UKs

THE FAMILY behind one of the UK’s most-loved piers has opened a luxury holiday park.

The team behind Clacton Pier – which is Europe’s largest pleasure pier – has launched a new holiday park on the Essex coast with luxury lakeside lodges.

Called The Tideaway, the holiday park is set across seven acres, which includes woodland and a lake.

According to its website: “The Tideaway is a new approach to holiday home ownership and coastal getaways from the family behind the award-winning transformation of Clacton Pier.”

There are a variety of different lodges available to book at the park, all sleeping up to six people.

For example, you could stay at The Victory Lakewood lodge, which has an open-plan layout inside, sits by the lake and also has a hot tub on the decking.

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The lodges aren’t cheap though, costing around £651 for two nights – working out at £54.25 per person per night, if six people are sharing.

As for things to do nearby, you can of course head to Clacton Pier, which is a historic Victorian pier with arcades, a soft play,tenpin bowling alley and funfair rides.

After exploring the pier, take a stroll along Clacton seafront and beach.

For a fun family day out, Hasty’s Adventure Farm is also near the holiday park, with a huge outdoor play area, go karts and a number of farm animals.

And then there’s also St Osyth Priory, just a few minutes from the holiday park.

This country estate is over 1,400 years old and is home to gatehouses and historic gardens.

A MUCH-LOVED playground is set to reopen TOMORROW after a multi-million refurb.

Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Playground in Kensington Gardens in London, will reopen on August 5 with a new 17metre by 12metre Galleon on a sandy beach.

The Galleon also has two crow’s nests to climb, a large tunnel slide and a play telescope.

Inside the ship, there is a kitchen and lots of nooks and crannies ideal for a game of hide and seek.

Other parts of the £3million playground upgrade include a “treehouse of dreams”, which has three different climbing towers and a four metre tunnel slide.

The free-to-visit park also now has an accessible walkway, talk tubes, musical instruments and games such as tic-tac-toe.

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Ideal for the hot and sunny weather, there’s a new waterplay area as well with a crocodile sculpture.

Little kids aren’t left out either, as there is an area with timber houses, play ships and a large sandpit for toddlers.

Andy Williams, Park Manager for Kensington Gardens said: “We know that children across London, the UK and the world have been eagerly awaiting the reopening of this playground, and we can’t wait to see their reactions when they visit. We know they will absolutely love it.

“This playground has been thoughtfully designed so that children of all abilities and interests can find something that appeals to them.

“Children can once again splash, swing, climb and hide in this almost two-acre playground set amongst sub-tropical planting.”

He added: “This incredibly popular playground has a capacity of 450 people and with UK schools now on summer break, we are expecting more people to visit than usual.

“Therefore, there may be lengthy queues across the week, but especially at weekends.”

“I’M going to spend my Saturday digging soil with a JCB for fun,” was a phrase that would never have passed my lips until I became a mum. 

Yet, here I am, spending the first sunny weekend in August on an industrial estate in Medway, Kent, having the time of my life at Diggerland theme park. 

Find out how to get 2-4-1 tickets through Sun Club here

Diggerland has to be seen to be believed and is possibly the UK’s most unique theme park.

Yes, it really is an attraction entirely themed around construction machinery, which was founded in 2000, by digger hire firm owner Hugh Edeleanu.

The Kent site was the first, and there are now three further parks around England, in  Devon, Durham, and Yorkshire. 

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You might question whether you can really get a whole day out of construction equipment, and I was as surprised as anyone to find ourselves racing around the park at closing time, trying to choose our last attraction. 

The range of activities is impressive, and not like any other theme park. 

They have 20 main rides and drives included in the ticket price, plus some extras like dodgems and quad bikes. 

Spin Dizzy is the biggest – spinning up to 8 guests high in the sky in the bucket of a huge digger.

But the giant diggers were by far my son’s favourite, as you spend around 10 minutes shifting soil in an impressive Komatsu PC55MR-5 tracked excavator. They’re simple enough to use that at seven years old, he was able to get into the cab and tackle control himself. 

Other crowd pleasers included the chance to drive a JCB around a circuit, digging for gold with Komatsu PC14 mini diggers and being lifted 50 feet into the air by the Skyshuttle. 

But the standout for me had to be the decommissioned police car. 

My son was able to drive the car himself, pedals and all, around a dirt track, despite being a whole ten years away from getting his provisional license. 

Which is no bad thing, considering he made for a hair-rising chauffeur and was even given a ‘speeding ticket’ at the end of his go.

It feels like the Diggerland creative team had a whale of a time when coming up with the various attractions, which are diverse enough to entertain all ages. 

You’ve got the little Tykes toy area, the indoor soft play and the crazy trikes for the younger kids, plenty of options for primary school age children, and a large choice for the adults who’ve always fancied having a go when passing a construction site. 

The parks even offer stag and hen do parties, with the onsite cafe listing a range of cocktails and beers that you’d never see at your typical theme park restaurant. 

If you fancy checking it out for yourself there’s no better time to visit as Sun readers can get 2-4-1 tickets at Diggerland through Sun Club or Sun Savers, with families saving over £39 on tickets, plus free entry for children under 90cm. 

To get your tickets, Join thesun.co.uk/club for just £1.99 per month or £12 per year, then head to Offers Hub and find the Diggerland page to claim your voucher. 

Tickets cost £25.95pp in advance and £39.50pp on the door, for adults and kids over 90cm.

Or you can pick up the The Sun newspaper from Saturday, August 1 and collect Sun Savers codes.

• Find the Diggerland page in the Offers section and select Start Collecting.
• Collect THREE out of eight Sun Savers codes printed in The Sun from Saturday, August 1 to Saturday, August 8. Once you have your THREE Sun Savers codes, enter them on the Sun Savers app or website to unlock booking. Booking opens at 11am on Monday, August 3.
• Download your voucher (Max 2 people per voucher) and have it ready on your phone or printed before your visit.
• Choose your Diggerland Park in Kent, Devon, Durham or Yorkshire.
• Claim this offer by Monday, 19 October 2026. Present your voucher and a valid Sun Savers account at the park entrance when purchasing your tickets. Your voucher can be redeemed at your chosen Diggerland attraction on selected dates up until Saturday, October 31, 2026.
• 18+ UK only. Sun Savers multiple code collect 01/08/26-08/08/26 or Sun Club subscription required. Online access required. Buy one full price standard admission ticket to get a second standard admission ticket free for the same day. Voucher must be redeemed at attractions alongside valid Sun Club/Sun Savers account. Cannot be used online or in conjunction with any other offer. Max 2 people per voucher. Tickets valid weekends in September-October and October 26-30 only. Subject to availability. Non-transferable & non-refundable. Full T&Cs apply, see sunsavers.co.uk  or club.thesun.co.uk/sun-club

WITH all this warm and sunny weather, has there ever been a better summer for a camping staycation?

Known locally as Mochras, Shell Island in North Cardigan Bay, Wales, sits in the Snowdonia National Park and is the biggest campsite in the UK – and even one of the biggest in Europe.

To get to the campsite, you’ll need to check tide times, as it is accessed via a Tidal Causeway – a raised road that can only be driven on at low tide.

With 800 pitches, there is plenty of space for campers across the 450-acre site, or if you don’t fancy sleeping under canvas, you could opt for one of the chalets on site.

Guests have access to three large, golden sand beaches that look out across Cardigan Bay where you can even have a campfire on.

And what makes the spot even better is that the sunsets are some of the best in the country, painting oranges and pinks in the sky above the peaks of Llŷn Peninsula and Snowdonia.

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At the park there are loads of things to do for guests including heading to the Tavern Bar for a tipple.

And for forgotten items, there is a useful supermarket on site as well as a gift shop, camping shop and off licence.

Kids can let off steam in the playground and football pitch or watch boats bob in the Mini Boat Pool before heading to the strawberry picking site.

There’s a large games room as well, next to the bar, where you can play pool, have a go on multiple arcade games and try and win on the penny machines.

Or head to the sports room, next to the games room, where you will find three TVs showing different sports.

The beach is just a few minutes’ walk away as well, which is a great spot to head kite-surfing, fishing and sailing.

The beach is known for having a large variety of shells, with up to 200 different species.

Little ones can also enjoy exploring rock pools.

Along the beaches, there are a number of paths for walks as well as recommended swimming spots.

During the peak season, camping costs from £14 per adult per night and children cost £7 per night.

Dogs are welcome too, costing £2.75 per night.

And one of the most unique things about the park, is that you get to pick your pitch as there is no pitch allocation.

This means you could opt for an area hidden in the sand dunes that overlooks the sea, to camp at.

One recent visitor said: “Shell Island is a fantastic campsite in an unbeatable location with a great mix of campers, mostly experienced old‑school types who know what North Wales coastal camping is really like.

“It’s great value for money; they keep pitch prices cheap.

“Loved the whole experience, can’t wait to go again, and the pub on site has great options on tap.”

Around Shell Island you’ll also find 13 species of wild orchid, amongst other wildflowers and crabbing spots.

Slightly further afield, there are a number of other to explore too, including Harlech Castle – a UNESCO World Heritage medieval fortress that’s just 10 minutes away.

And keen hikers can also head to Snowdon, Wales’ highest mountain.

The seaside town of Barmouth is nearby too, where you can explore cosy cafes and independent shops, as well as a large shingle beach.

The coastal spot has been ranked the worst seaside town in the UK by Which? magazine for the second year in a row – but one YouTuber made the 250-mile trip to see if the verdict was really justified

A popular coastal spot has made headlines once more – and not in a positive light. Which? Magazine has just ranked Bognor Regis bottom of its yearly list of Britain’s best and worst coastal spots for the second consecutive year.

The magazine polled more than 5,300 individuals about their experiences visiting UK coastal destinations over the past year, canvassing their opinions across a range of factors including beach quality, scenery, food and drink, accommodation, tourist attractions, shopping and value for money.

The Mirror’s own Levi Winchester, who grew up in the town, has witnessed its gradual decline over the years. “I remember many happy summers playing down the beach in Bognor Regis. At low tide, you could see sand for miles, as the smell of fish and chips wafted through the air,” Levi recalled when asked for her thoughts on a town that once served as a home to George V for three months.

“The town was always buzzing with families enjoying their trip to Butlin’s-and while the seaside resort still attracts large crowds every year, the town itself has lost its heart. The promenade lacks love and is in need of a serious revamp.

“Even under the lights of the pier, it still just feels grey and miserable. Like many other UK high streets, the main town centre is empty now with hardly any shops left. I barely recognised it when I last visited.”

One YouTuber decided to visit the spot last year after its first dismal ranking to see if it truly matches up to the title of being the UK’s worst. James Burton documented his trip on By The Curb channel and kicked it off by paying a visit to Butlin’s.

Butlin’s Bognor Regis Resort is one of the UK’s most iconic holiday destinations and one of only three remaining Butlin’s resorts, alongside Minehead and Skegness.

Over the years, it has undergone significant redevelopment, transforming from a traditional chalet-style camp into a modern family resort while retaining its much-loved heritage.

And after visiting, James believed it showed Bognor has a lot to offer. “Worst seaside town in the UK?” before continuing: “Absolute waffle. It’s lovely. I’m not going to say it’s the best. But it is nice. Yet again, I’ve proved them all wrong, I just come here, walked around and proved them wrong.”

James then enjoyed a beer, remarking: “It was just £4.90, which is not bad value really with that spectacular view.”

Butlin’s Resort Bognor Regis still welcomes over 385,000 visitors each year, with 300,000 staying as overnight guests and 85,000 popping in for a day visit.

James turned up just in time to catch one of the company’s iconic redcoats leading a crowd of delighted youngsters through an energetic rendition of “Heads, Shoulders, Knees and Toes,” and declared: “I’d have loved this as an eight-year-old.”

Living “life on the edge,” James also ventured into one of the resort’s numerous restaurants: “To be honest it looked a nice restaurant.

“I’ve never seen so many chicken nuggets though, they must go through thousands of chicken nuggets.”

Despite struggling to find his way out of the resort, James left with a positive impression: “I liked it. It looked good.

“I’m going to bring my daughter to a Butlin’s…it’s gone up in my estimation.”

Overall, James concluded that Bognor didn’t deserve its poor reputation: “It’s tidy. The people are friendly.

“It’s got a lovely beach. I know it’s a pebbly beach, but that don’t matter. You’ve got Butlin’s. Butlin’s was great.”

NAME a better spot to camp than right by the beach?

Well, at an award-winning holiday park, you can now pitch up your tent just a few metres from the sand, this summer.

Aber Bay Holiday Park near Aberystwyth in Wales will be launching beachside pitches from August 1, costing just £30 per night – which works out at £7.50 per person, per night.

You’d be right by Clarach Bay Beach, which is a sheltered, sand and shingle cove that stretches a mile long.

The beach is a great spot for kids with rock pools to explore and there is also a walking trail that heads over the cliffs.

One recent visitor said: “The beach is located right at the front of the park, it’s a sandy/stone beach with a stream running through the middle ideal for the younger children to explore/build dams etc! Beach is beautiful and always very clean.”

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Another person added: “The bay itself has a beautiful gorgeous beach and facilities for children, the dogs loved it!”

A third person commented: “A lovely little beach front which is safe for children. The beach front also has a nice cafe which serves a good breakfast and tasty fish and chips.”

Guests also get to use all the facilities at the holiday park including an indoor heated pool, a games room, outdoor play area, restaurant, bar, shop and entertainment.

The park also recently opened a rooftop terrace which overlooks the coastline.

The holiday park was named the best in Wales last year by the Welsh Hospitality Awards, making it one of the best holiday parks in the UK.

If you didn’t fancy camping, you could stay in one of the park’s caravans, lodges or glamping pods with their own hot tubs, instead.

A four-night break in September costs as little as £215 in a caravan sleeping up to eight people – that’s £6.72 per person, per night.

One recent visitor said: “Absolutely lovely location,right on the beach and so peaceful, loved waking up to the noise of the sea and will definitely be coming back for another stay.”

British Airways flight BA919 was due to land at Heathrow Airport but before it could safely land it encountered an issue mid-air which has been reported as “the most serious ‘near miss’ in the UK in years”

A British Airways plane was “seconds from disaster” after a “serious incident” above London, it has been reported.

On Monday July 6, Flight BA919 from Dusseldorf was due to land at Heathrow Airport but before it could safely land it encountered an issue mid-air. Just before it was due to land the pilot reportedly faced a terrifying moment while the plane was above Canary Wharf.

Sources said the first officer’s error required a physical intervention by the captain as the Airbus A320 was on on route to land at Heathrow Airport.

It is said the jet suffered a stall and the captain had to step in to overide the first officer’s initial input to try and fix the problem.

Experts told The Sun the situation could have resulted in ‘hull loss’, where an aircraft is destroyed or seriously damaged. They added it was “The most serious ‘near miss’ in the UK in years”.

Following the incident the captain is now understood to be on “stress leave”.

The Air Accidents Investigation (AAIB) Branch are investigating the ‘serious incident’. AAIB is an independent agency and is responsible for the investigation of civil aircraft accidents and serious incidents in the UK and its Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies.

A spokesperson for British Airways said: “We’re assisting the AAIB with its investigation and are legally unable to comment further at this stage.”

This road has a long history studded with soldiers, cyclists and tourists

Tucked in the hills of the Lake District is a twisting road that is so steep and challenging it’s often brought up as one of the most dangerous in the UK. Hardknott Pass, between Eskdale and the Duddon Valley, links the Lake District with West Cumbria.

Often impassable in the winter due to snow and ice, it is also one of the steepest in the UK. It has a maximum gradient of 33%, and winds through the mountains with a series of hairpin turns that would put fear in any casual driver.

This steep gradient draws endurance cyclists from across the world. It’s steeper than any other mountain stage in any other European races, including the Tour de France.

Every year, cyclists flock to the pass to complete the Fred Whitton Challenge – an 112 mile ride around the Lake District.

From Romans to tank training

A version of what is now Hardknott Pass was built by the Romans around AD110 to link the coastal fort at Ravenglass to their garrisons in Ambleside. They called it the tenth highway, but it fell into disrepair in the early 5th century when the Romans left Britain. For years it was used as an unpaved packhorse route to transport lead and farming goods.

In the 1880s, the road was improved by the English Lake District Association – a group of hoteliers. They hoped that making the road better would encourage more people to travel there but by 1891 it had failed to attract the number of people they had wanted.

Instead, the route was popular with cyclists and motorists. Even then, it was described as a challenging road to pass, with the Guide to North-West England describing the old coach road as “difficult going West, cruel coming East”.

Fast forward to World War 2 and the remote mountain pass was in regular use by British forces who used it to train tank drivers, completely destroying what was left of the road surface.

After the war it was finally tarmacked and opened to vehicles.

The road today

Now, the road is a thrilling drive where anyone coming downhill must be prepared to reverse into tight passing bays to allow those coming up the right of way.

However, despite the challenge of driving the road, the views at its 393 metre summit are well worth the effort.

The peak of the mountain offers breathtaking panoramic views stretching toward the Scafell range.

As you drive along the route, you pass the haunting ruins of Hardknott Roman fort, where the same soldiers who used to travel the pass stood watch over the mountain wilderness.

DEVON has lots of beautiful seaside towns, but when it comes to finding one that is more peaceful than most, it can feel tricky.

Sidmouth in East Devon is home to one of the most beautiful beaches in the UK and, surprisingly, has no arcades or rides.

And soon the spot will be getting a £21million glow-up.

The multi-million pound project will focus on protecting Sidmouth’s seafront.

There will be new offshore breakwaters, a 120 metre beach groyne, flood gates and a number of repairs to existing sea walls.

Ultimately, the upgrades will help to not only protect the seafront, but homes and businesses in the area too.

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When visiting the Victorian seaside town, make sure to head to the Blue Flag-awarded beach, which is known for being one of the cleanest beaches in the UK.

Have a look at the cliffs as well, which form part of England‘s only natural UNESCO World Heritage Site.

As for the town, instead of amusement arcades, loud sports bars and dodgy street food vendors, you’ll find galleries, antiques shops, independent boutiques and tearooms.

Travel reporter Cyann Fielding has previously visited the town and said: “Growing up, I always associated Sidmouth with ‘that place that had donkeys’.

“This is due to Sidmouth being home to the free-to-visit Donkey Sanctuary that has over 100 donkeys that they have improved the lives of.

“Away from the sanctuary, I also visited the beach on occasions growing up.

“Sidmouth is pretty, but I often think people also forget how impressive it is with the dramatic cliffs dating back 200million years.

“They are part of the Jurassic Coast – which is made of vibrant reed sandstone cliffs from the Triassic period.

“They are a wonder to see and within the area, there are many places to go and things to do where families can learn more about the Jurassic Coast.”

THE Cotswolds is easily one of the most popular places to holiday in the UK thanks to its pretty limestone villages and scenic countryside, but if you’re with kids and it’s summertime then let’s face it… they’ll be miffed at a lack of sandcastle building opportunities. 

Fear not, because the scenic region is also home to the UK’s inland beach.

I visited Cotswold Country Park And Beach with my son last week, as England entered what felt like its 100th week of sunshine, and it was the perfect way to spend a summer’s day. 

Located on the South lake and North Lake within the Cotswold Water Park, just down the road from Cirencester, it’s about 45-50 miles in a straight line from the nearest coast in the Bristol Channel. 

The park has 140 metres of sandy beach and a large area for paddling and swimming, as well as stacks of water-based activities. 

These include a large overwater, inflatable obstacle course, pedalos, paddleboarding, rowing boats, electric self-drive boats, paddle boats and kayaks. 

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There’s more to do on land too, including pedal carts, a playground and minigolf. 

We paid £18 to enter the park with our car and a further £18 each for the inflatable obstacle course, plus £12 for 30 minutes on the electric boats. 

As it was a Friday during the school summer holidays and a roasting 27C, the beach was packed, with families spilling out onto the grassy banks behind. 

Thanks to the neverending summer, the water was very warm with no need to brace as you enter the water, like you usually do in Britain. 

The Cotswold lakes were initially made out of old limestone gravel pits from the 1900s, which then refilled naturally and were turned into nature reserves.

Several of them now offer activities like paddleboarding but Cotswolds Country Park is the biggest of the bunch. 

The overwater obstacle course was so brilliant that it was the highlight of my entire week’s holiday, with a good 45 minutes on the water, clambering on the Total Wipeout-style attraction.

The electric boats were brilliant too, with my son loving having control of his own vehicle on the water. 

There’s so much to do at the park that you could easily spend two days here and not get bored. 

We spent 6 hours there and barely scratched the surface of what was on offer. 

If you want to make it into a weekend, I highly recommend staying at the De Vere Cotswold Water Park Hotel, which is an eight-minute drive away on the edge of one of the other 148 lakes in the area and has rooms from £160 a night this August. 

With its own spa, we finished our day with a more relaxing water-based activity and the chance to use their posh products to wash off our time in the lakes, before a waterfront dinner at their Boathouse restaurant and a well-deserved night’s sleep. 

The town beat well-known destinations like Bamburgh, Brighton, St Ives and Whitstable to be crowned the winner

A coastal town with a population of 60,000 has dethroned other popular destinations as the most charming the UK has to offer.

Bamburgh and Seahouses have seen their days of glory and renown, but now it’s time to give some love to another spot in the North East, which was recently named the most charming seaside destination by Lonely Planet magazine, just nine miles from Newcastle.

Tynemouth is an easy and accessible weekend day-trip destination, recognised for its sandy beaches, scenic walks, lively independent-shop scene, food, and attractions.

For the ultimate day out in Tynemouth, go on a Saturday or Sunday and pay a visit to Tynemouth Market, held inside the old Victorian metro station beneath a striking glass roof. There, stalls sell everything from vintage clothing to antiques.

From there, it’s a short walk to the main attraction – Tynemouth Priory and Castle, a headland ruin dating back to the 7th century that towers over the North Sea.

The place is Tynemouth’s most famous postcard, giving visitors a great view of the sea.

After looking around and learning some of the town’s history, it’s time to head downstairs to King Edward’s Bay, a sheltered cove where you’ll find some of the best seafood in the area, and get to lounge around if you manage to find a spot – it tends to get pretty busy during the summer months.

But for a proper swim, the place locals recommend is Longsands Beach, a mile-long stretch that regularly pulls top marks from visitors.

But if you’re not the sitting-down-and relaxing-by-the-sea kind, you’ll find some more active fun in Hadrian’s Cycleway – a 174-mile coast-to-coast route that begins right here in Tynemouth.

Nearby, the Lord Collingwood Monument offers one of the best free viewpoints in town, described by a visitor on TripAdvisor as having privileged views of “the docks at North Shields, the priory, and the castle.”

Families and people of all ages can also enjoy Tynemouth Park, home to an unexpectedly popular attraction. One online reviewer said they’d “had an enjoyable time playing the 18-hole dinosaur-themed crazy golf courses”.

Then, in July, Tynemouth gets ready for its big event. Every year, almost 100,000 visitors come to town for the Mouth of Tyne Festival, a free event that culminates in an open-air concert staged right at the Priory ruins.

Over the years, iconic headliners have included Sam Fender, Bryan Ferry, Elbow, and Paloma Faith.

You can reach Tynemouth from London in 3 hours and 20 minutes by train, or 5 to 6 hours by car. From Manchester, the journey takes under three hours by either mode. From Edinburgh, it’s about two hours by train or car.

GETTING around the capital is about to get harder for three weeks of the school summer holidays.

Charing Cross and Waterloo East train stations will close today until the middle of next month.

It comes as both stations are set to get an upgrade, costing £20million overall.

The stations will then both reopen on August 16.

However, this won’t be the end of closures for the two stations as there will be further closures between August 22 and 23 and between October 10 and 11.

Across the initial first closure, travellers will need to head to London Victoria, London Bridge, London Cannon Street or London Blackfriars instead.

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Though, commuters will be able to use alternative routes, including on the Underground and on buses, for no extra cost.

Works on the stations include repairing the 175-year-old Hungerford Bridge, which trains head over the River Thames on.

A number of commuters have taken to social media to share their outrage at the closure.

One person commented: “All these upgrades they do, and yet their still rail replacement most weekends.”

Another person said: “With Charing Cross and Waterloo East closed for three weeks, this will inconvenience a huge number of passengers.

“The least Southeastern could do is provide more off-peak trains during the morning rush hour to help cope with the increased demand.”

A third person said: “R.I.P. my commute I guess.”

Scott Brightwell, train services director at Southeastern Railway, previously said: “The £20 million investment we are delivering will see 1990s track and platforms upgraded to make journeys safer and more reliable, and Victorian- era structures strengthened to remain fit for the future.

“By consolidating the work into a 22-day closure, supported by preparation and follow-up weekends, we can complete the work more quickly and with less disruption overall than the alternative options of 60 weekend closures or four to five, nine-day closures.”

He added: “We have planned the closure for the summer, when passenger numbers are around 20 per cent lower and schools are closed, to help manage the impact on customers.”

Travellers are urged to plan ahead and check before they travel.

BAE Systems revealed the Brontanax today, a new collaborative combat aircraft (CCA) loyal wingman drone designed for use by the U.K. Royal Air Force. Its unveiling comes less than a week after the service launched its new CCA program, named Storm Fighter, as it seeks to build what it describes as “Europe’s first sixth-generation air force.”

The Brontanax prototype was presented today at the Farnborough International Airshow in England, during an event attended by the United Kingdom’s newly appointed Defense Secretary Wes Streeting. The prototype — rather than a technology demonstrator — was built in secret at BAE Systems’ facility in Warton, Lancashire.

The aircraft is now being prepared for ground-based testing at Warton prior to flight testing within U.K. airspace, and there are reports that it could take part in a NATO exercise as early as next year.

The appearance of the Brontanax also comes a day after BAE Systems revealed details of how it’s exploring using the Eurofighter Typhoon to control CCAs as part of a broader effort to roll out new capabilities for the jet. Ultimately, however, it appears that the Brontanax effort will also, at the very least, inform the kinds of drones that will also accompany the U.K. F-35 and the future Tempest combat jet into battle.

BAE Systems says the Brontanax is roughly the size of its Hawk advanced jet trainer, which is around 41 feet long, with a wingspan of approximately 33 feet. The manufacturer did not, however, provide details of its planned performance, nor of its critical autonomy system, and the degree to which it will be able to perform missions and functions, absent from human control.

The name Brontanax means “thunder king” in ancient Greek.

We had already gotten a look at the outward appearance of the Brontanax when BAE Systems published a rendering of a pair of the drones when the Storm Fighter program was launched last week.

As we stated at the time, the notably stealthy aircraft has some features reminiscent of renderings of the Tempest, including large-area trapezoidal wings and cropped outward-canted vertical stabilizers. There is a prominent chine line and a faceted fuselage. It also features a shovel-like nose plus low-observable apertures. The drone has a wedge-shaped ventral air intake, partially shrouded by a prominent ‘lip,’ and this feeds a serpentine inlet. The end result is not likely to be a very low observable (VLO) overall design, but certainly low observable (LO) one.

Now that we have seen the finished Brontanax, it is also apparent how deep the fuselage is, suggesting generous internal space for fuel and stores. The landing gear, with a twin-wheel nose unit and substantial mains, looks notably robust to deal with heavier loads, likely with an eye toward carrier launch and recovery and austere airfield operations.

A front view of the drone reveals a blister in the nose, likely housing a camera for flight testing, and there are data probes for the same function. It looks like there is a low-observable aperture behind that blister, which could accommodate an infrared search and track system, or other sensor, in an operational configuration.

Initially, the Brontanax prototype is fitted with a Williams turbofan engine, but thought is also being given to using Rolls-Royce’s Orpheus powerplant family.

In terms of missions, BAE Systems says the Brontanax is intended to provide electronic warfare, precision strike, and air-to-air capabilities. Previously, Luke Pollard, the U.K. minister for defense readiness and industry, had said that the Storm Fighter program would “deliver guardian angel and attack dog drones.”

BAE Systems has also described an experimental scenario in which CCAs armed with very long-range Meteor air-to-air missiles extended the reach, effectiveness, and the combat mass of Typhoons in the air defense role. BAE Systems officials confirmed today that the Brontanax drone’s internal weapons bay is compatible with all weapons currently in service with the Royal Air Force.

The focus on electronic warfare reflects growing U.K. interest in this area, with other examples including Storm Shroud, which will provide the Royal Air Force with a new uncrewed electronic warfare drone that will enter service this year. Last week, the Royal Air Force announced another new EW drone, named Storm Chrome.

StormChrome is likely to be a longer-range stand-in electronic warfare drone with similar capabilities to the current Tekever AR3-based StormShroud, but much longer range – able to support deep strike missions by crewed aircraft and drones. Leonardo BriteStorm payload is likely. pic.twitter.com/JNzCXk4Pri

— JamesFennell MBE (@FennellJW) July 18, 2026

Surprisingly, the ability of the Brontanax, or a variant of it, to operate from aircraft carriers is not referenced beyond a short clip in a BAE Systems video. Under Project Vanquish, the Royal Navy plans to demonstrate a fixed-wing, short takeoff and landing autonomous collaborative platform (ACP) from a Queen Elizabeth class aircraft carrier before the end of 2027. The ACP terminology has been used in the United Kingdom in the past and is broadly equivalent to CCA, and BAE Systems may well plan to adapt the Brontanax for this naval requirement, or a follow-on one, too.

Simon Barnes, the group managing director of BAE Systems’ Air sector, provided more details about the Brontanax, including the fact that, as well as being operated by a Typhoon pilot, the drone can be controlled by a mission commander on the ground.

An open architecture and modular design are intended to future-proof the Brontanax, making it easier to adapt to meet evolving threats, while maintaining operational relevance.

Although it hasn’t commented on its level of ‘attritability,’ BAE Systems is clearly looking to offer a lower-cost air combat platform that can also be produced at scale, if required. According to The Telegraph, the company says the Brontanax will come with a price tag around a quarter of that of the Typhoon. The unit cost of a Typhoon varies dramatically depending on where you look and from what time period. If using a general figure of $115M each, the drones would cost around $28.5M each. This is in line with the cost of CCAs being developed in the U.S., for instance. Still, all this depends on how the cost of the Typhoon is being calculated, and the price range can be pretty vast.

“We recognize armed forces are being challenged to meet the demands of speed, adaptability and scale,” Barnes said. “Our collaborative combat aircraft will provide the ability to extend the reach of crewed aircraft, generating greater combat mass at lower cost, while keeping pilots out of harm’s way.”

On an industrial level, the new CCA has been designed and built by BAE Systems’ FalconWorks, its rapid prototyping team, paid for using the company’s own research and development budget.

Cognizant of the fact that other companies, including more established CCAs, will also be competing for the Royal Air Force’s Storm Fighter requirement, BAE Systems is stressing the homegrown nature of its Brontanax.

“This capability represents a significant company investment in the U.K.’s future of air power and builds on our long-standing commitment to innovation,” Barnes explained. “Alongside supporting defense priorities, it will strengthen the U.K.’s sovereign defense ecosystem by creating opportunities for SMEs, suppliers and partners across the country.”

Competition is still likely to come from the United States, in particular, including the Boeing MQ-28 Ghost Bat, in which BAE Systems is also involved, and the British firm is also working in collaboration with Lockheed Martin’s Skunk Works division, which is also heavily involved in CCAs. Other U.S. pitches could come from Northrop Grumman, Kratos, or General Atomics, which has pitched to the United Kingdom a carrier-capable member of its highly modular Gambit drone family.

In its Defense Investment Plan, published last month, the U.K. government confirmed a $406-million investment in the Storm Fighter CCA program.

Since BAE Systems is already working alongside the Royal Air Force on its CCA effort, the Brontanax would appear to be well placed to win a domestic order, if the U.K. government is serious about fielding a sovereign loyal wingman capability as well as supporting local industrial capability. When it comes to low observable capabilities and stealthy drones, BAE Systems’ experience dates back many years, including a proof-of-concept UCAV testbed called Taranis.

BAE Systems – Taranis Unmanned Combat Air Vehicle (UCAV) First Flight [1080p]

Speaking today, Defense Secretary Streeting heralded the Brontanax as“a testament to the extraordinary talent and innovation across our sovereign defense industry.”

The Chief Of The Air Staff, Air Marshal Sir Harv Smyth, described the Brontanax as “a major step” toward the Royal Air Force’s ambition to become Europe’s first “sixth-generation air force.” He also said that the Brontanax prototype is expected to fly next year.

At this stage, the “sixth-generation air force” rubric is somewhat unclear, although Smyth described it in terms of an ecosystem in which “uncrewed air systems integrate seamlessly with our crewed platforms, exponentially increasing our survivability, our lethality, and ultimately our conventional deterrence.”

Whether the Brontanax ultimately enters Royal Air Force service remains to be seen. BAE Systems is entering an increasingly crowded field where other CCA developers already have years of flight-testing and autonomy work behind them, while integrating uncrewed aircraft with crewed fighters remains a major technical challenge. Australia, China, the United States and even Russia are ahead in terms of actual flight testing collaborative drones for fighter aircraft, so the pressure is on for the United Kingdom, especially as it grapples with fighter fleet-size constraints, which could be at least partially alleviated with the introduction of CCAs. At the same time, this drone could give the UK a banner sovereign airframe to export to allies around the globe, which could be extremely lucrative in the years to come.

All told, the appearance of the Brontanax is the clearest sign yet of Britain’s ambition to field a sovereign collaborative combat aircraft capability, underscoring the central role uncrewed systems are expected to play in the Royal Air Force’s future airpower vision.

Contact the author: thomas@thewarzone.com

When BAE Systems unveiled the first rendering of the United Kingdom’s Combat Air Flying Demonstrator last year, it finally gave us a look at the test aircraft that will spearhead development of the Global Combat Air Program (GCAP), at the center of which is the stealthy Tempest fighter. Now, new images, as well as a scale model, provide more details and a better idea of its scale.

The company has released its clearest official photograph yet of the demonstrator under construction. Seen at the top of this story, it shows the fuselage of the jet being built at the BAE Systems facility in Samlesbury. Meanwhile, the wings and fins are being built at Warton, from where the aircraft is due to fly before the end of 2027.

In aerospace, a demonstrator (or technology demonstrator) is an aircraft built primarily to prove technologies, manufacturing methods, aerodynamic concepts, and systems integration, rather than to become an operational weapon system. As a precursor to a prototype that would more closely represent a final configuration, they are nearly always smaller, simpler designs that leverage off-the-shelf components wherever possible to get them into the air faster and to prove core concepts and/or a package of concepts. The last such known fighter demonstrator in this class built in the United Kingdom was the British Aerospace EAP that first flew in 1986 and proved the concept for the Typhoon that followed it. 

The Combat Air Flying Demonstrator will inform the sixth-generation Tempest fighter, which is being developed for the air forces of the United Kingdom, Italy, and Japan, for service in the 2040s and beyond. Canada also recently joined the program as an observer, and there are reports that Germany might also be considering coming on board.

A model of the Combat Air Flying Demonstrator presented at the Farnborough International Airshow in England earlier this week:

The new scale model confirms that the twin-engine aircraft has outward-canted twin fins and no horizontal tails. Another major difference that we know about relates to the powerplant. The Combat Air Flying Demonstrator will use the same EJ200 turbofans as the Typhoon. The production Tempest will feature an all-new powerplant that is now under development. Nevertheless, officials have said that the demonstrator will have fighter-style handling, despite its size and lack of thrust compared to the Tempest.

Overall, the demonstrator aircraft has some similarities to the F-35 (except the horizontal tails), including forward-swept intakes that are a DSI design and a prominent ‘chine’ on the forward fuselage. The center fuselage section is notably long and broad, something carried over, but to a lesser degree, from Tempest renderings and models.

The inboard leading edge of the wing is slightly cranked, there is some forward sweep on the trailing edge, and the wingtips are severely cropped. The result is something of a modified cropped-delta wing, very different to the lambda wing that appeared on the very first Tempest concept and closer to the large-area delta that appears on later Tempest concepts. As for the demo jet’s tailfins, these are simpler than those on the latest Tempest mockup, being trapezoidal rather than having five ‘sides’.

The canopy also appears to offer limited rearward visibility. The underside of the fuselage almost has area-ruled, hour-glass-like contours.

The factory-floor photograph includes technicians, assembly tooling, work platforms, and production fixtures that immediately provide useful reference points. Even allowing for perspective effects, the demonstrator’s center fuselage appears broad and deep.

Looking down the spine of the aircraft, the width of the centerbody is especially striking. The absence of skin panels exposes a substantial internal space, which accommodates low-observable serpentine intakes, while the distance between the outer mold line on each side further hints at the generous internal volume available inside the aircraft.

Of course, perspective can exaggerate proportions, and this remains a technology demonstrator rather than the final operational GCAP fighter, let alone a Tempest prototype. The aircraft that eventually enters service in the mid-2030s will undoubtedly differ in various respects.

Air Commodore Martin Lowe, the Future Combat Air System (FCAS) program director at the U.K. Ministry of Defense, has stressed this exact reality. He highlights that the Combat Air Flying Demonstrator is not a Tempest prototype, particularly not “in terms of shape or size.” The final configuration of the Tempest has yet to be settled, but it will surely be bigger and more complex than the demonstrator. A new, full-size mockup of the Tempest was also presented at the Farnborough International Airshow in England this week.

While the Combat Air Flying Demonstrator has a definite F-35 ‘look,’ the latest Tempest mockup owes more to the F-22 Raptor. In fact, in at least one recent render, seen below, it appears like a wider, squatter F-22, suggesting an even more generous internal capacity.

As TWZ previously reported, the future combat aircraft is being designed around “really extreme range” and a payload approximately double that of the F-35A. Just in terms of internal and external ordnance, for the F-35A, this equates to more than 18,000 pounds, according to the manufacturer. This would suggest the Tempest’s internal payload will be around 10,000 pounds compared to the F-35A’s 5,000 pounds.

Those requirements point toward a substantially larger aircraft with dramatically greater internal volume than today’s fighters. They also reflect similar concerns that have driven the development of the U.S. Air Force’s Boeing F-47 under the Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) initiative.

Range is heavily dictated by fuel load, which the Tempest will carry internally to preserve its stealth qualities. At the same time, carrying significantly more — and larger — internal weapons than current fighters demands larger weapons bays. Sixth-generation aircraft are also expected to require unprecedented electrical power generation and cooling capacity to support advanced sensors, electronic warfare suites, communications systems, onboard computing, and potentially future capabilities such as directed-energy weapons.

Previous renderings gave us an idea of the shape of Britain’s future stealth fighter demonstrator. However, the new model and photos from the production line provide useful new detail of the Combat Air Flying Demonstrator, including a better appreciation of its scale. Ultimately, once the Tempest appears, it will likely be an even bigger and more impressive aircraft.

Contact the author: thomas@thewarzone.com

A BELOVED play area in Kent is set to open next week after months of closure.

The largest free playground in the south east has undergone an enormous upgrade and now has a new climbing frame, slides, swings and picnic tables.

The playground at the Lower Leas Coastal Park between Folkestone and Sandgate has been undergoing a £750,000 revamp since April.

Part of the area was forced to close much earlier in 2024 due to a landslip.

The local council announced its reopening on social media: “The exciting new Lower Leas Coastal Park play area has taken an extra week longer than planned, but we’re looking good for an opening by Friday 31 July.

“Details about an official launch event with free goodies on Tuesday 4 August will be announced very soon.

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“With £750,000 invested in the first major refurbishment of the district’s flagship play area since the year 2000, we’re excited to unveil this fantastic new space and help make the rest of your summer one to remember.”

In the comments, one local wrote: “Our kids love this park can’t wait to see it!”

Images have shown construction on the playground is almost complete and it will have a huge wooden climbing frame with at least two slides, rope ladders and swings.

Dotted around the outside will be picnic tables with buggy and cycle parking.

Proludic Ltd led the scheme to upgrade what is described as the south east’s largest free adventure playground.

Aside from the play area, the Coastal Park also has a formal garden and a peaceful wildlife zone.

Work to fully reopen the playground began in April of this year after cliff stabilisation work was completed following landslides.

The previous play area which had wooden towers, slide and ziplines had been there since 2000.

Talking about plans for the playground earlier in the year, the local council said it will have “more inclusive elements than ever before in the south east’s largest free adventure playground, an exciting new era is now just around the corner.”

A MUCH-LOVED family ride has been forced to close after it appears it derailed and the track split.

The Big Dipper at Blackpool Pleasure Beach is one of the oldest operating rollercoasters in the world.

Yesterday afternoon, the wooden rollercoaster was forced to close and is still closed today, following some of the carriages of the ride derailing, with a video shared on social media also showing the track split down the middle.

Several videos shared on social media show the ride at a halt on a low part of the track.

The track in front, which rises before a drop, appears to be broken in several places – though, reportedly, no one was hurt.

One rider, Reanna Harrison-Berry, 20, who was riding with her boyfriend, said they heard a “crunch” sound as they went uphill.

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Just moments later, the cart then rolled backwards, with some claiming that the carriages had ‘derailed’.

Reanna added: “As we went three-quarters of the way up the big hill, it just completely smashed backwards really quickly.

“The next thing we realised we were tilted to the left and the back carriage was completely to the right – it was quite scary.”

Another rider said: “We went pretty quick upwards, but then it juddered and rolled back really quickly.

“I was terrified, I’m not going to lie. I’ve never had that happen on a rollercoaster before. We didn’t really know what to do.”

Once the riders deboarded, they gave statements and were offered a free Burger King.

Reanna said: “I couldn’t eat because I was so shaken up, but my boyfriend got a free meal and a couple of other people ate.”

The Big Dipper features five drops and a number of twists and turns.

It was first built in 1923, making it over 100 years old but was later extended in 1934.

The track stretches over a kilometre long and travels up to 34.8mph.

The ride was closed on July 20, 21 and 22 for routine maintenance and then reopened yesterday before the incident in the afternoon.

A spokesperson from Pleasure Beach Resort said: “The Big Dipper came to a stop on Thursday, July 23, around 2pm, at a very low point in the ride.

“Following this, a manual deboarding took place with guests guided safely by trained operators.

“All riders were checked by first aid trained staff, with no injuries reported.

“An internal investigation is taking place to determine the root cause.”

When Sun Travel asked if the ride will be closed for the foreseeable future, Blackpool Pleasure Beach Resort declined to comment.

This small seaside town has had to install a park and ride due to the sheer number of visitors, and its narrow, winding streets are a difficult place to find a parking spot in the summer holidays

If you’ve ever taken the kids to a seaside town or popular attraction during the six week summer holidays, you’ll know the pain of driving around in circles looking for a spot.

A lot of tourist hotspots, such as beach towns, have old, narrow roads, and often, car parking is expensive and a long walk away from any attractions. It’s one of the most annoying things about trying to enjoy a day out in the summer.

A new study, which looked at parking across the UK’s seaside towns and tourist hotspots during the summer break claims it has found the worst place to find a parking space during this time.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, the worst place to park is in Cornwall, which, as a county, welcomes around four million overnight visitors and 14 million day trippers a year. The pretty fishing town of St Ives took the top spot, with a huge number of visitors heading to its beach or art galleries finding it tough to grab a parking spot.

The study, carried out by Indigo Car Hire, looked at average parking costs, the number of parking spots per 1,000 visitors, and the number of car parks within a mile of the town centre. It also looked at the number of Google reviews that mentioned tourists facing parking problems.

These factors were then scored out of 100, with St Ives easily topping the list with 92 out of 100. A recent TripAdvisor review said: “Felt we should visit as we’re in Cornwall for a week, but having failed to find any parking anywhere we were glad to get out.”

Another claimed: “We had to re-attempt visiting St Ives due to a lack of parking. In order to park we had to come between 8am-9am, just FYI. Locals are very friendly and try to help.” While one said it was a “Very nice place with lots of restaurants and shops, but totally crowded with tourists in July. You can hardly find a parking space which are very expensive!”

But the small town is tackling its parking issues. Visit St Ives has tips on where to park when visiting, and recommends either using a park and ride car park just outside the town, or parking at nearby St Erth station and taking the St Ives Bay Line, a 15-minute train ride that gives you incredible coastal views as you arrive at the town.

St Ives wasn’t the only Cornish spot to make the list. Padstow came in fourth, while Newquay came in tenth. In second place the seaside town of Whitby in North Yorkshire scored 89 out of 100 for poor parking, with some visitors parking at the neighbouring village of Sandsend and braving the 45-minute walk into town.

A recent review said: “We saw car parks, but they were totally full no matter what time of day it was, same with the on-street parking near the front.” While another claimed there was “plenty of parking. However very expensive. £2.60 for an hour.”

Cherie Carter, managing director at Indigo Car Hire, said: “According to an RAC survey earlier this year, a third of drivers struggle with parking anxiety. The aim from this study is not to discourage drivers from visiting hotspots like St Ives or Whitby, but to help travellers enjoy their summer break with fewer unexpected frustrations when they arrive.”

Top 10 worst places for parking in the six-week holidays

1. St Ives, Cornwall – 92/100
2. Whitby, North Yorkshire – 89/100
3. Tenby, Wales – 87/100
4. Padstow, Cornwall – 85/100
5. Salcombe, Devon – 82/100
6. Southwold, Suffolk – 80/100
7. Bournemouth, Dorset – 79/100
8. Brighton, East Sussex – 77/100
9. Robin Hood’s Bay, North Yorkshire – 76/100
10. Newquay, Cornwall – 75/100

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

The town has been named among the prettiest in the UK, and there are now plans to turn part of a ‘under-utilised’ car park into a modern Premier Inn that’s just steps from its golden sandy beaches

A brand-new Premier Inn is headed for a seaside location that has been named among the prettiest in the UK.

The UK’s largest hotel chain, which already boasts over 840 locations, confirmed that it’s coming to Hunstanton on the North Norfolk coast with a 108-bedroom property on the town’s Southend Road, subject to planning permission.

In a statement, Whitbread PLC, which owns Premier Inn, confirmed: “The company is in early discussions with planners at the Borough Council of King’s Lynn and West Norfolk on the design of the new hotel, with a planning application expected to be submitted in the autumn.”

It also revealed: “The multimillion-pound Premier Inn will feature the brand’s latest guest bedrooms, including its popular enhanced ‘Premier Plus’ rooms, and guest-focused restaurant alongside dedicated on-site guest car parking spaces.”

The planned hotel would be the first from the chain on the North Norfolk coast. Premier Inn’s last opening in the county was the Great Yarmouth Seafront Premier Inn, which opened its doors in 2019. Premier Inn was also recently granted permission to redevelop its current Norwich Nelson hotel, which will include a new, larger 248-bedroom Premier Inn, student accommodation, a new public park, and an upgraded public river walkway.

The new hotel comes amid a proposed ‘masterplan’ for Hunstanton, which is currently undergoing a consultation until July 27. Its objectives include “promoting and diversifying the town’s tourist offer”.

Part of a car park described as ‘a generally underutilised area’, Seagate East Car Park on Southend Road, is the proposed site of the new hotel. Whitbread clarified: “The coach park and the Honeystone Public House car park do not form part of the proposed development site.” This location is just a three-minute walk from the town’s South Promenade and attractions such as SEA LIFE Hunstanton.

Hunstanton is a purpose-built seaside resort, dating back to Victorian times, famous for its unique striped cliffs, fine golden sands, and soft sand dunes. It’s also the only east coast resort in England facing west, meaning you can watch spectacular sunsets over the sea.

The town was recently named the UK’s best place for fish and chips thanks to the number of chippies close to the beach, many of which have won awards. It was also dubbed one of the UK’s prettiest seaside towns by Time Out in 2025.

Councillor Simon Ring, deputy council leader, said: “This is huge news for Hunstanton, the culmination of years of discussions between the council and Premier Inn, and I’m so proud the agreements are finally in place, subject to formal planning consent.”

He added: “The detailed designs, of course, will come out through the usual planning process and consultation. But the sheer fact that the UK’s largest hotel chain wants to invest in Hunstanton is a vote of confidence in the resort’s future, placing us alongside Norfolk’s other big visitor destinations, and this investment and new facility will hopefully act as a catalyst for further money, guided by our Masterplan.”

Paul Smith, regional acquisitions manager for Whitbread, said in a statement: “Hunstanton is one of the UK’s best-known seaside destinations and a place we’ve wanted to bring Premier Inn to for some time. It attracts visitors from across the East of England and beyond, yet it does not currently offer any branded hotel rooms to visitors.

“We believe a Premier Inn in Hunstanton would be a great addition to the town’s tourism offer, providing visitors with the quality, value and reliability they expect from the UK’s leading hotel brand while helping to support local businesses, jobs and year-round economic activity.”

Premier Inn’s statement also said: “In launching the plans, Whitbread has confirmed it does not have any agreements with national government departments to house asylum seekers at any of its trading Premier Inn or hub by Premier Inn hotels in the UK and Ireland.”

The brand also said it was looking for further potential Premier Inn locations across the country.

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

WITH all this hot weather we have been having, can you name a better place to be than a waterpark?

And how about the biggest indoor waterpark in the UK?

On a recent hot weekend I found myself in Blackpool and beelined for Sandcastle Waterpark, which claims the title as the biggest indoor waterpark in the UK.

Kept to a toasty 29C, the waterpark has more than 18 water slides and attractions.

Upon entering the park, my eyes immediately looked up to the Master Blaster which claims the title as the world’s longest indoor roller coaster waterslide, stretching 250 metres.

I’ll be honest, hearing the terrified-yet-joyful screams did put me off and while I failed to muster the courage for this slide, the waterpark has loads of others to enjoy.

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I opted to head on Sidewinder instead, the world’s first indoor vertical drop slide.

My heart lurched as I hovered over the edge of the half-pipe in my rubber ring.

Before I had a chance to back out, I was tipped over the edge, dropping metres down before shooting right up the opposite side of the pipe.

Unlike me, just remember to smile for the camera.

Next up was Aztec Falls, which quickly became my favourite.

In a rubber ring, you drop into a pitch-black bowl and swirl around in the dark.

The roar of the rushing water made me feel as if I had been sucked into a waterfall.

Other slides include Montazooma, where you head down a large drop and whizz through bends at high speed.

And ideal for competitive family members, you can head on the Duelling Dragon slides and race side by side in the near dark.

At this point I had exhausted my bravery for the day, and decided to head to one of the busiest areas of the entire waterpark – the Typhoon Lagoon Wavepool.

I spent 20 minutes bobbing up and down, lulling my heart rate back to a somewhat normal level.

Every so often, the waves are turned on, which makes you feel as if you are surfing the waves in the actual ocean.

Another section I found relaxing was the Ushi Gushi Action River, where I floated in the gentle current, leaving me feeling as if I was bobbing down a river in Thailand.

Little ones just getting used to the water aren’t left out either with the Caribbean Storm Treehouse packed with water cannons and splash zones.

For an extra £7.50 per person, you can get access to the Sea Breeze Spa.

While there isn’t much there, it is nice to have an adult-only retreat in the middle of the park.

I hopped between the salt inhalation room, steam room and sauna for a good half hour at the end of my waterpark session.

It allowed me to chill out after all the thrills – though you’ll still hear all the screams and water blasts of the park.

If you want to spend more time without kids running around you, then you can book the Tiki Cabana Experience, which gives you access to an exclusive area with your own TV, soft drinks and hot tub.

Sessions tend to last three hours, which is plenty of time to experience all the slides and attractions.

Each session costs £22.31 per person over the age of eight, and £14.44 per child aged between three and seven.

Is it worth it? I think so, as there is more than enough to do and kids will be hard pressed to want to leave.

THE longest outdoor tubing slide in the UK has finally opened at an adventure park – and it’s just in time for the summer holidays.

Families can now enjoy the new attraction, which offers visitors the chance to slide down 315ft on a doughnut-shaped inflatable.

Located at Roarr! park in Norfolk, Fossil Falls is even bigger than the 288ft-long Forest Tubing experience, which opened at Heaton Park’s Zip World in May.

The £300,000 ride was officially opened on Saturday by Matty Campbell, better known as Bionic from Gladiators.

He said: “It was amazing to see so many people turn out for the opening of Fossil Falls and the atmosphere has been incredible.

“I’m delighted to have been here to officially open it and see so many families enjoy it.”

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Ben Francis, park director at Roarr!, said: “What a way to open Fossil Falls.

“We’ve had thousands of visitors joining us over the weekend and it’s been fantastic to see families enjoying the ride for the very first time.”

Fossil Falls attraction joins other popular features at the 85-acre park.

This includes Dippy’s Splash Zone and Predator High Ropes.

Other attractions at Roarr!, which is billed as the UK’s largest dinosaur theme park, include the Swing-O-Saurus and the Raptor Contraptor.

All attractions are included in the price of entry.

THERE’S a seaside town in the UK which hasn’t had its own train station in decades – but that is about to change.

Portishead in North Somerset is getting the train station as part of a £200million project.

The town, which is one of the largest in the UK, will open a station in Portishead and neighbouring Pill in winter 2028.

In a video of the new station, it shows that there will be one platform and that it will be an end-of-the-line station.

The new station will have hourly direct services from the town to Bristol Temple Meads, which is around a 25-minute journey.

It will be developed along the existing Portishead Line, which used to run between Bristol and the seaside town, but closed in 1964.

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The route runs under the Clifton Suspension Bridge and through the Avon Gorge, with services due to be run by Great Western Railway.

According to a local councillor, the new station and reopened line will “enable an estimated £43million of economic growth each year”.

Niall Spencer, senior sponsor for Network Rail‘s Great Western route, said: “There’s now visible progress right across the route, from bridge upgrades and site clearance to preparations for the new stations themselves.

“It’s exciting to see this long-awaited railway taking shape and moving another step closer to reconnecting local communities with the rail network for the first time in more than six decades.”

Helen Godwin, Mayor of the West of England, said: “I know so many people have been waiting so long for passenger trains to return to the Portishead to Bristol Temple Meads line, and it is great to see work is well underway.

“Through this new £200 million train line, the West of England and North Somerset, alongside our industry partners, can connect more people to work, nature, and leisure.”

In the mean time, make sure to check out the Portishead Open Air Pool which reopened this year after a £1.3million revamp.

THE UK’s most popular paid-for attraction in the UK is about to get a huge glow up costing millions.

Dating back over 1,000 years, the Tower of London has revealed plans for some huge new additions.

As part of the £70million project, the Tower will open new community spaces as well as two learning centres.

According to the BBC, the Waterloo Block – which is home to the Crown Jewels – will be turned into a three-storey learning centre, with a broadcast studio and sensory room.

There will be a new ‘green classroom’ as well, which will be located in the Tower’s moat.

The new facilities will mean that the Tower can handle 200,000 people a year, up from 125,000.

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The historic attraction’s architectural archive will be opened to the public as well, which includes more than 25,000 drawings of designs, the building and conservation work.

Once the project is complete, there will be workshops led by actors in costume as well as live broadcasts in the Tower.

The scheme, which is dubbed ‘Tomorrow’s Tower’, will take place over a year.

Though an exact date for when works will take place has not yet been revealed.

Brigadier Andrew Jackson, governor of the Tower of London, said: “For over a thousand years, the Tower has been many things — fortress, palace, prison and garrison – but throughout its history it has always brought people together.

“By opening up new spaces for learning, community and discovery, we are ensuring the Tower’s stories continue to resonate, reaching more classrooms, more communities and the millions of people from around the world who visit each year, while carefully protecting what makes this extraordinary place so special.”

The Tower of London attracts more than three million tourists a year, making it the most popular pay-to-visit attraction in the country.

It was even named the top tourist attraction for people heading to London by a study conducted by Travelodge.