perfect

The coastal town is one of his favourite winter destinations

Travel expert Simon Calder has unveiled his favourite winter escapes for British pensioners, with one delightful town being described as a “slice of heaven” by visitors. Simon highlighted Cascais, located just outside Lisbon in Portugal, among his preferred winter destinations.

The beautiful coastal town offers excellent value during the colder months, while also boasting an average temperature of 18C in November and direct flights from UK airports to the neighbouring Portuguese capital. Cascais is easy to explore on foot, making it an especially attractive holiday spot for older visitors.

Travel blogger Caroline, from Packthesuitcases, praised the town as “a nice walkable size, you don’t need to worry about taxis and buses unless you’re venturing further afield to things like Cabo da Roca – everything in the town itself is easily reached on foot”.

Caroline also highlighted how simple it is to access Cascais by train from Lisbon, explaining that “the train takes about 40 minutes from Cais do Sodré, and it’s an enjoyable journey along the coast”.

On his popular travel podcast, Simon Calder described the picturesque town as one of his “favourite Portuguese locations”.

He said: “Cascais is the port planted elegantly on the shoreline west of the capital, Lisbon, on what’s known as the Portuguese Riviera.

“It was settled in turn by Romans, Visigoths and Moors, and today the centre of Cascais is an intriguing combination of sun-worn houses, cafés, shops and smart hotels.”

He also said that there are “excellent beaches within easy reach of Cascais”, giving yet another compelling reason to consider this charming Portuguese town for your next getaway.

One visitor took to Tripadvisor to describe the town as “a little slice of heaven”.

The tourist added: “Cascais is amazing, beautiful coastline, stunning, immaculate beaches and a really charming town. The people are lovely, and the food is out of this world!”

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The idyllic town features traditional Scandinavian architecture and breathtaking scenery

Lerwick, located on the Shetland Islands in Scotland, is frequently dubbed “Little Norway” thanks to its historical connections with the Scandinavian nation. The town remained under the Kingdom of Norway until 1469, with the name “Lerwick” translating to “bay of clay” in Norwegian.

During World War 2, Lerwick functioned as a crucial base for the “Shetland bus – Little Norway” operation, with small Norwegian fishing vessels docking in the town to carry out secret missions and evacuate refugees fleeing Nazi-occupied Norway. Lerwick resembles Norwegian coastal towns, showcasing traditional Scandinavian architecture and red timber-framed houses.

Lerwick is a charming, scenic town and an ideal winter destination for those seeking authentic Norwegian landscapes without venturing abroad.

On Facebook, some visitors said that “the landscape looks much more like Norway than Scotland”.

Another visitor said on Tripadvisor that Lerwick has “numerous fascinating buildings including old warehouses which go right down to the edge of the water”.

Another one commented that Shetland is “a fantastic set of islands with wonderful scenery”. And a third one added: “Shetland is wonderful. It’s all about scenery. Along with Orkney, it has a completely different feel to the rest of Scotland with its Norse heritage. (They both belonged to Norway until 1472.) The Shetland Museum in Lerwick is excellent.”

According to Shetland’s official website, there’s plenty to do in the town, and it’s ideal to discover on foot.

“Lerwick is a stunning town full of history and beautiful buildings, all telling a story. Some of the most interesting buildings are the Lodberries overlooking Lerwick Harbour.

“Lerwick offers many opportunities for beautiful walks, exploring fascinating historical attractions and enjoying fun family activities.”

Other gorgeous UK towns that look like famous European destinations include Lynmouth, often nicknamed “Little Switzerland” due to its scenic beauty.

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Ritu Pant always made sure that her merchant navy officer husband told her two things before departing on an assignment.

“I always noted the details and the name of his ship and his emergency contact details in case of a crisis,” says Ritu, who is based in the northern Indian state of Uttarakhand.

That’s what she did on April 25, when her husband Ajay left Paradip Port in the state of Odisha on board the MT Smyrtos, a crude oil tanker. Her husband had been a sailor for 18 years, and spent six or seven months a year at sea. But growing threats to seamen – amid the wars in the Middle East and between Russia and Ukraine, and from pirates roaming the high seas – had increased her jitters in recent years.

Yet it was through a social media post that she learned in mid-June that the ship had been captured. Not by pirates, but by the British armed forces, because the MT Smyrtos is under Western sanctions for allegedly working as part of Russia’s shadow fleet, a network of vessels that help Moscow evade United States and European economic restrictions to continue to sell oil and gas, amid the war on Ukraine.

Now Ajay Pant faces charges of flouting United Kingdom sanctions against Russia by commandeering the ship. It’s the first known instance when a European nation has kept a ship captain under arrest on such grounds, and could set a worrying precedent, say lawyers and groups advocating for the rights of seafarers. “This is a unique case,” said Tony Patten, the UK representative at the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF), an organisation that works for the rights of seafarers.

Other European countries have also taken over ships that they accuse of violating sanctions against Russia, but while they’ve kept the vessels, they have so far let the sailors go. In March this year, a captain of a suspected Russian shadow fleet was prosecuted in absentia by a French court. In another case from Finland, a court dismissed charges against the captain of a Russian oil tanker accused of damaging undersea cables in the Baltic Sea on account of lack of jurisdiction. In other cases, European nations have set commercial sailors free with fines.

By contrast, Ajay faces up to 10 years in prison if convicted.

The case has also underlined a growing tension between maritime traffic through international waters – the Smyrtos was not in British territorial waters when it was captured – and the enforcement by countries of sanctions that are not approved by the United Nations.

‘Situation of the sea was very bad’

The open seas have always been dangerous, but the risks have mounted as wars and piracy have turned ships and their crew into active targets for militaries and mercenaries alike.

At least 24 seafarers have been killed in the Strait of Hormuz since the US and Israel launched their war on Iran in February. More than 120 commercial ships and tankers have been attacked in this period in the waterway, which used to transport a fifth of the world’s energy supplies before the start of the war.

The death toll in the Black Sea is even grimmer: At least 40 sailors have been killed in more than 570 attacks on vessels there. Piracy off the coast of Somalia has resurged, too.

For Ritu Pant, all of that meant increased insecurity each time her husband went on a ship.“I was quite worried,” she said, describing her thoughts while Ajay was at sea. “When I talked to Ajay, I would tell him that you need to keep in touch always; you need to tell me that you’re fine and everything is safe around because the situation of the sea was very bad.”

But it was not uncommon for her to not hear from her husband for days, due to network disruptions at sea. So Ritu would track updates of her husband’s ship online, a practice that has become increasingly common among families of sailors at sea.

On June 14, the MT Smyrtos was chugging through the English Channel when the Royal Marines Commandos intercepted it, in what was a first-of-its-kind operation authorised by then British Prime Minister Keir Starmer.

At the time, the ship was in international waters, outside the territorial jurisdiction of the UK. Yet Chinook, Merlin Mk4 and Wildcat helicopters from the Maritime Air Group; a Royal Air Force P-8A Poseidon Maritime Patrol Aircraft; a frigate; and a mine countermeasures ship participated in the military operation to take control of the vessel, according to the British Ministry of Defence.

The ship was carrying oil from Russia and was on track to pass through the Suez Canal on its way to India, its destination.

“This successful operation delivers yet another blow to Russia and reminds those fueling Putin’s war in Ukraine that we will not let them hide,” Starmer said in a post on X.

What followed was equally unprecedented; charges of allegedly breaching Russian sanctions were brought against Ajay, who has since been in detention in the UK. After an initial court hearing, his bail was denied.

‘Criminalisation of seafarers’

Enforcement of maritime sanctions brought against Russia after its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 has been tenuous at best, which makes the Smyrtos case “very unique”, said David Hammond, a lawyer and founder of Human Rights At Sea, a nonprofit and UN-accredited organisation advocating for the rights of people living, working, transiting and operating at sea.

“It is unique in terms of the interception and the interdiction of a vessel that had been sanctioned, having passed through the English Channel as an international transit corridor. It’s, in my understanding, not happened before,” he said.

On the one hand, Hammond explained, the outcome of the case will determine how coastal states enforce sanctions against vessels. But, he said, it also underscores the risks of “criminalisation of seafarers”.

Hammond said Ajay Pant’s case was part of a broader pattern of “shipping crews finding themselves in a position where they are arrested for many crimes, such as trafficking or movement of drugs that they’re not even aware of having been put on board the ship”.

He cited the example of Ali Albokhari, a Finnish-Syrian chief mate on a cargo ship, who was detained by Turkish authorities in 2023 after 137kg (302lb) of cocaine was found on board.

Patten of the ITF echoed similar sentiments. “Our stance is that seafarers being penalised automatically when something like this happens isn’t fair. We would always uphold the right of the seafarer,” he said.

Hammond said Ajay’s case was especially without parallel. “In the case of the Smyrtos,  it could be argued that Captain Pant is being criminalised for simply doing his job,” he said, adding that the direction in which the British courts rule will set a new precedent for masters’ accountability over movement of sanctioned goods.

The case, Hammond added, “is a perfect storm in a global storm of impunity; who is accountable and who enforces accountability”.

“And the unintended consequences of which are yet to be seen,” he warned.

‘Horrible year at sea’

The case also raises wider concerns, Hammond said, about how shipping companies and the countries vessels traverse often treat seafarers. “Undeniably, seafarers are seen as disposable assets,” he said, “disposable because they can be easily replaced but concurrently, as assets for assuring continuous global movement of goods by sea.”

The killings in the Strait of Hormuz and the Black Sea have underscored that sense among sailors and their families – that the lives of those who keep the global economy moving are seen as disposable by those in power.

In a statement shared with Al Jazeera, the International Maritime Organization confirmed at least 66 sailors were killed in various conflicts this year, and hundreds of others injured. Many sailors are also still missing and feared to be dead. “It has been a horrible year for people at sea,” Patten said. “Problems have always existed, but conflicts and geopolitical change have certainly heightened them.”

Ajay Pant’s case also shines new light on a growing number of instances where navies have gone outside their territorial waters to seize tankers that they claim are violating their domestic sanctions regimes.

Since February, when the US and Israel launched their war on Iran, US forces have intercepted and captured several cargo ships in the Indian Ocean. These vessels were seized not just far from US territorial waters but also far from the theatre of their war, on accusations that they were helping Iran evade US sanctions.

The US and the UK argue that they are acting within the bounds of international law.

The UN Convention on the Law of the Sea permits a warship to visit a cargo ship to verify its flag where there are reasonable grounds to suspect the vessel is without nationality. The British Defence Ministry, in its statement after the seizure of the Smyrtos, said that if a vessel is determined to be stateless, the UK can exercise criminal and maritime enforcement powers under its domestic Policing and Crime Act.

The Smyrtos, like many ships that are accused of belonging to Russia’s “shadow fleet”, has frequently changed its flag. The ship had once previously been registered in The Gambia, and then adopted a Cameroon flag in December 2025. When it departed from a Russian port, it had a Cameroonian flag, but Lloyd’s List Intelligence reported that the ship had been removed from Cameroon’s register earlier, in June. It is owned by a Chinese company.

According to the British Defence Ministry, Russia sells about 75 percent of its oil using such shadow tankers.

But whether militaries have the right to enforce their domestic sanctions and laws in international waters against individuals and vessels that are not registered in their territory remains a contested question in international law.

The capture of such vessels raises “a much bigger issue” of “the freedom of navigation at sea”, said Hammond.

To Ajay’s family and those advocating for him, it also raises a more human question: If a cargo ship captain passing through international waters can be captured and tried by nations for allegedly violating their domestic laws, is any sailor safe?

Anchored with hope

That’s a question that Ritu has lived with in the past few months, forcing the former school principal into advocacy not just for her husband’s release, but for seafarer rights globally.

“Ajay’s case goes beyond just our family, and could be a landmark judgement for seafarers worldwide,” she said. “It raises the fundamental question of whether a master of a ship can be criminalised for decisions that are beyond his authority, knowledge or control.”

The journey has been a difficult one, she said.

“Ajay was the primary breadwinner of his family, and I have also been forced to give up my work to focus on this case,” the mother of an eight-year-old and a one-year-old said.

“He has also been a caregiver to his elderly parents,” she added, saying that for the first few days after the arrest, she kept the news from them, worried for their health. “I wouldn’t allow the daily newspaper in the house and stopped sending my older daughter to school, afraid that someone would say something hurtful to her.”

Eventually, Ritu informed the family and prepared them for the struggles ahead.

“The hardest part is having to do this across continents. We have only spoken to him over short calls, and he has had no personal visitors since I went to meet him in August,” she said. “I don’t want him to feel that he has been forgotten.”

But despite the hardships, she remains hopeful, as support has poured in from the global seafarers community. “When I started posting on social media, I received so many messages from families and wives of sailors,” she said. “Every seafarer’s family I’ve talked to relates to this. So many sailors are getting targeted right now in conflict at sea; they are being made scapegoats.”

Now, she’s preparing for Ajay’s upcoming trial. “I have to bring him back home,” she said. “For his family, but also because no seafarer should be treated in this way.”

WRAP up warm and embrace the winter at Gulliver’s World.

Its fantastic Land Of Lights experience at its parks in Milton Keynes, Warrington and Rotherham is perfect for families looking to enjoy some fun after dark.

Fairytale characters welcomed us to Gulliver’s World in Milton Keynes, and I’m soon struggling to catch up with Finn, nine, and Isobel, seven, as they burst through the gates.

We’ve visited Gulliver’s World before during the day, and loved it.

The park is ideal for younger children, with gentle rollercoasters, log flumes and fairground fun, as well as rides for adrenalin-seekers, like Dragon Siege.

But this time, we’re here to enjoy the separately ticketed Land Of Lights — a joyful trail through illuminated lands, complete with giant light installations, larger-than-life lanterns and cute photo opportunities.

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We start in Dinosaur Land, where the park’s life-size Jurassic monsters are joined by dazzling new residents, including a luminous T-Rex.

Alongside the brightly coloured beasts are some entertaining special effects.

Following the path through a fairy garden and animal farm, we wander, enchanted, open-mouthed through the Under The Sea exhibit.

Halfway through, we stop to toast marshmallows on a bonfire.

There is an extra cost of £5 for this, but my kids really enjoy it and it’s a great way to warm up.

There’s also a little food court, if you’re feeling peckish.

Bolstered by our marshmallow feast, we arrive at the Christmas-themed kingdom, complete with Santa and his elves.

And I’m just as captivated by it all as the kids, skipping along the sparkly path of lights.

To extend the fun, you can even stay overnight in one of the park’s themed cabins, which include a Wild West Saloon.

The next morning, we head into the park for some thrills.

The Land Of Lights may have been more relaxing, but Isobel is thrilled to finally be tall enough to take on Dragon Siege, and as we step off the ride, our cheeks have a different kind of glow.

It’s such a great way to keep everyone entertained — a weekend with something for everyone is a winter win.

In the 1820s, a young painter left London to live in Shoreham in the west of Kent. In his waterside cottage, Samuel Palmer – remembered now as a key figure of British Romanticism – depicted moonlit cornfields, apple trees bowed under fruit and hills swollen with light. He dubbed the area his Valley of Vision. Two centuries on, Palmer’s own vision of Shoreham – and the surrounding Darent Valley – as a demi-paradise isn’t too far from the canvas.

I’ve lived in the area for five years and can’t quite believe how few people come to Shoreham. It feels like a secret yet is less than an hour from London by train. The village itself sits on the River Darent, remarked on by Edmund Spenser in his poem The Faerie Queene for its gentleness and clear water: “The still Darent, in whose waters cleane, ten thousand fishes play and decke his pleasant streame …”.

This 21-mile chalk stream glides into the Thames from Westerham and can be explored by the scenic waymarked Darent Valley Path. Shoreham is a pretty place. The road into the village drops to a stream under a weeping willow, flanked by two good pubs, and it makes a good base for exploring. Lopsided Tudor chimneys and pastel cottages lean over the lanes, and the Grade I-listed church of St Peter and St Paul keeps watch over the churchyard. It’s no surprise artists still come here to capture Palmer’s magic.

Neighbouring Otford and Eynsford are minutes on the train (or a short drive). Otford is the antique-hunter’s village, with waterside houses, the ruins of a 16th-century palace and a listed duck house on the pond – check out the labyrinthine Otford Antiques and Collectors Centre. Eynsford has the history: Lullingstone Roman villa with its beautifully preserved painted walls; Lullingstone Castle, favoured by Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn; and the ford, ringed by half-timbered houses.

Don’t miss

My top recommendation is cream tea at the Shoreham Aircraft Museum. The valley saw heavy aerial combat in the second world war, and this volunteer-run museum remembers it. You enter through the garden door of artist and proprietor Geoff Nutkins’ home, past overgrown flowerpots, witty hand-painted boards and an antique Hovis sign above a converted bakehouse, now a tearoom frozen in the early 20th century. The delicious puddings and doorstop sandwiches come from Nutkins’ own kitchen. (My Tunisian girlfriend describes it to friends as “exotically English”.) The £5 ticket to the museum buys entry to a lifetime’s collection, plus the story of his work building memorials to lost servicemen from both sides.

Take a hike

Bring comfortable shoes. The beautiful gentle four-mile stretch of the Darent Valley Path from Shoreham to Eynsford suits all abilities, and is as good on a crisp winter day as in July, following the river through empty woodlands and rolling hills. It’s just four minutes by train if you’d rather ride back.

A 20-minute stroll from the churchyard in Shoreham brings you to Castle Farm (five minutes by car), one of the UK’s largest lavender growers. The farm shop, under rafters hung with hops, sells lavender oils, teas and ice-cream made from the harvest. Stock up on a box of gypsy tarts, a Kentish staple made with condensed milk and muscovado sugar. Grab some lavender honey, too (the farm keeps beehives). A coffee shed serves lavender teas and coffees. In summer you can picnic among the rows, à la Provence, or book to join in the harvest.

Where to eat

In Shoreham stop by The Crown for lunch. This dog-friendly locals’ pub has an intimate dining room and serves hearty, locally sourced classics such as fish and chips and a handmade pie of the day. Portions are large, but leave space for dinner at The Samuel Palmer. The beamed, fire-lit bar serves traditional pub favourites and small plates, while the bright, kid-friendly restaurant at the back presents chef Kieran Farquhar’s elevated seasonal discovery menu at £48 a head. At Mount Vineyard, the on-site restaurant has a pizza menu, and a quaint cafe by the vines serves coffee and handmade pastries.

In Otford try The Bull, with its pretty gardens. In Eynsford, The Malt Shovel is a favourite locally for lunch, with big portions and fair prices.

Where to stay

My pick is White Hill Woods, five minutes’ walk from Shoreham station, which has a log cabin for families (from £150 a night), and a shepherd’s hut for couples and solo travellers (from £100 a night, both two night minimum). There is a heated pool or just relax in the forest. Book ahead, as it’s popular with repeat visitors.

Getting there and around

There is a twice-hourly train from London Blackfriars to the villages, which takes about an hour, and using it to hop between them takes minutes. The Line 2 bus from Swanley to Sevenoaks runs along the road between the villages. Drivers will have no trouble parking, even on weekends.

Carlos Alcaraz powered to a straight-set win over Alex de Minaur to win the Vienna Open and maintain his perfect record in ATP 500 events this year.

The Spanish second seed triumphed 6-1 6-4 in 87 minutes for his 16th straight win at that level in 2026.

Alcaraz has won 26 straight matches at ATP 500 events – a run that goes back to the 2025 Barcelona Open, where he lost to Holger Rune.

The 23-year-old’s run this year includes titles in Doha and Tokyo.

“I tried to be aggressive and show him that if he wants to win, he has to play better, more aggressive, more solid, and be smarter than me,” said Alcaraz.

“I’m just really happy that at the end I found my way, played great, and obviously it has been a really emotional and amazing week for me.”

The stunning lakeside town just under an hour from Geneva, making it an ideal autumn day trip whether you’re based in Switzerland or travelling from the UK

With its meandering canals, pastel-hued buildings and mountainous backdrop, Annecy resembles something plucked straight from a storybook. What makes it even more enticing is that this stunning French town is remarkably accessible from Geneva, where I was visiting for a city break.

While staying at the luxurious Four Seasons Hotel des Bergues in Geneva, I decided to venture across the border into France to discover what makes Annecy such a sought-after destination.

Situated just under an hour away by road, it offers a completely contrasting atmosphere to the refined Swiss city, with cobblestone streets, waterfront promenades, and numerous spots to pause for a crêpe. If you’re organising a European city break and fancy cramming two countries into one journey, Annecy is definitely worth including on your itinerary.

One of the finest aspects of basing yourself in Geneva is how effortlessly you can venture beyond Switzerland itself. While the city possesses its own charm, from its picturesque location to its chocolate boutiques, an excursion to Annecy offers a change of pace without requiring an overnight stay.

Positioned in south-eastern France, Annecy is renowned for its waterways, historic Old Town and spectacular location beside Lake Annecy, with the French Alps offering a dramatic backdrop. It possesses a markedly different character from Geneva, with a more traditional, romantic ambience.

I travelled by FlixBus from Geneva to Annecy, which took approximately 45 minutes. While travel times vary with traffic, the trip was incredibly straightforward.

The Old Town is the ideal starting point for sightseeing, with cobbled streets brimming with independent shops, cafés and eateries. It’s easy to while away an entire afternoon strolling about, browsing for souvenirs and grabbing a bite along the way.

One of the most recognisable landmarks is the Palais de l’île, a historic stone building set on a small island in the Thiou canal. Its distinctive shape and remarkable position in the water make it one of Annecy’s most photographed landmarks.

The town is also pleasingly compact, meaning you can take in most of the key attractions on foot. Even with just a couple of hours to spare, there’s ample time to meander through the streets.

No trip to France would feel quite right without sampling some local cuisine, and Annecy boasts plenty of spots to stop for something to eat.

Crêpes are an obvious go-to for a swift treat, with numerous options readily available throughout the area. You’ll also discover hearty regional dishes inspired by the surrounding Alpine landscape, including tartiflette, a warming combination of potatoes, cheese, onions and bacon.

Beyond the canals and the historic centre, Lake Annecy is yet another reason this town is so extraordinary. Renowned for its crystal-clear waters and stunning Alpine backdrop, the lake offers a spectacular contrast to the narrow lanes of the Old Town.

If the sun is shining, head towards the waterfront to soak up the views across the water and towards the mountains. Boat trips and various other activities are also on offer throughout the warmer months.

For my visit, I was based at the Four Seasons Hotel des Bergues in Geneva, which provided a comfortable and opulent starting point for discovering the local region.

Geneva itself offers enough to fill a weekend break, from wandering through the Old Town and seeing its renowned Flower Clock to perusing chocolate boutiques and sampling authentic Swiss fondue.

For those contemplating a comparable getaway, remaining in Geneva and making a day trip to Annecy is a delightful way to enjoy two locations without the inconvenience of switching accommodation.

THE thespians who frequent the Garrick Theatre in London’s West End are more used to seeing the likes of Richard E. Grant and Christine Baranski tread the boards than a dwarf bouncing around inside a giant balloon. 

That’s their loss though, because the families packing the venue off Leicester Square were hooting with laughter at the launch of Cirque Bererk last week – a theatre-circus spectacular with more than 30 performers that is running throughout October half term. 

And Sun Club members can get an extra 10 per cent off if they book their tickets through London Theatre Direct, when booking via our Sun Club Promo page. 

To get your tickets, sign up to Sun Club for for £1.99 a month then head to the Sun Club Offers hub and London Theatre Direct page or click here.

It was quite something to see a group of acts usually found in big tops showcasing their talents in a old-fashioned London theatre. 

Despite the smaller stage, we witnessed acrobats spinning from their mouths, men doing the limbo under poles of burning fire, motorbikes racing round a metal cage and a mesmerising quad of dancers in LED armour. 

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While there was a lack of a thread between most of the acts that left it feeling slightly disjointed, you can be sure the children in the audience didn’t notice it. 

Despite the age of the kids ranging from around three years old upwards (although age guidance is age five-plus), their concentration was held throughout the show – even though it was long enough to merit an interval. 

Of course they were – who doesn’t want to see performers juggling fire and shooting arrows through objects onstage? 

This was also in no small part thanks to the man from the aforementioned balloon, who took on the role of a modern ringmaster. 

Fans of Zippos Circus, who produce Cirque Beserk, may recognise him from Zippos travelling shows. 

With a grin wide enough to light up any stage, he tied all of the acts together alongside a comedy robot, in a style akin to an entry-level Cirque De Soleil. 

Which is essentially what this show is, a great starter show for families that is a wonderful way to introduce kids to the magic of both the circus and London’s West End.

Cirque Beserk runs every day until October 31, with tickets from £28.

In the most complimentary way, I ask: What the heck was that first half, UCLA?

Yes, really. With Saturday’s 28-10 victory over Michigan State, Bob Chesney has the Bruins football team 7-0 for the first time since 2005. Still undefeated and still the only team in the Big Ten — and SEC — conferences that can say so. Ranked No. 9 in the nation and moving on up.

And so I ask: Two lost fumbles before halftime? Two drops? Two holding penalties? A meager 84 yards through the air and a modest 14-7 halftime lead? Against a majorly depleted Michigan State team fielding a freshman third-stringer at quarterback — that also lost two more of its best players to injury in the first half?

These Bruins are too good to be letting the wounded Spartans (2-6, 0-5 Big Ten) hang with them for even a half.

And yet, for a hot moment, doubt started to creep back in: Was this the day Chesney’s chariot turned back into a pumpkin? Was the last petal from the enchanted rose about to fall, this beauty of a season due to turn ugly? Was the fairy tale almost over?

No. The nation’s best second-half team gathered itself — “at halftime in the locker room, guys coming over, ‘Let’s go, man. We got you!” quarterback Ty Dieffenbach said — exerted its will and outscored the Spartans 14-0 in the third quarter. They mercifully ran out the clock with a commanding 28-7 lead going into the fourth and improved to a tidy 5-0 in the Big Ten.

It’s what Chesney’s teams do.

Last season at James Madison, the Dukes led the nation in second-half scoring, averaging 20.9 points per game.

And this charmed season at UCLA, the Bruins came into Saturday’s game averaging the second-most second-half points in the nation (20.8).

Being able to bear down and wear down opponents is a sign of a good team.

Being able to jump on them at the outset would be the sign of a great one.

Let’s fast-forward a year. You’ve stopped pinching yourself to make sure you aren’t dreaming and the Bruins — who were unranked and unheralded to start the season after so many years of ineptitude — really are in control of their own College Football Playoff destiny.

UCLA linebacker Donavyn Pellot celebrates with linebacker Sammy Omosigho, left, after a 67-yard interception return against Michigan State on Saturday.

(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

A year from now, you’ll have been conditioned to expect them to win these games, and you’ll no longer be worried about whether this was all a dream.

But you would be concerned about slow starts. You’d bemoan sluggish opening acts and fret about how that might bite the Bruins in the big games that are looming.

Chesney doesn’t have to make that imaginative leap into the future.

He’s worried about it now. And that’s why his Bruins are legitimately a team to contend with, because he’s coaching them to be that. He expects it: “When you walk on that field on Saturday, you walk out and know that you’ve done it the right way, and that’s how you treat something that’s important. Not special, but important.”

And so I ask: Why didn’t UCLA treat the first half like it was important Saturday?

“Two fumbles, two drops, two holding penalties? You can’t do it, you just can’t do it if you want to win really close games,” said Chesney, the first-year UCLA coach, who said he’d spend the week before the Bruins host Nevada in a nonconference Halloween game by emphasizing ball security at practice and that he’d watch the tape to determine what triggered the holding penalties.

“We’re taking three, four touchdowns off the board by doing that,” Chesney added. “Never going to let this happen again.”

UCLA can’t because it doesn’t have any room for error.

UCLA coach Bob Chesney works with players before a 28-10 win over Michigan State at the Rose Bowl on Saturday.

(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

If the Bruins win out, Chesney will have directed an underdog to a surprise CFP berth for the second consecutive season. But if the Bruins lose a game, it gets dicey.

Never mind the rows of recruits at Saturday’s victory, and forget for a moment about the fans who are slowly finding their way back to the Rose Bowl for Bruins football games. UCLA needs to continue to impress the computers and the pollsters and CFP committee members who could eventually determine UCLA’s fate if the Bruins don’t do it themselves.

And though no fault of Chesney’s, UCLA is playing a soft schedule. Per ESPN, the Bruins’ slate was the 51st easiest coming into the season and what remains of it is the 64th easiest.

And UCLA, which is winning behind a backup quarterback, which went 3-9 last season and which had so much ground to cover after starting the season outside of the top 25 — won’t likely get anyone’s benefit of the doubt if a first-half lull leads to a loss.

The Bruins are proving themselves probably the best team in the nation after halftime.

If they can do that, why not aim to be the best team in the nation?

Fours (quarters) up!?

Fans say they were hooked on the crime drama from the very first episode

A new crime drama is attracting new fans who find themselves hooked from the first episode.

A ‘superb’ mystery series now streaming in the UK has been hailed as perfect for Death in Paradise fans. The New Zealand produced show made its debut earlier this year in its native country and is now available for viewers to catch up on.

The entire first season of Blue Murder Motel was added to ITVX recently. The good news for those who have already watched all episodes and enjoyed it is that a second season is on the way in the future.

But for those who are unaware, the series follows Australian married police detectives Vanessa and Cole who decide to finally leave their cop careers and their home behind them. They have finally invested in their dream, a cute 13-room motel in a sunny, ocean-side New Zealand town.

However, a series of murders in their new hometown inspire them to investigate and to help the local, inexperienced, sole-charge police officer solve the crimes. It’s not long before their new business is referred to by neighbours as the Blue Murder Motel.

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The little known series has not managed to gain enough reviews online to register a score on website Rotten Tomatoes. However, it has still managed to gain enough attention for many viewers to share their recommendations. One write-up labelled the series as ‘superb’ and claimed the show is “a huge hit” back in New Zealand and Australia, and apparently viewed in the same way as Death in Paradise and Shetland is to UK audiences.

It added: “The setting is glorious, the murder mysteries are quirky yet entertaining and the characters are genuinely likeable. If you’re looking for an escapist series that you won’t tire of easily, Blue Murder Motel is a very good choice.”

Many fans agree and urge fans of cosy crime who need a new binge worthy show to check it out. One fan posted online: “It’s funny, cosy and surprisingly sharp, with great chemistry, small-town chaos and a mystery that hooks you fast. Perfect comfort-crime vibes and I can’t wait to keep watching. Episode one complete sold me on this show!”

Another agreed: “Just binged the first six episodes and had to pause to say how much fun this new show is. It’s a classic cosy crime show so if you’re not a fan of that genre scroll on, but the end of episode six just turned everything upside down! Was not expecting that and I’m here for it.”

Blue Murder Motel is streaming on ITVX.

Avanti West Coast research says that more than half of all passengers would like a completely phone-free carriage

Railway boffins claim to have discovered the ‘perfect train journey’ – from dodging boiled eggs and sweaty feet to revealing the best seat on any train. Avanti West Coast research and customer data claims to have revealed the unwritten rules of onboard comfort and which behaviours generate disapproving tuts.

The intercity operator has launched its first Comfort Index to provide a unique insight into what passengers value most during their journey and how it varies across Britain.

Their research said more than two thirds (77%) said they want a window seat, 69% prefer to face forward and 58% want an empty seat beside them. Exactly one in five (20%) would even travel 15 minutes longer to keep it empty, 18% would pay an extra £5 and 22% would sacrifice Wi-Fi.

Another one in five (20%) would even swap their coveted window seat for a little more space. Avanti’s booking data suggests there may be such a thing as the perfect train seat, with Seat 18 in Coach B being the most reserved seat on its Pendolino services.

It was booked 179,685 times between September 2025 – September 2026 and matches passenger preferences of having a window and table.

While those travelling on the West Coast Main Line have similar thoughts about seats, snacks proved controversial with 52% of rail travellers objecting to boiled eggs and 48% to tuna sandwiches being eaten onboard.

They say the famously reserved reputation of British people extends to the carriage environment too, with more than two-thirds (68%) wanting more quiet carriages.

More than half (52%) would even choose a completely phone-free carriage, suggesting that for many Brits, the dream journey might simply be one where nobody makes any noise.

The Index also reveals a generational shift in the unwritten rules of train travel, with Gen Z passengers being more tolerant of video calls. It says 38% think Facetiming onboard is unacceptable compared to almost three quarters (72%) of over-65s.

Sounds of other people’s phones onboard reveals an even bigger generation gap. A huge 88% of over-65s object to TikToks or videos without headphones compared to just 51% of 18-24-year-olds.

Younger passengers are said to place greater emphasis on choice and ‘making the journey their own’. A surprising 62% of 25-34-year-olds say choosing between Standard, Premium and First Class matters during planning compared with 42% of over-65s.

Gen Z are bringing their own comforts onboard too, with one in eight (12%) 18-24-year-olds saying they’d even pack a massage gun. Avanti West Coast say everyone seems to agree on keeping your socks on, as three quarters (75%) say taking them off onboard is unacceptable.

A whopping 70% object to TikToks without headphones and 67% to someone cutting or filing their nails. The study also shows how rail journeys are considered part of the occasion, with 69% of Brits saying their leisure time starts the moment they get onboard.

Between September 2025 – September 2026 Avanti West Coast say their customers drank almost 420,000 cups of breakfast tea and ate 212,000 KitKats.

Beer proved another favourite, with 154,000 Grolsch Pilsners sold, painting a suitably British picture of onboard comfort – a cuppa, something sweet or a cold beer en route. From seating preference and noise tolerance to boiled eggs, the Index shows Brits might never agree on exactly what makes the perfect journey.

Kathryn O’Brien at Avanti West Coast said: “The Comfort Index shows everyone’s definition of comfort varies. While there’s some unspoken rail travel etiquette most seem to agree on, beyond that people have different thoughts on what makes a comfortable journey.

“For some it’s peace and quiet while for others it’s getting work done, enjoying a snack or having space to relax.

“Customers most value the ability to shape their journey around their own needs, whether that’s choosing the perfect seat or enjoying a cup of tea onboard. That’s why we offer our seat picker tool and a range of refreshments in our onboard shop, helping customers to enjoy their trip from the very moment they board.

“By better understanding what matters most to our customers, we can continue to enhance and develop the onboard experience. This includes upgrading Wi-Fi connectivity to make travelling with Avanti West Coast as comfortable as possible for everyone.”

The full Avanti West Coast Comfort Index is available here

Kylian Mbappe and Yan Diomande score stunners as Real beat Leipzig to make it three from three in Champions League.

Real Madrid claimed a third Champions League victory in as many games, thrashing RB Leipzig 4-1 on Wednesday, with Kylian Mbappe and Yan Diomande among the goalscorers for Jose Mourinho’s side.

Bernardo Silva opened the scoring for Madrid from close range late in a tight first half, with Arda Guler doubling the advantage of the record 15-time European champions soon after the interval.

Mbappe bent home a third before Tidiam Gomis pulled one back for the German side, and Diomande rammed a volley into the top corner late on to cap Madrid’s triumph.

Their fourth consecutive win across all competitions will boost Madrid’s morale ahead of Sunday’s La Liga Clasico against bitter rivals Barcelona.

Without a major trophy in two seasons and after a shaky domestic start, Madrid can at least boast a perfect record in Europe, unlike Barca after their defeat at Paris Saint-Germain on Tuesday.

Mourinho started Vinicius, serving a four-match ban in La Liga, on the left flank and benched former Leipzig winger Diomande, despite his improving form.

The coach also brought Bernardo Silva and Eduardo Camavinga into midfield and put midfielder Federico Valverde at right-back again, as he did in Sunday’s win at Sevilla.

Visitors Leipzig created the first big chance, with Madrid stopper Thibaut Courtois getting down low to make a superb save from Romulo Cardoso.

Vinicius, who improved on a poor showing at Roma last week without breaking out of his rut, drew a full-stretch save from Leipzig’s Maarten Vandevoordt.

Madrid carved out an advantage in the final stages of a low-key first half when Valverde cut the ball back for Guler, whose shot Vandevoordt saved. However, the goalkeeper could not clear it, and Silva darted in to prod over the line.

It was the former Manchester City midfielder’s first goal for the club after joining this summer.

Vandevoordt saved well from Valverde’s fierce effort before Guler put Madrid two goals ahead in the 52nd minute.

Jude Bellingham crossed to the back post and Mbappe nodded the ball across goal, with Guler able to hold off a defender and turn home.

Mbappe lashed a shot into the side netting after Bellingham teed it up, as Madrid looked to put the game out of sight.

Mourinho sent on Diomande for Vinicius with 20 minutes remaining, and the Brazilian looked disappointed on the bench, knowing he cannot play again until November 4, when Madrid visit AEK Athens.

Madrid’s record 140 million-euro ($157m) signing, Diomande, pulled the ball back to Mbappe on the edge of the box for Madrid’s third, and the French forward bent it home.

Leipzig quickly grabbed a consolation goal at the other end as Dean Huijsen switched off, with Gomis firing past Courtois.

Diomande ended proceedings with a bang, rattling an emphatic volley from Brahim Diaz’s cross into the top corner for his third goal in his last four appearances.

The feature film has been hailed a ‘cult classic’ and makes for ideal Halloween viewing – but fans don’t have long left to watch it

An ‘iconic’ noughties horror film is being removed from Netflix in a matter of days.

The film, released back in 2009, stars Hollywood heavyweights Megan Fox and Amanda Seyfried as two school friends who find themselves at odds after one of them is possessed by a demon and develops an appetite for boys.

The film in question is Jennifer’s Body, with Megan portraying the bloodthirsty cheerleader Jennifer Check who is sacrificed to Satan by an indie band looking to make it big, with devastating consequences. Amanda plays her nerdy best friend Anita ‘Needy’ Lesnicki, while the glittering ensemble cast also includes big names such as J.K Simmons, Adam Brody, Chris Pratt and Kyle Gallner.

Jennifer’s Body has been available on Netflix since May this year, but it is sadly about to be removed from the streaming giant. Netflix confirmed that the last available day to stream it will be November 7.

While the Rotten Tomatoes rating for the film is far from glowing – sitting at a measly 36 per cent from audiences – it still holds a special place in the hearts of many film fans. One reviewer gushed: “The perfect mix of gore, dry humour satire, original story, and, of course, an amazing soundtrack.

“As a horror/thriller superfan, this movie continues to delight even after seeing it ~10 times. Regardless of ratings it keeps playing and for good reason. A modern cult classic.”

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Meanwhile a second fan of the film penned: “Genuinely love Jennifer’s Body. I feel like this movie was so misunderstood when it first came out because it’s so much more than just a horror movie. I love the mix of dark humour, gore, and the complicated friendship between Jennifer and Needy.”

They continued: “The movie also touches on female friendship, jealousy, and how women are treated, but in such a chaotic and entertaining way. Megan Fox was literally made for this role, and the whole aesthetic of the movie is everything.”

A third film fan simply said: “Cult classic for a reason,” as a fourth added: “Such an iconic 2000s movie never gets old.”

Jennifer’s Body is now streaming on Netflix. It will be removed from the platform after November 7.

LEAVE it to the Americans to come up with a name for gawping at trees.

Leaf peeping was a phrase coined in the Sixties in Vermont and it’s now caught on here.

And no wonder, as Britain puts on a dazzling show every autumn, though this year it will be harder to time.

After the hot, dry summer, the National Trust predicts vibrant but patchy colour, with some gardens running late and others early.

Jacob Lewis reveals the best spots to head to in the next few weeks.

SHEFFIELD PARK & GARDEN, EAST SUSSEX

FOUR lakes double the colour at this Grade I-listed garden, which was planted for autumn.

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The tupelo trees turn bright red, and one variety changes colour around ten days ahead of the rest.

By the water, swamp cypresses glow amber.

You can even arrive by steam on the Bluebell Railway, whose station is a 15-minute walk away.

Cost: £19 adults, £9.50 children — National Trust members free.

RICHMOND PARK, LONDON

BELLOWING stags are the soundtrack in October, when the red deer rut reaches its peak.

Head for the Isabella Plantation, a woodland garden where Japanese maples flare crimson and winged spindle bushes turn rosy scarlet.

Entry is free, but keep one eye on the leaves and the other on the stags, keeping at least 50m away.

Cost: Free entry and parking.

WESTONBIRT, THE NATIONAL ARBORETUM, GLOUCS

NEARLY 300 varieties of Japanese maple grow here, setting the Acer Glade ablaze.

A new trail through Silk Wood this year is themed around nine Japanese ideas about the seasons. Book ahead.

Cost: £19 weekdays or £22 weekends, children £5.

BLICKLING ESTATE, NORFOLK

BEECH, oak, lime and sweet chestnut are mirrored in the lake in front of this Jacobean mansion.

Follow the two-mile Lake Walk, then head into the Great Wood, where the beeches glow amber and a pyramid-shaped mausoleum stands among the trees.

Cost: Free entry to parkland — parking £5, NT members free.

CANNOCK CHASE, STAFFS

NOT every tree that turns gold is a broadleaf.

Larches are conifers that drop their needles in winter, and here they blaze yellow against the dark pines.

Follow the Sherbrook Valley trail to the stepping stones, with beeches adding copper along the way.

Cost: Free entry — parking from £1.20.

SHERWOOD FOREST, NOTTS

ROBIN Hood’s old stomping ground is at its best when the oaks turn russet.

Pay your respects to the Major Oak, the giant at its heart thought to be up to 1,200 years old.

Sadly, the ailing tree died this year after suffering drought and heatwaves, but it still stands as a monument.

Oaks turn late, so there’s still plenty of time.

Cost: Free entry — parking £7, RSPB members free.

HARDCASTLE CRAGS, WEST YORKS

BEECH, oak and birch cling to the sides of this steep valley, near Hebden Bridge, above the tumbling Hebden Water.

Follow the riverside path to Gibson Mill, a cotton mill built around 1800, then grab a drink from its Weaving Shed Cafe and sit out by the millpond, hemmed in by trees.

Cost: Free entry — parking £5–£8, NT members free.

LOUGHRIGG TARN AND ELTERWATER, CUMBRIA

FOR the classic Lake District postcard view, walk the easy four-mile loop from Elterwater village via Skelwith Bridge to Loughrigg Tarn.

On a still day, the Langdale Pikes, the craggy peaks at the head of the valley, are reflected in the water, framed by turning woodland.

Cost: Free entry — paid parking, NT members free.

ALLEN BANKS AND STAWARD GORGE, NORTHUMBERLAND

KEEP an eye out for elusive red squirrels in this deep gorge carved by the River Allen.

Most of its beeches were planted in the 19th century, and they spill copper and gold colours down the valley sides.

The riverside path then leads to medieval ruins and a Victorian summer house.

Cost: Free entry — parking £3–£5, NT members free.

COED Y BRENIN, SNOWDONIA

PISTYLL Cain plunges into a dark pool deep within the 9.000-acre King’s Forest.

You can reach it via a 2.2-mile walk beside the River Mawddach, leaving conifers behind for broadleaf woods and the ruins of old gold mines.

Cost: Free entry and parking at Tyddyn Gwladys.

LOCH AN EILEIN, CAIRNGORMS

A RUINED 13th-century castle on an island steals the show here.

In autumn, the birch, rowan and aspen of the ancient Rothiemurchus Forest flare gold against the dark Scots pines.

The flat 3.5-mile loop is easy for kids. Scotland turns first, so don’t hang about.

Cost: Free entry — parking £5 per car.

TOLLYMORE FOREST PARK, CO DOWN

GAME Of Thrones fans will recognise this forest at the foot of the Mourne Mountains, which was used as a filming location.

Walk the River Trail along the River Shimna, crossing stepping stones and some of its 16 bridges beneath beech and oak.

Cost: Free on foot — £5 per car.

Wide skies, gentle footpaths through gold and copper wooded hills, thatched cottages, cosy pubs and quirky shops: the Lincolnshire Wolds have all the ingredients for the perfect autumnal mini break. Victorian poet Alfred Tennyson lived in the village of Somersby for most of his first three decades and the local landscapes echo through his verses. In The Lady of Shalott: “Long fields of barley and of rye / That clothe the wold and meet the sky …”

The Lincolnshire Wolds National Landscape covers an area of 216 sq miles. On its southern boundary, halfway between Lincoln and the coast, the friendly market town of Horncastle bills itself as the “gateway to the Wolds”. With handsome brick houses, great cafes, a market on Thursdays and Saturdays and decent public transport links, it’s a perfect base for exploring the area.

Horncastle overflows with antique shops. Laurence Shaw, with half a century’s knowledge of the trade, runs an elegant wholesaler on the corner of East Street. In an old chapel across the road, the Trinity Centre has all kinds of ancient treasures piled in fantastical heaps under lancets of Victorian glass: porcelain milkmaids, jelly moulds, cotton reels, teetering piles of teacups and thick vines of jewellery. Round the corner in Stanhope Antique Centre you may find anything from a wooden decoy duck to a roulette wheel between chandeliers and grandfather clocks.

By the “Ducks Crossing!” sign opposite Tesco, mallards gather on the reedy River Bain. And in the 13th-century St Mary’s church there are gold angels in the rafters and lines from Tennyson’s poem Ring out, wild bells in stained glass. The new Riverscape Walk, launched last year, will take you past the canal basin, watermill and former leather tanning warehouses.

Take a hike

There are plenty of rewarding walks nearby and you don’t always need a car to reach them. The hourly 56 bus from Lincoln to Skegness stops in Horncastle and, 10 minutes later, in Hagworthingham, a peaceful Wold-edge village. From here, a six-mile loop of undulating lanes and footpaths takes in tiny Somersby, Tennyson’s birthplace, and Bag Enderby (which sounds straight out of Tolkien), where St Margaret’s church has an intricate 15th-century font, carved with religious symbols and medieval scenes. Bag Enderby’s -by suffix comes from an Old Norse word for village.

From Hagworthingham, you can also stroll through Snipe Dales nature reserve, where a 3-metre (10ft) wooden snipe, carved by local sculptor Nigel Sardeson, has just been installed on a wooded bank. The valleys here are fragrant with late meadowsweet and water mint and the trees are full of birdsong, from tiny goldcrests in the conifers to huge buzzards over the oaks. If you have time and energy to spare, the Viking Way long-distance walk – waymarked with horned Viking helmets – runs through Horncastle and the Wolds on its 149-mile journey from Rutland Water to the Humber.

Don’t miss

In Horncastle, the Joseph Banks Centre multitasks as a tourist info point, local museum and natural history hub. Banks, a botanist and Horncastle’s most famous inhabitant, sailed with Captain Cook and oversaw the creation of Kew Gardens. The museum courtyard is bright with hydrangeas, which Banks helped introduce into Britain.

The Edwardian village of Woodhall Spa, six miles from Horncastle, has wide leafy avenues and smart black-and-white buildings; even the public loos next to the Tory club are half timbered. Nineteenth-century entrepreneurs, digging for coal, found instead a source of mineral-rich water, a magnet for the era’s wellness-seekers. I meander past the Dambusters memorial and mural, the thriving Kinema in the Woods, opened in 1922, the nearby Tea House and Cottage Museum, then back to Horncastle along the sculpture-dotted Viking Way.

Where to eat

Horncastle’s top lunch spots include the cafe at Myers Bakery, fragrant with spice and yeast, where you can buy Lincolnshire plum loaf. Round the corner, the spacious and welcoming bike-themed Pedal and Paws serves pizzas, salads and cakes. No 8 Coffee Shop, which opened in March 2026, is already popular for inventive hot drinks such as cinnamon-bun matcha and pistachio hot chocolate.

Montebello, in the former Angel Inn, serves home-cooked Italian food, while Magpies offers refined white linen and candlelight dining, with dishes such as Grimsby crab linguine or loin of Lincolnshire lamb. Magpies also has rooms, in cottages next to a Tardis-like guitar shop.

Where to stay

The cheerful, timeworn Admiral Rodney Hotel is right in the middle of Horncastle, with affordable rooms and details you might see in pricier places: speedy wifi, retro radio, Twinings teabags. It offers great veggie breakfast options, fresh fruit and pastries, served in a big glass-walled conservatory with peacock fanlights. Dinner dishes such as pan-fried sea bass with pickled fennel, or sticky date pudding with butterscotch sauce, chicly garnished with edible flowers and micro-herbs, make a celebratory end to days spent hiking through the Wolds.

Getting there and around

The 56 bus heads to Horncastle from Lincoln bus station hourly and takes 50 minutes. The less frequent 30 bus takes 10 minutes longer and winds through warm-stoned villages. Local buses include the new B617 from Horncastle to Woodhall Spa. The coast is 20 miles away, on a bus with top-deck views across the Wolds.

Accommodation was provided by the Admiral Rodney, doubles from around £100, room only. Train travel was provided by LNER

This charming seaside village is just as beautiful in autumn as it is in summer

Summer may be behind us, but that’s no reason to abandon a trip to the seaside. While taking a dip in the sea might not be on the cards, the British coast still has a great deal to offer.

There’s one spot in particular that locals affectionately call ‘God’s pocket’, owing to its mild microclimate that brings warmer, sunnier weather than the surrounding towns. And even if it’s simply too chilly for a swim, this gorgeous location boasts a bustling high street brimming with independent shops, cafés and pubs.

That magical place is East Wittering, tucked away along the shores of the Manhood Peninsula in West Sussex.

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While it draws the crowds during summer, it’s equally as charming during the cooler months. Take a stroll along the pebbled beach and, at low tide, wander out across the exposed stretches of soft golden sand.

After soaking up the ocean views and breathing in the fresh sea air, head into town for a spot of exploring. Kick off your morning with a coffee from Ground, just a stone’s throw from the beach on Shore Street, before making your way to The Boulevard for a proper sit-down breakfast.

With a full stomach, you can throw yourself into some serious retail therapy. One of East Wittering’s greatest draws is its remarkable array of independent shops.

From vintage clothing and fashion at Let’s Go Back, to locally handcrafted art and jewellery at The Artisan Shoppe, there truly is something to suit every taste.

For those who love the great outdoors, there’s Wittering Surf Shop, while art enthusiasts can head to V. A Design Studios.

The latter is operated by local artist Victoria and stocks everything from large-scale paintings to hand-drawn cards.

Naturally, no weekend browse would be complete without a swift pint before heading home – and East Wittering has plenty of those too.

The Shore Inn is a firm favourite, tucked right beside the main beach entrance. It’s bustling, dog friendly and boasts outdoor seating if you fancy soaking up some of the early autumn sunshine.

There’s also regularly live music to enjoy while you sip on your drink.

Slightly further afield in West Wittering (roughly a 10 minute drive away) sits The Lamb Inn – an 18th century country pub brimming with character and featuring a gorgeous beer garden.

Netflix subscribers have been urged to check out a ‘heartbreaking’ true story that has been compared to Green Mile – but be warned as it’s said to be ‘one of the saddest films to ever exist’

Netflix viewers have been left in floods of tears after watching a ‘hidden gem’ tucked away on the video streaming platform. Luke Eccleston, who reviews movies and television shows on social media, is urging Netflix subscribers to check out a ‘heartbreaking’ true story that’s perfect for Green Mile fans.

Luke, who posts under the username Eccy Reviews, said on TikTok: “I’m not saying this lightly, but you need to run to Netflix immediately because I’ve just discovered the biggest hidden gem. I’ll be very surprised if you’ve seen this film, and once you have, you will never, ever forget about it. The film that I’m talking about is called Miracle in Cell No 7. Now, if you’re someone who’s seen this film, you’ll know that this is one of the saddest films to ever exist.”

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‘This is one of the saddest films to ever exist’

Based on the the Korean movie Miracle in Cell No 7, it tells a story of love between a mentally-ill father who was wrongly accused of murder and his lovely six-year-old daughter.

Luke added: “It is actually based on a true story. This follows this man with special needs who has this younger daughter.

“After an incident where another little girl is killed, he is framed and sent to prison. He is sentenced to death. The people in the prison believe that he did the things.

“What he is accused of and the things they do to him is honestly awful. After time, they begin to realise who and what he is.

“The story, what comes out of it is genuinely incredible. I was shocked so many times watching this film. I was in so many tears.

“I’ve recommended this to so many friends, and every single person who’s watched it has said that they cried.”

‘I loved this movie, cried and cried’

Starring Aras Bulut Iynemli, Nisa Sofiya Aksongur, and Deniz Baysal, the movie has won 12 awards alongside its 13 nominations.

Commenting on Luke’s video, one user said: “Just put it on, I’ve got my tissues ready.”

Another user added: “Similar to Green Mile.”

A third user said: “I loved this movie, cried and cried. Amazing!”