The family have been staying at Villa Farm in Aust, just across the old Severn Bridge. During their stay they’ve been looking after goats, and bathing in a wilderness tub, but Alex also shared on Instagram that her sons and husband were trying out a new hobby.
The family had visited the inland surf destination, The Wave, in Bristol., which Alex recommended for those learning or wanting to surf. For the latest TV and showbiz gossip sign up to our newsletter
She shared: “We’ve come here to The Wave today. Now, this is a man-made kind of beach with guaranteed waves so you can learn to surf, or if you surf already you can.
“I think get some membership here. There’s a cafe, there’s a playground.
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“The boys are on dry land at the minute having a lesson. So, yeah let’s see how it goes when they get in the water. Annie and I are going to find a hot chocolate.”
The mother of three showed updates throughout the day of her husband and sons attempting to surf at the Bristol attraction.
After initially mastering their skills on dry land, the three of them headed into the water with the instructor. Alex posted another photo where one of her sons was surfing, she captioned it “we have success!”
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Later on she added: “Also, a brilliant place for scooters and balance bikes. There’s an actual skate park too..
“A great time had by all an delicious lunch too. We’ll be back in the summer.”
So, if you’re looking for somewhere to take the kids this half term, The Wave in Bristol is Alex Jones-approved.
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It’s just under an hour away from Cardiff, located at Washingpool Farm, which is situated on the northern outskirts of the city of Bristol.
Its website says: “The Wave Bristol is a slice of the ocean inland. Where people of all ages, backgrounds and abilities can experience the joy of waves and their many physical and mental health benefits.
“It’s about getting back to nature, improving health and wellbeing, connecting with other people, enjoying wonderful food and drink, immersing yourself in an incredible day out and having a load of fun in the process!”
It offers a surfing session, surfing lessons, as well as summer bundles, however its opening times vary so it’s best to check the website before heading down. From Thursday, April 2, it will be open seven days a week, but until that point it’s open weekly from Thursday to Sunday.
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It even holds events, and this Saturday, February 21 it will be hosting a GB Surfing Expression Session from 6pm until 7pm. Here you can watch the UK’s top pros unleash high performance manoeuvres for free. It will also have Red Bull DJs and a lakeside MC.
Created and written by the mastermind behind Derry Girls, the Netflix comedy caper follows three childhood friends as they investigate the unexpected death of the estranged member of their once tight-knit group.
In the days surrounding its debut, the show won glowing reviews from critics and made its way to the top of Netflix UK’s most-watched, meaning plenty of viewers will already have their fingers crossed in the hopes of another series.
Here’s what we know so far about the future of How To Get To Heaven From Belfast…
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Will there be a How To Get To Heaven From Belfast season 2?
At the time of writing, a second season of How to Get to Heaven From Belfast has not been announced by Netflix yet.
However, How To Get To Heaven From Belfast quickly ascended to the most-watched shows on Netflix’s UK chart the week of its release, which is a hopeful sign considering Lisa McGee recently admitted viewing figures will impact whether her latest TV offering gets a second series.
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The series has also been a hit with critics, currently sitting with an impressive 91% score on Rotten Tomatoes – although it’s worth pointing out that glowing reviews regrettably didn’t save Kaos or Boots from getting cancelled.
What could How To Get To Heaven From Belfast be about?
While the first series mostly tied up all the loose ends about Greta’s death, explaining more about all four women’s tragic past, the eighth and last episode ended on a cliffhanger.
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Saoirse, Robyn, and Dara end up left with a mysterious pink bag near a dead body, and we never find out what’s inside.
The season finishes with Robyn declaring, “We are not, under any circumstances, getting involved in this.”
This loose thread leaves things open for a season two, and could introduce audiences to a new mystery for our central trio to explore.
What has the creator of How To Get To Heaven From Belfast said about a potential season 2?
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While a second season has yet to be confirmed, Lisa McGee has made no secret of her hopes to write more, and told Deadline that she has already started thinking about the follow-up.
“I’ve left it open for a second series but it’s all completely down to how many people watch,” she told the outlet in February 2026. “I’d love to do one.”
How To Get To Heaven From Belfast has been a hit with critics and Netflix users
She also told The New York Times that she has been inspired by another crime show that ran for more than a decade.
“I really wanted to do our Murder, She Wrote kind of thing. I’ve always wanted to do that and do it kind of our way, here — and with three women who aren’t good at it,” she explained.
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All eight episodes of How To Get To Heaven From Belfast are now available on Netflix.
Two British skiers who died in an avalanche at a French Alps ski resort last week have been named.
Stuart Leslie and Shaun Overy were among three people killed in the snow slide at Val d’Isere, a village in southeastern France. The other victim was a French national.
In a tribute posted on Facebook, a friend of Mr Leslie, Craig Hunter, said he lived life to the “absolute maximum” and “squeezed everything out of every moment”.
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France’s national weather forecaster, Meteo-France, had issued a red avalanche warning for the Savoie region, which borders Italy, the day before the tragedy unfolded.
It warned “very heavy snowfall” in the Alps had triggered “exceptional avalanche conditions”, and advised “extreme caution” for all mountain activities.
The risk level was scored four out of a possible five.
A spokesperson for the resort’s slope management department said the Britons were in a group of five people and a professional instructor who did not see the danger as it approached.
The French victim was higher up the mountain and skiing alone, Cedric Bonnevie said. An inquiry into the disaster was launched shortly afterwards.
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The deaths of the Britons were confirmed by the Foreign Office.
“We are in contact with the local authorities and stand ready to offer consular assistance,” a statement added.
The arrival to Harrogate follows openings in Manchester, Leeds, Sheffield and in York, where the restaurant opened in July 2024 in the former Shoe Zone on High Ousegate.
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The York venue has proven popular with the reviews website Tripadvisor awarding 4.6 stars out of five, based on 190 reviews, ranking the restaurant 119th out of 776 York restaurants. Google awards the York restaurant 4.5 stars out of five based on 405 Googler reviews.
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The new Harrogate pizzeria will be set across 2800 square-foot with approximately 120 covers in the pizzeria and 35 covers outside.
Neal Bates, managing director of Rudy’s Pizza, said: “From speculation in the press to excited comments across social media, the Harrogate community’s enthusiasm to welcome Rudy’s to the neighbourhood has been fantastic.
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“We’re pleased to now be able to confirm our opening as we prepare to welcome current Rudy’s lovers and soon-to-be fans to our new pizzeria.
“Harrogate is renowned for its brilliant food and drink scene, vibrant visitors and unique culture, spanning everything from music to crime writing festivals, which Rudy’s is very excited to be part of.
“With 3,000 pizzas available to claim on us, we’re delighted to open with a bang and be offering a true authentic Neapolitan experience right here in Harrogate.”
Recruitment for 20 staff is underway, including highly skilled pizzaiolo roles, offering training at Rudy’s in-house academy to teach both experienced chefs and first time pizzaioli the Rudy’s signature Neapolitan style.
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Looking to recruit across the board, with a particular focus on experienced supervisors and assistant manager roles, the award-winning employer will be holding recruitment days for both full and part time positions closer to the opening date.
Rudy’s makes authentic Neapolitan-style pizzas, including classic recipes such as Marinara, Margherita and Calabrese.
There will also be a bar offering Italian spritzes, Italian and local lagers, and cocktails.
Since launching in 2015, Rudy’s has grown from one base in Manchester to 36 pizzerias nationwide. The Harrogate pizzeria will be its second opening this year, with more plans in the pipeline for the rest of 2026.
A team of Romanian scientists drilled a 25-metre ice core from the Scǎrișoara Cave in search of clues for developing new medicines. The 5,000-year-old ice yielded samples of ancient bacteria.
Laboratory analysis revealed something remarkable. These bacteria, undisturbed for thousands of years, were able to grow in a variety of harsh environments. They thrived in extreme cold and high salt levels; settings that would normally prevent bacterial growth.
The scientists also discovered that the ancient bacteria were resistant to ten modern antibiotics, including powerful broad-spectrum treatments such as ciprofloxacin – drugs designed to kill many types of bacteria. In other words, the antibiotics that would normally kill bacteria or halt their growth were largely ineffective against this strain.
How can bacteria evolve resistance to antibiotics long before scientists have created them or doctors have prescribed them?
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The answer to this apparent conundrum lies in the fact that all modern antibiotics trace their origins back to nature. For billions of years, bacteria have been engaged in an evolutionary struggle with each other. They have produced formidable chemical attack-and-defence mechanisms as a result.
A deeper understanding of these mechanisms has the potential to help scientists discover new antibiotics to treat dangerous infections. The natural environment is densely packed with bacteria and other microbes. There is strong competition for the limited space and nutrients it provides.
Many species produce chemical compounds that kill or suppress nearby rivals. This gives them an advantage in the struggle for these resources. But the defensive chemicals they generate drive adaptation. Bacteria must protect themselves from their own toxins. Meanwhile, competitors evolve ways to withstand them.
Over billions of years, this arms race has generated an enormous reservoir of resistance genes and antimicrobial compounds.
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The number of biological processes inside bacteria that antibiotics can target is limited. Yet the diversity of this natural resistance is so great that some scientists argue genes capable of resisting all future antibiotics may already exist in the environment.
The samples recovered from the Romanian ice cave offer a powerful example of this idea. The bacteria had been sealed off from the outside world for 5,000 years. Yet they were still able to demonstrate resistance to several important modern medicines. This included those used to treat severe and potentially fatal infections like tuberculosis.
Scarisoara Ice Cave in Romania. Paun V.I.
There is no evidence that the microbes from the cave are harmful to humans. But bacteria do not exist in isolation. They have a remarkable ability to share useful traits with one another by exchanging small pieces of DNA, even between unrelated bacterial species. This means that resistance genes preserved in environmental bacteria do not necessarily stay there. There is a risk that if these genes pass to disease-causing bacteria, existing drugs could become less effective.
Rising temperatures are accelerating the melting of global land ice. There is a danger that long-dormant microorganisms and their genetic material could be released into the soil and water systems.
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If resistance genes that have been preserved for thousands of years re-enter modern microbial communities, they could contribute to the spread of global antibiotic resistance. This would make the treatment of both common and serious bacterial infections much more difficult.
Nature’s hidden pharmacy
However, the same evolutionary pressures that drive resistance also lead microbes to produce molecules capable of killing rival bacteria.
In laboratory tests, chemicals produced by the ice cave samples were able to kill or inhibit 14 different types of bacteria known to cause human disease. This included several that are on the World Health Organization list of high-priority pathogens.
These compounds could provide starting points for the development of new antibiotics. They could help overcome existing drug resistance in harmful bacteria.
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Many of today’s antibiotics were originally discovered by studying natural microbes. Penicillin is one example.
Most bacteria preserved in ancient environments remain unstudied. They may represent an important and largely untapped source of new antimicrobial compounds.
The ice cave bacteria’s DNA also contains numerous genes with no clearly identified role. These unknown sequences may represent biochemical capabilities that have never been characterised.
They offer potential not only in medicines discovery, but also in areas as diverse as industrial biotechnology. For example, enzymes that enable the bacteria to function in extreme cold could be adapted for use in industrial processes that run at lower temperatures. This could improve energy efficiency and reduce costs.
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The bacteria preserved in Romanian ice illustrate how deeply rooted antibiotic resistance is within the natural world. They also demonstrate how much of nature’s chemical diversity remains unexplored.
Ancient microbes may contain potentially harmful antibiotic resistance genes that warrant careful global monitoring. But they also contain a vast store of biochemical tools that could provide us with new medicines.
As antimicrobial resistance continues to rise worldwide, understanding these ancient microbial systems may prove increasingly important.
A Cambridgeshire County Council report said cutting the speed limit would improve the safety of Bates Drove after a fatal collision.
The speed limit along Bates Drive near Littleport could be cut to try and improve safety after a fatal crash. Cambridgeshire County Council is proposing to cut the speed limit on the road from 60mph to 50mph.
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A report published by the authority highlighted that a “tragic” fatal motorcycle collision occurred along the road in June last year, with another “serious” motorcycle collision taking place just eight days later.
The report added that a further two incidents where people had been injured had been recorded along the road in recent years. Following these incidents a multi-agency investigation was launched to assess the safety of the road.
The report said: “The investigation team undertook several site visits and conducted a thorough review of the traffic conditions. Their assessment concluded that the existing speed limit is inappropriate for the road’s structure and environment.
“Bates Drove is characteristic of Fenland infrastructure, it is undulating due to subsidence, narrow in places, and visually deceptive in terms of safety, particularly for powered two-wheeled vehicles. Additionally, sections of the nearby A1101 are straight and encourage higher speeds, further increasing the risk of serious collisions.
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“Many surrounding Fen roads are already subject to a 50mph limit, reflecting the unique challenges posed by the terrain and road layout. Reducing the speed limit on Bates Drove would bring it in line with these roads and enhance safety for all road users, especially vulnerable groups.”
However, concerns have been raised about the plans to cut the speed limit to 50mph. A consultation undertaken by the county council received five objections, with many arguing that repairing the roads would be a better option.
One objector said: “The road surface is more of an issue than the speed limit. The new speed limit won’t be enforced and so won’t make a difference. The council is proposing speed limit changes purely as it’s cheaper than sorting the road.”
The county council report said road maintenance is “undertaken according to the authority’s asset management plan”. It added that cutting the speed limit would not be a substitute for ongoing maintenance, but would be a “proportionate and evidence-based measure to address specific risks identified by a multi-agency investigation”.
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In the report council officers recommend going ahead with the speed limit reduction. It said: “Reducing the speed limit to 50mph was considered the most proportionate, cost-effective, and evidence-based intervention.
“It aligns with vision zero principles, addresses the immediate safety concerns identified by the investigation, and harmonises Bates Drove with similar Fen roads already subject to 50mph limits.”
A decision on whether to cut the speed limit along Bates Drove is due to be made on February 18.
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Ereaders are one of the greatest inventions for bookworms. Ideal for homes overflowing with books or your summer holiday luggage allowance. And there’s a reason Amazon’s Kindles dominate our guide to the best ereaders: because, well, they’re the best.
With displays that cause no glare and storage for hundreds of books (a book shelf could never compete), a Kindle is as comfortable to read as any book or magazine, while still retaining all of the most useful features of reading on a tablet. You can download books to read instantly and read for weeks without needing a recharge. They also allow for customising your reading experience, from highlighting passages to adjusting the font size. You can even look up the definition of words you come across.
I’ve been a tech writer for a decade and I’ve had a Kindle the entire time, so I’ve tried and tested multiple generations of Kindle tech. I’ve watched as buttons have been replaced with touchscreens and fancy styluses, and storage went from a few thousand books to tens of thousands. I’ve even seen the beloved ereader transform into a digital notebook with the release of the Kindle Scribe.
Amazon offers a variety of Kindles at different price points, each tailored to different types of readers. There are also kids’ editions, which are essentially the same as the standard models but include a children’s book subscription and a kid-friendly cover. However, if you don’t know what you’re looking for, the tiny distinctions all blend together, so I put a range of Kindles to the test to see which is the best for most people.
Best premium model – Kindle Paperwhite signature edition: £189.99, Amazon.co.uk
Best for note-taking – Kindle Scribe: £379.99, Amazon.co.uk
How I tested
I’ve been tracking updates to Kindles for years (The Independent)
I’ve used a Kindle for a decade, and I have been testing some of these Amazon Kindle devices for six years. I took these ereaders on planes, trains and automobiles, and I’ve used them in broad, direct sunlight as well as in the middle of the night. I also tested the built-in Audible functionality, which lets you switch between reading and listening to a book.You can find my full testing criteria at the end of this guide.
Dancer Alexis Warr has confirmed that she’s set to leave the UK again after returning to take part in the show’s huge arena tour
Strictly Come Dancing star Alexis Warr has confirmed she’s set to leave the UK again after returning to take part in the show’s huge arena tour for the first time.
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The professional dancer only joined the BBC One dance show’s pro line-up for the first time last year and despite it being her debut year, she was given a celebrity dance partner in the shape of George Clarke.
And it turned out to be a successful first partnership for Alexis, as she and George were seen making it to the Strictly 2025 series final, which took place live on December 20.
The pair were seen going up against fellow finalists, Amber Davies and Nikita Kuzmin, and Karen Carney and Carlos Gu as they competed for the 23rd series title, which eventually went to former footballer Karen and her dance partner Carlos as they were seen lifting the coveted Glitterball trophy.
However, George and Alexis have since had a second chance at winning, but this time on the Strictly Come Dancing Live 2026 tour. The show, which features the show’s judges, professional dancers – and stars from the 2025 series gives fans of the hit BBC One dance contest to get a closer glimpse at the standout performances seen on-screen, and get their own experience of what goes on in the Strictly ballroom.
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And after dazzling audiences up and down the country over the past month, the Strictly Live 2026 tour was seen coming to a glittering end on Sunday night (February 15), which came after George and Alexis had been confirmed as the tour winners on Friday (February 13), days before the string of shows even came to an official end.
Alexis has now shared her first update since the end of the tour. On Monday (February 16), she shared a selfie in which she could be seen enjoying a well-deserved rest in bed, and it was alongside the post that she confirmed her return the the US was imminent.
She typed alongside the smiling snap: “Heart is so full. Having a day to rest, process, pack, then fly back home tomorrow. Just want to say love ya’ll and thank you [heart emoji].”
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It comes as her Strictly co-stars are among those sharing their praise for Alexis and George’s tour win. Vicky Pattison, who also joined the show on the road, reshared a video from Strictly Live of the winners lifting the trophy and said: “My babies… Congratulations @georgeclarkeey and @alexis_warr!!! I love you both so much.” Professional dancer Katya Jones also gushed: “Smashed it on her first year @alexis_warr. So happy for these two!!!”
Fans have also expressed their delight. @talleymcauley said: “The fact they did this when George wasnt at so many shows just proves how much people love them. So proud of Team Warrkey, the best partnership to come from this series.” @zawnlis commented: “My winners from day one. They had that extra special something that made them a great partnership. A total novice to tour winner. Alexis a great teacher. Yay!!!”
@_heatherhay_ replied: “Amazing news. Was gutted when they didn’t win the main series.” @joanne.meadows71 gushed: “So deserved. Best partnership in the history of SCD.” @alisend73 added: “Yay my winners. Should’ve won the show but I’m so pleased they won the tour. @alexis_warr is a great addition to the Strictly family and what an amazing partnership she had. with @georgeclarkeey.”
The driver was found to have no insurance, MOT, or tax
A dangerous driver who led police on a pursuit has been disqualified from driving. David Russell, 40, fled from officers in Newmarket Road, Cambridge, on November 25, 2025.
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Russell, of Ditton Fields, Cambridge, drove along a bus lane, weaved through traffic, ignored a red light, and reached speeds of about 40mph in a 20mph pedestrian zone. The 40-year-old eventually stopped in Ditton Fields, where he was arrested.
Following police checks, he was also found to have no insurance, MOT, or tax. Russell pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, failing to stop, driving without a licence, and driving without insurance and MOT at Cambridge Magistrates’ Court on Monday (February 9).
He was disqualified from driving for two years and ordered to complete 12 months of unpaid work. PC Oliver Wadsworth, who investigated, said: “Russell’s driving put innocent members of the public at risk, which is selfish given he could have simply stopped when indicated to do so.”
If you’d like to pair your next U.S. ski trip with a hotel housing a blizzard of luxury, read on.
Here, we reveal 12 standout mountain properties so enticing that you may find it difficult leaving for the slopes each morning.
In Colorado, there’s a Five-Diamond-rated ski-in/ski-out property with heated marble bathroom floors; a hotel that looks like a European fairytale ski chateau brought to life; and a property that offers a “slippers to ski boots” concierge service, with gear prepared and taken onto the slopes for guests.
Head to Utah for a hotel that offers a children’s “High Chocolate” afternoon tea-style service with gourmet cocoa and a brand new property with an outdoor pool, hot tubs and Native American art belonging to a Hollywood legend.
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Discover the “grand dame” in New Hampshire with a roll call of famous past guests, and the Montana hotel with its own private heated gondola.
In Wyoming, meanwhile, you can check into an opulent slopeside property and ease the day’s aches away in an outdoor swimming pool and whirlpools.
1. The Little Nell — Aspen, Colorado
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The Little Nell is the only hotel in Aspen to offer ski-in/ski-out access to Aspen Mountain (known as Ajax by locals) (The Little Nell)
The Little Nell is the only hotel in Aspen to offer ski-in/ski-out access to Aspen Mountain (known as Ajax by locals).
Inside the 92-room property, guests relax in rooms featuring gas log fireplaces, wool carpeting, Fili D’oro down comforters and heated ensuite marble flooring.
On the food front, the hotel is home to the Michelin-recommended Element 47 restaurant and the lively Ajax Tavern, famous for its truffle fries and wagyu burger.
The concierge team can organize snowcat powder tours and ski-in/ski-out spa treatments.
The Arrabelle at Vail Square feels like a historic ski chateau from Europe that’s been transplanted into the Rockies (The Arrabelle at Vail Square)
With its clock tower, steeply pitched roofs, wrought-iron balconies and flowery façade motifs, The Arrabelle at Vail Square — just steps from Vail’s Eagle Bahn Gondola — feels like a storybook palace from Europe.
Guests will certainly feel like royalty as they relax in the rooftop pool and the 10,000-square-foot spa, which features 11 treatment rooms, a steam room, a whirlpool and a sauna.
The old world Alpine vibe continues across the public spaces and guestrooms, which are richly decorated with warm woods and stone. There are 81 guestrooms and condominiums in total, including a sprawling five-bedroom villa.
Pendry Park City has a stunning rooftop pool and 175 luxury guestrooms (Park City Chamber of Commerce)
Pendry Park City, in Canyons Village, offers ski-in, ski-out access to Park City Mountain, which, with 7,300 acres of terrain, is the largest lift-served ski resort in the U.S.
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And because the hotel is right next to the new high-speed 10-passenger Sunrise Gondola, explorations of this incredible ski-scape don’t begin with frustrating lines.
The property has a spa offering treatments such as the “high altitude radiance body treatment,” a rooftop pool with stunning mountain views, and four on-site dining destinations: Kita, an upscale sushi restaurant; Dos Olas, a Mexican-inspired cantina; The Pool House rooftop eatery; and Apres Pendry, a lobby lounge serving European-inspired alpine snacks.
Features in the 175 guestrooms include deep-soak tubs and walk-in showers, and 65-inch TVs.
Grand Hyatt at Deer Valley serves an afternoon tea-style service with gourmet hot cocoa (Grand Hyatt at Deer Valley)
Grand Hyatt Deer Valley has every hotel-stay base covered.
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There are 381 luxury rooms, including 26 premium suites with private balconies, kitchenettes and cozy fireplaces; on-site ski lockers; a kids’ club with games room; and several tempting culinary and cocktail destinations, from speakeasy-inspired Hidden Ace to family friendly apres in the Living Room.
At the latter, children can indulge in “High Chocolate,” an afternoon tea-style service with gourmet hot cocoa, s’mores cookies and pastries.
There’s also an Alpine-inspired spa and a 7,000-square-foot outdoor terrace with a large, heated pool and three hot tubs.
Park Hyatt Beaver Creek is brimming with luxuries, from plush in-room bathrobes to a heated outdoor pool and a spa with 23 treatment rooms (Park Hyatt Beaver Creek)
Creature comforts are not in short supply at Park Hyatt Beaver Creek, which transformed its 189 guest rooms in 2025. They feature Nespresso coffee machines, mini-fridges, wet bars, Le Labo bath products, air conditioning, wifi, plush bathrobes, and private balconies showcasing mountain or village views.
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Elsewhere, guests can loll in a heated outdoor pool, soothe aching leg muscles in five hot tubs, and have massages in the Exhale Spa, which has 23 treatment rooms.
Refueling options include the 8100 Mountainside Bar & Grill, which rustles up dishes in a wood-fired oven, and lively Brass Bear Bar.
When you’re ready to hit the slopes again, you won’t have far to go. The hotel is located at the base of Beaver Creek Mountain with direct access to the white stuff.
W Aspen has a rooftop pool and hot tub, as well as lively spots for sipping apres cocktails (W Aspen)
Even in glitzy Aspen, the W Aspen stands out thanks to a number of signature features.
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Firstly, there’s The Rooftop, a year-round rooftop bar where guests enjoy a heated pool, hot tub, fire pits, a food and beverage service — and 360-degree mountain views.
Then there’s 39 Degrees, a restaurant and apres destination where creative cocktails are sipped to live DJ sets, and Hidalgo, a cocktail lounge speakeasy created by mixologist Dushan Zaric from New York City’s legendary Employees Only bar.
And while the 88-room hotel isn’t ski-in/ski-out, the slopes are only a minute or two away by foot.
7. The Ritz-Carlton, Bachelor Gulch — Beaver Creek, Colorado
Service is unparalleled at the Ritz-Carlton (The Ritz-Carlton, Bachelor Gulch)
Ritz-Carltons are renowned for top-level pampering, and at the Beaver Creek incarnation during the winter season, one manifestation of that is a “slippers to boots” ski concierge service, which preps skis and snowboards for guests and helps them into their boots.
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There’s also a “ski nanny” service that assists kids in ski school: they’re given help gearing up and transported to and from lessons.
Other plus points at the property include reimagined guest rooms and suites following a multi-million-dollar renovation in 2022; multiple restaurant options, including Buffalos, where comforting bison chili is served; a vast spa with plunge pools and a Himalayan salt wall sauna; and apres workshops from whiskey tastings to painting lessons.
One&Only Moonlight Basin features a beautiful indoor pool and a private gondola for guests (One&Only)
This property in Big Sky Resort in southwest Montana marks the U.S. debut for luxury hotel brand One&Only.
It opened in November 2025, so, at the time of writing, is brand-new though there are many more reasons to book.
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There are the Alpine-chic rooms, suites and cabins; there’s the 17,000-square-foot spa, complete with a beautiful indoor pool; and there’s a Japanese restaurant by Michelin-starred chef and former professional snowboarder Akira Back.
But for many, the main talking point will be the private heated gondola that whisks guests to Big Sky’s Madison Base in around five minutes.
9. Rusty Parrot Lodge & Spa — Jackson Hole, Wyoming
Rusty Parrot Lodge & Spa has 40 rooms and a top-tier restaurant (Rusty Parrot Lodge & Spa)
The Rusty Parrot Lodge & Spa — a total rebuild of the original, which was destroyed in a fire in 2019 — in the legendary ski town of Jackson Hole cossets winter sports enthusiasts in boutique-y luxury, and tempts them with top-quality cuisine.
There are 40 rooms featuring handcrafted, custom furnishings, while the Wild Sage restaurant serves carefully curated dishes from dawn till dusk.
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At breakfast, you can fuel up for the slopes with omelets featuring morning dew mushrooms and locally grown seasonal vegetables, and yogurt parfait made using yoghurt from Wyoming’s Shumway farms.
In the evening, while Jackson Hole has several excellent restaurants, you may be tempted to head back to Wild Sage for Provençal garlic soup and beef tartare crafted with local ranch-raised beef.
The hotel offers complimentary transport to Jackson Hole Mountain Resort daily.
The Inn at Sundance Mountain Resort features Native American art once belonging to Robert Redford (Sundance Mountain Resort, Utah)
The Inn at Sundance Mountain Resort, which opened on January 22, 2026, has 63 rooms and sits a snowball’s throw from the Outlaw Express lift.
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This means guests can bank a few runs first thing and return straight to the hotel’s amenities at the end of the day.
These include two hot tubs, a large outdoor pool, a sauna and cold-plunge outdoor shower, a fitness center, and a cozy living room serving drinks and nibbles.
For an elevated dining experience, head to the Tree Room, where Native American art once belonging to Robert Redford, who founded the resort, adorns the walls.
11. Omni Mount Washington Resort — Bretton Woods, New Hampshire
Omni Mount Washington Resort is a true grand dame hotel, with a roll call of famous past guests (Omni Mount Washington Resort)
Stay at the Omni Mount Washington Resort & Spa, located in the tranquil Bretton Woods resort, and you’ll be following in the footsteps of a roll call of famous guests, including Thomas Edison, Babe Ruth, John D. Rockefeller, Princess Margaret and Alfred Hitchcock.
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The opulent 200-room property, which opened in 1902, truly is a “grand dame” hotel.
As you might expect, the amenities are eye-catching, and they include a 25,000-square-foot, full-service spa; a heated outdoor pool; two golf courses (worth noting if you’re tempted back in the spring or summer); and an indoor climbing wall.
Eating and drinking options? You’re spoiled for choice. Elegant dining comes courtesy of the 1902 Main Dining Room, Stickney’s Steak & Chop Pub is the go-to venue for crowd-pleasers (think smash burgers and BLTs), and you can toast being on a superb ski trip at The Cave speakeasy and Rosebrook Bar.
Four Seasons Resort Jackson Hole oozes opulence and features a stunning outdoor pool (Four Seasons Resort Jackson Hole)
Four Seasons Resort Jackson Hole is the town’s flagship hotel, a complex located in Teton Village at the base of Rendezvous Mountain that oozes opulence.
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There’s a slopeside heated pool and a trio of whirlpools that glow at night, a Forbes five-star spa, and multiple restaurants, including the Steadfire Chophouse that opened in July 2025 and a pool café that serves complimentary s’mores in winter.
The 157 rooms all include a gas fireplace and a private terrace.
A total of 60,000 reports of rodents being spotted in homes and streets have been logged since 2019.
The rat population in ‘Scotland’s rat capital‘ is booming – with 60,000 reports of the rodents in homes and streets.
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The number of rat sightings across Glasgow has been consistently rising each year with more than 60K reports since 2019, figures show. A new freedom of information request to the council shows they received 6,170 reports of rats in 2019. By 2025, the number of rat sightings had increased to 12,155.
Already 53 have been logged in the first month of this year, with an overall total of 59,874 sightings in seven years. Alarmingly, many of these have been within people’s homes.
Dumbarton Road, Paisley Road West, Argyle Street, Shettleston Road, Hathaway Lane and London Road all topped the list for rodents.Glasgow has previously shamed as having more rats than any other area of Scotland. Last year it was named as the third worst place in the UK for the vermin.
A prominent trade union convener recently said Glasgow needed to declare a ‘rat emergency’ amid fears warm weather this summer could cause a further explosion in numbers across the city. GMB’s Chris Mitchell reissued a plea to Glasgow City Council to step up action, saying the number of rat sightings from his cleansing teams and the public continues to rise on a daily basis.
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He said: “I have been very vocal in the past when it comes to this. Despite investment to bolster the number of street cleaners and cleansing workers, more needs to be done to get a grip on the rat crisis.”
The GMB chief says that he fears the problem will only get worse as we move through 2026. When we have warmer weather, rats breed more frequently. It is a perfect storm, sunshine, food and overgrown areas that they can hide away in.
“I’ve been banging the drum on this problem for what feels like forever. My fear is it is moving increasingly into the city centre, all I hear from our members are reports of rats in bins, rats running about Glasgow’s lanes and even some sightings in the flagship shopping spots. This is a big year for the city; we need to invest now to get this under control.”
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The new data shows there has been a continued worrying spike in sighting. The full breakdown of the figures shows the council logged 6,170 vermin reports in 2019 – with 1,502 of these within properties.
There were 7,404 in 2020, with 1,339 indoors; 7,405 the following year, with 5,939 of these outside. In 2022, the council received notification of a combined 7,387 sightings but this figure rocketed to 8,959 in 2023, with almost 2,000 of these in domestic properties.
It rose again in 2024 to a combined total of 10,341 reports and increased in 2025 to a high of 12,155, with 2,332 of these of vermin in people’s homes. Drumchapel and Anniesland councillor Paul Carey, who worked with the Glasgow Times on the FOI request, says what was once predominantly an issue in Glasgow’s more disadvantaged areas has now become a much bigger concern.
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He said: “It used to be that housing estates and schemes was where you expected to see rats in back courts or bin sheds, but that is sadly no longer the case. We are hearing about them in the city centre, public parks, everywhere. It’s a problem that these figures show is getting worse and we need more of a focus to tackle it.”
A spokesperson for Glasgow City Council asked the public to help them tackle the difficult problem.
They said: “The best way to deter rats is to ensure all food waste is properly disposed of in a bin. Rats are unfortunately a feature of urban life but they do prefer to keep out of sight of people and other predators. Rats are also always in search of a source of food and somewhere to nest close-by.
“It is therefore vital for anyone out and on-the-go to use one of Glasgow’s 5,500 public litter bins for any food waste and litter, or if at home, to use a food waste bin that will provide suitable containment and be uplifted routinely. We provide a pest control service for domestic properties and we follow British Pest Control Association guidance that indicates property owners should undertake hygiene and pest proofing measures to ensure the effectiveness of any pest control treatment.
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“We have extended our pest control team as part of recently agreed investment in frontline services, which includes recruiting 200 street cleansing and parks staff to help keep Glasgow in good condition. We have also begun rolling out on-street bin hubs, which have more frequent bin collections for flatted properties across Glasgow. Early evidence indicates the introduction of bin-hubs is helping to improve the management of waste and better control the pest population as a result.”
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