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Inside the real-life town that Disneyland Paris built – with Italian-copycat homes and no rubbish on the streets

Inside the real-life town that Disneyland Paris built – with Italian-copycat homes and no rubbish on the streets

The Irish Sun6 days ago
LOVE Disneyland Paris so much you could live there? That's not actually impossible…
Because the much-loved
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The second half of Disneyland Paris' town is now being developed
Credit: Disney
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The town which is called Val d'Europe will eventually home up to 80,000 people
Credit: Getty
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There is lots to do in the town itself including two shopping centres
Credit: Alamy
Just like any normal town, there are thousands of homes, offices, restaurants, schools, supermarkets and even a hospital.
Essentially, it has everything you'd ever need... just with a world-class
It all started back in 1987, when
Working with the French Government, the park was sold the surrounding land and it soon began to build its own town for people to live in.
Read more on travel inspo
Today, more than 50,000 people have set up home in the town, with houses selling from €250,000 (£215,521) to €465,000 (£400,869).
Many of the houses and buildings town were inspired by both Regent's Park in London and
Frank Hetherton, one of Disney's leading architects, admitted: "We did borrow from there. It's an authentic style."
As the town rose from the ground,
Most read in News Travel
They're big on cleanliness to, with visitors claiming they never see any Ideals rubbish or graffiti on the streets.
And locals are overwhelmingly satisfied with the town, scoring 90 percent on happiness with their surroundings in previous surveys among residents.
Disney Music Festival
If you are a Disney mega fan, you definitely won't want to miss exploring the town as it is home to many
Elsewhere in Val d'Europe you can explore a large shopping centre with lots of French brands but household favourites too like H&M.
Just nine-minutes walking from the shopping centre is one of the many hotels in the town - the Relais Spa Val d'Europe.
Inside guests can enjoy a serene
Or you could opt to stay at the Grand Magic Hotel, which is sat next to a park overlooking a pond.
The
Back into the town, there is also La Vallée Village, which is home to different outlet stores offering designer items at discounted prices.
The destination is owned by the same company as Bicester Village found in Oxford, UK and at La Vallée visitors will find similar brands, as well as more local designers.
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The first half of the town has already been completed with shops, hotels and other amenities
Credit: Disney
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It also has some historic spots including Château de Chessy
Credit: Alamy
For a little history hunting, you can head to Château de Chessy, where you will find a
And if you are looking or a bite to eat, you won't be short of options.
You could head to the classic french spot, Le Diplomate Cafe and Bar, which has a range of cocktails, organic wine and champagne.
Dishes include grilled aubergine and beef tartare.
Alternatively, head to Wonderwoods Restauran, which features a fun interior that looks more like an
The immersive restaurant features fairy creatures, mushrooms and woodland paths.
You could experience snails or opt for a classic truffle pasta, or even treat yourself to afternoon tea.
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The second half of the development will add 1,800 hotel rooms by 2040
Credit: Disney
The entire town is split into six communes, each with different places, attractions and spots to eat worth exploring including multiple
For those living there, it has been designed so that everything they could ever need is within a 10-15minute walk.
And across the entire development there are no high rises, as it was designed to be a very liveable community that wasn't overdeveloped.
That isn't the end either, as over the next 15 years Val d'Europe will double in size.
By 2040, there will be even more shops, restaurant and 1,800 more hotel rooms.
And by then, 80,000 people are expected to live there thanks to over 6,000 new homes, 1,880 new residences and more office spaces.
Philippe Descrouet, mayor of Serris and president of Val d'Europe Agglomeration told
"The first part of the story, written over the past 35 years, has been a success.
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Throughout Val d'Europe, there is a 'neo-traditional' design
Credit: Disney
"The second part will bring us to 100,000 inhabitants and the development of 350,000m² of office space as well as 300,000m² of additional activities."
Nearby,
Visitors will be able to enjoy 170
Closer to 2037, there will also be 1,500 more places to stay in the park, leading to 3,000 in total by 2037.
Eventually, the village will have new restaurants, shops and leisure activities too.
A Sun reporter also recently went
Plus, the
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Also nearby, a Center Parcs site is undergoing an expansion
Credit: Disney
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The two big new changes coming to all Ryanair flights this year
The two big new changes coming to all Ryanair flights this year

The Irish Sun

time34 minutes ago

  • The Irish Sun

The two big new changes coming to all Ryanair flights this year

One of the new rules could land you with a £75 fine SWITCH UP The two big new changes coming to all Ryanair flights this year RYANAIR is enforcing two major changes for passengers in the next few months. Anyone flying with the airline needs to check both the size of their hand luggage and make sure they've got the correct boarding pass before travelling later this year. 4 Ryanair has got new rules for baggage and boarding passes Credit: Alamy 4 The baggage sizes have changed and is expected to roll out from October Credit: Alamy Win one of 8 incredible holidays to the Caribbean, Mexico and Greece by voting in The Sun's Travel Awards - enter to win here In early July, Ryanair announced it would be changing its hand luggage rules. However, this is not necessarily a bad thing for passengers as it means they get a little more room. Ryanair is in the process of changing the size of its personal bag allowance from 40x20x25cm to 40x30x20cm. This is an increase of 5cm - and the standard size of personal luggage for most other airlines. It's also changed the overall capacity from 20 litres to 24 litres. A Ryanair spokesperson said: "Following the new EU minimum bag size of 40x30x15cm, Ryanair will increase its max 'personal bag' dimensions to 40x30x20cm, so that Ryanair's 'personal bag' allowance is bigger than the EU standard. "This change will be implemented over the coming weeks, as our airport bag sizers are adjusted." If you attempt to board with a bag that doesn't fit into the sizers you are likely to face a fine, or fee to bring it onboard. The Ryanair website details that passengers who bring an oversized bag (over 55x40x20cm) to the boarding gate will either have their bag refused or placed in the hold of the aircraft for a fee of £75. 'It's very important' - Ryanair's 'baggage sizers' warning to Irish passengers ahead of busy Easter break amid €75 fine 4 Passengers will need to have boarding passes on their phone Credit: Alamy As the new sizers are still being rolled out at all airports that the airline flies out from, Ryanair encourages passengers to comply with the old measurements for now. This is until it announces the new ones are all in place which is expected to be in October 2025. Another change Ryanair is making from this year is that it's going completely paperless and in some case there will be no check-in desk at all. From November 3, 2025 the airline will no longer accept printed boarding passes. Ryanair CMO Dara Brady said: "This move to 100 per cent paperless boarding passes from November 2025 will allow us to deliver an enhanced travel experience for customers, streamlined through the myRyanair app during our less busy winter schedule. "This will be particularly useful to passengers during disruptions as it will facilitate real-time updates from our Ops Centre directly to passengers' phones, and will also provide them with alternative flight options, and offer transfers or hotel accommodation options when necessary." When the new rules are rolled out, passengers will only be able to get a digital boarding pass. And there are no exceptions as check-in desks will not be able to print them out at the airport. However, some airports don't accept mobile passes including those in Morocco and Turkey (except Dalaman), and Tirana airport in Albania. Anyone travelling from these airports will need to download their boarding pass from the email confirmation or from the app, print it and keep it to hand. Ryanair spoke to Which? who said that "if someone's phone dies or breaks they will be assisted by staff at the gate and their details will be crossed checked and validated against our flight manifest and they will be boarded as normal." Currently, there's a £55 charge for passengers who forget their boarding pass and need it printed at the airport - but this is set to be scrapped with the new rule. At the moment, there is no mention of what will happen if a traveller's phone dies before they can pass through security in an airport where Ryanair has removed check-in desks. This European airport is at risk of closure as Ryanair prepares to scrap all flights. And here's another European airport is losing all of its Ryanair flights this year.

My blood ran cold as Sex and the City's Mr Big groped me during horror interview… what followed was even more chilling
My blood ran cold as Sex and the City's Mr Big groped me during horror interview… what followed was even more chilling

The Irish Sun

time2 hours ago

  • The Irish Sun

My blood ran cold as Sex and the City's Mr Big groped me during horror interview… what followed was even more chilling

Journalist Polly Hudson reveals how she saw a different side of star during their meeting that left her feeling 'dazed and violated' GRIM ORDEAL My blood ran cold as Sex and the City's Mr Big groped me during horror interview… what followed was even more chilling SMILING for the camera alongside one of my TV idols, I felt a sudden hand on my chest and time stood still. I had just been groped by Sex And The City's 'Mr Big' Chris Noth - whose behaviour up to that point had been a world away from his suave TV persona - but it was what happened next that truly turned my blood cold. Advertisement 6 Sarah Jessica Parker and Chris Noth in Sex and the City: The Movie Credit: Getty 6 Five women have accused Chris Noth of sexual abuse Credit: Getty Last week, many fans were surprised when Sarah Jessica Parker wrote a lengthy farewell message to the franchise following the cancellation of spin-off series And Just Like That, but failed to mention her former on-screen soulmate. However, I was more bemused by subsequent newspaper coverage suggesting the actor, 70 - who has denied accusations of sexual abuse by five women - could be the "forgotten victim" of the #MeToo movement. I know what kind of man Chris Noth is - after one shocking encounter which left me feeling dazed and violated. Advertisement I met Noth during the peak of Sex And The City, when the episodes were on Channel 4 on Friday nights, and women got together with friends to watch over a Cosmopolitan or two every week. Like most other females in their twenties, I was a huge fan, so extremely excited to be sent to interview Mr Big for the celebrity magazine I was working for at the time. It was a press junket in a posh London hotel, one journalist after another getting a precious 20 minutes with a star to maximise their publicity time. I was expecting Noth to be like his character, impossibly suave and charismatic. Instead the man I was greeted by acted like a teenage doofus, with a very immature sense of humour. He was less Big, more Beavis and Butthead. I was disappointed of course, but this was far from the first celebrity I'd encountered who was nothing like their public persona, so fine. We wrapped up the interview just as the next journalist was being led in and by coincidence it was a good friend of mine. Advertisement This was the days before everyone had a smartphone in their pocket, but she'd brought along a polaroid camera, and offered to take a quick picture of me and Noth before I left. He hadn't been what I'd hoped, but he was still Mr Big, so of course I wasn't going to pass up the opportunity. He stood behind me for the photo, and as my friend prepared to take it, he giggled like a 14-year-old and cupped his hands in front of my chest, in a way that would make it look like he was holding my boobs in the picture. Shamed Chris Noth makes first Hollywood appearance after being axed from Sex And The City over sex assault claims I felt uncomfortable, but I was very young, and he wasn't actually touching me so I didn't say anything. There was a problem with the camera, it didn't work, so my mate told us we'd have to try again. This time, perhaps emboldened by my silence, just before she pressed the button, he grabbed my chest for real. My blood went cold. Everything started to happen in slow motion, but the following moments were even more troubling. Advertisement Wall of silence I waited for someone, anyone in the crowded room - one of his handlers, someone in charge, a proper grown-up – to say something. No one did. My friend and I exchanged astonished glances. I think we were both in shock. I often wonder which one of us felt worse; her, watching me stumble from the room in a daze, holding a photo of myself being felt up against my will, an expression on my face I'd never seen before captured on film. Or me, having to leave her with him. I threw the photo in the bin. If you'd have asked me before that day if there was any chance I would EVER chuck a picture of myself with anyone from Sex And the City I would have laughed in your face. No way! 6 Polly Hudson interviewed Noth for a celebrity magazine she was working for during the peak of Sex And the City Credit: Polly Hudson Advertisement 6 Sex and the City's Sarah Jessica Parker, Cynthia Nixon and Kristin Davis have released a joint statement about the allegations against Chris Noth Credit: Alamy Five women have since accused Chris Noth of sexual assault, which he 'categorically denies'. Responding to the allegations further in 2023, Noth insisted that any sexual encounters he was involved in were consensual. However, his character was written out of And Just Like That in the wake of the claims and his final appearance was later edited out. He was also sacked from his role in The Equalizer. At the time, Sex and The City's Sarah Jessica Parker, Cynthia Nixon and Kristin Davis released a joint statement saying: 'We are deeply saddened to hear the allegations against Chris Noth. Advertisement "We support the women who have come forward and shared their painful experiences. We know it must be a very difficult thing to do and we commend them for it.' No consequences Clearly what happened to me is barely worth mentioning in comparison to what these women say they went through. But I saw – felt – what Chris Noth was capable of in a crowded room full of people, while ostensibly working, and how unconcerned about any consequences he appeared. 6 Tara Wilson and Noth have been married since 2012 Credit: Getty 6 Noth's character was written out of And Just Like That in the wake of the allegations Credit: HBO Max Advertisement Hardly shocking that SJP doesn't want to speak or write about him. I presume she wants to distance herself from him as much as possible. Let's hope that just like the spin-off, he is cancelled, for good. Chris Noth told The Sun in a statement: 'What is described by the reporter allegedly took place during a press junket 25 years ago and I honestly have no recollection of it. This was also previously raised by The Daily Mirror in 2022, and I didn't remember it then either. 'From this journalist's description, it sounds like a replicate of a rather popular photo from an entertainment magazine that I took years ago with Sarah Jessica Parker. 'I'm not sure if that was the intent but either way I am very sorry if I made the journalist uncomfortable. That certainly was not my intent."

Five off-limit attractions in the UK offering free secret tours – including 10 Downing Street
Five off-limit attractions in the UK offering free secret tours – including 10 Downing Street

The Irish Sun

time2 hours ago

  • The Irish Sun

Five off-limit attractions in the UK offering free secret tours – including 10 Downing Street

Plus, other buildings you can explore for the first time I'M DOWN Five off-limit attractions in the UK offering free secret tours – including 10 Downing Street THERE is nothing more exciting than getting to explore a place where visitors are usually not allowed. Think: Downing Street, the BBC Broadcasting House and the BT Tower. 5 As part of the Open House Festival, the public can explore a number of places they usually can't access for free Credit: Getty Win one of 8 incredible holidays to the Caribbean, Mexico and Greece by voting in The Sun's Travel Awards - enter to win here And as part of London's Open House Festival, there are over 700 properties, buildings and places where the public will be welcomed to visit between September 13 and 21. Five of these are offering extremely exclusive limited tours, with a public ballet now open until August 18. According to the Open House Festival website, many of the destinations will be a "be once in a lifetime visit". Here are the five places you can enter the ballot for, as well as what dates you will be able to visit. 10 Downing Street The home of British Prime Ministers since 1735 will open its doors to the public for two sessions on September 13. Guests will get to see behind the famous black door, where some of the most important decisions in UK politics are made. Currently, 10 Downing Street is undergoing some upgrades to its facilities to ensure the historic building is preserved. BBC Broadcasting House We all know the BBC and see content from it daily, but for the Open House Festival people can go to the first ever purpose-built broadcast centre in the UK. It was built back in 1932 and features an art-deco design, including a clock tower. More recently the building was refurbished and extended to create a new broadcasting house. Inside multi-million pound upgrade for popular Scots tourist attraction The building is now home to the largest live newsroom in Europe, right at the centre of the complex. Again, to go to this spot you will need to enter the ballot, with 12, one-hour sessions on September 20. BT Tower When in the depths of London's streets, you can often catch glimpses of the BT Tower. The tower's famous revolving floor sits 158 metres above the streets of the capital. Two high speed lights will transport visitors to the revolving floor in just 30 seconds. Bizarrely, the Tower was classified as an 'official secret' until 1993 despite it being evident in the city's skyline. To see this building, you will also need to enter a ballot for one of 16 tours, each lasting 45 minutes across September 20 and 21. 5 You could head up the BT Tower which is soon set to be turned into a hotel Credit: Getty Canada House Canada House is to the Canadian Embassy and was originally designed as two buildings. Just over 10 years ago, the building underwent a large scale revitalisation linking it to the former Sun Life Assurance of Canada building. Inside today, the building houses around 300 pieces of Canadian Art. One tour will run on September 13. 5 Or head to Canada House which is home to the Canadian Embassy Credit: Alamy London Museum Currently under construction, the public can enter a ballot to go on a tour of the Poultry Market, at the new London Museum. The London Museum is set to open in 2026, bringing new life into the historic Smithfield market buildings. And with this tour, lucky visitors will get a sneak peak ahead of its opening. Six tours will be open to the public on September 20. The museum's permanent galleries are set to open in 2026 and the 1960s Poultry Market will open in 2028. The Poultry Market will eventually house the museum's collection stores and temporary exhibition and learning spaces. 5 And you could get the first glimpse of the new London Museum Credit: londonmuseum/Secchi Smith New locations for 2025 There are also a number of new destinations part of the festival this year including Studio AVC's offices - which are located in a 1929 shop which used to be Liberty's printing workshop and part of William Morris' Arts and Crafts legacy. Or you could head to The King's Foundation, in Hackney, which is set in a refurbished factory warehouse. And there is the London Film School as well, in a former banana warehouse. For architecture buffs, you can head inside the RIBA House of the Year from 2024. A new £100million indoor resort is also set to open in the UK with a 'next generation waterpark' and thermal spas. Plus, a much-loved UK theme park reveals new rainy day guarantee – with free return after bad weather.

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