THE best holiday parks and resorts around the UK have been announced from luxury resorts to lakeside lodges with incredible views.
Which? has found the top stays by looking at price, accommodation, cleanliness, food and drink to value for money – so who is taking the top spot?
Some of the best holiday parks have lakeside lodges – like Keswick Reach Lodge RetreatCredit: TripAdvisorOthers like Hoburne Cotswold Reach have outdoor poolsCredit: TripAdvisor
In Hopton-on-Sea, guests can choose to stay in cosy bungalows, hotel rooms, or go all out with a stay in the Penthouse which has views over the Resort and out towards the sea.
At Five Lakes in Essex, there’s a choice of The Village, which is set within the grounds of the holiday park, hotel rooms and suites.
The holiday park came at the top of the table for recommended resorts with an average price of £87pppn.
It received five-stars for customer service, along with facilities, food and drink.
Second on Which?’s list is Hoburne Holidays which has seven resorts across the country in Dorset, Hampshire, the New Forest, Devon, the Cotswolds and Somerset.
Hoburne Park in Dorset was the very first to open in 1912 which is right by the coast and has cosy caravans and lodges.
Potters Resorts came in first place with its two resorts in Norfolk and EssexCredit: Potters Resorts Hopton on Sea
A few minutes away is the soft sandy Avon beach and further along is Mudeford Quay and Hengistbury Head.
When it comes to activities, there is a heated indoor pool, seasonal outdoor pool, adventure golf, games area, paddle boats, crafts as well as steam room sauna and a gym.
Another popular resort is in Gloucestershire, called Cotswolds Reach it has lovely lodges to settle down in – and a heated outdoor pool.
The average price starts from £63pppn and it received a customer score of 81 per cent.
Its highest star rating was in food and drink, followed by value for money, facilities, activities and entertainment, cleanliness and quality of accommodation – for which it got four-stars.
Darwin Escapes came third on the list – and some of its holiday parks have incredible lakeside lodges with mountain views.
Keswick Reach Lodge Retreat is a great spot for anyone wanting to see more of the Lake District.
There’s an on-site restaurant, spa, relaxation suite which you can book to have for yourself, a gym, and a corner shop.
Some of the self-catered, countryside-retreat style lodges have wooden beam ceilings and a woodburner with a deck to enjoy in the summer, even hot tubs.
Darwin Escapes had an average price of £50pppn with a customer score of 80 per cent – a family of four can book a lodge at Keswick Reach Lodge Retreat in November from £195 or £12.18pppn.
Dylan Coastal Resort in Wales looks over the Taf EstuaryCredit: LandalSome lodges at the Dylan Coastal Resort even have hut tubsCredit: Landal
Landal Green Parks in fourth place was also recommended by Which? and one of its most impressive holiday parks is Dylan Coastal Resort in South Wales.
The holiday lodges sit high up on a hilltop looking out over the Taf Estuary which make for very impressive views.
The lodges range from 1-4 person to six- person stays – and some with hot tubs too.
Below the holiday lodges is Milk Wood House, which is home to facilities including an infinity pool, outdoor spa area, and lots of therapy treatments.
It’s also where guests will find the bar and restaurant which can be enjoyed on one of the three terraces.
Nearby, guests can try out watersports and bouldering at Wild Lakes, explore the National Botanical Garde, n and the beautiful fishing village of Tenby.
It came fourth on the table with an average price of £58pppn and a customer score of 80 per cent.
Other well-known brands like Away Resorts were also mentioned – it came in seventh on the list with a customer score of 75 per cent.
In the last five places on the table were Center Parcs, Haven Holiday Parks, Parkdean, Butlins and Pontins.
These are the full list of the best UK holiday parks from Which?
TRAVEL chaos caused by a major tech outage across all UK airports earlier this week has left thousands stranded – with many left out of pocket when booking back up flights and hotels.
An Air Traffic Control failure in the UK on Tuesday saw thousands of flights cancelled, resulting in travel chaos across the globe.
An Air Traffic Control issue in the UK left thousands of travellers stranded this weekCredit: EPA
Many have since been asking if they can claim compensation back, with flights both delayed and cancelled for days.
However, as the NATS issue was classed as an “extraordinary circumstance” travellers are not entitled to cash compensation.
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The maximum compensation you can get is for long-haul flights which are delayed four hours or more, which would be £520.
This is only for when the problems are the caused by the airline, directly, however.
Lisa Minot, Head of Travel said: “Airlines are only required to give you compensation if the delay or cancellation is the airline’s fault, as in a technical failure on a plane or issues with crew.
“In this situation, where ATC is the reason for the chaos, there is unfortunately no compensation due.”
Yet, airlines do have a duty of care, so you can recoup some of your costs.
When affected by flight delays, airlines must provide travellers with food and drink as well as accommodation.
‘Care’ you should receive includes food and drink, two phone calls, accommodation and transport between the airport and where you are staying.
Usually, an airline will provide you with a voucher to get food or drink, however if a voucher isn’t provided, make sure you keep your receipts to claim back expenses incurred.
As the issue was outside of airlines’ control, it is class as an “extraordinary circumstance” meaning passengers cannot claim cash compensationCredit: EPA
While an airline might automatically book your accommodation when your flight is delayed or cancelled, sometimes you might be asked to book it yourself via its website or a dedicated app.
Although, it is advised to always ask airport staff before booking a hotel yourself.
If you pay for your own hotel, you must make sure to keep all your receipts so you can claim back your costs.
Airlines will cover a hotel with a reasonable price though, so don’t go booking a five-star stay.
Then head to your airline’s website and find their expenses claims page and fill out the form with the relevant details.
The CAA also recommends asking for an itemised receipt to show what you purchased and how much was spent on each thing.
Lisa added: “Check your insurance policy to see if you have any redress if you have incurred additional costs like missing a concert or unable to pick up car hire. You may be able to claim for that.
“Generally for delays, if an airline looks after you or provides you with food and drink or hotels, you cannot claim for the same costs against your travel insurance.”
YOU don’t need a fancy First Class plane ticket to enjoy a luxurious airport lounge with a free buffet.
In fact, there’s a far easier way you could be chilling in a classy airport lounge on your next trip, without forking out thousands. Click here to find out how.
This travel hack costs less than £5 a month and will get you into glamorous airport loungesCredit: Getty
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We’ve all been there – sitting in a hard plastic chair at the airport gate with a packet of crisps and a bottle of water that cost you an arm and a leg.
Or worse, stressing out that your family meal is taking too long to arrive and you might need to leg it to the boarding gate.
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Instead, with a Priority Pass you could be snuggling into a cosy sleep pod, kicking back on a comfy sofa or tucking into a complimentary meal.
The best part? Sun readers can bag 20% off a Priority Pass right now by clicking here.
Priority Pass members get access to over 1,900 airport lounges across the world. The lounges cover over 85% of the world’s top 100 airports, so you’re basically travelling like a First Class passenger on the cheap (before you reach the plane and turn right).
There’s complimentary food and drink across ALL lounges, which will already save you on having to fork out for an expensive airport meal.
Plus there’s comfy sofas, charging points and free Wi-Fi, making that wait before your flight all the more comfortable.
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All of the airport lounges offer complimentary food and drinkCredit: Getty
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Members also get extra perks like access to Be Relax spa treatments, including massages, manicures and more at participating airports.
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The WithU Fitness app creates you a personalised training program which can be used in the gym or at home.
It’s also full of audio workouts where you are coached by professional trainers.
Priority Pass lets you into more than 1,900 lounges globallyCredit: Getty
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A technical glitch on September 8 triggered chaos at major air transport hubs across the countryCredit: GettyIt lead to the cancellation of more than 2,000 flights arriving or departing the UKCredit: Getty
With the weekend fast approaching, families are wondering: “Will my holiday still go ahead, and who is footing the bill?”
Here is everything you need to know about the current travel situation, why flights have still been grounded, and what aviation bosses are saying.
Aviation analytics company Cirium confirmed that cancellations are slowing down, with schedules expected to return to normal later today (September 10).
BA said it was “sorry” to its customers, but stressed the meltdown was “out of our control”.
Taking a swipe at air traffic bosses, a BA spokesperson said: “Our customers and colleagues are tired of dealing with these issues, time after time. This needs to be addressed as a matter of urgency.”
Meanwhile, Heathrow has assured passengers that it is working with airlines to ensure the majority of flights operate normally.
If your flight was cancelled or delayed due to the outage, you’re unlikely to see a payout.
The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has said that the National Air Traffic Services (NATS) meltdown is considered an “extraordinary circumstance”.
Under passenger rights rules, this means airlines do not legally have to pay out compensation for delays or cancellations caused by the incident.
But airlines are still legally required to “look after” passengers, meaning they must provide food, drink, and overnight accommodation if you’re severely delayed or rebooked onto a flight the next day.
Who is to blame?
NATS chief executive Martin Rolfe is facing mounting pressure to resign over the fiasco, with Ryanair boss Michael O’Leary branding Rolfe’s position as “untenable”.
Despite the backlash, Downing Street has said it still has confidence in Rolfe, who stated he takes “full responsibility” for the outage.
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander confirmed the outage was due to a technical issue at NATS’ Swanwick site, ruling out a cyberattack.
She told MPs she did not believe the issue was “unavoidable” and ordered the CAA to conduct an independent, six-month review into what went wrong.
People have even reported getting the ‘best’ seats using this free method
People can take advantage of this ‘free’ booking trick to make sure they get their chosen seats ‘for free’(Image: Getty Images)
Ryanair passengers flying abroad to escape the UK weather might want to consider a ‘trick’ to help them be assigned ‘better’ seats without paying extra. The trick, as explained by ITV This Morning’s money-saving specialist Jordon Cox, does involve a little bit of luck, but it could pay off by saving customers up to £38 per person.
On Ryanair, the cost of choosing a specific seat varies based on the route, travel dates, and when you buy. Based on the airline’s published fees table, passengers can expect to pay between £3 and £30 when booking in advance, with fees as high as £38 per seat when booking at the airport desk.
Customers can avoid any cost entirely by accepting a random seat allocation from the airline. However, you leave it up to chance what part of the plane your seats will be in.
These random seats are picked and assigned at the exact moment you complete your online check-in, which is open up to 24 hours before the flight’s scheduled departure time. The airline’s automated system selects the seats, and customers have no say in where they end up if they choose this route.
Ryanair’s algorithm is notorious for assigning middle seats first to these free-allocation passengers, as reported by The Telegraph, and is said to hold back window and aisle seats. Many people will argue that middle seats are not the best place on a plane because they offer the least space when both seats on either side are occupied.
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ITV This Morning’s money-saving specialist Jordon Cox claims online that travellers might be able to take advantage of a workaround to avoid being put in a middle seat. In a post on Instagram, he suggests that one method ‘tricks the system’ into giving you the exact seat you want at no extra cost.
He said: “On the day that you’re checking in (I recommend about five to six hours before your flight), go into seat selection and see what seats are still available. A lot of these will be middle seats.
“Go to a separate tab and make a new booking for the flight you’re on. Put in some bogus names, then select each person a ‘seat’ in the places you DON’T want to sit. Because you’ve selected all those seats, and they’re in ‘someone else’s’ basket – for a short time, you can’t be sat there.
“That’s your cue to go back to your actual booking, and check-in with ‘random’ seat selection. You’ll be placed in one of the remaining seats – hopefully the only ones left are the aisle and the window.”
Reddit users claim that the sweet spot for securing the ‘best seats’ is not long before your flight takes off. By this time, the early check-in passengers have already been forced into specific parts of the plane, reducing the pool of available seats for those still unassigned.
In certain circumstances, Ryanair will likely randomly offer passengers an extra-legroom seat for free, but only under very specific conditions. However, because Ryanair never leaves a flight intentionally unbalanced and cannot leave critical seats empty, they will release them into the free pool at the absolute last minute.
If the only empty spots left on the aircraft are the premium legroom seats (like the emergency exit rows), the algorithm is forced to give them to you for free because it has nowhere else to put you and safety laws state that the emergency exit rows (Rows 1, 16, and 17) cannot be completely empty during takeoff and landing.
RAIN has arrived and it seems summer is truly over, but that doesn’t mean you can’t get out in nature – especially if its indoors.
Around the UK are lots of attractions with indoor conservatories and glasshouses full of plants – and we’ve highlighted some of the best to explore this autumn.
The country’s largest indoor rainforest is in the Eden Project and it’s as warm as 35CCredit: Alamy Stock Photo
The Eden Project, Cornwall
Go big or go home, right? The Eden Project has two biomes one of which is home to the world’s largest indoor rainforest.
The Rainforest Biome can be as hot as 35C so make sure to wear layers if you visit this autumn and winter.
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Inside are beautiful waterfalls, a canopy walkway, wobbly bridges, free-roaming partridges and over 1,000 varieties of plants.
The Mediterranean Biome is slightly cooler but can still get up to 25C with pretty flowers and plants from the Mediterranean, California and even Western Australia.
Make sure to follow the path to the olive trees, stop by the perfume garden for some scented plants and spot the sculptures hidden amongst the greenery.
You can book during events throughout the year too.
Across September 26-27 will be the Celebration of Stories Weekend where children’s authors will read stories from their books, along with workshops and family activities.
From November 20-January 2 will be its Christmas event. General tickets for adults start from £35.50 and tickets for children (5-15) start from £12.50.
Kew Gardens, London
Kew Gardens has some incredible plant displays that are insideCredit: Alamy
Kew Gardens is known for its incredible landscape gardens and lakes – but there’s plenty of it that’s indoors too.
One of its most impressive attractions that’s inside is Palm House which is an indoor rainforest full of endangered plants – some of which are even extinct in the wild.
The Princess of Wales Conservatory at Kew Gardens has 10 different zones with different climates including topical ones – so you can warm up inside.
Discover Venus flytraps, succulents and tropical orchids inside.
Other indoor attractions include Davies Alpine House where plants that thrive in cool, dry and windy conditions live.
There’s also Temperate House which is the world’s largest Victorian glasshouse with around 10,000 different plants from around the world.
If you want to find out more on Kew Gardens, check out Travel Reporter Cyann Fielding’s full guide on it, here.
General admission tickets start from £17 for adults – an offer for £10 tickets starts later this month. Tickets for children (between 4-15) start from £2.
The National Botanic Garden of Wales, Carmarthenshire
The National Botanic Garden of Wales is the biggest of its kind in the worldCredit: Tim Graham
In the heart of Carmarthenshire is the National Botanic Garden of Waleswhich has a claim to fame as being the largest single-span great glasshouse in the world.
It was even designed by Foster + Partners which are behind buildings like The Gherkin.
Inside the raindrop-shaped glasshouse are endangered plants from Mediterranean climate regions like the Canary Islands, Chile and South Africa.
Along with its various species of plants are rocky terraces and sandstone cliffs.
There are places for snacks too at the Caffi Botanica which serves up snacks, sandwiches, hot meals – some ingredients are even grown in the conservatory itself.
Tickets start from £16.49 for adults and £8.44 for children (between 2-17).
The Winter Garden, Sheffield
The Winter Garden in Sheffield is completely free to exploreCredit: Alamy Stock Photo
The Winter Garden in Sheffield is one of the largest temperate glasshouses to be built in the UK in the last 100 years.
The building is so big that it could actually fit 5,000 regular-sized greenhouses inside of it.
It’s full of greenery with over 2,500 plants from around the world inside of it and paths for a relaxing stroll inside.
There’s everything from tall trees to bamboo, bedding plants which change seasonally and flowers.
It might not be a place that you can spend a day in – but it’s attached to connected to the Millennium Gallery and the Peace Gardens which you can explore too.
It’s completely free to walk through The Winter Garden and it’s open Monday to Saturday between 8am-8pm, on Sunday it’s open from 10am to 5pm.
David Welch Winter Gardens, Aberdeen
These indoor gardens are found within Duthie Park in AberdeenCredit: Alamy Stock Photo
David Welch Winter Gardens is found inside Duthie Park in the Ferryhill area of Aberdeen.
The glasshouse was added to the park in the 1900s and is now one of the most visited indoor plant collections in Scotland.
Inside is Europe’s largest indoor plant collection where you can explore the enormous Temperate House.
There’s also the Corridor of Perfumes which is a fragrant zone within the glasshouse, Fern House, Victorian Corridor, Japanese Garden, Tropical House and Arid House.
If its not too cold outside, take a stroll around Duthie Park which has a bandstand, fountains and a boating pond too.
Entry to the David Welch Winter Gardens at Duthie Park is completely free.
The Barbican Conservatory, London
The Barbican Conservatory will close next year so try and pop in nowCredit: Alamy
This one might be slightly harder to visit – but it’s still worth mentioning as the Barbican Conservatory is the second biggest of its kind in London (behind the Princess of Wales Conservatory at Kew Gardens).
The conservatory is part of the Barbican Centre in central London and is full with over 1,500 species of tropical and subtropical plants, trees and even fish.
There’s very much limited time to visit though as the Barbican Conservatory will close to the public and undergo a major restoration in January 2027.
But if you want to see inside before its closure, tickets are released one month in advance online with a number day tickets released from 9.30am on the day that the conservatory opens – entry is completely free.
If you want to find out when new tickets are available, you can join the waiting list.
And if you want to take a rare piece of the Barbican Conservatory home with you, check out the plant adoption event happening later this year.
There’s a cross on the roof, stained glass in the windows and a choir loft upstairs, but this whitewashed three-level building near Sunset Boulevard in Silver Lake is no longer a house of worship.
It’s the Hotel Lucile, a 25-room boutique lodging that opens Sept. 14 with a restaurant and bar in the high-ceilinged sanctuary where churchgoers once gathered. This opening follows more than a decade of controversy and transformation, including a community debate, bankruptcy and the arrival of a new hotelier in 2020.
The new hotelier is Los Angeles-based Casetta Group, which specializes in adapting older structures and has six properties in California and New Mexico, including the Surfrider Hotel in Malibu and Casa Cody in Palm Springs.
When guests arrive at Hotel Lucile, they will find many reminders that the building was constructed as Bethany Presbyterian Church in 1931. But those guests will also see plenty of updates, including 25 guest rooms in the space that once held a church school; a small pool (about 15 feet square); and a rotating display of more than 100 contemporary artworks (many for sale). The organ loft is now a meeting space. The choir loft is retooled as a zone for coffee and drinks. The rooftop is a lounge with downtown views.
1.Bathroom inside a suite.2.Desk inside a premium king room.3.Sitting area inside a suite.(Myung J. Chun / Los Angeles Times)
“The building has lived several lives,” Hotel Lucile general manager Anthony Gutierrez said in an email. “It has always been a place for people to gather.”
The establishment fell idle as developer Dana Hollister took over the lease and sought city permits to convert it into a hotel with alcohol and dancing. Despite opposition from many neighboring homeowners and businesses alarmed by possible traffic impacts, those permits were approved in 2014.
But Hollister declared bankruptcy in 2018 and sold her interest in the property in 2020. That’s when the Casetta Group took over Hollister’s long-term lease from the Presbytery of the Pacific, which owns the property.
This church-to-commerce transition isn’t entirely unique. Across the city and the country, declining attendance has idled many religious buildings, often leading to conversions. In DTLA, the restaurant and event space known as Redbird + Vibiana was previously St. Vibiana’s Cathedral, deconsecrated by the Catholic Church after suffering damages in the 1994 Northridge earthquake. In Beachwood Canyon, the Monastery of the Angels was built as a private mansion and rebuilt by the Catholic Church in 1948 as a monastery. In early 2026, Homeboy Industries bought it from the church and began remaking it into Home of the Angels, a “recovery campus” for people impacted by trauma, substance use disorders and involvement in the justice system.
More church conversions may follow, thanks to California law SB4, passed in 2023 to allow faith-based groups and nonprofit colleges to avoid some local restrictions when converting buildings into affordable housing.
Meanwhile, the Hotel Lucile begins a new chapter, retaining interior arches, masonry, woodwork details and a rooftop cross that the hotel will keep alight at night. (The old church bell, however, will remain silent.)
Because the hotel has no on-site parking, it will rely upon valets and street parking (already tight in the neighborhood) to accommodate the cars of overnight guests and restaurant diners.
The rates begin at $441 nightly, plus a $50 amenity fee. To start, management is offering a “locals rate” of 15% off for guests who can show a California state ID.
“We did preserve as much as we could of the original beams and stained glass,” said Laney Langenstein, who oversees strategy and marketing for Casetta. Though guest rooms have minibars (curated by Erewhon and other partners), Langenstein noted that hotel staffers will also push a martini cart that will “go through the hallways and see if anybody thinks it’s cocktail hour.”
The dinner-only restaurant, Sous Sous, will draw upon cooking traditions of southern France and the American South, seating up to about 120, with occasional live music on the room’s stage. A hotel cafe will be open to guests for breakfast and lunch.
The new look of the hotel was produced by Casetta Hotels and design firm Electric Bowery. Children are permitted at the hotel, but not encouraged by the layout. (Of 25 rooms, 24 have a single king bed and one has two queens. Most rooms have showers, not tubs. There is one suite, which has its own courtyard patio and fountain.)
With an eye to potential expansion later, hotel management has also bought up one of the three immediately neighboring properties.
Meanwhile, now that the hotel is about to open, feelings among neighbors are mixed.
A booth at Sous Sous restaurant.
“When they tried to get a permit for the hotel, we all went to speak against it. But they got the permit,” said Jin Chang, longtime owner of nearby Big Mac’s Liquor on Sunset. Now, Chang said, he’s neutral about the hotel opening and relieved that his mini-mall has its own parking lot.
“What’s the definition of progress?” asked VJ Kesh, a longtime neighborhood resident. “Is this hotel a reflection of Silver Lake? Hell, yes. So I’m in favor.”
Throughout his 40 years in Los Angeles, one piece of advice on where to live still rings true for Jimmy Smits, known for starring in “L.A. Law,” “NYPD Blue” and “Sons of Anarchy.” Long ago, producer Steven Bochco, who helped launch Smits’ TV career, encouraged the native New Yorker to stick around.
“He said, ‘I think you’re going to be working at Fox or around here for a while,’” Smits recalls. “‘Don’t be a schmuck. Stay near, so you can get to work on time. Get the s— house in the best ZIP Code you can.’”
In Sunday Funday, L.A. people give us a play-by-play of their ideal Sunday around town. Find ideas and inspiration on where to go, what to eat and how to enjoy life on the weekends.
And so, from West Los Angeles to Santa Monica to Brentwood, Smits and his wife, actor Wanda De Jesus, have made the Westside their home base.
“Even when I lived in Brooklyn, we were near water,” Smits says. “It’s not Coney Island, but it’s the Santa Monica Pier. We have this New York-L.A. thing.”
When he’s not working, Smits prioritizes relaxation and his spiritual life. Most Saturday evenings, there’s a Mass to attend. All physical activities are done near water.
Beyond acting, the Emmy and Golden Globe winner is an advocate for education and the arts. This year is the 30th anniversary of the National Hispanic Foundation for the Arts, which he co-founded to support emerging talent in the performing arts.
Here’s a look at his ideal Sunday, with a bit of a New York-L.A. state of mind.
This interview was edited for length and clarity.
6:30 a.m.: First, the news
I still love reading the newspaper, tactile-wise. I keep the entertainment sections for weeks at a time for both the L.A. Times and New York Times. I recently had to go digital with the New York Times because my wife was like, “we can’t have all these newspapers around here!”
8 a.m.: People watching over breakfast
We’re not real foodies. Food is more like fuel for me. I love to experiment with different types of cuisines, but going to restaurants is more about the atmosphere. For breakfast, we’ll go to the Brentwood Farmers Market off San Vicente or the Coast Beach Café at Shutters on the Beach. You can people watch there. Or, they have an enclosure in the back that’s more chill. You can feel the ocean breeze on the water. If I’m really hungry, I’ll have the brioche French toast with some scrambled eggs and turkey bacon. But most of the time, it’s a pressed juice, English breakfast tea with warm milk and honey and a blueberry muffin.
9:30 a.m.: Beachside workouts
Part of the day will always have some kind of physical thing, and it’ll always relate to the water. Biking, brisk walking or wogging on the beach is ideal. If we’re biking, we’ll go up to where Will Rogers State Park is. It’s much quieter around there. We’ll start there and go towards the Santa Monica Pier and do laps back and forth. We’ll make stops along the way, at the Annenberg Community Beach House in Santa Monica or the bluffs at Palisades Park in Santa Monica, where they have a rose garden, [the California Incline roadway] and a lot of ways to get physical activity.
11:30 a.m.: What’s for lunch? Pasta
For lunch, it’s Divino, which is an Italian place in Brentwood. I’d order a light pasta and salad.
1 p.m.: Head to the playhouse for a matinee
My main go-to theaters are the Geffen Playhouse, which is close to us on the Westside; the Center Theatre Group, with the Ahmanson Theatre or the Mark Taper Forum, the Pasadena Playhouse or the Latino Theater Company Center at the Los Angeles Theatre Center, which specializes in Latino and multicultural productions. I get my New York theater fix by going to see plays at one of those places.
4 p.m.: Family time
At some point in the day, there would always be an East Coast call that winds up lasting way too long. With FaceTime, wherever we’re at, we can talk with the family, who are mostly in New York.
6 p.m.: Longtime faves for dinner
One of our favorite restaurants is Carlitos Gardel Argentine Steakhouse on Melrose Avenue, which has been around since the ‘90s. Italy plays big in Argentinian food, so you can get wonderful pastas there. I’ll usually have the entraña, which is a wood-grilled skirt steak, and the gnocchi is off the hook. The place reminds me of my college buddy-celebrity chef Michael Lomonaco, and his [former] restaurant Porter House in New York, where we’d go after the theater.
If not there, we’ll go to the restaurant we’ve been going to since I first got here. One of my first jobs was at then-MGM, which is now Sony, in Culver City. In ’86, I was working on “L.A. Law” and had a lunch break. I just wanted to walk around and found a Cuban restaurant called Versailles. I thought it was the closest I was going to get to the way Mom cooked. I developed a great relationship with the owners, the Garcia family. They have great Cuban food. I’ll have their arroz con pollo, which is chicken and rice.
8:30 p.m.: TV catch-up time
After dinner, we’d go home and get ready for the week. Depending on whether we go to a matinee or evening play, we would DVR stuff, like whatever sports that were on during the day that I missed. We’d definitely watch “60 Minutes,” “John Oliver” and pop in a movie or watch a stand-up comedy show. If we’re shooting something, I have to study for the next day. If not, we just relax, watch TV and go to bed between 10 p.m. and 11 p.m.
Comparing the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art to a spaceship has become an internet cliche, but the otherworldly campus really does feel like it exists in a galaxy far, far away. Nestled in Exposition Park beside the Natural History Museum and down the block from the soon-to-open Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center (with its actual spaceship), the Lucas Museum’s Ma Yansong-designed building sticks out like a green thumb.
There are 11 acres of lush public park space to explore, dotted with “Star Wars”-themed statues and a hanging garden, as well as benches and an amphitheater for outdoor events. A waterfall tucked on the north end of the building acts as a cooling mechanism for the 300,000-square-foot structure, but also serves as a gathering spot for jovial seagulls.
If you get peckish, there are two options: A cafe on the ground floor with typical sandwich and salad fare as well as a Starbucks; and a fifth-floor restaurant called Skywalker Grill with a full bar, curved cherry wood walls and lovely views of downtown L.A. (Nab a reservation or you’ll likely never get in.)
There are 100,000 square feet of gallery space, with the art spread mostly across the fourth floor — and in a fifth-floor murals gallery where you’ll find a selection of Banksys hidden in a back corner. More than 30 discrete galleries have something for almost everyone and are curated by broad themes including motherhood, community, romance, sports, science fiction and comics.
And, yes, there is a “Star Wars” exhibit, but it’s just a small part of the overall scene. If you come explicitly for that, your day will be filled with unexpected discovery.
FURTHER disruption to air travel could be on the horizon with easyJet pilots confirming strike action in Europe.
The walkout is set to take place across two days meaning flights could be delayed or cancelled – including some to and from the UK.
easyJet pilots in France are set to strike across two days next weekCredit: Alamy Stock PhotoFlights to destinations like Strasbourg could be disrupted next weekCredit: Alamy
Affecting flights in France, members of the SNPL pilots’ union have said that its members who work for easyJet will walk out over a pay dispute.
It will start at 4.59am on September 13 and end at 11.59pm on September 14.
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According to a statement by Syndicat National des Pilotes de Ligne (SNPL) which is the main French national union for airline pilots, the dispute is around the pilots’ rosters with the airline.
Currently, there is no official estimate of how many flights could be cancelled or delayed as a result of the strike.
The amount of disruption will depend on how many pilots participate in the strike and how easyJet changes its schedule.
For Brits, it could affect the airline’s flights to the likes of Paris Charles de Gaulle, Paris Orly, Lyon, Nice, Nantes, Bordeaux, Toulouse, Rennes, La Rochelle and Strasbourg.
It’s likely that not every easyJet flight from these airports will be affected and passengers should check their flight status before travelling on these days for updates on their journey.
Last month another strike by easyJet staff in France resulted in almost 100 flights being cancelled.
The news comes after there were huge delays across all UK airports this week due to a NATS tech outage that left thousands of passengers stranded.
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.
A Which? survey has named the best and worst holiday parks across the UK, and coming in dead last is a brand that was once a go-to resort for families but now only has one resort left in its portfolio
The chain once had 30 parks including this now-closed location in Prestatyn, Wales(Image: Christopher Furlong, Getty Images)
A holiday park that was once part of a chain of 30 sites and now stands as the brand’s last remaining location has been crowned the worst in the UK.
A Which? survey ranking the best and worst holiday parks across the country has placed Pontins firmly at the bottom, with its final remaining site in Weston-Super-Mare in Somerset being given the dubious honour.
Scoring a woeful 61% rating, Which? readers awarded the brand just two stars across customer service, accommodation quality, cleanliness, and food and drink. And despite being one of the most affordable options in the rankings, averaging £38 per person per night, it still only scraped two stars for value for money.
The dismal scores are a world away from Pontins’ glory days, when it was renowned for lively family getaways featuring its famous Bluecoats entertainers — a launching pad for the careers of Shane Ritchie and Bobby Davro. The brand was rescued from the brink of collapse 15 years ago when it was snapped up by Britannia Hotels, a chain Which? has repeatedly labelled the UK’s worst hotel chain.
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Its sole surviving site, Sandy Bay Holiday Village, is adults-only and appears to be actively distancing itself from the Pontins name, with no mention of the brand anywhere on its website. The park boasts a heated indoor pool, games room, live shows, and daily activities.
The park has received mixed reviews on Google, currently sitting at 3.6 stars out of five. One recent reviewer said: “The location is great, beach right in front of the resort, Weston only a 10 min open bus journey away”, also praising the accommodation for its cleanliness and upgraded room options.
Yet less favourable reviews tell a different story, with guests claiming “the rooms were filthy. We didn’t even have matching curtains!” and “dirty, smelly, run down! They may have changed their name, but they haven’t changed their shame.”
Prior to the closures, Pontins regularly made headlines as disgruntled customers reported grimy accommodation and poor facilities. In the now-closed Pontins Southport, guests complained of people smoking drugs and drunk parents roaming the park. A mum who visited the Brean Sands report alleged her children were left in tears after finding rubbish and dirt all over their room.
Another family, who visited Pontins Prestatyn in Wales dubbed it a “holiday from hell”. They claimed the room was yellowing from stains, the pool and restaurants were shut, and they “couldn’t even see out of the windows” due to grime.
At the opposite end of the rankings, Potters Resorts topped the table with its all-inclusive resorts in Norfolk and Essex, while Hoburne Holidays secured second place. Hoburne operates parks throughout the south and south west of the UK, including sites in the Cotswolds, Dorset, and Somerset.
Which? said: “This fifth-generation family business’s seven locations (in the south of England ) are all ideally situated, from a clifftop in coastal Dorset to a woodland retreat in the New Forest.”
It added: “There’s no tray jostling in sterile canteens either. Restaurants, like the lantern-adorned Pier House, with its sea-view terrace, source local, seasonal ingredients such as Brixham trout – earning the brand five stars for its food and drink. Activities make the most of each park’s unique surroundings, whether it’s guided bat walks or instructor-led kayaking on the wetlands of its Cotswolds site.”
The UK’s best and worst holiday parks
(Name of resort, overall customer score)
Potters Resorts – 83%
Hoburne Holidays – 81%
Darwin Escapes – 80%
Landal Parks – 80%
Waterside Holiday Group – 80%
Shorefield Holidays – 76%
Away Resorts – 75%
Bluestone Wales – 75%
Park Leisure UK – 75%
Highland Holidays – 74%
Lyons Holiday Parks – 74%
Largo Leisure – 73%
Park Holidays UK – 73%
Warner Coastal Villages – 73%
Forest Holidays – 72%
John Fowler Holidays – 72%
Center Parcs – 69%
Haven Holidays – 68%
Parkdean Resorts – 68%
Butlin’s – 63%
Pontins – 61%
Based on a survey of 2,221 Which? Connect panel members and general public conducted in February and March 2026.
Potters Resort has been crowned the UK’s best holiday park by Which? readers – and the all-inclusive family favourite has a location just over an hour from Cambridge
Potters Resorts was named as the best-rated UK holiday park by Which?(Image: Potters Resorts)
Britain’s best holiday park is an all-inclusive gem that costs a little more but offers a lot.
There are plent of excellent holiday parks across the UK, from the cheap and cheerful Butlin’s and Park Dean, to the more upmarket Center Parcs and Bluestone. However, they have all missed out on being named the best in the UK.
Potters Resort has topped the Which? holiday park rankings, with its Norfolk and Essex sites winning a customer score of 83%.
Stays start from £88 per person per night, which is higher than most comparable holiday parks, yet guests have still awarded the resort 4/5 for value. It is worth noting that Potters is the only holiday park in Britain to offer a truly all-inclusive experience, with four meals a day included alongside a wide selection of drinks – from wines and beers to G&Ts.
The resort keeps guests busy throughout the day with a packed programme of activities. Whether you fancy a go on the rally karts, a session in virtual reality, a spin at the silent disco or a splash in the water at Five Lakes, there is something to suit every taste and age group. Wellness enthusiasts are also well catered for, with Pilates, yoga, Nordic walking and birdwatching all part of the package at no extra cost.
Come the evening, the entertainment steps up a gear. Resident show Musical Icons takes to the stage nightly, performing tributes to iconic acts spanning the Motown era, Carole King, ABBA, the Bee Gees and beyond, with a showstopping Bohemian Rhapsody finale rounding off proceedings.
“After opening its doors in the 1920s, family-run Potters claims to be the first-ever holiday park, and its all-inclusive model still sets it apart. The nightly rate at its two parks – in Essex and Norfolk – may be higher than rivals, but you stay in suites or bungalow-style accommodation (there isn’t a caravan in sight) and all food and drink (which is excellent) is thrown in. It was the only park to clinch the full five stars for its entertainment and activities (also included), which range from birdwatching to go-karting.
“Guests loved that they could soak in the spa and play all the rounds of pitch ‘n’ putt without worrying about their final bill spiralling out of control. ‘Great entertainment, all staff helpful and polite, good food and plenty of it,’ one happy customer remarked. Forget everything you think you know about holiday parks, as Potters’ attentive service and first-class facilities will wow you – with no sneaky extra charges later on.”
The Mirror’s Mikey Smith paid a visit to Potters with his family and had a brilliant time.
“Imagine the good old British ‘holiday camp’ atmosphere – family fun by the sea, with nightly entertainment and everything you need on-site – but brought bang up to date, with comfortable rooms and high quality amenities. And then imagine it borrowed a few ideas from luxury cruise ships. Then you’re getting somewhere near what Potters is,” Mikey wrote.
“For many, the phrase ‘all-inclusive resort’ conjures images of lukewarm buffets, piled high with chips and pizza slices, perhaps the occasional chicken nugget and long benches of weird-looking salad. Not so at Potters. Each lunchtime and evening menu offers three or four restaurant-quality starter and main options. During my stay I had a buttery, flaky Sea Bass fillet, some deliciously crispy deep fried Halloumi and a perfectly cooked chicken breast with mushroom and thyme sauce.
“None of them would trouble a Michelin star – but they’d give any of the foodie pubs near me a solid run for their money. And that’s before we come to the carvery, which is served every evening with a different roast meat.”
Mike Scott, managing director of Potters, said: “To be named the UK’s Best Holiday Parks and Resorts by Which? readers is a fantastic achievement. To have topped the list in three consecutive surveys since 2022 is something we’re immensely proud of, especially among so many well-known UK break providers. Recognition from Which? means so much because it reflects the honest opinions and experiences of guests. It tells people what it’s really like to stay with us and makes this achievement all the more special.
“As a family-owned business, we can’t compete with the household names on marketing budgets, and we don’t try to. Instead, we focus on giving every guest an exceptional experience. Our breaks are fully inclusive, so we’re not constantly trying to upsell or charge guests for every little extra. It means our guests can simply relax and have fun, while our team can focus entirely on looking after them and making their stay memorable.
“This recognition reinforces what we’ve always believed: Potters Resorts offers the best breaks in the UK. And, of course, a huge thank you must go to our amazing team and our lovely guests, who together have made Potters such a special place.”
The UK’s best and worst holiday parks
(Name of resort, overall customer score)
Potters Resorts – 83%
Hoburne Holidays – 81%
Darwin Escapes – 80%
Landal Parks – 80%
Waterside Holiday Group – 80%
Shorefield Holidays – 76%
Away Resorts – 75%
Bluestone Wales – 75%
Park Leisure UK – 75%
Highland Holidays – 74%
Lyons Holiday Parks – 74%
Largo Leisure – 73%
Park Holidays UK – 73%
Warner Coastal Villages – 73%
Forest Holidays – 72%
John Fowler Holidays – 72%
Center Parcs – 69%
Haven Holidays – 68%
Parkdean Resorts – 68%
Butlin’s – 63%
Pontins – 61%
The rankings are drawn from a survey of 2,221 Which? Connect panel members and members of the general public, conducted in February and March 2026.
Bernina Express train on Landwasser Viaduct, Filisur, Graubunden, Switzerland
Flight chaos and cost driving people to trains and cruises, report says Holiday experts say the rising cost and uncertainity of air travel is sparking a rising interest in rail and cruise breaks in the UK. Bookings for rail and cruise itineraries have jumped 31% year-on-year, according to a report from The Luxury Holiday Company – with 87% saying they are interested in a rail or cruise holiday in 2026.
Nearly half say these types of holidays now offer better value for money and 27% say they want to avoid ‘airport hassle’
The report also found a growing shift towards multi-generational holidays whike people want to prioritise ease, comfort and ‘together time’. The data shows that European-specific rail holidays are alsogetting longer, with average stays increasing by 14%, while European and Scandinavian cruises have surged by 433% year-on-year.
Scenic journeys also play a major role, with more than a third saying scenery and views are a core part of the holiday experience.
Alison Nicolle, rail and cruise travel specialist at The Luxury Holiday Company, said: “Our research shows Brits’ travel priorities this year include a strong desire for experience-driven or bucket-list-style holidays. We’re seeing a rise in rail and cruise holidays year on year, and there’s no sign of this slowing down.
“In 2026 travellers want to see more, and enjoy the journey itself, all while reducing the stress of constant planning. We’ve seen demand rise for groups booking a cruise or rail holiday, as group bookings have skyrocketed 55% in the past year.
“This isn’t just a niche trend. Groups want holidays where everyone, from grandparents to grandchildren, can experience beautiful destinations, relax and enjoy the journey itself. Slowing down, seeing nature and prioritising relaxation over adventure are the most important factor to more than a third of travellers this year.
“Clients are booking longer rail journeys as well as choosing itineraries that combine scenery, culture and indulgence. It’s no longer about getting there quickly, it’s about travelling well.”
Start/finishCoombs Road in Bakewell to Blackwell Mill in Chee Dale, but there are lots of access points along the way Distance8.5 miles Cycle, hike or ride a horse along the Monsal Trail to explore a swathe of Derbyshire’s industrial history. This former stretch of the Midland Railway line winds past the imposing structures of two 18th-century cotton mills, through illuminated railway tunnels and over the Headstone Viaduct, which gives glorious views of the River Wye and Monsal Dale below. Interpretation and listening panels along the route explain the area’s history, geology and wildlife, while a short detour on to Monsal Head offers a panoramic view of the viaduct itself. Pause here for lunch or a pint at the Monsal, or stop in at Hassop Station Cafe, which offers bike rental alongside hefty sandwiches, homemade cakes and wood-fired pizza at weekends. monsaltrail.org.uk
The Strawberry Line, Somerset
Cycling on the Strawberry Line at Shute Shelve railway tunnel. Photograph: Joe Dunckley/Alamy
Start/finishYatton railway station to the old (unused) Cheddar railway station Distance10.7 miles Named for the fruity cargo that trains once carried from the strawberry fields up to London, this flat, accessible route – shared by walkers, cyclists and wheelchair users – knits together former railway stations, cider orchards and small, historic towns. Direct trains run from Bristol to Yatton, where the not-for-profit, community-run Strawberry Line Cafe serves hearty breakfasts and homemade cakes, while next door the Strawberry Line Cycle Project offers bike hire and accessories such as child seats. The route runs through wildlife-rich wetlands, open grazing land and lush valleys, while the medieval square at Axbridge gives an insight into the region’s rich history, dating back to the 10th century, when it was a busy commercial centre. Settle in at the Almshouse Teashop, in a building almost 600 years old, for freshly made soup and sweet treats, before setting off again. thestrawberryline.org.uk
The Mawddach Trail, Gwynedd, Wales
The toll bridge at Penmaenpool, over the Mawddach. Photograph: Henry Ciechanowicz/Alamy
Start/finishMarian Mawr car park in Dolgellau to Barmouthviaduct Distance9.5 miles Mostly running alongside the Mawddach estuary, this tranquil trail is a great choice for birders, with peregrine falcons and buzzards whirling above, and curlews and oystercatchers in the salt marshes. The wide, even surface also makes it ideal for wheelchairs and mobility scooters, and there are several joining points along the trail, meaning you can walk or bike as little or as far as you like. Just next to the 150-year-old Penmaenpool wooden toll bridge, the George III hotel and pub offers sweeping estuary views and classic pub food (including particularly fine pies), or pick up picnic supplies from Fork, Cork and Feathers in Dolgellau, which has a cold counter crammed with cured meats, cheeses and other local produce. There are seats and picnic tables dotted all the way along the trail. mawddachtrail.co.uk
The Cuckoo Trail, East Sussex
The Cuckoo Trail. Photograph: Johan Siebke/Alamy
Start/finishStation Road in Heathfield to Hampden Park in Eastbourne Distance14 miles A great choice for a family adventure, this mostly flat trail has five augmented reality “story stops” along the way – where, with just a quick scan of the QR code, children can interact with animated wildlife characters, solve puzzles and take a selfie with a grumpy badger. There are sculptures too, including carved wooden seats made from oak trees that fell during the great storm of 1987 and steel sculptures that act as mileposts. Cuckoo Shack Cafe, part of Priory Court Farm in Polegate, is set right on the trail and offers homemade-cakes, sandwiches and excellent coffee, but it is only open at weekends and during school holidays. Otherwise, a quick diversion into Hailsham offers a clutch of places to eat, including Neapolitan street food and wood-fired pizza at Rustico. wealden.gov.uk
The Flitch Way, Essex
The former Rayne railway station, near Braintree. Photograph: PA Images/Alamy
Start/finishBraintree station to Start Hill, near Bishop’s Stortford Distance15 miles Discover a tranquil side of Essex by following this rural trail along the edge of the former royal hunting ground of Hatfield Forest – where fallow deer roam between the ancient oak trees – and Great Notley Country Park, where families can take advantage of the 1.2km play trail, with slides, forts and swings. The main refreshment stop is 2 miles along the trail from Braintree at the Rayne Station centre, which combines the Booking Hall Cafe with the free-to-enter Railway Carriage Museum, a visitor centre and toilets. For something more sustaining (and a pint or two), the Lion and Lamb pub is just a short detour off the trail, in the pretty village of Little Canfield. Keep an eye out for kestrels and buzzards, plus brown hares dashing out of the hedgerows. explore-essex.com
The Wirral Way, Merseyside and Cheshire
Thurstaston beach. Photograph: David Chapman/Alamy
Start/finishWest Kirby railway station to Hooton railway station Distance12.2 miles One of the first converted railway lines in England, the Wirral Way is now a dramatically beautiful coastal path running along the Wirral Peninsula. It takes in the Wirral Country Park, where Wirral Way Bikes offers cycle hire for adults and kids (including ebikes), and clifftop picnic spots have gorgeous views over the Dee estuary. Take a detour down the cliffs to Thurstaston beach for a spot of fossil hunting or a quick paddle, and pause at Hadlow Road station, which has been preserved in all its 1950s glory (when the passenger service stopped) as an open museum; it also operates as an information point for the trail. Time your walk or ride for sunset, when the mudflats glow rose-pink and gold as the sun drops below the Clwydian Hills, and take the short connecting path down to the Harp Inn, Little Neston, set directly on the estuary, for a sundowner to go with the view. visitcheshire.com
The Crab and Winkle Way, Kent
Rewilded bison on the Blean. Photograph: Donovan Wright/PA
Start/finishCanterbury West station to Whitstable Harbour Distance7.5 miles Following the route of one of the earliest railway lines, built in 1830, this hiking and cycling trail passes through the Blean, a large swathe of ancient woodland, home to the 13th-century church of St Cosmus and St Damian, and an RSPB reserve. It’s also home to Europe’s first free-roaming bison, introduced as part of a rewilding initiative in 2022 by the Kent Wildlife Trust and Wildwood Trust. There’s not really anywhere en route to stop and eat, so either pick up treats for a picnic at the Goods Shed in Canterbury (an indoor farmers market, closed mondays) or save yourself for oysters and a glass of fizz at the Whitstable Oyster Company, right on the beach. explorekent.org
The Dava Way, Moray and Highland, Scotland
The collie dog memorial on the Dava Way. Photograph: John Bracegirdle/Alamy
Start/finishMannachie Avenue in Forres to Dulicht Bridge in Grantown-on-Spey Distance24 miles Unusually for a rail trail, the Dava Way includes a stiff climb from the Moray Firth up over Dava Moor to the Dava Summit, at 320 metres (1,050ft), before heading back down to Grantown-on-Spey, following the Highland Railway line that operated for over a century, from 1863 to 1965. The ascent is well worth it for the spectacular views across the Moray Firth to Sutherland in the north, and south to the Cromdale Hills and the Cairngorms, while the ride back down is a breeze. The Divie Viaduct, built in 1863, is the most famous landmark along the way, while the Halfway Hut is a restored shelter that makes a perfect spot for a picnic, with old photographs and route info on the walls (not for overnight stays). davaway.org.uk
The holiday park chain is one of the most popular in the UK, offering a vast array of activities and family fun, but there’s one common issue in reviews that has seen it criticised, especially by parents
12:29, 09 Sep 2026Updated 08:46, 10 Sep 2026
Its six holiday parks have serene lake and forest settings(Image: Center Parcs)
One of the UK’s most popular holiday park chains has been hit by a low score in a national ranking, with visitors particularly irked about one thing in particular.
Center Parcs has six holiday villages across the UK, and in a recent Which? survey, it was the most-visited holiday park on the list, especially popular for short breaks in its car-free forest locations.
Which? said: “You like that you know what you’re getting, from the acres of forest trails to the swimming pool in a heated glass dome – a subtropical paradise even in the soggiest of British summers. It also earned praise for appealing to all ages, whether that’s with the treetop aerial adventure or the thermal spa (with a volcanic steam room and an igloo-inspired ice cave).”
Have a story you want to share? Email us at webtravel@reachplc.com
The parks were also praised for their accommodation, with higher grades including facilities such as hot tubs, saunas, and games rooms, making it a solid “family favourite” according to Which?. But customers were particularly unhappy with one thing.
“However, it’s extraordinarily expensive, at more than twice the price of budget rival Haven. Activities cost even more on top, and you need to secure your preferred slots weeks in advance. The two-star rating for value for money is the joint lowest in our survey. You could save a fortune by choosing a better-rated rival,” the Which? survey noted.
In most aspects, Center Parcs performed well. It was awarded four stars for activities, entertainment and facilities, as well as quality of accommodation and cleanliness. It achieved three stars for customer service and food and drink. But its place in the rankings, fifth from the bottom, came due to its value for money score at just two stars. It was the third most expensive of all the holiday parks surveyed.
It’s not the first time the chain has been criticised for its high prices. In a viral social media post, one fed-up mum showed the difference in prices between a school holiday and September dates at the parks, commenting: “If anyone’s unsure when their kids return to school after the holidays, Center Parcs have this handy tool.” A four-night break in August was priced at £1,049, while the same holiday a week later, post-school holidays, was £529.
Even positive reviews of the parks often mention the price. One recent review of Center Parcs Woburn Forest said: “Amazing place to holiday. Personally, I felt the prices of things on-site were a little high, and that was even going outside of term-time; however, you cannot fault the fun and wonder of being at these parks.”
Another was more blunt: “Badly overpriced, we only paid £799 for a family of 4 and it still felt like a rip off. You get a good room, yes, but it’s nothing you can’t get at a hotel in the countryside for half the price. Every single other activity charged extra (except swimming which is decent but you can get a similar quality just slightly more warm out at Butlin’s for 1/10th of the price).”
Center Parcs has been contacted for comment.
The UK’s best and worst holiday parks
(Name of resort, overall customer score)
Potters Resorts – 83%
Hoburne Holidays – 81%
Darwin Escapes – 80%
Landal Parks – 80%
Waterside Holiday Group – 80%
Shorefield Holidays – 76%
Away Resorts – 75%
Bluestone Wales – 75%
Park Leisure UK – 75%
Highland Holidays – 74%
Lyons Holiday Parks – 74%
Largo Leisure – 73%
Park Holidays UK – 73%
Warner Coastal Villages – 73%
Forest Holidays – 72%
John Fowler Holidays – 72%
Center Parcs – 69%
Haven Holidays – 68%
Parkdean Resorts – 68%
Butlin’s – 63%
Pontins – 61%
Based on a survey of 2,221 Which? Connect panel members and general public conducted in February and March 2026.
Growing up in Amoy, China, Amery Chen always understood tea as a daily ritual to unwind and recharge. When she landed in L.A. for medical school, the daily tea drinking routine stayed with her and kept her alert during long nights of studying.
Now a full-time urgent care doctor who works 50-hour weeks, Chen is sharing her tradition with Angelenos at Torotea, her bustling Diamond Bar tea house that‘s expanding to its fifth location this month.
Chen takes pride in Torotea’s selection of teas imported from around the world, which are brewed in small batches and optionally paired with unique house-made toppings like a popular jelly made from barley tea.
“We’ve been able to attract people from different ages, ethnicities and genders,” Chen said. “It’s meaningful beyond words for me to be able to create something so borderless.”
In Redondo Beach, Racer Tea Bar owner Chad Webber educates customers every day on the therapeutic properties of teas he sources from around the world. Before the pandemic, Webber was living out of a 1975 Dodge van when he began experimenting with swapping his morning coffee for a London fog rendition sweetened with lavender, honey and oat milk.
It stuck — he branded his Earl Grey tea latte “The Rocker” and began driving around the country selling tea out of his van, until business boomed enough to ditch the wheels and open his brick-and-mortar in late 2021. The storefront’s heavy rock ‘n’ roll aesthetic brings an undeniably unique energy to L.A.’s tea scene.
“The locals of South Bay have responded incredibly well to it,” Webber said. “We’re busting out of the norm. This isn’t your grandma’s tea shop.”
If you’re looking to explore beyond L.A.’s bountiful coffee and matcha shops, here are eight L.A. spots dedicated to milk teas and tea lattes that span a wide array of styles and cultures, from a modern Indian restaurant serving ginger and cardamom chai lattes in Culver City to a lively Argentine mate shop in Northridge.
Germany has the largest GDP in Europe(Image: Getty)
When you think about wealthy countries, places like Dubai, China and the US might spring to mind. However, Europe has its fair share of rich countries too. The wealthiest of all has been revealed in new data this year, and it’s not Luxembourg or Sweden.
According to figures from the World Population review, Germany is Europe’s wealthiest country when judged by gross domestic product (GDP). Germany has a GDP of $5.45trillion (£4.026T).
What is GDP?
GDP is a way to measure a country’s productivity and prosperity. The GDP of a country is the total monetary value of all goods and services which that country produced within its borders over a year.
To calculate it, economists take the spending of everyday consumers, the investment of businesses in the country, and government spending and net exports to figure out the final calculation.
If GDP is rising year on year, it’s a good sign that the country is doing well financially. If it is consistently lowering, it’s a sign of an incoming recession.
Is it accurate?
GDP is not a very accurate indicator of the prosperity of a country’s people. It does not indicate how the wealth is distributed, nor the happiness or individual wealth of people.
These flaws are why GDP is often calculated alongside other metrics such as the Human Development Index, which measures the economy as well as life expectancy and education to get a better idea of how a country is functioning.
There’s also the Inclusive Wealth Index, which measures the “savings account” of a country by looking at infrastructure, natural resources and workforce alongside its finances.
How does the UK compare?
According to the most recent data, the UK is in second place with a GDP of $4.23trillion (£3.148T).
France is in third place with $3.17trillion (£2.654T), Italy fourth with $2.42trillion (£2.021T), and Russia fifth with $2.21trillion (£1.962T).
In the case of Germany’s GDP, it is larger than two other European nations combined. Portugal has $380.6billion (£281.0B), and Greece has $307.6billion (£227.1B).
THE Great British Bake Off is back in a matter of weeks with a new horde of amateur bakers wanting to prove their skills to the judges.
But did you know that the Channel 4 series films on the grounds of a stunning manor house and you can visit the estate for yourself next month?
Welford Park is the filming location for the Great British Bake OffCredit: High LevelThe Channel 4 baking series filming on the grounds every summerCredit: Channel 4 / Mark Bourdillon / Love Productions
Welford Park, a country house in Berkshire, has been GBBO’s filming location since 2014 – and members of the public usually aren’t allowed inside.
For the majority of the year, the 17th century estate is a private family home and working farm.
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However, it does open for seasonal events and will open its doors to the public in October for its Spectacle of Light trail.
It will see the grounds, woods and gardens is lit up with lanterns and beautiful light displays for families to explore.
New for this year is its Alice’s Amazing Adventures in Wonderland where you’ll spot the White Rabbit, the Mad Hatter, Cheshire Cat – and even the Queen of Hearts.
There’s food and drink too from hot chocolates to toasted marshmallows and plenty more at Food Truck Village where there’s also a Tipi Bar.
It’s received high praise by families too with one visitor called it a “a magical winter event”.
They added: “The lights at this event were spectacular and the children were in awe of them, as were the adults. The formal gardens in particular were stunning. Hot chocolates were some of the best we’ve had.”
Its Spectacle of Light show will start on October 22Credit: David Hartley
The light trail will be on at Welford Park between October 22 and November 7.
Tickets start from £24 per adult and £14.50 per child (3-15) – infants between 0-2 go free.
For those who want to see the grounds in all their glory, they will reopen to the public for snowdrop season.
Between January 27 and February 28 will be its Winter Gardens & Snowdrops event that has been a tradition for the last 50 years.
The estate is covered in light trail and displays for families to exploreCredit: David HartleyEarly in 2027 the estate will be open again to see the snowdropsCredit: Alamy
The snowdrops flood the grounds of the woods and sit along the riverbanks of the River Lambourn and the gardens.
The gates open at 11am and last entry is 4pm (it is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays).
Tickets start from £12 per adult and £8 per child (4-15) – under 4’s go free.
THE UK’s second biggest airport may face even more delays this month as workers are set to strike over pay.
This comes as thousands of planes were grounded yesterday following a nationwide technical glitch.
More than two hundred workers could strike later this month if pay conditions are not metCredit: Getty
Around 220 staff members at London Gatwick Airport are set to strike later this month, following a dispute between Unite members and employer Wilson James.
The workers, who provide assisted travel, have been engaged in pay talks since May and previously rejected a two-year offer of a 3.4 per cent salary increase.
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The union said it was “not enough to address years of low pay at the firm”.
As a result, Unite regional officer Ben Davis, said that “industrial action will inevitably disrupt services throughout Gatwick” as negotions continue.
Strikes are expected to take place from September 17 to September 21.
Just two days later, another set of strikes will occur from September 23 to September 26.
This will mean passengers who rely on assistened travel will take longer to board and disembark, leading to flight delays across both short-haul and long-haul services to and from Gatwick.
Davis added: “Strikes can be avoided but that requires the company making a significantly improved offer.”
This comes as travellers have already faced extensive delays and cancellations following a major technical issue with the UK’s air traffic control provider yesterday.
The National Air Traffic Services (NATS) suffered an issue with its “flights processing system”, resulting in tens of thousands of passengers stranded in terminals and over 1,000 journeys cancelled.
Although the issue preventing departures was fixed yesterday evening, knock-on delays and cancellations – mainly affecting Heathrow Airport – continue to disrupt passengers today.
TRAVELLERS face another day of chaos across UK airports today following a major tech outage cancelling flights yesterday.
Thousands of passengers were hit by flight cancellations and delays yesterday due to an air traffic control issue emerging around 1pm.
Thousands of travellers have been left stranded at airports after a Air Traffic Controller tech outageCredit: Shutterstock EditorialThe outage impacted all airports across the UKCredit: Shutterstock Editorial
People reported being stuck on planes on the tarmac for hours and many travellers are currently stranded abroad with new flights home only available next week.
NATS has now warned that delays are expected to continue as it tries to “clear a backlog of flights” – but here is all you need to know if you have been impacted.
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My flight has been cancelled, what do I do?
Contact your airline immediately and ask to be rebooked onto the next available flight.
Airlines must provide you with this option. Unfortunately, in a situation like this where so many flights have been cancelled, it may be that they offer you a flight well into the next few days.
You do not have to accept this. If you can find an alternative flight with a different airline that will get you to your destination sooner, you have the right to either have the airline book you onto this or book it yourself.
Use a credit card, keep all receipts and claim it back from your airline. In situations like this, the last thing you should do is simply get a refund if you have no alternative means of getting to your destination.
If you do this, your airline no longer has any duty of care and does not have to get you home.
Only request a refund if you are happy for the airline to no longer have any responsibility for your travel options. – Lisa Minot, Head of Travel
At several airports, travellers reported being stuck on planes for hours on the tarmacCredit: Shutterstock Editorial
How do I contact my airline?
You will likely be contacted by your airline directly if your flight has been affected by the air traffic control meltdown.
If you are already at the airport or on your way there, the best thing to do is speak to someone on the ground.
Phones will be ringing off the hook right now so the check in desk or your airline help desk is your best bet.
Anyone who is at home and has not been provided with a satisfactory alternative flight or the option to a refund should either call the airline via the customer services number or make contact via the live chat option on the website.
Some airlines, like British Airways, will allow you to rebook within their airline app.
If the changes are complicated, however, phone or in-person is best. – Sophie Swietochowski, Assistant Travel Editor
Some travellers are also stuck abroad struggling to get back to the UKCredit: PA
What if I have a holiday package booked?
If you have a holiday package booked, you have more protection than flight-only bookings.
This is because they are ATOL protected, which means your money is safeguarded by a a UK financial protection scheme (often needed for when holiday companies go bust).
If your flight is cancelled, your tour operator must offer an alternative flight or replacement holiday.
If neither work you, then you must be given a full refund – Kara Godfrey, Deputy Travel Editor
Can I get compensation?
No. Airlines are only required to give you compensation if the delay or cancellation is the airline’s fault, as in a technical failure on a plane or issues with crew.
In this situation, where ATC is the reason for the chaos, there is unfortunately no compensation due.
Check your insurance policy to see if you have any redress if you have incurred additional costs like missing a concert or unable to pick up car hire. You may be able to claim for that.
Generally for delays, if an airline looks after you or provides you with food and drink or hotels, you cannot claim for the same costs against your travel insurance. – Lisa Minot, Head of Travel
How do you claim compensation?
If your flight has been cancelled strictly as a result of yesterday’s incident, you will not be entitled to compensation.
This is because the situation is deemed to be outside of the airline’s control and falls under the category of extraordinary circumstances.
Airlines do, however, still have a duty of care to their passengers and anyone experiencing delays of between two to four hours will be entitled to food and drinks vouchers.
These are usually handed out according to the distance you are flying.
For example if your trip is short haul then you are entitled to vouchers once the delay reaches two hours.
The delay must be at least three hours for mid haul or four hours for long haul.
If you are stranded and need to stay in a hotel, this also falls under duty of care and the airline should assist you in this.
As mentioned above, if you end up paying for anything yourself, you must keep receipts so that you can claim this back. – Sophie Swietochowski, Assistant Travel Editor
There have been further cancellations and delays today across EuropeCredit: Getty
Am I covered by travel insurance?
This is strictly down to what your insurance policy says. It really depends on the level of policy you paid for, so it’s worth checking the small print.
You’ll need to be covered for things like delay, travel disruption, cancellations and missed connections.
If you went for the cheaper option when booking your policy, it’s likely there may be some holes in your cover.
Always make sure you take out travel insurance and check the details before signing on the dotted line – instances like this are why it’s worth protecting yourself. – Caroline McGuire, Head of Travel (Digital)
I missed an event can I get my money back?
It depends what you booked and how.
For a missed concert, theatre show or other event, check your travel insurance to see if it is covered because of the delay or cancellation – you may be able to claim.
The same applies for car hire or missed accommodation expenses but only if your travel insurance policy includes such disruption.
If you paid by credit card and the value is over £100 it may be worth calling your credit card provider and seeing if you can claim under Section 75 of the consumer credit act. – Lisa Minot, Head of Travel
Passengers are unable to get cash compensation as the issue is classed as an “extraordinary circumstance”Credit: AFP
What about if you’re supposed to be flying soon?
If you’re due to jet off in the coming days and have not yet been contacted by your airline, take this as a good sign.
The specific issue that resulted in yesterday’s chaos was fixed within four hours and many airports have said that they are operating as normal today.
Despite this quick fix, yesterday still saw over 1000 cancellations across UK airports which has had a dramatic knock on effect that could continue for days.
Keep a look out for any changes to your flight and act immediately if a cancellation arises.
If your flight is not cancelled, be warned that it could be busier than anticipated, with airlines struggling to find space for passengers who are trying to reach their destination after a cancellation. – Sophie Swietochowski, Assistant Travel Editor
ONE of the most iconic buildings in the capital’s skyline is set to become a 400-room hotel.
The Grade-II BT Tower in London is being transformed into a hotel, with rooms in the tower itself.
The BT Tower in London is set to reopen as a hotelCredit: OrmsIt will feature bedrooms in the tower itselfCredit: Orms
Levels seven to 23 of the Tower will all have accommodation, with each floor featuring four curved rooms around the central structure.
As for the lower floors, a new building will be developed at the bottom of the Tower, with a rooftop poolon level six, outdoor seating areas and wildflower roof gardens.
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The lower ground floor will then feature events spaces and restaurants, and the ground floor will have a wine bar as well as other Class E businesses which could include a gym, shops and cafes.
Hotel rooms will then start on the first floor as well as another events space with the same for levels two to six, with some outdoor terraces, too.
At the top of the Tower (level 34) – which used to be home to a revolving restaurant and viewing platform – there will be a 360-degree visitor attraction including a ‘revolving floor’, with suggestions it could be a restaurant again.
There will then be another events space on level 35 with an outdoor terrace and level 36 will have two more events spaces and two lobbies.
Levels 31 to 33 will also have events spaces.
Levels 24 to 28 and 37 to 40 will all be used for storage and building maintenance.
There will also be a rooftop pool on level sixCredit: OrmsThe hotel is expected to open in 2033Credit: Alamy
Outside the base of the Tower, a new public square will be constructed too.
The park will feature curved timber benches, large pebble seating areas and bronze metal artwork.
Construction is expected to start in 2029 and the hotel is then due to open in 2033.
The BT Tower first opened in 1964 as the Post Office Tower and was the capital’s tallest building until the NatWest Tower opened in 1980.
The Tower then closed to the public in 1981 – though, there will be some private events.
The hotel was then purchased by MCR, an American hotel chain, in 2024 for £270million.
