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.
Read more on travel inspo
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.”
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.
Read more on travel inspo
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.
A HOLIDAY park has been given the green light for a major glow up.
Unity Holidays‘ Skirlington Coast Yorkshire site will soon undergo a £20million project with several new openings.
There will be upgraded dining spots and leisure facilities, as well as a new entertainment zone and outdoor pool.
There will be extra food spots too, with a new pavilion home to restaurants.
The project will also include new fairground attractions and cabanas.
Kids aren’t left out either, with a new splash pad including a tots’ pool.
Read more on travel inspo
Accommodation at the park will be expanded as well, with 92 new caravans planned for the site.
A spokesman for Unity Holidays said: “We thank the council’s planning committee for approving our application to redevelop the land on our park currently occupied by Skirlington Market, as well as the buildings on that land used by the market.
“We look forward to commencing work on that project as soon as possible, which will see us add indoor and outdoor sport and leisure facilities as well as re-landscaping the entire area.”
Unity Holidays took over the site at the end of 2024 and underwent lots of renovation work, including adding new attractions.
Currently, the holiday park is home to 680 caravans and 400 pitches for tents.
Attractions added included an outdoor children’s play area and The Wonky Donkey Kitchen and Bar.
A spa was also added with a hot tub, steam room and sauna.
SimoneN/iStock via Getty Images
Ivanhoe Mines (IVPAF) up 8.6% in Tuesday’s trading as Canaccord Genuity upgraded shares to Buy from Hold with a C$13 price target, bumped up from C$12, citing expectations of improving production, cost, and cash flow from Q3 2026 onward.
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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.
Read more on travel inspo
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.
IF you were planning to head to the capital this weekend, you might want to check your train journey.
London will see two train stations close this week for major revamps.
Both Charing Cross and Waterloo East train stations will close on Sunday, July 26, for three weeks.
The two stations, which handle millions of passengers between them each year, will undergo a £20million glow-up.
The stations will then both reopen on August 16.
Across the 22-day closure, all services will be cancelled, with commuters instead having to go to London Victoria, London Bridge, London Cannon Street, or London Blackfriars for alternative services.
Read more on travel inspo
Upgrades include structural repairs to the 175-year-old Hungerford Bridge, which trains head over the River Thames on.
Later this year there will also be two weekend closures – one between August 22 and 23 and another between October 10 and 11.
Travellers will be able to use tickets on alternative routes including the Underground and buses, for no extra charge during the closure period.
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.
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Weekly insights and analysis on the latest developments in military technology, strategy, and foreign policy.
The U.S. Navy expects the stealthy destroyer USS Zumwalt, with its new launchers for Intermediate-Range Conventional Prompt Strike (IRCPS) hypersonic missiles, to be formally returned to service by September. Upgrade work on the ship, which started back in 2023, is some 10 months behind schedule. One contributing factor in the delay was the first full shutdown of the notoriously complex Integrated Power System (IPS) since the ship was delivered to the Navy six years ago. IPS is a power plant that provides massive amounts of electricity to propel the ship and run its advanced systems.
The Government Accountability Office (GAO), a congressional watchdog, provided new details on the hypersonic missile upgrades for USS Zumwalt, also known by its hull number DDG-1000, in a report released today. The four new launch tubes, each of which will be able to hold three IRCPS missiles, notably take the place of the destroyer’s original pair of 155mm Advanced Gun Systems (AGS).
Zumwalt has also been receiving other improvements, including expanded fuel capacity allowing for increased range and endurance, as well as undergoing routine maintenance, in parallel to the IRCPS integration. The Navy refers to all of this work, collectively, as the Build Yard Modernization Period (BYMP).
The Navy’s other two Zumwalt class destroyers – the USS Michael Monsoor (DDG-1001) and the future USS Lyndon B. Johnson (DDG-1002) – are set to receive the same complete slate of modifications. Work on the Lyndon B. Johnson is already underway as part of the larger process of delivering that ship, which is now scheduled for April 2027. The service also eventually plans to integrate IRCPS onto Block V Virginia class submarines.
The Navy’s IRCPS program is also being run in close cooperation with the U.S. Army. The missile at the core of IRCPS is the same one the Army is working to field in ground-based configuration, which it calls Dark Eagle.
The weapon itself consists of a multi-stage ballistic missile-like rocket booster with an unpowered hypersonic boost-glide vehicle on top. The booster gets the vehicle to an optimal speed and altitude, after which it is released. After separating from the booster, the vehicle glides along a relatively shallow flight path within the Earth’s atmosphere to its target, maneuvering along the way, sometimes erratically. In general, hypersonic boost-glide vehicles offer a combination of speed, flight trajectory, and maneuverability that creates distinct challenges for enemy forces. The vehicles are difficult to spot and track, let alone intercept. Their speed limits the time an opponent has to react in other ways. The ability to pierce enemy air defenses and rapidly strike very high-value targets, even ones that may be fleeting, is what makes hypersonic weapons of this type attractive.
“Over the past year, the cost and schedule performance on the first ship to undergo this [IRCPS and other upgrade] work, the DDG 1000, has degraded,” according to GAO’s report. “Program officials reported that the primary cause of recent delays is unplanned work.”
As already noted, one “source of unplanned work and delays per program officials is that this is the first time that the Navy has shut down and restarted key DDG 1000 class ship systems,” per GAO. “For example, equipment failures in the ship’s complex electrical system, which is akin to a small power plant, contributed to delays.”
Zumwalt‘s IPS is a hybrid-electric system that combines gas turbines and electric generators. Hybrid propulsion is not unique, broadly speaking, to this class of ships, but the DDG-1000 design takes it to a completely different level. IPS can generate up to “approximately 78 megawatts of power, nearly what a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier generates,” according to the Navy. It is also said to be able to pump out 58 megawatts of reserve power even while cruising at 20 knots. This level of power generation is essential to support the ship’s array of advanced capabilities, but it also comes with complexities that have proven troublesome over the years.
Integrated Power System (IPS)
In addition, “the unplanned work addresses the need for more cabling than was anticipated in the initial project design, as the contractor cut and removed more cabling than planned from the forward part of the ship for CPS missile launch tube installation,” the report adds. “The additional cabling was needed to match changes to the ship configuration since new construction cables were installed as part of the BYMP.”
Overall, “program officials noted that the Navy modified the BYMP contract with Huntington Ingalls in August 2025 to add 230,000 hours – at a cost of $20 million – for unplanned work,” according to GAO. “The program reported increasing its estimate to upgrade all three ships from $1.8 billion to at least $2 billion.”
GAO says the Navy also stressed that this is the first time it has ever integrated a hypersonic weapon onto one of its warships, and that it has been a learning experience. The service says it is working to ensure that useful lessons are being woven into ongoing work on Lyndon B. Johnson, as well as USS Michael Monsoor‘s future BYMP availability, which is slated to begin before the end of the year.
The timeline for delivery of the Lyndon B. Johnson and the upgrade schedule for Michael Monsoor are already delayed, as can be seen in the GAO graphic below. Delays have also pushed back the target date for a first live-fire at-sea IRCPS launch, a milestone now set to come next year.
The Navy and the Army have conducted several land-based launches as part of a test plan that has suffered its own setbacks in the past.
The Zumwalt class, as a whole, has suffered various trials and tribulations over the years due to a variety of factors. This includes persistent technical difficulties with various systems, especially the main AN/SPY-3 radar. There have been signs for years now that the Navy could replace the AN/SPY-3 with a version of the newer AN/SPY-6. A growing number of other Navy ships are already sailing with or are set to receive AN/SPY-6 variants. The ships have also seen other cutting-edge capabilities watered down.
Challenges facing the Zumwalt class destroyers have been compounded by the prior decision to slash planned orders for these ships from 32 to just three. This has also made the ships extremely expensive to acquire, operate, and sustain. In a separate annual assessment of major U.S. military programs released earlier this month, GAO reported that the unit cost of each of the destroyers had risen to just over $10.6 billion (inclusive of research and development costs). The total acquisition cost of the DDG-1000 program is now nearly $32 billion. For comparison, the price tag on a new Flight III Arleigh Burke class destroyer is around $2.5 billion, according to data released last year by the Congressional Budget Office (CBO).
Broader questions have been raised about the roles and missions that the trio of Zumwalt class ships can be reasonably expected to perform. IRCPS will give the members of the Zumwalt class a new, very-long-range, high-value strategic strike role. The Navy sees this as a key capability for future high-end fights, such as one against China in the Pacific.
At the same time, GAO’s report today also highlights the small number of missiles the Navy and the Army are in the process of acquiring now for IRCPS and Dark Eagle. Prime contractor Lockheed Martin still has limited capacity to produce them, too.
“Navy data indicate that the contractor facility operations are not currently able to meet demand, making it difficult for Lockheed Martin to keep production commitments,” according to GAO. “Specifically, the facility is currently capable of producing a maximum of six to seven rounds a year out of the 12 rounds per year necessary to stabilize production.”
“Over the past 5 years, CPS costs estimates have fluctuated, driven by factors such as the Navy’s removal or addition of host platforms, revisions to total quantities, planned periodic capability insertions, and production time frames to date, among others,” per GAO’s report. “In fiscal year 2020, early in the MTA [middle tier acquisition] rapid prototyping phase, the Navy estimated it would cost about $31 billion in total lifecycle costs for a program that would deliver 262 missiles. In 2024, the Navy increased its estimate of the total cost to acquire CPS by about 30 percent while reducing the number of missiles to be procured – now $41 billion in total lifecycle costs for 224 missiles.”
“These missile quantities do not reflect a specific program requirement, according to CPS program officials, but rather modeling based on various inputs, including budget documents, analyses of industrial base capacity, and direct, ongoing collaboration with the U.S. Strategic Command and the requirements sponsor – OPNAV N97 [the Undersea Warfare Division within the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations],” the report also notes. “Additionally, the Army is planning to spend more than $10 billion to procure 48 missiles and associated ground support equipment.”
As of April 2026, the average estimated unit cost for each missile was pegged at approximately $67 million. GAO points out that “the exact unit cost will depend on the contractor’s efficiency in production, which is, in part, dependent on stable annual procurement funding for the missile.”
USS Zumwalt‘s formal return to the fleet as the Navy’s first vessel equipped to fire hypersonic missiles will be an important milestone. However, signs still very much point to IRCPS being a relatively limited and costly capability, likely to be held in reserve for very high-priority targets, at least in the near term.
Contact the author: joe@twz.com
THIS popular East Yorkshire holiday park has undergone an epic multi-million pound transformation for 2026.
Skirlington Coast holiday park in East Yorkshire has received plenty of exciting additions this year, including a range of new activities – plus a brand new lido and waterpark to splash about in.
Even better, the holiday park is available to book as part of The Sun’s Holidays from £9.50, meaning you can bag yourself a seriously affordable stay to check out all the new upgrades.
The holiday park have invested 10 million pounds into upgrading its grounds and facilities, such as introducing a new bandstand and festival gardens.
But perhaps the most exciting new additions are its waterpark, lido and family activities.
The waterpark spans both indoor and outdoor areas, centred around two large swimming pools.
Read more on £9.50 holidays
Indoors, kids can splash about under the umbrella-shaped water feature, while grown-ups can unwind in the sauna or hot tub.
Outdoors, kids can burn off their energy on the Giant Aqua Bounce inflatable, while adults can sunbathe on a comfy lounger.
As well as the waterpark upgrades, the park have also opened up a brand new lido.
The large outdoor lido is the perfect place to cool off on a sunny day, but if the weather does take a turn, it is sheltered by a large yellow-striped roof.
Next to the lido there are plenty of colourful deck chairs, parasols, loungers and even some beach huts that give the area that seaside holiday feel.
The lido and outdoor waterpark sit in the Festival Gardens area, a brand new section of the holiday park which is filled with brightly-coloured decorations and pretty fairy lights.
Hols from £9.50 were restocked on Wednesday, July 8, with thousands of new holidays released across the UK and Europe.
If you didn’t collect the codes in the paper, you can access the holidays immediately by signing up to Sun Club.
You can sign up to Sun Club for £1.99 per month, or £12 for the year.
Once you’re a member, go to the Sun Club Offers hub and find Hols From £9.50.
Follow the link from the offers page, and you can book your break until booking closes on August 10.
You can browse the range of holiday parks available at club950.co.uk.
Here you can grab a refreshing drink from the Festival Bar and soak up the scenery.
As well as housing the lido and outdoor waterpark, this area is also home to a brand new dog agility park – so if you like to bring your furry friend with you on holiday, this is the perfect place to teach them some new tricks.
The area also includes a new bike pump track, where younger children can zoom around a course and practice their skills on pump bikes that require no pedalling.
The other two zones within the Festival Gardens area are the outdoor playground and the activity tent, where you can have a go at new activities like axe throwing, rifle shooting and firing mini crossbows.
When it comes to food and drink, this park has plenty of options.
Grab a bite to eat at Sea Salt Fish and Chips to keep in line with the seaside holiday vibe, or tuck into a hearty full English breakfast at the cosy Wonky Donkey cafe.
Menus here are made with fussy eaters in mind, so expect lots of familiar favourites like burgers, pizzas, chips and nuggets.
Accommodation ranges from camping and touring pitches to well-stocked holiday homes split up into Bronze, Silver, Gold and Platinum categories.
The most simple Bronze caravan comes with a roomy open plan design with a modern kitchen and spacious living room, with a sofa that pulls out to turn into an extra bed.
The caravans also all come with central heating, double-glazed windows, Wi-Fi and beds made-up on arrival, so no need to worry about bringing your own linen like elsewhere.
The holiday park sits on Yorkshire’s beautiful, rugged coastline, with popular seaside town Hornsea a 10-minute drive away and Skipsea Beach just five minutes away.
A MAJOR pier is marking 170 years this year and with it, a number of new attractions.
Bournemouth Pier opened back in 1856 as a shorter jetty and in 2014, the pier launched the world’s first pier-to-shore zipline.
And the pier is planning to launch a number of new attractions such as Christmas events, live shows and immersive dining experiences.
A few days ago a new pop-up venue also opened right next to the pier – Palm Beach Club.
The beach club has been designed to feel like Ibiza, with striped deck chairs and parasols, overlooking the beach.
You can grab food including pizzas as well as drinks and in the evenings there will be DJ sessions and weekend entertainment.
Read more on travel inspo
It comes as plans were also announced earlier this year that the pier would undergo a £9.6million restoration.
When the pier first opened it was just 30 metres long and was used for passenger boats.
The in 1861 it was replaced by a 304metre pier as more tourists started to visit the area.
Storm damage later destroyed the pier but it was then rebuilt and reopened in 1880.
PierZip then opened in 2014 and stretches fro 250metres and you can also head climbing at RockReef indoor climbing walls.
A recent visitor said: “Traditional English seaside pier at it’s best!
“A Lovely walk around on a sunny day with a nice cafe at the top.
“There are also attractions for families with kids such as a climbing wall and zip wire.”
ALWAYS dreamed of turning left as you board the aeroplane, but don’t have the cash to splash on business class flights?
Airlines will rarely dish out a swish upgrade for birthdays or weddings nowadays, but there are some clever ways of bagging one without spending a penny.
Or if you do have a little cash to spare, there are more affordable ways of doing it.
The below hacks have been tried and tested by regular travellers, including myself – and anyone can give them a go.
Here are the five best ways to score yourself a flight upgrade WITHOUT spending thousands.
Most people think airline points are just for frequent flyers, but this couldn’t be further from the truth.
And if you accumulate enough points, you’ll be able to upgrade yourself essentially for free.
I’ve been collecting Avios for a couple of years now and I’ve accumulated enough points to upgrade on every one of my upcoming flights to both short and long haul destinations.
They can be spent on a fair few mega airlines, including British Airways, Qatar Airways and Iberia.
There’s truly no big secret, or catch, you can just collect points by doing your weekly shop, catching the train or filling up with petrol.
Start by reading my comprehensive guide on how to maximise your points.
Once you start incorporating points collection into your daily routine, you’ll be raking them in in a matter of months.
When it comes to Avios upgrades, you can only bump yourself up one cabin class (so if you’re flying economy, you can move up to premium) and not all flights can be upgraded.
There has to be availability, too. So if the flight is looking chocka block, you may not get the chance.
You won’t have to pay any cash for the actual upgrade, but you will have to pay the difference in taxes as it costs the airline more in mandatory charges to fly passengers in upper class cabins.
If you have the money to book a premium economy seat, this massively boosts your chances of moving up.
According to a cabin crew member: “It’s the smallest cabin and the most likely to get oversold.
“And if you hold airline status or a credit card linked to the airline then you are typically the one that gets the operational bump up.”
The leap in price from premium economy to business can be pretty hefty if you’re paying for it outright at the beginning of the booking.
But by comparison, the price jump from economy up to premium economy is much smaller, so it’s certainly a more affordable way of doing it if you can spare that extra cash.
Get yourself an airline credit card, especially if you tend to fly with one specific airline (I have the British Airways AMEX), and climb the status ladder.
If you’re travelling solo, this only boosts your chances for logistical reasons. Airlines won’t just upgrade one member of a party.
If the flight is overbooked and there is only one seat left in business, the person travelling on their own is most likely to get the bump if several travellers have status.
It’s the easiest and most simple solution for the airline.
Sometimes it pays to play the risk game, but it is a gamble.
If you’ve got a bit of spare cash and the flight is relatively empty, it might be worth leaving your upgrade until the last possible moment.
Regular traveller and boss of PR firm Florence & Fable, Florence Bate tried this hack when flying from Bermuda to London Gatwick with British Airways – and it paid off.
She said: “It was about four or five years ago. I asked to upgrade at the check-in desk when I first arrived at the airport.
“I think I remember it being around £200 at that time.
“Then I waited until the gate, just before boarding the plane, and it was £60. I upgraded there and then to premium economy, nothing fancy.
“I just think if you never ask, you’ll never know. Ask at all check-in points and hope for the best!”
Having some movement to your travel plans, or intentionally selecting a less popular time to fly or month to visit that destination can sometimes pay off.
If your flight is overbooked and you volunteer to take a later flight, the airline and ground staff will be extremely grateful – because you’ve put yourself out, they’ll be more likely to put you at the top of the list for a space available upgrade, or at the very least give you a free glass of champers on board.
If there’s plenty of space, then your chances are higher, too.
Skyscanner’s travel expert Laura Lindsay said: “There’s no hard or fast rule and it will all depend on the airline operator and availability.
“Travelling at quieter times, arriving early, or maintaining airline loyalty may help your chances.”
Although it’s far rarer these days to see spontaneous upgrades, it still pays to be kind. You never know how your generosity may be rewarded.
Frequent flyer Sally Jones is a regular at this hack and claims she’s benefited from it every time she’s flown.
She said: “Bringing chocolate, sweets or a gift for the cabin crew always does the trick.
“It might not necessarily get you the full upgrade but it does regularly get you perks.
“My family does this a lot and we often get a free glass of bubbly or special treatment.”
One Sun reader reports to have actually bagged the upgrade, but only after doing some extensive digging.
They said: “I found out which crew were on board the plane and had gotten some advice from a friend.
“This friend does work at the airline I was flying with, so I’d had a tip off that one particular staff member liked those Tony’s chocolate bars.
“I asked for them my name when I stepped on board and handed them the chocolate, next thing I know I was being whisked to the front of the plane. It was only a very short flight, but it still felt glam.”
AN AIRPORT at a major holiday hotspot for Brits just two hours from the UK is about to get a multi-million transformation.
Alicante Airport in Spain is getting a huge £980million overhaul, which will be the airport’s biggest upgrade in history.
The airport itself will be 30 per cent bigger, with a new pier just for non-Schengen departures, which includes Brits.
This means Brits will have their own area to go through, which should help ease queues caused by the introduction of Europe’s new Entry/Exit System.
Security across the airport will be replaced with the latest technology too, which includes Automated Tray Returns Systems (ATRS).
This new technology will allow travellers to keep their laptops and liquids in their hand luggage.
Read more on travel inspo
There will also be new shops at the airport, as well as a VIP lounge for non-Schengen departures.
Several areas outside the airport will see improvements as well, including car parking and new taxi and bus drop-off zones.
If you don’t plan on driving to and from the airport, then this too will become easier with a new rail link that would have an underground station.
The train will link onto a nearby commuter line and is expected to be built between now and 2030.
The first phase will start in 2027 and is expected to be completed by 2031.
The second phase will then take place in the mid-2030s.
The upgrade was first announced last year.
The project comes as the airport handled nearly 20million passengers last year, with it expected to pass that number this year, with Brits making up one of the largest groups of tourists.
TWO busy UK train stations will close next week for nearly a month.
Thousands of Brits heading to the capital will have to find different routes next week from both Charing Cross and Waterloo East stations.
The two London stations, which handle millions of passengers each year, will close next Sunday – July 26 – for three weeks.
This is so that both the stations can undergo a £20million makeover.
The stations will then reopen on August 16.
Across the 22-day closure, all services will be cancelled as Network Rail carries out improvements to the stations including replacing a track that dates back to the 1990s.
Read more on travel inspo
Other upgrades include new surfaces and structural repairs to the 175-year-old Hungerford Bridge which takes trains over the River Thames.
Later on this year, there will also be two additional weekend closures between August 22 and 23 and October 10 and 11.
For travellers who usually use Southeastern services from Charing Cross, they will now need to head to either London Victoria, London Cannon Street, London Blackfriars or London Bridge.
Passengers will also be able to use their ticket on alternative routes, the Underground and buses at no charge.
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.”
All passengers are now being urged to plan ahead and check before they travel.
13:06, 07 Jul 2026
Daniel Green was not happy with the flight attendant’s message
A dad was left ‘extremely embarrassed’ after he was told to move from his seat and his wife was threatened with being kicked off the plane.
Daniel Green climbed aboard the British Airways flight from London Heathrow to Miami on June 30, looking forward to the nine-hour flight.
Two days before, the TV chef had splashed out, paying £1,900 to upgrade himself, his wife and his daughter from Club World to First Class.
“We upgraded specifically to ensure a comfortable journey for our 13-year-old daughter, who suffers from significant anxiety and travel sickness,” explained Daniel, who regularly appears on the BBC’s Saturday Kitchen and QVC.
Do you have an airline issue you’d like us to look into? Email webtravel@reachplc.com
However, after boarding, the family was told that one of the seats in the row in front of them had a recliner fault.
“We were then told that passengers from Row 3 would be moved into our Row 4 First Class seats, resulting in us being displaced from the seats we had paid for,” the dad continued.
“My wife was approached by ground staff while I was briefly away from my seat and told that she must move or accept deplaning. As a result, we were effectively forced into a situation where my wife remained in First Class with our daughter, while I was moved alone into Club World after take-off.
“She was told she could either move to Club or deplane, which felt like a very aggressive way for the situation to be handled, especially as my wife was not being confrontational in any way. She had not said or refused that she would move, so I am totally surprised that he said deplaning was an option.”
According to Daniel, they were not offered alternative seats in First Class or given any warning, despite the plane having been ready on the tarmac for several hours before take-off.
It wasn’t being moved that left Daniel embarrassed, however.
“During the process, a cabin service director also referred to us as being “on an upgrade” in front of other passengers, which was incorrect and deeply embarrassing. We had paid in full for First Class seats only two days earlier,” he said.
“The situation left our family separated, and our daughter experienced significant distress during the flight. What was intended to be a special family journey was instead one of discomfort, embarrassment, and disappointment.
“I believe the handling of this situation raises broader questions about customer service standards, particularly when passengers pay for premium cabins and travel with children.”
He added: “The main issue for us was the way the ground handling of the situation was managed, which felt dismissive and unnecessarily harsh. My wife ultimately remained in her seat, but the experience was very distressing at the time.”
A spokesperson for BA said: “We are sorry for our customer’s experience, and we are in contact to make things right.”
After the Mirror contacted BA, Daniel received an apology and was offered a refund on the upgrade as well as the £220 extra he spent to choose specific seats.
TWO London train stations will close to commuters and tourists for nearly three weeks over the summer.
The hubs will undergo a huge £20million renovation which will begin later this month.
Between July 26 and August 16, both Charing Cross and Waterloo East Station will be closed with absolutely no service.
Across the 22 days, Network Rail will conduct major improvements to both hubs like replacing the track that was last changed in the 1990s.
Other upgrades will be to the ‘country end of the platforms’ which will be rebuilt with new foundations and surfaces.
There will be structural repairs to the 175-year-old Hungerford Bridge too which takes the railway over the River Thames.
It’s also the pedestrian bridge between Waterloo East and London Waterloo.
Network Rail said that the improvements should reduce the number of recent faults which “have caused over 21,000 minutes (350 hours) of delays to customers.”
As well as the closures between July and August, the stations will also shut on June 7.
Then there will be two full weekend closures later on in the year.
These dates will be August 22 to August 23 – and again on both October 10 and October 11.
During the closure, Southeastern services that normally run into Charing Cross will be diverted to London Victoria, London Cannon Street, London Blackfriars or terminate at London Bridge.
Passengers will be able to use their ticket an no extra cost on alternative rail routes as well as on the London Underground and buses.
Scott Brightwell, train services director at Southeastern Railway, 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 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 9-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.”
And urged passengers to “plan ahead and check before they travel”.
A HISTORIC pier in Blackpool is set for a huge upgrade after being put up for sale last year.
Blackpool’s Grade II-listed North Pier has revealed plans for a £10million restoration while under new ownership.
The historic pier that stretches out 1,140 feet from the beach first opened in 1863 – which makes it one of the oldest in the country.
It even pre-dates Blackpool Tower which opened in May 1894.
Out of Blackpool’s three piers, North Pier is often described as the one that’s more “traditional” and “peaceful”.
While it does have a theatre, amusement arcade, electric train and little eating stalls, it’s much less busy than the two neighbouring attractions.
The pier was put up for sale last summer by the Sedgwick family, which owns the town’s other two piers; Central Pier and South Pier.
It has been bought by Okken Limited which has said it plans on making £10million worth of improvements.
This will include repairs to its theatre as well as the creation of event spaces and it will add a bar at the entrance.
Paul Cooper from Okken said: “North Pier is a piece of living history, and it is a privilege to take on its care.
“Our commitment is simple: to invest, to restore, and to bring this wonderful pier back to its very best.”
Phases of investment are set to be announced in the next few months.
Just down the coast from Blackpool’s North Pier is Central Pier which is right beside Madame Tussauds.
The pier is free-entry and has the huge Ferris Wheel, fairground rides , arcades, street food, and cabaret shows.
South Pier Blackpool is another amusement pier which is sometimes even described as a “mini theme park above the sea” .
This is where the seaside town has its most action rides – like dodgems, waltzers, Cliffhanger and Crazy Coaster.
It does also have the traditional arcades and bars too.
A LESSER-VISITED airport is about to get a massive upgrade – its biggest in its 96-year history.
Hollywood in Los Angeles, USA, is known for being one of the most famous tourist spots in the world.
And most people will get there via LAX Airport – but don’t realise there is also Hollywood Burbank Airport.
The airport is not only closer to Hollywood, but also closer to Universal Studios Hollywood and Warner Bros. Studio Tour.
This October the airport will be opening its £1billion new terminal – called The Icon – which will replace the former historic terminal which opened back in 1930.
The new terminal will be bigger than the former one and have floor-to-ceiling glass windows, filling the terminal with natural light.
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When arriving at the airport, travellers will be greeted by a large canopy and plaza themed around ‘old Hollywood’.
Also inside will be a number of art installations, as well as a sleek bar with views of planes parked up.
To get to the 14 gates, passengers will head through an eight-lane TSA security area with modern screening technology.
There will be a central food court with restaurants and shops for travellers, with plenty of seating outside each gate.
The airport is often used by celebs due to being close to Hollywood.
Recent celeb sightings include actress Jennifer Garner and actor Neal McDonough.
The airport itself has even appeared on the big screen as a filming location, including in Ocean’s Eleven and The Office.
A HISTORIC UK pier that links to a tiny island is set to become a new tourist attraction following a 30-year closure.
Birnbeck Pier in Weston-super-Mare has been closed to the public since 1994 due to safety concerns.
And now the Grade-II listed Victorian pier has been reconnected to the mainland for the first time in years, as part of a £20million project to reopen the pier.
It is the UK’s only pier that connects to an island – Birnbeck Island.
The pier regeneration is also part of a wider £44million project that includes the renovation of the 1888 boathouse, clock tower and landside pavilion as well.
Other derelict buildings by the pier include the Grade II Listed Toll House and its extension, which are known locally as the ‘shell shop’.
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Both will be restored and reopened as well as an information point with exhibitions.
The pier is expected to reopen in summer 2027.
And when it does, there will be a new lifeboat station and visitor centre.
Historically, the pier used to be a transport hub as well as a tourist destination before being used as a weapons testing site during World War II.
As for the island, there used to be a theme park there with a small railway and water chute.
Many locals have taken to social media to share their excitement for the pier reopening, saying it’s “excellent news“.
IF you’re looking for a new London hang-out spot, Olympia has it all from pretty bars to top-tier entertainment.
After a £1.3billion upgrade, the impressive project is opening its rooftop ‘Canopy’ today and its music venue later this week.
The enormous revamped building in West Kensington is opening its rooftop bars and restaurants that can only be found at Olympia today.
For anyone who fancies Mexican, check out Bar Arriba which serves up fresh cocktails and small bites from tacos to tostadas.
Lillie’s Wine Bar & Restaurant is the spot for the best of British food from Gressingham duck to Devon crab salad and you can even try a rhubarb and custard cocktail.
The outside area looks like an English country garden too with sculptures and beds of daffodils.
At Wolves of Tokyo dig into Japanese dishes from sushi to grilled skewers, gyozas and tartare.
Arbour is the food hall which has more of a casual vibe and inside are four different spots; Café Modo, Fry Baby, The Rambler and Whammy Burger.
All of these spots are up on the rooftop so they’re perfect for a sunny weekend.
But if the weather doesn’t play ball, there is a retractable roof to protect punters from the rain.
Another dining venue at Olympia called Pillar Hall opened in March, 2026.
It’s found in the Grade-II listed part of Olympia that was built in 1886 and is home to Idalia an all-day restaurant and Pepperbird, a speakeasy-style bar.
That’s not all that opens this week as tomorrow, the state-of-the-art music venue, British Airways ARC will open.
It’s been described as a ‘world-class venue’ which will host music, comedy and entertainment.
It will start with performances by Self Esteem and McFly before the likes of Van Morrison and Khalid take to the stage later in the year.
This will be followed by the 1,575-seat British Airways Theatre in 2027 which will be London’s largest new theatre in 50 years.
The Hyatt Regency hotel which will have 204 rooms will open to guests from July 6.
The other on-site hotel, CitizenM London Olympia will have 146 rooms and is expected to open this summer, although no official date has been announced.
Olympia London first opened in 1886 and has held performances by Jimi Hendrix and Pink Floyd and was used as an exhibition space by the likes of Vivienne Westwood.
A TOWN in Hertfordshire that has been compared to southern France has just had an upgrade to its lido.
The outdoor pool in Hitchin has reopened for the summer season with some new upgrades.
The 50 metre heated lido on the outskirts of the town first opened in 1938 and reopened on 23 May this year for the swim season.
It has an art deco design and is surrounded by sunbathing terraces; there’s also a lawned area for picnicking.
Prior to it reopening for this year’s summer season, Hitchin Lido had upgrades to its changing rooms including new cubicles, lockers, sinks, tile flooring and mirrors.
The funding was given to the lido from a former swimmer, Hazel Jacobs, who left money in her will after passing away two years ago.
Paul Francis, general manager at Hitchin Lido, said: “We are truly grateful to Hazel for this wonderful gift to the Lido.
“The refurbishment has transformed the facilities for our visitors, with new lockers, improved changing rooms and a much fresher environment for everyone to enjoy.”
It’s recommended to book tickets in advance to the lido as it can get very busy during the summer.
Tickets for adults start from £5.80 and children from £2.90.
The Hertfordshire town has been compared to the south of France in recent years thanks to its European-style attraction that’s been called “Little Provence” by visitors.
Hitchin Lavender is just outside of the town and is a pretty lavender field that one visitor said “feels like France rather then Hitchin!”
This year, Hitchin Lavender opens on June 20 and closes on August 7.
Tickets can be booked online from £7.53.
If you visit the main town, you’ll find Hitchin has cobbled streets and is filled with coffee shops.
And while it doesn’t feel like Provence, Travel Reporter Alice Penwill did compare it to another destination.
She said: “When it comes to looking like France, I’d say the market square is one of the only parts that does, however it reminds me more of a town in somewhere northern like Normandy, rather than the south.
“There were food and drink vans pitched up on the sides with a few seats dotted around, a large clock and a corn exchange building with a cupola and weather vane – which I have seen in France.”
She added: “Another hint of France was the tall houses and bars with the classic-looking wooden timber beams and window frames (although this trait is arguably both French and English).
“There are at least five bakeries though, which I’ll grant the TikTokers is a key factor in all French towns.”
Hitchin is known for its bustling food and drink scene from Hermitage, which is a restaurant, cocktail bar, bagel shop, and oyster bar all under one roof.
When it comes to pubs, the Kite at The Red Hart is a popular stop, as is The George and the Wetherspoons called The Angel Vaults Inn.
AN ENGLISH town that was once considered one of the most important places in the country will get a massive train station upgrade.
This multi-million pound refurbishment is set to improve access for passengers and support businesses.
Bletchley Station will receive £17million to support the refurbishment of the eastern access to the station.
This comes after a lot of campaigning from both the Milton Keynes community and MPs to improve the accessibility to the station.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves said on the announcement: “Labour is backing Bletchley – this investment will boost jobs and improve connectivity for local businesses and residents, maximising the benefits of East West Rail for the community here.”
Milton Keynes Council is also offering £5million towards the project, that aims to support the ongoing regeneration of Bletchley.
The project hopes to refurbish the eastern entrance of the station, creating a direct gateway between the station and Bletchley’s main high street, Queensway.
At the moment, passengers alighting at the station have a long walk under a bridge to get to the town centre, crossing a busy road.
The new entrance will be built on Saxon Street, on the other side of the station, with the existing entrance set to remain open.
Bletchley Station is located on the first section of the East West Rail line, which hopes to eventually connect Oxford and Cambridge by train.
Historically, Bletchley Station served as a vital transport hub for the World War II codebreakers, who would take the five-minute walk to Bletchley Park.
Now, Bletchley Park is one of Britain’s most vibrant heritage attractions, welcoming over 250,000 tourists a year.
Callum Anderson, MP for Buckingham and Bletchley, said: “This is a huge moment for Bletchley as it has never made sense that our station has turned its back on the town centre, making it harder for residents, commuters and visitors to access Queensway.”
David Hughes, chief executive of East West Rail, said: “We are really pleased to see that funding has now been confirmed to allow the construction of the new eastern entrance at Bletchley station.
“This investment underlines our commitment to working with partners to ensure East West Rail delivers lasting benefits for passengers and communities along the route.”
Details on the timeline and construction phases of the project are yet to be announced.
IN one of Norfolk’s best seaside towns is a pier over 100 years old – and it could soon undergo a huge revamp.
On what will be the year of its 125th anniversary, the Pavilion Theatre in Cromer is being considered for an upgrade worth millions.
The Pavilion Theatre sits on the end of Cromer Pier and hosts shows throughout the year from tribute acts to vintage festivals.
It also reportedly shows the “world’s only remaining full-season end-of-pier variety show”.
Now, the local North Norfolk District Council (NNDC) is considering making improvements to the theatre at the predicted cost of £2.4million.
The Grade-II listed pier itself was built in 1901 as was the theatre which at the time was originally a bandstand.
It was converted into the enclosed pavilion it is today in 1905 with several repairs made throughout the years.
The most famous performances there have been by the likes of Paul Daniels, Ken Dodd and Cannon and Ball.
Possible upgrades to the theatre include installing new heating and cooling systems, upgrading lighting and sound, and refurbishing the theatre’s 440 seats.
As for the wider town, Cromer on the north coast of Norfolk is actually considered one of the best in the UK.
Last year when The Times totted up its ‘best seaside towns in the UK’ from Cornish harbours to a good old British resort, Cromer made the list.
Coming second, just below Aldeburgh in Suffolk, The Times said Cromer is the “real deal” a “traditional port town with a Victorian pier, pastel-tinted beach huts, a bucket-and-spade beach.”
Travel Reporter Jenna Stevens, who hails from Norfolk, has given her verdict on the town.
She said: “Cromer mixes old-school seaside town tradition with trendy places to eat and shop, meaning this is a staycation spot that will please the whole family.
“The town’s real showstopper is Cromer Pier, which dates back all the way to 1391. The original jetties built over the years have been washed away by storms and rebuilt, but the pier you see today has jetted out over the water since the Victorian era.
“Perched at the end of the pier is the Pavilion Theatre, which puts on shows from Beatles tribute acts to Mamma Mia-themed parties.
“Plus it’s well worth a visit to catch the Cromer Pier Show with dazzling guests with high-production singing, dancing and comedy.
“Cromer is also home to a pristine, Blue Flag beach, which attracts sunbathers for its flat, golden sands, surfers for its waves and wild foragers for its fresh cockles and mussels.”
Jenna continued: “And when it comes to seafood, you can’t miss out on trying some delicious Cromer Crab. You’ll find this famous Brown Crab cropping up on menus all the way along the North Norfolk coast, so what better place to try some than the town in which they were freshly caught?
“However the charm of this seaside town isn’t all found at the pier, it’s recently become a lot trendier, too. In the lanes behind the seafront, Cromer has recently seen a wave of new vintage shops, cool cafes and quirky art galleries arrive.
“Pop into Grey Seal Coffee for a smooth flat white in a beachy, boho setting, or have a nosey in Cromer Artspace to admire local artists’ landscapes.
“For a memorable bite to eat, Norfolk Crumble has captured the love of locals, whipping up tasty pots of crumble loaded with toppings like popcorn and banoffee, as well as ice-cold thickshake.”
AN English busway, hailed as the longest in the world, is on track to get a £150million upgrade.
Building work on the busway is set to begin in January 2027, with construction hoping to improve travel times and reliability for commuters.
Cambourne and Cambridge are set to become connected by the busway, as Cambridgeshire County Council announces they are searching for contractors.
Named the Cambourne to Cambridge busway, or the C2C, the service will span the 13.6km distance between the locations.
The journey becomes part of the Cambridgeshire Guided Busway, a rapid transit service that connects Cambridge, Huntingdon and St Ives.
It is currently the longest busway in the world at 25km long, beating the O-Bahn Busway in Adelaide, South Australia.
Plans will see a segregated guided busway with adjoining emergency and maintenance access tracks, including public transport stops between Cambourne and Cambridge.
A brand new Travel Hub, with a park and ride service, will also be constructed, providing spaces 2,000 spaces for cars, bikes, and coaches as part of the “turn up and go” scheme.
Constructing this busway aims to improve journey times and reliability of public transport, also creating jobs and more housing in the area.
The council estimates work to complete this upgrade will cost around £180million including VAT, and £150million without.
Now, interested contractors have until noon on July 2, 2026, to submit requests to participate in the construction, with the award decision date set for December.
It is hoped that construction will begin as early as January 4, 2027, and be completed in December 2030.
