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Scotsman
2 days ago
- Scotsman
Travel review: Why Upper Austria has it all
When we land in Austria we're told by our guide that we're going to drive for a short while, then walk to a beauty spot and admire the view. Sounds good, we think, although there is a little voice at the back of the head which says: 'Ah c'mon, it was an early start, it's almost dinner time and surely we just need to dump the luggage and maybe have one of your famous Austrian beers?' Sign up to our daily newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Let's get it on record that you should disregard the nonsense that the little voice comes out with, because that panorama - over the Schlögen Loop - is stunning. It's the perfect introduction to an area of the country which deserves a much higher profile. The Schlögen Loop - or Schlögener Schlinge - on the Danube in Upper Austria | Tom Morton/NationalWorld The loop, or the Schlögener Schlinge to give it its much more satisfying native name, is famous, and will probably ring a bell. And our group was, honestly, silenced by the magisterial sight of the huge river bending back on itself, surrounded by rugged hillsides. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad We were in Upper Austria (if Austria is whistle-shaped, with the thin Alpine mouthpiece to the west on the Swiss side, then Upper Austria is the northern part of the wide whistle bit, bordering Germany and Czechia). The instant reaction to the Danube is just how big it is, even in the Austrian stretch. It's not that we're not used to big rivers in England, but the Thames and the Severn only really widen when they are approaching the sea - even at Windsor Thames is not huge. At Schlogen, there is the best part of 1,500 miles to go until the Danube's mouth in the Black Sea, and it's an awe-inspiring sight. The next day, fortified by schnitzel for dinner, we head out on bikes along the river. We're on e-bikes, although the level nature of the riverside path means that it would be easy riding even without a bit of help, and in fairness you don't often feel the electric back-up kick in. The Danube at Schlogen, as seen from the Riverresort Donauschlinge | Tom Morton/NationalWorld We're staying at the Riverresort Donauschlinge, which looks out over the loop, and the river path is next to the hotel. (A quick word on the cycle paths on that stretch of river - superb. For a regular cyclist, to have a smooth, tarmac-ed route that is off-road only in the sense that you need not worry about cars, is wonderful. The surface put many of our roads to shame. It would be perfect for a family trip, and experienced cyclists would absolutely eat up the miles should they choose.) Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad How the virtual reality appears on phone when you scan the QR codes at the Roman Burgus Oberranna by the Danube | Tom Morton/National World We took it leisurely, heading up river on the west bank, in a north west direction, with regular stops. The stops weren't due to leg-ache, but to learn about the Roman history of the area, which has been brought to life. The Danube was the boundary of the Roman Empire, and so there are remains of forts along its length, most notably the Unesco World Heritage Site of Roman Burgus Oberranna. There are some wonderful stories connected to this, such as the dramatic fort findings when a petrol station was knocked down. In the modern day, the ruins have been given a virtual makeover with augmented reality - load the QR code, then wave your phone around and the screen will show you what it would have looked like. Brilliantly, wifi is installed there, so nobody need miss out. It's one of those little moments that make you realise that sometimes the modern world is an improvement. Approaching Engelszell Abbey in Upper Austria | Tom Morton / National World Engelszell Abbey | Tom Morton/National World Further down the river, after a stop at Engelszell Trappist Monastery, its awe-inspiring church and refreshing beer, we come across the Schutz art gallery which shows that the Donau is now not an outpost of an empire but of culture, with a gallery established by a construction businessman who wanted to create a lasting benefit for the area. Unlike many galleries, it also has some studios with a rotating cast of artists working in front of the public. The Schutz art museum - the world's first net zero energy museum | Tom Morton/NationalWorld Gasthof Luger on the Danube | Tom Morton / NationalWorld Heading back down the other bank, we stop at the Gasthof Luger, a restaurant quintessentially Austrian, no doubt popular with cyclists in the summer, and also call in to see the work of a traditional boatbuilder. The ancient skill sits beautifully on the unchanging river. One of the craft being made by the Witti boatbuilder on the Danube | Tom Morton/NationalWorld After the trip out we head to nearby Bad Schallerbach, a spa town. We're staying at the Park Hotel in the centre of town, and a short trip in a taxi to Mostheuriger am Hochfeld which we're assured is a very Austrian night out. If this is an Austrian night out, count me in. We're shown to a convivial circular table in the corner, and are brought plates of various cured meats and cheese, with regular top-ups of cider and Stiegl beer. The landlord of the family-run tavern won't accept platters left unfinished, and insists on cracking open varying bottles of schnapps at the end of the evening, the flavours of which range from paint stripper to 'actually very tasty'. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Dinner at the Heuriger am Hochfeld, Bad Schallerbach, Upper Austria | Tom Morton/NationalWorld The following morning, another bike ride beckons. This time we're on an 18-mile loop around Bad Schallerbach, taking in the Magdalenabergkirche and enjoying rolling hills - this time the e-bike motor earns its corn. Our friendly bike guide - every Austrian we meet is just so welcoming - insists we pop into his house as we're nearby, giving his wife about 10 minutes' notice. He insists we have an 11am cider as part of the break, explaining that the 'most' fairs see local producers bring their wares to sell - and it's a very refreshing drink. Not for the first time, you find yourself thinking that Austrians have got life sorted. In the afternoon we see another side of Austrian life - the mass sauna. Taking a visit to the EurothermenResort (about £30 for a day pass) , a sprawling complex that includes swimming pools and a water park, it is also famous for its adult-only sauna section, which has more than 40 different saunas, steam rooms and relaxation areas in all. EurothermenResort in Bad Schallerbach - it's rather frowned upon to take pictures when you are inside.... | Tom Morton/NationalWorld I'm not going to lie, for an uptight Brit, the Austrian custom of entering a sauna naked is a tough one to adapt to. We get ticked off for wearing swimming trunks in one sauna, and realise that if you can't beat them, join them. One memorable part of the afternoon is a sauna session in a huge former cider barrel. About 50 people are packed in, and when the temperature rises little cups of cider are handed out and then cider is thrown on the hot coals, and the steam wafted around the space by a man waving a giant flag. Does it lead to a healthier attitude to the human body, and less of a sniggering mindset about nudity? Yes, it probably does. Does it feel liberating? Yes, to a degree. Can I see it catching on in my local leisure centre without police involvement? Not really. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad But the concept of spending several hours, and not just a few minutes at the end of a gym session, in a sauna is great. I feel astonishingly relaxed by the end of the afternoon, even with the British aversion to nudity. The Hauptplatz in Linz | Tom Morton/NationalWorld From there we catch a train to Linz, our final destination on a whistle-stop tour. The third biggest city in Austria after Vienna and Graz, Linz has had a bad rep over the years, with its industrial past casting a literal cloud over the city. But just as England's northern industrial cities like Liverpool, Manchester, Sheffield and Leeds have reinvented themselves while retaining their heritage, so has Linz, albeit it's much smaller than the above. The view over Linz from Pöstlingberg Mountain | Tom Morton/NationalWorld Look under the cover and you find clues that don't just tell the story of a city, but of a country and indeed a continent. The castle stands over the town - the site dates from the rule of Charlemagne but various eras have left their mark, it was demolished and rebuilt in 1600 and a huge fire started there in 1800. There's a good view over Linz - as there is from Pöstlingberg, a hill, where we start our day-long tour. There's a great view across Linz, really giving an idea of where the city's steelworks are and how they have shaped the city, but the pilgrimage church at the summit of Pöstlingberg is well worth a visit in and of itself. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad One of the exhibits at Ars Electronica in Linz - a biosphere | Tom Morton/NationalWorld Later, as we walk through the main square, we see the balcony from where Hitler gave his first speech in Austria after the Anschluss in 1938 - a spot from which nobody has since spoken - and we also spend several hours in a wonderful space called Ars Electronica. I use the rather ineffective modern word 'space' here because it's difficult to define. One of the exhibits at Ars Electronica in Linz | Tom Morton/NationalWorld It's science, it's art - some of the attractions such as the 3D Deep Space show are visually beautiful - but by goodness a couple of exhibits will make you think, and will stay with you, particularly one about replicating a worm's neural pathways which seems to have created a basic form of life. And some are visually stunning - the big screen's megapixel dive into the Bruegel's painting Tower of Babel shows the artistry and detail in a new light. Ars Electronica in Linz | Tom Morton/NationalWorld
Daily Record
25-06-2025
- Business
- Daily Record
Biggar pilot housing project with smart sensors hailed a resounding success
Sensors monitored property conditions such as temperature, humidity and motion. A groundbreaking smart tech pilot project at a retirement complex in South Lanarkshire has been hailed a resounding success. The recently-completed six-month project saw the installation of a range of unobtrusive sensors at a facility in Biggar. And it is believed there could be 'significant benefits for both tenants and the housing providers' as well as an estimated annual saving of £18.5 million when applied across all of Scotland's sheltered housing developments. Covering retired individuals at Bield's Langvout Court in Biggar, the project involved sensors being placed around communal spaces and ten individual properties at the development in order to monitor property conditions such as temperature, humidity and motion. Gavin Wright, head of property management at Bield, commented: 'This project exemplifies how thoughtful innovation can support older people to live independently, safely and with dignity. 'We're proud to have played a key role in a partnership that's delivering real, positive change. The smart technology we trialled at Langvout Court has brought clear cost savings and improved safety. As a result, we're now exploring how this approach can be rolled out across our wider estate.' Involving Glasgow-based digital health innovator Archangel alongside Bield Housing and Care and the Digital Health and Care Innovation Centre (DHI), the completed project underwent a comprehensive assessment by Edinburgh-based digital technology consultancy firm FarrPoint. The project, entitled 'Evaluating care delivery in rural settings', showcased the latest technology innovations and was funded by the UK Government's Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) as part of the Glasgow City Region (GCR) 5G Smart and Connected Places Programme. Data was relayed immediately to Archangel's ambient assisted living (AAL) secure technology platform and automatically monitored 24/7 to proactively address any potential issues that might arise in relation to the living conditions of tenants. The sensors were connected via the Angelnet resilient connectivity network, with the data then becoming available to all stakeholders via the Archangel platform. The project delivered an annual £7670 saving in heating costs and an annual £2825 saving in maintenance costs. An £18.5 million annual saving is estimated when factored out across all of Scotland's sheltered housing developments. Tom Morton, CEO of Archangel, commented: 'The independent FarrPoint evaluation confirms real, measurable outcomes that address today's operational, financial and regulatory pressures as well as a return on investment within the first year. By aggregating data across housing and care environments, the Archangel platform delivers safer homes, reduces energy and maintenance costs, improves compliance and frees up staff time. 'This isn't about experimenting with innovation. It's about helping leaders turn information into action, confidently and cost-effectively. Our partners are empowered to deploy secure, proven, scalable solutions with real-time insights available 24/7 that drive strategic impact, operational efficiency and better outcomes for people and communities.' The final report, produced by FarrPoint, demonstrates the considerable impact that the use of smart sensors can have in the housing sector: ■ Reduced utility costs ■ Reduced maintenance costs ■ Reduced manual checks ■ Improved tenant safety ■ Improved regulatory compliance The use of smart technology can also be used to monitor other environmental conditions to detect risks such as legionella. Kate Milne, economist at FarrPoint, who led the assessment, said: 'As independent consultants, we often do studies evaluating the real impact that technology can bring, and I'm pleased that this particular assessment showed positive benefits of intelligent sensors to residents at Langvout Court. Not only did it enhance their sense of safety and wellbeing but also supported Bield staff to deliver more timely, informed responses.' The innovation scheme has been made possible through funding from the UK Government's Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) as part of the Glasgow City Region (GCR) 5G Smart and Connected Places Programme. Janette Hughes, director of planning and performance with DHI (and Chair of the UKTIN Health Working Group), who alerted Archangel to the funding opportunity, added: 'This is ultimately about making housing more connected and safer, which allows for more responsive communities creating the conditions for people to live happier, longer and more secure lives in their own properties.' And did you know Lanarkshire Live had its own app? Download yours for free here.
Scotsman
18-06-2025
- Scotsman
We tried a little camera perfect for kids
This article contains affiliate links. We may earn a small commission on items purchased through this article, but that does not affect our editorial judgement. It's an age-old problem - children love cameras, but throughout the years maybe haven't treated them quite as well as they should. Sign up to the weekly Cost Of Living newsletter. Saving tips, deals and money hacks. Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... And in the mobile phone era, there's extra jeopardy. Hardly any of us have an actual camera, but if the kids demand to use our mobiles, then at best they may run off for a sneaky half-hour of otherwise-banned YouTube under their bed, and at worst they may drop it, break the device and destroy our actual entire work and home life in the space of a second. Rosanna trying out the Photo Creator Mini Cam Digital Camera | Tom Morton/NationalWorld And that's before we get to the fact that even a safely returned phone will be absolutely rammed full of pictures of the top of their face, the ceiling, the stairs, and so on - and these will need to be deleted not just from the device but from the cloud as well, for fear of Google running out of space. All in all, not the dream. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Some of Rosanna's photographic efforts from her younger days - on my phone | Rosanna Morton/NationalWorld So, imagine my delight on stumbling across a camera which not only takes pictures and video, but is lightweight, child friendly, and doesn't cost the earth. It's the Photo Creator Mini Digital Camera, and it looks like the answer to many of our prayers….. So, on to the details. To be technical about it, the camera is roughly 5cm wide by 3cm high, and weighs next to nothing. It's small enough that a five-year-old can hold it, and comes with a 1GB micro SD card, which is enough for a hell of a lot of pictures. It must be said that it is also small enough to lose easily, and it's understandable why there's a keyring hook on the side. The battery gives up to an hour of use, and recharges via USB-C. The Photo Creator Mini Cam Digital Camera | Canal Toys We found it a blast. Rosanna, five, spent a happy sunny afternoon taking pictures of butterflies, grass, a pond and, er, a sign about wildlife in our local park. She had already practised taking many shots of her brother and her breakfast as a warm up, and - as small children do - had mastered the controls before I had had a chance to say something boring about reading the instructions. As she said, quite simply: 'I love this camera because I can carry it round with me and take pictures.' In a nutshell it's press the button for a picture, hold for a video - something even I could get my head around. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Photo Creator Mini Cam Digital Camera | Canal Toys It doesn't take absolutely superb pictures - although they are perfectly serviceable - and the effects that can be added are OK but hardly Insta-esque. Some of the video has a Super-8, home movie feel, but that's no criticism, and to be honest that's not the point. It will be a camera that "belongs" to a little one, and all in all, for £15 this is very good value for money. The kids can go off and master being creative - and you need never fear for your phone again. Perfect.
Scotsman
04-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Scotsman
I went to Butlin's for a week of non-stop entertainment
'Our True Intent is All for Your Delight' runs the phrase. It's one which, nicked from A Midsummer Night's Dream, has popped up on Butlin's adverts throughout the years but which now - at least as far as I could see - only appears on the wall of the Splash swimming pool complex at the Bognor Regis site. Sign up to our daily newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... After five manic, hectic and ultimately wonderful days there, you can see why the slogan still runs true today, even though we are miles from the original days of knobbly knees competitions. After an exhausting half-term away, we needed to lie down in a darkened room for a bit, but that's not a criticism; in fact quite the opposite. We only live an hour away from Bognor so we're almost on home turf but not over-familiar with the area. But to be honest, that site could be a ten-minute walk down the road as far as the kids were concerned - they were not in town for sightseeing and in our five days didn't even leave the front gate. There simply weren't enough hours in the day to do everything we wanted to do - and again, that's no criticism. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Eddie, eight, and Rosanna, five, at Butlin's in Bognor Regis | Tom Morton/NationalWorld So where to start? Well, the headline for the summer is - again - the Masked Singer Live shows, in which anyone watching can indulge their Saturday night January TV fantasies and shout 'Take It Off!' at a real celebrity. No spoilers here, but the two who were unmasked when we were there were genuine household names - and were nicely pitched between difficult and guessable. It's a great laugh, and the hour-long show flashes past. The other attraction is - again Saturday night telly-based - meeting actual real-life Gladiators. This time it's not a spoiler to say that we had our picture taken with Sabre and Fire. Beware though - it's such a popular event, even though it's just a meet and greet and not a show, that the queue is enormous, so be prepared for a wait of up to 90 minutes. Tom Morton and his family meet Sabre and Fire from Gladiators | Tom Morton/NationalWorld While those two top the bill, our favourite show of the week was Electric Wonderland, who we had seen in an earlier incarnation as Electric City a couple of years ago. If you've seen Blackout on Britain's Got Talent, you'll know where they are coming from; very accomplished dancers but with neon lighting on their black bodysuits that allows intricate and pleasing patterns, witty visual jokes and dazzling effects to be staged. It's the kind of performance you could watch for hours. The start of Electric Wonderland's show | Tom Morton/NationalWorld Other shows we saw were the panto - Snow White and her Magnificent Friends - which saw Muddles and his mother bring the house down, and Animals and Mythical Beasts, a strange but charming mash-up of environmentalism, comedy, super-size puppetry and storytelling, which was also a hit. There was also Danny and Mick from CBBC with their bungled magic tricks, and SBX Extreme Playgrounds, with street stars showcasing basketball, street dance, football and beatboxing skills - all of which wowed an eight-year-old - and the in-house show, Iconic, which was a musical trip around the world. That was probably the only bum note, as the concept didn't really work, although the guest Kenyan dance troupe given a slot in each half were sensational. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Just reading that back seems exhausting, and we haven't even covered the two things that topped the kids' favourites list. Firstly, the swimming pool. It's been a favourite for a couple of years now, and for anyone who hasn't had the pleasure, imagine a swimming pool, but designed by a (skilled) child, for children. It's very difficult to do actual swimming - instead you spend your time on a variety of slides, including a raft run, an enclosed chute called Adrenaline, and two traditional whizz-alongs called the Stick of Rock and the Racers. There's also the rapids - which are more fun the lighter you are, as the five-year-old almost hit warp speed in one section, plus fountains, a helter skelter, and hot tubs. It's easily two hours, if not more, of fun - we went twice and both times emerged wrinkled as prunes from the long time spent in the water. The racer slides at Splash Bognor, the swimming pool at Butlin's Bognor Regis And new to us was PlayXperience. This has been a while in the making as it was being built when we were last here in 2023, but goodness me it has some kit inside it, a range of traditional games but all updated with oodles of tech included. We had a crack at three of the rooms. Tech Putt is basically crazy golf - we were in Neon, which is as you'd expect dark with bright lights, and there are also Vegas and Music-themed versions. Tech Putt Neon at Butlin's Bognor Regis | Butlin's Yes, it was great playing golf in a darkened room, and the course was pitched (pun intended) so even the five-year-old could get round quite easily. For all the fact that it looks amazing, the thing that wowed me was that each player's ball was tagged to them, and somehow the system counted your shots; it didn't matter who went first, and there was no annoying mini pencil and tiny piece of card on which to scrawl numbers. Honestly, a huge improvement in modern life. I'll keep that and internet banking, but anything else invented after 2004 can get in the bin. The VR-cade in Bognor Butlin's PlayXperience centre | Butlin's VR-cade was even more mindblowing, especially to me as someone who has not kept up with computer games and has not often worn a VR headset. We played shoot'em-ups where you got the shock of your life when you turned around to confront a hideous alien behind you, driving simulators, and best of all, rides and rollercoasters where your heart was in your mouth even though you knew full well that your seat was only tilting by a few degrees and you were not going to be catapulted across the room. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Tom Morton and his family in the Laser Tag arena at Butlin's Bognor Regis's PlayXperience centre | Tom Morton/NationalWorld And our final trip to PlayXperience was to Laser Tag. Somehow I have gone through life without ever playing this, but after 45 minutes I'm converted. Brilliant fun, very sweaty, but utterly exhilarating. Summer holiday prices Here's what's on offer over the summer break Summer Holiday break from £541 (£136 per person) Butlin's offers a four-night Summer Holiday break featuring Stephen Mulhern staying in a two bedroom Comfort Room from £541 on 21 July 2025. Price is based on a family of four sharing and includes live shows and activities with free flow access to the pool, unlimited fairground rides, brand-new Skyline Gang Soft Play and access to PLAYXPERIENCE. Dining packages start from £24.95 per adult, per day, £14.95 per child (6-14), per day and £6.95 per child (2-5). To find out more or to book go to Summer Holiday break from £659 (£165 per person) Butlin's offers a four-night Summer Holiday break featuring Stephen Mulhern staying in a two bedroom Wave Hotel room from £659 on 21 July 2025. Price is based on a family of four sharing and includes live shows and activities with free flow access to the pool, unlimited fairground rides, brand-new Skyline Gang Soft Play and access to PLAYXPERIENCE. Dining packages start from £24.95 per adult, per day, £14.95 per child (6-14), per day and £6.95 per child (2-5). To find out more or to book go to Rosanna and Eddie with Billy the Bear | Tom Morton/NationalWorld Mix into this fairground rides, bowling, the new soft play and some pottery painting, and it's obvious why the eight-year-old said that he felt half-term had lasted for ages. That's what happens when you pack in that many activities into five days; so much so that you don't even go to the beach when it is but a pebble's throw away. We were, indeed, Delighted.
Scotsman
04-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Scotsman
I went to Butlin's for a week of non-stop entertainment
'Our True Intent is All for Your Delight' runs the phrase. It's one which, nicked from A Midsummer Night's Dream, has popped up on Butlin's adverts throughout the years but which now - at least as far as I could see - only appears on the wall of the Splash swimming pool complex at the Bognor Regis site. Sign up to our daily newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... After five manic, hectic and ultimately wonderful days there, you can see why the slogan still runs true today, even though we are miles from the original days of knobbly knees competitions. After an exhausting half-term away, we needed to lie down in a darkened room for a bit, but that's not a criticism; in fact quite the opposite. We only live an hour away from Bognor so we're almost on home turf but not over-familiar with the area. But to be honest, that site could be a ten-minute walk down the road as far as the kids were concerned - they were not in town for sightseeing and in our five days didn't even leave the front gate. There simply weren't enough hours in the day to do everything we wanted to do - and again, that's no criticism. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Eddie, eight, and Rosanna, five, at Butlin's in Bognor Regis | Tom Morton/NationalWorld So where to start? Well, the headline for the summer is - again - the Masked Singer Live shows, in which anyone watching can indulge their Saturday night January TV fantasies and shout 'Take It Off!' at a real celebrity. No spoilers here, but the two who were unmasked when we were there were genuine household names - and were nicely pitched between difficult and guessable. It's a great laugh, and the hour-long show flashes past. The other attraction is - again Saturday night telly-based - meeting actual real-life Gladiators. This time it's not a spoiler to say that we had our picture taken with Sabre and Fire. Beware though - it's such a popular event, even though it's just a meet and greet and not a show, that the queue is enormous, so be prepared for a wait of up to 90 minutes. Tom Morton and his family meet Sabre and Fire from Gladiators | Tom Morton/NationalWorld While those two top the bill, our favourite show of the week was Electric Wonderland, who we had seen in an earlier incarnation as Electric City a couple of years ago. If you've seen Blackout on Britain's Got Talent, you'll know where they are coming from; very accomplished dancers but with neon lighting on their black bodysuits that allows intricate and pleasing patterns, witty visual jokes and dazzling effects to be staged. It's the kind of performance you could watch for hours. The start of Electric Wonderland's show | Tom Morton/NationalWorld Other shows we saw were the panto - Snow White and her Magnificent Friends - which saw Muddles and his mother bring the house down, and Animals and Mythical Beasts, a strange but charming mash-up of environmentalism, comedy, super-size puppetry and storytelling, which was also a hit. There was also Danny and Mick from CBBC with their bungled magic tricks, and SBX Extreme Playgrounds, with street stars showcasing basketball, street dance, football and beatboxing skills - all of which wowed an eight-year-old - and the in-house show, Iconic, which was a musical trip around the world. That was probably the only bum note, as the concept didn't really work, although the guest Kenyan dance troupe given a slot in each half were sensational. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Just reading that back seems exhausting, and we haven't even covered the two things that topped the kids' favourites list. Firstly, the swimming pool. It's been a favourite for a couple of years now, and for anyone who hasn't had the pleasure, imagine a swimming pool, but designed by a (skilled) child, for children. It's very difficult to do actual swimming - instead you spend your time on a variety of slides, including a raft run, an enclosed chute called Adrenaline, and two traditional whizz-alongs called the Stick of Rock and the Racers. There's also the rapids - which are more fun the lighter you are, as the five-year-old almost hit warp speed in one section, plus fountains, a helter skelter, and hot tubs. It's easily two hours, if not more, of fun - we went twice and both times emerged wrinkled as prunes from the long time spent in the water. The racer slides at Splash Bognor, the swimming pool at Butlin's Bognor Regis And new to us was PlayXperience. This has been a while in the making as it was being built when we were last here in 2023, but goodness me it has some kit inside it, a range of traditional games but all updated with oodles of tech included. We had a crack at three of the rooms. Tech Putt is basically crazy golf - we were in Neon, which is as you'd expect dark with bright lights, and there are also Vegas and Music-themed versions. Tech Putt Neon at Butlin's Bognor Regis | Butlin's Yes, it was great playing golf in a darkened room, and the course was pitched (pun intended) so even the five-year-old could get round quite easily. For all the fact that it looks amazing, the thing that wowed me was that each player's ball was tagged to them, and somehow the system counted your shots; it didn't matter who went first, and there was no annoying mini pencil and tiny piece of card on which to scrawl numbers. Honestly, a huge improvement in modern life. I'll keep that and internet banking, but anything else invented after 2004 can get in the bin. The VR-cade in Bognor Butlin's PlayXperience centre | Butlin's VR-cade was even more mindblowing, especially to me as someone who has not kept up with computer games and has not often worn a VR headset. We played shoot'em-ups where you got the shock of your life when you turned around to confront a hideous alien behind you, driving simulators, and best of all, rides and rollercoasters where your heart was in your mouth even though you knew full well that your seat was only tilting by a few degrees and you were not going to be catapulted across the room. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Tom Morton and his family in the Laser Tag arena at Butlin's Bognor Regis's PlayXperience centre | Tom Morton/NationalWorld And our final trip to PlayXperience was to Laser Tag. Somehow I have gone through life without ever playing this, but after 45 minutes I'm converted. Brilliant fun, very sweaty, but utterly exhilarating. Summer holiday prices Here's what's on offer over the summer break Summer Holiday break from £541 (£136 per person) Butlin's offers a four-night Summer Holiday break featuring Stephen Mulhern staying in a two bedroom Comfort Room from £541 on 21 July 2025. Price is based on a family of four sharing and includes live shows and activities with free flow access to the pool, unlimited fairground rides, brand-new Skyline Gang Soft Play and access to PLAYXPERIENCE. Dining packages start from £24.95 per adult, per day, £14.95 per child (6-14), per day and £6.95 per child (2-5). To find out more or to book go to Summer Holiday break from £659 (£165 per person) Butlin's offers a four-night Summer Holiday break featuring Stephen Mulhern staying in a two bedroom Wave Hotel room from £659 on 21 July 2025. Price is based on a family of four sharing and includes live shows and activities with free flow access to the pool, unlimited fairground rides, brand-new Skyline Gang Soft Play and access to PLAYXPERIENCE. Dining packages start from £24.95 per adult, per day, £14.95 per child (6-14), per day and £6.95 per child (2-5). To find out more or to book go to Rosanna and Eddie with Billy the Bear | Tom Morton/NationalWorld
