parks

The latest round of belt-tightening across Hollywood has now reached the Happiest Place on Earth.

Walt Disney Co.’s theme parks division is laying off between 100 and 200 people, according to a person familiar with the matter who was not authorized to comment publicly.

The cuts to Disney’s experiences segment stem from a regular evaluation of the division’s priorities, investments and project timelines, the person said. Burbank-based Disney has more parks-related projects in progress than ever before.

Disney declined to comment.

The layoffs are limited to the experiences division, which includes Disney’s theme parks, cruise line and Aulani resort and spa in Hawaii. All affected employees will be notified by the end of the day Wednesday.

The experiences division is Disney’s economic engine. In fiscal 2025, the segment brought in $36.2 billion in revenue and more than 56% of the company’s total operating income.

Because the division is so central to Disney’s bottom line, analysts closely track attendance at its theme parks, particularly among international visitors to the U.S. Though Disney previously said it faced “international visitation headwinds” at its domestic parks, that trend has since “moderated,” executives said during the company’s most recent earnings call in August.

The news comes as other parts of Disney, including its human resources and technology teams, have been affected by layoffs. Separately, the company offered early retirement packages for older workers earlier this month. The latest round of layoffs is not related to those earlier job cuts.

Those moves are part of an effort by new Disney Chief Executive Josh D’Amaro to sharpen the company’s focus and help it respond faster to the changing entertainment industry.

Disney is far from the only entertainment company cutting costs. Hollywood is in the midst of an industry-wide consolidation that has affected wide swaths of Southern California. Workers at Skydance, the new name for the combined Paramount Skydance and Warner Bros. Discovery, are also bracing for layoffs as the company looks to cut $6 billion in costs over three years.

Times staff writer Todd Martens contributed to this report.

UK holidays could soon get much more expensive after new overnight tourist tax rules were announced in today’s Budget.

Prime Minister Andy Burnham has opened the door to the ‘tourist tax‘ which will impose an extra charge for families on a staycation – and it could cost families an extra £100.

Set out in the Autumn Budget, Andy Burnham once again spoke about what’s officially called the ‘overnight visitor levy‘ which is set to be in place by 2028.

It would allow local authorities in England to charge visitors an additional fee on overnight stays at hotels, B&Bs, holiday lets and even holiday parks.

The fee would be officially uncapped – however, Labour’s regional mayors in England have pledged to cap a it at five per cent.

According to UK Hospitality, it could still add up to £100 to a two-week family stay based on £2 per person per night.  

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The money gained by the tax would be invested back into local communities and infrastructure.

Talking about the levy, Jon Hendry Pickup, CEO of Butlin’s said: “The Government still hasn’t explained how a Holiday Tax will work in practice or whether it will actually achieve that objective.

“If local areas are going to retain significantly more business rates revenue, alongside a share of income tax, the case for adding another tax on British families taking a holiday in their own country becomes even harder to understand.

“We’ve consistently warned that making UK destinations more expensive risks deterring the very visitors whose spending supports local economies.

“Giving regions the power to invest can have a positive impact, but it shouldn’t come at the expense of UK families booking a holiday.”

However, there are ways to get round the visitor tax, as some places might not implement it at all.

England is split into 14 regions with different mayors looking after each – and the tourist tax will be added at their discretion.

It’s likely that all Labour mayors will add the tax, and some of the places where there is support are Greater London, the West Midlands, Liverpool City Region, Greater Manchester, West Yorkshire, South Yorkshire, York and North Yorkshire and the North East.

Cities within those regions like Birmingham, Leeds, Manchester and Newcastle are likely to introduce the extra charge – as are surrounding towns.

However, where there are Reform UK and Conservative mayors, the levy may not be introduced at all.

For example, Dame Andrea Jenkyns who is the mayor of Greater Lincolnshire has said that she won’t be introducing a tourism tax as it could “drive out” people from visiting the region.

Conservative Mayor of Tees Valley Ben Houchen also ruled out introducing any tourist tax last year.

Paul Bristow, the Mayor of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, wrote on X that “this is not the time to put extra costs on staying overnight in #Cambridgeshire and #Peterborough.”

Meanwhile, there’s a question mark on the places that do not have an elected regional mayor – for example Cornwall which draws in thousands of visitors every summer.

Cornwall does not have a mayor for the whole county, but is looking for a way to set up a foundation strategic authority (FSA) – this could be set up by 2028.

Where the levy is introduced could also change depending on local elections and if the ruling party switches.

FORGOT Halloween is this week and the kids are nagging to do something?

Well, fortunately there are still tickets available to Halloween events at the UK’s biggest and best theme parks.

Whether you have little ones and want something more tame, or older kids desperate to head on thrill rides in the dark, there are plenty of Halloween events with availability still for this week.

Here’s a roundup of the best theme park Halloween events with tickets still available:

Legoland

Legoland Windsor Resort’s Brick or Treat event still has tickets available, where you will be able to see different Lego models as well as Lego Monsters.

There’s a huge party for visitors to enjoy as well as live entertainment and of course, visitors can head to the 55 rides and attractions across the park as well.

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Returning this year is also the Lord Vampyre’s House Party show, where everyone can have a boogie.

Tickets cost from £37 per person.

Thorpe Park

This year Thorpe Park is marking ’25 Years of Fear’ and is known for its award-winning theme park scare event with a new maze for this year called Tenement.

There’s a 4D cinema experience and a number of shows as well.

Guests will also be able to head on the different rides at the park in the dark.

A day ticket including Fright Nights costs from £39 per person or a Fright Nights ticket including the Scare Mazes costs from £71 per person.

Gulliver’s

Across Gulliver’s Theme Park Resorts you can still snap up tickets to Fright Fiesta.

There will be a festival-style atmosphere with costumes, music and meet and greets.

And at both Gulliver’s Valley in Rotherham and Gulliver’s Land in Milton Keynes, visitors can step onto the ‘Ghouliver’s Travelator’ for an immersive journey across a Halloween landscape before arriving at the Midnight Manor Hotel (Gulliver’s Valley) or the Wicked Woods (Gulliver’s Land).

Tickets cost from just £19 per person.

Alton Towers

Alton Towers Scarefest still has tickets available, with scare mazes, family spook attractions and rides open in the dark until 9pm.

There are six scare mazes in total including Compound and Dark Hollow, which is new for 2026.

Little ones can enjoy Amigos in the Afterlife with Dia de los Muertos celebrations and Trick O’ Treat Town.

Tickets cost from £37 per person for daytime Halloween events and entry to the park, or £80 per person for a day ticket as well as evening thrills.

Paultons Park

For families with younger children, Paultons Park still has tickets available to its Halloween Spooktacular with spooky characters and late-night openings.

Visitors can enjoy the Little Monsters Ball as well as the Great Halloween Mystery/Spirit Squad Ghoul School shows.

There’s also the Ghostly Manor – an interactive dark ride.

Tickets cost from £46.75 per person.

Drayton Manor

Over at Drayton Manor, visitors can enjoy rides, two fireworks nights and a new Trick or Treat Trail ideal for little kids.

There’s loads of themed locations to snap a pic at too.

If you are feeling a little braver, you can head on the Revenge of the Haunted Express and catch a lake show at the end of the day.

Tickets cost from £39 per person, or £16 per child between the age of two and three-years-old. The Revenge of the Haunted Express is an additional £5 per person.

WHEN the temperature drops and the nights get darker, booking a holiday in to look forward to feels all the more important.

Luckily, if you know where to look, Britain is packed with brilliant holiday parks that actually get better in the winter months.

We’re talking massive, 30C indoor water worlds for warming up from the frost, to luxury log cabins and magical woodland light trails.

Plus, avoiding the peak summer rush means you can bag incredible deals for a fraction of the usual price, so here’s our winter holiday park favourites from a tiny £3.06pp per night.

Warmwell Holiday Park, Dorset

This cosy woodland holiday park in Dorset is made up of timber lodges only, with lakeside, hot tub and pet-friendly options sleeping up to eight people.

But don’t let the tranquil woodland setting fool you: Warmwell is packed with adrenaline. The park actually has its own 110m all-weather ski slope where you can ski, snowboard, or hurtle down in a rubber ring.

If you’d rather stay inside, the massive heated indoor pool has a thrilling, twisting water flume and a mini wave pool for little ones.

We found a three-night break in a superior lodge sleeping eight for £263, working out to £10.96pp per night.

Tattershall Lakes Country Park, Lincolnshire

While this action-packed holiday park is famous for its summer watersports, you’ll get a completely different experience in the winter.

This park puts on its very own ‘Winterfest‘, where from November 20 – December 20 you’ll find special events like candlelight concerts, kids house party events and the ‘Winterfest Spiegletent’ full of festive live entertainment.

There’s also the massive indoor pool and kids splash zone with slides for the kids, plus a luxurious spa and the cosy Tattershall Park Pub for Mum and Dad.

You can bag a four-night midweek break in a superior caravan sleeping eight from £168, or £5.25pp per night.

Sandy Balls Holiday Village, Hampshire

For a dose of woodland magic this winter, book in for a lodge retreat at Sandy Balls Holiday Village in Hampshire.

With The New Forest on your doorstep, you’ll have plenty of time for family bike rides, woodland alpaca walks or even strolling through the ‘Forest of Light’ festive display which arrives at the park in November.

Kids can head indoors to warm up with pottery painting or slime factory sessions, while grown-ups might prefer the evening’s Boombox Bingo, quiz or karaoke sessions.

We found a deal for a four night break in a luxury caravan sleeping six for £264, working out to £11pp per night.

Bluestone Wales, Pembrokeshire

Head to Pembrokeshire in Wales this winter to escape the cold and drizzle for a site with a giant, subtropical temperature waterpark.

Spend rainy afternoons in the Blue Lagoon Water Park, which is totally free for guests. There’s a wave machine, four waterslides, plus a relaxing lazy river and bubbling pools.

There’s plenty more weather-proof activities like an indoor zipline, climbing wall and a bear-making boutique.

We found a deal for a four-night break in a spacious wooden lodge for four for £540, working out to £33.75pp per night. Or if you want to book ahead for Jan or Feb, there’s an early bird offer on where you can save 10-20 per cent on 2027 breaks.

Seashore Holiday Park, Norfolk

If you love a winter beach break away from the crowds of the summer, you’ll love Great Yarmouth‘s only beachfront park: Seashore Holiday Park.

The flat, golden sands of Yarmouth are perfect for a winter stroll, before coming back to warm up in the heated indoor waterpark with two 11 metre flumes.

Once you’re done making a splash, you can retreat to a double-glazed, toasty heated caravan for a movie night.

We found a deal for a four night break in a saver caravan sleeping four for £49, working out to £3.06pp per night.

Finlake Resort & Spa, Devon

Finlake feels like a glamorous forest retreat with A-frame timber lodges with hot tubs, a woodland spa and sauna offering hot stone massages, and a glimmering fishing lake.

Kids will love the on-site waterpark Finlake Falls, which is heated to around 30C and packed with waterslides, fun sea scooters and a beach-like area with gentle waves for little ones.

Compared to somewhere like Center Parcs, where the cheapest seven-night lodge break we found this winter was £1,548 you’re getting much better value for money here.

At Finlake, you can bag a seven-night stay in a traditional, two-storey wooden lodge from £239 for the week.

Craig Tara, Ayrshire, Scotland

From the snow-dusted peaks of the Isle of Arran to the rugged clifftops of the Ayrshire coast, Scotland is beautiful in winter.

But it’s even better when you can retreat back to a cosy, centrally heated caravan or luxury lodge to thaw out.

Haven’s Craig Tara offers not only luxurious lodges and warm, affordable caravans, but one of the biggest heated indoor waterparks in Scotland, Splashaway Bay.

As for indoor activities, there’s also a giant indoor Airspace facility loaded with interactive darts, shuffleboard, and a climbing wall to wear the kids out.

You don’t even need to head out and brave the cold for dinner with an on-site Burger King, Papa Johns, and a sea-view restaurant just steps away.

We found a deal for a four night break in a saver caravan sleeping four for £49, working out to £3.06pp per night.

ONE UK theme park has announced it will close early today as Storm Austen hits the country with winds up to 80mph.

Paultons Park which has been hosting late-night Halloween evenings will close early tonight.

On its website, it said: “Because of the forecast conditions from Storm Austen, we’ve cancelled tonight’s late night opening. The park will close at 4:30pm today.

“The safety of our guests and team always comes first, and we’re sorry for any disappointment.”

For those visiting today, tickets will be revalidated so you can come back another day.

Anyone who is booking to attend today but wants to change the day can do so free of charge.

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Anyone on a short break will receive a return ticket and those with an annual pass can attend until 4.30pm.

At the Halloween Spooktacular visitors can go on the rides after dark, head to The Little Monsters Ball and go to the Spirit Squad Ghoul School.

For those who still want to go, the late-night events will still run on October 24, 27, 28 and 29.

Camel Creek Family Adventure Park in Wadebridge which is popular with younger families has also announced its closure due to “forecast of strong winds and heavy rain.”

The park will be in touch with those who have already booked a visit.

It hasn’t guaranteed that it will reopen on Saturday so has advised families to watch for updates on its social media and website for updates.

Meanwhile, Thorpe Park is open as is Alton Towers.

At Chessington World of Adventure, the Zufari appears closed on the app and there’s a temporary delay of the opening of Jungle Rangers.

A spokesperson for all three theme parks said that they are open and operating ‘in line with standard weather safety procedures’.

They added that ride availability can vary throughout the ‘day depending on operational and weather conditions, and any temporary closures are assessed by our expert technical teams on a case-by-case basis’.

Marwell Zoo has closed its doors for the day, it said: “The zoo will be closed due to strong winds and heavy rain forecast. We aim to reopen on Saturday 24^th Oct as normal.”

Chester Zoo also announced its closure in order to keep “visitors, animals and staff as safe.” Dartmoor Zoo is also closed.

Storm Austen which has hit the UK today has resulted in schools closed and flights cancelled with the Met Office issuing amber and yellow weather warnings.

Dozens of groups have lined up behind the proposal, including the Trust for Public Land, TreePeople, Friends of the Los Angeles River and many others. At City Hall, the measure is backed by Rodriguez and several other council members as well as City Controller Kenneth Mejia.

Rodriguez and Mejia signed the ballot argument in favor of Charter Amendment PRK, as did Rev. Gregory Boyle, founder of Homeboy Industries, Nicole Chase, president and chief executive of the Boys & Girls Club of the San Fernando Valley, and several others.

Backers of the measure say the parks department provides an essential safety net for the city’s low-income residents, offering summer camps, sports activities and senior programs for free or at reduced prices.

When temperatures soar, the city’s recreation centers welcome residents who lack air conditioning. During emergencies, those facilities are converted into places of refuge from fires, floods or other disasters.

Despite those varied responsibilities, the department has been underfunded for years, said Tori Kjer, executive director of the Los Angeles Neighborhood Land Trust, who pushed for the measure to reach the ballot.

“If you talk to many Angelenos, they are unhappy with their local park, and that is because we have not funded it with the resources it needs,” she said.

Kjer said the department never recovered from the 2008 recession, when city leaders cut staffing by more than 25%, leaving it with about 1,500 workers last year. The city also began charging the department for the cost of water, electricity, trash pickup and other city services.

SANTA VISITS, festive pantomimes, bauble making and parties every day – these holiday parks offer the ultimate Christmas experience without the price tag.

Parkdean is opening a number of its resorts over the festive season and a whole family can stay for less than £150.

Parkdean Resorts has officially opened its bookings for Christmas with festive getaways available across eight UK holiday parks.

These are:

• Camber Sands Holiday Park, Sussex
• Cayton Bay Holiday Park, Yorkshire
• Vauxhall Holiday Park, Great Yarmouth
• Trecco Bay Holiday Park, Wales
• Ty Mawr Holiday Park, Wales
• Warmwell Holiday Park, Dorset
• White Cross Bay Holiday Park, Lake District (limited activities)
• Fallbarrow Holiday Park, Lake District (accommodation only)

Each of the holiday parks will be open throughout December including Christmas and the New Year with a whole host of activities.

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Winter Wonderland which will have over 30 Christmassy activities is available at Camber Sands, Cayton Bay, Trecco Bay, Ty Mawr, Warmwell and Vauxhall.

White Cross Bay and Fallbarrow will be open during the festive period – but these won’t hold the Winter Wonderland programme.

But for the ones that choose to enjoy Winter Wonderland, the events vary from park-to-park and some will have Search for Santa where youngsters are invited to help the elves find Santa with clues and songs.

There will be creative activities too like bauble and Christmas card making as well as festive pot painting.

Family-friendly pantomime performances will take to the stage with some famous faces like Jenny Ryan from The Chase.

There will be ice skating, Christmas parties and sing-alongs – for those there on Christmas Eve, there will be a special show to countdown to the big day.

Along with the Christmas activities, the holiday parks will also have their usual offerings like swimming, adventure activities and live entertainment.

One writer visited the Vauxhall holiday park in Great Yarmouth which recently underwent a £5million makeover.

Here, he watched entertainment like a knife-throwing magician, a Taylor Swift tribute act, karaoke, bingo and stand-up comedy. 

Other activities at Vauxhall include the high and low ropes course, Bear Grylls escape rooms, an inflatable bounce park, a swimming-pool obstacle course, pottery painting, off-road rangers and an adventure playground. 

He added: “We’ve taken our children to Dubai, Turkey, the Netherlands and Disneyland, to name a few — but they feel they’ve hit the jackpot on this quintessential Great British caravan-park holiday here in Norfolk.”

A four-night stay at Vauxhall holiday park from December 7 in a Sandpiper/Buzzard Apartment which sleeps up to six starts from £159 – or £6.62pppn.

If you want to stay for five-nights from December 23 in a Goose Apartment which sleeps four, this starts from £599 or £29.95pppn.

Trecco Bay in Porthcawl is the UK’s largest holiday park which has over 2,000 lodges and caravans.

It has Pirate Crazy Golf, a high ropes course, splash pad, archery, hoover boards and bumper zorbs.

There’s also a bowling alley and the Next Level Gaming Arena which has over 25 consoles including PS5 and Xbox.

Four-night breaks from December 14 in a Bronze Caravan which sleeps up to six starts from £159 – or £6.62pppn.

The six holiday parks with the Winter Wonderland programme have all-inclusive add-ons on certain dates, so there won’t be hidden surprises.

It includes three meals a day which are served directly to the table so there are no queues either – there’s also unlimited drinks and Costa Coffee.

This starts from £100 per adult and £40 per child (under 12) per break.

Anthony Reilly, Marketing Director at Parkdean Resorts, said: “We know that the festive period can be a stressful time for families looking to plan a getaway that’s great value, feel-good and has something for everyone.

“That’s why we’re so excited to bring back festive breaks, bigger and better than ever. Booking early means families can relax knowing they have secured their festive tradition for 2026, leaving the Christmas stress behind – and start unwrapping the excitement now.”

THE spooks and the ghouls are gathering, and this half-term is gearing up to be spine-chillingly fang-tastic.

Superb Halloween events for all the family are being held across the UK, including in city centres, holiday parks, castles and lots of amazing attractions.

Here, Trisha Harbord shares her selection of 13 of the most magical and monstrous activities taking place in the coming weeks.

MAZE MADNESS

DO you have teenage monsters? They’ll love screaming their way through horror mazes at Blackpool Pleasure Beach.

The attraction’s Journey To Hell features three new mazes: Eternal Abyss, a network of tunnels; The Veil, a house steeped in grief; and Deadline, with its nightmarish corridors.

Other frightening encounters include riding ICON: Into The Void blindfolded, and a ghost train.

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Journey To Hell tickets, including mazes, start from £50. See blackpoolpleasurebeach.com.

Screamfest at Staffordshire’s National Forest Adventure Farm is celebrating 15 years with its most terrifying attraction. Cortex 17 is a psychic trial set in a 1960s hospital, featuring 20 weird actors.

It’s among seven chilling experiences with thrill rides and roaming characters until October 31, from £34pp. See screamfest.co.uk.

HOLIDAY PARK HELL

HOLIDAY parks across the UK have cut-price half-term deals. Butlin’s Spooktober is landing at Bognor Regis, Minehead and Skegness, with discounted three-night breaks from £66 per person.

Fairgrounds have become scaregrounds and there are special Halloween shows, eerie silent discos and crafts as well as Splash Waterworld, TV’s The Masked Singer and Maximum Pro Wrestling. See butlins.com.

If you’re in Scotland or the north of England, Verdant Parks has 11 sites in beautiful coastal and countryside locations where Halloween is being celebrated, with three-night family stays from £259.

You could choose Riverside, on the banks of Wooler Water in Northumberland, which has a pool, wellness area, soft play, arcade, entertainment, bar and restaurant.

Kids can get involved in pumpkin carving and zombie battles. See verdantparks.co.uk.

MONSTER MAYHEM

MANCHESTER’s MCR Monsters are back for their tenth anniversary. The giant, inflatable creatures will appear on famous buildings and landmarks such as The Royal Exchange and Corn Exchange from October 24 to 31.

On the first weekend, the free event features real-life characters roaming the streets, plus party games and DJs.

There’s also a new Paul Horror-wood Monster Bake-Off on New Cathedral Street, where you can win a “handshake” and pick up free party bags of sweets. Kids will love the spooky storytelling at the monsters’ library in the Arndale, too.

Dancing puppets, stilt walkers and a brass band will lead a procession to the city centre for a spectacular anniversary party.

All week, the Science And Industry Museum is holding interactive activities about Halloween aliens. See halloweenmcr.com.

PUMPKIN PICKING

GET your wellies on and hitch a ride on a tractor-trailer to pick your own pumpkin. This year, Stockeld Park near Wetherby, Yorkshire, has grown their own to add to their half-term activities from October 24 to November 1.

Enter Halloween fancy dress competitions, complete a forest trail with the help of woodland witches who will share their mischievous skills, explore the Mummy Maze, with a few surprises along the way, and battle it out in the Laser Zombie Experience.

Stockeld also has six playgrounds, a multi-storey playhouse and tree climbing. Tickets from £28pp. See stockeldpark.co.uk.

Still not had enough? There are pumpkins galore – hundreds of thousands to be precise – to be collected at Rougham Estate near Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk. You’ll also find food trucks, face painting, pedal tractors and ice cream, too! See roughamestate.com.

CHOCCIE HORROR SHOW

HALLOWEEN comes with a sweet twist at Cadbury World. The Birmingham attraction has a new gameshow-style challenge where visitors must guess the characters hiding behind a Trick Or Treat door.

And there’s Freddo’s Spooktacular, with games, songs, magic and chilling surprises, as well as chocolate pumpkins and afternoon tea. Explore 14 zones with activities and a 4D movie. Runs until November 1, tickets from £24. See cadburyworld.co.uk.

Until November 1 at Sea Life Birmingham, sea witch Serafina asks kids to become ocean defenders by following a spellbinding trail. They will tackle challenges, solve puzzles and complete Serafina’s missions to discover life under the sea.

Walk through the UK’s only 360-degree ocean tunnel to see turtles, sharks, rays and hundreds of tropical fish. From £19. See visitsealife.com.

HIGH-SPEED THRILLS

TEENS’ hearts will be racing when they get to ride their favourite rollercoasters after dark at Alton Towers.

And new scare maze Final Exhibit will have visitors running for their lives to avoid becoming part of a creepy display.

Younger thrill-seekers will prefer a visit to Trick O’ Treat Town and Amigos In The Afterlife, where they’ll meet friendlier characters.

Scarefest runs until November 1 on selected dates, and tickets cost from £37 for day entry or £80 including all four scare mazes. See altontowers.com.

If after-dark thrills are more your thing, Thorpe Park is celebrating the 25th anniversary of its Fright Nights with more spine tingles than ever before. Its new scare maze Tenement will have adrenaline junkies looking for the exit in the pitch black. Entry from £39. See thorpepark.com.

SPOOKY WOOKEY

GET your best Halloween togs on and you could win a year of magical adventures.

The show caves at Wookey Hole, near Wells in Somerset, have been transformed into a spellbinding world of pumpkins, monsters, magic and family fun.

Every family in fancy dress who take a photo there will be entered into a draw to win a year’s membership to the attraction, including access to the new Winter Wonderland.

The Halloween event, which runs until November 1, includes a journey through the caves, where immersive projections bring the story of the Witch of Wookey Hall to life.

Vampires and monsters are taking over the circus, there’s a spooky 4D film, a pumpkin trail and surprises. Adult tickets cost from £24.64, child tickets from £19.54. See wookey.co.uk.

CASTLES IN THE SCARE

STAY in a castle and seek out characters from Horrible Histories. Performers will bring the gruesome stories from the kids’ books to life at Leeds Castle near Maidstone, Kent, until November 1.

Follow a ghost-getter’s trail, uncovering tales of royal spirits, witch trials and strange superstitions. Two nights’ B&B for a family of four in a castle bedroom costs £500, including tickets and free evening meals for kids. See leeds-castle.com.

Warwick Castle will also be full of family frights, including haunted hollows and lurking goblins from October 24 to November 1. But on selected nights, the scares are turned up a notch – with spine-tingling sleepovers including three terrifying ghostly experiences, circus acts and a silent disco. B&B and tickets cost from £85pp. See warwick-castle.com.

HOWLS AND OWLS

WANNABE Harry Potters can learn spells and meet some owls at The Welsh School Of Witchcraft And Wizardry.

It can be found at the British Bird Of Prey Centre, in Carmarthenshire, which has been transformed for a week of mischief from October 26.

Kids are encouraged to wear magical costumes for classes including wand-making, creating potions and spells. Then, they can try being a falconer and fly an owl or a red kite.

Tickets cost from £14 per adult and £8.50 per child. Flying sessions are from £10. See british birdofpreycentre.co.uk.

If you’re further south, a wizard school is also being held at Southampton’s Tudor House on October 26 and 27, costing £8. The house has a free Halloween open day on October 30, with crafts, facepainting, haunted tales and guided ghost tours. See visitsouthampton.co.uk.

THE HAUNTED WOODS

THINGS aren’t just going bump in the night down at BeWILDerwood outdoor family adventure parks in Norfolk, Cheshire and the Lake District.

There’s a whole host of spooky events in the daytime, too. The woodland attractions are asking young visitors to don their scariest outfits to enjoy the play trails and whoosh along zipwires.

There’s also a Twig Or Treat trail until November 1 – where youngsters will be tasked with uncovering characters and collecting letters to discover the scrambled word and claim their prize.

Then, stick around until nightfall to see the Glowing Light Trail twinkle. Tickets cost from £26.50 per adult and £24.50 per child over 92cm.
Families can bag 12.5 per cent off when they book online in advance. See bewilderwood.co.uk.

CREEPY CAPITAL

LONDON is crawling with creepies this half-term. Halloween characters, including the stilt-wearing Peculiar Sisters, are trailing around spookily-decorated shops and houses on Kensington High Street from October 23 to 31.

And on the last day, Holland Park will be transformed into The Playful Park Of Peculiar with live entertainment. See highstreetkensington.co.uk.

London Dungeon has the three-part immersive show Curse Of The Mummy until November 1. From £29 per adult and £23.50 per child. See thedungeons.com.

The dungeon is included in National Rail’s discounted entries to attractions, saving a third off the price. Other offers include Ghosts And Legends at the Tower of London and the Haunted Halls Of Hampton Court Palace. See daysoutguide.co.uk.

BRICK OR TREAT

LEGOLAND Discovery Centres in Birmingham and Manchester have been overtaken by minifigure monsters this Halloween.

Until November 1, budding builders can join creative workshops, bringing their own creations to the Brick Or Treat mosaic boards and testing their skills with glow-in-the-dark Lego bricks.

There are also scavenger hunts, pumpkin carving and dance parties. Tickets cost £19pp or £51 per family of four. See legolanddiscoverycentre.com.

And at Legoland Windsor, half-term sees Lord Vampyre’s Creepy Crypt Trail promising treats across the park, as well as new a harbour show, Monster Rocker’s Pumpkin Trail and the Haunted House Halloween Monster Party. Tickets from £39pp at legoland.co.uk.

LORDS OF THE MANOR

GRAB yourselves a bit of luxury. Kids under 13 can stay at the five-star Celtic Manor Resort in Newport, Wales, for free.

It costs from £123 per night for a family of four, Monday to Thursday, until October 31 – and that includes use of the health club and spa. There are free Halloween crafts and games, while other activities, such as pottery painting and cupcake decorating, can be booked.

If you’re not into spooks, kids are still entertained – there’s archery, laser combat, high ropes, adventure golf, axe-throwing and swimming. And there’s lots of space for biking or walking. The resort has 2,000 acres of grounds and woodland trails.

Larger families can book self-catering Hunter Lodges, with hot tubs and saunas, sleeping up to eight adults and two children. See celtic-manor.com.

EVERY parent knows that taking a toddler on holiday often feels less relaxing getaway and more like a parenting shift in a different location.

Don’t worry – we’ve found the ultimate cheap holiday for parents with under 5’s where everything’s taken care of for you – plus the kids even eat for free.

Book a four-night Tots Break from £6.19pp per night (save £70)

Parkdean Resorts are running Tots Breaks packages, four-night stays starting from £99.

If you’re visiting as a family of four, that works out to a tiny £6.19pp per night.

These action-packed breaks are bursting with free activities and entertainment that’s sure to keep the little ones smiling.

However, the best part may just be the food. On a Tots Break, kids eat completely free for the entire duration of your stay.

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That means hot breakfasts, lunches, and dinners are totally sorted, saving a family up to £70 on their holiday dining.

Fussy eaters are well-catered for with the Starland Krew Menu, with kid-friendly classics like tomato pasta, beef burgers, and chicken strips with chips.

You won’t need to constantly dip into your wallet to keep them entertained, either. These breaks are packed with free activities tailored specifically to young children.

Kids can burn off energy at the Tots Adventure Playground, get stuck into messy play, or enjoy the musical Tots & Tunes sessions.

Plus there’s even adorable ‘Mini Olympics’, mini archery, and mini fencing classes.

And if your kids are completely obsessed with their favourite TV characters, you’re in luck.

Book a four-night Tots Break from £6.19pp per night (save £70)

Parkdean Resorts host Milkshake! Mornings packed with stories and singing, plus the chance to meet PAW Patrol legends like Chase and Marshall in the flesh (well, in the fur).

The fun is perfectly timed for early bedtimes, too. Early evening entertainment includes toddler discos, ‘kideoke’ sing-alongs, and even a fun ‘Sparkle Like a Princess’ event.

When it’s finally time to crash, the accommodation is set up for families.

The standard Bronze caravans are spacious, featuring stylish cream-coloured interiors, fully equipped modern kitchens, and TVs for a chilled movie once the kids are asleep.

Tots Breaks are available across dozens of Parkdean Resorts locations nationwide throughout the year.

Participating parks include Sandford in Dorset, a peaceful woodland park close to Poole and Bournemouth, and Trecco Bay in Wales, which is one of Europe’s largest holiday parks.

If you have older children, they may enjoy a Parkdean Resorts’ Nickelodeon Weekender instead.

These breaks start at £163 for three nights, working out to £13.58pp per night for a family of four.

Nickelodeon-themed entertainment includes ‘Mighty Missions’ set by PAW Patrol’s Ryder, learning the Pup Pup Boogie dance, and meeting the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.

Families can even enjoy a ‘Movie with the Stars’, where you’ll sit down to a movie night alongside the actual characters from the film.

Book a four-night Tots Break from £6.19pp per night (save £70)

Prices correct at the time of publication.

NEW images have revealed what to expect from Paulton Park’s new holiday resort – the first ever on-site accommodation for the theme park.

Yet to be named, the £20million accommodation will have a range of lodges and cabins to choose from.

Images show lakeside and riverside lodges, treehouses and A-frame cabins.

Suites and ‘burrowed lodges’ that look like grass-covered Hobbit houses are part of the plans too.

The lodges will range from two bedrooms to four, suggesting space for as many eight guests in each.

There will be space for around 600 guests, with 129 lodges to choose from.

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Suggestions of a restaurant and supermarket will also be on-site too, so guests will be able to choose from dining or self-catered.

Play areas, indoor entertainment rooms and game rooms will be there too, so there is enough for rainy days as well.

You’ll be waiting a while as they will be built in phases up until 2030.

Plans for the holiday village were first announced back in 2025.

The park’s deputy managing director James Mancey previously said: “Our vision is to deliver 129 units, designed to comfortably accommodate just under 600 guests at full capacity, 100 guests fewer than previously outlined.

“We anticipate it will be several years before our vision for on-site accommodation is brought to fruition; however, we are committed to continually reinvesting in our attraction, providing a world-class experience for our guests, and planning for the long-term.”

In the mean time, Paulton’s Park is also opening a new water coaster called Serpent’s Curse next year.

Or you can visit the Viking-themed Valgard land, which opened back in May.

The Sun’s Head of Travel (Digital) Caroline McGuire was one of the first to visit.

She said: ” I loved Drakon – the park’s first-ever inverting coaster starts with a vertical hill and drop, followed by two great inversion flips at speeds of 44mph. 

But for all the speed, drops and twists, I never once felt nauseous – it is easily the smoothest rollercoaster I’ve ever been on and remarkably silent, none of that rattling you get on so many other coasters. 

“The second coaster, Raven, was almost scarier despite not going upside down, thanks to its high-speed bobsleigh style, which whips you round tight hairpin turns and was great fun. 

“There’s also a very cute new ‘Orchard Playground’ for kids up to the age of 10, the kind that Paultons does so well throughout the park, with treehouses, a lookout tower, net bridges and slides. 

“The rollercoaster fan next to me was right, everything felt like the extra quality that you expect of somewhere like Disney.”

Famous hits from Steps, Bucks Fizz, JLS, the Celebrity Weekender breaks are perfect for those who miss the anthems of the eighties, nineties and noughties

Holidaymakers seeking inspiration on where to book their next break can enjoy an autumn getaway with a twist at a series of star-studded weekends at holiday parks across England and Wales. Parkdean Resorts has announced Celebrity Weekenders, mini-breaks filled with the music of the eighties, nineties and noughties with some famous faces joining the party.

Priced from £179, these themed weekends are taking place at five parks across North Yorkshire, Norfolk, Dorset and Wales, with celebrity guests including Chesney Hawkes, The Cheeky Girls, and Claire and H from Steps, plus members of Bucks Fizz, Atomic Kitten, JLS and loads more.

Music lovers can step back to the eighties at Cayton Bay Holiday Park this November, or enjoy nineties nostalgia at Ty Mawr Holiday Park. Elsewhere, Vauxhall Holiday Park will play host to a 90s vs 00s Weekend, as well as a Boybands vs Girlbands celebration and a Celebrity Tribute line-up, while Trecco Bay holiday park is the place for classic disco and retro dance music with its Disco for Grown-Ups weekend.

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These Celebrity Weekenders also offer plenty of activities to keep the celebrations going between music acts, from silent discos and bottomless brunches to bingo and fancy dress competitions, with the line-up varying by holiday park. Sites are also home to everything from amusement arcades and arts and crafts to high ropes courses, adventure golf and bungee trampolines.

However, Parkdean Resorts notes that while children are welcome to join a Celebrity Weekender, there will be limited entertainment and activities running for children, so these breaks are best suited to grown-ups. Those seeking a family-friendly staycation this autumn can check out Parkdean’s standard offering, as well as the likes of Haven, who are running Halloween-themed breaks throughout October, and Butlin’s, who have The Masked Singer Live shows on offer during October half term plus up to 20% off all 2026 and 2027 breaks.

Book a Celebrity Weekender break

From £178 for three nights

Parkdean Resorts

See all breaks

There are eight weekends to choose from across five Parkdean Resorts holiday parks.

Vauxhall Holiday Park, Great Yarmouth

Boybands vs Girlbands: Kerry Katona, JLS star Oritsé Williams, East 17, Liberty X, and Atomic Kitten’s Natasha Hamilton are among the celebrity guests joining the festivities at this weekend for music lovers. Starting on November 6, prices start from £164 for three nights.

90s vs 00s: Nineties icon Chesney Hawkes will be bringing his best hits to this weekend, while D:Ream and Betty Boo will also be flying the flag for the nineties, and DJ sets from Marvin Humes, Chris Moyles, Toby Anstis will ramp up the party atmosphere. Taking place from November 20, a three-night break over this weekend starts from £179.

Celebrity Tribute: This jam-packed weekend features tribute shows to legends like Elvis, Michael Jackson, Cher, Freddie Mercury, Elton John and Tina Turner, as well as sets celebrating modern icons including Take That, Taylor Swift, Lady Gaga, Kylie Minogue, Ed Sheeran, Harry Styles, Bruno Mars and more. From November 13, this weekend is priced from £178 for three nights.

Sandford Holiday Park, Dorset

Hitman: The Hitman himself Pete Waterman will be joined by 911, Sybil and Brother Beyond’s Nathan Moore at this weekender, which is also a true treat for classic Neighbours fans with activities including a Kylie vs Jason fancy dress competition, Kylie karaoke, and a big-screen showing of Scott and Charlene’s wedding, as well as a dance class, lip sync battle, a Grease sing-a-long, and a retro-themed brunch. Taking place from November 13, prices start from £194 for three nights.

Celebrity Christmas: East 17, The Cheeky Girls, Marvin Humes, Pat Sharp, Kerry Katona and Black Lace will all be in attendance to end November with a bang and begin the countdown to Christmas with DJ sets and dance floor hits. Starting on November 27, this weekend is priced from £224 for three nights.

Trecco Bay Holiday Park, Porthcawl

Disco for Grown-Ups: Steps legends Claire Richards and Ian ‘H’ Watkins will be joined by Gareth Gates and Bucks Fizz stars Cheryl Baker and Jay Aston for non-stop famous hits, while In Da Bungalow legends Dick & Dom will host a DJ set. From November 13, prices start from £194 for three nights.

Ty Mawr Holiday Park, Conwy

90s Weekender: Vernon Kay will host a DJ set in this weekend enjoying the anthems of the nineties, joined by the likes of Big Brovaz & Booty Luv, Honeyz and A1. Re-Take That will also be bringing all the hits from the beloved pop group, while a live rock show will celebrate the female artists who defined the alternative music scene of the nineties. From November 20, prices start from £193 for three nights.

Cayton Bay Holiday Park, North Yorkshire

80s Weekender: The Real Thing, Black Lace, Thereza Bazar’s Dollar and Deniece Pearson Five Star are among the celebrity guests in attendance at this weekend celebrating all things eighties. Taking place from November 20, prices start from £238 for three nights.