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IF YOU are thinking about where to head off to this winter, then you won’t be short for choice as several airlines are launching new flights from the UK to warm and sunny destinations.

Whether you fancy a city break in the sun or a beach trip to soak up rays, across October, November and December airlines are launching new flights.

And there are both short haul and long haul destinations.

Here’s a roundup of the newest flight routes coming this season from the UK, ideal for a winter sun holiday:

British Airways

British Airways has a number of new winter sun routes, with a couple already launched.

On October 23, the airline launched flights between London Gatwick and Colombo, Sri Lanka.

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The city of Colombo is known for its vibrant temples, such as the Buddhist Gangarama Temple.

Visitors can also visit bustling markets, such as Pettah Market, with local spices and handmade textiles.

Then on October 25, flights were launched between London Gatwick and Bridgetown, Barbados.

Bridgetown is the largest city of Barbados and has heaps of history to explore including the central area which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

During December, temperatures reach around 29C.

The same day, flights launched between London Heathrow and San Jose, Costa Rica after being moved from Gatwick Airport.

San Jose is home to a mix of neoclassical architecture as well as sprawling markets and even active volcanoes.

Make sure to have a walk through Mercado Central (Central Market), which is an indoor market dating back to 1880 selling local produce and gifts.

Virgin Atlantic

Earlier this month, Virgin Atlantic launched flights between London Heathrow and Phuket, Thailand.

Phuket is a great destination for beach hopping, with white sand spots and beaches ideal for surfing.

Make sure to visit Phuket Old Town as well where you can spot colourful 19th century houses, as well as shops, cafes and local galleries.

It is also nice and warm in December, with temperatures reaching up to 32C.

EasyJet

Despite being an airline that mainly serves Europe, easyJet is launching three new winter sun routes over the coming weeks.

The first will be between Newcastle and Hurghada, Egypt, with flights taking off on October 27.

Hurghada is surrounded by the Red Sea that is full of coral reefs and colourful fish where you can head snorkelling.

Make sure to visit the Marina too at sunset where you can even see across to the minarets of the El Mina mosque.

This route will be followed by flights between London Luton and Rabat, Morocco, launching on November 5.

The capital of Morocco is known for its historic architecture and has up to just eight days of rain in December.

Then on November 9, Manchester will get a route to Giza Sphinx/Cairo, Egypt.

In Cairo, you can visit the Pyramids of Giza and the Great Sphinx, which is the last surviving wonder of the ancient world with daytime highs of 21C.

Ryanair

Budget airline Ryanair will be launching flights from Birmingham to Marrakech, Morocco in late October.

The city is home to an abundance of souks selling spices and locally crafted items as well as a medieval Medina with hidden courtyards.

Around the same time, the airline will also start flights between Liverpool and Porto, Portugal.

The coastal city of Porto is known for its wine but also has a UNESCO-listed medieval riverfront, where you can stop by an outdoor cafe.

TUI

On October 25, TUI launched flights between the East Midlands and Antalya, Turkey.

The Turkish city is full of narrow cobblestone streets in its Old Town to get lost exploring, with Ottoman-era houses and artisan shops.

You’ll also be able to pick up a cheap pint, with beers costing as little as £3 a pint.

The airline will follow this by also launching flights to Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt, from the airport in early November.

Sharm El Sheikh is great for an adventure holiday with snorkelling and diving in the Red Sea as well as desert activities such as quad biking, dune buggies and camel rides.

Later, in mid-December, TUI is then also set to start flights between Belfast International and Punta Cana, Dominican Republic.

Punta Cana is known for its world-famous, all-inclusive resorts but also jungle adventures and vibrant nightlife.

Temperatures can reach up to 32C in December, which is the ideal weather for sinking a cool pint that will set you back as little as £1.80.

A HUGE new airport is coming to Turkey and it will be built directly on the sea.

The new airport in the Black Sea province of Trabzon in Turkey will be the country’s third airport built on the sea and is set to cost £732million.

The airport will eventually have a 3,000 metre runway that will be 45 metres wide, meaning it will be able to handle larger planes.

There will also be a taxiway next to the runway of the same width and length.

As for the terminal, it is set to span 110,000-square-metres and will be able to handle up to 10million passengers a year.

There will also be a new air traffic control tower.

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Currently, the airport has one runway that is 2,640 metres long and handles around three million passengers a year.

In order to build the new airport, more than 100million tonnes of ‘fill’ will need to be dumped into the Black Sea to create the airport.

A 6,000 metre breakwater will also need to be built.

Minister Abdulkadir Uraloğlu said that the current runway is not suitable for the growing passenger numbers at the airport.

According to Daily Sabah, Uralogu added: “We will give Trabzon a new, higher-capacity, modern airport that meets international standards.”

The airport is set to be completed by the early 2030s.

The city of Trabzon is home to around one million people and is known for its cliffside monasteries as well as rolling green hills.

A NIGHT away in the UK can get expensive surprisingly quickly, once you’ve factored in fuel, dinner, drinks and expensive hotels.

So, I’ve been looking at what happens if you stick a flight on either end and head somewhere with a bit more va-va-voom – and found it could actually be CHEAPER.

One night away isn’t just a crazy idea – our booking figures at On The Beach show people are already choosing to head away for just one night, spending an average of around £200pp on flights and a hotel.

A quick change of scenery, dinner somewhere different and a night away from the usual routine – there’s a lot to like about that!

But you can actually do it for considerably less than that average; I’ve found seven one-night getaways from £75pp, including Dublin, Paris and the Algarve, but as you’d expect, the secret is in the flight times.

Leave in the morning and fly back the following evening, and one night away can give you a decent chunk of two days to explore – here’s how I’d do it.

1. Dublin one-nighter from £100pp

Dublin makes a very convincing case for the one-night holiday: good pubs, plenty to wander around and an evening that can start with “just the one” and develop its own itinerary from there.

The one-night wonder-deal I found is at easyHotel Dublin City Centre in Smithfield, a simple base for a trip where the city is the main attraction.

And at £100pp for flights and a night away, I can happily live without a pillow menu.

You leave Stansted at 6:35am on November 30, landing at 7:55am, then the flight home leaves Dublin at 8:35pm the following day.

I’d start day one with breakfast, then have a walk along the Liffey and across the Ha’penny Bridge.

Spend the afternoon exploring the centre, with a look around Grafton Street and a coffee stop whenever the early start catches up with you.

That evening, book somewhere for dinner, then find a pub with live music or wander through Temple Bar if you fancy it, but don’t feel obliged to spend the entire evening there.

After a night’s sleep, get a proper breakfast and take your time over the bits you missed with some more shops and a lazy lunch – before getting back in time for own bed.

2. Belfast one-nighter from £75pp

Seventy-five quid each for flights and a hotel – that’s just £150 for two people to have an actual night away, which is a very pleasing place to start before you’ve even chosen where to eat.

The deal I found is at The 1852, which has an on-site restaurant and two bars – handy if the plan for the first drink is simply “as soon as we’ve put our bags down”.

You fly from Manchester at 6:15am on November 18, arriving at 7:15am, then the return leaves Belfast at 5:20pm the next day.

I’d spend the first day getting a feel for the city centre, taking in City Hall and stopping for lunch before having a look around the Cathedral Quarter.

Come back here for dinner and drinks too.

The next morning, have breakfast and head towards Queen’s University for a wander around the university area.

Or, if you fancy something indoors, make the Ulster Museum your main stop.

Finish with lunch and one last Guinness before it’s time to head home.

3. Albufeira one-nighter from £80pp

This is the one that made me check the price twice.

A night in the Algarve, including flights, for £80pp – just £160 for two of you to go and have dinner and a night out in Portugal. Very, very tempting.

The deal I found is at Paladim & Alagoamar on a Self Catering basis, giving you the option to sort breakfast yourself.

The flight leaves London Stansted at 9:35am on November 29 and lands in Faro at 12:25pm, before you fly home at 7:15pm on November 30.

I’d keep the first afternoon simple: have a wander around Albufeira’s old town, make your way down towards the beach and stop for a late lunch or a drink with a view, before getting ready for dinner out together.

The following morning, have breakfast and head out for another seaside walk before finding somewhere for lunch.

It’s late November, so I’d make the trip about the coast, the food and the change of scenery – any sunbathing weather is a bonus rather than the thing the entire holiday depends on.

But Albufeira is still busy, with a decent amount of sunshine and looks gorgeous around this time of year.

4. Paris one-nighter from £125pp

“I’ve booked us a night in Paris” is a fairly efficient way of making a date night sound like you’ve put some serious effort in – but this deal is just £125 each, so won’t break the bank.

The deal I found is at hotelF1 Paris Porte de Montreuil, a straightforward budget base.

You leave Birmingham at 5:55am on November 15 and land at Paris Beauvais at 08:05am, with the return departing at 4:45pm the next day, getting you back for teatime.

I’d build the first day around a walk along the Seine, a look at the sights and a good lunch.

Choose one landmark you really want to see, rather than trying to collect the entire city before dinner.

Then spend the evening over a meal and a wander through Paris after dark – that’s plenty of romance for one day.

After a night’s sleep, find a café for coffee and breakfast, then have a final look around before heading home.

I’d keep the second morning nice and easy – there’s no need to make the last memory of your romantic break a furious speed-walk.

5. Amsterdam one-nighter from £135pp

Amsterdam is a good choice for a break where you don’t need to book something every hour, because this is the perfect place for wandering the streets and accidentally finding something unexpected to do.

The deal I found is at New West Inn in Nieuw-West – it’s a little out from the centre but has an on-site pizza corner, handy for a first or last meal in the city.

The flights give you plenty to work with: leave London Gatwick at 6am on November 30 and land at 8:25am, then fly home at 9:25pm the next day, getting back before 10pm.

One hotel night, with room to enjoy both days.

I’d spend day one exploring the canals, browsing the independent shops around the Nine Streets and stopping for lunch.

In the afternoon, carry on into the Jordaan, then find somewhere for dinner and settle into the evening – a couple of good food stops and a few miles of canal-side strolling make a very lovely first day.

The next morning, choose one bigger activity: a canal cruise or a museum you’ve been wanting to visit.

Book ahead where needed, then leave yourself time for a late lunch and another wander before the flight home.

6. Benidorm one-nighter from £120pp

A one-night Benidorm trip sounds like the kind of suggestion someone makes three pints into a Friday (speaking from experience).

But at £120pp including flights and a hotel, it actually deserves a sober second look.

The deal I found is at Benidorm City Olympia in the Old Town, with two beaches within walking distance and, for a short trip, having things you want to do close to your hotel is a big plus.

You leave Manchester at 7am on November 26 and arrive in Alicante at 10:50am, with the flight home leaving at 11pm the next day (landing around 1am on November 28) so loads of time to explore on your second day.

Worth remembering when you’re deciding what time to set the alarm the following morning.

I’d spend the first afternoon exploring the Old Town, stopping for tapas and taking a walk along the seafront.

Then get ready for the evening and take your pick of somewhere lively or a longer, quieter dinner – if you’ve ever been, you’ll know that Benidorm can accommodate both with ease.

After breakfast the next day, head out for another promenade walk, a coffee and a leisurely lunch or, if the weather‘s kind, have some time by the beach.

7. Copenhagen one-nighter from £145pp

Copenhagen sounds pretty far away, right? Well, with a flight time under two hours it’s one of the most logical one-nighters on this list.

The deal I found is at a&o Copenhagen Norrebro, a decent base with a bar on site and room upgrades available if you wanted to splash out a little more.

You leave Stansted at 8:15am on November 22 and land at 11am, then the return departs Copenhagen at 8:40pm the following day, giving you plenty of the second day to enjoy.

I’d start with lunch and an afternoon exploring the centre, including a wander around Nyhavn’s waterfront.

Have a look around the shops, stop for coffee and make dinner your main evening plan – you don’t need to fit a second city break in after dessert.

The next morning, find a bakery and give breakfast the attention it deserves.

Then spend some time around Norrebro’s independent shops and cafés, or take a walk through the King’s Garden by Rosenborg Castle.

I’d then finish up with lunch and one final coffee before heading home.

SPRAY painting graffiti on a wall was definitely not what I had planned for my first visit to Lisbon.

But there I was paint can in hand and even the appearance of not one, but two, police cars didn’t deter me.

To be honest I reckon they took pity on my miserably bad skills, as they stood, arms folded, watching, as me and my pals created our own masterpiece, under the watchful eye and helping hand of graffiti genius Miguel Brum

He’d taken us on a brilliant tour of the city’s most colourful and beautiful urban street art, including a few stunning creations of his own, before we got to try our hand at it ourselves.

Donning white all-in-one suits, blue booties over our trainers, rubber gloves and face masks, we looked like we’d stepped out of an episode of CSI!

I’ll confess, the design was all Miguel’s, all we had to do was fill in the blank spaces with the coloured spray cans he handed us. Like paint by numbers only on a grand scale, but we’re still chuffed with the final results.

Our adventure with Miguel, one of the city’s leading street artists, had been arranged through they city’s newest, and hippest, hotels, The Andaz Lisbon.

It only opened six months ago but is already one of the most popular in the city, with its roof top bar and the already award-winning Luzzi restaurant, serving up incredible creations from chef Bruno Alves.

Set in a beautifully adorned former bank building, inside the design is funky and trendy, with lots of fabulous pieces from local artists and sculptors.

Moody corridors, lined with eye-catching thick carpets, lead to equally stylish rooms, with all the mod cons, massive walk in shower, and dream-inducing beds.

Andaz has introduced a curated collection of six exclusive, bespoke experiences for guests to book, designed to reveal the capital’s hidden gems and help you get under the skin of the city.

As well as the graffiti tour, my pals and I went on a guided evening tour to discover Lisbon’s seven hills which house all the popular, as well as hidden, neighbourhoods and local treasures.

Starting with a chilled glass for Rose at one the Lisbon’s many traditional kiosks, before a cocktail at a hidden, vintage speakeasy, we ended with a soulful Fado experience where the wine flowed, accompanied by huge slices of custard tarts and glasses of chocolate mousse! Well it was a Friday.

Hopping back into our people carrier, we enjoyed a final night-cap at the hotel lounge, before it was ‘boa noite’ from us all.

The Andaz is set just one street back from the huge Praça do Comércio, Portugal’s most famous square and that’s where we headed next day.

Taking a walk through the main entrance, the Arco da Rua Augusta, we pulled up a seat at one of the bars under its majestic architectural arches, and drank in the view of the Tagus River and the Christ the King statue on the other side on the hills in Almada.

This place is where the palace once stood, before it, along with most of Lisbon, was destroyed in a devastating earthquake and tsunami in 1755.

If you didn’t know about the tragedy, you wouldn’t guess by looking at the city. The locals will point to ancient-looking buildings and say ‘this is the new one’ – but when they say new they mean built after the quake not the 21st century!

One area not to be missed is the waterfront district of Belem, with its colourful tile-clad houses and historic landmarks like the Tower of Belem.

The massive Jerónimos Monastery dominates the area and inside you’ll find the tomb of explorer Vasco de Gama, who charted the first maritime route between Europe and India, around the Cape of Good Hope in Africa.

GO : LISBON

GO: ANDAZ LISBON

GETTING THERE: easyJet.com fly to Lisbon from Glasgow and Edinburgh with fares from £30.99pp. Visit Lisboa have introduced a fixed-price taxi service from the airport, with fares from approx £13.50 for Zone 1 and £16 for Zone 2, for up to four passengers with luggage. Weekend and public holiday fares from £17-£19.50. Get taxi vouchers from the Ask Me Lisboa Tourism Desk at the airport.
STAYING THERE: Rooms at 5* Andaz Lisbon start from around £234 per night on a room-only basis. See hyatt.com.
MORE INFO: Get a Lisboa Card from approx £26 which includes free public transport, free entry to 51 museums and monuments, fast-track access at selected attractions and discounts on a range of other experiences and services. For that and more on visiting the city, see visitlisboa.com.

Swing by the marina to ogle the yachts moored in the harbour and then take a trip up the sail-shaped Padrão dos Descobrimentos (or Monument to the Discoveries) for incredible views.

And here’s a top tip – forget Pastel de Nata. Belem is home to the original Portugese custard tarts and here they’re called Pasteis de Belem, first made at the historic Pastéis de Belém bakery way back in 1837, using a secret recipe passed to them by the monks from Jerónimos Monastery when it closed.

The queues here were insane when we arrived, but you can jump them if you opt to eat in the sit-down dining room or, like us, book a tuk tuk tour of the city which includes a visit to try the flaky little pieces of food heaven.

It was other tasty little bites that drew us back to the Andaz and the Luzzi restaurant, which recently won the Rooftop Category at the 2026 Restaurant & Bar Design Awards, an award very well deserved, in my humble opinion. It’s simply stunning.

We shared moreish plates full of tuna tartare, grilled prawns, chicken dumplings, prawn moqueca( a Brazilian fav of mine) baked seabass and even a cauliflower vindaloo – who knew!

Earlier in the evening we enjoyed a pre-dinner Fado trio in the Andaz Lounge and after dinner we headed through to enjoy some chilled tunes from the DJ at the rooftop bar.

Next day we made a bee-line for Livraria Bertrand, the oldest bookshop in the world, where our pal Rashmi was delighted to find a guide book she’d help write for sale. Amazing!

The bookshop has been in constant operation since 1732 and has various sections dedicated to different themes and languages and if you wander right to the back, you’ll find a lovely courtyard cafe where you can pour over your purchase with a coffee and custard tart, of course.

And typical of Lisbon it features a marvellous mural of Portuguese poet and writer Fernando Pessoa painted by acclaimed street artist Tamara Alves.

Looking at this impressive work, I decided it was time to hang up my spray can and leave the graffiti to the professionals.

Walt Disney World holidays are a bucket list event but that can amp up the pressure to get ‘everything’ right – we take a look at some easy booking tips not to be missed

At 40 square miles, Walt Disney World isn’t just theme park. The entire resort is roughly the same size of San Francisco, with four theme parks, two water parks, countless hotels, and even Disney Springs, a dedicated shopping zone with a cinema, theatre and bowling alley. While all of that means heaps of rides, shows, attractions and play areas to discover, it’s not surprising that for first-timers it can feel overwhelming.

Mickey Mouse’s Orlando home is worth it; it genuinely lives up to the hype. The pyrotechnics, the immersion, the magic; it’s all brilliant. But a place this huge requires planning – it’s not somewhere you want to wing it entirely. I’ve been lucky enough to visit Walt Disney World three times and let me tell you; the difference between a magical holiday and a sweaty, feral meltdown can come down to some tactical decisions.

Here are my top tips for getting the most out of your Walt Disney World holiday…

1. Make use of Walt Disney world package deals

Booking doesn’t have to be complicated. In fact, you can find Walt Disney World packages that include your hotel, flights and park tickets. British Airways Holidays currently offers seven-night packages in 2027 including your return flights, a Disney hotel stay, 2027 Free Dining + Drinks Offer and 14 days for the price of 7 Disney Magic Tickets. Package options include:

• 3* Disney’s All Star Sports Resort, from £1899pp
• 4* Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – Riverside, from £2249pp
• 5* Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort and Spa from £3749pp

You can book by November 1 to make use of the deals on ba.com/orlando. Disney’s 7-day and 14-Day Magic Tickets cover all four theme parks (and park hopping), water parks, and a Memory Maker which gives you unlimited professional photo downloads.

You can find plenty more information and packages at disneyholidays.co.uk.

2. Download the Walt Disney World App

It is not optional. It is the holiday. Live wait times, park hours, maps, restaurant bookings, your photos and, if you’re staying on-site, your hotel room key all live in the My Disney Experience app.

Download it before you fly and learn where things are. Resort guests can book Lightning Lane passes up to seven days before their stay begins, so work out your must-do rides now. Turning up without a ride strategy is exactly how Snow White ended up exhausted, making a panicked apple purchase, and sharing one bathroom with seven strangers. My must-do rides? TRON, Flight of Passage, Rise of the Resistance and the new muppets-themed Rock N Rollercoaster.

Consider a MagicBand+ too. This handy watch can be used to tap into the theme parks, unlock your hotel door, scan into fast pass queues, and even download your ride photos straight to your account. There are some fun surprises along the way – one of which is how it syncs up to the evening fireworks!

3. Meal planning

Do not be a poor, unfortunate soul standing in a 40-minute queue for a cheeseburger. Nothing triggers a family mutiny faster than a hangry child in the Florida sun. Use the Mobile Order feature on the app. You tap a button, waltz past the sweating masses, grab your tray, and try to hide your supreme smugness.

For proper sit-down dining, you can book exactly 60 days out before your visit. Just be warned to get in early, as tables in the more popular restaurants feel like they vanish faster than Cinderella’s carriage at midnight. My elite tier? Space 220 and Via Napoli in Epcot, Roundup Rodeo BBQ in Hollywood Studios.

As for Character Dining, it’s worth the splurge. At the Grand Floridian’s 1900 Park Fare, I ate Eggs Benedict and gummy bears with Cinderella, Tiana, Mirabel, and Aladdin coming directly to my table. It is peak efficiency. Let the royalty come to you. (Prices for this experience cost £44 per adult and from £27 per child at 1900 Park Fare).

Currently if you book by November 4, Walt Disney World has a Free Disney Dining and Drinks deal for holidays in 2027, which includes school holiday dates. The offer includes free table service dining plans or quick service plans, along with one drink per meal (alcoholic or non-alcoholic, depending on the plan chosen). The offer applies to a minimum of five consecutive nights when booking a Walt Disney World hotel alongside a park ticket package.

4. It doesn’t have to be an intense holiday

You do not need to be strapped to a ride vehicle for 14 consecutive hours to “get your money’s worth.” The Florida heat is aggressive, and the daily walking can be tiring. Take breaks, like enjoying some downtime at your hotel. Do not become a Disney Villain just because you want to force your sobbing toddler onto Peter Pan’s Flight a third time.

Don’t dismiss the water parks either. I retreated to Blizzard Beach – a “melted ski resort” where you float down a lazy river in blazing sunshine surrounded by fake snow. It is an absolute fever dream of a concept, and it is glorious. Disney has been here for decades. The castle will still be there after you’ve had a lie-down.

5. Don’t underestimate the size of the place

Walt Disney World isn’t simply one theme park; in fact, the entire resort is roughly the same size of San Francisco. Leave the glass slippers at home and pack your broken-in trainers. You will walk a half-marathon every day, and wet shoes feel like walking on angry sponges. And for the love of Jiminy Cricket, bring a refillable bottle. Ice water is completely free at quick-service spots if you just ask.

Staying on-site at a Disney hotel comes with some handy perks; for example, you get free transfers from your accommodation to the parks, and you can get 30 minutes of Early Theme Park Entry. Half an hour may not sound like a huge amount, but it’s enough to get in the parks early and head to the biggest rides before the queues kick in. The easy transport options also mean you can park hop or head back to your hotel for a break.

My advice is plan the logistics for high-stakes elements such as key rides you want to do, or food you want to eat, but leave space on the itinerary for the plot twists, and even just time to sit by the hotel pool doing absolutely nothing. This is a holiday after all!

HUGE walkouts are set to affect both Italy and Spain this week with both flight and train journeys disrupted.

The biggest strike will be held in Italy where staff who work in public and private sectors are staging demonstrations across the whole country.

The nationwide strike is scheduled for October 30 from 12am to 12.59pm.

The 24-hour walkout includes some who work in airports, however it’s unclear how many will take part in this general strike and which airline workers will join.

However, there’s a separate strike set to take place in Tuscany on October 30.

Ground-handling companies at Toscana Aeroporti, which runs Pisa and Florence airports are planning their own 24-hour strike.

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These staff are essential to the running of the airport – they load bags, check in passengers and turn planes around between flights.

A walkout here could mean delays and cancellations even if pilots and airline crews are working normally.

However, it’s possible that this will be called off as the day of the strike falls within Italy’s protected period.

Between October 30 and November 5, strikes that affect flights and airports are normally prohibited as it is a busy holiday period in Italy with All Saints’ Day falling on November 1.

Even if airport workers don’t join the strike action, the walkout will have an impact on Metro services, and on motorways, staff and toll services are set to strike.

Dockworkers and port staff are also set to strike and on the day there could be closures at attractions like museums.

The walkout follows widespread protests across the county about the rising costs of living, a new government budget plan and students are protesting over school conditions.

Over in Spain, a rail strike is set to take place on October 29 between 12.01am and 23.39pm.

The train drivers’ union SEMAF is calling for members who work for train operator Renfe to walk out.

This is over an ongoing dispute over safety standards on the country’s rail network.

It could cause major disruption across the country as Renfe operates across the entire network of Spain connecting major cities like Barcelona, Seville, Zaragoza and Alicante.

Flight compensation rules

A look at your rights if a flight is delayed or cancelled, when your entitled to compensation and if your travel insurance can cover the costs.

What are my rights if my flight is cancelled or delayed?

Under UK law, airlines have to provide compensation if your flight arrives at its destination more than three hours late.

If you’re flying to or from the UK, your airline must let you choose a refund or an alternative flight.

You will be able to get your money back for the part of your ticket that you haven’t used yet.

So if you booked a return flight and the outbound leg is cancelled, you can get the full cost of the return ticket refunded.

But if travelling is essential, then your airline has to find you an alternative flight. This could even be with another airline.

When am I not entitled to compensation?

The airline doesn’t have to give you a refund if the flight was cancelled due to reasons beyond their control, such as extreme weather.

Disruptions caused by things like extreme weather, airport or air traffic control employee strikes or other ‘extraordinary circumstances’ are not eligible for compensation.

Some airlines may stretch the definition of “extraordinary circumstances” but you can challenge them through the aviation regulator the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).

Will my insurance cover me if my flight is cancelled?

If you can’t claim compensation directly through the airline, your travel insurance may refund you.

Policies vary so you should check the small print, but a delay of eight to 12 hours will normally mean you qualify for some money from your insurer.

Remember to get written confirmation of your delay from the airport as your insurer will need proof.

If your flight is cancelled entirely, you’re unlikely to be covered by your insurance.

RYANAIR has announced a major new rule that will impact all its passengers.

From November 10, Ryanair will close its bag drop off services 60 minutes before flight departures.

This will change from the current rule, where the bag drop off services close 40 minutes before departure.

As a result, travellers will need to be at the airline’s bag drop off services earlier than currently.

The change was originally announced back in April.

The airline has commented that it will give its passengers 20 per cent more time to clear airport security and passport control queues.

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Though, passengers checking in a bag will need to ensure they are at the drop off desks earlier now.

The change will not impact passengers who are not checking in a bag.

Ryanair CMO, Dara Brady, said: “From Tue, 10 Nov, bag drop services at all Ryanair airports will close 60 minutes before scheduled departure, instead of the current 40 minutes.

“This small change will give the 20% of Ryanair passengers who check in a bag, more time to clear airport security and passport control queues and get to their departure gate before boarding begins, particularly during busy travel periods when airport queues can be longer.

“We remind passengers using airport bag drop services to arrive at the airport in good time and ensure they have checked in and dropped their bags before check-in and bag drop closes 60 minutes before departure.

“The remaining 80% of passengers who check in online and do not check in a bag are unaffected by this change.”

A new Which? reader ranking of the Canary Islands’ 15 biggest resorts placed Playa de las Américas in Tenerife at the bottom, with visitors criticising its value for money, tourist attractions, shopping and atmosphere

The worst resort in the Canary Islands has been slammed as unattractive, chaotic and overpriced, with some calling it the ‘new Benidorm’.

One person’s tropical haven is another’s nightmare. Plenty adore Benidorm with its budget Sunday dinners, towering hotels and lively entertainment district, while others would sooner stay home with the curtains drawn than venture to Alicante.

The same applies to Spain’s Canary Islands. A fresh Which? reader survey of the archipelago’s 15 largest resorts positioned a chic, upscale destination at the summit, and a spot notorious for all-night revelry and cut-price pints at the very bottom.

Playa de las Américas in Tenerife has landed at the foot of a Which? reader survey. Visitors criticised the resort’s value for money, tourist attractions, shopping and atmosphere.

Its accommodation performed more favourably, securing four out of five stars. At the opposite end of the rankings, Puerto de Mogán in Gran Canaria seized first place, with acclaim for its food, accommodation and scenery. Which? readers aren’t the first tourists to slate Playa de las Américas. One Mumsnet contributor remembered: “One of the overriding memories was the amount of cockroaches – they were EVERYWHERE.”

Travel guide Wikivoyage also cautions about overcrowding, noting: “The beaches are crowded during all hours of the day.”

Last year, Swedish content creator @amberleigh.travels attracted attention in the Spanish media after drawing comparisons between Tenerife and another well-loved Spanish holiday hotspot.

“I fear that Tenerife is slowly becoming like Benidorm,” she said in a TikTok video that has attracted more than 1.5 million views. She pointed out the abundance of mobility scooters in the resort and the large number of British tourists she came across.

It’s not difficult to understand why so many Brits flock there. EasyJet, Jet2 and Ryanair all operate direct flights from Liverpool John Lennon Airport to Tenerife, with fares starting from as little as £30 this December.

In a recent piece titled ‘the brutal truth behind the Tenerife tourism trap’, journalist Ava Hughes suggested that the issues stretch beyond Playa de las Américas to other areas along the island’s southern coastline.

“For decades, the southern coast of Tenerife-specifically Los Cristianos and Playa de las Américas-operated on a simple promise of sun, sand, and cheap beer. That model required constant expansion to remain profitable. Developers took every available inch of coastline, building upward and outward until the natural charm of the volcanic landscape was buried under layers of asphalt and breeze blocks,” Hughes wrote.

Yet other travel writers maintain that Playa de las Américas delivers precisely what it advertises. Nomad Traveller characterises it as a purpose-built destination created for mass tourism, rather than a peaceful getaway.

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

“It does that job well, and on its own terms it delivers hard-to-beat value for sun, sea, and nightlife. But it is not trying to be anywhere else, and understanding that is the key to deciding whether it belongs on your itinerary,” the publication notes.

Which? takes a comparable stance, advising tourists to assess the resort based on its true nature.

“At the risk of sounding like a contrarian, can we suggest that the complaints are misplaced? To moan about budget tourism’s excesses in Playa de las Américas is like complaining that Las Vegas is brash. It’s in the place’s DNA. The resort has never pretended to be anything else since it appeared practically overnight in the late 1960s,” it says.

The consumer group also highlights more peaceful accommodation options and numerous attractions beyond the drinking establishments.

“Avoid Playa de las Américas beach unless you want to watch surfers. There are five other options for a beach towel, including calm Playa del Camisón. Hundreds of rental outfits, tour operators and Siam Park waterpark mean you’re as likely to run out of activities as bar options. It’s not even rowdy if you stay around Camisón beach. The trick to Playa de las Américas is to visit with your eyes open. Who knows, you may have a blast.”

The complete list of the 15 resorts can be found on the Which? website.

A NUMBER of major train services that head to the country’s biggest airport are currently suspended due to an incident.

Emergency services are dealing with an incident resulting in several rail lines that head to Heathrow Airport being closed.

The disruption is currently impacting the Elizabeth line, Heathrow Express, and Great Western Railway services, with all lines between London Paddington and Heathrow Terminals and Reading closed.

Elizabeth Line customers are being advised to use bus connections between Hanwell and West Ealing, towards Ealing Broadway or Southall.

National Rail is also advising passengers that the disruptions could continue until at least 12pm.

It comes as a casualty was reported on the tracks shortly before 8am.

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Tickets are currently being accepted on London Underground, London Buses, Southwestern, Thameslink, DLR, South Western Railways and Chiltern Railway services.

If travelling from central London, the Piccadilly Line is still running so the London Underground is an option.

Though, to be on the safe side, travellers should allow extra time to get to the airport.

National Rail’s website currently states: “The emergency services are currently dealing with an incident between London Paddington and Heathrow Terminals / Reading.

“So that they can safely carry out their work, some lines have been closed.

“Trains operating between these stations may be cancelled, delayed by up to 60 minutes or revised as a result.

“Major disruption is expected until 12:00.”

Meanwhile, there are also disruptions between Weybridge and Surbiton.

South Western Railway has stated on X: “A speed restriction over defective track is affecting the railway between Weybridge and Surbiton.

“Trains may be cancelled, delayed or revised because of this problem.”

Polo Lam and his girlfriend Laura Matos say they only spent minutes on the phone to check Google Maps and the internet but were stunned at the final cost

A British traveller has warned holidaymakers about the risk of unexpected charges after spending just two hours in Monaco left him and his girlfriend with a £109 (€128.88) phone bill. Polo Lam, 30, from Whitby, North Yorkshire, was travelling across Europe with his girlfriend Laura Matos, 29, in September when the couple made a brief stop in Monaco.

Despite using just 18.66MB of mobile data between them, the pair were left picking up almost £85 (€99.79) in roaming charges, sending their monthly bill soaring to £109 (€128.88), compared with just £25 (€29.18) the previous month. Experts say 18.66MB is roughly the amount of data someone might use scrolling through Instagram for just three to 10 minutes, depending on the content being viewed.

The couple were enjoying a budget-friendly interrail holiday from Barcelona to Vienna, travelling through France, Italy, Slovenia, Croatia and Hungary. While staying in Nice, they decided to visit nearby Menton and make a short stop in Monaco, which hadn’t originally been part of their plans.

Laura, a psychologist and founder of La CoolMente, said: “It was actually my idea to visit Monaco. I’d heard so much about the luxury and the famous casino, and I wanted to see what it was like for myself.”

But it was only when they continued their journey into Italy that Polo checked their mobile account and discovered the their trip had cost more than they bargained for. Speaking to Nomad eSIM, Polo said: “I couldn’t believe it when I saw the bill. We’d only been in Monaco for a few hours, and somehow our phone bill had jumped to £109 (€128.88).

“We’d barely used our phones. We only checked Google Maps and opened Instagram, but that was about it.

“What really scares me is thinking about what could have happened if we’d stayed overnight. If we’d spent a whole day or two there, we could potentially have been looking at a bill running into the hundreds, or even thousands of pounds.

“I’m pretty stingy when it comes to money, so you can imagine how I felt. We’d gone interrailing to have a relatively inexpensive holiday, and suddenly we had this huge phone bill.”

Laura added: “We were both confused about where the charges had come from. We’d only used our phones briefly to find our location, so we felt the bill was completely unreasonable. We kept talking about it for days afterwards because we’d been trying so hard to save money throughout the trip.”

Polo said the unexpected expense put a dampener on their holiday. “The worst part was thinking about what else we could have spent that money on. We were trying to keep costs down, and it would have paid for three or four meals out in some of the places we visited.”

Laura agreed that the money could have been put to much better use. She said: “We’d been avoiding expensive experiences to save money, so it was frustrating to see that money disappear on a phone bill without getting anything enjoyable in return.

“I’d much rather have spent it on a nice meal at a restaurant with a view, visiting a museum or even a more comfortable hotel. When you’re travelling around Europe by interrail, a bit of extra comfort can make a big difference.”

The experience left the couple more cautious about using their phones abroad, particularly when travelling between countries. Polo said: “I’d tell anyone travelling around Europe to check exactly which countries are covered by their mobile plan. Just because somewhere is in Europe doesn’t mean your normal roaming allowance applies. We found that out the expensive way.”

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Tim Page, Marketing Lead at Nomad eSIM, said: “One of the biggest misconceptions about mobile roaming is that travelling within Europe automatically means you’re covered by your usual mobile plan.

“Monaco is a perfect example. Despite being surrounded by France on three sides, it’s not part of the European Union and isn’t automatically covered by the EU’s Roam Like at Home rules. Introduced in June 2017, these rules generally allow customers of EU mobile operators to use their calls, texts and data across EU countries without paying additional roaming charges.

“This means travellers could be using their phones in Nice without additional roaming charges, then cross into Monaco and face significantly higher rates for exactly the same usage. Before travelling, always check which countries are included in your mobile plan, particularly destinations such as Monaco, Andorra and Switzerland.

“Even small amounts of data can result in surprisingly expensive bills, so consider switching off data roaming or using a travel eSIM that specifically covers your destination. If you do receive an unexpected roaming charge, contact your mobile provider as soon as possible. While there’s no guarantee, some providers may be willing to reduce or waive the charges as a goodwill gesture.”

On the gable walls of the tough, working-class streets of east Belfast, the mystical beasts of Narnia vie for brick space with balaclava-wearing loyalists. The murals of the city have long projected the power of paramilitaries, but in recent years they have also begun to reflect the more positive contributions made by other local people, including the author CS Lewis.

Lewis was born in Dundela in 1898 in an attractive terrace house that has sadly since been demolished to be replaced by rather unattractive flats. But elsewhere in this part of the city, the Lewis connection is being built on and celebrated. CS Lewis Square is in the Holywood Arches neighbourhood and has a short walking trail featuring metal sculptures of Mr and Mrs Beaver, Mr Tumnus and other beloved characters from The Chronicles of Narnia. The centrepiece is a gigantic Aslan, towering over all from atop a circular mound.

About 15 minutes’ walk away, St Mark’s church on the Holywood Road is the proud custodian of a much smaller lion that may have inspired Lewis’s creation of Aslan. His grandfather, the Rev Thomas Hamilton, ministered here, living in the rectory for 13 years, and his front door was decorated with a beautiful brass lion’s head doorknob. The original has been removed for safekeeping, but an exact replica attracts thousands of Lewis pilgrims each year.

Leafy Circular Road, half a mile away, is where the Lewis family moved in 1905 to a large, redbrick house that, back then, was on the outskirts of the city. The road has since been subsumed by the growth of the town, but remains the realm of the prosperous. The house, called Little Lea, is privately owned, but can be seen from the iron gates at the end of the drive.

“To a child, it seemed less like a house than a city,” Lewis wrote of the family home in his autobiography, Surprised By Joy. “I am a product of long corridors, empty sunlit rooms, upstairs indoor silences, attics explored in solitude.”

Little Lea appears in the opening two Narnia books, first when a boy exploring a large attic in The Magician’s Nephew finds a way into another world, and then in The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe when a game of hide and seek leads a group of inquisitive children to that same magical world a generation later.

Although it was close to east Belfast’s industrial heartland, it was also just a fence clamber away from the fields, hills and woodland glens that fringed the city like a vast adventure playground. As children, Lewis and his elder brother Warnie seem to have had a freedom to wander that would terrify modern parents. They would trek for hours up into the hills between Belfast and Strangford Lough, and travelling that way today still evokes a sense of romantic escapism.

The Belmont Road takes you up, climbing dramatically out of the city and into the expansive high ground that towers over Belfast, Bangor and Newtownards. There are many viewpoints up here. Lewis didn’t record the exact spot that inspired the following ethereal description of the views he loved, but for this writer, the crags of the Whitespots country park on the hill above Newtownards are a pretty good bet, especially as this place also chimes loudly with his descriptions of the stone table on which Aslan was sacrificed in The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.

“Looking south with a little east in it, a different world,” he writes in Surprised By Joy. “And having seen it, blame me if you can for being a romantic. For here is the thing itself, utterly irresistible, the way to the world’s end, the land of longing, the breaking and blessing of hearts. You are looking across … the plain of Down, and seeing beyond it the Mourne Mountains.”

Lewis once told Warnie that the view from the Mournes above Rostrevor looking down over Carlingford Lough was his idea of Narnia. The statement is now stencilled on a bench at a viewpoint in the town’s Kilbroney forest park. Sitting there, in the majesty of this area, it is easy to imagine, as Lewis later wrote in an essay, that a “giant might raise his head over the next ridge”.

Rostrevor is an hour’s drive south of Belfast, and an hour’s drive in the other direction will take you to the equally spectacular north coast, where Lewis holidayed with his mother as a young child. There’s an ongoing debate among Lewis scholars and his many passionate fans about whether it was Dunluce Castle or Downhill Demesne that inspired Cair Paravel, the castle capital of Narnia.

The ruins of Dunluce perch precipitously on the coast east of Portrush, while Downhill Demesne, near Castlerock, contains what remains of the old Downhill House but also the iconic Mussenden Temple, which much better fits the description of Cair Paravel looking “like a great star resting on the seashore”.

Lewis was writing his autobiography at the same time he was producing the seven Chronicles of Narnia. The experiences and landscapes he was remembering for his memoir very likely bled into the creation of his magical kingdom. And so the heavenly, pastoral landscapes of Narnia on the murals of east Belfast might feel familiar even to those locals who haven’t read the books or watched the screen adaptations. The wholesome images of his imagination being sandwiched between paintings glorifying terrorism is an unusual setting for a tribute to the world’s most famous Christian apologist, but perhaps in Belfast, as in Narnia, good will win in the end.

The first of Netflix’s new The Chronicles Of Narnia adaptations, Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew, will be released in cinemas on 12 February 2027 and on Netflix on 2 April. Surprised by Joy by CS Lewis © 1955 CS Lewis Pte Ltd, The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe by CS Lewis © 1950 CS Lewis Pte Ltd

HOLIDAYMAKERS are swapping Spanish escapes for bargain breaks to North Africa, where glamour comes without the premium price tag.

Tour operator TUI has seen a rise in British passenger numbers for this winter, with particular interest in all-inclusive, luxury holidays to Egypt as well as Tunisia.

Meanwhile, easyJet recorded a growth of 14 per cent year on year to North Africa.

Garry Wilson, boss of easyJet holidays, said: “Tunisia, Egypt and Morocco offer huge potential, with high-quality hotels, brilliant value, warm hospitality and great connectivity from airports across the UK.”

Sophie Sweitochowski shares her pick of premium North African getaways for 2027 that won’t break the bank.

Grab them while they are hot.

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TAGHAZOUT, MOROCCO

THE Hilton Hilton Taghazout Bay Beach Resort & Spa is an absolute steal at under £700pp for seven nights with flights.

It’s chic and contemporary in style, with five swimming pools — one adults-only and a few overlooking the sea where you will spot surfers riding Taghazout’s notorious waves.

Bedrooms are generously sized and come with balconies, perfect for soaking up those 22C highs, plus there is a lavish spa dishing out local treatments like

Don’t skip brekkie. The extensive feast features freshly baked pastries, yoghurts, fresh fruits and live cooking stations as well as local honeys and traditional flatbreads.

GO: Seven nights’ B&B at the 5H Hilton Taghazout Bay Beach Resort & Spa is from £656pp including flights from Gatwick on December 3, plus luggage and transfers. See jet2holidays.com.

SHARM EL SHEIKH, EGYPT

IT is impossible to feel bored at the Jaz Mirabel Beach Hotel.

The sprawling resort is home to an on-site waterpark with whirling slides, a water sports centre where you can try windsurfing, parasailing and water-skiing, plus an open-air amphitheatre for regular shows and entertainment.

The highlight is the location, bordering the Red Sea. Guests can use the hotel’s private jetty to plunge into one of the best snorkelling spots in the area.

Scenic boat trips and desert safaris to traditional bedouin camps are some of the bucket list excursions on offer from the hotel.

GO: Seven nights’ all-inclusive at the 5H Jaz Mirabel Beach Hotel is from £762pp including flights from East Midlands on December 14. See tui.co.uk.

SOUSSE, TUNISIA

A CHAMPAGNE lifestyle on a lemonade budget is achievable in Tunisia, especially at the Sousse Palace Hotel & Spa.

Right in the centre of town, there are glam restaurants and bars right on the doorstep — not that you will need them with this all-inclusive package, however.

The main buffet restaurant operates around a theme of international dishes every night with live cooking and meat carving stations.

If you are willing to shell out a little extra, though, you should visit the hotel’s Le 12ème which serves elegant plates such as freshly-caught fish carpaccio and slow-cooked lamb shank.

Outside of the food, there’s a sandy beach, wellness centre with a traditional Tunisian hammam, steam rooms and massage suites, and several swimming pools.

GO: Seven nights’ all-inclusive at the 5H Sousse Palace Hotel & Spa is from £360pp including flights from Gatwick on November 25. See easyjet.com/en/holidays.

MARRAKECH, MOROCCO

ON the hunt for a relaxing couples break? The Be Live Collection Marrakech is an adults-only haven, set back from the chaos of the city centre but with a free daily shuttle bus direct to Jemaa el-Fnaa square.

There is a quiet pool if you are after complete relaxation, while the activity pool has a livelier atmosphere.

If you have never experienced a traditional Moroccan hammam, this is the place to do it.

The wellness area is equipped with two authentic traditional Moroccan hammams where therapists use authentic black soap to remove dead skin cells.

Come night time, indulge in a drink at one of the four sleek bars.

GO: Seven nights’ all-inclusive at the 5H Be Live Collection Marrakech is from £479pp including flights from Manchester on December 12. See loveholidays.com.

HAMMAMET, TUNISIA

ON a private beach and surrounded by greenery, The Sindbad offers pure luxury escapism in the heart of the town.

Its infinity pool looks a little like the sort you would get in a fancy Ibiza or Mykonos resort, only this place is a fraction of the price.

In to golf? The resort offers discounted green fees to Yasmine Golf Club and Citrus Golf Club, two of Tunisia’s top 18-hole courses, with free shuttle buses.

The buffet restaurant is excellent and a great opportunity to sample the local cuisine such as couscous and brik, a mashed potato dish usually served with fish.

GO: Seven nights’ B&B at the 5H The Sindbad is from £370pp including flights from Newcastle on December 10. See travelsupermarket.com.

THE UK could soon get a direct link via ferry to a new destination in Europe.

Plans have been submitted for a ferry route between Aberdeen in Scotland and Iceland, often dubbed ‘Snow Land’.

The passenger and freight ferry would head to Seydisfjordur – a town on Iceland’s east coast.

Bob Sanguinetti, chief executive of the Port of Aberdeen, said: “A regular service between Aberdeen and Iceland would certainly be of interest to the port.”

So far, one ferry operator has shown interest in the route.

In the future, there could also be a stop in Orkney.

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Currently, there are no direct international passenger ferry services from Scotland, so if this route were to go ahead it would be the first.

It is unclear how long the ferry journey would take.

The picturesque town of Seydisfjordur sits in the innermost point of a fjord that has the same name.

To get to the town, visitors drive along Route 93 which heads over the Fjarðarheiði mountain pass.

The town is known for its wooden buildings dating back to the 19th and early 20th century as well.

Currently, the easiest way to visit Iceland from the UK is by flying, which takes around three hours and costs from £42 return.

A NEW attraction with an enormous lagoon and bright white sands is set to open a few hours from the UK.

Called Alovera Beach, it’s set to open in summer 2028 and the catch is that it’s nowhere near the coast.

Instead, the company called Crystal Lagoons is hoping to open Europe’s largest man-made beach just outside of Spain’s capital, Madrid.

The project itself that’s 104,000 square metres is being built at the cost of €29million (£24.3million).

At its centre will be a 21,000-square-metre artificial lagoon which will be surrounded by 16,000 square metres of white sand which makes for the perfect sunbathing spot.

The lagoon will be suitable for swimming as well as watersports like kayaking, paddleboarding and aqua fitness classes.

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There will also be children’s attractions, relaxation spaces, food outlets and cafes.

On the sand will be an adults-only beach club with separate lounges to relax in as well as restaurants.

During the summer it’s hoping to hold seasonal events too including concerts, guest celebrations and even business events.

Looking at the details on its website, it looks like entry will be through memberships and daily passes.

Plans for Alovera Beach started back in 2017 and it has just taken a huge step forward with developers signing a formal construction-start document on October 21, 2026.

If all goes to plan, work is set to complete in March 2028 with it opening to the public a few months later in the summer months.

When it does open, the inland beach will be easy for Brits to reach as Alovera is a 45-minute drive from Madrid.

One-way flights are as little as £20 and Brits can get there in less than two and a half hours.

The company has made 1,000 projects across 60 countries including the Evermore Orlando Resort.

It has a range of accommodation including guest rooms and suites to Walt Disney World around two enormous beach areas where visitors can try out kayaking and paddleboarding.

The lagoon here is larger than 25 Olympic-size swimming pools and has has two beach areas.

LOOKING to celebrate Bonfire Night with some incredible firework displays but without the price tag? Luckily there are plenty of free ones across the country.

The average November outing can cost UK families up to £30 and that’s without the hot chocolates, so here’s a handy list of the biggest celebrations that are completely free to enter.

Cambridge

For anyone near Cambridge, Midsummer Common is one of the largest free fireworks displays in the East of England.

On November 5, the evening will begin with a live DJ at 6pm – then to keep everyone entertained, there will be theatrical walkabout acts through the crowds.

These include giant caribou puppets and stilt walking jellyfish.

There will be food vendors on-site as well from 6pm until late.

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The firework ‘extravaganza’ will begin at 7pm. The event is completely free, but donations are encouraged.

Manchester

In Manchester, there are three free fireworks night celebrations hosted by the City Council all taking place on November 7 this year.

These will be at Heaton Park, Wythenshawe Park and Platt Fields Park.

Each event will open at 3pm followed by interactive storytelling sessions for children.

At all the sites will be two lots of fireworks, the first will be reduced noise fireworks at 5pm.

There will be a lantern parade at 7pm and around the site is a food and drink village, family-friendly entertainment and activities as well as funfair rides.

The second firework display will be at 8pm set to music.

Watford

Hertfordshire’s biggest display is the Cassiobury Park Fireworks in Watford on November 7.

It kicks off at 6pm with entertainment on the main stage by Vibe 107.6FM followed by a local band.

Dotted about will be food and drink outlets along with activities for kids including bungee trampolines and a bouncy slide.

The fireworks display will start at 7.30pm.

Plymouth

For anyone in the south west, Plymouth will hold a large Bonfire Night celebration on November 5.

It’s popular with around 20,000 people flocking to The Hoe for its huge bonfire next to Smeaton’s Tower and 15-minute firework display over the Citadel.

Food stalls will open on Plymouth Hoe from 4pm until late.

The bonfire will start at 7pm in the evening with the fireworks starting at 7.30pm.

These are completely free to attend, but for anyone who heads up to the promenade for the rides – there will be a small fee to go on them.

Norfolk

Fawkes in the Walks is one of the biggest firework displays in Norfolk.

This year it will take place on November 6 at The Walks in King’s Lynn.

Kicking off at 6pm it will have live music, food and drink stalls and a funfair which will keep everyone occupied before the main event.

The fireworks kick off at 8pm alongside live music from DJ Mark Purdy and Vex.

The event is completely free but donations are encouraged.

London

In London anyone on a budget can usually get a good view of fireworks for free from vantage points like Primrose or Parliament Hill.

However, if you want to go to an actual event, Coram’s Fields is one of London’s free community displays.

Gates open at 3.30pm with performances by local youth groups beginning at 4.15pm – this is also when the fun fair rides and food stalls will first open.

The 18-minute long firework display will begin at 6pm.

General entry to the display is on a first-come, first-served basis and is subject to the park’s capacity.

It’s also worth noting that as Coram’s Fields is a children’s park, adults may can only attend the event when accompanied by a child.

East Sussex

For a slightly unusual Bonfire Night, Lewes in East Sussex holds the biggest celebration in the country.

Every year on November 5, six different bonfire societies each hold their own procession and firework displays through the town.

The majority of the event is completely free, like the bonfire at Commercial Square and the torchlit parades.

Entry to the individual society firework and bonfire sites requires a paid ticket – but they will be free to watch from the public-accessible areas along the routes.

This year, the processions start at around 5pm and will arrive at the individual bonfire at around 9.45pm with fireworks displays finishing around 11pm.

EVERY traveller knows the main airport terminal is essentially a giant, chaotic waiting room where a sad sandwich and a pre-flight pint can set you back a small fortune.

But tucked away from the crowds is a world of plush sofas, Prosecco refills, buffet spreads and hot showers – and getting past the velvet rope is cheaper than you might think.

Claim 20% off Priority Pass membership

The trick to bypassing the terminal madness is a Priority Pass membership.

Once you’re signed up, you’ll get access to more than 1,900 premium airport lounges across the globe.

And right now, savvy Sun readers can bag 20 per cent off their first year by clicking here.

This includes major UK airports like London Heathrow, Gatwick, East Midlands, Manchester, and Birmingham. In fact, Priority Pass covers 85 per cent of the world’s top 100 airports.

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Instead of battling for a plug socket in a busy terminal, the smart holidaymakers are hiding out in spaces like the Aspire, No. 1, Skylife, and Escape lounges.

Inside these lounges you get access to food as well as alcoholic drinks, comfy seating, fast Wi-Fi and plenty of places to charge your devices.

But it’s far more than just filling your boots at the buffet. Depending on where you’re flying from, these spaces are kitted out with hot showers, exercise zones even nap pods to counter that gruelling early morning start.

And for even more pampering, at airports with Be Relax spas you can squeeze in a pre-flight massage or a fresh manicure, ready to show off on holiday.

And if that’s not enough, Priority Pass members also get free access to the WithU Fitness app.

The app normally costs £79.99 a year, and includes personalised audio coaching and workout programmes that you can take home with you.

Claim 20% off Priority Pass membership

A standard plan usually costs £69 a year, but drops to just £55 with our 20 per cent discount.

That works out to less than a fiver a month, coming in a £4.60.

After that, with a standard pass you pay a flat £24 entry fee each time you visit a lounge – giving you access to those all-you-can-eat buffets and free-flowing drinks.

Priority Pass members get access to:

• Complimentary food and drinks (including alcohol)
• Sleep pods to catch up on rest at selected locations
• Be Relax spa treatments (at participating airports)
• Bring along a guest (£24 Guest visit fee)
• Discounts on further airport dining and spa treatments
• The option to re-book selected lounges for a supplementary fee
• Free membership to the WithU Fitness app (worth £79.99 per year)

Claim 20% off Priority Pass membership

Prices correct at the time of publication.

EASYJET has announced a major new perk on its flights – WiFi.

The budget airline is installing high-speed internet onboard its planes in collaboration with Starlink.

The move means that easyJet is the first budget airline in the UK to get Starlink WiFi alongside Wizz Air, who are also launching WiFI next year.

Starlink will be rolled out across the airline’s A320 and A321 fleet from the first half of 2027 and expected to be completed by early 2028.

With the new WiFi, passengers can stream, game and browse, although it isn’t clear yet how much it will cost.

Kenton Jarvis, CEO at easyJet, said: “In an increasingly digital world, staying connected matters more than ever to many of our customers, whether that’s holidaymakers looking to unwind with inflight entertainment, or our business customers keeping up to speed with what’s happening on the ground.

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“Innovation is in easyJet’s DNA and partnering with SpaceX to bring Starlink’s high-speed internet connectivity onboard for the first time will not only further enhance the experience we provide millions of customers, but means we are offering more of the options both business and leisure travellers want when they choose who they fly with.

“Giving customers the opportunity to get online in the air will mean even greater choice and convenience when you fly with easyJet.

“Ultimately, it’s yet another way we’re making travel easy.”

Gwynne Shotwell, President and Chief Operating Officer of SpaceX, said: “We’re proud to bring Starlink onboard easyJet and transform the way their customers stay connected throughout their travels.

“Fast, reliable connectivity from take-off to landing means people can work, stream, or stay in touch without interruption.”

Other airlines that have already installed Starlink in the UK include British Airways and Virgin Atlantic.

With dramatic wild landscapes of mountains and lochs, rugged coastlines and remote islands, Scotland is the perfect place to really get away from it all. We want to hear about your favourite wild escapes, whether it was a stay in an off-grid cabin or bothy, a solo hike on a less-visited trail or mountain, or a romantic break on a windswept isle.

The best tip of the week, chosen by Tom Hall of Lonely Planet wins a £200 voucher to stay at a Coolstays property – the company has more than 3,000 worldwide. The best tips will appear in the Guardian Travel section and website.

Keep your tip to about 100 words

If you have a relevant photo, do send it in – but it’s your words we will be judging for the competition.

We’re sorry, but for legal reasons you must be a UK resident to enter this competition.

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.

ONE of the UK’s largest indoor waterparks is set to close next week until next year.

Despite usually remaining open year-round, Aqua Park in Stoke-on-Trent will close for renovations next week.

The park is part of Waterworld and will be closed from November 2 until early next year.

The park is hosting a ‘Last Splash’ party on November 1 before the closure with a DJ between 12pm and 4pm.

Few details have been revealed about the renovation, but the park currently has 30 rides and attractions.

The website simply states that it cannot wait to welcome back visitors with “exciting upgrades”.

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Wayne Goodall, Managing Director of Waterworld Leisure Resort, said: “Our closing party is the perfect chance for visitors to make a last splash with us before we close for a short time to make exciting changes across the Aqua Park.

“At its heart, Waterworld offers families a place to spend time together, escape from everyday life and enjoy that holiday feeling, whatever the weather.

“The upgrades we have planned are set to build on that sense of fun and enhance the way we tell our story, creating a more immersive experience for our guests.

“We can’t wait to reveal more about the upcoming investment soon.”

Adventure Mini Golf and Adventure Mini Village will remain open while the Aqua Park undergoes renovation.

Waterworld first opened in 1989 and is heated to a toasty 30C year-round, with numerous different slides such as Cyclone, Hurricane and Stormchaser.

There are racing slides as well and even a water rollercoaster.

If thrill rides aren’t your thing though, you can relax in the wave pool or bubble pools.

There’s also a rapids area, hot tubs and a children’s splash area.

A Jet2 passenger plane was filmed veering off the runway onto the grass at Birmingham Airport on Sunday, as Storm Boelo winds whipped across the Midlands travel hub

The terrifying moment a Jet2 passenger plane veered off the runway in strong Storm Boelo winds has been captured on video

In the clip, the passenger jet is seen approaching the runway. As it touches down on the tarmac, the plane bucks up a little, causing the aircraft to move around on its axis in the air. When the plane next touches down, its nose is directed off the runway.

The plane’s speed causes it to run off the tarmac and onto the grass, with dust and mud from the wheels billowing into the air. The plane’s pilots managed to correct its course, veering it back onto the tarmac and straightening it up.

No one was injured in the landing.

Were you on the flight? Email webtravel@reachplc.com

A spokesperson for Jet2 told the Mirror: “Flight LS1310 from Venice to Birmingham temporarily moved off the runway after landing at Birmingham Airport, due to exceptional weather conditions caused by Storm Boelo. The aircraft immediately returned to the runway and taxied to the stand. We can confirm that everyone disembarked as normal.”

The landing was one of the dicier moments on a weekend in which gusts reached 80 miles per hour in parts of the country, causing dozens of cancellations and lengthy delays. There were also fatalities caused by the storm.

A 60-year-old man died after being struck by a falling tree in Dumfries and Galloway during Storm Boelo. Police Scotland said the man was on a road at Mid Kelton, near Castle Douglas, when the tree fell on him at around 10.30am on Sunday.

A spokesperson said: “We were made aware of a 60-year-old man having been struck by a falling tree on a minor road at Mid Kelton near Castle Douglas around 10.30am on Sunday October 25 2026. The man was pronounced dead at the scene. There are no suspicious circumstances and a report will be submitted to the procurator fiscal in due course.”

The Met Office has warned of possible injuries and danger to life from flying debris, alongside the risk of damage to buildings, power cuts and travel disruption. An amber wind warning came into force at 9pm on Saturday and remained in place until 9pm on Sunday. Only Orkney remained under a yellow warning.

Network Rail said most train services were expected to return to normal on Monday, but advised passengers to check their journeys online before travelling. On Sunday, nine of the rail operators suffered from severe disruptions, with Scotrail forced to suspend journeys on entire sections of its network.

Teams have cleared fallen trees and debris from tracks and carried out repairs to overhead lines and flooding-related damage that disrupted the network.

Gary Hopkirk, route director at Network Rail Scotland, said: “It’s been a really challenging weekend for Scotland’s railway and particularly for the teams who’ve been out in some very difficult conditions responding to whatever the weather has thrown at us. Our focus throughout has been on keeping people safe and trains moving wherever possible.

“Now the worst of the weather has passed, our attention is on getting the railway back to normal. We’ll be working as quickly as we can, but we won’t compromise on safety. We know disruption is frustrating and we really appreciate the patience people have shown this weekend while our teams do everything they can to get everyone moving again.”

Several roads and bridges across Scotland and Northern Ireland have been forced to close in the weather, while many of the ferry services between the Scottish mainland and the islands, as well as the island of Ireland and Britain, were cancelled.

Of CalMac’s 30 ferry services scheduled for Sunday, 27 were cancelled, with some suspensions expected to continue until Monday.

A man dedicates U2’s “With or Without You” to the ex-boyfriend who ghosted him. A woman sings “I’m Coming Home” from “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” for the late Tim Curry. The room pounds their fists on the tables to the bridge of Metallica’s “One,” a harrowing anthem about the horrors of war.

This is Blue Mondays, a karaoke night dedicated to sad songs that’s become a ritual of catharsis for its regulars. It happens the first Monday of every month at the Fable, where singers compete for what KJ (karaoke jockey) Teri Gamble calls, “the most coveted shirt in all of Eagle Rock”: a blue T-shirt featuring a pajama-clad Garfield (the cat, not the president) with the caption “I hate Mondays.”

Gamble, an actor, musician and podcaster, has sung karaoke since childhood with their babysitter. They host several karaoke events, including a Broadway night at Akbar in Silver Lake, and have helmed Blue Mondays for about two years.

Singers gather at the Fable on the first Monday of the month to belt out their saddest songs.

Gamble doesn’t always choose the best singer to win the Garfield shirt. They consider performers who make a song their own, get everyone singing along, or seem like they need a win.

“There was a girl who … had a cast on her arm. She cried her whole song. I said, ‘you don’t have to tell me what happened, but I love you and I hope everything gets better.’ And then I definitely gave her the shirt that night,” Gamble said.

Thom Sigsby, who owns the Fable with his wife, Monica Katzenell Sigsby, enjoys the low-key performances. “Someone did [Sara Bareilles’ “She Used to Be Mine”] and it was just devastating. There wasn’t a single moment of feeling like she realized there was anyone else in the room,” he said.

You’d expect long faces nursing their drinks, but it’s often the opposite. There’s something freeing about exorcising negativity through song that keeps people coming back. There’s community here, across the dedicated regulars and the staff — Gamble’s an incredible singer, and bartender Megha Wescombe absolutely crushes “Maybe This Time” from “Cabaret.” As Nicole Kidman might say, “Heartbreak feels good in a place like this.”

Patrons cheer after a performance during Blue Mondays. Regulars tell stories of forging new friendships at the event.

Mel Minghelli can perform both parts in “Phantom of the Oprah” thanks to her wide vocal range.

“I think I end up feeling less sad about my own personal sads because we are sharing them together,” Gamble said. “So it feels like the burden is lessened by the end of the night every time.”

Akhil Indurti, a software engineer who also performs musical improv at the Upright Citizens Brigade, won October’s shirt. He sang System of a Down’s “Chop Suey” (frontman Serj Tankian owns Kavat Cafe, two doors down), though his go-to is Chris Isaak’s “Wicked Game.”

“I think oftentimes [people] listen to sad songs because they’re sometimes more musically interesting,” he said. “They’re not just a major chord progression. It’s not usually just sadness. There’s nuance and subtlety. There’s some storytelling.”

Soraya Sebghati won September’s shirt with Linda Ronstadt’s “Long Long Time.” She fronts the band Night Talks, and said sometimes people tell her she shouldn’t be allowed to do karaoke because she’s a professional. She still loves it, both as a performer and a spectator, and — despite her seemingly upbeat demeanor — enjoys Blue Mondays as a “safe space for the freaks and the goths and people who want to sing sad stuff.”

Fable owner Thom Sigsby says his karaoke book, with more than 12,000 songs, may feel antiquated compared with digital karaoke platforms, but that’s the point.

“I’m the kind of person, when I’m sad, I like to listen to more sad music. I’m also a big cinephile. Bleak Week at Cinematheque’s [Bleak Week: Cinema of Despair] is my favorite week of programming of the year,” she said.

Fable owner Thom Sigsby says his karaoke book, with more than 12,000 songs, may feel antiquated compared to digital karaoke platforms, but that’s the point.

Dave Child lays it all out on the karaoke stage.

The Fable’s crowd and the songs they choose are eclectic, spanning generations and musical tastes. Some songs you’re guaranteed to hear every time — Radiohead’s “Creep” and Johnny Cash’s cover of “Hurt” are staples — but some performers choose more subversive tracks.

For example, OutKast’s “Hey Ya” sounds happy, but it’s about loveless relationships. Barry Manilow’s high-energy “Copacabana” describes a woman who drank her life away following her lover’s murder. Gamble recalled a performer who writhed on the floor while sob-singing Lou Bega’s “Mambo No. 5,” which could be sad considering the protagonist’s inability to maintain a steady relationship.

Blue Mondays didn’t start at the Fable. Sigsby was already a karaoke enthusiast when he began KJing at Bigfoot Lodge in Atwater Village about 14 years ago. By his own admission, he “got way too into it,” spending his own money to add songs to his book. A former theater kid and commercial actor, karaoke gave Sigsby a new way to express himself on stage and make friends. He and his wife even bonded over karaoke before they married.

Lyrics for “Solitaire,” a Neil Sedaka ballad, plays during a karaoke performance.

Given that Mondays are usually slow, Sigsby and his co-workers began adding shticks: single-artist blocks, nights where KJs chose singers’ songs, and Blue Mondays, which offered a free “Prozac” shot for each depressing tune (a mystery blend with an on-theme hue). Free booze — which singers still receive today — was a motivator, but so was the theme, which seemed to “resonate” more than the others.

Sigsby later founded his own karaoke company, HiHo Karaoke. It operates at bars including Ye Rustic Inn, Glendale’s the Gold Rail and Bigfoot Lodge, whose own Blue Mondays, Sigsby said, draws a younger crowd. Compared with some karaoke outfits, Sigsby admits HiHo may appear “antiquated,” but that’s intentional. “There’s no app, there [are] no [paper] slips. You literally just come talk to us because we want to meet you and talk to you and have a relationship with the singer[s],” he said.

The same goes for HiHo’s book. Streaming services may offer 50,000-song catalogs, but HiHo’s 12,000-plus book is curated by its hosts and clientele. Licensing each song ensures musicians and rights holders are paid, and lets people request the songs they’ve been dying to sing, from emo deep cuts to Puccini operas.

Brian Collins performs during Blue Mondays.

In 2019, Sigsby and his wife purchased the Fable (formerly the Old Chalet and before that, the Black Boar) less than six months before the pandemic. It was after stay-at-home orders lifted that Blue Mondays really took off. “I think it really was just this need for everyone to reconnect coming out of COVID and also have a safe space … where they really could emote,” he said.

Through the Eaton fire in nearby Altadena and today’s economic uncertainty — Sigsby notes the first Monday means everyone’s just paid rent — the Fable has continued to offer that space.

Regular Mel Minghelli, whose impressive four-octave range let her nail both the Phantom and Christine in “The Phantom of the Opera,” said, “I think in the way that sad music has helped people as a comfort, it’s really nice to be able to perform it and have other people … hear it or also feel comforted.” Minghelli used to treat her unique talent as a “party trick,” but now wants to record her own music with singer-songwriter Johnny Mace, another regular she met at the Fable.

Mace chose Calum Scott’s cover of Robyn’s “Dancing on My Own” that evening, though he said he often does Black Sabbath’s “War Pigs.” He described the Fable as a “magical” place where he’s found numerous friends and opportunities. “I was in the deepest depression and coming out here got my confidence back and I found my voice again. I [had given up] on my music career. I was really hurting and this place gave me life again so I owe this place a lot,” he said.

He won the shirt once singing the Goo Goo Dolls’ “Iris” but has since given it away, to whom he can’t remember. Why? Unlike Garfield, he likes Mondays.

The next Blue Monday is Nov. 2, 8:30 p.m.-12:30 a.m., at the Fable, 1630 Colorado Blvd. in Eagle Rock.