tourist

A NEW tourist attraction tucked under railway arches, is coming to the UK.

The Weir Mill development in Stockport, near Manchester, will be located under the town’s iconic railway viaduct.

The Grade-II listed mill will be transformed to feature street food pop-ups, parties, al fresco dining areas and host live music and entertainment.

In the new attraction, there will be a number of different food and drink venues including 10 new bars, restaurants and cafes.

In total, there will be 6,000sqm of outdoor space with planted areas, a riverside terrace and a courtyard at the heart of the destination.

The attraction will be split into six distinct areas: Weir Mill East, The Courtyard, Weavers Square, West Shed, The Waterfront and Wheelhouse, and finally, Chestergate and King Street West.

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At Weir Mill East there will be a rooftop terrace and cafe.

Then at The Courtyard, there will be a number of planted areas with seating as well.

Weavers Square will be the focal point of the development, sat underneath the viaduct and where the markets and pop-ups will take place.

West Shed will be an indoor space with red brick and vaulted ceilings, where people can sit with their laptop and a coffee.

The Waterfront and Wheelhouse will then be an area great for viewing the viaduct itself, with the Wheelhouse converted into a resident gym, lounge and working space.

And finally, at Chestergate and King Street West is where visitors will find most of the stores as well as the trans-pennine way cycle path running alongside this part of the site.

Many of the buildings at the development will feature the same red colour as the machinery found at the mill.

The new destination, which is set to be completed next spring, will also feature 253 homes.

Councillor Micheala Meikle, Stockport Council cabinet member for economy, skills and regeneration, said: “Our town centre regeneration is about more than building new homes, it’s about creating vibrant neighbourhoods and breathing new life into Stockport’s heritage, giving our historic buildings a future.

“While the Grade-II listed former mill is being carefully restored for residents, the new public square will create opportunities for independent businesses to thrive and for people from across the borough to come and enjoy our buzzing town centre.

“It’s incredibly exciting to see how our riverside will soon be opened up into an inviting outdoor space where communities can come together over great food, live music, and creative events from day to night.”

The first food and drink venues at the destination are set to be announced soon.

Weir Mill on the River Mersey in Stockport, dates back to 1790 when it was used as a cotton works.

During the 19th century, the importance of the mill grew as it became a key part of Stockport’s industrialisation.

In 1840, the Stockport Viaduct was then built over the mill and has since become a historic landmark.

In other tourist attraction news, the exciting new hotels, attractions and festivals coming to the UK’s seaside towns and cities next year.

Plus, the top 15 UK attractions for 2025 revealed.

THE Cotswolds are one of the most popular spots in the country, especially during the summer months.

Yet some beautiful villages are being inundated with tourists – so a new tourist charge is set to be introduced.

It’s estimated that over 35million people head to the Cotswolds every year to see villages adorned with pretty cobbled cottages and quaint shops.

But the flood of tourists does mean that locals suffer and so a new visitor levy is being put in place at certain destinations to benefit those who live in the area.

One of these places is the village of Bourton-on-the-Water which is set to introduce a new parking fee – and a change to free parking hours.

Parking will be free before 10am at Rissington Road car park, rather than 8a.

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However, charges will apply until 8pm, rather than 6pm, so tourists will have to pay for an extra two hours later if staying the whole day.

The reason for the change in timings is to give residents easier access to village services in the morning and “accommodate the growing trend” of visitors staying later into the evening.

Paul Hodgkinson, cabinet member for health, culture and visitor experience, said: “I know first-hand the challenges the village faces during the tourist season.”

“This new approach is designed to give something back to residents and boost the money going back into the village.”

He added that earlier access would provide support to local shops and services.

Bourton-on-the-Water has had a tourism levy in place since 2021 – where some of the money made from parking fees goes towards local projects.

Cllr Paul Hodgkinson, cabinet member for health, culture, and visitor experience, added: “The levy in Bourton has funded important initiatives, including extra parking enforcement and the appointment of a village warden which are helping to alleviate some of the impacts of tourism on the village.”

Another village, Stow-on-the-Wold, which is just 8 minutes away, is also looking at doing the same.

Hodgkinson said that new charge would to bring “similar benefits for residents”.

The new Cotswold District Council strategy is due to run from this year until 2028.

Other measures include making parking in the district sustainable.

Plus, here is an English village that visitors call ‘a Cotswolds dream’ which has two of the country’s best hotels.

And check out this stunning Cotswolds village with its own sandy beach and lagoon – miles from the English seaside.

One Sun Writer says this Cotswolds town is always missed in favour of other prettier villages…

Deputy Travel Editor Kara Godfrey said: “My hometown in the Cotswolds is often passed over in favour of its more glamorous trendy neighbours. But that could soon be able to change after one of its hotels was recently named one of the best in the world.

“The World’s 50 Best Hotels announced last week named everything from five-star beach resorts to thousand-pound-a-night city stays. And while I’ve been lucky enough to stay in a few – such as The Peninsular in Hong Kong – one that also made the list was Estelle Manor.

“One of five in the UK to have made the list, the Witney hotel is now putting the town on the map. Having only opened in 2023, Estelle Manor has boomed in popularity.

“Earlier this summer, Eve Jobs – the daughter of Steve Jobs – celebrated a four day wedding event at the cost of £5million. Other celeb sightings include Kate Moss, as well as Alan Carr and Molly-Mae.

“Set on 85 acres of a parkland estate, the hotel is the sister to the private members club Maison Estelle in London. Some of the 108 rooms are in the Grade II listed house, while there are also Woodland Cabins.

“The hotel’s Eynsham Baths opened in last summer, while activities include archery, axe throwing, air rifle shooting and clay pigeon shooting.

“The town of Witney itself is worth a visit, and is often much quieter than its nearby neighbour Burford. There is the free-to-visit Witney Museum, while kids will love Cogges Manor Farm with pygmy goats to see.

“Grab some tea and cake at Hunters Cafe, before shopping at many of the independent stores such as Witney Antiques and Lily’s Attic.

“If you see huge queues, they are likely at Sandwich de Witney, a sandwich shop with overstuffed baguettes that always sells out by lunch.”

American traveller Walter Meyer visited the UK city and was blown away by the friendly locals, uncrowded cathedrals and unique Victoria Tunnel – saying they beat Barcelona and Prague

An American globetrotter has lavished praise on a UK city, claiming it surpasses renowned destinations like Prague and Barcelona.

“One of the joys of travelling, whether in the US or abroad, is stumbling upon unexpected gems. Everyone anticipates being enchanted by Venice or Prague, to the extent that these popular tourist hotspots can struggle to meet such lofty expectations,” shared Walter Meyer, a writer and explorer, when discussing his favourite city visits.

During a recent trip to see American friends residing in the UK, Walter made a detour to Newcastle. “I am so glad I did. If nothing else, I adored how quintessentially British the town’s name sounded: Newcastle Upon Tyne,” the Youtuber elaborated. He was utterly captivated by the city of 300,000 inhabitants.

“Newcastle, like many European cities, boasts its fair share of historic cathedrals. But unlike Barcelona’s La Sagrada Familia, Paris’ Notre Dame or Cologne, these were not swarming with tourists – in fact, St. Nicholas and St. Mary’s were practically deserted. There was no admission fee, and the tour guides seemed genuinely delighted to welcome visitors and discuss their churches,” Walter gushed.

“The old castle in Newcastle was definitely worth visiting as well, but the most interesting thing there, because I had not seen anything like it anywhere else, was the Victoria Tunnel. Originally built to carry coal under the city, the 2.25-mile-long tunnel was reopened during World War II to function as an air raid shelter. There are tours that take visitors down into this dark world to explain the two very different functions this tunnel performed.”

Most importantly, Walter was charmed by the locals. “Everyone I met in Newcastle Upon Tyne was very friendly and talkative,” he remarked, recalling how a laundrette owner kindly gave him 50p to dry his clothes. This proved essential as Newcastle was being hammered by torrential rain. Yet even the weather couldn’t diminish Walter’s excitement.

“The rain was bad even by northern England standards-locals were complaining about it, and even tours to Hadrian’s Wall were cancelled due to flooding. So very few people were out in the downpour. Two nights, I went to the bar in the hotel and talked to the bartender, Michael, who was also the night desk clerk, and a few other patrons. Michael was very friendly and chatty and filled me in on some local things to see and do,” he explained. We asked two of Reach’s own Geordies whether they recognised the Newcastle that Walter painted.

Laura Hill, a news editor at the Mirror, was taken aback by Walter’s enthusiasm for the city’s cathedral. “I am baffled by (him thinking) the cathedrals are so good. We’re very spoiled to have Durham Cathedral half an hour away, which is far more impressive in my opinion. The Newcastle ones are often overlooked.”

Simon Duke, a What’s On journalist for Chronicle Live, picked up on the Barcelona comparison. “You could certainly argue the vibe between the two cities is pretty similar,” he observed.

“For a start, both destinations can always be relied upon to bring the party and keep it going. While Newcastle might not be the seven-day-a-week knees-up hotspot it used to be, you can still go out on dreary Monday night and still have a ball and, at the very least, bump into some brilliant characters, all with a story to tell.”

Beyond the city’s passion for football, Simon waxed lyrical about Newcastle’s flourishing culinary landscape.

“Newcastle can also hold its own against its European counterparts when it comes to food, with several Michelin-starred restaurants, two of which have just made it into the top 1000 in the world ranking for 2026. Whether it’s a stottie from Greggs, a mouthwatering burger or something more refined, you won’t go hungry in Newcastle,” he added. “The spotlight has been shone on Tyneside for two huge events in 2025 – the MOBO Awards and the Mercury Prize, with the city resplendent and vibrant as millions watched. When it comes to throwing a party and doing it in serious style, Newcastle will never let you down.”

SHORT term holiday rentals like Airbnb are to be banned in a popular tourist area in Europe next year.

Budapest has confirmed that the holiday rentals will be axed across the 6th district.

The district, Terézváros, is called Budapest’s Broadway, being home to a number of theatres as well as the Hungarian State Opera.

It is also home to Andrássy Avenue, a huge boulevard visited by tourists that is popular shopping street with restaurants and cafes.

The new rules will be introduced from January 1, 2026.

It could also be eventually rolled out to other districts.

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Some have slammed the new rules, with one telling local media that “no-one will win with this ban” while others expressed fears it will only make hotel prices go up.

Despite opposition, the government ruled that the ban could go ahead.

In a statement, the mayor of Terézváros Tamás Soproni said: “The Supreme Court ruled today that Terézváros’s Airbnb regulation is not illegal.

“The court rejected the Government Office’s motion, meaning that the ban on short-term rentals is lawful and the regulation can come into force on January 1, 2026.”

The mayor of the 6th district added: “There are buildings where 50 per cent of all the apartments are listed as Airbnb.

“Local citizens are being driven out of the downtown area and replaced by tourists – this is not the way forward.

“If we go on like this, all downtown areas will look like a kind of Disneyland, having the same chains, attractions, restaurants – and with no local residents left.”

Tourism rentals have grown by 80 per cent since 2020, meaning there are now more Airbnbs than hotel rooms.

On average, around 40 per cent of tourists stay in a holiday rental in Budapest – higher than the average in Europe of 28 per cent.

While holiday rentals will be banned, hotels and B&Bs will not be affected.

Budapest is one of the more popular cities with Brits, who often visit for its spas and cheap holidays.

The country saw record tourism last year, with 18million visiting Hungary, a third of which visited Budapest.

This was up 24 per cent compared to 2023, meaning a faster growth than places like Barcelona.

Brits are one of the most popular tourist markets, along with Germany, Italy and the US.

And lots of cities struggling with overtourism are introducing similar holiday rental rules.

One of the strictest is Barcelona, which is set to ban all Airbnb rentals across the entire city by 2028.

Back in May, the Spanish government called for more than 65,000 holiday rentals on Airbnb to be removed.

Madrid court found that nearly 5,000 rentals in the city would be withdrawn from being on sale.

In Seville, short term home rentals can’t be more than 10 per cent of all homes in each neighbourhood.

And Majorca is stopping any new applications for holiday rentals.

Here’s a city in Europe that is banning outdoor tables at cafes and restaurants in the popular tourist areas.