upgrade

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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

A TRAIN station said to be one of the prettiest in the country is in the midst of a huge makeover.

Huddersfield Railway Station in West Yorkshire is used by more than 3.1million passengers a year.

And it is undergoing a £70million transformation which will include reconstructing the inside of the Grade-I listed station as well as extending three platforms.

The station – which was named last year by Lonely Planet as the third best in the country – opened in 1850 and was praised as being “the most splendid in England” by the former Poet Laureate Sir John Betjeman.

Inside, historical features such as the station’s historic tearoom are being renovated.

In fact, all 8,000 pieces of the tearoom are being restored and then brought back to the station to rebuild the tearoom in time for the station’s reopening next year.

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The station will get a new footbridge too and rail infrastructure to help boost power for the rail lines – with the 70mile stretch between Manchester, Huddersfield, Leeds and York expected to be fully electric by 2030.

Work on the station started back in November 2023, with an opening date set for February 2 next year.

Before then, the station will close a couple of times to allow works to be completed.

The station is currently closed until June 27 impacting services between Huddersfield, Dewsbury and Leeds and then a second closure will take place between Christmas Eve and February 1, 2027.

In addition to recognising the station’s period features and modern amenities, Lonely Planet stated: “Huddersfield also does something most towns don’t: it puts a great pub right inside the station.

“The Head of Steam serves Yorkshire ales in surroundings full of character.

“The station has some equally beautiful neighbors, including the Grade II-listed Britannia Buildings, designed by Sir William Tite.”

The station was even famously home to a cat, Felix, who even had a Sunday Times bestselling biography before passing away in 2023.

AN abandoned English train station has been revamped with a £50,000 upgrade.

After years of disrepair, the 19th century station has now transformed into a luxury retreat that is opento the public.

Rowden Mill Station in North Herefordshire has been renovated into a vintage-inspired hotel, offering the perfect retreat for keen trainspotters.

Cecilia Chavez-Brandon and husband Paul Kirwan took on this dream renovation project in 2017, paying £395,000 for the 2.7 acre site that had been abandoned since the 1950s.

The site was primarily used for moving injured soldiers to field hospitals during the war and transporting livestock, losing its appeal as cars became more popular in the 1950s.

Inside were original buildings and a set of train tracks, which they have modernised into an experience that transports visitors back to the 1950s and 1960s.

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To add to the vintage feel, they bought an 18ft inspection saloon coach, coated with British Railway livery for historic railway fans.

Cecilia told SWNS: “It was not until the 1980s that the former owners found the station and bought it from the farmers.

“They built the rail track back. We arrived after they had been here 32 years and helped modernise it.

“They restored the station building and the parcel office and converted it into accommodation rather than a station.

“The booking office is now the kitchen, the waiting room is now the lounge. The gentleman’s toilet is now a full bathroom.

“The parcel office is a separate building and we converted it and put central heating in and new carpets. We turned that into a full studio with an ensuite.”

A steady stream of visitors can look around the renovated station, which has transformed ladies’ waiting areas into main bedrooms and carriages into accommodations.

Tourists can pay £260 per night to enjoy a luxurious stay overlooking the countryside in their renovated coaches fitted with an en suite and heating.

The main station building also has accommodation at £430 for two nights, or the Parcel Office studio at £220 for two nights.

Cecilia said: “We have a parcel office with a studio for two on the main platform. For anyone staying here, it’s like waking up in a railway station from the 1950s and 60s.”

The couple also bought an original 20-tonne brake van back in 2018 to create another luxury accommodation for the site.

Maintaining this beloved location has become a career for the couple: “We didn’t really start out as railway buffs but you obviously become one. It’s like going down a rabbit hole.

“You end up being a whole network of railway people and it’s really something amazing.

“The very first guest arrived in September 2017 and they came with books and were clear railway buffs and knew more about the branch line than we did at the time.

“In terms of guests we obviously have the railway buffs, even children with technical knowledge. We have station masters and train drivers – we get quite a range of fans.

“The whole site is great. It’s so peaceful, with gorgeous views and our other passion is nature. We’ve got our own meadows, hedgerows and wildlife ponds.”

ONE of the UK’s oldest indoor swimming pools is getting a huge makeover after being forced to close three years ago.

Moseley Road Baths in Balsall Heath, Birmingham, opened back in 1907 but has been shut to the public since 2023.

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Now, the Grade II-listed Edwardian pool will be brought back to life with a new community health and wellbeing hub as well as restored main pool.

The baths are split into three main pools: the Gala Pool (which used to be for upper class men); the second class men’s pool and then the women’s baths.

The Gala Pool – which closed back in 2003 due to safety concerns – will be completely restored and reopened, as will the mezzanine gallery around the pool and there will be a new ground-floor viewing area too.

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According to Visit Birmingham, the pool is “the grandest space in the building” with cast iron arches and viewing balconies on three sides of the pool.

The second pool onsite will then be converted into a flexible event space.

The Women’s Slipper Baths – which locals used to pay a small fee to bathe right up until 2004 – will be made into a community health and wellbeing hub and the Men’s Second Class Slipper Baths will be transformed into a community gym.

The former boiler room will then be made into another flexible studio space.

Following all of the upgrades, the baths are expected to reopen in late 2028.

Previous restoration works started in September last year, of the roofs at the baths and the Balsall Heath Library, which is getting a new mezzanine level.

Many original features will be kept though throughout the building, such as the oak wood ticket offices and 30-metre Gothic Renaissance facade with red brick and terracotta.

Other original features include glazed bricks in ivory, turquoise and cream and terrazzo floors.

In 2016, the baths were even placed on the World Monuments Fund’s watch list, placing the baths in the top 10 per cent of the most important historic buildings in England.

Joe Holyoak, Chair, Friends of Moseley Road Baths said: “For more than two decades, our community has fought to keep Moseley Road Baths open and to secure its future.

“Today’s news is a moment of immense pride.

“We will swim in the Gala Pool again, and this magnificent building will be a home for our community for generations to come.

“We’re hugely grateful to everyone who has played their part in making this happen, and to the swimmers who supported us along the way.”

Richard Parker, Mayor of the West Midlands said: “Moseley Road Baths is a real Birmingham icon and it’s now closer than ever to reopening to the public because local people never gave up on it.”