thetelegraph--2019-09-25--The 10 best ski resorts for a Christmas holiday

Where better to spend Christmas than a ski resort? Snowflakes falling, picturesque chalets with snow-covered roofs, lavishly decorated streets, sleigh bells ringing...  That’s certainly the dream, but with Christmas (inevitably) coming early in the ski season, snow cover can be a concern for those planning their festive break in resort. For the best guarantee of good snow, it’s wise to aim for a high resort with a decent snow record, but it can also be worth chancing a lower, villagey resort that will be prettier should the snow roll in.  Whether in search of wild parties, sophisticated glamour or lashings of festive fun for the children, these destinations offer picturesque settings and a good chance of guaranteed snow for the perfect break. Once skiing or snowboarding is done for the day, rejoice in the fact that bags of atmosphere is a certainty – Christmas trees will be lit up in town squares, hotels and chalets, fireworks will be popping, and hotel or chalet gala dinners will be the norm.  Unless stated otherwise, prices are per person, based on two sharing a double or twin room, half-board,  for seven nights, including flights and transfers.  Although it’s often overlooked by the British, Ischgl offers raucous nightlife and high-quality, snow-sure pistes for intermediates. It’s famed for its opening and closing parties that host some of the world’s most celebrated musicians.  Ischgl is an old farming village that has become a sophisticated tourist centre, with smart hotels and cavernous bars. The clientele tends to be older than the revellers who pack into the Mooserwirt on the slopes above the famed party resort of St Anton, but that doesn’t stop the Ischgl crowd from climbing on the tables and partying as if it were their last day on earth. Christmas carols held in the village church on December 26 are sure to add to the festive atmosphere.  The ski area lacks a glacier but its altitude, combined with sophisticated snowmaking, pretty much guarantees at least adequate snow cover in a season that runs from the last weekend in November to the first weekend of May. With 239km of terrain, intermediates can have a ball.  The main ways up to the slopes are by three heavyweight gondolas. One at each end of the resort go to the main mid-mountain hub of Idalp at 2,320m, while a third goes to Pardatschgrat at 2,624m, feeding into the network of lifts and runs that stretches across the Swiss frontier and down to the village of Samnaun at 1,840m.  Ski Total has the modern, four-star Chalet Hotel Abendrot from £1,434, departing December 21 2019. It’s close to the resort centre but tucked away from the main drag. The package includes a full traditional Christmas dinner with Champagne apéritif, free ski hosting, use of the wellness area, afternoon tea and wine.  Sitting on a sunny shelf, Wengen shares a ski area with Grindelwald, and most of the slopes are above its neighbour, under the towering north face of the Eiger. Together with next-door Mürren, they’re covered by the Jungfrau lift pass, a total of 210km of pistes. The streets of Wengen will be decorated for Christmas, and on Christmas Eve many Swiss families go to church to attend Midnight Mass, gathering afterwards to share hot chocolate and homemade doughnuts called ringli.  The village might have been designed for families. It’s essentially car-free, and at its heart is a snow-covered field that serves as a combined playground and gentle nursery slope. For children progressing beyond this, the main way up the mountain is the cog railway that also gives access to the village from Lauterbrunnen down in the valley.  Wengen offers several family-friendly toboggan runs. The obvious one is the 4.5km run from Wengernalp, but there are also long runs from the top of the mountain towards Grindelwald. In the middle of the village there’s curling and outdoor skating.  Crystal Ski has the four‑star Hotel Silberhorn from £1,376 departing December 21 2019, including a festive dinner on Christmas Eve and a special gala dinner on Christmas Day. The hotel is conveniently near the cog railway station, with the nursery slopes not far away, and south-facing rooms have outstanding views.  Few resorts have a more exclusive image than Lech. Princess Diana was its most famous patron, and other past visitors include the Jordanian royal family, the Dutch royal family and Monaco’s Princess Caroline. With such a blue-blooded guest list, you might picture an Austrian St Moritz or Megève. But despite its international reputation, Lech remains true to its farming village origins. It’s set at a modest altitude of 1,450m, but each year it receives up to twice as much snow as some of its French rivals. There are picturesque Christmas markets in both Lech and next‑door Zürs throughout December.  As well as Zürs, Lech shares its local ski area with nearby Warth‑Schröcken, and the pistes at of all three are best suited to intermediates. They will find the terrain a lot more friendly than in neighbouring St Anton, which, like Lech, is covered by the Arlberg lift pass. For those in search of challenge, four heavyweight lifts link the Lech side of the 305km Arlberg ski area to the St Anton side. The main one is the Flexenbahn 10-seater cable car linking Zürs with Alpe Rauz in Stuben during a six-minute journey, giving access to St Anton’s pistes, including St Christoph and Stuben.  The car-free satellite of Oberlech above the village, once the summer domain of shepherds and cowherds, has grown almost into a resort in its own right. It’s linked to Lech by a cable car, and the sunny side of the mountain above and below here is largely given over to flattering blue runs. The high slopes on both faces of the 2,377m Zuger Hochlicht above are much more demanding, with red runs and itinerary routes – ungroomed runs that are marked on the map but are neither patrolled nor avalanche controlled.  The four-star Hotel Theodul in Lech is in a central yet peaceful location a short stroll from the main lifts and resort centre, and has luxuriously spacious rooms. From £1,879 with Ski Solutions, departing 22 December 2019.  Beitostølen is an unspoilt village, with the Bitihorn mountain as a backdrop, situated at the edge of the Jotunheimen National Park. Thanks to its northern latitude, when snow comes, which tends to be early, it stays.  The resort has two separate ski areas – one above Beitostølen and the other at Raudalen, 10 minutes away by free shuttle bus, offering a friendly 320km of slopes in total. The bars, restaurants, rental shops, ski schools and lifts are only a few minutes’ walk from all the accommodation in the resort. Two of Beitostølen’s 21 pistes are floodlit at night, and the gentle slopes and an English‑speaking ski school make the resort ideal for beginners.  Beitostølen also appeals to those – such as families with young teenagers – looking to try a broad variety of winter activities. There’s snowmobiling on a purpose-built track, sliding down the slopes in a large inflatable raft, husky sledding, air boarding and an extensive network (more than 300km) of cross-country skiing trails. For a special night out, there’s the option of a snowmobile or sleigh ride to dinner in a tepee.  Ski Safari has packages at the Radisson Blu resort hotel in Beitostølen, starting at £975, departing December 22 2019.  Courchevel is at one end of the world’s largest lift-linked ski area, the Trois Vallées, which has 600km of pistes. Because many of Courchevel’s local slopes face north, the snow here is usually some of the best in the whole ski area, and there’s terrain to suit everyone from beginner to expert.  As well as lifts and pistes, the villages (Courchevel Le Praz, Courchevel Village, Courchevel Moriond and Courchevel 1850) are linked by an efficient and frequent free bus service, and enjoy pretty woodland settings. Courchevel 1850, the main lift hub and now officially named just plain Courchevel, is by far the biggest resort village, and it’s where the rich Russians and Parisians head to flash their cash. The lower resorts are much more modest and affordable  There’s arguably no better ski area than the Trois Vallées for intermediates of all standards to cover a lot of miles, and pistes are immaculately groomed each night. Courchevel’s local slopes offer 150km of varied runs. Off the snow, the Aquamotion centre below Moriond has indoor and outdoor pools, a surfing area, climbing wall, saunas, steam room and hot tub. There’s also an ice rink and fitness centre in Courchevel 1850.  The four-star Hotel Fahrenheit Seven in Courchevel Moriond is a stylish property in a piste-side location. Inghams has packages from £1,719, including full traditional Christmas dinner with Champagne apéritif, departing December 21 2019.    Founded in 1916 by Baroness Noémie de Rothschild, who decided that France should have its own St Moritz and set about transforming the farming village of Megève. Today, glittering boutiques, restaurants and hotels line the town square and ancient cobbled streets, and with the annual Swarovski Christmas tree twinkling, it’s the epitome of aristo chic.  Megève is home to a whole constellation of five-star hotels, as well as Michelin-starred restaurants (including some with the maximum three-star accolade), as well as several of the world’s finest mountain spas. There are also some first-class mountain restaurants. At the top of the Mont Joux lift there’s table-top dancing at the Folie Douce restaurant and après bar, with spectacular views of Mont Blanc. For later on, the three-Michelin star Flocons de Sel just outside the village serves delicious food but the ambience is relaxed and not too formal. It has a cheaper bistro – Flocons Village – in the centre of Megève selling simpler and more affordable dishes.  Megève’s slopes are extensive, with predominantly gentle pitches and lots of tree-lined runs for low-visibility days. Three main ski areas – Rochebrune, Mont d’Arbois and quiet Le Jaillet – are all reached by different cable cars from town. The risk at Christmas is Megève’s low altitude, but as its lifts are owned by the Compagnie du Mont Blanc, which operates Chamonix’s lift system, visitors can buy a Mont Blanc Unlimited lift pass and access higher slopes at nearby Les Contamines, as well as Chamonix, Courmayeur and Verbier.  Part of Sibuet’s stable of properties, Les Fermes de Marie is a collection of restored timber chalets comprising cosy rooms and suites, two restaurants and the original cowshed‑chic Alpine spa, L’Altitude. Scott Dunn offers packages departing on December 22 2019 from £3,414, including a Christmas gala dinner and private airport transfers.  Obergurgl is one of the highest ski villages in Europe, set at 1,930m at the end of the Ötztal valley near Innsbruck. Not only is it Austria’s most snow-sure non-glacial resort, its link to neighbouring Hochgurgl at 2,150m, which has a glacier going up to 3,080m, strengthens its image as the country’s most reliable resort for snow cover over a season that starts in mid‑November.  Many families loyally return every winter to the small, traditional village set around an early 18th-century church and the resort’s original inn, the Hotel Edelweiss & Gurgl. The resort, spread out as far as avalanche safety limits allow, has little traffic and its 112km of slopes are ideal for beginners and improving intermediates. Families come here for the overall experience of friendly villages and intermediate slopes that are equally snow‑sure from December to April.  The Top Mountain Crosspoint in Hochgurgl is worth a visit, not only because it is the base station for the powerful two-stage 10-person Kirchenkarbahn gondola to 2,839m and a pair of long runs, but to check out its smart mountain restaurant and unusual motorbike museum.  The après scene in Obergurgl is traditional rather than contemporary, with late afternoon dancing on tables in a couple of the mountain restaurants, including the Nederhütte. Although it’s possible to come across well-oiled après-skiers still in their boots at 10pm, this is not a resort for party animals. For good-value eating out, Pizzeria Belmonte is part of the Haus Gurgl Hotel and serves tasty pizzas cooked in a wood-fired oven.  Inghams offers packages at the four-star Hotel Jenewein from £1,629, including full traditional Christmas dinner with Champagne apéritif, departing December 21 2019.  The unspoilt but substantial 200km Monterosa ski area is tucked beneath the mighty Monterosa massif, which divides Italy from Switzerland. It stretches over three valleys with one small resort in each – Champoluc, Gressoney and Alagna.  A key attraction for experts is a cable car to the area’s high point, Punta Indren, at 3,275m. This opens up a variety of off‑piste options towards Gressoney or Alagna, but there are no pistes down. The Alagna side has the gnarliest runs – one of the trickiest, the Malfatta couloir, starts with a glacier crossing and a roped descent of a narrow gorge. Runs on the Gressoney side are generally more mellow, and the Vallone d’Olen is fun even for strong intermediates.  While there is easiest access to the tough runs from the quiet, picturesque little village of Alagna, Champoluc is more lively for a Christmas holiday. It is a charming village, with beautiful scenery, a typically Italian laid-back atmosphere and some decent bars. From the village there’s a gondola up to Crest, where the beginner slopes are situated. From nearby Frachey, reached by free shuttle bus, a funicular gives more direct access towards Gressoney and Alagna.  Ski Total has the Chalet Hotel Breithorn in Champoluc from £1,099, including full traditional Christmas dinner with Champagne apéritif, departing December 21 2019. It has 31 bedrooms, a spacious lounge and wellness area.  Switzerland’s most famous resort brings together every Alpine cliché, from its views of the world’s most photogenic mountain, the Matterhorn, to narrow streets lined with weathered chalets. The village feels particularly festive thanks to horse-drawn sleighs in the car-free streets, alongside the glowing shop windows and chestnut and glühwein stalls.  Zermatt has snow-sure slopes from late November, while high-altitude top stations (up to 3,820m), a slick lift system and outstanding mountain restaurants make it a cut above. There are plenty of long, scenic, satisfying runs for intermediates, plus lots of challenges and areas of easily accessible, gentle off piste. Extensive off piste and itinerary runs (avalanche controlled but not patrolled) will satisfy experts. Zermatt itselft has 200km of piste, and is also linked to Cervinia over the Italian border, another 160km of piste. It's important to think about location when picking accommodation, as the town is spread out. The three lift stations, which access different parts of the mountain, are the Gornergrat railway (next to the main railway station), the Sunnegga funicular, a 10-minute walk away from the centre, and the Furi gondola, more than half a mile from the station. Efficient electric buses and taxis cover all parts of town.  Zermatt ranks highly on lists of the most expensive resorts, but there are modest b&bs among the designer hotels, and kebab stands and a even a camouflaged McDonald’s among the swish restaurants. Although the lift pass prices are hefty, under 10s ski free.  Hotel National is set in a quiet location (an eight-minute walk from the town centre) opposite the Sunnegga Lift and ski bus stop. Facilities include a spa area with indoor pool, whirlpool, steam baths and sauna. Most rooms have a view of the Matterhorn. A Christmas gala dinner is included. From £1,809, departing on December 21 2019 with Igluski.  Purpose-built Val Thorens is not only the highest resort in the giant 600km Trois Vallées ski area that includes Courchevel and Méribel, but the highest in Europe, set at 2,300m. Its lofty altitude means slopes from the door, with guaranteed snow cover from November onwards.  The terrain suits everyone from beginner to expert, but the vast majority of visitors are intermediate, for whom Val Thorens is a dream. The resort has 140km of its own pistes, and on-piste highlights include long runs for all standards from the top of the 3,200m Cime de Caron, but forays into the territories of Les Menuires and St Martin de Belleville for long, cruising and at times demanding runs should not be missed. There’s also a world‑class terrain park, the setting for national and international events, and two exciting zipwires – a double wire above the village, La Bee, and a high alternative, La Tyrolienne at 3,230m.  Since 1971, when the first ugly blocks rose from this white wasteland, Val Thorens has developed into an almost attractive, sophisticated resort with an ever-growing number of five-star hotels and apartment complexes. There are also plenty of good restaurants, including one Michelin-starred Les Explorateurs, overseen by Chef Josselin Jeanblanc in the Hotel Pashmina. Nightlife is young and surprisingly vibrant for a purpose-built resort in France, partly because Val Thorens attracts university trips heaving with British students. It was also the second French resort after Val d’Isère to open a Folie Douce party bar and Fruitière mountain restaurant, just above the village.  Club Med's Val Thorens Sensations resort has all-inclusive packages departing December 22 2019, priced from £2,177 for adults. Children under four stay free. Price includes all food and drink, lessons and lift passes. Club Med really pulls out all the stops at Christmas – festive activities include a visit from Santa on his sleigh (or helicopter or piste basher) on Christmas Eve and presents handed to every child on Christmas Day, plus a Christmas show and a traditional Christmas feast.


thetelegraph--2019-11-27--Best Black Friday travel deals: Early offers on flights and hotels for your 2019 winter break or 202

Best Black Friday travel deals: Early offers on flights and hotels for your 2019 winter break or 2020 holiday

The reach of Black Friday grows every year.  The pre-Christmas spending festival has now infiltrated the world of holidays, meaning tour operators, airlines, hotels et al are getting in on the act and offering up discounts and deals of up to 50 per cent off.  Below we have rounded up some of the ones already available ahead of this Friday, with offers covering breaks this winter and well into next year.  Be sure to double check the terms and conditions of all below deals with the operator involved. See here for guidance on how to spot the best offers.  Hong Kong’s flag carrier Cathay Pacific (cathaypacific.co.uk) is promising fare reductions on Black Friday but has released details in advance of its teaser offer, a £300 voucher to be spent in Hong Kong’s airport for those travelling before the end of the year. The offer is available to anyone travelling in transit with the airline.  South American airline Latam (latam.com) is offering up to 20 per cent off flights to Latin America, booked between November 25 and December 2, and 50 per cent off flights within Latin America. The airline does not fly from the UK but connects on to Latin America via Madrid.  Air Transat (airtransat.co.uk) is running a sale until November 29, offering return flights from London Gatwick to Toronto from £299, for selected dates in the New Year. There are other deals on Montreal, Vancouver and Calgary.  Air New Zealand (airnewzealand.co.uk) says it will release 100 return tickets between London and Los Angeles for just £179 per person at 10am, November 29. It says further offers will follow until December 3.  Eurostar (eurostar.com) is asking travellers to log on to its Eurostar Snap website (snap.eurostar.com) to pick up one-way tickets to Paris, Brussels or Lille for £25. Guests book whether they want to travel in the morning or afternoon and then receive details of their exact departure 48 hours in advance.  Hilton (hilton.com) says there will be savings of up to 30 per cent on stays at more than 450 hotels across Europe, the Middle East and Africa, running until January 28.  Mr and Mrs Smith (mrandmrssmith.com) is promising a range of offers for Black Friday, including 40 per cent off stays at Finland’s Arctic Treehouse Hotel, and 50 per cent off stays at New York’s Arlo NoMad and Arlo SoHo.  Aurora Zone (theaurorazone.com) is offering savings of up to £500 per couple for festive breaks this Christmas, booked by December 3; among them a three-night, full-board stay at Lake Inari in Finland, including activities, flights and transfers, from £1,375 per person, down from £1,625.  Emirates Holidays (emiratesholidays.com) has a range of offers on stays in the Maldives, Dubai and Thailand, including up to 40 per cent off a three-night stay at the five-star Fairmont The Palm in Dubai, with prices from £699 per person, including flights and half-board.  Prestige Holidays (prestigeholidays.co.uk) has a range of offers, including 25 per cent off stays at four-star Los Jameos Playa in Lanzarote, booked up until December 3. It is also offering £600 off per person on trips to Bermuda, staying at the Hamilton Princess and Beach Club, including return flights. Must be booked between November 29 and December 6.  Florida specialist Ocean Florida (ocean-florida.co.uk) is offering a number of holidays to the US state at cut prices, including: seven nights at the Avanti Palms Resort from just £389 per person, including flights, based on for sharing; and seven nights self catering at the Fantasy World Resort based on six sharing a two-bed apartment, from £399.  Turquoise Holidays (turquoiseholidays.co.uk) is offering 50 per cent off accommodation at Six Senses Laamu in the Maldives, with the price per person for seven nights coming to £1,999, including flights, speedboat transfers and half-board dining.  STA Travel (statravel.co.uk) has 40 per cent discounts available on some of its adventure tours for Black Friday and to mark its 40th birthday. The offer applies to selected tours, including itineraries in Australia, Sri Lanka and Thailand. There are additional discounts available to campervan hire in the US, bus passes in Europe and New Zealand and accommodation in Sydney, Melbourne and Auckland.  Last Minute (lastminute.com) is launching a raft of sales, from beach and sun to transatlantic trips. Choice cuts include seven nights half board at a four-star hotel in Lanzarote from £369 per person, including flights, departing December 7, and four nights at a four-star hotel in New York, including flights, from £499 per person, departing January 10.  Anyone with ambitions to head down under in the New Year should keep an eye on Austravel (austravel.com), which is offering £150 off on Black Friday, including on a two-week holiday to Western Australia, with accommodation, car hire and flights, departing in May.  Sandals (sandals.co.uk) is joining in by offering £150 off on a number of its hotels across a range of destinations, including a seven-night, all-inclusive stay at its Sandals South Coast Jamaica from £1,699 per person, based on two adults sharing, including flights and transfers.  Spain’s La Manga Club in Murcia (lamangaclub.com) is offering up to 40 per cent off on stays taken before next autumn, with additional savings available on spa treatments and wedding bookings.  Crystal Ski Holidays (crystalski.co.uk) will give anyone booking a trip between November 27 and December 3 £50 off per person.  Winter operator Ski Beat (skibeat.co.uk) has cut up to 30 per cent off some of its trips for this season, including seven nights fully catered at a chalet in La Plagne, complete with sauna, from £729 per person, including flights and transfers.  Avis Prestige (avisprestige.com) is marking Black Friday with 50 per cent off deals on luxury car hire for vehicles booked up to December 18.  Red Funnel Ferries (redfunnel.co.uk) has cut the price of all bookings made by December 6 by a third, with no black-out dates, up to November 2020.


eveningstandard--2019-04-09--Easter ideas for kids 10 fun things to do during the school holidays

Easter ideas for kids: 10 fun things to do during the school holidays

With the two-week Easter break approaching, there’s plenty of fun, family-friendly activities to be enjoyed.  Here are our favourite events and days out to treat the children to in and around London.  With Spring in full swing, children are invited to come out of hibernation and reinvent themselves as zookeepers for a exciting role-playing experience at ZSL London Zoo. Young volunteers will be able to go behind the scenes with the experts to learn what the animal kingdom get up to at this time of year. Smaller children will love the Great Brick Safari at Whipsnade Zoo, which will see the unveiling of several majestic Lego brick animals – including an elephant that weighs a tonne in bricks.  As well as being a utopia for playing and exploring nature, the 326-acre Royal Botanic Gardens in Kew have an array of fun activities for families to enjoy over the Easter break. Chocolate egg-lovers of all ages can learn more about the origins of their favourite treat with storytelling sessions held each Sunday in the Davies Exploration House, before visiting cocoa trees in the Palm House and Princess of Wales Conservatory. Celebrated American glass sculptor Dale Chihuly has also created a series of visually-stunning works for display at Kew. Families visiting the exhibition can try a fun, interactive, trail directing visitors around the Gardens, and encouraging children to engage with and tally up the Chihuly artworks.  Perfect for teens who have grown out of Easter egg hunts, the challenge-solving adventure in Shaftesbury Avenue’s Trocadero is now open to a younger audience (of 13+). Following a five million pound investment, the interactive experience is bigger than before, with more than 30 new games. Players don retro bomber jackets before entering the maze and dashing through the Medieval, Aztec, Industrial and Futuristic adventure zones to complete a series of timed mental and physical challenges. The more challenges completed successfully, the more crystals the teams win and the more time you have for the final showdown in the iconic Crystal Dome. Booking in advance is recommended.  Underbelly open their doors for the 11th year this April with a roster of family-friendly shows. Following a sell-out season at last year’s Edinburgh Fringe Festival, children’s author Julia Donaldson presents The Gruffalo, The Witch and The Warthog. Suitable for four to 10-year-olds, the show features a cast of five bringing the author’s favourite stories (including Room on the Broom, The Gruffalo, The Magic Paintbrush, The Ugly Five, Superworm and The Cook and the King) to life using puppets and singing. Pre-schoolers will enjoy Monstersaurus!, which is based on the Claire Freedman book. Running until April 22, this 50-minute show follows young, budding inventor Monty who creates whacky inventions and monsters, after which he needs to figure out what he is going to do with them. Also not to be missed is the Louis Pearl’s, The Amazing Bubble Man (from May 4-6) — a thrilling show including comedy and mesmerizing bubble tricks that will leave kids gasping with amazement.  Treat the kids to a truly decadent Easter egg hunt. Lindt’s tasty and iconic gold bunnies have been hidden around the gardens of the official residence of young royals William, Kate, Harry and Meghan. The hour-and-a-half hunt is designed for children aged three to 12-years-old and their families. Search for and claim your chocolate rewards before enjoying regal activities such as dressing as a Georgian courtier and playing a spot of croquet on the East Front Lawn.  Why wait for Halloween to treat the little monsters to some ghoulish fun? Legoland’s new ride offers a ‘frightfully friendly’ experience for all the family. Join your host, Lord Vampyre in his Haunted House for an unforgettable experience. Guests will be entertained with joke-telling before taking their seats in a magnificent banquet room. Marvel at the cauldrons and potions, before Lord Vampyre reveals his mind-boggling party trick.  The multi-talented David Baddiel has become a master of storytelling and the tale of ANiMALCOLM is one his best yet, scooping up awards after the book came out in 2017. This madcap adaptation tells the story of Malcolm, a child who just doesn’t understand the appeal of animals, until an eventful school trip to a farm sends him on a journey of self-discovery. The award-winning Story Pocket Theatre bring Baddiel’s witty story to life in a production that adults will enjoy as much as kids.  Various dates, across Greater London including Watford Palace and the Radlett Centre, storypockettheatre.co.uk  Sweet-toothed kids — and parents — will love this indulgent afternoon tea at the five-star London Hilton. The Mayfair hotel is serving up a truly tasty array of delicacies from chocolate chip mini scones to mushroom meringues and mini chocolate cake-pops. Accompanying drinks include hot chocolate, milkshakes and fresh fruit smoothies This specially-created afternoon tea can be found at the hotel's Podium Restaurant and has been created by executive chef Anthony Marshall and the recent winner of Channel 4's Bake Off: The Professionals, pastry chef Emmanuel Bonneau. If all those sugary treats aren't enough to put a spring in their step, youngsters are also gifted a teddy bear from Hamleys to take home.  Following the soaraway success of The Gruffalo River Ride Adventure, prolific childrens’ author Julia Donaldson has teamed up with Chessington World of Adventures again for a new, enchanting experience. A kind witch, a fearsome dragon and a quick-thinking dog, bird, cat and frog are the stars in Donaldson’s Room on The Broom, a tale which teaches kids the importance of kindness. This interactive tale takes place in an ‘enchanted library’ where kids are invited to try various sensory experiences to help the witch gather her fallen items. The new adventure opened in March, with two new themed Room on the Broom bedrooms in the Chessington Safari Hotel.  This child-friendly farm just off the M25 near St Albans springs to life at Easter with a packed programme of activities. Kids can enjoy a host of entertaining and educational events from lamb bottle-feeding demonstrations to watching a Peter Rabbit stage show.  Easter arts and crafts, tractor rides, inflatables and more than 400 farm animals will ensure they have a fun filled day.


thetelegraph--2019-01-31--Where to go in February 10 last-minute holiday ideas

Where to go in February: 10 last-minute holiday ideas

From European carnivals to African train journeys, here are 10 fine excuses for a last-minute holiday.  There aren’t many European hot spots in February, but Spain’s most southerly province is a decent bet. Head there at the end of February and 20C days are possible. Annie Bennett, our expert to the region, suggests exploring the Costa Tropical, in the province of Granada, a coastline of coves and Moorish watchtowers. “A quirk of climate means that dense groves of mangos, avocados, custard apples, bananas and other exotic crops flank the Mediterranean,” she writes. “The protection of the Sierra Nevada and the warm winds blowing over from north Africa create a subtropical microclimate with 320 days of sunshine a year and mild temperatures even in winter.”  The city of Jerez is another good bet. Its flamenco festival kicks off on February 22.  Fly to Malaga or Seville easyJet, BA or Ryanair.  This feted slice of sand and sunshine is a continental junction box – officially African in that it is part of Tanzania, seductively Middle Eastern in the mercantile heritage of Stone Town (which was once the capital of Oman), temptingly tropical in the way the Indian Ocean laps at its sides. Of course, this clash of cultures only makes Zanzibar more exotic – and the weather is largely reliable, flirting with the thirties Celsius as February dawns.  Technically, a late Easter pushes Shrove Tuesday back to March 5 this year, but France’s liveliest carnival celebrations, which really ought to be held during Lent, are happening before that from February 16-March 2. The highlights are the Carnival Parades, Parades of Lights and the famous Flower Parades, all accompanied by street players and musicians. This year’s theme celebrates French cinema. It’s also an excellent excuse to catch the first of the spring sunshine on the Riviera. EasyJet and BA both offer flights to Nice from a variety of UK airports. Our expert guide to the city, which includes hotel recommendations, is here.  The final test is in St Lucia (Feb 9-13) so there is just time to shoot out for a week of winter sunshine on the boundary and on the beach. Or, you could travel to Barbados later in the month for the two One Day Internationals (Feb 20-22). Caribtours (020 7751 0660; caribtours.co.uk), which has one of the best portfolios of accommodation across the Caribbean, can arrange packages.  Huge falls of snow earlier this month have guaranteed a bumper season, especially in Switzerland, where some resorts are enjoying near record snow depths. The Graubunden region was especially well-favoured and has the advantage that you can fly via Zurich rather than busy-Geneva. St Moritz is the most famous resort, but consider also Flims, and the linked resorts of Arosa and Lenzerheide - both are offered by Powder Byrne (powderbyrne.com).  Amsterdam was home to one of the greatest artists of all time - Rembrandt. And from February 15 the Rijksmuseum (rijksmuseum.nl) celebrates the 350th anniversary of his death with an exhibition of all 22 of his paintings in its collection as well as 60 drawings and more than 300 prints. Combine a visit with a trip to the Rembrandt house (rembrandthuis.nl), one of the best presented artists’ houses anywhere. Eurostar (eurostar.com) now offers a direct train. Our guide to Amsterdam is here.  Symbolising hope and purity, snowdrops are Scotland’s answer to Japan’s cherry blossom season, with their arrival heralding the end of winter and the promise of spring. The Scottish Snowdrop Festival (January 25 to March 11) takes place in gardens and estates across the country, with some of the best displays at Edinburgh’s Royal Botanic Garden, Cringletie House in Peebles, Perthshire’s Cluny House, and Broughton House in Dumfries & Galloway.  Florence empties out after the Christmas and New Year holidays, making this one of the best periods to visit. Glowing from a recent revamp, the Savoy has a super-central location and stylish yet homely rooms (from £353 without breakfast). For something more affordable, head south of the river to lovely Piazza Santo Spirito where Palazzo Guadagni offers whispers of A Room with a View and a glorious wraparound loggia. Doubles from £70, including breakfast.  For more advice on what to see and do, see our expert guide.  February is the one of the best months to visit South Africa, with temperatures in the high 20s. Explore Cape Town (BA flies direct), before jumping on the luxurious Blue Train to Pretoria, taking in mountain ranges, grasslands and deserts and with stops at the fashionable old town of Matjiesfontein in the Karoo on the northbound journey, and the historic diamond-mining town of Kimberley on the journey back.  A three-day trip, courtesy of Ffestiniog Travel, costs from £1,135 per person, including all meals and drinks.  February in Lanzarote means daytime temperatures in the low 20s, perfect for those who want to sunbathe but also explore, and this year marks the centenary of the visionary architect César Manrique, whose influence on his native island is almost impossible to overestimate. Manrique’s mantra was “Arte-Naturaleza, Naturaleza-Arte” (Art-Nature, Nature-Art): the belief that development should be environmentally-friendly and integrate man-made forms with natural spaces. Highlights on a Manrique tour include his Mirador de Rio lookout, which perches like an eagle’s nest on Lanzarote’s northern cape, Jameos del Agua, a fantasy grotto built around a volcanic tunnel that has been dubbed “the Eighth Wonder of the World”, and a garden with thousands of cacti arranged like exhibits in a Mad Hatter’s sculpture park.  For more on the architect and his influence on Lanzarote, follow this link. Our complete guide to the island is here.


thetelegraph--2019-02-28--March holiday ideas 10 amazing last-minute escapes

March holiday ideas: 10 amazing last-minute escapes

From Middle Eastern sun to British blooms, here are 10 good reasons to get away this month.  If Dublin has a rival for its St Patrick’s Day celebrations (March 18), it is New York, where the all-green parade marches down 5th Avenue from 44th Street to 79th Street (nycstpatricksparade.org/parade).  For flights try Trailfinders (trailfinders.com); see our expert guide and recommended hotels.  Jordan’s port-resort of Aqaba, on the Red Sea, is a fascinating place to engage with Middle Eastern culture, combine some early season sunshine with a couple of days on the beach and see Petra and Lawrence of Arabia’s desert camp at Wadi Rum – each...


birminghammail--2019-04-11--Twycross Zoo celebrates arrival of Nandi the rhino with this fantastic Easter holidays tickets offer

Picking and choosing ways to spend your Easter holidays can often prove to be a challenge when it comes to not just keeping your children happy, but keeping the cost down, too.  But don't worry, as Twycross Zoo has got the solution - with some fantastic deals on tickets that will not only save you money, but provide you with an unforgettable day out.  This Easter, families can save up to 60% of tickets when booking tickets online by midnight the day before visiting the zoo.  And with adult tickets up for grabs at just £11, children's tickets for as little as £5.50 and little monkey's under two can even get in for free! (prices include gift aid)  Click here to book your tickets now  As a charity and one of the leading zoo's in the Midlands, Twycross is home to more than 500 animals and carries out vital conservation work to protect some of the world's most endangered species.  And the Midland attraction has just welcomed its newest arrival – Nandi, a stunning, critically endangered Eastern Black Rhino.  Don't forget, during the Easter holidays, not only will you get the chance to meet Nandi - Twycross Zoo is also offering unbeatable ticket offers for families with savings of up to 60%!  Prices start at just £11 per adult and £5.50 as a child and infants under two can even enter for free (prices include gift aid).  Don't miss out on an Easter full of adventure, click here to book your tickets to Twycross Zoo  Here's the lowdown on days out at Twycross Zoo throughout the Easter holidays:  With a host of talks, activities and plenty to discover, there's no better place to spend your Easter holidays that at Twycross Zoo.  One of the biggest attractions in the heart of the Midlands, Twycross is only a 30-minute drive from the city centre, making it the perfect destination for all the family to enjoy, whatever the weather.  Once you've met Nandi, there's still so much on offer at Twycross.  Home to more than 500 animals, you can also expect to see monkeys, giraffes, meerkats, leopards and so many more.  Make your way to the Lorikeet habitat and feed the colourful birds*, taking a stroll through the Butterfly Forest to see the evolution of one of the most delicate animals and meeting our Pets and Goats in Explorer Zone.  Don't forget to pay a visit to the fantastic Chimpanzee Eden, too, the zoo’s £3.5million award-winning enclosure that provides an outstanding habitat for the troupe of chimps, before grabbing a bite to eat over while watching the beautiful snow leopards at Costa or The View Restaurant, or the zoo's chip shop.  After lunch, you can catch a live feed at one of the habitats, see the penguin parade and look at for the zoo's adorable babies including Molusc the penguin chick,  two wallaby joeys, a Kirk's Dik-Dik fawn and so many more.  And, if the weather's being kind, bring your swim wear and splash around in the Wet 'n' Wild play area, which is free to enter with your admission ticket.  Smaller adventurers will enjoy the soft play area* and interacting with adorable animals including goats, donkeys and household pets in the Explorer Zone, before going on an adventure in their very own Safari Car*.  There are so many ways to have a crackin' Easter at Twycross Zoo, book your tickets now!  This Easter, Twycross Zoo is offering unbeatable ticket offers for families with savings of up to 60%!  Prices start at just £11 per adult and £5.50 as a child and infants under two can even enter for free.  Karen Clarke, COO at Twycross Zoo, said: "Our fantastic offer, combined with our adorable new arrival, Nandi, means we're all set up for a fantastic Easter and we look forward to welcoming lots of families for a memorable day out.  "Also, here at Twycross we rely solely on the generosity of our visitors and ticket sales to continue our vital conservation work, so a great Easter will help us tremendously in maintaining species across the world."  All you need to do to take advantage of these incredible offers by booking your tickets online by midnight the day before your visit.  Adult: £11 (normally £21.95 on the day)  Child: £5.50 (normally £16.95 on the day)  One adult and one child: £16.50 (normally £38.90, 57% saving)  One adult and two children: £22 (normally £55.85, 60% saving)  Two adults and one child: £27.50 (normally £60.85, 54% saving)  Two adults and two children: £33 (normally £77.80, 57% saving)  Two adults and three children: £38.50 (normally £94.75, 59% saving)  Please note, these prices are available only when booked online by midnight the day before your visit and are available for a limited time only.  Click here to book your tickets for an unforgettable day at Twycross Zoo  Savings on a family of four is based standard on the day pricing, including gift aid for two adult and two child tickets.  Safari Cars, soft play and feeding the lorikeets are additional costs and height restrictions do apply for users in the soft play area.  Safari Cars can be booked in advance by clicking here.  As well as caring for endangered animals, conservation work is also a huge part of what Twycross Zoo does. The zoo is currently home to around 150 different species of animals, but without zoos like Twycross and organisations across the globe carrying out vital breeding programmes and support towards projects, many of these animals are threatened by extinction. Twycross aims to not only introduce visitors to animals that roam our planet, but educate them in the work that is being carried out to protect them both in the zoo and within the wild. The Twycross Zoo Conservation Initiative has contributed to many conservation and welfare programmes to support and protect animals since 2006, as well as breeding endangered species and working closely with international organisations. You can find out more about the conservation work carried out by Twycross Zoo by clicking here.


birminghammail--2019-02-14--Unbeatable offers and family fun at Twycross Zoo this half term

Keeping the kids occupied during the half term is never an easy challenge, especially when the bad weather hits.  But Twycross Zoo is on-hand to make the holidays enjoyable for everyone, even if the weather's not in your favour.  The Midlands zoo is offering unbeatable entry prices for adults, children and families on visits from February 16 – 24, making massive savings of up to 60% available to book online now.  This means your little monkeys aged two to 16 can gain entry for £5.50 a ticket, and adults only £11 giving you a thrilling day out that won't break the bank.  What are you waiting for? Grab your wellies and raincoats, and head out on an unforgettable day of adventures!  Book your tickets to Twycross Zoo now!  Whatever the weather has in store for us this half term, Twycross Zoo has plenty to see and do come rain or shine.  Open 364 days a year, Twycross is one of the most popular attractions in Midlands, welcoming thousands of animal-lovers through its doors every year.  Located just off junction 11 of the M42, it's only 30-minute drive from the city, so you can really make the most out of your visit.  Home to more than 500 animals including big cats, giraffes, meerkats, monkeys and many more. You can learn about some of the most endangered species on the planet, as well as engaging in talks with rangers to see how the zoo is helping to protect them.  And if you want to get up close to some of the zoo's residents, then make sure you head to the lorikeet habitat for your chance to feed the colourful birds, before making your way to the Butterfly Forest to see the cycle of each beautiful butterflies journey, and paying a visit to the lemurs in their walk-through arena.  Don't forget to stop by Chimpazee Eden too, where you can meet the zoo's wonderful troop of chimpanzees in their extravagant habitat.  Over at Explorer Zone, you’ll discover donkeys and household pets as well as the adorable goats in their walk-through.  And as if all of this wasn't already enough, there are plenty of outdoor habitats, home to some of your favourite animals, an indoor soft play area and the popular Safari Cars for explorers aged three to 10.  To add to the half term excitement, families who come along to the zoo on Monday, February 18, will have the chance to meet the stars of DreamWorks® Madagascar the Musical, including 2016 X Factor winner Matt Terry, the penguins of Madagascar and Mort the lemur between 11am - 2pm.  This half term Twycross Zoo is offering unbeatable ticket prices to families, with discounts of up to 60% availble.  Tickets are as little as £11 per adult and £5.50 per child, creating savings as big as £11.45!  There are also savings that can be made for families of all sizes, so no-one misses out.  Here's a list of all the ticket prices and savings available:  Tickets are available on the gate, but you can take advantage of these amazing offers now by booking tickets ahead of your visit here.  Please note, all ticket prices include a voluntary gift aid donation. Entry excluding gift aid is £10 for adults and £5 for children.  Located in the heart of England, Twycross Zoo is can be found just of junction 11 of the M42.  It's a short an sweet car trip to the attraction, which will take you around 30 minutes to reach from Birmingham.  To find out more about the zoo, and what's on offer this half term, click here!


theguardianuk--2019-05-31--Visit Jersey Zoo and stay the night

Visit Jersey Zoo – and stay the night

As the sun sets, a perplexing array of sounds waft over the gently sloping meadow of our campsite. As well as the chaffinch’s call, there’s a curious tap-tap-tapping; beyond, a bird with a sore throat is imitating a donkey; then there’s a hoot, a laugh and a furious chattering argument.  After two nights, we identify the noises. The tap-tapping is wild red squirrels, which open wooden feeders on the old oaks around us. The “donkey” is a white-naped crane, the hoot is a howler monkey, and the arguments are between the lemurs that curl their tails around the trees just beyond our tent.  When we (my wife Lisa, twins Milly and Esme, 7, and Ted, 5) arrive at Durrell Wildlife Camp, a glamping site based right beside the lush parkland of Jersey Zoo, we are warned that lemurs will wake us every morning. They don’t: we sleep incredibly soundly, spellbound by intense days spent unusually close to other animals and calm evenings sleeping together beside the woodburner inside our yurt.  A zoo holiday is an easy sell to my wildlife-loving children. But, to be honest, I’d visited Jersey once before and wasn’t a fan. There’s its reputation for rich tax exiles, while its maze of lanes – like spaghetti, according to one local – seemed claustrophobic. I’m ambivalent about zoos, too, and don’t believe that large, roaming animals, such as elephants, should be kept in such small spaces.  But I was wrong about Jersey, and its zoo does exactly what Gerald Durrell declared it must when he founded it 60 years ago: it is dedicated to “saving species from extinction”.  Unexpectedly, the island’s west coast feels like Australia, with its thundering surf, glittering light and vast beaches, and is home to unspoiled coves such as Beau Port and Portelet Bay. On the more desolate north coast, I spy the acrobatic choughs – the beautiful “sea crows” which vanished from the Channel Islands a century ago but have been reintroduced by the Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust, the charity that co-ordinates Jersey Zoo’s captive-breeding work to support endangered species around the world.  When we arrive at the zoo, it immediately feels homely, perhaps because it still is a home, and there’s a sense that the staff are a close-knit family. Gerald Durrell died in 1995 but his widow, Lee, still lives here, alongside other conservationists working for Durrell’s charity. Durrell is remembered for his jolly stories but he was also a conservation visionary who revolutionised the western concept of a zoo, demanding that they become arks for wildlife.  His legacy is visible on our first evening, when we watch some of the young scientists studying in the zoo’s conservation academy enjoying a kick-about on the grass outside the campsite. Durrell’s academy has trained more than 4,000 conservationists from 141 countries (and I can confirm that Brazilian conservation scientists possess the best footballing skills).  These young conservationists are as chatty and idealistic as zoo employee Will Highfield, who takes us on a dusk tour (a perk of zoo camp life) after the day visitors have departed. Will worked in financial services – as do many young Jersey islanders – before volunteering and then taking a job at the zoo. Later this year he is running a marathon in a gorilla suit to raise money for gorilla conservation.  Having this garden-like zoo to ourselves at a time of day when many animals, such as the amazing fruit bats, become more active, is magical. Most western zoos now have “enriched” habitats with plenty of natural vegetation, but Jersey’s enclosures are particularly generous. Tamarin monkeys live uncaged in natural woodland. Lemurs climb high in ancient oaks and sycamores. And there’s also a preponderance of what Durrell called “little brown jobs”. He believed we were as much obliged to save from extinction the mountain chicken (a large, shy and rather plain-looking frog) and the (actually quite grey) pink pigeon as we are lions and tigers. And so his zoo continues to breed the two former species for conservation programmes, and doesn’t keep the latter.  Staying at the campsite gives us free access to the zoo, and we easily fill three days there. This solves the sensory overload problem posed by a day trip, when children rush from animal to animal without experiencing any true connection with another species. As they keep returning, my children slow down, and develop relationships with their favourite animals. We book in for extra “experiences” – meeting lemurs and feeding meerkats, otters and orangutans. Meeting the orangutans is a particularly emotional encounter: our endangered near-relatives most sharply prick our consciences about the extinction crisis.  I’m struck by how this zoo holiday helps fulfil what US naturalist EO Wilson called biophilia – our craving for a deep connection with other species. Milly adores feeding camellia flowers to the lemurs, Ted loves the jewel-like blue poison frogs and, in the butterfly house, Esme is as authoritative as a miniature keeper, licking her finger and expertly tempting butterflies on to it, feeling that joy that comes from bonding with another member of our amazing planet.  • The trip was provided by the Durrell Wildlife Camp at Jersey Zoo. A three-night stay for a family of four costs from £480 (extra tipis available for older children for £30 a night), including unlimited entry to the zoo. Dusk tours exclusive to camp guests are £15 adult, £5 child (under-4s free). Additional wildlife experiences include meerkat and otter encounters (£50), meet the lemurs (£100) and meet the apes (£100)  Looking for a holiday with a difference? Browse Guardian Holidays to see a range of fantastic trips


themanchestereveningnews--2019-05-02--Your big guide to Chester Zoo cheapest tickets opening times and all you need to know

Your big guide to Chester Zoo – cheapest tickets, opening times and all you need to know

A trip to the zoo is usually a fail safe option for children of all ages, especially in the school holidays .  Home to more than 27,000 animals, Chester Zoo pulls in more visitors than most - 1.9m a year in fact, making it the UK’s most visited tourist attraction outside London.  There is a lot to see and few people make it round the whole place in one day.  That's why it's good to find out more about the place before you visit, or see what you missed out on last time you were there.  We've been taking a look at what the place offers to pull together our big guide to Chester Zoo.  With more than 125 acres of animals and habitats to explore, making your way round the place is no easy feat.  To get a rough idea of what to find where, you can take a look at the zoo's interactive map here , and even download it before you go if you like.  The full list of animals includes mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish and invertebrates.  Even the zoo keepers themselves admit people rarely get to see everything at the attraction in one day  Kirsten Wicks, who appeared in Channel 4's documentary The Secret Life of The Zoo, said she advises people to prioritise.  She said: "I always tell people to pick what they really want to see and go and see those animals first. There's no way you can see everything so visit the ones you're most bothered about and then just see what time you have left."  Even on a normal day there is plenty to see, and near the main entrance, close to guest services, you'll find a list detailing the times for animal talks and feeds on that particular day. You can also check online to see what talks are happening on the day you plan to visit.  If you've got little ones in tow they'll probably struggle getting round the place.  You'll probably have your own pushchair, but if not, or if you're hoping to persuade your little one with a new means of transport - to save your shoulders if nothing else - then you can hire a fun buggy there.  These are £8 for a single or £12 for a double and a £10 refundable deposit is needed.  Zoomobility is open every day during normal opening hours, but it’s worth pre-booking if you can, to make sure you get your buggy. Call 01244 389 482 to reserve one. Buggies are available for children age one to six.  If you want help getting from one side of the zoo to the other, you can also take a trip on the Zoofari Monorail. Tickets cost £2.25 for adults, £1.75 for children aged three to 17, and infants two and under go free.  Each ticket takes you from one station to the next - no round trips - but you can always get off and get another ticket to go again. Or you can get unlimited trips costing £4 for adults and £3 for children. You have your hand stamped when you've paid so just need to give staff a wave next time you board.  The carriages take wheelchairs too, although not electric scooters.  In fact much of the zoo is disabled friendly, with accessible paths, toilet facilities - including a Changing Places facility inside the Jubilee toilets - and free wheelchair and electric scooter hire, subject to availability and with a £25 refundable deposit.  There's also free entry for carers, with one carer admitted with relevant proof of entitlement.  Ah, the big question. Well, first of all, it's worth pointing out that Chester Zoo is a registered conservation and education charity. For that reason you don't come across many ticket offers at all.  The cheapest way to get them is to buy them online . Book more than seven days in advance and you’ll save up to £4 per ticket compared with the price you’ll pay at the zoo on the day.  Even on the day of your visit it's still worth paying online, as if you book before 9.30am, you’ll save £2 on each ticket compared with the price you’ll pay at the gates.  Cheapest off peak tickets cost £20 for adults and £15.45 for children, aged three to 17. During the school holidays they rise to £24 for adults and £19 for children.  Children two and under go free and if there's a group of you going then groups of 15 or more get a discount of up to 30 per cent.  Another option for cheaper tickets is to invest in a zoo membership, which gives you unlimited access for 12 months and fast track entry, among other perks.  For families of two adults and two children it costs £245, or £135 for one adult and one child.  Swipe right through the gallery below to see more images from Chester Zoo  The zoo opens at 10am all year round, with the Diamond Jubilee Quarter at the main entrance opening at 9.30am, so you can grab a drink in the Bembe Coffee Shop if you get there early.  Closing times depend on dates. Between now and April 28 it closes at 5.30pm. During the warmer school holidays in May half term and the big summer break, it stays open until 6pm.  If you're taking your own packed lunches there are lots of places to have a picnic, with tables scattered throughout the zoo and designated picnic areas, often close to play areas.  There's an indoor one too, the Jaguar Picnic Lodge, next to the Arara Kiosk near the Spirit of the Jaguar building and Tropical Realm. It's also close to the Jaguar Coffee Shop for that all-important caffeine hit.  If you want to grab a snack or a brew on your way round, you're never too far from a Safari Snacks hut, selling drinks, ice creams, hot dogs, waffles and more.  If you are going to be buying drinks throughout the day then it's probably more economical to pay £10.99 for one of the souvenir cups which come with unlimited refills.  There are loads of dining options inside the zoo, one of the biggest being June's Food Court, which has the Fun Ark playground just outside.  It's got everything from freshly baked pizza and fish and chips - around £7 for adults and £5.50 for children - to a healthy deli and an ice cream parlour.  And there are stations where you can heat up your own baby food or bottles.  But if you fancy having a real treat on your day out, then it's worth checking out The Oakfield, a contemporary British pub sitting in the heart of the zoo itself.  The grade II listed building was once home to the zoo’s founder George Mottershead and his family and underwent a £3m restoration and renovation last summer.  One addition was the new garden room, which thanks to its huge windows, means it's light and airy and gives great views across the gardens - a bonus if the kids want to let off some steam for a while as you can keep a close eye on them as they play.  When the weather's warm enough there are also tables for customers to sit outside.  The menu features everything from pub classics such as toad in the hole, £11.50, and a steak burger and chips, £13.50, to a full Sunday roast, with duck fat roast potatoes, vegetables and gravy, £14.95.  The children's menu costs £6.50 with typical kid's favourites sausage and mash, or fish, burger or ham and egg with chips. They can also get a Sunday roast for the same price.  They also get a colouring sheet to keep them busy while they wait.  Yes we know you go to the zoo to see the animals, but most kids want to have a play while they're there.  And there are loads of opportunities for them to do just that. There are a total of four play areas based in different areas of the zoo – the newest in the Islands habitat.  One of the most popular is the Madagascar Play! space, which features scramble nets, a sandy beach, a dry river bed and Madagascan grasses.  As well as the play areas, the zoo has its own Treetop Challenge course for little ones to tackle.  Recommended for kids aged two to seven, they're secured in a harness and can navigate their way swinging, leaping, climbing and balancing their way around the course.  It's only a metre above the ground so you won't be fretting too much over your little ones and and it's the first course in the UK to have two mini zip lines.  Children must be under 122cm to take part, it costs £5 each and takes around 30 minutes to complete the course.  Children must be accompanied by a parent/adult on the ground as you'll explore the different elements of the course together.  You will be allocated a time slot at the Treetop Challenge kiosk – so if you need a specific time it's recommended you go there as soon as you arrive to book the one you want. You can also book online when you order your main tickets.  There's enough to fill your time on a typical day at the zoo, but it also hosts many events too, especially during the school holidays.  The place is constantly updating too. At the end of March its new Madagascar habitat opened , featuring the attraction's first ever 'walk-though' primate experience.  Visitors now have the chance to see lemurs jumping across the path in front of them or swinging in the trees above them as they make their way through part of the new zone.  As well as being home to four rare species of lemur, it also houses Madagascar’s top predator and largest carnivore, the fossa.  If you want a permanent memento of your little one's first trip to the zoo, then you can get their hand print made into a 'handimal'.  There's a stand close to The Oakfield pub where staff will help your child choose what they want their creation to be.  Are toilets worthy of a mention on their own? Where kids are concerned, toilets are always worthy of a mention.  And Chester Zoo's are more worthy than most. Indeed they've been praised for having baby change facilities at the men's as well as the women's toilets.  There are seven baby change areas in all, so you're never too far away and there's one near the entrance to stop off at on your way in or out of the zoo before you head home.  There are feeding rooms too, if you'd rather feed your baby in private.  Parking at the zoo is free and close to the entrance, although you're obviously further away the later you arrive.  If you're close enough to cycle there, you can get 15% off your ticket price by downloading a voucher here and showing it when you arrive.  The main entrance is just off the A41 / Moston Road. It's well signposted when you approach Chester, just look out for the brown signs.  The address is Chester, CH2 1LH, but you're advised to ignore your sat nav once you get to the A41. Do not turn down Flag Lane North as it is a dead end.  Once you get onto the A41, from whichever direction, simply stay on that road until you reach a roundabout with a large wooden ark on it. From there follow the signs into the zoo.  To find out more visit the zoo's website here .


theguardianuk--2019-08-04--Climbing and diving on Kalymnos an Aegean islands adventure continues

Climbing and diving on Kalymnos: an Aegean islands adventure continues

I’m sitting on the shady patio of the Paradisio cafe in Vlychadia, overlooking an azure bay. My wet swimming kit is drying on the fence. “I should explain the breakfast,” says Stethis, who has been my guide on an epic morning of hiking, caving and swimming. “Kalymnos people like to mix unexpected tastes. That tea is alisfakia – sage – with thyme honey. And that mizithra cheese goes with the watermelon.”  “And the coffee is bitter, but you’ve got this vanilla-scented sugar stick.”  I’m starting to get the hang of Kalymnos, the second stop on my quest to explore the Aegean’s lesser-known islands (which had begun in Ikaria, 2hr 40min away by ferry). This is an island that seems to love both the unexpected and the extreme.  Kalymnos was once the sponge-diving capital of the Mediterranean, but by the mid-1980s, a marine virus had destroyed that business. (The interesting nautical museum in the capital, Pothia, is filled with superb period photographs and artefacts.) Meanwhile, the nearby island of Kos had become a tourist honeypot, whose boat owners reportedly told visitors not to bother with Kalymnos because “it’s just rocks”.  That didn’t deter Andrea Di Bari, an Italian climber who wanted rocks, big ones. He came over in the mid-1990s on a day trip, spotted the potential, and returned. By the early noughties, rock climbing had transformed the island’s reputation. I’ve come to test out this island of adventure.  I’m joined by my partner Sophie and daughter Maddy (16) who have come over on the ferry from Kos for a few days. We stay in the climbing capital, Massouri, in a cool and lovely apartment overlooking Telendos, a car-free island that I’m itching to explore. But we start by meeting Dimitris, a dive master who sails us east around the island. Dimitris comes from a long line of sponge divers, and points out the spot where, 50 years ago, his grandfather died while using a newfangled brass helmet and compressor. No one had told the divers about the dangers and complexities of using air underwater.  Today we are searching for dolphins and Dimitris assures us that his family connections will guarantee an encounter. Stopping above his father-in-law’s fish farm, he dives to 20 metres and releases a shoal of sea bass. I’m snorkelling above and see them come up, rolling their silvery sides enticingly, but there are no dolphins. The sea bass, sensing an opportunity, race away to freedom. Yesterday’s stormy winds, Dimitris thinks, have unfortunately pushed the dolphins out of their usual haunts.  We climb back into the boat and head into a narrow inlet where cliffs up to 15 metres high have become a popular spot for deep-water soloing. This involves diving into the sea, then grabbing the rock and attempting to climb to the cliff-top. A pair of old climbing shoes can be handy. Maddy skips the climbing element, walks up and chucks herself off the top. I fall. Deep water soloing is, I predict, a sport of the future, especially when the water is this warm.  We sail on round the east coast to the lovely village of Vathys, where we say goodbye to Dimitris and jump into kayaks with a new guide, Tasos. He paddles with us to another, much higher, cliff face and points out a cave about 50 metres up. After an ungainly transfer to land, we climb a narrow set of steps, push through a curtain of wild figs and descend into cool gloom. All sorts of ancient treasures have been found in this cave (they’re now in the remarkable Archaeological Museum of Kalymnos, also in Pothia). At the bottom is a pool of clear, cold water. Potsherds (broken ceramics) lie around the feet of great limestone pillars.  We retrace our steps and paddle out to a lovely deserted beach to picnic in the shade of a tree. Day one complete, we return to Massouri, where there are lots of excellent restaurants.  Next morning Maddy and I are back with Dimitris for a shore dive which proves to be something of a classic: sponges, amphorae, a German second world war plane, bombs, a wrecked sponge boat, plenty of fish and an irate octopus that squirts angry ink, changes colour and escapes up a tiny rocky hole.  Finally, the bit I’ve been most looking forward to: the rock climbing. We are picked up by Loukas and Kostas. Is it going to be too hot? Loukas shakes his head. “We have climbing in the shade all year. May and October are best, but summer is fine.”  There are also so many routes that climbers can do 10 a day for a year and never repeat one. We head north to cliffs above the village of Arginonta. Kostas, Maddy and I climb. Sophie watches. There’s a dog barking down in the village.  “That’s Vito, my dog,” says Kostas. He points out his house. “He wants to play.”  Sophie heads off to find Vito. I manage to climb a grade harder than I’ve ever done before and then we head for the beach. That’s the joy of Kalymnos: hard, dry rock followed by cool wet sea. There we find Sophie in doggie heaven. Vito likes diving down, picking things off the seabed and bringing them back to be thrown. Climbing may be the new Kalymnos, but the sponge-diving heritage is still there.  • The trip was provided by Sunvil which has seven nights self-catering at Eftychia Residence in Massouri from £1,253pp including flights from Gatwick and transfers. The ferry from Ikaria to Kalymnos costs €32 one way, from Kos €11, book through ferries.gr. Six mornings climbing with an instructor (beginners and intermediates) cost €350pp; diving trips cost from €50pp, book at visit-kalymnos.gr  Looking for a holiday with a difference? Browse Guardian Holidays to see a range of fantastic trips


thesun--2019-12-26--Inside Jacqueline Jossa’s Christmas with Dan Osborne as he spoils her with Dubai holiday and skydivi

Inside Jacqueline Jossa’s Christmas with Dan Osborne as he spoils her with Dubai holiday and skydiving after threesome

THE Queen of the Jungle Jacqueline Jossa had a very Merry Christmas with her husband Dan Osborne following his threesome bombshell.  The I'm A Celebrity star was spoilt rotten by her other half as they enjoyed family time at home with their children.  Jacqueline revealed she was given the "best presents ever" from Dan, who apologised for cheating on her in the past as they vowed to make a fresh start in 2020.  Showing how much he loves her, Dan surprised the 27-year-old with a holiday to Dubai - and a skydiving experience.  She told fans: "When I got back from the jungle, I said I was bit gutted that I didn't get to jump out of the plane.  "Unfortunately I said this in front of Dan so he has got me an experience to jump out of a plane for Christmas... it's in Dubai."  Throughout Christmas Day Jacqueline shared happy snaps of her family as they opened presents by the tree in their pyjamas.  After spending a month apart, the star was keen to get as much quality time together with her daughters, Ella and Mia, as possible.  "I've had the best Christmas ever," Jacquline said.  "I feel I have been very spoilt.  "Nothing will bring Christmas or my family down.  I am focusing about all the positives in life now. There is so much good in life and in people. I will never change that for anyone."  The former EastEnders star said she got a desk for Christmas where she can focus on getting creative.  She revealed she wants to start writing songs and stories in 2020 as she teased exciting big plans.  The couple have decided to stay together after the US reality star Natalie Nunn said she had bedded Dan during a wild night out last year.  Dan has denied having a threesome with Natalie and model Chloe Ayling, who both appeared with him on 2018’s Celebrity Big Brother.  In an exclusive interview, Natalie told The Sun how Dan had begged her to deny romping with him. She said: “It’s true, I had sex with Dan. I was drunk and it was a huge mistake.”  Dan said sorry for the “mistakes which could have ruined his marriage” in a post online.  Addressing cheating accusations directly on ITV's Lorraine, Jacqueline said: “This isn’t new for me. It got brought up again because of Myles but at the same time, I was glad it made me think about it, I didn’t have a choice but to think about it... but it helped me.  “I want to hit a restart button. It’s been two years of me basically giving him hell and it’s not like he’s got away lightly at all.  “He knows he’s done wrong, he knows he’s done a lot wrong.”


eveningstandard--2019-11-25--An ethical guide to wildlife tourism

An ethical guide to wildlife tourism

Posing with sedated tigers and Instagraming elephant bath time at a “sanctuary”? Forget what you know about wildlife tourism.  Be it travel firms partnering with green charities, Kalahari conservation trips or citizen science projects in Britain, doing your bit for the animals has come a long way. Here are some of the best...  Stand-up paddle tours along Florida’s canals with a corgi on board. Afternoon tea with strokable Scottish sheep. Watching a family of Arctic foxes in Iceland. All are possible with Airbnb’s just-debuted animal Experiences (airbnb.co.uk/experiences). If some of them sound callous, don’t worry, the collection is wedded to an animal welfare policy vetted by charity World Animal Protection.  Adventures are split into three categories: “observe” trips are safari-like and include things like an hour spying wild parrots in Brooklyn; the “care” packages could have you walking close to South African penguins; while “play” lets participants cuddle goats or groom miniature ponies.  Small-group tour operator G Adventures released an updated animal welfare policy in October, developed with the Jane Goodall Institute, World Cetacean Alliance and World Animal Protection. It involves having no contact with nor feeding non-domesticated animals; not visiting shows involving wildlife; and not eating endangered species.  While all tours will adhere to the policy, its Jane Goodall Collection is particularly concerned with wildlife, with 20 trips endorsed by the field-leading anthropologist. Those include a 15-night tour of Costa Rica’s volcanoes, rainforests and beaches, where you might see monkeys, toucans, sloths, dolphins and hatching turtles.  In September, the Association of British Travel Agents launched guidelines that deemed elephant rides unacceptable. The practice prompted Intrepid Travel to remove all rides from its small-group tours as long ago as 2014. As well as offering safaris, Intrepid takes travellers to sanctuaries where elephant welfare is prioritised. ChangChill, which can be visited from next year as part of its Thailand tour, was formerly a place for elephant rides, but now visitors observe free-roaming denizens from a safe distance while learning about them.  Captive cetaceans have also been in focus this autumn. TripAdvisor, having consulted with animal rights organisation Peta, following in the footsteps of Virgin and British Airways holidays by announcing that it will soon cease selling tickets to SeaWorld. The theme park chain was criticised after 2013 documentary Blackfish chronicled the suffering of an orca at SeaWorld Orlando. Though SeaWorld insists it is conservation-minded, properly conducted whale or dolphin-watching in the wild guarantees a clean conscience. Try the Azores in the Atlantic, where 28 of the planet’s 87 cetaceans have been sighted.  Sunvil seven-night trip from £1,220pp, including flights, car hire, self-catering and 12 hours of boat excursions (sunvil.co.uk)  How do you feel about puffins? If the answer is anything from mildly interested to utterly obsessed, you may be interested in a chance to help the seabirds. With numbers plummeting to the point of an extinction threat amid concerns over a lack of food, the RSPB’s Project Puffin is building a team of Puffarazzi — basically anyone who sends the society snaps of the ultra-cute species (from any year) with fish in their bills or who visits a colony next June or July (feeding season) and takes a photo of them (rspb.org.uk).  The UK’s best spots include Lundy island, RSPB Dunnet Head in Scotland, and Pembrokeshire’s Skomer. This campaign exemplifies the burgeoning trend of “citizen science” projects enabling amateurs to make valuable research contributions. Other options with a wildlife bent include sighting-log apps such as eBird (ebird.org) or counting marine critters like lobsters and surveying sections of Belize’s Barrier Reef during diving trips to the Central American country (muchbetteradventures.com).  The most direct way to aid wildlife is, of course, to book a wildlife conservation trip, as many people seemingly are. Responsible Travel reports that bookings in this bracket have risen by 35 per cent in a year. The options are myriad, from installing camera traps and tracking bears in Transylvania to volunteering on a cheetah-focused carnivore project amid Namibia’s red-dune Namib Desert (responsibletravel.com).  Alternatively, travel with Naturetrek in the happy knowledge that your money will help animals — the wildlife tour specialist has now donated more than £800,000 to carefully chosen conservation schemes. One of those, Butterfly Conservation, recently reintroduced the beautiful Marsh Fritillary to England in May. Lepidoptera lovers are directed to Naturetrek’s butterfly-themed tours in places such as Sweden, Sri Lanka and South Africa (naturetrek.co.uk).


theguardianuk--2019-02-07--Parkrun tourism 10 of the best routes in the UK and worldwide

Parkrun tourism: 10 of the best routes in the UK and worldwide

From 13 runners meeting in Bushy Park, south-west London, in 2004, to five million members worldwide in 2018, parkrun has become a global phenomenon. There are now more than 1,700 of the free, weekly running events in 23 countries, with numbers continuing to rise. Beyond joining local races, there’s an increasing number of “parkrun tourists”, who plan trips in order to tick off unusual and spectacular routes from Singapore to South Africa.  There are even unofficial clubs with their own lingo to denote their achievements: the Alphabeteers, who tick off parkruns for each letter of the alphabet; the Cowell club (100 or more different events); Fielding club (250 different UK events), Freyne club (250 different global events); Yorkshire Pud-done (all the runs in Yorkshire and the Humber); East-Did-Lands and West-Did-Lands (all the parkruns in the east or west Midlands); and Going for Bailey (attempting to run your first 100 runs at 100 different events).  Now tour operators are getting in on the action. Exodus has incorporated parkruns in to several of its adventure holidays, including Sicily’s Aeolian Islands and Etna (eight days from £1,199); Port Elizabeth via the Garden route to Cape Town (12 days from £1,399), and Treviso and the Prosecco hills in Italy (4 days from £459).  All parkrun events, which are managed by volunteers, stay true to the original aim of being free and inclusive. “Unlike traditional running events that may require pre-registration, entry fees and cut-off times, at parkrun it is free to participate and speed is not important,” says Chrissie Wellington, head of health and wellbeing at Parkrun. “The popularity continues to grow by empowering local communities to implement a permanent mixed-gender, multi-generational health intervention that appeals to a broad cross-section of society. Particularly those for whom physical activity and volunteering is not the norm.”  Here are 10 of the best routes in the UK and around the world  This parkrun takes place around the rolling vineyards of Denbies Wine Estate, in a county that is fast becoming one of UK’s biggest wine producers. The first half is mainly uphill, the second back down with views across the vineyards to Box Hill. Afterwards runners can head to the estate’s Conservatory Restaurant (where parkrunners get 10% off).  Nicknamed “Beauty and the Beast”, this route rewards runners with spectacular views after a 210-metre ascent. Whinlatter is one of England’s only true mountain forests, with a route though Douglas fir trees. With a red squirrel reserve and osprey nesting in the valley, it’s also a great area for spotting wildlife.  The park’s landscape is breathtaking and varied, with rugged cliffs and sandy beaches giving way to hills and woodland, and a coastal path stretching 186 miles. In a valley at the eastern end, Colby Woodland Garden, near Amroth hosts a parkrun, with three laps along trail paths through the meadow and forests.  When it started in September 2012, this was the first beach parkrun in the world running entirely on sand. The out-and-back route starts in the town and heads out along the along the wide sandy beach of Whiterocks. Views on the outward run include Dunluce Castle ruins, the Giant’s Causeway headland and the Skerries, a small group of uninhabited islands around a mile from the coast. The group usually congregate at the watersports centre for tea and cake post-run.  The first parkrun to launch outside London, this route laps the beautiful urban park close to the university campus three times. It’s popular with visitors and locals as one of the oldest parkruns but also for its volunteers, including George Webster, 18, who’s become something of a local celebrity in the parkrun world. George, who has Downs syndrome, started as a token collector and has now completed 56 parkruns. He is also a “parkrun star”, acting as an advocate for their life-changing impact and encouraging others to get involved.  Australia’s third-largest island is home to an abundance of wildlife, including wallabies, koalas, seals and the eponymous marsupials which vastly outnumber the human population of 4,700. The island, in the state of South Australia, is a 45-minute ferry ride from the mainland port of Cape Jarvis. The coastal parkrun, which launched in 2017, starts and finishes at the tidal pool in Kingscote, the island’s biggest town.  With the waves of the Atlantic on one side and golden Namib Desert sand on the other, this is a flat course popular with locals and visitors. The town is one of the largest in Namibia, with a well-kept promenade, wide roads and German colonial architecture, and was one of the first places in the region outside South Africa to host a parkrun.  The parkrun team here say they’ve seen an increase in tourists from the UK, Australia and beyond, thanks to the views the route offers. On the first mile, runners see San Francisco Bay and Golden Gate Bridge, depending on the fog. On the return leg, there are views to Alcatraz, the Palace of Fine Arts, and the San Francisco skyline, including the futurist-looking Transamerica Pyramid, the second-tallest building in the city at 259 metres.  The first country in south-east Asian to host a parkrun, Singapore now has three. East Coast Park was the first, with a beach park route along a manmade sandy shore. Runners here can enjoy a post-event picnic under the palm trees or a dip in warm Singaporean Strait waters. The route starts at 7.30am rather than the usual 9am, to avoid the humidity, and weaves along the coast between Buddhist monks and dog-walkers.  Taking in two countries in one run, this route starts and finishes in the Polish town of Cieszyn but crosses into the Czech Republic along the way. The city was divided between the countries in 1920, following a short border war, with Cieszyn the larger neighbour of its Czech sister city, Český Těšín. The city parkrun here straddles the River Olza, which forms part of the boundary between the two countries. Another two-for-one run is the Severn Bridge parkrun from Wales into England and back, which launched last year.     • This article was amended on 7 February to state that Singapore has three parkruns instead of two.    This article contains affiliate links, which means we may earn a small commission if a reader clicks through and makes a purchase. All our journalism is independent and is in no way influenced by any advertiser or commercial initiative.    The links are powered by Skimlinks. By clicking on an affiliate link, you accept that Skimlinks cookies will be set. More information.


birminghammail--2019-03-13--Game of Thrones stars coming to Birmingham Comic Con at NEC

As we get ready for the return of Game of Thrones to our screens, several of the actors from the show are heading to Birmingham.  They are among the guests at the next MCM Birmingham Comic Con at the NEC, taking place on March 23 and 24.  Game of Thrones actors Tom Hopper, Miltos Yerolemou and Ian Beattie will be attending the convention to meet fans and sign autographs.  Miltos, who played sword master Syrio Forel, is also sharing his skills in a sword-fighting workshop.  It's a chance to follow in the footsteps of Arya Stark with a 90-minute lesson of fight choreography, where you can learn a range of different techniques and styles of swordplay.  Participants will be introduced to the art of sword fighting, comparing what we see on screen to the reality of duelling throughout history and different cultures.  There will be one session run per day and the schedule will be confirmed via email before the event takes place.  This workshop is open to people of all abilities. Anybody above the age of six can take part. The session will be adapted to cater to the dynamic of each person.  Tom Hopper, who is a towering 6ft 5ins and comes from Coalville in Leicestershire, played Dickon Tarly in Game of Thrones. He is also in the hit Netflix series The Umbrella Academy.  One of his co-stars in that comic book adaptation, Emmy Raver-Lampman, will also be at the comic con.  Hopper's other credits include playing Sir Percival in the BBC's Merlin series. Other Merlin stars at the convention include Asa Butterfield, Alexander Vlahos and Rupert Young will be at the show to greet fans.  Felicia Day and Osric Chau from long-running series Supernatural will also be attending.  General entry tickets to the MCM Birmingham Comic Con are £12.50 for Saturday and £11.50 for Sunday.  There's also priority entry, which allows earlier admission from 9am, exclusive deals and merchandise discounts. That's £18 for Saturday and £16.50 for Sunday.  Weekend entry tickets - allowing admission on both days - are priced £31.50.  MCM Birmingham Comic Con tickets are available here


birminghammail--2019-03-14--MCM Birmingham Comic Con is back in town this March for a fun-filled weekend

A staple of the fandom scene and of the city, MCM Birmingham Comic Con returns for another fantastically fun weekend at the NEC, on March 23 to 24, 2019.  Celebrate sci-fi, fantasy and pop culture in the most wonderful way, surrounded by enthusiastic, like-minded fans, a whole host of special guests, exclusive content and guaranteed fun for all the family.  The biggest comic con in the Midlands, MCM Birmingham kicks off its convention circuit with a bang as it is set to be packed with all kinds of pop culture goodness, awesome merchandise, super fun cosplay masquerades, and an amazing array of special guests, who will be available for live talks, photo opportunities and autographs.  MCM Comic Con is the leading pop culture event organiser in the UK, within ReedPOP, dedicated to producing memorable fan events and bringing together a broad and creative scope of popular culture.  The weekend's line-up includes the star of acclaimed new Netflix comedy Sex Education, Asa Butterfield (Ender’s Game, Hugo), as well as The Umbrella Academy lead Tom Hopper (Black Sails, Game of Thrones, Merlin) and series breakout star Emmy Raver-Lampman, who has previously appeared in productions of Hamilton and Wicked.  Supernatural fan favourites Felicia Day (The Guild, Mystery Science Theater 3000) and Osric Chau (Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency, Kings of Con) will also be attending the convention on both Saturday and Sunday.  Additionally, the weekend will feature Charles Martinet, who has voiced Nintendo’s iconic mascots, Mario and Luigi, in more than 100 video game titles - a Guinness World Record - along with Game of Thrones’ Miltos Yerolemou (Star Wars: The Force Awakens, The Danish Girl), as well as knights of the round table Alexander Vlahos (Versailles) and Rupert Young (Doc Martin) from Merlin.  For the complete list of attendees over the weekend, click here.  As well as spectacular special guests, MCM Birmingham will play host to a ‘Comic Village’ positively crammed with talented artists and writers, a cosplay stage showcasing the colourful costumes and crafting skills of the UK’s cosplay community, and an eclectic range of exhibitors selling everything from figurines and film props, to original artwork and anime.  The show's latest addition is the exciting Treehouse zone, with face painting, free-play Lego, book readings and Jedi training to keep your youngest superheroes entertained, so do make sure to take advantage of MCM's ‘Kids Go Free’ deal!*  Over the weekend, there are a number of events to watch and participate in, including a Hellboy cosplay competition to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the legendary comic book creator Mike Mignola’s most famous creation, and a special live Dungeons & Dragons show with the Outside Xbox crew, as dungeon master Johnny Chiodini leads the ragtag Oxventurers on their latest perilous quest.  MCM Birmingham also has a number of live, on-stage panels lined up, such as a talk with The Umbrella Academy stars, Tom Hopper and Emmy Raver-Lampman, and a chat with Sex Education leading young man, Asa Butterfield.  The convention also has an exclusive first look at Birmingham-based supernatural series, Lucid the Dreamwalker, as well as LED sabre fighting training with the Sabre Combat Academy, and a enlightening debate on the future of the sci-fi and fantasy genre with well-known pop culture publications such as Den of Geek, SFX and SciFiNow.  Laura McCrum, MCM’s national event manager, said: “Over 30,000 visitors are expected to join us and our great line-up of special guests, comic creators and exhibitors when MCM Birmingham throws open its doors later this month.  “It’s always a joy to meet so many like-minded fans - many of whom come dressed for the occasion in cool costumes!  “2019 is shaping up to be a great year for MCM, and we can’t wait to kick it off in Birmingham.”  Tickets for the convention weekend are currently available to purchase from MCM’s online store, so what are you waiting for? Sign yourself up for a weekend of sensational sci-fi and fantasy fun!  For more information on MCM Birmingham Comic Con, visit the website and follow @MCMComicCon on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram for the latest show updates.  *‘The Kids Go Free family offer: up to two children aged 10 and under can attend the show for free with all ticket holders.


birminghammail--2019-03-23--Amazing costumes at MCM Comic Con at The NEC 2019

1. [Home](https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/)   2. [What's On](https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/whats-on/)  # Amazing costumes at MCM Comic Con at The NEC 2019    * 17:35, 23 MAR 2019   * Updated17:47, 23 MAR 2019    1. ![](https://i2-prod.birminghammail.co.uk/incoming/article16018543.ece/ALTERNATES/s1227b/1_DQP_BEM_230319COMIC_31JPG.jpg)MCM Birmingham Comic Con at the NEC Birmingham (Image: Darren Quinton/Birmingham Live)1 of 15    2. ![](https://i2-prod.birminghammail.co.uk/incoming/article16018548.ece/ALTERNATES/s1227b/1_DQP_BEM_230319COMIC_01JPG.jpg)MCM Birmingham Comic Con at the NEC Birmingham, (Image: Darren Quinton/Birmingham Live)2 of 15    3. ![](https://i2-prod.birminghammail.co.uk/incoming/article16018590.ece/ALTERNATES/s1227b/0_DQP_BEM_230319COMIC_34JPG.jpg)MCM Birmingham Comic Con at the NEC Birmingham (Image: Darren Quinton/Birmingham Live)3 of 15    4. MCM Birmingham Comic Con at the NEC Birmingham (Image: Darren Quinton/Birmingham Live)4 of 15    5. MCM Birmingham Comic Con at the NEC (Image: Darren Quinton/Birmingham Live)5 of 15    6. MCM Birmingham Comic Con at the NEC Birmingham (Image: Darren Quinton/Birmingham Live)6 of 15    7. MCM Birmingham Comic Con (Image: Darren Quinton/Birmingham Live)7 of 15    8. MCM Birmingham Comic Con at the NEC Birmingham (Image: Darren Quinton/Birmingham Live)8 of 15    9. MCM Birmingham Comic Con at the NEC Birmingham (Image: Darren Quinton/Birmingham Live)9 of 15    10. MCM Birmingham Comic Con at the NEC Birmingham (Image: Darren Quinton/Birmingham Live)10 of 15    11. Pictured people attend the MCM Birmingham Comic Con at the NEC Birmingham, today Saturday 23rd March 2019, movies, comics, sci-fi, games, anime, cosplay or collectables at the event.11 of 15    12. 16018534 (Image: Darren Quinton/Birmingham Live)12 of 15    13. MCM Birmingham Comic Con at the NEC Birmingham (Image: Darren Quinton/Birmingham Live)13 of 15    14. MCM Birmingham Comic Con at the NEC Birmingham (Image: Darren Quinton/Birmingham Live)14 of 15    15. MCM Birmingham Comic Con at the NEC Birmingham, (Image: Darren Quinton/Birmingham Live)15 of 15


dailyheraldchicago--2019-08-23--Images Wizard World Comic Con Chicago

Images: Wizard World Comic Con Chicago

David Carvelli of Sugar Grove is dressed as Laird from Cosplay during Wizard World at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont Friday.


tass--2019-10-08--Over 183,000 people attend Comic Con Russia and Igromir conventions in Moscow

‘Insane!’ Actor Mads Mikkelsen on Death Stranding, Kojima and the future of cinema  MOSCOW, October 8. /TASS/. Over 183,000 people attended the Comic Con Russia pop culture convention and the Igromir gaming expo held in Moscow on October 3-6, the event’s press service informed on Tuesday.  "This year, over 183,000 people have attended both events in the past four days, while the number of views of the live broadcast has surpassed 5 mln," the message informs. Last year, over 170,000 people attended the joint event.


thedailyrecord--2019-07-04--Hamilton Comic Con is at the Town House this Saturday

The capes have been ironed, masks dusted down and superhero poses perfected – it’s time to get suited up for Hamilton Comic Con this weekend.  Returning to Hamilton Town House for a second year, the event will have over 50 traders, cosplayers, art classes and a host of special guests.  Over 1000 comic book and fantasy fans attended in 2018 and some new treats are in store this time.  A DeLorean like the one made famous in the Back to the Future film trilogy will be parked outside the Town House all day on Saturday and there will also be a Hollywood green screen to capture that blockbuster photo.  And a host of cosplayers will also battle it out for the top prize in a costume competition.  Event organiser Ian Bonar said: “Our first event at the Town House went down really well last year and we fell in love with the building, which works well for a comic con.  “So we’re looking to make it even better this time around and have as many local people and businesses involved as possible.”  The comic convention will take place at Hamilton Town House from 10am to 4pm this Saturday, July 6.  Go to www.bgcp.co.uk if you want to book tickets in advance or visit the event’s Facebook page.