spots

The family-friendly holiday park operator will be offering accommodation at two new Spanish parks, which both feature direct beach access, pools, and plenty to keep the kids entertained

If you’re already dreaming of soaking up the sunshine in 2026 on a summer holiday, Eurocamp is adding two new parks in a sunny Spanish hotspot that are perfect for families.

Alannia Els Prats and Alannia Costa Dorada are both set on long stretches of sandy beach on the sunny Costa Dorada region of Spain, which roughly translates to ‘Golden Coast’. About 90 minutes south of Barcelona, these parks both have direct beach access and a whole host of activities to enjoy, so you can choose whether you want to fit in lots of fun adventures or simply relax on the beach.

Both parks are located conveniently close to Reus Airport, which is served by budget airlines including easyJet, Jet2, and Ryanair, with plenty of flights from across the UK in the summer months, so you can often pick up a cheap flight.

Alannia Els Prats offers a pool complex with a lagoon-style pool, waterslides and a splash zone for little ones. There’s also a free kids club for children aged 4-12, with plenty of activities to keep them entertained. Families can enjoy a game of padel, tennis, or mini-golf, while adults can relax in the spa with a jacuzzi, sauna, and steam room.

You’re also just a 15-minute drive from PortAventura World, Spain’s largest theme park, which includes Ferrariland, Caribe Aquatic Park and much more. Or from nearby Tarragona, you can take a train to Barcelona for a day trip, which takes about an hour and 15 minutes.

Prices for a week’s stay can be from £531 for a party of up to four guests in May half term, or from £1405.95 for the summer holidays.

Meanwhile Alannia Costa Dorada has three pools, including a jacuzzi and a splash zone for little kids. Its spa area includes a fitness centre and jacuzzi, and there’s a soft play area, badminton, mini golf and more. The park’s kids club is free for 5-12 year olds, and is a great way to keep them entertained while you relax.

Prices for a week’s stay start from £416.36 per party of up to six guests in May half term, or from £1261.12 for the summer holidays.

As with most Eurocamp resorts, you’ll find restaurants and bars at both camps, with family-friendly dining options. Alannia Els Prats has a snack bar with sea views, so you can enjoy a beer as you watch the sun go down.

But the fun doesn’t stop at night, both parks also offer evening entertainment suitable for all ages. This can include live music, themed shows, and of course, the ever-popular minidiscos where kids can make new friends.

Accommodation is in two or three bedroom holiday homes, meaning you aren’t stuck sharing a hotel room with the kids. Depending on the accommodation you choose, there are often facilities such as air conditioning, private decking areas, and BBQs, so you can make it a home away from home. Many camps also offer free hire on baby essentials such as cots, high chairs, and bed rails, making it easier to pack light.

You can find out more on eurocamp.co.uk.

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The World Airline Awards rank the best airlines for each continent, and its top list for Europe includes a number of surprises, including a strong ranking for British Airways and a winner that few have heard of

The World Airline Awards have published its list of the Best Airlines in Europe, which includes a number of big names. However, popular budget airlines such as Ryanair and easyJet failed to make the top 10.

Skytrax, whose site allows users to post airline and airport reviews, put together the list based on customer surveys that included rankings for a number of factors from staff friendliness to cabin cleanliness, seat comfort, and even the quality of the airline’s website.

At number one is Turkish Airlines, which is the flag carrier for Turkey. This airline offers several routes from the UK to Turkish destinations including Istanbul, Ankara, and Antalya from bases in London Heathrow, London Gatwick, Manchester, Birmingham, and Edinburgh.

Certifying it as a four-star airline, according to its own ranking system, Skytrax said: “Turkish Airlines delivers a good experience to customers, and for short-haul travel the airlines provides a superior experience versus many other legacy carriers in Europe, and benchmarks well against Middle Eastern competitors.”

Another winner was Air France, which operates from London Heathrow, Manchester, Edinburgh, and Birmingham, with destinations including Paris and other major cities.

UK-based British Airways managed to clinch fourth place, while Virgin Atlantic was the next UK airline on the list, taking sixth place. The latter flies from London Heathrow, Manchester, and Edinburgh, and offers services to far-flung destinations such as the USA, Canada, Korea, and India.

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Recently, a study revealed the airline with the worst legroom, and the results were surprising. Which? looked at 12 popular airline and worked out how many inches passengers got for their money.

At the top of the list was Aer Lingus offering 31-32 inches of space, and in second place, British Airways offered a decent 29-31 inches. But in third place was easyJet with 29 inches, showing that budget airlines aren’t necessarily more cramped than their premium counterparts.

At the bottom of the list were TUI and Wizz Air who offered seat pitches of 28 inches, so there’s not a huge amount of difference between the best and worst legroom when it comes to economy class.

10 best airlines in Europe according to Skytrax

1. Turkish Airlines
2. Air France
3. Swiss International Air Lines
4. British Airways
5. Lufthansa
6. Virgin Atlantic
7. Iberia
8. KLM Royal Dutch Airlines
9. Austrian Airlines
10. Finnair

Have a story you want to share? Email us at [email protected].

SOME like to jet off when the weather gets chilly here in the UK – but what about those who like to feel Christmassy in November?

Sun Travel has revealed our favourite destinations across both Britain and the world that make us feel the most festive, with cosy fireside pubs, snowy scenes, Christmas markets and Santa’s actual home.

Cotswolds, UK

Sometimes you just can’t beat a festive staycation – Deputy Travel Editor, Kara Godfrey said: “One of my favourite things to do at Christmas is drive through pretty country villages and go on a free light show.

“And having grown up in the Cotswolds, I wasn’t short of huge beautiful manor houses and pubs wanting to show off their Christmas lights.

“I recommend driving from Burford to Broadway, with stops in Bourton-on-the-Water and Moreton-in-Marsh where you will see them a mile away because of the sheer volume of lights.

“Then if you need a cosy pub to warm up in, head over to the town of Witney where you have a huge amount of choice on the high street.

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“My favourites are the Holly Bush, with low ceiling and delicious mulled cider, or The Plough, the town’s oldest pub dating back to the 17th century.”

Copenhagen, Denmark

After a recent trip to the Danish capital of Copenhagen, Travel Reporter Alice Penwill recommends heading there to embrace the cold.

She said: “Copenhagen thrives during autumn and winter – and another plus point is that the city is dressed up for Christmas from early November.

“Festive markets pop up with new stalls – they sell everything from Christmas decorations to tasty treats and my favourite, hot chocolate or spiced Gløgg.

“Make sure to grab a Danish pastry from one of the many bakeries in the city and then take a mooch around Strøget – the famous shopping street. Or head down to the famous colourful Nyhavn with plenty of outside bars underneath outdoor heaters so you won’t feel too chilly.

“For a bit of peace and quiet, head to the Botanical Gardens where the trees have bright yellow and orange leaves.”

Lapland, Finland

Head of Sun Travel (Digital), Caroline McGuire suggests heading to Finland: “This is an obvious one, but I took my child to Lapland with TUI last
year and nothing can compare to being in Santa’s ACTUAL homeland at
Christmas.

“Yes, it’s exhausting getting up before the crack of dawn to catch a
flight, but the airline staff were a joy from check-in onwards, where
they greeted travellers with festive headgear.

“On the plane, we enjoyed a cooked breakfast and sang Xmas songs,
before landing and being immediately sized up for our Arctic snow
gear.

“A coach transfer complete with its own elf guide takes you to the snow
village, for a day of gingerbread decorating, snowmobiling, husky
sleigh riding, ice hotel exploration and a visit to the big man
himself.

“Then you’re flying home with a plane Christmas dinner.
it’s a full-on itinerary, but having done 4 nights in Lapland before,
the one-day trip makes sure to tick off all the big hitters every
family dreams of.”

Edinburgh, Scotland

Travel Reporter Cyann Fielding said: “Harry Potter fans and festive fanatics must head to Edinburgh around the Christmas period.

“The Scottish capital is special all-year round, but at Christmas it comes alive with decorated shop fronts, dazzling lights and a vast market.

“For a refreshing hike with the wind in your hair and spectacular views, head up Arthur‘s Seat. If you prefer to wander, then head to W Bow – a 17th century cobbled street with endless independent businesses set behind the colourful facades of buildings.

“If you do like Harry Potter, make sure to nip into Museum Context, which sells wizardy merch. And for a hot drink make sure to head into Black Medicine Coffee Co, which is super cosy – so much so I didn’t want to leave.

“The Christmas Market transforms the city centre into a festive village and has a great mix of everything including traditional markets, rides and food and drink stalls.”

Scottish Sun’s Travel Editor Heather Lowrie also recommends Edinburgh for a festive visit.

She said: “The city’s historic Princes Street Gardens are awash with festive lights which brighten any gloomy night sky and you’ll find there are merry-go-rounds, a big wheel and other funfair rides for youngsters.

“There’s also the ‘try if you dare’ Around the World Starflyer – an 80m tall tower with swings that spin you around for views of the city  which probably rival those Santa gets from his sleigh as he flies through the sky.

“In George Street (just behind iconic Princess Street) you’ll find an ice-rink,  so grab some skates and go gliding  and dancing (and falling if you’re anything  like me!).

“And new for this year is glittering frozen world of The Ice Queen’s Castle, complete with ice carvings and intricate wall etchings – the perfect winter wonderland.”

New York, USA

Assistant Travel Editor Sophie Swietochowski suggests heading to the Big Apple for festive cheer.

She said: “This may sound cliché, but there really is no better time to visit New York City than during the festive period. Perhaps I’ve attached some sentimental value to the city at Christmas as it was around this time of year that I visited for the first time ever.

“Woozy from jet-lag, I gazed in awe at neon lights beaming from the mighty skyscrapers of Times Square, while city-goers dashed past, wrapped in their woollen scarves, shielding from the bitter chill.

“The Rockefeller Tree, one of the city’s most prized festive traditions, dazzled in a blur of tiny, multi-coloured lights, while a queue formed outside Macy’s department store, whose windows were drenched in holly and splashes of red and white paint.

“It was everything I’d expected, my very own Big Apple rom-com.
I’ve returned to the city around Christmas three times since – and it gets no less magical.

“My routine rarely changes: a visit to Bryant Park’s markets, laden with wooden stalls – grab a hot choccie while you’re here and watch the skaters twirl on an ice rink.

“I’ll always visit Bloomingdale’s, too, on Fifth Avenue to buy a tacky tree decoration, making sure to stroll past Saks, which puts on a Christmas light show every year.

“The bars of Manhattan often feel packed, but the atmosphere is electric as people pass back mulled wine through the crowd, full of festive enthusiasm.”

Reykjavik, Iceland

As its name suggests Iceland is a great spot for anyone seeking cooler weather, which is rare for Deputy Travel Editor, Kara Godfrey: “As someone who hates the cold, you will normally find me in warmer climates during Christmas, having spent Decembers in Morocco, St Kitts and Dubai.

“But one place I didn’t mind braving the cold for was Iceland – after all, the point is to feel the chill!

“There’s nothing better than wrapping up in all the layers before heading out to see stunning geysers, dramatic waterfalls and icy landscapes, ending by warming up in the famous Blue Lagoon.

“I highly recommend staying at the Grandi by Center Hotel in Reykjavik. I spent the evenings with glasses of wine and board games in the lobby, overlooked by twinkling Christmas tree lights and a roaring fire.”

Pitlochry, Scotland

Lynn Kernan, Features Editor at The Scottish Sun said: “To me there is nothing more festive than being curled up in front of a roaring fire with a twinkling tree and a warming dram.

“And that’s exactly what you get in Pitlochry’s Port-Na-Craig inn.

“The little guest house, right on the River Tummel and in the shadow of Perthshire’s snow-capped mountains, dates back to the 1600s and knows how to do an old school Christmas in style.

“Its dining room is transformed into a winter wonderland at this time of year, with glittering baubles hanging from the ceiling and festive trinkets adorning every surface.

“Inside, it’s breathtaking for a festive fan – while outside, the beer garden is an illuminated sanctuary.

“The inn is in Pitlochry, one of Scotland’s prettiest towns with cute cafes, independent shops and top notch restaurants which all make an effort at this time of year.

“It’s also where the Enchanted Forest is held in the run up to the festive season. The nearby Faskally Wood is brought to life with stunning light shows in October and November.

“If you’re looking for me in December I’ll be at the inn, with a single malt, marvelling at the decadent decorations and singing Jingle Bells.”

Luxembourg

Head of Sun Travel (Digital), Caroline McGuire added: “Luxembourg isn’t exactly must-visit destination among European
capitals, but the city comes into its own at Christmas time.

“Best explored on foot (which allows for extra mulled wine), the old
town of Luxembourg city is both grand and quaint – and perfect for
exploring in chilly weather, when you can nip into the bars and
bakeries for a warming drink.

“There are also Christmas markets spread throughout the city as part of
the annual Winterlights festival, which also features festive
concerts, exhibitions, performances and crafts for kids.

“Given how quick the flight is to Luxembourg (1 hour and 15 minutes)
and the time it takes to get from the airport to the city centre (20
minutes by tram), this is a really easy trip to do in just 24 hours.”

Lisbon, Portugal

Travel Reporter Alice Penwill suggests a short trip over the one popular European spot. She said: “Yes, Portugal is beautiful in the summer, but the city of Lisbon is easy to explore at any time of year.

“I went to the city two years ago and weather-wise it was actually fairly mild but still very festive, especially as the shops had the lights on display.

“Major attractions include Wonderland Lisboa and Rossio Christmas Market plus you still have to take a ride on the tram and of course, take a walk on the famous Pink Street.“

Cairngorms, Scotland

Scottish Sun’s Travel Editor Heather Lowrie said: “Situated in historic Royal Deeside – just a few miles from the Royal family’s private Balmoral Castle  – the beautiful Cairngorms destination almost guarantees snow, transforming it into a  true winter wonderland.

“The village celebrates Christmas with a traditional Christmas lights switch on, with carols and mulled wine and there’s even a reindeer parade on Christmas Eve.

“The Cranford Guesthouse is famed for its delicious home baking and will be adorned with decorations and lights to turn up that festive feeling.

“If money is no object then book into the award-winning Fife Arms Hotel, where they even put on a Fondue Hut from November where you can indulge in all things melted cheese or if you’d rather get back to nature then go glamping at the dog friendly Braemar Glamping Pods and go star-gazing.

“Skiers will be in Christmas heaven too, as the Glenshee & Lecht Ski Centres are nearby where Christmas on the slopes is a real thing.

“Head out at night with Mountain Skies Braemar where, if you’re lucky, you  might catch a glimpse of the Northern lights!”

Tallinn, Estonia

Travel Reporter Cyann Fielding has got some pending Christmas plans to Eastern Europe. She said: “Next week, I will be heading off to Tallinn – the capital of Estonia – which is often dubbed a fairytale city.

“I’m super excited to head to the Christmas market in the medieval Old Town’s Town Hall Square, with a huge decorated tree – the first tree to ever be displayed in Europe – and carol performances.

“The market has also previously been named one of the best in Europe so I am keen to see whether it lives up to the title. For food and drink, the gingerbread cookies are meant to be a hit, as well as the hot mulled wine, known as glogi.

“Temperatures in November sit around zero degrees, so I am hoping there will be snow to make it feel even more Christmassy.”

St Albans, UK

Some like to head to the city for Christmas, but Assistant Travel Editor Sophie Swietochowski said she prefers to stick to the countryside.

She said: “What can beat a proper British pub at Christmas time? Several worn armchairs scattered around a crackling fire, a pile of board games on the shelf in the corner, and a heated vat of mulled wine propped on the bar.

“The city of St Albans is home to the kind of stereotypical cottage-style boozers you see in festive rom-coms like The Holiday. It’s also the pub capital of the UK, claiming to have more pubs per square mile than any other region in the country.

“Many of these drinking holes are listed properties, so they have that higgledy-piggledy feel to them with timber beams and low ceilings that enhance the cosy factor.

“Talking of cosy, the recently opened Cosy Club restaurant-cum-bar is a great spot for those looking to amp up the party, The menu features jam-packed burgers and pasta dishes, alongside heady cocktails, all of which are cracking value.

“During the festive season The Odyssey, a restored Art Deco cinema, shows classic Christmas movies, like It’s A Wonderful Life – book one of the table seats in the downstairs section and order yourself a glass of wine and cheese platter from the bar.

“Pop into one of the many local bakeries for a festive treat – Brad and Dills, a coffee and bagel joint founded by a local duo, does a cracking brew and often has fun spins on classic festive flavours crammed into their moreish bagels.”

London, UK

Of course, how could you leave the country’s capital off the list? Head of Sun Travel (Digital), Caroline McGuire said: “Brits spend a fortune travelling to festive destinations abroad when we have one of the best places for celebrating Christmas on our doorstep – London.

“In my opinion, there are few places in the world that are more
festive, starting with the traditional London pub.

“Paper hat on your head, pint in hand, everyone packed in like sardines as with condensation mists the drafty Victorian window panes and they sing
along to Fairytale of New York – there’s nothing that signals December
has arrived more.

“But of course, there is plenty to do other than pubs too. It has
plenty of haters, but Winter Wonderland is one of the biggest
Christmas attractions in the world and you can choose everything from
market shopping to fancy grub, beer halls, fair grounds, Santa’s
grotto and ice bars.

“Don’t fancy that one? How about the ice skating at Somerset House with
the fancy Virgin Clubhouse for a drink afterwards, or Glide at
Battersea – or even the new rink in Leicester Square.

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“And then there’s all the Christmas theatre shows – The Snowman, Elf,
The Nutcracker, Santa Needs a Wee, Jack And The Beanstalk… there are
enough shows on and off London’s West End to see one every day now
until December 25.

“The restaurants are all decked out in their festive best, the shops
are the best in the country… so unless you’re looking for some peace
and quiet, there’s no better place get in the festive mood.”

Portugal recovered from a shock loss to Ireland on Thursday to qualify, while Norway is through for the first time since 1998.

Portugal booked their ticket to the 2026 World Cup with a 9-1 victory over Armenia on Sunday, while an Erling Haaland brace rubber-stamped Norway’s place in the global showpiece as they romped to a 4-1 win in Italy.

After being held by Hungary and then stunned by the Republic of Ireland last time out, Portugal sealed top spot in Group F at the third time of asking with a resounding win over bottom-side Armenia.

In the absence of the suspended Cristiano Ronaldo, star midfielders Bruno Fernandes and Joao Neves both scored hat-tricks as the Portuguese ran riot in Porto.

Renato Veiga, Goncalo Ramos and Francisco Conceicao were also on the scoresheet.

“The most important thing was qualifying for the World Cup,” Paris Saint-Germain linchpin Neves told RTP.

“For me, as I always say, the team always comes before the individual. I’m very happy to have scored my first goal for the national team, and my second and third as well.”

Portugal will compete in a seventh consecutive edition of the World Cup, a tournament which the Euro 2016 champions have yet to win.

“We’re at the World Cup! Let’s go, Portugal!” Ronaldo posted on social media.

The striker could miss the start of the tournament depending on whether FIFA extend his suspension beyond the mandatory one-match ban he served against Armenia.

Ireland sewed up the playoff place in the group thanks to Troy Parrott’s 96th-minute hat-trick goal, handing them a 3-2 win over third-placed Hungary.

Daniel Lukacs gave the hosts the lead in Hungary after four minutes, before Parrott levelled from 12 yards shortly afterwards.

Barnabas Varga’s 37th-minute goal looked to have been enough for Hungary to seal second spot until 23-year-old Parrott notched his fourth and fifth international goals this week.

Parrott was the hero with his brace in Thursday’s 2-0 defeat of Portugal, and he struck to equalise again for Ireland with 10 minutes remaining in the Hungarian capital.

The AZ Alkmaar forward then sparked wild Irish celebrations as he prodded home Liam Scales’s knockdown deep into injury time to send Heimir Hallgrimsson’s side into March’s playoffs.

‘Absolutely insane’

Italy needed a miracle in Milan to pip Norway to first place in Group I due to the visitors’ gargantuan goal difference advantage.

Pio Esposito scored early at the San Siro to give the home side the faintest of hopes, but they were unable to again break down stubborn Norwegian defending as Stale Solbakken’s side held firm.

Antonio Nusa levelled just after the hour before Haaland, inevitably, netted twice in 60 seconds to turn the tie on its head. Jorgen Strand Larsen then put gloss on the result in injury time as Norway romped to an eighth win from eight outings.

It will be Norway’s first appearance at the World Cup in 28 years.

“I’m happy, but more relieved. There’s a lot of pressure and stuff, and I feel it. But it’s fun,” Haaland, who netted 16 goals across the campaign, told TV 2.

“It’s indescribable. Absolutely insane. The way we did it is absolutely incredible. It’s huge,” Martin Odegaard said.

Israel beat Moldova 4-1 but finished six points adrift of second-placed Italy, who go into the playoffs.

France booked their place in next year’s tournament in North America with a win over Ukraine earlier in the week, and a much-changed side concluded their campaign with a 3-1 win in Azerbaijan.

Ukraine saw off Iceland 2-0 thanks to two strikes inside the final 10 minutes from Oleksandr Zubkov and Oleksii Hutsuliak to claim second place in Group D.

Thomas Tuchel’s England completed a perfect group-stage performance as they won 2-0 against Albania to finish their campaign with a 100 percent record, featuring 22 goals scored and zero conceded – a European record for a team playing at least six qualifying matches.

“I think it’s as good [a squad] as we’ve ever had,” Harry Kane, who scored both England goals, told ITV.

“I think when you look at the starting 11, you look at the players coming off the bench, we’re going to go into the tournament as one of the favourites.”

With Albania already assured of second place, Serbia beat Latvia 2-1 in a dead-rubber in Group K’s other match.

L.A. is a harmony of contradictions: It’s a bankrupt skyscraper covered in graffiti, a Mercedes-Benz G-class SUV with an expired registration, the quiet confusion of wondering whether a stranger’s outfit means they’re unhoused or just new to Silver Lake. L.A.’s refusal to make sense is what makes it irresistible, and no one understood that better than writer, artist and provocateur Eve Babitz, who died in 2021.

“Los Angeles isn’t a city. It’s a gigantic, sprawling, ongoing studio,” she wrote in her 1974 book “Eve’s Hollywood.” “Everything is off the record.”

Born in Hollywood in 1943 to a classical violinist father and an artist mother — and with Igor Stravinsky as her godfather — Babitz was destined for “It”-girl-ism. While people tend to flee their hometowns to start over in a new city, usually a place like L.A. or New York, Babitz knew she was exactly where she was meant to be. She tried New York once as a typist for Timothy Leary, because it’s where “real writers” lived and worked; she gave it one year before moving back to L.A.

“She lived in Rome for six months, and that was the only other city she loved, almost as much as L.A.,” Mirandi Babitz, Eve’s younger sister, told me. Despite her growing popularity in the ’60s and ’70s, Eve Babitz didn’t hightail it from her Hollywood bungalow to live in Pacific Palisades or Topanga or Malibu — she lived and died in the heart of it all.

When I asked Mirandi what Babitz would think of today’s coffee-shop lines, overpriced wine bodegas and tinned fish culture, she said with a laugh, “She’d roll her eyes.”

Babitz may have been synonymous with places, including the Chateau Marmont and Musso & Frank Grill, or with people such as Jim Morrison and Ed Ruscha. But it wasn’t because she was a hanger-on, desperate to be cool or famous. She was the keeper of cool, and L.A. was the only muse she gave a damn about. “I did not become famous but I got near enough to smell the stench of success. It smelt like burnt cloth and rancid gardenias,” she wrote in 1977’s “Slow Days, Fast Company: the World, the Flesh, and L.A.”

After graduating from Hollywood High, Babitz skipped the traditional UCLA route and instead took classes at Los Angeles City College. “The school was located about 4 blocks from the hospital I was born in,” she wrote in “Eve’s Hollywood.” “It was on Vermont near Melrose, which is an indeterminate lower-middle-class sort of neighborhood with no delusions. Westwood, where UCLA is, is so insanely crappy you could throw up. It’s so WHITE and it’s so clean and it’s so impervious …”

At age 20, Babitz made a name for herself in the art world. She posed nude, playing chess with a fully clothed Marcel Duchamp for Esquire — a cheeky act of revenge against her lover, Walter Hopps, who wasn’t returning her calls. Shot by Julian Wasser at the Norton Simon Museum, the now-iconic photo did its job: Hopps rang her soon after. That photo is now described by the Smithsonian Archives of American Art as being “among the key documentary images of American modern art.”

Babitz also launched her independent career as an artist, designing album covers for Linda Ronstadt, the Byrds and Buffalo Springfield. Her foray into the music scene — where she partied with (and allegedly had affairs with) legends like Morrison of the Doors (“I met Jim and propositioned him in three minutes,” she wrote in “Eve’s Hollywood”) and some original Eagles members — blossomed into a social life so magnanimous that names like Andy Warhol, Steve Martin and Annie Leibovitz came up as casually as what Babitz had for lunch that day.

She went on to publish several books and worked as a journalist, writing about everything from Salvador Dalí to the best taquito stand in L.A. (Don’t worry — we listed it below.) Although Babitz’s love life kept the city gossiping, it was always apparent that her true love was the city itself. Her books, including “Sex and Rage” (1979) and “L.A. Woman” (1982), are all love letters to a city she knew inside out. In turn, her life in L.A. became the stuff of urban legend — and decades later, we’re still talking about it.

Babitz understood L.A. better than anyone, including its seductions and secrets. Her legacy is being revisited in the Huntington’s exhibition “Los Angeles, Revisited,” which explores how L.A. has been shaped — and reshaped — by its visionaries. Babitz and her mother, Mae, a self-taught artist known for her preservation work on the Watts Towers and her sketches of L.A.’s vanishing buildings, have drawings included in the show. The exhibition runs through Dec. 1.

Consider what’s below your invitation to see L.A. as Babitz did — expansively, honestly and maybe a little recklessly. Just a heads-up, though: You won’t find a single coffee shop with a DMV-like line on this list.

Tatum Ellis, who is known for documenting her travels across the UK, recently visited the seaside town for the first time and she ventured to the local Wetherspoons

Lots of Americans love exploring the UK, with some finding the most unlikely things on their adventures. Tatum Ellis, known for documenting her UK travels, recently visited Llandudno in Wales and was left utterly smitten.

However, the attraction that caught her eye might just surprise you, as the travel vlogger shared her experience on TikTok, leaving some viewers amused by the one aspect she found particularly “gorgeous.” It seems that when it comes to breath-taking views, Wales certainly has a lot to offer both visitors and locals.

Tatum confessed that visiting a place like Llandudno was an “American’s dream.” She’s not the first to be swept off her feet by the nation’s charms either, with other Americans also believing some things are much better in the UK.

At the start of her video, she began by exploring some local charity shops. A fan of a good bargain, she seemed delighted with what the shops had to offer.

Tatum discovered two gold rings in one shop, which she snapped up for a mere £5.00 each. She was over the moon with her purchases, describing them as “super pretty.”

She continued her exploration with her partner, but it was a specific pub that grabbed her attention. Upon spotting a Wetherspoons, Tatum was quite taken aback, impressed by the décor.

According to her, the local Wetherspoons is particularly “gorgeous” and offers “stunning views.” Who would have thought a simple pub could make such an impression?

Tatum said: “We love a good Wetherspoons. Guys, take a look at this Wetherspoons. Have some of you ever seen anything like that? I sure haven’t, so let’s get some food right now.”

She also praised the stunning scenery surrounding her, describing it as an exceptionally beautiful location. The pair then made their way to the beach and clearly had a brilliant time.

Tatum thinks Llandudno is absolutely worth a visit, saying they adored it and found plenty to explore. The clip has racked up more than 3,000 views since being posted, sparking a flurry of responses.

Viewers had plenty of opinions to share. One wrote: “You are so lucky to find a table in Wetherspoons.”

Another added: “I love Llandudno.” A third replied: “I live here and love how you have shown the town.”

Meanwhile, a fourth commented: “This is my home. So glad you enjoyed it.” Someone else also chimed in with: “I can’t believe you passed so many brilliant pubs on the way to Spoons!”

For those unfamiliar with Llandudno, it’s a coastal town in North Wales, frequently dubbed the “Queen of the Welsh Resorts.” The Victorian-era holiday hotspot is renowned for its extensive promenade, historic pier and golden beaches.

Stumped for holiday present ideas? Food gifts have universal appeal: These are fun and practical at once. And even more meaningful because they’re from local small businesses including L.A. restaurants, bakeries, farms, markets and makers.

Who’s on your gift list? A chocolate lover? A Caracas-born chef in Pasadena makes her own hot chocolate mix from Venezuelan Criollo cacao. Coffee fan? East L.A.’s Picaresca Barra de Cafe roasts coffee beans and bottles its cinnamon-scented cafe de olla syrup. Tea aficionado? A Chinatown tea shop offers subscription boxes of thoughtful blends from China and Taiwan; some are rare finds.

And any farmers market regular would want to sport the Weiser Family Farm collab T-shirt emblazoned with a pink radish or Bonnie melon.

If you make a purchase using some of our links, the L.A. Times may be compensated. Prices and availability of items and experiences in the Gift Guide and on latimes.com are subject to change.