Sun Club

I SPEND a lot of my time looking at holiday prices – comparing deals, breaking down packages, and figuring out where the strange little pricing tricks are hiding.

There’s one trend I keep seeing again and again. In some family resorts, it can actually work out cheaper to stay as an adult and a child than as one adult on their own.

That’s not because flights suddenly get cheaper, but because the hotel part of the package drops in price.

It sounds odd, but when you look at how hotels price their rooms, it starts to make sense.

Why does this strange holiday pricing trick happen? The main reason is something called a single supplement.

Most hotel rooms are priced for two people sharing, so when just one person stays, hotels often increase the price to make up for the empty bed.

Solo travellers can end up paying a hidden surcharge, but when you add a child, the pricing works differently.

Family resorts – especially in places like Turkey, Spain and Greece – are built around rooms designed for two adults and a child, and children usually cost hotels less to accommodate.

They often sleep on sofa beds, eat smaller portions and have discounted all-inclusive rates.

Because of that, hotels often price children very cheaply – and sometimes the total hotel cost actually drops compared with a solo booking.

Hotels are usually happy with this because families tend to spend more around the resort, from drinks and snacks to activities and excursions.

So, filling a room with an adult and a child can be more valuable than one guest travelling alone, which occasionally leads to the strange situation where bringing a child makes the hotel portion of the holiday cheaper.

When I looked at the data, I found several resorts where this pricing quirk shows up.

I compared the price of a 7-night stay as a solo traveller versus the cost when bringing one child at a variety of holiday resorts.

Here are some of the best examples, and the biggest savings of up to £698.

Labranda Targa Club Aquapark, Marrakech

Average saving: £30

Just outside Marrakech, Labranda Targa Club Aquapark combines Moroccan sunshine with a proper family-friendly resort setup.

Kids get water slides and splash pools, while adults can explore the markets and gardens of the city nearby.

And the pricing still shows a small advantage, with adult and child bookings averaging £30 cheaper for a 7-night stay than solo travellers.

BLUESEA Puerto Caleta, Fuerteventura

Average saving: £43

Located in Caleta de Fuste, Puerto Caleta is a relaxed apartment complex perfect for an adult and child beach holiday.

You’ve got sandy beaches, boat trips and plenty of restaurants right on your doorstep.

When I priced it up, holidays average a £43 saving for an adult and child per 7-night stay compared with travelling alone.

Sol Barbados, Majorca

Average saving: £45

Sol Barbados in Magaluf is one of the most family-friendly resorts in Majorca.

There’s a huge waterpark-style pool area, kids’ entertainment and easy access to the beach.

For an adult travelling with a child, it’s a simple sun-and-pool holiday – and the pricing shows an average saving of around £45 for a 7-night stay compared to booking solo.

Staycity Aparthotels, near Disneyland Paris

Average saving: £60

City breaks can show the same pattern too.

At Staycity Aparthotels near Disneyland Paris, you’re just minutes from the Disney parks, which makes it ideal for an adult taking a child on their first big theme park trip.

And the pricing structure means the average holiday can come out around £60 cheaper for a 7-night stay when you book as an adult and child instead of travelling alone.

Oludeniz Beach Resort by Z Hotels, Dalaman

Average saving: £81

Oludeniz Beach Resort sits right by one of Turkey’s most famous beaches – the stunning Blue Lagoon at Ölüdeniz.

It’s an easygoing, all-inclusive resort where an adult and child can spend the day swimming, exploring the beach or watching the paragliders drift down from the mountains.

And package bookings for this hotel show an average saving of £81 for a 7-night stay when adding a child versus travelling solo.

Gran Castillo Tagoro, Lanzarote

Average saving: £212

This five-star resort in Lanzarote is practically designed for family holidays.

Gran Castillo Tagoro has dedicated kids zones, family pools and incredible views over the volcanic coastline near Playa Blanca.

For an adult and child travelling together, it’s the perfect mix of relaxation and activities.

Bookings here show an average saving of around £212 when bringing a child for a 7-night stay compared with a solo holiday.

Golden Port Salou & Spa, Costa Dorada

Average saving: £251

In Spain, Golden Port Salou & Spa is a brilliant base for an adult and child holiday.

It’s close to the beaches of Salou and just minutes from PortAventura theme park, which makes it perfect for a trip packed with rides, waterparks and ice cream stops.

Thanks to family-friendly pricing, the average holiday price drops by about £251 per 7-night stay when a child is added to the booking.

Rixos Radamis Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt

Average saving: £279

If you’re looking for something more luxury, Rixos Radamis in Sharm El Sheikh is one of the most impressive resorts in Egypt.

Huge pools, beach access on the Red Sea, kids clubs and endless all-inclusive food options make it a dream for families.

And the pricing structure here means an adult travelling with a child can save around £279 for a 7-night break on average compared with booking the same trip alone.

Auramar Beach Resort, Algarve

Average saving: £349

Over in Portugal, Auramar Beach Resort sits right above the cliffs near Albufeira with incredible sea views.

It’s a laid-back all-inclusive hotel where an adult and child can spend the day between the beach, the pools and the buffet before watching the sunset over the Atlantic.

Because it’s built for families, adding a child actually brings the average holiday price down by around £349 for a 7-night break compared with travelling solo.

Eftalia Blue, Antalya

Average saving: £698

One of the biggest differences I found was at Eftalia Blue on Turkey’s Mediterranean coast.

This is a classic big Turkish all-inclusive resort with huge pools, slides, and easy access to the famous Eftalia Island beach complex.

For an adult and child travelling together, it’s ideal – kids get waterparks and entertainment all day while parents can relax by the pool or head down to the beach.

And the pricing quirk here is huge, with holidays averaging almost £700 cheaper for an adult and child for a 7-night stay compared to travelling alone.

Here’s my key takeaways for travellers.

I should make it clear: holidays aren’t always cheaper with kids.

Flights are still one of your biggest spends, and plenty of hotels price things normally.

But when you start digging through package holiday deals, you occasionally find this strange pricing quirk.

Because of single supplements and heavily discounted child rates, this is one of those travel industry secrets you only really notice when you spend your days digging through holiday data.

MAY half term is creeping up fast, but there’s good news for families – you can still get a bargain all-inclusive holiday booked in.

And you can enjoy those lazy beach days and create lasting memories for less than you’d think.

We’ve scoured the internet to find these bargain all-inclusive deals, with prices from just £259pp. Plus, some of them include free kids’ places, too.

That’s your whole holiday with flights, hotels, food, drinks and more all wrapped up into one.

Think waterslides and kids’ clubs for the little ones, poolside cocktails and spas for the grown-ups, plus beaches just minutes away.

All of these holiday deals are during the May half term week, plus a few that utilise the school inset days either side of the week-long break.

From luxurious resorts in Turkey and Tunisia to action-packed hotels in Spain and Greece, these budget-friendly breaks will see you swapping grey skies for sunshine. All prices correct at time of publication.

Belpoint Beach Hotel, Antalya, Turkey

The Belpoint Beach Hotel in Beldibi, Antalya is surrounded by the forests of the Toros Mountains, giving your outdoor swim a pretty impressive backdrop.

With a pool decorated with colourful parasols and a waterslide, this pretty resort also has plenty to do indoors, including a sauna and a Turkish bath to unwind in.

This no-frills all-inclusive provides buffet dining, evening discos and sports like volleyball and basketball.

Plus, there’s easy access to the coast and its pine-backed beaches, ideal if you’re after an outdoors-y holiday where time is spent outside, soaking up the sun.

Loveholidays offer a 7-night stay from 25 May, including return flights from London Stansted from £319pp. The foreign office advises that Turkey is generally safe for travel amid the ongoing conflict in Iran – and flights are running as usual.

Izola Paradise, Sunny Beach, Bulgaria

This four-star stay is set amid the buzz of Bulgaria‘s largest holiday resort, Sunny Beach.

Expect temperatures in the low 20s in May, plus a family-friendly atmosphere with a kids’ club, outdoor playground and games room.

Whether you spend the days playing table tennis, darts and billiards, or simply lazing on a lounger between trips to the poolside bar, this is a cheap and cheerful choice for an all-inclusive holiday.

Plus, nearby Sunny Beach sees stretches of golden sand flanked by a strip of cheap-eating spots and bars that come alive at night, making it one of Europe’s best-value spots for a sunshine break.

Loveholidays offer a 5-night stay from 27 May, including return flights from London Luton from £319pp.

El Mouradi Hammamet, Tunisia

Set in the seaside resort of Yasmine Hammamet, this hotel is built for families with its own kids’ pool, waterslides, plus a spa with a sauna and steam bath for the adults.

This resort is buzzing with entertainment, sports and activities all through the day and in to the night – including everything from archery and aqua fit classes to an on-site nightclub.

Rooms are bright and modern, equipped with the essentials for a relaxed stay. Plus varied buffet dining keeps things easy for families and groups while providing for even the fussiest of eaters.

A five minute walk takes you to Carthage Land theme park, while the marina, Medina and seafront promenade are all close enough for evening strolls.

Loveholidays offer a 7-night stay from 24 May including return flights from Bristol from £449pp.

El Pueblo Tamlelt, Agadir, Morocco

El Pueblo Tamelt in Morocco‘s Agadir is surrounded by 11 acres of luscious gardens, and is just steps away from the beach.

And with Agadir reaching highs of 26C in May, this is a top pick if you’re looking for somewhere to sunbathe this half term.

The huge resort has 363 rooms, each with a balcony or terrace overlooking the sea or gardens.

All-inclusive food includes three daily meals in the main buffet restaurant, as well as drinks and snacks such as pizza, hot dogs and burgers at the pizzeria snack bar.

If you fancy getting out and exploring, the town centre is a 10 minute drive away and packed with souks, cafés and restaurants.

On the Beach offer a 7-night stay from 25 May including return flights from London Stansted from £335pp.

Terramar Calella, Costa Brava, Spain

Terramar Calella puts you right in the thick of the action of Costa Brava‘s Calella, with the beach on one side and the buzzing promenade on the other.

Here, days start with sea swims and end with sunset drinks. Platja Gran Calella is the area’s largest beach, and here it’s right on your doorstep.

This hotel is ideal if you want the classic Costa Brava experience without the extra fuss.

Expect clean and simple rooms, burgers, meats and salads at the buffet, and bars stocked with local spirits.

Loveholidays offer a 5-night stay from 26 May including return flights from £259pp.

Sun Club El Dorado, Majorca

With its palm tree-lined pool and Mediterranean backdrop, it’s a miracle this Majorca resort is so affordable.

Expect a classic family holiday feel – where days revolve around soaking up the Spanish sunshine, chilling by the spacious pool and sipping on frozen cocktails.

Set away from the busier resorts, it’s a good option if you’re after a more out-of-the-way escape with plenty of room to relax and soak up the scenery.

Loveholidays offer a 7-night stay from 24 May including return flights from Glasgow from £319pp.

El Mouradi Cap Mahdia, Tunisia

El Mouradi Cap Mahdia sits on one of Tunisia’s finest white-sand beaches: Plage Mahdia.

This Moorish-style resort is a hit with families thanks to its giant sapphire pool, and a non-stop kids’ club that keeps the little ones entertained daily.

With buffet meals, snack bars and local drinks on tap, plus 263 air-conditioned rooms including larger options for families, this hotel offers a classic all-inclusive experience.

Plus with the beach on your doorstep, and the historic charms of Mahdia’s old town just a 10-minute drive away, it’s an ideal spot to set up base for both swimming and sightseeing.

Loveholidays offer a 7-night stay from 24 May including return flights from Edinburgh from £399pp.

Sun Star Beach, Mahmutlar, Turkey

With its own private stretch of sand in sunny Antalya, the four-star Sun Star Beach is a fantastic value pick.

This traditional all-inclusive features a sprawling outdoor pool with its own water slide, four bars, and a restaurant with both buffet and à la carte dining options.

Plus there’s a relaxing spa and Turkish bath with massage treatments available for when you want a break from soaking up the rays.

With the vibrant shops and bars of Mahmutlar right on your doorstep, it’s a brilliant base to soak up the local buzz before heading back for a sunset cocktail by the pool.

Plus the kids-go-free offer when you book with Loveholidays truly sweetens the deal.

Loveholidays offer a 7-night stay from 25 May including return flights from Glasgow from £319pp. This offer includes free-child stays.

Santa Susanna Resort, Costa Brava, Spain

A disco bar, free transport to the beach, a thriving kids’ club and hilarious entertainment – what’s not to like about the Santa Susanna Resort?

Just half-an-hour’s drive from Girona-Costa Brava airport, you’ll find this buzzing family holiday resort.

Highlights of this hotel include a spacious swimming pool, a kid-friendly splash pool with a waterslide, and nights packed with live music, karaoke and kids’ discos.

And if you’re not yet convinced, this deal comes with one-free-child stay.

On the Beach offer a 5-night stay from 23 May including return flights from Glasgow Prestwick from £365pp. This offer includes one free child’s place.

Club Munamar Resort, Dalaman, Turkey

This budget-friendly base in the Dalaman resort area of Turkey offers a classic fly-and-flop vibe if you’re seeking some last-minute sun.

With four outdoor swimming pools, clean and comfy rooms and easy access to the town and beaches of Icmeler, this resort is a solid choice for a sunshine break.

If you do take the five-minute drive into nearby Icmeler, you’ll find beaches with clear, shallow waters, and a quieter atmosphere than the nearby Marmaris.

Loveholidays offer a 5-night stay from 23 May including return flights from London Gatwick from £369pp.

Villamarina Club, Salou, Spain

Sunny Salou sits in the low 20s in May, meaning you won’t have to travel far to catch some rays this spring.

Family fun is the name of the game at Hotel Villamarina Club. This hotel has a lively, child-friendly atmosphere with two pools, a kids’ club, and all-inclusive guests benefit from free entry to a disco.

A seven-minute drive takes you to Salou beach, where turquoise water laps at soft golden sands.

Plus, PortAventura World is only a 10-minute drive away, where there are rides and rollercoasters galore.

On the Beach offer a 7-night stay from 25 May including return flights from London Stansted from £470pp.

Tuntas Beach Hotel Altinkum, Bodrum, Turkey

Located in luxurious Bodrum, the Tuntas Beach Hotel Altinkum is a popular hotel with a parasol and lounger-dotted beach on its doorstep.

And with horse-riding, water sports and live music all available close to the resort, you won’t get stuck looking for things to do.

Rooms are kitted out with all the necessities like air-con, hair dryers and a telly, plus the buffet meals included as part of the all-inclusive package are switched up each night.

Plus with weather reaching highs of 27C in May, it’s safe to say you’ll be able to make the most of that gorgeous Bodrum beach outside the hotel.

On the Beach offer a 6-night stay from 25 May including return flights from London Gatwick from £410pp.

Corona Roja Aparthotel, Gran Canaria

The Corona Roja Aparthotel sits on Gran Canaria‘s Playa del Ingles, one of the most popular beach resorts among Brits – and for good reason.

The area offers a mix of brilliant beaches, buzzing nightlife and adventure activities all in one place.

Whether you’re the type to set off parasailing or prefer a sunset catamaran trip, there’s plenty on offer in this lively resort town.

And the Corona Roja Aparthotel is a budget-friendly base to do it all from.

Although the comfy apartments come with a handy kitchenette, the all-inclusive package includes access to a buffet restaurant and pool bar to save you doing the cooking.

On the Beach offer a 5-night stay from 23 May including return flights from £315pp.

Gouves Bay Hotel, Crete

Gouves Bay Hotel keeps things simple on a sunny Greek island location right by the sea.

This hotel has a relaxed, family-friendly feel with two pools, a kids’ club and easy all-inclusive dining.

And if you fancy a change of atmosphere, Gouves’ bars and tavernas are just a short walk away for your choice of evening drinks with a view.

Heraklion airport is only about 15 minutes drive away, so airport transfers are quick and painless.

Plus, Hersonissos is a 10 minute drive away for nightlife and waterparks, while Heraklion town and the historic Knossos ruins are 20 minutes away.

Thomas Cook offer a 5-night stay from 26 May including return flights from Glasgow from £574pp.

Paloma Family Club, Bodrum, Turkey

As the name suggests, the Paloma Family Club caters to all things fun and families.

Kids can cool off from the Turkish heat in a dedicated splash pool with its own waterslide, or grab an ice lolly at the poolside snack bar.

Nearby Bitez Beach is one of Bodrum‘s finest, with clear, shallow waters for little ones to paddle in, and reserved sunbeds and parasols for hotel guests.

There’s family entertainment to enjoy twice a week, but if you fancy getting out and trying something new, the nearby resort towns of Gumbet and Bodrum are well worth a wander around.

easyJet Holidays offer a 7-night stay from 24 May including return flights from London Gatwick from £633pp. This offer includes one free child’s place.

WHEN Gaz Beadle and Emma McVey announced their split in 2023, their fans were shocked. 

Geordie Shore lothario Gaz had always described the model, who he had two children with, as his ‘rock’. But, just months after she underwent heart surgery, Gaz announced their eight-year relationship was over. Now, insiders tell us tension has been bubbling behind the scenes.

Things are said to have reached boiling point after Gaz announced he was expecting a baby with his new girlfriend, Maia, 13 years his junior.  

Our insider says: “Gaz and Emma have both moved on and are in happy, loving relationships with new people.

“But fans have noticed there is a level of competitiveness between them, and they seem to be trying to outdo each other.

“Emma got engaged, and then Gary announced he was having a baby. It was a huge shock and very eye-opening.

“She feels like she has a very small group of loyal friends, and exactly who they are has become very clear since her split from Gary.”

It’s certainly not the first time Emma has been blindsided by Gaz – she was shocked when he announced they had split during a Q&A with fans.

He casually revealed they had split three weeks prior and insisted there was no bad blood between the couple, who share kids Chester, eight, and Primrose, six.

Sources said Emma felt it was ‘unfair’ and was keen to announce it to her own followers herself.

She didn’t shy away from how hard the breakup was, in contrast to Gaz’s laissez-faire attitude.

In a heartbreaking post, she told her followers: “It’s been really hard for me and the kids to be separated. There’s been a lot of crying on FaceTime, which really breaks my heart.

“I’ve been numb and focusing on my children while still trying to work. I’ve honestly not known what to say. I’m hoping this will get easier in time.

“Sending so much love to anyone going through something similar, and thank you so much to everyone who has been checking in on me.”

If Gary took them to the park, the next week Emma took them to a theme park

Our insider

And when she moved on with a new man and a fan accused her of being unfaithful, she shot back with a jibe that appeared to be aimed at Gary: “I was unfaithful? What with someone I met 7 months after my separation? No darlin, you clearly have NO IDEA who was unfaithful.”

Our insider continued: “There was tension from the get-go but they masked it pretty well. They both doted on their kids whenever they had them, but fans noticed how they often posted competing snaps. If Gary took them to the park, the next week Emma took them to a theme park.”

Cheating allegations

Emma and Gaz first started dating in 2016, but just a year later, they called time on their relationship, with Emma accusing Gaz of cheating and dumping her by text.

She ranted: “When he’s been filming Geordie Shore, he decided to send me a TEXT ending things, telling me to move my stuff out of OUR home that I furnished and paid for without explanation.

“After begging me to go to Australia with him and making me leave my career, I still find out he still managed to cheat on me throughout our relationship and continually lie.”

But the pair reconciled, and in 2017, they announced they were having a baby. Their son Chester was born in January 2018, and their second child, a daughter named Primrose, was born in December 2019.

Gary popped the question while she was pregnant with baby number two – the whole thing was filmed.

They tied the knot in 2021 in front of 90 guests and their kids in Cheshire.

Bedding 1000 women

Gary appeared to be a very different man – his wild Geordie Shore days were well in the past.

He once boasted about sleeping with over 1000 women – his tumultuous relationship with Charlotte Crosby was well documented – but after quitting the show in 2017, he turned his life around. 

He told us previously: “My life couldn’t be more different.

“My DM’s have changed dramatically, I can tell you that. It’s gone from mum’s wanting to shag me to mums and dads talking about colic, acid reflux, nappies, and bath toys.

“I had ten-years of partying and doing whatever I wanted. I was so used to life being all about me then I had a baby and quickly realised life wasn’t about me anymore.”

It wasn’t an easy time for any of them, as Emma suffered a series of debilitating health issues 

The model, who once dated Towie’s Mario Falcone, had no idea she’d been born with three holes in her heart until a monitor was fitted following her second pregnancy.

She’d suffered years of seizures, exhaustion and fainting episodes – but while the diagnosis was illuminating, medics were cautious about operating because Emma is also battling ulcerative colitis.

The condition, which affects roughly one in 420 in the UK, causes ulcers and inflammation in the digestive tract.

The steroid treatment used to treat it can lead to bone loss and breakage, which doctors warned could stop Emma’s bones from fusing back together.

I thought, ‘I’m going to get put to sleep and I’m not coming back out’.

Emma, on her heart surgery

Around Christmas time of 2023, her tricuspid valve – the valve between the two right chambers of the heart – further deteriorated, and the decision was made to proceed with the op in spite of the risks.

She later said: “I knew in surgery I’d be connected to a heart machine that would be keeping me alive while my heart was stopped, and I kept thinking, ‘They’re not going to be able to start my heart again’. 

“I thought, ‘I’m going to get put to sleep, and I’m not coming back out’.”

It was a life-changing experience for all the family, and made their split even more surprising. 

It wasn’t long until they both moved on, though. Emma started dating electrician James Staszewsky, and he became a huge part of her life and that of the kids as they set up home. 

Gary had a brief romance with pro golf star Charley Hull, before falling for student Maia.

In what some felt was a dig at influencer Emma, Gary gushed about Maia:  “I like how she’s got a normal job. Like, she got in at 8 o’clock this morning after leaving at half past 7 last night… 13 hours. She’s doing it again tonight, it’s inspirational.

“It almost brings me down a peg and I think that’s why I’m getting more normal and normal.

“I just love to pop to the pub for a bit of food and a walk with the dog, cutting the grass, like, I’ve become quite a normal boring person.”

The romances both came under fire and in a very surprising move they joined forces once again in order to issue a lengthy statement in which they addressed their marriage ending and the attention their new romances had gained.

‘One team’

Gaz hit back to insist they are “really good friends” and that they are both “happy and happy for one another” despite being in “new relationships”.

He added: “Both of us are in new relationships and we all get along well, and we can say we are so proud of ourselves to be able to all stay as one team.”

We’re told it was a brief period of calm for all parties involved but it wasn’t long that changed.

Gaz’s baby news was said to be one of those moments that rocked the boat.

Only a couple of years ago, Gaz had told The Sun he wouldn’t be having more kids, he said: “Two is hard enough. I think if you asked us before we may have said three but that was before we realised how hard it is.

“If we had two boys or two girls, then maybe it would be different but we have one of each, which is perfect.”

A baby bombshell

In a post last week, Gary told fans that nursing graduate Maia, 24, was pregnant.

He told fans: He wrote: “We’ve been keeping a little secret…

“Baby Beadle, you are so loved already.”

He recently returned to Geordie Shore after eight years away, though in a far cry from his wild days on the show he did it all sober.

He insisted that Maia won’t be joining the show because she has her own career, but with a baby on the way that could all change.

Friends are hoping it might put a stop to the one-upman ship.

They tell the Sun: “Everyone knows having a baby changes everything.

“They both have their happy ever afters now and can concentrate on that, and of course, the kids they share.

“There is room for them both to enjoy the limelight, without having to compete.”

WHEN I told my friends about my recent European getaway, many met me with two questions in quick succession: firstly, “Where?” and then pointedly “Why?”

I’m not surprised. I hadn’t heard of the city – a two-and-a-half-hour flight from London – until I decided to whisk my wife away on a romantic weekend there. What I found was meals out for less than £10, posh Airbnbs for only £50-a-night, and drinks at about half the price we pay at home.

In recent years, we’ve had weekend breaks in Paris, Barcelona, Berlin, Vienna, Lisbon, Rome and Amsterdam – but they can often feel too big to truly explore over a weekend.

Add in long airport journey times, expensive hotels and pricey restaurants, and you come home knackered and empty pocketed.

Increasingly, I’ve found that it’s simply more enjoyable to head somewhere smaller: instead of Paris, try Toulouse; instead of Barcelona, try Grenada. So, when we decided on a trip to Poland, we picked a trip to Lublin, rather than Warsaw or Krakow.

We wanted to go on a “couple weekend” – like a date night for married people, but conducted over 48 hours somewhere well away from home. 

Except for Vienna, all our previous minibreaks were in Western Europe – this time, we wanted something more exotic, perhaps to the East or North. 

Plus, we were seriously skint.  Anything in Scandinavia was prohibitively expensive.

One friend had just been to the chic Arctic Circle town of Tromso in Norway and warned: “For even a very average bottle of wine in a bog standard restaurant you are looking at eighty quid”.

I thought he must have mis-typed, but no, that number did indeed have a Y on the end – eighty.

So Norway was out. Sweden and Finland didn’t sound much better when it came to price. 

So when a friend suggested an affordable alternative, Poland, I was interested. Which is how we came to settle on Lublin.

In the east of the country, with a population of around 327,000, Lublin is closer to the border with Ukraine than the capital, Warsaw. 

The city featured prominently in one of our favourite films of last year, A Real Pain, which won Kieran Culkin a Best Supporting Actor Oscar.

It came across as both fascinating and charming. 

We then found we could get a smart Airbnb double room in the heart of this pretty city for £50 a night – and return flights out of Luton on Wizz Air for just £37 each. Sold!

Lublin is a tiny airport – just four gates – so easy and quick to navigate, then there’s a little single carriage tram-like train to ferry you very cheaply the few miles into the city to find that double room. 

Our rental was an absolute steal for the price: views from two large windows looking directly at the dramatic castle with ramparts that dominate the old town, and it also features as a backdrop in A Real Pain

A bottle here for the price of a glass there

The food and drink were a steal too; the wine in particular was a lot, lot cheaper than you’d find in the UK.

A bottle here for the price of a glass there.

In both restaurants, the food was less than half the price for something comparable at home – generous mains for under a tenner.

In fact, everything from Uber rides to gallery tickets seemed to have this “less than half” aspect, which left us thinking it might be even more financially advantageous to simply move here.  

Lublin was beautiful, intense, constantly interesting and surprisingly romantic- but also very, very cheap – perfect for the couple with no money. 

Even though Lublin is the largest city in eastern Poland, there are far fewer crowds than Krakow, making it the ideal family destination too.

Of course, we wanted to check out the locations features in A Real Pain too.

The film, a mix of comedy and tragedy, told the story of two cousins, Culkin and Jesse Eisenberg, visiting the city where their Jewish grandmother had grown up before being caught up in – and narrowly escaping – the Holocaust. 

That historic atrocity looms large in Lublin.

Until 1939, the city was one of the great Jewish centres in all of Europe, comparable to Oxford for its cultural reach.

First, we headed to the Old Jewish Cemetery – but it was closed for the sabbath so we could only peer in at the atmospheric stone monuments.

At a hotel around the corner, a travel group leader told me that the building had been the largest Jewish academy in the world when it opened in 1930.

But barely a decade later, its entire library burned in what is now the hotel carpark and its students were systematically slaughtered. 

Just outside Lublin is a concentration camp, Majdanek, where 78,000 died.

But of course, it wasn’t just Polish Jews who were murdered.

Outside that cemetery, for example, a sign proclaimed: “This place is hallowed by the blood of Poles, prisoners of Lublin Castle, executed by the Nazis on 23 December 1939.”

The fairytale castle we were looking at from our room had a dark past. 

The other film location we tried was a restaurant, Mandragora, in the old town, where Culkin’s character plays the piano.

On our visit to this delightfully old-fashioned place, there was also music, from a small band with accordion, fiddle and clarinet that seemed to give a pre-war atmosphere.

Even more retro-atmospheric was a restaurant not in the film, Zaczarowana, where a gothic interior of shadows, black curtains and candlelight made it feel like we were on the set of some composite film mash-up of the Frankenstein and Dracula stories.

Like travelling back in time

There’s lots to see in the city too.

If travelling with kids, you can head to the Open Air Village Museum, which is an immersive museum with historic farmhouses and of course, farm animals too.

There’s also a water fountain and light show in Litewski Square to watch in awe.

In the Old Town you will find pastel coloured houses, neatly lined up and there is also the castle – one of the oldest royal castles in the country – which has great views across the city.

According to Backpack Adventures, it is even like “travelling back in time” with a number of gates leading onto narrow alleys.

The city has over 150 trolleybuses to get around the city, which were introduced back in 1953.

And it is the perfect time to visit, as the city has been named one of Europe’s Capitals of Culture for 2029.

Hungry? Head to U Szewca in the Old Town, where you an discover a pub with sport-themed rooms, pizza for just £6 and Bolognese for around £7.50, and a beer for about £4.25.

When it comes to grabbing something to drink, head to Nocny Portier where you will find “upside-down pot plants, absurd monkey portraiture and terrific cocktails from a movie-inspired menu”, according to The Times.

You even need a password to head downstairs to the speakeasy and once inside, you will be able to grab a cocktail for just £6 delivered on a toy railway.

For more cheap European getaways, these are the cheapest European cities to fly to this year according to the experts – with loads of flights from £15.

Plus, these are Europe’s top 20 cheapest beach resorts.

SINCE I started working in travel at some of the UK’s top holiday firms, I’ve visited more than 200 hotels.

Some were impressive, some were expensive, and some try very hard to be both. But only a small handful earned a perfect 5/5 from me.

And I don’t give that score lightly. But these places are better than some five-star properties I’ve visited.

I’m not marking purely on marble floors or how many à la carte restaurants there are. I’m looking at something much simpler: does this hotel genuinely deliver for what you pay?

Because I hate overspending on holidays.

So for 2026, I’ve picked one hotel in each destination that I personally rated 5/5. Not because they’re the most luxurious in the country – but because they’re the best at what they do.

And I’ve checked current prices to see if they’re still stacking up. Here’s what I found.

Turkey – Grand Aquarium, Dalaman

Turkey is full of huge, ultra-luxury resorts. Grand Aquarium isn’t that, and that’s exactly why I love it.

It’s apartment-style, spacious and calm. The pool area feels relaxed, the rooms are generous, and the whole place is easy to navigate. When I stayed, what stood out wasn’t extravagance – it was how smooth everything felt.

There’s super-friendly staff, the place is spotless and it’s a relaxed, family-feel atmosphere.

For 9-16 June 2026, flying from London Gatwick, self-catering is currently pricing from £195 per person.

For early summer in Dalaman at a hotel I’ve personally rated 5/5, that’s excellent value. It’s the sort of price that makes Turkey feel like a very smart move again.

Canaries – Bakour Lanzarote Splash

If you want value in the Canaries, this is hard to beat.

Bakour Lanzarote Splash is all-inclusive as standard, and what I like is that it doesn’t feel like everything good is an extra. Waterpark, entertainment, food – it all feels included in the experience, not bolted on.

Because it’s Lanzarote, flight prices tend to stay reasonable year-round. That keeps the overall package price sensible even when demand rises.

For May 2026 (4-11 May), flying from Bristol, all-inclusive, it’s currently pricing from £413 per person.

For an all-inclusive with those facilities, in Lanzarote, that’s very competitive. For families especially, you’re getting a lot of hotel for that number.

Mainland Spain – L’Azure, Costa Brava

L’Azure manages to feel modern and stylish while still working brilliantly for families.

There’s a rooftop adults-only pool, which means parents can genuinely switch off for an hour. Downstairs, the family areas are lively but not overwhelming.

When you compare it to other Costa Brava hotels in the same bracket, it often comes in at a better price for noticeably better room quality.

For 2-9 June 2026 flying from Bournemouth, room-only is pricing from £373 per person. For a hotel of this finish and quality on the Costa Brava in June, that’s strong. You’re getting something that feels premium without paying luxury-brand money.

Egypt – Edge by Rotana Sea Beach, Sharm el Sheikh

Sharm el Sheikh surprised me – and this hotel was a big part of that.

Edge by Rotana Sea Beach gives you scale and proper all-inclusive facilities without the usual hidden extras. Multiple pools, beach access, good dining – but it doesn’t feel overwhelming.

What makes it really strong value is context: compared to Caribbean or Indian Ocean resorts offering similar sunshine and facilities, Egypt remains far more affordable.

For 26 November-3 December 2026 flying from London Luton, all-inclusive is currently from £333 per person.

For winter sun, guaranteed warmth and a full resort set-up, that’s seriously competitive. You’d pay far more for a similar experience in the Caribbean.

This is one of those hotels where you leave thinking, “That was worth it.”

Majorca – Sea Club Mediterranean Resort, Alcudia

The Balearics can feel tight for space in peak season, but Sea Club doesn’t.

It’s spread out, relaxed and well organised. There’s plenty going on, but it never feels cramped. The buffet is varied, the layout makes sense, and it runs like clockwork.

For May 2026 (2-9 May) flying from London Stansted, self-catering is pricing from £208 per person.

For Majorca, in early season sunshine, at a hotel of this size and quality, that’s excellent value. It’s often cheaper than smaller hotels nearby with fewer facilities.

It’s not flashy – it just gets absolutely everything right.

Greece – Mitsis Rodos Village, Rhodes

Rhodes has some excellent hotels, but Mitsis Rodos Village stands out for consistency.

It’s a proper all-inclusive with strong service, varied dining and a setting that makes the most of the coastline. The grounds are well kept, the atmosphere feels polished but not stiff, and everything runs efficiently.

Mitsis as a brand tends to cost a little more on paper, but you see where the money goes. Service levels are high, and repeat bookings are common – which is always a good sign.

For 12-20 May 2026 flying from London Gatwick, all-inclusive is currently from £323 per person.

For eight nights in Rhodes at a hotel of this standard, that’s impressive. It feels like five-star treatment without a five-star bill.

Morocco – Iberostar Waves Founty Beach, Agadir

Agadir offers beachfront Morocco without the chaos of a city break, and Iberostar Waves Founty Beach is a brilliant base.

It’s right on the sand, modern without being over-the-top, and has a layout that feels calm rather than crowded.

Compared to some Marrakech resorts inland, you’re getting beach access, sea views and space – often at a better overall package price.

It delivers atmosphere and sunshine without unnecessary extras inflating the cost.

For 30 November-7 December 2026 flying from London Luton, all-inclusive is currently from £398 per person. For winter sun on the beach, with strong reviews behind it, that’s very competitive.

Cyprus – Anesis Hotel, Ayia Napa

Anesis Hotel proves you don’t need a giant resort to have a great holiday.

It’s centrally located in Ayia Napa, walking distance to beaches, restaurants and shops, which removes the need for taxis or long treks in the heat.

The hotel itself is modern, clean and well run. The service is spot on, and the atmosphere is friendly rather than frantic.

For the price you typically pay in this part of Cyprus, it feels fair – and often better value than newer hotels charging more for less.

For 13-20 October 2026 flying from London Luton, bed & breakfast is pricing from £380 per person.

For Cyprus in late-season sunshine, that’s fair value for a well-located base that genuinely delivers.

Portugal – Muthu Clube Praia da Oura, the Algarve

The Algarve can get expensive in summer. Muthu Clube Praia da Oura is a smarter way to do it.

It sits close enough to Albufeira’s buzz if you want it, but far enough away to relax properly. Apartment-style accommodation keeps things flexible, and the sea views here are genuinely strong.

When I stayed, what struck me was how much location you’re getting for the price. You’re near the beach, near the nightlife, but not paying top-tier five-star rates.

For 29 September-6 October 2026 flying from London Luton, self-catering is currently from £268 per person.

For Algarve sunshine at that time of year, that’s unbelievable value .

Tunisia – Sahara Beach Aquapark Resort, Monastir

Tunisia is one of the most underrated value destinations in the world.

Sahara Beach Aquapark Resort is a big, energetic, family-focused property with multiple pools, slides and beachfront access. It’s unapologetically fun.

What makes it 5/5 for value is scale, because you’re getting huge resort facilities and reliable sunshine at a price point that undercuts much of southern Europe.

For 5-12 May 2026 flying from London Gatwick, all-inclusive is currently from £393 per person.

So, for families who want proper all-inclusive without stretching the budget too far, this is one of the smartest bookings on the map.

FEW got on the wrong side of drug lord Pablo Escobar and lived to tell the tale – let alone survived him putting out a contract on their life.

But Godfather actor Gianni Russo, 82, is no ordinary bloke. He was employed by some of America’s most notorious Mafia kingpins and sensationally claimed Marilyn Monroe took his virginity. Now, he reveals the astonishing story of how he went from mob notoriety to Hollywood fame – and how he escaped death in the process.

The New Yorker’s blockbuster life began dramatically when he nearly died aged six from polio, only surviving thanks to an experimental vaccine trial that cured him but led to the deaths of half of the patients on the hospital ward.

After a lengthy five-year recovery, Russo started out selling ballpoint pens on the streets of New York aged 13.

It was here that he first crossed paths with Frank Costello, a mob boss from the Luciano crime family, who offered him work. 

This induction into the mob world would lead to him becoming pally with the likes of Frank Sinatra, Monroe and Al Pacino, as well as bagging acting roles including in the first two Godfather films, Rush Hour 2 and Red Dragon. 

And it was his portrayal of Carlo Rizzi, the abusive husband of Connie Corleone, in the first Godfather movie that would save his life in the unlikeliest fashion.

Surviving “King of Cocaine” Escobar’s wrath – after surrendering himself to the Colombian drug lord and being interrogated in a prison cell three floors underneath his mansion – was among Russo’s biggest feats.

Escobar had put a hit out on the actor after he shot dead Lorenzo Morales, a hitman from his Medellin Cartel, in a 1988 Las Vegas nightclub.

The fatal altercation came after Morales stabbed a woman he had taken to dinner at Russo’s venue and then slashed the Godfather star’s face with a broken champagne bottle.

Russo tells The Sun: “He spins around and goes for my throat. Fortunately I react, I was agile enough, but he cuts me on my jawline, which required 81 stitches, and I’m bleeding.

“I said, ‘Look what you did to my shirt.’ He cut me but I’m worried about my shirt. I just wanted to get my hand on my gun and as soon as I did, I put the gun at his forehead.

“I told him, ‘Now go out the door’. He said, ‘F*** you’. I shot him… The cops came and took me to the hospital.”

Russo wasn’t charged with the killing due to it being ruled a justifiable homicide by the Nevada District Attorney’s Office.

But he knew he was a wanted man when Morales was revealed to be part of the Medellin Cartel.

Despite knowing he was unlikely to return, Russo travelled to a church in Colombia to meet face-to-face with the drug lord – a meeting arranged by mobster John Gotti, head of New York’s Gambino crime family. 

Russo adds: “Understand one thing, Escobar believed in killing your pets, your children, your family, and you last. I wasn’t going to let that happen.” 

Seconds after greeting Escobar, he was hit from behind and woke up in the cartel lord’s famous “mansion prison”, which he had built to avoid extradition to the US for drug charges.

“I was strapped to a chair, the stench was unbelievable,” Russo says. 

“I thought I was hallucinating. [Escobar] had a book in his hands. The book was ‘Making Of The Godfather’. He said to me, ‘Why didn’t you tell me you were Carlo in The Godfather? I loved that movie.’”

In a Hollywood-style twist, Escobar instructed his associate to clean-up Russo, treat his injuries and take him to his dining room, where the Colombian would later probe: ‘Why did you come here?’

Russo replied: ‘What would you have done if someone was going to kill your daughter? I had to come here. Kill me now and leave my family alone.’

He continues: “He walks towards me, I don’t know if he was going to cut off my head or what, but he kissed me. He said, ‘They don’t make men like us anymore. Go home, I’ll handle this’. 

“So, we sat down, had dinner, we talked, it was amazing. But he was a frightening man.”

Russo bagged his role in The Godfather after serving as a liaison between Paramount Studios and the Colombo crime family, who had threatened to stop the film’s production through their vice-like control over the unions.

He recalls petitioning crime boss Joe Colombo, who objected to the movie because it “basically identified every Italian as a gangster”, by telling him: “Listen, we can make a lot of money from this.” 

Eventually, Russo talked him around and was given the role of Carlo in the iconic 1972 movie “as my reward”.

Not everyone was happy he got the part, including Marlon Brando. The legendary star, who played Don Vito Corleone, was desperate to succeed in his “comeback film” and wanted everything to be perfect.

“When he found out that I wasn’t even an actor, he tried to get me fired,” Russo said. “I worked that out with him and we became friends.”

Similarly, Russo says co-star James Caan, who played Sonny Corleone, “hated me from day one” because of his corrupt connections. 

Caan also believed he lost out on the role of Michael Corleone to Al Pacino because of Russo and his mobster allies.

John Gotti rival

By the time Russo starred in The Godfather, he had already made a fortune from criminal activities.

He was sitting on an estimated £1.5million fortune, having worked as a ‘messenger’ for mafia families and run multiple crooked businesses including casinos.

Russo was taken under mobster Frank Costello’s wing out of respect for his Sicilian uncles, who had helped to send the Mafia crime families over to America and were hanged for their criminal activities.

He says being “given so much respect so early on” angered future Gambino crime boss Gotti, who was then a “hijacker, earning big money” and desperate to become a ‘made’ man.

Was I upset? No. I’d just had sex with America’s hottest movie star and sex symbol.

Gianni Russo

Russo’s biggest money-spinner was laundering “hundreds of millions of dollars” skimmed from casinos and other illegal businesses through the Vatican Bank with the help of a corrupt bishop in the 1970s.

Then came his big screen debut in The Godfather, which changed his life forever and was a film that “the mob loved”. 

Russo says: “The Godfather was my first film. I was young, I was making big money and with my ego, I wanted to become an actor.

“The movie premiere was like a dream come true for me because 10 years earlier I was selling ballpoint pens to people and now I was in the biggest movie ever in the world.”

‘Marilyn taught me everything’

Fame, coupled with Russo’s mob connections, led to a series of high-profile celebrity romances. He would go on to father 13 children with 10 different women.

He dated I Say A Little Prayer singer Dionne Warwick in the 1980s, the actress Zsa Zsa Gabor and Cabaret star Liza Minnelli.

“I really like Liza, I couldn’t say anything bad about her, she’s just fun, enjoys life,” Russo said through laughter.

But perhaps his most famous dalliance came earlier with Marilyn Monroe, then 33, who he sensationally alleged took his virginity when he was 15. 

Gianna was working at a hair salon in New York and says the Some Like It Hot star always requested him to wash her hair. 

He claims one day Marilyn’s advisors invited him to her suite in the Waldorf Hotel and they bonked for the entire weekend, leaving him struggling to walk after . 

Russo recalled her standing in her messy room, which he compared to “like the set of a disaster movie”.

She was holding a flute of champagne, wearing just a towel which she promptly dropped and invited him to join her in the bath. 

“My heart was pounding,” he said. “Like an idiot, I covered my eyes, which made her laugh.

“I began undressing, praying I wouldn’t trip over my pants and fall on my ass, and then entered the tub. I’ll be ­honest, I had no idea what to do, or what she expected.

“We wound up in bed for the entire weekend, climbing out only when needed. It was my first ­experience of room service, and it added to the fantastic experience.”

The one issue was that Russo was just 15 years old – but the actor had no regrets, even boasting “she taught me everything I know” and he felt like “the luckiest boy alive”.

He said: “If it had happened today, I think she’d be arrested and my parents would have tried to get some cash out of it… Was I upset? No. I’d just had sex with America’s hottest movie star and sex symbol.”

Russo has lived a life few could imagine – he’s hung out with everyone from Pope John Paul II to Donald Trump.

He dubs himself “the Hollywood Godfather” but despite the title and his murky past, he insists: “I was never in the mob but I was around it and was friends with some of the big names.

“They (police) tried to tie me to the mob but I never got a traffic ticket let alone association.”

Russo has released multiple books and is currently touring the UK and Ireland as part of a one-man theatre show, which reveals all about his colourful life and how his film debut was a seismic moment for him. 

He adds: “The Godfather changed my life. I don’t know what my life would be without The Godfather. It’s still changing my life now.”

Russo Russo’s new book Mafia Secrets Untold Tales From The Hollywood Godfather is out now.  

WE’VE scoured the internet to find some of the best things to do over the Easter holidays for all ages – and the best part is, they all cost less than £10.

From Easter garden parties with furry friends to Gruffalo and Stick Man woodland trails, here are our top things to do as a family for under a tenner.

£10 and under

BBC Horrible Science: Cosmic Chaos exhibition at the Science and Industry Museum, Manchester

Visit Manchester’s Science and Industry Museum for a new exhibition guided by the characters from BBC’S Horrible Science.

The hit children’s TV show is known for its unique experiments and fascinating facts that kids love – and this educational exhibition is just as wacky as the programme.

Follow an outer space adventure where you’ll see space toilets, travel through a wormhole and boogie on an alien disco planet.

Aimed at families with children aged 7+, you can even have a go at programming a space rover and analysing real pieces of moon rock.

The exhibition is open now until January 2027, and costs £10 per person with under 3s going free. Make sure to book your tickets online in advance.

Wild Tots club, nature workshops and Easter Eggstravaganza, Suffolk

Carlton Marshes Nature Reserve in Lowestoft, Suffolk is hosting a variety of nature-themed events for families this Easter.

The Wild Tots group allows children aged 18 months to 5 years to get creative with hands-on messy crafts and games in the woods, with a range of Easter-themed activities on offer.

The Wild Tots Easter Special takes place on 31 March, costing £7 per child which includes an Easter treat. Adults go free.

There’s also hands-on nature workshops for families during the holidays, including art workshops and drop-in wildflower seed bomb making, at £3 per child or £5 for two.

There’s also an Easter Eggstravaganza taking place on 9 April, where families can tour the nature reserve, build nests and take home some Easter crafts for £8 per child and £3 per adult.

Plus the Carlton Marshes nature reserve itself is well worth exploring in the holidays. Make the most of a sunny day out with the family, and set up a picnic overlooking the Suffolk and Norfolk border.

Check the website for a full list of upcoming events and workshops.

Mixed Reality Experience at The Natural History Museum

Step into the future at the Natural History Museum with their mind-blowing Visions of Nature AR experience.

This high-tech adventure uses mixed reality headsets to whisk you 100 years into the future. Here you can explore an inspiring world where nature has bounced back in the most spectacular way.

Suitable for children aged 10 and over, you’ll be taken through eight different ecosystems including rainforests and the Arctic Ocean.

Using the headsets, you’ll find amazing plants and animals that look so real you’ll want to reach out and touch them.

The experience is available daily with sessions between 10:15am and 4:45pm. Tickets cost £9.95 per person, and can be booked in advance online.

Curiosity Club at the National Museum of Scotland, Edinburgh

The National Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh is free to visit and packed with fascinating galleries and displays.

The hands-on Imagine and Adventure Planet galleries are perfect for kids, with interactive games and cosy reading corners.

Plus, Curiosity Club sessions at the museum are packed with games and activities that allow kids ages 7 to 11 to interact with the galleries in new ways.

Taking place in the museum’s Learning Centre, this club follows new themes each month, with the next theme Primates beginning on 28 March.

Curiosity club sessions cost £10 per child and must be booked online in advance.

Observatory tours and stargazing in Omagh, Northern Ireland

Shielded by the Sperrin Mountains of Northern Ireland, the OM Dark Sky Park and Observatory is protected from light pollution – meaning that the sky glistens with stars.

This attraction is a top choice for budding astronomers, or families wanting a unique nighttime experience.

Book onto a guided tour of the OM Exhibition to learn all about the local landscape and the history of the Sperrins, whilst making your way through holographic installations.

Tickets cost £6 per adult and £3.90 per child, with under 2s going free. Make sure to book your tour online in advance.

The Easter Garden party and detective trail at Holkham Estate, Norfolk

Head to Holkham Hall and Estate for an Easter extravaganza that will entertain the whole family, set in a beautiful walled garden.

The Easter Garden at Holkham event takes place from the 3 to 6 April, and will include magic shows, games, races, and plenty of chocolate to go around.

The event will also see different animal breeds visit each day for children to meet and greet, from cuddly guinea pigs, to spiky hedgehogs, to scaly bearded dragons.

Meanwhile, the detective-themed Easter trail is simple to follow with a trail sheet and egg boards dotted around Holkham Park.

Once you’ve got your thinking caps on, you’ll be looking for clues to help you crack the code in a family trail suitable for all ages.

The Easter Garden event costs £7 per ticket, with under 2s going free. Make sure to book online in advance.

The Easter detective trail is completely free and runs from 5 to 17 April.

£5 and under

National Trust Easter Trails, across the UK

Nearly 100 National Trust sites across the UK are hosting Easter-themed events and egg hunts during the holidays.

Most of these trails spread across UK sites cost £3.50 per child, but there are some free options too.

This includes an Easter Bunny Bootcamp held at Staunton Harold in Derbyshire, from 28 March to 12 April. The trail itself is free, and the estate does not charge for admission.

The outdoor trail features fun activity stations and fitness challenges to tackle as a family as you help the Easter Bunny find his missing carrots.

There’s also a unique Easter event taking place at Dunstable Downs and Whipsnade Estate in Bedfordshire.

Dunstable Downs will be taking part in the tradition of orange rolling, with 10 family racing stations made from tennis ball tracks. There will also be an Easter-themed trail and classic egg hunt to take part in.

The event takes place from 28 March to 10 April, with admission to the Downs free. The trail costs £3.50 and includes a trail sheet, bunny ears and chocolate egg, with options for children with dietary requirements available.

Check the full list of Easter events on the National Trust website to find a trail or egg hunt near you.

The Gruffalo Orienteering Trail, Exeter

Haldon Forest Park is the ultimate outdoor destination in Devon, with an abundance of cycling and walking trails as well as plenty of activities year-round.

Easter is the perfect time to explore the park, with spring sunshine and dry walking trails making a welcome change from the winter sludge.

Pick up a map and certificate for just £1.50 from the Info Pod, and set out on an exciting forest adventure with The Gruffalo Orienteering Trail.

This map will help you to find 12 sights hidden in the woods, and ends at the park’s play area where there’s a giant Gruffalo sculpture.

You can pick up your trail for £1.50 from 9:30am to 3:30pm during the Easter holidays.

Easter Spring Trail and Mini Mammoths club, Shrewsbury Museum and Art Gallery

The School Holiday Adventure: Take on the Museum Trail will take over the Shrewsbury Museum this Easter.

In a free family trail suitable for ages 5+, you’ll be able to search for hidden treasures amongst displays and undertake a series of hands-on challenges.

As well as this trail, the museum offers a weekly Mini Mammoths workshop where children ages 2 to 4 can take part in songs, stories and even handle historical objects. There’s tea, coffee and snacks to enjoy, too.

The trail is completely free and takes place from 28 March to 11 April. The museum is free to enter and open from 10am to 4pm Tuesday to Saturday.

Mini Mammoths takes place on Thursday mornings between 10:30am and 12pm. Tickets cost £6 for one adult with up to two children, working out at at £3 per person or less.

Egg hunt, Easter crafts and interactive storytelling sessions at Blakesley Hall, Birmingham

There’s a whole host of exciting events popping up across Birmingham museums for Easter 2026.

Between 1 and 3 and 8 and 10 April, you can take part in an Easter trail at the Tudor home Blakesley Hall.

Follow an Easter trail through the gardens of the historical hall to find all the hidden eggs and complete the challenge.

The egg hunt costs £3.50 per child and takes place from 11am to 3pm.

Other events taking place at Blakesley Hall include Craft Wednesdays: Easter Arts as well as Goldilocks and the Three Bears storytelling sessions.

The crafts on offer include Easter cards and bracelet making, which cost £3.50 per session. Book your slot in advance online.

The Goldilocks storytelling sessions are fully interactive, as children will learn the story while touring rooms of the house.

This includes seeing the kitchen where Goldilocks made her porridge, and taking a seat in the three bears’ chairs.

These storytelling activities do however break the £5 mark, at £5 per child and £8 per adult. The sessions take place on 2 and 9 April. Make sure to book online in advance.

Room on the Broom trail at Westonbirt Arboretum, Gloucestershire

Enjoy a spellbinding day out at Westonbirt Arboretum, where the classic kids’ book Room on the Broom is bought to life in a nature trail.

Little explorers can follow the mile-long trail, stopping to collect the special ingredients needed for the witch’s spell.

Don’t forget to grab a family photo with the witch and her animal friends on their brand new broom before you head home.

The trail pack costs £4 and includes colouring, stickers, a lanyard and a pop-out wand. Westonbirt Arboretum is open between 9am and 4:30pm daily.

Free

Amazing Aircraft Top Trumps Trail, IWM London

Take a family throwback to the days of collecting Top Trumps with this free trail at the Imperial War Museum, London.

Aviation and history fans young and old will love this interactive trail. Simply pick up a trail sheet and search for hidden aircraft dotted about the museum to add to your collection.

The Amazing Aircraft trail is open daily from 10am to 6pm, ending on 19 April.

There’s also a Story Seekers trail available on weekends, from 10am to 4pm, where you can learn all about historical heroes at sea.

The IWM London is free to enter and open daily from 10am to 6pm.

Big Beasts, Little Beasts trail at the Great North Museum, Hancock

The Big Beasts, Little Beasts trail is taking over the Great North Museum: Hancock, Newcastle upon Tyne, with family-friendly games dotted across the galleries.

To join the fun, just grab a free trail sheet at the welcome desk and follow the interactive activities throughout the museum. There’s even some great prizes to take home.

Plus, if you visit on Saturday, March 28, you can catch a free living history family day to celebrate the opening of new exhibition: Treasure: Hidden, Lost and Found.

The Big Beasts, Little Beasts trail runs until April 2. Entry to the Great North Museum, Hancock is free. The museum is open 10am to 5pm Monday to Friday, closing an hour earlier on weekends.

Tracks of Life Train Exhibition at Clitheroe Castle, Lancashire

Railway enthusiasts should head to Clitheroe Castle Museum for the Tracks of Life exhibition, a celebration of the legendary railway photographer Ken Roberts.

Alongside his famous railway shots, you’ll find model trains and fascinating artefacts that bring the history of trains to life.

While you’re there, don’t forget to explore the 12th-century castle ruins and 16 acres of parkland at Clitheroe Castle.

It’s perfect for a scenic picnic or a hunt for ancient coins, plus the grounds and keep are completely free to visit.

Plus, if you find anything interesting, there’s often Finds Liaison Officers on hand to help identify your treasures.

Clitheroe Castle Museum is open 12pm to 4pm from Friday to Tuesday, opening daily from 1 April.

Stick Man Trail, National Memorial Arboretum, Staffordshire

Fans of the book, film, or that catchy party song won’t want to miss the Stick Man trail hidden in the woods of Alrewas, Staffordshire.

This mile-long woodland path is packed with the familiar faces of classic characters in carved wooden sculptures throughout the trail.

To start your journey, just grab a free trail map from the National Memorial Arboretum welcome desk, and head into the woods to see who you can find.

The National Memorial Arboretum offers free admission and is open daily from 10am – 4pm.

Spring Family Fun Festival at the Southbank Centre, London

From April, the Southbank Centre in London will host an exciting Spring Family Fun festival.

The festival offers both free and paid events during the Easter holidays, with free events including family textiles workshops and free Wordplay songs, rhymes and dance workshops.

There’s also Simmer Down dancing sessions with live music and art workshops inspired by new exhibitions.

The Spring Family Fun festival takes place from April 1 to May 31. For dates and times of specific events, visit the festival website, where you can pre-book your activities.

The Box, Plymouth

The Box is a top-tier family attraction in Plymouth, offering everything from free museum trails and craft tables to fascinating art exhibitions.

You can dive into the current Beryl Cook: Pride and Joy exhibition, or pick up a family trail sheet to hunt for hidden treasures across the galleries.

For those with little ones, don’t miss the free storytelling sessions held every Friday morning for under-5s.

It’s the perfect way to spend a morning, followed by a quick visit to meet Mildred the Mammoth or a creative session at the drop-in craft tables.

The Box in Plymouth is open from 10am to 5pm from Tuesday to Sunday.

KATIE Price has confirmed her family were livid upon hearing she had married for a fourth time.

The star wed Lee Andrews in Dubai in January in a whirlwind marriage that took everyone – including her own family – by surprise.

Now, chatting to The Sun for the first time about the romance in a wide-ranging interview, Katie has revealed just exactly what her family thought – and confirmed that her sudden marriage to Lee was hard on her wider family.

She says: “Of course my family are going to worry, I wouldn’t expect anything different.

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Watch more of Clemmie’s interview with Katie Price on The Sun’s Showbiz YouTube channel

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“They love me and they’ve seen me go through so much heartache, and the most horrific times.

“So I don’t blame them for being p***ed off and angry. They love me and I love them too.

“But I’m not a kid any more, I am 47, I can make my own choices, and I will. They have to give me that chance to go and find out for myself.

“You just got to let me be me; my life isn’t normal. There’s no textbook to any of this.

“Just let me enjoy the moment and enjoy my relationship.”

Despite the family worries, Katie has admitted she wants to take her marriage slowly despite affirming that Lee is “the one”.

She told The Sun she won’t introduce Lee to her children for a “year” if that’s how long it takes for the dust to settle.

Katie said: “Even if it takes a year they [the children] need stability.”

The former glamour model also reaffirmed her faith in her fourth marriage.

“I’ve gone for a beautiful human being who genuinely makes me happy, who I’m so in love with.

“And if I’m happy, please be happy for me.”

SCREAMING matches, tears and table mutiny is what you expect from Christmas Day with your in-laws – not at the Brit Awards.

But this year’s swanky ceremony in Manchester’s Co-op arena was a hotbed of misbehaving drunk stars, disgruntled execs who weren’t dished up their puddings and desperate agents who, on the night, were still begging organisers to get their A-listers into the label after-parties – with one Hollywood actor being repeatedly turned away because “they’re known for being a nightmare”.

On Saturday night, over 1,000 of the biggest names in music and entertainment descended on Manchester’s Co-op Live Arena floor to enjoy a swanky three-course meal before Harry Styles opened the Brits.

The experience, which is usually luxurious to say the least, got off to a shaky start when guests, who’d forked out over £25,000 for a table, were hastily ushered out because Robbie Williams still needed time to rehearse.

The delay in proceedings ended up causing chaos before the show had even begun, and later, angry guests were overheard moaning about the meagre portion sizes and a Manchester tart pudding, which, for hundreds of guests, failed to materialise.

One top celebrity agent moaned to me: “A table costs £25,000, but four bits of celeriac, a tiny bit of venison and no pudding is outrageous.

“Everyone on my table wanted tequila shots, but when we went to order them, the staff said they couldn’t serve them straight.

“Then, because Robbie’s rehearsal messed with timings, there wasn’t time for the puddings to come out before the show started.

“Some tables got their tarts, others got absolutely nothing – and there was no apology. We were all starving.

“The service felt like we were at a badly organised wedding.”

On the floor, music and acting royalty, including Jeff Goldblum and Oasis legend Noel Gallagher, mingled amid discontent – before acts including Harry Styles, Olivia Dean and Mark Ronson put on epic performances.

As the ceremony got started, not everyone was having fun.

Love Islander’s Toni Laites and Cach Mercer had a screaming match mid-way through the show – leaving them on the brink of a split.

Meanwhile, Maya Jama, Olivia Attwood and Lola Young broke the strict “no vaping rule” and irked their nearby table neighbours by puffing out fumes.

One well-respected publicist told me during the night: “It was like sitting next to the Flying Scotsman sitting near Lola Young.

“She was exhaling these huge plumes of vapour. It was ignorant and arrogant.

“And don’t get me started on Bez – he’d had so much to drink he looked like he was struggling to stand.

“He was dressed like a court jester, and he tried to introduce himself to Alex Warren, who looked totally baffled by the entire interaction.

“Alex was totally polite, but he didn’t have a clue who this seemingly mad man was who was trying to shake his hand.

“Eventually, someone he was with got Bez away from him so he could carry on watching the show.”

Censoring was a big point of contention on the night too, with Jack Whitehall’s funniest quips – including a gag about Peter Mandelson – and Geese drummer Max Bassin’s shout of: “I just want to say: free Palestine and f*** I.C.E,” all edited out by ITV.

“It was bizarre,” another publicist quipped to me the following day.

“Noel Gallagher shouted ‘Up the f***ing blues,’ and rather than just beeping out the swear word, they decided to lose the entire sentence – meaning anyone watching at home just suddenly heard him being booed by Manchester United fans in the arena.

“The BBC totally botched up the Baftas, so maybe ITV were scared of getting it wrong.

“But it meant that some of the editing didn’t make a whole lot of sense.

“Why are you letting one of the night’s biggest stars get loudly booed with zero context?”

It was like sitting next to the Flying Scotsman sitting near Lola Young.

As the clock ticked closer to 11pm, stars keen to get out of the arena and to after parties thrown by major labels including Warner and Sony, found themselves being blocked by security.

“People just wanted out towards the end,” one of the on-site crew explained.

“The floor usually is chaotic towards the end of the ceremony because people are drunk, but you can’t have half the tables suddenly going missing.

“Vernon Kay and Sharon Osbourne managed to evade capture, but security were trying to turn most people back to their tables.”

The rush to the after-parties made sense, given how tight the guest lists were.

I’m told one major Hollywood acting agent was ringing around organisers on the day to try and get their client, who is a household name and has been in massive films, into a bash.

“The guest list is full, that’s the party line,” one insider told me.

“But basically, if your client is a nuisance, they aren’t getting in.

“This actor is known to party hard and can be a nuisance. His agent was begging him to be allowed into the parties, but everyone kept saying no.

“In the end, he didn’t bother coming, which was a relief. But there was no way this agent would have let their Hollywood client slum it on the pavement outside.”

Out in the cold

As stars and execs jostled to get into the parties, Selling Sunset star Breana Tiesi was left shivering on the pavement outside of Warner Music’s bash after briefly stepping outside the event and being told she wasn’t allowed back in.

“Bre was furious,” one onlooker told me. “She was an invited guest and had been inside.

“But she stepped out and wasn’t allowed to get back inside again.

“They kicked up a massive stink, and it eventually got sorted. But it wasn’t a good look.

“Amber Gill then ended up in tears and was sobbing in the foyer – all while you’ve got mega A-list stars like Dua Lipa singing a cocktail just a few feet away.

“It’s scenes you just can’t make up.”

BOOKING a holiday can feel overwhelming at the best of times, but when you’re travelling alone with children, it becomes something else entirely.

You are the organiser, the navigator, the passport holder and the snack distributor. And if anything goes wrong, there is no one else to tag in. I work in travel and look at holiday pricing data every day. One trend that stands out consistently is that single-parent bookings often cost more than people expect.

With only one adult in the room and fewer family-room configurations available, the price per person can climb quickly.

So I wanted to approach this properly. I analysed booking data to identify the hotels that come out cheapest for single parents, ranking them by how far below the average single-parent booking they sit.

Then I sense-checked them: reading reviews, looking at layouts, and
considering whether they genuinely work when you are the only adult in charge.

So here are the ten cheapest hotels for single-parent family holidays, and why they’re actually smart choices for a trip with the kids.

BLUESEA Montevista Hawai, Costa Brava

Costa Brava remains one of the most reliable regions for affordable family breaks, and BLUESEA Montevista Hawai delivers on practicality.

It is an all-inclusive property with two pools and regular kids’ entertainment, which immediately removes the daily stress of budgeting for meals.

Buffet dining means flexibility, and the hotel sits within easy walking distance of both the beach and the town.

When I compared it to the average single-parent booking, it came out around 52 per cent cheaper, which is a big gap.

Reviews describe it as lively and full of families, which helps if you’re worried about your kids being the only ones making noise.

I found a deal for 7 nights in June 2026, direct from Bournemouth, bed & breakfast from £250pp for one adult and one child.

For Spain in June, that’s really good value, and upgrading to all-inclusive doesn’t send the price sky high.

Pierre & Vacances Benidorm Horizon

If space is high on your list, this Benidorm apartment complex makes sense.

You get a separate bedroom, living area and kitchen, which means once the kids are asleep, you’re not stuck sitting in the dark.

Benidorm itself is flat and easy to walk around, with supermarkets and restaurants close by.

In the data, it worked out just over 53 per cent cheaper than the average single-parent holiday.

That level of saving, combined with proper apartment space, makes it a very strong option.

I found a deal for 7 nights in June 2026 from Leeds Bradford, self-catering, from £400pp for one adult and two children.

For early summer, that’s competitive.

Sol Puerto Marina, Costa del Sol

Location is doing most of the work here. Sol Puerto Marina sits right on Torremolinos Marina, with the beach, promenade and restaurants just minutes away.

When you’re managing children alone, being able to walk everywhere makes a real difference.

Rooms include kitchenettes for flexibility, and compared to the wider single-parent market, it is priced at roughly 55% below average.

I found a deal for 8 nights in early June 2026 from London Luton, room only, from £620pp.

Beachfront Costa del Sol in June at that price is impressive.

London Blue Hotel, Dalaman

Not every family wants a huge resort in Turkey. London Blue Hotel in Dalaman is smaller and calmer, with reviews praising friendly staff and a relaxed pool area.

When you’re the only adult supervising, that quieter feel can make things much easier.

It also came in at around 55 per cent cheaper than the average single-parent booking, according to the data.

I found a deal for 8 nights in June 2026 from London Gatwick, bed & breakfast, from £240pp.

Turkey in June at that level feels almost too good to be true.

Campanile Val de France, Disneyland Paris

Theme park holidays can get expensive quickly, which is why this hotel stands out.

Campanile Val de France offers family rooms, breakfast included and a free shuttle to Disneyland Paris.

You get the location and convenience without paying Disney hotel prices.

Compared to the average single-parent booking, it came out around 56 per cent cheaper.

I found a deal for 7 nights in late June 2026 from Birmingham, bed & breakfast, from £357pp – around £1,070 total for one adult and two children.

FuerteSol, Fuerteventura

The Canary Islands are a safe bet for sunshine, and FuerteSol gives you flexibility.

It’s made up of bungalow-style apartments with terraces and kitchenettes.

The beach is five minutes away, there’s a supermarket nearby and the promenade is flat and easy for evening walks.

In the data, it worked out just over 56 per cent cheaper than the average single-parent holiday, which is a big saving for June.

I found a deal for 7 nights in June 2026 from Bournemouth, self-catering, from £210pp.

The Canaries in early summer for that kind of money is excellent value.

Els Llorers Apartments, Costa Brava

Els Llorers is another apartment-style option that focuses on practicality.

Full kitchens, separate bedrooms and a kids’ pool with slides make it very family-friendly.

There’s even a shuttle into town, so you’re not dragging tired children up hills.

Price-wise, it came in around 57 per cent below the average single-parent booking, which explains why it performs so well.

I found a deal for 7 nights in June 2026 from Birmingham, self-catering, from £187pp – roughly £560 total for one adult and two children.

Spain, early peak season, under £600 is hard to beat.

Staycity Aparthotels, Disneyland Paris

This is another smart option for Disney.

Modern apartments, a heated pool and a free shuttle mean you can prepare breakfast, head to the parks and come back to your own living space rather than squeezing into one hotel room.

It is also priced around 58 per cent cheaper than the average single-parent holiday.

I found a deal for 7 nights mid-June 2026 from Belfast, room only, from £364pp.

For a well-rated aparthotel near Disney in summer, that’s solid value.

Pebbles Resort, Malta

Malta is straightforward, and that counts for a lot. English is widely spoken, it’s easy to get around, and even the plugs are the same as the UK, which saves hunting for adaptors.

Pebbles Resort gets strong reviews for friendly staff and spacious rooms, and there are several restaurants on site.

In cost terms, it came in nearly 60 per cent cheaper than the average single-parent booking.

I found a deal for 7 nights in late June 2026 from Norwich, room only, from £460pp.

Malta in June for under a grand is very good value.

BLUESEA Puerto Caleta, Fuerteventura

At the top of the list is BLUESEA Puerto Caleta in Fuerteventura.

It’s simple and self-catering, but brilliantly located. The beach is two minutes away, and the supermarket is even closer.

When you can walk everywhere, you remove half the hassle.

It is priced around 67 per cent below the average single-parent booking, making it the biggest saving in the data.

Summer 2026 is already sold out, which says a lot.

The deal I found was for January 2027: 7 nights from London Luton, self-catering, from £310pp.

How to pick a hotel for a single-parent holiday:

When you step back and look at the data – pricing, bookings, reviews – the pattern is clear.

• Apartments tend to be cheaper than big-name resorts.
• Central, walkable locations make life easier than remote luxury.
• Flexibility usually matters more than flashy extras.

Single-parent holidays might feel stressful, but with the right hotel choice, the price doesn’t have to add to it.

IT was supposed to be the glittering triumph of Lacey M’ ‘s very short, but highly lucrative career. 

A lavish, red-carpet bash at Boxpark Liverpool, complete with DJ sets, special guests, and endless designer makeup, all to celebrate the young beauty influencer’s 12th birthday. 

But less than a month later, the glitter has well and truly settled, and the reality of internet fame has come crashing down. 

Lacey M – the self-described “Queen of Chaos” who gained 1.7 million followers since launching in 2024 – has been unceremoniously banned from TikTok.

Now, a bitter war of words has erupted online. The internet finds itself divided between loyal super-fans who believe a talented young girl’s dreams are being crushed, and deeply concerned critics who fear this is a textbook case of child exploitation in the digital age.

And if you thought a permanent ban would be the end of the drama, think again. 

Within days of her original account vanishing from the platform, lo and behold a brand-new profile – @Laceym.xandmum – popped up. 

Billed as a “joint account” and stamped “PARENT MANAGED,” Lacey is back on our screens, this time flanked by her mother, Laura, and her auntie, Natalie.

But behind the scenes, tech bosses are seething. For TikTok insiders have pulled no punches regarding the controversial comeback, warning that the family is walking on very thin ice.

One source told me: “TikTok bosses are really not happy with the way the Lacey M drama played out.”

“They take a very dim view of people trying to break their rules, particularly when the company is being scrutinised amid concerns about child safety.

“They are keeping a really close eye on this new account with Lacey and her mum Laura, and also her aunty Natalie. They are pushing their luck and TikTok are ready to step in and shut them down if they keep abusing the system. Enough is enough.”

The stark warning highlights a massive headache for social media giants as they wrestle with the dilemma of how to police the murky world of child influencers. 

TikTok’s terms of service are clear. They strictly dictate that users must be at least 13 years old to hold an account. 

Also amid politicians calling for the age to be lifted to 16, TikTok confirmed that they are launching new technology “to help us better detect people who may not be old enough to use our app.” 

‘Boiling point’

Yet, loopholes involving “parent-run” accounts have long been exploited by ambitious families eager to cash in on their children’s viral appeal.

And cash in, they have. Lacey M is not just a kid making lip-sync videos in her bedroom. She is a bonafide brand ambassador. 

She is closely tied to the wildly successful UK cosmetics giant P. Louise, run by businesswoman Paige Williams – who herself boasts 4.3 million TikTok followers on her personal and business account. 

She signed up Lacey to be an “official P.Louise Bestie”, and now the youngster even boasts her own custom makeup bundles including a Lacey In A Sticky Situation with my Bestie Box. 

The pack sells for £55 and features customisable drink cups alongside high-end cosmetics. 

For a child to be the face of a brand that also sells items with risqué names like “Bad B*tch Energy” lip kits, certainly raises some ethical questions. 

The backlash reached a boiling point following Lacey’s recent birthday extravaganza – tickets for the party cost £38, and organisers reportedly raked in £54,000 after thousands attended.

For a child to be the face of a brand that also sells items with risqué names like “Bad B*tch Energy” lip kits, certainly raises some ethical questions

Critics accused P. Louise of inappropriately sponsoring a child’s party – something she denies – and turning a young girl’s birthday into a corporate branding exercise.

Taking to Instagram, the beauty mogul was forced to address the scandal and defended her relationship with the young influencer and slammed the “assumptions” made by online trolls.

She wrote: “This is exactly what’s wrong with the internet, assumptions being made instead of truth being checked.

‘Cash cow’

“So let me be clear: I never took a penny from Lacey’s party, and I did not sponsor the event. What I did do was gift goody bags to a little girl who has shown nothing but loyalty, love, and passion for my brand over the years. She’s someone who dreams big.

“Someone who supports every launch, never misses a moment, always pays in full, and proudly shares my brand because she genuinely believes in it.”

The makeup boss went on to argue that ambition should not be gatekept by age. Then baffled fans by saying it was an issue of female empowerment rather than child safety.

She said: “That kind of dedication deserves to be celebrated, not questioned.”

“Dreams don’t come with an age limit. There is no expiration date on hope, ambition, or becoming the person you’ve always imagined. Whether you’re young or grown, you deserve encouragement, support, and people who believe in you.” 

“Supporting dreams will always matter to me. And once again, it’s disappointing to see women in business judged by a different standard, measured with a different ruler simply for showing kindness, generosity, and heart. We rise by lifting others. Always.”

She’s 12 years of age and she’s making money for her parents, for her auntie and her mom. And P. Louise is using her as a cash cow

User

While many applauded P Louise for her fiery stance, many accused her of ignoring the core issue for child safety and exploitation. 

One wrote: “I think it’s absolutely amazing that Lacey’s got banned because she shouldn’t be on here.”

“She’s 12 years of age and she’s making money for her parents, for her auntie and her mom. And P. Louise is using her as a cash cow.”

Another chimed in: “She’s twelve. Twelve year olds cannot sign contracts, fully understand brand exploitation, consent to any legal or long term digital footprint.”

“So why are we acting like she’s a 25 year old influencer who has lost her livelihood?

“She’s a child. And if she’s devastated. I do feel for her because that emotion will be real. But the responsibility, that sits squarely with the adults, parents, guardians, managers.”

And the hurt of the ban was not just felt by Lacey, but also her very large, young fanbase. One teenager named Riley, who attended Lacey’s birthday party, started a petition to get her reinstated. 

He said: “Let’s get her account back, cause honestly, she actually worked so hard for them. She’s got 1.7 million followers at the age she is. She built such, like, a community and such, like, a massive following, and we can’t let her account stay banned.” 

Others rallied to “show their support” by inundating P Louise website with orders for Lacey’s make-up bundles. 

The controversy surrounding Lacey M taps into a growing, global anxiety about ‘sharenting’ and the monetisation of children. 

I think it’s absolutely amazing that Lacey’s got banned because she shouldn’t be on here

User

Experts point out there are no limits on how many hours a child can spend filming content, no psychological support for dealing with online trolls, and crucially, no legal framework in the UK to ensure that children actually see a penny of the revenue their faces generate.

Critics point out that while Mum Laura and Auntie Natalie are officially “managing” the new @Laceym.xandmum account, it is ultimately Lacey’s face, Lacey’s personality, and Lacey’s childhood that is being sold to the masses. 

For now, Lacey and her mum are continuing to post on their new joint account, which has amassed 50,000 followers in a week, while trying to stay one step ahead of the moderators. 

But with insiders saying TikTok are “ready to step in and shut them down,” the clock is ticking.

DREAMING of swapping British grey skies for year-round sunshine?

Good news: moving abroad to a place by the beach may be easier than you’d think, plus you can even save hundreds of pounds on rent every month and cut the cost of food, beer, and tax.

From European coastal cities to Caribbean islands, these expat hotspots provide year-round sun, and your money can stretch much further.

Here’s our pick of sunshine spots with affordable rent, cheap drinks and laid-back lifestyles – plus how to actually go about moving there in 2026.

Portugal

With 300 days of sun a year, world-class cuisine and a laid-back vibe – why would you not want to move to Portugal?

It turns out many Brits have been asking themselves this question. In fact, the country is becoming an increasingly popular choice for British expats.

Portugal has recently overtaken Spain in the rankings for most desirable relocation spots for Brits, according to 1st Move International.

And it’s no surprise this European hotspot is becoming so popular to relocate to, with plenty of postcard-perfect towns to explore and an extensive, stunning coastline.

From the cobbled streets and grand cathedral of Faro Old Town, to kayaking through Benagil Cave, there’s plenty to explore here that feels worlds away from the UK grind.

The Algarve has long been a popular choice for Brits to settle down in, with its golden coves, affordable bars and a sizeable expat community.

And with around 3000 hours of sun a year, and beaches like Praia da Marinha on your doorstep, the southernmost tip of Portugal is pretty hard to beat.

Plus, one of the best parts about this region is its affordability.

A bottle of local beer will only cost you €0.95 (83p), and a meal at a restaurant averages just €13.68 (£11.97) according to data from Wise.

Those looking for a younger crowd and a trendy feel can opt for the country’s capital, Lisbon.

Hop on the vintage yellow tram and spend your days stopping off at magnificent castles, strolling the city’s lively, narrow streets and finding treasures at flea markets.

In the evenings, the capital glows orange with dramatic sunsets. These views are best enjoyed outdoors at a tapas bar, with a glass of local wine and some affordable petiscos (small plates) to snack on.

Expat Lauren Clark relocated from busy London to laid-back Lisbon, and reflected on just how much cheaper her day-to-day has been.

And rent in this region is inexpensive, too. We found charming, traditional apartments from just €400 (£350) per month on the “Rightmove of Portugal” site, Idealista.

“I have been amazed how my money has been able to go further compared to back home.

“At many bars, restaurants and quiosques, you can still purchase a top-quality house white or red for just a few euros.

“A ride on a regional train service – such as from the 40 minutes from Lisbon to Caiscais – will set you back only a couple of euros.

“Meanwhile, the monthly ‘Navegante’ travel pass gives you unlimited use of public transport – including the famous trams – in the capital area for less than £30 per month”.

Barbados

Ever wished you could ditch the work desk to sip from coconuts on the white sandy beach of a tropical island?

It’s safe to say that the views working from Barbados beat those of back home.

Plus, relocating to Barbados may be easier than you think – especially if you already work remotely.

With the Welcome Stamp visa, you can spend a year on the island as a non-national working remotely for businesses based elsewhere in the world.

You must receive an income of at least £36,000 per year to receive this renewable visa, plus individuals must make an initial payment of £1,500.

But once you’ve bagged your Welcome Stamp, you can enjoy your lunch breaks on the beach and spend weekends exploring the island.

Some of the very best beaches include the lively Mullins Beach, as well as Paynes Bay, popular among sun-seekers and green sea turtles alike.

Top-quality rum cocktails can be found at beach bars dotted around the island, whilst local Bajan food can be enjoyed at affordable spots like Fisherman’s Pub in Speightstown.

And with a beer averaging BDS $5 (£1.83) and the average meal costing you BDS $40 (£14.67), you can laze on the sands without stressing about spending too much money.

“Once you know where to go, you can get a fish cutter sandwich for around 18 Barbadian dollars” (£7) says expat Polly Gould.

“In the evening, you can pop to Oistins (Barbados’ smallest town known for its Friday night Fish Fry) for fish, salad and sides for $35 BDS (£12.87).”

“The island is small and easy to get around, and people are really friendly and welcoming,” agrees fellow expat Nicola.

“The weather is a constant 30°C or thereabouts all year round, the white sand beaches and crystal clear aquamarine seas are stunning, and it’s still possible to get off the beaten track, which we love.”

Plus, the rent here can be super affordable too, even for beachfront properties.

We found apartments overlooking the sea of Silver Sands beach from £684 a month on rental site Terra Caribbean.

Cyprus

Cyprus sees hot summers with highs of 30°C and mild winters reaching 14°C, making it a year-round winner for sun seekers.

Top beaches include the turquoise crescent of Coral Bay frequented by families, as well as Nissi Beach in Ayia Napa, which is popular among party-goers.

Pair this with beautiful mountain scenery and plenty of historical sites to explore, and you won’t be short of things to do in this slice of Mediterranean paradise.

“In the summer it’s a hive of activity – boat trips along the coastline, buggy and jeep safaris in the Akamas, amazing fresh food in the family-owned restaurants” says expat Anna Warburton.

“In the winter it’s a select group of locals and expats – it’s like living in a real life soap, like Emmerdale but much warmer and with less murder.” 

Areas such as Paphos are popular for brilliant beaches and great value for money when it comes to property, whilst Limassol has lots of job opportunities and a luxury-feel marina.

Plus, apart from the change in surroundings and warmer temperatures, a move here won’t feel like too much of a change.

Cyprus uses the same plug socket style as the UK, and cars drive on the left hand side of the road.

In fact the country has lots of familiar favourites from the UK, including M&S supermarkets and even a Wagamamas restaurant. So you won’t be missing your home comforts!

In fact, Brits enjoy Cyprus so much that they make up the second-largest population of non-national residents after Greek expats.

According to Wise, the average restaurant meal costs just €15.00 (£13.12) whilst a bottle of local beer will set you back just €3.00 (£2.60).

Plus you can find apartments to rent from as little as €390 (£341) per month on popular Cyprus marketplace site Bazaraki.

Australia

You may have seen old friends and colleagues cropping up all over Australia on your Instagram feed recently, and there’s a reason everyone seems to be flocking out there.

The ‘Aussie effect’ is certainly real – and may leave you more relaxed, upbeat and with more sun-kissed skin than ever before.

It’s no surprise that days spent surfing, sunbathing and exercising can leave you looking and feeling more youthful.

And with influencers and celebs like Love Island star Patsy Field ditching the UK for a life down under, it seems a lot of Brits have followed suit.

Sunny Perth has the highest population of English residents in Australia, with almost one in ten Perth residents being born in England.

Perth blends sugar-white beaches such as Cottesloe with street art and sculptures, giving the city a relaxed and artsy feel. Plus, trips to Rottnest Island to spot quokkas are an adorable perk of being based here.

Sydney is another popular choice. Here you can enjoy an equally exciting and healthy lifestyle in a major city where the beach is your backyard.

5am run clubs rule the mornings, whilst post-work routines can look like a dip in the Bondi Icebergs before debriefing the day with your mates on the beach. Is there any better way to fast-track that sun-kissed glow?

The trendy bars of Melbourne, the South Bank of Brisbane, the burnt orange sunsets of the Gold Coast – the options are endless in this vast and varied country.

Expat Lewy (lewyp23 on TikTok) and his partner moved to Adelaide in South Australia, and has since raved about his relocation.

Lewy described leaving the UK to escape “miserable weather and negative people”, and now enjoys sunny weather, a cheaper cost of living and a salary increase since relocating.

“It’s highly likely that we will never live in the UK again because it cannot offer us the life we’ve got now”, he said in one TikTok video.

There are multiple visa options when it comes to relocating to Australia, including a Work-stream permanent visa if you manage to land sponsored employment.

And with the Skills in Demand visa having launched in December of 2025, it has now become even easier for skilled workers to make the move.

If your profession makes the list of skilled occupation shortages, you may be able to land this four-year visa. Occupation shortages include midwives, electricians and headteachers.

We’ve found studio apartments to rent in Perth from as little as £460 per month on Australian rental site realestate.com.au.

Spain

Spain remains a solid choice for Brits relocating abroad for a spot of sun and an inexpensive lifestyle.

As the country with the most Blue Flag beaches in the world, there’s no shortage of stunning shores to pick from if you want to live by the beach.

Benidorm‘s Playa de Levante has an unbeatable upbeat atmosphere, whilst the scenic Playa de la Caleta in Cádiz sits between two castles.

But Spain’s appeal goes far beyond its beaches. The country offers a relaxed Mediterranean lifestyle, excellent food, and a strong expat community – all whilst being just a short flight from the UK.

Whether you’re after a relaxed retirement or a vibrant city scene, there’s a corner of Spain to suit every type of expat.

The Costa del Sol remains one of the most popular areas, with destinations like Marbella, Estepona and Nerja offering sunshine for more than 300 days a year.

Think palm-lined promenades, bustling tapas bars and a social atmosphere that makes it easy to meet new friends and fellow expats.

Costa Blanca is another solid choice thanks to its affordable lifestyle and charming seaside towns.

Places like Alicante and Torrevieja blend a beachy lifestyle with modern amenities, with many drawn to the relaxed pace and easy access to shops and transport links.

For those looking for city life, Barcelona and Madrid offer a completely different side of Spain.

Barcelona is buzzing with bold architecture, busy markets and a thriving cafe culture, whilst Madrid boasts elegant boulevards and classy late-night dining.

Food and drink across Spain is often far more affordable than in the UK.

A glass of local wine at the neighbourhood bar is part of the daily rhythm rather than a special occasion, and costs between €2 – €5 (£1.75 – £4.40) on average.

And with a local beer averaging at €3 (£2.60) and a cappuccino costing just €1.90 (£1.66), there’s no need to worry about spending too much whilst you’re out socialising.

“On average, most retirees can live comfortably on around €30,490 (£26,500) per year, covering housing, utilities, food, healthcare, and leisure” says Mike Harvey, managing director at 1st Move International.

“Those opting for coastal or rural areas typically find their money goes further than in major cities.

“Almería, Granada, Murcia, Lugo, and Torrevieja are some of the cheapest places to retire in Spain”.

Idealista is a popular site for properties to rent in Spain, and we’ve found apartments listed for as little as £447 per month in Costa Brava.

HOLIDAY prices move constantly. Most people know that.

But only a few realise just how much the time of day you book can influence what you pay.

I work in travel and spend a large part of my job analysing pricing data, and recently, I wanted to understand how big the swing really is across a single day.

Not just the cheapest day of the week, but the cheapest hour, and even the cheapest minute.

The results were clearer (and way more dramatic) than I expected.

When is the most expensive time to book?

The data shows that the most expensive time of day to book a holiday is between 9am and 10am.

Bookings made in that window came in at around 30 per cent more expensive than the cheapest time of day, according to the data.

There is a straightforward reason for this: it’s when demand spikes.

People arrive at work, open their laptops and start browsing.

Search volumes increase, airline pricing systems respond, and fares begin to rise. Then, package holiday prices follow the same pattern.

In simple terms, booking your summer break with your first coffee of the day is statistically one of the pricier moments to do it.

When is the cheapest hour to book?

At the other end of the scale, the cheapest time to book is consistently between 4am and 5am.

Overnight, demand drops off. Fewer searches mean less upward pressure on prices.

Airline systems effectively reset after the previous day’s activity, and fares often return closer to their baseline before building again through the morning.

It’s not a secret loophole. It’s simply supply and demand working in your favour while most of the country is asleep.

Is there a more realistic option?

Of course, most people are not setting alarms for 4am to book a holiday.

So I looked specifically at sociable hours.

If you are booking in the late evening, roughly 8pm to 10pm, prices were on average around 5 per cent cheaper than during the 9am to 10am rush for the same holiday.

Five per cent may not sound dramatic, but on a £2,000 family holiday that equates to around £100.

That is a tangible difference for many households – mine included.

When is the exact cheapest minute?

Out of curiosity, I pushed into the data further and examined booking times by the minute.

Consistently, the single cheapest minute recorded was 2:48am.

At that exact point, bookings were around 60 per cent cheaper than the most expensive time of day in the data sample.

Now – reality check time. Booking at 2:48am does not mean every holiday will magically be 60 per cent cheaper.

Pricing is influenced by many factors, including availability and route demand.

However, it illustrates just how wide the gap can be between peak and off-peak booking behaviour.

Testing it in real time

Data is one thing. I wanted to see it happen on screen. So I tested two different package holidays.

First, I checked Catty Cats Garden Hotel in Turkey at 2:47am. It was pricing at £133 per person.

Later that same morning, at 11:36am, the exact same hotel and dates were pricing from £165 per person.

That is roughly a 24 per cent increase in a few hours.

Then I repeated the test with a completely different deal – Mahdia Beach & Aqua Park in Tunisia.

At 2:48am, it was pricing from £130 per person. When I checked again at 11:46am, it had risen to £143 per person.

Again, same hotel, same dates. The only thing that changed was the time of day. Early hours versus late morning – identical searches but different prices.

It is a simple demonstration of how sensitive holiday pricing can be to demand levels throughout the day.

What this means for sunseekers

I want to be clear: I’m not encouraging everyone to live like an insomniac just to save a few pounds. But the broader trend is consistent.

Peak browsing hours tend to coincide with higher prices. Quieter periods – particularly early morning and late evening – often offer better value.

If you want a practical takeaway: avoid the 9am to 10am window if you can. Consider booking later in the evening instead.

And if you do happen to wake up at 4am and find yourself scrolling… it might be the most financially productive scroll of the week.

Holiday pricing is reactive, it responds to us.

So sometimes, saving money is not about finding a hidden code or waiting for a sale.

It is simply about stepping slightly outside the rush and pressing “book” when everyone else is still asleep.

FANCY swapping the springtime showers for scorching temperatures, sandy beaches and a fruity cocktail? Of course you do.

But if all that sounds like it might break the bank, then The Sun’s travel team is here to help. Going abroad for some sun this March or April doesn’t have to be expensive or involve a long flight. Here, we take a look at some bargain options for you and your family.

Some mid-haul destinations are truly the sweet spots for warm temperatures and affordable prices in spring.

Plus, being all-inclusive means there’s no need to worry about splurging on random snacks or meals whilst you’re away.

With that in mind, we’ve rounded up some of the most affordable all-inclusive sun holidays out there, ready to book for Easter 2026 – and you won’t believe what’s included in some of these amazing packages.

Catty Cats Garden Hotel, Side, Turkey

This colourful hotel is just as fun as it sounds, with three swimming pools and several water slides to entertain the whole family.

If zipping down slides wasn’t enough to tire out the children, they can enjoy the kids club and mini discos, whilst adults can unwind in the on-site spa, with its steam room and Turkish bath.

Choose between a standard, large or family room, all of which are spacious options. Plus, the family room feels more like an apartment, as it comes with a handy kitchenette too. Great for cooking up cheaper meal options.

And if you choose to venture out into Side, history lovers will have a field day soaking up the sights of the Roman amphitheatre and Temple of Apollo.

Plus temperatures in Side can reach 24°C in April, meaning you can swap the downpours back home for an Easter break spent sunbathing.

On the Beach offer a 7-night stay from 10 April including return flights from London Luton from £212pp.

El Mouradi Club Kantaoui, Tunisia

This hotel is situated on Tunisia’s Port el Kantaoui, where a vibrant marina features upmarket shopping, cafes, and restaurants.

This pretty port is also home to plenty of beach bars and nightclubs, making it a lively spot to visit in the evenings.

The El Mouradi Club Kantaoui hotel has 456 rooms, each of which has a large comfy bed, air con and many come with a private terrace or balcony.

There are also four restaurants to pick from, including a pizzeria and a beachside dining option.

Cool off in one of two large outdoor pools, or take a swim in the sea – it’s right on the hotel’s doorstep.

Loveholidays offer a 5-night stay from 26 March including return flights from Edinburgh from £259pp.

El Pueblo Tamlelt, Agadir, Morocco

Just a 15-minute hop from the airport, El Pueblo Tamlelt is tucked away in 11 acres of lush, tropical gardens in Agadir.

This Moroccan gem sits right on the southern coast, where you can spend your days lazing on the crescent-shaped beach or taking in the views from the fascinating Agadir Oufella Ruins.

With year-round sunshine and a prime location near the coastal city‘s vibrant centre, it’s the ideal pick for a spot of sun that’s easy to reach.

And with temperatures reaching 23C during the day, you can explore all the coastal resort has to offer with the warmth of the sun on your back.

Loveholidays offer a 5-night stay from 29 March including return flights from Glasgow from £239pp.

Broncemar Beach Suites, Fuerteventura

These bright white, stylish apartments are laid out as a small village, centred around three swimming pools and two hot tubs.

These spacious apartments boast large beds, kitchenettes, living areas and balconies, plus there are bars, restaurants and shops to make use of during your stay.

Just a few minutes’ walk will take you to Caleta de Fuste Beach, where you can lie back on soft sands or search for sea creatures in crystal-clear rock pools.

Alternatively, stroll into the fishing town of Caleta de Fuste to stroll its picturesque marina and dip in and out of independent shops.

And with this Canary Island’s climate reaching 23C in April, you can finally trade those wellies for some flip flops.

Jet2holidays offer a 5-night stay from 10 April including return flights from London Stansted from £587pp.

Plus, you can currently save an extra £100pp off all holidays before June using code EXTRA100 at checkout.

Gavimar Cala Gran Costa Del Sur Hotel & Resort, Majorca

This hotel sits on Majorca‘s Cala Gran Beach, where shallow turquoise waters are backed by hills of Mediterranean pine trees.

Cala Gran is the largest beach in Cala d’Or, a beautiful cove just a short drive away from the coastal town centre, with its trinket shops and relaxed bars.

The hotel itself has all the activities and entertainment you’d expect, including bingo and live music – as well as some unique extras like mini golf and archery.

Loveholidays offer a 4-night stay from 29 March including return flights from Exeter from £179pp.

Maxeria Blue Didyma, Bodrum, Turkey

Holidaying at this super affordable five-star all-inclusive will leave you wondering how you’ve managed to bag such a bargain.

This modern hotel has entertainment and activities galore, including a mini cinema, arcade room, basketball and volleyball courts.

You can really make the most of the food in this all-inclusive package, grabbing late-night treats from the main restaurant or desserts from the resort’s very own patisserie.

Throw in a giant waterpark and beach just a stone’s throw away, and you’ve got yourself a bargain family resort nearing perfection.

Loveholidays offer a 7-night stay from 27 March including return flights from London Stansted from £344pp.

Htop Olympic, Costa Brava, Spain

This Calella hotel is the perfect base for a cheap and cheerful sun holiday, with comfy air-conditioned rooms just a few minutes’ walk from the bustling bars of Costa Brava.

Make use of three delicious meals a day with this all-inclusive package, where you can enjoy a varied buffet stocked with plenty of family favourites like fresh salads, grilled meats and chips.

Choose to make use of the hotel gym, pool and daytime entertainment activities, or head out to a range of affordable bars, shops and restaurants within walking distance.

On the Beach offer a 7-night stay from 27 March including return flights from London Luton from £297pp.

Mitsis Messonghi, Corfu

This Corfu resort was built for families and is buzzing with a whole host of entertainment and activities.

With four adult pools, three kids pools, a mini waterpark and a beach on your doorstep, there’s plenty of spots for you to stretch out on a sun lounger and for the kids to splash around.

When it comes to rooms, choose anything from a standard room all the way up to a beachfront superior bungalow, which swaps a standard balcony with a beachfront terrace.

Dining also goes down well, with a beachfront restaurant serving family favourites and a main buffet restaurant offering rainbow salads and international cuisine.

And as the day winds down to a close, the party starts with mini discos, Greek dancing, lively quiz nights and karaoke.

Loveholidays offer a 5-night stay from 29 March including return flights from East Midlands from £289pp.

El Mouradi El Menzah, Hammamet, Tunisia

This four-star all-inclusive option in Tunisia’s Hammamet doesn’t disappoint, with multiple pools, an extensive buffet restaurant and its own private beach.

Plus, day temperatures in April sit in the 20s, with 9 hours of glorious Tunisian sunshine per day.

This resort is an ideal option for families, with a dedicated kids pool, kids club, sports and crafts options, as well as evening discos to keep children entertained.

Head out to the water to try your hand at kayaking, windsurfing or jet-skiing.

Or if you prefer to completely chill out, there’s a spa with a sauna and hammam to make use of, as well as a range of beauty treatments and massages.

Loveholidays offer a 5-night stay from 28 March including return flights from Glasgow from £369pp.

Bellevue Club, Alcúdia, Majorca

There are more pools than days of the week at the Bellevue Club in Alcudia.

With 11 swimming pools, a 24-hour bar and a garden theatre offering evening entertainment, you’ll hardly want to leave this resort once you arrive.

There’s seven tennis and squash courts plus a gym here, too – just in case you’ve still got some energy after all that swimming.

Nearby, there’s the family-friendly Alcudia Beach as well as the historic old town and promenade of Port D’Alcudia to explore.

The weather in April is pleasant and mild, reaching temperatures of 21C – perfect for playing out in the sun without getting too hot and bothered.

On the Beach offer a 7-night stay from 29 March including return flights from Exeter from £251pp.

Hotel Palia Don Pedro, Costa Del Silencio, Tenerife

Club Palia Don Pedro is a top choice for families, with plenty of activities as well as spacious family suites available.

Rent a bike, try your hand at tennis, or simply get set up for a day’s relaxation on a couple of comfortable poolside loungers.

Plus, this hotel is situated 20 minutes from Playa de las Americas, meaning you’re in a quiet, scenic spot away from large resorts, with the option to taxi to the strip if you do fancy a busier day out.

Temperatures sit at a warm 22C, with bright, sunny days and cooler, comfortable nights.

First Choice offer a 7-night stay from 29 March including return flights from Glasgow Prestwick from £351pp.

RR Club Amarilis, Praia Da Rocha, Algarve, Portugal

The RR Club Amarilis aparthotel sits on the Algarve’s Praia da Rocha, a large and lively beach framed by dramatic limestone cliffs.

If you want to soak up the exciting holiday atmosphere, there’s a variety of affordable bars, restaurants and nightclubs within walking distance of this comfortable base.

Or for a more peaceful Portugal trip, simply explore the expanse of rugged coastline by foot or bike, as this hotel offers bicycle rental.

This hotel certainly isn’t short of sporting facilities, with a pool, gym, tennis courts, fitness classes and even a diving station offered within the complex.

First Choice offer a 7-night stay from 29 March including return flights from Newcastle from £420pp.

Blue Bay Beach Resort, Rhodes, Greece

Lalyssos in Rhodes is a traditional Greek resort town with plenty of charming tavernas to dip into and a beautiful mixed sand and pebble beach.

The four-star Blue Bay Beach Resort sits a stone’s throw away from this beach, and has its own pools, splash park and water slides.

There’s also a hotel spa and sauna to unwind in, offering massages and beauty treatments at an additional cost.

Here you’re only a 15-minute drive away from Rhodes Old Town, where UNESCO-listed medieval streets wind through castle-like architecture.

Make sure to check out the Street of the Knights, one of the best-preserved medieval streets in Europe.

Loveholidays offer a 5-night stay from 29 March including return flights from Bristol from £289pp.

Magic Cristal Park, Benidorm, Spain

For a Benidorm holiday more luxurious than the norm, try a stay at Magic Cristal Park.

This hotel is packed with entertainment from day to night, which ranges from an arcade room and three kids’ clubs to evening karaoke and performances.

There’s also plenty of perks, such as a kids stay free policy – but by far the best of which is their “ultra all inclusive” package.

This includes premium drinks, a beachfront brunch and even excursions for guests staying over four nights.

Excursion options include the Medieval Magic Robin Hood Challenge, Princesses and Knights show, and a trip to see a Magic Show.

Plus, if you’re staying at least seven nights, you’ll even get entry to Terra Natura Animal Park and Aqua Natura Water Park included.

On the Beach offer a 7-night stay from 28 March including return flights from Newcastle from £311pp.

Xafira Deluxe Resort & Spa, Antalya, Turkey

The Xafira Deluxe Resort & Spa is stunning to look at – and you’ll feel a bit like royalty staying here, too.

Spend days hopping between a heated indoor pool, spa, outdoor pool and waterpark, or simply walk down to the beach to enjoy the 22C Easter sun.

The main buffet restaurant serves up a banging breakfast as well as a range of international foods at lunch and dinner, whilst a la carte options include Italian, BBQ and seafood restaurants.

There are also seven bars to try out, so you’re never far from a refreshing cocktail.

Choose to sip your drink at the beach, by the pool or in the nightclub at the disco bar.

On the Beach offer a 7-night stay from 10 April including return flights from London Luton from £218pp.

WHAT if the best memories you make with your family this year didn’t have to cost you a single penny?

We’ve scoured the internet for family days out across the UK – and the best part is, they are all TOTALLY free.

We’ve compiled a mega list of all the best free family days out taking place this spring, including free kids festivals, a travelling activity train, wilding workshops and more.

For the mini history buffs, science geeks, horse lovers, artsy types and railway enthusiasts in the family, we’ve got you covered.

From free mini kids concerts in Birmingham, to meeting newborn lambs at farms in Wales, you’re bound to find something near you that the whole family will love this spring.

North of England

1. National Railway Museum, York

The National Railway Museum in York is free to visit and open daily from 10am – 5pm.

Inside, you’ll find an extensive model railway, a large family play area and a viewing balcony overlooking York Railway Station.

Make sure to book your free tickets in advance to secure your slot.

2. Play Pavilion at The Hepworth, Wakefield, West Yorkshire

The Hepworth art museum in Wakefield is home to a Play Pavilion full of arts materials, books, fun artifacts and more for kids to get stuck into.

The Play Pavilion is part of the artistic Playing with Fire exhibition, and will be available to visit until May 4 2026.

There’s plenty more for families here, too, like Explore and Draw stations dotted around the exhibitions and a welcoming free Warm Space to enjoy a free hot drink and a biscuit.

3. Family Parkrun in Fountains Abbey

Parkruns are free to attend and take place across the country, so as the sun comes out in the springtime, what better way to celebrate than a family Parkrun?

The trails are 5km routes, which most people run but you can walk them as well.

The Fountains Abbey Parkrun is often considered to be one of the most beautiful in the UK as it goes through a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Run along past 12th-century abbey ruins and gorgeous Georgian water gardens.

You can sign up for free on Parkrun’s website.

4. Tiny Tigers and Rory’s Saturday Club at Leeds City Museum

Tiny Tigers is a creative kids workshop held at Leeds City Museum, where children under 5 can get stuck into some colourful arts and crafts.

The sessions take place every Friday morning inside the Life on Earth gallery of the museum.

The museum also runs crafts for families of mixed ages on Saturday mornings, hosting Rory’s Saturday Club drop-in sessions.

All of the messy craft sessions have materials provided at no cost, although the museum itself is a Give What You Can museum.

5. Little Liverpool, Museum of Liverpool

The National Museums in Liverpool are running plenty of free events for families this spring.

Whilst the permanent displays on Ancient Egypt, Natural History, and on-site planetarium are fascinating enough, there are also extra events taking place across locations.

Little Liverpool is a hands-on giant fantasy world at the Museum of Liverpool, designed for children aged 6 and under.

You must have a ticket to take part in this area of the museum, which can be reserved online in advance or collected on the day from the welcome desk.

6. Aquarium baby sessions, World Museum, Liverpool

This 45-minute sensory session is a relaxing choice for families with babies under 12 months.

Here, light from glowing fish tanks and soft colours soothe little ones lying on soft cushions and blankets.

The sessions take place in early spring until March 19 2026. You can book a free ticket for your 0 – 12-month-old online on the museum’s website.

7. Interactive Big Art, Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool

The Walker Art Gallery in Liverpool is open from 10am – 4pm from Tuesdays to Sundays, and is free to enter.

The gallery has its own creative area for kids called Big Art, designed for families with kids aged 0 – 5.

Here, there’s plenty of toys and games, costumes to dress up in, and a craft table which rotates themes on a weekly basis.

Entry is free, just make sure that you pre-book your slot in advance online, where you can find all the timings available.

8. Wild and Kind workshops and walks, Bradford

The Wild and Kind Gatherings held by local artist Rachel Cambell offer a free day out for families with children ages 6 – 12 to walk through nature and learn about the world around them.

Nature-themed walks and workshops include The Whispering Sky, inspired by astronomy, and The Quiet Stirring, all about the telltale signs of nature transforming for spring.

The events take place every Wednesday from 1:30 – 3pm until April 2026. Booking is required for certain events.

9. Cereal Disco and artist workshops at Baltic Arts Centre, Gateshead

The Baltic Arts Centre in Gateshead is free to visit, and it’s full of all sorts of weird and wonderful art exhibitions.

There’s also quirky kids’ events on offer here, such as the Cereal Disco, which mixes breakfast with party tunes and runs from 10 – 11am on Wednesdays – Sundays.

There’s also Meet & Make workshops every Sunday from 2pm – 4pm, with arts and crafts activities for children aged 5 – 12.

Both events are free drop-ins with no pre-booking required.

10. Bolton Museum and Little Lever Library

The Bolton Museum and libraries have plenty to see and do for families and young children – and admission is totally free.

Inside, there’s a fascinating Ancient Egypt gallery, as well as Greater Manchester‘s only aquarium inside the Central Library and Museum building.

Plus, throughout spring at the Little Lever Library, families can attend the weekly Toddler Tales for ages 2 -5 for morning storytelling sessions.

There are also Create and Craft events every Saturday from 11am – 1pm with free arts activities.

Events are drop-ins with no booking required.

11. Durham Cathedral Lego display

A Lego edition of the beautiful Durham Cathedral, which took three years to create, is on display in the city.

The huge model is made of 350,000 Lego bricks, and its details include glowing stained glass windows and an intricate roof structure.

The display is available to view for free inside the Durham Cathedral Museum with no admission fee.

The museum is open from 9:30 – 4:30pm Monday – Saturday, and 12 – 3pm on Sundays. Other exhibitions require a paid admission ticket (£7.50 adults, under 18’s free).

12. Fairy-tale Forest Creative Play at Theatre Hullabaloo, Darlington

Just next door to Darlington Hippodrome, The Hullabaloo is a venue created for kids with creative events for all ages on offer.

The events programme is constantly updated with new and exciting shows and workshops. Whilst theatre shows have admission charges, there are plenty of exciting free events too.

The Hullabaloo is open from 10am – 2pm from Wednesday – Saturday. The listed events are free to attend with no booking required.

13. Big Beasts, Little Beasts trail at the Great North Museum, Hancock

Some of the best to look forward to this spring include the Little Light Explorers sensory play from March 18 – 28, and the space-themed Moonbeam Creative Play and dress up from April 1 – June 27.

Running until April 2, the Big Beasts, Little Beasts trail is fun for the whole family with plenty of activities and games to find dotted around the Great North Museum: Hancock.

Simply pick up a free trail sheet at the welcome desk, and follow the activities around the galleries – there’s even some fun prizes to take home, too.

And if you happen to visit on Saturday, March 28, there’s a free drop-in living history family fun day to celebrate the opening of the new exhibition Treasure: Hidden, Lost and Found.

Entry to the Great North Museum, Hancock, is free. The museum is open 10am – 5pm Monday – Friday, closing an hour earlier on weekends.

14. National Football Museum, Manchester

Manchester’s National Football Museum has plenty to see and do that footie fans will love.

There’s four galleries of memorabilia, interactive sporty activities, and shiny league cups and trophies to see up close.

The National Football Museum is free to visit for City of Manchester residents.

15. Baby Active and Baby Pitch and Play – National Football Museum, Manchester

There are also free events for tots and toddlers held at the National Football Museum.

Baby: Active takes place in the museum’s discovery zone, and includes sensory play as well as physical movement and singing songs.

Baby Pitch Play is another sensory play option for small babies below walking age.

 Booking is encouraged but not essential.

16. Clitheroe Castle, Lancashire

The grounds and keep of the medieval Clitheroe Castle in Lancashire are totally free to visit and open to the public to explore.

The castle dates all the way back to the 12th century, and its beautiful surrounding green fields make for a picnic spot with a great view.

Or see if you can find any ancient coins, which you can bring to the Finds Liaison Officers to identify and record your discoveries.

17. Tracks of Life Train Exhibition, Clitheroe Castle Museum, Lancashire

The Tracks of Life: Trains, People and Places exhibition at Clitheroe Castle Museum is the perfect place to take train enthusiasts, young and old.

The exhibition celebrates local photographer and railway enthusiast Ken Roberts, who was recognised nationwide for his talent in railway photography.

As well as his famous photographs, there are plenty of model railways and other artefacts to see donated by local historians.

The exhibition is open daily to visit for free between 11am – 4pm, and will run until June 30 2026.

18. The Harris Museum, Preston, Lancashire

The Harris Museum in Preston is free to enter, and is also holding a variety of free events for all ages this spring.

Baby Bounce and Rhyme is a weekly drop-in where families with infants can share in songs and stories – plus if you collect eight stamps on the loyalty card they give you, you receive a free children’s book.

There’s also a jungle-themed reading club, Little Steps on Mondays and Fridays for children aged 2 -5, and the Curious Creators drop-in arts activities for ages 3 – 9.

All of the free events are drop-ins with no booking required.

19. SEA LIFE Beach Cleans in Blackpool

Beach cleans are a fantastic way to do your bit in keeping our oceans safe and clean for both animals and people, and taking part in a beach clean as a family can be incredibly rewarding.

Luckily, SEA LIFE plans and hosts regular beach cleans with all the equipment you’ll need, as you set out as a large group to tackle the rubbish left on the sea shores.

Grab a litter pick and stroll along the stretches of sand, clearing your path as you go and disposing of items safely and correctly with trained professionals.

Multiple SEA LIFE sites across the UK host these beach cleans, with events taking place in Blackpool this spring on April 26 and May 23.

20. The HAPPY! exhibition at Hatton Gallery, Newcastle

To inspire the young artists in the family, the HAPPY! The exhibition at Newcastle‘s Hatton Gallery is an art exhibition made entirely by young people.

Created by local youth art group L-INK, the exhibition is a collection of vibrant art pieces made in collaboration with professional artists.

The Hatton Gallery itself is free to enter, and often hosts pop-up art workshops for children of all ages, so make sure to keep an eye on their website for new events.

The exhibition will take place from February 14 – May 9 2026. The gallery is open from February 14 – May 9 from Monday – Saturday.

21. Trails, arts activities and baby sensory sessions at Salford Museum

The START trail is a hands-on way for all ages to explore the Victorian Gallery of the Salford Museum and Art Gallery, and let creativity flow with writing and drawing exercises.

Pick up a free trial and pencil case, and take your time exploring the gallery’s dramatic paintings and marble sculptures.

The attraction is open from 9:30am – 4pm from Tuesday – Friday, and 11am – 4pm on weekends.

22. Locomotion, Shildon, County Durham

Visit the world’s first railway town and blow off some steam at Locomotion in Shildon this spring.

The star object of the attraction is Locomotion No. 1 – the 200-year-old locomotive which ran the first ever passenger service on a public railway.

Once you’ve admired its “knitting needle”-like gears and giant black chimney, families can make use of the outdoor play area and free Railway Boy trail (make sure to print this at home first).

And if you choose to visit the weekend of May 16-17, you can take part in a completely free Magnificent Models weekend, where you can browse stalls and take part in family railway modelling craft activities.

Locomotion is free to visit and open from 10am – 4pm daily.

23. Derwent Reservoir, Northumberland

Head to Derwent Reservoir on a sunny day this spring for a wide open space the whole family will love, including the dog.

Here, there’s a giant wooden play park, a nature trail, picnic spots and plenty of cycling and hiking routes.

There’s also a 12-acre secured field where dogs can be let off the lead to roam free.

Derwent is also a popular fishing spot, with cash prizes available for any tagged fish caught.

Plus, if you do have a few pounds to spare, the half-term kids clubs during the Easter break and May cost £2.50 per child for some artsy activities.

24. The Stick Man Outdoor Trail, National Memorial Arboretum, Staffordshire

The free Stick Man trail in the woods of Alrewas, Staffordshire is a must-visit for kids who are fans of the book, animated film, or of course, the kids’ party song.

The woodland trail is dotted with recognisable wooden animal sculptures, and runs one mile in length.

Simply pick up your paper trail copy from the welcome desk of the National Memorial Arboretum, then head on your merry way to meet the much-loved characters.

25. Castlefield Viaduct, Manchester

If you’re looking for something different to do in the city, you can visit a former Victorian railway viaduct turned beautiful sky garden in the heart of Manchester.

The Grade II-listed viaduct was built by the same engineers who constructed Blackpool Tower, and now it blends Victorian history with modern gardens.

Explore secret gardens, untouched wild areas, and plenty of scenic rooftop viewpoints, whilst introducing children to hundreds of plant species they may have never seen before.

The viaduct is free to visit and open from 10am – 5pm from Wednesday – Sunday.

26. Darlington and Durham Running Day, County Durham

On 18 April 2026, County Durham is celebrating the Darlington and Durham Running Day.

This free day celebrating transport will see classic and modern buses take to the streets, with free bus rides on offer throughout the day.

The event will take place from 10am – 4pm, and there’s no need to book a ticket.

27. The Wind in the Willows interactive trails at RHS Gardens

Beginning in February and running until December of 2026, all five Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) gardens are taking part in a Wind in the Willows-themed event.

Each magical garden trail hides story characters such as Mole, Toad and Badger around each corner – with garden games and plenty of photo opportunities.

The five RHS gardens across the UK are located in Manchester, North Yorkshire, Essex, Devon and Surrey.

The Wind in the Willows: A Garden Adventure is a free trail included with your garden entry.

28. Newcastle Discovery Museum

Newcastle Discovery Museum is another great option for a free family day out in the North.

It’s home to Turbinia: a huge ship powered by steam turbines, and collections with some really unique items, such as a Roman toilet and rare sea slugs collection.

And for some play time, their kids’ space, Tiny Tyneside, is full of replica transport inventions to play with, and is open daily.

The museum is open from 10am – 4pm on weekdays, opening an hour later on weekends.

Central and East of England

29. Wild City and Marvellous Makers, Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery

Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery’s Marvellous Makers is a weekly free drop-in for creative kids of all ages.

Activities are switched up every single week, with previous sessions including building wild sculptures and creating huge collaborative floor artworks.

The sessions take place every Sunday from 11am – 3pm, and there’s no need to pre-book.

Make a day of your visit by wandering through the two new Wild City galleries, with animal and nature-themed displays that are designed for children and families.

The museum is open daily from 10am – 5pm during Birmingham school holidays, and Wednesday – Sunday during term time.

30. RAF Museum: Midlands, Cosford

The free-to-enter RAF Museum: Midlands contains everything from the world’s oldest Spitfire plane, to a playground with mini models of RAF aircraft to play inside.

Aviation geeks will enjoy walking underneath the wings of the Vulcan, trying on RAF uniforms and seeing the world’s oldest surviving Supermarine Spitfire.

You can even have a go at sitting inside the cockpit of a Phantom or Hunter aircraft.

The museum and playground are open 7 days a week from 10am – 5pm.

31. Free tours of the Lapworth Museum, Birmingham

This specialist geological museum is perfect for the history buffs and budding archaeologists of the family.

The museum regularly hosts comedy, quiz and music events for a small fee, but has plenty of free things to see and do, too.

Here you can look back at 4.6 billion years of history in palaeontology and fossil collections, or marvel at geological displays and historic maps.

There’s also free family tours of the museum, which come on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Just make sure to arrive early and ask at reception, and you’re in with the best chance of receiving a guided tour, free of charge.

32. Musical Picnic and miniBEAST music concerts at The Dome, Birmingham

The University of Birmingham are putting on a series of musical events this spring that are both family-friendly and totally free.

Taking place at The Dome inside the University of Birmingham’s Bramall Music Building, these events provide both live and electronic music options.

The Barber Baby with Musical Picnic events are designed for families with children aged 0 – 4, with creative musical sessions themed around famous paintings.

These take place once a month, with dates available on their website.

The miniBEAST informal concerts play electronic music made by both the staff and students of the University of Birmingham. These take place weekly on Wednesdays.

33. Free arts and crafts, comics and music workshops, The Exchange, Birmingham

The Barber Family events held at The Exchange in Birmingham are free, creative workshops designed for families with children aged 4 – 10.

Upcoming events this spring include musical performances and activities at Sounds of the Sun on March 21, and a Light and Landscape textiles activity on April 1. Both activities take place from 11am – 3pm.

There will also be an exciting comic book workshop on April 18, in which families can take part in a writing and illustration workshop, creating a comic of their own.

These workshops operate as free drop-ins, with no need to reserve a slot.

34. Uncover bank secrets and history with an immersive free family tour, The Exchange, Birmingham

The Exchange in Birmingham City Centre are offering free family immersive tours, where you can explore the fascinating history of the Birmingham Municipal Bank.

A bank clerk character will lead you and your family through a journey marked by mysteries and historical artefacts.

This immersive family tour is entirely free, but make sure to reserve your slot. The tours take place once a month, with tickets available to book in April and May.

35. Stonebridge City Farm, Nottingham

An option for animal lovers is Stonebridge City Farm in Nottingham, which is free to enter but supported by donations as a charity.

This unique working farm in the middle of the city has amazing grounds, with a well-kept wildlife pond and even Japanese gardens.

Plus, there are, of course, plenty of farm animals to meet and greet, including fluffy sheep, goats and rabbits.

And if you have a couple quid to spare, they also run plenty of cheap family and children’s events.

There are regular £2 craft sessions, and Rainbow Stripes on Tuesdays (£3), which is an interactive live music workshop.

36. Museum of Lincolnshire Life

If you’ve got any mini history buffs in the family, they’ll enjoy a visit to the Museum of Lincolnshire Life.

The museum takes a deep dive into life in the county, from 1750 to the present day.

There’s an authentic WWI tank, interactive exhibitions and group quiz sessions.

The museum is open from 10am – 4pm throughout the week, closing on Wednesdays and Thursdays.

37. Bransby Horses, Lincolnshire

The charity owns a 600-acre site which is home to over 300 horses, ponies, donkeys and mules.

Visitors can walk through to admire the animals and set up for lunch at the designated picnic area.

There’s also a play park, cafe and gift shop.

Entry is free, although donations are recommended upon visiting to support the charity.

38. Hubbard’s Hills, Lincolnshire

Hubbard’s Hills in Lincolnshire is a vast green space with plenty of trees and a water valley, perfect for getting out in the outdoors.

Here, there’s open space for bringing a bat and ball or running around, dog walking paths, cycling trails and more.

Park up with a homemade picnic on the riverbank, after enjoying a family day out full of fresh air and exercise.

39. Shrewsbury Museum and Art Gallery

Situated in Shrewsbury’s town square, the Shrewsbury Museum and Art Gallery is free to visit and chock-full of things to see and do.

Here, there’s a fascinating geology and fossils gallery, containing woolly mammoth specimens and more rare finds.

There’s also a social and industrial history collection which will transport you back to 18th-century Shropshire through costume, vehicles, machinery and more.

The museum and gallery are open from 10am – 4pm daily, closing on Monday and Sunday.

40. Sandringham woodland trails and adventure playground, Norfolk

Sandringham in Norfolk attracts many visitors who come to tour the Royal House and gardens, which costs a pricey £26 per ticket.

However, a free family day out can be enjoyed exploring the estate’s 1,300+ acres of forest.

Next to the visitor centre and restaurant, you’ll find a vast open field space that’s perfect for ball games and burning off some energy.

Head towards the woods to find an adventure playground and multiple forest trail routes, which are marked by tall, wooden animal sculptures.

41. Old Hunstanton Beach and RNLI Lifeboat Station, Norfolk

Old Hunstanton Beach is one of Norfolk‘s most family-friendly options and makes for a fantastic day out.

Stroll the coastal path beside Old Hunstanton’s red and white striped cliffs to reach its wide stretch of beach, where there’s plenty of room to run about on soft sands or set up a picnic on the dunes.

There’s plenty of facilities here, including a cafe, loos, a large car park and taps to rinse off.

Plus, Hunstanton Lifeboat Station is right on the beach, with its giant lifeboat and hovercraft on display, alongside a friendly team who are always willing to answer children’s questions.

Hunstanton Lifeboat Station is open from the Easter weekend through to October, 10am – 4pm on Monday – Friday and 9am – 12pm on Sundays.

42. Crabbing and adventure playground in Wells-next-the-Sea, Norfolk

Soak up the sights of Wells-next-the-Sea‘s pretty quayside by bringing along a bucket, bait and wire to go crabbing.

Whilst the main quay can become busy with fishermen loading boats and holidaymakers queuing for fish and chips, the East Quay is a quieter spot to set up and enjoy the views in a more peaceful location.

Plus just around the corner is a giant children’s playground with a colourful pirate ship and skate park, which is right beside the scenic pinewood walk down to the beach.

43. Family drop-in activities at Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge

Cambridge‘s Fitzwilliam Museum offers relaxed morning workshops and craft activities for families.

The family-friendly drop-ins are suitable for all ages, with sensory play, picture books and arts materials available to use.

Family Friendly drop-in events occur monthly, with the first springtime event taking place on March 4 2026.

There is also a free paper fortune-telling crafts event at the museum running from 2pm – 4pm on April 8 – 9.

44. Little Stars and Travellers in Time event at the Whipple Museum, Cambridge

The Whipple Museum of the History of Science is stocked with fascinating collections of instruments and artefacts that the science geeks of the family will love.

Plus this spring, there’s plenty of free family-friendly events to enjoy.

Weekend at the Whipple: Travellers in Time is an all-ages time-travelling adventure in which families can explore the museum’s collection and learn about the history of time. The event will take place from 10am – 4pm on March 28 – 29.

Plus the Little Stars at the Whipple provides a relaxed morning for families to make use of art and sensory play resources in the museum’s Learning Gallery. The event takes place monthly, with the first spring session beginning on March 19.

The museum itself has free entry and some exciting exhibitions for 2026, such as The Art of Deception, where visitors can learn how to spot a fake or forged artefact.

The museum is open from 12:30 – 4:30pm from Monday – Friday, as well as the third Saturday of each month.

45. Felixstowe Activity Park, Suffolk

Smack-bang on Felixstowe‘s scenic seafront, this outdoor activity park has games and sports equipment that are completely free to use.

Here you’ll find everything from climbing walls, table tennis and chess tables for kids, to outdoor fitness equipment.

Make a day of your visit to the seaside town by strolling down the seaside promenade and exploring the seafront gardens.

46. Wildlife Trust nature reserves, Suffolk

Suffolk‘s Wildlife Trust nature reserves stretch all the way along the coast from Lowestoft to Felixstowe, and is home to beautiful landscapes such as green marshes and the calm waters of Lound Lakes.

Pick a section of the nature reserves to explore on foot or by bike, and see which animal species you can spot as a family.

Native wildlife species you may spot include beautiful birds such as Bittern and Avocet, as well as otters, water voles and Chinese water deer.

47. Christchurch Mansion, Suffolk

Christchurch Mansion in Suffolk is free to enter and full of fascinating rooms and displays to explore as a family.

The 12th-century building has historical rooms kept in period fashions, ranging from the Tudor to the Victorian era.

Step back in time and stroll through stately bedrooms, from the Queen Anne Room to the Butler’s Room, plus explore the kitchen and servants’ quarters.

There are also fascinating collections of historical items, such as old toys and instruments.

Christchurch Mansion is open from 10am – 5pm, closing on Mondays and Fridays.

South and West of England

48. Natural History Museum, London

Young dinosaur, animal and fossil enthusiasts should look no further than the Natural History Museum.

Its dinosaur specimens and replicas are world-famous – and include part of the first Tyrannosaurus Rex skeleton ever discovered.

The building, in South Kensington, London, is one of the city’s most spectacular architectural attractions in itself.

Although some exhibitions may have an entry fee, general admission to the museum is completely free.

The museum is open daily from 10am – 5:50pm.

49. Science Museum, London

London’s Science Museum has world-class displays and collections, with over 500,000 fascinating objects to discover.

Some of the most jaw-dropping displays include the Black Arrow satellite launcher, the 1928 Gipsy Moth aircraft, and the 1950 Pilot Ace Computer.

There’s also a free interactive gallery for ages 0 – 3 called The Garden, located on the museum’s basement floor.

The museum is open daily from 10am – 6pm. Make sure to pre-book your free tickets online.

50. Spring Family Fun Festival at the Southbank Centre, London

From April 1 – May 31 2026, London’s Southbank Centre will be hosting its Spring Family Fun festival.

The festival comprises both free and paid events, with some of the most exciting free events on offer being poet Michael Rosen’s 80th birthday party and the energy-filled “DanceDanceDiscoPartyFunShow“.

More free events on offer include the Architecture Explorers: Family Trail and a family quilting textile workshop.

Make sure to check the festival website for the dates and times of specific events, and to pre-book your slot.

51. Character encounters and sea-themed playground at the National Maritime Museum, London

The National Maritime Museum in London’s Greenwich is both free to enter and packed with things for kids to do.

There’s The Cove playground, a sea-themed area with a giant shark, pirate ship and huge kraken with rope tentacles to swing from.

Plus, you can visit the National Maritime Museum every Saturday to discover a different character based on real historical figures with their own fascinating story to tell.

Characters include sailor John Simmonds, who served with Nelson at the Battle of Trafalgar, as well as James Robson, a sailor who served on the greatest tea clipper, Cutty Sark.

The museum is open daily from 10am – 5pm. You can reserve your free booking slot online.

52. Tate Modern, London

The Tate Modern is the perfect place for kids to express themselves through art and creative play.

Once you’ve browsed the range of awe-inspiring galleries and exhibitions, which include works by Picasso, head to Tate Draw.

Here, children can grab a digital sketch pad and watch their drawings come to life on the big screen.

The Tate Modern is open from 10am – 6pm Monday – Thursday, staying open later until 9pm on Fridays and Saturdays.

53. Daily combat shows at Royal Armouries, London

Exciting combat shows take place daily at the Royal Armouries Museum in London.

Here you can watch authentic combat techniques performed, as well as knight duels and battles with swords, shields and spears.

The demonstrations last 10 – 15 minutes, plus there is allotted time afterwards to handle objects and ask any questions.

Other daily shows include a Celtic warrior’s recounting of Boudica, and first-hand style reenacted tellings of the Battle of Towton and the Battle of Little Bighorn.

The Royal Armouries Museum, London, is open from 10am – 5pm daily during the school holidays, closing on Mondays during term time.

54. Mudchute Park and Farm, East London

Mudchute Park and Farm in East London is another working farm that is free to visit – and has a massive 32 acres of land to explore.

Their courtyard and small animals area has just reopened for the year, where you can visit guinea pigs and rabbits.

Here you can also meet cows, sheep, goats, and more.

The farm is open from 9am – 4pm daily.

55. MinaLima, London

Found in the heart of Soho in London, MinaLima is the home of the graphic designers of the Harry Potter movies.

Inside, you can explore some of the original props used in the films as well as learn about Mina and Lima and see their designs that featured in the films.

From Bertie Bott’s Every Flavour Bean packaging to the Lestrange’s family tree – they designed something in pretty much every scene.

56. Free children’s animal workshops at the Oxford University Museum of Natural History

Enjoy free entry to the Oxford University Museum of Natural History, and explore its exciting collections.

Free family trails are available from the welcome desk, with a variety of options for children of all ages. Plus, this spring there’s some free family events to look forward to.

The ‘A Little Look At’ series takes a deep dive into various animal species, with a Flying Animals workshop on March 16 and an Ocean Animals edition on April 20.

Another free event held at the museum is Super Science Saturday on March 7, where children can meet scientists and researchers at a science fair full of hands-on activities.

The museum is open from 10am – 5pm daily.

57. Explorer trails and historic coin handling at Ashmolean Museum, Oxford

The Ashmolean Museum in Oxford is full of free hands-on activities that kids will love.

Have a go at handling historic coins in the Money Gallery, where volunteer experts are there to tell you all about the coins from 11am – 3:30pm every Saturday.

There’s also a free explorer activity pack for kids available to pick up from the welcome desk, which is currently themed as the ‘Viking Ashventure’.

The museum is open from 10am – 5pm daily. It’s recommended to book your free tickets ahead of time online.

58. Storytelling sessions and Easter Play Days at Hove Museum of Creativity

The Hove Museum of Creativity is one of the most family-friendly museums in the South of England, with a rotation of bright and colourful exhibitions and activities to enjoy.

Play days at Easter provide free outdoor Easter-themed fun and games over the bank holiday of April 5 – 6.

Storytelling sessions will take place on March 30 and April 6, with morning or afternoon sessions available for ages 4 and under, with a separate story for ages 5+.

The sessions are free and operate on a drop-in basis. Hove Museum of Creativity is open from 10am – 5pm daily, closing on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

59. House of Marbles, Devon

The House of Marbles in Devon is home to four unique museums and is free to visit.

There’s loads of unique marble runs to take part in, including a massive snooker ball-sized contraption as well as a games garden.

Their free games museum can be enjoyed by kids and parents alike, as you learn about the history that inspired Pac-Man and Space Invaders.

House of Marbles is open Monday – Saturday from 9am – 5pm, opening an hour later on Sundays.

60. Explore Dartmoor National Park, Devon

Dartmoor National Park in Devon is a great place for a walk – but you will see much more than hills.

The National Park is home to hundreds of tors, which formed around 280 million years ago, when molten magma solidified in the rock to form granite.

Different spots across the Moor have myths associated with them, making them intriguing to explore.

Another fun activity is looking for letterboxes in the rocks.

One really special feature of this National Park is that there are free-roaming ponies – just note some are friendlier than others!

61. Donkey Sanctuary, Sidmouth

The Donkey Sanctuary in Sidmouth is a special place to visit with kids.

The sanctuary is a working farm with rescued donkeys, and you can walk around different trails to see the herds.

Then head inside to learn all about the donkeys in the exhibition centre.

The site also has a hedge maze, nature trails, a gift shop and The Kitchen, where you can grab a bite to eat.

The sanctuary is open daily from 9am – 4pm.

62. Explore the Jurassic Coast

The Jurassic Coast stretches across Dorset and East Devon and is a much-loved World Heritage site for beach lovers and dinosaur enthusiasts alike.

Over the 96 miles of coast, there are many famous beaches to explore like Lulworth Cove and Durdle Door.

But one key characteristic of some of the beaches on the Jurassic Coast is that they are fossil-rich, making them the ideal day out for the family.

Free beaches to fossil hunt on include Charmouth and Monmouth Beach – where the rocks have crumbled, revealing many fossils, such as shark teeth, ammonites and belemnites.

Just make sure to check the rules on the specific beach you are visiting, as some don’t allow the rocks to be chiselled at.

63. Spring Fayre at Bath City Farm

Bath City Farm is free to visit – and it’s easy to spend an entire day there exploring its woodland trails, children’s playground, seeing the animals and visiting the farm shop and cafe.

Springtime sees not just the arrival of adorable newborn animals, but fun events such as the popular Spring Fayre and Spring Plant Sale.

The farm is open Tuesday to Saturday from 9am – 4pm, and on Sundays from 9.30am – 4pm.

64. Bluebell Railway, Sussex

The Bluebell Railway in Sussex has plenty to see and do, with an interactive “SteamWorks” exhibition at Sheffield Park station and an outdoor playground at Kingscote station.

There is no charge for platform entry on non-service days, and the gifts and models shop often remains open on these days too.

Make sure to check their website ahead of time for non-service dates.

65. Novium Museum, Chichester

The Novium Museum in Chichester is free to visit and great for families.

At this fascinating museum, families can learn about ages through history, covering the Stone Age to the Saxons.

The museum is open from 10am – 4:30pm Tuesday – Friday, and on Saturdays at 10am – 5pm.

66. Haldon Forest Park, Exeter

Haldon Forest is full of exciting family activity trails and mountain biking routes.

The most popular is the Discovery Trail – a beautiful winding trail which ends at a picnic spot. Plus, there’s also an impressive Gruffalo sculpture along the way.

Haldon Forest Park is just 15 minutes from Exeter, and home to over 3,500 acres of woodlands to explore.

67. The Jolly Roger, Dartmoor

Hidden in the outskirts of Dartmoor in Bovey Tracey is the exciting indoor attraction, The Jolly Roger.

Here you’ll find incredible showrooms displaying giant animal and dinosaur models – and the best part is, it’s free to visit.

There’s also models of race cars, fairies, life-size animals, pirate boats and more.

You can visit for free from 10am – 4pm Monday – Saturday.

68. Bristol Walk Fest

From May 1 – 31, Bristol Walk Fest invites families and individuals to explore the outdoors on a series of walking events.

Most events are free, and different routes and activities are available for a range of ages and abilities. Some are simple nature routes, whilst others involve wacky costume dress-up and more.

The popular festival attracts over 7,500 attendees each year, and themed walks range from street art discovery to historical tours, led by walk providers.

69. Inspiration Railway Exhibition, Bristol

Inspiration is a travelling transport exhibition contained within one action-packed train, stopping at Bristol Temple Meads station this March.

Here, families can learn all about the history of railways, the engineering of locomotives and more, all whilst making their way through interactive carriages.

Entry onboard is completely free – just make sure to book your tickets online in advance.

The touring exhibition will be stopping at Bristol from March 23 – 29. You can check the other locations Inspiration is due to stop online at their website.

70. Free guided tours of Clifton Suspension Bridge, Bristol

Towering over Avon Gorge in Bristol, the Clifton Suspension Bridge is a sight to behold – and walking across the giant landmark takes a whole hour!

For families with any budding young architects, you can snap yourself up a free guided tour, where you can learn all about the history, design and construction of the bridge.

The tours last between 45 minutes and an hour, and end at the Clifton Suspension Bridge Museum.

Free tours take place at 3pm on weekends and bank holidays from the Easter weekend through to October. You can book your free tour on the Clifton Suspension Bridge website.

71. Bristol Museum and Art Gallery

There’s plenty for all ages to see and do at Bristol Museum and Art Gallery.

Beginning on the ground floor, you can explore collections that range from the wonders of Ancient Egypt to works by Banksy.

The first floor houses the dinosaur collections and the popular Alfred the Gorilla, whilst the second is home to art galleries with paintings and pottery.

The museum is open from 10am – 5pm from Tuesday – Sunday.

72. Windmill Hill City Farm, Bedminster

This free community farm hosts a variety of educational events and fun activities, as well as access to their working farm, outdoor playground and walking trails.

The 4.5-acre farm has animal paddocks and barns, a duck pond, a fairy garden, wildlife gardens, as well as several picnic and play areas.

The farm even offer free hot meals at the weekly Tuesday Supper Club from 5pm – 7pm. These meals also offer fun children’s activities, such as crafts and board games. There’s no need to register.

The farm is open from 9am – 5pm daily.

73. Roskilly’s Farm, Cornwall

Take a free visit to Roskilly’s working farm in Cornwall to meet its friendly farm animals, and of course, find out how their delicious ice cream is made.

Meet animals such as Tamworth piglets and fluffy cows with their newborn calves.

And if you fancy treating the family to a meal out, the Croust House restaurant serves delicious meals and ice creams made from the farm’s very own produce.

74. Baby paint sessions at Falmouth Art Gallery, Cornwall

Falmouth Art Gallery are hosting Baby Paint sessions for families with little ones up to 18 months old this spring.

Sessions take place at either the Falmouth Art Gallery itself or the Dracaena Centre.

Here families can enjoy a messy painting experience with all materials provided – just make sure to dress them in clothes you don’t mind getting dirty!

The sessions are completely free, and last for one hour. Just make sure to book your slot online.

75. The Castle Bude, Cornwall

The Castle Bude is a historic site and heritage museum with lots to see and do, including archives of local history and museum exhibitions that explore everything from sailing to life-saving.

The castle also offer free live music days, such as Coffee, Acoustic and Cake taking place on March 1 and 8.

There’s also free heritage tours available to book each month, with the first spring tour taking place on March 12.

The castle is open from 10am – 4pm daily.

76. Trevaskis Farm, Cornwall

Trevaskis Farm in Hayle, Cornwall, is free to enter and home to a farm park with friendly animals and a farm cafe.

As well as visiting the resident farm animals, you can even pick your own fruits and vegetables, including strawberries, raspberries and beans.

Farm entrance is free, but if you do choose to take part in the pick-your-own experience, you must pay a small charge for what you pick.

The farm is open from 8am – 7pm daily.

77. The Box, Plymouth

The Box in Plymouth is a free-entry family attraction with free trails, drop-in activities and changing exhibitions.

Grab a family trail upon arrival, head to the craft creation tables, or explore the current exhibitions, which include Beryl Cook: Pride and Joy.

There’s also free storytelling sessions for under-5s every Friday from 10:30am – 11am, where afterwards children can meet Mildred the Mammoth or settle down with some crafts.

The Box in Plymouth is open from 10am – 5pm from Tuesday – Sunday.

Scotland

78. Crafternoons at The Scottish Parliament, Edinburgh

Drop in for an afternoon of completely free arts activities for all ages at Crafternoons, held at the Main Hall of the Scottish Parliament.

Each week, the craft activities change in theme, with previous themes including ink stamping and origami.

The building also has public areas with permanent exhibitions to explore, including an art collection and regular short talks.

Crafternoons sessions take place between 11am – 4pm every Saturday.

79. Edinburgh International Children’s Festival

This 9-day festival is packed with performances to bring the whole family along to.

Celebrating the best in children’s theatre, circus and dance shows, with free pop-up events taking place in the National Museum of Scotland.

Theatre groups, actors and dancers travel from all over the world to perform at the festival, which showcases a wide range of shows from slapstick comedy to beautiful dances with colourful fabrics.

The Edinburgh International Children’s Festival will take place from 30 May to 7 June 2026, with free pop-up events at the National Museum of Scotland.

80. Adventure Planet and Imagine zone, National Museum of Scotland, Edinburgh

The free-to-enter National Museum of Scotland is home to two large play areas that kids will love: Adventure Planet and Imagine.

Adventure Planet is full of hands-on and interactive games, such as design games, puzzles, digital games and dress-up.

Imagine, on the other hand, having a musical floor to step all over, funny distorted mirrors, or a cosy reading corner to head into to wind down with a story.

The National Museum of Scotland is free to enter, with Adventure Planet located on Level 5 of the museum and Imagine on Level 1.

81. Tech Decoded at the National Museum of Scotland, Edinburgh

This free pop-up for kids is part of the 2026 Edinburgh Science Festival, which takes place from 4 – 19 April 2026.

Here, kids of all ages can get hands-on with electrical circuits, machine learning and get to grips with all things tech – from AI to coding.

The event runs from 10am – 5pm daily, as a drop-in with no need to book ahead.

Tech Decoded will take place from 13 – 19 April 2026 at Hawthornden Court in the National Museum of Scotland.

82. Riverside Museum, Glasgow

The Riverside Museum in Glasgow offers free admission and has plenty to see and do for all ages.

Main Street will transport you to the Glasgow of the early 20th century, as you can pop in and out of historical shops with fully-decorated interiors.

There’s plenty of transport marvels here, too, such as the South African Loco 3007 locomotive, life-size buses and boat models.

83. Free Lego building sessions, Glasgow

These free, drop-in Lego building sessions take place in various libraries across Glasgow on a weekly basis throughout 2026.

Both regular kits and various Lego set collections are available, so the whole family can get stuck into building something spectacular.

Participating libraries include the Castlemilk Library, Elder Park Library, Bridgeton Library and more.

There’s no need to book, and there is a full list of libraries, dates and times available on the event website.

84. Art for Baby workshops at the Gallery of Modern Art, Glasgow

These workshops for babies aged 0 to walking age are informal gatherings where you can meet other families, and even create crafts together to take home.

The workshops take place in the gallery’s rooftop studio, with toys, books and simple art projects available.

The workshops are free to attend, but you must reserve your slot in advance online.

85. Children’s Discover Sessions, Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, Glasgow

Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum are holding weekly children’s Discover sessions throughout 2026.

Here, families can discuss and handle objects from the museum‘s collections, as well as undertake some creative tasks.

The Discover sessions operate on a drop-in basis, from 1:30pm – 4pm every Saturday.

86. Family fun craft workshops at Art Gallery, Aberdeen

These themed weekly craft sessions at the Art Gallery, Aberdeen are free to attend and suitable for families with children aged 5 – 12.

Themes throughout the spring include paper sculptures, decorate your own treasure box, and portraits.

The weekly drop-in sessions will run on Saturdays from 1pm – 3pm from March 28 – June 6, 2026.

The Art Gallery itself is free to visit, and open from 10am – 5pm Monday – Saturday and 11am – 4pm on Sundays.

87. Zoology Museum with free tours, Aberdeen

The Zoology Museum in Aberdeen charges no admission fee, and has many fascinating animal collections.

Popular displays include Rani the tiger, as well as collections of beautiful butterflies and beetles.

There are also free guided tours available on Wednesdays during term time, from 12 – 12:45pm. Reserving your slot for tours online is advised.

The museum is open from 10am – 4pm on weekdays, closing on weekends.

88. The Kelpies and Helix Park, Falkirk

The Kelpies in Falkirk are two giant horse head sculptures overlooking Helix Park, and are well worth the visit to see the sculptures alone.

However, the Helix Park site happens to have lots for kids to do, too, including an Adventure Zone with rope bridges, swings, slides and even its very own Splash Play Area.

Plus there’s plenty of scenic walking and cycling routes too.

Wales and Northern Ireland

89. Visit newborn lambs at Llwyn yr Eos farm, Cardiff, Wales

What better way to celebrate the spring than going to see some adorable newborn lambs?

At Llwyn yr Eos farm in Cardiff, visitors can watch newborn lambs be born in the farm’s lambing shed.

From March 1 – 28, 2026, lambing at Llwyn yr Eos farm will be open to the public to visit for free from 10am – 5pm.

90. Little Movers, Little Speakers play group, Cardiff, Wales

Little Movers, Little Speakers is a free group designed for families with babies aged 6 weeks to 12 months and their parents.

These monthly family sessions combine music and movement play with the Welsh language.

Sessions take place at the St Fagans National Museum of History. Attendance is free, and you’re able to view upcoming dates and reserve your space on the group’s website.

91. Geocaching in Snowdonia, Wales

Geocaching is an exciting activity for families with children of all ages, and can make for an energy-burning day out exploring nature.

Geocaching is essentially a huge outdoors treasure hunt – and it’s also totally free!

Tucked away in nooks of the National Park and in the UK beyond, you’ll find stashes of hidden items and letters known as caches.

Simply sign up for a geocaching website, and follow the clues to find the hidden item. signing your name upon arrival to prove that you were there.

Geocaching is particularly popular in Snowdonia, with the park attracting many hiking visitors throughout the year who leave hidden items for others to find.

92. Big Pit National Coal Museum, Pontypool, Wales

The Big Pit National Coal Museum in Wales is free to enter, and is a real coal mine as well as a museum with mining galleries.

The museum, which is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site, takes you through a fascinating audio-visual experience that teaches you all about the Welsh mining industry.

The museum is open daily from 9:30am – 5pm.

93. Go rock pooling on the Pembrokeshire Coast, Wales

For a cost-free afternoon that feels like a mini-expedition, take the family rockpooling along the Pembrokeshire Coast.

At low tide, beaches like Broad Haven, Wisemans Bridge, and the wilder Freshwater West transform into secret saltwater worlds.

Kids can spend hours peering into crevices to spot devil crabs with their bright red eyes or translucent shrimp darting through the waters.

It’s a brilliant way to connect with nature without spending a penny – just make sure to pack some sturdy wellies for those seaweed-covered rocks!

94. Oriel Science, Swansea, Wales

For a brain-boosting indoor day out for the whole family, try Oriel Science in Swansea.

This free-entry interactive attraction brings local scientific research to life through hands-on exhibits that turn complex science into a playground.

Science corner activities are a permanent and free option at the museum, with mini experiments and crafts available aimed towards younger children.

The centre is open from 10am – 4pm on Saturdays only.

95. Belfast Children’s Festival, Northern Ireland

Belfast Children’s Festival are hosting a range of both free and paid events in the first few weeks of March 2026.

‘Drop‘ is a free theatrical comedy and clowning show for 0 – 6 year-olds, whereas the Festive Family Day Out in the city’s Cathedral Quarter will see a day full of pop-up storytelling, circus acts and more.

Belfast Children’s Festival runs from March 5 – March 14 2026 at various venues across the city. Check the website for more information on specific events.

96. Free kids discovery centre at the Ulster Museum, Belfast, Northern Ireland

The Ulster Museum in Belfast is a great place to enjoy a rainy day out, with lots to see and do for free.

Explore exhibitions like the scientific Elements or Inclusive Global Histories.

Kids will love the Discovery Centres, which house art, history and nature-themed sections with activities like dress-up and a big sensory tree to crawl inside.

The museum and Discovery Centres are open from 10am – 5pm, Tuesday – Sunday.

97. The Linen Hall, Belfast, Northern Ireland

As Belfast’s oldest library, The Linen Hall has plenty to please the bookworms in the family.

Explore the collections, including Irish and Local Studies, Theatre and Performing Arts and more.

Or simply grab a book from the General Lending section and settle down for a couple of hours of quiet reading.

The Linen Hall is open from 9:30am – 5pm, Monday – Saturday.

98. Urban Farm, Carrickfergus, Northern Ireland

This free-to-visit farm in Carrickfergus, County Antrim, is home to all the usual farm animals like pigs, goats and chickens, as well as ponies and small pets, too.

You’ll also find the non-profit cafe called the Dancing Goat, serving hot drinks, soups, salads and sandwiches, with all money received going back into the local community.

The farm is open from 9:30am – 4pm throughout the week, and closed on Sundays.

99. Family walking trails at Gortin Glen Forest Park, Omagh, Northern Ireland

Gortin Glen Forest Park in Omagh has six exciting walking trails to choose from, each varying in difficulty.

The park is home to one of County Tyrone’s Giants of the Sperrins – huge wooden sculptures inspired by folklore that are said to watch over the past, present and future.

You can see Darach, the so-called guardian of the present, if you take the Mullaghcarn Trail.

100. Deer-spotting at Gosford Forest Park, Armagh, Northern Ireland

As the sunshine returns and blue skies open up again, head outdoors to Gosford Forest Park in Armagh to make the most of the green landscapes and local wildlife.

Whether you choose to bring your bikes and cycle the routes, or simply stroll and take in the fresh air, you won’t regret getting outdoors into the forest this spring.

Plus, Gosford Forest Park is home to a giant wooden playground, as well as a herd of striking red deer that you may encounter from afar on your walk.

SHE had just turned 19 and was a single mum at college, working part-time in a fish and chip shop when she made her bid for fame on the X-Factor.

Now, 17 years later, Stacey Solomon is worth a staggering £10million, is married to TV star Joe Swash and has five beautiful children. But just when it looked like she had reached the top, insiders tell us that the 36-year-old has made a huge decision, with one wrong move toppling her empire for good.

The one-time X Factor star has hit the £10m mark in her business empire- up from £7.4m in the previous year, accounts revealed.

Despite her huge earnings, Stacey kicked off 2026 by walking away from her talent agency – leaving those close to her blindsided.

The dramatic move, which has also raised questions within the industry, means that Stacey has also pulled the plug on every one of her commercial partnerships this year.

She will no longer be working alongside YMU, the agency that looks after some of the biggest names in the industry, including Amanda Holden, Ant and Dec and Claudia Winkleman.

Insiders say her team at YMU were ordered to walk away from her long-running George at ASDA contract.

Stacey’s decided she wants to stop making everyone else rich.

Insider

We’re told: “It’s a huge change for Stacey – she will no longer be promoting other people’s brands. 

“Right now, she is focused on building her own empire instead and has new ventures on the horizon.

“She’s seeing it as a major business reinvention. She’s seen how well her hair brand REHAB has done and is now keen to replicate that.

“Stacey’s decided she wants to stop making everyone else rich. She might be worth a lot, but money is always a concern for her. She’s worried that one day everything she has worked for could disappear, and now she’s decided it’s time to take full control.”

The insider added: “Stepping back from all this could be a huge mistake. She does have her TV work, but the brand deals were bringing in a lot of cash for her.

“She could lose it all; that is a genuine fear for her. It’s no secret that Stacey sees herself as the one who has to manage the money both she and Joe make. And she makes a lot more than him.”

Former EastEnders star Joe was declared bankrupt twice over unpaid tax bills – once in 2009 and again in 2013.

Stacey – who shares Rex, six, Rose, three, and Belle, two, with Joe and is also mum to Zachary, 17, and Leighton, 12 – is said to always make sure he contributes 50/50 so she is protected financially as much as possible.

But what price has fame and fortune had on her high-profile relationship with Joe?

Stacey has been branded bossy and ruthless in the past, and the tension in their marriage was very evident during their BBC fly-on-the-wall series. 

We’re told that money is still a source of contention for the pair, who live in £1.2m Pickle Cottage,  and Stacey struggles to feel comfortable despite being set for life. 

During one episode of their BBC documentary, Stacey opened up about her money fears as they planned to take their children on a posh skiing trip.

The TV personality said: “I think I will always, one, feel like an imposter in this life, because this is not what I imagined my life would be when I was growing up.

“But two, I always have in the back of my mind tomorrow you could have nothing, so be careful today.”

Cashing in

Three years ago, Stacey invested some of her own cash into small haircare brand REHAB and now owns a third of the firm.

Today, it’s not such a small firm – it was hailed the fastest-growing beauty brand on the FEBE 100 list for 2025.

The award is only eligible for firms with annual revenues over £3million,  which gives you an idea of just how much the brand is pulling in. 

The insider added: “Stacey has loved working with REHAB, it’s all women, there are only seven staff on the books, and it’s become a real passion project.

“She’s making great money and now really believes in her business nous.”

The star presenter runs a firm called Keymap Entertainment that takes in cash from her media and lucrative ad deals.

New accounts show the tele favourite has £7.5m tied up in investments and £1.6m in cash.

A TV insider remarked: “Stacey is adored by fans old and young. She has worked so hard to get to the position she is in – and deserves every penny.”

It’s thought she will see out the remainder of her contracts with YMU before stepping back completely. 

Sources tell us that YMU have been really taken aback by her decision: “She has been the cash cow of the agency for many years. 

“She out-earns their other high-profile clients.”

Some of her biggest deals have included projects with Asda, Jet2, In The Style and Primark, which have really boosted her earnings, and presumably also helped the bank balance of those working for her. 

One of her new business plans is her very own beauty company, Belle & Rose Ltd, named after her daughters, which she set up a couple of years ago with plans to sell beauty products and tools in “specialised stores”.

Interestingly, she’s yet to launch anything under that name yet but as her other deals come to an end, it’s becoming increasingly likely we will see it come to fruition this year. 

She has worked so hard to get to the position she is in – and deserves every penny.

TV insider

It’s certainly been an extraordinary journey – her life really changed forever when she won I’m A Celebrity in 2010, and it soon became clear a singing career would be put on the back burner. 

She became a national treasure, amassing an incredible six million Instagram followers, who watch her every move as she shares her home hacks and family life.

Her Tap To Tidy catchphrase went viral on the social media platform and led to her having her own book, paving the way for her job on Sort Your Life Out, which has become a BBC big hitter. 

It’s a far cry from the nervous teen who wowed Simon Cowell and Cheryl as she took to the stage in hotpants, saying she wanted to win for Zach so she could “get him into a good school and get him all the things he needs”. She’s done that and then some.