The 10 most rundown British seaside towns have been named by tourists, in a survey of thousands of holidaymakers.
Which? Travel surveyed feelings about their visits to 120 British seaside towns, aggregating the scores on the quality of beaches, food and drink offerings, tourist attractions and value for money.
The best-reviewed British town, Bamburgh in Northumberland, got rave reviews and scored a solid 86%, averaging five stars across all categories.
Visitors were blown away by the “spectacular views” of its medieval fortress, Bamburgh Castle, which crowns a rocky outcrop that stretches into the sea; other towns had more lacklustre responses.
But at the bottom of the pile, Wales’ oldest town, Bangor, scored a measly 42%, receiving one lonely star for food, tourist attractions and shopping.
In reverse order, these are the 10 most dismal seaside towns according to Which? Travel.
10. Southend-On-Sea, Essex
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The pier has reportedly become a “warzone” in recent yearsCredit: Alamy
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People still popped down for a bank holiday weekend in 2020Credit: Getty
Despite being one of the few coastal UK towns boasting an airport, the Essex town managed an overall score of just 53%.
Southend locals described how the spot had become a “warzone”, as gang tensions have fuelled physical and sexual violence between local youths and those travelling down from London.
The raucous antics of the gangs may explain why it was only given one star for its peace and quiet and shopping.
Last July, horrific footage showed hooded thugs wielding machetes fighting near Adventure Island- a scene that would put a dampener on anyone’s day out.
On the other hand, the town is due a TOWIE-style makeover to the tune of £10million.
Roslin Beach Hotel plans to add seven bedrooms to its current 27, a spa, a new wedding venue and outdoor restaurant facilities.
The town promises potential with Times writer Cathy Adams, dubbing the spot a “Slice of Miami”, and lots of celebs have been spotted visiting in recent months.
A Lister, Michelle Keegan, spent her first Mother’s Day there, and visited with her new baby and husband Mark Wright on Sunday, 20 March.
Gary Barlow, Tyson Fury, Denise van Outen and Frankie Essex have all popped by as well.
9. Fleetwood, Lancashire
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The marina in Fleetwood has recently received a slick promenadeCredit: Alamy
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Tourists don’t seem to be flocking to its promenadeCredit: Alamy
The Lancashire town tried to rebrand itself out of what its own mayor admitted was a “terrible reputation” by doing up its seafront into a “slick promenade” with modern infrastructure.
However, survey respondents remained unimpressed, giving it just one star for its tourist attractions and shopping.
On the upside, its low footfall means it’s very easy to find a parking space, for which it scored four stars.
Hotel prices are also a steal at £73 a night.
The former fishing village was filleted in the 1970s during an industrial dispute with Iceland, nicknamed the “cod wars.”
The industry all but evaporated, and almost all the jobs were jettisoned.
Terry Rogers, a former mayor and chairman of Fleetwood Town Council, admits some still have“unwarranted” views of the town’sinfamous drinking culture.
But he hit back, telling LancashireLive: “Post-COVID, people were soimpressed by our beach areasand promenade and how cheap everything is in comparison to other towns, they’ve come back.”
8. Great Yarmouth, Norfolk
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Great Yarmouth’s high street in 2008Credit: Alamy
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The beach front is perhaps too buzzyCredit: Alamy
Technically, in joint place with Fleetwood, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk also scored a scant 51%.
To be fair, it scored a respectable three stars for its beaches and tourist attractions, perhaps in part due to its iconic snail ride.
Ex-Reform MP Rupert Lowe even hopped on the fluorescent green ride for a photo-op.
However, it only got one star for peace and quiet.
Designed and built by Horace Cole, the snails have been chugging along the beachfront since 1949.
Sun reader Daryl Smith said: “If you don’t ride the snails when you visit, then you haven’t had a proper Great Yarmouth experience.”
The constituency also boasts the boat that brought Willy Wonka to England in the Hollywood blockbuster.
The childish excitement at popping on the free boat may explain why the spot only got one star for peace and quiet.
7. Blackpool, Lancashire
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The famous Victorian seafront has been struggling in recent yearsCredit: Alamy
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Locals have complained of all night parties and prostitutionCredit: Alamy
The famous seaside town clocked just 49%, but have no fear, the hotels are the cheapest of the lot, costing an average of £80 a night.
The enormous, incredibly famous Blackpool Pleasure Beach wasn’t enough to impress tourists, with the area’s attractions earning just three stars.
However, it was the shopping and the scenery that really floored its score at one star each.
Erosion has been nibbling away at its iconic beach for years, but a new £30million investment plan is in the works, funded by the Environment Agency.
Five new rock groynes, which are long, narrow structures, will maintain the spot.
The quaintly coloured houses still attract tourists, locals say, but the wrong kind of tourists.
Swarms of badly behaved visitors, fuelled by the boom of short-term Airbnb lets, have created a plague of all-night partiers, and even encouraged prostitution, according to locals.
6. Clacton-on-Sea, Essex
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The pier is peppered with betting shopsCredit: Alamy
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Its pier seems stuck in a time warpCredit: Alamy
Visit Essex promotes its local Clacton on Sea as a “bustling but affordable seaside resort,” but a score of 48% calls that into question.
Dubbed the “worst place to live in the UK”, Farage’s constituency is one of the poorest spots in the country.
Tourists shot down its “crumbling” scenery and “dying” city centre with a shocking one rating.
One even said: “I spend as little time in the town as possible.”
This marks a dramatic fall from grace, since it was named Pier of the Year in 2020.
But locals shouldn’t lose hope, as it may soon have £20million injected by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government to rejuvenate the town’s “horrible atmosphere.”
The cash is set to be used for a series of projects, including a £3million investment into a leisure centre, seafront art, a community micro venue and improved shopfronts- so watch this space.
5. Skegness, Lincolnshire
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Skegness has been described as a “vulgar hellhole”Credit: Alamy
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An injection of investment is predicted since East Midlands Railway plunged £60 million into the spotCredit: Alamy
Although Skegness didn’t even manage a 50% approval rating, scoring 48%, it is coming up in the world.
In 2023, the town, which has been described as a “vulgar hellhole” with “brown sea,” earned the macabre title of the worst seaside town in the country.
However, a new rail upgrade by East Midlands Railway, worth £60million, is predicted to bring a wave of investment into the rundown area.
An astonishing £23million has been pegged to spruce up the ”terrible place.”
Enhancements planned include brand-new seats, tables, as well as modern power and charging facilities.
Regardless, Sun reporter Catherine Lofthouse found the town, as is, “no-frills fun in the sun.”
4. Bognor Regis, West Sussex
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Its yellow hues failed to impress visitorsCredit: Alamy
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Despite its colourful efforts the pier and shopping were rated with just one starCredit: Alamy
Ranked the fourth worst seaside town in the country, with an average score of just 47%, the town’s pier and shopping were given just one star by Brits.
But some locals poked holes in the survey, after coming bottom of the list in 2019.
Jo Millen, the owner of Bognor ice cream shop Rainbows, told The Guardian: “Which? should just keep advising us about the washing machine that we should buy, rather than grade the negative views about Bognor from people on the internet.”
However, Sun journalist Catherine Lofthouse tried out the new £1.8million soft play area and her kids “loved it.”
A breaking bad style stash of crystal meth was discovered in its Grade II Picturedrome in 2021- but it does boast a Butlins and a Centre Parc- and even on a bank holiday hotels can cost you just £69.
3. Burnham-on-Sea, Somerset
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The once beautiful seafront has literally turned brown with dog pooCredit: Alamy
Astonishingly, Burnham on Sea also scraped 47%, which although dismal is quite an achievement considering the “once beautiful town has become plagued with poo.”
More shockingly, although the turd infested waters has literally turned Brown, the hotels are quite spenny at £106 a night.
Despite being slammed with one star for tourist attractions, food and drink, and shopping, it’s not that cheap.
Locals weren’t surprised at the shockingly low score, citing graffiti, dog poo and a generally rundown feel.
But once again, piles of cash may spell a brighter future, as Unity Beach resort has just undergone a £ 15 million renovation, sporting a new pub and sports bar on site.
The Wonky Donkey pub will serve family meals until late, while the Sports Caf streams live matches, whilst punters can play futuristic virtual reality gaming.
2. Mablethorpe, Lincolnshire
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Tourists found the spot remarkably “run down”Credit: Alamy
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Locals pushed back backing their “award winning” beachCredit: Alamy
With a miserly 46%, Maplethorpe’s run down fell earnt it the second lowest spot on the list.
Scoring just two stars for value for money, peace and quiet, its seafront, and just one star for food and drink, tourist attractions and shopping, which respondents were not impressed.
Locals were shocked at the result, having received the same score last year.
They cited their “award-winning beach” and popular seaside cafes, along with their funky Aqua Park.
One praised:” It’s lovely, an enormous, clean beach and traditional atmosphere.”
Claire Arnold, Maplethorpe’s mayor, argued that the survey was not a “true reflection of what our town has to offer.”
“We have a beautiful promenade where people can walk from the coastal town of Mablethorpe right over to Sutton and back again, we’ve got a free public paddling pool, and we’ve got blue flag beaches.”
Wales’ oldest town topped the list the unpopular bunchCredit: Getty
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This was despite the views of SnowdoniaCredit: Getty
At the top of the depressing list was Wales’ oldest city, Bangor, voted the worst seaside town for the second year in a row.
At 42%, it got just one-star ratings for food, tourist attractions and shopping, and two stars for everything else.
Labelled “drab” and “run down” despite being perched next to the beautiful natural landscape of the Menai Strait, the town doesn’t have a huge amount to do.
Its Grade II Victorian pier is not geared for tourism and doesn’t have a proper beach.
The closure of Debenhams in 2021 signalled another blow to the struggling town, and the local retail park has hit the high street hard.
Bangor City Council said in a statement to the Local Democracy Reporting Service: “It’s disappointing to see Bangor City named as one of the UK’s worst seaside towns. Such rankings often fail to capture the full picture and the unique charms that make Bangor City so special.”
Djerba the hot – after its big role in Star Wars, Faima Bakar finds the Tunisian island is truly out of this world, with amazing weather for most of the year and some beautiful beach spots
A PROFESSIONAL gardener has revealed their cheap tip for removing moss and algae from outdoor patios.
Using just one product that can be bought for £2 from Sainsbury’s, it is a hack that can keep your outdoor areas looking clean and free of dark stains.
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Image posted by deweylewis to Reddit discussion in GardeningUK of patioCredit: Reddit
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Dri Pak Fine Soda Crystals can be used as a multi purpose cleanerCredit: Sainsbury’s
It comes after a homeowner turned to Reddit for advice, asking how they could safely remove algae and dark stains from a large area of their patio.
The post, shared on the GardeningUK subreddit which has 187k members, wrote: “Any idea what products (pref non-toxic for pets but not essential) and method I’d need to use to safely remove the algae & dark stains from brick work and slabs.”
“I tried soap and water but it’s too big an area?”
The user, deweylewis2, also attached images of their patio with undertones of yellow, but almost turning grey.
The post attracted an influx of comments from gardening enthusiasts, with many advising to use a pressure washer.
One comment, however, came from a former gardener’s assistant from Yorkshire who said to use soda crystals.
They wrote: “Sprinkle (sparingly) soda crystals onto stones and brush over.
“Leave for up to 2 days (if Moss present) then scrub off with clean water.”
On top of that, they said: “It’s a green option.”
Another respondent wrote: “Thank you for the tip!”
I transformed my patio with simple hack – now it looks brand new again
Sainsbury’s sell these as Dri Pak Fine Soda Crystals for £2 per kilogram.
The product is described as a “multi purpose cleaner” and “laundry aid”, as it is predominantly used for cleaning washing machines and clothes.
Soda crystals, or sodium carbonate, is therefore a handy cleaning product to have in the home for various purposes.
Reviewers have rated the product 4.2 out of five stars, with one who wrote: “I love this product – I add a few table spoons to my laundry, l use it for cleaning the oven and sticky saucepans and many other chores”.
They are a great way to clean in a way that is non-toxic, sustainable for the environment, and is also cost-friendly.
The futuristic stretch of road utilises artificial intelligence to dynamically adjust the speed cap in real time and it exceeds anything like what there is in Britain
(Image: AFP via Getty Images)
A groundbreaking change has arrived on one of Spain ’s busiest highways — 90-miles of the AP-7 now features a variable speed limit that can reach up to a blistering 93mph in optimal conditions.
Spearheaded by Spain’s traffic authority, the Dirección General de Tráfico (DGT), the move marks a significant departure from the country’s longstanding motorway speed cap of 75mph. Also known as the Autopista del Mediterráneo, the AP-7 is a vital controlled-access highway that runs along the Mediterranean coast, connecting major cities including Figueres, Girona, Sabadell, Barcelona, Tarragona, Valencia and Alicante, facilitating both domestic and international travel.
The segment with the variable limit, introduced in April 2025, runs between Maçanet de la Selva and El Vendrell. It is an especially important stretch, which serves as a crucial corridor for commuters, tourists and freight. Unlike traditional fixed speed limits, this new system employs artificial intelligence (AI) to dynamically adjust the speed cap in real time.
The AI analyzes a range of factors, including weather conditions, traffic flow, congestion, time of day, road surface and visibility, as well as any relevant accidents and roadworks.
When conditions are ideal — clear weather, light traffic and good visibility — the limit can be raised to a maximum of 93mph. On the other hand, when conditions are hazardous — rain, fog, ice, snow, heavy traffic and incidents — AI lowers the limit, sometimes even below the previous standard of 75mph to maintain safety.
The variable speed is communicated to drivers via digital panels along the route, which update in real time as the AI system processes new data. This approach, while common in countries including the UK, is understood to be a first for Spain on such a large scale.
(Image: LightRocket via Getty Images)
The DGT’s initiative is part of a broader push to modernise the country’s road network, aiming to improve efficiency, safety and sustainability through intelligent transport systems.
This AP-7 pilot is seen as the first step in a wider strategy to bring smart motorway technology to more of Spain’s highways.
If successful, it could set a precedent for other regions and even influence policy discussions in neighbouring countries, where calls for higher motorway speed limits are growing louder.
(Image: AFP via Getty Images)
The 90-mile stretch of the AP-7 between Maçanet de la Selva and El Vendrell is one of Europe’s fastest public roads, at least when conditions allow.
By blending AI and real-time data with modern traffic management, Spain is testing the future of motorway travel — faster, smarter and hopefully safer.
A YouTuber known as the Portable Professional has shared her best recommendations – and condemnations – when it comes to dressing for the airport and getting through security with ease
Some common clothing choices can lead to delays at airport security, warns the Portable Professional(Image: Getty Images)
When it comes to airport attire, there is a fine line to walk between comfort and presentability. Some prioritise comfort above all else, strolling up to the boarding gate in pyjamas and even a sleep mask to catch up during a long-haul flight.
On the other hand, some business travellers and frequent fliers are of the mindset that an airplane is just a commuter service. Some even believe that dressing up for the airport is a good way to snag an upgrade. Wherever you land on a scale and no matter what airline you are flying, practicality is key. To address the most common airport attire questions, YouTuber Megan has shared some of her best clothing dos and don’ts.
On her YouTube channel, Portable Professional, Megan shares the best footwear and clothing choices to ensure a smooth trip through security checkpoints and onboard your flight.
When it comes to footwear, Megan says that lace-ups are highly impractical for the airport. “Even with the new automated screening lanes giving you your own station to unload, you do not want to be bent struggling with laces while your belongings sit exposed” says Megan.
Be prepared to remove your shoes, belts and jackets before going through an airport body scanner(Image: Getty Images/iStockphoto)
Megan also says anything footwear that requires balancing on one food should also be avoided, given the limited seating at security checkpoints. Open-toed shoes or socks without sandals are also a no-go given the dirtiness of airport floors.
“Your best option is to wear a pair of comfortable non-slip running or walking shoes” says Megan. “Remember to always wear socks and consider loosening the laces before the security checkpoint so you can easily slip them off and back on.”
Another tip from Megan, consider bringing disposable shoe covers to protect your socks from wet and dirty floors, especially during winter months. Compression socks are also a smart choice as they aid with blood circulation which is critical on long-haul flights.
Moving on to trousers, Megan says that trousers requiring a belt are a “big no” as you will invariably need to remove the belt during security. For business travellers, this may not be a feasible option however, in which case storing your belt in your checked bag and putting it on after passing through security may be a helpful alternative.
Megan also says cargo pants should be avoided, as people often forget small items like coins or keys that can trigger security alarms. Instead, if you’re hoping to prioritise comfort, she suggests opting for pants made of stretchy materials, typically straight-legged or with a tapered ankle to avoid safety hazards. She also suggests opting for a darker colour to hide spills that often come from long travel days.
Mobility should be prioritised when it comes to airport attire, as long travel days typically include a lot of walking and lifting(Image: Getty Images)
While jumpers and rompers may seem like an easy and practical choice, these can be a hassle in onboard bathrooms. ”No one wants to be sitting half-naked in a bathroom stall because they decided to wear a romper to the airport,” says Megan.
Finally, when it comes to tops, Megan says it’s best to avoid anything with metallic detailing or threads which can potentially trigger security alarms. For this reason, she says that you may also want to avoid wearing bras with underwires, though more advanced body scanners will likely not flag these as an issue.
Whatever you wear at the airport, Megan says it should be something that you are comfortable moving around in. That includes raising your arms above your head for security and storing your overhead bag, or bending down to load items into screening bins or retrieve bags from a luggage belt.
ALL eyes will be on the Crucible for the next couple of weeks as the very best cueists from around the globe battle it out at the World Snooker Championship – and there is a HUGE £500,000 jackpot.
Last year’s winner, Kyren Wilson, went into Sheffield as top seed after he claimed the crown with an 18-14 win over Jak Jones in the 2024 final.
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Kyren Wilson won the World Snooker Championship last year but the Crucible curse struck as he crashed out in round oneCredit: PA
But the Kettering legend felt the raft of the Crucible Curse as he went crashing out in the first round at the hands of Chinese star Lei Peifan.
World No1 Judd Trump will be heavily tipped to take the title this year as the Ace aims to add to his 2019 world championship triumph.
Seven-time Crucible winner Ronnie O’Sullivan hasn’t featured since January but is set to make his return to snooker in Sheffield.
John Higgins heads into the World Championship as the man in form after the Scotsman won the Tour Championship earlier this month.
This year’s competition promises to be a thriller, and SunSport brings you all the information so you don’t miss a second from the Crucible.
When is the World Snooker Championship 2025?
The World Snooker Championship got underway on Saturday, April 19.
The tournament will conclude on Monday, May 5.
The Crucible in Sheffield will host.
How to watch the World Snooker Championship 2025
BBC will air the World Snooker Championship across BBC One, BBC Two and BBC Four.
The BBC iPlayer and BBC Sport app/website will provide fans with coverage of every ball potted from the opening round to the final.
TNT Sports and discovery+ will also be airing the World Snooker Championship, but you must have a subscription to watch their service.
World Snooker Championship 2025 schedule
Saturday, April 19(round one) 10am
Xiao Guoddong 10-4 Matthew Selt
Kyren Wilson 9-10 Lei Peifan
2:30pm
Neil Robertson 8-10 Chris Wakelin
Mark Williams 10-8 Wu Yize
7pm
Barry Hawkins 9-10 Hossein Vafaei
Sunday, April 20(round one) 2:30pm
Mark Allen 10-6 Fan Zhengyi
Monday, April 21(round one) 10am
John Higgins 5-4 Joe O’Connor (first session)
Jak Jones 4-10 Zhao Xintong
2:30pm
Ding Junhui 6-3 Zak Surety (first session)
John Higgins 10-7 Joe O’Connor
7pm
Si Jiahui 6-3 David Gilbert (first session)
Tuesday, April 22(round one) 10am
Zhang Anda 5-3 Pang Junxu (first session)
Shaun Murphy 7-2 Daniel Wells (first session)
2:30pm
Ronnie O’Sullivan 5-4 Ali Carter (first session)
Ding Junhui 10-7 Zak Surety (second session)
7pm
Judd Trump 6-3 Zhou Yuelong (first session)
Si Jiahui 10-6 David Gilbert (second session)
Wednesday, April 23(round one) 10am
Zhang Anda 7-10 Pang Junxu (second session)
Shaun Murphy 10-4 Daniel Wells (second session)
2:30pm
Luca Brecel 5-4 Ryan Day (first session)
Ronnie O’Sullivan 10-4 Ali Carter (second session)
GREGG Wallace finally sat down for his big mea culpa chat last week, five months after a tsunami of shock allegations came to light about his inappropriate behaviour on Masterchef.
It was sympathetic to the disgraced host but, as someone who has seen both of Gregg’s sides – it also gave away his fatal flaw.
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Gregg Wallace finally sat down for his big mea culpa chat last weekCredit: BBC
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It has been five months since the tsunami of shock allegations came to light about his inappropriate behaviour on MasterChefCredit: Getty
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Gregg with MasterChef co-host John TorodeCredit: BBC
When I interviewed him for the first time face to face six years ago, alongside John, I witnessed his charm in action.
And looking back, since he even proudly flashed me his new-found abs, during the chat, delighted with his three-and-a-half stone weight loss, I wonder if he was being flirtatious. He couldn’t hide his pride at his fitter, younger bod.
Back to this week’s tell all, at this point it’s hard not to question whether the cancelled celeb du jour has a whole playbook in place, and seemingly 60-year-old Gregg had gone all out.
His dutiful (fourth) wife Anna, standing by him, of course, wrapping her arms around him like a human shield, his mental health in tatters, his late mother passing away earlier this year, before he had a chance to clear his name, and a new diagnosis of Autism, which he, says, explains a lot.
It paints a sympathetic picture of the star, who until last year, was publicly one of the most stable jewels in the BBC’s crown, alongside his co-host John Torode.
But what of the 13 women who bravely stepped forward about historical allegations of misconduct as part of the BBC’s ongoing investigation?
And what of his ill-fated initial knee-jerk social media video reaction blaming “a handful of middle-class women of a certain age?”
But I have also spoken to a number of his ex colleagues who insist there is a darker side to him.
My experience was February 2019 and Gregg and John were promoting their upcoming series of MasterChef and I had a sit down chat with the pair at their plush TV production studio offices.
I was a bit nervous as I had heard of Gregg’s hot-headed reputation, having covered his numerous marriage splits and even a bar brawl in 2013 when another man allegedly made a suggestive comment to his now-missus.
John Torode breaks silence on MasterChef co-star Gregg Wallace accusations
But in comparison to quiet and softly spoken John, Gregg was a ball of energy and in the mood for a natter and torso reveal. I think he was showing off, but it proves he was comfortable with his body.
Excited about his weight loss he said: “I go to the gym five days a week and I really enjoy it.
“I really feel gross if I don’t go. I would like to do a diet book, I think if I continue with this fitness I may be able to make money out of this when I’m in my sixties.”
Referencing his slew of topless snaps on social media he said: “A lot of my fans on instagram are female, but there’s as many pictures of my pregnant wife on there as there are of my abs, it’s clear that I’m very much in love with my wife.”
Gregg was the star of the show, people were scared of him
He opened up to me about getting the hump with work hubby John saying: “A couple of times last series I went into John’s dressing room and said, ‘Sorry about being grumpy and by the way it wasn’t anything to do with you, it was me.”
But one former crew member told me that it was hard to stand up to Gregg on set when he was making jokes and exercising his bravado.
‘Crude jokes’
I’m told: “Gregg was the star of the show, people were scared of him.
“They were worried that if they didn’t smile and laugh at his crude jokes they’d lose their jobs.
“The TV industry is notoriously competitive and unstable, if you’re lucky enough to get stable employment the last thing you’re going to do is start throwing your weight around and complaining about the most important person on set.”
Outrageously in the interview Gregg goes on to ADMIT to slipping a sock onto a his manhood after filming and insisting that his female co-star Monica Galetti found the gag hilarious claiming: “Monica says it’s one of the funniest things she’s ever seen.”
She also quipped that working with Gregg was enough to give anyone grey hair.
In part he questions why the alarm wasn’t raised sooner when it came to his on set behaviour, but he fails to recognise that he was in a huge position of power as the talent on huge production.
Gregg Wallace – MasterChef scandal in Brief
GREGG Wallace has stepped down from his MasterChef hosting role after a probe into alleged inappropriate behaviour. But what’s the situation?
Regular MasterChef host Gregg Wallace is currently the subject of a probe after an investigation was launched into his alleged misconduct over a number of years.
He recalls quaffing bubbles with Kirsty at the final and “sharing jokes” but perhaps he was too ignorant to realise she didn;t find it funny.
Missing the mark entirely Gregg denies that the alleged sex act he discussed with Kirstie Allsopp as not being his cup of tea, NOT that the idea of discussing any sex act in a professional workplace environment with a complete stranger would have most people hauled into HR, regardless of your preference.
Having amassed a personal fortune of around £5m from telly and books the greengrocer from Peckham hasn’t done badly.
Maybe he should quit while he’s ahead, hold his hands up, apologise for being a sexually inappropriate dinosaur and enjoy his retirement.
Even if Channel 5 offer Gregg a lifeline in the form of a desert island reality show, a la Philip Schofield, I fear no-one will watch. He’s toast.
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Newsnight host Kirsty Wark accused Gregg of telling ‘sexualised’ jokes during the filming of Celebrity MasterChef in 2011Credit: Getty
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Kirstie Allsopp revealed that Gregg made a sexually explicit remark to her when they first metCredit: Rex
NESTLED in Somerset’s Mendip hills, boutique hotel Charlton House is home to one of the UK’s poshest spas.
But its clients aren’t blushing brides and well-coiffed country folk – the spa is for DOGS, and my four-legged companion Harry was about to have the time of his life.
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Charlton House is a grade II-listed mansion with grand fountains and lush lawns
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Top dog groomer Kelly Davis with The Sun’s Julie and her dog HarryCredit: Marc Giddings
The Montigo Resorts Somerset hotel in Somerset also offers much for pups’ owners to enjoy – a grade II-listed mansion with grand fountains and lush lawns.
The real star of the show, though, is Kelly Davis, a former hairdresser who was crowned best dog groomer in the country and owns KD Pet Spa.
Dogs can tell “doggy” people straightaway, and Kelly instantly won over my two-year-old black-and-white mixed breed.
Inside, her lavender-scented spa is a little different to those I’ve seen before. There’s two small treatment tables, a huge sink area for shampooing, and a counter featuring an array of fancy pet products.
While Harry snuggled on a cushion, I answered questions about his allergies, and likes and dislikes, then it was time for his . . . blueberry facial.
The treatment involves a mask made from fresh blueberries, coconut oil and a little water, which is “full of antioxidants”.
Kelly explains: “It calms the skin, relieves any itchiness and brightens and whitens the coat.”
Harry probably would have eaten it, if he hadn’t been so mesmerised by the motion of Kelly’s fingers, gently smoothing the mixture on to his face.
The solution was left on for ten minutes, while Harry relaxed to classical music.
Take a look inside this luxurious dog hotel in New York
After it was washed off, Harry had a deshedding treatment, to remove hair from his undercoat.
The price varies, depending on the type of coat, but for 22kg Harry, who has short, straight hair, it would cost around £70.
For those not in the know, the treatment is more than just a brush. The tool used is part comb and part razor, getting all the loose hair out and leaving Harry looking a few pounds lighter.
But the key to Kelly’s success is not her treatments. It is the way she bonds with pets.
She says: “There must be trust. We deal with their teeth, bottoms, paws and all over, so it’s quite intimate, which can’t be done if the dog doesn’t trust me. I treat them how I’d like to be treated myself.”
Elsewhere in the hotel, guests can take advantage of the human spa which features eight treatment rooms and a thermal area, as well as restaurants, including dog-friendly joints, serving Asian grub, steaks and all-day brunch.
Kelly adds: “Owners know their dog is being well treated and they come back feeling relaxed. They can drop in and out if they want to check on their pet.”
The hotel has 28 dog-friendly rooms, too.
You’d be barking mad not to check it out.
GO: CHARLTON HOUSE
A stay at Montigo Resorts Somerset’s Charlton House starts from £152 based on two people sharing. Doggy spa treatments cost from £25. See somerset.montigoresorts.com
It was during this time that she spent with the convicted killers that Katie recalls fuelling her desire to become a mum for the third time.
Speaking to the Daily Mirror, Katie revealed: “So many women missed their kids [in prison].
“It started to make me think, ‘This is my last chance to have another baby, I’m going to be 40. And if I don’t do it now, I never will.’
“I was turning 40 in the October so I said to my husband, ‘If we want another baby, let’s do it now,’ and we started trying.”
However, a spanner was thrown in the works when Katie was rushed into hospital for an emergency operation on her eye.
Her left eye was damaged after she was the victim of a horror acid attack in 2008 when an associate of Katie’s ex-partner doused her in acid.
Katie confessed that being hauled into an unexpected operation threw her plans to conceive out of the window.
The TV campaigner told the newspaper: “You can’t be trying for a baby and also be having unexpected surgeries.
Katie Piper leaves fans in ‘disgust’ after ‘chilling confession’ that left Loose Women stars speechless
“So that scuppered that and we had a break. We tried again, but it just didn’t happen.”
With Katie now in her 40s, the option to go down the IVF route seemed likely but the star, who has faced more than 250 operations since her attack, admitted she was keen to avoid any more hospital visits or treatment.
Her desire to stay away from hospitals cemented her decision to not go down the IVF route in order to have a child.
Katie said: “My eye surgery made me realise I don’t want to do IVF.
“I’m done with medical things andhospitals. I didn’t think it would be good for me.”
Following the attack in 2008, Katie was left blind in one eye and has faced countless operations and surgeries to help her to physically heal.
In a statement following her attack, Katie said of the incident: “When the acid was thrown at me, it felt like I was burning in hell.
“It was an indescribable, unique, torturous pain.”
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Katie had since admitted they are no longer trying for anotherCredit: Splash
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Katie has undergone more than 250 operations in her lifetimeCredit: Instagram
ENZO MARESCA watched on from behind me as he served the touchline ban he earned himself vs Fulham – and he’ll be pleased with what he saw as Chelsea stole a 1-0 win at home to Everton.
The game was shocked into life after 26 minutes when good pressure from the home side saw Nicolas Jackson take the ball on the turn and rifle it into the back of Jordan Pickford‘s net, his first goal since returning from injury.
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Nicolas Jackson got Chelsea underway at Stamford Bridge with his first goal in 13 gamesCredit: Reuters
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Enzo Maresca watched on from the sidelinesCredit: Reuters
It was by no means easy after they grabbed the opener though, as the Blues dominated possession but failed to add more goals to their tally.
Everton had chances too, and David Moyes‘ side ramped up the pressure as the game went on, calling Robert Sanchez into action on multiple occasions in the second half.
Jackson thought he’d finally given his side a safety net as the game came to a close, but the offside flag denied him his 11th Premier League goal of the season.
Three points puts Chelsea in a good position to battle for the coveted Champions League places now, but they arguably have the hardest run-in of the teams they are competing against.
Here’s how SunSport’s Lloyd Canfield rated the Blues against Everton.
Robert Sanchez – 7
Credit where credit is due, Sanchez was a force to be reckoned with today.
In the early stages he looked like the same old shaky Sanchez, coming to claim crosses and then spilling them, opportunities which a more dangerous opposition may have punished.
But as the game went on he made a vital save to deny Beto, was better in terms of his distribution, and by the end of the game looked as though he had glue on his gloves – coming and claiming every cross that came his way.
Moi has arguably been Chelsea’s player of the season as a combative holding midfielder, but was playing in the inverted fullback role for this game to accommodate Romeo Lavia’s inclusion.
He is in fact so good that he can play there as well as any natural right back that Chelsea have got, with an impeccable work rate, great feet on the ball and an eye for a pass too.
His importance to this side cannot be understated, with the Ecuadorian always in the right place at the right time and able to show up for his side with a level of consistency matched by no other player in the squad.
No one really brings up the price tag Chelsea paid for him anymore, which is testament to just how good he has become.
Trevoh Chalobah – 8
With rumours swirling that Trevoh Chalobah could be expected to depart Chelsea for good this summer, if he is to leave then the Cobham graduate can go with his head held high.
Trev played a vital role in the build up to Jackson’s opener, pressing Beto on the ball and winning it just before the Senegalese forward rifled home.
Levi Colwill – 8
It’s no easy task marking 6’4″ Beto up front for Everton, who has caused chaos for numerous Premier League defences this campaign, but Levi marshalled him really well.
Chelsea’s ever-present CB this season has been really growing into a leadership role in his recent performances, and today’s was no different.
It’s easy to see in games like today why the Blues value their academy born centre-half so, so highly.
Marc Cucurella – 8
Alongside Caicedo, Marc Cucurella has probably been Chelsea’s most consistent performer this season.
The Stamford Bridge faithful have got used to him flying forward and playing almost as a second striker at times, but he was tasked with a slightly different job today and asked to be more defensive with Caicedo inverting instead of him.
For me there has been no better left-back in the league this season, and today’s performance echoed that sentiment – winning crucial tackles, stepping in to intercept whenever necessary and progressing the ball well too.
Romeo Lavia – 7
When a £115million midfielder is moved to right-back so that you can fit in the starting XI, it emphasises how good of a player you are.
Romeo returned to the starting XI today for only the ninth time this season, and has been missing from the Chelsea side entirely since mid-march when he played just eight minutes vs Arsenal.
His passing was somewhat rusty, which was expected of a player who has been out for so long, but on the half-turn in midfield he really makes a difference for Maresca’s side and is vital in most good things the team do.
If he can stay fit I truly believe he can be one of the best midfielders in the Premier League.
Enzo Fernandez – 7
Picked up his seventh assist of the season with a neat pass into Jackson on the edge of the box in what was a well rounded performance from Chelsea’s number eight.
It was quietly one of the most assured performances I’ve seen since Enzo’s arrival here, as he showed quality on and off the ball as well as all of the passion and leadership that has made the regulars at Stamford Bridge adore him so much.
Noni Madueke – 6
Noni was preferred to the in-form Jadon Sancho on the left wing today with Neto earning a spot on his preferred right hand-side given the nature of his winner against Fulham last time out.
His style of play is less-suited to the left side, as a winger who takes a high volume of shots after cutting inside on his left foot and has a great relationship with Cole Palmer who also prefers to be on the right side of attack.
Nonetheless it was a trickery-laden performance from him, and he had Nathan Patterson on strings for most of the first half with his quick feet – his defensive work didn’t go unnoticed either as he often supported Cucurella in that sense.
Cole Palmer – 3
Palmer stole the show against Everton last season with FOUR goals at Goodison Park, a performance he bought up recently in an Instagram story that he captioned ‘Enjoyment’.
The ice-cold midfielder has gone somewhat off the boil since the turn of the year though, with many fans conspiring he’s not enjoying himself so much under the current manager.
Maresca claimed in the week that it was a mentality issue for Palmer, and not a tactical thing, and to me that seems clear to see.
The Chelsea star has faded to the point he was almost translucent in today’s game, which is just painful to see when you know how he can be when fully firing.
Pedro Neto – 6
Neto gave Mykolenko a torrid time down the right flank, with an incredulous amount of hard work once again.
There was no moment of magic like we saw against Fulham in the last match, and his end product on a consistent basis still needs to improve, but he still showed up for his side outside of that.
Deserves huge credit for his defensive efforts, as he made a number of vital tackles in clutch moments, especially as the game came to a close.
Nicolas Jackson – 8
THAT is exactly what Jackson can do.
So many times in a Chelsea shirt we have seen him do everything required of him as a striker, apart from putting the ball in the back of the net when it’s needed most.
His strike in the 26th minute from outside the box nestled perfectly in the bottom left corner to give the Blues the lead after a great touch on the half-turn.
Aside from the goal, his hard work was much appreciated by the home support, as he often dropped deep to collect the ball and even tracked back to make a last man challenge on Beto at one stage in the second half.
Subs
Reece James (on for Lavia, 67mins) – 6
Replaced Lavia, who was excellent in midfield, and the Blues didn’t look worse off at all.
Probably more solid in terms of defense and offered slighly less in transition than Lavia, but that was probably exactly what was needed from him given the state of the game when he came on.
Jadon Sancho (on for Madueke, 78mins) – 5
Showed flashes of his quick feet and ability, but Chelsea were seeing the game out for most of the time he was on the pitch.
Didn’t see much of the ball, but did his defensive due diligence.
CHRIS EUBANK JR and Conor Benn will finally settle their rivalry TONIGHT at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium!
This Saturday, one of the biggest rivalries in British boxing history will recommence as Chris Eubank Jr takes on Conor Benn 35 years after their fathers met in the ring for the first time.
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Chris Eubank Jr and Conor Benn cannot wait to get this fight started – but could they meet again?Credit: Richard Pelham – The Sun
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Nigel Benn and Chris Eubank trade blows during their second bout in 1993Credit: Holly Stein/Allsport
The fathers of both fighters will always be remembered for their two iconic bouts and the rivalry they had – they absolutely despised each other.
And now their sons have created their own bitter rivalry after a war of words that culminated in Eubank Jr egging Benn during a press conference.
The fight is one of the most hotly anticipated or the century – but will it up live up to their fathers’ feud and be as entertaining?
Boxing fans all around the world cannot wait for this British battle to resume and will be hoping it’s as fiery as the Eubank and Benn beef was when it started 35 years ago.
READ MORE EUBANK JR VS BENN
Chris Eubank Jr vs Conor Benn
THE countdown is ON to one of the biggest boxing events of the 21st Century
Familial tension and a rivalry that has been brewing for years will finally be resolved when Chris Eubank Jr and Conor Benn meet at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday night.
There has been huge drama in the build-up with the pair engaged in a war of words and multiple clashes in person.
SunSport will have full coverage of the blockbuster clash all week and LIVE round-by-round coverage of every fight on a stacked undercard.
Latest News
All the info
Is there a rematch clause for Chris Eubank vs Conor Benn?
A question circling around the boxing fandom is if there will be a rematch between the two after this Saturday.
Eubank Jr is the big favourite for the fight, given his huge size advantage, experience and Benn’s ring rust.
But there continue to be questions over his desire to fight – as well as his training camp – while Benn is a massive puncher at his weight.
Eubank Jr has also had to cut weight and has a 10-pound rehydration clause for the 160lb limit – and will have to pay £1million should be break it.
Just like fathers Chris Eubank and Nigel Benn had a rematch after their first fight back in 1990 then in 1993, their sons could have the same fate.
It has been confirmed by Eubank Jr that there IS a rematch clause in the contract.
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When is Chris Eubank Jr vs Conor Benn and how can I watch it?
Chris Eubank Jr vs Conor Benn takes place on Saturday, April 26 at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Coverage starts on DAZN and Sky Sports from 5pm – ring walks for the main event are expected at around 10pm.
The event is pay-per-view on DAZN PPV and Sky Sports Box Office and will cost £19.95.
It can also be streamed on SkyGO and the DAZN website to paying customers.
Alternatively, SunSport will LIVE BLOG every fight of the night – plus all the fallout – as it happens.
DUNSMUIR, Calif. — Less than a half a mile from the city limits of this Northern California railroad town is a natural wonder so enchanting that locals compare it to geologic features in Yosemite or Yellowstone.
“The most beautiful waterfall I’ve ever seen,” said Stephen Decatur, who works in disaster preparedness for the city of Dunsmuir. City Manager Dustin Rief agreed, adding: “And I’ve traveled all over the world.”
Fed from glaciers on Mount Shasta’s majestic slopes, Mossbrae Falls cascades out of lava tubes and down mossy cliffs into the Sacramento River in ethereal curtains of mist, sending rainbows dancing in all directions.
Native tribes have long considered the waterfall sacred. A century ago, it was such a popular destination that Southern Pacific Railroad ran special trains to a locale where well-heeled customers could disembark, soak in the beauty and sip from a natural spring at the top of the falls. And at Dunsmuir City Hall, where a photograph of Mossbrae Falls adorns the wall, officials consider it a tourist attraction that could be crucial to the city’s economic future. Later this spring, the City Council is poised to vote on declaring Dunsmuir the “Waterfall Capital” of California.
There’s just one hitch: Though Mossbrae Falls sits less than 2,000 feet from Dunsmuir city limits, there is no easy — or legal — way for the public to access its watery splendors. And for decades, every attempt to create legal access has foundered on the rocky shoals of property rights and lumbering bureaucracy.
Though Mossbrae Falls sits less than 2,000 feet from Dunsmuir city limits, there is no easy — or legal — way for the public to access its misty splendors.
(Neal Pritchard / Getty Images)
About 30,000 people each year visit anyway, according to a city study, most of them trespassing for more than a mile along oily train tracks that wend along the Sacramento River. At least two people have been struck by trains near the falls since 2012. Others have reported terrifying near misses.
Social media is rife with photos of people slogging along the tracks in the company of toddlers and dogs, hauling picnic gear. And as selfie photo spreads on Instagram have lured ever more people to make the trek, officials say they are terrified there will be more frantic scrambles to dodge oncoming locomotives that end in injury or death.
That’s why city officials say it is urgent that, at long last, they find a way to negotiate with private landowners to build a short hiking trail from an existing city park to give the public a safe, designated pathway to the falls.
But while constructing a trail less than a third of a mile in length might seem a simple undertaking, people who have been engaged in this effort say it has been anything but.
“We have not spent hundreds of thousands of dollars and 30 years on this just because we want to have a trail to this pretty place. It’s also a safety issue,” said John Harch, a retired surgeon who is president of the Mount Shasta Trail Assn. and has been working for decades — fruitlessly he fears — on trail access.
The issue, as just about anyone in Dunsmuir can explain, is that the land on the east side of the river, where the waterfall spills down from the cliffs, is owned by the Saint Germain Foundation, a religious group that considers the waterfall and Mount Shasta sacred and doesn’t take kindly to the public wandering through.
Also known as the “I AM” movement, the group was formed in the 1930s, after a mining engineer, Guy Ballard, reported that while hiking on Mount Shasta he had encountered Saint Germain, a spiritual guide who Ballard said had ascended to a higher state of being. Ballard said Saint Germain trained him as a messenger who could lead others toward enlightenment.
After Ballard descended Mount Shasta, he and his wife, Edna, started a foundation in their Chicago-area home, dedicated to the principles of self-empowerment and self-improvement they said Saint Germain had passed along. After Guy Ballard’s death in 1939, Edna purchased property near Mount Shasta on the east side of the Sacramento River. These days, the group’s number have dwindled, but some followers still live near the retreat, and adherents of the faith and their families visit in the summer for spiritual conclaves.
The Mount Shasta Trail Assn. spent years trying to purchase a small piece of land from the foundation to create a trail from nearby Hedge Creek Falls, which is owned by the city, up to Mossbrae. But association leaders say the foundation never agreed to sell.
Foundation officials did not respond to requests for comment from The Times. In 2022, Sidney Lanier, identified at the time as the group’s chief financial officer, told SF Gate that “the Foundation believes it can best protect this site by limiting access, rather than allowing trailblazers to desecrate its natural beauty.”
The land on the other side of the river is owned by Union Pacific Railroad. The tracks that run adjacent to the river are a major north-south artery for freight and a twice-daily Amtrak service. Long, ponderous trains snake through at regular intervals.
After it became clear that constructing a trail through the foundation’s land was probably not going to work, advocates explored building a footbridge across the Sacramento River at Hedge Creek Falls and then carving a trail along the river, below the train tracks.
The railroad has not said “no” to the concept. But after years of conversations, they have also not given an unequivocal “yes.”
There are more than a dozen notable waterfalls within an hour’s drive from Dunsmuir, including the shimmering veils of Burney Falls in Shasta County.
(Paul Kuroda / For The Times)
The Mount Shasta Trail Assn., which was bequeathed hundreds of thousands of dollars from an anonymous donor who wanted to see access to the falls, tried for years to negotiate with the railroad, Harch said. But he said railroad officials would ask for proposals, spend months reviewing them and then ask for yet more studies. “Or they say, ‘Oh, there’s a new person [responsible for that], and you have to start all over again,’” Harch said.
At one point, he said, a Union Pacific employee confided that the railroad, whose landholdings across the country are vast, owns property in hundreds of areas that the public would like to access and is wary of setting a precedent.
In an emailed statement, the railroad said: “Union Pacific has worked closely with key stakeholders for years, exploring ways to resolve trespassing and safety issues connected to Mossbrae Falls and have dedicated employees working with the City of Dunsmuir and the Mount Shasta Trail Association to find solutions that address everyone’s concerns.”
More recently, Dunsmuir city officials have taken the lead in the trail effort.
City Councilman Matthew Bryan, who has made access to the falls a key part of his agenda, said that he believes the city and Union Pacific may finally be able to make it happen. The city, as a government entity, has been better able to negotiate with the railroad than a nonprofit, he said.
“I have high hopes,” he said.
For now, officials have gotten “conceptual approval” from the railroad. In a statement, Union Pacific officials said they were “standing by to review the city’s design plans to ensure they meet our safety and engineering standards.”
Still, even such a small trail will cost more money than the small city of Dunsmuir has sitting around. Rief, the city manager, said the costs of engineering alone may be as much as $2 million, even before construction starts. The proposed trail would have to cross the Sacramento River and continue north below the train tracks, on a grade, and be engineered in such a way that it would be accessible for people of many different fitness levels. And discussions are still underway for how a trail could be safely separated from the tracks.
To raise money for the effort, the city last summer posted a sign at Hedge Creek Falls seeking public donations. The sign features a tantalizing photograph of the officially inaccessible Mossbrae Falls along with a QR code that allows people to donate using their phones. So far, $4,700 has come in, mostly in small increments, Rief said.
If the railroad ultimately allows the city to build a trail — and that trail indeed brings in more tourist dollars — many locals says it would be poetic justice. After all, it is because of the railroad that this city, tucked among craggy peaks and towering trees, exists at all. And it is also because of railroads that this city, decades after it was founded in the 1880s, almost died.
Dunsmuir, long a railroad town, was devastated by a 1991 train derailment that spilled a toxic herbicide into the Sacramento River, killing everything in the water for miles.
(George Rose / Getty Images)
“Southern Pacific built the town of Dunsmuir,” said Bryan.
For years, many people who lived there were employed by the railroad, Bryan said, and for much of the town’s history it was a harmonious relationship.
That began to change in the 1960s, Bryan said, when automation and other changes in the railroad industry meant fewer jobs for Dunsmuir. Then, in the summer of 1991, a catastrophic train derailment just north of town spilled nearly 20,000 gallons of a highly toxic herbicide into the Sacramento River. The spill poisoned the river’s ecosystem for a 40-mile stretch, killing tens of thousands of fish, as well as all the bugs and vegetation. The contaminated water released toxic gas that briefly engulfed Dunsmuir and made hundreds of people ill.
The toxins wiped out the area’s prized trout fishery for years. And it exacerbated the economic pains in a region already reeling from cutbacks in the timber industry.
Southern Pacific and three other companies ultimately paid $40 million in compensation for the spill, most of which went to the state to cover the costs of cleanup and restoration. Southern Pacific separately agreed to pay $14 million to settle the claims of residents and businesses who suffered losses.
These days, the river is mostly recovered, officials said. And while the railroad still employs people in the area, the town is seeking to diversify its economy by leaning more heavily into tourism.
“Dunsmuir is the perfect base camp to explore Northern California’s natural beauty,” says the city’s visitors website. It boasts of the town’s “up-and-coming culinary scene” and good hotels.
In recent months, the City Council — Dunsmuir officials note it is the only city council in all of California made up entirely of millennials — is looking to add waterfalls to the marketing package.
There are more than a dozen notable waterfalls within an hour’s drive from town, said Mayor Michael Clarno, including Hedge Creek Falls, Burney Falls, Faery Falls and three sets of falls on the McCloud River.
But the crown jewel, locals will tell you, is Mossbrae.
“This trail to Mossbrae is part of us reclaiming our community, and our economy and our connection to the best water on earth,” Bryan said.
While the voice recognition service enabled through the microphone button on the remote will still be available, it will be handled by LG’s own voice assistant.
It means users won’t be able to use it in relation to their other Google Assistant devices.
So using Google Assistant to control your TV through a Google smart speaker will no longer be possible.
That change will be permanent too, as LG has decided not to adopt Google’s smarter AI assistant, Gemini.
LG will instead pick up Microsoft’sAI assistant called Copilot– meaning TVs won’t be compatible with Google smart speakers.
For example, Copilot can’t talk through Google’s smart home speakers, but Gemini could.
This is expected to bring disruption to some households’ smart devices network.
Google’s Gemini AI app lets you chat out loud with shockingly humanlike virtual helper
Customers have complained about the switch on social media, saying LG shouldn’t be able to remove a feature that was available when they purchased their televisions.
“I wonder if we can get some compensation since they are taking away a feature that they advertise with the TV,” one user said on Reddit earlier this month.
“It’s the only reason why everyone on here bought an LG OLED, for the Google Assistant.”
Last month, Google announced it would be phasing out its Google Assistant by the end of the year.
It will remain on home devices, like Google speakers and displays, for now.
The voice assistant, which has been around since 2016, is being replaced with Gemini – Google’s smarter, AI-fuelled voice assistant.
What is Google Gemini?
You may have heard of Google’s Gemini AI tool – so what exactly is it?
Google’s Gemini AI launched in December 2023 and is available online, billed as a way to “supercharge your creativity and productivity”.
Gemini is a multimodal model that learns from a variety of data types including images, text, and audio.
When a user enters a prompt into Gemini, it generates a response using information it already knows or pulls from other sources (often Google services).
While training on datasets, it identifies patterns that help it mimic a human response. As it is continuously learning, Gemini also learns from your prompts, responses, and feedback.
Google has admitted that “Gemini will make mistakes and might even say something offensive”.
The program occasionally cites its sources. If it quotes at length from a webpage, for instance, it makes reference to that page. Sometimes, it generates a URL that users can click.
Gemini has usage limits to reduce traffic, meaning it may cap the number of prompts and conversations a user can have within a specific timeframe.
This number depends on factors like how long and complex a user’s prompts are and the length of the conversation with Gemini. Google will alert you when you are close to hitting the limit for a given period.
Beach break’s a breeze – weather drama in Norfolk can’t take the shine off family fun for Lesley Mann, who visited the magnificent Horsey Beach during her stay in the country
A Lincolnshire town is confirmed for a multi-million pound renovation, predicted to bring in a flurry of tourists after locals declare the coastal town a ‘hellhole’
Once loved Lincolnshire seaside town is set for a multi million pound investment hoping to welcome tourists once again this summer(Image: LightRocket via Getty Images)
This seaside town previously been described as a ‘vulgar hellhole’ with a ‘brown sea’, has now confirmed plans for a £23 million investment.
Skegness, in the East Lindsey District of Lincolnshire is splashing the cash in the hope of attracting tourists again. In the 19th century, Skegness was a seaside hotspot that drew visitors from all over the country. Still, in recent years, a severe lack of investment and infrastructure development has deterred new visitors.
In 2023, Skegness was ranked last in Which? Magazine’s British seaside resort ranking. Visitors gave Skegness just one star for its scenery and noise levels, and two stars for its food, drink, shopping and attractions.
In 2023, Skegness was ranked last in Which? Magazine’s seaside resort ranking(Image: Getty Images/iStockphoto)
Despite its overwhelmingly low scores in multiple categories, Skegness consistently performed well in one area. Most visitors were impressed with the parking availability.
The Editor of Which? Travel, Rory Boland, said following the 2023 poll: “Clacton, Skegness, and Southend all received one star from visitors for the lack of peace and quiet, and some visitors complain that the boisterous atmosphere can tip into feeling unsafe.”
This £23 million investment aims to welcome back visitors to Skegness once more(Image: LightRocket via Getty Images)
Rory added: “That’s a shame, because what Clacton, Skegness, and Southend offer is exactly the sort of seaside break many of us want.” However, he concluded with a call to action for the town, saying: “Big beaches, big entertainment, and small prices. More should be done to help them level up and become first-class holiday resorts.”
However, things are now set to change for this coastal town, as East Midlands Railway (EMR) has announced an impressive £23 million investment in the tramlines leading into Skegness. On April 15, Baggy Shanker, Member of Parliament for Derby South, officially unveiled the new EMR Class 170 train at an event at Derby station.
EMR announces £23 million investment in Skegness tramlines(Image: SSPL via Getty Images)
These improvements and refurbishment projects are set to increase travel to Skegness on the Nottingham to Skegness via the Grantham line. The journey, which will take just under two hours, will cost merely £4.05 if booked in advance.
The new and improved trains feature comfortable seats, refurbished toilets, and new flooring. Each carriage is also equipped with power sockets, USB charging sockets, and a bike storage area.
The Class 170 fleet of 44 is to undergo these makeovers. The next train in the programme is scheduled to be refurbished next month. Following that, a newly renovated unit is expected to join the expanding railway network each month.
Will Rogers, Managing Director of East Midlands Railway, said: “This refurbishment is more than just a lick of paint, it’s a complete transformation that puts our customers first.”
Rogers continues: “We’ve focused on creating an environment that is comfortable and functional – and it’s just the beginning. Over the next year, customers will start to see real, tangible improvements across our network.”
Planning a city break to the UK’s capital? This central spot gets our vote as one of the best hotels in London for simple-but-stylish rooms and an excellent restaurant
This hotel has incredible views(Image: Page8)
Despite having living in London for more than 10 years, I’m still always surprised when I find somewhere in such a central, busy area that I’ve never seen before. Which is exactly what I found when I went to check in to Page8 Hotel near Trafalgar Square.
Round the corner from the popular tourist attraction and next door to a Pret, from the outside Page8 looks like it could be another a city co-working space. Inside, though, you step into Page8 Common Coffeehouse, a 24-hour coffee shop and hang-out space serving their own blend of beans (and some seriously tasty pastries), and effectively the lobby of the hotel. It’s undeniably cool yet welcoming, and an excellent base for travellers, whether it’s for work or leisure.
Page Common Coffeehouse in the base of the Page8 hotel(Image: Page8)
The rooms at Page8
The 138 bedrooms at Page8 are simple, understated, urban elegance; sophisticated navy and cream decor, a wall-length window desk for working, Marshall speakers and modern marble bathrooms. They’re perfect for a stylish yet busy city stay, for those who plan to fill their days out in the city then come back to a comfy space rather than lounge about in their rooms all day.
One lovely surprise that sets Page8 apart from others in its price bracket is the complimentary minibar and snacks, available in Superior Double Rooms and above. And it’s not just a tiny bottle of orange juice and some dry biscuits; the free treats include cans of The Uncommon wine, Torres truffle crisps and craft beer, plus Page Common’s own coffee bags. It’s perfect for a pre-dinner pick-me-up or, if you’re staying on business, something to keep you going while you work.
The Superior Rooms at Page8(Image: Marco Kesseler)
The food at Page8
Kitty Hawk, Page8’s rooftop restaurant and bar, is where your central location can best be appreciated; its panoramic views look right out over Trafalgar Square. Deceptively spacious and surprisingly calm given its location, Kitty Hawk serves up contemporary dishes with largely a European twist; think rock oysters and tapas-style dishes to steak tartare and Wagyu burgers.
After starting with one of the restaurant’s expertly mixed signature cocktails and a bowl of fat olives and padron peppers, we enjoyed a delicious monkfish and cavolo nero dish and a miso hispi cabbage main which more than held its own against the meatier options on the menu. Dessert was a perfectly cooked chocolate fondant heaped high with coconut chantilly cream.
Kitty Hawk rooftop restaurant(Image: Kitty Hawk)
There isn’t a proper restaurant breakfast at Page8, but instead guests get a drink and a tasty sweet or savoury bakery dish down in Page Common Coffeehouse; pull up a chair or get it to go.
Anything else to know?
One fairly new addition to Page8 is the hotel’s Nostalgia Guide to London in the rooms. Captivating for tourists and Londoners alike, it lists plenty of ways to spend your day in the surrounding neighbourhood, from the obvious (Trafalgar Square, the National Portrait Gallery) to the perhaps unknown, like Soho record shops or antique bookshops.
On track to create a World Record for the fastest person to visit every country on Earth, Michael Zervos has travelled to over 165 of the 195 countries that exist on Earth — and he’s curated a list of the best ones.
(Image: Supplied)
Greek American traveler Michael Zervos is on a mission.
The mission is to create a World Record for the fastest person to visit every country on Earth. And he’s doing incredibly well.
On track to beat the existing record through his ambitious Project Kosmos, Zervos has travelled to over 165 of the 195 countries that exist on Earth — and he’s rapidly closing in on his ultimate goal.
Expecting to complete his mission by May 2025, Zervos has curated a list of the 11 most underrated destinations around the world, which he believes deserve a spot on every traveller’s bucket list.
Samoa has some beautiful spots(Image: Getty Images/Cavan Images RF)
Samoa
With a mere 160,000 visitors each year, Samoa is an untouched Pacific paradise that’s maintaining its unspoiled charm. Zervos says: “Many travellers simply don’t realize how accessible and budget-friendly Samoa actually is. The word ‘paradise’ gets thrown around a lot when describing the Pacific, but Samoa truly matches my idea of paradise on Earth.”
Beyond the breathtaking coastline and immaculate white-sand beaches, the island’s inland waterfalls, freshwater pools, and verdant jungle trails make Samoa a dream for explorers.
“The To Sua Ocean Trench is jaw-dropping. This natural sinkhole is filled with crystal-clear water and one of the most unique swimming spots I’ve ever encountered,” adds Zervos.
One reason Samoa remains so beautifully conserved is its deeply ingrained Fa’a Samoa culture (The Samoan Way), which has largely remained unchanged for thousands of years. This traditional lifestyle influences everything from social structures to daily interactions, emphasising community, respect, and hospitality.
Every village takes part in an annual beautification competition, ensuring the entire country is impeccably maintained by its inhabitants. The environment always takes precedence in Samoa.
Kazakhstan
“Overshadowed by its Soviet past, few travellers realize the incredible natural beauty that lies literally just beyond its cities,” Zervos says of Kazakhstan.
With around eight million visitors annually, Kazakhstan boasts easily accessible natural landscapes just a stone’s throw from Almaty, its lively former capital. Within hours of landing, you could be hiking around Big Almaty Lake, skiing at Shymbulak, or admiring the dramatic Charyn Canyon – Kazakhstan’s awe-inspiring equivalent to the Grand Canyon. Wild camping is allowed almost everywhere, letting tourists wake up surrounded by pristine nature.
“Visit Shymbulak Mountain and take the funicular up to the ski resort at the top. It’s unreal,” suggests Zervos. If you’re a fan of the Alps but want fewer crowds and lower costs, Kazakhstan will truly astonish you.
For a completely different experience, space buffs have the unique chance to see a live rocket launch at Baikonur, the world’s first and largest spaceport. Feel the earth tremble, hear the thunderous roar, and witness humanity’s next leap into space as you partake in a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
Madagascar
With 300,000 visitors each year, Madagascar is a haven of biodiversity, and 90% of its wildlife can’t be found anywhere else on Earth. Describing it as “prehistoric”, Zervos says it’s like “stepping into a lost world”
Lemurs, hyper-energetic, wide-eyed forest gymnasts with tails surpassing their body length, are often the stars of the show in Madagascar.
However, it’s the island’s otherworldly landscapes that really etch themselves into your mind. “The Avenue of the Baobabs looks like something out of a sci-fi film. You’re standing among trees that have been there for centuries – it’s otherworldly,” Zervos shares.
Madagascar is an untamed composition of thick jungles, beaches encircled by coral, striking rock features, and azure diving havens. “If you want nature, wildlife, adventure, and coastline all in one place, this island will leave you speechless,” Zervos adds.
Navigating Madagascar might be challenging due to its unpaved roads, but the Fianarantsoa-Côte Est railway offers a journey unmatched. Worn carriages clatter through dense forests, expansive rice fields, and secluded villages, where eager children greet you at each halt. A quintessential experience of ‘mora, mora’ (slowly, slowly), encapsulating Madagascar’s leisurely rhythm of life.
Malta
A Mediterranean treasure with a history spanning thousands of years, Malta can hold its own against the historical heavyweights, Greece and Italy. “My Greek heritage can’t resist an island. Malta feels like one of the greatest hits of Europe, but with fewer tourists and more surprises. Riding a motorcycle across the island was an unforgettable experience,” shares the pro-traveller.
This sun-kissed jewel in the Mediterranean is a cultural cocktail – you’ll hear a language reminiscent of Arabic, see architecture with an Italian flair, and discover cultural layers moulded by Phoenicians, Romans, Moors, and the British. The fortified city of Mdina appears plucked from a medieval fairytale, while the Blue Grotto’s azure waters give Capri a run for its money. Malta welcomes 2.7 million visitors annually.
Zervos says: “History lovers will lose their minds here. Malta’s temples are older than the pyramids. And where else can you visit prehistoric sites, medieval fortresses, and WWII bunkers all in one afternoon?”
Unlike its more ostentatious neighbours, Malta offers affordability, picturesque landscapes, historical richness, and year-round sunshine – even in winter.
Tunisia
According to Zervos, “Morocco gets all the hype, but Tunisia surprised me in the best way. The people were so down-to-earth, warm, and genuinely curious about visitors – without the constant tourist hustle.”
Tunisia marries Mediterranean allure with North African spirit and sees 9 million visitors each year. You’ll stumble upon ancient ruins like Carthage, whitewashed coastal towns like Sidi Bou Said, and expansive desert landscapes straight out of a Star Wars film (literally). But what truly captivated Zervos? The cuisine.
“Tunis has one of the best street food scenes I’ve ever encountered. I did a food tour with my buddy Mehdi, who runs the YouTube channel Tunisian Street Food, and I still dream about the stuff we tried. Fricassés, brik, grilled merguez – it was unforgettable.”
Venture beyond the capital to discover Roman amphitheatres that give Italy’s a run for their money, sip mint tea in labyrinthine medinas, or embark on a camel trek into the Sahara.
“There are so many layers to Tunisia. It’s not just beautiful – it’s complex, creative, and full of contrasts.”
Lesotho
Perched at the highest average altitude globally, Lesotho presents otherworldly landscapes and welcomes around 1.3 million visitors annually. The Sani Pass, a rough and tumble 4×4 trail, offers an adrenaline-pumping ride – often referred to as an ‘African massage’ – before treating adventurers to breathtaking vistas and friendly faces at Africa’s loftiest pub, located at the summit.
“Lesotho is raw, friendly, and ridiculously scenic. Riding on horseback through the mountains here felt like a movie scene. Absolutely breathtaking,” shares Zervos.
Lesotho also prides itself on Afriski, the only ski resort in Africa. Here, you can glide through fresh powder at over 3,000 meters amidst age-old shepherd paths, a unique experience on the continent.
Lesotho is one of the highest countries on Earth(Image: Getty Images)
Bhutan
“Bhutan is unlike anywhere else on Earth,” claims Zervos, captivated by the mystical aura of Thimphu’s mist and the gravity-defying Tiger’s Nest Monastery in this secluded Himalayan kingdom. With a mere 60,000 visitors each year, Bhutan beckons as an essential destination for 2025.
“It’s the kind of place that stays with you, haunting your thoughts long after you leave. I think about my time in this beautiful country every week. Walking through Thimphu felt like walking on clouds.”
Bhutan stands out not just for its breathtaking landscapes but also for its unique approach to national well-being, being the only nation that values Gross National Happiness (GNH) above economic metrics.
Its dedication to sustainability ensures tourism is thoughtfully regulated, cultural heritage is fiercely safeguarded, and the natural environment is held sacred. However, times are changing: Bhutan has eased its entry rules and lowered its fees, presenting an opportune moment to explore its wonders before it becomes a tourist magnet.
Pakistan
In contrast to India’s frenetic vibe, Pakistan promises a more tranquil yet equally enriching experience, welcoming around 1 million visitors annually. Zervos adds: “Peshawar, with its bustling bazaars, intricately carved wooden doors, and centuries-old architecture is a dream for photographers and filmmakers – without the overwhelming crowds of Delhi or Mumbai.”
But Pakistan isn’t just a feast for the eyes. It’s a treasure trove of value for travellers, from bespoke clothing crafted in mere hours to delectable dishes that cost almost nothing. And for those eyeing Nepal for mountain escapades, Pakistan boasts even more awe-inspiring summits and pristine paths, with thrilling road trips passing five of the world’s 14 highest mountains.
“The people, the food, the landscapes, and the sheer affordability make Pakistan a must-visit for adventurers and filmmakers like me. I can’t wait to return.”
Eritrea
Dubbed a “sleeper favourite” by Zervos, Eritrea stands as one of Africa’s most distinctive and off-the-beaten-path gems, attracting a modest 150,000 visitors annually. Its capital, Asmara, is a living museum of 1930s Art Deco splendour, meriting its UNESCO World Heritage acclaim.
“Asmara’s architecture is mind-blowing. And the people are so friendly – it’s one of those places that welcomes you without fuss or fanfare,” says the Greek American.
Venturing beyond the urban charm, Eritrea’s Red Sea coastline boasts virgin beaches and the unmarred Dahlak Archipelago, a diver’s haven yet to be overrun by tourism. Culinary delights abound too, with fluffy injera, hearty stews, and arguably the finest macchiatos outside Italy – a nod to its colonial history, now mastered in Asmara’s cafés. Indeed, Eritrea is an intriguing yet highly controlled destination. Travelling responsibly in this country involves patronising small, independent businesses and maintaining flexibility.
Zervos notes: “The safety and the lack of tourists make it feel like a rare and authentic discovery in a world where most places have already been explored.”
Estonia
Estonia is like a fairytale come to life, attracting four million visitors a year, with its capital, Tallinn, being especially enchanting – particularly in winter. Zervos shares, “In December, the old town transforms into a glowing Christmas wonderland. It’s like something out of A Christmas Carol.”
Visiting Estonia during the winter months offers a unique opportunity to witness the Northern Lights without the hordes of tourists or the high costs associated with Norway or Iceland. In serene areas such as Lahemaa or Saaremaa, you can revel in the awe-inspiring Aurora amid pristine landscapes, all without expensive tours and just a short trip from the urban buzz.
And the ideal way to soak in these experiences? Zervos suggests: “If you want that cosy winter feeling but without the crazy crowds of Paris or Vienna, Tallinn is the place to go. A stroll through its cobblestone streets with a cup of mulled wine in hand is pure magic.”
Suriname
A vibrant South American confluence of cultures, unspoiled rainforest excursions, and vivid colonial history welcomes just 300,000 visitors yearly.
Suriname serves as South America’s cultural crucible, with its capital, Paramaribo, showing off well-preserved architecture, bustling markets, and a sizzling food scene blending Javanese, Creole, Dutch, and Indian flavours.
Not to be outdone by its cultural offerings, Suriname boasts part of the Guiana Shield, one of Earth’s last ecological strongholds. With its rainforest canopy covering more than 90% of the country, eco-adventurers can go on multi-day river voyages, spotting creatures like giant otters and howler monkeys.
“Suriname is one of those places where nature reigns. Unlike Brazil or Peru, you won’t be surrounded by crowds, making this Amazon experience feel truly wild and untouched.”
