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Best Italian restaurants across the UK revealed – is your local on the list?

Best Italian restaurants across the UK revealed – is your local on the list?

The Sun2 days ago
NOTHING beats a piping hot pizza or bowl of pasta from your local Italian - but some spots are better than others.
Tripadvisor has revealed the top 10 Italian restaurants across some major UK cities, based on customer reviews.
From Edinburgh to London, Leicester to Bristol, here are the eateries that will leave you saying "Mama Mia".
London
Pizza Union in King's Cross scores an impressive 4.8 out of 5 stars on Tripadvisor - and that's based on more than 3,000 reviews.
The restaurant, which is open seven days a week, is one in a chain of five that operate across the capital.
Customers can pick up 12inch pizzas for staggeringly low prices. A pizza with tomato sauce, oregano and basil costs just £3.95.
Reviewers on Tripadvisor say the restaurant is "ridiculously good value" and service is quick.
Glasgow
10
Italian Kitchen in Glasgow is rated 55th best out of a list of 2,476 in the major Scottish city.
It comes with a 4.6 out of 5 star rating on the Tripadvisor website.
The restaurant, found in the city centre, opens seven days a week and has vegan as well as gluten free options.
Eaters describe the restaurant as having a "beautiful atmosphere" with staff offering a "fabulous" service.
Customers can take their pick from a huge menu, offering all you would expect from a classic Italian restaurant - pizza, pastas, puddings and more.
Birmingham
10
Del Villaggio, meaning "of the village", is based just outside the centre of Birmingham.
It comes with an impressive 4.7 out of 5 star rating on Tripadvisor, and is rated the eighth best restaurant in the city on the website.
Restaurant goers can find stone-baked pizzas, pasta and classic cocktails like B52s and even a "Brain Haemorrhage" there.
Leeds
10
Dolce Vita Craft and Kitchen topped Tripadvisor's top 10 list, with an almost perfect 4.9 out of 5 star rating.
But, unlike most of the other restaurants on the list, this spot on the outskirts of the city is only open for breakfast and lunch.
Customers can choose from a range of classic Italian options as well as burgers, pancakes and even loaded fries.
Don't go on a Wednesday though - the only day the restaurant is closed.
Reviewers on Tripadvisor say the restaurant and kitchen offers a "5 star" breakfast with one saying it was their "best breakfast in a long time".
Liverpool
10
Carlisi in Liverpool comes with a decent 4.8 out of 5 star customer rating on Tripadvisor.
The restaurant has a "brunch to die for" according to eaters, alongside "fantastic wine, food and service".
Another has branded the restaurant a "hidden gem".
The restaurant is located bang in Liverpool city centre so you won't have far to go afterwards if you fancy some post-dinner drinks.
Bristol
10
For those in the south-west of England, Ciao Amici is the spot you'll want to head. It's got a 4.7 out of 5 star rating on Tripadvisor.
Found in between Canon's Marsh and Broadmead in Bristol, customers can get brunch bites and dinner seven days a week.
Reviewers have branded the restaurant "10 out of 10" with "super friendly" staff that's like "visiting a family home".
The restaurant, which opened in 2008, imports a lot of its produce direct from Italy or sources it from nearby markets.
Sheffield
10
Family-run restaurant Grazie comes with a 4.8 out of 5 star rating on Tripadvisor, dishing out food inspired by the Apulia region of Italy.
Customers said the restaurant is a "great experience all round" and a "true Italian" spot.
The owners pride themselves on cooking with fresh pasta as well, which is made in its "Pasta Lab".
Manchester
Quirkily-named spot The Spärrows in Manchester comes with an impressive 4.8 out of 5 star rating on Tripadvisor.
It's also the 47th best-rated restaurant in the city out of a list of 2,581 and features on the Michelin Guide 2025.
Unlike most of the other restaurants on this top 10 list, The Spärrows offers diners a slightly different food experience, combining German and European flavours with classic Italian pasta dishes.
Customers love the restaurant though, with one branding the pasta "perfect".
Edinburgh
10
Locando De Gusti has been rated the fifth best restaurant in Edinburgh on Tripadvisor out of a whopping 2,066, and 4.8 stars out of 5.
The restaurant fuses southern Italian food with local Scottish flavours including popular seafood pastas.
One reviewer on the website said the food was "phenomenal" and service "first class".
Leicester
10
The Merchant of Venice in Leicester has a 4.8 out of 5 star rating on the Tripadvisor website.
The spot is famed for its coffee and quality but good-value food.
Customers can eat at the restaurant at all times of the day, including breakfast, lunch and dinner.
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One of UK's busiest stations set to double in capacity with major expansion plans
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One of UK's busiest stations set to double in capacity with major expansion plans

The number of passengers using the Eurostar out of London St Pancras to reach the continent looks set to double, after an ambitious new deal between two major partners was announced today. Eurostar and London St. Pancras Highspeed, formerly HS1, signed a 'letter of intent' which could see one of Europe's busiest international stations - St Pancras International - vastly increasing the amount of passengers it can take. Architects have already been asked to take on the task of 'reimagining' the historic London hub so that it can 'future-proof' as the demand for cross-border travel continues to grow. Eurostar plans to increase its current fleet in the next decade, offering services to five countries, including France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany and Switzerland. The announcement sees a three-stage plan put in place, with the focus being on the redesigning of the international arrivals and departures area of the station by 2028. There will be investment in border control and security too, with hourly passenger numbers set to increase from around 2,500 now to 5,000 by the time the second stage of the three-part plan concludes in four years' time. The station currently welcomes some 45,000 Eurostar passengers every day, with research commissioned by London St Pancras Highspeed earlier this year concluding that demand looks set to triple by 2040, increasing from 11 million to 35 million passengers per year. London St Pancras Highspeed owns and operates the UK's only international high-speed rail link and the stations along the route including St Pancras International, Stratford International, Ebbsfleet International and Ashford International. Eurostar currently has a fleet of 51 high-speed trains, serving 28 destinations across Europe. British tourists can currently reach Paris, Lille, Brussels, Rotterdam and Amsterdam on direct routes from London. New destinations Geneva and Frankfurt, coming in the early 2030s, are expected to be popular with business travellers as both cities are international finance centres. Andrew Davies, Partner & Transport & Infrastructure lead at architects Hawkins\Brown said the plans were trying to meet the need for 'affordable, high-speed, and sustainable journeys to and from Europe.' Richard Thorp, Chief Operating Officer at London St Pancras Highspeed said of the announcement: 'With growing passenger demand for international train travel, it is important that St Pancras International station is future-proofed and optimised to accommodate this. 'With a shared ambition and collaborative approach, we can ensure our iconic station is ready to support this demand, and we're looking forward to getting started on a new era of connectivity between London and Europe.' Last month, Eurostar announced plans to launch its direct train services from London to Switzerland and Germany. The operator is planning to offer trains between London St Pancras and Frankfurt and Geneva from the early 2030s. The train journey between London and Frankfurt is likely to take around five hours while the trip between London and Geneva is expected to take five hours and 20 minutes. Eurostar has said it expects to see strong demand from passengers travelling on both routes. The new routes will depend on a fleet of 50 new trains, expected to cost around £1.7bn (€2bn). The operator has yet to reveal which stops each route might include and whether passengers could get off along the way. CEO Gwendoline Cazenave says: 'We're seeing strong demand for train travel across Europe, with customers wanting to go further by rail than ever before and enjoy the unique experience we provide. 'Despite the challenging economic climate, Eurostar is growing and has bold ambitions for the future. 'Our new fleet will make new destinations for customers a reality - notably direct trains between London and Germany and between London and Switzerland for the first time. 'A new golden age of international sustainable travel is here.' The new trains would also allow Eurostar to boost the frequency of existing routes. Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander says: 'I am pleased to welcome this exciting investment into Eurostar services, which is a huge step in promoting green travel across Europe and boosting our international rail connections.' In May, the UK signed a 'memorandum of understanding' with Switzerland where both countries committed to working together to launch a new direct train route between the two. In light of the new Eurostar announcement, Alexander adds: 'Last month, I signed a landmark agreement to deliver a direct rail link between London and Switzerland, paving the way for direct commercial services. 'Today's announcement by Eurostar shows that the government's plan for change is rapidly strengthening the links between major cities in counties across Europe, creating more opportunities to travel, work, and socialise.' Eurostar carried 19.5 million passengers in 2024, a rise of 5 per cent on traveller numbers in 2023.

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I'm a travel editor – the flight, train & ferry upgrades that are worth the money… skip the queue & bag unlimited drinks
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I'm a travel editor – the flight, train & ferry upgrades that are worth the money… skip the queue & bag unlimited drinks

FOR more than 26 years I've been travelling the world on behalf of Sun readers and while I've been lucky enough to turn left on a fair few planes, I've also spent hours in airport queues and even longer squished into tiny seats on long haul flights. And that's where splashing out on a cheeky little upgrade can make all the difference between a miserable journey and a boujee start to your break. 8 But while paying can sometimes be a real winner, not all upgrades are worth splashing the cash on. Here, I reveal the ones that are worth the dosh, and those to ditch across trains, planes and ferries. AIRPORT No one likes to queue and I've had a few close calls over the years where long lines at security or passport control have led to a mad dash to the gate. If you're travelling at a particularly busy time of year like the school holidays, it can pay to shell out for a FastTrack access to skip the queues. 8 8 If you book a package holiday to a 4* resort with you'll get free fast track security passes from your chosen airport - book a 5* hotel and you'll get lounge access. At Gatwick, you'll get FastTrack for free if you stay at the in-airport Bloc Hotel and rooms there, literally metres from the security lanes, start from just £90 a night, perfect for those hideously early departures. In general though, it pays to think ahead. You can save up to 20 per cent on fast track security passes if you book in advance. And prices start from just £3.50 at Bournemouth. Booked in advance, prices are from: Bristol, £6; East Midlands, £6; Gatwick, £6; Liverpool, £4; Luton, £4; Manchester, £7; Newcastle, £7. Stansted will let you buy a fast track for both security AND passport control at £7.50 and £15 respectively and at Leeds Bradford, where passes cost £5, you can take a child under 12 for free with each paying adult. The same applies to treating yourself to a stay in an airport lounge. If you're travelling with the family or enjoy having a drink and meal in departures, often the cost of a lounge can sometimes be cheaper than buying food and drink in the busy bars and restaurants. Prices start from just £20 if booked well in advance. Check out deals on websites like for extra discounts. PLANE While we'd all love to be basking in the luxury of business class on every flight, the prohibitively high prices are never going to make it an option for most of us. But the stratospheric rise of the class between economy and business shows that we're all willing to splash out a little bit extra for more space and comfort. 8 8 Premium Economy is the one upgrade I think is worth its weight in gold when it comes to flying long haul over 12 or more hours. And one airline in particular has stolen a march on rivals when it comes to their version of Premium. Norse Airlines' Boeing 787 Dreamliners fly to Orlando, Miami, New York, Los Angeles year round from its Gatwick base and will fly to Cape Town and Bangkok from October for the winter season. With its no-frills ethos, flights cost from just £250 return for the absolute basic fare with just hand luggage and no food. But its Premium comes with two meals and luggage as well as a wider seat with oodles of leg room and here's the best bit - with a bit of planning you can fly in this class for the same price of an economy seat on many of the full service, legacy airlines. Another great way to upgrade your flight relies a lot more on luck - and what you're prepared to shell out at the last minute. Most major airlines will have a service in place where you can bid a set price for an upgrade - in general, a price around 20 to 40 per cent above their lowest bid offer will be the most successful. And there's always the option of asking directly as you check in for your flight how much it would cost to upgrade. If a flight is particularly busy in one cabin, there will be some attractive deals to move up. You're more likely to be successful on routes popular with leisure passengers - and on flights later in the day or last thing at night. Holiday packing tips Jemma Solomon, aka The Label Lady has got 5 packing tips to help you get organised for your next holiday. 1. Write a list Think about all the essentials you need to take with you; suncream, medicine, a few games for the kids, beach towels, and write everything in one list, which you can tick off as you add it to your suitcase. Or for complete ease, try Google's AI app - Gemini - which will create a list for you and help you not over pack. 2. Involve your kids Jemma said: 'My girls are getting older, they're 11 and nine, and they enjoy helping to pack. So I send them a list, and say 'this is what you need' and they follow the list. 'And then I give them a rucksack each - and say to them 'you can have whatever you want in there as long as it's not liquid', and they can take that on the plane. And that's their 'home away from home' items.' 3. Try a hack or two She said: "I think they all work, but for different reasons - and you've just got to pick the right one for your trip. "Rolling your clothes is really good to stop your clothes from getting creases. And if you're trying to get a lot of items into your case, it's a space saver. 'Packing cubes are great - for example, I'm going on holiday with my three kids and we're all using the same suitcase for our clothes. "These handy compartments let you separate your clothes, toiletries and tech into designated cubes, maximising luggage space by keeping your items compressed and neatly stacked. "I love taking them abroad with the family and it means my kids can easily take charge of their own items once we've arrived." 4. Decant beauty products Do you really need to take full-size bottles of shampoo and conditioner with you? The beauty industry has evolved so much, you can now buy shampoo bars or sheets - which are much lighter and smaller. Or, if you'll be popping to the shops when you're abroad, consider buying some items when you arrive. 5. Get organised before you come home Jemma said: 'When you repack on holiday [before coming home], the trick is to separate clean from dirty clothes. 'Also pack it in some form of order - so lights, darks, colours for items that need washing, or if you wash your clothes by person in the household, piles for each person. "Then you can put it straight into the washing machine. Do it straight away, don't leave it." Rail travel in the UK is hardly known for its luxury but while First Class seats come at a huge premium, there are ways to get an upgrade for less. First Class comes with a host of perks from free wifi to complimentary drinks and food as well as extra legroom and reclining seats. It could also include access to First Class lounges at certain stations. 8 Many train companies have a Weekend First offer - providing you with an upgrade to First Class on services running on Saturdays, Sundays and Bank Holidays. You can't book these in advance and the price varies by company but can cost anywhere between £10 to £45. Ask staff onboard if there is availability and at what price. Another great way to score an upgrade if you're travelling in the week is to download the Seatfrog app. This allows anyone with a standard class train ticket to bid for an upgrade to First Class. Auctions usually open 24hours before your journey and close 30minutes before departure. Give the app the maximum amount you're prepared to spend on the upgrade and Seatfrog will automatically bid for you, raising the bid incrementally until it reaches your maximum bid. If you win, Seatfrog will automatically allocate you the best available seat. FERRY Ferries may not be the most romantic form of travel - outshone by the glitzy cruise ships - but for heading off on the open roads of Europe in your own car just cannot be beaten. But for a little bit of luxury on your channel crossing, I think the Club Lounges on P&O Ferries' ships are definitely worth upgrading to if you're travelling without the kids. 8 8 From £29 you'll get a private lounge with an all-inclusive offering of food, drinks and even Wi-Fi. And you can even enjoy the sea air from a sun-lounger on the private deck. Considering the cost of a hearty lamb shank main in their usual restaurant will set you back at least £17, you don't have to indulge in much more to get the benefit of the lounge back. And the same can be said for someone looking to take a longer sailing with Brittany Ferries from Portsmouth to Bilbao in Spain. An upgrade to their Commodore Cabins may seem pricey but when you factor in the comfy double bed in a larger cabin complete with window and access to the open deck as well as access to the Club Lounge with a veritable feast of food available for free from dawn till dusk, it can sometimes work out cheaper if you do enjoy a glass or two of wine with your lunch and dinner. Travellers often wonder how to secure an upgrade to first class without paying the premium price. According to a flight attendant, there are several strategies passengers can employ to increase their chances. Firstly, loyalty to an airline is crucial; frequent flyers and those with elite status are more likely to receive upgrades. Additionally, booking directly with the airline rather than through third-party sites can improve your odds, as can being flexible with your travel dates and times. Dressing smartly and arriving early can also make a difference. While airlines generally prioritise upgrades based on status and fare class, a well-dressed passenger who checks in early may catch the staff's attention. It's also beneficial to be polite and friendly to the airline staff, as they have the discretion to upgrade passengers at their own judgement. Lastly, if you're celebrating a special occasion, such as a honeymoon or birthday, it doesn't hurt to mention it. While not guaranteed, some flight attendants might consider this when deciding on upgrades. Overall, while there's no surefire way to get a free upgrade, combining these strategies can certainly improve your chances.

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