space for tourers and campers with three-night weekend breaks for a family of four starting at £150.

At Unity Beach in Brean, Somerset, there’s plenty to do like exploring the Splash Waterpark, soft play, it also has a 9-hole golf course.

The site even has its own theme park with over 40 rides including rollercoasters, dodgems, a carousel and ghost train.

There are lots of places to eat on-site like the recently renovated Wonky Donkey pub and restaurant, with a new pavilion, sports bar and arcade.

At the Wonky Donkey, visitors can expect traditional pub food like mac n’ cheese and scampi and chips.

It’s also minutes from the coastline so guests can also enjoy paddling in the sea and making sandcastles on the beach.

Skirlington Coast in East Yorkshire also has a Wonky Donkey pub along with a traditional chippy which can be enjoyed with a seaside view.

It has a heated indoor swimming pool with new activities for 2026, which include Bumper Boats, mini jets and pool party.

It has an arcade with plenty of games, fishing lakes and plenty of countryside to explore.

Like Brean, the Skirlington Coast park has a beach which is ideal for sunbathing in the warm weather, and even fossil hunting.

Seven Lakes is set amongst 200 acres of lakes and woodland in Lincolnshire.

Here, the Head to The Dog & Duck is where guests can enjoy a relaxed breakfast, lunch or dinner.

Each park has plenty of daytime activities, swimming and live evening entertainment.

Guests can get out on the water too on paddleboards, rowing boats, kayaks and even its huge aqua park with inflatables.

It’s an ideal spot for fishing too whether that be newcomers or experienced anglers.

Later on in the year and there will be even more to do at Unity Beach in Brean as part of its £10.2million expansion.

In time for the summer holidays, will be a new lido surrounded by private cabanas and outdoor dining area.

The existing flumes and water rides will remain, and the outdoor pool is expected to open in July 2026.

For more on holiday parks, here are 14 of the best in the UK from £19 a night – including beach resorts and huge waterparks.

And here are 10 of our favourite £9.50 holiday parks in the UK.

Disneyland Resort President Thomas Mazloum has been named chairman of Walt Disney Co.’s experiences division, the company said Tuesday.

Mazloum succeeds soon-to-be Disney Chief Executive Josh D’Amaro as the head of the Mouse House’s vital parks portfolio, which has become the economic engine for the Burbank media and entertainment giant. His purview includes Disney’s theme parks, famed Imagineering division, merchandise, cruise line, as well as the Aulani Resort and Spa in Hawaii.

Jill Estorino will become the head of Disneyland Resort in Anaheim. She previously served as president and managing director of Disney Parks International and oversaw the company’s theme parks and resorts in Europe and Asia.

Estorino and Mazloum will assume their new roles on March 18, the same day as D’Amaro and incoming Disney President and Chief Creative Officer Dana Walden.

“Thomas Mazloum is an exceptional leader with a genuine appreciation for our cast members and a proven track record of delivering growth,” D’Amaro said in a statement. “His focus on service excellence, broad international leadership and strong connection to the creativity that brings our stories to life make him the right leader to guide Disney Experiences into its next chapter.”

Mazloum had been about a year into his tenure at Disneyland. Prior to that, he was head of Disney Signature Experiences, which includes the cruise line. He was trained in hospitality in Europe.

In his time at Disneyland, Mazloum oversaw the park’s 70th anniversary celebration and recently pledged to eliminate time limitations for park-hopping, which are designed to manage foot traffic at Disneyland and California Adventure.

Mazloum will now oversee a 10-year, $60-billion investment plan for Disney’s overall experiences business, which includes new themed lands in Disneyland Resort and Walt Disney World. At Disneyland, that expansion could result in at least $1.9 billion of development.

The size of that investment indicates how important the parks are to Disney’s bottom line. Last year, the experiences business brought in nearly 57% of the company’s operating income. Maintaining that momentum, as well as fending off competitors such as Universal Studios, is key to Disney’s continued growth.

In his new role, Mazloum will have to keep an eye on “international visitation headwinds” at its U.S.-based parks, which the company has said will likely factor into its earnings for the fiscal second quarter. At Disneyland Resort, that dip was mitigated by the park’s high percentage of California-based visitors.

Times staff writer Todd Martens contributed to this report.