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Wales Online
2 days ago
- Wales Online
The best walks in and around Cardiff that you don't need a car to get to
The best walks in and around Cardiff that you don't need a car to get to No car, no problem, here are a few walks you can reach by public transport or bike You don't need a car to enjoy a good ramble here, just a bit of planning, or you can join a local walking group and discover new places with new friends. (Image: Portia Jones ) Cardiff is one of the UK's most walkable cities, with numerous green spaces and scenic walking routes that are easily accessible on foot, by bike, or public transport. You don't need a car to enjoy a good ramble here, just a bit of planning, or you can join a local walking group and discover new places with new friends. The Welsh capital is packed with green spaces, riverside paths, woodlands, and wild corners just waiting to be explored—and most of them are easily reached on foot, by bike, or via public transport. Walking is a great way to experience the Welsh countryside on the outskirts of Cardiff.. Many routes in and around Cardiff are accessible by bus or train, and plenty have cafes, pubs and toilets along the way. Use Traveline Cymru to plan your journey and discover walks that are accessible by public transport. The Transport for Wales website is also useful for checking train times, ticket prices, travel updates and how to take your bike on board. In winter, you'll need to plan a little more carefully. Adventuresmart offers tips on how to stay safe and well-prepared during colder months. Bringing your dog? Check with your transportation provider before travelling to see if dogs are allowed. Remember to also take water with you for long walks. Download the Refill Wales App to find locations where you can fill your reusable water bottle with tap water for free, making your walk even greener. Article continues below Ready to explore? Here are some of the best walks in and around Cardiff that you can reach without a car. Garth Mountain, near Taff's Well Hiking fans can walk to the trip point at the top of the Garth on a waymarked trail (Image: Portia Jones ) Garth Mountain is located near Taff's Well and is accessible by train from Cardiff. The route is a roughly 6 km trail that takes you to the summit of 1007-foot-high Garth Mountain. More of a hill than a mountain, it's the site where Hugh Grant's 1995 picture, The Englishman Who Went Up A Hill But Came Down A Mountain, was filmed. There are several starting points for this strenuous hill walk, and many walkers either start from Taff's Well, where you'll find the train station, or from Gwaelod-y-Garth Village. It's one of the more challenging day walks in Cardiff, so you'll need decent hiking gear, a map, or the super handy OS app. It's one of the more challenging day walks in Cardiff, so you'll need decent hiking gear, a map, or the super handy OS app. If you start from Gwaelod-y-Garth, you can walk through Garth Wood and experience the stillness of an ethereal pine forest. The Garth Mountain trails are waymarked, but I recommend taking an OS Map with you or using the Outdoor Active app if you are new to walking. You can follow the peaceful trails to the summit or opt for a more loop-like walk around the ridgeway. Blorenge, Abergavenny Blorenge is a prominent hill in the southeastern corner of Bannau Brycheiniog National Park, (Image: Portia Jones ) Blorenge is a prominent hill in the southeastern corner of Bannau Brycheiniog National Park, overlooking the valley of the River Usk, and is an ideal day walk in South Wales. You can reach Blorenge by train and on foot by following stage 3 of the Cambrian Way Trail from Pontypool over to Abergavenny. It's over 12 miles of challenging hill walking on this long-distance Welsh trail that runs from Cardiff to Conwy. Adventurous walkers can catch a train to Pontypool and then walk from the station, trekking through peaceful, open moorland to Blorenge mountain and then descending towards Abergavenny to catch the train home. Stroll around swathes of heather moorland, looking out over the rolling Black Mountains and signs of the area's industrial heritage. Coal mining has left its lasting marks on the landscape, and walkers can see the evidence of the former limestone and ironstone quarries. While plodding along, keep an eye out for a rather quirky sight nearby, a memorial to a horse. How very Welsh. Upon the moorland, you'll spot a cluster of grey rocks and right in the middle, there's a green metal plaque marking the final resting place of Foxhunter, the legendary horse who carried Sir Harry Llewellyn to Olympic glory in Helsinki back in 1952. Sir Harry rode this impressive 16.3-hand beauty effortlessly, and together, they made quite the dream team. They clinched Britain's only gold medal at the 1952 Summer Olympics and were part of the showjumping squad in 1948 as well. Rest Bay to Kenfig Nature Reserve Kenfig National Nature Reserve (Image: Kenfig National Nature Reserve ) Hop on the First Cymru X2 service between Porthcawl, Bridgend and Cardiff (Monday to Sunday) and have a lush six mile return coastal walk from the seaside town of Porthcawl to a beautiful nature reserve. If you are coming from further afield, you can take a train to Bridgend and then transfer to a bus to Porthcawl. Begin your journey at popular Porthcawl and head down to the Bridgend coastline on the waymarked Wales Coast Path. Along the way, you'll spot local wildlife, traverse sandy bays and find a swish cafe with an ocean panorama at Rest Bay. From Porthcawl, you'll soon come to Rest Bay, a super popular beach for walking, surfing, family beach days, and cold-water dips. The Watersports Centre is the home of Porthcawl Surf School and the training centre for lifeguards, surfing trainers and the Welsh Coast Surf Club. Here, you'll find the glass-fronted Rest Bay Cafe Bar, situated in a commanding position overlooking the shoreline. Sit on the balcony with a brew and watch the waves roll in. After grabbing coffee and cake from The Hyde Out Cafe, I followed the waymarked trail towards Sker Beach (Image: Portia Jones ) Continue onwards and you'll soon reach the remote Skeer Beach, which is worth exploring. Step down the pebble bank and you'll be on firm sand that seemed to go on for miles. To your left is a rocky headland, and to your right, the steelworks loom in the distance, giving a Blade Runner vibe. From here, you're not far from Kenfig Nature Reserve, one of Wales' top sand-dune reserves and rich in wildlife. Located near Porthcawl, the reserve was once home to one of the six most significant towns in Glamorgan, but now forms part of the most extensive active dune system in Europe and features a diverse range of plants, animals, and birds, attracting birdwatchers and walkers from across Wales. From here you can head back to Porthcawl the same way you came, for transport back home. Penarth to Sully, Vale of Glamorgan If you're coming from Cardiff, you can easily get the train to Penarth. (Image: Portia Jones ) This five-mile linear coastal route heads from Penarth's Victorian pier along the coast to Lavernock Point. If you're coming from Cardiff, you can easily get the train to Penarth. On this coastal walk, you'll be taking in several historic sites along the way, including an anti-aircraft battery, prehistoric dinosaur footprints and Sully Island, which swashbuckling smugglers once inhabited. History enthusiasts should visit Lavernock Point, where, in 1897, Marconi made the world's first radio transmission over the open sea. You can then take a dip in the ocean to cool off and get a bus back to the starting point. Be sure to try to catch the pier at sunset to capture some vibrant and colourful photos. Cardiff to Caerphilly If you're looking for a long day walk in Cardiff, this nine-mile route takes you through beautiful parklands near Castell Coch, as well as canals and forest (Image: Portia Jones ) If you're looking for a long day walk in Cardiff, this nine-mile route takes you through beautiful parklands near Castell Coch, as well as canals and forests, and is accessible via public transport. This walk is part of Stage One of the Cambrian Way, which runs from Cardiff to Machen, and is just over 15 miles long if you want to walk the entire stage. It's one of the longer day hikes on this list, but it's achievable with the right planning and preparation. Start your walk from Cardiff Castle and finish at the Caerphilly border, just by the Travellers Rest pub. It's a great trek through picturesque parklands, heritage canals, and wooded areas, offering a long walk within the city boundaries. There is a bus stop outside the Travellers Rest pub where you can get a bus back to Cardiff. Check travel times on Traveline Cymru. You can either pack a lunch to take with you or stop by Forest Stoves and Fires Café for the best toasties in Cardiff. It's a rustic forest cafe stop for tea, coffee and amazing toasties. Sink into a comfy sofa and listen to the sounds of the on-site peacocks. You can access the Cafe from Heol-Y-Fforest, a short distance up from the entrance to Castell Coch. Sugar Loaf Mountain, Abergavenny The Sugar Loaf Vineyards near Abergavenny (Image: Wales Online ) According to the Rome2Rio website, there is no direct connection from Abergavenny to Sugar Loaf Mountain. However, hikers who don't mind a long walk can take the bus to Abergavenny, Nevill Hall Hospital and then walk to Sugar Loaf Mountain from there. This walk should take approximately 1.5 hours. Sugar Loaf is a familiar landmark on the South Wales horizon. This iconic 596m peak is a good stretch for the whole family, especially when you're looking up from base camp. A haven for wildlife and clad in heather and bracken, this most popular of the Abergavenny hills is a bracing walk for keen hikers and on a clear day, you can see all the way to Somerset. Nearby, you'll find Sugar Loaf vineyards, which are a perfect stop for a post-hike tipple. This family-run business produces a range of delicious Welsh wines, including dry whites, medium-dry whites and rosé that you can sample. Chepstow to Tintern, Wye Valley Walk One of the best day hikes on the long-distance Wye Valley Walk is the Chepstow to Tintern Abbey section (Image: Portia Jones ) One of the best day hikes on the long-distance Wye Valley Walk is the Chepstow to Tintern Abbey section. You can take a train to Chepstow to start the walk, and then catch a bus from Tintern back to Chepstow to continue your journey home. It's a scenic, five-mile walk that takes you up ancient stone steps and through ethereal forest paths. There are plenty of photo and picnic spots along the way, and you'll also find some viewing points where you can gaze at the winding River Wye. Autumn is the best time to attempt this trail: when the leaves begin to change their colours it becomes one of the prettiest hiking trails in the UK. Pack a picnic to round out the country experience and remember to leave no trace! Read more: How to spend 48 hours in Chepstow Forest Farm, Cardiff Forest Farm walk (Image: Portia Jones ) Forest Farm is a great place for family walks in Cardiff. Here, you'll find ancient beech and oak trees, as well as the heritage Glamorganshire canal, which is home to several bird species. This walk is easily accessible via the popular Taff Trail, which also runs through the site, allowing you to join and walk towards either Cardiff city centre or Castell Coch. The main route around Forest Farm is approximately 5 km long and begins at the small car park located on Forest Farm Road. You can either walk to the car park from the Taff Trail, or take the bus to Whitchurch Village, or the train to Coryton station and walk to Forest Farm Road from there to start the walk. This area was once a hub of industrial activity as the Glamorganshire canal linked the ironworks of Merthyr Tydfil to the sea at Cardiff. They were used extensively for industry, trade and coal transport in South Wales. These days, only limited traces of the canal remain, and Forest Farm now offers a woodland escape from the city, featuring quiet paths, picnic benches, and a network of walking trails. Barry to Porthkerry Park, Vale of Glamorgan This pleasant, coastal walk takes you on the Wales Coast Path (Image: Portia Jones ) This pleasant, coastal walk takes you on the Wales Coast Path and offers sweeping views of the Bristol Channel. You can take the train or bus to Barry Island to begin your walk to Porthkerry, which is approximately three miles long. Fans of the sitcom Gavin and Stacey will be thrilled that the walk starts at Barry Island. What better way to begin than to visit Nessa's slot machines and enjoy a cup of tea or ice cream at Marco's? You can also grab lush fish and chips from Nessa's favourite chippy. On this walk, you'll experience a pebble beach and clifftop traverse, taking in the views of the Bristol Channel, which has the second-highest tidal range in the world, between 12 and 14 metres. You'll also pass the ruins of a Roman building and another pebble beach as you follow the promenade. At the end of this walk, you'll be on the grounds of beautiful Porthkerry Country Park, where you can take snaps of the iconic viaduct that towers over the park. You can then walk back to your starting point of Barry and have a long six-mile loop walk. Alternatively, you could walk 30 minutes to Rhoose and then take a train from there to your final destination. There are cafés and toilets at both Porthkerry Country Park and at The Knap, or you can also get refreshments from Barry Island, including fish and chips at O'Shea's, or coffee and a bacon bap from Marcos Cafe. Cardiff Bay Trail This easy, mainly traffic-free, circular trail runs for just over six miles around Cardiff Bay and across to the seaside town of Penarth, via Pont Y Werin. (Image: Portia Jones ) This easy, mainly traffic-free, circular trail runs for just over six miles around Cardiff Bay and across to the seaside town of Penarth, via Pont Y Werin. You can easily train to Cardiff Bay or Penarth for this walk. Make sure to follow the 'Cardiff Bay trail' signs to complete this easy and scenic loop walk. This scenic and relatively flat trail is designed for walkers and bikers, offering a perfect way for people to explore the waterfront in a low-impact way. It's a great way to explore Cardiff Bay's fantastic array of attractions and iconic sights. Along the trail, you'll see some of the historic and modern landmarks of Cardiff, such as the Norwegian Church, Wales Millennium Centre, the Senedd and the Pierhead building. There are plenty of places to stop for refreshments, the vibrant waterfront area has lots of cafés, bars and restaurants to choose from. For a lush sugar hit to pick you up, try a delicious cookie and cream cappuccino from Coffi Co on the way. Guaranteed to perk you right up. Salmon Leaps walk, Dinas Powys This scenic, five-mile marked walk begins at Dinas Powys Village Square (Image: Rhys Russell, Ramblers Cymru Engagement Officer ) This scenic, five-mile marked walk begins at Dinas Powys Village Square and takes you through many points of interest, including an Iron Age Hill Fort and a glacial Valley. You can easily reach Dinas by public transport if you plan your journey in advance. It's a mostly gentle walk through peaceful fields and forest that follows Wrinstone Brook. If you're lucky, you'll be able to spot 'leaping salmon' on this walk, hence the name. Make sure to stop at Dinas Powys Village to grab lunch at one of their charming cafes or restaurants. Try local dishes at The Humble Onion or pub fare at The Star. Article continues below
STV News
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- STV News
Hugh Grant cheers on Scots golfer during 'crazy' five-day challenge
Hollywood star Hugh Grant stunned a Scottish golfer by turning up mid-round to cheer him on during a five-day fundraiser in East Lothian. The actor was enjoying a round at Luffness Golf Club in Aberlady in early June when he heard about Graeme Smeaton playing 25 rounds of golf in five days to raise money for motor neuron disease (MND) research. During the marathon, Mr Smeaton clocked more than 275,000 steps, hit more than 2,200 shots, and survived on just 25 hours of sleep. He played rounds at six of Scotland's most iconic courses across East Lothian and was joined by high-profile supporters, including former Scotland rugby internationals John Barclay, Roger Baird, and Andy Irvine. We Are Story Shop Graeme Smeaton completes ten out of 25 rounds of golf games. After hearing about the challenge, Hugh Grant reportedly 'jumped into a golf buggy and made a beeline for Graeme's group'. Grant arrived at the course and asked: 'Which one of you is the crazy one?' Despite the slate of high-profile supporters already involved, Graeme said seeing the Hollywood actor was a 'massive lift'. 'It was mad – just not what you expect to see in the middle of a round. He was so charming, kind and encouraging – just as you'd imagine,' Graeme said. 'He shook my hand, posed for a photo, and wished me luck. It gave me a massive lift and really spurred me on.' Graeme was also joined by friends and family of Scott Stewart, a Scottish golfer and a passionate MND campaigner, who died from the disease in December last year. Graeme added: 'To share the experience with so many people – especially Scott's friends and family – was incredibly moving. The support I received throughout was unbelievable. The wind was brutal at times, but the camaraderie kept me going.' So far, Graeme has raised more than £11,000 for My Name'5 Doddie Foundation, with donations continuing to come in. The Foundation, launched by the late Doddie Weir, funds vital research to find effective treatments and ultimately a cure for MND. He added: 'I feel lucky to have been able to play a small part in raising money and awareness. I know Doddie and Scott would've got a kick out of the madness of it all.' Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
Daily Record
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
Netflix fans only have days left to watch 'best ever' romcom
The film will soon be removed from the streaming platform Netflix fans have just days left to enjoy an acclaimed romcom before it is removed from screens. Notting Hill, which premiered in 1999 starring Julia Roberts and Hugh Grant, has been a favourite amongst viewers since its introduction. The plot revolves around bookseller William Thacker, portrayed by Hugh Grant, whose life is upended after meeting famed actress Anna Scott, played by Julia Roberts. The film has been branded as a "must watch for anyone" and is currently available on Netflix, but fans will need to hurry as the title is set to disappear soon. Netflix has warned that the last day to watch will be July 5. The Netflix synopsis reads "A chance encounter brings together reserved bookstore owner William Thacker and Hollywood icon Anna Scott, who forge an improbable romance." With an 84% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, the reviews continue to pour in. One fan said: "It's perfect .. one of the best rom coms of all time." reports Surrey Live. Another echoed: "An absolutely amazing film, full of love, laughter and much more! A must watch for anyone." One commented: "All time fav movie," while another added: "One of the all time great rom coms. Writing and acting at the highest level." One fan penned: "Love it. I've rewatched it a few times and I don't really rewatch movies. The chemistry between the two is really nice. It's a fantasy everyone has of a chance encounter with a famous person, and then falling in love with them. "The movie brilliantly captures that. It's v cute with the right amount of twists and turns." On Google reviews, one fan echoed: "I'm not a fan of romantic comedies, so when a good one comes along, I tend to take special notice of it. This movie seriously needs to be considered among the best ever made of its genre." They further added: "This is one of those movies where you find yourself smiling so much that your cheeks start to hurt." However, the film didn't resonate with everyone. One viewer disagreed, writing: "Saw this in the theater with my (then) wife and some friends. I did not even crack a smile during the entirety of the movie." Another added: "A waste of two hours! Awkward and long film that splutters along. The characters are not very likable and this is bad even for the time."
News24
21-06-2025
- Entertainment
- News24
Sizzling at 60 and beyond! Senior stars share their secrets to looking smokin' hot
Stripping down at 60 for a birthday snap to share with the world may not be for everyone – but when you look like Liz Hurley, why the heck not? The British actress has never been one to hide her light under a bushel and she can rock a bikini like nobody's business. But Liz went a step further when she recently celebrated her big 6-0 – by whipping off all her kit and posing in a field in nothing but her birthday suit. 'Happy birthday to me!' she said. 'This past year has been a wild ride.' She paid tribute to her 30-year collaboration with cosmetic house Estée Lauder before saying she's 'in love' – a nod to her burgeoning relationship with her new boyfriend, American country singer Billy Ray Cyrus. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Elizabeth Hurley (@elizabethhurley1) Yet while Billy no doubt has something to do with her glow, the fact remains: Liz has barely aged a day since she set temperatures soaring in that Versace safety-pin dress in 1994, back in the days when she was dating Hugh Grant. 'Liz feels as good as she looks and she looks like a million bucks,' a friend says. 'The photos she posts aren't at all filtered. She really looks that incredible face-to-face.'So how does she do it? Last year the Austin Powers star shared some of her secrets for staying in shape – and it turns out she's pretty low maintenance.'My mantra is: don't eat too much, too fast, too often or too late. Or, put another way, eat smaller meals, chew properly, ban snacking and eat dinner earlier. I eat pretty much everything but only have junk food as an absolute treat.' She swears by a lot of veggies, barely touches alcohol and ditched the ciggies years ago. Liz also says she's no fan of cosmetic procedures.'I don't think fillers make you look younger – it just makes you look like you've got filler.' The one thing she does swear by is moisturiser, and lots of it. When it comes to exercise, she doesn't 'go to the gym or do any set exercise'. 'But I am extremely active,' she says. One of her favourite activities is gardening and that means lots of 'bendy-downy, picking stuff up'. And, Liz isn't alone when it comes to sizzling in the official pensioner-age era. SHARON STONE (67) How she keeps so hot The Basic Instinct star set social media alight with her banging bikini body last year when she shared a clip of herself emerging from a swimming pool wearing two ankle weights. Her physique is down to regular workouts – she loves swimming and aqua aerobics and is a fan of yoga and Pilates too. She also sticks to a mainly low-glycaemic diet with little processed food. On ageing Staying healthy is extremely important to the actress, especially after she spent two years learning to walk and talk again after suffering a stroke in 2001. 'I work for it. I work at everything. To me, discipline is a kind of freedom' Sharon Stone Sharon is a firm believer in ageing naturally. 'I think there's a sexuality in having those imperfections. It's sensual. 'I don't think there's anything wrong with cosmetic surgery, but I don't think it's all right to distort yourself.' LISA RINNA (61) How she keeps so hot The actress and Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star has been a fitness junkie her whole life. 'Luckily, I was born with good genes, first and foremost, and I know that, but I started working out at a very young age – from around 16.' I think it's wonderful to see what works for you. And if it doesn't work for you, it doesn't work for you Lisa Rinna Lisa has come in for some flak from critics who say she's too heavy-handed with the filler treatments, but she remains unapologetic about it. 'There's so much available to us now, which is so great.' She's a big believer in moderation, 'even though it seems like I live very loudly and largely. 'I get my rest. I eat mostly healthy. I'm moderate.' On ageing Lisa has a simple motto. 'I just don't give a sh*t about what people think about me. I've gotten to that place where at 60, I'm so much more confident than I was at 30. 'There's this whole thing about ageing gracefully, and I'm like, 'F**k it. I'm going to age disgracefully.'' GAYLE KING (70) How she keeps so hot Oprah's bestie dropped jaws when she appeared in the Sports Illustrated Swimwear edition last year, showing off a bod she trimmed down with the help of Weight Watchers. The CBS Mornings co-host works out five to six days a week and does 30 minutes of cardio on the treadmill and 30 minutes of strength training. She swears by Jim Karas' book The Business Plan for the Body, which provides motivation and inspiration to achieve fitness goals. 'Before I was doing cardio, cardio, cardio,' she told 'And I wasn't losing weight the way I'm losing now. Jim said to me that building up muscle really does burn calories faster. For me, that's been the case.' On ageing Gayle is all about welcoming the passage of time. 'Each passing year is an opportunity to look at your life and think about what's working for you and what's not,' she says. Remember life is short and you should take advantage of every single minute Gayle King 'Take care of yourself so you're healthy enough to enjoy life and figure out what makes you truly happy. Get rid of sentiments like, 'I'm too old for that'.' BROOKE SHIELDS (60) How she keeps so hot Brooke used to do a lot of dancing but after breaking her leg a few years ago and having multiple surgeries, she's turned to low-impact exercise. 'I do fitness classes four to five times a week, mixing in Pilates and anything that deals with strength and stretching.' Over the past few years she's been changing the way she eats, saying she listens to her body more now. 'I'm really starting to realise if I crave something, I probably need something in it' Brooke Shields She likes to eat smaller, 'more balanced meals' throughout the day so she can remain full. On ageing The only way to age is to embrace it, Brooke says. 'And that feels quite rebellious because of how society has become so myopically focused on youth. 'We shouldn't lose sight of the value that comes with age and experience and time. I'm sitting with myself more. I don't bore myself.' I feel like more of a new person now than I've ever felt. I'm a bit more in my own life and skin Brooke Shields Brooke is no fan of cosmetic procedures. 'People could probably look at me and think I need it but I'm a bit scared. But as I've grown older, I also realised it's really about what makes you feel good about yourself. And if that involves this procedure or that procedure, it's your prerogative.' JANE SEYMOUR (74) How she keeps so hot The former dancer keeps active with regular hikes around her Malibu home and also enjoys low-impact workouts such as Pilates and yoga. 'At this age I'm looking around me at all the people I know who run, and they've had knee replacements, hip replacements or shoulder replacements.' She loves stretching and still does ballet-barre moves on a daily basis. 'My body remembers its muscle tone. It comes back pretty quickly.' The actress likes a Mediterranean diet, sticking mainly to fish and vegetables, and is also a fan of intermittent fasting. 'I like to give my body 16 hours to recoup,' she says. Botox and filler aren't for her, Jane adds. 'I've been playing a lot of amazing roles, recently two women with Alzheimer's with very emotional scenes, and if you're going to be that emotional, you need every muscle in your face.' On ageing Being older can be the best phase of your life, the four-times-married star says. 'A woman reaches a certain age where they've been married or have worked their entire lives or raised their kids, and then suddenly the everyday purpose shifts. Everything just changes and you suddenly think, 'Wait a minute, who am I?' This is a phase in life when you can give yourself permission to do what you need to do for you Jane Seymour 'I'm going to live my life to the full. I'm going to be there with my friends, help people where I can and keep the mantra that beauty is body, mind and spirit.' Demi Moore (62) How she keeps so hot She admits she used to be obsessive about her figure but now has a new approach to health, focusing on self-acceptance. 'I was dieting and exercising in a very obsessive-compulsive way,' the award-winning actress says. I changed my body multiple times but wasn't really myself Demi Moore 'I couldn't go on fighting my body and my weight – I had to make peace. I started by giving up hard exercise.' Demi turned her attention to more low-impact workouts and took up hot yoga before switching to kundalini and is now a qualified kundalini yoga teacher. She follows a raw vegan diet, sticking to vegetables, nuts, seeds and legumes in their raw or minimally heated she hasn't addressed rumours she's had plastic surgery, it's widely believed she's had work done. 'Demi does have incredible bone structure, but it seems she's had a lip lift and possibly a face lift, a lid lift and Botox,' plastic surgeon Mark Solomos says. On ageing Demi believes ageing and 'being old' are two different things. 'Somehow we've confused that, and ageing is actually a tremendous gift.'I wouldn't trade it – you couldn't pay me to be 21. As good as it might sound, it was torture!' The mom of three is in the 'most exciting time of my life'. 'My children are grown and I have the independence to really redefine where I want to go. I don't know what that looks like or where it is, but I'm just excited to be living in it.'
Times
20-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Times
Notting Hill's selfie-takers are ignoring one thing: the movie's a turkey
What has been the biggest disappointment of my life? Along with losing my virginity and seeing U2 at Wembley, it was probably when the film Notting Hill came out in 1999. A romance that isn't romantic, a comedy with no good jokes, this intolerable follow-up to Richard Curtis's almost flawless Four Weddings and a Funeral sees Hugh Grant's cringing bookshop owner meeting Julia Roberts's odious actress, spending the night with her before deciding, bewilderingly, that they can't be together, then changing his mind after she gives him an original Chagall and jumping in a car for a faked-up 'rom-com run' to tell her that he loves her before she gets on a plane — which presumably, if she had, would only have meant he had to wait until she landed, when he could have given her a call. Spoiler alert, by the way. Now it turns out that this swizz, this stone-cold Turkey Twizzler of a movie, is still causing people pain a quarter of a century later. This month it was reported that residents in the candy-coloured W11 streets where it was made have had to endure fans of the film, more recently joined by Instagram influencers, thronging the pavements to get pics for their social media feeds. Some have the gall to enter the front gardens to get the right shot. They make a lot of noise. They leave rubbish behind. Locals are so irritated that a number of them have taken the desperate step of painting their homes black. What enrages me most, though, about this is the evidence it provides that there are still people out there who think Notting Hill is a good film. • Hugh Grant's best performances — ranked Let's summarise. Curtis scored a surprise hit with Four Weddings by casting Grant as a posh avoidant who panics when he sees all his posh friends getting married, until the death of a slightly older posh friend forces him to get serious. Solid. Relatable. Crammed with good jokes. The screenwriter's next move was to cast Grant as a posh avoidant with a group of posh friends, including (again) one with a disability and a working-class flatmate. Again he's in love with a glamorous American out of his league. Jokes are repeated. 'F***ety f***!' Grant exclaims in the first film. 'Shittety brickety,' he mutters, less plausibly, in the second. The laziness of all this is compounded by the film's incredibly unconvincing disavowal of privilege, which in fact it would do far better to own. In Four Weddings, Grant's friend Tom cheerfully admits to being the seventh richest man in England. In Notting Hill, even though all the characters are obviously loaded, they claim to be poor. Grant's friend's restaurant is failing. His own bookshop, located in prime real estate just off Portobello Road, is struggling to stay afloat. Yet he owns a house with a roof terrace in the heart of Notting Hill, which (a glance on Zoopla reveals) would now be worth £3 million. Need another way to relate to these guys? They're all total losers, we're assured. Grant's sister Honey works in 'London's worst record store'. His friend Max is 'the worst cook in the world'. His friend Bernie is 'the worst stockbroker in the whole world'. His friend Tony is 'the worst restaurateur'. His flatmate Spike is 'the stupidest person you've ever met'. The film is imbued with a bizarre glorification of uselessness that is epitomised in the notorious 'brownie' scene. Personally I have always struggled to care for a brownie (there's something twee about the very word), yet here it randomly becomes the prize in the sob story Olympics. One of Grant's posh friends can't have children. Roberts has no self-esteem. And so on, and so on. Supposedly a classic, the scene is actually weird and depressing. • Inside the ultimate Notting Hill bachelorette pad Vulnerability is winning. Self-contempt, less so. Given that Americans are supposedly unable to understand our tendency to talk ourselves down, it's hard to know what Roberts sees in Grant, unless it's the fact that he's the only person on the planet who is arguably better-looking than her. That said, she has some off-putting qualities herself. She's rude one moment, needy the next. And she has zero dress sense. The teenage crop top she wears in one early scene is a very odd choice. When she sports a man's tie in the Ritz, it's meant as a tribute to kooky Diane Keaton in Annie Hall. But it leaves Roberts looking like a pantomime horse. Speaking of kooky, the entire last scene — the press conference in the Lancaster Room at the Savoy Hotel — is ripped off from Roman Holiday (1953). In that much better film, Audrey Hepburn's celebrity princess reveals her love for a journalist in the crowd with a carefully nuanced answer. In Notting Hill, Roberts does something similar with a less nuanced one. We then cut to a shot of the pair relaxing together in a residents' garden, reading Captain Corelli's Mandolin, of all things. Just as Chagall (along with Munch and Dalí) is the top-dollar painter for people who don't like painting, Louis de Bernières' middle-brow blockbuster is the book for people who don't read. And Notting Hill is the film for people without eyes. (And Ronan Keating's When You Say Nothing at All, which plays over one key scene, is the song for people who lack access to any of the five senses.) It's fashionable to make a noise about how much you hate Curtis's next big rom-com, Love Actually (2003). But in fact, Love Actually is far from being the worst in his rom-com oeuvre. It contains one or two good jokes and Emma Thompson's heartbreaking turn alone makes it worth a watch. Not so Notting Hill. It's time we called time on the idea that there's any merit in this slow, insipid, neighbourhood-wrecking stinker.
