Yorkshire

IF you fancy a UK staycation or day out but want to avoid the crowds, then autumn is the best time to do it.

Here are seven of our favourite spots for a seasonal break from quiet seaside towns to the remote Scottish highlands and world-famous cities.

Norfolk

“There’s nothing better than visiting north-west Norfolk in the autumn. Hailing from Norfolk I might be a bit biased here, but I know the area inside and out.

“Taking a walk through Sandringham is my favourite thing to do at this time of year. Ancient trees shelter woodland paths lined with animal sculptures and dotted with tiny pine cones.

“Squirrels rush up tree trunks, children make friends at the giant wooden adventure playground, and dog walkers smile and nod to one another on forest walks.

“Just down the road from here you’ll find Snettisham Park, where you can head out on a deer safari and hand-feed stags on a 329 acre Norfolk farm.

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“A short walk from Snettisham Park, past its magnificent 14th-century church, will lead you to the Rose and Crown.

“This is a traditional village pub with a low-ceiling bar that used to house those who built the church in the 1300’s. Inside now you’ll find roaring fires, pints of local ale, fantastic roast dinners and the friendliest staff around.

“Heacham makes for the perfect base for your north-west Norfolk visit. It’s around 10 minutes’ drive from each of these spots, while staying tucked out of the way with its own beach that is a lot more peaceful than its busy neighbour Hunstanton.

“You can book a stay at Parkdean’s Heacham Beach Holiday Park from £99 for four nights this autumn.” – Travel Reporter, Jenna Stevens

Scottish Highlands

“The leaves may be turning on the trees but the Cairngorms was a vision of blue skies and sparkling lakes on my visit to the jewel of the Scottish Highlands in September.

“We made the most of exploring the lochs, forests, mountains and rivers with a quad bike adventure through the Alvie Estate in Aviemore with Cairngorms Quad Treks.

“While it may be snow-covered in winter, our September break saw endless clear blue skies as we weaved through dense forest paths, over open moorland and even through rushing streams.

“Also worth a wander in the sunshine are the paths around Loch An Eilein in Rothiemurchus Forest.

“Fringed by mountains and forest, it features a 14th century castle ruin on an island in its centre.

“Whisky lovers can take to the Malt Whisky Trail to discover the distilleries of the Cairngorms and Speyside region with guided tours and tastings on offer.

“Our base for our autumn break was the cosy Bynack wooden lodge at Pine Bank Chalets in the heart of Aviemore.

“The self-catering cabin featured two bedrooms, a compact kitchen, lounge-diner with a wood-fired stove and a lovely terrace to just sit and take in those gorgeous views – stay from £140per night.” – Head of Sun Travel, Lisa Minot

Cambridge

“Cambridge is a popular city that’s well-known for its beautiful and prestigious university, as well as for punting along the river.

“Summer might spring to mind as the best time to visit but generally it’s so busy with tourists that it can be hard to walk on the pavement or even get into the shops.

“As a work around, I much prefer autumn as a time to visit – just wrap up warm.

“When it comes to punting along the River Cam, there are always boats available later in the year – whether or not you want to give it a go yourself or head on a guided tour.

“Speaking of, if you fancy a tour of the colleges, or the whole city itself – these run throughout the year.

“Otherwise, there are lots of pubs, museums, markets, shopping and the famous Fitzbillies bakery which is home to the sticky Chelsea bun. But one of my favourite seasonal activities is walking the route from Cambridge to the pretty village of Grantchester.

“It’s a great sight-seeing spot for any fan of the Grantchester TV series that was actually filmed there. My one essential is a pit stop at the Orchard Tea Garden for a homemade scone, which you get with a pot of jam and clotted cream for £5.40.

“There’s also a selection of sandwiches, toasties, seasonal hot food like the Orchard Benedict and rarebit, as well as other homemade treats like coffee and pistachio cake.” – Travel Reporter, Alice Penwill

Cornwall

“The South West on a whole tends to be swamped with tourists in the summer months, although Padstow surely takes the biscuit for the most crowded destination in Cornwall.

“It’s become so popular that I now refuse to visit during the school holidays – who wants to be sandwiched like sardines in a shop or queue hours for a pasty?

“In autumn, however, the calm streets paint a wildly different picture.

Harbour life is slower, cafe owners are less frazzled and you can potter past the pastel-toned houses at leisure, without the sense of being herded like cattle.

“Padstow’s charm really shines through at this time of year, too.

The seas look even more spectacular under a somewhat moody sky, while the blustery winds will ensure you have the coastal paths to yourself.

“I could spend hours plonked on a bench with a coffee taking in the views of weathered boats bobbing on the water while sea gulls squark overhead.

“Check out Cherry Trees Coffee House for a proper home-cooked breakfast, or Prawn on the Lawn for the freshest seafood dishes – make sure to book in advance, though, the restaurant is tiny.” – Assistant Travel Editor, Sophie Swietochowski

Glasgow

“For me, what makes the perfect autumn are trees bursting with colour, crunchy leaves underfoot and those sunny yet chilly days.

“This is when Glasgow comes into its element, making it the perfect post-summer weekend break.

“Too cold for me to brave in winter, there is no better time to wander the city’s cobbled streets and Victorian architecture.

“I had no idea until my visit that the city had even coined its own Scottish version of Art Nouveau, aptly called Glasgow Style (with the best example of this being the Glasgow School of Art).

“Wander around the University of Glasgow’s arched cloisters for free, along with the huge gardens coated in brown leaves in September and October. 

“For that sugar hit, don’t miss out on a doughnut from Tantrum, a Glaswegian owned franchise.

“I’m still thinking of their blueberry and white chocolate one, although their classic Birthday Cake was tempting. 

“And with the new bouquet Arthouse Hotel opening there (with rooms from £99), I’m already planning my return.” – Deputy Travel Editor, Kara Godfrey

Whitby

“Spooky Dracula connections, historic abbey ruins, a dramatic coastline and the UK’s best fish and chips? Whitby is truly perfect for an autumn staycation.

“Stroll along the Yorkshire seaside town’s picture-perfect harbour to find traditional amusements, a fascinating Captain Cook museum, and to take in dramatic views of the hilltop Whitby Abbey from across the water.

“For more spooky vibes, walk the famous Whitby 199 steps – the very same which a sinister black dog dashes up to announce Dracula’s arrival in Whitby in the classic novel.

“In fact, Bram Stoker was first inspired to write Dracula when he visited Whitby in 1890, as he was immediately struck by the dramatic Gothic ruins that loom over the pretty coastal town.

“The steps lead you to the 12th century St Mary’s Church, which is well worth a visit for its panoramic views over the bay – particularly at sunset.

“Follow the Cleveland Way coastal path from here and you’ll reach Robin Hood’s Bay – a former smuggler’s village where red-roofed cottages tumble down a steep cliff straight to the sea.

“Stop for lunch by Trenchers, which won Restaurant of the Year at the National Fish and Chips Awards 2026 – which is basically the Oscar‘s for chippies!

“Here you can grab a takeaway cod and chips, haddock and chips or scampi and chips all for £13.50 each. Enjoy them out on the harbour for the perfect way to end your day.” – Travel Reporter, Jenna Stevens

Educating Yorkshire is set to return to Channel 4 for a brand new series, with Headteacher Matthew Burton and the students of Thornhill Community Academy back on screens once again.

Channel 4 has confirmed that one of British television’s most celebrated documentary series is making its return.

Educating Yorkshire has been given the green light for a brand new run, and fans will be thrilled.

More than a decade on from its debut, the Channel 4 show that captured the hearts of the nation is heading back to Thornhill Community Academy in Dewsbury, West Yorkshire, where cameras will once again follow the staff and pupils navigating the highs and lows of school life.

The original series launched in 2013 and quickly became a cultural touchstone, with one moment in particular proving unforgettable – Headteacher Matthew Burton guiding a pupil with a stammer through his English literature GCSE poetry recitation in a scene that left viewers across the country in tears.

Burton, who remains at the helm of Thornhill, will be front and centre once again in the new series.

After more than a decade off air, the show staged a remarkable comeback in 2025, earning a BAFTA nomination and pulling in a staggering 8.7 million viewers across linear and streaming platforms.

People were quick to praise the show’s comeback at the time, with one person commenting: “This is brilliant!!”

Another added: “Im so over the moon this is back absolutely brilliant. Ive watched Mr Burton and Mushy episodes over again . Its been too long – welcome back . No doubt there will be lots of laughs and tears – love it love it love it.”

Someone else wrote: “I can not wait for the new series of Educating Yorkshire.” While another commented: “Omggggg is he back!?!? That teacher is the reason I want to teach in the first place.”

Channel 4 revealed that the programme attracted 8.7 million viewers across linear and streaming platforms, proving a particular hit with younger audiences and securing a 28% share of 16-34s.

The show has clearly left a lasting impression, with three in ten viewers aged between 16 and 34 saying Educating Yorkshire had inspired them to consider pursuing a career in education or youth work.

Grace Reynolds, Exec Producer, commented: “The extraordinary teachers and staff help the students navigate some of the most important years of their lives.

“While headlines often focus on the challenges facing teenagers today, our experience making the series tells a different story. Spend time in Thornhill and you’ll find resilience, compassion, ambition and optimism. If it reminds us of anything, it’s that the future is in remarkably good hands.”

No broadcast date has yet been confirmed for the new series.

Educating Yorkshire is available to watch on Channel 4.

The Owen family are back on screens today as a repeat episode of Our Farm Next Door airs

Amanda Owen reflected on the future at Anty John’s after making a morbid discovery.

Amanda, who has described owning Anty John’s “as a dream come true”, has captivated viewers for years with her rugged rural life on the North Yorkshire Moors.

The farmer, author and TV personality rose to fame through the Channel 5 series Our Yorkshire Farm, which followed her life at Ravenseat Farm alongside her nine children — Raven, Reuben, Miles, Edith, Violet, Sidney, Annas, Clemmie and Nancy — and her then-husband Clive Owen.

Since her split from Clive in 2022, Amanda has embarked on a new chapter, taking on Anty Johns, a historic property that has become the subject of her latest Channel 5 series, Our Farm Next Door.

The show follows Amanda and her children as they restore and settle into their new home, and during a repeat airing on Sunday, it took a distinctly “morbid” turn.

Taking advantage of a day off from the demanding farm work that keeps her and her nine children busy, Amanda paid a visit to Derek at the County Records Office. There, the historian uncovered the diary of Anty Johns’ former owner, revealing that the man had breathed his last breath within the very walls of the property.

Eager to unearth the secrets of her new home’s past, Amanda made her wishes clear to the historian: “I guess what I am wanting to find out is who in this extensive family tree was actually residing in my house at Anty Johns.”

Turning his attention to Anthony Clarkson’s ancestry, Derek guided Amanda through the Clarksons’ family history, concluding with John, the last of the bloodline to live at Anty Johns, who died in 1900.

Fascinated by the records, including details of John Clarkson’s inquest, Amanda read aloud from the document: “The body of the man, aged about 81, is lying dead at Smithy Home (Anty Johns).”

She discovered John’s final moments: “Time of death 6am, 5th December 1900. At about 9am on Tuesday, the housekeeper, Anne, proposed to send for the doctor, but the deceased would not hear of it.”

Amanda went on, quoting: “And said, ‘I shall soon be better and about’. I know it’s kind of morbid, but it sort of humanises people when you hear about it.”

Recounting the history, she added: “So basically, we know in 1900, the last Clarkson died upstairs in a bedroom at Smithy Home.”

Searching for further family stories, Derek highlighted that Anthony’s marriage records would prove crucial. Anthony wed his first wife in 1818, and shortly after their marriage they welcomed four children and made Smithy Home their residence.

Anthony’s second wife’s death was recorded as Angina, a touching detail discovered amongst the documents. A diary penned by one of Anthony’s children, James, also provides glimpses into his father’s passing.

Our Farm Next Door: Amanda, Clive and Kids is available to watch on Channel 4.

Surrey were not in too bad a spot against Essex when they were 42-1 in the sixth over.

But the hosts slumped to 123 all out, with Matt Critchley the pick of the bowlers for Essex, taking 3-16 from four overs and only Josh Philippe (33) scoring more than 30.

Michael Pepper hit a fine unbeaten 71 for Essex, who made light work of the run chase, knocking it off inside 17 overs.

Defeat for Surrey means they finished second behind Hampshire and surrendered the opportunity of a home quarter-final.

Hilton Cartwright and Ben Mayes produced an excellent 112-run partnership in 10 overs to rescue already qualified Hampshire’s run chase and beat Sussex by four wickets.

Chasing 187, Cartwright hit 70 from just 31 balls and Mayes ended unbeaten on 55 as the Hawks recovered from 61-5 to seal victory off the penultimate ball of the match.

Dan Hughes had scored 55 and Charlie Tear finished 40 not out for Sussex but it was not enough as the Hove side finish bottom of the group with only three wins from their 12 games.

Victory for Hampshire guaranteed a home quarter-final.

Middlesex ended another disappointing campaign with a consolation 14-run victory in their dead rubber against Kent Spitfires at Canterbury.

Zafar Gohar grabbed 3-38, including the wicket of Zak Crawley (10), as the Spitfires fell short of their victory target after Ben Geddes had top-scored with 32 in the Middlesex effort of 172-6.

A CLOSED English pier is set to be knocked down for good – with plans to build an entirely new one instead.

Victoria Pier in Hull has been closed for four years after being deemed ‘structurally unsafe’.

The historical structure, that stands over Humber Estuary, is instead set to be replaced with a new £1million pier.

The pier first opened in 1810, and later was known as Corporation Pier when it was used as a ferry terminal linking Hull and Lincolnshire.

It was renamed ‘Victoria Pier’ after Queen Victoria visited in 1854, but closed in June 2022 after deterioration and rotting, making it unsafe for people to stand on.

Now the plans are to knock it down and build a new one.

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Earlier this year, locals were invited to choose a new look for Victoria Pier from three designs.

These range from a T-shaped pier, a rectangle or a square.

The date of the pier’s removal hasn’t been set but the council has said that it will start building its replacement straight after.

There is £1million set aside by the council to spend on the redevelopment of the pier.

The makeover is part of the plan to upgrade lots of Hull’s bridges, statues, monuments and fountains over the next five-years.

The city of Hull was named one of ‘best places in the world to travel to in 2026’ by National Geographic.

This is mostly thanks to its ongoing project to conserve its maritime history – with lots of attractions undergoing revamps.

Since 2020, the Maritime Museum has been undergoing a makeover worth £11million, but it will finally reopen to the public in August.

This has been part of a wider £27.5million project to promote Hull’s maritime history which has gone into restoring the museum and ships.

Things seem to be taking their toll on Amanda Owen as she admits to feeling rather ‘stressed’ during an episode of Our Farm Next Door

Our Farm Next Door star Amanda Owen appears to feel the heat as she makes a frank admission moments into the show.

In a repeat episode from series three of Our Farm Next Door: Amanda, Clive and Kids, which airs tonight (Friday 19 June), work continues on the farmhouse renovation as builder Richard starts plastering the interior walls and joiner Dan delivers and fits the custom-made doors.

As the project progresses, Amanda begins to feel the strain of the ambitious build, particularly when it comes to making key design choices for the kitchen, which proves to be one of the most challenging parts of the renovation.

Balancing modern practicality with strict historical preservation, Amanda expressed her confusion, admitting she was unsure where things would go.

When asked where she would like a certain socket to be placed, the mother of nine put her hands on her and said: “I don’t know, I’m beginning to start feeling really stressed about this.”

Talking directly to the camera, she then said: “I don’t want to start throwing impossible ideas around. I mean the whole project looked impossible from a start off so I think I’ve done well!”

Broadcast on Channel 4, the spin-off series from Our Yorkshire Farm sees the Owen family undertake the ambitious restoration of a long-abandoned farmhouse in the Yorkshire Dales. The project centres on a centuries-old property known locally as Anty John’s, which has fallen into disrepair after years of neglect.

Set high above Swaledale, the historic building holds a special place in the area’s heritage, and the Owen family is determined to bring it back to life.

Throughout the programme, viewers follow the extensive renovation as builders, family members and local tradespeople work to restore the structure while preserving its original character. From rebuilding walls and repairing roofs to installing modern amenities, the project proves to be both demanding and rewarding.

The show also explores the history of the property itself, with Amanda researching the people who once lived there and uncovering stories that shed light on life in the Dales across generations.

However, away from the building site, the programme continues to document life on the family’s nearby farm, Ravenseat. As ever, farming remains a full-time commitment, with the cameras capturing everything from lambing season to the day-to-day challenges of caring for livestock.

The show arrives as the Owen family enters a new phase, with their children taking on greater responsibilities and becoming more involved in both farming and the renovation project.

Our Farm Next Door: Amanda, Clive and Kids airs tonight at 8pm on More4.

A couple who were flying out of Manchester Airport were furious after realising a major downside to spending £150 each on seats with extra legroom – with the couple vowing ‘never again’

A passenger on a plane was furious after paying £150 for extra legroom on a flight, before realising one major downside. Being comfortable when travelling is one of the most important things for passengers.

Depending on where you are travelling to, you could be on a plane for up to 19 hours, so being somewhat comfortable is important if you’re planning to sleep while onboard. There are a number of ways people can ensure comfort on a flight including upgrading seats to extra legroom or buying a first-class ticket for the duration of the flight.

Upgrades, however, do come at a cost which can be thousands of pounds on top of the initial flight price – which can already be pricy enough.

But if you’re travelling on a smaller plane, the only upgrade available can be a seat with extra legroom, also known as exit row seats.

Sitting in this row means that you must both be physically and mentally able, and willing, to help cabin crew open the heavy exit door and assist them in the event of an evacuation.

One couple, from Manchester and Yorkshire, flew out of Manchester Airport and decided to upgrade to seats with extra legroom for £150 each.

They were initially happy with their seats, until the flight took of and the seatbelt signs were turned off, and they instantly realised the downside to paying extra money for their flight.

The couple said: “You pay £150 for extra legroom seats just to have people queuing for the toilet right in front of you. The British people see a queue and love to join it. There was a free toilet approx 10 rows back but here they are.”

They shared a video on TikTok showing the situation, where a crowd of people were seen standing waiting for the toilet right in front of them.

The couple were unable to extend their legs and were forced to be sat the same as anyone else on the flight due to the amount of people in front of them.

Other people commented on the video to explain how they had also learned the hard way after purchasing seats with extra legroom.

One person said: “This always happens and exactly why I’d never choose those seats! Plus the smell.”

The couple replied: “Literally never again! we had the ones in the middle on the way to Mexico which weren’t as bad, but these seats were the worst!!”

Another person said: “I just leave my feet out and they have to move around them. I’ve never been stood on …yet.”

A third person said: “I did this when I had a cast on my leg and some pensioner stepped over my leg and tripped then had the cheek to look at me like it was my fault.”