Travel
We save HUNDREDS on UK attraction tickets with our free Blue Peter Badge – yes they still exist and anyone can get one
MY FAMILY saves hundreds on attraction tickets and days out using our Blue Peter badges.
Children between the ages of five and 15 can apply for a Blue Peter badge, which entitles the holder to free entry to over 200 UK attractions like museums, science centres, castles and zoos.
Personally, I grew up watching the likes of Anthea Turner and Konnie Huq on my TV screen.
The show is still going strong with presenters like Abby Cook, Joel Mawhinney and Shini Muthukrishnan still delighting a generation of children to this day.
There are nine different types of badges kids can apply for from silver, green and purple to the music, sports and book badges.
But the instantly recognisable blue badge is the easiest to get because it’s awarded to kids who send interesting letters, stories, pictures, poems and good ideas for the show.
As soon as she was old enough my now 8-year-old daughter Sabrina, painted a beautiful picture of flowers in a vase and sent it off to the team.
Her badge arrived within three weeks along with a letter to apply for the badge’s ID card – you can’t get entry without this – and the ID card arrived shortly after.
As we live in Edinburgh, my daughter has used her badge for entry into Edinburgh Zoo countless times.
A standard child’s ticket for costs £17.20 on the door, so by using her badge we’ve saved hundreds over the years.
The badge even works for entry during some special events such as character meet-and-greets, giving you more bang for your buck.
As frequent visitors to Dundee, we’ve also used the badge for entry into Discovery Point and RRS Discovery, saving us £9.50 a pop.
The best use of the badge has been during family staycations. One of our favourite attractions was the Jorvik Viking Centre in York, which includes a fun ride through a Viking village.
Sabrina’s badge entitled her to free entry and, as my son is under 5, he was free too which meant we only paid for two adult tickets (£16.50 each), meaning it cost only £33 for a family of four instead of £55.
The best part about Jorvik is that every ticket is valid for 12 months after the initial visit so we could go every month for the next year and not pay any more than the initial £33.
The Tower of London, Kensington Palace, Kew Gardens and London Zoo are among the attractions included with a Blue Peter Badge.
Parents must be careful when booking though, as some sites are stricter than others and must be booked in advance.
Some attractions will allow you to bring two children with badges per one paying adult whereas others insist on one child with a badge per one paying adult. Either way, you’re still saving money.
There are 200 attractions to choose from throughout the UK so savvy families can even plan their next staycation based on what attractions are included.
Sabrina has now had her blue badge for three years and is planning on applying to get her book badge – the latest in the collection which was designed by one of the UK’s best-known illustrators, Sir Quentin Blake.
This badge must be earned by sharing thoughts on a favourite book – something my bookworm daughter will be great at.
With the October holidays on the horizon, it might be worthwhile getting your kids to apply now to start saving.
How to Apply for a Blue Peter Badge
IT’S free to request a Blue Peter badge – but you’ll need to get your kid involved.
Firstly, they need to be between five and 15 years old. You’ll need to read and accept all the information on the CBBC website about it too if your child comes up with the idea themselves.
They’ll need to send a creative piece of art to Blue Peter, which might include a poem, story, artwork, model, recipe or a suggestion for the show.
There’s a full list of options on the CBBC website if you’d like to know more.
Once your child has chosen what they want to send, you’ll need to include the following alongside it:
- your child’s full name
- their date of birth
- your home postal address and postcode (not their school address)
You’ll need to send it to: Blue Peter, MediaCityUK, Salford, M50 2BH
Travel writer Catherine Lofthouse has also used Blue Peter Badges to save hundreds of pounds on family days out.
Travel
Seaside town named one of UK’s worst to be revamped – with huge new attraction and reopening of abandoned theme park
A SEASIDE town in the north of England could be set to benefit from two huge investment projects.
Morecambe in Lancashire was named one of the worst coastal towns in the UK by the Telegraph.
The report, which was published last year, ranked Morecambe as the 5th worst seaside town in the country, saying it could be “so much more than it is”.
And that could very much be the case, with two huge development projects potentially on the horizon.
The Lancashire-based seaside town was already set to benefit from the arrival of the second incarnation of the Eden Project, which is due to open by 2028.
Developers hope Eden Project Morecambe will be able to replicate the success of the Eden Project in Cornwall.
The huge £100million attraction will feature a “hyper-real forest” with large installations and immersive theatre.
It will have three huge shell-shaped pavilions that will overlook Morecambe Bay and a “Bay Glade” with a well-being landscape and a Natural Observatory for research and education.
There will also be an exhibition area and meeting point for guests named the Bay Hall as well as play areas, restaurants, cafes and a gift shop.
Talks are also underway to regenerate Frontierland – an abandoned theme park in Morecambe that closed in 2000.
The site where Frontierland sits has been left bare for the last 24 years but the local council are hoping to bring it back to its former glory.
According to the BBC, the Frontierland site was discussed at the latest Eden community conversation event, which was hosted by the local authority.
City council officer, Jonathan Noad revealed that around “35 regional and national developers” were coming to the town to discuss the abandoned theme park.
However, Jonathan added that the developers would “need to up-their-gears and put their ideas to us” as they look to start the procurement process.
Lancaster City Council acquired the land in 2021 and invited interested parties to submit development plans for it.
The city council official added: “We’ve also got the rest of central Morecambe to look at.
“Work will also look at Morecambe environments and what the public realm needs to look like to attract visitors.”
The authority hopes a developer will propose an “exciting idea” which can transform the site in the next 18 months.
The Eden Project and the possible redevelopment of Frontierland isn’t the only thing that’s drawing tourists to Morecambe.
Last year, one of the town’s most famous residents, heavyweight boxing champ Tyson Fury, increased the number of visitors to the town, with his Netflix series At Home With the Furys.
In episode one of the series, Fury explains why he has never moved away from the town, saying the view of the bay, where he can often be seen running, is one of the main attractions.
He said: “I’ve often tampered with the idea of living abroad and living in Monaco and America, but there’s always something that keeps me here in Morecambe Bay.
“I believe it’s probably the sea air calling to me, ‘don’t go! Stay!’
“Every time I jog down the front, I look at the bay and the view and I think, ‘Wow, no matter where I go in the world, I will never get that anywhere else’.”
Before the regeneration takes place, visitors have plenty to see, with places like Happy Mount Park, the Eric Morecambe Statue and The Smugglers Den pub all rated highly on TripAdvisor.
The beach itself receives a lot of praise too, with one reviewer writing: “This bay is beautiful and very extensive so there is plenty of coastline to walk along.
“There were lots of people swimming out into the sea. The beach had large rocks then sand and was full of character. Well worth a visit on a nice day.”
What are the Sun team’s favourite seaside towns?
THE Sun’s travel team share some of their favourite English seaside towns
Folkestone, Kent
With views of France (on a very clear day), the main attraction is the Harbour Arm, sitting at the edge of the converted train tracks and selling hand-crafted goods and amazing food.
The multicoloured high street with shops and restaurants can’t be missed, my favourites being Burrito Buoy for some amazing margaritas and The Folkestone Bookshop for some novels.
You’ll need to pack your beach shoes as it has a stony beach over a sandy beach – but after a few drinks at the much loved pilot bar, you’ll hardly care.
Kara Godfrey, Deputy Travel Editor
Mousehole, Cornwall
The small sandy bay has retained it’s chocolate box charm, crammed with weathered fishing boats and backed by pokey cafes and airy art galleries where seaside-inspired works hang from the walls.
For impeccable views of a wild sea and homemade grub, head to Rock Pool Cafe which sits atop a craggy cliff and order a ‘make it yourself’ hot chocolate.
There are some impressive coastal walks – but be warned it can be hilly.
Sophie Swietochowski, Assistant Travel Editor
Cleethorpes, North East Lincolnshire
Accessible on a spit of sand when the tide is out, this quirky little community art project is made up of driftwood, flags and mementoes from those who have visited to admire the huge swathes of golden sands and sparkling waters.
Sadly the original was destroyed in a fire in 2023 but an enthusiastic band of local volunteers are slowly re-building the landmark.
Lisa Minot, Head of Travel
Meanwhile, this seaside town in England – with sandy beaches, donkey rides & the best B&B in the world.
And this other holiday location is getting a huge new tourist attraction.
Travel
Aer Lingus to launch flights to Nashville
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Travel
We’ve visited over 20 countries in our caravan – here are our four must-have gadgets
A FAMILY of five have visited more than 20 countries in their motorhome, going as far north as Norway and as far south as Turkey.
Known as the Roaming Radfords, Steve and Lyndsay have been holidaying in a motorhome since 2007, when their eldest son Eddie was just a year old.
The husband and wife team, who live in Milton Keynes, have explored countries like France, Spain, Belgium, Germany, Denmark, Portugal, Sweden, Norway and Morocco.
Even renting an RV on their trip to America so they could explore the country in a motorhome.
Their most recent trip took them to Turkey where they spent six weeks exploring the country with their three sons, Eddie, Harry and George.
The family regularly shares their caravanning tricks, tips and travel videos on their YouTube channel, the Roaming Radfords.
And with more than 17 years of experience, it’s safe to say they know the must-have gadgets every budding caravanner needs.
Steve and Lyndsay told Sun Online Travel: “If you’re planning a holiday to warm countries like Morocco, Spain and Turkey, having aircon is essential.
“I wouldn’t want to go to Morocco or Turkey without aircon, so definitely invest in that.”
It’s not just aircon budding caravanners will need to invest in if they want to enjoy holidaying in warmer countries.
They added: “Most brand-new motorhomes come fitted with 3 Way Fridges, which means they can work on battery, electricity plugin or gas.”
While this may sound ideal, Steve and Lyndsay know from experience that 3 Way Fridges don’t work well in hot weather.
They encouraged holidaymakers to consider upgrading to a compressor fridge because they work better in warmer climates.
Lyndsay said: “Three Way Fridges stop working properly when you reach temperatures like 30C.
“We’ve been woken up in the middle of the night with the smell of rancid chicken because the fridge wasn’t cool enough, so definitely upgrade to a compressor fridge if you can.”
With three teenage sons, and a YouTube Channel, Steve and Lyndsay need to stay connected to the internet while on the road, which is why they have a Starlink.
Starlink is an alternative to traditional broadband, beaming connections via SpaceX satellites.
It’s useful for remote areas left in the slow lane for on-the-ground broadband upgrades.
Steven and Lyndsay said: “Six weeks is a long time to be away from your friends when you’re a teenager, so we made sure to have a Starlink.
“It also enables us to upload our YouTube videos and keep in touch with the business we own back in the UK.”
Their last recommendation isn’t technically a gadget but for the Roaming Radfords it’s a necessity.
Steve said: “One of my favourite things – and my family laugh at me for this – is a 6ft plastic table.
“Once you pop up the table, you’ve got a lovely big area where everyone can eat and sit.
“It also attracts people, so other holidaymakers can come and enjoy the space.
“Honestly it’s one of my favourite things and one of our best investments.”
Later this month, Steve and Lyndsay will be sharing even more tips at the Motorhome & Caravan Show at the NEC in Birmingham.
On October 15, 16 and 17, the couple will also be talking about their caravan adventure through Turkey, which they went on last summer.
Why caravan holidays are so underrated
CARAVAN park holidays are a British staple.
And with the cost of living crisis wreaking havoc on Britain’s purses, more of us are turning to them for an affordable break.
Josie O’Brien, Senior Digital Writer on Fabulous, weighs in on why she thinks caravan holidays are seriously underrated…
WHEN I was a child, my mum used to collect the £9.50 holiday vouchers in The Sun.
She’d use them to book a couple of nights away at a caravan park during the school holidays.
As an adult, I fully appreciate the convenience of a humble caravan holiday.
No faffing about with passports, no luggage limits and no bog-standard hotel breakfast of stale toast and grey eggs.
I still love caravan holidays as an adult.
In a world of doing everything for the ‘gram, a caravan park brings you back to basics.
There’s no obligation to get dressed up, no stress to fit a million picturesque excursions in one week and I don’t find myself flustered in tourist hot spots like abroad.
I love going to coastal caravan parks and strolling along the beach parade.
My highlight is always fresh mussels, ice-creams and classic pubs to grab an afternoon tipple in.
And then, of course, there’s the cost.
Staying in a caravan is definitely way cheaper than my international trips.
With no expensive hotel bills and the ability to cook my own meals, I’m spending hundreds less than I would abroad.
I’ve had some of my best and most relaxing holidays in caravans. Maybe I’ll buy my own one day.
Meanwhile, these are the top-rated holiday parks with on-site waterparks and pools.
And this holiday park has been named as one of the best in the country.
Travel
Philippine Airlines inaugurates Seattle route
The flag carrier is deploying its Boeing 777-300ER aircraft on the flight from Manila
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Virgin Atlantic launches winter menu
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