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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

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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.

FORGET the faff of going abroad – you can bag yourself an action-packed all inclusive holiday here in the UK.

Across the UK are 45 Parkdean Resorts sites that offer an all inclusive package, bundling in three sit-down hot meals a day, unlimited soft and hot drinks and more.

The offer is available across some of Parkdean’s most popular sites, such as Camber Sands, Highfield Grange (which has recently had a multi-million pound investment) and Trecco Bay, one of Europe’s largest holiday parks.

And with food and drink taken care of, there’s no need to do a big food shop for the caravan, or worry about how much you’ll spend on food and drink on-site.

Instead, you can sit down in a warm restaurant to enjoy breakfast, lunch and dinner delivered straight to your table – no fuss, no washing up.

For breakfast, kids and grown-ups alike can enjoy a proper cooked breakfast with eggs, toast, bacon, sausage and beans.

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As for lunch and dinner, adult mains include classics like spaghetti bolognese, fish and chips, chicken tikka masala and a bacon and cheese burger.

The kids menu also offers crowd-pleasers like chicken burgers, margherita pizzas and macaroni cheese. Plus you can wash it all down with some soft drinks, which are included too.

Alcohol isn’t included in the all-inclusive packages, but the all inclusive breaks do include unlimited Costa Coffee, so you can grab yourself a warming cappuccino or a cosy hot chocolate on your autumn or winter family break.

All inclusive add-ons start from £80 per adult and £30 per child under 12 which, for a four night break, works out to £20 a night for adults and £7.50 for kids.

When you’re not enjoying all the free food and drink, there’s plenty of activities for the family to get stuck into.

The Newquay holiday park has a high ropes course, hoverboards, and even a Bear Grylls Survival Academy where kids can learn to survive in the wild.

Over at Naze Marine holiday park, kids can bounce around on bungee trampolines or practice their aim at archery.

The holiday parks are also well-known for their amazing entertainment, with a huge variety of evening shows.

The Holiday Happy Gameshow is a hilarious showdown packed with challenges and prizes, while Talent Nation is an incredible talent show with a showstopper final at the end of the year judged by celebrities.

As for kids shows, Milkshake! Mornings are a hit with little ones for their singing, dancing and storytelling, while the Get Up & Glow has a classic ‘school disco’ type feel plus glow in the dark decorations.

The all inclusive offering is valid for four night breaks with Monday arrivals, excluding the school holidays.

However 14 of the parks are offering three-night weekend options, too. Click here to browse which ones.

There are plenty of deals on for family breaks across the resorts, with a current offer where you can save up to £120 off autumn breaks.

There are last-minute, midweek and dog-friendly break options all from £99.

You can bag a four-night stay in a Bronze caravan at Crantock Beach, Lizard Point, Holywell Bay and Sea Acres all from £99.

If you fill up a caravan sleeping six, that works out to £4.13pp per night!

And if you add on the all inclusive package, that works out to £24.13 per night for adults and £11.63 per night for kids for an all-inclusive UK holiday.

There are plenty of other holiday deals for families too, such as the Tots Break packages.

You can bag a four night Tots Break across a range of parks for £99, working out to £6.19pp per night if you’re a family of four.

And on a Tots Break, kids eat completely free as part of the package, saving you up to £70 extra.

Under-fives are completely spoiled for choice on these breaks with free soft play, messy play, and lively music sessions.

They can also tackle the Tots Adventure Playground, or test out new skills together with mini fencing, archery, and even ‘Mini Olympics‘.

Prices correct at the time of publication.

PUBS, watersports, outdoor decks with hot tubs and saunas, who said holiday parks are just for kids?

And the even better part is going with a group of friends can mean the break is SO much cheaper than going with kids – some by as much as £887 and these are the best ones we’ve found.

Butlin’s Big Weekenders

Let’s start with the classic – a Butlin’s Big Weekender, they’re big, bold and made purely for adults.

You can forget the kids’s shows or character meet-and-greets and instead opt for bottomless brunches and pool parties.

Don’t miss Bingo Bango either. The adult twist on the game has competitors dancing to party anthems and competing in interactive games to win prizes like giant inflatable unicorns.

There are lots of themed weekenders too, with music ranging from the 60s up to the 2000s.

During October there are 14 Halloweenenders at all three locations (Minehead, Bognor Regis and Skegness) where the classic Big Weekender has a spooky twist.

There’s 80s thriller nights to 90s music-themed fright nights and – if you love all kinds of music – there’s the Replay Time Warp Terror which is a “monster mash-up of the 80s, 90s, 2000s.”

We all know Butlin’s for being cheap, cheerful and full of fun, but going as adults seriously has its perks.

Adults can stay in Butlin’s Minehead Resort for a Back to the 2000s Big Weekender for three nights from October 2 from £49pp.

Meanwhile, for a family of four to go away during October half-term this year in Minehead prices start from £374 or £93.50pp.

Parkdean Resort, Lizard Point

If a coastal break is on the cards, consider a Parkdean break to Lizard Point.

It has a large indoor and outdoor pool with adult-only swim sessions, so you won’t be splashed by kids all the time.

There’s also brunch club for holiday feasts and wine tasting.

Crafting is on the cards too from jewellery making to designing cards, creating mosaics, and sip and paint sessions.

During the evening, put your boots on for country and western evenings, go all Cluedo at murder mystery events, and get competitive during quiz nights or grab the mic at adult-karaoke.

It’s also a few minutes away from the beach.

A four-night break at Lizard Point for four adults from October 5-9 in a Bronze Two Bedroom Caravan starts from £99.

Meanwhile, for a family of four to stay in a Bronze Two Bedroom Caravan between October 26-30 starts from £215.

For almost the same price, four adults could upgrade to a Gold Premium 3 Bedroom Caravan which is the best in the caravan range.

It has three bedrooms, dedicated parking and even bring a pet for £119 (between October 5-9).

Away Resorts, Tattershall Lakes

Tattershall Lakes is ideal for an action-packed holiday full of watersports, and no, it’s not all for kids.

The holiday park in Lincolnshire has a lakeside lido, paddleboarding, kayaking, an aqua park with a huge inflatable, pedalo hire and make sure to try out the jet skis too.

There’s a chance to get up high on the high-ropes course or the zip wire.

When it comes to entertainment, there are silent discos, karaoke and crowdeoke (where everyone sings so no one goes solo).

Guest acts take to the stage from tribute acts to DJs, there’s an outdoor cinema and a cash bingo that’s specifically for over 18s.

After all the activities, head to the spa which offers facials, pedicures, manicures and massages which start from £39.

Pop into the Tattershall Park Pub & Kitchen for a drink, or head to the rooftop Bar 49 for a classic cocktail.

A family of up to six can stay in a value caravan for four nights during half-term from £384  – or £16pppn.

Meanwhile, across five nights in early October, a group of up to eight guests can stay in a Superior Caravan from £299.

Or for a more luxury stay, book The Shadow Wood Lodge with a hot tub which sleeps up to eight guests in early October from £677 – or £21.15pppn.

While it’s slightly more expensive, The Shadow Wood has an enclosed decking with outdoor furniture perfect for a drink in the evening.

The cosy lounge has a large flatscreen TV and there’s allocated parking too.

Haven, Primrose Valley Holiday Park

The Primrose Valley Holiday Park in Yorkshire is perfect for anyone looking for a beach break with friends.

It has direct and easy access to the large, award-winning sandy beach stretching along Filey Bay.

Back on-site, there are two heated swimming pools and a huge outdoor pool which will reopen for the summer season in 2027.

Haven’s first-ever J D Wetherspoon pub called The Five Stones is there too and open all-day, whether you’re after a fry-up breakfast or a pint.

If you’re after fried food, head to Slim Chickens for buttermilk chicken tenders, wings, and milkshakes.

There are chains as well if you want a familiar face from Burger King to Starbucks, Papa Johns and Millie’s Cookies.

When it comes to activities, test out the fear factor with ‘The Jump’ where you literally take a leap of faith off a raised platform.

It also has a lake where guests can rent out pedalos or try their hand at kayaking, plus a designated fishing lake too.

Afterwards, head to the LakeHouse Restaurant and Bar for a bite to eat with views across the water.

Evening shows include live music, and adult-friendly entertainment like Never Forget with all the boy band tunes, and 80s Electric Nights.

In October half-term, a family of four can stay in a Saver Caravan from £385.

For four adults, a four-night break from October 9-12 starts from £269 in a Silver Caravan.

Both stays include swimming pool access, access to activities, entry to arcade and entertainment venues, as well as access to restaurants and takeaways.

Center Parcs, Elveden Forest

Center Parcs has never been cheap – but there is a reason why it’s a top holiday park, and it costs much less to go during term-time, so grab your friends and head over.

And as an adult, there’s no reason to be bored because there are 132 activities.

For high-energy thrills, try out the treetop glider or get competitive with a game of sports like football, badminton, glow table tennis and golf (and crazy golf).

If you want to give karaoke a go, but want to avoid the crowds and just sing with your mates instead, book a SingPod which is a soundproof pod where you can pick your own tunes.

It has a Subtropical Swimming Paradise with multiple swimming pools including a wave pool, slides, and whirlpools.

For some privacy, book a Cabana Cove where food and drink from Canopy Café and Bar will be delivered direct to your cabana.

Each cabana comes with a large Sky HD TV, fluffy towels, a safe and cold drinks.

Of course, the Center Parcs has Aqua Sana Forest Spa which has steam rooms and saunas, a heated outdoor pool, an ice cave and relaxation rooms.

Elveden Forest has the largest watersports lake of all its villages, with electric boats or rowing boat hire, paddleboards and kayaks.

During October half-term, a Woodland Lodge for a family of four across four-nights costs £1,899.

Inside, it has a double bedroom, twin bedroom, terraced lodge and access from 4pm.

Four friends could book a Forest Lodge for four-night between October 5-9 from £1,339.

A lodge has three bedrooms, two with double beds, one twin – all of which have en-suites. The best part is that this Forest Lodge comes with its own sauna and hot tub.

Park Holidays, Sandhills

For a more sophisticated break, Sandhills in Christchurch is a great choice for those wanting to spend time quality together by the seaside.

Found in Dorset, Sandhills has direct access to Avon Beach which holds a Seaside Award (which is awarded to the best UK beaches for being clean, safe, and well-managed).

It also has a heated outdoor pool (open until October 31), as well as a gym fitted out with weights and elliptical machines.

During the evenings, head to the on-site bar and lounge which serves drinks and light snacks.

When there’s good weather, head outside to enjoy the sunshine on the terrace.

Nearby there’s more to explore like Chichester Watersports, Fruzey Gardens, Osborne House and the New Forest.

A three-night stay from October 26 in a Lymington Luxury Apartment starts from £432.

However a stay in the same apartment for three nights from October 11 costs £309.

You can even upgrade to a Lyndhurst Luxury Apartment which has two bedrooms from £354.

Landal Green Parks, Dylan Coastal Resort

Landal Green Parks was recently voted the fourth place best holiday park Which? – and one of its most impressive holiday parks is Dylan Coastal Resort in South Wales.

The holiday lodges sit high on a hilltop looking out over the Taf Estuary which make for incredible views.

The lodges range from one to four person to six-person stays – and some have hot tubs too.

Below the holiday lodges is Milk Wood House where guests will find all the facilities including an infinity pool, outdoor spa area, and lots of therapy treatments.

It’s also where guests will find the bar and restaurant which can be enjoyed on one of the three terraces.

Nearby, try out watersports and bouldering at Wild Lakes or explore the National Botanical Garden and the beautiful fishing village of Tenby.

For a family of four to book a four-night stay during half-term in a four-person lodge is £1,291.

The four-person lodge – Sonnet 2 Spa has two bedrooms, two bathrooms with a decking area and hot tub.

But for adults to book a holiday during the school holidays, it’s much cheaper.

A four-night stay in a Milk Wood four-person lodge from October 12 can be booked from £404.

On the same dates, a six-person lodge Sonnet 3 Roof Terrace Spa lodge which has three bedrooms, a hot tub and huge enclosed rooftop with deck chairs starts from £564.

Bluestone National Park Resort, Wales

Tucked away in Pembrokeshire woodland is the Bluestone National Park and with so much to do, it’s a hit with both children and adults.

Often considered the crown jewel of Bluestone is its Blue Lagoon Water Park.

It’s a huge heated, subtropical indoor pool complex and guests can use it at no extra cost.

The subtropical waterpark has a huge wave machine, four twisting, high-speed flumes, a lazy river.

Outside of the pool, try out the zipline, take an electric bike tour through the woods, or try and tackle a climbing wall.

The spa has lots of relaxing treatments from massages to manicures, pedicures, facials – and finish off the day with an afternoon tea.

A four-night stay during October half-term in a Caldey Lodge starts from £1,240.

It’s a single-storey, open-plan stay with a living area, dining room and kitchen, and spacious bathroom along with an outdoor patio.

However, for a stay outside of school holiday, the price significantly drops.

A stay for four adults across four nights from October 5 in the same Caldey Lodge is £320.

You can even upgrade to a Carningli Lodge, which sleeps up to eight people for £800.

Included in the stay with the Carningli Lodge is a six-seater buggy to navigate the park – the lodge has an open-plan living and dining, a sunroom with a Juliet balcony.

Each double room includes an en-suite with roll-top bath and shower, and there’s a separate bathroom for the twin rooms.

SOME hotels give you a quiet pool, a basic buffet and a slightly battered table tennis table in the corner.

Others serve up 81 water slides, life-size dinosaurs, hypercoasters, wave machines and entire fairytale kingdoms.

Variety is the spice of life, after all.

These are the resorts where the accommodation isn’t just somewhere to sleep – it is the holiday.

You could venture outside, obviously, but when there’s a full-scale waterpark or theme park right outside your bedroom door, convincing the children to leave the grounds would require a serious family negotiation.

I’ve hunted down eight of the wildest, most action-packed family resorts available this autumn and winter.

We’re talking theme park stays from £353pp and all-inclusive waterpark breaks from £405pp, with prices based on a family of four.

Every deal includes return flights and access to the hotel’s headline attractions too – so here are my eight picks guaranteed to ruin basic swimming pools for your children forever.

Aqua Mirage Club & Aqua Parc, Morocco – from £573pp

You know a resort takes entertainment seriously when its grounds cover 20 full hectares beneath the Atlas Mountains.

Aqua Mirage features a massive on-site waterpark packed with free-fall tower slides, a sprawling wave pool and an interactive splash castle for preschoolers.

Away from the water, you get six tennis courts, football pitches, evening shows and several pool areas – including a dedicated adults-only pool and spa for parents trying to remember what silence feels like.

It also gives you two holidays in one: a high-energy waterpark resort and easy access to Marrakech’s historic souks and main square.

I found a five-night all-inclusive break from £573pp, flying direct from Manchester on 26 December 2026.

That means you can swap the post-Christmas slump for slides, sunshine and unlimited food and drink – without having to wrestle another turkey into the oven.

My insider tip at this hotel is to take advantage of its free shuttle into central Marrakech, saving your family a fortune on taxis when you do fancy a break from the slides.

PortAventura Hotel El Paso & Theme Park, Spain – from £353pp

First things first: this isn’t just a hotel with a couple of slides attached – it’s a property built inside one of Europe’s largest theme park resorts.

Designed like a colourful Mexican hacienda, Hotel El Paso sits right on the edge of PortAventura Park, giving you easy access to six themed worlds packed with massive rollercoasters such as Shambhala and, my personal favourite, Furius Baco.

Right next door is Ferrari Land, home to Red Force – the 112-metre-high vertical accelerator that launches riders from 0 to 112mph in five seconds flat. I’m not speaking from experience this time. No, thank you.

The best bit is that PortAventura theme park tickets are included with your stay.

I found a five-night room-only package from £353pp, flying direct from Manchester on 24 October 2026 – right in the school half-term window.

When you consider how much standard admission to the park can cost on its own, getting your hotel, flights and multi-day park entry for £353pp in the school holidays is an absolute steal.

HL Paradise Island, Lanzarote – from £405pp

There are waterpark hotels, and then there are waterpark hotels with giant prehistoric creatures towering over the slides.

Guests staying at HL Paradise Island get free entry to Dino Aquapark, where multi-lane racing chutes and enclosed tubes twist around massive, life-size dinosaurs.

The main resort features several swimming pools, sports courts, live evening entertainment and full all-inclusive dining.

Lanzarote stays pleasantly warm right through autumn and winter, making it a brilliant option for some sunshine when the UK enters full freezer mode.

I found a five-night all-inclusive break from £405pp, flying direct from Birmingham on 13 February 2027.

As those dates fall over the February half-term period for many families, that’s excellent value for a school-holiday escape with food, drink and waterpark entry covered.

My tip here is to book an apartment. Having a separate living space and kitchenette means parents get somewhere to relax once the children crash out after a day of chasing dinosaurs.

LIVVO Costa Taurito & Waterpark, Gran Canaria – from £495pp

Taurito looks like someone has built an enormous holiday resort inside a canyon beside the coast.

At the heart of it is Lago Oasis Waterpark – a massive saltwater park packed with kamikaze chutes, racing slides and a giant pirate-ship splash fortress.

Guests at LIVVO Costa Taurito get access to the park, putting all the water-slide madness just steps from their room.

Southern Gran Canaria is one of Europe’s most reliable winter-sun destinations, and the hotel offers all-inclusive dining to keep the holiday food admin nice and simple.

I found a four-night all-inclusive stay from £495pp, flying direct from London Luton on 14 February 2027.

It’s a compact half-term hit of winter sunshine, with flights, meals, drinks and waterpark access all rolled into one price.

I also love the natural volcanic-sand beach just 200 metres from the hotel, giving you somewhere quieter to escape whenever you need a breather from the slides.

Sol Dunas Family Fun, Cape Verde – from £430pp

Sol Dunas is less of a standard hotel and more of a self-contained holiday town.

This sprawling resort features multiple swimming pools, water slides, splash parks, playgrounds and sports courts, forming part of the wider Melia Dunas mega-complex.

Cape Verde is the closest thing to a long-haul winter-sun holiday on this list, serving up temperatures around 25C, plenty of blue skies and broad golden beaches on the island of Sal.

I found a six-night all-inclusive package from £588pp, flying direct from Bristol on 26 October 2026.

Being in the autumn half-term, this deal gives families almost a full week of reliable warmth without the faff of a connecting flight.

It costs slightly more than some of the Spanish options, but a full week of reliable warmth, direct flights and comprehensive all-inclusive dining at a resort of this size still represents excellent value.

Pickalbatros Aqua Blu Sharm, Egypt – from £638pp

Aqua Blu features enough slides to make your local UK “waterpark” look like a damp garden shed.

Part of the enormous Aqua Park City complex in Sharm El Sheikh, this brightly themed resort boasts high-speed racing chutes, wave pools, raft rides and towers of twisting tubes.

The resort is fully all-inclusive and includes access to a private beach via a quick, free shuttle.

Sharm El Sheikh delivers reliable warmth throughout the year, making it a strong choice for autumn or winter sun.

I spotted an eight-night all-inclusive stay from £638pp, flying from Birmingham on 14 February 2027.

It’s the most expensive deal on this list, but you’re getting more than a week of winter sun, all your food and drink, luggage and unlimited access to an enormous waterpark during a peak family-travel period.

The real insider perk, though, is the dedicated children’s buffet, built at a lower level so little ones can grab their own meals without endless parental manoeuvring. Genius.

Pickalbatros Jungle Aqua Park Resort – Neverland, Hurghada Egypt – from £565pp

This resort features 81 individual water slides.

Eighty-one.

That includes giant family raft rides, multi-lane racers, wave pools and massive themed splash fortresses spread across a complex that feels as though it was designed by a child given an unlimited construction budget.

Beyond the waterpark, Neverland packs in VR gaming arenas, ice skating, huge live productions and an enormous selection of speciality restaurants.

Despite the ridiculous scale of the property, Egypt’s competitive resort market keeps prices shockingly low.

I found a six-night all-inclusive break from £565pp, flying indirectly from Manchester on 16 February 2027, with hold luggage included.

That gives you six nights of all-inclusive dining, luggage and non-stop access to 81 slides during the February half-term period for less than £600pp.

It’s also well worth using the hotel’s internal land train, which runs constantly around the complex, so tired little legs don’t have to walk miles between the slides and your room.

Gov. Gavin Newsom has signed a bill that prohibits third-party brokers from advertising, selling or transferring tee-time reservations at publicly owned golf courses without the written consent of the course operator.

The state legislation is a response to a network of brokers that had sprouted up around Los Angeles municipal golf course tee times.

These brokers, many of whom were in the Korean community, would gobble up tee times, then advertise them on social media, particularly the Korean app KakaoTalk. They charged up to $40 as a booking fee.

Getting tee-time reservations at L.A. municipal golf courses had long been difficult. But after golf influencer Dave Fink revealed evidence of the broker network to his viewers, the problem became public.

“This is an issue that affects everybody who pays taxes in the city, and anybody who plays golf as well, so I just felt like it was my duty to say something,” Fink said in an interview with The Times in March 2024.

After Fink’s videos went viral, the L.A. Department of Recreation and Parks announced an investigation into the practice.

The state has more than 200 municipally owned golf courses, according to Assemblymember Christopher M. Ward (D-San Diego), who authored the bill.

“Public golf courses belong to the public, and residents shouldn’t have to compete with brokers buying up tee times just to turn around and sell them at inflated prices,” he said in a statement Sunday.

The legislation “puts an end,” he said, “to this unfair practice and helps ensure local residents, seniors, students and families can continue accessing the public courses their communities support.”

QUIET beaches, cosy hot chocolates in the caravan, loads of rainy day activities for the kids: October half term is the perfect time for a family getaway.

Especially when you can head off on holiday for as little as £2.75pp a night.

Rather than just offering a cheap bed for the week, these holiday parks are running action-packed Halloween activity schedules, with everything from monster talent shows to good-old pumpkin carving.

Plus we’ve purposely picked out spots with plenty more to do off-site, such as a scare fest takeovers at a seaside theme park and a Halloween steam train ride where kids go free.

Better yet, all of these affordable deals are for holidays within the October half term. Many of them begin from Friday night, meaning you collect the kids straight from school and head straight into half term fun.

From the misty Moray coast in Scotland to seaside Halloween fun in Skegness, here’s our favourite UK holiday parks to visit this October half term – from as little as £2.75pp per night.

Butlin’s October Half Term stays

If you visit to Butlin’s this October half term, expect to find everything fully decked out for Halloween.

The fairground will become the ‘Scareground‘, where monsters lurk in thick fog and you can experience the rides at night in glowing neon green.

The classic ‘Night at Reds’ show held by the Butlin’s redcoats has been given a monster makeover, with Halloween-themed games, sing-a-longs and an ‘Eerily Silent Disco’.

Throw in a mega Halloween Welcome Party, character photo shoots, themed pottery painting and pumpkin-carving sessions, and you’ve got yourself a thoroughly spooky break.

Plus, new for 2026, you’ll find the Skyline Gang Monster Mash – a talent show starring the classic characters with a different winner each night.

We found a four night break at Butlin’s Minehead in a standard family room sleeping four for £44, which works out to £2.75pp per night.

Parkdean Heacham Beach, Norfolk

Head to West Norfolk’s Heacham Beach holiday park for an autumn seaside break packed with plenty of spookiness.

Free themed activities include nighttime guided ghost walks around the park, and ‘Professor Slime’, where kids step into the slime lab to create their own concoctions.

In the evenings, settle down for the Quiz Nation Halloween Special where you can put your knowledge to the test against other holiday parks across the UK.

Or, if you come alive with energy at nighttime, stomp your way over to the Zombie Rave, where you can dance the night away.

If you fancy getting out and about, Church Farm Pumpkins sits on the edge of the village and is the perfect pumpkin patch for pictures and picking your own.

We found a three night stay from October 23 in a Bronze caravan sleeping six for £229, working out to £12.72pp per night.

Parkdean are running Halloween activities across 59 holiday parks between October 2 – November 1, with a more extensive activity program during the half term break.

If you’re looking to stay at another Parkdean resort, the following holiday parks won’t have the Halloween activities: Church Point, Fallbarrow, Gatebeck, Limefitt, and Todber Valley.

Haven Skegness

Whether you want to visit a seaside theme park for a creepy scare fest, or go ghost-hunting along the coast, Haven Skegness is ideal for a family Halloween break.

Haven are running loads of Halloween activities this year across their parks, including crafty activities like Halloween Make a Bear and build your own Halloween basket.

Even the food and drink will receive a Halloween twist, as grown-ups can grab a Ghoula Colada or Cursed Lagoon cocktail.

Make sure to step off-site to visit Fear Island, theme park Fantasy Island‘s scare fest where you can dip in and out of immersive zones like creepy cabins inhabited by clowns.

Fear Island takes place on the following dates: 17-18, 21-25 and 28 Oct October, as well as November 1. If you book ahead online you can save 10%.

We found a deal for a three night stay at Haven Skegness from October 23 in a Saver caravan sleeping four for £205, working out to £12.81pp per night.

Parkdean Node’s Point, Isle of Wight

This Isle of Wight holiday park isn’t just for visiting in the summer, it makes for a fantastic October break, too.

At Havenstreet Station, you can board the Isle of Wight Steam Railway for its magical ‘Witches, Wands and Whistles‘ event (17 – 31 October) where kids go free on a themed train ride (adults £26).

Or for a free afternoon out, go on a ghost hunt around the ancient stone walls of Carisbrooke Castle.

On-site, Milkshake Mornings will take a Halloween twist, with a spooky story time as well as themed arts and crafts.

Older kids can make Halloween tie-dye t-shirts, or take part in The Wizard Academy show.

We found a three night break in a Gold caravan sleeping eight for £259, working out to £10.79pp per night.

Haven Quay West, South Wales

Take a trip to Haunted Haven in pretty South Wales this October with a stay at Haven Quay West.

The holiday park is putting on an ‘Eerie Entertainment’ series, with a fancy dress parade featuring giant pumpkins, spiders and ghosts, as well as a Halloween edition of the Seaside Squad show.

During the day kids can get creative with sand art, pumpkin carving and even a Halloween nature trail, where you’ll get up close to creepy crawlies.

This park is also in an ideal setting for breezy autumn walks, with a woodland trail that leads you directly down to the beach, where you may even spot wild dolphins.

If you time your trip for Halloween night, you can stroll down to the harbour for a huge, free fireworks display which lights up the sky over the waters of Cardigan Bay.

We found a four night break in a Saver caravan sleeping four for £265, working out to £16.56pp per night.

Park Holidays Silver Sands, Scotland

Take an autumn break to the misty Moray Firth coast in Scotland with a stay at Park Holidays’ Silver Sands resort.

If you don’t want to brave a brisk beach walk out in stunning Lossiemouth or Cairngorms National Park, you can stay on-site to make use of the indoor heated swimming pool.

During the October half term, there’ll be everything from ghost storytelling to costume contests and classic pumpkin carving.

During the day, kids activities start from 10am and include bead art classes, Segways and wax workshops.

In the evening, settle down to kids shows from the Krazy Krew or stay late for karaoke, cabaret and bingo.

We found a four night break in a Gold caravan sleeping six for £161, working out to £6.71pp per night.

KEEPING little ones fed, happy and entertained on holiday can be quite the task.

Luckily, Parkdean Resorts’ Tots Breaks are completely catered to families with little ones – where everything from activities to food and drink is taken care of for you.

Book a four-night family break for £99 (save £70)

You can bag a four night Tots Break for £99, which works out to £6.19pp per night if you’re a family of four.

On a Tots Break, kids eat completely for free with fresh, hot meals provided as part of the package. Based on a family of four, this can save you up to £70 extra.

Kids can enjoy a free breakfast, lunch and dinner with main meals from the Starland Krew Menu, which includes favourites like beef burgers, tomato pasta and chicken strips and chips.

Not only can kids enjoy free food and drink, but there’s a whole host of free kids activities, too. So no need to feel like you’re constantly saying no, or watching your holiday budget spiral out of control.

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Some of the free activities that are great for under-fives include messy play, Tots & Tunes music sessions, soft play and the purpose-built Tots Adventure Playground.

There’s even mini archery, mini fencing and ‘Mini Olympics’ on offer if you want to try a new skill together.

All 40 Parkdean Resorts sites host Milkshake! Mornings, where kids can play, sing along and listen to stories from their favourite Milkshake! presenters.

Plus, fans of the popular Paw Patrol can meet and greet some of their favourite characters, such as Chase and Marshall.

As for evening entertainment, there are specific Tots early evening events, including discos, dances and even ‘kideoke’ sing-a-longs.

And if you’ve got little ones who love dressing up, make sure to go to the ‘Sparkle Like a Princess’ event, led by Parkdean’s own animal characters, the Krazy Krew.

Book a four-night family break for £99 (save £70)

Accommodation includes the comfortable Bronze caravans or even safari tents sleeping up to six, with the option to upgrade, too.

Caravans are sleek and spacious, with glam charcoal and cream-coloured interiors and fully kitted-out modern kitchens.

Inside you’ll find cosy sofas, freshly-made beds and large TVs to sit back and relax with a movie once the little ones have tuckered themselves out.

The safari tents feel more like a luxurious glamping getaway, with two bedrooms inside and their own decking with a seating area to enjoy your morning coffee.

Tots Breaks take place at dozens of Parkdean Resorts across the UK throughout all seasons, so make sure to check their website for availability.

Book a four-night family break for £99 (save £70)

FROM brand-new swimming pools to restaurants, bars and adventure activities – some holiday parks are undergoing major upgrades.

What’s even better is that they’re still as cheap as ever to book with some costing as little as £7pppn.

Unity Holidays Skirlington Coast, Yorkshire

Back in July, Unity Holidays‘ Skirlington Coast in Yorkshire was given the green light for a major £20million glow up.

There will be upgraded dining spots and leisure facilities, as well as a new entertainment zone and outdoor pool surrounded by sunloungers.

Kids aren’t left out either, with a new splash pad including a children’s pool.

Other additions will be new pavilion home to restaurants, along with fairground attractions and cabanas.

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Accommodation at the park will be expanded as well, with 92 new caravans planned for the site – currently it has 680 caravans and 400 pitches for tents.

A spokesman for Unity Holidays said: “We thank the council’s planning committee for approving our application to redevelop the land on our park currently occupied by Skirlington Market, as well as the buildings on that land used by the market.

“We look forward to commencing work on that project as soon as possible, which will see us add indoor and outdoor sport and leisure facilities as well as re-landscaping the entire area.”

There’s plenty open already at Skirlington Coast holiday park if you fancy booking a break sooner rather than later.

A family of four can book a four-night stay the holiday park from £119 in a Bronze 2 Bed Caravan this October.

If you want to wait it out, the price is the same for a stay in May 2027.

Parkdean Resorts, UK

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

It’s part of a £10million upgrade across multiple sites – those which have already undergone transformations include Highfield Grange Holiday Park in Essex and Vauxhall Holiday Park in Great Yarmouth.

Next on the list is Thorness Bay on the north-west coast of the Isle of Wight.

One of its new additions will be the Hat-Tricks Sports Bar which is a family-friendly spot which will have pool and darts.

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

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

On its Facebook account, Skipsea Sands Holiday Park revealed: “Skipsea Sands Holiday Park is getting a multi-million pound makeover, bringing even more to see, do, eat and enjoy from Spring 2027!

“Here’s a little taste of what’s coming… Exciting new activities and adventures, More ways to splash, play and have fun, New and improved family experiences, Even more indoor and outdoor fun, whatever the weather.”

It will be getting a Clip & Climb wall, Bear Grylls Escape Rooms and Fairground Golf.

You can book for 2027 already if you want to get ahead of the game.

A family of four can book to stay in a Bronze 2 Bedroom Caravan at Skipsea Sands (which sleeps up to six) from £128 in May 2027.

Lyons Robin Hood, Wales

Lyons has announced new planned investment at one of its biggest sites which is Lyons Robin Hood in Rhyl.

The firm has invested more than £1million at its Rhyl site this year and opened a brand-new Altitude Adventure Hub in May.

New activities included Altitude Aerial Adventure, Nitro Go Kart Track, Mini Aerial Adventure, a climbing wall, bungee trampolines and bouncy pillows.

A new adventure-playground also opened earlier this year too – and there are still more upgrades to come.

A spokesperson said: “We’re excited to announce further investment coming to Lyons Robin Hood for the 2027 season.

“As part of our continued commitment to investing in the park and enhancing the experience for our owners and their families, we’re investing in our gym facilities for 2027.

“It’s another exciting addition to a growing list of investments designed to make your time at Lyons Robin Hood even better.”

For more on new openings, here are all the destinations set to be big in 2027 with the opening of new theme park lands and luxe holiday parks.

A family of four can getaway this October across four-nights in a Silver 3 Bedroom Caravan from £123.

Or book a getaway for April next year from £99 in a Bronze 3 Bedroom Caravan – which works out as £6.19pppn.

WITH autumn here and the 2026 never-ending heatwave in the rearview mirror, it’s time to brush up on our knowledge of rainproof attractions.

So, there’s no better time to discover some fun indoor attractions to keep the family occupied as the weather turns – and we have quite a few to share.

Whether you prefer adrenaline-filled rides or obstacle filled challenges – there are loads of great indoor attractions across the UK.

From older kid favourites to the ideal toddler spots, here are the top indoor UK theme parks and attractions:

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Babylon Park, London

Found in Camden, London, Babylon Park is one of the only fully indoor theme parks in the UK.

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It even has an underground rollercoaster.

The entire attraction is outer space-themed and boasts different rides and attractions such as a rollercoaster, a drop tower, bumper cars and an arcade.

The park is free to visit but to go on the different rides and attractions you’ll need to buy Game Coins, Bonus Coins and Ride Coins.

Packages for these cost between £14 to £100.

The Playhive, North Yorkshire

Stockeld Park in North Yorkshire is home to The Playhive, which calls itself one of Europe‘s largest indoor playgrounds.

Inside, there are four themed worlds including space, air, jungle and sea.

The different areas feature giant slides, games, tunnels and climbing trails.

Tickets cost from £11 per person, which includes entry to the entire Stockeld Park attraction as well as The Playhive.

Woodlands, Devon

In Devon, Woodlands family theme park has loads of outdoor attractions to explore, but when the weather gets ba, d head inside and you will find what the park claims to be the biggest indoor soft play in the country.

There are multiple different areas for kids to explore across five floors, with net towers, drop slides and ball pits.

There are even specific areas for little ones too.

Big kids – or daredevils – have more thrilling attractions such as a 15.2-metre drop ride too.

And parents can feel at ease by keeping an eye on the kids from one of the many tables around the play area.

Tickets cost £16.50 for adults and kids over 92 cm, which includes access to the theme park and indoor adventure park.

Gravity Max, London

Older kids will love Gravity Max which has two venues – one in Wandsworth and the other in Westfield Stratford.

The attractions feature a huge e-karting track that looks like a real-life Mario Kart game.

There’s also immersive bowling, AR darts, and VR arenas.

Individual activities cost from £16 per person.

Ninja Warrior UK Adventure Parks, multiple locations

Who hasn’t wanted to try out the Ninja Warrior course? Well, you can in a number of places across the country.

With 15 venues across the UK including in Sheffield, Milton Keynes, Cardiff, Bristol and Leicester, the indoor Ninja Warrior UK Adventure Park obstacle courses are the perfect way to have fun indoors.

The obstacle courses have balance beams, monkey bars and the famous TV show obstacle, The Warped Wall.

Tickets cost from £9.50 per person.

Zip World, Llechwedd

Head underground at Zip World Llechwedd in Wales, where there are caves and huge trampolines in a disused slate mine.

There are a number of different activities to choose from including Underground Golf with neon lights from £29 per person.

Or for the same price, there’s a cave tour.

For kids needing to let off steam, there are Bounce Below with a number of giant trampolines across six chambers.

Bounce Below sessions cost from £29 per person.

For the ultimate adventure, head to Caverns at the attraction, where you can zip line through the caves for £79 per person.

Play Factore, Manchester

Play Factore in Manchester claims to be the biggest indoor entertainment attraction in the UK.

Inside, there’s a giant play frame with spider nets, rollers and even the UK’s tallest indoor standing slide.

For younger guests, it has the biggest toddler area in the country too.

Tickets cost from £2.95 to £12.95 depending on the kids’ age, while adults pay £4.75.

Adventure Inside, Essex

Over in Essex, Adventure Inside has a six-storey soft play area with monkey bars and ball pits, ideal for young children.

There’s also a carousel, drop tower ride, swinging pirate ship and a racing spin ride.

An Adventure Island Day Band costs from £30 per person.

And currently, when you buy one you’ll get an annual pass as well for free.

Riverside Hub, Northampton

In Northampton, Riverside Hub is home to several different zones which include Role Play Villages where kids can explore an imaginary world with its own cafe, shop, witch’s house and tooth fairy dentist.

Older kids aren’t left out though as they can try out different climbing activities, including a 10-metre beanstalk.

There’s a giant play frame with slides, games and even a football pitch too.

Travel writer Catherine Lofthouse said: “There’s so much to do here that it’s a struggle to fit it into the two and a half hours that each session is allocated.

“We could have happily spent the whole day and still have gone back for more.

“With three boys aged between five and 12, it can sometimes be difficult to find somewhere that has enough to keep all ages happy as the older two are getting a bit big for soft play, but that certainly wasn’t a problem here.”

Tickets cost £8.50 per adult, £14.50 per child aged one to three-ears-od and £17.50 for kids between four and 17-yers-old.

Flip Out, various locations

Another great indoor attraction with venues across the UK including Bradford, Doncaster, Chichester and Coventry, is Flip Out.

Inside each venue there is a trampoline park with foam pits and stunt walls.

Some venues have additional attractions such as Flip Out Canary Wharf, where there is also laser quest and bumper cars.

Prices vary depending on destination and session length.

Early in life I discovered I had a particular affliction, and that was a proclivity for spending time at theme parks. I only phrase it that way because I understand some may find such a desire peculiar, which has made me particularly attuned to many comments about theme parks, especially those that aren’t positive.

Too hot, too crowded, too expensive or simply geared only for children. And while I’m happy to discuss or debate all aforementioned topics, there’s one particular criticism that I find especially grating: Theme parks are fake.

This is the argument that they are heavily fabricated and designed to elicit an emotional response, or worse, manipulate us. And it’s one I hear time and time again from grown-up peers. Over the years, it’s cropped up from friends. “Why do you go there?” they will say. “Everything is fake.” It’s appeared in books such as Henry A. Giroux’s and Grace Pollock’s scathing “The Mouse that Roared,” which dismisses the parks as presenting an “infantilized” worldview. And I’ve heard it from people I’ve interviewed, such as the USC professor of psychology who told me that theme parks were so fake, they forbade surprises.

The criticism irks me, in part, because of what it implies. By dismissing a Disneyland or a Universal Studios park as “fake,” there’s an implication that something is “more real.” A national park, perhaps, or a dedicated art institution. I adore those types of spaces as well, of course, but there’s an ignorant snobbery to this sort of remark, a thumbing of the nose that seems to argue I should spend some of my free time elsewhere.

This has been on my mind of late for a pair of reasons. One, I recently visited the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art and have been consumed with the discourse surrounding the value of story-driven art. And two, I recently read “Floating Mountains: The Art of Imagining the Impossible” by famed Disney designer Joe Rohde. The book is many things — an impassioned dissection of creative collaboration, a look at Rohde’s 40 years with Walt Disney Imagineering — but it is also a subtle argument that theme parks are vital, artistic spaces.

A statue of Walt Disney and Mickey Mouse in front of a very real fantasy castle.

(Christina House / Los Angeles Times)

I agree, and so I decided to bring up my pet peeve while talking to Rohde at the recent all-things-Disney fan convention D23.

“It’s a very odd criticism,” Rohde says of the knock on theme parks as being fake.

“Of course they are not real,” he tells me. “Movies are not real. Theater is not real. It’s like René Magritte, ‘Ceci n’est pas une pipe.’ Of course, a picture of a pipe is not a pipe. I don’t understand why that is an issue. It is a creation. In some cases it is a photo-realistic creation. In some cases it is a stylistic creation. But it is a creation. That’s what makes it a work of art.”

In “Floating Mountains,” Rohde, the primary creative behind the stunning Disney’s Animal Kingdom (second only to the original Disneyland in my mind), documents the myriad of disciplines that must come together to create such spaces. Animal Kingdom is full of real-world details. I can spend days exploring just the Africa section of the park, reading anti-poaching signs and piecing together a story that helps inform the area’s magnificent safari ride.

This is a work of art, albeit a less understood one, for narrative place-making and environmental storytelling are borderline experimental, less common than, say, a book or a film. Place-making requires that we not just take in our surroundings but constantly analyze them for story insights.

Joe Rohde, in 2017, discussing Pandora — the World of Avatar at Disney’s Animal Kingdom in Florida’s Walt Disney World.

(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

Rohde also notes the degree to which Imagineers are taking influence from real-world spaces in an effort to bring narrative details into the parks, ensuring they appear at once familiar and fantastical. In the case of Animal Kingdom, it was Africa’s Lake Manyara National Park, among many other locales, that gave that park its realistic grit. And when it came to the fully imagined floating mountains of Pandora — The World of Avatar, it was finding inspiration in the Italian Baroque art of Gian Lorenzo Bernini, as seen in the entangled vines descending from the apparently hovering mountains.

Now, I am not someone who argues that a trip to Animal Kingdom is a stand-in for a vacation to Africa. Or that visiting the World Showcase of Epcot is akin to a jaunt around Europe. Or that hanging out in Cars Land is a substitute for a drive down Route 66. And an afternoon slugging pints at Hog’s Head at Wizarding World of Harry Potter is certainly not the equivalent of a day at an authentic British pub. No, what a theme park offers is an artistic interpretation, one that filters the natural world through the stories that define our lives.

Theme parks are not so much an escape from the world but a way to make sense of it. View them with an open mind, and they are an entree into storytelling exploration. This is different to me than, say, a re-creation of the Eiffel Tower being plopped into Las Vegas, which is preying on replication as generic spectacle. Theme parks, of course, can fall victim to this, too, when they utilize signposts or characters from a film as a substitute for innovation (see much of the design of Pixar Pier at Disney California Adventure).

Cars Land in Disney California Adventure was inspired by the scenery and history of Route 66.

(Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times)

France at Epcot’s World Showcase, in contrast, aims to weave a brochure-like tale of the country, to introduce us to culinary and architectural standouts that can inspire us to dig deeper. For some, sure, that’s deeper into their wallets, but World Showcase inspired a young me to be curious about the world beyond the suburban Chicago neighborhood I grew up in.

And purely fantastical creations — at least the ones that are done well — are not just references to things we saw on a movie or television screen. I think of Guardians of the Galaxy — Mission: Breakout! at Disney California Adventure, which is specifically designed as a cartoon-like intrusion, a building meant to clash and call attention to its surroundings. It’s all an effort to heighten the concept that the modern American myth — the superhero film — is work that encroaches, with uplifting exaggeration, on real-world settings.

And even a Disneyland classic such as Pirates of the Caribbean requires deep analytical reframing to properly understand it. Sure, it’s a boat ride with singing robot pirates, but that’s not the reason it has endured for more than half a century. I’ve described the attraction as the template for the perfect theme park ride, one that invites the guest to discover a host of mini stories based upon where riders are directing their focus. It’s a huge influence, for instance, on the world of open-world video games, which allow players to pick a direction and discover a narrative path. It’s anything but fake.

Pirates of the Caribbean is a study in environmental storytelling.

(Christina House / Los Angeles Times)

The criticism that theme parks are fake is a surface one, one that fails to properly meet the medium where it’s at. It’s easy, of course, to look at the nostalgia of a Main Street, U.S.A, and the castle up ahead and to write off Disneyland as a rosy, idealized take on America. This is the undiscerning view, for Disneyland is a presentation of an America that never existed, one disrupted by a castle that also doubles as an extended hand.

Think of it as an ask to use one’s imagination and to be open to play: Theme parks are a wholly unique medium that requires a different set of criticism, one that is looking at architecture and design as a storytelling device. And when one gets on a ride, a theme park expects us to be open to a somewhat abstract form of storytelling. Theme parks are also, at their core, a form of participatory art, inviting us to take on a starring role.

The mechanization of what makes a theme park a theme park is simply too complex, too vast and involving too many people to be dismissed as fake. And let me say that there’s no shame in wanting to be immersed in a world crafted by the hands of many a skilled artist, whether that’s the new David Geffen Galleries at LACMA or the Disneyland Resort.

This week in SoCal theme parks

Concept art for Magic Mountain’s upcoming 2027 coaster Thrill Glider.

(Six Flags Magic Mountain)

• A new coaster coming to Magic Mountain. Six Flags announced that coming in 2027 to its Valencia park will be Thrill Glider, a first of its kind thrill ride designed by coaster manufacturer Vekoma exclusively for Magic Mountain. Riders will board what the park is referring to as “hoverbikes,” essentially bike vehicles designed to simulate a flying sensation by being suspended from the track.
• Scary Farm is upon us. Halloween season is officially in full swing as Knott’s Scary Farm opens Thursday. New this year are two mazes, including one that intermixes a host of vintage animation, as well as a magic show collaboration with the Magic Castle.
• Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift officially opens. Though it’s been in a soft open phase since late July, Universal Studios Hollywood’s Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift will be properly open as of Wednesday. This means the coaster has passed its final testing and is ready for daily operation. Here’s everything you need to know about Universal’s fancy new coaster.
• Legoland expands its Halloween event. Brick or Treat at Carlsbad’s Legoland begins on Saturday and it’s bigger than ever in 2026. The family friendly event, for which costumes are encouraged, this year has added Brick or Treat Street, with six life-size monster homes to interact with. Also, be sure to head to the park’s new coaster, the Galacticoaster, which has received a Halloween overlay.
• A Walt Disney exhibition at Forest Lawn. Head to Glendale’s Forest Lawn Museum on Saturday evening for the opening reception of “California Visionaries: The Lives and Legacies of Walt Disney and Hubert Eaton,” which explores the connection between Disney and Forest Lawn Memorial-Parks founder Eaton. The exhibition, which promises concept art, rare Disney sheet music as well as items from early Disneyland attractions, is on display until Feb. 7.

Tell us your stories. Ask us your questions.

Have a theme park tale to share? Whether it was a good day or less-than-perfect day, I would love to hear about it. Have a question? A tip? A fun photo from the parks to share? Email me at todd.martens@latimes.com. I may feature your note in an upcoming newsletter.

Ride on,

Todd Martens

P.S.

Attention readers who are in or near Fillmore: This Saturday is the first-ever edition of the “Time Travel Convention,” a new interactive theatrical experience from Live Action Attractions. Many veterans of the theme park industry worked to bring this event to life, including some who collaborated on the now-shuttered Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser, colloquially known as the “Star Wars” hotel.

The story: Once a year, time travelers from the distant future head back in time to witness a historic day in small-town America. Players are cast in the role of time travelers, and throughout the day Saturday expect a series of games and costumed characters to interact with. There will be three theatrical moments staged throughout downtown Fillmore beginning at 10:01 a.m.

Register online, and you’ll receive info on where to meet. The event is highly recommended.

BOOKING a weatherproof autumn break with luxurious lodges, woodland spas and tropical indoor waterparks doesn’t have to be expensive.

We’ve tracked down the UK’s ultimate budget-friendly staycations this autumn to save your rainy weekends – from less than £3pp per night.

From clever Center Parcs dupes in stunning forests, to mega family holiday parks with tropical pool complexes, these sites guarantee a great time even when the British weather turns grim.

Whether you want to float along a lazy river while rain taps against the window, or enjoy a drink in a private hot tub under the pine trees, we’ve found some unbeatable breaks for the cheapest rates this autumn.

Finlake Resort & Spa

Set across 130 acres of Devonshire woodland, Finlake gives you the premium forest village feel of Center Parcs – but for far less money.

Fill your days with an action-packed itinerary of axe-throwing, Segways, laser tag, den building, horse riding and more. Activities start from £7, and there are plenty of free options, too.

When rainy days hit, Finlake Falls is your best friend. This indoor waterpark boasts a spacious indoor pool heated to 30C with a ‘beach style’ entrance for little ones, where they can gently wade into shallow waters.

For older kids and young-at-heart adults, there’s high-speed waterslides and flumes – plus activities like Seascooters, where you can twist and glide through the water holding onto a propeller.

Similar to Center Parcs, there’s also a woodland spa here, the Sirona Spa, where you can enjoy a soothing massage or Elemis skincare treatments.

The holiday resort is only two miles from Dartmoor National Park, where you can spot wild ponies, and three miles from Canonteign Falls – a breathtaking waterfall with a friendly gift shop and cafe nearby.

Four people can spend a week in Scandinavian-style woodland cabin with a log burner from £265 this autumn, working out at £9.46pp per night. A luxury woodland lodge won’t cost you much more, with a week from £305.

In contrast, we found a seven-night October break at Center Parcs Longleat Forest in their cheapest accommodation for £1,458. That’s a saving of £1,193.

Bluestone National Park Resort, Wales

If you’re wanting a luxury woodland break this autumn that won’t break the bank, book in at Bluestone National Park Resort in Pembrokeshire.

The crown jewel of Bluestone is the Blue Lagoon Water Park, a massive, heated, subtropical indoor pool complex that is completely free for guests.

The subtropical waterpark has a huge wave machine, four twisting, high-speed flumes, a lazy river and even warm, bubbling spa pools to retreat to.

Little ones can make a splash in Nippers Cove, a shallow pool with its own mini waterslide, water cannons and indoor rockpools.

You might even find mermaids and pirates at the waterpark during themed events.

Outside of the pool, you can try an indoor zipline, take an electric bike tour through the woods, tackle a climbing wall or even have a go at bushcraft skills including fire lighting and outdoor cooking.

As for accommodation, you can stay in everything from a stylish apartment, to a cosy pastel-coloured cottage, to a mega six-bedroom wooden lodge.

We found a three-night break in a silver lodge sleeping four for £420, working out at £35pp per night.

Highfield Grange, Essex

This newly-upgraded Essex holiday park reopened in spring of this year, packed with £5million worth of shiny new activities.

Parkdean has pumped serious money into weather-proofing this park, with new Bear Grylls escape rooms, an expanded soft play area, and even an indoor Chocolate Factory where families can create their own concoctions.

Another new addition is the Hat Tricks Sports Bar, where you can spend rainy afternoons indoors playing shuffleboard, darts, pool and mini golf.

To cut costs, there’s also an all-inclusive food and drinks package, starting from £25 per day for adults and £10 per day for kids.

This includes three meals a day plus unlimited soft drinks and Costa Coffee, so you and the kids can cosy up with a hot chocolate whenever you please.

This park is only 10 minutes’ drive from Clacton-on-Sea, where you can stroll quiet beaches on dog walks or take a trip to the amusements without the frantic summer crowds.

We found a deal for a two-night break in a Bronze Caravan sleeping up to six for £99. That works out at £8.25pp per night.

Haven Hafan y Mor

Hafan y Mor is one of Haven’s biggest holiday parks, and is one of the top-rated, too, as a three-time winner of the AA 5-Platinum Star award.

On dry days, head to the Dragon Lakes Adventure Village for mini 4×4 off-roading, high ropes courses, and to battle it out at a NERF training camp.

Inside, Splashaway Bay is one of the biggest and best holiday park pool complexes in the UK, with a lazy river, giant tipping buckets and a four-lane waterslide.

For food and drink you can grab a bite from Chopstix, Slim Chickens, and family restaurant The Coast House Bar and Grill.

As for getting out and about, you can take a breezy beach walk just steps from the park or take a 10-minute drive to the pretty seaside town of Criccieth, where you can explore a historic 13th-century castle.

We found a deal for a four night stay in October for six people in a Bronze Caravan for £69 total, which works out at a tiny £2.88pp per night.

Vauxhall, Great Yarmouth

Vauxhall Holiday Park is another that has recently undergone a £5million mega-revamp, and it may just be one of the best UK parks when it comes to rainy day activities.

Kids can spend hours in the massive Tropical Waterworld, complete with slides and a splash zone, or burn off energy tackling the indoor soft play.

If you visit in October you’ll see the park go all-out for Halloween with spooky ghost walks, costume contests and creative craft workshops – plus the Parkdean chain-wide Monster Ball party.

The fairground indoor golf is a real highlight here, with a sparkly-new course decorated with swirls and pinstripes just as colourful as the sticks of rock and sweets sold on Great Yarmouth‘s Pier.

Twinning with Highfield Grange, this site also has a new Hat Tricks Sports Bar – but you can also hang out in the site’s other two entertainment venues, and take part in quizzes, bingo or rock and roll nights.

You can book a three night stay for four people in a Bronze Caravan this October for £135, which works out at £11.25pp per night.

Parkdean Resorts Warmwell

Parkdean’s Warmwell Resort in Dorset is a lodge-only park, meaning that you won’t find static caravans here – just cosy wooden lodges that are perfect for autumn.

Tucked away among the trees, these cabins offer instant access to the lake for swimming and fishing. And if you want to dial up the luxury, you can book a stay with a private hot tub.

You can even practice your skiing at this Dorset holiday park, with a 110-metre dry ski slope which you can tackle via skis, snowboard or sledge.

If the weather plays up, you can whizz around in the massive indoor roller rink, spend spare change in the amusements or warm up in the heated indoor pool – and yes it has a waterslide.

Autumn stays here are all about throwing on a coat, tearing through the woodland trails on biks, and returning to a cosy, heated lodge afterwards.

You can book a three-night stay in a superior lodge sleeping eight for £266 this October, working out at £11.08pp per night.