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A POPULAR seaside town will be losing half of its direct trains to and from London next week.

Currently, there are four direct trains a day between London and Blackpool, operated by Avanti West Coast.

The service currently operates Monday to Friday.

However, they have confirmed that changes to the timetable means that the four daily services from Blackpool will be reduced to two – one in each direction.

The two routes being scrapped are the 9:39am London to Blackpool North service, and the 12:52pm Blackpool North to London service.

The routes that will continue to run include the 5:35am Blackpool North to London Euston route and the 5:40pm London Euston to Blackpool North route.

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Instead, they will be increasing routes between Blackpool and Liverpool as well as restarting a morning route from Manchester.

Avanti West Coast slammed the Office of Rail and Road (ORR) who are the economic and safety regulator, regarding the new restrictions being introduced.

An Avanti West Coast spokesperson said: “We are disappointed with the Office of Rail and Road’s decision not to grant access rights from December for three weekday services that we currently operate, including the 09:39 London to Blackpool North service, and the 12:52 Blackpool North to London service.

“This will clearly impact those customers who already use these services.

“However, we will still be delivering even more services across our network from the start of the December timetable, including further additional trains on our Liverpool route.”

An ORR spokesperson said they “recognised passengers would be disappointed”.

However, they explained: “In every timetable change train operators bid to add or amend services, and we are informed in our decision making by what Network Rail tells us is possible.

“In this case, Network Rail provided evidence and recommended that ORR decline the applications to secure better reliability on the network as a whole. 

“We would welcome the opportunity to work with Network Rail and train operators should they consider that there is room for these services in future timetables.”

Several commuters who use the route have taken to social media to express their thoughts on the news.

One said: “Another kick in the teeth for Blackpool.”

Another added: “The reason why no one is using Avanti, is because the prices of their train tickets is crazy.

“Avanti trains are always cancelled or delayed. Get rid of them!”

News of the route cancellations come as a blow to the seaside town that is hoping to attract more tourists as it plans to spend £459,000 on revamping its major tourist attractions.

This includes the Winter Gardens, which first opened back in 1878.

A £300million project is also in the works to improve Blackpool’s Golden Mile, with a new indoor entertainment complex with rides, restaurants and bars.

Last month, passengers were left furious as Avanti revealed it would run an empty ghost train to London.

The rail regulator ruled that the weekday morning service from Manchester to London would run without passengers for five months.

A spokesperson for the ORR told the BBC that the decision was based on “robust evidence” from Network Rail, arguing that running the service with no passengers would allow more flexibility to better assist with “service recovery”.

However, this has since been reversed.

In other rail news, here’s the first look at the new Great British Railways trains being rolled out across the UK.

Plus, Eurostar reveals plans for direct trains from UK to new European country for first time ever.

IF you loved dancing to tunes like Mamma Mia, Waterloo and Super Trouper at ABBA Voyage then you might be excited by this other potential avatar concert.

Another city has announced that it could see potential in starting its own experience based on four very famous Liverpudlian musicians.

ABBA Voyage started back in 2022 and at the time was met by some scepticism.

That was until visitors entered the purpose built arena and were so blown away that what started as a limited residency initially set for a few months, is still going strong today.

Now, Steve Rotheram the Liverpool City Region (LCR) mayor has revealed he believes a similar show in Liverpool could benefit it greatly – especially if The Beatles were at the forefront.

The band that rose to fame in the 60s could appear as avatars in a show funded by Liverpool’s visitor levy.

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The charge was initially introduced in 2025 as a £2 per night “City Visitor Charge” for overnight stays in certain hotels and serviced apartments.

Steve Rotheram said he had been “looking at ways” since then in which “we might be able to deliver something similar but not identical to the Abba Voyage experience in London“.

“Just imagine if we could do something that features perhaps a local four-piece beat combo that did okay from these parts?”

Mr Rotheram continued: “We could have an immersive experience so people would flock in to see them. It means the footfall would increase exponentially, it means that this would be an international destination of choice.

“You’d go here and then perhaps go to London, whereas currently a lot of people go to London and sometimes jump on a train to come here, so we want to change that dynamic and I think this will be one of the ways in which we do it.”

Having the show based on The Beatles would be a popular choice for Liverpool with each of the band members born and raised there.

Mr Rotheram hinted that the potential show could be funded by the current levy – and its replacement coming in 2027.

The new charge will come into play in two years time once the current scheme expires.

This will mean that all properties in the Liverpool city Region – including Airbnb – will be affected.

It could bring in lots of money for the city too – it was reported that ABBA Voyage generated over £100million in ticket sales in 2023 alone.

As a result, it contributed £1.4billion to the UK economy‘s turnover by late 2024.

And the Beatles are set for another revival ahead of the new films based on each of the band members.

Directed by Sam Mendes, it will see four films released based on the four members.

Paul Mescal will start as Paul McCartney, Barry Keoghan as Ringo Starr, Harris Dickinson as John Lennon and Joseph Quinn as George Harrison.

For more experiences in the UK, here’s how you can try out your very own Race Across the World.

And here’s more on the world-first gameshow attraction opening in the UK – with spin the wheel, music rounds and free prizes.

One writer tried the world-famous ABBA Voyage experience in the UK – here are her top tips & the best nearby bar…

Writer Hope Brotherton headed to ABBA Voyage earlier this year, here’s everything she loved about it – and the bar she found for pre-drinks…

She said: “I’m surrounded by sequinned jumpsuits, bright-pink feather boas and white go-go boots.

“It means I can be in just one place – the dance floor of Abba Voyage, the astonishing concert in London performed by CGI versions of the four bandmates in their Seventies glory days.

“The tech is so impressive, that it’s hard to believe the Swedish superstars aren’t really performing live on stage. I found my grasp on reality slipping even further when a real-life backing band appeared.

“I was mesmerised by every visual in the purpose-built venue, with a kaleidoscope of brightly coloured lights descending from the ceiling as Dancing Queen played.

“You can, of course, book seats but my friend Ellie and I preferred the standing tickets, where we had more than enough space to dance our hearts out to Mamma Mia and Waterloo.

“Getting in the right mood for a boogie was essential, and we had pre-show food and drinks at Stratford restaurant and bar The Print House – Jim & Tonic East to thank for our exuberance.

“It was then time for food and, to start, we shared the marinated prawns and a garlicky flatbread – both delicious.

“Aware of all the dancing ahead – it’s a marathon, not a sprint – I plumped for a parmigiana pizza, which totally hit the spot.

“Keen to sample a tipple from the on-site distillery, then I washed my main course down with a gin flight. Ambitious, I know – it came with three gins, my favourite being the Mediterranean.“

A wet Sunday evening turned into a joyous 90-minute stroll through stunning light displays, interactive installations and ethereal music at this beloved festive attraction

Embracing the Christmas spirit can be a bit of a challenge when you’re penning festive articles from September onwards. However, this past weekend, I decided to shelve my inner Grinch and head out into the chilly, drizzly Sunday in Cardiff to experience Christmas at Bute Park.

This event, now in its fifth year, is a light trail that has previously brought me joy. I must confess, my excitement for the installation, nestled in Cardiff’s beautiful city centre park beloved by locals and tourists alike, did start to fade after the first few years.

I found myself pondering, ‘How much can a light display in a park change year after year?’ While I still believe the most curmudgeonly of Grinches might agree with me, my visit to Christmas at Bute Park 2025 rekindled my yuletide cheer, reports Wales Online.

So last year, I opted out of the mile-long amble along the path that snakes through Cardiff’s verdant heart. I simply wasn’t feeling it. Fast forward to 2025, and the opportunity presented itself again. Let me tell you, I’m chuffed I seized it.

It was a delightful 90-minute journey that began in the rain, offered us a bit more precipitation, and an array of displays, interactive elements, and mesmerising light shows synchronised with hauntingly beautiful music that genuinely brightened my day.

The journey encompassed the twirling, sparkling fountains, Christmas Cascades, and Bubblicious – an interactive row of giant cylinders radiating neon colours that we all took turns tapping to select our preferred hue.

We encountered a neon grove and Dancing Dandelions – bursts of colour illuminating the gently swaying trees on a dark autumn evening.

Two installations by Welsh artists – Abercynon’s Ruby June Walker and Cardiff’s Patrick Richards – were truly stunning. Ruby’s Golau y Gaeaf (Winter’s Light) was a standout gothic window showcasing the traditions and symbols of a Welsh Christmas, including Mari Lwyd and Sion Corn.

It added a touch of folklore to the event, alongside one of my favourite two installations – the dragon, but more on that shortly.

Patrick’s Annwyl Siôn Corn (Dear Father Christmas) was a magical post box encircled by floating letters, inspired by children penning their wish lists to Father Christmas – a captivating sight amidst the natural surroundings.

The light installations that captivated me the most, made me marvel the most – allowed me to lose myself in the moment, were the Water Willows, lights cascading down the towering willow trees and dripping off their weeping branches. The sporadic specks of colourful lights transformed into a wave of colour, all synchronised with subtle, ethereal classical music.

As a die-hard Stranger Things fan, I was captivated by the enchanting lights and mystical aura of the willow stop. If I had a tree and some spare cash for the electricity bill, I’d love to recreate this spectacle in my own garden.

I’ve replayed the video of the Water Willows multiple times. Adding a dash of elegance were the chandeliers at Crystal Avenue – when viewed head-on, they resemble a massive snowflake. Simply stunning.

Walking through Delilah Ddraig’s lair, the ground was speckled with soft, glowing red-orange lights, casting a delightfully eerie glow on the final few stops before we ventured into the night.

It was an evening filled with festive cheer in the great outdoors. There’s something special about feeling raindrops on your face, tucking into a generous pot of cinnamon apple and pear crumble with custard, and witnessing the unbridled excitement of a thrilled six-year-old.

While not everyone may have a little one to accompany them, I believe those carrying a sense of wonder will thoroughly enjoy their visit to Christmas at Bute Park, regardless of their company.

Christmas at Bute Park is open until 31 December. For more details, including ticket purchases and information on inclusive evenings, visit www.christmasatbutepark.com.

THE Cotswolds are one of the most popular spots in the country, especially during the summer months.

Yet some beautiful villages are being inundated with tourists – so a new tourist charge is set to be introduced.

It’s estimated that over 35million people head to the Cotswolds every year to see villages adorned with pretty cobbled cottages and quaint shops.

But the flood of tourists does mean that locals suffer and so a new visitor levy is being put in place at certain destinations to benefit those who live in the area.

One of these places is the village of Bourton-on-the-Water which is set to introduce a new parking fee – and a change to free parking hours.

Parking will be free before 10am at Rissington Road car park, rather than 8a.

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However, charges will apply until 8pm, rather than 6pm, so tourists will have to pay for an extra two hours later if staying the whole day.

The reason for the change in timings is to give residents easier access to village services in the morning and “accommodate the growing trend” of visitors staying later into the evening.

Paul Hodgkinson, cabinet member for health, culture and visitor experience, said: “I know first-hand the challenges the village faces during the tourist season.”

“This new approach is designed to give something back to residents and boost the money going back into the village.”

He added that earlier access would provide support to local shops and services.

Bourton-on-the-Water has had a tourism levy in place since 2021 – where some of the money made from parking fees goes towards local projects.

Cllr Paul Hodgkinson, cabinet member for health, culture, and visitor experience, added: “The levy in Bourton has funded important initiatives, including extra parking enforcement and the appointment of a village warden which are helping to alleviate some of the impacts of tourism on the village.”

Another village, Stow-on-the-Wold, which is just 8 minutes away, is also looking at doing the same.

Hodgkinson said that new charge would to bring “similar benefits for residents”.

The new Cotswold District Council strategy is due to run from this year until 2028.

Other measures include making parking in the district sustainable.

Plus, here is an English village that visitors call ‘a Cotswolds dream’ which has two of the country’s best hotels.

And check out this stunning Cotswolds village with its own sandy beach and lagoon – miles from the English seaside.

One Sun Writer says this Cotswolds town is always missed in favour of other prettier villages…

Deputy Travel Editor Kara Godfrey said: “My hometown in the Cotswolds is often passed over in favour of its more glamorous trendy neighbours. But that could soon be able to change after one of its hotels was recently named one of the best in the world.

“The World’s 50 Best Hotels announced last week named everything from five-star beach resorts to thousand-pound-a-night city stays. And while I’ve been lucky enough to stay in a few – such as The Peninsular in Hong Kong – one that also made the list was Estelle Manor.

“One of five in the UK to have made the list, the Witney hotel is now putting the town on the map. Having only opened in 2023, Estelle Manor has boomed in popularity.

“Earlier this summer, Eve Jobs – the daughter of Steve Jobs – celebrated a four day wedding event at the cost of £5million. Other celeb sightings include Kate Moss, as well as Alan Carr and Molly-Mae.

“Set on 85 acres of a parkland estate, the hotel is the sister to the private members club Maison Estelle in London. Some of the 108 rooms are in the Grade II listed house, while there are also Woodland Cabins.

“The hotel’s Eynsham Baths opened in last summer, while activities include archery, axe throwing, air rifle shooting and clay pigeon shooting.

“The town of Witney itself is worth a visit, and is often much quieter than its nearby neighbour Burford. There is the free-to-visit Witney Museum, while kids will love Cogges Manor Farm with pygmy goats to see.

“Grab some tea and cake at Hunters Cafe, before shopping at many of the independent stores such as Witney Antiques and Lily’s Attic.

“If you see huge queues, they are likely at Sandwich de Witney, a sandwich shop with overstuffed baguettes that always sells out by lunch.”

WHEN it comes to the world’s tallest Christmas tree, you might think it would be in one of the Nordic countries – but you’d be wrong.

In fact the world’s biggest living Christmas tree is right here in the UK.

In Northumberland on the National Trust Cragside Estate there is an enormous 147ft Christmas tree.

To put that into perspective, it’s around the size of a 14-storey building, or double the size of the Angel of the North.

It’s officially a Guinness World Record holder too, and this year it was awarded the title of being the ‘world’s tallest bedded Christmas tree’.

That means it’s still living rather than having been cut down.

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To be counted as a Christmas tree, the fir has to be decorated as such, so on it there are 800metres of lights, which is 1,320 multi-coloured bulbs.

And for further decoration, there are two huge purple bows measuring in at 6ft each.

With the tree being so high, these were all placed using a cherry picker.

If you’re a fan of baubles, sadly this tree doesn’t have any – but that was due to health and safety concerns if there was bad weather.

Posting the fact that its Christmas tree is now a Guinness World Record holder, the comments were flooded with support.

One wrote “Now that’s impressive! Congratulations” another added “Wow Beautiful! We love Cragside but this makes it even more special”.

The record for the tallest ever Christmas tree belongs to one put up in 1950 in Northgate Shopping Centre in Seattle in the United States.

Not bedded into the ground like the one in Cragside, the Douglas fir was a whopping 212ft tall.

The impressive Cragside tree sits on the National Trust Estate in Northumberland among the gardens.

Cragside is a pretty Victorian country estate and is famous for being the former home of inventor Lord William Armstrong.

Thanks to its owner, Cragside House is considered one of Britain’s ‘original smart homes‘.

It was the first house to be lit up by hydroelectricity – using man-made lakes to power generators for lights and phones.

Visitors can explore Cragside House and gardens during the Christmas period (November 29 to January 4, 2026) from £16.50 per adult, or £8.30 for children (ages 5-17).

Film fans will recognise Cragside after it appeared in a well-known movie franchise, Jurassic World Fallen Kingdom.

Cragside House served as the set location for Lockwood Manor, where heroes Owen (played by Chris Pratt) and Claire (Bryce Dallas Howard) attempt to stop a genetically engineered dinosaur from being sold at auction.

It wasn’t just the main house that appeared in the movie, Cragside Garden Cottage, found in the heart of the estate, was used as the backdrop for several scenes in the film.

The cosy cottage has three bedrooms and sleeps up to six.

It’s still available for a December booking – a three-night stay between December 8 and 11, 2025 starts from £909, which is £50.50pppn.

Next door is Cragside Park Cottage which has the same rates but a different style of decor inside.

A stay in either gets you free access to the Cragside gardens, house and woodlands.

For more on Christmas, one travel writer discovered a fairytale city that looks like it’s from a Disney movie with cosy Christmas markets and hot chocolate by the pint.

Plus, the UK Christmas market named one of Europe’s best – with over 100 stalls, live bands and a singing festive moose.

EUROSTAR has relaunched their winter snow trains this winter.

Eurostar Snow is their ski train that launches during the peak season to connect passengers to popular resorts.

Destinations include Chambéry, Albertville, Moutiers, Aime-La-Plagne, Landry, and Bourg St Maurice.

Anyone arriving at Bourg St Maurice will find coaches to resorts including Val Thorens, Val d’Isère, Courchevel, La Tania, Tignes, Meribel, or Les Menuires.

Brits will have to travel from London St Pancras to Lille, and make a simple change there.

The trains operate every Saturday morning at 9:01am, with the first train departing on December 20.

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The last train of the season from London to the ski resorts will be on March 28.

The return trips take place on Sunday, departing Bourg-Saint-Maurice at 10.54am and 1.45pm until April 4.

The journey takes around eight hours from London, with the return journey around nine hours.

Passengers can take a lot of luggage onboard too, which is great news for skiiers.

This includes two pieces of luggage up to 85cm, as well as one piece of hand luggage and either skis or a snowboard.

There is also food and drink at the Eurostar Cafe, and free WiFi onboard although can be very patchy in the tunnels.

Passenger can even bring their own booze onboard but there are limits – one 750ml bottle of wine or four 440ml beers or ciders.

All passport checks are done in the UK so you can head straight to the resort when you arrive.

And if you’re wondering about passport checks, they’re all done in the UK. You can just grab your bags and skis and step straight off the train and onto a coach.

Eurostar once had train routes to other places in Europe.

Eurostar once travelled to Marseille, taking six hours, although this was scrapped in Marseille.

A direct route from the UK also went to Lyon, taking four and half hours.

This ran four times a week in the summer from 2002 to 2014 before becoming permanent, only to be scrapped in 2018.

The UK to Avignon was scrapped in 2020 after 18 years, while direct trains to Disneyland Paris have also been scrapped.

The only two French routes remaining are Paris and Lille.

Here are some new routes Eurostar could soon be launching.

SHORT term holiday rentals like Airbnb are to be banned in a popular tourist area in Europe next year.

Budapest has confirmed that the holiday rentals will be axed across the 6th district.

The district, Terézváros, is called Budapest’s Broadway, being home to a number of theatres as well as the Hungarian State Opera.

It is also home to Andrássy Avenue, a huge boulevard visited by tourists that is popular shopping street with restaurants and cafes.

The new rules will be introduced from January 1, 2026.

It could also be eventually rolled out to other districts.

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Some have slammed the new rules, with one telling local media that “no-one will win with this ban” while others expressed fears it will only make hotel prices go up.

Despite opposition, the government ruled that the ban could go ahead.

In a statement, the mayor of Terézváros Tamás Soproni said: “The Supreme Court ruled today that Terézváros’s Airbnb regulation is not illegal.

“The court rejected the Government Office’s motion, meaning that the ban on short-term rentals is lawful and the regulation can come into force on January 1, 2026.”

The mayor of the 6th district added: “There are buildings where 50 per cent of all the apartments are listed as Airbnb.

“Local citizens are being driven out of the downtown area and replaced by tourists – this is not the way forward.

“If we go on like this, all downtown areas will look like a kind of Disneyland, having the same chains, attractions, restaurants – and with no local residents left.”

Tourism rentals have grown by 80 per cent since 2020, meaning there are now more Airbnbs than hotel rooms.

On average, around 40 per cent of tourists stay in a holiday rental in Budapest – higher than the average in Europe of 28 per cent.

While holiday rentals will be banned, hotels and B&Bs will not be affected.

Budapest is one of the more popular cities with Brits, who often visit for its spas and cheap holidays.

The country saw record tourism last year, with 18million visiting Hungary, a third of which visited Budapest.

This was up 24 per cent compared to 2023, meaning a faster growth than places like Barcelona.

Brits are one of the most popular tourist markets, along with Germany, Italy and the US.

And lots of cities struggling with overtourism are introducing similar holiday rental rules.

One of the strictest is Barcelona, which is set to ban all Airbnb rentals across the entire city by 2028.

Back in May, the Spanish government called for more than 65,000 holiday rentals on Airbnb to be removed.

Madrid court found that nearly 5,000 rentals in the city would be withdrawn from being on sale.

In Seville, short term home rentals can’t be more than 10 per cent of all homes in each neighbourhood.

And Majorca is stopping any new applications for holiday rentals.

Here’s a city in Europe that is banning outdoor tables at cafes and restaurants in the popular tourist areas.