summer

Those close to the Dutch national team speak of a unified squad and, after a difficult domestic season, Gakpo has started the tournament impressively.

His World Cup record – including the 2022 tournament – is impressive, with five goals in seven games. Twenty-three goals across 52 international caps in total since his debut five years ago bears further testimony to his quality.

For now, his focus is entirely on the national team, where he also plays an important role off the pitch too in helping fellow Christians within the squad.

“Cody is our pastor – he leads the prayers,” said Crysencio Summerville.

Netherlands and Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk needs no convincing of Gakpo’s qualities on the pitch.

“He is an outstanding footballer,” he said after the 5-1 win over Sweden. “He works so hard for the team, he’s disciplined and his quality stands out – his crosses, his assists, his goals.”

Continuing to impress at the World Cup may well enhance Liverpool‘s desire to retain Gakpo for at least another season.

One need only consider the relative struggles of Isak and Wirtz in their debut campaigns at Anfield to be reminded of just how challenging it can be for new signings.

But as Iraola and Liverpool‘s recruitment team reshapes an attack that laboured last season, the Gakpo conundrum is one to keep an eye on this summer.

A NUMBER of iconic landmarks have closed around the country, as Brits brace for record-breaking heat.

Temperatures today have already broken June weather records, with highs of 36C seen in Surrey.

Multiple British landmarks have completely closed or restricted public access today as the Met Office’s red weather warning takes effect.

This comes after over 1,000 schools shut doors across the South of England, West Midlands and Wales due to rapidly rising temperatures.

Tower Bridge, a London landmark that attracts nearly one million visitors annually, has shut entirely today and will remain shut tomorrow.

Operators have said the decision was made for “the welfare of our staff and visitors”, and plan to reopen the bridge on Friday.

Changing of the Guard ceremonies at Buckingham Palace and Windsor Castle are suspended for the rest of the week.

The Household Division said: “We take the wellbeing of our soldiers and military working horses very seriously.

“Whilst it may be disappointing not to experience the Ceremonial Operations in full, it is important the wellbeing of the public, our soldiers and military working horses is maintained at all times.”

The historic spectacle, taking place on alternative days at Buckingham Palace and Windsor Castle, is a popular tourist attraction and “must see” for London visitors.

Greenwich landmarks the Cutty Sark and The Royal Observatory have also both announced their closures, with visitors of the area recommended to view the Queen’s House and National Maritime Museum as an alternative.

Away from the capital, various National Trust properties are operating on shortened hours, such as the Stourhead Estate in Wiltshire, Blists Hill Victorian Town in Shropshire, and Mottisfont House in Hampshire.

Longleat House and the Severn Valley Railway in Wiltshire, alongside the Wild Zoological Park in Wolverhampton, have also closed today and tomorrow.

The UK’s most visited museum, Natural History Museum, alongside the Victoria and Albert Museum have temporarily closed certain sections of the building, with the Young V&A shutting entirely.

The British Museum has further said on its website: “We may also temporarily close some galleries in the Museum to ensure the comfort and safety of staff and visitors.”

Beloved family attractions London Zoo and Chester Zoo are also shutting early on certain days, with London closing at 4pm both days, and Chester Zoo closing at 2pm on Thursday.

Outside, playgrounds in London’s Royal Parks have shut to keep staff, wildlife and visitors safe, including popular sites in Kensington Gardens, Hyde Park, Regent’s Park, and more.

Hampton Court Palace has also shut its Magic Garden from 1pm today, continuing until the end of tomorrow as the hot weather continues.

The Met Office red alert is in place for swathes of the country until late tomorrow night, with warm weather anticipated for the rest of the week.

NEW passport rules that came into force earlier this year are STILL catching people out, with one mum recently left stranded abroad.

Brits who are dual national passport holders – thought to be as many as 1.2million – can no longer use their foreign passport to enter the country.

Since February 25, the change in rules meant that anyone with dual nationality has to use a valid British passport when arriving into the UK.

Anyone without this must instead have a certificate of entitlement, which costs £589.

Passengers trying to enter the country by plane, ferry or train without either of these risks being banned from travelling.

One British woman was recently caught out when she was trying to travel from Copenhagen to Manchester with her two children, only to be stopped from boarding her flight.

Colette Bjorn-Alderson, who has lived in the UK for 28 years, had been in the Danish country since April, but was returning to the UK with her six-week old and 23-month old for a friend’s wedding.

However, her two children only had Danish passports which meant they didn’t have valid travel documents for returning to the UK.

She told The Times that she felt “unwelcome in my own country” after being turned away from the flight.

Colette sent photocopies of her documents to the Home Office – but ultimately the decision was made that the family could not fly.

Not only has she been left £1,000 out of pocket, she said the only way to get UK passports for them while in Denmark can take up to three months, while the certificates take eight weeks.

She added: “It was a nightmare. I’ve cried a lot.”

Others have been caught out too. In June a dad-of-two, Kyle Harris, was refused boarding onto his booked flight from Kefalonia in Greece to the UK.

He only had an American passport with him at the time.

Another holidaymaker with dual nationality was refused to board a plane home after a trip to Amsterdam after having the incorrect documents.

The new rules are in line with the electronic travel authorisation (ETA), which also launched on the same day.

Any non-British national must now pay for the £16 ETA to enter the country.

Lasting up to six months, it is a requirement for people who are from destinations such as Europe, the US and Australia.

Anyone who is a dual national cannot apply for an ETA under the new rules.

The Latin Quarter’s cobblestone Rue Mouffetard is a walking street lined with fishmongers, bakeries, cheese shops, produce stands and cafes. Once you’ve talked triple-cream Brillat-Savarin with the cheese pros at Androuet and admired displays of glistening seafood along Mouffetard (Poissonnerie Quoniam sells fresh oysters that you eat standing with an inexpensive glass of wine), there is lunch or dinner to consider. A wonderful choice is Otto, a modern izakaya-style project with MOF chef Eric Trochon, who provided menu guidance to proprietors Stéphane Offner and Tony Alvarez-Parage plus occasional turns at the binchotan-fueled grill when he’s not running his Michelin one-star restaurant Solstice 700 meters away. Observe the action in the open kitchen from your bar seat or find an intimate corner to enjoy Otto’s small plates — maybe “fish no chips” with black curry mayonnaise, razor clams with garlic butter or celery root beignets. Oh, and at lunch you can choose three dishes for €22. A terrific deal.

5 Rue Mouffetard, 75005 Paris

It’s been more than 30 years, but Andy’s toys are proving irreplaceable at the box office.

Walt Disney Co. and Pixar’s “Toy Story 5” opened to a massive $160 million in the U.S. and Canada last weekend, marking the biggest domestic box office debut so far this year. Internationally, the film brought in $152 million for a worldwide total of $312 million.

With those numbers, “Toy Story 5” broke several franchise records for opening weekend totals. As my colleague Cerys Davies and I wrote last week, it’s a sign of the long-running juggernaut’s firm grip on audiences amid a sea of Hollywood sequels, reboots and spinoffs.

“‘Toy Story’ has been breaking ground since it first hit the screen more than 30 years ago,” Disney Entertainment Studios Chairman Alan Bergman said in a statement. “It’s wonderful to see ‘Toy Story 5’ continuing that tradition and connecting with audiences around the world to deliver the biggest opening for the franchise and the biggest of this year as well.”

For theater owners, “Toy Story” may have seemed like a surefire bet. After all, the franchise has grossed more than $3 billion in worldwide box-office revenue, and its third and fourth installments each made more than $1 billion globally.

The big opening weekend for “Toy Story 5” has no doubt brightened the outlook for many theater operators as the all-important summer movie season gets underway.

Already, last weekend’s box-office totals were a whopping 80% improvement compared with a year ago, when Universal Pictures’ live-action “How to Train Your Dragon” was in its second weekend in theaters. But more importantly, the domestic box office is now up 14% to $4.46 billion compared with the same time a year ago, according to data from Rentrak.

This summer’s lineup of films, including “Toy Story 5,” will play an important role in terms of whether 2026 will truly be the year that the theatrical business turns the corner from the COVID-19 pandemic and the dual Hollywood strikes of 2023.

In one promising sign, summer box-office revenue so far is up 15.2% to about $1.84 billion compared with the same May to mid-June period in 2025. (That summer ultimately ended in a dismal finish of $3.67 billion.) Compared with pre-pandemic 2019, this year’s summer box office to date is down just 1.9%.

Studio executives and theater owners have told me they feel good about this summer and are optimistic about the overall outlook for 2026.

It’s easy to see why. The deck is stacked, with upcoming titles such as Universal and Illumination’s “Minions & Monsters,” Disney’s live-action “Moana,” Christopher Nolan’s “The Odyssey” and Sony Pictures’ “Spider-Man: Brand New Day.”

In a propitious sign, presales for “The Odyssey” and “Spider-Man” have already shown massive demand. Overall, there’s just more and varied movies in theaters now, which expands the pool of potential moviegoers, theater owners have said.

Take A24’s “Backrooms” or Focus Features’ “Obsession,” for instance. The two original and digital-native films shocked the industry by keeping a weeks-long grip on the box office, largely by attracting Gen Z audiences who were familiar with the 20-something directors from their followings on YouTube.

Beyond these two, as well as Steven Spielberg’s “Disclosure Day,” many of this summer’s films continue established franchises.

Although not all spinoffs have performed this year — including Disney and Lucasfilm’s “Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu,” which saw ticket sales drop sharply after its late May opening — “Toy Story” has remained a consistent force in theaters over the decades.

Disney and Pixar executives credit the films’ focus on character relationships, particularly that of Tom Hanks’ Woody and Tim Allen’s Buzz Lightyear. And as the franchise spanned years, its appeal became generational.

“Having parents now that say, ‘I grew up with ‘Toy Story,’ and now I’m showing my kids,’ has been really gratifying,” Pixar Chief Creative Officer Pete Docter told me by phone a week before the movie’s opening.

“Toy Story” is now the most-watched franchise on the Disney+ streaming service, with more than 2 billion hours streamed. And its beloved characters have spawned 19 theme park rides, four themed lands, two hotels and roughly $1 billion a year in global retail sales.

That has no doubt kept the franchise front and center for both adults and children, as well as fueling interest in future stories.

Stuff We Wrote

Film shoots

Number of the week

The FIFA World Cup has been a major boost for broadcasters, as an average of 6 million viewers tuned in to Fox and cable network FS1 for the first 16 group stage matches, an increase of 128% compared with the last World Cup in 2022, according to Nielsen data released last week.

On Spanish language network Telemundo, which is owned by Comcast, the first 12 group stage matches drew an average of 7.5 million viewers, up 234% from four years ago. (The Telemundo telecasts are also streamed on Peacock.)

I was in the Bay Area last week on vacation and didn’t watch many of the games, but I did catch my colleague Clara Harter’s great read about the mutual love and respect between fans of Mexico and South Korea and how that has played out in Los Angeles.

What I’m watching

Since I was out of town last week, I didn’t watch a ton of TV. But I did make time to watch the series finale of “The Way Home,” a quirky time-travel drama on Hallmark that I’ve followed for all four seasons.

I’m a big fan of time-travel stories (The “Back to the Future” trilogy is one of my favorites), so the usual past-future questions, plus the complicated family dynamics anchored by matriarch Andie MacDowell, made this a must-watch for me. The series finale was a satisfying ending, though there are definitely some loose strings that deserve further exploration.

NO ONE wants to start their holiday with delays, but with hotter weather and new travel rules, it’s becoming all the more common.

New research from AirAdvisor has found the top airports around Europe where you are most likely to be delayed this summer.

The study looked at flights between June and September 2025, to see where flights either to or from the UK were likely to be delayed for over an hour.

The top of the list was Milan Bergamo, an airport which sits just outside of Milan in Italy which had 11.96 per cent of its flights delayed by one hour or more.

Also in Italy, Pisa came fourth on the list which had 10.58 per cent of its flights affected by delays last summer.

For anyone heading to the Greek islands this summer, some of these destinations experience hold-ups too.

The pretty island of Kefalonia is third on the list where 11.79 per cent of flights being delayed by an hour or more last year.

Also in the top 20 is Corfu, Zante, Paphos in Cyprus, Kos, Rhodes and Mykonos.

Anton Radchenko, CEO of AirAdvisor explained why the airports at Greek islands are badly affected.

He explained: “They tend to be much smaller than hubs in major metropolitan centres and are incredibly popular with holidaymakers from across the world.

“During the summer period, they frequently operate at maximum capacity, so that means that when a mass disruption event occurs, there are implications for other services.”

He continued: “Similarly, the sheer volume of flights between popular Spanish holiday hubs in Palma and Reus can result in full days of travel chaos when multiple services are delayed.”

Anton Radchenko added that these delays often result in a “domino effect” where flights across a single day are then pushed back, especially during peak times.

Spain is a popular getaway destination for Brits as it’s just a few hours from the UK.

But there are some airports here that have experienced issues too.

This includes Palma de Mallorca, Ibiza and Alicante, which all appear in the top 20.

Of course, last summer EES checks at passport control hadn’t been enforced yet.

But these have had a big impact in some airports around Europe – so there could be even more delays at certain destinations.

If you are delayed for more than three hours or have a flight cancelled then under the UK261 regulation you could be eligible for compensation.

For more information on this, check out the rules on AirAdvisor. 

At the beginning of Mary H.K. Choi’s wildly entertaining presentation for her new novel “Pool House’” at Skylight Books, she reveals she won’t be reading.

“Readings are boring,” she says, tapping her Prada loafers. “It’s like you’re watching someone else play video games.”

Instead, she and Yasi Salek, host of the hit podcast “Bandsplain,” spend the evening riffing on literature, coolness, autism diagnoses and a literary perennial: unrelenting pain.

“How is your mother wound?” Salek asks in her signature vocal fry most often heard ad-libbing about the band Weezer. Salek reveals she is in Jungian therapy, adding, “What Carl says, goes.”

Throughout the discussion, Choi describes her novel as a challenging read — calling it a “gross, decaying meat soup.” She jokes that her career as an author feels like a “Make-A-Wish Foundation wish,” bewildered by any attention her work has garnered. Yet dozens of eager readers have packed into the independent bookstore, spilling into the aisles with copies of the novel balanced on their laps.

“Publishing is so slow, it’s like giving birth to a lawn chair,” Choi remarks. Later, she professes tedium with the resurgence of an alt-lit scene.

“Don’t you find that everyone has to be cool right now? Why is everyone so cool?” Choi asks Salek.

Let’s be clear: Salek and Choi are very cool. Salek sits cross-legged, dressed in all black, with a heart tattoo on her forearm that reads “books.” Before “Pool House,” Choi authored three New York Times bestselling novels. Salek recounts dropping out of her MFA program at Bennington College in 2020 to start what would become a cult-classic podcast.

“I love that you started a podcast instead of getting an MFA,” Choi replies.

Like Skylight Books, independent bookstores across Los Angeles have become gathering places for readers and writers alike. Authors ranging from household names to debut novelists regularly draw enthusiastic crowds. Increasingly, bookstores are functioning not only as retail spaces but as community hubs.

A few blocks from Echo Park Lake, local favorite A Good Used Book has transformed Sunday mornings into one of the neighborhood’s liveliest recurring gatherings. Visitors browse used books while enjoying charcoal portraits, handmade jewelry and Hawaiian shaved ice. Buy a book and you might even end up on the store’s coveted Instagram Story — the hottest plug in town.

“It feels like in a city as big as Los Angeles, books are still underrepresented. So there’s a lot of room to grow, and that’s exciting,” says Chris Capizzi, who founded the bookstore in 2017.

Earlier this month, the Los Angeles Review of Books hosted its annual Little Literary Fair at SCI-Arc, drawing hundreds to literary panels and workshops on zine-making, publishing and finding an agent. Vendors from across California filled the space, representing independent presses, bookstores and literary magazines.

“I find writers based [in the L.A. area] to be socially incisive in equal measure as being experimental, innovative and just fun,” says Emily VanKoughnett, the events director at the Los Angeles Review of Books. “I love the L.A. lit scene because it invites people to explore pockets of the city and connect over writing.”

This summer, literary events across Los Angeles are continuing to draw readers into bookstores, community spaces and alternative venues alike. The city’s literary scene remains as weird, profane and sentimental as ever.

Wales have named hooker Dewi Lake as captain for their summer internationals ahead of fit-again flanker Jac Morgan.

Lake led the side for eight Tests in the 2025 autumn series and 2026 Six Nations while Morgan was injured.

The British and Irish Lions flanker captained Wales in the first game of the Steve Tandy era against Argentina but dislocated his left shoulder when scoring a try.

The Gloucester-bound Ospreys have both been named in the squad for the summer internationals, which start against the Barbarians at Allianz Stadium in Twickenham on Saturday.

Lake will be skipper after recovering from a shoulder injury that required an operation after the Six Nations.

Looking at a blank calendar for the six week summer holiday? With less than a month until the schools break up for the summer, here are some days out that will keep the kids entertained without costing a fortune

Most schools in England and Wales will break up for the six-week summer holidays in less than a month, leaving many parents scrambling to fill the days with things to do.

A theme park is a classic family day out, but it’s not exactly a cheap option, and some deals don’t cover peak summer holiday dates. But there are ways to cut the costs if you’re planning a day out at one of these attractions, and here are some of the parks with discounts you can use in July and August.

Flamingo Land Theme Park & Zoo – 58% off

Wowcher is currently running a deal for day tickets to Flamingo Land in Yorkshire, with 50% off single tickets and 58% off if you buy four. This means a family of four can enjoy access to the theme park, zoo, and a host of other attractions for £97. The offer includes full school holiday availability.

Flamingo Land includes a number of thrilling rollercoasters, Dino-Stone park, and the adorable Muddy Duck Farm where younger kids can visit Peter Rabbit and his friends. Flamingo Land also offers on-site accommodation for longer breaks, including lodges and cottages for those who want to spend multiple days in the park.

Gulliver’s – up to 99% off children’s tickets

Gulliver’s, which has four locations across the UK, is running a unique offer that could snag you up to 99% off children’s day tickets. The catch is that it’s tied to England’s World Cup performance. The discount will be based on the minute of England’s final goal in each group stage match.

So, as an example, if England’s final goal was at 75 minutes, the deal would mean these tickets were discounted by 75%. The deal will be live on June 24 from 10am after England vs Ghana, and June 28 from 10am after their match against Panama and available to snap up for only 24 hours.

However, if you don’t want to base your school holiday plans on the England team’s performance, there’s also a deal running on Wowcher for 50% off Gulliver’s tickets for all four of their locations in Milton Keynes, Rother Valley, Matlock Bath, and Warrington, with good availability across school holiday dates and prices from £11.50.

Alton Towers, Chessington, Thorpe Park – unlimited visits from £16.99 a month

If you live near an attraction owned by Merlin, such as Alton Towers, Chessington, Thorpe Park, or LEGOLAND, then a Merlin annual pass can work out excellent value for money. At the moment, the Merlin annual pass sale includes prices from £139 for the essential pass, while Gold and Platinum passes have £50 off, making them £189 and £249 respectively.

It’s worth noting that the essentials pass does exclude Saturdays in August, but you can still enjoy the parks on other days of the week. If you don’t want to pay in one go, you can also sign up for a monthly pass at Gold or Platinum level for either £16.99 or £20.99.

In addition to its theme parks, Merlin also operates attractions such as the London Eye, Cadbury World, and SEA LIFE centers, so you can ensure you make the most of your pass with a wide range of days out.

Drayton Manor – VAT-free tickets

Drayton Manor is one of the attractions offering VAT savings this summer as part of the government’s scheme to cut the prices of family days out.

If booked in advance, tickets start at £25.80 for peak dates such as the school holidays. Another option is the three-park ticket, although it is only valid until July 31. For £49.50, you get a day at Drayton Manor, one at West Midlands Safari Park, and one at Waterworld in Stoke-on-Trent, a huge indoor waterpark. This works out at just £16.50 per attraction, far below the usual gate price.

Blackpool Pleasure Beach – tickets and stay for £38.03 per person

A deal from Virgin Experiences means a family of four can enjoy a night in a Blackpool hotel, as well as tickets to its iconic Pleasure Beach for just a few pounds more than the usual admission cost.

A Blackpool Pleasure Beach Resort and Family Stay at the Big Blue Hotel costs £169, and if you use discount code DEAL10, this brings it down to £152.10, or £38.04 per person. Day tickets to the park alone usually start at £31.50, so this is a great deal if you want a night away at the seaside.

This deal is not available on bank holiday weekends or Saturdays in July and August, but can be redeemed for other school holiday dates.

Have a story you want to share? Email us at webtravel@reachplc.com

Jet2 has rolled out a ’72-hour’ update so passengers can check live flight times and its status before even getting to the airport, to help make travel over summer even easier

Just ahead of the summer holidays, Jet2 has rolled out a new ’72-hour’ update for passengers.

Travellers flying with Jet2 will now be able to check live flight times, monitor their flight status and receive any updates 72 hours prior to departure. The new functionality was introduced this week and is designed to provide customers with accurate, up-to-date information about their flight to help ensure their journey runs as smoothly as possible.

The new handy features come courtesy of an upgrade to the airline’s app, which will also enable passengers to find out how and when they can meet their Jet2 in-resort Customer Helper. Times, locations and the Customer Helper’s name will be made available to holidaymakers via the app, making it even easier to access assistance and information about their holiday.

The update comes at the ideal moment ahead of the summer holidays, one of the busiest periods for travel. It’s expected to make travel more straightforward for passengers as they’ll have instant access to crucial flight information at the touch of a button, reports Chronicle Live.

David Hills, Chief Customer Officer at Jet2, said: “We are always looking at how we can continually improve the experience for our customers and digital innovation is a critical part of that. We are very pleased to be launching this new app functionality, which makes travelling with Jet2 even easier and more convenient. By putting more real-time information in our customers’ hands, we are improving our industry-leading customer experience even further.”

“This is part of our continued investment in delivering the very best customer service there is, and it is another example of how we are continuing to evolve our app and digital offering in response to what customers want from us.”

Last year, Jet2 introduced its ‘Live Transfer Status’ app feature, enabling passengers to track their coach transfer to the departure airport from their holiday destination in real time. This covers coach services when returning from the Balearics, Canaries, Mainland Spain, Morocco, Turkey, and Bulgaria, and is set to expand to Greece, Cyprus, Malta, Faro, and Madeira this summer.

Elsewhere, Jet2 has urged passengers to take action “at least 12 hours” before their flight.

With a packed summer season on the horizon and thousands of holidaymakers expected to board their flights, Jet2 has published guidance on arrivals and departures on its website. The airline advised customers: “Please check this section of the website at least 12 hours before your flight for the latest flight information.”

It continued: “Further information can be found by using the [above] search panel by entering your flight number or route. We recommend arriving at the airport at least 2 hours before your scheduled departure time.

“Please remember – check in desks close 40 minutes before this. In the event of flight disruption our dedicated Operations teams are working hard behind the scenes at our UK-based HQ to get you on your way as soon as possible.”

Do you have a travel story to share? Email webtravel@reachplc.com

L.A. bars offer something for everyone. Want to sip amaro cocktails in a moody Echo Park bar? We’ve got the spot for you. Or maybe you prefer a beachside tiki haunt with frozen Dole Whip and crab rangoons. What about a sprawling West Hollywood rooftop overlooking the hills, or a destination for locally produced sake in Sawtelle Japantown? Much like the drinks that flow from these newly established institutions, the options are endless.

A neighborhood favorite dive relaunched in its former Echo Park location, while a new gastropub brings Korean bar culture to Highland Park. In West Hollywood, a karaoke lounge elevates the art with luxurious surroundings, and just next door, a lesbian-owned LGBTQ+ club debuted just in time for Pride Month. Tapas seemingly is taking the city by storm, with two Spanish cafes on opposite sides of the city offering pintxos and bocaditos alongside vermouth and Tempranillo wines.

Nonalcoholic options are more thoughtful than ever, presenting those of us who aren’t drinkers with smart and layered concoctions that prove just as complex as their boozy counterparts. In Los Feliz, a veteran bar team launched a cocktail destination that puts the focus on L.A.’s seasonal produce, and in Beverly Hills, a three-Michelin-starred chef is behind a stylish new restaurant and lounge in a luxury retail shop. Here are 23 of L.A.’s best new bars to visit this summer and beyond. — Danielle Dorsey

THE mercury is rising as the UK and Europe sizzle through a second June heatwave, with temperatures soaring to over 40C.

The increasingly fierce heat has prompted a new trend and, of course, an obligatory trendy moniker – the COOL-CATION.

Increasingly, those of us who suffer in the heat are seeking out holidays where the sun shines but the degrees stay sensible.

Here, Lisa Minot, suggests six of the best holiday destinations abroad that escape the heat but still score highly in summer . . . 

FOR beach breaks, Portugal’s Costa Verde, in the north of the country, is an ideal choice.

While there’s still plenty of sunshine, the Atlantic breezes mean cooler temperatures than the Algarve.

It’s also a green haven — think verdant forests and vineyards producing the popular Vinho Verde wine.

Solmar Villas has 30 villas in the region including Casa do Casal.

Sleeping four, this chic, modern villa includes a private pool.

Seven nights’ self-catering is from £697pp, based on four sharing, including flights from Gatwick on July 12.

See solmarvillas.com.

CLOSE to the Julian Alps, Lake Bled is the cooler alternative to Lake Como, offering watersports and hiking accompanied by a refreshing Alpine breeze.

Newmarket Holidays has a great tour that includes excursions around the lake, combined with Croatia’s Istrian Riviera and the glorious Plitvice National Park.

With expert guides, visit Rovinj on the coast and the remarkable Lim Fjord.

The eight-day trip includes flights, four excursions and 14 meals.

Prices start from £1,324pp.

For further details, visit newmarketholidays.co.uk.

GET the best of all worlds with a visit to this gorgeous little Swedish city.

With summer temperatures typically from 20C to 23C, it has a laid-back coastal feel with sandy beaches, waterfront dining and easy links to Danish capital Copenhagen, via the Oresund Bridge.

There’s sea-swimming and saunas, of course, plus pretty streets with traditional architecture.

The UNITY Malmo hotel is a ten-minute walk from the city centre and a great base.

Three nights’ B&B is from £391pp including flights from Gatwick on July 5.

See easyjet.com/en/holidays.

SESTRIERE, ITALY

SPORTY types need not break a sweat this summer with a stay at Club Med Pragelato-Sestriere in Italy’s Piedmont region.

With its refreshing Alpine climate — it was built for the 2006 Winter Olympics — there’s plenty to keep fitness fans busy in summer with 19 different activities including biking, hiking and golf, plus two pools.

And with everything included, you can sit back and relax.

Seven nights’ all-inclusive is from £1,827pp including flights from Heathrow on July 11 and transfers.

See clubmed.co.uk/r/pragelato-sestriere/w or call 03453 676767.

THIS capital city offers the chance to combine a cultural break with beach fun.

There are 15 public beaches within the city’s limits, three of which hold Blue Flag awards — Balsys and Valakampiai I and II.

With cooler, Nordic summers, temperatures rarely rise above 23C but there are still plenty of places to enjoy some sunshine with many of the city’s beaches having changing cabins, barbecue zones and sports courts.

Explore the Old Town with a three-night stay at the 3* Panorama Hotel from £239pp including flights from Stansted on July 1.

See loveholidays.com.

THERE’S no problem cooling off in Finland — the country has some 188,000 lakes, the majority in its stunning Lakeland region.

Explore a few on a self-drive holiday with with Best Served Scandinavia, taking in lakes, rivers, canals and forests.

The trip starts with two nights in Helsinki before heading into Lakeland to make the most of the long summer days with time for swimming, fishing and canoeing.

Eight nights is from £1,950pp including return flights, B&B accommodation, seven days’ car hire, two lunches, excursions and a sightseeing cruise.

See best-served.co.uk.

WHEN it comes to beautiful hiking destinations, not many places beat Italy – but there is one top spot with some strict rules.

The Cinque Terre National Park in Italy spans 15sqm in the north of the country.

Home to over 75 miles of hiking trails, it is a popular spot due to its breathtaking landscapes and coastal location.

And while it is open to the public to explore, there is a major rule you need to be aware of.

Nowhere on the park’s marked hiking trails are you allowed to wear flip flops.

This includes backless sandals and shoes with smooth soles.

In fact, any shoes deemed unsuitable for the trails – along with flip flop and sandals – could score you a fine of between €50 (£43.15) to €2,500 (£2,157.31).

Staff across the park, as well as guards, can carry out checks including stopping visitors to check they have the right footwear.

If you don’t have the right footwear, you could get fined on the spot or not be allowed to use the trails.

One trail where flip flops are banned is the famous Blue Path, which connects all five villages in the park.

The path takes between five and eight hours to walk from end-to-end, or longer if you want to explore the villages.

To do the Blue Path, you will usually need a Cinque Terre Card, which gives you access to the trails as well as local shuttle buses and museum discounts.

Flip flops are allowed in some areas though, including the villages in the park – Monterosso al Mare, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola and Riomaggiore.

The park isn’t the only spot in Italy where you can’t wear flip flops though.

In Capri, a law that was created back in the 1960s bans people from wearing noisy shoes.

This includes flip flops, as well as squeaky sandals and even wooden clogs.

THE longest outdoor tubing slide in the UK is due to open at an adventure park this summer.

Families will be able to enjoy the new attraction just as the school holidays kick off.

Spanning 315ft, Fossil Falls in Norfolk is even bigger than the 288ft-long Forest Tubing experience, which opened at Heaton Park’s Zip World in May.

Fossil Falls will be officially opened by Matty Campbell, better known as TV Gladiator Bionic.

Matty will cut the ribbon to the ride at ROARR! Dinosaur Park in Lenwade on July 18.

The launch of the mega ride will kick off the summer holidays with an action-packed day for families, who will also have the chance to meet the star.

Ben Francis, park director at ROARR!, said: “We’re absolutely thrilled to have Matty here to open Fossil Falls.

“Having a real-life Gladiator launch our longest ever ride feels like the perfect fit – both are all about excitement, energy, and family fun.

“At 107 metres, Fossil Falls is the longest outdoor tubing slide in the UK and we can’t wait for families to experience it.”

The ride is part of a £250,000 investment in the park, which already features attractions such as Dippy’s Splash Zone.

Other attractions include Predator High Ropes, and Dinomite, billed as Norfolk’s largest indoor play area.

All attractions are included in the price of entry.

IF you’ve spent the last few months telling yourself you’ll book your summer holiday “next week,” don’t panic. You’re in good company.

This year, British holidaymakers are leaving it later than ever to lock in their summer breaks.

Normally, playing chicken with the calendar is terrible news for your bank balance. But right now, I’m seeing something interesting.

Because summer is staring us down, hotels with empty beds and airlines with empty seats are gently slashing prices to get bookings over the line.

And the result is some genuinely surprising short-haul beach bargains are sitting on the board for under £400pp.

I’ve crunched the numbers and picked out ten spots where your late-booking budget will stretch way further than you think.

Puerto del Carmen, Lanzarote, Spain

If you want a completely foolproof option, Lanzarote rarely misses.

Puerto del Carmen is an absolute staple, and right now, it’s delivering significantly better value than a lot of mainland Spanish resorts.

You get the reliable Canary sun, decent beaches, and enough life going on that you won’t get bored.

I spotted a five-night stay at the THB Flora from £370pp this August.

What makes this hotel a solid pick for me is the location – it’s close enough to the main strip when you want a drink, but tucked far enough away that you aren’t fighting a crowd just to claim a sunbed in the morning.

Icmeler, Turkey

Icmeler has always been the smarter, slightly more sophisticated neighbour to Marmaris.

The bay is stunning, the beach is framed by pine hills, and it completely avoids the chaotic mega-resort energy you find elsewhere in Turkey.

And this year, it’s consistently overdelivering for the price.

Case in point: five nights at the Petunya Konak Boutique Hotel is coming in from £385pp this August.

This hotel feels way more boutique than your standard package hotel too.

The pool setup is hidden away in the gardens, giving you a level of quiet that is gold dust during peak August.

Cavtat, Croatia

Dubrovnik may be grabbing all the headlines these days, but Cavtat remains one of Croatia‘s smartest-value coastal towns.

It serves up the exact same crystal-clear Adriatic water and postcard waterfront dining, just minus the suffocating levels of tourism.

If you’ve never done Croatia, a five-night stay at the Epidaurus Hotel from £385pp this August is a brilliant place to start.

The real win here is the logistics: you’re perfectly placed to enjoy Cavtat’s laid-back vibe, but you can hop on a quick boat ride into Dubrovnik whenever you fancy a bit of sightseeing.

Lagos, Algarve, Portugal

Lagos might just be my favourite corner of the Algarve.

It manages to balance unreal, cliff-backed beaches and a character-packed old town without feeling like a plastic tourist trap.

Finding peak summer deals here under the 400-quid mark is a massive result.

I dug up five nights at the Aqualuz Suite Hotel Apartamentos from £388pp this August.

And the selling point at this hotel, for me, is space. Because you get an apartment setup to actually spread out in, while still being an easy stroll from both the sand and Lagos’ top-notch independent restaurant scene.

Qawra, Malta

Malta doesn’t always get the attention it deserves for a summer beach break, which on this occasion plays into the hands of us holiday deal finders.

Because it offers guaranteed scorching weather, great swimming spots, and some of the warmest evening temperatures in Europe.

If you’re bored of the usual Spain or Turkey rotation, it’s a top shout.

You can grab five nights at the Best Western Premier Malta from £295pp this August.

And frankly, this place looks and feels much more expensive than the price tag suggests.

The rooftop pool alone looks like it belongs to a luxury city-break hotel rather than a budget summer deal.

Puerto Pollensa, Majorca, Spain

If you want Majorca but want to skip the neon lights and rowdy strips, Puerto Pollensa on the north coast is tough to beat.

It’s got a beautiful, relaxed bay and a classic, old-school Mediterranean feel.

I’ll be honest – this is normally a premium area, but 2026 keeps throwing curveballs that I love catching.

Because I found a five-night stay at the Club del Sol Aparthotel from £393pp this August, giving you a foothold in one of the prettiest, most civilized parts of the island while keeping your budget completely under control.

Playa del Ingles, Gran Canaria, Spain

Gran Canaria is a reliable destination for Brits for a reason.

If you’re scrambling for a last-minute getaway, Playa del Ingles is an easy win thanks to its massive beach and lively town center – this place is built for convenience.

I clocked five nights at the Servatur Waikiki from £400pp this August.

It’s right on the money in terms of location too, as you’re close to the beach, close to the nightlife, and it serves as a great, no-nonsense base for a classic sun-and-beer holiday.

Elounda, Crete, Greece

Elounda is proof that you don’t need a luxury budget to stay in one of Crete’s most scenic spots.

It’s known for its clear waters and charming little harbour, and is exactly the kind of place that usually charges a premium just for the view.

However, I spotted a five-night stay at the Alikes Hotel Apartments from £373pp this August.

And this hotel puts you right in the heart of the village, so you can easily wander between the tavernas and waterfront bars without needing to budget for taxis.

Sunny Beach, Bulgaria

Bulgaria has been sneakily dominating the budget travel market for years, and while Sunny Beach is famous for being cheap, the actual standard of the hotels has shot up recently.

Which now puts the destination in a perfect spot – overdelivering on quality compared to what you pay.

Just look at this: I found a five-night stay at the Lion Sunny Beach from £388pp this August.

And this place perfectly highlights what modern Bulgaria does well: it’s contemporary, stylish, and comfortable, without ever making you feel like you’ve compromised just to save a few quid.

Vlore, Albania

If there’s one destination you need to look at before everyone else ruins it (sorry), it’s Albania.

The Albanian Riviera has been gaining serious traction in the last couple of years, and Vlore sits right in the perfect spot.

The beaches are stellar, the water rivals Greece, but the prices haven’t caught up with the quality yet.

But in my experience, that window won’t stay open forever.

This summer, you can lock in five nights at the Valza Boutique Hotel from £388pp in August.

It’s a sleek, boutique property that you’d easily pay double for if it were sitting across the water in Italy or Croatia.

My advice? Get this one booked before the rest of the UK finds out.

*Prices correct at the time of publication.

There have been dozens of football transfers in Southern California during the offseason, but the one transfer who could make the greatest impact is running back AJ McBean, who announced he was leaving Mira Costa High for Gardena Serra.

McBean, who ran 10.55 seconds in the 100 meters this spring thanks to Mira Costa’s track program and his commitment to getting faster, joins a Serra offense that returns all five starters on the offensive line. He’s got the speed and strength to help the Cavaliers make up for not reaching the Southern Section playoffs last season out of the extremely competitive Mission League.

He’s been a longtime resident of Hermosa Beach, so what would motivate him to leave Mira Costa after recently making a commitment to Stanford? He apparently wants to prepare for college by being used in a more versatile role catching passes out of the backfield to show off his many skills. At least that’s what his family told coach Scott Altenberg. Mira Costa was changing its offense to better feature him, so it’s a tough loss for the Mustangs.

McBean will have to move to become eligible immediately.

Hope at Whittier

Former Garfield coach Lorenzo Hernandez, in his first season at Whittier, has already discovered a talent he can’t wait to develop. Offensive and defensive lineman Joseph Medina from the class of 2028 has made quite a first impression on Hernandez.

Medina didn’t play last season, “and in three months that we have been here, he is off the charts,” Hernandez said.

Hernandez calls him “a great technician and amazing leader.”

Agoura QB depth

Never has coach Dustin Croick of Agoura had more quality depth at quarterback than what he will have this season thanks to two newcomers.

Junior Kris Carranza has transferred from Sierra Canyon to Agoura and is a top candidate to start. The Chargers are also adding incoming freshman quarterback Emerson Andrews, whose father, David, played tight end at Ohio State and was a member of the 2002 national championship team. He is director of athletic performance for UCLA’s men’s basketball program. If anyone has a strength and conditioning question, submit it to Emerson, who knows someone.

Commitments rolling in

With college recruiters headed on vacation, lots of players decided to make commitments to make sure they have a “certain” destination. There’s also a new trend of players announcing on social media posts that they are “shutting down” their recruitment, which is supposed to mean their decision is final. Then how come others keep recruiting them? Because it’s never final in this era of NIL.

Quarterback Chris Fields, the City Section player of the year from Carson, committed to Georgetown. Offensive lineman Micah Butler from Hamilton committed to Sacramento State. Kicker Gabriel Goroyan of Westlake committed to Stanford. Defensive back Wesley Ace from Gardena Serra committed to San Jose State. Safety Jaden Walk-Green from Corona Centennial has committed to Washington and teammate Brett Smith has committed to UNLV. Running back Kamden Tillis of Los Alamitos has committed to San Diego State.

Man among boys

USC recruiters deserve praise for identifying the best in Southern California and pursuing them with great intensity. There’s no doubt that Damien safety Gavin Williams, a USC commit, will be the standard for excellence this coming season. He’s fast and strong and players who don’t adjust to his physical skills are in for a surprise.

Damien won the Chaminade seven-on-seven passing tournament on Saturday, beating Crespi in the final. On the first play, Williams caught a long touchdown pass, sprinting well past the defender who had no idea how fast he runs.

First-year coaches galore

It’s going to be fun tracking the progress of first-year football coaches this season because there are so many at well-known programs. The question of who will have the best record should be debated all summer.

Iggy Porchia became the latest new hire, replacing his mentor, the late Angelo Gasca, at Venice.

There should be a competition on which new private coach will have the best record and which new public school coach will have the best record. There are so many candidates with new coaches at JSerra, Orange Lutheran, Servite, Los Alamitos, St. Francis, St. Bernard, Bishop Montgomery, Oaks Christian, Whittier Christian, Bishop Alemany, Muir, Pasadena, Long Beach Poly, Arroyo, North Hollywood, Sun Valley Poly and on it goes.

Transfer issues coming

It appears the Southern Section will be busy again this fall after last year’s eligibility scandal when it declared 19 transfer students ineligible at Bishop Montgomery, resulting in the varsity season ending after one game and forcing the Archdiocese of Los Angeles to clean up what looked like a preventable mess.

This time, it could be public schools facing scrutiny. The same rumors that started last summer about schools loading up on transfers are circulating again this summer. Principals who don’t act after multiple transfers seemingly out of nowhere start showing up to play football only have themselves to blame.

And schools that delay submitting transfer paperwork until the last minute thinking investigators will be too busy to spot an error don’t understand the process.

City Section commissioner Vicky Lagos has a policy that she immediately schedules a meeting with the administration, athletic director, coach and parents when one school receives multiple transfers to review paperwork. The Southern Section deployed AI last fall to help it catch parents submitting false information.

So prepare for more exciting times. It’s like a cat-and-mouse game. And don’t forget about the anonymous emails identifying parents not living at the official address they put on their transfer paperwork.

His Majesty’s Passport Office issued an update

Millions of Brits planning a summer break are being told to observe a vital passport “3-week rule” following a new alert from His Majesty’s Passport Office.

The government body says that holidaymakers should allow a minimum of three weeks for their passport application to be handled and has cautioned that certain cases may take longer if further checks are needed. The reminder arrives as families gear up to travel abroad during the busy holiday period, when demand for passport renewals typically surges.

In a message to travellers, His Majesty’s Passport Office said: “Sun, sea & stress-free travel. Apply early – UK passports usually arrive within 3 weeks (longer if checks needed).”

Official guidance confirms that standard passport applications lodged in the UK are normally processed within three weeks from when the Passport Office receives the necessary documents. Nevertheless, officials emphasise that not every application can be completed within that window.

Government guidance states: “You’ll usually get your passport within 3 weeks. It may take longer than 3 weeks if we need more information, or we need to interview you. We’ll tell you this within 3 weeks.”

The Passport Office is also cautioning Brits against booking holidays before their new passport has been delivered. Its guidance states: “Do not book travel until you have a valid passport – your new passport will not have the same number as your old one.”

The guidance is especially important for travellers whose passport is set to run out before a planned journey.

Following Britain’s exit from the European Union, numerous European countries now insist that British passports must have been issued in the last 10 years and retain at least three months’ validity on the date of leaving the nation you’re visiting.

Travel industry specialists regularly caution that holidaymakers risk being refused boarding if their passport fails to satisfy their destination’s entry criteria.

Britons requiring a passport with greater urgency might be eligible to utilise the Passport Office’s premium services, such as the Online Premium and One Week Fast Track alternatives, though these come at a higher cost than the conventional application route.

Passport applications can be lodged online or via a paper form obtainable from Post Office branches, although paper submissions incur an extra charge.

Those who have already submitted their application can monitor its progress using the Government’s online passport tracking service.

Passport processing times.

The standard UK passport application service generally takes up to three weeks for completion. For individuals needing a passport more swiftly, the One Week Fast Track service aims to deliver a passport within seven days.

Travellers who need a passport straight away can opt for the Online Premium service, which provides a same-day appointment and passport collection. The Passport Office confirms that processing times only commence once all required documents have been received, which means any hold-ups in providing paperwork can prolong the total time needed to obtain a new passport. Further information is available here.

A FREE UK beach festival dubbed a “giant family playground” returns this weekend to an iconic seaside town.

Tens of thousands of visitors are expected to descend on the beachfront to enjoy a programme of live music and workshops.

A huge, free beach festival is set to return this weekend (June 20 to June 21) with tens of thousands of visitors expected to attend.

The First Light Festival takes place annually in Lowestoft, Suffolk, and features more than 200 performances across 24 stages.

The creative festival also offers visitors a wide-ranging programme of workshops, wellbeing sessions, crafting, dance, science, storytelling and family adventures for a fun-filled weekend.

Taking place over the summer solstice, the festival is a celebration of the first sunrise of midsummer.

This year, visitors will be able to attend a “special Indian Sunrise raga” at dawn on Sunday, June 21.

The festival covers an expansive area of the South Beach, spreading along the seafront, promenade and nearby Kensington Gardens and East Point Pavilion.

Converting the seafront into a “giant family playground”, festival-goers will enjoy events such as dance parties, science discoveries and circus skills workshops.

There are also camping options for those looking to stay overnight, including a glamping experience in well-equipped campervans.

Visitors are able to enter the First Light Festival for free and without a ticket.

However, after 9.30 pm, any festival-goers looking to attend one of the Sundown Events happening on Saturday night after the free programme of beach events ends will need to purchase a ticket.

The festivities began on Friday, June 19, with a selection of live theatre and music events to kick off the celebrations, and there are many more activities to get involved in as the weekend progresses.

A huge Big Bang Boogie parade takes place on Saturday, June 20, starting at the East Point Pavilion at 11 am and travelling along the seafront towards the main Sunlight Stage.

Other activities include a grounded movement ring, rocketry experience, and a traditional Punch and Judy show.

Visitors can also explore a selection of dance workshops, aerial displays and even get to see objects from the Natural History Museum.

Returning for its sixth year, the festival also has a huge impact on the town itself.

Chairman of Lowestoft Vision business improvement district, Danny Steel, told the BBC that the midsummer festival was “massive” for Lowestoft.

He explained: “We get about 30,000 people come to the First Light Festival over the weekend, and if all of those people spend £35 in Lowestoft, that’s £1m extra into the Lowestoft economy.”

Chief executive officer of the First Light Festival, Genevieve Christie, said the festival is about “coming together” as a community and gives people the chance to “experience things in real life”.

The festival also aims to put Lowestoft on the map as a holiday destination.

She explained: “All of our work is about raising the profile of Lowestoft, actually as a place to come on holiday, to be a tourist.

“We’ll be looking forward to 2028, when we’ll be operating the new cultural centre in Lowestoft, and our whole idea there is to bring the spirit of the festival into the town.”

IS there anything better than a traditional British seaside summer holiday when the sun shines?

Buckets and spades, Cadbury Flakes jammed into Mr. Whippy ice creams, rounds of seafront mini golf and travelling home with a stick of rock as a souvenir.

But let’s face it – some of our favourite resorts have become built up over the years with flashy neon arcades and attractions.

Over the years, our Travel team have visited seaside towns all over the UK, and a few stick out as traditional favourites that have remained nearly unchanged.

Not only this, but there’s heaps of history to be explored in these historic seaside towns, too.

From one of Britain’s best-preserved Medieval walls lined with gunports and stone towers, to 1950’s-style gelato bars serving up a retro knickerbocker glory, here’s Sun Travel’s favourite seaside towns that feel like stepping back in time.

Broadstairs, Kent

Deputy Travel Editor, Kara Godfrey

The coastline of Broadstairs really does feel like you’re stepping back in time, from the retro huts lining the beach to the vintage merry go round that pops up in summer.

Forget the chaotic arcades and bustle – there’s just a small arcade on the top of the cliff, and most of the busy cafes and bars are further up from the sand.

Of course, expect it to be busy in the peak summer months, but visit in shoulder season and you’ll have most of the beach to yourself.

Morelli’s is an institution and a must – the retro 1950s gelato bar will satisfy that itch for a towering knickerblocker glory.

For the best chippy, The Mermaid is the go-to of locals, while the Charles Dickens’ pub (named after the famous author who once raved about Broadstairs) is the popular spot for a pint.

Personally, my favourite spot is the slightly trendier Bar Ingo, with basque tapas inspired small plates that have led to its multiple awards.

Want to make a weekend of it? Stay at Smith’s Townhouse, a recently opened boutique hotel that has some of the best coffee in town. Rooms from £160 a night. See smithstownhouse.co.uk.

Or opt for the Canterbury Bell by Marston’s Inns, which offers double rooms from £52 per night.

Portreath, Cornwall

Head of Travel, Lisa Minot

The pretty Cornish fishing village of Portreath has escaped the modern makeover of many of its neighbouring coastal resorts.

Its layout is still dictated by its 18th century industrial past with its historic harbour built to ship copper ore to Wales.

You can still walk or cycle the old Great Flat Lode tramways that once carried the minerals.

Set at the bottom of a steep-sided valley, the village is flanked by towering, rugged cliffs that look exactly the same as they did centuries ago.

You won’t find chain stores, amusement arcades or sprawling hotels here, the seafront and village streets are lined with traditional granite cottages alongside independent local cafes like the Pod Cafe overlooking the beach.

There are also a couple of very traditional Cornish pubs including the Portreath Arms and Basset Arms.

The beach is perfect for long walks with the dogs with the Atlantic swells crashing against its shores.

Stay at the Gwel An Mor Resort above the village with a woodland path to the beach.

This lovely resort of eco-chic pine lodges also features a restaurant, indoor pool and spa as well as tennis courts and indoor soft play and adventure course.

Stays start from £167 per night in June. See argyllholidays.com.

If you prefer holiday park breaks, book a stay at Parkdean Resorts’ Crantock Beach.

The beachfront holiday park offers four night stays for four people in a Bronze caravan from £119, or £7.44pp per night.

Great Yarmouth, Norfolk

Travel Reporter, Jenna Stevens

Families have been flocking to the fairgrounds of Great Yarmouth for hundreds of years – and it still very much remains a popular seaside resort today.

Great Yarmouth saw a particularly big boom in holidaymakers in 1844 when the seaside railway opened, which transported visitors from the Midlands straight to the beach.

Today, Brits visit from all across the UK to try out top attractions like the rollercoasters of Pleasure Beach and watch the eye-catching shows of the Hippodrome Circus.

While these modern attractions are absolutely worth visiting, there’s plenty of historical sites here that go under the radar.

You might not expect it, but Great Yarmouth has the second-best preserved medieval town wall in England (following York).

You can still walk alongside the mile-long wall and see its massive flint towers and gunports, a scenic and historic walk away from the busier streets.

For some maritime history, head to The Time and Tide Museum.

Here you can discover the town’s fishing heritage through hands-on family activities and transport back in time to the 1950’s quayside. Adult tickets cost £7.74 and child tickets (aged 4 – 17) cost £6.57.

For somewhere to stay, the Knights Court Hotel has rooms from £90 per night and sits directly on the seafront.

Or go for a stay at the award-winning Seashore Holiday Park, with Haven Hideaway offers from £49 for four people for four nights – which works out to £3.06pp per night.

Aldeburgh, Suffolk

Travel Reporter, Alice Penwill

Counties like Norfolk and Essex are filled with noisy, arcade-filled seaside resorts.

But I recently discovered that those dotted along the Suffolk coastline are very different, especially when I found myself in Aldeburgh on a quiet spring weekend.

The promenade is protected so it means there can be no sellers or souvenir shops on the front, so it still maintains its feel of being a Victorian seaside town.

There’s nothing but towering pastel coloured merchant houses, fisherman’s cottages and of course, its long shingle beach.

The town is consistently referred to as being one of the prettiest (and might I add, poshest) in the country.

Behind Crag Path promenade is where you’ll find classic English bakeries, ice cream parlours, fish and chip shops, and pubs.

I popped into the White Hart, perched on the corner. It’s a small 18th century building filled with wooden furniture and nautical memorabilia – and serves up Adnams on draught – brewed up the road in Southwold.

Make sure to pop into Aldeburgh Fish & Chip Shop across the street too, it’s the oldest in the town and first opened in 1967.

Stay at the Brudenell Hotel right on the seafront from £74.50pp/pn. See
thehotelfolk.co.uk/hotels/brudenell-hotel.

Or opt for a stay at Parkdean Resorts Kessingland Beach, where you can book four nights in a chalet for 2 for £99. That’s £12.38pp per night.

Babbacome, Devon

Travel Reporter, Cyann Fielding

Nestled within the coastline between Dawlish and Torquay, you’ll find Babbacombe – an unspoilt town with heaps of history.

The town dates back to the 16th century when it was a fishing village and much of the original charm can still be seen today.

You can head to Babbacombe Beach, which is made up of shingle and sits below the towering red cliffs that form Babbacombe Downs.

Or you can visit Oddicombe Beach, by the historic funicular which has been operating for a century and travels the 200 metres down to the beach.

If you’re wanting somewhere special to eat, head to Babbacombe Bay Cafe, which serves freshly made toasties with salad.

About a three-minute walk away from the Downs, you’ll reach the high street where you can explore Bygones – a museum with a full-scale replica Victorian street (£13.95 per adult/£9.75 per child).

Another great attraction is Babbacombe Model Village, where you can feel like a giant as you explore hundreds of model scenes depicting British life (£21.95 per adult/£17.95 per child).

As for somewhere to stay, head to the Cary Arms Hotel and Spa where stays start from £195 per night.

There are also four night stays available at Parkdean Resorts Torquay Holiday Park for £99, or £12.38pp per night.

Whitby, Yorkshire

Travel Reporter, Jenna Stevens

Whitby offers everything you’d want in a trip to the seaside: award-winning fish and chips, amusements, tasty ice creams at every corner – but it stands out thanks to its connection to some famous historical figures.

Famous explorer Captain Cook trained for his global voyages in Whitby. Here you can visit the Captain Cook Memorial Museum, known as the House on the Harbour.

Inside, have a nosy around the 17th-century rooms where a 17-year-old James Cook lived as an apprentice in 1746.

Outdoors, you can hop on a Captain Cook boat tour which dives right into the life of the famous voyager, packed with plenty of sea shanties to sing along to.

Horror and literature fans alike will love the town’s connection to Dracula. You can see the grand Gothic ruins of Whitby Abbey from across the harbour, which keeps watch over the town from its creepy clifftop perch.

Author Bram Stoker visited Whitby in 1890 and was struck by the landmark looming over the pretty resort. After reading up on folklore in the local library, the writer penned his famous text.

This town takes its vampire fame seriously. To celebrate 125 years since the novel’s publication, English Heritage broke a Guinness World Record by hosting the world’s largest gathering of vampires, with 1,369 caped fans showing up.

To follow in the count’s footsteps, you can climb the famous 199 stone steps. In the book, a sinister black dog dashes up this staircase to announce Dracula’s arrival.

Luckily, daytime climbs offer gorgeous views of tiered red-roofed cottages rather than scares.

Stay on theme at the nautical Smugglers Rest bed and breakfast from £95 per night.

Or bag yourself a four night stay at Parkdean Resorts Cayton Bay in a Bronze Caravan, which sleeps eight, from £136 – which works out to £4.25pp per night in a full caravan.

Cockington, Torquay

Head of Travel, Lisa Minot

Tucked away in a hidden valley just a mile from the bustling seafront of Torquay, the quintessential Devon village of Cockington is unchanged.

While the English Riviera expanded over the centuries to accommodate the boom in tourism, Cockington has stood frozen in time.

The village is made up of striking 16th and 17th century cottages complete with whitewashed cob walls, timber beams and thick, thatched roofs.

And the reason the village has been unchanged for centuries is Cockington Court, A manor house dating back to the Domesday Book, the estate and country are protected against any development by a registered charity.

Legendary crime writer, Agatha Christie, was a frequent visitor to Cockington Court in her youth and even took part in amateur theatre on the manor house’s lawns.

The village’s narrow lanes wind past three tranquil mill ponds, ancient orchards and wooded walks and to this day, one of the most popular ways to arrive here to get around is via traditional horse drawn carriages.

Quench your thirst at the local pub, The Drum Inn, designed in 1936 by the architect Sir Edwin Lutyens to seamlessly blend in with the ancient surroundings or visit the original Forge, which has been operating on the same site since the 14th century.

Stay at the Hotel Indigo Torquay which sits on the seafront close to Cockington Country Park. Double rooms start at £61 per night in June. See ihg.com.

Book a four night stay at Park Holidays’ Dawlish Sands from £249 total, or £15.56pp per night.

If you’re planning to go on holiday this summer, you may need a new passport

With the summer holidays now in full swing, many travellers need a new passport. Anyone intending to go abroad will need the document, and there are specific criteria it must meet.

For instance, following Brexit, anyone travelling to the EU using a UK passport must ensure their passport’s “date of issue” falls within 10 years from their arrival date. The “expiry date” must also extend at least three months beyond the intended departure from the Schengen area, which encompasses 29 countries, including Spain, Greece, France, and Italy.

According to His Majesty’s (HM) Passport Office, when you submit an application for a new or replacement document, “you’ll usually get your passport within three weeks”. In an effort to inform travellers precisely when they can anticipate receiving theirs, independent website “UK Passport Waiting Time” is monitoring how long people are presently waiting for a new or replacement passport to be delivered.

The team, which operates independently from HM Passport Office, collects data from members of the public, including the dates they submitted applications for and received their new documents recently. Based on the most recent figures, people are waiting 19 days on average for a first adult passport, and 14 days for a replacement or renewed passport.

According to the website, the average processing time for a first child passport stands at 16 days, while a replacement takes 15 days. One traveller, using the Corby passport office to apply for a replacement passport, shared on the site that they submitted their application on May 19.

They said: “My passport was initially water damaged (to the point where the signature and previous immigration information had smudged) so required a replacement. No issues with digital photo submission from myself, just making sure to have a lot of light and a white background, and setting a timer to take the headshot (as I had no one else available) seemed to be sufficient.”

They subsequently received their new passport 23 days later, on June 11. A second applicant revealed they had applied for a first adult passport through the Hemel Hempstead passport office.

They submitted their application on May 1 and received their travel document on June 6, 36 days later. Naturally, timescales can differ between applicants, and HM Passport Office notes that: “It may take longer than three weeks if we need more information, or we need to interview you.

“We’ll tell you this within three weeks. There are different turnaround times if you’re applying from another country.”

Should you require a replacement passport as a matter of urgency, the one-day Premium Service is available to you. Bear in mind, however, that this comes at an additional cost, with an adult passport setting you back £239.50.

There’s also a one week Fast Track service available for renewing or replacing an adult or child passport – or for applying for a first child passport. The price is £192 for an adult passport, or £156.50 for a child’s.

IT’S NO lie that Brits love a European break but behaving badly could turn your trip into a holiday nightmare.

Across Europe, countries have their own rules relating to tourists – from banned beach items to strict curfews.

And if you want to avoid a hefty fine this summer, you’ll want to know what the rules are for each country.

France

A number of major cities in France and holiday hotspots ban drinking alcohol between 4pm and 8pm, including along the Paris riverbanks and the French Riviera.

When it comes to heading to the beach, make sure to not take any of it home with you as a souvenir.

Taking shells for example, is considered environmental theft and you could be fined €250 (£216.60) for doing this.

Swimming is always a fun activity, but men heading to the pool need to make sure you leave the swimming shorts at home.

Due to health and hygiene laws in the country, men in France must wear Speedos.

Spain

Most cities in Spain have banned drinking alcohol on the streets, such as Madrid, Barcelona and Valencia.

Also don’t jump from your hotel balcony into a pool – you can get kicked out of the hotel and fined.

Across Spain, make sure to not smoke or vape on the terraces of bars or restaurants or at pools.

But in Barcelona and popular Balearic and Canary Islands spots, smoking and vaping are banned across all beaches.

Fines for this range from €30 (£25.99) to €2,000 (£1,732.79).

In Barcelona, Malaga and Majorca, make sure not to walk through the streets in a bikini or swimming trunks. If you do, you could face a fine of up to €300 (£259.92).

Also when you are at the beach in Cullera, Calpe or Tenerife, don’t reserve a spot with a towel as you could have your belongings confiscated and be fined up to €3,000 (£2,599.18)

Portugal

In Portugal, there are some rules to be aware of when visiting.

Portable speakers are not allowed to be loud on beaches or you could be fined or it could be confiscated from you.

Fines vary between €200 (£173.28) and €4,000 (£3,465.58) for this.

Also in Albufeira, a Code of Conduct introduced last year is still in place for tourists this year.

The rules basically reinforce that visitors must act respectfully, with public nudity and drinking alcohol on the street banned.

Italy

There are a number of different rules across Italy you’ll need to follow.

In Florence, there are a number of streets where you can’t sit and eat outdoors.

The rule has been introduced to ease congestion.

Also in Florence, e-scooters are banned in the city centre.

In Liguria, Portofino, over the summer, travellers who walk the cobbled streets either barefoot, in swimwear or topless can be fined.

You could also get fined between €50 (£43.32) to €2,500 (£2,165.99) if you are caught hiking Cinque Terre in flip flops.

Drinking alcohol in the streets is also banned with fines up to £2,568.

And make sure not to sit or lie down on a path, wall or park as this can also get you fined. Fines range from £22 to £433.

Over in Milan, you cannot smoke outdoors unless you are 10 metres away from other people. If caught breaking the rule, you could be fined between €40 (£34.66) to €240 (£207.93).

In Rome, you cannot drink out of a glass bottle on the streets after 10pm and all outdoor drinking is banned after midnight.

While in the city it is also worth being aware that when you visit the famous Spanish Steps, not to sit, eat or drink on them.

This is to protect the 18th century marble from damage and stains and if you are caught doing this, you could get a fine between €250 (£216.60) and €400 (£346.56).

And if you are visiting the Italian island of Sardinia, make sure you don’t dig a hole, build a sandcastle or take sand or shells from the beach as you could be fined up to €3,000 (£2,599.18).

Heading to Venice? Make sure you don’t feed the pigeons – it is illegal and you can be fined between €25 and €500.

Greece

In Greece, there are some different rules compared to other countries.

For example, at archaeological sites like the Acropolis and the Parthenon you cannot wear high heels.

If you are caught with high heels, you could be fined up to £760.

Drinking on the streets is also not allowed.

And if you are caught topless in public you could face a fine of up to £250.

Even though it may be tempting, make sure you don’t take pebbles from Greek beaches either as you could be slapped with a £771 fine.

It is also worth knowing that across Greece, sunbeds and umbrellas have been banned on 251 beaches and the beaches that do have sunbeds allowed, at least 70 per cent of the sand must be without sunbeds.