Swimming

ALEXANDER the Great would have approved – I’m on my trusty black steed conquering the streets of his rival Athens under the watchful eye of the Parthenon.

It’s a whizzy Segway, not the all- conquering king of ancient Macedonia’s fabled warhorse Bucephalus, but what a brilliant way to see historic and modern sights in the Greek capital.

Lively guide Stelios led my group of a dozen — all on an excursion from Tui’s Marella Voyager cruise ship — taking in outstanding views of the Acropolis, Temple of Hephaestus and Pnyx Hill, where the Athenians created the concept of democracy.

Next time you put an X on a ballot paper, this is where it all began 2,500 years ago.

The Segway tour (£110pp), started in tourist hangout Plaka and also visited ­Thiseio, where the locals chill. Fun and insightful, it was a hit with my group.

And, in the free time in Plaka afterwards, treat yourself to a frozen yoghurt for a couple of quid — the Lukumades shop is deservedly popular.

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My wife Debbie and I had joined the all-inclusive Voyager in Corfu, with a seamless airport transfer and check-in at the port.

Greeted by stewards Andi and Yosua, we settled into our balcony cabin then demolished a Mexican meal at the Abuela’s restaurant, followed by a rocking sailaway show from The Journeymen band.

Before arriving at Athens we had a sea day with pre-booked spa treatments. Debbie loved her Thai massage (£129) from Cherry, and I was wowed by a rejuvenating men’s pro- collagen grooming and shave (£69) by Marco.

I felt like a Greek god after an hour in the barber’s chair. We dined like gods that night too, on a superb seven-course food odyssey at the Silver Fork restaurant (£51.95pp), with the highlights a spicy white tomato soup and a beef Wellington to fill your boots with.

Another standout was the Kora La Asian-inspired restaurant (£38.95pp) and its Thali tasting experience — surely this is the best curry at sea.

Mind you, if you’re on a budget you can easily spend the week eating well in the included The Kitchens buffet and the Latitude 53 (international), Vista (Italian) and Piccadilly’s (British) restaurants, along with Abuela’s (Mexican), Nonna’s (pizza/pasta) and the poolside Shack (fast food).

Drinks-wise, we rated swanky Flutes for fizz and laid-back Summer House, with its retractable roof and al fresco area at the stern, for cold beers and ciders.

The Squid & Anchor is your go-to for lively nights of music, quizzes and karaoke and the Broadway theatre hosts West End-style performances.

Up for some immersive, cocktail-fuelled fun? Head to The Exchange speakeasy, where many guests dress up in 1920s-style clothes (£18.95pp).

New day, new country. After our Athens adventure, next up was Kusadasi, Turkey.

We could have hit the beach but walked to the 16th-century castle — on an island reached by a 400-yard causeway — and its open-air/indoor museum covering local maritime trade, wildlife (check the whale skeleton) and plants. Worth a look, decent views and a nice waterfront cafe (£8pp).

Before strolling back to Voyager, we failed to resist the shops selling carpets, knock-off designer goods and that leather jacket you never knew you needed. Luckily, everything is a “special price today, just for you!”

Kusadasi is the gateway to Ephesus, home of the Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. If you haven’t been, get it on your cruise excursion list. It’s outstanding.

Back in Greece for the next call at Insta-fave island Santorini, we joined a tour to Akrotiri — the “Pompeii of the Aegean” — where archaeologists have uncovered part of a city buried under 27ft of ash when the Thera volcano erupted in 1600 BC.

The Thera explosion was around 20 times more powerful than when Vesuvius blasted the real Pompeii in AD 79 and the resulting 100ft tsunami wiped out the Minoan civilisation on Crete 60 miles away, with the ash cloud even affecting the weather in China.

Our excellent guide was former archaeologist Marianne, who used to work here so has the best facts about life in the Bronze Age. Unsurprisingly, she knew a group of Brits would be enthused by seeing the 3,600-year-old “flushing” toilet in a house!

You’re dropped off in pretty Fira overlooking the sea-filled caldera for a wander at leisure, with a ticket for the cable car down to the dock and the tender boats (£62pp).

Next up is Chania, in western Crete, where a €1.80 each-way, 20-minute bus from Souda dropped us near the beautiful Venetian port, where we climbed the tower in the harbour fort to take it all in and idly wandered through the grid of shopping streets.

It’s a real charmer and you could easily while away a full day here, but the ship has a schedule to keep and that took us to our final port, Argostoli in Kefalonia.

We’d only planned to pick up some souvenirs and an ice cream but headed to the footbridge south of the centre to see why there were so many tourists gathered.

GO: AEGEAN CRUISE & CORFU STAY

GETTING, CRUISING & STAYING THERE: A 14-night cruise-and-stay holiday costs from £2,313pp, including a seven-night Aegean Shores cruise on Marella Voyager, plus a seven-night stay at the Atlantica Grand Mediterraneo Resort in Ermones.

Price is based on two adults sharing on an all-inclusive basis with flights from Stansted on September 25, 20kg of luggage each, transfers, tips and service charges.

Cruise calls at Corfu, Piraeus (for Athens), Kusadasi (for Ephesus), Santorini, Souda (for Chania) in Crete, and Kefalonia.

See tui.co.uk/cruise.

The answer was four adult loggerhead turtles swimming around just feet from us and we snapped away with the excited crowd. A magical holiday highlight to see these ­vulnerable creatures so close up.

Next morning, back in Corfu, we headed down the gangway one final time. But not before checking eBay to find out how much a second-hand Segway is!

A BRAND-NEW luxury holiday resort is under construction in the Cotswolds – and it will have cabins, a natural spa and swimming pools.

The whole project is predicted to cost £24million and it’s due to open in 2027 in Langley, Oxfordshire.

CABÜ is in the process of building 51 self-catered ‘eco timber cabins‘ with wooden panels and green window detail.

Each will have either one, two or three bedrooms inside.

The high-end resort will have lots of facilities for relaxation, from large swimming pools to its natural spa with hot tubs, saunas and a plunge bucket.

The indoor swimming pool which is surrounded by loungers and huge windows.

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Along with an outdoor pool, there will also be a shop, restaurant, two bars, an events space and a sitooterie social space.

The website says “Our Cotswolds holiday cabins are being designed for year-round stays, with plans to offer relaxing 2, 3 and 4-night breaks that balance comfort, wellbeing and nature-led experiences.”

The new site will be a short distance from popular villages in the Cotswolds like Bourton-on-the-Water, Stow-on-the-Wold and Burford.

The resort will be the third of its kind to open in the UK.

Two others CABÜ By The Sea in St Marys Bay in Kent and CABÜ By The Lakes at Killykeen Forest Park in Ireland.

CABÜ by the Sea sits on a stretch of privately owned grassland next to the seafront between Romney Marsh and the English Channel.

Rates for two-night stays in a one bedroom studio cabin start from £375.

Two-night stays in two bedroom cabins start from £495.

Meanwhile, CABÜ by the Lakes is found deep within the woods of Killykeen Forest Park in Co. Cavan.

This unique hideaway has log cabins and lake houses – it also has a nature spa with a forest bathing area and a Japanese Bath.

Rates for two-night stays in one bedroom cabins at the lakes start from €485 (£415).

Two-night stays in three bedroom cabins start from €650 (£556).

People should brush up on this code before heading on their next holiday

Going to the beach or cooling off in the sea when on holiday is one of the most common activities tourists do – and not think twice about. However, when people enter bodies of water, there is always a risk of injury or even death.

Holiday hotspots – like Spain, Turkey and Greece – all have warnings listed on the official GOV.UK Foreign Office pages that provide advice to travellers swimming abroad. The Foreign Office says every year, “people drown in the sea and in swimming pools”.

People who are holidaying with young children should “always supervise” them around pools and the sea – even if they can swim or a lifeguard is present. Situations can change in an instant, even for experienced swimmers.

On the country’s Foreign Office advice page, it said: “Some beaches, especially around Spanish islands, may have strong undercurrents. Hidden rocks or shallow depths can cause serious injury or death. Do not dive into unknown water and do not swim at beaches where a river runs into the sea.”

It adds that most beaches, including those in tourist spots, will use a simple colour-coded flag system to indicate whether an area is safe. These flags follow a standard set of guidelines that are universally recognised, and one should be a clear warning to anyone setting up for a day at the beach.

The Foreign Office said: “Many beaches have a flag system. Make sure you understand the system and follow any warnings (a red flag means you must not enter the water). Take extra care and get local knowledge if there are no lifeguards, flags or signs.”

Beach lifeguards will frequently fly multiple flags at the same time to signal different types of hazards. For example, one flag might be linked to the strength of the water, while another can signal if there is marine life in the area that could sting, like jellyfish.

What do the different coloured flags mean?

• Red flag (high danger)
• Yellow flag (medium hazard)
• Green flag (low hazard)
• Purple flag (marine pests)
• Black and white checkered flag
• Red over yellow (lifeguarded area)

Red flag warns of water conditions that are unsafe, like strong currents, rough surf, or severe undertows. If you see two red flags flying together, the water is completely closed to the public.

Yellow flag warns of moderate surf, light currents, or rougher waters. While swimming is permitted, weak swimmers or children are discouraged from entering, and everyone should take extra care generally.

Green flag signals calm ocean conditions and a low risk of dangerous currents. While it means the water is generally safe, swimmers should still remain aware of their surroundings.

Purple flag warns beachgoers that dangerous stinging marine life is present in the water. This typically means an influx of jellyfish, stingrays, or sea urchins. Crucially, a purple flag is used for smaller marine pests and does not indicate sharks.

Black and white checkered flag designates a specific area reserved exclusively for surfboards, kayaks, and other non-powered watercraft. Swimming or bodyboarding is strictly prohibited inside this zone to prevent dangerous collisions.

Red over yellow flag marks the safest area of the beach. This zone is actively monitored by lifeguards.

“I was really struggling to get food down, and was stressing about things like getting a medley relay slot instead of thinking about getting a medal tonight.

“My coach said to me I had nothing to lose but to just relax and enjoy it.”

Alongside fellow Scots Ciara Schlosshan and Lucy Grieve – who finished fifth and sixth respectively – MacInnes did just that.

Third at the turn, she overhauled South Africa’s Erin Gallagher as the noise grew louder to earn a spot on the second step of the podium. Australia’s Alex Perkins took gold.

“Oh, God, I’m just starting to get my breath back,” MacInnes said. “That was so incredible.

“I’m so grateful to the crowd for making it such a special memory for me. I’m so grateful to my parents and boyfriend who are up in the crowd and I’m so glad I was able to do it in front of them.

“A silver is crazy to me. Maybe I was thinking ‘bronze could be really cool’ so this is just so amazing.”

Duncan Scott knows all about Games medals, given he has 14 of them in the house.

Gold in Friday’s 200m individual medley was a fine start to proceedings, but a couple of relay near-misses over the weekend were followed by another fourth place in the 200m butterfly on Monday.

Shanahan missed the chance for a second chunk of metal in the last race of the night as she competed in the 4x100m mixed relay team who finished fifth, though they did set a new Scottish record.

Part of the team was, surprisingly, poster boy Scott.

He received a hero’s welcome as he returned, racing second after Evan Jones and before Evie Davies, but ultimately the field was too strong.

Earlier in the evening, Sean McCann finished eighth in the men’s 400m freestyle final, Lucy Grieve was seventh in the women’s 50m butterfly final and Matthew Ward broke the men’s 50m backstroke Scottish record on his way to seventh in that final.

With four fourth places in Birmingham in 2022, Richards was looking for his first Commonwealth medal to complete the set of Olympic, world and European podium positions.

Wales opted for an entirely different quartet in the pool in the final after Kieran Bird, Harry Milne, Medi Harris and Meghan Higgs had qualified fourth fastest in the heats.

Sutton and Taylor had qualified for their respective individual semi-finals in the 100m backstroke and 100m breaststroke, but both pulled out with a full focus on the relay.

The policy paid off and Taylor, 17, brought Wales back from fifth to third with a brilliant final leg.

Earlier, Rose Williams finished fourth in the women’s S14 200m freestyle final.

The S14 category covers swimmers who have an intellectual impairment, which typically leads to the athletes having difficulties with regard to pattern recognition, sequencing, and memory, or having a slower reaction time, which impact on sport performance in general.

Tyler Melbourne-Smith finished sixth in the 400m freestyle final, while Lewis Fraser qualified for the 100m butterfly final to be staged on Sunday evening.

TWO women have been to every single lido across the UK – so it’s fair to say they know the best outdoor pools to cool down in this summer.

Authors Emma Pusill and Janet Wilkinson met through their shared loved of lidos, and between them, have visited them all over the years.

The pair put together The Lido Guide which was first published in 2019 and is a practical guide to all the 130 outdoor pools in the country.

So whether you’re looking for family-friendly pools, ones with beach views or huge cafés, Emma reveals some of the loveliest lidos where you should swim this summer.

Family-friendly lidos

“Three spring to mind for family-friendly lidos. Firstly, I would say Haltwhistle.

“It’s in Northumberland and it has amazing twisty slides as well as a larger and smaller pool – so it’s lots of fun for kids.

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“There’s a really good splash pad at Greenbank Pool in Somerset.

“I also like Droitwich Spa Lido in Worcester for families – it’s got a splash pad, and at one end it has a sloping entry, so it’s more of a beach-style pool.

“My daughter’s favourite, which she loved as a child, is The Strand Lido in Gillingham, Kent.

“It’s like the Mediterranean with a huge lazy river around the outside and a little elephant slide in the toddler pool.”

Tidal pools

“Tidal pools are all so pretty and there’s a lovely cluster of them in Scotland; Pittenweem, Cellardyke and St Monans which all look out to the Firth of Forth.

“You can have a lovely weekend visiting all of those.

“I am very fond of Bude Sea Pool too which is lovely, then there’s Shoalstone which really cute and it’s just reopened.

“It feels like a more conventional pool even though it’s washed over by the sea, it’s free to use too, so it makes for an inexpensive day out.”

Free lidos

“Most tidal pools are completely free to use – but a best example of a free lido that isn’t tidal is Mount Wise in Plymouth.

“Everyone usually thinks about Tinside Lido in Plymouth which is very beautiful.

“Mount Wise is only a mile from there with three swimming pools on-site, a toddler walk-through area and it’s absolutely brilliant.

“There’s another little pool in Cumbria called Hunsonby which isn’t free, but is managed on an honesty box where you can pop your money in.”

Hidden gems

“I would say the Cumbria cluster, as none of those are very well known.

“There’s Shap, Greystoke and Lazonby but at the top of the list I’d say is Askham.

“They’re all close together too, so you could go for a weekend and see them all, they’re tucked away in villages rather than towns.

“Clyst Hydon in Exeter I’d also include as a hidden gem. It’s completely hidden away up a little leafy track and if Enid Blyton wrote ‘Five Go Swimming‘ I’m sure it would have been set there.”

Lidos with extras

“Sea Lanes Canary Wharf is great for having lots of things on-site, they’ve got two big saunas, catering, and funky pods to sit in if the weather is a bit bleak.

“Hathersage has an underground café which is really nice – I say underground, it’s underneath the covered terrace opposite the bandstand.

“So you have to go up a little set of stairs to get to the pool.

“Saltdean Lido in Brighton is one of most beautiful streamline modern building that has a lovely restaurant on-site and a library – that’s a great extra.

“Then, I went to Guernsey recently and La Vallette tidal pools have put in a brilliant cafe, in a new, very modern, building.

“The pools are lovely too, there’s a cluster of four of them along a half a mile on the stretch of coast. The café sits on what used to be the ladies and children’s pool.”

Pretty views

“There’s a tidal pool at the Marine Lake at Clevedon which is essentially a massive 200metre long infinity pool.

“If you go up to the sea wall you’ll be looking out across the Bristol Channel and the Victorian Pier, it’s a lovely view.

“I quite like Lido Ponty – which is the only one in Wales.

“It’s surrounded by hills which you can see in all direction, it feels very green.

“Similar to that is Hathersage in the Peak District which has a bandstand in the grounds and you’re surrounded by hills there as well – it’s pretty special.

“I suppose as well, Sea Lanes has just opened in Canary Wharf, it’s not a classically pretty view. But you won’t get a view like that anywhere else – it’s a fun swim.”

London lidos

“London lidos are all so different – I have a soft spot for Parliament Hill, it’s open all year-round and the staff there are brilliant. Although it’s very busy in the summer months there.

“I quite like Oasis in Covent Garden. The pool itself is nothing to write home about but it’s in Covent Garden – you can walk past it at street level and never know it was there.

“It’s a 25metre heated pool and sauna, so you go up a little flight of stairs. It’s surrounded by trees so it’s leafy which is such a treat in that part of London.”

Adults-only

“In Matlock Bath there’s a pool out the back of the New Bath Hotel & Spa lido that’s unashamedly adults only.

“It’s a hotel pool as well as being open to the public and I think they don’t want it being overly noisy with children.

“Sea Lanes in Brighton is also adults-only because it’s a training pool.

“But if you have a child that is a club swimmer and swims laps I don’t think they’d turn you away. It doesn’t do fun and floats sessions though.”

If you want to know more about every lido in the UK, check out Emma and Janet’s book The Lido Guide.

And keep up with Emma, Janet and their lido visits on social media too.

A HOLIDAY park has been given the green light for a major glow up.

Unity Holidays‘ Skirlington Coast Yorkshire site will soon undergo a £20million project with several new openings.

There will be upgraded dining spots and leisure facilities, as well as a new entertainment zone and outdoor pool.

There will be extra food spots too, with a new pavilion home to restaurants.

The project will also include new fairground attractions and cabanas.

Kids aren’t left out either, with a new splash pad including a tots’ pool.

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Accommodation at the park will be expanded as well, with 92 new caravans planned for the site.

A spokesman for Unity Holidays said: “We thank the council’s planning committee for approving our application to redevelop the land on our park currently occupied by Skirlington Market, as well as the buildings on that land used by the market.

“We look forward to commencing work on that project as soon as possible, which will see us add indoor and outdoor sport and leisure facilities as well as re-landscaping the entire area.”

Unity Holidays took over the site at the end of 2024 and underwent lots of renovation work, including adding new attractions.

Currently, the holiday park is home to 680 caravans and 400 pitches for tents.

Attractions added included an outdoor children’s play area and The Wonky Donkey Kitchen and Bar.

A spa was also added with a hot tub, steam room and sauna.

AIRPORTS are a gateway to travel – but some of them are so much more than that with swimming pools, indoor rainforests and panoramic sky decks.

Travel + Leisure’s ‘World’s Best Awards’ named the top 10 airports – and sadly none are in the UK.

The airports were declared the best by readers who voted in their thousands for their favourites in multiple categories for the publication.

At the very top of the ‘Best International Airports’ is Singapore Changi Airport which got a score of 95.19 out of 100.

Travel + Leisure said about Singapore Changi Airport: “Back on top after a two-year hiatus, this legendary hub has efficient operations, excellent hospitality, and eye-catching amenities like a butterfly garden and a swimming pool.”

It stretches across five square miles and no one could ever say it’s an ordinary airport.

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Inside is the world’s tallest indoor waterfall, a tropical rainforest, butterfly garden and even a hedge maze which is the largest in the country.

It also has a swimming pool and hot tub up on the roof at the airside Aerotel Singapore, which is even open to non-guests to watch the planes take off.

In second place is Doha’s Hamad International Airport which is the home base of Qatar Airways.

Assistant Travel Editor Sophie Swietochowski who visited called it the “ultimate layover destination“.

She said: “Within a few hours I’d strolled through a tropical rainforest, tucked into traditional sweets in a souq and had a sumptuous massage in a tranquil spa where airport stresses melt into distant memories.”

“The Orchard is the airport’s indoor tropical garden, constructed in 2022 – tall leafy palms and lush, green banana plants flourishing in the sunlight under a glass dome.

“All of the shrubs are real. The birds hiding within them are not, although the chirping sounds floating from hidden speakers nearly had me fooled.

“I wasn’t surprised to catch passengers reading a book on the artificial grass, or cosying down in one of the wooden tipis – with the noise of the nearby waterfall muffling out the chaos of a busy airport, this is surely the most peaceful spot in Hamad International.”

Coming in third spot is Istanbul Airport followed closely by Zayed International Airport in Abu Dhabi.

Dubai International Airport also made it onto the list even though, surprisingly, the hub will eventually close in around 10 years time.

The airport which has a wellness spa, luxury boutiques and sleepover lounges will close to make way for Al Maktoum International Airport.

Hong Kong International Airport on the list has incredible surroundings from mountains on Lantau Island to the South China Sea.

Visitors can take it in on the Sky Bridge which is the world’s longest airside pedestrian bridge – and there’s a Sky Deck with 360-degree views.

Other winners include Tokyo Haneda Airport and Adelaide Airport in Australia.

Here are the Best International Airports…

Each airport got a score out of 100 by Travel + Leisure…

1. Singapore Changi Airport, Singapore – 95.19
2. Hamad International Airport, Doha, Qatar – 93.96
3. Istanbul Airport, Istanbul, Turkey – 92.13
4. Zayed International Airport, Abu Dhabi, UAE – 91.24
5. Dubai International Airport, Dubai, UAE – 91.06
6. Hong Kong International Airport, Hong Kong, China – 86.52
7. Incheon International Airport, Incheon, South Korea – 85.90
8. Haneda Airport, Tokyo, Japan – 85.29
9. Shanghai Pudong International Airport, Shanghai, China – 84.83
10. Adelaide Airport, Adelaide, Australia – 83.73

SOMETIMES all you want is a great nights sleep – enter The Akyra Bangkok 11.

Here’s everything you need to know about staying at the new Bangkok hotel (and rooms are as little as £40 a night).

Where is the hotel?

The hotel is in the Nana district of Bangkok on Sukhumvit Soi 11. It is a short drive to the city centre by taxi.

There is also a complimentary shuttle to the BTS Skytrain.

What is the hotel like?

Having only opened earlier this year, it feels extremely fresh and new. It’s simple in design, but still feels like a boutique hotel.

From the outside, it is unassuming – on the inside it is clean designs with a touch of warmth.

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Akaryn Hotel Group founder Anchalika Kijkanakorn said: “We designed it as a place where people can connect with each other and with themselves while still enjoying the pulse and possibilities of Bangkok.”

What are the rooms like?

The hotel’s ethos is to offer the best night sleep – with loads of features within the 100 rooms.

This means blackout curtain and even a “sleep butler” night time ritual.

My Deluxe room had a very comfortable king size bed, as well as a Smart TV, hair dryers, dressing gowns and a coffee making station.

Even in the muggy heat of Bangkok, I slept so well thanks to the easy-to-use air conditioning and the quiet location of the hotel.

Rooms start from THB 1870 (£41). See aleenta.com/akyra-bangkok.

Upgrade to Club and get early check in, late check out and a free evening drink and snacks.

What is there to eat and drink there?

The hotel restaurant E/R/N is where you will find everything from breakfast to dinner.

The extensive breakfast menu ranged from unique fantastic coffees to smoothies, as well as acai bowls and egg Florentine.

Dinner is Med inspired – I was seriously impressed by the massive juicy scallops, as well as my fruity house cocktail.

What else can you do there?

Wellness experiences can be booked for in your room, including massages and relaxing evening rituals.

You can also book experiences with the hotel from street food tours to canal boat trips.

Deals include free IV drips when staying two nights or more, or free signature experiences when staying three nights or more.

Make sure you save time for a dip in the swimming pool too.

Is it family friendly?

The hotel has 18, two-bedroom family rooms with interconnected access.

Is the hotel accessible?

Yes, there is lift access and accessible rooms with more spacious layouts.

A beach has been praised for its golden sands and tranquil blue waters that are reminiscent of Mediterranean destinations and holidays abroad – only it’s right here in the UK

A stunning British beach is turning heads for its golden sands and crystal-clear blue waters that wouldn’t look out of place on the Mediterranean coastline – but the best part is, it’s here in the UK.

It’s not always a case of flocking to Europe or the Caribbean for a lavish holiday, because Britain has plenty to offer. From charming towns to villages, locals and tourists can enjoy a diverse array of attractions here. Now if you’re in need of inspiration when it comes to booking your next staycation or day trip, we have you covered. According to Beach Guide UK, a whopping 1,500 beaches can be found across the country.

While the UK is hardly renowned for its reliable sunshine, Cornwall’s spectacular coastline more than compensates. There truly is something for everyone – from stunning stretches of powdery golden sand and unique shingle beaches, to hidden coves, world-class surf spots, and brooding atmospheric shores that could easily double as a backdrop for a BBC crime thriller.

Yet one particular beach is causing quite a stir thanks to its breathtaking Mediterranean-esque charm. Step forward Carbis Bay.

Discover Carbis Bay: Cornwall’s Mediterranean-Style Hidden Gem

This much-loved seaside village and resort sits approximately one mile southeast of the iconic St Ives, nestled on the western shores of St Ives Bay along the Atlantic coast.

Nature enthusiasts and walkers will find themselves equally captivated by Carbis Bay, as the South West Coast Path – England’s renowned 630-mile long-distance trail winding around the south west peninsula’s coastline – runs above the shore.

TikTok user Suzanne posted footage of Carbis Bay on the popular social media site.

Overlaid on the video, which sweeps across the golden sand and brilliant blue waters, she penned: “Okay… this might be the prettiest beach in the UK.”

Alongside the clip, Suzanne added the caption: “Carbis Bay, Cornwall, looking like the Mediterranean.”

Best Things to Do at Carbis Bay Beach: Swimming and Water Sports

The spot has also received recognition from Visit Cornwall, which notes: “Just a mile out of St Ives, Carbis Bay Beach is the perfect destination for a relaxing day at the beach. The bay’s lush cliffsides and position on the Atlantic Coast assure tranquil waters, making it the ideal spot for swimming.

“Tucked away into its own corner of St Ives Bay, Carbis Bay enjoys a perfect, natural shelter from the worst of the Atlantic swell, making its waters a tranquil paradise ideal for swimmers of all ages.”

Visit Cornwall continues: “The golden beach itself is perfect for soaking up the sun on warm summer days, or constructing elegant castles in the sand.

“While surfers might wish to look elsewhere for a swell, any with an interest in stand up paddle boarding or kayaking may just find that Carbis Bay ticks every box.”

Planning Your Visit: Travel Times and Carbis Bay Hotels

The travel to Carbis Bay can vary but if you’re coming from London, a car journey will roughly take 5 hours. Alternatively, a train journey is about 4 hours and 41 minutes. From Bristol, this is slightly closer and about 3 hours in the car.

Meanwhile it’s around 4 hours if you’re leaving from the Midlands.

It’s best advised that if you are visiting St Ives, booking yourself accommodation might be the less exhausting option. Hotels in Carbis Bay average about £350 to £470 per night during summer.

However rates can vary drastically and drop around £100 at any other time of the year. Meanwhile, luxury 5-star estates (like the Carbis Bay Estate) can range from £475 to £1,000+ per night depending on seasonal demand.

STRANGER Things star Millie Bobby Brown has had a swimming pool built — just for her dogs.

The 22-year-old British actress runs an animal rescue organisation called Joey’s Friends on her farm in Atlanta, Georgia, and wants to train pooches to swim.

Millie also admitted her most expensive purchases are related to her animals.

Quizzed over the most unnecessary thing she has spent money on this year, she said: “Maybe a goat shed.

“Like I didn’t need the shed, did I? But the goats love it. I just thought it was cute. Also, a new chicken coop. That or I just built a swimming pool for my foster dogs.”

Millie then recalled the chat she had with her husband, 24-year-old model Jake Bongiovi, who she wed in 2024.

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She told the On Purpose With Jay Shetty podcast: “He’s like, ‘Why?’

“And I’m like, ‘Because it gets hot in the summer, and I want them to learn how to swim so that when they get adopted, they can swim’.”

Last year she said she had 62 pets including 25 farm animals, 23 foster dogs, ten of her own dogs and four cats.

She is believed to have rescued and rehomed more than 230 dogs.

Millie, who has an estimated net worth of £24million, has several goats named after rappers including Eminem, Cardi B, Slick Rick and Biggie Smalls, as well as chickens.

She said: “I have a lot of animals on the farm that were bullied out of their own farm.

“So the herds just kind of chose, ‘We hate that donkey’. Then that donkey comes to me. I have a lot of outcasts. That’s exactly where I belong.”

Millie hit the big time playing Eleven in the Netflix sensation — at the age of 12.

She made her movie debut in 2019’s Godzilla: King of the Monsters before starring in The Enola Holmes Mysteries.

She has since launched her own fashion range.

JUMP into river swimming, bear-watching and space simulators on a family road trip to Belgium, says Acting Senior Designer Sasha Cunningham.

Sunlight bursts through the tree canopy as enormous furry paws pad silently across the forest floor.

Elevated safely on a viewing platform, my family and I quietly watch as two Eurasian brown bears climb trees, paddle in the stream and stalk through the lush landscape.

We’re at Forestia in Theux, Belgium, which has 44 hectares dedicated to the conservation of animals originally found wild in the area.

Later the kids get to hand-feed deer, too.

Tickets cost from £22 for adults, and £16 for children (Forestia.be).

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Lush Lodgings

This is just one of the highlights we find in our week spent in the wilds of Belgium’s Ardennes region.

We’re staying about four hours from Calais – a drive that takes us along winding roads and through luscious pine forests – kipping in a stylish six-person self-catering lodge at Landal Hillview Resort Grandvoir, near the town of Neufchâteau.

Nestled among wildflower meadows teaming with butterflies, our lodge feels super-private, with just the sound of the birds and the occasional cricket for company.

It’s decked out with hygge decor in earthy shades, plus has its own cosy infrared sauna.

My sons Oscar, eight, and Ben, five, splash around in the ankle-deep stream running alongside our pad, and there’s plenty of wildlife to spot.

Wild boar, deer, raccoons and beavers all frequent the site, and I’m excited to spy a badger scampering across the field as husband Grant and I settle down on our large deck for a sundowner.

Later, we try a game of boules by the resort’s Bois Des Bois restaurant, which serves up regional dishes for dinner and a buffet of delicious pastries, yoghurts, eggs, meats and cheeses if you’re feeling lazy one morning.

Breakfast costs £19 for adults, £16.50 for children.

There’s also a playground, on-site shop and bike hire, plus a boutique hotel if you want to splash out.

Water Find

Just 25 minutes’ drive away is L’Antrogne, a wild swimming spot popular with locals.

The river La Semois glistens in the sun, and after a pebble-skimming contest we paddle in the crystal-clear shallows, baby trout weaving around our legs.

The boys also delight in floating down the gentle rapids as dragonflies hover around them.

Another day, we hire top-of-the-range Bosch ebikes, £32 each per day, plus £13 for a kids’ trailer, to tackle the hilly terrain to Lake Neufchâteau.

Whizzing through the quaint village of Grandvoir and beautiful tree-lined tunnels is great fun, and we make it to the man-made reservoir in 40 minutes to find both a lido and sandy beach.

We jump into the water to cool off, as the boys eye up kayaks and pedal boats, from £7 for 30 minutes’ hire, before we picnic on cheese-filled croissants by the water’s edge.

Meanwhile, a worthy detour on our way back from bear-watching at Forestia proves to be Cascades de Coo, the highest natural waterfall in Belgium.

With a 15-metre drop down to the Amblève River, the thundering rapids are a must-see – but without doubt the kids’ favourite bit is Brasserie Au Vieux Moulin’s chocolate crêpes served with Nutella and fresh cream, £8.25, which we devour with a glorious view of the falls from the terrace (@Brasserieauvieuxmoulin).

Blast off

On our last day, a 25-minute drive transports us from our tranquil forest camp to the surface of Mars and the fascinating astronaut training camp at Euro Space Center.

We don orange spacesuits and test our minds and agility to see if we have what it takes to be astronauts.

As we are taken through computer logic tests, physical balance trials and even try on space pants to check whether we’d be able to correctly use a spaceship toilet, our family competitiveness is properly revealed.

Tickets cost from £30 for adults, £26 for children (Eurospacecenter.be).

We also get to wander through the Mars village to operate our very own rover, but the best bit is finding out what it feels like to walk on the moon and experiencing take-off in the space shuttle simulator.

The G force of the space rotor leaves our legs feeling pretty wobbly and, if I’m honest, I’m not sure any of us would cut it as real astronauts.

Still, the kids certainly think our trip across the channel was an out-of-this-world adventure.

Veurne rules

The medieval town of Veurne makes for an excellent pit stop when driving back to the UK, with its Flemish language and Dutch-style architecture reminiscent of Amsterdam.

Nestled between St Walburga and St Nicholas churches is De Soetasse Brasserie, where you can tuck into rich croque monsieurs, £8, and croûte aux champignons with a curry twist, £10.50 (@Desoetasse).

IT’S no secret that the UK is becoming a nation of outdoor swimmers – especially when the weather heats up.

Now, the AA has revealed the very best of Britain’s lidos and outdoor pools from across the country.

161 outdoor pools, lidos and tidal pools were ranked on factors like Google search popularity, review scores, social media engagement, local sunshine and temperature data for July.

Taking the number one spot was Brockwell Lido found in Herne Hill which earlier this year was saved from closure.

The lido which has an on-site gym and café received a score of 72.58 out of 100.

The AA said: “Taking the number one spot for another year, Brockwell Lido remains one of the country’s most beloved swimming destinations.

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“The iconic Art Deco pool, set within Brockwell Park, combines heritage charm with modern facilities and a lively atmosphere.

“Popular with families, fitness enthusiasts and sunseekers alike, it continues to stand out for its strong reviews, huge social media presence and year-round appeal.”

Coming in second place with a score of 67.18 is Stoney Cove in Leicestershire.

Rather than being your average outdoor swimming pool, Stoney Cove is a flooded quarry – it’s a popular spot for scuba diving and open-water swimming.

The AA added: “Stoney Cove has jumped from seventh place last year to second place and is one of Britain’s most distinctive outdoor swimming destinations.

“Best known as a world-class inland diving and watersports venue, the former quarry is spring-fed and attracts thousands of visitors every year.

“Its crystal-clear waters spanning 13 acres, excellent facilities and picturesque setting make it one of the UK‘s standout locations for adventurous swimmers.”

In third place was another London lido – Tooting Bec.

It’s the UK’s largest freshwater outdoor pool, lined by colourful changing rooms and it has a café and picnic area too.

Other London pools that made the list were London Fields Lido, Greenland Dock, Hampton Pool and Hampstead Mixed Pond.

Further south, two swim spots in Cornwall made the list – the Bude Sea Pool which is a semi-natural tidal pool and Jubilee Pool which is the largest seawater pool.

Swimming pools and lidos on the Channel Islands also made the top 20 – these are Havre des Pas Bathing Pool and La Vallette Bathing Pools.

Other popular spots included Sale Water Park in Greater Manchester, Tollesbury Woodup Pool in Essex and Lido Ponty in Wales.

Here’s the full list of the AA’s lovesliest lidos and pools…

1. Brockwell Lido, London – 72.58
2. Stoney Cove, Leicestershire – 67.18
3. Tooting Bec, London – 65.55
4. London Fields Lido – 64.77
5. Clevedon Marine Lake, Somerset – 64.61
6. Bude Sea Pool, Cornwall – 63.59
7. Sale Water Park, Greater Manchester – 62.70
8. Dancing Ledge, Dorset – 59.81
9. Greenland Dock, London – 57.66
10. Tollesbury Woodup Pool, Essex – 56.70
11. Hampton Pool, Greater London – 56.50
12. Havre des Pas Bathing Pool, Jersey – 56.15
13. Cheltenham Lido, Gloucestershire – 56.06
14. Hampstead Mixed Pond, London – 55.86
15. Viking Bay Tidal Pool, Kent – 55.61
16. Guildford Lido, Surrey – 55.60
17. Jubilee Pool, Cornwall – 55.45
18. La Vallette Bathing Pools, Guernsey – 54.73
19. Saltdean Lido, East Sussex – 54.49
20. Lido Ponty, Wales – 54.45

A UK city that is often overlooked and at the centre of brutal jokes could welcome back a beloved lido following concerns over open-water deaths amid the balmy heatwaves

A UK city that has often been ridiculed is planning to restore its mega lido after it was demolished almost 40 years ago.

For countless years, Hull has been the subject of mockery, partly due to its previous reputation as one of the ‘UK’s worst places to live’ and its sharp industrial decline in the fishing and shipping industries. Even those who have never visited the East Yorkshire city find themselves going along with the unfair narrative, despite its significant progress.

Today, the city, officially called Kingston upon Hull, boasts lively independent bars, restaurants, art galleries, and hidden gems dotted along the waterside, as well as the mega amphitheatre Stage@TheDock. It’s also home to one of the ‘UK’s best wildlife attractions’, The Deep, a colossal aquarium with more than 3,500 marine animals. It has ahistoric quarter, the Old Town, with cobbled lanes, medieval architecture and museums.

Proving just how far it’s come as a city, Hull was named as one of the ‘best places in the world to travel to in 2026’ by National Geographic, and was the only UK destination to make the acclaimed list. And there’s much more to come from the city, with proposed plans to welcome back its once thriving lido.

During the summer months, the open-air swimming pool in East Park, which opened in 1964, was a haven for locals looking for a refreshing dip. But after 24 years, the lido closed in 1985 and was demolished in 1988.

While East Park maintains a children’s water play area, an Animal Education Centre, the Pavilion Cafe, a boat house, play areas and an outdoor gym today, its former lido is still yearned for. Even more so now, in the hope of providing another safe, outdoor swimming environment after tragic events unfolded during the UK’s recent hot weather, which has seen at least 18 people die in open water.

Now, the local council in Hull has agreed to look into the prospect of restoring the former lido in East Park. According to the BBC, Councillor Jessica Smith said: “As the weather gets warmer, we see the same tragic stories repeated year after year. Open water is unforgiving; it doesn’t matter how confident you are, it doesn’t matter how fit you are.”

The proposal, put forward by Jessica during Drowning Prevention Week, has been supported by Councillor Kalvin Neal, who noted that it might need to be relocated. “Although it is something that could be looked at, potentially that isn’t the best place, it could be somewhere else that might be better,” he commented.

It would undoubtedly be a welcome addition back to Hull, with the city’s only council-run lido located at Albert Avenue Pools and Fitness. This outdoor heated swimming pool, which was opened in 2023 after a £10.5 million refurbishment, is available to use from May to September, and has proven to be a huge success in the city.

On swimming safety, Cllr Jessica previously commented: “As local councillors we have a duty to do our best to provide safe swimming facilities and adequate education to our young people,” as reported by Hull Live.

“In a city surrounded by water and home to many lakes, drains and other bodies of water, this is a crucial issue for our communities this summer.” Councillor George Grozav is seconding the proposal. “Every death in open water is a tragedy, and far too many of these incidents involve children and young people.”

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

The lido is a beloved outdoor swimming pool for families, and with its Mediterranean-inspired design and 300-metre lazy river, it’s reminiscent of a luxury hotel pool abroad

A lido that is often likened to pools found in Greece and across the Mediterranean has opened its doors for the summer season, just in time for the third expected heatwave to hit the UK.

The pool has been loved by local families ever since it first welcomed visitors in 1896, and nowadays draws tourists from far and wide too. It’s not difficult to understand why.

One glance at the lido, with its strikingly blue waters, splashpad and 300 metre-long lazy river, and you’d be forgiven for thinking you were lounging at an overseas hotel pool.

Yet this dazzling blue pool is actually tucked away in Kent, just over an hour from London. The Strand Lido in Gillingham also holds the unique distinction of being the only riverside saltwater pool in the entire UK.

Fed directly from the River Medway, the water is filtered and chlorinated to ensure it’s perfectly safe for swimmers of all ages. The Lido Guide wrote about the Strand: “Nothing about the exterior gives away what lies within. What lies within is a riot of Mediterranean-resort-style colour and fun. Any children in the party will be completely unable to contain their excitement.

“The whole thing is a freeform riot of bright white painted concrete, edged in royal blue, that gives the treated river water that fills the pool a hue that is more reminiscent of Greece than Kent.”

There are six 25-metre long lanes for swimming, alongside a paddling pool for toddlers and enjoyable extras such as water fountains. As the pool is unheated, it operates on a seasonal basis only, and it reopened for 2026 on May 23.

The pool then opens at weekends until the school summer holidays, when it operates daily before closing at some point in September. Tickets must be booked online through the Medway Council website to secure your spot at this much-loved pool.

During opening days, the pool offers two sessions: the first from 10.30am to 1.30pm and the second from 2.30pm to 5.30pm. There’s also a free to use Splash Pad in the park that has the same opening hours as the lido.

Alongside the pool itself, the complex boasts sunbathing and relaxation areas, a café serving food — though you’re more than welcome to bring a picnic and enjoy it in one of the park’s shaded spots — as well as play areas. There are changing rooms, poolside showers and a shop stocking inflatables, though you can also bring your own rubber ring.

The Strand Leisure Park is also home to a miniature railway that operates seasonally, trundling around the park on sunny days, along with plenty of riverside walks to explore.

One glowing review read: “We travelled from Suffolk and booked the afternoon session. Stopped for some lunch on the way. Lovely day out. Pool has a lazy river, kids pool and adult pool, changing rooms, toilets, café. Lots of space to set up camp for the afternoon but not a lot of shade.”

Another visitor commented: “Very good few hours. Looks like we are on holiday. Lazy river all around the outside (take a rubber ring). “

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

THE UK is home to over 160 lidos and soon there will be more with a number of new pools set to open.

Following other new openings this year – including Canary Wharf Sea Lanes – here are the latest new spots to keep your eye on.

Valentines Park Lido, London

Years in the making, Valentines Park Lido will be in Valentines Park in Ilford, East London with a pool that stretches 25 metres and boast six lanes.

There will also be a spa pool, steam room, plunge pool and treatment rooms.

And kids won’t be left out either, as there will be a splash pad too.

After having fun in the pool, you can head to the onsite cafe for a bite to eat.

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The site will also be home to a gym, dance and exercise studio, meeting room and an outdoor picnic area ideal for soaking up the sunshine.

The lido was meant to open this summer, but this has been pushed back with no new opening date announced yet.

Holt Town, Manchester

As part of a project to transform Holt Town into a ‘woodland neighbourhood’, there will be a new lido.

It will be the first open-air pool in the city for 40 years and would be on Cyrus Street, which is currently an overgrown backroad.

The wider project will include rejuvenating 15 acres of green space and launching a new cultural hub.

No opening date has been announced yet.

Porthcawl, Wales

Porthcawl in Wales could be getting a new outdoor lido.

The lido would be at Salt Lake, opposite to the marina and would also feature a gym, a restaurant, a cafe and other facilities.

The lido would also be part of a wider project to add fairground rides to the area, as well as new shops, cafes and bars.

And if that wasn’t enough there will also be a site for motorhomes and touring caravans as well.

Other plans suggest that a splash pad could also eventually be built at the site, as well as mini golf and a skate park.

The site is set to start being built in 2027.

Swansea saltwater lido, Wales

Also in Wales, a saltwater lido is set for Swansea, at the redeveloped Civic Centre.

In fact, the entire waterfront area could be getting upgraded with a pier as well as the lido as part of a £20million project.

The saltwater lido will be a first for the city too, with other parts of the project include opening an aquarium, rooftop terrace and apartments.

No opening date has been announced yet.

(When it closed for upgrades, the kids on our street were so bereft that they set up a lemonade stand, hoping it would help expedite the pool’s reopening.)

The pool is open year-round, but it’s especially popular in the summer, when it offers recreational swimming, swim lessons starting at 6 months old, a junior lifeguard program, lap swimming and other sports.

There’s a fun activity pool for kids ages 4 and under, with waterslides, dumping water buckets, a play area and a shallow wading pool with a beach-style entry. Chaise longues, picnic tables with umbrellas, and multiple lifeguards give the public pool a resort feel.

On a recent Friday, the main Olympic-sized pool was busy with families, but there were still plenty of lanes open for lap swimming. I tried a Monday evening Aquatic NoodleFit class, where you use a pool noodle for low-impact resistance training while standing in the center of the pool. The instructor, Karen Eldridge, was warm and welcoming and gave clear instructions, even working up a sweat herself as we followed her moves on the pool deck. The workout was challenging and fun, but not overwhelming for students of all levels, body types and ages, thanks to the water’s support.

During the week, the activity pool is usually not crowded, but on weekends, staff closely monitor capacity as it can get busy. Burbank residents get priority and can buy presale wristbands online at BurbankParks.com from Monday to Friday between 9 and 10 a.m. If you can’t get into the activity pool, don’t worry. The recreational pool is a fun and easy backup option.

Size: 50 by 18 meters
Temperature: 80 to 82
Swim lanes: 7
Depth: 2.5 feet to 8 feet and a 12-foot diving well
Admission: Lap swimming, $5 to $9. Monthly membership, $41 to $96. Activity pool, $4. Water fitness classes are subscription-based and range from $99 to $110, depending on the class. (My Aquatic NoodleFit class costs $109 as a nonresident for an 11-class series).
Parking: Free.
Hours: Lap swimming, 5:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. Monday through Thursday; 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Friday; 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Recreational swimming, 11:45 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily.
Extras: Activity pool, snack bar, vending machines.

A MUCH-LOVED lido is launching its summer season tomorrow, with the popular swimming site now set to open daily.

The venue boasts multiple water flumes and a diving board, with visitors hailing it as “a fab day out”.

Aldershot Lido in Hampshire is fully reopening for its summer season from tomorrow.

Having welcomed families throughout June, the venue now hopes to attract even more visitors with the summer holidays coming up.

From tomorrow, the lido will open daily between 10am to 6pm, continuing until August 31.

Aldershot Lido welcomes tens of thousands of visitors annually to its outdoor pool, boasting a capacity of up to 3,000 swimmers.

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Opening in May 1930, Aldershot Lido was once reputed to be “the largest and finest open-air bathing pool in the country”, playing host to the London Olympics Games in 1948.

Spanning over nine acres, the site offers three water flumes and a diving board, alongside a toddler paddling pool and sandpit for the little ones.

For those wanting a workout, the facilities include a 75-metre pool with plenty of space for lane swimming, as well as a full-sized basketball court.

A wide range of food and drink vendors are on offer for refreshments, with lawn space surrounding the pool reserved for family picnics.

The lido’s popular Doggy Splash sessions will also return in September, giving local pups the chance to play in the outdoor pool before the end of the season.

Swimmers have raved about Aldershot Lido across the years, with one calling it a “fab day out”, and another saying it is “a lovely place for children”.

Karl Miles, Everyone Active regional contract manager, said: “The move to daily opening marks the start of our busiest and most exciting period of the year.

“Aldershot Lido offers a unique outdoor swimming experience and we are pleased to be providing residents and visitors with even more opportunities to enjoy everything the site has to offer this summer.”

Adults can enjoy the open air pool from just £12.50, with children’s tickets priced at £9.50 and those under three swimming for free.

Aldershot Lido will be open daily between 10am and 6pm from July 1 to August 31.

STEP into your own David Attenborough show on a dreamy family staycay.

From a gorgeous country estate on the England/Wales border, to seal-spotting and wild swimming while kipping in sleepy Harleston

Marrington Escapes, Shropshire

Lifestyle Editor Catherine Bennion-Pedley and her gang found a gorgeous country estate brimming with nature on the England/Wales border.

A grazing pony, strutting pheasants and hopping hares are just a few of our neighbours on the glorious, family-owned Marrington Estate.

And we’ve spied them all before we even embark on an hour’s walk down through the stunning Dingle Valley, where the babbling River Camlad is home to crayfish, otters and kingfishers.

We’re kipping in one of the estate’s biggest properties, Marrington Farmhouse, which sleeps 10 under cloud-like duvets – although the dining room is better-suited to eight – and which comes with a kitchen proper cooks will love.

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A large hot tub, The Traitors board game complete with cloak, a verdant lawn and an apple orchard brimming with harvest make it an idyllic spot and, come evening, we toast marshmallows on the firepit and stargaze.

Our welcome hamper includes pistachio sablés from What A Pickle! in the county’s foodie capital Ludlow and a bottle of zingy Shropshire Lady white wine using Solaris grapes from Kerryvale Vineyard, 10 minutes’ drive away.

But with little ones in tow, we resist a vineyard tour and tasting, £25 per person (Kerryvalevineyard.co.uk), and instead take a trip across the border to Wales on board a steam train.

The nearby Welshpool & Llanfair Light Railway trundles us through the rolling hills and, once we arrive in Llanfair, Poppy, seven, and Raffy, four, are thrilled when the friendly driver spots them looking on wide-eyed in awe and invites them into his cabin to pull the steam whistle.

Return tickets cost £27 per adult, £10 per child (Wllr.org.uk). We’re also close to several castles, from which we pick the striking 13th-century Powis Castle, a 20-minute drive away.

Its baroque terraces are a spectacular display of colour, and feasting on a cream tea, £7.50, among the blooms before a stroll through the woodlands is heavenly.

Adult tickets cost £18, over-fives are £9 (Nationaltrust.org.uk).

On our way back, we make a pitstop at The Nags Head Inn in Garthmyl for the Sunday roast of dreams, tucking into a delicate crab salad with watermelon and pineapple salsa, before tackling ginormous three-meat platters with all the trimmings in the lively dining space (Nagsheadgarthmyl.co.uk).

Two courses cost from £24.45, and we haven’t had a roast that good since!

Stays at Marrington Farmhouse, sleeping 10, cost from £30 per person, per night (Marringtonescapes.com).

Mendham Mill, Suffolk

Writer Ellie O’Mahoney and her family spotted seals and tried wild swimming while kipping in sleepy Harleston.

Paddling in canoes up the River Waveney, it feels like we are in the middle of a painting.

We’re staying at Mendham Mill Holiday Cottages on the Norfolk/Suffolk border, and canoes here are free to borrow, from which we spot newly hatched goslings, grazing cows and a hovering kestrel.

We’re bedding down in wheelchair-friendly North Meadow Cottage, which sleeps six, and our children, Elliot, 11, and Molly, nine, whoop for joy when they find the games room with table tennis and a pool table.

Later, we take a bracing swim in the river at the bottom of the garden, then warm up under the outdoor shower.

Norfolk is famous for its seal colonies, so we make the hour’s drive to one of the UK’s largest, Horsey Gap, to spot them (Horseygap.co.uk).

Close by is wooden marvel BeWILDerwood, where the kids burn off their energy exploring the treehouses, zip wires, mazes and slides.

Tickets cost from £20.95 for those over 92cm (Bewilderwood.co.uk).
Another day, Framlingham Castle, inspo for Ed Sheeran’s Castle On The Hill, proves the perfect spot for playing warring knights.

Entry costs from £8.10 (English-heritage.org.uk).

Later, we get a Michelin-recommended taste of old-school Suffolk at The Peacock Inn in Chelsworth, a 14th-century Grade-II-listed pub in the prettiest of villages.

Battered haddock with koji tartar sauce, £18, is standout, while the mousse, £11, made with 85% chocolate from local chocolatier Pump Street is to die for (Thepeacockchelsworth.com).

Stays at Mendham Mill Holiday Cottages, sleeping six, cost from £35 per person, per night (Premiercottages.co.uk).

 OR GO REALLY WILD…

The Reserve, Cheshire

Wake up to giraffes as campmates at Chester Zoo, says Lifestyle Editor Catherine Bennion-Pedley.

Stuffing play balls with lucerne hay, my kids are thoroughly enjoying preparing teatime treats for giraffes with zookeeper Sophie, while learning about their surprisingly small poos and why their long tongues are black (to protect them from the sun, FYI).

The excitement continues when later we join an after-hours tour to catch a glimpse of nocturnal animals waking, including aardvarks, and learn about the incredible cancer-fighting superpower of naked mole rats.

By sleeping over, guests are helping the conservation efforts here and The Reserve’s reception, restaurant and bar ooze sophistication.

Welcome cocktails of sapling vodka, lime and honey – and juices for the kids – are quickly slurped, and the 51 lodges are swishly furnished, although our lakeside pad is without much of an actual lake view and comes with the buzz of traffic that leaves us feeling very much still in England when on our veranda.

Pricier lodges overlook the giraffe enclosure and, on our stroll to the plentiful breakfast, we spot the majestic creatures through gaps in the foliage.

As well as exclusive animal tours and fireside stories in the lounge, overnight guests also get to step into the zoo early, and it is undoubtedly one of the UK’s best – home to more than 500 species, including orangutans, elephants, leopards and lions.

All in all, our little ones think this is a roar-some mini-break.

Family stays for four at The Reserve cost from £306 B&B, including two-day zoo access (Chesterzoo.org).

A POPULAR swimming spot is set to undergo a major transformation this summer- just three months after being saved from closure.

The historic Art Deco venue will receive a 6-figure makeover.

Brockwell Lido, in south London, is set to undergo a £250,000 renovation following Lambeth Council’s take-over of the pool’s management from July 1.

Previously overseen by Fusion Lifestyle for more than 13 years, the leisure charity entered into administration on April 1 this year.

Now, through its in-house leisure services – Active Lambeth – the council will overhaul the current sports facilities, bringing in new fitness equipment, strength training areas and flooring to the site.

As a result, the gym will be closed from the start of the month, with works set to be completed within two weeks.

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The 89-year-old lido will also receive improvements, including new pool lane ropes, with swimming facilities expected to remain open throughout the upgrade.

Councillor Natalie Kane, the deputy leader and cabinet member for inclusion, democracy and culture, said: “Brockwell Lido is a vital community asset and we’re proud to be bringing it back in-house, as part of the Active Lambeth family.

“This is an iconic building that is cherished by the people who use it. We’re excited to be investing in the Lido so visitors have modern facilities that support health and wellbeing for everyone.”

Lambeth Council’s take-over aims to introduce a “more connected leisure offer for residents”, with new technology and greater benefits for members.

Following the transition, existing memberships will automatically transfer over to Active Lambeth’s site with no action required from members.

Designed in the Art Deco style, the popular south London spot originally opened in 1937 and was even crowned the ‘Best Lido in Britain’ last year.

Flat fields of poppies and ox-eye daisies stretch out to a wide horizon. There are butterflies, vetches, salad burnet. Skylarks sing overhead and a cuckoo calls from the trees near the river. Legend has it that the poet Lord Byron swam here as a Cambridge undergraduate and, 20 years later, Charles Darwin surveyed its beetles. Heading through flowering meadows towards a nature reserve known as Byron’s Pool, I’ve walked a mile from the new £250m Cambridge South station.

Opening to passengers on 28 June, Cambridge South will be the first Great British Railways-branded station. The towering Biomedical Campus next door is Europe’s biggest medical research facility, with about 40,000 visitors a day. The station itself, with its 1,000 cycle-parking spaces, living roof and solar panels, feels like a model for sustainable transport.

Like other scenic medieval cities, Cambridge itself suffers from congestion. Its cobbled alleys are crowded with tourists, its roads gridlocked with cars. But you can reach some wild and peaceful corners without adding to the traffic. There are layers of human and natural history, a newly devised art trail, bat safaris by punt and a peaceful botanic garden near the busy central station.

Cambridge has been my nearest city for the last 15 years. With lots of buses and now three stations, it’s easy to get around without a car. I’ve spent countless days exploring, and published guides to the long-distance Harcamlow Way, a 140-mile (227km) figure-of-eight walking route that loops between Cambridge and Harlow. The best rural bus routes include the busway from Cambridge North station (opened in 2017) to Fen Drayton lakes and bus 1 to Fulbourn for orchid-rich fens and chalk-flowered Saxon Fleam Dyke.

Walking and cycle paths head out in all directions from the new station at Cambridge South, and I am following one of these to Trumpington, stopping for bao buns and peach oolong tea at the Dao cafe. In the village church, I find one of England’s oldest brass monuments. Sir Roger de Trumpington, who died in 1289, is lying in prayer and full chain mail, with a little lion-clawed dog biting his broadsword. Just south of the church, archaeologists unearthed the grave of a young Anglo-Saxon woman, with a delicate gold-and-garnet cross on her chest.

Heading north through Grantchester Meadows, I have a dip in the reedy River Cam, keeping my head above the willow-shaded water. Sun glints off ripples as I swim past waterlilies, moorhens and straggling blue forget-me-nots. Walking on towards the city through Paradise nature reserve, there are birds everywhere: a cetti’s warbler sings loudly from a reedbed and a song thrush from a waterside alder. A mother duck quacks warnings from a nest-topped tree stump as ducklings paddle underneath.

Twenty minutes further on, Cambridge University Botanic Garden (adults from £8.60, children free) is at its fragrant best. Bees are buzzing through sage, lemon balm and lavender in the scented garden; roses sprawl above foxgloves and cranesbill. There are benches in the cow parsley under walnut and cherry trees, where I sit and listen to blackcaps and chiffchaffs. I detour five minutes up the road to buy a slice of apricot tart from Maison Clement bakery and eat it on the train home.

In the last decade or so, several hotels have (re)opened near the central station, from the right-next-door Ibis (doubles from about £80) to the fancy University Arms (from about £175), where Parker’s Tavern brasserie can pack you a gourmet picnic hamper (£45pp) with 24 hours’ notice. Nearby, one of the city’s newest offerings, Hobson by Adina, has studios from about £125.

The next day, I catch bus 13 three stops to the iron age hill fort at Wandlebury, stroll round its wooded ramparts and past flax-blue meadows, sweet with wild marjoram. The grassy track of an old Roman road runs through shady beeches and pink dog roses.

Heading back into the city, I time-travel to Victorian Cambridge, when designers such as William Morris commissioned master painter FR Leach to decorate halls and churches. I thought I’d visited nearly all the city’s 30-odd museums and galleries, but until recently I hadn’t even heard of David Parr House, which is 10 minutes’ stroll from the main station. Parr was a working-class artist, employed by Leach to paint flowers, fruit, foliage and ornate text for Arts and Crafts designers across the country. By 1886, he had saved enough to buy a terrace house on Gwydir Street, which he decorated in the style of the interiors he worked on every day. A visit to the cosy house (from £15) reveals decades of hand-painted decoration and illuminates the city’s social history.

The house is just off Mill Road, now one of Cambridge’s foodie meccas, lined with indie eateries serving noodles, souvlaki, bibimbap, bamya stew or exceptional plant-based tasting menus. Once a rough track to a windmill, Mill Road expanded with the railway into closely packed terraces. Parr’s house stands opposite an old redbrick brewery, now a stylish coffee shop. The house recently produced a new FR Leach walking map, which takes me to All Saints’ church on Jesus Lane, with its red, gold and green decor, and the Michaelhouse Cafe in a converted church, where Leach paintings can even be found in the loo. Down the road, Great St Mary’s has a 360-degree view from the tower (adults £7.50).

After a cone of tangy blackcurrant ice-cream at Jack’s Gelato, I wander down the road to the Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology (free) to see the jewelled Trumpington cross of that young Anglo-Saxon woman, alongside a gallery of Cambridge finds, from stone-age axes to eel-catching prongs. Over the road in the Museum of Zoology (also free), I pass through sea stars and rock pythons to find Darwin’s box of neatly labelled beetles.

As the museum closes, it’s time for supper at Jordanian Little Petra: crisp-and-creamy aubergine fatteh, topped with a jewel-like layer of nuts, parsley and pomegranate seeds, and Bedouin tea, brewed with fresh mint and sage. Finally, heading to the river, swifts are whirling and screaming as the sun sinks behind the colleges.

Iain Webb, community conservation officer at the local wildlife trust, dreamed up the bat safari 15 years ago and regularly guides punts full of nature-lovers along the Cam towards Grantchester on summer evenings (£71 for two). “We need nature more than nature needs us,” says Webb. Despite all the pressures on the Cambridgeshire countryside, it’s a rich, idyllic scene.

A kingfisher flashes past, herons fly overhead with huge, slow wingbeats, and the banks are gold with carpets of buttercups. Daubenton’s bats skim low over the water, while pipistrelles swoop between dark willow branches, flickering in and out of visibility, like creatures from some parallel dimension. A few stars are coming out, the darkling air is full of birdsong, and tawny owlets are calling from a nest among the trees.

Transport was provided by Greater Anglia. Find more info at Visit Cambridge