tickets

CAPITAL’S Jingle Bell Ball returns for yet another year, after first taking place in 2008.

Here’s all you need to know about who will be performing and how you can secure your place at this year’s event.

The Jingle Bell Ball 2026 will take place between December 5-6 2026 at The O2 Arena in London.

The event will see a huge line-up of amazing acts performing at what Capital describe as “the UK’s biggest Christmas party.”

This year’s line-up includes British rap icon Tinie Tempah, as well as BRIT Award winners Lewis Capaldi, Aitch, Becky Hill and Jorja Smith.

Simon Cowell’s boyband December 10 will also be performing at The O2 during the ball.

Fans can also look forward to a special surprise performance on the night from a yet to be announced performer.

Jingle Bell Ball 2026 line-up

How to get tickets to the Jingle Bell Ball?

This year, Capital have changed the way in which people can get their hands on tickets.

Subscribers will be able to enter a ticket pre-sale through Capital Plus.

Capital Plus subscribers will have early access to Capital’s Jingle Bell Ball tickets when the pre-sale opens at 9am on Thursday, November 5.

You can sign up for the Capital Plus subscription service by heading to Global Player.

Once subscribed, you will receive an email with your code and link which will help secure your tickets.

If you are already a subscriber you will receive an email from Capital before the pre-sale opens, containing the link and code.

Barclaycard and Barclays Premier Debit Cardholders will have access to a separate pre-sale at 9am on November 5, which gives you 10% off pre-sale tickets.

New subscribers can try Capital Plus for free through the Global Player mobile app.

General sale tickets for people who haven’t subscribed are available on Friday, November 6 at 9am on Global Player.

LIGHT up your winter with this exclusive Sun Club offer. Save up to £46 with two FREE tickets to Land of Lights, the spectacular family-friendly lantern festival taking place at Gulliver’s World this festive season. 

With 3,000 tickets available across three Gulliver’s World locations, you can choose from Milton Keynes, Warrington and Rotherham. 

Join Sun Club now — don’t miss out.

Plus, you can also grab an extra two tickets at half price. Just look for the exclusive discount code when you claim your free tickets. 

Land of Lights is returning brighter than ever for 2026, with giant lantern displays, glowing tunnels and immersive themed worlds creating a magical after-dark experience for all ages.

Guests can explore illuminated trails, with brand-new lanterns, light displays and effects added across the event this year.

Each location offers its own unique route and atmosphere, with magical photo opportunities, marshmallow toasting, food and drink stops and plenty to discover along the way.

Whether you are visiting Land of Lights for the first time or making a return trip, there is plenty to enjoy. 

So wrap up warm and make a night of it with friends and family as you take in the lights and stop for a few treats along the way.

Land of Lights is running until Saturday, January 30 in Warrington and Rotherham, and Saturday, February 27 in Milton Keynes. Your free tickets can be used on any date excluding Thursday, December 31.

With tickets available on a first-come, first-served basis, you will need to be quick to avoid missing out, so bag yours before they are gone.

Join Sun Club to book

To claim your tickets, follow the steps below:

Step 1: Join thesun.co.uk/club for just £1.99 a month or £12 for the first year, then £19.99 thereafter.

Step 2: Go to the Offers Hub and select the Gulliver’s Land of Lights page. You do not need to collect Sun Savers codes.

Step 3: Booking opens at 11am on Saturday, November 7.

18+ UK only. Digital subscription required. Online access required. Offer ends at 23:59pm on 06/12/26. 3,000 tickets available across 3 locations. Non-transferable & non refundable.  T&Cs apply , see club.thesun.co.uk/sun-club.  New customer offer: £2.99 per month for 3 months, £6.99 thereafter unless you cancel at least 7 days before your next billing date. Full T&Cs apply, visit thesun.co.uk/terms-and-conditions.

DREAMING of a white Christmas?

With grotto visits selling out fast, it’s time to get your yuletide crackers in a row.

You don’t want to be left with the crumbs from the mince pie tray.

From train rides to cosy cottage stays, we’ve rounded up our pick of festive experiences and staycations to lock in right now.

BLENHEIM PALACE

This grand Oxfordshire country pile puts on a magical sparkling light show.

This year’s highlights include a 10metre ‘butterfly tree’ to mark the start of the light trail, hot air balloons that release bursts of fire and a cheery festive choir.

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The gardens will light up from November 13 to January 3. Tickets cost from £25 per adult, £19 per child and £1 for under twos – book here.

SANTA EXPRESS TRAIN

The Santa Steam Express is a really charming Christmas experience for all ages.

The 90-minute journey on a steam locomotive departs on a loop from London Victoria, with vintage carriages covered in decorations and a snack and activity box for each family and a very cute mock-version of a Lapland newspaper.

These days, it’s really exciting to see an old-fashioned steam train on Britain’s railways – even the jaded London commuters stop to take pictures as it waits to board passengers.

Once everyone is seated, Santa and his cheeky elves make their way through the train, handing out gifts, engaging in conversation and roping guests into games and songs.

What’s particularly lovely about this festive experience is that it’s not hard work on the legs, so there were plenty of grandparents who came along with their families.

Tickets from £45pp for Saturday journeys in December.

POLAR EXPRESS TRAIN

If you haven’t seen the film that inspired this heart-warming night-time railway experience, make sure you watch before you visit.

This spectacularly recreates scenes from the film on a moving train.

Pyjama-clad visitors hand over their golden tickets to board (at stations around the UK).

On board there will be dancing chefs delivering hot chocolate and cookies, story time and visits from Santa and his entourage of elves.

Tickets from £35.95. Click the ‘other locations’ tab to book at londonthepolarexpressride.com.

KEW GARDENS

A highly popular London lights trail so expect tickets to sell like hot cakes.

Details are yet to be revealed but visitors can expect glittering installations and sparkling tunnels that make great photo backdrops.

There will also be a traditional fairground, festive street food and mulled wine and hot chocolate.

Tickets cost from £25.50pp and the experience runs from November 13 to January 3 – book here.

SKATING AT SOMERSET HOUSE

Tickets go on sale this Friday and popular slots will likely be gone by Monday. For good reason, too.

The experience is not only in one of London’s grandest locations, but it is jam-packed with the finest seasonal fun.

A giant Christmas tree stands at the centre, while wooden chalets serving themed street food line the outside of the rink.

There’s an Aperol spritz van plus a cosy clubhouse with live music sponsored by Virgin Atlantic.

It opens on November 11 and runs until January 10, with tickets from £11 – book here.

AWAY STAYS ‘THE HOLIDAY’ COTTAGE, DEVON

This dainty, thatched-roofed cottage is the spitting image of the one in The Holiday although don’t expect Jude Law to come knocking on your door.

Set in rural Hartland, Devon, Philham Water Cottage sleeps up to four and is dog-friendly.

Hunker down in front of the roaring fire and work through the collection of board games.

Seven nights’ self-catering is from £595 (or £1,225 over Christmas). See coolstays.com.

TEATIME AT TYLNEY, HAMPSHIRE

If Christmas for you is all about the sweet treats, you’ll love Tylney Hall Hotel near Hook, where the festive afternoon tea will ensure you’re as stuffed as a turkey.

Finger sandwiches have Crimbo-inspired fillings plus classics.

After the scones, come gingerbread choux buns, mince pies and a mousse reindeer.

The afternoon tea costs from £45pp (Mon-Thurs) and £58pp (Friday-Sat). Bookable from Nov 30.

A pre-Christmas overnight stay costs from £380 for a family of four sharing a Junior Suite and including breakfast – book here.

A CAMP CHRISTMAS

The Caravan and Motorhome Club says sites are already filling up for Christmas.

The three-day Thursford & Sandringham Festive Delight Tour gives travellers access to the Thursford Christmas Spectacular plus tickets to the Sandringham Estate Christmas Craft, Food & Gift Fair.

Included in the tour price is three nights at The Sandringham Estate Club Campsite and entry to Sandringham’s glittering light trail.

Tour is from £399pp departing on November 24 – book here.

Thursford Christmas Spectacular

Known for being the largest Christmas show in Europe, Thursford Christmas Spectacular in Norfolk features a cast of 130 performers backed by a 30 piece live orchestra.

The three-hour show mixes carols, show tunes, comedy and variety acts.

Visitors can also separately book Santa’s Magical Journey, which is an interactive world for visitors to explore and the Enchanted Journey of Light with an illuminated outdoor light trail.

Tickets cost from £46 per person – book here.

Carols at the Royal Albert Hall

Christmas isn’t complete without Christmas carols and could they be even more special when performed at the Royal Albert Hall?

Across six days there are 15 carol performances in the Hall with festive favourites and more modern tunes.

Tickets cost as little as £22 per person and you can book here, but many of the favourable dates and times already have tickets for this price sold out.

You will also have to opt for a more expensive ticket if you wish to have a seat and not stand.

Tulleys Christmas Santa Experience

Tulleys Farm in Surrey is known for its ‘all out’ Halloween and Christmas events and this year there will be an outdoor ice rink, gingerbread decorating, circus performances and of course, a Santa’s Grotto.

Visitors can head on the North Pole Adventure as well, where they can step into Elf Town and meet the townsfolk before carrying out festive tasks.

Several dates already have low availability so you will need to book quick.

Kids tickets cost between £46.95 to £69.95 and adults tickets (age 14+) cost £29.95 to £39.95 – book here.

Chatsworth House at Christmas

Christmas at Chatsworth is an annual festive celebration at Chatsworth House in Derbyshire and this year takes place between November 7 and January 3, 2027.

Inside the house, the theme this year will be The 12 Days of Christmas with sculptures, large installations and a garden light and sound trail.

Admission also includes access to the Farmyard and Adventure Playground, where there will be decorated animal areas and festive kids’ craft sessions.

Adult tickets cost from £36.36 each and children’s tickets cost from £10.90 each – book here.

Train of Lights

What happens when you mix a light trail with a festive train journey? You get a steam train entirely covered in neon Christmas lights.

And that is exactly what the Train of Lights is in Dartmouth, Devon – where you go on a railway journey in the dark, with cosy interiors and the exterior completely covered in lights.

You can also add on a visit to Santa, but this comes at an extra cost.

Tickets cost from £31.50 per adult and £24 per child – book here.

AS the air gets chillier and the days get darker, there’s nothing better than cosying up in a warm cinema to watch a brand new movie.

And it’s even better when you get your cinema tickets for free…

Join Sun Club now — don’t miss out.

We’ve teamed up with Cineworld to give away 20,000 FREE tickets, so you can go and catch the latest films on us.

Click here to sign up to Sun Club for £1.99 a month to redeem this exclusive offer and many more.

Let’s be honest – is there any better feeling than sinking into a plush cinema chair, armed with a bucket of popcorn and a fresh fizzy drink, ready to watch the latest Hollywood blockbuster?

If you’re looking for something to do to break up the boring, drizzly November nights, a trip to the pictures can make this time of year all the more exciting.

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Sun Club members can redeem two free Cineworld tickets each, so you can enjoy a night at the movies with a friend or partner for zero cost.

With 87 cinemas across the UK to choose from, it’s as simple as redeeming your tickets, finding a Cineworld near you, and booking in whichever film you’d like to see.

Joining Sun Club will give you instant access to the Offers Hub, where you can claim your free Cineworld tickets.

But be quick, as they’re sure to go fast.

The best part is that these tickets can be used on any film showing from November 2 to November 17.

Here’s all the films you can go and see at Cineworld with your two free Sun Club tickets:

How To Rob A Bank

Nicholas Hoult and Zoë Kravitz lead an all-star cast in this action-packed thriller about a gang of bank robbers whose viral heists soon attract the attention of the FBI.

Clayface

Tom Rhys Harries stars in DC Studios’ dark and chilling horror-thriller about a rising Hollywood star whose search for fame takes a terrifying turn as he begins to lose both his identity and humanity.

Primetime

Robert Pattinson plays NBC journalist Chris Hansen in this high-stakes psychological thriller about the 2000’s reality television series, To Catch A Predator.

Wild Horse Nine

John Malkovich and Sam Rockwell play CIA partners whose mission to a remote island becomes increasingly complicated by secrets, politics and unexpected encounters.

Godzilla Minus Zero

As Japan rebuilds after the Second World War, a new threat emerges when the legendary Godzilla appears. Packed with action, drama and spectacular visual effects, this is one movie you will not want to miss.

Ebenezer

A fresh take on Charles Dickens’ classic Christmas story, starring Johnny Depp as Ebenezer Scrooge as he discovers the true meaning of Christmas. Full of festive cheer, heartwarming moments and family fun, it’s the perfect film to get everyone into the Christmas spirit.

Prima Facie

Starring Jodie Comer and Wicked star Cynthia Erivo, Prima Facie is a powerful and thought-provoking drama that explores justice, truth and the challenges faced by women within the legal system.

Wildwood

Peyton Elizabeth Lee, Jacob Tremblay and Mahershala Ali star in this enchanting animated adventure about a brave young girl who enters a mysterious forest to rescue her baby brother.

Join Sun Club now — don’t miss out.

Plus Cineworld is the place to do so, as their cinemas boast the latest film technology with IMAX, 4DX, SCREENX and Superscreen options.

You can also book onto accessible screenings, including viewings with subtitles and audio descriptions, ensuring everyone can enjoy a trip to the movies.

How to get this offer

1. Sign up to Sun Club for £1.99 per month here.
2. From Saturday, October 31 click the ‘Book’ button on the Cineworld page of the Sun Club Offers Hub.
3. You will receive an email containing a unique code and steps on how to book your two free tickets.

   You must claim and book your tickets by Sunday, November 15 when the booking code will expire.

Tickets are valid for screenings between Monday, November 2 and Tuesday, November 17,

18+ UK only (exc. NI & IoM & CI). Sun Savers multiple code collect 31/10/26–04/11/26 or digital subscription required. Online access required. Booking opens from 01/11/26. 10,000 pairs of tickets available on a first-come, first-served basis. Valid for cinema bookings 02/11/26 – 17/11/26. Redeem by 15/11/26. Non-transferable & non refundable. T&Cs apply, see sunsavers.co.uk or club.thesun.co.uk/sun-club. New customer offer: £1.99 per month or £12 for your first year, then £19.99 a year thereafter. Full T&Cs apply, visit thesun.co.uk/terms-and-conditions.

See full Terms and Conditions for the Cineworld offer here.

Prices correct at the time of publication.

A major change for train travel has emerged, and it impacts three million people in the UK who have ADHD, as a discount railcard is now available, saving more than £100 annually

People with ADHD can now apply to get a third off train tickets for themselves and one adult companion. It follows an expansion to the requirements for a disabled railcard.

ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) is a common neurodevelopmental condition that can impact someone’s ability to concentrate, control impulses, or experience high energy levels. There are three million people in the UK living with the condition, according to ADHD UK, with 881,922 of those estimated to be children aged between five and 24 years.

People who are neurodivergent, with ADHD falling into this category, are now eligible for a Disabled Persons Railcard (DPRC) that offers discounted train tickets. It follows new eligibility criteria for the disabled railcards, which were expanded earlier this year to include a wider range of conditions, including “neurodiversity where it has a substantial impact on a person’s ability to travel by train”.

Anyone with a disability listed on the Railcard’s eligibility checklist can save a third on the usual price of a train ticket for themselves and one adult companion. The disabled railcard costs £20 for one year, or £54 for three years, with the Rail Delivery Group, which manages and distributes railcards, estimating that it can save travellers around £126 every year.

This year, the number of people with a disabled railcard reached a record high of more than 450,000, compared to fewer than 200,000 in 2016, according to Office of Rail and Road data. The number is expected to significantly increase as more people are eligible to apply.

The development was hailed as a “railcard revolution” by the rail minister, Lord Hendy, earlier this month. He said it would “help thousands more people access cheaper rail travel, helping disabled people travel with confidence”.

Lord Hendy added: “The Government is determined to help ordinary people live better lives and this change is just one measure that will make it that bit easier for disabled people to get to education, employment, and stay in touch with friends and family.”

Those with ADHD who wish to apply for a Disabled Persons Railcard will need to provide the following, as outlined by Railcard:

• A report or letter from a health professional that helps explain your access needs. Confirmation of diagnosis alone for conditions with variable impact may not be enough to process your application. Remember, to be eligible, you must experience significant disability-related barriers to rail travel
• Or a completed impact declaration form signed by a suitably qualified and regulated health or social care professional

The Rail Delivery Group encouraged anyone who thinks they might fit the criteria for a disabled railcard to apply. A spokesperson said: “There is no list of neurodivergent or degenerative conditions that automatically qualify. Instead, applications are assessed on a case-by-case basis, recognising that experience and support needs can vary considerably between individuals.”

For more information, visit the Railcard website. There’s also additional advice and services on the ADHD UK website.

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

U2 have announced their The Greatest Show On Earth World Tour for 2027 – including the band’s first UK stadium gigs in a decade.

The tour is named after the third advance single on U2’s much anticipated 16th studio album Carnaval De Luz, scheduled to drop on November 13.

So far 12 dates have been announced as part of the European leg of the global tour including a 2 night run of UK stadium gigs in June 2027.

The Irish rockers will be supported on The Greatest Show On Earth tour by 2018 Mercury Prize winners Wolf Alice.

U2 have promised a historic setlist for their 2027 UK gigs, with celebrated career-spanning anthems so fans won’t be disappointed.

The band hasn’t played a UK stadium since their 30th anniversary Joshua Tree tour in 2017. So expect competition for UK tickets to be fierce.

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Here’s everything to know about the UK dates and how you can get tickets.

When are U2’s 2027 UK concerts?

So far the group has announced two UK stadium gigs:

18 June – London, Tottenham Hotspur Stadium

19 June – London, Tottenham Hotspur Stadium

U2’s full European dates

April 26      STOCKHOLM, Sweden – Strawberry Arena
April 28      STOCKHOLM, Sweden – Strawberry Arena
May 05       PARIS, France – Stade de France
May 08       PARIS, France – Stade de France
May 27        LISBON, Portugal – Estadio da Luz
June 05      AMSTERDAM, Netherlands – Johan Cruijff ArenA
June 06      AMSTERDAM, Netherlands – Johan Cruijff ArenA
June 18       LONDON, UK – Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
June 19       LONDON, UK – Tottenham Hotspur Stadium                   
June 30      BERLIN, Germany – Olympiastadion         
July 05       MILAN, Italy – Stadio San Siro
July 06       MILAN, Italy – Stadio San Siro

How to get tickets for the U2’s UK dates?

The Ticketmaster presale is taking place on Thursday, November 5 from 10am till 10pm. During the presale, you’ll be able to purchase up to 4 tickets per show.

In order to be part of the presale you must sign up via the Ticketmaster U2 presale page before 22.59 on Sunday, November 1.

FORGOT Halloween is this week and the kids are nagging to do something?

Well, fortunately there are still tickets available to Halloween events at the UK’s biggest and best theme parks.

Whether you have little ones and want something more tame, or older kids desperate to head on thrill rides in the dark, there are plenty of Halloween events with availability still for this week.

Here’s a roundup of the best theme park Halloween events with tickets still available:

Legoland

Legoland Windsor Resort’s Brick or Treat event still has tickets available, where you will be able to see different Lego models as well as Lego Monsters.

There’s a huge party for visitors to enjoy as well as live entertainment and of course, visitors can head to the 55 rides and attractions across the park as well.

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Returning this year is also the Lord Vampyre’s House Party show, where everyone can have a boogie.

Tickets cost from £37 per person.

Thorpe Park

This year Thorpe Park is marking ’25 Years of Fear’ and is known for its award-winning theme park scare event with a new maze for this year called Tenement.

There’s a 4D cinema experience and a number of shows as well.

Guests will also be able to head on the different rides at the park in the dark.

A day ticket including Fright Nights costs from £39 per person or a Fright Nights ticket including the Scare Mazes costs from £71 per person.

Gulliver’s

Across Gulliver’s Theme Park Resorts you can still snap up tickets to Fright Fiesta.

There will be a festival-style atmosphere with costumes, music and meet and greets.

And at both Gulliver’s Valley in Rotherham and Gulliver’s Land in Milton Keynes, visitors can step onto the ‘Ghouliver’s Travelator’ for an immersive journey across a Halloween landscape before arriving at the Midnight Manor Hotel (Gulliver’s Valley) or the Wicked Woods (Gulliver’s Land).

Tickets cost from just £19 per person.

Alton Towers

Alton Towers Scarefest still has tickets available, with scare mazes, family spook attractions and rides open in the dark until 9pm.

There are six scare mazes in total including Compound and Dark Hollow, which is new for 2026.

Little ones can enjoy Amigos in the Afterlife with Dia de los Muertos celebrations and Trick O’ Treat Town.

Tickets cost from £37 per person for daytime Halloween events and entry to the park, or £80 per person for a day ticket as well as evening thrills.

Paultons Park

For families with younger children, Paultons Park still has tickets available to its Halloween Spooktacular with spooky characters and late-night openings.

Visitors can enjoy the Little Monsters Ball as well as the Great Halloween Mystery/Spirit Squad Ghoul School shows.

There’s also the Ghostly Manor – an interactive dark ride.

Tickets cost from £46.75 per person.

Drayton Manor

Over at Drayton Manor, visitors can enjoy rides, two fireworks nights and a new Trick or Treat Trail ideal for little kids.

There’s loads of themed locations to snap a pic at too.

If you are feeling a little braver, you can head on the Revenge of the Haunted Express and catch a lake show at the end of the day.

Tickets cost from £39 per person, or £16 per child between the age of two and three-years-old. The Revenge of the Haunted Express is an additional £5 per person.

FANCY travelling through Europe in the comfort of your own private cabin rather than a cramped plane? This new sleeper train might be the answer.

Nox Mobility is launching next year as an alternative to short-haul flights – and they’re pretty cheap too.

The sleeper train will launch in March next year with its first journey between Hamburg and Munich with stops in Bremen and Augsburg.

The inaugural run will leave Hamburg at 9.22pm and arrive at 8.14am – there will go in each direction three times per week.

Tickets are affordable too with one-way fares starting from €65 (£55).

Rather than regular train carriages, inside will be Nox Suites – a private area for each passenger with a seat that opens into a lounge to work or unwind.

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Inside is also a two-metre-long bed, storage, charging ports and a window to gaze out of.

There’s also no restaurant carriage on Nox Mobility, however you can pre-order meals to be served in your cabin and breakfast is available as an optional add-on.

On Nox, children under the age of four are allowed to travel for free with an adult passenger. 

It also teased future rooms which are actually private cabins.

The Single Loft has a seat and desk for the day with a bed for during the night.

The Double Loft is the most spacious room with a 170cm wide bed, two seats and a panoramic window to take in the views.

The Double Vista has ‘two seats by day and two beds by night’ in a private room with a full window.

It also hopes to launch more journeys later on to cities like Stockholm, Vienna, Amsterdam, Toulouse, Barcelona all the way to Reggio di Calabria in Italy.

In fact by 2035 it aims to connect 100 European cities.

Thibault Constant, co-founder of Nox said: “Sleeping while a train gets you across Europe is a great concept. But today people have to share their cabins with strangers, beds are tight, and it’s often more expensive than air travel.

“We want to change that and make night trains an essential part of European travel.”

IT might seem too early to think about the New Year, but if you want to ring in 2027 with style, you’ll need to act fast.

Tickets for the spectacular London firework display go on sale today – and they’re bound to sell out quickly.

Tickets for the show will be released in two batches with the first on sale midday today.

Tickets are priced between £20 to £55 (excluding the booking fee) and one person can buy up to four tickets.

The price of tickets depends on the viewing area which is split into different categories.

The category A viewing area includes places like Waterloo Bridge and Westminster Bridge – these tickets are priced at £55.

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Meanwhile, Category B is priced at £40, with spots like behind the London Eye and the stretch of Victoria Embankment from Golden Jubilee Footbridge to Temple Avenue.

It also includes accessible areas which is on Albert Embankment.

Anyone who has a London postcode is in luck as locals get a £20 discount. 

Last year around 100,000 ticketholders attended the event and around 10million people watched on TV.

If you miss out on the first batch of tickets, a second lot will be released later on.

However a date for this hasn’t been announced yet.

For more information and to buy tickets, head here.

What’s it like to go to London’s NYE fireworks?

Travel Reporter Cyann Fielding reveals that the evening has in store…

“Key advice? Be prepared.

“Get your group chat organised now – you can buy up to four tickets each, so if you want more you’ll need a few people online.

“And whatever you do, do not refresh the page – you will lose your place in the queue.

“The NYE fireworks for 2023 were my first and I can’t deny I was impressed.

“There were also no queues and no crowds once in the zone, allowing us to secure a great spot to watch the breathtaking 12-minute display.

“If going, definitely opt for one of the Category A zones – these have the best views of the fireworks, whereas the Category B zones are often interrupted by skyscrapers.

“Make sure you do head there for 8pm as it isn’t the only New Year’s event on, which means the tube is often packed.

“And bear in mind, the station closest to your gate may be closed to manage the flows of people better.

“As for what to wear, you will get warm but do make sure you have layers as the breeze from the river is chilling.

“Don’t worry about taking a chair – you’ll dance as you wait.

“To save some money though, do take some tinnys – small cocktail cans are great as they don’t weigh much or take up too much room in a bag.

“If you get hungry, there are plenty of food stalls around.”

AUTUMN is theme park season in my house, as the time between summer season and October half-term is quiet with no queues – and I know how to get great deals.

The key to keeping costs down is using a technique I call ‘hack stacking’, and it’s really easy for everyone to do.

The way it works it to combine different deals to get entry for the individuals in your party and maximise the benefits that come with each.

We’ve already enjoyed cheap trips to Warwick Castle and have already lined up visits to Drayton Manor, Alton Towers and Legoland Discovery Centre.

One deal to take advantage of is with Merlin which is currently running an annual pass deal that includes the rest of this year if you pay for 2027.

A gold pass includes car parking, so the £239 cost of one pass could be well worth it just for that if you go once a month plus a couple of extra visits in the summer as lots of the theme parks charge £13 a day for parking.

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The key to hack stacking is that not everyone uses the same deal to get in.

So someone else could use Tesco Clubcard vouchers or Nectar points to pay for individual entry and others could get parent and toddler tickets if you’ve got children the right age. 

It’s also important to keep an eye out for deals over the course of the year and work out how they could be combined to get the most bang for your buck.

In the spring, Merlin ran a stay and play deal that included annual passes if you booked an overnight stay at one of its parks.

That’s an amazing base for building your hack stacking on. I took two of my sons to stay overnight at Legoland Windsor in June for £270 and now the three of us can get free entry into multiple Merlin attractions until next summer.

If I add on a gold pass for my husband under the current 15 months for the price of 12 deal, I only have to find a final hack to get my third son a ticket to whichever attraction we plan to visit.

So for £510, split over two payments made six months apart, not only have I got annual passes plus car parking for four people, I’ve also enjoyed an overnight theme park stay and even got a little bit of cashback through Quidco.

I did much the same at Drayton Manor, starting with the tickets I claimed through the Sun Club earlier in the year and then using a Blue Light Card discount to buy more.

I could prebook two free tickets through my Sun Club membership over the summer and then buy two more for £20 each.

My final ticket to cover my family of five was £26 using our Blue Light Card and what’s great about this offer is that you can even book it on the day, saving almost £20 on the gate price.

Normally, Drayton Manor pricing is dynamic so it goes up the closer you get to the day of your visit, even if you’re booking online, whereas the Blue Light price is a flat rate.

We paid £66 for the five of us to visit Drayton Manor on a September weekend instead of £200 if we’d turned up and paid on the day.

You can even shave a couple of quid off the parking by prebooking that online too.

And if you visit during September, you get a return visit until the end of October included.

Teachers can get in free on October 3-4, so that’s something to consider if you work in a school.

My hack-stacking trick works at most theme parks as long as you take a bit of time to look at who you’re buying entry for and then work out how to combine deals.

We visited Pleasurewood Hills near Lowestoft, which has just been named theme park of the year, in April and there’s some great deals to be had for tickets there.

You can get a Blue Light discount, but it actually makes better financial sense to use a family ticket for four people for £70 or to buy early bird tickets at £16 each a month in advance.

People with local postcodes could get a reduced price ticket at the start of the season, so it’s worth keeping an eye out to see if that pops up again.

My final tip if you fancy giving hack stacking a go is to keep an eye on discount sites like Planet Offers, Groupon or Wowcher as you can make some great savings, as long as you read the small print to make sure what you’re buying is valid on the date you want to visit.

A family ticket on the Flamingo Land website costs £168 for four people, whereas it’s £98 for the same ticket on one of the discount sites.

And make sure you check rival sites too as there can be a big difference in what they are offering.

HAVE you been dreaming of that bucket-list Orlando holiday? Well, it’s about to get a whole lot cheaper.

AttractionTickets.com are launching a massive Black Friday sale, where you can save up to hundreds of pounds on visits to Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando Resort and more.

Sign up to the AttractionTickets.com Black Friday sale and receive an EXTRA discount

The sale will include theme park and attraction tickets, as well as combo tickets and holiday packages with hotel or villa stays.

And you’ll want in on these Black Friday deals, as this is the website’s biggest sale of the year.

If you pre-register for the sale ahead of time, you’ll score yourself an EXTRA discount, which will land in your inbox on November 5.

This means that those pre-registered for Black Friday will have access to the absolute cheapest holidays and attraction tickets available on the website all year long.

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Click here to sign up to the Black Friday sale so you’ll be among the first to know as soon as these deals drop.

Last year’s mega Black Friday sale saw 20% off all Orlando tickets, so theme park fans are already expecting big discounts again this year.

The deals will be for 2027 holidays, with major savings to be had during the school summer holidays.

While the exact offers are tightly under wraps until the big day, Attraction Tickets have revealed that the average customer will save hundreds of pounds on their holiday, based on the website’s typical orders.

So where could you go and what could you do with a holiday booked through AttractionTickets.com?

If you’re looking for a Florida holiday, you will be able to bag discounts on Disney, Universal, the Kennedy Space Centre and more, plus hotels and villas if you want to extend the magic by staying on-site.

Sign up to the AttractionTickets.com Black Friday sale and receive an EXTRA discount

The site also offers handy combo ticket deals – which are great if you want to tick off Walt Disney World and Universal Orlando Resort in one trip, for example.

2027 is the ideal time to visit Disney World, with new upgrades including a Muppet takeover of the former Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster as well as the brand new Magic of Disney Animation zone in the Hollywood Studios park.

At Universal Orlando Resort, new coaster Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift is set to launch in 2027, and the previews of this coaster have excited theme park fanatics around the world.

And if you’re wanting to visit California, now’s the time to get planning. You’ll also be able to save on tickets for Disneyland Resort California and Universal Studios Hollywood in this sale.

Disneyland Resort California is home to Cars Land, which you won’t find in Orlando, plus you can tick off the world-famous studio tour at Universal Studios Hollywood.

If you prefer a Spain or Tenerife holiday, you’ll be able to bag discounts at PortAventura World, Siam Park and Loro Parque.

Just make sure to pre-register ahead of the Black Friday deal to bag an extra discount to make your trip even cheaper.

Sign up to the AttractionTickets.com Black Friday sale and receive an EXTRA discount

QUENTIN Tarantino is swapping the big screen for the stage with his first West End play.

The Popinjay Cavalier is written and directed by the Pulp Fiction filmmaker, with Sacha Baron Cohen taking on the leading role.

And theatre fans don’t have long to wait to get their hands on tickets. Here’s everything you need to know.

What time do The Popinjay Cavalier tickets go on sale?

Tickets for The Popinjay Cavalier go on general sale at 12pm on Monday, October 12, 2026.

Fans who previously signed up for priority access can buy tickets earlier, with that sale opening at 9am.

Tickets can be bought through the production’s official website at popinjayplay.com.

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Prices start at £25, while more than 16,000 tickets across the run will cost less than £50.

The show is booking until June 13, 2027.

Demand is likely to be high given Quentin Tarantino’s huge film following and Sacha Baron Cohen’s first major leading role on a West End stage.

Anyone hoping to go should have the official ticket page ready before the sale opens.

When is The Popinjay Cavalier on in London?

The Popinjay Cavalier begins previews at the Phoenix Theatre in London’s West End on February 23, 2027, while its official opening night is on March 18.

At the time of writing, the limited run is booking until June 13, 2027.

Situated on Charing Cross Road, The Phoenix Theatre is currently home to Stranger Things: The First Shadow.

Further casting for Tarantino’s production is still to be announced.

What is The Popinjay Cavalier about?

The play is set in Europe during the 1830s and has been billed as a swashbuckling comedy about deception and disguise.

It follows actor Rupert Sebastian Thomas Jr as he travels to Paris to perform at the Comedie-Francaise.

But after making some badly chosen comments about the French, his journey across the Channel takes a much more dangerous turn.

The production promises sword fights, acrobatics and adventure, drawing inspiration from classic Hollywood swashbucklers.

Tarantino said he was “keen with anticipation to give the West End a great night out.”

Who is starring in The Popinjay Cavalier?

Sacha Baron Cohen is set to play the title role, Rupert Sebastian Thomas Jr.

He is best known for creating characters including Ali G, Borat and Bruno, as well as appearing in films including The Dictator and Les Miserables.

The British comedian and actor said: “Quentin called, I said yes before he even got to say his first ‘motherf***er’.

“When the best director in the world calls, you don’t ask questions.

“I am beyond delighted that we will be losing our West End virginity together. I have made him promise not to be gentle.”

The pair have almost worked together before.

Tarantino cast Sacha Baron Cohen in his 2012 Western Django Unchained, but the actor ultimately pulled out to appear in Les Miserables.

The Popinjay Cavalier is being produced by Sony Pictures Entertainment and Sonia Friedman Productions.

Tarantino first revealed in 2025 that he had completed a play and intended to make theatre his next major project.

Now audiences will finally get to see what his unmistakable style looks like live on a West End stage.

Textile artist Jane Jauregui is expanding the boundaries of what plush figures can be, thinking beyond that pile of mass-produced, branded stuffies huddled atop a twin bed, crammed inside a toy chest, or dangling from a backpack strap.

True, in the nearly two decades that she’s been creating plush figures, she’s produced charmingly minimalistic foxes, cats and buffalo fit for a nursery. However, her latest work has been anything but child’s play.

A plush fried chicken bucket is one of Jane Jauregui’s textile takes on beloved dishes.

She launched her “soft sculpture” company, STFD, in 2024 with the intention of transforming her inner thoughts into plush form — no matter how outside the box those ideas may be. After all, why bring yet another teddy bear into the world when you can dream up a stuffed paintbrush trailing a splash of brightly colored felt “paint,” or a striped bucket filled with faux fried chicken?

In this series, we highlight independent makers and artists, from glassblowers to fiber artists, who are creating original products in and around Los Angeles.

“It stands for Stuff That Feeds Delight,” Jauregui said of the brand’s acronymic name. “The newer things I’m working on are more like display items, but you can absolutely touch them,” she explained. “I just started playing more with the idea of decor, aging it up a little bit more, and playing with the idea of how we can really elevate it.”

Take, for example, a plate of longsilog, the traditional breakfast meal her Filipina grandmother used to make for her. Inside the converted garage of the same Van Nuys house where she was raised, Jauregui whipped up a playful sausage-riceball-fried egg combo using a sewing needle, felt, embroidery floss and sherpa fleece, rather than pots and pans.

Moved by memories of her grandfathers, she created a collection of stuffed felt cigarette butts, complete with simulated ash made by zigzagging stitches.

“My Thai and Filipino grandpas were chain-smokers,” she said. “They passed away, and I just started thinking a lot about what would represent them. Cigarettes immediately came to mind.”

Jane Jauregui’s home studio inside the converted garage of her childhood home.

Though she takes inspiration from her personal experiences, many of her plush figures strike a universal note. Most anyone born in the 20th century would take one look at her plush retro alarm clock radio and instinctively feel the urge to whack its elongated vinyl “snooze” button. The trompe l’oeil wood paneling (which she made by printing a wood-grain design directly onto dark brown fabric) and the red-tinted digital readout screen (the numbers are iron-on transfers) make it a dead ringer for those once-commonplace nightstand devices that predated smartphone alarms.

She first tried her hand at the craft about 18 years ago, after she and her husband, Sergio, couldn’t find the right gift for his newborn niece at famed New York City toy emporium FAO Schwarz.

“Everything was licensed, and I didn’t want any kind of IP [intellectual property],” she recalled. “I went home and said, ‘Well, I’m just going to sew something for her.’ Sergio was like, ‘But you don’t know how to sew, so that’s a little crazy.’ I said, ‘That’s OK, I’ll figure it out!’”

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1. A plush hot dog. 2. An ashtray full of plush cigarettes, inspired by Jane Jauregui’s grandparents.

Fortunately, she had a leg up when it came to picking up the new skill. Her father, a retired clothing designer and patternmaker, had introduced her to the inner workings of the garment industry from a young age.

“My dad would have full-time work five days a week, so there wasn’t a lot of time for him to teach me,” she said. “But when he would take freelance work home, I would sit in this garage with him. He had a big table, and I would sit there and watch him sew. It was just really how we spent time together.

“When I decided to start making plush, I remembered little things he would do, like how to walk a pattern — which is making sure the pattern pieces are matching — or how he would move the ruler. I would remember all of those things and put my own spin on it.”

Artist Jane Jauregui eschews watercolors and acrylics, preferring to “paint with plush.”

She started by making simple shapes like a stuffed orange, pear and an eggplant, working her way up to the finalized baby gift: a stuffed whale. By 2009, she’d completed enough plush produce to start selling at local pop-up markets under the business name Janie XY. Sergio, an artist in his own right, even constructed her first booth to resemble a fruit stand. Her first hit item was a baby rattle shaped like a chicken drumstick that was sold wrapped in cellophane, much like a meat-counter purchase. This time, her muse was her own infant niece.

All the while, she was holding down a full-time job creating window displays for Forever 21. She continued to build her squeezable empire in her off-hours, even as she transferred to corporate jobs at Mattel and Disney (for which she’s now a consumer products design manager), and became a mother. Taking a page from her father, she’s made her at-home workspace accessible to her 5-year-old daughter.

“She’s in here all the time,” she said. “I let her touch everything. What’s fun about the medium is you can’t break it. You can get it dirty, but she knows what to do. She’s really mature about it. She loves to clean the sewing machine — she’ll go in with a pin and pick out all the lint, and she’ll think that was a good day’s work. We want her to feel like part of the work because she is a part of it.”

Jane Jauregui’s sewing machine, which her daughter likes to clean, in her home studio.

That said, Jauregui’s STFD creations aren’t necessarily made with the wee ones in mind. Consider her new pieces celebrating liquor stores, for which she converted items like lottery tickets and frothing beer cans into plush form.

“It’s something that we all take for granted,” she said of the ubiquitous neighborhood corner store. “You tend to turn your nose up at it, but it’s there for you all the time.”

She and her husband also pay homage to these unsung cultural hubs in the latest edition of their fledgling zine, which they’ve dubbed “a gallery you can hold.” Inside, photographs of the stuffed figures fill the pages, accompanied by written musings. (The one-of-a-kind featured items will also be available for purchase.) The series is the couple’s prescribed antidote to the social media doomscrolling they call “internet indigestion.”

Jane Jauregui’s goal for the plush items she makes in her studio? Delight.

She’s also planning to explore plush Thai food in honor of Grandma’s Thai Kitchen, the Van Nuys restaurant her mother owned and operated for years. After treks to downtown L.A.’s Fashion District to find just the right materials, she’ll mock up clever riffs on julienned ginger and cilantro leaves. For her, there’s ample delight in those little details.

“STFD is really about giving myself permission to just do things that make me happy,” she said.