Latest news with #touristattractions
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE Where should we take the kids? These are the most expensive family days out from Alton Towers to Legoland - so where will YOU go?
Britain's beloved family days out are under threat as high parking charges pile pressure on already cash-strapped parents. A MailOnline investigation can today reveal the shocking cost of parking at some of the country's most popular tourist attractions, with families forking out as much as £30 just to leave the car - on top of steep ticket prices. At Legoland Windsor, a walk-up family ticket for four comes in at a staggering £272, before adding up to £18 just to park. At Chessington World of Adventures, the gate price for a family of four reaches £264, plus £20 for an 'express' car space - taking the total to £284 for a single day. It is a similar story at Blackpool Pleasure Beach, where entry for four costs £156, with a further £20 to park at its North Car Park. At Whipsnade Zoo, families who don't want to use a distant free parking area face a £30 charge for a space closer to the entrance. Money and business expert Maddy Alexander-Grout, 41, said 'It's expensive enough to visit these theme parks without adding parking charges on top. 'Families are already stretched day to day with rising costs, so to then face a hefty parking fee feels like a hammer blow which prices many out. 'Attractions already make huge profits through ticket sales, food and drink, and adding parking charges just feels greedy. You're already spending so much once you're inside the park. 'I really think parking should be free as part of the experience. I'm lucky that at Paultons Park, just down the road from me in Southampton, parking is free - it makes a real difference and more attractions should follow that example.' Standard parking at Alton Towers costs £12, but for a premium space, families must cough up £20. That is on top of £272 for four walk-in tickets. Other Merlin-run destinations do not fare much better - with Thorpe Park charging up to £20 and Warwick Castle asking up to £10 for parking. Meanwhile families in the UK could spend up to £65 on parking alone during day trips to the most popular visitor attractions, which do not have dedicated car parks. The nearest private car park to Buckingham Palace costs £64.99 for an eight-hour Saturday stay, dwarfing the £38 charged near the British Museum, or £36 close to the Tower of London. In Edinburgh, parking near the Castle or National Museum of Scotland could cost up to £40. A few big-name attractions still offer free parking, including Chester Zoo, Flamingoland in North Yorkshire, and Longleat Safari Park in Wiltshire. In Northern Ireland, Titanic Belfast charges by the hour -with a full day and entry for four costing £78.60, though officials insist online deals could bring it down to £65.60 with early booking and shorter stays. A spokesperson said: 'We continually benchmark parking prices across Belfast city to ensure that we are in-line with others.' Many venues offer free or discounted entry for smaller children, and online ticket deals can help cut the cost. ZSL, which runs Whipsnade Zoo, said it offers free parking in an off-site area and free entry for children under three. For visitors to London Zoo, a spokesperson added: 'As well as supporting ZSL's conservation work at London Zoo and beyond, the car parking charge ensures the spaces in it are reserved for London Zoo's visitors.' Merlin, which runs Thorpe Park, Chessington, Alton Towers and Legoland, said: 'We regularly review our prices to ensure that we continue to deliver the best possible value and experience for our guests. 'The prices quoted are our gate prices, however the overwhelming majority of guests book online in advance to get the best deal. A number of our attractions provide on-site parking, with prices in line with market standards. 'In 2024, we saw a further year-on-year increase in visitor numbers and our highest ever levels of guest satisfaction. We are confident that the vast majority of guests will continue to book in advance to get the best deals and have memorable days out at Merlin attractions.' Catherine Warrilow, visitor attraction brand strategist at The Plot, told MailOnline: 'For many attractions, parking fees have become a vital source of revenue to cover rising costs ranging from maintenance and security to staff and insurance. 'Separating parking charges from ticket prices enables attractions to keep headline admission fees more competitive in a market where visitors shop around online for deals and discounts. 'It makes tickets also appear more affordable, even if the total cost tells another story 'However, for many families, the cost of parking is now the straw that breaks the camel's back on a supposedly fun day out. 'It's not just an annoyance, it's a major factor pricing people out of precious summer experiences - that's before you've even got to the restaurant or gift shop.' Lavania Oluban, 38, a parenting blogger from Birmingham, West Midlands, and mother to Arlo, eight, said attractions' steep parking charges 'wind her up'. She said: 'Even when you hunt for special offers or discounts, the hidden costs like parking really sting. 'What's worse is how unclear these charges often are online, so you don't even know the full cost until you arrive. 'It feels unfair when ticket prices are already sky-high and there's no real alternative, especially for theme parks or rural attractions where public transport just isn't practical. 'You'll get there and pay £20, only to be directed onto some boggy overflow field with no attendants. 'Then, at the end of a long day, you're exhausted, the kids are tired, and you end up stuck in a car park gridlock with no proper system to get out. 'It's hard to see how they justify these prices when the service doesn't match. It makes me more reluctant to spend money at these attractions and so I will take my own packed lunch and avoid the gift shop to claw some of that expense back.' How much do some of Britain's top attractions really cost? Attraction Tickets Parking Total Alton Towers £272 £12-£20 £292 Legoland £272 £12-£18 £290 Thorpe Park £264 £12-£20 £284 Chessington World of Adventures £264 £12-£20 £284 Blackpool Pleasure Beach £156 £15-£20 £176 Warwick Castle £156 £7-£10 £166 Longleat Safari Park £157.30 Free £157.30 Eden Project £157 Free £157 Whipsnade Zoo £115.60 £30 £145.60 Tower of London £99 £36 £135 Chester Zoo £131.80 Free £131.80 London Zoo £114.20 £17.50 £131.70 Windsor Castle £105 £24 £129 Edinburgh Castle £77 £40 £117 Roman Baths, Bath £86 £13.90 £99.90 Titanic Belfast £68 £10.60 £78.60 Buckingham Palace Free £65 £65 British Museum Free £38 £38 National Museum of Scotland Free £36 £36 Parking for whole day or eight hours for attractions in italics, which are for parking closest to the site. Tickets are for two adults and two children.
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE I'm a celeb stylist - these are Europe's best places to find vintage clothes and the do's and don'ts when shopping
Daily Mail journalists select and curate the products that feature on our site. If you make a purchase via links on this page we will earn commission - learn more When on holiday, it's always fun to see the main tourist attractions – but vintage shopping is a great way to take in a new destination too. But it can often be hard to know where to start. Fear not, as help is on hand from Sian Clarke, who has styled the likes of Lorraine Kelly and Sarah Pascoe. Taking me to London 's Covent Garden, as part of an Airbnb Experience, she exclusively reveals her top tips for vintage shopping – including where to go for the best finds. 'Covent Garden is the best central place in London for vintage shopping,' she says. 'Because there are loads of smaller boutiques, which feel less overwhelming, and they're all quite close together, whereas in other parts of London you have to sift through loads. 'It's nice being able to dip in and out here.' We first head to GOOD, a pre-loved clothes store, with a second branch in Kensington. Having told her I like bolder colours and fewer prints, Sian's first tip, as we step through the door, is to 'zone out of most of the clothes and only look at things that pop out to you'. But Sian's best advice, when it comes to vintage shopping, is to completely ignore the size written on the label. And she ends up being proven correct as, despite being a size 10, the first thing I try on is a 'size 16' shirt, and I love it so much I end up buying it. In our next stop, Wow Retro, there are rows and rows of denim waistcoats in many different shapes and sizes. Sian recommends trying a few different styles on – unbuttoned and buttoned up. She says: 'When you're trying stuff on, try a couple of different shapes of the same item on, and then you'll know when you find the right one.' I also pick up a leopard print skirt and crochet top – pairing them together. The only problem with the top? It's completely see-through! But Sian comes to the rescue with the nifty trick of using a silk scarf as a bandeau top underneath. Sian recommends trying a few different styles of a denim waistcoat on – unbuttoned and buttoned up. She says: 'When you're trying stuff on, try a couple of different shapes of the same item on, and then you'll know when you find the right one' The only problem with the crochet top? It's completely see-through! But Sian comes to the rescue with the nifty trick of using a silk scarf as a bandeau top underneath To my surprise, it doesn't even matter that all these clothes have completely mismatched prints – it somehow works. And that's another tip from Sian – 'don't be afraid to mix patterns or colours'. She says: 'Some people are so against mixing whites or neutrals, but you can do it. 'It's like that with loads of colours - people say you can't mix red and pink, or blue and green, but you absolutely can!' Another tip from Sian - which leads to me taking the leopard print skirt home with me - is to 'think about what two or three other things you've already got at home that it can work with'. 'If you go for a neutral colour, you know that you're going to be able to pair it as an essential,' she adds. Sian and my journey ends in Vintage Threads, which she describes as a 'more boujee, designer vintage store'. But, while she loves Covent Garden for vintage finds, Sian's favourite place for pre-loved shopping is Italy. 'Milan is the best place I've found for vintage shopping,' she says. 'It has a proper street of it, [Colonne di San Lorenzo and Corso di Porta Ticinese] which I really liked. 'Berlin is also just such a vibe.' And when it comes to the UK, the north is best for vintage shopping. 'Bristol is really good, and in Manchester, there's a huge shop called ReMarket as soon as you arrive at Manchester Picadilly station,' she says. But her parting words of wisdom? 'Nothing is worse than the vintage you don't buy. If you fall in love with something vintage, buy it, because you won't find it again. 'And if it's outrageous, definitely get it!' Sian's vintage shopping trip is just one of many Airbnb Experiences available on the app. 'Covent Garden is the best central place in London for vintage shopping,' she says. 'Because there are loads of smaller boutiques, which feel less overwhelming, and they're all quite close together, whereas in other parts of London you have to sift through loads. In London, there's also the opportunity to do things like go on a Wizarding World Walk with TikTok historian David Harry or dance with principal ballerina Francesca Hayward. Around the rest of the UK, you can do things like roam the Lake District by Land Rover with a local guide, or go alpaca trekking in the Scottish countryside. Further afield, you can master the art of ramen-making with Michelin Bib Gourmand-awarded chef Saburo Ishigōka in Tokyo or take a personalised fragrance journey at a hidden perfumer's atelier in Milan. In Mexico, you can step into the ring with a real Mexican luchador, or there's even the chance to play beach volleyball with Olympian Carol Solberg on Rio de Janeiro's iconic Leblon Beach.
Washington Post
12-07-2025
- Climate
- Washington Post
Unhealthy smoke from Canadian wildfires blankets the Upper Midwest when people want to be outside
BISMARCK, N.D. — Much of the Upper Midwest on Saturday was dealing with swaths of unhealthy air due to drifting smoke from Canadian wildfires, covering the northern region of the U.S. at a time when people want to be enjoying lakes, trails and the great outdoors. Most of Minnesota and parts of Montana, North Dakota and Wisconsin were ranked 'unhealthy' for air quality on a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency map. Part of North Dakota that is home to Theodore Roosevelt National Park and other tourist attractions was ranked 'very unhealthy,' some of the worst air quality in the nation.
