Section: Travel:News Travel

SABADELL in Spain is often referred to as ‘Catalan Manchester’, because it has a textile heritage with many of its chimneys still maintained today.

In fact, the city was once the largest producer of wool textiles in the whole of Spain.

Today, the city is known for being a centre for business, innovation and knowledge.

The city sits on the banks of the River Ripoll and in the old town visitors can see the remains of many historic facades.

Located just 30 minutes from Barcelona, it makes a great alternative compared with the bustling city.

One of the things to do in Sabadell is head to Parc Catalunya, where visitors can ride a boat on the lake, go skateboarding or bike riding.

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Alternatively, you could head to Iglesia de Sant Felix – a church built in the Baroque style with three bells.

There is also the Mercado Central de Sabadell, which is the central market in Sabadell and is a great spot to pick up some souvenirs from local sellers.

The market has been used as a trading hub for centuries and today still is.

One recent visitor said: “Beautiful building outside and inside. There is a great selection of meat, fish, vegetables and breads.

“There are also some stalls offering cooked food and other ready to eat choices are also available.”

Another visitor said: “Very spacious inside allowing traders plenty of space to show off their fresh produce. The fruits stalls are eye catching.

“I had a cafe con leche and chocolate croissant at the bustling tapas bar.”

Another place to head to is Los Lavaderos de la Font Nova – these historic laundry rooms are part of the city’s heritage, but have been preserved and today tourists can see where people used to do their laundry in the 1830s.

Also make sure to head to Masia de Can Deu, which is a historic estate with a museum, rescued church and even a small farm.

Sabadell also makes a great base for heading off hiking as there are several trails nearby.

If you happen to be in Sabadell in September, make sure to visit Fiesta Mayor, where the city transforms into a lively destination with lots of music, fireworks, parades and carnival rides.

Or if you are in the city in December, head to City Hall, where for the first 24 days of the month an advent calendar is brought to life with a new light shining each day.

The annual tradition has a main character called El Llaminer, who is a fairytale-like figure made of sweets, who sings and tells a different story each evening.

Across the city, there are numerous places to grab a bite to eat including Maximmus Pizzeria Napoletana, which is the best rated spot on TripAdvisor.

The restaurant serves up freshly made pizzas, including ‘The peasant woman’ with sausage, artichoke, parmesan and oil for €16 (£13.97).

Alternatively, you could grab a ‘Quattro Formaggi’. which features four different cheese including parmesan, mozzarella, gorgonzola and provolone for €16.50 (£14.41).

There are a number of places to grab a tipple as well, such as These Wild Geese, Irish pub, where a cocktail will set you back just €7.30 (£6.37).

There are just a handful of hotels to choose from across the city, including Urban Sabadell which costs from £65 per night for two people.

Return flights to Barcelona in January cost from £34 per person.

Then to get to Sabadell, you can jump on a train or bus which takes about 40 minutes.

In other news from Spain, one Spanish city known as the foodie capital with one of Europe’s best beaches is getting new British Airways flights.

Plus, these are 5 of the best Spanish foodie destinations with direct UK flights and cheap holiday packages.

AN iconic tourist attraction in Europe is set to introduce its first ever entry fee – but only for tourists.

The historic Trevi Fountain in Rome dates back to 1762, built to provide both water to citizens and to show off the Catholic Church’s wealth.

But new plans could see it charge tourists to visit from next year.

The fountain – while always drawing large crowds – has always been open to the public.

Around 5.3million tourists visited the fountain in the first half of 2025.

Proposed plans will enforce a €2 (£1.76) entry for holidaymakers, with a separate entrance from citizens

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Locals will not have to pay a fee to visit it.

It is suggested the rules could be going ahead as soon as January 7.

However, Rome‘s city council said they were considering the new fee but that there was no confirmation it would be going ahead next month.

The new rule has divided people with some backing it in the hopes to reduce crowds.

One person said on social media: “Good idea. I tried walking through the area last November and could barely move, so many people.”

However, most said it would “ruin the charm” of the fountain.

Others said: “Nothing like taking away from the beautiful view of the fountain.”

Another agreed: “More companies making money!”

A third said: “How does one completely ruin and destroy the beauty of historical Italian architecture and monuments? Stick an ugly turnstile entrance and barriers in front of it.”

Most people visit it to throw a coin in, with legend saying one coin to return to Rome, two for love and three for marriage.

All of the coins are donated to a local charity, with thousands taken every years.

And it isn’t the only place introducing fees does tourists.

The famous courtyard and balcony of Romeo and Juliet in Verona is introducing strict new fees.

Tourists will have to pay €12 (£10.54) to enter – previously free – and only be allowed to visit the balcony for 60 seconds.

The museum will reduce capacity to just 100 visitors at a time.

And Venice charges day trippers to visit the famous city – here’s how much.

A PLAN to expand one UK airport has been approved – meaning it could become the second busiest in the country.

In 2024, the airport saw almost 30million passengers, but with the new plans could see 20million more.

The airport in question is London Stansted in Essex which has plans for more flights, but no structural changes.

London Stansted could rise to become the UK’s second busiest airport, rather than the fourth, after councillors agreed to increase its annual passenger numbers to 51million.

The owner, Manchester Airports Group’s, latest plan is to increase passenger capacity at the airport to between 48 and 51million people per year by 2040.

In comparison, London Gatwick sees between 40 to 43million passengers each year.

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While you might think that the airport would need an additional runway, there are no plans to build one.

There won’t be a second runway, or exceed the airport’s limit of 274,000 flights a year.

The way it will increase its passengers is by accommodating larger planes.

On December 17, 2025, Uttlesford District Council’s Planning Committee ruled in favour of the application.

The airport currently serves flight across 40 countries, and is already working on an expansion costing a £1.1billion.

This work that started in 2025 is expected to be finished in two to three years and includes more seating areas and new shops, bars and restaurants.

It also includes a larger security hall, more check-in desks and a new baggage reclaim carousel.

Another London airport preparing for expansion is the busiest in the country; London Heathrow.

The £33billion plan for Heathrow Airport to create a third runway was given the green light earlier this year.

And ministers backed plans from the airports owners that would see the M25 moved to make way for the addition.

The Heathrow proposals involve building a 3,500-metre runway and a new M25 tunnel and bridges to be built 130 metres west of the existing motorway.

It is estimated to cost £33 billion, including £1.5 billion on re-routing the M25.

This would see nearby villages like Longford and Harmondsworth demolished.

It will see Heathrow’s capacity increase to 756,000 flights and 150million passengers per year.

For more on airports, here are two major UK airports to be much easier to travel to – after thousands caught out with strict £100 fines.

Plus, this mega £27billion airport set to open in 2032 as ‘Heathrow and Dubai rival’ reveals new name.

IF you want the Croatia holiday without the crowds, then you need to ditch the popular islands for their quieter neighbours.

One of those is Korčula, right by Hvar and Dubrovnik.

Yet despite being easy to get to – via a short boat from the mainland – it is often overlooked by tourists.

The main place to visit is Korcula Town, nicknamed ‘Little Dubrovnik’.

It’s here where you’ll find the Marco Polo museum, with rumours that the famous figure was born on the island, when it was part of the Republic of Venice in 1254.

Make sure to grab a glass of Grk too – a white wine made on the island that you can’t get anywhere else.

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If you love a gimmick, head up the Massimo Bar, which is on the rooftop of a 15th-century turret.

Guests can climb by ladder, before their drinks are served to them byb pulley system.

Otherwise if you are more of a beer fan, pints can be found for under £3.

You might even spot some Moreska, a local sword dance on the island.

But the beaches are also worth a visit, not just for some time to swim.

Earlier this year, loggerhead turtles were spotted hatching on Pržina Beach on the island, before they headed out to see.

Even without the turtle spotting, the beach is one of the largest and most popular on the island, especially families.

And if you want some more of the luxury holiday lifestyle, head over to Korčula’s Vrink islet.

Accessible by water taxi, this is where you spot some of the celebs hanging out.

Everyone from Beyoncé and Jay-Z to Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson have previously been spotted there.

Jet2 has a number of holidays for under £700 each on the island too, which come with seven nights and return flights.

Otherwise you can fly to Dubrovnik for around £15 with Ryanair, followed by a two hour ferry ride to the island.

Here is another Croatia island to add to your travel list.

And we’ve rounded up 20 of the best islands in Europe which have direct flights.

ANOTHER airport has confirmed that it will be increasing its drop off fees – and will be the highest across the entire COUNTRY.

From January 6, 2026, London Gatwick will charge passengers being dropped off the new fee of £10.

Currently charging £7, the £3 increase (a 40 per cent jump) will apply to all drivers using the drop off zone, excluding Blue Badge holders.

The airport said it was “not a decision they took lightly”.

However, they cited reasons such as the “doubling of business rates” as one of the reasons for the increase in cost.

The airport first introduced a drop off charge in 2021, of £5, which increased to £6 in 2024.

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It was increased only earlier this year back in May to £7, with the new increase coming just six months later.

The fee is almost as much as some of the cheapest flights on offer.

Wizz Air currently has London Gatwick flights for just £13.99 while easyJet has £14.99 flights.

A Gatwick spokesperson said passengers can use the free shuttle bus if they are dropped of in the long stay car park.

They added: “We also have excellent public transport connectivity at the airport, with passengers able to connect directly with more than 120 train stations.

“Many local bus routes serve the airport 24  hours a day, seven days a week.”

It isn’t the only airport that is raising costs.

London Heathrow has confirmed that the drop off fee will increase from £6 to £7 on January 1.

The last drop off increase at London Heathrow was in December 2024, from £5 to £6.

It is also introducing a strict 10-minute drop off time, with drivers charged £80 if they go over.

And London City, the last of the London airports to allow free drop offs, will be introducing a new charge in 2026 as well.

The airport explained: “The charge will help London City meet its wider sustainability goals by reducing the number of vehicles travelling to and from the airport, supporting efforts to lower congestion, reduce emissions and improve air quality in the surrounding area.”

Around 10 per cent of passengers arrive by car, with another 14 per cent using taxis.