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This castle in Wales has been compared to the Leaning Tower of Pisa and is said to be ‘like stepping into a giant storybook filled with knights and kings’

Brimming with history and overflowing with character, this Welsh castle has captured the hearts of visitors who’ve compared its splendour to some of the globe’s most iconic landmarks.

Caerphilly Castle is a medieval fortress dating back to the 13th century and, after a two-year restoration, has reopened its doors to the public. Visitors can now wander through the Great Hall and inner castle ward whilst exploring cutting-edge digital exhibitions inside. It was originally built by Gilbert de Clare as part of his strategy to maintain control of Glamorgan – then Wales’s most populous and industrialised county.

With the Prince of Wales’s influence rapidly expanding, he needed to establish his authority swiftly. To achieve this, construction began in 1268 on what became the nation’s largest castle and second only to Windsor Castle across the entire UK.

Spanning more than 30 acres with massive walls and gatehouses, alongside extensive water defences, it’s fair to say his ambitions were realised. One visitor shared their impressions on TripAdvisor, saying: “A sprawling site that is quite impressive.

“The large site minimises crowding, so you should be able to enjoy the site at your leisure – we certainly did. Limited amount of interiors remaining but still well worth the visit.”

To grasp just how enormous this fortress truly is, it’s three times larger than the Principality Stadium, Wales’ rugby headquarters. Many have likened it to Italy’s iconic Leaning Tower of Pisa, thanks to its own tilting tower which makes it all the more distinctive.

One visitor said: “Caerphilly Castle is like stepping into a giant storybook filled with knights and kings. From the moment you lay eyes on its towering walls, impressive moat and imposing towers, you are transported back in time.”

Another highlighted the tower as their standout feature, saying: “This is one of the most beautiful castles in the UK. It is very pretty, especially the leaning tower.”

Located in South Wales, Caerphilly Castle sits just 30 minutes by car from Cardiff city centre. It’s also conveniently positioned less than an hour from Swansea and within 90 minutes of Gloucester.

Entry to the castle is reasonably priced, with adult tickets at £11.90 and family passes at £38.10, whilst disabled visitors and children under five can enter free of charge. Commenting on the admission cost, one guest remarked: “I have paid more for far less at other mansion houses, etc, and this was so worth the entrance fee.”

The average price of a house in this seaside town is much lower than the national average, making it a property hotspot for Brits looking to live by the coast

Seaside living remains a cherished aspiration for many people who dream of leisurely strolls along the beach after a hard day at work. Yet for many, this remains nothing more than a tantalising fantasy that stays frustratingly beyond their grasp.

Northumberland’s Newbiggin-By-The-Sea certainly seems to be riding a wave of popularity at the moment – and if house hunters leave it much longer they might just be priced out. The most affordable property currently advertised on Rightmove within the North East town is a three-bed end of terrace property on Lynwood Avenue, listed for auction with a guide price of £40,000. Meanwhile, another three-bedroom house on the same street is listed for sale at £69,950. Whether you’re planning a move or just curious about local property prices, our interactive map shows the house prices in each area of the country.

The typical selling price in the town stands at merely £129,063, which represents considerably less than half Britain’s average property cost of £282,000, according to statistics from last year, as per the Express. Lawrence Jones works as a refuse collector for Newcastle City Council and became enchanted with the town four years ago. He lives with his wife Michelle Jones, having moved from Shiremoor.

He said: “We sold our house and the idea was to move to Durham – but Newbiggin was the only place we could get a rental. Twenty years ago I wouldn’t have been impressed as it was a little bit rough.”

However, Lawrence now treasures his new residence so deeply that within three months of arriving, he purchased a property which he claims has rocketed in value. He added: “You walk along the promenade and everybody speaks to you. It is so friendly.”

Ian and Sally Boot are from Nottingham and were in Newbiggin for the day, visiting their son who lives in nearby Blyth. Both agree if their daughter was to also move to the area they’d take the plunge in a flash. Retired engineer Ian said: “I think it’s nice – there’s free parking, a new cafe and it’s nice up the coast in Amble and Bamburgh. Retired civil servant Sally said: “It’s quiet and that’s why we have come today. We thought we would have a quiet day and it’s nice and peaceful.

Marion Longstaff, has run business Pretty Things By The Sea since 2018 after relocating from Windermere in the Lakes. She said: “It is still cheaper than the prices in Amble – it’s a hidden gem. Southerners are definitely taking an interest. After lockdown they were coming up for a break – one couple [I met] came up for a long weekend and fell in love. They sold up their property but haven’t found a property they want here yet as they were gazumped.”

Marion says she will never leave the little seaside enclave and says the coastline is “just my medicine. ” Fellow local business owner Annie, a former mechanical engineer, originally from Manchester, has lived in the town for 35 years. She said: “I just like village life and everybody knows everybody. Everybody is very, very friendly. People come on holiday and then they love it here.”

Andy Brown runs Jackson’s Jewellers and More on the main shopping stretch which is packed with independent shops. He said: “I think the village itself has evolved and people should take note. There is a large variety of shops, all independent, as the rents and rates are all reasonable. The place is also kept as clean as a whistle and the people are beautiful.”

Andy said a few decades ago the area was perceived as “rough” but it “always had massive potential” that is finally being realised. Dawn Duddridge, a sales negotiator at local estate agent Rickard, says the market in Newbiggin is booming.

She said: “Properties there don’t hang around much, especially on the seafront. “”Often people who have been here on holiday come up from the south and buy a house outright – and have still got a decent amount in the bank.”

The town offers a bit of everything to those who still want to live within easy reach of the capital

Buckinghamshire is a popular choice for commuters, with many of its towns serving as homes to those who travel into London for work. The rise of remote working led to a significant migration away from the capital.

Despite its name, the London Underground extends well beyond the city limits, serving numerous towns outside London. One such Tube stop brings both tourists and commuters to the charming town of Amersham.

It’s no surprise that the town, popular with both groups, is frequently recognised as one of the best places to live in the country.

A brief tour around the town makes it easy to understand why. But a deeper exploration reveals even more reasons.

Nestled in the Chiltern Hills in Buckinghamshire, Amersham is divided into the Old Town and Amersham-on-the-Hill. The Old Town boasts buildings that are 700 years old and, unsurprisingly, a rich history.

Expect to see quaint cottages and cobbled streets. It resembles a typical English village, complete with a 13th-century church and an abundance of pubs.

Old Amersham also offers boutiques, spas, historical sites and beautiful areas for walks and exploration. Meanwhile, Amersham-on-the-Hill is known for its modernity, featuring a lively high street and the Tube station.

While it may not be as picturesque, residents still enjoy tree-lined streets. Property guru Phil Spencer of Move IQ dubbed Amersham one of the top commuter towns for London.

However, this charming town doesn’t come cheap. The average property in Amersham will set you back £750,000 – making some parts of London seem like a bargain.

But the ease of travel from London to Amersham makes it an ideal commuter spot for those Londoners seeking respite from the capital’s hustle and bustle. Amersham Underground station falls under Zone 9 on the network.

There are 18 stops between Amersham and King’s Cross, with the Metropolitan Line terminating at Aldgate. A 55-minute journey on the Metropolitan line will whisk you from Amersham to King’s Cross.

The service operates twice an hour, with the first train from Amersham to London departing at 5.30am and the last return leaving around midnight. And if you’ve had your fill of the Tube, you can opt to catch a train to Marylebone which takes a mere 32 minutes.

For those driving to Amersham, the M40 will get you there in just an hour.

A British woman named decided to travel all the way to Foshan in China in order to buy all the furniture she’d need for her future home after hearing it was cheaper than the UK

As the USA issued new trade tariffs on products from across the world at the start of 2025, with China being hit with a 20% tariff, which was an increase from the 10% tariff it had been before, Chinese wholesale sellers took to social media to urge people to shop with them directly.

While these tariffs didn’t directly affect the UK, it didn’t stop British social media users to see the videos that Chinese sellers were making about being able to by luxury products to a fraction of brands’ prices directly from the factories and wholesalers. This includes everything from designer clothes to furniture and home goods.

Doctor Shirley Bekker was one of many viewers who saw these videos on TikTok, and decided to book a spontaneous shopping trip to China in May 2025 in order to buy all the furniture she’d need for her future flat.

As she arrived in Foshan in China, a city known for its high manufacturing output to the world, having 30 towns specialised in particular industries, including furniture, machinery, and beverages, Shirley decided to document her shopping trip on TikTok to show people the big savings she was making.

While Shirley herself hadn’t been convinced that travelling all the way to Foshan to buy furniture would be worth it, she quickly changed her mind when she found her ‘dream’ coffee table.

“It’s built on a solid wood platform, real glass on top, it’s really heavy, really durable, and just looks so luxe,” she said as she showed off the table, which also included wooded geometric details under the glass.

While it looked luxurious and expensive, she revealed that she’d only paid £150 for it, saying it cost her less than her HD frontal weave.

In her next video, she shared that she’d gotten a wooden dining table for £80, as well as customised chairs to go with it that matched the luxurious sofa she’d gotten for £340. She also made sure to get lamps and art to decorate her future how with as well.

While all of these sums do add up quickly, as she got home, Shirley decided to make a presentation to share how much money she’d saved after finding similar items sold in shops around the UK.

Starting off with the £80 wooden dining table she’d bought in China, she’d found an almost identical table being sold in B&Q for £349.99. While the import costs aren’t included in this comparison, Shirley saved £269.99 just from the table alone. Meanwhile, the two chairs she’d gotten for £65 each cost a whopping £990 each if she’d bought them in the UK.

Shirley continued to go through the comparisons for all the different items she’d bought, only to come to the conclusion to how much she’d save.

“So in conclusion, you flew to all the way to China with nothing but a Monzo, Google Translate, and praised hands. You ran around for six days and bought enough stuff to furnish a bedroom, balcony, renovate a bathroom, and have enough dinnerware to host the royal family,” the voiceover said.

It continued: “Had you stayed in the UK and bought all the same things, this little venture would have cost you a grand total of £21,800. But all because you took the plunge and bought it all in China instead, you spent a grand total of £3,690.56.”

While these calculations did not include the shipping costs to get her furniture from China to the UK, Shirley still saved herself a whopping £18,109.04, which will most likely be more than enough to cover the shipping costs.

A British man who travelled to Canada to see his wife for the first time was left amazed by the size of the houses in the Toronto area – but many locals were quick to tell him ‘the truth’

Rayhaan, a Brit who recently jetted off to Canada to meet his partner, has gone viral on social media after sharing his first impressions of Canadian homes, which he found astonishingly different from those back in the UK.

The astonished traveller took to TikTok to post a video from the car as he headed to his wife’s home in the Toronto area – a clip that’s now racked up over 1.4 million views. Used to the more modestly-sized homes in the UK, Rayhaan couldn’t help but express his amazement at the size of the local houses during his drive as they travelled through a residential neighbourhood.

“F**k me are these not mansions?” Rayhaan said at the start of his viral TikTok video, as the camera pans over several grand detached properties boasting multiple storeys and integrated garages.

As they continue driving by the residential neighbourhood, he stated: “That’s a mansion in England. Then, oh, another mansion. You’re telling me these ain’t mansions?”

In disbelief, Rayhaan questions his partner behind the wheel, who quickly denied his statement that the homes were mansions, prompting him to say: “What do you mean no? Look at the state of these houses. You’re telling me they ain’t mansions? […] F**king hell. Mansion ones.”

** Caution: The accompanying video contains strong language. **

As they continued to drive past through the neighbourhood, they continued to pass several similar houses that were all large detached homes with built in single or double garages, multiple storages, and included a large driveway and front gardens. Some homes also had porches that wrapped around the side of the home.

“This is a madness, I’m telling you, yeah. The houses here are insane,” Rayhaan said to his viewers. “I just can’t get over it. This is just f**ked, it’s just stupid. It’s absolutely stupid. What is going on bro?”.

“I don’t know why she’d come to England,” he said.

Viewers quickly chimed in with their thoughts, with many pointing out that these were not typical Canadian homes.

“I’m canadian, those…are NOT standard houses, those people are wealthy,” one viewer insisted, while another added: “Those are definitely NOT average middle class houses.

“They’re priced like mansions now so let’s just call them mansions and be done with it,” another commented wryly.

A British expat also weighed in, saying: “As a British man in Canada I can confirm this is true… but after living here for five years it’s sad to say that these are just average homes with million $ price tags which is ridiculous and what makes it worse is that these homes are made out of cardboard literally not even worth that much at max they should be $350 K..”

A fellow Briton remarked: “In South England they build a house like that, divide it into 4 terraced houses and sell them for 400k each.”